"Shit."

Keith looked around dazedly as Lance spoke. He held off rebuking Lance for the cuss, feeling a similar desire to let out a few choice expletives. He pushed himself up slowly, cringing at the residue pain that still coursed through his body, making it difficult for him to get moving. Throughout the clearing, the others were gradually getting themselves to their feet as well. The only ones who didn't move were Jason and Princess.

He crawled over to Princess first, praying that whatever Jase had done to her was not serious. Keith looked down at her pale features with a sinking heart, and knew that she would not be easily woken. His gaze flickered around, and he saw Tiny moving slowly over to where Jason lay.

"Is he okay?" His voice

Transfer interrupted!

"Took a blow to the back of the head. He's probably got a concussion."

Keith glanced around at his own team. They were confused, disoriented and fearful. Wincing with pain, he got slowly to his feet.

"Let's get back to the house. We'll figure out where to go from there. Lance, get over here and help me with Princess. Tiny, Hunk, you two carry Jason. Pidge, Allura, keep a lookout. We don't need anymore surprises right now."

Gradually, they got themselves in order, and began to make their way back to the house in heavy silence.

Spectran transport craft

Zoltar smiled broadly as Mark and Jason strode into his private room, a little dirty but no worse the wear for their fight.

"Well done, boys," he praised them. "You did a good job. Those fools didn't know what hit them."

"Thank you, Father," Mark murmured. "And Keop?"

"Is undergoing the treatment right now," Zoltar answered the unfinished question. "He'll be with us soon enough. Jason, I take it my suggestion worked?"

Jason nodded, smiling faintly. "Yes, it did. Thank you, Father. I... I just didn't want to hurt her." He shifted uncomfortably, eyes downcast, as though embarrassed and ashamed of his feelings.

"It's all right," Zoltar murmured reassuringly. "I can understand your desire not to harm her. That's why I suggested putting her into a coma, rather than risking further confrontations where she might well be killed. When this fight is over, and the Earth is ours, then you can go back for her. If need be we'll give her the treatment as well. But until then, we have important matters to deal with. Mordock will be here within the next two days. Everything must be ready for then. I think it would be best if we go on to the next phase immediately. I want you boys to go ahead and take care of it. I'll send Keop after you as soon as he's ready."

Zoltar stood up, then looking intently from one boy to the other.

"My sons.... You must display the utmost care from now on. Our enemies will use everything within their power to take you away from me. We can't allow that to happen."

"No one will take us away from you, Father," Mark said firmly. "We promise."

Jason's brown eyes flashed darkly. "And we'll kill anyone who stands in our way."

A cold smile touched Zoltar's lips. "Indeed we will, my children. Go quickly now, and carry out the next phase. And remember, G-Force and the Voltron Force won't be far behind you. Keep constant vigil, and take care of each other."

The two boys nodded in unison, then left the room. Zoltar waited patiently until the door swung shut, then sat back in his chair, laughing softly, evilly to himself.

Woodeforde

Gavin Marcy was the only doctor in Woodeforde, operating out of the town's semi-defunct Medical Center. Like the rest of the townspeople, he knew of G-Force's residency in the otherwise quiet community. However, he'd not had much experience treating them for any injuries or illnesses. Usually, he knew, they went to Trinity Hospital in Washington D.C. for any required doctoring. So, when he received a call summoning him to the house where the famous youngsters resided, he went with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

He was met by a man who simply introduced himself as Cronus, and was ushered down a long, dark hallway which opened out into a large area. Briefly, Marcy was taken back by the size of the place. He'd known the house was big, but until you actually got inside, you really had no idea just how big it was. The room he was in right then was huge; the majority of his own quarter acre sized house could have fit in there. A winding stairway began off to his left, curved upwards to the next floor, with the balcony stretching out in both directions, and disappearing into darkened hallways. He shuddered a little, dimly wondering how such a house had avoided gaining a reputation for being haunted.

"Dr Marcy?"

Marcy looked back to find Chief Anderson standing there, looking pale and immensely worried. Snapping back into professional mode, he took a couple of steps forward.

"I came as soon as I got the call, Chief. What can I do?"

Anderson motioned behind him, and Marcy noticed for the first time the two teens that lay spread out on the two sofas. Jason and Princess, Marcy reminded himself. He was drawn first to Jason by the sight of the blood that soaked the boy's T-shirt collar.

"What happened?" he asked as he carefully rolled the teen over to get a better look at the wound.

"We don't know, exactly," a voice answered, and Marcy glanced back to see a young man dressed in what looked like a red uniform of some sort. Marcy frowned, then looked back to the wound.

"From the looks of this, he's been struck with something hard and very sharp. Metal, I'd say."

One of the young people behind him groaned softly, and Marcy chose to ignore it.

"He'll need stitches, and day or two to get over the concussion, but it's no more serious than that." He turned then to the girl, paused as he looked her over, then looked around at everyone questioningly. "What happened to her? There doesn't seem to be anything physically wrong with her."

Tiny spoke, then, anger clear on his face.

"I don't know what he did to her, but I swear to God I'm gonna kill him myself when I get my hands on him!"

"Easy, Tiny," Cronus murmured. Tiny let out an indistinguishable sound, then turned away. Marcy watched the big boy for a long moment, then turned his attention back to Princess, conducting as thorough an examination as he had the time and equipment for. Finally, he looked away, back to Anderson.

"I honestly don't know what's wrong with her. As near as I can figure, there is nothing wrong. I'm going to have to admit her to the Medical Centre for tests Unless you prefer to take her to Washington?"

Anderson shook his head. "No, I have a feeling she'll be safer here. You can take Jason as well, and take care of his wound there. We have to start organising ourselves here."

"What d'you mean?" Pidge asked in concern. Anderson regarded the group grimly.

"I'm saying that we can't stay here. Not now. We have no way of anticipating their next move, but I think our first priority is to move to a much more secure location. We have to get away from here as fast as possible."

Marcy got to his feet. "I'll call an ambulance to come and get these two."

Anderson nodded. "We'll leave them in your care. How long will Jason need to recover?"

"Judging from the severity of that wound?" Marcy asked. "I'd give him two days."

"There's no chance he'll wait around in hospital for two days," Anderson murmured, "but we have to move tonight. Doctor, when he comes to, tell him someone will come back for him late tomorrow. Tell him not to leave the hospital, otherwise he'll never find us."

Marcy nodded and, although confused, went to make the call. Once he'd gone, Tiny spoke up with forced control.

"Are we going to Sweet Valley?"

"No," Anderson replied. "We're going somewhere that Mark doesn't know of. We can't risk being ambushed. We need a secure location to decide what our next moves will be."

"And while we're running like chickens, they'll be loose doing God knows what!" Lance growled.

"Lance is right," Keith said softly. "In the time it will take us to move to a new location, Mark and Jason may have done a lot of damage. Shouldn't we be trying to at least keep track of them?"

"Care to suggest how?" Cronus asked dryly. "If we still had Keop, that might have been a possibility. But now...."

"There is a way," Therese spoke up from the corner where she'd been waiting in patient silence. "Chief, you remember the tracking code you linked to the transmitters?"

Realisation dawned on Anderson's face. "Of course! Damn it, why didn't I think of that sooner?"

"Tracking signal?" Tiny asked, frowning. "What tracking signal?"

"It's something I developed without telling the rest of you," Anderson explained. "In case any of you went missing, it was designed to find you no matter where you were, whether it be on this planet or another. Now, it might hopefully work long enough to at least work out what their next planned moves are. Therese, go and take care of that, and as soon as you know where Mark is, let me know. I've no doubt he'll find a way to disable it after he realises what the signal is, so hurry."

Therese ran to do as she'd been told. Anderson looked around at the rest of them.

"All right. Let's get started. We don't have much time."

Two hours later,

Approximately 11a.m.

Anderson was supervising the dismantling of the main computer link-up in the control room when young Penny ran in, breathing heavily.

"Chief! Therese found him!"

A mixture of surprise and relief passed over Anderson's face. "Where? Where is he?"

"She didn't tell me. She just told me to get you."

"All right. Have you, Jennifer and Sam packed your things?"

"Uh huh."

"Then go and wait at the Phoenix. Move!"

Penny took off for her room, while Anderson ran down the staircase, down a long hallway and into his study. Therese looked up at him grimly as he came in.

"Well?"

"I don't know whether to be surprised or not," Therese said softly, "but I am worried. He's in Angel Grove, Chief. I'll bet Jason is with him."

"Hell..." Anderson whispered. "They could be there for any number of things. All right, go and get your things together."

"What are you going to do?" Therese asked as they left the study. Anderson looked grim.

"We'll assume the worst, that their plan is to disable the Power Chamber. That's logical. After all, it's the only outpost of its kind on this planet. I'll have to send the Voltron Force to try and intercept them. We need Tiny to get us to our new location. Even if the Voltron Force can't capture them, they can at least warn the Power Rangers not to trust Jason or Mark. Perhaps we can even enlist their help. Go on, Therese. I'll meet you at the Phoenix."

Therese nodded and went to do as she'd been told, and Anderson headed towards the launch bay to pass on what he'd decided to the Voltron Force.

Some hours later,

Angel Grove

"So what d'you think?"

Jason glanced back as Mark spoke, then returned his attention to the Youth Centre.

"It's not going to be a walk-over, that's for sure. Especially if Tommy and the others are in there. They'll want to know exactly what's going on."

"Just tell him it's to do with Zoltar, and you don't want to involve him."

Jason nodded, finally turning away from the building. "I could, but he won't leave it at that. I can't lie to him, Mark. He knows me too well. And if he thinks I'm lying to him, then he'll get suspicious. It's enough that we have to deal with G-Force and the Voltron Force. By disabling the Power Chamber we can put the Power Rangers out of action, but I really don't want to fight Tommy."

"You knew it might come to that," Mark reminded him. "You yourself said he can't keep his nose out of something if he thinks he can help."

Jason sighed, dropping into a crouch beside his brother. "I know. He's pig-headed and stubborn.... And the others are just as bad. They might not be Rangers anymore, but they could still cause us some problems."

Mark nodded, understanding what lay beneath Jason's words.

"I don't want to hurt them, either. I'd rather not meet up with them at all. But we know we may not have a choice. Remember what Father said, Jason."

"Yeah," Jason murmured. "We have to look after each other. Okay, I'm going in. Keep a lookout, okay?"

"I'll let you know if we have unwanted company," Mark assured him. "Go on. And don't be afraid to give a yell if you need help."

Jason smiled faintly and, after clasping hands briefly with Mark, rose up and hurried off towards the Youth Centre.

Tommy was lost in a world of his own, sipping on a fruit salad smoothie as he contemplated his up-coming car race. He was excited about it, of course, the same as he got excited about every race he drove in. It was a huge rush, almost as great as morphing had been. He supposed that, in a way, the racing was an attempt to replace the void that the power had left, but his uncle seemed to think he had a talent for the sport. That alone encouraged Tommy, and told him that it wasn't a foolish side-track.

He was so lost in thought that it took a moment to register when he heard Adam say that Jason had just walked into the Youth Centre.

"Huh?" he asked dumbly, looking up and blinking as he came back to reality. Kat rolled her eyes.

"Earth to Tommy? Jason's back!"

Tommy looked around, and a grin lit up his face at the sight of his friend. Getting up, he hurried across the floor to meet him.

"Jase!"

Across the way, Jason withheld a groan.

I hardly got in the door, and he's gonna have me cornered!

Don't panic, Mark's voice came to him. Just act like we planned it.

Jason forced a smile onto his face as Tommy reached him. "Hey, Tommy."

Immediately, Tommy's own grin dropped away like a rock as he sensed the tension that was barely hidden in his friend's voice. "Is something wrong, bro? The trip went all right, didn't it?"

"Yeah, that was fine," Jason mumbled. "Look, Tommy....." He hesitated, then pulled Tommy into the alcove, which they had frequently in the past used to teleport from. "I can't explain now Not here But there is something wrong. It's to do with Zoltar. We think he's planning a major attack."

Tommy stared at Jason in shock. "You mean on Earth?"

"Yeah. Listen, have you seen TJ? We may need the Rangers' help, but right at the moment, I just need to tell them to warn them. Zoltar might target the Power Chamber for attack."

Rendered almost speechless with shock, Tommy motioned across the Centre floor, to where TJ was working out with Carlos. Jason started out of the alcove, then looked back to Tommy.

"Look, Tommy, don't tell anyone what I just told you. We don't want to start a panic. And if anyone asks you if I was here, tell them you haven't seen me. Anyone at all, including G-Force."

The shock on Tommy's face faded to make way for confusion, and a touch of suspicion. "Why not G-Force?"

Jason hesitated, then spoke in a hushed whisper. "We got a report from a spy on Spectra. Apparently Zoltar has been working on robot clones of the team. They don't know if they're ready for use yet, but if they are.... Well, you get my drift, don't you?"

Tommy nodded, finally. "Yeah, I get you. Don't worry, I'll keep my mouth shut."

Nice touch, Mark's voice echoed in Jason's mind. It was all Jason could do not to smirk.

Thanks.

Turning, he made his way quickly across the floor, and over to where TJ was belting the daylights out of a punching bag.

"Try holding it steady, will you?" TJ growled, as his punch slid off the side of the bag. Carlos pulled a face at his friend and leader.

"Bite me. Try not kicking the damn thing so hard."

TJ shook his head and was about to take another shot when someone else walked into his line of vision, shattering his concentration.

"What the... Jason?"

"Sorry to interrupt you," Jason apologized. "But I need to talk to you. It's urgent. It's about...."

Jason let his gaze flicker down to the communicator that TJ wore. Realisation dawned in the younger teen's eyes, and he nodded.

"Okay. Over here."

Jason followed TJ over to a corner, away from the other teens.

"So," TJ asked as he grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat from his face and neck, "what's the problem?"

"Tell me," Jason asked softly, "have you had many problems with Divatox lately?"

TJ paused, eyeing Jason curiously. "Actually, no. The last time we heard from her was two weeks ago. Why?"

"I've just gotten back from staying with G-Force. As a matter of fact, they sent me back to talk to you. We've gotten word that Zoltar is planning a major attack on Earth."

"That's G-Force's territory," TJ said. "Not ours."

"It is if he's teamed up with Divatox," Jason retorted. That brought TJ up short.

"Say what?"

"That's what we've heard," Jason hissed. "A spy got word back to us that Zoltar's gotten Divatox on his side, and that they're planning a major attack. If it's true, then it's your business as much as G-Force's."

TJ was silent for several seconds as he contemplated what he'd just been told. If nothing else, though, it certainly explained the sudden absence of piranhatron and monster attacks.

"Okay. Say I believe you. What do you want from us?"

"I need you to take me to the Power Chamber," Jason told him quickly. "I can't get in there anymore on my own. But if you take me there, I can set up a communications link between the Power Chamber and G-Force. That way, if it does turn out to be true, G-Force can contact you immediately."

"And if it isn't true?" Carlos asked from where he'd been listening. Jason shrugged.

"Then there's nothing lost. Personally, I hope it's not true. The thought of either one on their own is bad enough without them teaming up."

TJ grinned, then. "That's the truth, for sure. Okay, Jason, you got it. Just let me clean up, and we'll go there straight away."

Jason nodded. "Great. I'll wait for you over in the alcove."

He turned and headed for the alcove as TJ and Carlos began to pack up their things.

Jason, heads up! They're here!

Jason looked around in shock just seconds before the Voltron Force ran into the Youth Centre, led by G-Force's Jason. He was spotted immediately, and fell back into the middle of the workout mat as all six armed team members quickly circled him.

"I know you don't need a weapon," Jason said quietly, holding his laser in a rock-steady grip. "But don't even think of trying anything against us. You know I'll use this."

Jase regarded him for a moment, then smiled at the sight of the bandage beneath the brown helmet.

"Would've thought you'd need a bit more time to recover, Jason." His smile widened as a mental probe revealed Jason was not quite as steady as he seemed. The second in command of G-Force glared at the older boy with controlled fury.

"I have a real quick recovery record. Didn't Mark tell you? Look, just shut up, okay? Lie down on the floor, and put your hands behind your head."

Jase couldn't resist a quiet chuckle. "And what will you do if I don't? Six of you against me? That's not very fair of you."

"Don't even start with that bullshit," Jason snarled. "Get down, or I swear I'll shoot you down myself!"

In that moment, Jase's gaze flickered past Jason and the others, and then Jason and Keith were pushed aside and Tommy, Adam, Rocky, Kat and Tanya charged through, forming a protective circle around Jase.

"I don't know what's going on," Tommy said in a dangerously quiet voice, "but somebody had better explain right now why you want to shoot my best friend!"

Jason paused, then glanced around the Youth Centre. The commotion had scared everyone off; the place was empty aside from five teens who stood watching the unfolding scene with intense interest and concern. He turned his attention back to the center of the circle.

"Tommy, you're going to have to trust us. Move away from Jason, please."

Tommy glanced back over his shoulder at Jase.

"Clone?" he whispered.

Jase shrugged. "Could be," he whispered back, barely able to suppress his delight at the way things were unfolding. With any luck, Tommy and the others would be so busy fighting it out with the Voltron Force that he would be able to grab TJ, get to the Power Chamber and take care of business before they realised what was going on. Tommy turned back to face Jason, his face dark with anger.

"Back off, right now. If you want Jase, you'll have to go through us."

"Us too," TJ announced, quickly ducking into the circle with his friends. Jason looked helplessly to Keith, who spoke up in a quiet, but firm voice.

"Zoltar has control of Jason. He has Mark, too, and Keop. They're working with him. Whatever he's told you is a lie. Move away from him, please!"

Tommy glowered angrily at the accusation.

"That's bullshit! Jase would never work with Zoltar!"

"Then ask him straight out," Jason challenged the former Ranger. "You told me once that you and Jase could never lie to each other, Tommy. If you think I'm wrong, then just ask him."

Tommy hesitated, then slowly turned to face his friend.

"Jase? It's not true, is it? You're not...." Tommy trailed off as his gaze locked with Jase's. The other boy's brown eyes were hard, cold..... evil.

"Oh shit," Rocky muttered as the five former Rangers quickly fell back, away from their friend.

"Sorry to ruin your plans," Lance said casually, enjoying a moment of anticipated victory. It was very short-lived.

"Oh, you haven't ruined anything," Jase answered, smiling coldly. "You just forced us to take a different tact."

His eyes narrowed, and an instant later Jason and all five members of the Voltron Force went flying in all directions across the Youth Centre, slamming into walls and tables with vicious force. Then, while everyone was still recovering from the shock, Jase grabbed hold of TJ around the throat, holding him in a choking grip.

"We're going to take that little trip to the Power Chamber now, TJ," Jase murmured. "I have business there to take care of."

Before TJ could even start to fight, Jason activated the teleport button on the communicator, and the two boys vanished in a flash of red and white light.

"The Power Chamber," Tommy said, with sudden horror. "He's going to trash it!"

Carlos looked over at Ashley, Cassie and Justin. "C'mon, guys. Let's follow 'em!"

Then they, too, were gone in a flash of coloured light.

"Those idiots," Jason hissed as he dragged himself to his feet. "They're gonna get themselves killed! Tommy, can you get us to the Power Chamber?"

Tommy shook his head, suddenly feeling sickeningly helpless. "No. We gave our communicators to TJ and the others."

"Christ," Hunk muttered as the Voltron Force made their painful way back to the center of the floor. "Better start praying that he lets them live."

Power Chamber

"Intruder!" Alpha 6 wailed in an eerie impersonation of Alpha 5. "Intruder!"

Dimitria appeared in her tube in a flash, her gaze falling on Jason and TJ as they appeared in the middle of the floor.

"Jason, what are you doing?" she demanded to know.

"What, a straight question from the mighty Dimitria?" Jason retorted. "I'm stunned. Okay, I'll play along. My father wants this planet. He wants the Power Rangers out of the way. He gave me the responsibility of making sure that happens."

Four more flashes heralded the arrival of the other Rangers.

"Jason?" Justin asked tentatively. All of a sudden, he was suffering bad flashbacks to Muranthias, and the beating he had taken from Jason there. "C'mon, you don't want to fight us, do you?"

"Honestly?" Jason asked. "No. I don't. But I will if I have to. Justin, you remember how powerful I was back on Muranthias under Maligore's power, don't you?" He laughed at the pale colour the boy's face went. "Yeah, you remember. Now I have five times that power, and it's not something that can be taken away from me. Now think carefully. Do you really want to take me on again?"

When Justin hesitated, Jason laughed again, and pushed TJ roughly away from him. The teen went skidding across the floor, and lay there, gasping for air. Ashley glanced worriedly at the current Red Ranger, then back to Jason.

"Look, Jason, none of us want a fight. And you obviously can't do a thing to this place with us here. If you leave now, we won't follow you."

"Yes, you would," Jason retorted. "But that doesn't bother me. What bothers me is the thought of leaving this place untouched."

"You want to trash the Power Chamber?" Carlos growled. "Then you have to go through us."

Jason stood still for a long moment, as though contemplating his options. Finally, he shrugged.

"Okay."

The control panel behind Carlos exploded.

"Shit!" Carlos yelled, diving for cover. An instant later, every panel in the Chamber began to explode, one after the other. The Rangers were forced to duck, rather than fight, as lethal fragments flew in every direction.

"Jason, stop this immediately!" Dimitria ordered him, but there was a note of desperation in her voice that Jason easily caught. He turned to face her, a truly evil smile on his face.

"Goodbye, Dimitria."

The tube exploded.

Nearby, TJ watched in horror as Jason effectively destroyed the entire Power Chamber in less than a minute. Panic, mixed with a sense of outrage, filled him, and he got to his feet, determined not to let the former Ranger get away with the destruction he was carrying out. With a cry of rage, TJ charged at Jason.

Jason heard TJ coming, and smiled to himself, waiting until the last possible second to react. It happened almost in slow motion. TJ flew at Jason, all fists and fury, with almost no control over himself. Jason, moving with calculated precision, spun around and delivered a high tornado kick that connected with the side of TJ's head.

Even above the sound of the lesser explosions, the cracking sound could be heard as TJ's head rocked violently to the side, and his body collapsed in a heap to the floor. Jason moved to stand over the top of the fallen teen, still smiling as he observed the trickle of blood from the boy's mouth. Then, laughing softly to himself, Jason vanished in a flash of black and red light.

Mark was waiting patiently when Jason finally arrived in the park.

"So, how'd it go?" he asked with a small smile. Jason chuckled.

"Dandy. You could have come and helped me in the Youth Centre, you know. I wouldn't have minded."

"I know, but you handled it pretty good. It would have ruined the effect if I'd shown up."

Jason burst out into full laughter. "The look on Tommy's face.... Man, it was priceless!"

Mark couldn't help but join in with his brother's laughter. "I could see it through your eyes. It was beautiful. But tell me something.... Did you really mean to do that to TJ?"

Jason's smile faded, then. "Not at first. If he'd stayed down, then he would have been okay. But it's like Father told us. We have to do what's necessary, even if we don't always like it. He came at me, and I defended myself. But on the other hand, now they'll know how serious we are. And maybe Tommy will understand that I'll do the same to him if I'm forced into it. We've taken our first real casualty, Mark. There's no turning back."

Mark grinned, then, and clapped Jason reassuringly on the shoulder.

"There never was, bro. C'mon, let's get going. We still have a lot to do."