_How'd we get into this mess?_

It had all started with a letter from Kim and Tommy; they were wanting to get the gang back together for a reunion of sorts. He and Tanya had been surprised; the two were hardly around during the summer months. Adam figured Tommy would spend the summer with his uncle's racing team and Kim would go visit her mom in France. However, a reunion was an excellent idea; it had been two years since they all had gotten together. Kim had managed to round up nearly everyone: Jason, Kat, Rocky, him and Tanya. Both Aisha and Trini were still out of the country, Zack had a show he was touring with, and Billy was still on Aquitar. As for Justin, Kim hadn't known him, and he and the current power team were away on a mission. Then, Kim had learned from Mr. Cranston that Billy was due home for a visit, so the party was planned to coincide with Billy's homecoming.

Adam had been ecstatic to know that Billy was going to be there. He hadn't seen Billy since he had left for Aquitar to be with Cestria. Adam had missed him greatly. He hadn't realized how big a part of himself Billy had become until he was no longer there. Rocky may have been his best friend, but Billy was like his soul brother. Adam attributed that to similarities in the experiences they had undergone growing up. At any rate, Adam had been eager to see Billy again; he had a lot he wanted to tell him.

Billy had been overwhelmed by the reception he received (Tommy had managed to convince Dimitria to tell them when and where he'd be landing--Adam wasn't sure how he had accomplished that). Adam recalled seeing tears in Billy's eyes when they met him out in the desert. Yet, in spite of Billy's happiness, it seemed to Adam that he was slightly subdued; however, there had been no time to question Billy about what was wrong. Kim and Tommy promptly directed everyone to the park for their party. The festivities had barely commenced when their world turned topsy-turvey. Adam still had no idea what had hit them, but when he came to, he found himself and the four other guys shackled to the wall in a very dismal chamber. Of the girls, there was no sign. While they were getting their bearings, their captor appeared.

Beautiful was the word that sprang to Adam's mind when he thought of the man's appearance--tall and slender, almost feminine bone structure, with jet black eyes, lashes to rival Tommy's, and a very striking mouth. The man's most startling feature was the mane of ebony hair which fell from his head to trail on the floor. He was accompanied by an androgynous servant who was nearly a flawless white color; a fine cascade of white hair trailed over the stooped shoulders.

"You may call me Lord Nikkolo; welcome to my dwelling." His voice had been as engaging as his appearance. The name had meant nothing to them, except for Billy. Adam had observed his reaction--his eyes widening with recognition and almost fear?

"My, what fine specimens--such diverse physiques. Perhaps I should have visited Earth long ago; mm, what delicious sport you five shall provide me. Let's see... who should I begin with?"

What followed was an inspection; Adam's cheeks burned anew with a blush at the memory of the excruciatingly intimate ordeal. His skin crawled as he remembered Nikkolo's hands on his body; they had all been thoroughly felt up, but Jason had been the first. Adam had wanted to look away, especially once he realized what was about to happen, but some sort of morbid fascination kept him from averting his eyes. He wondered if any of the others had been in the same predicament.

His eyes went wide as Nikkolo shredded Jason's clothing. Then, their captor ran his hands all over Jason's naked body--probing, prodding, testing--examining him as if he was a piece of livestock. As for Jason--once struggling proved futile--he had born the indignity with eyes closed, teeth gritted, and face suffused with a blush.

"Hm, not bad. Good size. A little too broad in the shoulders...." Once Nikkolo finished looking Jason over, his assistant placed a thin white wrap around Jason's hips.

Rocky followed.

"Nice, but nothing out of the ordinary. You'll do if there's no one more interesting."

Billy....

"A little too much hair on the chest, I think, but not enough to be completely vulgar; however, I fear that you wouldn't be much fun. You'd enjoy what I have in mind too much."

Then, it was his turn. Adam shuddered, recalling the unexpected strength in Nikkolo's slender hands as they tore the clothing from his body. In spite of the coolness of the cell, his body was drenched in sweat. Adam had tried to pull away as the hands drew closer; the move had made Nikkolo laugh condescendingly. In the end, Adam endured the examination in mortifying silence. Nikkolo's hands were everywhere, seeking and finding the most sensitive areas on his body. It had been horrible, and yet some of the things Nikkolo had done to him had actually felt good; it was almost as if his body couldn't help it. Had it been like that for Billy and the others? It was all Adam could do to bite back tears of shame. Then, it was over; the hands were gone, but when he opened his eyes, he found Nikkolo studying him intently.

"Oh yes, you're exactly what I'm looking for... lean, smooth, clean lines, responsive--oh yes, definitely responsive. And the hair... as you can see, I have a prediliction for long hair. I shall look forward to seeing you in my pleasure chamber."

Adam barely had a moment to digest Nikkolo's statement before he found himself disolving in a manner quite similar to the teleportation effect from the morphing grid. All that brought him to his present state: sitting in a cell, dressed in a lightweight skirt-thing, and freezing.

_I wonder what Nikkolo made of Tommy,_ thinking of the other's comment about long hair.

Perversely, Adam was curious to know; however the notion was fleeting as thoughts of Tanya crept in. He hoped that she and the other girls hadn't been captured as well. He felt a slow burn of anger as he thought of Tanya having to undergo an examination like he had. He couldn't bear it, especially because the two of them hadn't indulged in activities of that intimate a nature yet. Adam sighed. They had been dating since their Senior year; it had taken him forever to work up the courage to kiss Tanya. He was fairly certain that she was ready for them to take the next step; he was the one who couldn't seem to move ahead. He wished he could let go of his insecurities; he definitely wanted Tanya, but for some reason.... That had been one of the things he had wanted to talk to Billy about before things went to hell. He was just grateful that Tanya was a patient, understanding woman.

_If they aren't in this hell hole, I bet the girls are beside themselves with worry, and I bet they're at the Power Chamber giving Dimitria the devil about trying to find us. Hell hath no fury like a concerned girlfriend!_ Adam smiled at that the thought. Dimitria would have her hands full--especially with Kimberly.

Adam stood and stretched, wishing he at least had been left his underwear. He also wished the cell had been warmer. He paced about, trying to get his circulation going. It was time to stop woolgathering and start planning. He had to get out of the cell and find the others. Then they could work on a way to get home or to signal the girls.

Adam roamed about the rather spacious cell. His initial impression about the lack of doors and windows proved to be correct. Teleportation appeared to be the only way in or out. He also discovered that he wasn't alone in the cell.

He found the hulking shape in a far corner; at first he mistook it for a statue, but a closer inspection revealed that the gargoyle-like figure was breathing. Adam backed away cautiously; his gut instinct was not to wake the thing up. In his career as a Ranger, he had faced some ugly, vicious-looking monsters, but this one looked m-e-a-n even while asleep! Massive legs supported a thick body sporting two pair of heavily muscled arms. Its neck was almost non-existent, and its face looked as if someone had kicked it in. Adam noticed a barb tail curled around its taloned feet, and its entire body was covered with bumps--rather like an armadillo's skin.

In spite of his caution, something alerted the creature to his presence. A pair of bulbous yellow eyes--with a slight green tinge--flickered open then narrowed as their owner caught sight of him. It growled deep in its throat.

"I'm not going to hurt you," Adam murmured, holding up his hands, palms outward. _Yeah, right, as if I could hurt it!_ "I'm a prisoner, too."

The creature hopped forward with surprising speed and agility for its size. As it raised up on its haunches, it towered over Adam by a least half a body length. Adam tried to show no fear, but he still couldn't help but take a step back. The being let out a howl that set Adam's ears to ringing.

"Take it easy," Adam moaned, his hands covering his sensitive ears. His cellmate extended a hand; it wasn't an aggressive gesture, so Adam held still. One wickedly clawed finger gingerly touched his face and hair. He observed that the creature's hand was trembling. _He can't be scared of me; can he?_

"Pretty," the hulking monstrosity rumbled while it continued to fondle Adam's hair. At least, that's what it sounded like to Adam. "Urgul... like."

_That does it; I don't care how much Tanya likes my hair long! The first thing I do when I get home is get my hair cut!_

Urgul (if that was the creature's name) advanced another step towards Adam. This time Adam noticed that the multi-armed being was not wearing any clothing--and he was definitely male.

"No way," Adam murmured softly, a feeling of unease gripping him. He took another step back. Urgul must have smelled his fear, for he reached out with astonishing speed and caught Adam with his upper arms.

"Urgul... need...." the creature said, a grin splitting its massive maw. A forked tongue snaked out. Adam turned his face to avoid being licked, but the supple wet ribbon stroked his cheek nonetheless.

"Gross," he grimaced. He struggled to wriggle out of Urgul's grasp, but he was held more securely than he had been while shackled, his arms pinned to his sides. Urgul shook Adam hard, causing his head to spin. When Urgul ripped away the flimsy garment left to Adam, the former Ranger began kicking and fighting even more desperately.

"No!" Adam shouted, panic seizing him as Urgul started stroking his body. This couldn't be happening! There was no way this... this whatever-it-was was going to... rape him! Something snapped in Adam's mind. He fought furiously to break free, but he was held too tightly. "Let me go!" In his frenzy, Adam bit down hard on the digit closest to his face.

Urgul howled in pain, but instead of letting Adam go, he slammed his hapless victim into the wall. Adam groaned as his back hit and the air was forced from his lungs. Then, before he could get his bearings, he was slammed again, this time face first. He felt blood in his mouth as he was pinned.

_This can't be happening!_ There had to be something he could do to prevent this... but he couldn't move... couldn't breathe... his muscles clenched tight as if that would stave off the unwanted invasion.

"Please... no...!" Adam begged in a tiny voice; it was all he could muster. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth in anticipation of the inevitable.

"Get away from him!"

Adam's eyes snapped open, and he barely caught a glimpse of the furious figure that crashed into his molester, knocking him away. Adam dropped to the floor like a ragdoll. He did his best to recover quickly and sat up.

"Tommy!" Adam didn't know whether to be relieved or die of embarrassment at having needed to be rescued from such an ignomious fate. His reaction could wait; the element of surprise had favored Tommy in the first exchange, but Adam knew that his friend would need his help in the fight.

Urgul's roars were deafening as he swung at Tommy. To Adam it seemed as if his eyes appeared more crazed than before. Tommy lashed out with a vicious punch-kick combination, but the manuever barely phased the hulking alien.

"Watch out for the tail," Adam cautioned as Urgul whipped his prehensile appendage back preparatory to striking. Tommy leaped away agilely.

"You okay, Adam?" Tommy queried.

"I am now."

"Then let's take this creep."

Tommy positioned himself for an attack on the right while Adam dropped into position on the left. A pair of flying kicks should do the trick; however, their foe suddenly doubled over. His howl was more like a scream of pain. His body trembled with the agony that suddenly gripped him. Both Adam and Tommy paused, but they hardly let their guard down. Still, they were not prepared for what happened next. Urgul uncoiled as if bursting out of chains. A pair of flailing arms caught Adam, sending him crashing into the wall once again. Urgul's peripheral vison must have detected the movement for he turned in time to see Adam slough off the wall. As he turned, his tail flicked out, knocking Tommy aside.

Adam tried to clear his eyes, but his vision was still doubled. It was obvious that Tommy was in trouble. Urgul had him firmly clenched in his beefy lower hands.

"Pretty," Adam heard the creature murmur.

"Let go of me!" Tommy snarled, fighting even as Adam had, and with the same futility. Adam struggled to get off his knees, but the world wouldn't stop spinning. He heard the sound of tearing cloth.

_Get up! If you don't get with it, Urgul's going to do to Tommy what he nearly did to you._ Adam tried valiantly, but it was no use. When he forced himself to his feet, his knees gave out, and he felt his stomach heave.

Urgul roared in pain again. _Tommy must have done something to piss him off,_ Adam mused. He wiped at his eyes; he was able to focus a little better. What he saw made him wish his vision hadn't cleared. Urgul's tail flashed out; this time Adam noticed a wicked looking barb on the end. It connected with Tommy's lower back.

Adam had never heard a sound like that come out of Tommy in all the years that he had known him. It was a scream of pain that defied description. In the second that it took for Adam to shake his head to try and settle the wooziness, Tommy collapsed, and Urgul had him by the hair.

"Urgul... need... now!"

Adam tried one last time to go to Tommy's aid and failed. His body sank to the floor. Tears of frustration blurred his already skewed vision, and Adam closed his eyes. Unlike in the holding pen, there was no way he could watch the violation of his friend. He placed his hands over his ears, but that did nothing to muffle Tommy's strangled cries.

"Anything, Jase?"

"Uh! Damn... no. These things are too strong. Sorry, Rocky." With the bemused tolerance of a parent observing a stubborn child trying to do the impossible, Billy watched his two companions as they attempted to break their restraints. He could have told them that there would be no breaking Nikkolo's chains; they were designed to hold stronger species than homo sapiens. He supposed that they should have been grateful that Nikkolo didn't want them harmed just yet; the manacles could have been electrified. However, he understood Jason and Rocky's need to do something to struggle against their captivity; neither one had ever been able to sit idly by and do nothing.

Billy flexed his arms and pulled himself up, trying to work a cramp out of his biceps. He was grateful that their ankles weren't secured to the wall as well. Once the discomfort passed, he let himself down again. This was not the homecoming he had anticipated. It had been his hope to slip into Angel Grove quietly, spend some time with his father, then get on with his life. He hadn't wanted to face the others until he had things under control again. He had two years of catching up to do. However, Kim had spoken to his father, and somehow Tommy had gotten his flight plan out of Dimitria--that had been a major accomplishment.

Billy had been aware of the change in the Rangers' leadership; Zordon had contacted him from Eltare to let him know what was going on, and Billy had appreciated the courtesy. He had already known Dimitria by repute; she was well respected on Inquirus, but dealing with her was very trying when all one wanted was a straight answer. He supposed that he hadn't needed to contact her about his return from Aquitar, but he felt like he owed her that courtesy. He sighed. However Tommy had managed it, nearly everyone had been there to greet him. At least the others thought that he was just home for a summer visit, not for good. He wasn't quite ready to explain that.

_Cestria...._

When he had first decided to stay with Cestria, he knew that there would be some difficulties considering they were from different species. He had thought that their affection for each other would help them overcome that. It had--to a point. The first year had been pretty awesome. He had learned and done so much... experiences that he never could have had on Earth. He had found the Aquitians' more liberal attitudes towards interpersonal relationships especially intriguing. Schoolings had turned out to be more than simply peer groups! The physical and emotional sharing that he had with Cestria was unlike anything he had known with his own kind. He had been happy; however, in his contentment, he failed to recognized that Cestria was not.

They had not considered that the fact that Billy was not a telepath would a problem; Aquitians were a very tactile speicies--physically and mentally. Although Cestria never complained, she missed the intimacy telepathy provided partners. Then there was the pressure from her family and members of their Schooling for her formally to take a mate. Cestria had reached the Age of Mating around the time of their first anniversary together. Billy hadn't been aware of the pressure at first, but gradually he caught on--as Cestria began wearing down and spending more time with Hydronus. The urge to mate had hit her very strongly. At first, he had been hurt, angry and confused; finally Delphine had taken him aside and explained the situation.

In the end, Billy did the only thing he could do. He released Cestria from her promise to him. He simply could not give her what she needed--biologically or telepathically. He had wanted to leave right away, but Cestria had asked him to stay for the bonding ritual. At the cermony, Delphine opened her mind to him (she was a strong enough telepath to be able to get through a little bit). She let him experience Cestria's joy at being bonded with Hydronus, and Billy knew then that he had made the right decision.

"Billy, are you okay?" Rocky queried, disturbing Billy's musings.

"Yes, I'm all right," Billy replied, sighing heavily.

"You had this really glassy-eyed stare," Rocky continued.

"Just thinking."

"Have you thought of a way to get us out of here?" Jason joked humorlessly.

"Not yet."

"What do you think Nikkolo has done with Adam and Tommy? What did he mean by looking forward to seeing them in his pleasure chamber?"

_You don't really want me to tell you, do you?_

"Who is this Nikkolo guy anyway?" Jason demanded rhetorically.

Billy took a deep breath. He knew. He had seen the name in Zordon's files and had learned a great deal more from the Aquitian Rangers. Considering what he knew about Nikkolo, Billy would rather be facing the combined forces of Zedd, Rita, Mondo, and whatever other villain the Rangers have faced than be in that fiend's holding cell. He almost didn't want to tell Jason and Rocky; knowing what was in store for them wouldn't do them any good, but he was never one to believe that ignorance was bliss.

"Who does Pretty-boy think he is anyway?" Rocky continued to spout, "Where does he get off feeling us up then telling us we're uninteresting?"

Billy bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling. He had wondered if Nikkolo's comment had rankled Rocky. "Actually, Rocky, you should be grateful he thinks you're uninteresting."

"What do you mean by that: do you know something about this guy?" Jason asked.

"I've seen files on him. In intergalactic and interdimensional circles, Nikkolo's name is synonymous with sexual depravity. You name it; he's into it. Pain, pleasure... he gets off on both. Gender and species don't matter." _Although he has demonstrated a marked preference for males._

"That's sick," Rocky grimaced, recoiling.

"Definitely," Billy concurred.

"So when he was inspecting us...." Jason began.

"He was trying to figure out whether he wanted us in the pleasure chambers or the torture chambers. He couldn't make up his mind about the three of us, so he left us in the holding pens."

Billy thought back to Nikkolo's assement of himself: _I fear that you wouldn't be much fun. You'd enjoy what I have in mind too much._ He wondered what Jason and Rocky thought of that--if they even remembered the comment. Let them make of it what they would; he had nothing to be ashamed of. Maybe he would enjoy Nikkolo's games; maybe he wouldn't, but he definitely would have fared better in the pleaure pits than Adam or Tommy.

Billy was deeply concerned for their two missing friends--Adam moreso than Tommy. From what Billy had read about Nikkolo, he enjoyed messing with peoples' minds almost as much as messing with their bodies. Of the two, Tommy was better equipped to deal with both forms of manipulation--he would succumb, but he would recover. About Adam, Billy wasn't so certain. He had never had his mind tampered with the way Tommy had; Billy had the sense that Adam was still a very shy, sensitive person deep down inside--much as he had been once. Only, Adam's past two years would not have equipped him to deal with Nikkolo the way Billy's past two years had. Billy often thought of Adam as a younger brother, although only a year separated them, and he wished there was some way for him to shelter his friend from what was to come.

"Well, at least none of us got sent to the torture chamber," Rocky continued, trying to put an optimistic spin on things. "I mean, how bad can the pleasure chambers be?"

"Personally, I would rather be sent to the torture chambers," Billy responded somberly. His comment startled both Jason and Rocky. There was something cleaner, more honest about pain; it couldn't make you question yourself the way pleasure could.

Adam moaned, the cold waking him up.

_Oh man, I feel like I've been stepped on by a zord!_ Adam opened his eyes carefully; streaks of red obscured his vision, and he remember the sickening thud when his head hit the wall a second time. He tried to push himself up; it hurt to move. His bruised, aching muscles protested vigorously, and all of a sudden he felt lightheaded. The room began to spin. He fought the urge to be ill. While he was struggling with that, a scent caught his attention--something so incredibly putrid that, combined with his existing nausea, Adam felt his stomach heave.

_Just what I didn't need,_ Adam groaned inwardly as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. _As if it didn't smell bad enough in here already!_ He noticed that he was near the lavatory facilities and dragged himself over. He pulled himself up to the sink, rinsed out his mouth and tried to clean the blood from his face. That was when it him: it was awful quiet in the chamber. Bits of the fight surged forward through his hazy mind, and Adam gasped, "Tommy!"

Turning, Adam was almost afraid to look, but he had to. It was difficult to see in the cell's dim lighting, but he spied Tommy and their cellmate heaped together on the floor--Urgul laying heavily across Tommy. Both were disturbingly still. Adam shuddered, recalling the way Tommy had collapsed after being stung by Urgul's tail. It was as if his entire body went limp at one time; could the alien have injected him with something to completely paralyze him? If so, then Tommy would probably have trouble breathing--without being pinned under a creature twice his size and bulk.

Adam released the sink and dropped to the floor. The room seemed to spin even more with every move that he made. His own gasps and groans were loud in the eerily silent chamber, yet there were occasions when Adam thought he heard something--a gasp? A garbled moan? He couldn't tell what it was or where it was coming from. By the time Adam reached Tommy's side, he felt as if he would collapse from exhaustion; however, there was no time to rest. Tommy, if he was still alive, needed his help.

"Come on, you big lug. You've done enough to him already. Get off," Adam grunted as he tried heaving the hulking alien off Tommy. He only managed to roll him onto Tommy's legs. At least Tommy would be able to breath more easily... Adam was suddenly concerned. He couldn't see the rise and fall of Tommy's chest.

"Come on, Tommy; please don't be dead," Adam urged. He held his hand in front of Tommy's nose and mouth and was much relieved to feel the faint touch of warm air. "Thank goodness!" Then, he heard the groaning noise again, and it seemed to be coming from Tommy. Adam rested a hand on Tommy's shoulder and was suprised to find him so warm while he was freezing. Brushing the hair away from Tommy's face, Adam peered at his expression. Near as Adam could tell, Tommy's face was frozen in a grimmace of intense agony. Then, Adam saw something on Tommy's cheek that glistened in the faint light: a tear. He watched as it slowly slipped down the curve of Tommy's cheek. It was almost immediately replaced by another. The sounds Adam had been hearing were Tommy's muted sobs.

"Hang in there, Tommy," Adam murmured, patting Tommy's shoulder and feeling quite at a loss as to what to do. He didn't imagine that Tommy wanted him to see him cry, but he couldn't abandon Tommy either. Adam felt he had to do something, so he stroked Tommy's hair as his mother used to do to him whenever he was upset and softly sang the same song that his mom had used to quell his fears.

"It's all right, Tommy. Somehow, it'll be all right." Feeling helpless in the face of his friend's suffering, Adam sat comforting Tommy until they both fell asleep.

Adam woke the next morning to find Urgul alert. The hulking alien hovered close by, staring at them intently. Now that the cell lights had come up, Adam could see the mess of blood and slimy green ooze which coated Tommy's backside. He wanted to be ill again. However, he had to keep it together; Tommy was still out of it and defenseless.

"Keep away from him," Adam snarled, rising up to assume a defensive posture. He eyed the other being warily.

Urgul made no move except to raise his hands, palms outward. Adam observed that his eyes no longer held a crazed gleam in them. "That one... live?" the alien queried, gesturing at Tommy.

Adam was stunned to hear him speak some semblance of English. Except for a couple of words, most of his speech had been utter gibberish. "He's alive," Adam answered guardedly.

"For life... thank you."

What did the guy mean--for life? His life?

"What a delightful performance," a resonant, elegant voice mocked, accompanied by stilted clapping.

"Nikkolo," Adam hissed. Both he and Urgul glanced up upon hearing their captor arrive. To Adam's astonishment, Urgul shrank back as if in complete terror. He practically groveled at Nikkolo's feet. As for Nikkolo, he was accompanied by a pair of pale, nearly naked servants of indeterminate gender. At a gesture from their master, one tended to the mess Adam had made on the floor; the other approached Tommy. Adam hovered close by protectively; however, the silent being began cleaning up the blood and ichor.

"Master," Urgul whimpered. Where was the fierceness he displayed last night when he had taken Tommy? Urgul was strong enough to have been able to break Nikkolo in two. The cowed creature raised hopeful eyes to Nikkolo. "Free now?"

"Have you done anything to deserve to be free?" Nikkolo queried, amused as the mult-armed hulk began quivering. Adam smelled his cellmate's fear and felt his own anger rising.

"Please you? Do good?" Urgul simpered, motioning to Tommy's prostrate form.

"Ah yes, taking the human and injecting the spore into his body. That was well done. Very well done, indeed. It was quite a performance... a delectible young man in danger, a daring rescue, the brutal taking of the hero, and a tender bedside scene. Truly, I have not enjoyed this little game in quite some time. Of course, it would have been better if the human could have put up a struggle... but I suppose that couldn't be helped. Your stinger automatically injects the amount of *lasis* required to down a fellow Midellon; what chance did the poor human have?"

"What have you done to Tommy?" Adam demanded, feeling filthy inside and out in Nikkolo's presence. His attention was torn between his depraved captor and his friend. Once Tommy was clean, the servant produced a thin, metal wand that seemed to glow purple. His intent was obvious--he meant to insert the rod into Tommy. Adam tried to push him aside; he couldn't let anything else happen to Tommy, but the slight humanoid shoved Adam back with surprising force. Adam grimmaced and looked away; Tommy groaned in his sleep. Adam suddenly felt a hand at his chin. It was Nikkolo, and he was forcing Adam's head around so that he had to watch what the servant was doing.

"You are fortunate that you are a pretty fellow and that you will be needed," Nikkolo said coldly. His gaze was so icy Adam actually shivered. He could feel the danger radiating from his captor. "Have no fear for your companion--Tommy you called him? Andri is simply repairing the internal damage your friend sustained during his taking. I want Tommy healthy and whole for what is to come. Quite simply, what will happen to Tommy is the same thing that happened to Urgul. It is rather ingenious, a fiendishly clever torture than I am quite proud of. Urgul was infected--just as Tommy was--with an organism that, as it germinates, creates a toxin that produces madness. It is an extremely painful process, but pleasurable as well, for the spore's poison attacks the body's pleasure centers. As Tommy is overwhelmed by the pain, he will sink deeper and deeper into the madness until his mind and body can take it no longer. Then, he will seek to rid his body of the spore in the same fashion as Urgul: he will take you. You see, the spore is transmitted through the ejaculate, and it is only through ejaculation that the body can be rid of the spore; however, self gratification will not suffice. It is simply too painful. Only at peak madness and in the throes of full sexual pleasure can one be rid of the spore--one doesn't mind the pain then."

Adam recoiled in horror, and Nikkolo laughed. The servant completed his task with Tommy then turned his attention to Adam. After cleansing the wand, Andri applied it to Adam's head wound. His headache vanished, the gash healed over, and all trace of his nausea was gone.

"I see you are not fond of sodomistic pursuits. A pity," Nikkolo chuckled derisively. "Of course, Tommy doesn't necessarily have to take you; I could provide him with a female, but then he runs the risk of passing the spore to the female and having it gestate inside her--much like a baby. Only, upon reaching term, the baby would eat the mother alive and thus be born." Nikkolo's laughter gave Adam cold chills as he thought of Kimberly.

"It will be interesting to see how long Tommy lasts," Nikkolo continued, eyeing Tommy speculatively. "I have no idea how fast the poison will work on him; I've never infected a human before, and Urgul injected enough tainted ejaculate into him for two humans. This should be quite educational for me, as well as stimulating. You and your friend possess surprising depth of character; actually, it's rather nauseating, but then what would one expected from former Power Rangers?"

Adam's eyes went wide with surprise at that announcement. How could Nikkolo have known what they were?

"Which will win out: instinct or ethic? Will Tommy chose survival over an unnatural act, as you humans view such things? It is times like these that I wish I were a telepath so that I might completely immerse myself in my victim's angst. I can only sit by and watch the drama play out. "Oh, have no fears regarding Tommy's state of being if he choses survival; he will recover completely once the spore is passed, as your brutish friend here did. The question then becomes, what reason will I have for keeping him alive? If he amuses me sufficiently, I may let him live. If not...." Nikkolo nodded to his other assistant who handed his master a small tubular device. Nikkolo aimed it at Urgul; a beam of energy burst forth and incinerated the multi-armed creature, leaving behind nothing but ashes.

"It seems like such a waste; I'm sure he could have proven interesting in one of the other chambers, but he had served me well. I suppose a quick, painless death was the least I could do for him. I believe I shall leave the two of you alone," Nikkolo decided as he gathered up his mane of hair preparatory to departing. "I often play with my captives while waiting for the poison to ripen, but I think it will be more entertaining to simply observe the two of you. It will be delicious to see how two friends deal with what is to come. Of course, it will be more interesting if Tommy could move. Ogini, give him the antidote to the _lasis_. Then, leave the bowls behind, and we shall leave these two friends in peace." Nikkolo teleported in a flash of black light.

Ogini approached Tommy and pressed a device resembling a tire gage to Tommy's neck, and Adam heard a hiss of air. Andri set two bowls, spoons, and two pair of shorts just out of Adam's reach. Then, the silent pair vanished.

"Oh God," Adam groaned.

"I'll die first," Tommy moaned suddenly, sounding as if he was talking through gritted teeth.

"Tommy!" Adam gasped. "You're awake?"

"Yeah... can't open my eyes yet, though."

"You heard all that?"

"Uh huh."

"Do you think he's telling the truth?"

"There's something inside me, Adam. I can feel it burning me from within," Tommy confirmed.

"Tommy, I'm sorry... I should have... I wanted to do something...."

"You tried, Adam. I saw you hit the wall as I went down. You couldn't have done anything."

"You knocked Urgul off me...."

"You'd have done the same thing if our positions had been reversed," Tommy said dismissively. "We're teammates; we put our lives on the line for each other all the time. Don't worry about it, Adam; once I can move again, I'll be all right. What did our host leave us for breakfast?"

"I don't know, but it smells pretty good," Adam murmured. How could Tommy even think of food? He'd just been paralyzed and raped! For that matter, how could he? Adam inspected the bowls and took a tiny taste. "Not bad. Do you think it's safe?"

"Nikkolo wants to see what happens when the spore has taken control of me; he's not going to poison us before that happens," Tommy reasoned.

"Good point," Adam conceded. "All right. Let's see if I can roll you over." Adam managed to flip Tommy onto his back and prop him up against the wall. Tommy winced; his posterior was still rather tender in spite of the healing ray. Adam did his best to dress Tommy then gratefully slipped on the second pair of shorts. Next, he did his best to feed his friend.

"I hope that antidote works quickly," Tommy murmured around his mouthful of food, "before you have to change my diaper, too."

Adam managed a small grin at Tommy's joke, but in spite of Tommy's words, when Adam looked at his eyes, he saw fear reflected therein.

"Hey, guys, breakfast," Billy called out, rousing Rocky and Jason. The albino had returned with the long straws again. Slowly the two came around. "Sleep well?"

"Man, I had the worst nightmares," Rocky groaned.

"Hanging by my arms is not my idea of a good night's rest," Jason added.

"I didn't get much rest either," Billy said, yawning. As they imbibed their breakfast, Billy found his attention drawn over to the Dessyndrian, who was regarding them intently as it consumed its share of the meal.

"Who's the new guy?" Rocky wondered.

"He's a Dessyndrian; he arrived late last night," Billy explained.

"Why do I get the feeling he doesn't like us," Jason murmured.

Billy was impressed with Jason's perceptiveness. The sauroid did not like humans; of course, most of the intergalactic spiecies he had become familiar with tended to look down on humans. Humans were viewed as a sort of vermin and it was considered fortunate that humans hadn't figured out how to venture farther from their home planet than its satellite. The Dessyndrian was presently mumbling under its breath, ranting about Nikkolo's lack of taste in picking up intergalactic riff-raff. Billy did not understand the sauroid tongue, but the Dessyndrian was using Galac-speak for the benefit of the other prisoners, who seemed highly amused by the monologue which none of the humans (apparently) could understand.

However, Billy understood Galac-speak. He had only been able to master a few words of the Aquitian tongue, and Cestria and the Rangers were the only ones who would communicate with him via a translator or absorb English via telepathy. Galac-speak was a sort of common tongue, and Billy's mastery of it was not perfect (it was sort of like pigeon-English), but he could make himself be understood.

_"Didn't anyone ever tell you that it's rude to insult another sentient being in a tongue he can't understand?"_ Billy remarked. He was rewarded by seeing the sauroid's eyes flare wide with astonishment, and Billy did his best to curb his smile.

_"You surprise me, human,"_ the Dessyndrian murmured.

_"That was my intent."_

"Billy, what's going on?" Rocky wondered.

"Can you understand what he's saying?" Jason queried.

"Yes, it would appear my time on Aquitar is going to pay some unexpected dividends," Billy said wryly.

_"You speak of Aquitar,"_ the Dessyndrian ventured.

Billy could sense that he was not comfortable with the idea that a human knew something of the cosmos beyond his little corner. _"I do. It has been my home for two Sol Three revolutions."_ All the prisoners seemed to consider his words. _"Listen, you can either trade insults with me or exchange names; since we seem to be in the same predicament here, I would prefer trading names. Mine is William Cranston, formerly of Angel Grove, California, planet Earth."_

_"Your name and face are known to me, Ninja Blue Ranger."_

_"My companions are Rocky DeSantos...."_

_"Ninja Red Zeo Blue Ranger...."_

_"... and Jason Scott."_

_"Red Thunder Gold Ranger."_

"Billy, did that guy say what I just think he said?" Jason wondered, catching part of the conversation.

"He knows we were Power Rangers?" Rocky gulped.

"I hate to disillusion you, but the only sentient beings in the galaxy who didn't know we were Power Rangers were our own kind," Billy replied. "Why do you think Rita was onto us almost as soon as we accepted the power coins? I believe the morphing grid has the ability to cloud like minds to those powered by the grid. Humans can't tell who the human rangers are; Aquitians can't tell who the Aquitian Rangers are, and Dessyndrians can't tell who their Rangers are either. The Ranger corps is a lot larger than Zordon ever told us."

_"The name Zordon is known to my people as well. If you follow him, then perhaps you are worthy to be given my name,"_ the Dessyndrian decided. _"My name in my native tongue you would be unable to pronounce, but in Galac-speak I am called IgwaNai."_

_Song of the Sand Wind,_ Billy translated to himself. _"Thank you."_ He inclined his head politely. _"If you will allow an observation, I was noticing that you do not appear to be particularly distraught at being in Nikkolo's holding pens. I am wondering why."_

_"You are perceptive, Ninja Blue Ranger. I am here of my own design,"_ IgwaNai declared proudly. _"Nikkolo has abducted he-who-is-my-other-self, my bond brother."_

"Billy?" Jason prompted, and Billy belated recalled that Jason hated to be left out.

"Nikkolo has captured IgwaNai's soul brother, as it were," Billy translated.

_"I am here to find him. Once that is done, I will seek out Nikkolo and feast on his still-beating heart."_

_"If it was me, I'd settle for finding my bond brother and getting out of here as quickly as possible."_

_"You know much, Blue Ninja Ranger, but not all. If I free my brother, there will be no peace for us as long as Nikkolo lives. He does not like to give up a prize; he will hunt us to the end of our days."_

That Billy could readily believe.

"Man, I wish we could still morph," Rocky huffed after listening to Billy's translation.

"I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but right now, so do I," Billy agreed.

_"I, too, wish you still had your powers,"_IgwaNai concurred.

"Even if we had our powers; it wouldn't do us a whole lot of good," Jason observed. "While morphed, we still wouldn't have the strength to break down these walls."

"Yeah, it'd take a zord to do that," Rocky added.

_"A Kyshaak would possess the strength to break through the stones,"_ IgwaNai volunteered.

It took Billy a moment to recall what sort of being a Kyshaak was: bipedal, hirsute, incredibly strong arms, thick claws, and capable of being wound up into a bloodlust that virtually made it unstoppable. _"A dangerous ally to have,"_ Billy murmured. A Kyshaak would like as not turn on comrades once its blood was up.

"Hey Billy, what is this thing leaning up against my leg? It wasn't there yesterday?" Jason wondered.

"I've been trying to figure out what it is, but I'm coming up with nothing," Billy answered with a sigh of frustration.

_"What that is, Blue Ninja Ranger, is an Ufka,"_ IgwaNai said.

"Of course!" Billy exclaimed. If he could have smacked his hand against his forehead, he would have.

"A what?" Rocky asked.

"A morphological being... shape-shifter," Billy elaborated excitedly.

"You mean that blob of jello...."

"...can assume any shape it wants--even that of a Kyshaak."

Billy's mind was racing with the possibilities. "Jason, do you think you can pick the tube up with your feet?"

"I think I can twist around enough," Jason murmured.

"What do you have in mind, Billy?" Rocky asked as Jason began his contortions.

"It's my guess that Nikkolo has imprisoned the Ufka in a vaccum, rendering it unconscious. If we can somehow break the tube--crack it just the tiniest bit--the air would revive the Ufka and...."

"...and it could then ooze out of the crack, become this whatever-it-is, and bust us all out of here!" Rocky finished excitedly. "Come on, Jase!"

_"After being dormant for so long, the Ufka will need bioenergy to replenish its strength,"_ IgwaNai reminded Billy.

_"We'll deal with that when the time comes."_

For now, Billy silently echoed Rocky's cheer and watched, breathless, as Jason strained to the limit to collect the glass-like capsule.

It had been a very long, uneventful day; even so, Tommy couldn't sleep. Granted, he had napped on and off all day long--he couldn't believe how exhausted he was--however the reason for his wakefulness was a prickling pain that shot through every muscle and sinew. It was as if he had hit his funny bone--all throughout his body. Even that was nothing compared to the green fire raging in his veins. _Green, how fitting._

Tommy let out a slow breath and observed that he could actually see it. The chamber was cold, but you couldn't have proven it by him. He could almost see the heat shimmers rising from his body.

_"It will be interesting to see how long Tommy lasts. I have no idea how fast the poison will work on him; I've never infected a human before, and Urgul injected enough tainted ejaculate into him for two humans."_ Nikkolo had said.

It was working pretty quickly, if the nature of his dreams were any indication. _I'll fight it as long as I can, Adam, but I'd rather die than do to you what was done to me._ Tommy promised grimly. Surprisingly, the actual "taking" hadn't been that bad. Thanks to the numbing action of the _lasis_, he hadn't felt much pain at the time (although it hurt like blazes now!), and it wasn't as if he had never been "taken" before, but that had been four years ago--consensual and with a friend. The experience hadn't been entirely unpleasant; it just hadn't been what he was looking for. He'd found that with Kim. No, it wasn't the rape--it was hard to use the word--that bothered him. It was being completely helpless to do anything... fight... scream... nothing, and his silent tears hadn't accomplished much except to give him a stuffy nose.

"No! Get away from him!"

Tommy automatically turned his head to see what was up with Adam and was surprised that he succeeded in moving. Adam was on the pallet next to his--he had dismantled the bed so that they could each have something to sleep on. Tommy saw Adam writhing in the grip of a nightmare. In the dim lighting, he could also see that his friend was shivering with cold.

"No... sorry, Tommy... God, I'm sorry...."

Tommy pitied Adam. He and Adam hadn't been all that close, outside of being teammates and sharing a love of and skill in the martial arts. Adam had always been fairly close to Billy. Actually, so had he before Billy left for Aquitar. At one time Jason had been his closest friend, but they had drifted apart when he went to Switzerland, and Billy had come to fill the hole that had been left behind. Perhaps it was because Adam still had Rocky that Tommy and he hadn't turned to each other when Billy left. Although he didn't know his bashful friend well, Tommy knew that Adam hated being helpless to aid a friend as much as he did himself. It was why he had intervened when Urgul had Adam pinned against the wall--and why he'd do it again even knowing the outcome.

_If I can move my head, maybe I can move the rest of me,_ Tommy reflected. It was slow going, but he managed to roll himself off his mattress. In the meantime, Adam's shouts had dissolved into sobs of anger and frustration. Tommy wanted to do something to alleviate Adam's suffering even as Adam had tried to help him the other day. Tommy had hated crying in front of Adam like that, but he couldn't stop himself. He had been unable to express his anger and pain in any other fashion. He was gratful that Adam had seemed to understand, and he truly appreciated his efforts to soothe him. Painstakingly, Tommy forced himself across the short span of floor until he reached Adam's bed.

"Adam--hey man, wake up. You're having a bad dream," Tommy said, reaching out to put a hand on Adam's trembling shoulder. It was as if an electric shock shot through his body. His reaction to the physical contact was as powerful as it was immediate. Kim had never gotten to him like that!

_That pervert wasn't kidding when he said that the poison was strong._ Tommy tried shaking Adam again and almost unconsciously found himself stroking Adam's shoulder.

"Huh... wha... Tommy?" Adam mumbled as he came around.

Tommy withdrew his hand as if he had touched an open flame. "You're having a bad dream," Tommy reiterated.

"That's an understatement," Adam murmured thickly, wiping at his wet eyes. Then, he realized that Tommy wasn't supposed to be hovering over him. "You can move!"

"A little bit; the paralysis is wearing off," Tommy confirmed. There was no need to worry Adam by telling him he was already feeling the effects of the poison. He'd probably find out soon enough.

"That's great!" Adam said brightly. He wrapped his arms around himself and tried to warm himself up.

"Cold?"

"Freezing. You'd have thought Nikkolo would have at least left us a blanket if he was planning on saving on the heating bill," Adam complained.

"I'm burning up."

"Geezus, Tommy; I could fry an egg on you." Adam had barely stretched out his hand to Tommy before feeling the heat rising from his body. Neither young man said anything; they both knew the cause.

"I don't know about you, but crawling over here has wiped me out," Tommy yawned, collapsing on Adam's pallet.

"I'm not sure I want to try sleeping again."

"We gotta get what rest we can; there's no telling what Nikkolo has in store for us tomorrow," Tommy reasoned. He rolled to the outer edge of the pallet. "If you don't mind, I'm just gonna crash right here. You going to join me?"

"Tommy?"

Tommy laughed tiredly at his nervous query. "I'm not that far gone." _Yet._ "It's common sense. I'm putting off enough heat to keep us both from freezing; it'd be stupid to waste it. I promise to stay on my side of the bed." Tommy's tone was flippant; still, he couldn't repress a shiver of excitement as he felt Adam lay down next to him. _There has to be a way to cure me of this without having to rape Adam, too. Come on, Billy, figure out a way to get us out of here! And please, God, let me keep control for a little while longer!_

Adam went through the kata a second time. He was hoping it would help keep him warm and keep his mind distracted. The last wasn't working. Adam's thoughts were racing. It had been weird sharing the bed with Tommy last night; he hadn't been able to relax at first, but the heat Tommy had been radiating had warmed and soothed him enough to allow him to fall asleep again. His dreams returned--vastly different than his nightmares, but no less disturbing. He hadn't had dreams like that since he was a kid. He awoke, his hormones in an uproar and his body covered in cold sweat. To his immense suprise, he found Tommy practically wrapped around him. At first, Adam had been unable to move. In those first few moments, he was almost hyper-conscious of Tommy's proximity. It was as if he could feel all the minute details--Tommy's face buried in his hair, his breath warm against the back of his neck, making him shiver; the hardness of Tommy's chest against his back... and the hardness of his erection against his buttocks. That alone nearly sent him scrambling out of the bed in a panic, but it was the fact that Tommy's arm was across his hip and his hand was wrapped around his cock that finally had Adam wriggling free of Tommy's embrace.

He knew it wasn't Tommy's fault; it was the poison's, but it was happening too quickly, and Adam wasn't sure he was ready for that. He had been hoping that the others would find a way out of the holding pen--or wherever they were being held--and break them out before Tommy reached the critical stage. They'd get home and Alpha and Dimitria would find a cure for Tommy without him having to.... Adam found himself wishing that it was Zordon back in the Power Chamber; not that he doubted Dimitria's knowledge and ability--he just would have felt more comfortable dealing with Zordon in this matter. Tommy didn't have time for questions--he needed straight answers. However, it was beginning to look as if rescue and a cure were not viable options.

Feeling sticky, sweaty, and cold, Adam opted for a shower. As the hot water pounded against his tense, aching muscles, he tried to figure out what he was going to do. The thought of seeing Tommy in the grip of the pain and madness sent shivers up his spine, and Adam knew that he wouldn't let Tommy die. However, in letting Tommy take him, he would be exposed to the spore, and the cycle would begin again; he would be forced to pass the organism onto Rocky, Jason, or Billy. _There has to be another way!_

[That wouldn't be any fun], a small voice in the back of Adam's mind teased. At first, Adam thought he was hearing things. [Oh, you'll let Tommy take you, but not because he has to. Because you want him to!]

Adam noticed his hand was shaking as he turned off the water. Where had the little voice come from? Could it have been Nikkolo? However, Nikkolo had admitted to not being a telepath. Wherever it had come from, it had certainly shaken Adam. What had it meant-- "because you want him to?" He didn't want Tommy to fuck him--Tanya maybe, but not Tommy! More puzzled and disturbed than ever, Adam shook the water from his hair and reached for a towel. That was when he realized that Tommy was watching him. Initially, Adam was angry-- couldn't a guy have any privacy?--but then he noticed that Tommy's gaze was rather glassy looking, and there was a definite green tinge about his eyes. Adam finished drying himself and dressed, feeling very exposed and vulnerable.

[Wonder what he thinks of you? Lean, smooth, clean lines, responsive....] _Go away!_ Adam silently snapped at the mocking voice.

"Hey Adam."

Tommy's voice cut through Adam's reflections. He hadn't realized how hard he had been going at it until he stopped moving. Adam offered Tommy a wave as he gulped in deep breaths.

"Mind if I join you?"

"Are you sure you can?" Adam panted out. Tommy appeared to be walking normally, but fighting was a different matter.

"I think so. I feel a little stiff, but that's all. I seem to have my full range of movement back," Tommy assessed himself.

"Then let's give it a try."

They started out with a novice level exchange. Then, as Tommy warmed up, they proceeded to the next level. With every successful pass, they increased the difficulty in their exchanges until Tommy was almost at full steam. The workout seemed to be doing them both good; since he had to focus on countering Tommy's moves, Adam didn't have time to spare worrying about their dilema or that evil little voice. However, just as they hit a really intense groove, Tommy hugged his middle and sank to his knees, groaning in agony.

"What is it?" Adam gasped, hurrying to Tommy's side.

"... don't know... a spasm... oh man, it hurts!" Tommy stammered through clenched teeth. There was nothing either of them could do but wait it out.

"Maybe you overdid it," Adam murmured, feeling incredibly helpless.

"I don't think so...." Tommy looked up at Adam, and Adam recoiled, stunned. The greenish tint to Tommy's eyes was more pronounced than before.

"Come on; I think you should lie down," Adam suggested. He ducked under Tommy's arm so that it fell across his shoulder; however, as he tried to help Tommy to his feet, Adam suddenly felt himself wrapped in an embrace that pinned him tight against Tommy's feverishly hot body. The next thing Adam knew, Tommy's mouth was devouring his.

Adam was so astonished, he was completely numb; his mind went blank. It took several seconds for it to register that Tommy was kissing him! Adam had never fully realized just how strong Tommy was. He tried to pull away, but Tommy's right hand cradled the back of his head, holding him firmly in place, while his left continued to press him close. For the moment, all Adam could do was ride it out and hope Tommy eased off soon. It was a very unusual experience; he had never analyzed a kiss before, but he found himself doing so now. Tommy's mouth had started out as being very firm, almost hard, but the longer the kiss lingered, the softer his lips became. And he wasn't just pressing his mouth against Adam's but moving it as well in tiny nips.

"Mm, Kim...." Tommy sighed; then, his tongue came into play, flashing across Adam's lips; he felt it probing... teasing... but when it slipped inside to caress Adam's tongue, something inside the other young man snapped, and he fought vigorously to break Tommy's hold.

"T-tommy... snap out of it...!" Adam yelped, tearing himself away. His breath came out in deep gasps. For a moment Tommy seemed not to hear him; then, his vision cleared and his hands fell away.

"Oh God, Adam, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... I didn't realize...." Tommy sputtered, his expression agonized; he tried to step away, but his legs wouldn't support him. Adam instinctively tried to help him up; belatedly he realized that that might not be such a good thing. However, Tommy made no more passes at him.

"I know you couldn't help it, Tommy," Adam assured him, feeling the tension in Tommy's muscles as he helped him over to the bed. As Tommy sat down, Adam could see the fear in his face.

"I don't want this, Adam," Tommy moaned, unable to meet Adam's concerned gaze. "I don't want to do this to you."

"There's still time, Tommy; don't give up yet," Adam encouraged.

"I'd rather die...."

"Stop it, Tommy," Adam snapped. He didn't want to listen to talk of death. "We'll do what we have to to get through this."

"You're my friend... I can't put you through this...."

"You're my friend, too, and I can't let you die."

"But...."

Adam had to get through to Tommy somehow; he could be so damn stubborn sometimes. Then he recalled Tommy's wistful sigh while he'd been kissing him. "Tommy, I can't let you die, because if I did, what would I tell Kimberly?"

"Kimberly," Tommy echoed, his face brightening.

"You've got to hang on for Kimberly's sake, okay?"

"Okay."

Tommy's head began to nod; whatever had flared up inside him had subsided for the time being, leaving him exhausted. Adam helped him lay back. "Get some sleep, buddy."

"Sounds good to me," Tommy slurred and was out almost as soon as his head touched the mattress.

Adam knelt on the floor and rested his head against the edge of the bed. What was he going to do now?

[Enjoy it. Tommy's not a bad kisser--for a guy.]

"How much longer do you think this will take?" Jason queried.

"Yeah, Nikkolo could come back at any moment," Rocky added his concern.

"If I knew how long the Ufka had been sealed in the tube, I might have an answer for you," Billy sighed, just as impatient as the others.

The object of their concern lay puddled on the floor of the holding pen. Try as he might, Jason had been unable to crack the container. IgwaNai recommended that he be allowed to attempt to break the tube, but when Jason tried to toss it across the cell, he lost his precarious grip, and the tube fell short of its mark. However, it rolled to within inches of IgwaNai's feet. With effort, the Dessyndrian managed to stomp on the transparent container and succeeded in breaking it. From that point on it was only a matter of time until the Ufka revived--or Nikkolo returned and discovered what they were about.

"Hey, I think it's moving," Rocky yelped, noticing a ripple in the robin's egg blue puddle.

"It's a he," Billy corrected, but Rocky was right. There was movement in the gelatinous lifeform. It was immediately drawn to the nearest source of warmth and energy: IgwaNai.

"What's it doing?" Jason asked.

"The Ufka sustain themselves by absorbing the life energy put off by all living things," Billy explained. "Now that it has regained consciousness, it's seeking out sustenance." To IgwaNai, Billy said, _"Try to convince it not to take all it needs from you; otherwise you'll have nothing left with which to aid your bond brother. We'll all contribute."_

_"A wise precaution, Ninja Blue Ranger; I shall communicate this to our cellmate."_

"What's Iguana saying to the Jello-thing?" Rocky questioned.

"That's IgwaNai," Billy sighed. Really, how would Rocky liked to be called Rooky? "He's telling Ufka that we'll all share some of our life energy so that he doesn't have to drain a single individual."

"You volunteered us?" Rocky gasped.

"You want to get out of here, don't you. Presently, I can think of no better plan; if you have another suggestion...."

"It's not a problem, Billy," Jason interrupted. "What do we have to do?"

Billy didn't answer right away; he was engrossed by what was happening between IgwaNai and Ufka. The metamorph was slowly working its way up the Dessyndrian's powerful body, absorbing what surface energy it could. With every bit of sustenance it consumed, it began to take on a more solid shape. By the time it reached IgwaNai's head, the Ufka had assumed the shape of a Dessyndria, but the features were very vague. IgwaNai explained the situation and recommendations to the shapeshifter. Apparently, the Ufka agreed, for it nodded. Then, it fastened its mouth to IgwaNai's.

"Ew, it's going to kiss us?" Rocky moaned with disgust. Even Jason looked repulsed.

"In order to properly control the amount of energy he takes in, Ufka must penetrate the source-body with his receptor. Any open cavity will suffice: ears, nose, mouth, rectum...." Billy watched his friends squirm as he mentioned the last. "However, orally is the most convenient and comfortable for both parties."

"A blob of Jello is going to stick its tongue down my throat," Rocky murmured with a shiver. "There's no way...."

"You want to get out of here before someone else sticks something else in some place more personal, don't you?" Jason chided. That quieted Rocky's protests.

When Ufka was finished with IgwaNai, he resembled the Dessyndrian almost perfectly--there were minor imperfections in the coloring, but Billy ascribed that to the fact that Ufka was not at full strength. Billy was more concerned with IgwaNai; the sauroid, he did not appear any worse for the experience, just slightly out of breath. Then, to Billy's curiosity, IgwaNai leaned forward and said something to Ufka. When he was finished, the Dessyndria had an almost evil grin on his face. Billy had caught only a word or two, but he had the feeling he knew what IgwaNai had said, and he was forced to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.

"Wow, that's too weird," Rocky murmured, wide-eyed with amazement. Then, his eyes stayed wide as the emerald sauroid-doppleganger approached him. "Billy...!" Rocky's voice quavered with trepidation. Jason was already snickering, and Billy fought to maintain his composure. Ufka made a great show of flashing his forked tongue, teasing Rocky with it. Rocky opened his mouth to protest, and Ufka quickly slipped his tongue inside, bracing Rocky's head gently with his hands to keep him still.

It was all Billy could do to keep from laughing out loud as Rocky tried to squirm away, whimpers of protest escaping around his occupied mouth (Jason failed utterly in trying to keep a straight face). As intriguing as Rocky's reactions to being French kissed by a male of another species were, Billy was equally drawn to what was happening to the Ufka. Almost immediately upon making contact with Rocky--but before thrusting the receptor into Rocky's mouth--noticable changes had taken place in the metamorph's appearance. Then, Billy recalled something else he had read about the Ufka: they were low level touch-telepaths. That was what enabled them to convincingly assume the identies of other beings. They absorbed surface thoughts and emotions even as they metabloized the energy and imprinted the subject's genetic pattern. Ufka was losing IgwaNai's color and bulk and was taking on Rocky's smaller proportions.

Finally, Ufka removed his tongue and released Rocky. For his part, the former Zeo Ranger had his eyes tightly shut as he gasped for air.

"I thank you, Rockwell DeSantos," the shapeshifter intoned formally.

"S-sure, n-no problem," Rocky panted. When he opened his eyes, Rocky went sheet white as he found himself staring into his own smiling face.

"Are you all right?" Billy queried, watching as Rocky flashed Jason a black scowl. "The energy transfer didn't leave you too drained, did it?"

"I'm fine, just a little tired. Nothing a nap wouldn't fix," Rocky responded. "Just one thing, Billy; do we *have* to tell Adam and Tommy about this?

"I don't see any reason why we would need to," Billy answered with a tiny grin. However, his amusement faded momentarily. _I'm sure they're being forced to do things they'd rather not share with us._

"Okay, laughing boy, it's your turn," Ufka teased Jason as he approached him; his mimicry of Rocky was near perfect. "Pucker up."

"No way, man," Jason objected. "I'm not kissing Rocky; I'd rather have kissed the lizard!" However, his protests were for naught as Ufka threw his arms around him and his receptor found Jason's mouth.

"Oh man!" Rocky moaned, grimacing and looking away. "It was bad enough that I had to kiss a lizard; now I have to watch myself kiss Jason. Gross!"

"I don't know. It could have been worse," Billy teased gently. "Ufka could have become Lord Zedd or Bulk."

"You're enjoying this, aren't you," Rocky shot back. "Well, Mr. Know-it-all, your turn's next, and you have to kiss Jason."

Billy suddenly felt his mouth go dry, and he swallowed nervously. Rocky was right. Ufka would look and sound just like Jason when he was finished absorbing his energy.

"Hey Jase, think of Kat or Emily!" Rocky called out with mock helpfulness. He turned an impish grin to Billy. "I started out by thinking of Judy but wound up picturing Kimberly instead."

"My thanks, Jason Scott," Ufka said as he broke the connection. Jason, too, was left gasping for breath. His eyes remained tightly closed.

"Just tell me when he's done with Billy," Jason grumbled. Billy took a deep breath as Ufka/Jason approached. The metamorph had done an excellent job. He was Jason from the slight nuances of his movements to his scent--at the moment rather musky with the salty tang of perspiration. He smelled like Jason would right after a workout. _Odd what the memory will dredge up at a time like this._ The fingers touched his face first, and Billy felt a spark like static electricity race through his brain; Ufka had established the telepathic link. Next came the mouth; Billy closed his eyes and offered himself without protest. There was a moment when it felt as if he had a human tongue sliding around his own, but then he sensed the change as the receptor slid in deeper.

If Billy had ever wondered what it was like to be a beverage being sucked through a straw, this would be how he imagined such a thing would have felt. It was as if all the blood in his body was being drawn to the point of contact, except that it was more like electricity or fire flooding through his body. The actual transfer of energy did not take long, and Billy was somewhat disappointed as Ufka withdrew. He had barely begun examining the experience and then it was over.

When Billy opened his eyes, he expected to find himself staring into his own face; instead, Jason's face smiled back at him, and the shapeshifter hadn't pulled away fully.

"Thank you, William Cranston. For your energy and your aid in my freedom. Consider this my gift to you," Ufka said softly, with a knowing smile. Billy nodded, sensing Ufka's intent through their fading telepathing bond. Once Ufka released him, the metamorph began changing, assuming Billy's shape; however, the transformation swept over him rapidly, and it didn't cease with Billy. Ufka once again resumed Jason, Rocky, and IgwaNai's forms before melting into his orginal state.

"What's wrong?" Billy gasped, hoping that the Ufka was not injured. It retained a solid shape long enough to answer in Galac-speak.

_"Your energies... too rich... must take time to properly metabolize before taking on more."_

"I understand. Rest a while, but I'd advise mimicking the manner in which you were incarcerated," Billy recommended. The metamorph oozed across the floor until it resumed its position next to Jason and assumed a tubular shape.

"What was that all about?" Jason wondered, flinching from the slight contact.

"I neglected to account for the residual morphing energies left in our systems," Billy explaned. "Basically, to poor Ufka, it was like drinking spiked punch. He has to sleep it off."

"Let's hope he doesn't have a hangover when he wakes up," Jason joked grimly. Billy smiled at that then noticed that Jason looked decidedly uncomfortable; a glance at Rocky revealed the other's expression of astonishment. "What is it?"

"You look like you enjoyed that," Rocky gasped, dumbfounded.

"It wasn't an unpleasant experience, just different," Billy responded.

"But you didn't fight it or anything!"

"What point would there have been in doing that?" Billy queried. "Ufka was going to extract my energy in the same fashion as he extracted yours whether I liked it or not. By not resisting, I did not expend any unnecessary energy which our friend could make use of in his efforts to free us."

The explanation seemed to satisfy Rocky, and he relaxed visibly. "So, who were you thinking of when Jason's double kissed you?"

"Rocky...." Jason groaned.

"If you don't mind, I'd rather not kiss and tell," Billy demurred.

"Aw, come on...." Rocky prompted.

"He was probably thinking about Cestria," Jason interjected.

"Kissing a fish? Oh man...."

Billy smiled inwardly. For a moment, he considered answering Rocky, but judging by his friends' reactions to the experience, he decided against it. _No, you two aren't quite ready to know whom I was fantasizing about._

"Mm... that feels wonderful... don't stop...."

_Tommy's dreaming,_ Adam mused sleepily even as he snuggled closer to Tommy. _For the body heat_. It only made sense since the effects of the poison were the reason it was so damn cold in their cell. The two had determined that the cell was deliberately kept cool to keep the victim from succumbing too quickly to the fever induced by the poison. _He could have at least left a blanket for me._ However, that wouldn't have been nearly as interesting for their captor.

Body heat, nothing more, Adam tried to reassure himself, but deep inside his mind, the insidious little voice said, [but it feels so nice sharing a bed with another person. It feels so good to feel soft, warm skin pressed against yours and strong arms holding you tight....]

Adam had figured out what the voice was and wished he hadn't. It was same voice that had tormented him at puberty... telling him how nice it would be to touch another... only it told him that about guys as well as girls. He had been so confused by it... it had made being in the locker room after Phys. Ed., a game, or even at the gym awkward. And being so bashful around girls didn't help either. Things had gotten so bad that Rocky had started turning him on. That had been the last straw. Somehow, Adam found a way to shut out the voice which confused him and controlled the impulses that went along with it. There had been only one other time that the voice had threatened to slip from his control: it was after he had met Billy, Tommy, and Kimberly and discovered that they were Power Rangers. It hadn't been Tommy so much as Billy--a kindred spirit--but he had conquered the voice before it could cause too much mischief. Now, the voice was back, and Adam wished he could silence it again--or at least lock it back up in whatever corner of his mind he had previously imprisoned it. It was Adam's fear that the voice wouldn't be controlled any longer, even though he now had Tanya in his life--beautiful, vibrant Tanya whose body Adam longed to touch.

[You'd like to lie with Tanya like this... to feel her soft, silky skin against yours... to hear the soothing beat of her heart... to share the warmth of her body... to feel her hand in your hair like Tommy's is....]

"Huh?"

Adam's eyes snapped open as he felt fingers stroking his longish curls. Tommy had pulled him closer, wrapping him in his arms and was running his fingers through his hair.

"Kim... I love you... mmm...." Tommy kissed the top of Adam's head, cuddling him tighter. Tommy continued nuzzling him, working his way to the back of Adam's neck. Adam tried to shake him off.

_Tommy's so far gone that now he thinks I'm Kimberly,_ Adam mused ruefully. That wasn't quite correct. It was only while Tommy was sleeping and his guard was down that his imaginings got away from him. Somehow, while awake, Tommy was still able to keep a handle on his behavior....

[... except for that awesome kiss this morning. You'd like him to do it again, wouldn't you?]

_Just leave me alone!_

"Don't worry, Beautiful, I know how to make you feel real good," Tommy murmured, nipping at Adam's ear.

Maybe Tommy's delusion was for the best, Adam reflected as he ducked his head to get away from Tommy's mouth, but there wasn't a whole lot he could do about his friend's wandering hands except abandon the bed. At least Tommy's hallucination would make the experience a little easier for one of them.

"Kimberly...."

_It won't be long,_ Adam realized with trepidation. With that, Adam tried to return to sleep, making no attempt to throw off Tommy's arm. There was no point in it. Tommy would only snuggle up against him again, and until he did, it would be awful cold. _Just for the body heat._ However, sleep eluded Adam, and the little voice continued with its sly insinuations.

[Don't you wish it was your name that Tommy was calling out?]

The last lingering fragments of Tommy's dream (erotic images framed in green fire) began slipping away. He sighed contentedly and snuggled closer to his partner. In his state of half sleep/half wakefulness, he was acutely aware of the body next to his: silken hair, smooth, soft skin over firm muscles.... His hand slid down the length of well-toned limbs... exploring, caressing.... A sound, like a purr, rumbled up from Tommy's throat. His hand sought out the soft cushion of his partner's behind. As he nuzzled his face into the supple neck--placing playful kisses all along the curve of flesh--wavy hair tickled his nose. Flames of arousal pushed away the last vestiges of sleep; Tommy's need for release was nigh all-consuming. With a sigh of longing, he reached for his bedpartner with a more lusty intent.

Then, the green flames surged forth again; this time pain obliterating the pleasure, and with the searing agony came lucidity. In his dreams, Tommy had been loving Kimberly; in reality, he was taking liberties with Adam. Carefully, Tommy released Adam then rolled over to hug the far side of the bed. He lay there for several minutes trying to go back to sleep; however, his mind was still clear and troubled. Sleep wouldn't come. Tommy sat up and ran his hand through his sweat-soaked hair. He glanced back at Adam who was beginning to shiver with cold.

_Sorry, but if I stay in bed, I'm going to do something we'll both regret._ Tommy reached out as if to touch Adam but quickly drew his hand back. He couldn't touch Adam no matter how innocently. Anger and frustration flared, and Tommy jumped up from the bed to pace.

He could already feel his focus--his control--slipping away. Tommy wanted to punch something. This couldn't be happening to him! He had to beat this thing somehow. He hadn't saved Adam from Urgul's attack only to have to attack him himself. He couldn't do that to Adam--he wouldn't. It was what Nikkolo wanted, and Tommy refused to give in to that interdimensional degenerate. Only, it was beginning to look like he wasn't going to be able to resist for much longer. Already he felt the urge to crawl back in bed with Adam... to flip him over and....

_No, I won't do it! I said I'd die first, and I meant it!_ Only, Tommy didn't want to die.

Another spasm rocked Tommy's body, the pain ripping through him like a knife. The torturous flares were ocurring with greater frequency and potency. He doubled over and bit back an agonized scream. He didn't want to wake his friend; Adam would only try to help, and there was nothing he could do except....

_Damn it, no!_

Tommy prowled about the cell nervously, his fists clenching and unclenching spasmodically. It was so hard to think. Why couldn't he ignore the feelings flooding his body? It felt so good... it was the gentlest of strokes against his painfully engorged anatomy... Tommy suddenly realized the cause of that maddening caress, and in a fit of pique tore off his shorts. The lightweight fabric rubbing against his hyper-stimulated cock was driving him to distraction. However, his flash of annoyance died quickly, replaced by a nigh irresitable lust.

_I'm sorry, Adam. I tried; I really did try... no! I'm not completely gone yet. I don't want to rape Adam, but I don't want to die either. There has to be another way._

Tommy had to find relief somehow--even just a little bit. It was the only way Adam would be safe. Masturbation.... It was the only thing Tommy hadn't tried yet.

_"... self gratification will not suffice. It is simply too painful...."_ Nikkolo's words taunted Tommy. How did he know Nikkolo was telling the truth? He couldn't imagine that the pain could be any worse than that which accompanied the spasms.

Just then, Tommy heard a whimper and turned back to the bed. Adam was not resting easy between the cold which Tommy could not feel and a nightmare Tommy could only guess at. Any doubts he might have had about jerking off were dispelled by the sight of his friend's turmoil.

_I promise, I won't let you go through this, too._

_"How long will the transformation take?"_ All the inmates of the holding pen were anxiously watching as the shapeshifter reverted to his gelatinous state to begin his metamorphosis. The Ufka had finished drawing energy from the other prisoners before the breakfast rations had been brought. By the time the fair-complected caretakers arrived, Ufka was metabolizing the energy while in tube-form. However, as soon as the silent pair had left, the metamorph completely reverted to his liquified state.

_"I do not know,"_ IgwaNai responded to Billy's question. _"The process would be much quicker if there was a Kyshaak for him to imprint off of."_

_"If there were a Kyshaak here, we wouldn't require Ufka's help,"_ Billy snorted. IgwaNai laughed--a fearsome sound that visibly shook Rocky and Jason. _"Ufka assures me that it is no problem for him to become a Kyshaak. My concern is that Nikkolo will return before our plan is put into effect. I am very surprised that we have not seen him yet; it is unlike him to neglect his... playthings."_ IgwaNai grimmaced distastefully as he uttered the last word.

_"I believe I may know the reason for his prolonged absence,"_ Billy said grimly. _"Two of our companions were sent to the pleasure chambers...."_

_"Are they considered attactive by human standards?"_

Billy thought of all the young women who had oohed and aahed over Tommy over the years and smiled wryly. _"Yes. Very."_

_"That bodes ill for them."_

_"As soon as we are free, we have to find them--even as you must find your bond-brother."_

_"If your friends have been in Nikkolo's pleasure chamber and are responsible for his extended distraction, perhaps it would be kinder to kill them than let them live with the memories."_

_"Rangers are made of sterner stuff than that, my friend."_

_"Perhaps knowing their sacrifice bought our freedom will ease their troubled spirits,"_ IgwaNai mused.

Billy knew the Dessyndrian was trying to be kind. _"I'm sure it will help."_ _Someday_.

"Would you look at that!" Rocky gasped, drawing Billy's attention back to the matter of the metamorph. A massive head and shoulders emerged from the sky-blue protoplasm. Even as Billy gave the transformation his full attention, shaggy hair began sprouting on the forming Kyshaak. Normally, one couldn't see a Kyshaak's face; their hair fully covered their features (how could they see anything!); however, Ufka had adopted a warrior's knot so that the intense, jet eyes and fearsome fangs were visible.

"Chewbacca he ain't," Rocky gulped. "Remind me never to make one of these guys angry."

"Unless, of course, you want him to break you out of a fortress that puts Fort Knox to shame," Jason added.

More and more of the hirsuit biped emerged from the puddle on the cell floor until all three meters of it towered over them. It leaned forward resting ape-like on massive arms; however, no ape that Billy had ever seen had 3 inch claws.

"Wow," Rocky murmured in awe--a sentiment Billy echoed. He noticed tiny fluctuations in the Kyshaak's coloring as Ufka adapted to his new form.

_"He will not be able to maintain this form for long,"_IgwaNai said.

_"He won't have to, only long enough for him to break our restraints and then the wall,"_ Billy pointed out.

_"Should he not smash the outer wall first?"_

_"No. What good would that do us? Once the wall is breached, Nikkolo will undoubtedly be alerted to our activities; we will need to move quickly. We will be able to do that more effectively if we don't have to wait while Ufka frees us secondarily."_

_"Point taken. I defer to your greater knowledge of battle, Ninja Blue Ranger."_

_My battle knowledge?_ Billy wanted to laugh. IgwaNai relayed Billy's instructions, and Ufka/Kyshaak lumbered over to the former Blue Ranger. With barely any effort, he pulled the chains out of the wall. Billy's arms fell to his sides; it felt good beyond description to let his arms simply hang from his shoulders. He could feel the blood returning to his fingers in a tingling rush. He started stretching and shaking life back into his limbs as Ufka moved to free IgwaNai next.

"As soon as everyone is free, we'll get to work on the wall," Billy directed, addressing all his cellmates. It seemed odd for him to assume command, but it also felt surprisingly good. To IgwaNai he added, _"Since you came with the intent of rescuing your bond-brother, I assume you are familiar with the schematics of Nikkolo's fortress."_

_"I am."_

_"So, which wall leads to the outside?"_

"Aarrgghh!"

Adam's eyes snapped open, and he sat bolt upright at the sound of that agonized cry. For a moment, he was too disoriented to pinpoint the location. Then, he spied Tommy, naked and on his knees, in the far corner of the cell.

"No!" Tommy ranted, slamming his fist into the wall. "No! No! No!"

"Tommy?" Adam queried as he staggered to his feet, still not completely awake. He was having difficulty shaking off his dreams. That nagging little voice had tormented him all night long. Images of him and Tanya in amorous pursuits had been intermingled with scenes of him and Tommy, him and Billy, and others leaving him angry, frustrated, confused and aroused--so much so that he felt like crying. Things were as bad now as they ever had been. However, his dilemma could wait; Tommy's couldn't. He crossed the cell to join his companion. "What in the world are you doing?"

Adam tentatively placed a hand on Tommy's trembling shoulder; he nearly withdrew it. Tommy's body was hot--dangerously so--and was covered with a sheen of sweat.

"Get away from me!" Tommy growled, catching Adam with a fierce backhanded swing that sent him sprawling to the floor.

"Oh my God," Adam gasped, glimpsing Tommy's eyes. The warm, chocolate colored orbs had been completely consumed by a lurid green glow, and his voice--so gutteral and dark... Adam hadn't known Tommy as the Green Ranger, but he imagined that this was what his friend must have been like as Rita's slave. Adam scrambled backwards instinctively as Tommy made a move towards him. Tommy was gone... past the point of no return....

_I won't let you die,_ Adam reminded himself, but he still couldn't shake his trepidation. He tried swallowing but found his throat dry. His heart was pounding seemingly out of control, but from fear or anticipation?

"Easy does it," Adam stammered, trying to regain control of his runaway senses. "It'll be okay; I'll help you."

"No!" Tommy shouted, drawing back. "... don't want your help... die first...." Tommy wrapped his hands around his abdomen as a fiery spasm sent him crashing to his knees.

"Tommy, please, you have to...." Adam entreated. As Adam tried to help Tommy to his feet, his former teammate looked up, his eyes having cleared somewhat.

"While I can think... straight... try cold shower... again...." Tommy gasped.

"Right."

Tommy had lost it pretty badly the previous day, and Adam had fought him off by getting him into the shower and hosing him down. The cold spray had helped to push the fever back somewhat; perhaps the same thing would buy them a little more time now.

Adam assisted Tommy in getting to his feet and practically dragged him over to the shower platform. However, before he could turn on the water, Tommy forced him up against the wall. Adam's mind went numb for a moment as he was held. He could practically feel Tommy's gaze burning across his skin; Adam felt himself shaking as Tommy leaned in close and thrust his tongue down his throat. It was an almost painful kiss, Tommy's need was so raw. His strength was that of desperation, and Adam couldn't fight against it.

_Lord, he's strong! This is it; he's really going to do it. Oh God, I can't... but I have to...!_

"Make me stop, Adam!" Tommy pleaded when he paused to draw in a breath. Even as he begged to be stopped, he tore off Adam's shorts. With one hand he pinned Adam's hands over his head; with the other he began exploring Adam's quivering body.

"Do what you have to do," Adam mumured in a hoarse whisper. He closed his eyes, held his breath, and waited for the inevitable.

It never came. Instead, ice cold needles of pulsating water ripped into his unsuspecting body. The sudden shower sent Adam scrambling off the platform with a yelp. He cleared the water from his eyes and found Tommy kneeling under the spray, an expression of agony contorting his features.

"Enough is enough," came a rich, bored voice. Nikkolo's willowy frame materialized in the chamber. He was sans his faithful lackies and was dressed in a loose black satin robe. "I enjoy angst as much as anyone, but this performance has become maudlin."

"What are you doing here?" Adam demanded; he could hear the hatred of this being dripping from his voice. He had never despised anyone--not even Zedd or Mondo--as much as he did Nikkolo at this moment.

"I like to be on hand to watch the final phase of the poison ripening," Nikkolo said matter-of-factly, leering laciviously. "I can hardly wait to see Tommy thrust his rather impressive cock into your delectibly tight ass."

"Go--to--hell!" Tommy growled through gritted teeth.

"I am pleased, although amazed, to see that you've lasted this long, human. However, considering your former heroic vocation, perhaps I should have anticipated uncommon resistence in spite of the double dosage. Your will to spare your friend is strong--as is your will to survive. You very nearly succeeded in getting yourself off earlier. Oh yes, I know how close you were; if I had realized sooner that you had such a high threshhold of pain, I might have assigned you to the torture chambers.

"At any rate, you don't have much time left. The toxin will begin spreading throughout the rest of your body within the hour should it not be expelled. If you're going to save your life, do it now or die. A very simple choice, really."

"Why should he listen to you?" Adam challenged. "Urgul transfered the toxin as you requested, and you killed him. What guarantee does Tommy have that you'll let him live once he does the same?"

"None, really, but a slim chance at life is better than none, wouldn't you think?" Nikkolo remarked casually. He fixed Tommy with his most compelling stare. "Come, former Ranger, take your friend and be done with it."

"If I have to take anyone, it's going to be you, you son-of-a-bitch!" With surprising speed, Tommy leaped from the platform and tackled Nikkolo. The self-proclaimed master of depravity was astsonished to find himself pinned to the floor with Tommy sitting firmly on his hips. Tommy glared at him with a predator's eyes. His maddened gaze swept hungrily over Nikkolo's lithe form, and his hands tugged at the silky robe.

"Tommy, no," Adam gulped, his voice barely above a whisper. He feared Nikkolo's retailiation. Then, to his amazement, Nikkolo leaned up and engaged Tommy in a stirring kiss.

"I wouldn't have thought you had it in you," Nikkolo purred, pleased with the unexpected turn of events. None of my pawns in this little game has ever tried to take me; however, as tempting as that might be, I really do not wish to be exposed to my wicked little spore." From a pocket in his garment, Nikkolo produced a slender wand. At its touch, Tommy was sent flying; he crumpled to the floor dazed. As Adam went to Tommy's side, Nikkolo composed himself. "Do not fear, little Adam; the wand was set for stun."

Adam glared daggers at their captor but said nothing. "In answer to your earlier question, your friend has just earned himself life after the toxin. He has intrigued me sufficiently to consider removing him to my private quarters once this drama has played out. I should like to get to know that sumptuous body of his better."

Adam's blood ran cold at the thought; his expression betrayed his feelings to Nikkolo, who laughed with fiendish delight. However, his merriment was interrupted by a piercing wail.

"What in the name of the ninth Hell...?" A tremor rocked the cell, and a sound--like an explosion--echoed off in the distance. "Impossible! No one has ever broken free from my fortress...." Fury flared in Nikkolo's eyes, but only for a moment. Then, he resumed his guise of equinamity. "You two will excuse me, won't you. There seems to be a matter I must look into. A pity that I will not be on hand to see the final act in person; however, do have the decency to smile for the camera."

"Go to hell," Adam snarled, echoing Tommy's earlier words as Nikkolo teleported out of the cell. As soon as their captor was gone, Adam turned his attention back to Tommy; he was still unconscious. Adam supposed that was a mercy; it would buy them a bit of a respite. However.... "Come on, Tommy; wake up. Something's going on around here, and I have the feeling that Billy and the others are behind it."

_"Okay, IgwaNai, how do we find the pleasure chambers from here?"_Billy queried as he and the last of the inmates of the holding cell scrambled clear of the debris. Ufka/Kyshaak had easily smashed through the thick stones of the dungeon. The escapees found themselves in a dark courtyard. All of Nikkolo's fortress was as black as his heart. According to IgwaNai, Nikkolo made his home on an asteroid outfitted with artificial atmosphere and engines to move it wherever its caprious owner willed. The mobile fortress insured that Nikkolo would never be in the same place twice.

_"Those will be lower still,"_ IgwaNai imparted. _"I believe my bond-brother will be in the torture chambers; he did our dark host considerable physical harm when he was captured._

_"Then our paths part here,"_ Billy replied.

"Uh oh, looks like we've been found out," Rocky gasped, pointing skyward. From high atop the citadel rose slender metallic objects. From the distance, it was difficult to tell if they were some form of torpedo or....

_"Nikkolo's robotic henchmen,"_ IgwaNai said.

"Robots? We can take them; can't be any worse than Mondo's henchmen," Jason declared upon hearing the translated report.

_"These are not just any automotons; they were formerly law enforcement drones. They were found to be flawed and were sent to be decommissioned when they were stolen."_

_"We'd better split up,"_ Billy advised.

_"I wish you good hunting, my friend."_

_"And I you."_

"Come on, guys; let's go find Tommy and Adam," Jason called out, automatically falling back into his former role as team leader.

The three scrambled for the bleak stairwell which led deeper into the shadows while IgwaNai and Ufka headed off in the opposite direction. The other prisoners scattered whichever way they willed. Billy was saddened as he considered that most of them would be recaptured, and he did not doubt that they would pay for the consequences of this escape attempt. However, he did not intend to be one of those recaptured.

"In coming!" Rocky yelped, and the three dove for cover as a drone swooped in close; however, the robot all but ignored the trio. "What the... ?"

"Let's go," Jason directed, not wanting to waste the unexpected opportunity.

"Hang on a second, Jason," Billy said, holding him back. Billy caught the flicker of surprise in both Jason and Rocky's eyes. He had never before countermanded the team leader's order. "There's something odd about the drones' attack patterns; give me a moment to analyze the situation."

"Sure, Billy."

There was plenty of activity to monitor. From the safety of their rocky shelter, Billy could see that, for the most part, the escapees were running hither and thither in an effort to avoid recapture. There was quite a bit of confusion--on the ground, but not in the sky. The robots were pursuing their quarries with methodical precision, yet there were inconsistencies... one drone would seemingly bear down on a group of frantic beings only to swerve off to pursue another. One of the drones landed and assumed bipedal locomotion. It waded through a throng of bodies, ignoring those that fell around it as if it was intent on a specific target. As for the drones themselves, they were identical in appearance, save for a geometric marking on the center of their chests.

"I don't get it. Those robots sure are sloppy," Rocky murmured.

"What do you make of it, Billy?" Jason queried.

"I think I've figured it out," Billy answered. "Each drone is programed to pursue a specific lifeform; it ignores all the others."

"So we'll only have to deal with one robot," Jason confirmed.

"Precisely."

"But they all look alike--kind of like putties. How will we know which one's after us?" Rocky asked.

"On the chest plate, there's some sort of identifying mark," Billy pointed out.

"So all we need to do is pay attention to the next one of these things that shoots at us and we'll know who to avoid," Rocky summarized.

"Essentially."

They didn't have long to wait. The attack came from above; the trio's cover disentigrated into ash as a red beam of energy swept along the walls.

"That's our robot," Jason muttered as the drone swung around for a second pass.

"A black 'Z', how fitting," Billy remarked.

"What now?" Rocky asked.

"We try for the lower levels," Jason said. "How far down do we have to go?"

"My guess would be the very lowest strata," Billy supplied.

"How will we know when we reach it; I mean, all this black rock looks the same to me," Rocky commented.

"There are very fine markings in the rock that differentiate the various levels of the citadel."

"Next question, once we find the level we want, how do we get in? We don't exactly have a Wookie-thing with us."

"We get the drone to do the work for us," Billy replied. "We provide it with a stationary target, and...."

"... jump away at the last second. Great idea, Billy," Jason said. "Let's make a break for it." The three dashed for another sheltering alcove; their pursuer picked them up almost immediately.

"Scatter!" Jason shouted.

Billy dove for the shadows; however before he hit the obsidian ground, the world dissolved in a flash of light.

"Got one!"

Billy tucked, rolled, and came up to find himself in familiar surroundings: the Power Chamber. He recognized Kimberly's voice.

"Who'd I get?" she queried.

"Billy," Kat reported.

As Billy cleared his head, two more flashes of light appeared, and Rocky and Jason landed on the floor next to him.

"We have Rocky and Jason now," Kat called out.

"Great, but where the hell are Tommy and Adam? I don't have any reading on them," Kim fumed, frustrated.

"Don't the three of you look cute," Tanya teased. Billy found himself blushing as he observed Tanya and Kat's eyes as they scoped the three of them out from head to toe.

"What have you guys been up to?" Kat wondered, a smile tugging at her lips.

"You don't want to know," Jason grumbled.

"I've never been so happy to see a girl in all my life," Rocky sighed, jumping to his feet and giving both women enthusiastic hugs.

"We're happy to see you, too," Tanya said guardedly. "Where are Tommy and Adam?"

"We were separated...."

Billy let Rocky and Jason inform Kat and Tanya about their adventure; he picked himself up and headed over to the console where Kim was frowning at a monitor.

"What's been going on here?" he queried.

"We've been looking for the five of you since you disappeared from the park," Kim explained in clipped tones. She blew a stray strand of hair out of her face. "I don't know how the Rangers ever worked with Dimitria; I'm ready to throttle her, and if I hear Alpha say 'yo, yo, yo' one more time, I'm going to take a can opener to him!"

Billy hid a smile. He knew that Kim's impatience was due to her concern for them all. "Why don't you tell me what you have going here; maybe I can help pinpoint Tommy and Adam's signal," Billy offered. Looking at the monitor, he saw Nikkolo's citadel; he was able to adjust the sensors to pick up the activity in the courtyard. The drones were still trying to recapture the escaped prisoners; there were more of the devices now, and Billy detected the signs of other explosions. IgwaNai and Ufka were doing a hell of a job in trying to bring the fortress down around Nikkolo's ears.

"We had no clue what had happened to you, and Dimitria was less than helpful," Kim huffed. "We needed straight answers, not interminable questions. Eventually Alpha was able to match the energy from the beam that snatched you with something used by someone called Nikkolo. To make a long, frustrating story short, we found Zordon's old file on Nikkolo, ran some scans for the emission trail of his asteroid and tracked him down."

"Ah, I should have guessed that Alpha...."

"That was my idea, thank you very much," Kim snapped. "Alpha 6 wouldn't help a little old lady across the street if Dimitria didn't ask him to do it first."

"Now, Kim, I'm sure he wasn't that bad."

"All right, maybe I'm exaggerating, but you don't know how badly I wanted Zordon here. Questions, questions, questions... neither one would tell me anything... I didn't have any clue how to use most of this equipment--fortunately Tanya did. Kat mostly kept me from trashing that walking tin can and translating for Dimitria... I threatened to get my old power blaster and send her back to whatever planet she was from...." Kim's tone was growing strident, and Billy saw tears gathering in her eyes; the stress was catching up to her.

"Come on, Kim; take a deep breath," he advised, coming up and giving her a hug. "You have to keep it together just a little while longer."

"I know. I'm sorry," Kim murmured, letting out a long, slow breath as she returned the hug. "I'm okay, now. Thanks."

"Any time."

"By the way, why aren't you wearing any clothes?"

"That's a difficult tale to tell, and it can wait until after we find Tommy and Adam," Billy demurred. He noticed the impish gleam in Kim's eyes as her gaze dropped to take in the wrap precariously draped on his hips.

"Not too shabby, Billy," she teased, and he felt his cheeks grow hot.

Getting back to the matter at hand, Billy asked, "You found the asteroid by its emission trail, so how did you find us?"

"That was a real pain in the ass," Kim continued, her demeanor sobering quickly. "At first, we couldn't punch a signal through the outer shield; Alpha finally came up with a way to get through it, but we couldn't find any trace of you guys. We couldn't find a trace of any lifeforms, but we could see people--if you want to call them that--moving around down there, so we figured something had to be blocking the sensors. It was Dimitria's idea to scan for energy from the morphing grid. We found five energy signatures, but we couldn't get a lock on them. Whatever that castle is made of blocks the sensors or something. Since then, it's just been a waiting game. I was beginning to think I'd never get a teleportation lock.... Billy, where are Tommy and Adam?"

"They were sent to a different area of the fortress than we were," Billy explained evasively.

"The pleasure chambers or the torture chambers?" Kim queried. Billy blinked at her in surprise. "I read the files, Billy. We found you near the upper levels of the fortress where the holding pens were. How much further down do I need to scan for Tommy and Adam?"

"All the way, I'm afraid."

"The pleasure chambers," Kim murmured gravely.

"Kim, anything on Adam and Tommy yet?" Tanya queried anxiously as she joined the pair at the console.

"Nothing yet, but Billy's given me a better idea of where to scan," Kim reported. Billy traded glances with her; neither one of them wanted to tell Tanya the bad news. "I won't be able to do anything until they get outside...."

"... or someone breaches the wall," Billy added. Just then, an explosion rocked the Power Chamber. The shrill cry of the alarms filled the chamber.

"What is it, Dimitria?" Kat queried. She, Tanya, Rocky, and Jason approached the monitor. Billy drifted over, but he observed that Kim remained where she was.

"We have a visitor," Alpha Six reported. An image took shape in the monitor. "It would appear that Nikkolo's drone followed our teleportation beam somehow," Billy mused.

"What damage have we sustained, Alpha?" Dimitria asked.

"It don't look good. That oversized windup toy has taken out our shields. We're sitting ducks here."

"What can we do?" Tanya queried.

"Where are the other Rangers?" Rocky wondered.

"They're still away on a mission," Alpha reported.

"We can't just stand here and let that thing trash the Power Chamber," Jason fumed.

"Dimitria, can we use the Zeo Powers?" Kim queried softly. Everyone turned to look at her.

"What do you mean, Kim?" Billy asked.

"Of course!" Tanya exclaimed.

"The Zeo Crystal was not destroyed when we received the Turbo powers," Kat elaborated. "Its power should still exist."

Another blast rocked the chamber.

"What do you say, Dimitria?" Jason asked hopefully.

"Would five of you be willing to accept the powers for the duration of this emergency?" Dimitria queried.

"You don't even need to ask," Rocky said.

"Who gets the powers?" Kat wondered.

"Since you, Tanya, and Rocky held the crystals at one point, you three are the most logical candidates," Billy said, "and Jason since he was the Gold Ranger."

"That leaves you and Kimberly," Jason said. Billy looked to Kim, torn by indecision. He longed to go into action once again; it had been too long... and he had always wondered what the Zeo powers had been like. Besides, Billy really wanted to take a shot at the drone--at Nikkolo by proxy for what he had put him and his friends through. That was difficult for him to admit to himself; he had never believed that fighting was the answer. He, Rocky, and Jason hadn't endured anything more than aching limbs and a few awkward moments, but Tommy and Adam.... He had no idea what their fate had been, but he had the sickening feeling that they had truly endured two days of hell. However, Billy was well aware that he was not the warrior that Kimberly was.

"Give that tinkertoy a kick in the ass for me," Kim murmured, meeting his gaze.

"Are you sure, Kim?" He felt a twinge of guilt for the lift in his voice that betrayed his eagerness.

Kim simply smiled with understanding and patted him on the arm. "You'll be of more use on the battlefield; you probably know what makes that robot-thing tick, and if you don't I'm sure you'll figure it out," she answered. "I'll do Tommy and Adam more good if I stay glued to the monitor."

"Thank you."

"Just take care, okay?"

Alpha retrieved the Zeonizers and handed one to each person. Billy stared at his for a moment almost in disbelief; he had invented the devices but he had never even so much as worn one. He couldn't keep a smile off his face as he fastened the strap around his wrist. When he looked up, he noticed that the others were smiling at him indulgently. He shrugged sheepishly.

"It's okay, Billy; we understand," Kat murmured softly.

From its storage cell, Apha produced the Zeo Crystal; as if in anticipation of this moment, the crystal was in shards once again. Once the Rangers were attuned to the crystals again, the shards would be recombined so that they could be fully powered up. Kat and Tanya reclaimed their old shards, and Jason accepted Tommy's, leaving Billy and Rocky to make their selections. They both reached as if to claim the triangular shard. There was a moment of awkward silence.

"Go ahead, Rocky," Billy said, careful to keep his tone neutral. "The crystal is already attuned to your physiology."

"Yeah, I know, but blue was never my color. Adam wouldn't mind if I borrowed his," Rocky said as he claimed the squared facet. Billy smiled gratefully and accepted his shard. An inner light flared in the crystal, causing the cool silicate to warm in his hands; then, blue energy surged through Billy's body. It was a feeling at once familiar and strange. Then, the pieces were brought together and the morphing sequence commenced. Billy felt the old excitement and nervousness grip him as he activated his zeonizer.

"Zeo Ranger III... Blue!"