Formatting note: In order to make the Astronema/Karone "watcher" scenes clearly distinguishable from the action in the alternate timeline, they are written in purple.

Inhaling deeply, Andros strolled off the lift and entered the bridge. Astronema lingered near the entrance, but after an encouraging gesture from her brother, she followed him inside.

"Hey guys." Andros greeted, an uncharacteristic measure of cheer in his voice. Why shouldn't he be cheerful? He had his sister back, and she was definitely on the side of good now. True, they hadn't found Zordon... but at least they escaped Dark Specter's trap. And Darkonda lost another life in the process.

In response to their leader's arrival, the other Rangers silently moved from their stations, forming a line near the navigation console. T.J. stepped in front of them, the fire in his eyes evaporating Andros' good mood.

T.J. then turned his attention to Astronema, shoving his finger into her shoulder. "You've got a lot of nerve showing your face here." he growled.

Andros' jaw dropped at the fierce gesture and sternly pushed T.J.'s hand away. "Are you crazy?! She saved our lives!"

"We wouldn't have needed saving if she'd told us what was going on." Cassie pointed out, her arms folded as she locked eyes with the princess. "You knew they were down there waiting for us, didn't you?"

"That's ridiculous." Astronema protested, voice measured and eyes cold as ice. "Dark Specter obviously found out about my meeting with Andros on KO-35 and decided to test my loyalty. As you can see, I failed."

Carlos gazed at Astronema, watching her expression carefully. "And that possibility didn't dawn on you until after we landed? Why did you take off? How did Darkonda find us so soon after you left?"

"The Megaship crashed in the middle of the jungle!" Andros argued, his voice rising. "How could he not find us?"

As the argument escalated around her, Ashley remained noticeably silent. When Andros turned to her, his wide eyes searching for her support, for once his obvious turmoil sparked little compassion in her. She bit her lip and turned away from him, her tongue tied as no words of either accusation or defense came to her. After everything that had happened… she didn't know what to think.

"It's probably a family thing." T.J. remarked coldly, his glare passing from Andros to Astronema. "Looks like she's not a team player either."

His eyes darkening with the kind of violent anger only Dark Specter's worst creatures had ever experienced, Andros pushed his sister behind him with one hand and tightened his other into a fist.

"Hey!" he snarled, nose to nose with the Blue Ranger. "This is my sister you're talking to. You'd better watch your tongue!"

T.J. met Andros' glare with one of his own, matching his leader's fury. However, before any blows could be exchanged, Astronema and Cassie stepped in, pulling the two apart.

"Let it go, Teej." the Pink Ranger murmured.

"Don't bother, Andros." Astronema instructed her older brother, her voice soft with cool indifference. She then turned to the other Rangers, eyebrow raised in disdain. "Your opinion means little." she announced dismissively. "I don't need or want your friendship."

"Good." T.J. shot back. "Because you won't get it. Not now, not ever."

* * *

On any other night, Ashley would've been deep asleep in her quarters at this late hour. But then, how could she possibly sleep after the day's events?

It all felt like some bizarre nightmare, to a point where she'd considered pinching herself a few times. T.J. was challenging Andros, that witch Astronema actually saved their lives, even if she endangered them in the first place... it was too much for the Yellow Ranger to process. How could she cope when everything around her was changing so quickly?

She'd have to start small, by smoothing things out with Andros. No one was really angry with him; they'd all been caught off guard, to learn that their leader and their greatest enemy shared the same blood. They'd all been shaken.

T.J. couldn't have meant the things he said... he was just being protective. It was understandable; after all, he'd been a leader once himself.

Still, that was no excuse. The way the others had treated her... it just wasn't right. Ashley firmly believed people could change. And if Astronema really was Andros' sister, she couldn't be completely evil. Maybe she was on their side. She wouldn't have left Ecliptor to die for nothing.

Fueled with determination to set matters straight, the young woman wandered through the sterile halls, fingers nervously twining together as she searched for the right words to say.

She soon found the two Karovans on the bridge, talking animatedly; and at once Ashley was shocked by how much they'd changed. Karone was sitting on one of the consoles, legs dangling idly as she spoke. She had shed her form-fitting outfit, trading it for a standard Megaship jumpsuit, and her hair was now straight, neck-length and blonde in color. All the makeup had been washed away, and for the first time Ashley realized how young she was.

And Andros... he seemed like a different person altogether. Even before Zhane's death, the Red Ranger had been haunted by past failures. And after that tragedy he had meandered between sullen and incoherent. But now... he looked so alive, so honestly happy, Ashley couldn't help but smile at the sight.

Maybe there really is hope for him... for us...

"Andros?" she called, tapping her fingers lightly against the door.

Andros' exuberant expression quickly fell as he laid eyes on her. "Yes?"

The abrupt change in mood was as chilling as a bucket of ice water thrown in her face. "I... um... I was wondering... can we talk?" she squeaked, hating herself for being so weak in the face of Andros' apathy.

"About what?" Andros blinked innocently. Out of the corner of her eye, the Yellow Ranger could see Karone looking away disinterestedly, examining the wall as though it held some fascinating secret.

"Well... mostly about us. You and me." Ashley stammered.

The Red Ranger narrowed his eyes and sighed in exaggerated frustration. "We've been over this, Ashley. There is no 'us'."

"I know things are messed up now, but we can work it out..." Her voice was soft as she spoke, her large brown eyes silently pleading. But Andros seemed to see something else in her, something that only made him angrier.

"Exactly what part of 'No' don't you understand?" he snapped. And then she understood; remembered the suspicion she'd expressed when Karone disappeared from the bay. She had questioned his leadership, his judgment, and worse, she'd been wrong. And when he'd needed her support, just hours ago, she had none to offer him.

He thought she didn't trust him.

"There... is... nothing... between us." He stretched out each word as though she were deaf and dumb. "There never was, and there never will be. Go find yourself some Earthling boy to cling to."

Tears stung her eyes as the enormity of Andros' words crashed in around her. But her sorrow was quickly eclipsed by a slowly brimming outrage: she had had enough.

"Fine." she hissed softly. "I think I will."

Without a second glance, she turned on her heel and stormed away.

* * *

"Hey Ashley!" Carlos called as the Yellow Ranger stomped past the workout room. When she didn't turn around, he set aside the weights and took off after her.

She was sobbing miserably, the sting of Andros' words cutting deeper with every step she took. She never imagined he was capable of rejecting her so cruelly, so hatefully.

She'd been terrified when Andros threw her aside before, after Zhane died. But at the time, she'd dismissed it as a passionate outburst, influenced more by his own torment than anything she had done. She couldn't excuse his frostbitten insults so easily this time.

Carlos easily caught up with her brisk pace, grabbing her and spinning her around. He couldn't help a sharp intake of breath at the sight of her, cheeks moist with tears and eyes so haunted he cringed. Her body was wracked with heavy sobs as she buried her head in his chest, wrapping her arms around him.

"What's wrong?" he whispered, stroking her hair softly. Something horrible must have happened to make Ashley fall apart like this. She was the team's ray of sunshine. Nothing could cause her to lose her perk.

"I can't... I can't do this anymore..." she breathed, her voice a raspy shadow of its usual self.

"Can't do what?" Carlos extricated himself from Ashley's clinging arms and gently wiped away the tears staining her cheeks. "Talk to me, Ashe." he coaxed.

Ashley was hard-pressed to even breathe, much less explain herself; but the compassionate gaze of her ex-boyfriend calmed her. Finally, she recovered the ability to speak. "It's over, Carlos. Andros and me. We're over."

Carlos shook his head slightly, uncomprehending. "Over? What do you mean? You broke up with him?"

The Yellow Ranger sniffed, running a hand through her hair in a desperate attempt to gather her wits. "I didn't have to. He dumped me." She looked down to the floor, unable to meet her teammate's eyes. "It's too much, Carlos," she confessed. "I'm giving Andros everything I've got, and he... he throws it back in my face. It's like bashing my head against a wall I just can't break."

She shook her head, disgust turning her stomach. "What's wrong with me?" she asked the air. "I keep letting him hurt me. It's like... as long as I tell myself he loves me, as long as I lie to myself, I can take it."

She wiped her tears away with an angry fist, jaw set in determination. "Well, that's it. No more lies. From now on, just the truth."

Carlos smiled at her. "Just the truth." he echoed.

Taking him by surprise, the Yellow Ranger hugged him. "Thanks, Carlos."

"For what?"

Ashley thought she heard a tremor in the Black Ranger's voice. "For standing by me." she replied. "It must be hard for you, listening to me whine about my problems with Andros..."

Carlos broke away from her, smiling compassionately. "It's all right, Ashe." he assured her. "Just because things didn't work out for us, doesn't mean I don't care about you anymore. I'll always be here for you." He shrugged, as if to demonstrate his helplessness in the matter. "I love you."

Ashley returned the smile weakly, her knees suddenly starting to wobble. Those three words... she'd waited months for Andros to say them, and he hadn't. But they came so easily for Carlos.

She couldn't think straight. Her mind was a tempest of conflicting emotions, and had been for so long... She found herself wanting to make it all stop for one night. For one night, she wanted to be in control of her own life.

Leaning forward, she gently pressed her lips to Carlos' in a soft kiss.

Andros' words echoed in her ears: Find yourself some Earthling boy to cling to. And she could, because she didn't owe Andros anything anymore.

At first, Carlos stood rigidly, numbly allowing her to come closer but not daring to touch her himself. For a moment, she feared she had lost him too. Then his arms came up around her, holding her tight, unwilling to let her go.

* * *

"Bastard..." T.J. growled, lashing out with a powerful kick. The punching bag went soaring backwards, and T.J. met it on the return with another sharp blow.

Of course, T.J.'s fury was hardly concentrated on the battered training object, but rather on their "fearless leader". Andros had always been an arrogant, patronizing snob, but at least he'd been a competent fighter. And he'd lost his best friend, so T.J. was willing to make allowances for his behavior, even for the fact that he'd nearly sliced Cassie in half.

But this whole situation with Astronema just proved what he'd suspected all along: Andros didn't know the first thing about being a leader. He did whatever he wanted without considering anyone else's opinion; and he'd brought their enemy into their ship, their home, without bothering to give his teammates any kind of warning. For all they knew, Astronema had stolen the locket from the real Karone. She could still be working for Dark Specter, or worse, playing both sides against each other.

And he was making it way too easy for her. That trusting fool had given her full access to the entire ship, their weapons and defenses, everything that allowed them to continue the battle against evil.

With a loud cry, T.J. leapt up, slamming both his feet into the punching bag and tearing it from its chains. The Blue Ranger landed on his back with a thump, staring up at the ceiling as he panted for breath.

They were running out of time; he'd put this off for too long, and now things were starting to fall apart. If it came down to a stand-off, he knew he could count on Cassie. And Carlos could probably win Ashley over... even she would understand that T.J. was the most logical choice for leader. They knew each other, trusted each other. And maybe when it was over, they could look Justin up, see if they could interest him in being the Blue Ranger again.

Red was always T.J.'s favorite color anyway.

* * *

She'd been awake for twenty minutes, though she couldn't bring herself to move. Instead, she sat in silence, watching the bare chest beside her slowly rise and fall with each breath he took.

Carlos… her closest, most loyal friend. When she first met him on the soccer field of Angel Grove High, she'd considered him cute, yet abhorrently arrogant and self-centered. But with time he'd managed to overturn that first impression completely, revealing a giving nature that to this day amazed her. Carlos could be so generous. So loving.

Their acquaintance began with semi-serious flirtation, first on the soccer field, and then on increasingly regular walks home or to the Juice Bar after games. They'd even dated exclusively for almost a month. But the feelings that developed in Ashley's heart weren't romantic in nature. She'd come to view Carlos as an indispensable friend, the kind that came along once in a lifetime. The kind she could trust with even her deepest pain or darkest secret.

Though she knew Carlos' feelings had developed… differently.

Just a few short months ago, when Ashley first realized that Carlos' feelings ran deeper than her own, she spent a long time considering how to deal with the situation. Back then, she'd decided that honesty was the best policy, and while Carlos had been disappointed, their friendship remained as strong and true as ever.

But Ashley was a different person then. She had been confident in her decisions, and sure of her feelings. Now, she couldn't help but second-guess the very feelings she thought she knew for certain. She'd never been more confused.

Love is built on trust and consideration, she rationalized, and Carlos and I have that. Carlos is there for me when I need support. Not like...

She didn't even want to think his name. Before, her feelings were already muddled, with persistent attraction and compassion battling against the humiliation and anger his words and deeds had more recently stirred. Only now, there was another feeling... a raw and burning shame.

I have nothing to be ashamed of! I don't owe him anything. There is nothing between us. Nothing…

She felt the tears gather, and squeezed her eyes shut. If only it were so simple.

"Ashe?"

She blinked, looking up to meet a pair of concerned dark eyes.

"Are you okay?"

She managed a wavering smile, though the tears wouldn't stop falling. "Carlos… I'm sorry, I-" Unable to even finish the thought, she buried her face in her hands, overcome by a visceral need to hide from the man who deserved so much more than she had left to offer.

"Shh," he murmured as strong arms wrapped her in a warm embrace. "I'm here for you, Ashe." A tender kiss brushed her temple. "Everything will be okay."

He sounded so sure. And the warmth of his arms and lips helped ease her tension. Finally melting into his arms, Ashley lifted her face and kissed him back, daring to believe him.

* * *

* * *

"Hey Teej."

The Blue Ranger glanced up, his expression not softening in the least as Cassie's head drifted over his shoulder. "Oatmeal, huh? Yummy."

She squeezed his shoulder as she left him, heading to the synthetron. As the machine fabricated the molecules of a ham and cheese omelet, she watched her friend work his way through his breakfast.

"Did you... sleep okay?"

"Yeah."

The Pink Ranger frowned at the terse response. The moment her breakfast was prepared, she took her plate and sat down beside him.

"Don't start shutting your friends out like Andros-"

She bit her tongue at T.J.'s incredulous stare. Nothing else she could've said would have snapped him out of his own thoughts so quickly.

"I'm nothing like him."

There was something... dangerous in his tone; making his clipped words ring in the Pink Ranger's ear.

"T.J.," she murmured, leaning closer, "you can't let this thing with Astronema bother you so much. We'll all work through our differences, and we'll be fine."

"Somebody has to let this bother him. Somebody has to think about the team, and how having that witch on board is a real risk!"

"She's his sister," Cassie reminded him in a cautious undertone. "You can't blame him for trying to reach out to her."

"Yes I can," T.J. countered, rising to his feet, "We all can, and for good reason! Andros hasn't made a single sound decision since Zhane died! He doesn't care about the team. He doesn't even care about saving Zordon! All he wants is to find everything he's lost, and he doesn't give a damn about any 'Earthlings.'"

His hard gaze drifted to Cassie's shoulder, that only days ago had been ripped open in a gory mess. "You know what I’m talking about, Cass. He could’ve killed you… he almost did. None of Divatox's or Dark Specter's monsters ever got that close!"

Cassie lowered her eyes. "It was an accident. You know Andros is... going through some things-"

"And how much time are we supposed to give him to get through them?"

She ignored the interruption, determined to make her point. "-but he's not our enemy."

T.J. folded his arms. "Maybe... but he sure as hell isn't our leader, either. He's got the uniform, but he doesn't have the heart. And I won't let him lead my friends to an early grave. It's time to make a stand."

He watched Cassie squirm uncomfortably. "Cass? Can I count on you?"

She knew what he was asking. He didn't merely want her to keep this a secret. He wanted her support, her faith... her loyalty.

Truth be told, there wasn't a single person in the world she trusted more than Theodore Jarvis Johnson. The day she met him on the westbound bus, his selfless enthusiasm drew her to fight by his side, setting her on the path that made her the Pink Turbo Ranger. And every day since, he'd reaffirmed his strength and character in battle after battle.

T.J. was as steady as a rock. Andros was skating on thin ice.

Was it really a choice?

"How disillusioning." came a cool voice, causing both Rangers to stop breathing. "I thought only the evil plot against each other in secret. And here I find two self-righteous 'heroes' planning to mutiny against their leader!"

T.J. tensed, slowly turning around. His eyes smoldered as the erstwhile Princess of Evil casually strolled into the holding bay.

"What the hell do you think you're doing here?" he sneered.

She began tapping her request into the synthetron. "What all humans do in the morning. Eating breakfast."

Cassie rose, worry widening her eyes. "We're not planning a mutiny, Karone. We're just-"

Karone flicked her hand. "I am not interested in your explanations, Pink Ranger."

Cassie stared as Karone lifted her tray from the synthetron. The Karovan girl hesitated for a moment, ice eyes lingering on the near-empty table.

T.J. caught her train of thought. "Don't think for one second you're welcome here."

Karone's gaze lifted, meeting the obstinate stare of the Blue Ranger. The hate that hovered in those dark eyes would have been frightening to an ordinary girl, but Karone had dealt with such animosity before. Daily, glares of venomous jealousy bore into her back, and she shrugged them off with disinterest. After all, she was Dark Specter's protégé, his favorite among many would-be tyrants and sorcerers.

I earned his respect. I earned his esteem. I have been venerated and feared by dozens of planets throughout the galaxy. One insignificant human's malice means nothing to me.

Yet, it did. For some inexplicable reason, knowing how deeply her brother's teammate despised her made her... uncomfortable.

Her gaze turned to Cassie, who seemed hypnotized by the mashed mess she'd made of her breakfast. She was obviously determined not to involve herself in the "conversation" at hand.

Cold eyes slid back to T.J., nothing but contempt in her expression or demeanor. Then, she turned, walking out of the bay just as quietly as she walked in.

She would find no welcome here.

* * *

It had been hours... but it still burned.

The heat that kept him awake all night, eyes wide with shock, and then narrow with anger. The burning, rolling passion that cut through his senses, scalding his heart beyond repair... beyond forgiveness.

Did she know he would feel her passion, even across the ship? Of course she did... she must have. He'd told her all about Karovan telepathy, and how his race often became attuned to people in close proximity for extended lengths of time. She had known this, and still she'd cornered and seduced Carlos. She had done it to hurt him, to spite him and throw his words back in his face.

"Go find yourself some Earthling boy to cling to..."

Andros had meant it when he said it. He had been so furious at Ashley that an icy cruelty guided his every word last night. How could she claim to care for and support him, only to deny him any allegiance when he needed it? How could she "love" him if she didn't trust him?!

And now she had betrayed him again. This final betrayal had cemented a whole new relationship between them... one that was dangerous to both of them, and to the harmony of the team.

Bitterness. Distrust. Even malice. These were the terms Ashley had chosen.

Andros took a labored breath, staring numbly at the drab ceiling. I shouldn't be surprised. I can't believe I ever even considered trusting her...

"Your friends won't accept me, Andros."

The Red Ranger looked up, blinking against the light flowing from the hallway. A dark silhouette stood just inside his room.

He hadn't even heard the door slide open.

"Of course they will," he responded, standing up from his bed. He walked toward her, and offered a shallow smile. "You're my sister. They have to accept you."

Karone stared at her brother appraisingly. His eyes were oddly dim, as if a wall had been erected behind them overnight. His face was even more pale and drawn than what she took to be typical for the space-faring hero. True, she'd only known him for less than a day, but Ecliptor had instructed her well in the arts of observation. She was quite astute at
recognizing signs of grief, in a myriad of species.

She had caused that emotion more times than she could remember.

"What happened?" she demanded. Her voice was clinical, not touched by the uncomfortable concern his appearance stirred within her.

Andros returned her deep stare for a moment. What could he tell her? Could he even explain what had sunken his spirits?

She won't understand. How could she? I don't even understand why I'm upset about... this.

After all, Karone had witnessed the ugly argument that forever nailed closed the coffin of... whatever had slowly developed between Andros and Ashley. Considering she'd lived the majority of her life amongst soulless creatures of evil, the kind of bitterness that wracked his mind would be a complicated puzzle to her.

"Nothing. I just didn't sleep well."

Karone tilted her head slowly, her gaze revealing none of the suspicion that flared at his flimsy excuse.

He's lying to me. And she was certain of it.

After all, despite her inexperience with human emotion, she hadn't been born yesterday. Something bothered her elder brother. Something forced his shoulders to droop, his eyes to waver. Something he didn't want to share with her.

She took a measured breath, setting the disquieting thought aside and set the tray of food on the table. "I saw the Pink and Blue Rangers in the holding bay," she informed her brother, fixing him with a serious stare. "The Blue Ranger is plotting against you."

Andros' brow furrowed. "T.J.? That's not possible. He's got a temper, but he's not stupid enough to try anything against me." He shook his head, visibly dismissing his sister's warning. "If it wasn't for me, they'd still be stranded and powerless on Earth. They owe me their loyalty." The word tasted sour on his tongue. "In battle." He hastily amended.

He then rested his hand on Karone's shoulder. "You must've misunderstood."

Her eyes slid to the patronizing gesture, narrowing with anger. "Maybe I have."

She turned from her brother, forcing him to release her as she walked out his door. She heard him call after her, but chose to ignore his voice.

He lied to her! Less than twenty-four hours ago, he was urging... pressuring her to trust him! And he even claimed to trust her.

"Blind fool," she snarled, fists clenching as she sharply rounded a corner.

He doesn't see the animosity brewing amongst his crew. What kind of leader pays no attention to his team? She scoffed. Why should I care anyway? If he truly believes that I, the Princess of all Evil, can't identify a threat when I see it-

She paused, shaken by the thought that floated through her mind. Ever since Andros first approached her with the story of her past, her entire sense of self had shifted. She felt emotions she couldn't explain. She felt something other than the cold, generalized malevolence that usually guided her actions.

Whatever that feeling was, it motivated her to make strange choices. She sacrificed all that she had worked for to save her naive brother and his devious crew. She shirked the title she'd killed for, and shed her armor and weapons for a nondescript cotton jumpsuit.

She left Ecliptor... her friend... on Yotoba to die.

And for what? To be shunned at best, outright threatened at worst? Or, to suffer the Red Ranger's condescension?

Karone stopped walking when she came to a dead end, only just realizing the vague itch that aggravated her eyes. Frustrated, she rubbed her hands against them, only to puzzle at the moisture her fingers had collected.

"I'm turning into a simpering, weakling... human!" she growled.

Words that never could be applied to the fear-inspiring sorceress she once was.

She lost the struggle against her tears, feeling them trickle down her cheeks. Agitated, her fingers slid through strangely simple hair. "There's nothing for me anywh-"

A sudden flash distracted her from her misery, drawing her to stare at the pulsing lights painting the hall crimson. Her brow furrowing, Karone wiped away the tears quickly and began running toward the bridge.

Years of experience on a battle ship had drilled into her the urgency of a red alert.

A few deep breaths wiped away her growing concerns, and the cold focus that governed the majority of her life fell into place. By the time she reached the bridge of the Megaship, her eyes were dry and her face had lost its angry flush.

"What's going on?" she demanded, her voice imperious.

The entire team had assembled at their stations, staring in horror at what seemed like a large boulder floating in space.

Then, the Blue Ranger turned to her. If such a thing were possible, his gaze was even more venomous than at their last encounter. "Right. Like you don't know exactly what's going on."

Karone scowled.

"Watch it, T.J." Andros hissed in warning.

T.J. pointedly turned his back to Karone, returning to his station. "Your 'former' boss has decided to destroy Earth, because of you."

Karone's scowl softened as she stared at the view screen. "Then we should-"

"Are you giving orders, too?" the Blue Ranger growled. "Get with the program; this is not your Fortress. You have no authority here."

"That's enough, T.J.," Andros spat. He approached his sister, an apology in his eyes. "Why don't you go back to your room? We'll handle this."

Karone pursed her lips against a biting retort. "I'll make myself scarce," she promised.

Andros smiled at her, and hurried back to his command chair.

Karone marched off the bridge with as much dignity as she could muster. As the door slid closed, her composure dissolved completely, letting an outraged former Princess of Evil make her way through the Megaship.

She soon stepped into Andros' chamber. The door slid open as it recognized her, allowing her to enter freely.

She tore off her necklace, snapping the clasp. Without a second glance at the object that had meant so much to her in her youth, she tossed the charm onto Andros' table, letting it clatter against the photograph he so treasured.

She turned on her heel, satisfaction twisting her lip as she distanced herself from all human ties. As she moved, the cool energy that she had consciously denied sparked to life, lighting her senses and causing her eyes to flash with familiar power.

With only a thought she exerted her might. The inner energy flowed along her skin, crawling over drab cotton and reconfiguring the molecules. Soon, loose fabric was replaced by snug vinyl and an unyielding steel bodice. Short blonde hair darkened to a rich copper, smoothing to one length save for the perfectly cropped bangs that hung over her forehead, just above the jeweled steel band that pronounced her station.

As she turned another corner, a voice suddenly reacted. "Danger. Astronema locat-"

A peeved sigh escaped her as she lifted one elegant finger. Purple energy snaked from her nail, slicing into the DECA interface like a hot knife through butter. Sparks and fire burst from the computer, filling the air with the scent of burnt wire and melted glass.

Smirking, Astronema lowered her finger, gently blowing the smoke curling from its tip.

* * *

Strangely enough, despite everything that had happened, Astronema felt no inner conflict whatsoever. In fact, as she sauntered through the comfortable obscurity of the Dark Fortress' winding hallways, she realized she'd never felt better.

She held her head up high, ignoring the Quantrons buzzing about the halls with the proper disdain. When she had first materialized on her vessel, the first few foot soldiers swarmed her. The Quantrons had no capacity to think, and without direct orders from an appointed general, the only conclusion Astronema could reach was that her drones had been reprogrammed.

Someone had a lot of explaining to do.

She vaporized the first two dozen robots that dared breech her personal space. And incredibly, the familiar sensation of power triggered something within her armies, causing all that remained to stand down. Like attack dogs recognizing their true master, they became stunningly docile.

They lined the halls as she walked, all her confidence restored as that familiar power seethed within her.

Only, it was more than what she remembered. Somehow, her misadventure with Andros had changed her after all.

Before she learned the truth, her past had haunted her. She'd always pushed aside those inappropriate longings... the feelings she now recognized as an unfavorable inheritance from her human parents. But there had always been a hole, surrounded by protective walls of denial, but there nonetheless.

Now, she had the answers for which she had unconsciously yearned. The truth was finally revealed, and she knew where she came from, and what she had been.

And by rejecting that impotent existence, and choosing to embrace the cool darkness rather than the harsh light in which her brother lived, she had exerted power over her own fate. Before, she always obeyed the beck and call of her Master, never molding her life with her own hands. Never making decisions that impacted her future.

Once she had finally resolved to no longer deny the darker calling, she tasted her true power for the first time. She tasted the evil energies that she had mastered... now seasoned with sweet independence.

And now that her power sang freely within her, she determined that never again would she allow others to shackle her strength.

Pieces began sliding into place as a plan took shape. She would secure her freedom, and there was only one path to ultimate freedom: domination.

The principle was simplicity itself. Kill or be killed. Rule or be ruled.

She was so distracted by her grim calculations that she didn't notice the presence in her room until it was too late. The sliding doors registered her unique signature, giving her free access to the spacious private quarters.

Before her second step into the room had fallen, something hard and blunt collided with the back of her head.

Stars burst across her vision as she fell. The blow was clearly not meant to kill, for it was far too weak to do permanent harm. However, had her powers not been revived, she might have lacked the strength to withstand such a blow without losing consciousness.

"Dark Specter's plan worked," a sly voice murmured, its cruel joy obvious. "The little girl has returned to save her new friends and their little planet!"

Her eyes began to glow angrily at Darkonda's mocking tone, yet she kept her muscles still.

"Ecliptor, pick her up. Dark Specter wishes to see her immediately."

Ecliptor! He did survive!

That she could not ignore. She rolled onto her feet, her fast recovery startling both Darkonda and Ecliptor.

"Ecliptor!" Darkonda hissed, "Restrain her!"

She saw the mechanical additions lining her guardian's sleek black and green shell. She saw the unfamiliar glow behind the lens of his optic sensors as he turned toward her, sword held ready.

She saw the conflict warring within her most loyal servant. The only being in the universe she could truly trust. And she scowled.

"Ecliptor," she said, her voice cool. "Stop."

He did stop his approach, though his joints began quaking. He was fighting for his own freedom, against the mechanical constructs attached to his limbs, against the control of the galaxy's Overlord of Evil.

Not for long...

Astronema waved one hand. The power coalesced around Ecliptor, holding him securely in place.

She then glared at Darkonda, who dared to lift his sword against her. "What do you think you're doing?"

"You have betrayed us all!" he sneered, rushing toward her.

In response, she lifted her hand, summoning her Wrath Staff.

Dark power surged through her staff like never before. Two swift swings dislodged Darkonda's blade from his monstrous grip. One more to his chin threw him into the far wall with enough force to dent the metal surface.

Astronema watched coldly as Darkonda slid to the ground. "You will defy me no longer," she informed him as she approached.

"I... was only following Dark Specter's orders!" the mercenary screeched.

"And what were Dark Specter's orders?"

His jaw clamped shut in defiance. However, the prick of the Wrath Staff against his neck loosened his tongue. "Both you and Ecliptor betrayed him on Yotoba. My orders were to secure you both and make sure you never do so again."

Darkonda watched in astonishment as a slow smirk pulled Astronema's lips.

Interesting... it would have been much easier for Dark Specter to simply kill us both. That is the penalty for treason. And yet, he ordered us to be reprogrammed to obey him blindly.

Her lips tightened. He needs me. Needs my powers. That's why he has gone to such pains as to hurl an asteroid to Earth. He wanted the Rangers to sacrifice me to his whim, so he can manipulate me.

This new information seamlessly wove itself with the plan she had already been hatching. If I am so critical to his plans for conquest, then perhaps he isn't as all-powerful as he would like us to believe...

She looked down again, watching the sweat drip from Darkonda's slimy forehead. "Consider this your punishment for daring to believe that I would betray the darkness."

Darkonda released a choked shriek as the Princess of Evil slowly pressed the edge of the Wrath Staff through his neck.

Not wasting a single moment, Astronema pulled her bloodied staff from Darkonda's corpse, and turned around. Ecliptor remained exactly where she had left him, paralyzed as he struggled against the reprogramming.

"You have always been loyal to me," she assured him, "and I will be loyal to you. You will be free, Ecliptor. You have my word."

She then stepped away from him, and twirled her Wrath Staff. A circle of purple energy traced the motion, and then solidified.

"Dark Specter!" she called to the screen. A heartbeat later, the colossal creature materialized before her.

"Astronema..." he rumbled, surprise tingeing his tone.

"I've received the message you relayed through Darkonda," she informed him. Despite her outrage at the dark overlord's manipulation, her voice was cold and neutral. "Your objective has been reached, my Lord. I have returned to the Dark Fortress. There is no need to destroy Earth."

Dark Specter's eyes blazed. "You have betrayed me, Astronema. As punishment, the Power Rangers and their home world will be destroyed."

A chilling smile emerged. "Yes, they will be destroyed; but not with a mercifully quick cataclysm. Their cities will be crushed while they helplessly watch. The humans will panic as they feel your fury. And the Rangers themselves will see the end of their species, and will die haunted by failure."

Dark Specter's mouth twisted into a cruel mockery of a grin. "Even the Red Ranger?"

She didn't flinch. "He is a weakling and a fool. He is nothing to me."

Astronema's words quelled the anger that had moved Dark Specter to take such decisive action. "Very well. I will leave the fate of Earth to you, Princess."

She bowed. "I will need Ecliptor restored to his senses. He is my most indispensable warrior."

Dark Specter nodded. "It will be done."

* * *

The Monarch of Evil was surprisingly true to his word. Ecliptor was deprogrammed and returned to Astronema within the hour. But he was quick to notice the change in her; dark shadows lurked in her eyes, a malevolence that had not been there before, not in all the years Dark Specter had raised her as his heir. It was as if the touch of humanity that had once tempered her cruelty had finally been stamped out.

She smiled at him as he entered the throne room, and again he noticed that she was utterly devoid of warmth. He had always been able to evoke a phantom of true emotion in her, but now even that seemed muted somehow.

"Good to see you again, Ecliptor." she said. Turning to her guards, she waved them away dismissively and the bridge was quickly emptied.

Ecliptor couldn't help question this curious behavior. He knew Astronema well enough to know she was not acting as she should. Had Dark Specter betrayed them?

The Princess of Evil rose from her throne and approached him slowly. "Are you well?" she asked.

"Within operating parameters" was his terse reply.

She nodded, and turned to the view screen. "I've seen where I come from, Ecliptor, what I might have been: human, weak and flawed, burdened by emotion. You should have seen the Rangers, at each other's throats because of perceived slights and confused infatuations. Dark Specter delivered me from that torture." A wicked grin illuminated her face and she whirled back to him. "As a gesture of my gratitude, I'm going to kill him."

Ecliptor's optic sensors flared in shock, and he quickly scanned the room for any hidden tracking devices. But Astronema was nothing if not thorough. They were alone.

"My Princess, you speak treason!" he warned.

Astronema shook her head. "No, I speak truth. Our Monarch is old and weak; ten years ago he would have killed us both on a mere suspicion of treachery. But he needs us. And that means I have power over him. I have the vision that will lead us to glory, and I'm more worthy of leadership than that fool ever was. My accomplishments speak for themselves; can he say the same? His farce of an Alliance... all it ever did was annoy the Federation, while I was exterminating their people."

"Dark Specter has powerful allies." Ecliptor reminded her. "They will not be so quick to support you should your part in his death come to light."

She only laughed brazenly. "By the time anyone suspects a coup, it will be too late. I'll have the crown, and the throne, and the dead will still be dead."

There was a maniacal glint in her eyes, something that evoked awe in Ecliptor. And despite the changes in her demeanor, she was still the powerful young woman he'd sworn to serve. He immediately dropped to one knee and bowed his head. "I will follow you into the very fires of Hell, my Queen."

"As I knew you would." The tyrant placed her hand on Ecliptor's shoulder. "Now listen closely, Ecliptor. I have the perfect plan to bring Dark Specter to ruin, and we won't even have to lift a finger..."

* * *

Karone took a startled step back as her counterpart explained her plot to Ecliptor. "She's gone mad."

"Has she?" the other Astronema asked, circling the conspirators with a gleeful look. "Maybe she's finally learned the value of ambition. Queen of Evil... I can see it now. Armies marching when you raise your hand, dominion over every planet in the quadrant, Zordon and his Rangers as your slaves... it's an appealing thought."

The blonde shook her head. "I never wanted that kind of power. Not even when I was her. Something's not right here, I can feel it."

Their surroundings seemed to blur a little bit, melting and reforming a little differently. "She sent the Psycho Rangers to Earth, of course." The alter ego explained. "But with the Rangers so splintered, those little terrors proved much more efficient. They left half the city in ruin."

Images of destruction flashed through Karone's mind, and she staggered as Astronema continued nonchalantly. "You see, she didn't hold them back this time. She had no reason to. The more they lashed out, the greater the drain on Dark Specter's powers. And he could hardly demand the Psychos be restrained, not when everyone knew how well they were performing. By the time she tricked them into destroying each other, Specter was more vulnerable than ever."

It was all falling into place so perfectly; Karone could only watch in horror and despair as the history she'd created unfolded. Ashley and Andros were broken up, her other self was descending into a black abyss, Angel Grove was burning on its own funeral pyre... she felt so helpless. Zhane's death had formed the first link, and now the chain was binding them all to their doom.

"It's time." her spectral nemesis announced. "The Countdown. The last domino to fall, the end result." Astronema's hair was now neck-length and blood-colored: the very last hairstyle she had worn as Princess of Evil, before Zordon's sacrifice.

The Princess smirked as she bowed and gestured towards the door that led to the bridge. "After you."