Between the Lines

Chapter Five

In the palace's war room, Kimberly pushed herself off the edge of the viewing vat. She was shaking her head in disgust at the terrible destruction taking place on her island. Her mind made up, she turned to Renee and Serilda, and tightened the fasteners of her armor.

"I'm going out there." she said.

Serilda looked at her. "No, Majesty. I cannot allow that. I won't let you risk yourself."

"Listen up, Serilda. Look at them out there. They're dropping like flies. The evil Rangers are too much for them and they need a more subtle attack plan. We can see their mistakes from here, and someone needs to go out there and tell them what to do."

"Then I'll go. You can't leave yourself vulnerable."

Kimberly sighed and rolled her eyes. "There's no time to argue! You know better than I do, they're after me personally. Look at the way they advance! If I go out there, maybe they'll stop the destruction long enough for us to regroup and get the jump."

"Majesty, this is lunacy."

Bridget approached from the adjacent room. "It's okay, Serilda. I'm going with her."

Serilda looked from Bridget, to Kimberly and back. She glanced at Renee, who only frowned, not willing to interject.

"I'm going, Serilda. That's all there is to it."

The ashen-haired Centurion sighed in defeat. "As you wish, Majesty. Please be careful." Kimberly nodded, and gave Serilda a smile. Renee however still looked infinitely concerned. Kimberly came forward to give her a quick hug. "Thanks for worrying about me." she said, and with that, she broke away and strode out of the room, her cape fluttering on the wind of her speed. Bridget fell into step behind her, and glanced back to assure the others, "I'll take care of her."

Then they were gone.

Serilda had hardly enough time to shake her head again, before Renee blinked, and touched her temple.

"What is it?" Serilda asked.

Renee looked up. "The Zeo Rangers are here."

Adam stepped away from the gate, looking upwards to gauge it's height.

"Jump it?" Rocky asked.

"I think so. Hope everybody had their frog-juice this morning."

The other three looked away in comical revulsion at the thought.

Adam crouched. "Here's goes..."

Just then, the latch on the gate clicked and the gate swung open invitingly. From his thigh-burning squat, Adam watched this happen, and then stood up. "Well, that was easy." he said.

Tanya fired off a two-fingered salute at the castle in the distance. "Thanks!"

The four of them slipped quietly through the portal and headed towards the battleground.

Running with a legion of fresh troops, Kimberly and Bridget also headed into the danger zone. Bridget cautioned her Queen, "When we get there, you must pretend to give yourself up while I bring the troops around. These people are smart, so you won't be able to stall them very long. Buy as much time as you can."

In the dark, they both pitched forward over something yielding in the path. They stumbled over it, and turned around to see a body sprawled on the ground. The Legion stopped behind them.

"Oh, no..." Kimberly moaned, and moved closer. It was the body of a young soldier-- from the Fifth Legion, judging by the deep green of her cape and helmet fringe. Her ears and nose were bloody, there were scorch marks on her armor, and her eyes were open-- lifeless. Kimberly turned away while Bridget gently closed them.

A soldier from the Legion stepped forward. "Majesty, we must go. The front lines need us." she looked down at the body, swallowing. "I know who this girl is." she said. "I have a feeling we're going to find a lot of our friends dead when this night is over."

Bridget nodded solemnly, and moved the body off the path. They all continued onward, leaving it behind for collection later. That was only the first casualty they would see.

By the time they reached the place where the the evil Rangers were, they were choking on smoke and tripping over bodies and debris lying all over the ground. They were at the expansive Sigfrieda Botanical Gardens that the Rangers had already made hash out of. The area was thickly covered by young pine trees which afforded a little cover, and there were legionaries advancing and retreating all around Kimberly and Bridget. The very ground was being rocked by explosion after explosion.

"Where are they?" Kimberly shouted, crouching low under the threat of flying objects.

"In the grove, I believe." Bridget shouted back. "On the other side of the treeline. There's a small clearing there, I believe they are doing most of their damage from that point."

The soldier leading the fresh Legion approached them. "If we can surround that clearing slowly, instead of trying to storm the field, we stand a chance. What we do when we get there is another story, but it's our only option so far."

"I agree," said Kimberly. "How can I get onto the field and get their attention without being mistaken for another soldier?"

Bridget thought a moment, glancing at Kimberly's costume.

"You'll approach them in your Ninjetti Crane costume. It affords more protection than armor anyway. You will be unmistakable."

Kimberly nodded, almost glad to be given an excuse to don her more familiar outfit.

"I am off to tell the soldiers." said the Legionary. "Good Luck, Majesty."

"And to you..." said Bridget, as the woman left. Then she turned back to her Queen. "Are you ready Kimberly?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Alright then. I trust you. Stay calm, and give us 'Army Guys' the advantage we need. Go on now."

Bridget squeezed Kimberly's shoulders encouragingly, and stepped away. Taking a deep breath, Kim prepared to summon her special Power-- that of the Crane. Before she did so though, she hoped to Heaven that Tommy and the others were coming to help them. The thought of Tommy bolstered her confidence, and she closed her eyes to summon the Power to her.

Smoke and the smell of burning filled the air. It scorched Salacia's nostrils as she laughed with glee.

The attack couldn't have been going better-- the Venusian forces carried only hand-weapons and weak magic to fight with. Salacia had seven of the greatest warriors in the universe, AND an unlimited supply of Fifth Dimension Magic to work with. Clearly, she was on the winning side.

Proudly, the Sorceress watched her Rogue Rangers from her place in the center of their protective circle. Graceful Norvi was effortlessly throwing the fire-magic out towards the enemy troops as though it were confetti. Handsome young Keevan was taking great pleasure at picking off the Venusian soldiers one-by-one. Her solemn warrior Skyla selected her targets carefully, taking out the most prevalent threats before any damage could take place. Reserved Tristam looked into the eyes of every soldier he killed with his magic. Passionate Sabin raked the front lines with destructive flame from his fingertips, and fiery Tashana sent bursts of red-hot force out in all directions.

Salacia noticed her seventh Ranger, little Undine, was taking much less pride in the damage she was causing. The young one seemed almost... frightened. The sorceress decided that would end right away. Coming up behind her little Pink Rogue, Salacia grasped the girl's shoulders comfortingly.

"Little tadpole, what's the matter?"

The girl dropped her hands and turned around. Her voice was tiny, uncertain. "This feels so wrong..."

Salacia frowned inside, but patiently reassured Undine. "My child, you must trust yourself. This is your role in life now, and it is no more 'wrong' than the story of the Lioness and the Zebra." She lifted the girl's chin to stare into her face. "Do you remember that story?"

Undine nodded.

"Then come now, don't be frightened of all this. Think of Tommy."

Undine listened.

"We're here for him tonight. Don't you want him to be one of us?"

There was a pause. "Yes..."

"Good. I do too. Now, let's help him every way we can. Go back to your job, little princess." Salacia smiled warmly and the girl took a deep breath.

But just then, Keevan leaned over to her. "Watch your post, kiddo. Target comin' up." He jerked his head in the direction of a gap in the trees that represented the Venusian front line. They all watched as a woman stepped through.

"Cease fire!" Salacia ordered, and the Rogues did. The silence rang in their ears for a moment as they studied this new arrival.

The figure was a girl-- no older than eighteen-- with soft brown hair that was flowing around her shoulders. She was dressed in a unique costume that included a deep pink bodysuit and a flowing sheer shouldercape. She was walking slowly across the field between the Rogues' protective grove of trees, and the line of pines that protected the Venusians. Her arms were held high in the air in a gesture of peace.

Salacia recognized her immediately. "Kimberly..."

"That's her?" Norvi pointed, and glanced at Tashana. The raven haired Black Ranger made an "L" with her fingers, and flipped it in Kimberly's direction. Skyla glared at them, chastising their immaturity, but Undine studied this woman more closely. This was the girl Tommy had been close to before he joined Salacia and the Rogues. What gave him such strong feelings for her, Undine wondered. She was very lovely, with a soft line to her face and a sculpted figure. She looked to be very athletic and graceful, and on top of it all she was Queen of an Empire. Undine told herself Kimberly was much better looking than Undine herself was-- and then she wondered why that made her so jealous.

Kimberly called out to them then. "In the name of the Goddesses, I ask you to hold your fire. If it is me that you are looking for, then I am here. Stop your destruction!"

Salacia, a wide smile on her face, addressed the girl with a curtsey, and just a small taste of sarcasm.

"Your Majesty, you honor us with your visit." she said. "Let me extend my deepest gratitude for your hospitality here on Venus Island."

Kimberly's face darkened. "Dispense with the pleasantries. I somehow doubt you're here on a social call, seeing as how several dozen of my Legions are lying dead all around us."

Salacia only sighed, admonishing. "Very well then. Kimberly Hart, I am Salacia. I doubt you know of me, but I am the original Pink Ranger, recruited, like yourself, by Zordon so many years ago. These," she made a sweeping gesture behind her. "..are my friends and followers, the Rogue Rangers. Detailed introductions aren't needed, but they are for the most part former Rangers who have suffered losses in their lives, and gone on to better things than Rangerhood. I am here today Kimberly, to tell you about our newest Rogue Ranger... a young man you're acquainted with in fact, who has given up on his Rangering days and chosen to join us."

Kimberly stiffened, but tried not to show it. She had a feeling she knew who they were talking about.

"Our newest Rogue is not here tonight, but I'm sure he would have wanted us to express our fond greetings to you on his behalf. Your highness, our newest Rogue's name... is Tommy."

"No..."

"..and we've decided the best way to help him adjust to his new life, is by eliminating his past. We've decided to start with you."

The Rogues took the cue, and aimed smoking hands at Kimberly.

"NOOO!!"

The blast was fired at the same time as a figure darted onto the scene, from the trees. No one saw who it was, but it crashed into Kimberly just as the flames struck. The stray sparks flew up and set the trees all afire, creating a hellish glow around them all. Everyone waited for the smoke to clear.

On the ground, where Kimberly had stood, lay two bodies. One struggling, dressed in pink, and the other dressed in gleaming gold... and red. Bridget's scorched body lay pinning Kimberly's to the ground, as the teenager fought to get out from under. Gasping with sobs anda need for oxygen, Kimberly rolled the body off her and knelt over it, calling out to her friend.

"Bridget! Bridge, say something! Please...!"

It was no use. The Centurion was already dead. In a few moments, Kimberly looked back up at Salacia and the Rogues with such hate in her eyes that she would have melted them with her gaze if she could.

Undine thought for a moment that the gaze was directly solely at her.

"A shame." Salacia remarked, one hand on her hip. "But the job must be finished..." she signaled for the Rogues to take aim again.

But another blast, this time of multicolored lightning, struck the Rogues instead, knocking them off their feet. Even Salacia was rocked a little, and she looked around quickly to see what had happened. She spotted the four brilliantly colored figures running toward them through the smoke, and her hands clenched into fists.

"Not... now!" she growled.

"No time like the present!" The Blue Ranger replied, as the Zeo Rangers halted beside Kimberly. The quartet took a defensive position around the monarch, and Kat then knelt in the grass next to her.

"Kim-- Your Highness, are you okay?"

Kimberly looked up at her friend with stinging eyes. "Kat... she's dead...!"

"I know, I'm so sorry Kim. But you have to get back to safety! We'll take care of things."

"_Be careful!_" Kimberly hissed. "They've killed hundreds of my people, and they've got Tommy..."

"I know," Kat said again. She felt the ever-present lump rising in her throat. "We're doing everything we can. Just get out of danger!"

Unwilling to argue, Kimberly began to crawl back towards safety. The Rogues noticed, but didn't try anything.

Adam called out to the Rogues, "You again, huh? We thought you had what you came for."

Salacia scowled. "Not quite. Just tying up loose ends here and there."

Rocky shouted back, "Well Venus Island is just gonna keep hanging loose, so back off!"

The Blue Rogue stepped forward, standing straight to emphasize her height. "Who's gonna make us, Blue Ranger?" She somehow made the words sting. "You maybe? I'm laughing."

"Yeah, well you can laugh all the way to H-E double-hockeysticks if it's up to me." Rocky retorted.

The Blue Rogue seemed to smirk. "Or how about the crematorium..." and she sent a jet of flame spewing forth from her fingertips.

"Clear out!" Adam cried, and they jumped out of the way. The grass where they had been standing was scorched, but Bridget's body remained untouched. The Rangers re-grouped in fighting postures and charged at the enemies, who stepped back in preparation for the attack.

Salacia's eyes narrowed at the challenge. "So be it, Zeo Rangers. If it's a fight you still want, you've got it."

Larry Zedden watched the battle taking place from the Power Chamber. Lita and Jamie stood next to him, and they all winced sympathetically each time someone took a blow.

"I can't let this go on." Larry said under his breath. "The four of them can't fight the Rogues alone."

"Tell me about it." Jamie said, shaking her head as Tanya barely avoided being barbecued. "But _someone_ won't let us morph and help them..." she glared upwards at Zordon who arched a brow.

"Ms. Zedden, the Rangers are indeed in danger of losing this battle, but you are in no condition yet to fight. We will find another way to help them."

But Larry turned to Zordon as well. "I feel perfectly fine and capable. Jamie may be only half Zarakin but I'm a full-blood and our powers of recuperation are higher than a human's. You _must_ let me go down there and fight."

The Zeo Rangers' mentor, the least indecisive person in the galaxy, took a moment to study Zedden's face. He had been hiding the inner turmoil he felt concerning his Rangers, and trying to remain calm to keep the three visitors from worrying. Finally, he nodded his suspended head in agreement. "Very well then. You will teleport to the surface and assist the Rangers. I have advised against this, since you are unable to morph, but I see there is no arguing with you. I also see my four Rangers need your help. Please wait a moment..."

Zordon seemed to "turn off" then, his attention diverting to something not in the room. Computers clicked and whirred, and the sound of an energy pulse throbbed through the floor. A few seconds later, Zordon came back to them.

"I have disabled the force shield that prevents teleportation to Ambrosia." Everyone gaped. "Mr. Zedden, you do not have the endurance to run to the city from the beach, and still be able to fight effectively. I'm sure the Venusians will not mind in such a dire time. Are you ready?"

"On your word, Zordon." said Larry.

"Teleporting now."

In a flash of blood-red energy, Larry vanished from the Chamber. Jamie sighed in frustration and turned to Lita, who sat on a folding stool before the viewscreen.

"Lovely." Jamie complained. "Just call us the Useless Twosome."

But Lita barely acknowledged her. She was intently watching the fight on the viewing globe.

"What are they after?" the psychiatrist muttered to herself. Absently, she rubbed the defunct Green Power Coin which hung around her neck. She began to think out loud, half talking to Jamie and Zordon, half talking to herself.

"Let's look at this logically." she said. "From what Larry said, Salacia is not the type to attack without a reason. The attacks have so far been aimed at Tommy and Venus Island. I'd say it's likely that they're going after Kim. What's the connection here? Just that both Kim and Tommy are Rangers? That can't be it. Salacia made no attempt to go after any of the others when she had the chance. Kim doesn't have the darkness of spirit that makes Tommy such an attractive target for Rogue drafting, so what can she be going after now?"

"Well, if you wanted to control Tommy, break him to your will, what would you do?" Jamie asked. She'd been listening to Lita, and she thought she might have hit on the answer. "Remember when Vile tried to turn Tommy, our Tommy, to the dark side? What did he do? How did Nyghtmayr almost break him?"

"He isolated him-- oh no!" Lita paled. "That's it! They're going to try and take away the only links that Tommy has to the side of light!"

"They've already made him abandon the Rangers and his powers," Jamie acknowledged. "Now they're after Kim."

"Which means that David is probably next," Lita added grimly. Zordon had filled her in on the history of this world's Tommy, and it wasn't hard for the psychiatrist to guess what-- and who-- he loved most in the world.

"Zordon, can you teleport me to the reservation? We need to get David and bring him here immediately. If the Rogues go after him, a lot more people are going to die."

"Dr. Kino, I am unsure that this is wise. I do not know what affects Multiversal travel might have had on you, but should the Rogues learn of your mission--"

But Lita cut Zordon off, a new experience for the Morphin Master. "We can't wait for the Rangers to come back, and Jamie needs to stay here in case they need back-up. I have the Green Coin, which enhances my strength and speed, and I'm also a black belt in aikido. I can handle myself long enough to get David. I have to."

Zordon sighed. "All right, if you must. Go swiftly." The psychiatrist chuckled.

"You know it." In a flash of white-green light, she teleported out.

David Trueheart was in his bedroom, reading a book, when he heard his father calling him. "Yeah?" he replied, setting his book down.

"There is someone at the door for you," Sam Trueheart told him. "She says she has a message from your brother."

Instantly David was moving down the stairs. Tommy had been acting strangely for a while, and any insight that this visitor could offer would be welcome. He figured it was probably one of the Ranger girls.

Reaching the door, he frowned. The woman at the door was tall, with brown hair and startling green eyes. He had never seen her before in his life.

"Can I help you?" he asked cautiously.

"Actually, I'm here to help you," she replied. "My name is Lita Kino, and I'm a friend of your brother's." Subtly, she flashed the communicator on her wrist. David frowned again. It was green and white, and he didn't recognize that color combo.

"What's the matter?" David asked.

She chuckled. "Tommy's in trouble again, as usual. I need you to come with me. We're needed at the Power Chamber."

David's eyebrows shot up. This was getting stranger by the minute.

"Look, no offense, but how do I know you are who you say you are?"

She smiled. "You don't. But I'll let you initiate the teleport, if you want. That will make sure you don't end up on the moon or something."

He sighed. "Okay. Dad!" he called back into the house. "I'm going out for a while. I should be back sometime tonight."

David glanced at Lita Kino quickly to see if his prediction had been accurate. She only shrugged.

"All right, David. I'll see you then." said Sam.

Lita and David then quickly checked for onlookers, and the two of them teleported out.

With a mighty leap, Adam and Tanya threw themselves in front of a Venusian soldier who was about to be toasted by a ball of flame. They knocked the woman to the ground and the projectile inferno passed overhead.

"You're too vulnerable!" Tanya shouted to the woman. "Stay under cover!"

"You four are losing this fight!" she argued. "You need our help--!"

"You'll be no help if they turn you into a crispy critter... now tell the troops to stay back!"

Tanya let the woman up, and she ran back to the trees, turning back to hurl a spear at the Rogues before she disappeared.

"These girls don't know when to quit..." Tanya lamented. But Adam suddenly shouted "Incoming!" and threw himself up to protect her. The projectile blaze struck him like a backdraft and he was thrown to the ground.

"Adam!"

He lay unmoving in the grass a few yards away, smoke issuing from his clothing. Tanya scrambled over to him and grabbed his helmet in both her hands.

"Dammit, what did you go and do that for?!"

Just then, an airborne blaze traveled in the opposite direction most of them had been going that night. It struck the Rogues like the Rangers' energy blast had done before, but this time, there was a more pronounced effect.

The Blue Rogue, who was standing at point, let out a scream of agony when it engulfed her, and she collapsed to the ground. The Red Rogue pounced on her protectively and they were all driven back a few steps. Even Salacia had shielded her eyes in fear when the blast came, but no harm seemed to come to her at all. Now she snapped her head up to see who was joining the battle this time.

When the figure came into view, her limpid black eyes opened wide, and her porcelain jaw fell open in astonishment.

"It can't be...!" she whispered, echoing Zordon's sentiment from before.

The formidable man came to a halt before them, weapon poised above his head. It was not the face Salacia was looking at, but the weapon the man brandished.

The Sword of Fire.

"Goddess..." Skyla swore from Sabin's arms.

"Mr. Zedden...?" said Rocky.

"Back off, you harpy;" Larry growled to Salacia, "and take your little brood with you."

Brazen Tashana laughed in his face. From her place near Skyla, who still lay on the ground with Sabin, she chortled, "Or else what, old man? You'll whack us with your little sw--"

Skyla, who knew first hand what the blade could do, kicked Tashana swiftly in the leg. "Shut up!"

Salacia silenced them both with a gesture. She turned to Larry. "Where did you get that sword, old man?" Studying his features, she had the haunting feeling she knew him already, and she knew the mighty Sword of Fire only heeded the command of one being in the whole universe. However unlikely it seemed, it was the only possibility.

"What? You mean _this?_" the man gestured sharply with his blade. The Rogues all flinched, and Salacia nervously fingered the jewel at her neck. She knew the battle was over.

"The tables have turned I see." she said bitterly. "You have won this fight Zeos, but I promise I will see you all again soon."

And with that, she waved her free hand and vanished. The Rogues followed suit, leaving nothing but the circular patch of green grass they'd been standing on that the firestorm hadn't touched.

Again, silence reigned in the Gardens.

Then, the Legionaries slowly bean to emerge from the trees, as though still wary of danger. Not a moment later, Kimberly emerged as well, and ran to her friends in the field.

Tanya, and a semi-conscious Adam were on the ground, Tanya persistently trying to rouse him. He groaned, and Rocky and Kat helped him sit up just as Kimberly reached them.

"Adam, are you alright?" she demanded, kneeling in the grass next to him. He gave a slow nod as he tried to remove his helmet.

"I'm fine," he rasped, taking a deep breath. "I'm just going to think twice before I make anything flambe again." Tanya sighed deeply and rested her forehead against his for a moment. Rocky clapped him on the shoulder and turned to Kim.

"What's the bad news?" he asked, tactfully dispensing with any sarcasm. Kimberly's cheeks were stained with drying tears, but her voice was calm and steady again.

"Bad." she said grimly. "The Gardens are torched, and I won't even begin to guess how many buildings have been damaged or destroyed. The body-count..."

She broke off, her thoughts turning to Bridget again. Kat swallowed and laid a hand upon the Queen's shoulder comfortingly. They all fell silent out of respect for the dead, and out of relief that the terrible night was finally at an end.

In eight flashes of light, the seven Rogue Rangers, and their leader Salacia, appeared in the cubical main chamber of the Fifth Dimension, where Tommy was still unconscious on the chair.

"Why did you have us leave?" asked Tashana. "We still could have won!"

"We were outnumbered," said Salacia calmly. "Since their leader is no longer with them, I hadn't expected the Zeo Rangers to interfere so quickly. Especially with an unexpected ally..."

Salacia then fell silent, her thoughts moving to the mysterious warrior, who possessed the Sword of Fire. It is strange, she thought, The only being able to control the might of the Sword of Fire is none other than Lord Zedd himself; but can Lord Zedd change his appearance? Why would he chose to become a human male long past his prime of life? Aside from that, Zedd is an enemy of the Power Rangers, and of Zordon! If anything, he should be coming to my aid! All of these are things to be pondered on; but perhaps I can use this unexpected turn to my benefit.

"Well, perhaps we should take this opportunity to capture Tommy's other link to humanity." Sabin was saying. "The link of blood."

"Unfortunately, Zordon must have foreseen that plan of action." said Salacia. "The boy David Trueheart is no longer at the Native Reservation where he resides, and I cannot find him anywhere else on the planet. The only explanation is that he is inside the Power Chamber where he cannot be detected."

"Then we failed!" yelled Skyla angrily. She was still shaken and trembling from the turnabout attack. Salacia only glanced at her.

"Not necessarily," their leader retorted, another wicked grin crossing her flawless face. "We may not have been able to destroy Tommy's links to humanity, but we can still win him over by creating new, more powerful links. You seven must work together, and create bonds of friendship and loyalty with him. When he awakens, the evil power I have instilled in the previously dormant Green Coin will make him confused; and vulnerable."

"So what do we do now?" asked Undine.

"Whatever you like," said Salacia, waving her hand. The far wall of the chamber melted away, forming a doorway into what appeared to be a peaceful park with a quiet pond.

"Why have you chosen this scene?" asked Tristam curiously.

"Because, this is an image of Earth," explained Salacia. "Most specifically, it is reminiscent of a location where Tommy often goes to think when he is troubled. He will feel more comfortable in this setting, than in one of an alien planet."

The Rogue Rangers demorphed, and passed through the doorway. Salacia closed the door behind them, and stood in front of Tommy. The faint glow of green on the coin began to grow brighter, and Salacia smiled. Soon, Tommy's hazel eyes fluttered open, and he groaned quietly.

"What... what happened?" he asked no one in particular. "Where am I?"

"You are still in the Fifth Dimension," said Salacia, "Green Ranger."

Tommy blinked, and then he remembered first meeting Salacia, and how she convinced him to follow her, by promising to help him find peace for his dueling sides. He sat up, and glanced down at the circular metal object in his hand. To his horror, it was the green coin.

What have I done? he asked himself.

"You did the right thing," said Salacia, "By re-taking the Green Ranger power, you have taken the first step towards freedom. I'm proud of you."

"I've betrayed everyone and everything I care about!" he cried, standing up and glaring at Salacia.

"Actually, they are the ones who have betrayed _you_." she said, walking to the closest wall. "Tommy, I am going to show you an image of a being we have recently encountered. He has teamed up with the Power Rangers, and has made it clear what side he is on."

Tommy watched curiously as the marble wall melted, revealing an image of a battle. The seven Rogue Rangers and Salacia were battling against the four remaining Zeo Rangers, aided by a stranger-- a middle-aged man.

"Who is he?" Tommy asked, watching as the man brandished a mighty broad sword that shimmered with orange light.

"Look deeply into his eyes." said Salacia. "You know who he is in your heart."

Tommy raised his eyebrow, but followed Salacia's instructions. In the eyes of this seemingly normal man, Tommy saw a passion that rivaled his own. His eyes were fierce as he faced his enemies, and in his head, Tommy heard a mighty, wicked cackle that he had only heard one being utter.

"Impossible," Tommy said quickly. "Zedd?!"

"The very same." said Salacia. "The Green power has opened your eyes, as I knew it would. Lord Zedd has disguised himself as a human, and he is battling your fellow Rogue Rangers. In addition, he has taken command of the Zeo Rangers and decided to fight on their side, for whatever purpose it serves him."

"I... I don't understand..."

"Lord Zedd has convinced the Zeo Rangers to trust him! Isn't it obvious? By teaming up with the self-proclaimed Emperor of Evil, they have abandoned everything they stand for! They have betrayed the planet, and _you_ their former leader! They must pay!"

"No!" Tommy said, in a tone more certain than he truly felt. "They're my friends!"

"No," said Salacia, approaching him and grasping his shoulder. "They are not your friends. They never were your friends. They listened to your commands, and they smiled in your presence; but they never trusted you. They trusted Lord Zedd over you. You are not one of them any longer, Tommy. You belong here."

"No..." Tommy said weakly, shaking his head. "I can't believe it..."

"You belong here, Tommy," Salacia continued. "but I can never convince you of this with words. I have a proposition for you. Spend some time with the Rogue Rangers. Relax with them, get to know them. If afterward you still don't feel comfortable here, then come to me, and say so. I shall return you to Earth, you can return to your so-called 'friends', and your demanding mentor. Agreed?"

Tommy glanced up at Salacia, who smiled charmingly at him. His confusion lessened, and as Salacia watched, his dark hazel eyes slowly became a shade greener; but they didn't just glow green... they _were_ green.

"I guess--" he started.

"Excellent," Salacia said, taking his hand and walking to the far wall. "You'll be quite surprised at how much you have in common with them, Tommy."

She reached out and touched the marble surface of the wall. The wall opened, revealing a lush park, with a lake and trees. Tommy blinked in surprise.

"The Fifth Dimension is what you make of it," Salacia said. "Welcome home, Tommy."

With that, Tommy slowly walked into the park. The marble wall sealed itself behind him, leaving Salacia alone in the cubical chamber.

So far, so good, she thought, I couldn't have planned it better! The Green powers are already affecting Tommy's judgement, and he truly is doubting his friends! Lord Zedd joining the Zeo Rangers is too perfect! Soon, Tommy will be ready to fight alongside my fellow warriors, as the Green Rogue Ranger!

Salacia laughed with contentment, and sat down on the chair Tommy had vacated. She took off the bright orange Carnelian from her neck, and gazed at its reflective surface pensively.

"Lord Zedd must be the Green Ranger's first victim," she decided. "He possesses the Sword of Fire! Even with this protective gemstone, I am in danger. The Sword of Fire is the most powerful flame-weapon in the cosmos, and all Venusians are susceptible to fire. Even half-Venusians. Fortunately, only Zedd himself can wield the sword. Once the Green Ranger destroys him, the sword will be of use to no one, and Tommy can never go home again."