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�Let�s see, pack up my clothes and other things, take them to Ashley�s, check out classes at the university, take the jeep in for an inspection, hmmmm . . . call Billy and Adam, and I guess that�s it,� she thought aloud as she examined her reflection.

Out of the corner of her eye she could see pictures of herself and the different teams she had been on. She could also see pictures of herself and Rocky. Three of them specifically caught her attention, their Junior & Senior prom, and Homecoming pictures. She grinned at the sight of him in a tux. He was so handsome, yet so uncomfortable.

She shook herself out of the memory and headed for the shower. She had a feeling it was going to be a very eventful day.

*******

�See you tonight for dinner, Mrs. Oliver!� Maurhee called as she walked out the door with her last box of belongings. She shoved the box as far back in the Jeep as she possibly could, and after making sure everything was secure she reached to close the gate. A pair of dark, feminine hands suddenly covered her eyes.

�Guess who?� A familiar voice asked.

�Tanya!� Maurhee squealed as she spun around and hugged her former teammate. �What are you doing here?�

�I came to see you. Billy sent me an e-mail, and I just had to come see you for myself!� Tanya said with a smile.

�I can�t believe you�re here!� she said with a laugh. �Well, get in the Jeep, I gotta go take this stuff to Ashley�s and you�re gonna come with me.�

�Sure,� Tanya chuckled as she went around to the other side of the Jeep.

Maurhee started the Jeep and waited for Tanya to get situated in the seat.

�You ready?�

�Yep, let�s get this show on the road,� Tanya said as she buckled her seat belt.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, until Tanya made an attempt to break the ice.

�So, did Billy and Adam tell you what�s up with the others?�

�We don�t really talk about it,� Maurhee replied.

�Well, do you mind if I tell you?�

�Sure, why not,� Maurhee said flatly.

�Well, I�m sure you already know that Adam and I broke up and that he�s working as a stunt man at Universal Studios, and that Billy and Kat are together, but did you know that Kim and Jason are engaged?� Tanya asked.

�That figures,� Maurhee said with a secretive smile. �I always saw those two ending up together, but don�t tell Tommy I said that.�

Tanya chuckled and continued.

�Kim got a silver in the individuals and a gold in the team events at the Pan-Global Games, plus she is now well on her way to Olympic glory. Now for the real shocker. Tommy is graduating from college in a few weeks, and he wants to go for a Ph.D. In, get this, paleontology.�

�Wow, didn�t see that one comin�. He couldn�t stand science in high school, he slept through almost all of Biology sophomore year!� Maurhee said, obviously shocked by that last bit of news. �Geez, you go out of the galaxy for a few years and everyone goes nuts.�

�Jason opened two dojos. One in Stone Canyon and another in Florida. Justin and his dad are running the one in Stone Canyon. Trini, Zack, and Aisha all came back to the states, and are all currently attending SCU. . . . . I think that�s about it.� Tanya finished.

Maurhee nodded. She realized that she hadn�t heard anything about Rocky. <hmmm . . . . I wonder . . .> she thought.

�Hey Tanya, ummm . . you didn�t say anything about Rocky.�

�You want to know about Rocky?� Tanya asked as her eyes widened in shock.

�Well, I mean he�s not dead or anything is he?�

�No, but I haven�t really heard that much from him. All I know is that he went to school at NYU after graduation. If you wanna know detailed information I�d ask Adam or Aisha. They�re the only ones he really still talks to. Although, I suspect he still talks to Jason, too.�

Maurhee stopped the car and put it in park.

�Well, looks like your briefing is over just in time.�

�I�m not quite done yet, Rhee. There�s something you should know. Rocky . . . well . . . the day you left he came in almost as soon as you left. He was trying to get there, but he was late. Maurhee, he stopped off to buy you some flowers so he could apologize. Since then he . . . hasn�t really been the same. I just thought you would want to know that it wasn�t that he didn�t want to be there, it was that he couldn�t make it there in time.� Tanya reluctantly stated.

�He bought me flowers?� Maurhee asked herself in silent shock. �Damn it. Why do I have all the bad luck with guys? Or does it just feel that way?�

�I think it just feels that way,� Tanya said with a slight chuckle as she and Maurhee stepped out of the car and opened the gate on the back of her jeep.

�Hey, need my help?� Andros asked as he approached them.

�Sure, knock yourself out,� Maurhee said as she dropped one of the bigger boxes on his arms. She, Tanya, and Ashley also each grabbed a box.

*******

After about two o�clock the four of them decided it was time to eat lunch.

�Where to?� Maurhee asked as they all got in the jeep.

�Umm . . the Surf Spot,� Ashley suggested.

�Nah, . . . how about the Youth Center?� Maurhee asked.

�Wait a second, I thought the Youth Center was closed?� Tanya said in a confused tone.

�What�s the Youth Center?� Andros asked from the back seat.

�It was the hang out before the Surf Spot came along,� Ashley informed her boyfriend.

�That�s right, Andros has never been there,� Maurhee said as if she had forgotten that there was a time before she met the young Karovian.

�Well, I guess that settles it, then, we�re going to the Youth Center,� Tanya said warmly.

The four ate their lunch and spent the rest of the day unpacking. At the end of the day Maurhee was sitting in her room amongst partially unpacked boxes thinking back on her day.

It had been long, and tiring, but far from as horrible as she thought it was going to be. She recalled the things Tanya had told her about Rocky, and glanced at her favorite picture of the two of them.

They were in casual attire with a blanket pulled tightly around both of them. They were laughing and roasting marshmallows by the bonfire (that had taken Jason an hour to light). She remembered that it had been taken by Kat on one of the weekend camping trips to Billy�s uncle�s cabin. They looked so happy, and so oblivious to everything going on around them. She wished she could go back to that moment and stay there. She wished she could stay where things were safe and simple. Yeah sure, KO-35 had given her back her confidence, but her sense of security was completely crushed. The state she was in now only made her pine for a certain young man�s comforting arms even more.

*********

A month later . . .

�Oh my gosh! Rhee, I have got to have that dress!� Tanya exclaimed as she pointed to one of the display windows at the mall.

�Another one? Tanya, you just bought a dress last week.�

�I know but I�m gonna need them for my trip to New York week after next,� she said with a sly grin.

�Trip to New York? What are you going to go there for?� Maurhee asked curiously.

�Well, do you remember that management company I told you about? The one that wanted to sign me to a contract?�

�Yeah, what about it?�

�Well, they called back, and asked if I would fly to New York to sign contracts!� Tanya squealed

�T, that�s awesome,� Maurhee exclaimed as she hugged her friend.

�And that�s not all, they said they�ve lined me up for some interviews with record companies! Can you believe it? I�m so excited!� Tanya shrieked excitedly.

�Well, I guess we better start shopping. Looks like you�re gonna need a few new outfits.� Maurhee giggled as she dragged Tanya into the store.

Later as they were getting into Tanya�s Civic . . . .

�Shit!� Maurhee exclaimed as she smacked a hand against her forehead. �I was supposed to go to Stone Canyon today and hang up flyers for Ernie�s Tournament at the Youth Center!�

�Hey, no worries, have you got the flyers?� Tanya asked sweetly.

�Yeah, there�s a huge pile in my purse.�

�All right, then we�ll go now.�

�Tanya, you don�t have to-�

�Forget about it, besides if we split up when we get there it won�t take as long.�

�What would I do with out you, T?�

�Probably swim in a never ending abyss of eternal damnation,� Tanya said with a chuckle and a wink.

About forty-five minutes later they were in the outskirts of Stone Canyon on a dangerously curvy road that overlooked a luscious and deep green valley. They had the radio turned all the way up, and were going almost fifteen over the speed limit. Neither one seemed to be paying very much attention to the four and a half foot wall of pavement that rose up in front of them.

�Look out!� Maurhee screamed. Tanya quickly jerked the wheel off the road, too far off the road. The Civic went careening into the valley.

She felt the car roll once as her head slammed into the roof of the car, twice as the glass shattered, three times as she felt her seat belt loosen around her torso, and a fourth time as the car jerked to a stop causing her head to hit the car door.

She turned her head slowly to the left to see how Tanya was. To her horror Tanya was pressed up against the top of the car. It seemed her seat belt had snapped in two. Her eyes misted and a hoarse gasp escaped her throat.

An obnoxious, sadistic laugh forced her to jerk her head to the right as she did so a sharp pain ran down her spine. She quickly snapped her eyelids shut and cried out in pain. Upon opening her eyes she saw a pair of black boots, not unlike the ones she had worn with her ranger suit, standing outside of her shattered window. Her vision began to blur as the being squatted down beside the car.

�No . . .� she whispered weakly to herself as she recognized the various shades of purple that composed the creature.

�Good-Bye, Orange Ranger,� he said as he waved mockingly at her.

�Ooze,� she whispered vengefully before the darkness consumed her.

********

Rocky was visiting his grandmother at Stone Canyon Medical Center. She had been hospitalized last week after a nasty fall that broke her hip. Tonight was his turn to stay with her until visiting hours were up. His grandmother had just fallen asleep, and he knew now was the perfect opportunity to get a cup of coffee in the cafeteria. He pressed the down button at the third floor elevators, and waited patiently for one of them to slide open.

A few seconds later both doors suddenly opened. Nurses and doctors scurried about as they pulled a stretcher out of each elevator.

He glanced at the stretcher to his left. There was a dark-skinned girl on top of it. Her yellow bloodied blouse peeked out from underneath the sheets.

�It can�t be . . .� he whispered to himself as he quickly turned to his right. His eyes widened as he spotted it. Lying peacefully on top of the stretcher was a fair-skinned, freckled, red-head who wore a now stained orange T-shirt.

�Not her . . . God, not her,� he said hoarsely. One of the nurses pulling on the stretcher noticed Rocky�s distress.

�Excuse me . . . son, do you know these girls?�

Rocky looked at the woman and slowly nodded. The nurse gave him a sympathetic look, and gently pulled him aside.

�What happened to them?�

�They were in a car accident at the edge of town,� she said softly.

�Are they . . . are they gonna be okay?� Rocky inquired as his eyes followed the stretchers down the hallway.

�The red-head will be fine with some time and extraneous physical therapy.�

�And Tanya?�

�We�re not sure, they�re taking her straight to the O.R., now. They should know in a few hours. I know that this is probably not the most comforting question in the world, but I was wondering if you know their families� telephone numbers. I need to call them and inform them of the situation.�

�Yes, but can I do it? . . . I think it will be a little easier to swallow coming from a friend,� he asked shakily.

�Of course, son, as long as you feel up to it. There�s a pay phone right over there, in the waiting room,� the elderly nurse said as she motioned down the hall.

As he walked away from the nurse a million thoughts raced through his mind. He had planned on visiting Maurhee, and straightening everything out. He had worked everything out, but then his grandmother had her accident. <Damn, this isn�t anything like I planned.> he thought as his eyes misted over. He felt a little of his control slip away. <Come on, Rocko, keep it together.>

He called Adam first, and the two of them split up the list of people to call. Adam was supposed to call Mr. and Mrs. Sloan, Aisha, Kat, Carlos, Ashley, and the rest of the Astro Rangers while Rocky called Maurhee�s parents, Tommy, Billy, Kim & Jase, Zack, and Trini.

He assessed the information he received during all of his phone calls. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson, Tanya�s parents, Billy, Kat, and Adam should be here within the hour; Zack, Trini, Tommy, Aisha, and Astro Rangers were going to be here tomorrow; Kim & Jason should be here in a couple of days.

Thirty to forty-five minutes later Adam came bursting out of the elevator doors.

�Have you heard anything?� Adam asked immediately.

�No,� came Rocky�s flat reply.

�Rocky, are you okay?� Adam asked as he observed his friend�s frazzled appearance.

�Yeah, I�m fine,� he stated simply.

The two of them sat for a while in stressful silence. Rocky�s impatience seemed to grow and electrify the air around him.

�So, how�s your grandmother?� Adam inquired as he attempted to break the silence.

�She�s fine, she�ll probably be sent home in a couple of days,� he replied mechanically.

�Are you sure you�re okay?� Adam asked again.

�I�m fine.�

�Because you know if you need to talk I won�t mind.�

�I�m fine, Adam, I just wish they would tell us something already.�

They sat in silence for a few more minutes before Tanya and Maurhee�s parents showed up. Almost right away Mr. Peterson and Mr. Sloan demanded to see their daughters� doctors. Maurhee�s doctor informed everyone that they could visit her two at a time, and Mr. and Mrs. Peterson went right in. A few minutes later Billy and Kat showed up.

�Anything?� Billy asked anxiously.

�They�re letting people in to visit Maurhee,� Adam informed him.

�And Tanya?� Kat asked with red and puffy eyes. Billy slipped a comforting arm around his girlfriend�s waist.

�Sorry Kat, They still haven�t told us anything,� Rocky said sadly.

All of sudden orderlies and nurses came running toward the O.R. yelling things like �To the operating room S.T.A.T.!� and �CODE BLUE!�. The noise caused Kat to jump, and the former rangers to glance at each other worriedly.

�Is Tanya in the O.R.?� Billy asked.

�Yes,� Rocky said sadly with a gulp.

Several minutes later a doctor approached the Sloans. The four young people observed the scene from across the waiting room as Mrs. Sloan broke down sobbing and leaned into her husband�s jacket. All eyes followed the doctor as he headed their way.

�Are you friends of Miss Sloan?� The graying gentlemen asked.

�Yes sir,� Rocky answered reluctantly.

�I�m sorry, there�s nothing we could do for her; the internal bleeding was too heavy,� The doctor stated sadly.

�You mean she�s . . .� Kat attempted to say before the words stuck in her throat, and she buried her face in Billy�s shoulder. Billy�s eyes shut softly as Kat began to sob.

�I�m afraid so. I�m so sorry,� he told them as he slowly walked back over to Tanya�s parents.

Rocky closed his eyes and bowed his head. He suddenly jerked it up when a single thought struck him.

�Someone�s gotta tell Maurhee,� he whispered just loud enough to be heard above Katherine�s sobs.

The three men glanced at each other as if waiting for someone to volunteer. Rocky raised both of his hands in defense.

�I would do it, but I don�t think this is the kind of thing you want to hear from an ex-boyfriend you haven�t seen in three years,� Rocky said softly as he looked between Adam and Billy.

�I�ll tell her,� Billy volunteered quietly. Kat quietly and reluctantly released him as he began to walk toward Maurhee�s room.

He walked quietly into the room and gently rapped on the wooden door.

�Hey Billy, Daddy told me you were here, and I was beginning to wonder when one of you was going to come visit me,� she said weakly with a small smile.

Billy sat down on the right side of the bed and took Maurhee�s hand.

�Maurhee, we just heard from Tanya�s doctor,� Billy said as he cleared his throat.

�Thank God . . . is she all right?� Maurhee asked with a sigh of relief.

�No . . . . Maurhee, she�s . . . she�s dead,� Billy said as his voice faltered a little.

�No . . .� Maurhee gasped as she turned away from Billy. �She can�t be . . .�

�I�m sorry� Billy muttered. The tone in Maurhee�s voice was enough to break Billy�s heart.

In all the years he had known Maurhee she had never cried in front of the team, not even Tommy who was after all considered her �brother�. She had told him once that she believed crying in public makes a person too vulnerable. The more he thought about the more he realized that the only person she had ever cried in front of was . . . Rocky. Now was too tragic of a time to bottle up everything. Billy quietly got up and walked back into the waiting room.

�Rocky, go in there.�

�What?� Rocky asked in shock.

�She needs you right now, whether or not the two of you are still together. You are the only person she feels comfortable letting go in front of,� Billy stated fervently.

Rocky sighed, and thought about everything Billy had just told him. He was right, of course, Billy was always right. He quickly stood up and made his way to her room. When he arrived he took the seat Billy had left vacant just moments ago.

�Rhee, you okay?�

�I�m fine,� she said curtly as she averted her eyes to stare at the hospital bed sheets.

�Maurhee, please look at me,� Rocky pleaded.

She sighed in defeat as she lifted her head and her gaze met his eyes. Rocky purposefully stared at her directly in the eyes.

�Are you okay?� he reiterated sternly.

�What do you think?� she asked harshly. �Of course I�m not okay. I came back because I thought I could finally have a little normalcy, but this isn�t what I had in mind!� she yelled angrily.

Rocky left his chair and positioned himself to where he could sit on the side of the bed and still face her.

�It was sooo horrible the screaming, the sound of metal scraping against metal, and the sound of the glass shattering. We rolled over four times. Four times! The doctors say it�s a miracle that either one of us survived, but instead of being thankful all I can think is �it should have been me� not her. Oh, God not her,� she said as she began to sob.

Rocky wrapped his arms around her, closed his eyes, and gently rubbed her back as she continued to weep.

*********

Three Days Later . . .

Maurhee stood in font of a black, rectangular casket. Tanya was inside of it. Part of her still couldn�t grasp that concept. Over the past month the two of them had become extremely close. They did everything together. Tanya even helped the Olivers plan Maurhee�s surprise birthday party.

She placed a yellow rose on top of the wooden box. <This is all my fault,> she thought to herself <He was after me, not her.> A shiver ran down her spine as that vicious laugh replayed over and over again in her mind.

She watched her friends as she hobbled back over to them on her crutches <I should tell them> she thought <they�re in just as much danger as I am>

*Tell them what?* Zhane projected.

*What are you doing?* Maurhee asked him mentally.

*Listening to your thoughts, obviously.*

*You know you really shouldn�t enter someone�s mind uninvited,* she projected as she turned to glare at her intruder.

*So you�ve said, but this time you really looked like you needed someone to talk to. so . . . tell them what?*

*Something happened at the accident that even I don�t fully believe, but I know what I saw. I just don�t know how they�ll react. I mean will they think I�m insane or something?*

*Maurhee, they�re your friends. They�ll believe you.*

*I doubt it, but I�ll give it a shot,* she projected as she turned her attention back to the service.

The speaker ended on a very tearful note, and then announced that it was time to say final good-byes. Maurhee slowly approached the coffin, and placed a hand on top of it.

�Good-bye, Tanya, and I promise he won�t go unpunished,� Maurhee whispered vengefully.

********

9:30 P.M.

The Astro Rangers and other veteran rangers sat in the youth center at their usual table swapping stories about Tanya back and forth.

�Oh man, I was so embarrassed. There I was rockin� out with my air guitar thinking I was all alone only to turn around and see Tanya in the doorway. It was horrible,� Tommy said with a chuckle and a shake of his head.

*Maurhee, we�ve been sitting here for five hours. Are you ever going to tell them?* Zhane launched telepathically with a slight glare.

A few seconds later there was a contemplative sigh out of Maurhee. Zhane watched as Rocky immediately turned to face her.

�You okay?�

�Yeah, I�m fine . . I just . . well, I�ve got to tell you guys something,� she said reluctantly.

�Girl, you know you can tell us anything,� Aisha said as she gently squeezed Maurhee�s arm.

�I think this might be the one exception,� she stated nervously.

�Come on, it can�t be that bad,� Kim said with a supportive smile.

�It�s not bad, it�s just . . . insane. You see, after the accident I . . . I saw . . well I saw Ooze. Now hear me out before you say anything!� she said urgently. �He approached my side of the car. I heard his laugh before I saw his face. He squatted down to look at me, and grinned. He said something to the effect of �goodnight orange ranger�, I can�t remember exactly, but it sounded an awful lot like a threat. I know it sounds crazy, but it is what I saw! I think Ivan�s back, and I think he�s after us. All of us.�

�Ha ha. Very funny Maurhee,� Tommy said flatly.

�Guys! I�m not kidding!� Maurhee exclaimed frantically.

�Maurhee, are you sure?� Jason asked skeptically.

�I know what I saw, Jase.�

�Maurhee, let�s think about this logically. The doctor said that your concussion could cause some of your memories to be mismatched so maybe all of that was just your brain jumbling up some information,� Trini suggested.

�So you�re saying that this vision could be, like, two memories smashed into one?� Maurhee asked, unconvinced.

�Think about it, Maurhee, it would make sense,� Trini pleaded.

�No, Trini, no. You know what? Just forget it because pretty soon you�re all gonna be calling me delusional. So, just forget I ever said anything. I was under the impression that my friends would understand. Last person to leave locks up,� she said dejectedly as she threw the Youth Center keys down on the counter. �I�m outta here.�

********

�Excellent, now not only is she full of guilt, but anger and self-doubt as well. You know I may not have killed her, but for some reason seeing that little neon colored brat suffer in this manner is much more enjoyable than watching her die,� Ivan Ooze said with a sickening toothy grin.

�When shall the assault on the orange ranger be continued?� asked the dark haired young man in the corner.

�In due time, my boy, in due time. For now I want you to capture everyone on this list,� Ooze commanded as he handed the young man a dictionary sized pile of papers.

�May I ask why, my lord?�

�The people on this list are the ones that could possibly stand in the way of my plan, and I want them all here where I can keep an eye on them, got it?�

�Yes, my lord. It shall be as you command.�

�Ha ha! Ya know, Drake, you�re turning out to be quite the evil flunky. I think I�ll talk to Scorpina about promoting you to Henchman.� Ivan chuckled as he slapped Drake on the back. �Now go! and fulfill your task!�

�Right away, your highness,� Drake said as he teleported away in a streak of deep purple light.

**************************************************************************

So? What do you think? I�m sorry about the delay, but as you can see this is a really long chapter (for me anyway). I hope it was well worth your wait.

PS- I own nothing Power Rangers. I swear. Absolutely nothing. I wish I did though. I also claim rights to Maurhee Peterson and Drake they are my own creations. So don�t steal them! Or I will . . . I will . . grrrrr . . . I�ll . . . do . . something. lol.

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