ROXY

She cornered Hannah as soon as she got to the school. "So, we're going to talk about yesterday, right?" She asked.

"Roxy... It's..." Hannah sighed. "Come on." She took her hand and led her to an empty classroom. She closed the door.

"Okay, so... I'm..." Hannah struggled to find words.

"A superhero?" Roxy suggested helpfully.

"A superhero," Hannah agreed. "I'm not supposed to tell anyone. It's one of the rules."

"You didn't tell me. I guessed."

"I know, but... There's time travel involved in this, Roxy... And telling people too much could change the time line."

"I won't tell anyone, I swear... But I want to understand what you're involved in."

"I'm the Pink Wildcat Power Ranger. That means that, when I activate my power, I transform... Or morph. Anyway, there are five of us. I can't tell you anyone else's identity."

"I won't ask you to out everyone, but Cassie, the music teacher... She's involved, right? The Pink one with a different suit. I heard her voice."

"Cassie's suit is different because she comes from a different team... The Turbo team. They're from the future."

"Cassie is from the future? That might explain why she's so cool. She's not like other teachers."

"You're taking this really well..."

"I believe in the supernatural, so why not time travel, too? Time's a man-made concept. It's only linear because we view it that way."

"I figured you'd think I made all of this up."

"I've had my butt saved by all of you a couple of times. It's pretty easy to believe when the proof is right in front of you." Roxy smiled at Hannah. "Do you believe in magic, Hannah?"

"Sort of... I mean, what we do is science-based, I think, but it seems like magic."

"I'm into the occult... Not, like, sacrificing assholes to Satan or anything, but worshipping the Earth and Nature and a Goddess. It's called Wicca. I've been reading up on it whenever I can find new material. Ronnie thinks it's bullshit, but I know it's not. I'm a Witch. Maybe I can show you sometime."

"My foster family's really Catholic. They wouldn't like it."

"So don't tell them," Roxy said with a mischievous grin.

"Are you saying you have magical powers?"

"Not like in the movies or anything," Roxy explained quickly. "At least not as far as I know... But I am very in tune with the elements around me, and I have strong intuition. I always know when something is off, and sometimes, I know things are coming before they do. It's not the same as having traditional superpowers, but it helps me get out of bad situations sometimes. Bea and Dave taught me about it. They said Wicca was founded in England this century, but it's based on ancient Pagan traditions. It gained a lot of popularity in the sixties, with the hippies. The main rule is that as long as you're not hurting anyone, do what you will. They believe in karma and balance and all of that. Dave's more into the love and light part of it than Bea, but they both practice, and now so do I. Anyway, I'm telling you because I know your biggest secret, and Wicca is mine, so it's only fair you know about it."

Hannah offered up one of her sweet smiles. "Thanks for trusting me," she said.

"I always will... And you can trust me, too."

"I do, Roxy."

"Good." Roxy took Hannah's hand in her own. "I have one other secret, Hannah Ramos."

"What is it?" Hannah asked with a nervous edge to her voice.

"I think I'm falling in love with you." It was strange to have voiced that out loud. "I mean, I love people easily enough, and then I get over it... But you're the first one I've ever really been in love with... Like, it's this genuine, consuming, incredible sort of love that makes me happy and not just in a physical way." Roxy looked at Hannah nervously, afraid she'd either run away or laugh at her.

"You... You're in love with me?" Hannah repeated.

"Yeah..." Roxy looked away, certain she was about to be rejected.

"You can't be," Hannah whispered.

"Why not?" Roxy asked in confusion.

"Because no one loves me... Not really. Not since my mom."

Roxy pulled Hannah into her arms. "Well, I do. So I guess you're just going to have to get used to that." She kissed Hannah, who relaxed in her arms and kissed her back.

"I think I'm in love with you, too," Hannah whispered softly.

Roxy smiled and kissed her again. She then picked Hannah up and sat her on the teacher's desk before brushing some hair out of Hannah's face and kissing her one more time.

"Roxy..." Hannah said softly.

"Yeah?" Roxy replied just as quietly.

"You make me really happy... And I'm glad you know the truth now." She seemed like she was holding something back.

"Is there more?" Roxy asked.

"Nothing I want to talk about right now." This time, Hannah kissed Roxy. That pushed all other concerns right out of Roxy's head.

B'DANNA

She was bored in her Spanish class. She spoke Spanish fluently already. Hell, she spoke all of the romance languages fluently, including Latin. If there was one thing that fascinated her about Earth, it was how many languages the planet had. She'd tried to learn as many as possible so they'd always know what was being said around them. Draze loved the different cadence each language possessed and had learned them along with B'Danna because he longed to connect to people despite language barriers.

She started drifting off to sleep. She wasn't alone. Most of the students hadn't slept well after the massacre the day before. B'Danna probably would have slept like a baby, but she'd heard a strange sound coming from Jaybert's study that had woken her up. She had taken a look inside and found herself face-to-face with a vizu. She'd quickly averted her eyes and banished it with a mirror. When she'd asked Jaybert why the hell the creature had been hiding in his study, he told her Zell must have sent it because of their failure that day, as a punishment. It was a reasonable enough possibility, but B'Danna still didn't trust the answer. She hadn't slept after that.

She was back on the Eltarian Guard's base. B'Danna had lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. Her father, a highly ranked official in the Guard, had raised her to be a soldier after her mother died in childbirth. Even as a toddler, if she stepped slightly out of line, he beat her. This had molded her into a fierce warrior, but since she'd never known kindness, she believed the entire world was harsh and constantly ready for battle.

"B'Danna, are you listening to me?" Lady Eleanor, the fiercest woman alive and the head of the Eltarian Guard, asked.

B'Danna was startled. She realized she was remembering a day she wished desperately to forget. It was both the worst and best day of her life, but this was the earlier part...

"I must return home, Lady Eleanor," fourteen-year-old B'Danna replied.

"Child... If there is something troubling you, this would be an excellent time to share it," Lady Eleanor said with uncharacteristic kindness. She had known B'Danna for her entire life and had helped train her from a young age.

B'Danna's father had been out drinking with his friends. He was unbearable when drunk, but B'Danna couldn't tell Lady Eleanor that. He was all she had, and Lady Eleanor might take him away from her. She was one of the few Eltarians who outranked him.

"I am well," B'Danna lied. "Thank you for your concern."

Lady Eleanor frowned. "I have seen your bruises, B'Danna. No one has the right to cause such harm to a child... No matter who he is. I cannot act without more evidence, however... If you come forward, I will launch a formal investigation and keep you in protective custody until-"

"There is nothing to investigate. No one has hurt me. I am a warrior, and bruises are a natural consequence of this." She bowed her head respectfully. "Thank you for our training session, Lady Eleanor. Good day." B'Danna walked away.

She headed to her home. She wanted to stop herself, but she was powerless to do so. She walked into the house and was greeted by her father and several of his soldier friends. There were at least eight of them, and they were all drunk. She tried to run toward her room.

"Stay here with us, Daughter," her father said, blocking her path. Suddenly, the men gathered around her, each getting too close. Their hands roamed to places they did not belong. B'Danna tried to get away, but they would not allow it. As they tore at her clothes, she did the one thing she'd been trained to do, and she fought.

They beat her severely that day, but she never stopped fighting. As a result, she escaped with both her life and her virginity, but barely. She slaughtered every single one of the soldiers, including her father. Most of her rage was taken out on him. While she killed the others swiftly, often with a single well-placed blow, she took her time with her father, saving him for last. She took out his legs so he could not flee, then beat him with the butt of his own gun until he begged for mercy. Only then had B'Danna murdered him, looking him dead in the eye as she shot him with the weapon he'd loved more than he had ever been capable of loving her.

Having committed treason, B'Danna ran. She was half-dead and certain she had no other choice. That night, Draze discovered her, bleeding and hiding in the woods. He approached her gently, like she was an injured wild animal, and patched up her wounds. Draze had saved her life. Being the first male to ever show her kindness besides Sir Matthew, Lady Eleanor's husband, he quickly managed to earn her trust. Meeting Draze had changed her life for the better, but the flashback ended before she got to see any of that.

Instead, B'Danna was standing in Jaybert's study. He stood over Tiffani, stabbing her repeatedly. The girl's screams died down and he continued to stab her even though she was clearly dead.

"No!" B'Danna screamed.

"Beatrice? Beatrice Donna, are you alright?" Her teacher asked in English. This teacher never spoke in English, so she'd probably asked the question in Spanish once or twice before B'Danna had woken up.

B'Danna was drenched in sweat. "I... It was just..." She struggled to respond.

"Poor dear... It's alright. After what happened yesterday, we're all having nightmares," the teacher said sympathetically. "Why don't you go see the nurse?" She wrote her a pass.

B'Danna took the pass and practically ran from the classroom. She went to the room she knew Tiffani was supposed to be in and released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding when she spotted her at her desk. B'Danna might act like she disliked Tiffani, but she'd watched the girl grow up. She looked at her as a sometimes annoying but mostly lovable little sister.

After taking several deep breaths, B'Danna went down the hall to the nurse. "Hello, dear," the nurse said sweetly as she looked over her pass. "What seems to be the issue?"

"I didn't really sleep last night, and when I passed out in class, I had a nightmare," B'Danna replied.

"Of course you did! It's no wonder! They should have cancelled school for the day."

"Why? It's not like any of the kids or teachers got killed. Even most of the injuries weren't that serious. It's not a big deal."

"Beatrice Donna, half of the school was caught up in a bizarre terrorist attack! That is a very big deal! Everyone's traumatized."

B'Danna rolled her eyes. "Well, I'm not."

"You're having nightmares-"

"Not about that."

"Then what are they about?"

"You're a school nurse, not Sigmund Freud. You don't get to know what I dream about. Can I stay here for a while or what?"

"You know, Beatrice... Talking may help."

"That's not going to happen. Maybe I should just go-"

"I think I should call your parents to pick you up." She began looking through the files in her office, pulling one out.

B'Danna sighed. On paper, Amareese and Flekt were Draze's parents, under the identities of Alma and Frank Reese. They also had "custody" of B'Danna. "I don't have any of those," she reminded the nurse.

"What? Oh... Oh, my, I'm so sorry," the nurse said as she skimmed her file. "I can call your guardians."

"I'll do it myself." She grabbed the phone and dialed the base, hoping Jaybert wouldn't be the one to answer the one phone line they had for just such a situation. He usually ignored it.

"Greetings and salutations!" Laby answered cheerfully.

"Laby, it's me," B'Danna said. "Can you put Mama on?"

"Did you get suspended or something?" Laby teased her.

"Just do it, okay?"

"Mama Ama's occupied at the moment. Can I help?"

"Send her to come pick me up? I'm not feeling very well."

"Is it urgent or can you wait until she's done?"

"Urgent."

"Ah. Well, then, I'll make sure she's there shortly. Feel better, Bee Dee." He hung up.

She could have waited, but something told B'Danna she needed to get back to the base as soon as possible.

Within five minutes, Amareese walked into the school. She smiled kindly at the nurse and signed B'Danna out of school. They walked out of the building together.

"Thanks for coming, but you can drop the act now," B'Danna said as they passed out of sight of the school.

"Amareese" smirked at her before transforming back into Laby. "So, what's really going on?" He asked.

"I had a... I don't know, really. It started off as a memory, but then it shifted, and I saw... Something," B'Danna said. She'd seen the way Laby and Tiffani had been looking at each other lately. She didn't want to worry him needlessly.

"What, like a vision?"

"Yeah, but I don't have visions... I'm confused."

Laby looked concerned. "Bee Dee... What aren't you telling me?"

She sighed. "I had a very brief encounter with a vizu yesterday. I thought I avoided its gaze, but maybe I saw enough to induce a delayed vision... Or, you know, psychosis. Whichever."

"Where?" Laby asked very quietly.

"What?"

"Where did you see the vizu, B'Danna?"

B'Danna knew something was seriously wrong if he was using her full name. "I heard something last night and went to check it out... It was in Jay's study."

Laby cursed in Eltarian. Then, he cursed again in English. "Tell me exactly what happened," he said.

"I don't know... It was fast, Laby. As soon as I saw it, I looked away and grabbed a mirror. When I told Jay, he said the Great Wizard probably sent it to punish us because everything failed so badly yesterday... But I wasn't sure I trusted that. I stayed up after that... I couldn't sleep. I passed out in class and the nightmare hit..."

"What did you see?"

"I saw Tiffani," B'Danna admitted with a sigh. "Jay kept stabbing her, Laby. Even after..."

"After...?"

"After she was dead."

Laby tensed. Then, his face became unreadable. "Zell didn't send the vizu," he said.

"How do you know?"

"Because this isn't the first time Jay's summoned one... I thought it was over when I banished the thing, but... He's been making crazy choices and acting strangely. I think he's losing his mind... But don't worry. I'll fix him."

"Can you do that?"

"I can, with a lot of effort... If there's even a shred of him left in there. But first... Look into my eyes, Bee Dee."

"Laby, I'm-"

"You were exposed to it. If there's any trace of madness in your mind, I'll cure you before it gets worse."

She nodded. "Alright," she agreed. She looked deep into his eyes. The spirals began to dance, and soon, she felt incredibly at peace.

After a minute, Laby looked away. "You're okay," he promised. "You weren't crazy. Your mind is clear, so it was definitely a vision, not madness. I think I wiped the last trace out, so there won't be any more visions."

"A vision... But that means Jay's going to kill Tiffani!"

"I won't let that happen. I promise."

"Laby... You really care about her, don't you?"

"Of course I do. I've known the girl for her entire life."

"Not just as a big brother. You have feelings for her."

He paused. "Maybe," he admitted. "I'm still trying to figure that out."

"Come on... Let's hurry up back to Base so you can fix this." They began walking again.

CASSIE

Sore did not begin to cover how Cassie was feeling. Lucas had tried to convince her to stay home from work, but she refused to be stuck in the house all day. Besides, she wanted to check on the kids... Not just the Rangers, but all of the students who'd been on the field trip.

Kaylen grabbed Cassie during a free period. "Are you okay?" Kaylen asked her.

"I'm golden," Cassie promised. "A little sore, but it's nothing I can't handle. How are you? How's your uncle?"

"He's okay... But he knows, Cassie. He figured out the truth about me... And he wants to meet everyone else."

Cassie frowned. "Damnit... Zordon's going to kick my butt for this spreading beyond just the Rangers knowing about us."

"He knows that we're a team, and that our mentors are from the future. He was kind of skeptical, but he's trying, which is more than I expected from him."

"That's more than I expected, too," Cassie said with a laugh. "Look... Invite him to Oakhaven this afternoon. I'll talk to Alpha and Lucas and figure out how to handle this. Hannah told me Roxy knows, too, so I'll have her tell Roxy to come as well... It's better to do this all at once."

"Are you guys going to erase their memories or something?"

"We're not the Men in Black," Cassie said. "We don't have the flashy-thing!"

"What are you talking about?" Kaylen asked.

"Oh, right... Never mind. You'll get it in about a decade or so. No, Kaylen, we aren't going to erase their memories. People have found out the secret before, but Zordon usually makes them take some sort of oath to guard it... Maybe we can do something like that. It'll be fine, I'm sure."

"I hope you're right. I don't want my uncle getting screwed over by all of this."

"Your uncle's involved, Kaylen... But I think he would have been with or without us. Don't worry. We'll protect him." Cassie smiled at her encouragingly and hoped Kaylen had enough faith in her and Lucas to trust them to protect the man who was currently her legal guardian while her mother was in the hospital.

We've got this, she told herself. He's going to be perfectly fine.

BRADLEY

He wasn't sure what to expect. Kaylen's directions had led him to an old, Gothic mansion in the middle of the woods. He was both confused to see someone else heading there and relieved to not be alone.

"Principal Drew?" Roxanne Savers asked in surprise.

"Miss Savers," he replied in confusion.

"So you've been invited to the super secret clubhouse, too? Interesting."

"Indeed..." He looked at the intimidating house in front of them. "Shall we?"

"Oh yeah, we definitely shall. Come on." She took the lead, walking toward the door and touching it. The front door opened easily. It was completely dark inside.

"Miss Savers... Maybe we should wait..." He said cautiously.

"Don't worry. It'll be fine." She walked deeper into the house.

Flames burst up from the floor. "Roxy!" He cried, concern overpowering his need to keep things formal. He raced toward the flames.

"I'm okay!" Roxy called back.

He reached her and saw that she was uninjured. More flames rose up, surrounding them. He stood in front of her protectively. "Who dares to enter the sacred home of Oakhaven?" A disembodied female voice demanded.

He was too stunned and confused to speak. "Roxy Savers and, uh... Principal Drew," Roxy answered for them.

"Proceed down the hall to the sacred space!" The woman commanded.

Bradley was nervous, but he refused to let Roxy go alone. "Let's go," he said. She smiled at him and they started walking.

Suddenly, they found themselves inside of a dark room at the end of the hallway. Candles suddenly lit the room up and Bradley nearly took Roxy and ran back out.

"The secret of the Power Rangers has been revealed to you both," the woman said. Her voice echoed even more inside of this room. "You must now swear a sacred oath to guard this secret with your lives."

"Sure," Roxy said casually.

"Repeat after me... I solemnly swear," the woman began.

"I solemnly swear," Roxy repeated eagerly. Bradley sighed before saying the words as well.

"To protect the identities of the Power Rangers..."

"To protect the identities of the Power Rangers..." Bradley and Roxy said in unison.

"And to keep their activities a secret..."

"And to keep their activities a secret..."

"Or may my heart be torn from my body for my betrayal!"

Roxy laughed in surprise. Bradley stared into the dark in shock.

"Okay, Alpha, that's enough," a familiar voice said. "We can trust them." Someone emerged from the shadows. "Cut the theatrics and turn on a light."

The candles went out, plunging them into complete darkness. The lights came on before Bradley could panic. He squinted as his eyes adjusted before he realized why he knew the new voice.

"Ms. Chan?" He asked in shock.

"Let's agree that here, I'm just Cassie," she said with an awkward smile. "How are you holding up, Principal Drew?"

"You're Kaylen's mentor?" He asked, ignoring her question.

"I am," Cassie confirmed.

"Kaylen? I should have known that she was involved," Roxy said. "That girl loves a good fight."

"You're Kaylen's mentor... Who is from the future?" Bradley asked, trying to process this information.

"Yes," Cassie said again. "Guys, come on in," she added.

His niece and three students he recognized as Serena, Austin, and Hannah walked into the room. So did a man he recognized. "Your boyfriend is the other mentor?" Bradley asked. None of this was what he'd expected. It was an odd mix of students, to say the least, and now Cassie's boyfriend was involved as well?

"Yeah, about that... He's not my boyfriend," Cassie said firmly. "Lucas comes from even further in the future than I do. He's part of a police force called the Time Force. He's here to make sure I don't screw up the time line in any major way... Which is good, because I nearly destroyed pretty much everything. He's a pain, but he comes in handy sometimes."

"I'm sorry for lying to you, Mr. Drew," Lucas said politely. "I had to come up with a quick explanation for me being there the day we met."

"Sorry I'm late," a new voice said. "My car got a flat."

"Lee?!" Roxy asked in surprise. Bradley wasn't surprised. Somehow, it made perfect sense that Lee would be involved in something like this. Besides, he'd been there with Kaylen, Austin, Serena, and Hannah when the first attack had happened.

"Oh... Um, hey, Rox," he replied, flashing a cool smile at her.

"Your charm doesn't work on me. Save it for Ronnie," Roxy said. "You're a fucking Power Ranger?! And you didn't tell me?"

"We can't tell anyone our secret identities."

"Leonidas Scott, you tell me and my sister everything! We're not just anyone, and you're out there risking your life! You're doing something really dangerous. What if Ronnie gets caught in the crossfire?"

"She won't. I would never let Ronnie get hurt. You know that."

"What if you can't stop it? I've been in the middle of a few of these attacks, Lee. People get hurt in the chaos. Hell, Ronnie got hurt on the field trip! She could have been killed."

"I know... I'm sorry, Roxy. I'd die before I let someone hurt Ronnie, but I wasn't with her."

Roxy sighed. "You could get killed, Lee... And you're a pain in my ass, but you're also one of my best friends. I don't like the idea of these psychos coming after you."

"If I may ask," Bradley interrupted them, "why are these people after you all? Who are they? The police dubbed them terrorists, but... Well, terrorists do not typically come with monsters... At least not the literal kind."

"The woman at the center of it is named Divatox," Cassie began. "Most of her monsters are pirahnatrons... The mindless minions who smell and are stupid. The other monsters are ones she creates or recruits who do her bidding. Divatox is from my time. In fact, my team originally formed to fight her. We were the Turbo Power Rangers, one of the earliest teams. We'll be coming along in a few years, when I'm a teenager."

Bradley tried to follow that, even with the talk of time travel. "Alright... What is she doing here?"

"A really big bad guy from the future named Zell sent a slither of her back here. I don't know how he split part of her off, but the rest of her died that night in a big battle..." Cassie paused, looking haunted. Lucas subtly moved closer to her. They might not be dating, but Bradley could tell there was something between them. Cassie took a deep breath and continued. "We weren't sure what Divatox was after, but it seems like she was after you, Sir..."

"Me?" Bradley repeated in surprise.

"You came into possession of a very powerful crystal on the field trip," Lucas said. "Using that, you were able to save everyone. The reason is because the crystal became part of you. One day, you are going to bring an incredible gift into this world. One that is vital to the balance between good and evil... And we now believe Divatox was trying to prevent you from walking your destined path."

"Is she going to keep trying to kill him?" Kaylen asked with concern.

"Until he does what he's meant to do, most likely," Lucas replied.

"I see... Do we have a plan on how to prevent my death?" Bradley asked, trying to keep his alarm out of his voice.

"We'll protect you, Sir," Cassie promised.

"Ms. Ch... Cassie," he corrected himself. "I appreciate your offer, but I cannot ask you or the children to risk your lives for me."

"We're Power Rangers. It's what we do... And we will keep you safe."

"Who are the soldiers?" Bradley asked.

"We don't really know," Cassie said.

"Actually, as of twenty minutes ago, we do," Lucas said.

"Huh?" Cassie asked.

"Jen got some answers for me."

"When were you planning to share with the rest of the class?"

"Right now." Lucas grinned and Cassie glared at him.

There is definitely something between those two, Bradley decided.

"Okay, so the soldiers are Eltarian."

"Eltarian?" Cassie asked in surprise. "Like Zordon? Why would they be attacking innocent people? Eltarians are peaceful... I mean, except for Zell. I met a ton of them when I was with the Astro team. Andros has a lot of friends on Eltar."

"The uniform they wear belongs to a group called the Rebellion," Lucas explained. "They are basically anarchists. They claim to stand against corrupt governments, but they pretty much view all governments as corrupt. They can blend in on any planet, in any setting. The ones with skin tones that stick out, like blue skin, have ways of cloaking their skin to look like what is normal wherever they are. They are extremely dangerous, and are apparently creating quite a stir back in your time."

"What's going on?" Cassie asked in alarm. "Is everyone okay?"

"Jen didn't tell me much... You know how it is... But I do know Vida's team of baby Rangers dealt with members of this group. That was their entire mission."

"What are these people after?" Bradley asked. "And what is Eltar?"

"Eltar is another planet," Lucas explained.

"So, they're aliens? This gets cooler and weirder by the second," Roxy said.

Aliens, Bradley thought. Just like Nancy said. Maybe she's not as sick as I thought. Was it possible? She'd known about the box. She was right about them being aliens. What if the manic depression wasn't what it appeared to be?

"Why are they working with Divatox? She's not fighting corruption," Serena said practically.

"The Rebels wouldn't normally work with Divatox, or anyone outside of their cause," Lucas said. "Jen thinks Zell might have contacted them."

"They work for Zell?" Cassie asked. "He's as corrupt as they come! He's literally the epitome of what they say they're against... A corrupt leader pretending to be a good guy."

"They don't, actually, which is what makes this odd. The Rebellion officially formed sometime after Zell was killed the first time."

"Okay... So why did they have a change of heart?" Austin asked.

"I wish I knew. We need to figure it out, though. The Rebels are not a joke. We have to be careful how we handle them."

Suddenly, a robot appeared in the room. "I suggest you stay as far away from the Rebels as possible," it said. Bradley realized the voice belonged to the woman who'd scared them when they first arrived. He hadn't expected it to belong to a robot.

"You're a robot?" Roxy asked, apparently sharing his sentiment.

"This is Alpha Three," Hannah said politely.

"She's an automaton," Serena explained. "Alpha is made of alien technology and is very advanced."

Alpha laughed shyly. "Thank you, Serena," she said.

"Cassie, Lucas... May we speak privately?" Bradley asked.

"Sure," Cassie said. "Alpha, take the kids to the dining room for some snacks. Roxy included."

"Okay," Roxy said, staying close to Hannah.

"Uncle Bradley-" Kaylen protested.

"Go on, Kaylen. We'll be along in a couple of minutes," he said.

She sighed, but didn't protest further. When the children were out of earshot, Bradley took a deep breath. "This is all a bit much," he admitted, "but I need to ask you something..."

"Of course. What's up?" Cassie asked.

"A week ago, I went to visit my sister in the hospital. I'm sure Kaylen hasn't told you, but she's quite ill."

"I heard she's bi-polar... I mean, she has manic depression, right?"

"Yes. Or, at least, that's what her doctors diagnosed her with."

"Do you think they were wrong?"

"She had an episode... She kept writing the same message over and over again, in ink, in blood, in the air with her finger... And when I showed up, she verbalized it. The message was 'open the box.' I didn't understand it at the time... But she was rambling about aliens and protecting the children..."

Lucas suddenly looked interested. "She's a prophetess," he said.

"I don't know... I thought she was delusional. She's done some very extreme things. She's tried to hurt herself because she hallucinates... But this... This wasn't a hallucination, was it?"

"I'll have to look into it... But it's possible your sister isn't insane, Sir."

"Bradley," he said softly.

"Bradley? Really?" Cassie asked.

"Given the current circumstances, I believe we've reached a point where it's ridiculous not to use first names."

"I'm kind of honored... Okay, so, we think Kaylen's mom isn't as sick as the doctors think she is. How do we prove it?"

"How long has she been like this, Bradley?" Lucas asked.

"Since her husband vanished," Bradley said. "Her first episode was within days of it. Kaylen called me in a panic because Nancy was rambling and insisting that 'daddy was taken because of what he knew.' I tried talking to my sister, but she was incoherent. She wouldn't explain what she thought had happened, but she was terrified. She kept going on about a monster who'd appeared in the house and shown her the truth. I didn't believe her... But perhaps I should have." His heart ached. Why hadn't he given her a chance to prove she wasn't insane? Shouldn't he have tried to believe her?

"You couldn't have known, Bradley," Cassie said gently. She offered him a kind, sympathetic smile. "It sounded crazy. No rational person would have believed her. You thought she needed help, and you tried to get it for her. That was the only thing you could have done in that situation."

"I'll tell my team what happened and see if they can figure out whether or not your sister's sick," Lucas said. "They may be able to come up with another explanation."

"If she's not sick, I have to get her out of the hospital... But she tries to hurt herself," Bradley said.

"If monsters or aliens caused the psychosis, we might be able to cure her. I'll see what my team can figure out, and if there's a way to help her, we will," Lucas promised him.

"Thank you... Please don't mention this to Kaylen. I don't want to upset her unless it becomes necessary."

"Of course."

"We should get back to the kids before they get suspicious," Cassie said.

"She's right. Come on, Bradley. You should eat something," Lucas said.

He nodded numbly. Was it possible? Could his sister have been suffering from the effects of encountering aliens this entire time? If she wasn't crazy, would she ever forgive him for locking her away so many times? He sighed and forced himself to push the thought out of his mind for the time being. Kaylen and Claire needed him to be strong.

LABY

He sat in Jaybert's study, waiting for him to arrive back at the base. That was when he heard the footsteps scampering across the room. He caught sight of the creature out of the corner of his eye. "Goddamnit, Jay..." He mumbled.

Laby quickly grabbed the mirror in the room and put it in front of him like a mortal would place a crucifix between himself and a vampire. He kept his eyes tightly closed until he heard the somewhat indignant and clearly surprised squeak of the vizu as it vanished.

"I know. How dare I, right?" Laby asked even though he knew it was gone and couldn't hear him. He took several deep breaths, knowing there was no turning back now. Jaybert was obviously deeply under the creature's spell. Laby had to break the connection or Jaybert would just keep summoning the thing back. He couldn't help himself.

When Jaybert walked into the room, he looked at Laby in surprise. "Laby... Why are you in my study?" He asked.

"We need to talk, Jay," Laby replied.

"I don't have time right now. I'm busy cleaning up Divatox's mess."

"Make time, Jaybert."

"Once again, Labyrinth, you are not the one in charge here!"

"You brought it back!"

"I don't know what you're referring to."

"The vizu, Jay! You summoned it again. More than once."

"Of course I didn't. As I told B'Danna, the creature must have been sent by Zell-"

"That's a load of bullshit, Jaybert! B'Danna banished it, but guess what? I found it here again a little while ago. And don't try telling me that Zell sent it a second time. He wouldn't have bothered. Zell never wastes energy like that."

"I need it, Labyrinth."

"No. You don't. But if you keep summoning it here, you're going to get us all killed. That, or we'll all go insane. Please, Jay... You have to stop."

"I know what I'm doing!"

"You do not. But I'm about to fix that." Laby grabbed Jaybert by the shoulders and forced him to look into his eyes before Jaybert could stop him. He knew Jaybert was instantly caught in the spiral labyrinths. Laby focused all of his power on clearing Jaybert's mind. "I banish the vizu's influence from your mind, Jaybert... The madness shall be vanquished and clarity shall return to you. See only the truth! Think for yourself! I sever the tie and I cure the madness in your mind!"

Jaybert gasped, clutching his head in pain. Laby knew he'd hurt him, but he'd had no choice. The vizu's grasp on Jaybert's mind had been too powerful. If he hadn't broken the tie harshly, it might not have worked.

"Jay... Are you alright?" Laby asked gently after a minute.

Jaybert was trembling. "Yes," he said. "Yes, Laby, I believe that I am... Thank you. That was an impressive show of power. There is almost no cure for the vizu's madness."

"I do more than just create labyrinths, you know," Laby reminded him. "I can cure insanity, or at least provide clarity. But Jay... You were almost too far gone for even that to work. Please don't ever do that again."

"Of course I won't.... Thank you, Laby. Truly. My mind is finally clear."

Laby sighed with relief, seeing the eyes of the Jaybert he'd known and worked with for years. For the first time in a while, he was himself again. "I'm sorry... I should have realized sooner how bad things were. I knew you weren't acting normally... I mean, deciding it was a good idea to shoot a bunch of kids for no real reason was a clear indicator that something was wrong, but I explained everything before that away."

"You took care of me now. That is all that matters." Jaybert offered him a slight smile, something he hadn't done in ages. He was cold in general a lot of time, but he'd come to be a bit fond of Laby, and occasionally, Laby could get him to smile. He'd even gotten him to crack a joke once, much to everyone's shock. Laby had thought the world was going to end that day.

"Jay..." Laby sighed. "I'm really glad you're okay." Laby was attached to Jaybert. They'd worked together for a very long time, and he viewed him as family. He hated the thought of anything bad happening to him, even if their personalities clashed at times.

"As am I, Laby," Jaybert said kindly. He put an encouraging hand on Laby's shoulder, something else he hadn't done in a long time. It was comforting, and Laby relaxed, positive that he'd found a way to avoid the horrible future B'Danna had seen. Jaybert was cured. Everything could return to normal now.

THE NEXT DAY.

LEE

He watched as Ronnie entered the hallway. After staying with her at the hospital and realizing how close he'd come to losing her, Lee knew the truth... He didn't want to be with anyone except for Ronnie. He'd decided to show up at school prepared to do things right. He'd grabbed Austin the day before and they'd come up with a plan. Austin had been happy to help, much to Lee's relief.

Ronnie loved roses, so Lee had purchased three dozen of them. They sat in a big bouquet now that he hid behind his back. Austin stood nearby, ready to help set the right mood and make this special. Ronnie looked exhausted, but her smile lit up her face as she spotted Lee. "Hey, Beautiful," he greeted her, presenting the flowers.

Ronnie looked stunned. "What are these for?" She asked, the excitement clear on her face.

Austin began playing a song on his guitar. Everyone in the hall fell silent and listened in, excited to see where this was going. Lee began lip-syncing when Austin started to sing, and he also dramatically danced and gestured in front of Ronnie.

"I can't fight this feeling any longer... And yet I'm still afraid to let it flow. What started off as friendship has grown stronger. I only wish I had the strength to let it show. I tell myself that I can't hold out forever. I said there is no reason for my fear. Cause I feel so secure when we're together. You give my life direction. You make everything so clear," Austin sang. "And even as I wander, I'm keeping you in sight. You're a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter's night. And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might... And I can't fight this feeling anymore! I've forgotten what I started fighting for! It's time to bring this ship into the shore and throw away the oars forever! Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore! I've forgotten what I started fighting for! And if I have to crawl upon the floor, come crashing through your door, baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore! My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you. I've been running round in circles in my mind. And it always seems that I'm following you, girl, cause you take me to places that alone I'd never find. And even as I wander, I'm keeping you in sight. You're a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter's night, and I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might. And I can't fight this feeling anymore! I've forgotten what I started fighting for. It's time to bring this ship into the shore, and throw away the oars, forever... Cause I can't fight this feeling anymore! I've forgotten what I started fighting for. And if I have to crawl upon the floor, come crashing through the door, baby, I can't fight this feeling anymore..."

The music ended. The students watching burst into applause and cheers. Cassie was cheering louder than anyone, but Lee only saw Ronnie now. "Veronica Savers, you're beautiful, crazy, frustrating, and amazing," Lee began. "I'm an idiot for not seeing this sooner, but there's no one I'd rather be with than you... Will you go steady with me?"

Ronnie started crying. "Tough luck, Lee! I'll go out with you!" One of the cheerleaders joked.

Ronnie flung her arms around his neck and kissed him, causing the students to start hooting at them. "It's about time," she said softly before resting her head on his shoulder.

"I love you," he said softly.

"Like, really?" She whispered.

"I always have... I just didn't notice when it went from loving you as a friend to... Well... This."

"I love you, too!" She cried out, loud enough that everyone heard it. There were more cheers.

"Okay, break it up," Principal Drew said, finally coming to see what all of the commotion was. "This is a high school, not a disco."

"Disco?" Ronnie repeated with a giggle. "Sorry, Principal Drew. We'll get to class now." She took Lee's arm and led him down the hall before the principal could reprimand them further.

They reached their math class. Ronnie smiled at Lee. "Lee Scott, I cannot believe you just did that!" She declared.

"I figured I owed you for not asking you to be exclusive sooner... And I know how much you love big, romantic gestures in the movies," Lee replied.

"How did you get Austin to go along with this?"

"We're friends, and I admitted I can't sing to save my life. He wouldn't let me butcher the song." Lee laughed. So did Ronnie.

"I'll have to thank him for that... He's really talented, by the way," Ronnie said.

"I noticed. He should perform more often."

"I'm sure a bunch of guys will start hiring him to serenade girls now," Ronnie said with a laugh. "Now you, like totally need to help him with Kaylen!"

"What do you mean?"

"Have you not noticed the way those two look at each other? And Kaylen doesn't look at anyone like that."

Lee was stunned. "You really think they like each other?"

"Oh yeah... But they're like, totally both too stubborn to admit it."

"I never noticed. I thought they were just friends, you know?"

"Boys, I swear..." Ronnie laughed. "Don't worry. I'll, like, totally help you nudge them toward each other. They'd, like, make a totally radical couple."

"Well, first, we need to sit down before the teacher kills us," Lee said with a laugh as their math teacher eyed them in annoyance.

They sat down beside each other. Ronnie held Lee's hand in the air between their desks. Lee knew he'd made the right decision. No one could touch what he had with her. He didn't need anyone else.

TIFFANI

Watching Lee declare his love for Ronnie in front of the entire school had absolutely made Tiffani's day. She loved seeing Ronnie so happy, and it was incredibly romantic. Tiffani longed to experience something like that herself.

As she exited the school building, she was surprised to see Laby waiting for her. "Hey, Tiff," he said with a smile.

"Hey yourself," she replied. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought you might like a ride home from school today."

"Sure... I'd like that. Are you driving B'Danna and Draze, too?"

"Not this time... It's just us."

She smiled. "To what do I owe the honor?"

"I just... I want to make sure you're okay, Tiff."

"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Call it paranoia, and humor me..."

"Laby, do we need to go straight home?"

"No, not really. Jay's apparently meeting up with Divatox... Sadly, she survived... But there's no reason we need to be there. Where do you want to go?"

"Anywhere else." She smiled at him mischievously.

Laby grinned in return. "Anywhere, huh? Your wish is my command." He began driving.

"So... Where are we going?" Tiffani finally asked.

"It's a surprise," Laby said mysteriously.

As he drove for what seemed like quite a while, they made pleasant small talk. Tiffani loved that she could tell Laby basically anything without feeling like he was judging her. She wasn't cut out for the Rebellion and war. She wasn't a soldier, and her father got angry whenever she even hinted at that. Flekt couldn't seem to comprehend why Tiffani preferred pom-poms and makeup to guns and swords, so he generally ignored her unless he had to give her orders. Amareese was the closest thing Tiffani had ever had to a mother, but she could still only tell the woman so much before she had to worry about her father finding out. B'Danna was really intimidating and was the polar opposite of Tiffani, so they didn't spend much time together. Draze was easier to get along with, but he was usually with B'Danna. The only one in the house who Tiffani could completely be herself around was Laby.

They finally parked, and Tiffani stared in wonder at the location he'd chosen. "What is this place?" She asked.

"This is my labyrinth, Tiffani," he said softly. "Not one I made because the Rebellion asked me to, and not one meant to harm anyone, but a sacred space that only I can enter... At least, until today."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm going to enchant it so that you'll be allowed inside, too."

"Me?" She asked in surprise.

"Yes, you. I want you to be able to see a place that's almost as beautiful as you are... A place where you'll always be safe."

"Laby..." She was at a loss for words.

He smiled and opened up the labyrinth so they could enter it. Tiffani wasn't sure what to expect. She'd been in labyrinths before, but they were scary and confusing. Laby had never let her get hurt by one, but that didn't make them any less creepy. Now, however, she was staring at a world of bright colors and magic. She'd never seen anything like it before.

"Laby, it's beautiful..." She whispered.

"Did you know that snow glows on Eltar?"

She looked at him in surprise at the random question. "I didn't... I've never been there, and my father doesn't tell me details like that."

"It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, in any world... It lights up the entire night sky. Like this..." He paused, and the labyrinth grew darker for a moment. Then, the sky filled with snow. It fell around them in a gentle rhythm and Tiffani stared at it in wonder.

"This is really what it looks like? It's amazing, Laby! It's like we're inside of a snow globe!" Tiffani cried out in excitement.

"It is... And I miss it so much sometimes. Winters on Eltar were always full of beauty and magic... But I realized something about being here, Tiff."

"What did you realize?"

"That there's one thing that gives me the same feeling I used to get when looking at the snow falling back home... And that's you."

She stared at him. "Me?" She asked again.

He cracked a smile then. "Yes, you. Who else? Do you know why you remind me of this?"

"No... I don't."

"Because, Tiffani... You are my light here on Earth. Even in the darkest of times, your light won't go out... No matter how hard the Rebellion tries to turn you darker, you just keep shining on... Nothing could stop the snow from shining as it fell, and nothing can stop you either. And I love that about you."

Tiffani was completely speechless now. She leaned in closer to Laby and kissed him softly. Laby kissed her back automatically, wrapping her in his arms, before finally breaking it after a minute.

"I love you..." Tiffani whispered.

Laby looked startled by that. "Tiff..." He began.

"You don't have to say it back," she said quickly.

"Tiffani, of course I love you... But... I mean, you're..."

"I'm what?"

"You're Jay's daughter. You're fifteen."

"So? You're about the same age as me."

"I'm older than your father, Tiff."

"You've been alive longer, sure, but you're stuck as a teenager forever, Laby. You're immortal. So the whole 'I'm too old for you' bit doesn't really apply. It's complicated. Besides, age is a number."

"Yeah, but... I took care of you when you were little... I watched you grow up."

"Did you ever look at me in a romantic way during all of that?"

"Of course not."

"I'm not a kid anymore, Laby... We're both at the same level of maturity... Actually, I've probably passed you in that area now," she teased him.

He laughed. "You're not wrong... But..."

"I've loved you since I was a little girl, Laby... And that love just keeps growing every day. If you don't want to be with me, that's fine, but... Don't refuse just because you think it's wrong for us to be together."

He sighed. "You know, I've had tons of one-night stands and summer flings, but this... It's different with you, Tiff. I have feelings for you. I like spending time with you. I like it when you kiss me... But I don't just look at you and think you'd be a fun way to pass some time during my eternal lifespan... You're more than that to me."

Tiffani took his hand in hers. "I want us to be together, Laby. I love you, and I've known that for a long time."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before looking at her again. "I love you, too," he admitted. "Not just in the way I always have..."

She kissed him again. This time, he didn't break it. Instead, he deepened the kiss, refusing to let her go. She could feel how much he wanted her... And needed her. For the first time in a long time, Tiffani was truly happy.

They stayed in the labyrinth, kissing in an Eltarian snow storm, for a while. Finally, they both knew they had to leave to return home. "I wish we could stay here forever," Tiffani said with a sigh.

"We'll come back," Laby promised. "Anytime you like."

She smiled at him. "I look forward to it," she said. She gave him a final kiss before allowing him to lead her out of the labyrinth and back to the car. She might not want to be stuck in the house with her father, but now she had a memory to bring her some peace whenever she was afraid. She closed her eyes, making sure every detail stayed locked in her mind until they could return.

LUCAS

He was handling the follow-up visits, and the last name on his list was Hannah's. As Lucas arrived at the house, he rang the doorbell. He did not expect what happened next.

A tiny ball of energy excitedly opened the door. "Are you a police man?" She asked with curious, wide eyes. Her innocence and enthusiasm reminded him so much of Arianna that it hurt.

"Yes, I am," Lucas said. He automatically crouched down to her level. "What's your name, Sweetheart?"

"Nina," she replied sweetly.

"It's very nice to meet you, Nina. I'm Lucas. I'm here to talk to Hannah. Is she home?"

"Uh-huh! I'll bring you to her!" She reached for his hand with complete trust. He stood up before taking it, allowing her to lead him inside.

"Nina, what have I told you about talking to strangers?" A woman scolded her.

"But he's a police man, Mommy, so it's okay," Nina explained.

The woman Lucas assumed was Mrs. Brooks stiffened when she saw Lucas. "Officer... Is there something I can do for you?" She asked.

"I'm here to speak with your foster daughter, Hannah," Lucas said. "It's just a follow-up visit about the incident on the field trip."

"Of course. Let me get her for you." Mrs. Brooks walked away quickly.

Nina was humming as she picked up a doll that had been left on the couch. Lucas should have ignored her, but he couldn't bring himself to. She reminded him so much of Arianna...

"Is that your doll?" He found himself asking.

"Uh-huh. This is Annie. She's my favorite," Nina said happily. "Do you want to hold her?"

Lucas was about to politely refuse, but Nina thrust the doll into his arms before he could. His mind flashed back on a memory.

It was Ari's birthday. Lucas had surprised her with a new doll. She clutched the doll to her chest in joy before flinging her arms around Lucas. "Thank you, Daddy! She's my favorite!" She declared proudly.

He could feel arms around his waist now, but they weren't Arianna's. Lucas snapped back to the present to find Nina hugging him. He started down into her face in confusion. "What's that for?" He managed to ask.

"You looked sad," Nina replied sweetly.

His heart ached, and he found himself bending down to hug the girl properly. "Thank you, Nina," he said softly.

Hannah came into the room and Lucas released Nina and handed the doll back to her. Mrs. Brooks came in right behind Hannah and rushed her daughter out of the room.

"Hey, Lucas," Hannah said.

"Hi, Hannah," Lucas replied, trying to keep his composure and not focus on Arianna.

"So, will this be a long process?"

"For you, no. I just need a statement and I have to ask a couple of questions."

Hannah nodded. "Okay. Fire away."

Lucas covered the basic questions. It only took about five minutes. "That's it," he told her. "We're all done."

"Good," Hannah replied. "I'll walk you out."

He nodded and let Hannah walk him to the front door. He hesitated in the doorway. "Your foster sister is very sweet," he said.

"Nina's the greatest," Hannah agreed.

"Tell her the police man said goodbye."

Hannah grinned at him. "Of course I will."

He nodded and headed to his car. He managed to drive almost a mile before he started crying. He pulled over with a sigh, too tired to fight his emotions. He let himself grieve for a bit before he felt calm enough to safely drive the rest of the way home.

He reached the house and parked before heading inside. Cassie looked at him with concern. "Rough night?" She asked.

"Something like that," he mumbled, ready to walk away.

"Lucas... Wait," Cassie said. "Talk to me."

"I'd rather not."

"Come on. You've been here for me when I've been a wreck... It's my turn." She took his hand and led him toward the couch. "Tell me what happened, because the look in your eyes matches one I've had a bunch of times."

"I met Hannah's foster sister," he admitted.

"Okay... And?"

"She's about the same age my daughter was..." He whispered the words, unable to bring himself to speak any louder. "And she reminded me of her." The tears were back, and Lucas silently cursed in his head. He hadn't wanted to break down in front of Cassie.

"Lucas..." Cassie sighed. She walked away and returned a minute later with two pints of ice cream and two spoons. "Believe it or not, it helps a little bit," she said softly.

Lucas sighed, but he didn't protest. He began eating the vanilla ice cream while Cassie ate her pint of strawberry. He didn't say anything else, and Cassie didn't push him to. Finally, after he'd taken a couple of bites of his ice cream, he looked at her again.

"Calmer?" She asked.

"A little," he admitted.

Cassie nodded. "Good." She put on the television and said nothing else, letting Lucas lose himself in eating the ice cream and watching the sitcom she'd chosen while she sat beside him. Even though he felt his grief more than ever, and even though Casssie remained remarkably silent, it helped knowing he wasn't alone.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry for the overabundance of developing relationships in this chapter, but it's been long-past due, and I figured some lighter, happier points of view might be nice after all of the craziness of the last chapter. What can I say? Near-death experiences bring out the words "I love you" in people.