Encounters
by Naomi Tilley

"Everyone, quiet!"

Silence fell instantly, just as a voice became audible over the speakers.

"...found a boy in the park. He's been assaulted, by more than one person."

"Can you give me any details, sir?"

"The injuries are serious.... This kid is in a critical condition. He has head injuries.... Got a fractured leg... It might even be broken. There are wounds.... look like they might have been made by some sort of knife. He's got burns and some strange marks around his throat, like something nearly strangled him. Can you hurry it up with the ambulance, please? We have reason to believe G. Force may have been responsible for this attack."

Silence reigned, and everyone in the Power Chamber glanced grimly at one another.

"Very well, sir. We are dispatching an ambulance from Angel Grove Memorial immediately. Do you have any idea of the boy's identity?"

"He's a local kid... I think his father is a psychiatrist. Ah, Scott is the name. That's it, Jason Scott! It's Jason Scott that's been attacked...."

Donavon fell away from the control panel, and bolted out the doors. Anderson hesitated, then followed. Over on the cots, Princess turned an angry glare on Jason.

"You did this. It's your fault."

Jason opened his mouth to protest, but stopped short, knowing she was right.

~*~

Anderson came to a halt just a metre behind Donavon. "What are you talking about?"

Donavon turned back to face Anderson head on. "Carlton. He has those kids in a deadlock and now he's using my son as leverage to get what he wants. God, this has gotten so damn dirty..."

"You're telling me that?" Anderson retorted. "We always knew Carlton was capable of this, Donavon. We were just never able to prove it, because he's never actually gone to these lengths before. If we can get someone in to Jason, we may be able to put one hell of a nail in Carlton's coffin."

Donavon stared at Anderson with haunted eyes. "Do you really believe Carlton would leave Jason in a condition where he was capable of telling anyone what really happened?"

Anderson faltered, then, realising Donavon was right. Finally, he spoke in a tense voice.

"We'll pull through this, Donavon. Somehow. Jason will be all right. If need be, we'll go into the hospital with an army of our own to reach Jason. He won't die, I swear it."

Donavon wiped the tears from his eyes. "Don't make promises that you can't keep."

~*~

"It's about time you boys got here. You'll be lucky if that boy survives, now."

The first ambulance officer glowered at Carlton. "Someone gave us bad directions. We ended up on the other side of the park. Where is he?"

"Right over there," Carlton replied, motioning back over his shoulder. "Just between us, I seriously doubt he'll make it. G. Force have gone too far this time, attacking a completely innocent boy."

The men started forward then stopped. The second officer glared angrily at Carlton.

"All right. If this is some sick practical joke, we've had enough." Confusion filled Carlton's face, and he turned, then froze. Jason was gone.

~*~

"Damned, stupid, arrogant idiot..." Tommy muttered as he sat down on the cement floor. "If Jason dies...."

"Don't think that," Kat interrupted gently, leaning over and hugging him from behind. "He'll be all right, Tommy. Jason's tough."

"You heard that call," Rocky said gloomily. "They said he was in a critical condition. Head injuries, and all that...."

"It was probably one of Carlton's men that made the call," Tanya mused. "You heard him blame it on G. Force."

Tommy clenched his hands into fists. "Yeah, well, in a way, G. Force is responsible. Jase would never have gone out by himself if that other Jason hadn't said anything to him. Son of a bitch...."

"If you put the blame on Jason," Adam said softly, "then you're putting it on Mark as well. You know he'll take as much responsibility as any of the others."

Tommy moaned softly and buried his face in his hands. "Mark... Hell, this is such a mess."

"Do you think," Kat asked softly, "that maybe one of us could slip into the hospital to see how Jason is? They wouldn't know any of us. Carlton's men wouldn't, anyway. We'd only have to look out for cogs."

Tommy's head came up slowly. "That's a good idea." He looked around at his friends. "Who should go?"

"Adam can," Rocky said, cheerfully volunteering his best friend. Adam pulled a face.

"Thanks, Rocky."

"What about it?" Tommy asked. "You're the fastest on your feet, Adam. Think you could get in and out without any trouble?"

Adam was silent for a moment, then nodded. "I'll try. Better not tell anyone back in the Power Chamber what's going on, though. Especially Mr Scott."

Billy stepped forward. "I'll come with you. Just in case there's any trouble."

Adam nodded his consent. "We'll go now. Just tell Zordon... Tell him we went to get some breakfast."

Billy touched Adam's shoulder lightly. "C'mon, Adam. Let's go."

~*~

Panic clutched at his chest, and his eyes stung as sweat trickled down from his forehead. For just a brief second, he contemplated turning a running out of the hospital as fast as he could. The soldiers spared him a glance, though, and nothing more. Breathing a silent sigh of relief, Adam hurried up his pace just a little.

The front desk loomed up suddenly in front of him, and he found himself suddenly out of breath when the nurse looked up and asked if he needed help.

_Jason_ he thought anxiously. _Just ask about Jason and get the hell outta here_

"My, ah... I think my friend was brought in this morning. He was, um, attacked in the park."

Across the room, a second pair of soldiers looked abruptly in Adam's direction, their curiosity roused.

The nurse nodded. "What's your friend's name?"

"Jason Scott," Adam replied, tugging nervously at his tight collar. The soldiers began to walk across the room, towards the teenager. The nurse typed the name into the computer, waited a moment as it searched, then offered the boy an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry. There's no record of a Jason Scott being admitted. Perhaps it was the hospital in Stone Canyon?"

Adam was notably confused. "But... An ambulance went out to the park this morning! I heard.... I mean, I saw it go into the park!"

Looking slightly less amicable, the nurse made a second check, then nodded.

"There was a call this morning, but it turned out to be a false report. No injured person or persons were found. Perhaps you should try calling your friend, young man. You might find he's at home."

Adam backed away from the desk. "I, uh... I'll do that...." He walked into someone, or something, that was suddenly behind him, and looked slowly around to find two stocky-looking soldiers standing there, watching him with acute interest.

"What's your name, son?" one soldier asked. Adam swallowed hard. "That's none of your business."

The two men exchanged glances, then they both grabbed a fistful of Adam's clothing and, ignoring the wondering stares they were getting from curious onlookers, hauled him into the nearest empty room, pulling the door shut behind them.

"All right," the first man said gruffly. "What do you know about Jason Scott?"

Adam blinked, confused. "What do you mean?" The second soldier stepped forward. "We mean, where is he?"

"I don't know!" Adam choked out, suddenly frightened. "That's why I came here! I heard he was hurt...."

"Where did you hear that?"

"On.... On the radio... The news..."

"It hasn't been released to the press, yet," the soldier went on in a dangerously soft voice. "You couldn't know, unless you know something you aren't supposed to."

Adam's mind was in a whirl. _They lost Jason... Jason's hurt, he can probably prove one way or another whether G. Force are guilty of treason... and they've lost him_

He stiffened. Jason had gone missing again, and this time, no one knew where he was....

Reacting purely on instinct, Adam spun around and slammed straight through the door, jarring his shoulder but not stopping. Cursing angrily, the soldiers took off after him, knowing the trouble they'd be in if they let the boy get away.

~*~

Suddenly, unexpectedly, the hospital door swung violently open and Adam came charging out, taking the steps several at a time and nearly going head- over-heels in the process. He was followed closely by four soldiers, none of whom looked happy.

"Adam?" Billy asked as the teen fled towards the park. "Run!" Adam yelled over his shoulder. Billy took one look at his friend's pursuers, and promptly took Adam's advice.

~*~

"They gone?" Adam asked, breathless. Billy nodded. "Yes. Adam, what happened in there?"

"Asked the nurse..." Adam explained as they left the hollow trunk. "Billy, Jase isn't there! They.... They lost him!"

Billy turned to face Adam. "What? What do you mean, they lost him? Who lost him?"

"General Carlton, I think. The nurse said they sent an ambulance out, but it was a false report. They didn't find anyone. Then, two of those soldiers pulled me up and wanted me to tell them where Jason is. Jason must have gotten away from Carlton and his men! He's probably still in the forest somewhere!"

Billy hit Adam lightly on the shoulder.

"C'mon, let's get back. We have to tell the others."

~*~

"Damn it, the little bastard was half dead! He couldn't have just gotten up and walked off! It's impossible!" He swung around to focus an enraged glare on the sentries. "But you never saw anyone."

One man shook his head slowly. "No, sir. Nothing. Perhaps the boy was just pretending...."

Carlton snagged the man by his shirt collar and dragged him closer. "When you have a fractured skull, a broken leg and a damaged larynx, you do not fake being unconscious. Somebody took that boy, and we have to find out who!"

"Maybe it was G. Force," someone suggested helplessly. "Could have been the Power Rangers," someone else mused. "This is their territory...."

Carlton turned away from his men, seething with fury. "You all have ten seconds to get out of my sight, and after that, I start shooting."

Every man ran for his life.

Power Chamber....
Everyone listened in tense silence as Adam repeated what he had learned. Finally, Donavon spoke in a voice that was audibly strained by fear.

"My son could be anywhere, then. He could be dead, for all we know." Tommy swung around to face Zordon.

"We're going to go and search for him."

"The forest covers an enormous area, Tommy," Zordon said quietly. "It would be a futile effort."

"Well, it'd be better than waiting around here and doing nothing!" Tommy exploded. Mark got slowly, carefully to his feet.

"Tommy's right. Every minute wasted standing around here could mean Carlton finding Jason before we do."

Anderson's expression darkened. "Mark, what do you mean by we?" Mark clenched his jaw. "We're responsible for the trouble Jason is in, and we owe it to him to do everything we can to find him."

"What'd I tell you?" Adam whispered to Tommy. Mark heard the comment, and chose to ignore it.

"If you guys are going out to search for Jason, then we're coming with you."

Silence reigned for a long moment, and then Tommy stepped forward. "We appreciate it, Mark, but I don't think...."

"All your technology couldn't find a wounded teenager in a hundred square miles of forest," Mark interrupted quietly. "If it could, you'd be trying now. I told you about myself when I was here months ago. You may have a better chance of finding Jason before Carlton does if we come with you."

"You're all hurt, though," Rocky protested. "What if we run into trouble?"

"We can't hide forever," Mark replied. "And this is what we were trained for. We help others at the risk of our own lives."

The rangers all looked to Chief Anderson, hoping he would say some- thing to dissuade G. Force. Instead, the security chief spoke in support of his adopted children.

"I suggest you concede and take them with you. If you don't, they'll only go out and search on their own. A combined effort would be far more profitable than separate ones."

Tommy sighed heavily. "Okay.... Okay. Let's hurry, though. We don't have a lot of time, here."

Angel Grove Park....
"Sir!"

Carlton swung around to face the younger officer. "What is it, sergeant?"

The sergeant winced a little under Carlton's angry stare. "Sir, General Stewart has arrived."

Carlton paused, shutting his eyes against a developing headache. He had hoped to have reached G. Force and dealt with them before Stewart arrived....

"All right," he said grimly. "Thankyou. Dismissed, Sergeant." The sergeant hurried off, and Carlton turned to face his superior. Stewart strode across the grass to where Carlton waited, with his own entourage of soldiers behind him.

"Carlton," Stewart said abruptly. Carlton nodded. "Sir. I'm glad you're here."

Stewart looked sceptical. "I'm sure. What's the situation?"

"We haven't found G. Force yet, sir, but I believe were close. They're starting to panic. They attacked a local boy some time last night..."

"So you say," Stewart interrupted. "But you lost the boy." Carlton flushed red. "Yes, sir."

Stewart looked around at Carlton's men with a cool expression on his face.

"I don't have to tell you I was thoroughly unimpressed with your shenanigans on the television last week. You do not come outright and accuse anyone of treason! Especially not G. Force!"

"But sir..." Carlton protested weakly. Stewart spun around to face Carlton.

"I know you have a grudge against those kids, Carlton. I'm no fool. I know you would like nothing more than to see G. Force go down. Well, I'm telling you now. You play this by the book. If so much as one of those five kids ends up with a bullet wound, I will personally crucify your ass on national television! Do you understand me? You tell your men they do not shoot to kill. They not shoot at all!

G. Force will come peacefully if they believe they have a fair chance ahead of them." He paused, then shook his head. "Not that we're likely to find them. They're a hell of a lot more advanced than you'll ever be."

Carlton was about to protest further, when one of his men called out anxiously.

"General Carlton, we're picking up movement in the forest! Multiple persons, covering an area of a hundred or so metres."

"That must be them," Carlton growled. "Everyone, ready to move out!" He looked around, and faltered when Stewart focused a seething glare at him. Groaning inwardly, he called out a second order.

"Attention, everyone, do not open fire unless fired upon, is that clear?"

A murmur of consent swept through the camp, and Carlton turned back to Stewart.

"Is that acceptable, sir?"

Stewart glowered at the man. "Not a drop of blood, Carlton. I dont want to see a single drop of blood."

Carlton clenched his jaw in silent anger, and went to take charge of his men.

Angel Grove Forest....
Tommy watched Mark with visible concern. "Are you all right?" Mark nodded slowly as he paused to get his breath back. "Yeah... Just out of shape. I'll have to do maximum time in the gym when we get home." He turned slowly, reaching out with his senses. "There's no one around here but us. Let's keep moving."

Tommy grimaced, but made no protest.

~*~

"So what do we do?" Davis asked, keeping his gaze fixed firmly ahead. A moment later, something long and cool was slipped into his palm. A glance downwards revealed it to be a knife.

"I don't care that much about the others," Carlton whispered, "but no matter what, you put that through the Commander's rib cage. Understand?"

Davis smiled coldly. "Yes, sir."

~*~

"What is it?" Tommy asked hopefully.

Mark didn't smile. "Trouble...."

No sooner had he said the word when CMF soldiers converged on the area, hemming the four teens in. Carlton, once the excitement had died down, spoke sneeringly to them.

"Well, look at this. Two of G. Force, and two Power Rangers. The Red and the Green ones. Colour coordination. How nice."

Mark's hand curled into fists at his sides. "Carlton...."

Carlton chuckled. "Nice to see that you're the helpless one, for once, Mark. Now, let's see who else my men can find."

~*~

"What a wonderful little gathering! We get five brats for treason, another five for aiding and abetting wanted fugitives...."

"Carlton, when the hell are you going to learn to keep your mouth shut?"

Beside Tommy, Mark breathed a quiet sigh of relief. "General Stewart...."

"Who's General Stewart?" Tommy asked softly.

"One of the men who trained us at West Point. We'll at least get fair treatment from him."

Stewart came forward, eyeing the group critically. Finally, his gaze came to rest on the commander. "Mark? Do you have anything to say?"

Mark stood up straight. "Yes, sir. We were set up, sir. General Carlton conspired to have us murdered, and create a secret agreement with the Spectrans."

"That's ridiculous!" Carlton exploded.

Stewart looked sceptical. "It's a less ridiculous notion than them being guilty of treason. Mark, do you have any proof at all?"

Mark's shoulders slumped. "No, sir. Not on hand. Only what we remember of the incident, and that's sketchy, at best. There's one thing...."

"Which is?"

"We installed a recorder in the Phoenix in case anything like this ever happened. If what we remember is correct, then it would have recorded General Carlton admitting to us that he'd set us up, right before we were attacked. However, a local boy went in search of the recorder, and didn't come back. We believe he may have been seriously wounded by Carlton's men."

Stewart looked grim. "I believe you, Mark. I really do. But unless we find that recorder, I'm afraid there's nothing I can do."

Mark remained stoic. "We understand, sir."

Stewart moved forward, painfully aware of Carlton's triumphant grin. "Commander, I'm placing both you and your team under arrest for treason...."

"Stop!"

Everyone and everything froze, and they looked around to see a small crowd of people moving through the trees towards them. Carlton signalled sharply, and his men all drew their weapons, ready to use them if the need arose.

Anderson took a step forward, barely able to believe what he was seeing. "Cronus?"

Colonel Cronus strode forward, flanked by nearly fifteen of his own men.

"I refuse to allow this to happen!" he said sharply.

Stewart took a slow step back. He, too, recognised the other man. "Colonel, I'm afraid I don't have a choice."

"Yes, you do, General. G. Force are innocent, and we have proof." He looked around. "Come through, lad."

The men parted, to let through a familiar figure. "Jason...."

Donavon whispered in shock. Jason came through slowly, his face the colour of ash and he was leaning heavily on a makeshift crutch. His throat was noticeably bruised, and there was a rough bandage wrapped around his head. In his free hand, though, he clutched the recorder device that he had so frantically hidden from Carlton the night before.

Across the way, Carlton stood frozen. Forget G. Force; that one boy had enough under his heel to put him in the brig for thirty years....

Jason reached Cronus' side, and the colonel gently took Jason's arm to guide him the rest of the way. Stewart watched tensely.

"I take it this is the boy that G. Force is supposed to have attacked?"

"Yes, sir," Carlton spluttered.

Anger filled Jason's face, and he spoke in an angry whisper. "That's a lie! They never touched me! That General Carlton, there, ordered the whole thing!"

Stewart spoke quietly. "Would you be willing to testify to that in court?"

"I can do better than that," Jason rasped. "Listen." He put the recorder down carefully on the ground, fiddled with the controls for a moment, then pressed a single button. A moment later, Carlton's voice filled the air.

"I've already got your funerals planned. Yours especially, Mark. Do you know how long I've been planning to have you five killed? Years. Ever since you first showed your faces in those ridiculous uniforms. And ever since you first made a fool of me."

"You made a fool of yourself, Carlton!" That was Mark....

"No, it was you little brats. Now, I'm going to rectify that. I've made a little agreement with Zoltar. I see to your deaths, and he'll give me a high position in the new world. Not bad, for one day's work. My boys should be arriving soon to finish you off, so see you in Hell, kids."

There was brief shouting, and then static. A moment passed, and then suddenly Jason's voice filled the air.

"It's nothing. Just a piece of metal."

Momentary silence.

"Fine. How about this, then? Where is G. Force?" Again, silence.

"You're coming ever closer to landing yourself in jail, boy."

"You mean, you'll frame me the same way you framed G. Force?"

"Now what, exactly, do you mean by that?"

"I know what you did to G. Force. I know you set them up for an ambush, then played it out like it was their fault. You lied about them attacking the Spectran ships, it was you that arranged for the Phoenix to be attacked, and you had your own planes do it! Then, because you weren't sure if they were dead, you went around saying they'd committed treason, so you'd have a reason to arrest them, and when you arrest them, you'll kill them!"

"I hope you realise you've just signed your own death warrant."

"You.... You're going to kill me?"

"You've just proven you know too much to be allowed to live."

"Then it's true. You really did set G. Force up to have them killed."

"Yes, it's true. Not that you'll ever have the chance to tell anyone about it."

~*~

"Well?" Stewart turned slowly to face Carlton, who had gone white as a ghost. "No miracle explanation, General Carlton?"

For a long moment, Carlton didn't move or speak. His plan was in tatters, that much he was sure of. It left only one option to him... Finally, he looked over at Lieutenant Davis and nodded, motioning slightly with his hand in Jason's direction. Davis darted forward and grabbed Jason, pressing his knife into the boy's ribcage. Carlton started forward, gun drawn, as his men all lifted their guns against Stewart's men and Cronus men.

"We're leaving now. If anyone follows us, that boy is dead. Under- stand...?"

Carlton's threat ended in a strangled whimper as G. Force's Jason lifted Mark's metal boomerang from his commanders belt and took Carlton from behind, pressing the lethal point into Carlton's throat.

"Tell him to let the boy go," Jason whispered menacingly, "or I cut your throat."

Carlton didn't speak. He didn't dare. Jason dug the knife in further, drawing a pinprick of blood.

"You know I'll do it, General. I've wanted to do this for five years. Tell him to let Jason go."

"Let him go," Carlton croaked out. "Davis...?"

For a long moment, nothing happened. Davis remained frozen, Carlton's men remained in a face-off with Stewart and Cronus' men. Then, finally, Davis thrust Jason away from him, sending the boy to the ground with a crash.

Stewart signalled frantically and his men rapidly moved in to arrest Carlton's followers. He then turned to where Jason was still holding Carlton in a death grip. "Let him go, Jason."

The boy remained still, his jaw clenched in suppressed rage. Stewart reached out, but stopped short of actually touching him. "Jason, let him go. It is not worth it. He isn't worth it."

Mark came forward slowly. "Jason, it's over. We're clear."

Finally, slowly, Jason released Carlton, and stepped back, letting Stewart's officers arrest him. Stewart clasped a hand on each teens shoulder.

"Just for the record, very few people believed Carlton's claims. You would have been acquitted in a fair trial."

Mark smiled weakly. "If Carlton had his way, we would never have made it to trial."

Princess, Keop and Tiny came over, all trembling with relief that. The five embraced, thankful that once more, they'd escaped with their lives. Gradually, the shock wore off and, as Carlton and his men were led away, the rangers joined G. Force with a tremendous cheer.

"We did it!" Rocky said, giving a victory howl.

"Yeeha!" Mark smiled faintly. "We did, didn't we...?"

Tommy threw his arms around the commander in a huge bear hug. "You guys are free! And Carlton's going down, big time!"

Laughter filled the quiet air as the two teams celebrated the victory. Then, Jason felt a sharp twist of pain, and he lookedaround anxiously, finally spotting Donavon, Colonel Cronus and Chief Anderson a short distance away, gathered around the disturbingly still form of Donavon's son. Pulling away from the celebrations, he hurried over. "Is he okay?"

The men looked up as Jason joined them. Donavon was cradling his son in his arms, and for a frightening moment, Jason thought the other boy was dead.

"He's badly hurt," Cronus said softly, "but he'll survive."

Jason moved around, so that he was kneeling on the other side of the former Gold Ranger. "Jason?"

Jase opened his eyes a little, and finally focused on Jason. A weak smile touched his lips. "How... How'd I do...?"

His voice was little more than a whisper, and he cringed from the pain in his throat. Jason reached out to grasp Jase's hand. "You did good. You did real good, bro. I'm sorry, Jason. For every- thing."

Jase sighed a little. "S'okay. So..." He smiled again. "... Did I earn your friendship?"

Jason fought back the sudden threat of tears. "For sure. You're way too good for me, man."

Anderson placed a gentle hand on Jason's shoulder. "That's enough. We need to get this young man to hospital."

Jason got painfully to his feet. "I'll call for one." He paused, looking down at Jase one more time before going to keep his promise.

Angel Grove Memorial....
The adults and rangers gathered in the empty waiting room of the hospital to talk while Jason and G-Force were being treated for their wounds. Chief Anderson was the first to break the silence and speak.

"You said you were going to stay in Washington D.C.," he said to Cronus. The colonel nodded.

"That had been my plan. However, the man I had planted in the Pentagon was caught, and had to go underground to escape. Carlton's men turned the heat up on us, and I had to get out. By the time I left the capital, I had at least seven different men tailing me."

Donavon leaned forward. "What about Jason? How did you find him?"

"That was an accident," Cronus replied, "and a very fortunate one at that. I'll explain. I knew G-Force was somewhere in Angel Grove, but I had no idea where, and no way of contacting them. So, my men and I took to the forest to wait it out. I was scouting with one of my lieutenants when we came across Carlton. I'm ashamed to admit this, but we came across Carlton when he was beating your son up, and we couldn't do damn thing about it. It would have been too much of a risk. So, we were forced to wait. Carlton had his men call an ambulance It was only when the ambulance arrived that Carlton took his eyes off Jason. All up, we had approximately fifteen seconds to go in, grab the lad and disappear again. We took a big risk, but thankfully the boy wasn't hurt any more seriously than he already had been."

"I appreciate it," Donavon murmured. "If Jason had ended up in hospital, under the guard of Carlton's men, he may not have survived the night."

"That is probably true," Cronus said quietly. "Carlton would not have taken the risk of having Jason recover to testify. It was touch and go for a while, though, when we had him in the forest. Thankfully, a couple of my men had some medical knowledge. We were able to bring Jason back to a lucid state, where he was able to incriminate Carlton."

"And in doing that," Anderson concluded, "he not only freed G-Force from the treason charges, but himself and you as well, Donavon."

Donavon looked around at the rangers. "If Jason hadn't done what he did, we would have all been in jail ourselves, for aiding and abetting."

"Maybe," Tommy conceded reluctantly, "but I'm still gonna sock him one when he's better. He scared us all half to death!"

Donavon had to agree. "I understand. I think you might have to get in line, Tommy."

Laughter swept across the group, and they fell into a comfortable silence while waiting for news of their friends.

One week later....
Mark drew in a slow, calming breath as the bandages were carefully removed from his eyes. This had been a long time in coming, and he dreaded the possibility of opening his eyes to discover the blindness was permanent.

"C'mon," Jason growled impatiently. "Hurry up and open your eyes!" Princess slapped him on the arm. "Leave him alone. Let him take his time."

Mark smiled mentally. He knew Jason was right, though. Biting back the fear, he opened his eyes.

"Well?" Anderson asked finally, sounding a little impatient himself. Mark couldn't hold back, and a grin lit up his face. With a loud cheer, Jason, Princess, Keop and Tiny all crowded around their commander in celebration. Anderson held back, watching for a moment before smiling to himself and slipping silently out of the room.

~*~

"Are the bandages off?"

Anderson nodded, unable to resist a broad smile. "He's going to be fine. No permanent damage."

A sigh of relief swept across the room. Anderson walked further into the room and spoke to the teen in the bed.

"How are you feeling, Jason?"

Jason pulled a face and scribbled a message on a notepad, which he ripped off and handed to Anderson. Although not serious, the damage to his larynx had left Jason temporarily without a voice. It was a condition that his friends were taking full advantage of. The Security Chief laughed as he read the note.

"I can understand that completely. You'll have your voice back soon enough, though."

"Too soon for us," Rocky teased. "It's been great, not having to listen to him all day.... Ow!"

Rocky howled in protest as Jason reached over and slapped the notepad across Rocky's head. Laughter filled the room.

"Easy," Rocky grumbled, rubbing his head gingerly. "That hurt!" Jason scribbled a new note, which he handed to his father. Donavon glanced at it, then nodded.

"All right, visiting times up. Jason needs his rest." The rangers bid their friend goodbye, and filed out. Anderson started to leave, only to stop when Jason motioned anxiously to him. Anderson went back, a touch of concern in his eyes.

"What is it?"

Jason quickly wrote another note.

_Is Jason up to moving around?_

Anderson glanced worriedly at Donavon, then finally answered truth- fully.

"More or less. Why?"

_I want to talk to him._

A concerned frown filled Anderson's face. "Are you sure about that?" _Yes._

Donavon had come around to peer at the notes over Anderson's shoulder. "Jason?"

Jason clenched his jaw, and wrote as fast as he could. _I'm not upset or angry. I just want to talk._ Anderson nodded. "All right," he conceded finally. "I'll see what I can do."

Some time later....
Jase was drifting in and out of sleep when there was a light knock on the door frame. Looking around, he smiled weakly and dragged himself back into awareness. Jason ventured into the room, looking painfully nervous.

"The Chief said you wanted to talk to me." Jase nodded slowly, writing carefully on the pad. _Have a question._

Jason read the note quickly, then nodded, dreading the anticipated question. "Shoot."

_Got any scars?_

Jason nearly choked. It was nothing like what he had expected. "You want to know that?"

Jase smiled a little. _Did you think I was gonna ask why you set me up that night?_

Jason swallowed hard. "I.... Hell.... You really want to know?" _About the scars? Yes._

Jason shrugged. "Okay, then. Sure, I've got scars. We all do." He pulled his pyjama top open to reveal a multitude of scars across his chest and stomach. "It's like this on my back, as well. Ended up with a reminder from just about every battle. What about you?"

_Just one before now._

Jase sat up and pulled his top up to show a thin scar in the center of his chest. Jason leaned in for a closer look.

"How did this happen?"

Jase grimaced. He didn't have enough note paper to explain. Jason reddened some.

"Sorry. Tell me some other time. It was in a battle, though?" _Sort of. One on one._

"The worst kind," Jason muttered. He looked up at bandage that was wrapped loosely around the other boy's throat. "Well, I hate to say it, but that is definitely gonna leave a scar. The head wound, too."

Jase nodded. _Figured._

Jason stood there in silence for nearly a minute before speaking, his eyes cast downwards.

"I don't know why I did it. I really don't. I've never done anything as stupid as that before."

Jase didn't move, or make a sound. He had guessed that by avoiding the topic himself, the other Jason would eventually bring it up. Jason went on, his voice audibly strained.

"It was really, really stupid, I know that. I had no right to do it... I don't know, maybe I was jealous of the way you were getting close to Princess...."

Jase conceded that silently. It was a logical explanation. He scribbled a reply.

_Maybe you were just over-protective._

Jason swallowed hard. "Maybe. Look, I'm really sorry. I mean that, it isn't just guilt. I nearly got you killed...."

_Forget it._

"Easy for you to say," Jason growled, annoyed that the other boy could be so flippant about it. Jase smirked.

_Not at the moment, it isn't._

Jason stared at the note for a moment, looked up at Jase's half-grin, then burst into laughter before he could stop himself.

"That's not funny!" Jason choked out, but he was unable to stop laughing.

Jase lay back down, grinning broadly, and wrote another note. _We friends now?_

Jason nodded. "Yeah.... If you want me for a friend."

_Sure... always looking for someone new to beat on the sparring mat..._

"Is that a challenge?" Jason asked, grinning now himself.

Jase hesitated, then put the pad down and, drawing in a deep breath, spoke in a barely audible whisper. "Sure.... When we can both walk straight."

Jason laughed again softly. "You're on. Oh... And about Princess...."

Jase watched with barely concealed apprehension. Jason smiled reassuringly.

"She really does like you, bro. We're gonna be here for a few more weeks at least, so you'd better make your move soon."

The former Gold Ranger went beet red, but he nodded his understanding. Jason clapped him lightly on the shoulder, then stepped back from the bed.

"I'm wasted. I'm going back to bed."

Jase nodded, watching him go in silence before smiling to himself and sliding back down in the bed to rest.

Mark looked around as Jason spoke behind him. "Of what?"

Jason motioned with his hand, and Mark looked to see the other Jason walking along the beach with Princess. "Of those two."

A faint smile flickered across Mark's lips, and he got slowly to his feet. "I think I'm glad the Chief suggested we stay a while longer. Leave them alone, Jason. Princess deserves the chance, and you owe it to Jason for that stunt you pulled."

"You're not gonna let me forget it, are you?" Jason grumbled.

Mark's expression hardened considerably. "No, I'm not. That's not the sort of mistake that you should forget. You're just lucky that Colonel Cronus showed up when he did."

Jason turned away and started to walk slowly back in the direction of the Youth Centre. "I know. But it wasn't lucky for me, it was lucky for Jason. I really didn't want him to get hurt, Mark. You know I didn't. We've lost too many friends like that. I wouldn't deliberately put someone in the firing line like that. I just wasn't thinking straight."

"I know, Jason." Mark paused, looking up at the sky. "But the next time you have a grudge against someone, think about what you're doing before you say anything to them."

"Will do," Jason murmured.

Mark clapped him lightly on the shoulder. "C'mon, let's get back to the Youth Centre. I owe Rocky a sparring match."

Jason spared Mark a curious look, then hurried after his commander.

~*~

Princess glanced up the hill, and smiled. "Yes."

"Good."

Her smile broadened a little as Jason slipped his hand around hers, gently drawing her closer. Nerves suddenly struck, and she tried changing the topic from their growing closeness. "How are you feeling?"

A crooked smile tugged at the corners of Jason's mouth. "I'm fine. I won't be shouting over the top of crowds for a while, but I'm fine. What about you?"

It was rhetorical, and she knew it, but she answered anyway. "Good. Now that this is over, I think we're all doing better."

Jason slowed to a halt on the sand, impatient with Princess's evasive tactics. "I know that we might not see each other again when you guys go back to.... to wherever you live."

"Washington," Princess murmured.

Jason nodded. "Yeah. Washington." He squirmed a little on the spot, nervous and uncomfortable. Perhaps this was the reason Emily had broken it off with him.... "I mean... You're always off fighting Spectra, and we sort of have our hands tied with the Machine Empire...."

She watched him silently, half anticipating what he was edging towards, but not daring to cut in and ruin the moment.

Jason felt his cheeks start to burn red with embarrassment. He was screwing it up, the way he always managed to screw it up when he tried to talk his way through delicate situations like this. She probably thought he was an idiot....

Princess giggled suddenly, unable to help it. Jason stopped talking abruptly, staring at her with a wounded look.

"What is it?"

"I'm sorry," she apologized, shaking her head hard and trying to put an end to the laughing fit. "It's just... I've never seen anyone go as red as that. Jason, what are you trying to say?"

Jason clenched his jaw for a moment, torn between acting and simply letting it drop. A moment later, he caught hold of Princess's other hand, pulled her towards him and pressed his lips against hers in a quick but tender kiss.

Princess's eyes went wide in momentary surprise, and then she quickly surrendered herself to what was happening. When they broke apart, she offered him a shy smile. "Is that it?"

Jason nodded, red-faced with a mixture of excitement and embarrassment. Princess stared up at him for moment, then looked down at their joined hands. After barely a second of thought, she leaned in against his broad chest, slipping her arms around his waist, and allowing him to do the same.

"It's about time," she murmured contentedly.

Youth Centre....
Everything seemed right. Tommy looked around the place slowly, with a strong feeling of contentment and relief. Rocky was on the mat, sparring with Mark, each one taking it in turns to put the other on the mat. Rocky was taking it easy; Tommy could tell. For all his strengths and abilities, and powers, Mark was literally just deadweight when it came to proper martial arts.

His gaze roamed further, to where Adam and Billy were deep in discussion with Tiny, and Tanya and Kat were happily entertaining the youngest member of G-Force. Or rather, Keop was entertaining them... The little boy was quite an actor, Tommy thought with an amused grin, and he was very much enjoying the attentions of the two older girls. He shook his head, started to turn back to his soda.... and stopped.

Tommy's feeling of contentment faded as he saw Jason sitting in a far corner by himself, sulking over a Coke. For a long moment, Tommy debated over whether to act, or simply ignore the other boy. He hated feeling obligated towards someone who had nearly gotten a member of his own team killed, but at the same time, he couldn't help feeling some degree of grudging affinity with G-Force's second in command. He knew he could not legitimately continue to sit in judgment of Jason when he himself had committed so many wrongs. He reluctantly thought back to when he had nearly killed Jase in the Dimension of Darkness and realised that he was, in reality, not a hell of a lot better than Jason.

He could see himself in Jason, he realised reluctantly. It was all there; the dark, brooding nature, the aloofness from the everyone else... The sense of not quite fitting in. All of it. Tommy had already gone through it all, and he grudgingly found he understood the position the other boy was in. Trying to keep his reason and his calm, Tommy picked up his smoothie and made his way over to the other teen.

~*~

Jason looked away again, to the wall. "You don't have to feel obliged to entertain me. I can look after myself."

Tommy frowned, and sat down with an indignant thud. "Why do you have to act like such an arrogant asshole all the time? Just what are you trying to prove, anyway?"

"I don't have to prove anything to anyone," Jason replied stiffly.

"Then stop acting like it." Tommy shook his head. "Man, I've never met anyone like you before. Where did you get such a huge damn ego?"

Jason suddenly found himself fighting to suppress a grin. _Ego? He thinks it's a matter of ego?_ "Why don't you go on back to your friends? They're probably wondering why you bothered to come over here in the first place."

"Let them wonder," Tommy retorted. "Look, so you made a mistake? We all do."

"Not like that."

"No? I don't suppose Jason told you about that scar on his chest? The one that he thinks no one else knows about?"

Jason looked up at Tommy, then, suddenly curious. "He showed me, but he never told me how it happened."

Tommy's expression hardened with an emotion that Jason knew all too well. "He probably didn't tell you, because I'm the one who gave him that scar. I didn't start out on this side, Jason. When I first became a ranger, it was as Rita's evil Green Ranger. I started out my term as a ranger trying to destroy the others. And man, I came real close to killing Jason. You think you nearly got him killed? Nah. I mean, maybe you put the idea in his head, but he didn't have to go off like he did. So, in a way it was partly his fault, too. But back then...." Tommy hesitated, remembering the incident that had given him nightmares for a month.

"Rita wanted me to get rid of them one by one. She thought it'd be easier than taking them on altogether. I decided to start with Jase. I figured that if I got rid of their leader, then the rest of them would fall apart. I didn't understand then what teamwork really was. Anyway, I got Jase in school, when no one else was around. Used my coin to send him to an arena in Rita's Dark Dimension. Goldar started with him first, while Rita sent me to deal with the others. By the time I got there, Jase had taken a pretty bad beating. I was supposed to finish the job, and kill him.

"I don't know whether I unconsciously stalled, or whether it was sheer luck, but Billy teleported Jase back to the Command Centre, as it was back then. He didn't get out of it unscathed. My sword... the Sword of Darkness... nicked him just as he teleported out. Right in the centre of the chest. I don't know how he held out until the whole business was over, but as soon as things were back to normal, and the spell on me had been broken, Jason landed in hospital. He was sick for two weeks, and the doctors never quite figured out what was wrong."

"What is your point?" Jason demanded, quietly fascinated by the story.

Tommy watched Jason intently. "I nearly killed Jason. If he had died from th e poison from the Sword of Darkness, then it would have been my fault. I could have let that haunt me for the rest of what probably would have been a really short life, but I didn't. The others wouldn't let me. They didn't hate me for what I could have done to Jason, even though they had every right to. I'm telling you now that we don't hate you for what happened. It turned out okay in the end, didn't it?"

"Yeah," Jason conceded softly. "It did. I have to say, when I realised what Jason had done, I had a hell of a lot of respect for him. It took a lot of courage to do what he did."

Tommy laughed softly. "Yeah, well, I talked to him yesterday, and he said that since he missed out on all the action the last time, it was his turn this time round."

"Some action," Jason muttered, rolling his eyes.

"Jase has always been like that, though," Tommy went on quietly. "If he thinks he can do something to make things right, he'll go ahead and do it, no matter how dangerous it is. Stupid moron, he really knows how to scare the hell out of us."

Jason had to smile, then, and he looked over to see that Mark and Rocky had finally called a truce and had retreated to the bar. "It's the same with Mark. He takes such stupid risks, sometimes..." Jason turned his attention back to Tommy and held out his hand to the older boy. "Peace?"

Tommy grinned and took the offered hand without hesitation. "Peace."

"Now that we've infringed on your territory," Jason remarked casually, "maybe next time it'll be our turn play host."

"We might take you up on that," Tommy mused. "I know Jase would, anyway." Both boys laughed, then, drawing the attentions of the others, who made their way over to the table.

"What's so funny?" Kat demanded.

Tommy shook his head as they all gathered around. "Nothing. Just..."

"A private joke," Jason finished off, and he and Tommy exchanged knowing grins.

"So when are you guys heading off, anyway?" Tanya wanted to know.

"Tomorrow morning," Mark answered.

"Or when Zoltar attacks next," Keop added. "Whichever gets here first."

"Before tomorrow morning?" Tiny grumbled. "He'd better bloody well not."

Suddenly, Rocky gave a soft whistle. "Hey, check out what just came in."

They all looked, and were not entirely surprised to see Jase and Princess come into the Youth Centre, their arms firmly wrapped around each others' waists. Tommy chuckled softly. "I hope Emily isn't jealous."

"Emily?" Keop echoed.

Tommy nodded. "Uh huh. Long story."

"Especially since Danny Pembroke dumped her two days ago for a college squad cheerleader," Kat interjected with a satisfied smirk.

Mark looked amused. "You mean Jason and Emily...?"

"She dumped him for Danny Pembroke," Kat explained. "Looks like she's gonna be the loser, now."

"Serves her right," Tanya muttered, straightening up. "Now, if everyone will excuse me, I have to get home and study. I have an Algebra exam tomorrow."

"Me, too," Adam admitted reluctantly. "Man, I hate school, sometimes."

"Hey, be grateful," Jason told him. "Don't take it for granted. You're lucky you're not like us and you can't go to school at all."

"That's true," Tommy agreed.

Mark grinned. "I don't know about that. I had to go to school here for a couple of weeks, and it wasn't that great."

The young commander had to duck as several napkins were launched in his direction.

"Later," Adam chuckled, and he and Tanya hurried out, bidding Jase and Princess goodbye as they went. Kat and Rocky soon followed as they remembered a History assignment they had due the following day. Soon, only Tommy was left with G-Force, and they were finally joined by Jase and Princess, who were still glued at the hands.

"I think we'd better head back to our hotel," Mark said firmly.

Tommy rose to his feet. "We'll walk with you. Jase and I can just teleport home from there, no problems."

Mark nodded. "Okay. Let's get going, then."

~*~

They all looked around at Tiny, who had spoken the cryptic question. "What do you mean?" Mark asked.

"Well...." Tiny hesitated, gathering his thoughts, then went on. "I guess I mean that we get to the point where we sort of think we know every- thing, and then something happens, and we find were right back to square one. This whole thing has been one big learning experience."

"You can say that again," Tommy agreed. He shot a half-serious glare at Jase. "Like, learning not to go running off like an idiot and not tell anyone where you've gone."

Jase reddened considerably. "Hey, you're not perfect, Oliver."

Mark smiled. "None of us are perfect. We'll always be learning. That's the way life goes. Maybe you guys will make it to Washington one day, and then we can teach you a thing or two."

"Is that a challenge?" Tommy asked with a shark-like grin.

Mark rolled his eyes. "Please, I've had enough of that with Rocky." They all laughed, then, and kept laughing until they reached the hotel. The rest of the team bade goodbye, and disappeared inside, but Mark held back to talk to Tommy and Jason.

"I haven't had the chance to say this, yet," he told them quietly. "Not properly. We'll never be able to thank you guys for everything you've done to help us. We would all have been dead now if it weren't for you. I hope we'll have the chance to pay you back one day."

Tommy smiled calmly. "Excuse me for saying so, but I hope you don't. I do hope this won't be the last time we see each other, though."

"I'm sure it won't be," Mark murmured. "If you ever come to Washington, you can be sure that we'll find you."

"And if you ever come back here," Jason added, "you know where you can find us."

Mark nodded and clasped hands with both teens. "Thank you again. For everything."

"Hey," Tommy said with a chuckle, "thanks for the excitement."

Mark rolled his eyes again. "Idiot."

Tommy hit Mark lightly on the arm as the younger boy turned away to head back into the hotel. "We'll see you round, bro."

Mark paused halfway up the steps to look back. "You can count on that." He hesitated for just a moment, then turned and disappeared into the hotel after his friends. Jason and Tommy watched him go until he was out of sight, then turned and walked wordlessly around the corner into a darkened alley.

"You think we will?" Jason asked finally, breaking the silence.

"Will what?" Tommy asked. "You mean, see them again?"

"Yeah."

Tommy chewed lightly on his lower lip. "Maybe. I really don't know." He looked at Jason in the fading light, and guessed what was bothering him. "Did you get to say goodbye to Princess?"

Jason cast his gaze downwards. "Yeah. On the beach. We knew we wouldn't get much of a chance later on with everyone around."

Tommy clapped him lightly on the shoulder. "If she likes you as much as you like her, then you'll see her again. I'm sure of it."

Jason offered Tommy a grateful smile. "Thanks, bro." He paused, then grimaced as he looked around. "But I won't be seeing daylight again if I don't get home now. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

Tommy nodded, and stood back as Jason teleported out. He hung back, pausing to look up at the night sky in silent appreciation before finally activating the teleportation button on his communicator, and disappearing from sight.

End