Disclaimers:  All of the main characters that you recognize from the show belong to Haim Saban and Shuki Levy.  The entire Power Rangers brand comes from Saban as well.  My stories are for enjoyment purposes only.  But, if you want to compliment me or criticize my writing, go ahead and send me email at letsrocket_1998@yahoo.com or darkrealm72811@yahoo.com.  Enjoy the story.

Author's Note:  This is installment number two of my InterGalactic War Saga.  My goal for this series is to be kind of like Ellen Brand's Personality Conflicts or Jeremy Ray Logsdon's Earth Crystals saga.  What I mean by that is I hope to make this series an ongoing series with many installments.

Author's Note 2:  In case anyone is wondering, the zords and suits for the Morphin Warriors comes from various Sentai shows, including the current show, Hurricanger.  I grabbed the pics from various Sentai sites.

Author's Note 3:  This is merely a side note.  Since I have so many teams of rangers included in my series, and one of them hasn't even been brought in, a lot of the stories will just focus on one team of rangers, in one city.  Like this story will focus in Angel Grove with the Morphin Warriors and the Space Rangers.

Out for Revenge
by The Devious One

Ashley Hammond closed her textbook with a melodramatic sigh as she lowered her head to the cover.  Today had been one of those days that you just wish you could forget about.  She'd woken up at six thirty in the morning and had to get ready for her classes.  She had five classes in a row, starting with her eight o'clock class and ending with her twelve o'clock.  It was now just past one thirty and Ashley was about ready to leave the crowded library.

So much was going on in her life right now that she couldn't believe it.  The fact that Zedd had returned with a powerful new army was really.....not very important on Ashley's list of complications in her life.  What was troubling the Yellow Ranger the most was her best friend, Cassie Chan.  Ashley thought she and Cassie had been best friends for a good long while.

But, then, Cassie had told her and the other rangers about her lifestyle and the fact that she was in a same sex romantic relationship with a girl named Lynn Morris.  That announcement had literally taken the breat out of Ashley's lungs.  It was the one element to her friend that Ashley had never even considered having.  And now that Cassie'd said it to them, Ashley was having trouble accepting it, let alone approving of it.

It wasn't that Ashley was a homophobe or anything.  In fact, Ashley knew a few classmates, both male and female, who had confided to her that they were, in fact, gay.  Ashley even liked some of them and found herself knowing that they were not bad people at all.  It's just that Cassie had been her best friend for many years now and she thought she knew Cassie inside and out.  But now, she was finding that she didn't know her friend at all.

It was very disconcerting to Ashley and she didn't know how to deal with her feelings.  She and the other rangers hadn't seen Cassie since the Zord battle against the three monsters.  Andros had returned with Cassie the few days before and they'd simply morphed, no talking between them just morphed and called out the recently rebuilt and improved Mega Voyager and Mega Winger.

Then, after the battle had ended, they'd unmorphed and a very awkward silence had descended on them.  It had finally ended with Cassie sadly telling them she had to go.  They knew where she'd gone, but none of them went after her to talk to her about her coming out to them.  And, as a friend, Ashley felt very bad about the way she'd been acting the past couple days.  It had been four days now since the Zord battle and they hadn't heard from Cassie at all.  Andros had told Ashley just last night that he'd seen Cassie in the cafe with Lynn, the two eating lunch.

But Ashley had wanted to see her best friend and since the sudden estrangement between them, Ashley didn't know what she would say once they did see each other again.

Ashley was brought out of her reverie when she felt a light touch at her shoulder.  She looked up to see Andros looking down at her, a small smile sketching his lips.

"You okay Ashley?" Andros asked the woman he asked to marry.

Ashley rose when she saw him.  Rising up, she gave her fiancée a kiss on the lips as they both sat down at the wooden table that Ashley had been sitting at.  "Yeah, I'm alright, just....thinking is all."

Andros laced his fingers together as he regarded her.  Ashley was wearing one of his favorite outfits.  She had on her yellow shirt with the plaid skirt that had different colors on it.  He still remembered the first time he saw her in it.  It was the time when the Psycho Rangers first appeared and began attacking them.  But, it still remained one of his favorites.  Andros wearing a pair of blue jeans with a white t-shirt tucked into them.  He had a red button up shirt over the t-shirt with none of the buttons buttoned.  He liked his outfit because it was more comfortable than a lot of the others.

"Ashley, if you want to talk to her....just do it." Andros said calmly.  "The longer you wait on this, the worst it'll be in the long run."

Ashley just stared back at him.  They had had this conversation before.  The last time they spoke about it had been at dinner the previous night.  Ashley had admitted to her guilt at not talking with Cassie and Andros had persisted that he needed to talk to her or their friendship could be lost.  "I just......I don't know what to say to her."

Andros sighed, seeing how difficult this was for her.  "Ashley, I've known you for a good while now, so trust me when I tell you this.  I know you care very much for Cassie and if you want your friendship with her to withstand this, you'll find the words when you do see her."

Ashley nodded, though she still had a small doubt in her mind.  "Alright, I'll go talk to her tonight after the six o'clock class." she indicated the only class that Ashley had with Cassie, an English Composition upper level class at six in the evening.  "Right now, let's just go get some lunch." she said.

Andros nodded as they headed out of the library.

Elsewhere in Angel Grove, in a business building no less, Rocky DeSantos sat in his thick and comfy chair in front of his slick mahogany desk that was in his office.  He'd been busy most of the morning with that murder case that was vastly approaching.  Right now, Rocky was sitting, his back facing the door and he was just looking out the window.  His office was on the seventh floor of the fifteen floor building.  The entire seventh floor was for the Defense Attorney's company that Rocky worked for.  But right now, Rocky couldn't care less about any of it.

He had something entirely more stressful he was thinking about.  Just about five days ago, just after the Space Rangers defeated the three powerful monsters, the mysterious stranger known as Deacon had come to them and told them that in order for him to help them access their Morphin energy, they would have to go to a secret location where Deacon could perform a meditative ritual.  The others seemed semi-excited about the prospect of fighting the forces of evil again.

But Rocky wasn't.

Rocky had so many conflicting emotions swirling through him right now that he couldn't think straight.  Yeah, he recognized the adrenaline rush that fighting the evil forces usually brought, but Rocky remembered what his life was like before when he was the Red Ranger and later the Blue Zeo Ranger.  But Rocky also remembered the emotions he felt when he left that and had to face life after Rangering.  And the face is that Rocky wasn't sure if he wanted to relive all that again.

Rocky was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice his door open or close and didn't hear the footsteps walk across the carpeted floor of his office.  But, he heard the chair move and he whirled around in his chair, ready to tell his secretary to leave when he saw who was standing there.

"Hey." Rocky said, greeting Kimberly.

Kimberly smiled as she sat across from him.  She was dressed in a pair of crisp black dress slacks and a light blue button up shirt tucked into the pants.  A shiny black leather jacket was over her shoulders and upper body.  Rocky, on the other hand, was in his usual business suit.  He wore a wrinkleless white dress shirt with a red tie.  The shirt was tucked into a pair of crisp dark blue dress pants.  His matching blazer hung on the wall to his right.  He watched her for a moment before he spoke.

"Hi." he said.  "How's your day been?"

She shrugged her shoulders.  "It's been okay.  Couple people's gotten on my nerves, but that's just a normal day."

Kimberly, the day after the first wave happened, had used her degree in Music from NYU to her advantage.  She interviewed for the recently open position of Music Director at Angel Grove High and the school was very eager to give the position to a former student.  Since she started, there were always a few adults that nagged on her but she tried her best to ignore them.  Today was extremely difficult.

Rocky fell silent, not really sure what he should say.  He decided on an easy topic.  "You....wanting to have lunch?" he asked.

Kimberly tucked a strand of her behind her ear as she answered.  "Actually, I do have an hour free and there kind of is something I'd like to talk to you about.  So, lead the way, Mr. DeSantos."

Rocky chuckled as he rose from his chair.  "You're closer to the door, why don't I just follow you?"

"Good point." Kimberly stated as she led the way out of the office, Rocky's form following her every move with interest.

Up on the moon, there was a figure who was angry.  It wasn't Zedd, though he should have a right to be angry.  But this figure had short red hair and was created as Zedd's heir.  She was Astronema.  When Zedd had sent her to begin the monster attacks, Astronema had taken it upon herself to see to the destruction of the stupid city, Angel Grove.  The fact that it still stood there and that the Space Rangers had successfully defended it irked at Astronema's last nerves.

And since her father had given her free reign to formulate her own plans against the rangers as long as it didn't interfere with his own, Astronema was planning their destruction.  She was in the lower levels of the Royal Palace.  Not many beings who were given quarters in the Palace knew of these parts of the Palace.  Only Zedd, because he created them, her, and Frax knew of their existence and Astronema had a perfect use for them at the moment.

She was down here in the lower levels meeting someone.  The day after the defeat of the three monsters she had unleashed on Angel Grove, Astronema sent a message to a powerful warrior across the galaxy who she knew had nothing but contempt for the forces of good.  He had arrived on the moon earlier in that day and now, she merely waited until he arrived in the small room that was in these lower levels.  She had arranged the meeting and she waited patiently for him to arrive.

She had been here for just over two hours and now she smiled as she heard the loud footsteps resounding through the corridors as he came closer to the room.  A couple of silent moments passed before she saw him.  An individual in black spandex appearing armor with powerfully shined gold armor over his chest, back, and arms.  A gold and black helmet over his head adorned his body.  He stood silently as Astronema rose from a chair that was in the room.  A stone table was in front of her and another chair on the other side.

"Welcome Demon Hunter.  I am glad to finally meet you in person." Astronema purred as she approached the powerful warrior.

"You may stop moving." the figure said in an emotionless deep voice.  Astronema stopped as he spoke.  "I have answered your message as I'm sure you knew I would."

"I have come to understand that you hold ill will towards Power Rangers.  Is that true?" Astronema asked him.

Demon Hunter entered the room and approached Astronema.  "My hatred for the Power Rangers goes far deeper than you can possibly imagine."

"Good then....because what I'm offering you right now is a chance to destroy as many of them as you want." Astronema said.

Demon Hunter stopped and regarded her.  "You are talking about tough Power Rangers and not just the easy to beat kind."

"Of course." Astronema replied.  "I'll give you whatever it is you want and in return, you just destroy them.  That's all I'm offering you."

Demon Hunter remained silent and motionless for several long moments as Astronema merely watched the movement of his upper body.  She wasn't sure what he was thinking, but she was pretty sure he was going to agree to her deal.

Finally, Demon Hunter's head lowered a fraction in a nod.  "Very well.  You have rangers you want dead.....it'll be my pleasure to do it."

Astronema smiled, her plan coming together.  Now, she just had to wait for the right moment to unleash him on her enemies.

Rocky and Kimberly sat in a corner booth of the Mexican restaurant that was owned by their old friend, Ernie.  The overweight man had moved back to Angel Grove a couple years earlier and had opened Ernie's Mexican Cafe, where they were now.  The waiter had just left after taking their order.  Kimberly eyed her boyfriend very carefully.  She knew something was troubling him greatly and she thought it had something to do with the mysterious Deacon, but she wasn't sure exactly.

"Rocky?" she said, taking a sip of her soda.

"Mm?" he returned, sipping from his coca cola, letting the taste swirl in his mouth.

"What's bugging you so much?  Don't tell me nothing, because I can tell something is." Kimberly said, leaning back.

Rocky contemplated just ignoring the question, changing the topic to something else.  But then he realized one very important thing.  If he wanted their relationship to work out, he had to learn how to communicate with her, no matter how difficult that would be for him.  He sighed as he decided to answer.  "I've been thinking about that Deacon guy and the possibilities he brings."

Kimberly's eyebrows shot up.  "Really.  You're glad to have a chance to have powers then?" she asked carefully.

Rocky looked out the window for a moment, then turned his head and looked at the interior of the restaurant.  Finally, his gaze turned to her.  "Actually, I have conflicting emotions as far as that goes."

Kimberly leaned forward in the red booth.  "You......don't want to use your Morphin energy?"

Rocky puffed out a breath.  "I don't know.  On one hand, I'm thrilled that there's a chance to fight the bad guys again.  But, I still remember very clearly how it felt when that little kid, Justin, took over.  I remember how I felt betrayed and mislead by everyone.  I didn't say anything to anyone about how I felt because they were all over Justin as the Blue Ranger.  I didn't want to mess that up for them.  But, I know if I jump right back in, things will change again.  I just don't know if I want to put myself through that again."

Kimberly contemplated how to continue this conversation.  She remembered her own feelings when she went to Florida.  Even though she was happy to leave Katherine in her stead, she had felt that deep down, her place in the Power Rangers had been taken when Katherine had shown up.  She sighed.  "Rocky, there's no easy way to say this to you, so I'll just say it.  Things are changing whether we like it or not.  Things changed the minute suddenly returned and attacked Earth.  Things changed the night I came back to Angel Grove.  And let me ask you something," she said, "let's say you didn't go with his this evening to learn how to access your energy and the rest of us, as Morphin Warriors, lead the fight against Zedd's forces and fail and Earth is enslaved.  Let's say that happens and maybe all it took was for us to have one more Ranger or Morphin Warrior on our side to tip the scales, how would you feel if that happened?"

Rocky looked down at his hands, where one of his had gotten ahold of by hers.  Then, he looked at her.  "You're right Kimberly.  I guess, the reality of life is just hitting me now.  I mean, when I was a Ranger, I was a teenager.  I had no idea what I was getting myself into and it forever changed me.  I guess I just don't want to lose what I have worked so hard to have.  My stable life, my career......you."

She smiled at him, very tenderly.  "You won't lose me Rocky.  I swear that to you.  But, to turn away and just decide to not even try is far worse than trying to fight and failing, don't you think?"

He nodded.  "Yeah, it is."

"Then, you're going with us today, right?" she inquired.

"Yes.  No matter what the future might hold for me....us, I'm in it to the end." he promised.

Kimberly smiled at him as she leaned back.  She was glad they had discussed this.  She knew the feelings would still be there with him, but since they spoke about it, it would make things easier to talk about in the future.  Nodding to herself, Kimberly settled in her seat as their lunch arrived.

Cassie left her class at the University with a relieved air.  The class she had just been in was her Biology class and she hated it with a vengeance.  She was never good at science in high school and just the idea of having to take the science courses here was making her regret the course study she had chosen.  Still, it was only one class of her degree that she hated, so that was alright.

Cassie had been staying with her girlfriend, Lynn Morris ever since she had come out to her friends.  It had now been four days and she still hadn't heard from them.  Oh, she'd seen them on campus, usually together, but she had made sure she was out of their sight because in truth, she was kinda nervous about seeing them, let alone speaking with them.  She left Duncan Hall and headed towards the Cafeteria, where she had planned to meet Lynn and Lynn's friend, Mark, for lunch.  Cassie had spoken with Mark just briefly, learning that he was a childhood friend of Lynn's.  And he seemed nice enough to her.  He had bright red hair and gray eyes.  A lot of the girls swooned after his advances, but Cassie had noticed that Mark didn't really pay any attention to their flirtations.

Cassie shook her head as she headed off towards the Cafe.  Halfway there, she saw Ashley, TJ, Carlos, and Andros heading her way.  They had aready spotted her and were quickly approaching her.  Cassie took a deep breath and swallowed, realizing that in moments, she was going to find out how her friendships with them was going to be effected by her sexual preference.  "Hey guys." she said slowly as they stopped around her.

Ashley and Andros were wearing the same outfits as earlier.  Carlos had a regular button up black shirt, short sleeved, and a pair of blue jeans on.  Next to him, TJ was wearing a light blue pullover shirt with a pair of blue jean shorts on that had the shirt tucked into.  Cassie noticed the absence of Zhane and she turned to Andros, who seemed friendly to her.  "Um....where's Zhane?" she asked casually.

"Zhane had a class to get to.  Otherwise, he'd be here with us." Andros answered.

Cassie fell silent as she waited for them to say something.

"Look Cassie," TJ stepped forward and put a comforting hand on her shoulder, "what you told us was.....well, it was a shock to us all.  Especially me because I've known you longer than anyone and I was shocked by it.  But, I don't want to lose the friendship we have and if you're happy with.....Lynn is it?  Then, that's all that matters to me." TJ told her.

Cassie let her breath out, glad beyond all measures that TJ had said that.  She looked at Carlos and Andros.

"Cassie, let me say this," Carlos said, putting his hand on her other shoulder, "I haven't known you as long as TJ, but I feel like we're good friends."

She nodded.

"You're gay.  So what!  It is a pretty big shock to deal with, but having your friendship means more to me than being a stinkin homophobe and not having you in my life at all, so, all I have to say is, like TJ said, if you're happy, I'm happy for you." Carlos said, squeezing her shoulder.

Before Cassie could say anything else, Andros moved forward and replaced TJ at her right side.  "Cassie, as far as I'm concerned, being gay is not the end of the world for you or for us because deep down, you're still the same person, you just have a new facet to your personality.  I've already accepted that and so has Zhane, so don't worry about us.  We're your friends and we always will be." he promised her.

Cassie almost felt like crying, the relief was so great.  But, as important as their words were, there was still one person she wanted support from and Ashley had yet to say anything to her yet.  She looked at her friend and saw that Ashley's face was a stone mask, she wasn't necessarily tense, just was staying still, not moving or showing any expression on her face.

Then, Ashley moved forward one step and she was about to speak...

Back in the lower levels of the Royal Palace, Astronema stood in her private section of the Palace.  Zedd had given her this entire level to do with as she wished.  She had instructed Frax to make it look exactly like the interior of the Dark Fortress had once looked before the original Astronema had been defeated.  So, now she sat, in a gold throne that looked exactly as the one in the Dark Fortress had once looked.  Demon Hunter was already on his way to Angel Grove.  She had spotted the five rangers talking on the campus of one of the colleges and Demon Hunter was more than ready to begin his destruction of them.

Astronema's smile was lethal as she thought of what Demon Hunter was about to do to those pathetic humans.  In front of her was a duplicated screen from that of the one in the Dark Fortress.  Astronema leaned back and merely watched as Demon Hunter was about to arrive in Angel Grove.

"Let the destruction begin." Astronema sneered as she began to watch the screen before her.

Back down on the campus, Ashley had taken that step forward and was about to speak to Cassie when all of a sudden, there were yells and screams of people running in the opposite directions of that which the five rangers were beginning to look.  About fifty feet of distance from them, a being was walking towards them, a sharp and sturdy looking steel sword in his right hand.

He had it pointed right at them and as they watched, he stopped and dove into the air, doing a somersault and landing just ten feet from them, just standing there, watching them.  That's when they heard his voice speak to them.

"You are the Power Rangers, are you not?" he said, walking closer to them.

The five Space Rangers watched him with great caution.  "We are." Andros answered.

"Then please allow me to introduce myself.  I am called Demon Hunter.  I have come here on behalf of the Emperor's daughter.  She seeks your destruction and I have made an arrangement with her.  I will destroy you to complete my half of the bargain." Demon Hunter told them.

"You can try, that is." Andros said back, stepping forward.

Demon Hunter watched him impassively for a few moments.  "I don't try.....I either do or I don't." 

Ashley stood at Andros's right while Cassie took his left side.  TJ walked over and stood on Cassie's other side while Carlos took the other side of Ashley.  Together, they nodded once and moved into position.  "Ready!" they said together.  "Let's....Rocket!" they called together.

The five Space Rangers were soon morphed into their ranger suits as they faced off against this being that called himself Demon Hunter.  They didn't know Astronema was watching, they didn't even know of her existence, but they will find out.  Soon.

Outside the city of Angel Grove, Deacon stood, his usual outfit on him.  He had his robe around his body and he was watching the desert area that had been the location for so many of the original Power Rangers battles.  Behind him, two automobiles were pulling up in the dried soil of the dirt.  It was a red four door Chevy Blazer and the other car was an Oldsmobile.  Rocky slowly turned the engine to the Oldsmobile off and turned his head to look at Kimberly.  Both of them had changed from their working clothes into something much more fitting for coming out here.

Rocky had changed into a regular light blue pullover t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans.  Kimberly had changed into a sleeveless blue top tucked into a pair of white jean shorts.  Both of them looked sort of nervous.  "Ready?" he said as he opened his door.

She nodded.  "Yes.  Let's go."

Together, the duo left the car and walked with Tommy, Katherine, and Adam towards where Deacon was standing, watching the sky, his back to them.  Tommy was wearing his usual karate training outfit, a pair of black karate pants with his red sleeveless shirt over his upper body.  Next to him, Katherine was wearing a pair of her best white jeans with a sleeveless pink shirt over her chest.  A flowery and thin button up shirt was over her shoulders.  And Adam, a few feet ahead of them, was wearing a short sleeved black shirt with a pair of his blue jeans.  They walked up until they were just behind Deacon.

"We're here." Tommy said to Deacon's back.

"I know." Deacon replied just a second before he turned around to face them.  "Before we begin, I need all of you to listen to me.  In order for this meditation ritual to successfully gain you access to your energy, you all must be open to the notion of having your energy.  If there are any doubts, it will make it more difficult."

The five of them stared back at him without replying.  Deacon nodded.  "Alright.  Follow me.  We're going to this way for a bout fifty feet.  I have already prepared the area for the ritual."

"What exactly is this ritual?" Rocky asked.

Deacon spoke while they walked.  "The ancestors of my people, very powerful witches and warlocks, used this meditative ritual as a way to solidify their hearts and souls to become stronger.  By solidifying their hearts and souls, they were able to become much more powerful.  What this ritual will do is help you focus your mind and body as one and when you accomplish that, you will find that Morphin energy with no problem."

Deacon led the five of them to the spot he'd chosen for the ritual.  Just in front of them was a circle made by white powder that Deacon had used.  Inside the circle, closer to the center, was a smaller circle made from a darker black powder.  "Each of you must enter the bigger circle and sit down around the small circle." he told them.

Tommy, Katherine, Rocky, Adam, and Kimberly all entered the inner circle of the ritual are and sat down around the inner circle, careful to sit a good distance from each other, as Deacon had instructed them.  Deacon walked to the inner circle and he held a small leather pouch with white powder inside.  "When I pour this powder, I am going to chant an incantation.  The powder will ignite into the meditative fire.  Then, the ritual will begin.  You all must focus on my instructions for this ritual to succeed." Deacon told them.

They nodded at him without speaking.  Deacon walked to the inner circle and opened the pouch.  After a moment, he began pouring the powder into the circle while he spoke.  "Enigsia.....golshia maki.......letikquisha molti.  Powers of the divine, powers of the dark, lead my hand and create the sacred fire!"

As the last of his powder exited his hand and dropped onto the ground, it glowed a bright white.  Smoke covered it and within moments, a bright and searing white flame erupted where the inner circle.  The strange thing about the fire, to the five watchers, was that there was no heat emanating from the fire.

Deacon turned and exited the entire circle.  "Fitextla...boladock mogi.  Let the circle protect."

The white powder that surrounded the five suddenly began to glow a bright white before it too vanished, surrounding them and the flame in an invisible field.  Deacon slowly began walking around them.  "Let us begin." he said slowly.