Legacy
by Gamine

Part Seven—Light Dawns, Shadows Shift

Trini came out of her bedroom tying a red elastic around the bottom of her braid, the only concession to her battle color in her outfit of unrelieved black. She toed on her flat black shoes and checked in the hall mirror, straightening her collar, grimacing slightly at her reflection. "This is the one thing I've dreaded, since we first became Rangers. Are you ready?"

The small form draped over the arm of her white sofa nodded glumly. "As close as I can get. I'm still in denial, Tri. I can't believe he's... " Kim sighed heavily, brushing away tears from her reddened eyes.

The lovely Asian shrugged. "Denial's a good place to be for something like this." She sat next to her friend on the sofa. "Are you sure you want to say something at the funeral? You don't have to. We all know how you felt about him."

Kim sniffed. "I know. The only one who didn't know was Tommy himself. God, Tri, I'm such an idiot." She shook her head. "I was too afraid to come back before, too worried about the fallout from that goddamn letter. Too afraid that Tommy would hate me. And back then, that was the worst thing I could think of. But now I know there are worse things, and I'm not going to be afraid of anything any more." She offered Trini a watery smile. "I want to talk about him, Tri. I have to. And if I make a fool of myself, well, that's nothing new."

"Okay, but if you change your mind..." Trini gave her a hug. "I'm really glad to have you here, Kim. You don't have to go right back to Florida, do you?"

Kim shook her head, her expression sober. "I'm not going back at all. If you can stand me for a couple more days I'll start apartment hunting in the morning."

Trini looked at her friend, bewildered. "Not going back? I don't know whether to be delighted or upset. I thought the coaching was going so well."

Kim shrugged. "Doesn't seem to matter much now. Nothing does, except this: I never stopped loving Tommy, I know that now. And if I'm too late to tell him, at least I'm not too late to support what he died for. I can help with this, be the point person in the Center for you. If the Rangers go to Xerya, I'll go too. I'll fight So'Vran, just like he did." Kim set her jaw. "And I am going to make him pay."

Trini watched her friend, noting the fire in those caramel eyes. "Zordon would tell you that revenge isn't the answer."

"So he would." Kim looked at Trini steadily. "You're the leader now. What are you going to tell me?"

Trini smiled. "Welcome aboard." She checked her watch. "We've got half an hour before the service. Want to go talk to Zordon?"

In the end it was easier than they had anticipated; the shock of losing one of his own had shaken the Eltaran. "I am glad to have you back, Kimberly," he said. "I wonder if you know how much you and Trini, Jason, Billy, Zack and Tommy have always meant to me. Though I care about all of my Rangers, you were the first. You were, and are, and always will be, my chosen. And I am very, very proud of each of you."

~*~

"Chosen? Chosen for what, exactly?" Tommy asked warily.

The odd little man tilted his head to one side quizzically. "In order to answer that question adequately, you will need a history lesson. Shall we be comfortable? You must be hungry."

In answer Tommy's stomach growled loudly, causing the weird little man to chuckle. "Please, come with me." He turned around and moved back toward the arch.

Aji spoke up. "But who are you?"

He thought about it. "You may call me Watcher."

"Watcher? And what do you watch?"

"Most recently, the two of you. Oh," he stopped, half-turning back, "that reminds me. When you see your friends again, please tell them I owe them an apology. I may have been a little... overzealous in bringing you here, and I'm afraid they are under the impression that you've died." Tommy and Aji exchanged horrified glances; the Watcher sent them an apologetic look. "It's my fault. It's been so long since I have been of use to the Master that I rather let my enthusiasm run away with me." Then he brightened. "But just think how glad they'll be to see you!"

"Wait," Aji liked to get her facts straight, "you're saying that the flood... that was your doing?"

He preened. "Impressive, wasn't it?"

"Very," Tommy put in, reaching for Aji to help him to his feet. He leaned in close when the little man wasn't looking. "He's nuts, but I think he's harmless."

She looked after the little fellow uncertainly. "I'm not so sure about that." They followed him through the arch.

The darkness lifted to reveal a room filled with comfort. A long table dominated the room. Dishes filled to overflowing with delectable food sat in lazy disarray over the groaning boards; there were chairs and pallets covered in sumptuous, overstuffed pillows and draperies. The lost pair exchanged another set of glances. The Watcher turned in time to catch Tommy and Aji's expressions of disbelief.

"Oh, dear," he said, disappointed. "I've overdone it again, haven't I?"

"Is... " Tommy swallowed. "Is all this real?"

"Now that depends on your definition of real," the little man smiled benevolently. "Come, the food will fill you, at any rate. And while you eat, I'll see if I can explain all this to you."

He waited until they had settled comfortably with trays of food. "I'll begin at the beginning. You know what Paladin and Sentinel and Guardian are, don't you?"

"Sentient energy beings from another plane of existence, who saw So'Vran's evil and wanted to help Xerya in her time of need. They channel their energy through three Xeryan bloodlines, giving their chosen vessels vast power," volunteered Aji promptly, as though reciting by rote. She grinned at Tommy's expression. "Hey, we grow up with this stuff."

The Watcher turned back the voluminous sleeves of his robe with a finicky motion, revealing age-spotted, long fingered hands, which he folded pedantically over his stomach. "You may be interested to know that the creature you call So'Vran channels one of these sentient energy beings himself. There are many of them. Some good, some evil, some neutral, at least by our definition.

"Thousands of years ago one of them began to interact with this plane, choosing a vessel to house his energy, seeking domination and power. When it became clear that his intentions were not benevolent, three heroes of this world approached Paladin, Sentinel, and Guardian to ask if they could become vessels as well, conduits for good, to fight So'Vran. They were granted this privilege, for them and their descendants, until So'Vran should be defeated.

"But So'Vran used foul means to accomplish his ends, prolonging the life of his vessel by millennia. The other three were bound to allow their vessels to live out their lifespans, passing the power to succeeding generations. This gave So'Vran the edge he needed to create his empire."

Tommy refilled his plate; the Watcher beamed. "I am glad you like my fried glorgnast," he said with visible pride. "It's..."

Tommy held up a warning hand. "No, don't tell me. Something tells me it's better if I don't know." Aji chuckled and waved a stick of cheese at him. Tommy made a face at her. "Is that all you're having? Coward."

She gave him an impish grin. "Not at all, I just don't eat what I can't recognize. Go on, Watcher. So'Vran was cheating, no surprise there."

The Watcher cleared his throat. "Hr-rum. Though So'Vran's means were foul, the vessels for good outnumbered him three to one, and the balance of power seemed to remain more or less static through the millennia. Now, then. I serve a being of this other plane as well. My Master is interested only in balance, in the interaction of good and evil. You see, without good there can be no evil, and without evil, good has little value. As long as the balance of power in this conflict seemed even, my Master remained aloof."

Aji narrowed her green eyes. "What has changed?" For a moment Tommy thought the little Watcher was going to pat her on the head, so pleased was he by this response.

"Excellent! My Master has chosen well. To answer your question, my dear, the balance of power has shifted. So'Vran has discovered a way to destroy the vessels of good in such a way as to destroy the beings behind them as well. Twice now he has attempted this; and it cannot be allowed. So'Vran must be stopped."

"So where do we come in?" Tommy wanted to know.

The little Watcher smiled brightly at him. "You are to be vessels for my Master. It's a very great honor, I assure you."

Tommy frowned. "Do we get a choice?"

The Watcher looked affronted. "Naturally. My Master would never bind anyone to his service unwillingly."

Aji had a question as well. "Why us?"

"Think about it, my dear. One male, one female. One Xeryan, one not. Both touched by evil, yet your souls are balanced by purity. Both experienced warriors. One lifebound, one who should be. There are more reasons, but these will suffice."

"Hold it a sec... go back... " Tommy sputtered.

But the little man ignored him, getting up and settling his robes about him. "If you have finished with your meals?" He led them from the room back into the main atrium.

Tommy leaned on Aji's shoulder. "You accepted the Bloodsong?"

She slanted a glance up at him. "Not I."

"But if you're not lifebound, then he must mean..."

The Watcher's voice cut across their covert conversation as he stopped in front of the black and white opalescent stones Tommy and Aji had noticed earlier. "The powers offered you must act in tandem; you will be deeply connected to one another, as brother and sister, each unable to act without the other. One power is overt, representing light, action. The other is covert, representing shadow, thought. Do you accept custodianship of these powers offered to you?"

They looked at each other. "If it will help defeat So'Vran, I do," said Aji.

"I'm in," said Tommy with a decisive nod.

The Watcher beamed. "Excellent. I will draw the powers from the stones; hold your hands out and your hearts open. The powers will choose you." With that he produced a long-necked pitcher from nowhere and poured a clear, slightly viscous liquid into the depression surrounding the stones. They watched as the black and white opalescence seemed to flow from the stones into the liquid, remaining separate, yet twined together, leaving the stones a dull quartz-gray. Aji slipped her hand into Tommy's, holding her other hand over the well; Tommy's outstretched palm joined hers, and they waited for something to happen.

Suddenly the two colors jumped, sending gleaming tendrils into the air, touching the hands presented to them delicately, almost tentatively; and then the decision was made, and iridescent white slid up Aji's arm while opalescent black slithered over Tommy. They watched in fascination as their bodies were covered by the power; and then it seemed to sink into them and disappear.

Suddenly it surged from their skin, flowing from within to sheath them, and the vessels of Light and Shadow stood revealed to the delighted Watcher.

~*~

Trini followed the sound of muffled cursing to the repair bay, where she found a pair of trim, sneakered feet sticking out from under the skeleton of a new interstellar pod.

"Hey, Alpha," she nodded to the small robot, who looked as though he'd be wringing his hands if he had any. Trini chuckled and hunkered down to peer under the pod. "You're driving poor Alpha distracted, Kim."

"Yeah, well, get under here and help me align these flux capacitor thingies, and then we can run another test and I'll get out of his circuits while the bay servos take over for the big stuff."

Trini got on her back and scooted under the pod with a laugh. "You almost sound like Billy, except I don't think he's ever said the word 'thingies'. What do you want me to do?"

Kim spit a piece of hair out of her mouth and consulted an oil-spattered sheaf of papers. "Okay. I think we're supposed to get these four doohickies to match up. See this?" She pointed to a diagram on the much-abused computer printout, then up at the exposed workings of the pod. "If you can get those two over there and hold 'em steady..." The two girls worked in silence for a while, then Kim gave a nod. "'Kay Alf, hit it!" she shouted.

"Ai-yi-yi, Kimberly, I wish you'd wait for Adam," the robot fussed. "You nearly fused the last set of capacitors."

Kim blew out an irritated breath. "I am not a complete idiot, Alpha. These instructions from Mr. C. are very clear. I can do this just as well as the genius boys. Now run the test, or I'll dismantle you and give you to my niece for Tinkertoys!"

"All right, all right, I'm beginning the test now," Alpha grumbled. There was a brief pause, and then the capacitors began to glow softly, humming gently. "Capacitors aligned, Kimberly. Shall I begin the servo program again?"

Kim shimmied out from her position and sat up, wiping her forehead with her arm as Trini slid free of the pod. "Go ahead, Alf. Tri and I will grab some dinner." She turned to her friend, who was looking her up and down with a grin. "What?"

"What have you got on?"

Kim looked down at the enormous blue coveralls, stained with grease. "Oh, I found these in the docking bay. I think they must have been Billy's; they smell like him. Old Spice." She gave one of the cuffs another turn. "They're a little long, huh?"

Trini chuckled. "Fashion maven. Come on. I brought pizza."

A short while later, damply clean and dressed in her own clothes, Kim bit hungrily into a gooey slice of pizza. "So what did you think of the candidates I dug up?"

"Mmmph," Trini waved a hand, indicating that her mouth was similarly occupied. She swallowed with effort. "They look like good choices; gosh, they seem so young, don't they?"

Kim shrugged. "We were young too. I think they'll be all right. How do you want to handle this?"

"How about we just teleport them here and ask them? That's what Zordon did to us."

Kim grimaced. "I know, and remember? We turned him down at first. He scared the pants off us."

Trini nodded, looking at the five photos spread on the table in front of her. "Point taken. How's about the Rangers approach them and you meet up with them after if they agree?" At Kim's nod, she went on, outlining the plan they'd concocted. "Then we transfer Turbo to them and take back Zeo. They protect Earth; we head out to back up Jason and Billy. You're sure you don't want a crystal?"

Kim gave her a look. "I'm sure. Tom went without powers, I can too." Then she shrugged. "Which would I take, anyhow?"

There was a pause. "You could have Red."

At that Kim actually shoved back from the table. "No way." She composed herself. "He chose you, Tri. You're the Red Ranger now."

Another pause; Trini looked at her friend uncertainly. "You don't mind?"

Kim shook her head, then gave Trini a sheepish grin. "Yeah, in a way I do, but it's you, so it's okay. You're a good leader. Tommy made a good choice."

Trini looked at Kim for the longest time. "You're still hung up on him."

Kim sighed. "Yep. It's not like I didn't try to get past him, you know? I dated. A lot. Other people get over their first love. Other people move on. Not me. Nope, in true Kimberly Ann bass-ackward fashion the longer we were apart the more I craved him." She sniffed. "And now... oh, shit. Talk about something else, okay? Tell me about your love life."

Trini snorted. "What love life?"

"You know, I always wondered whether you and Bill would get together. Guess that's a moot point now, from what I hear about this Taia." Kim leaned back on two legs of her chair, her feet braced against the table's edge.

Trini grinned. "Oh, I would so not mess with her." She chuckled lightly. "It's funny, you know, I used to wonder the same thing, though. Billy and I used to have this on-again, off-again attraction for one another, but never at the same time, or so it seemed. We just never jelled. Nor with Jason, though I tried harder there."

Kim's chair thumped forward to the floor. "Shut up. You dated Jason? When was this, and why should I not kill you for not saying anything about it?"

Trini giggled. "It didn't last very long, just after we first got to Switzerland, and it really wasn't anything to write home about." She paused, then dropped her bomb with a mischievous look. "Except for when we slept together, of course."

Kim shrieked. "Shut UP! You slept with Jason? Ohmigod! I cannot believe you never said a word, you wench!" The petite brunette meditated on this for some moments, punctuated by an occasional 'ohmigod'. "Well," she went on after a while, "this just completely skews my world view." A pause. "So how was he?"

Trini feigned shock. "Kimberly Ann Hart! I pour out the depths of my soul and this is all you can say?" She grinned. "Really good, actually. But it was a long time ago."

Kim pondered this for a while, then shook her head. "I can't believe you never said anything, you rat. Hmph." She made a clucking noise with her tongue. "So tell me about his sister. What's she like?"

Trini thought about it. "Pretty much like you'd expect, actually. She looks a great deal like Jase, smaller, of course. Gorgeous, really. I hardly got to talk to her at all, but she's very nice, head over heels for Billy, and a warrior, right down to the ground. Not a surprise when you consider her background. But she carries it the same way Jason does, you know? Controlled. Although," the lovely Asian chuckled again, "I hear she's not so controlled when she and Bill are in private."

Kim laughed aloud. "Where'd you get that? Not from Billy, I bet."

"No. You know she and Jase share this mental link, right? Well, apparently she accidentally broadcast during a grapple with our young and studly scientist. Tommy said Jason was mortified."

"Oh, whoops." Kim laughed again, then made a face. "Now that's a door marked 'there' I don't want to go through. Billy as stud. Yick."

"What are you talking about? He's a hottie."

Kim threw her friend a look. "Whatever. He's been my best friend since what, third grade? It's like thinking about my brother or cousin or something. Bleah. Change the subject, quick."

Trini grinned. "Okay. So this is our final roster for Turbo, second generation: TJ, Ashley, Cassie, Justin, Carlos. If they all agree. We're decided?"

Kim gave her a thumbs up. "Lock and load, sister. Set it up; I'll be there."

~*~

Aji looked up as Tommy walked slowly back toward the atrium, his expression preoccupied.

"Find out what you wanted to know?" she asked quietly. She had to repeat the question before he surfaced enough to reply.

"Yeah. I guess so." He thought back to what the Watcher had said.

~*~

"Of course humans lifebond, Tommy. It's a different process: slower, more fluid, less abrupt; but it certainly happens."

"So you meant me, then."

The little man twinkled at him. "I did. You sound surprised."

Tommy shook his head. "I am, but it's not that. It's... why didn't I know? The way Billy knew, the way Jason knew. I know it's different for me, but I should have known. Maybe I would have done things differently."

The Watcher sighed, his expression for the first time serious. "A very good question. But one only you can answer. Though you need not find the answer now; indeed, it may be out of reach until you can resolve things with your lifebound."

~*~

Still at a loss, Tommy asked his partner the same question.

Aji considered it, her head tilted to one side. "Why didn't you know she was the one? Well, the only thing I can think of is: are you sure you didn't?" She got up, leaning against one of the massive pillars. "You know, if a thing is right, and you don't feel right within yourself, you might push the right thing away. Or not even recognize it, not consciously. But I think the Watcher's right. It's not me you need to talk to."

Tommy brooded a moment more, then squared his shoulders. "Then there's only one thing we need to do now: kick some Citadel booty so I can get home to my girl, and see if I can convince her to be my girl again." Aji chuckled, drawing a smile from him. He glanced at her, his hazel eyes warm. "Thanks, Aj. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Are you going to be as stupid as I am?"

The redhead sputtered with laughter. "I hope not." Then she sobered a bit. "You want to know if I'm going to accept the Bloodsong." Tommy nodded; Aji shrugged. "I want to, Tom. I really do. But Jason thinks I'm dead. And I don't want to spend my life alone, even if it's not with Jason."

"I don't follow."

Aji tried to explain. "If a lifebound dies, the one left behind can refuse the Song, to ease the pain of loss. Jason has to be feeling a lot of unresolved pain, both from my initial reaction to the Song and now from the belief that it's lost to him. I don't know whether he'd continue to sing under such a burden. If he has refused and I accept him..."

Tommy nodded slowly. "You'd never be able to be with anyone else, so you'd be alone. Like me. I get it, sort of. So what are you going to do?"

She chewed at a blunt fingernail worriedly. "Wait and see, I guess."

~*~

"I see you are ready to get back to your friends," the Watcher smiled.

Tommy and Aji exchanged glances. They were clean, healed, wearing new, close-fitting garments in black and white, respectively. <You look good, > said Tommy silently, using their mindlink. The relatively baggy uniform Aji'd been wearing before had concealed... a lot. He chuckled, his amusement growing as he imagined Jason's reaction to the feisty redhead. <Jase is gonna have a stroke.>

Aji ignored him, turning to the Watcher. "Is there anything else we should know?"

The Watcher fingered his chin thoughtfully. "Most importantly that you must use these powers in conjunction with one another. Light means nothing without shadow to give it definition; likewise shadow cannot exist without light to give it form. You will not be able to call upon them if you do not call together. Similarly, if one of you powers down, the other will as well, even if against your will." He thought for a while longer. "When manifested, the power will act as armor, tempering any blows you might receive. However, if one of you is injured, the other will feel the pain also." The Watcher folded his hands over his belly in what the two had come to recognize as his lecture mode, smiling benevolently. He leaned forward to tap Aji playfully on the arm. "Bright energy is your servant, sharp and clean and quick. As for you," he patted Tommy on the shoulder, "the energy over which you are master is dark, blunt, deliberate. Where there is shadow, you can only be perceived as you choose." The Watcher nodded excitedly in an excess of emotion. "There is more. Combine your powers and you will create illusion so real it could convince any beholder; for what is sight except the perception of light and shadow?" He sighed. "But beware of So'Vran; he will not hesitate to use anything he can find against you. Hope travels with you, my friends. Care for one another and follow your hearts. They will not lead you far astray."

"Then it's time," said Aji, reaching to grasp the little man's hand.

"Past it," added Tommy. "Thanks for everything. We'll do our best."

The little fellow nodded his bald head, his mismatched eyes twinkling kindly. "I know you will." With that the temple, the jungle, the Watcher faded from view, and Tommy and Aji found themselves huddled against a rocky outcropping in the desert, the Citadel looming dark against the distant sky.

~*~

Jason took the copilot's seat next to Billy; the blond scientist flicked him a brief smile. "How are you holding up?"

Jason nodded absently. "Better. Some, anyway. It's still... it's still hard, but at least I know where I stand, now."

"I'm sorry about it, Jase. It's bad enough that we lost them, but how you must feel... well, I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

Jason clapped a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Thanks, bro." He turned his attention to the barren landscape ahead of them. "So what's the plan now?"

Billy shrugged. "I'm heading for the Citadel, doing a wide-band scan around us, hoping we'll catch up with Frid before he gets to So'Vran. I'd be delighted if you had a better idea."

"Wish I did. Any luck?"

"Not so f... no!" Out of nowhere, it seemed, a yellow-white ball of energy bloomed in front of them, causing the runabout to lurch sickeningly to one side, throwing the two men violently into the bulkhead. Blue-white electricity arced through the cabin and its inhabitants. The two men arched and twisted painfully, glued to the bulkhead, vainly struggling to escape, and then the static sputtered away, freeing them from its grip.

Billy clawed his way back into his seat, panting, cursing a blue streak. "Where the bloody hell did that come from?" The runabout veered, lurched, screamed in protest, one wing bursting into flame. Jason pulled himself forward as the ship pitched lower, gaining his seat with effort. Smoke filled the cabin and their lungs as the console erupted in sparks. Taia stumbled through the cabin door, dirty, bleeding from a cut on her cheek; she nodded to the others and dragged herself to the emergency seating in the bulkhead, strapping in and readying for impact.

"I'm gonna try to smooth... this... out... " Billy gritted between clenched teeth, his fingers moving over the console at lightning speed; despite all his efforts the runabout lurched lower, to the hair-raising sound of tearing metal. No good, the runabout was lost. He cursed inwardly, sent a wave of love to his father and Tai, and grasped the console firmly. "Impact in four... three... two... hold on!"

It was like nothing they'd ever felt, the shock of the runabout hitting the baked clay of the desert floor; every bone crunched on bone as the cabin spun and shrieked against the hard ground. The smell of acrid smoke was overwhelming, and the three began to cough and gasp for air. With a final, sickening lurch and groan the runabout, or what was left of it, ground to a stop. Billy's head impacted sharply on the console, leaving a messy gash; Jason's seat sheared free from its moorings, throwing him into the heavy viewshield, which spiderwebbed under the force of the blow.

Dust filled the air, both in and around the ship. Billy became vaguely aware of Taia freeing him, then pulling at her dazed brother's restraints. "Come on, Jason, Billy... we have to get out of here!" At her words Billy staggered free of the pilot's chair and came to help her, swiping blood out of his eyes. Jason groaned, bleeding and bruised, but was able to stand when they got the restraint open. Leaning on each other they fell out of the totaled ship, dodging behind it for cover as a phalanx of soldiers clad in dusty yellow-brown advanced on them. Taia bit off an epithet, leaning hard against the side of the ship. <Sentinel? >

<Already on it.> And indeed a bronze form knelt by Jason, rapidly healing the worst of his injuries. Then he turned his attention to the cut on Taia's cheek as her brother powered up, sheathing himself in gold, a lambent blade forming in his hands. <What the hell was that they hit us with? And why didn't we detect it? > Billy asked, his fury barely contained.

Taia scanned the oncoming troops, silver armor sliding over her. <It looked like a disruptor blast, but on a much bigger scale. As to why we didn't detect it... > She flicked him a silvery glance, and Billy nodded.

<Frid has my father's files, would have known how to conceal it from us. Damn him. > A bronze energy staff formed in Billy's grasp. <Let's go. >

Jason was the first to leap into the fray, his blade cleaving through the air as he whirled into the throng, a feral snarl on his face. Billy flipped over the heads of the nearest troops, his staff striking with lethal accuracy, while Taia took to the air, power scudding from her hands, downing soldier after soldier. Another silent yellow-white bloom of energy caught her with its outer edge, causing her to drop from the sky abruptly, flickering silver static.

<TAI! >

<NO! >

The answer was weak, but there. <I'm... ohhh... I'm all right. > Billy fought his way to her side, using his staff as a pole to vault over the heads of the troops separating them. She was on her feet, fighting, but he could tell her blows weren't power-enhanced.

He maneuvered around until they were back to back. <How bad? > he asked succinctly, bashing the face of an unfortunate soldier with the end of his staff.

<Can't summon anything but armor. I've been hit worse. > Billy felt the adrenaline surge through her system. <I have a few surprises left. > She proved it with her next move, a fluid roundhouse kick that threw two of the men surrounding them back, but the reprieve was temporary as they pressed forward again.

<This does not look good, > Billy observed, looking around the ever tightening circle of Citadel troops that had forced their way between the two and Jason, cutting the golden warrior off. He dispersed his staff as the troops came too close for him to use it effectively.

<We're not trapped yet, > Taia responded.

<What do you have in mind? > he asked, sensing she had a plan.

There was a definite smile in her next thought, <Just lean forward. >

Puzzled, Billy did as she requested. The next moment, Billy felt Taia lean back, along his body, before launching herself heels over head to flip backwards. He straightened in time to see her wrap her feet around the neck of the soldier in her path. In mid-flight, she twisted her body to bring the soldier down.

Billy took that as his own cue to move, while the other soldiers were too stunned to do anything. He leapt forward, bulling through the soldier in his path and knocking the man aside effortlessly, before rolling back to his feet. Billy landed a neat double kick to the face of another, while Taia did a quick and skillful low sweep to the legs of a third, throwing him to the ground where she rendered him senseless with a well-placed fist. The circle widened as the soldiers backed away.

<Much better!>

<Yes... but where is Jason?>

Sensing her anxiety, Billy started to scan the battlefield, aware that Taia was matching his actions. His eyes were drawn to a large knot of soldiers, but he couldn't voice the fear.

"Jason, no!" Taia screamed.

~*~

In the mêlée, Jason found himself separated from Taia and Billy and surrounded by soldiers. A sharp blow connected to the back of his head and dazed him enough that his blade shorted out. He lashed out with a snap-kick to the nearest soldier, sending the armored man staggering backwards into several of his fellow soldiers. But as Jason moved to pivot, a well-placed leg sweep took him down.

Falling forward, Jason managed to tuck into a slightly clumsy forward somersault that enabled him to regain his footing almost straight away, but the maneuver benefited him little as he found himself coming to his feet straight into the path of an armored fist. The blow connected with his jaw with a crack, and while he knew it would have been a lot worse without the Paladin energy protecting him, it still sent him reeling backwards.

He didn't see the kick that was aimed at him from behind until it connected with the small of his back. It sent him staggering forwards once more, arms reflexively pin-wheeling to retain his balance.

Someone landed a kick on his hip, further unbalancing him. When that was followed up by a staff blow to the knee, down he went. Without giving him a chance to regain his feet or his weapon, three of the soldiers surged forward. They grabbed at Jason, two seizing his arms while the third hauled on his torso. Jason looked up to see the mouth of a disruptor pointed squarely at his forehead.

The helmeted soldier holding it chuckled. "Paladin; a true prize. So'Vran will be pleased."

Jason snarled, bracing himself for the blast, but a dark figure suddenly appeared between him and the disruptor. "Hey," said a very familiar voice. "Watch where you're pointing that thing!"

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