MADDIE

There wasn't much that Maddie was afraid of. She prided herself on being fearless, although that wasn't quite true. The thing that made her "fearless" wasn't that she was unafraid, but the fact that she never let her fear stop her. Today, she was BASE jumping. It was a great rush, and she was looking forward to it. Her partner for the day was not quite as excited.

"Maddie... Not to hose your buzz or anything..." Zeke began. "But are you sure this won't kill us?"

"I've done it before and I'm still here," Maddie said cheerfully. "Although nothing in life is guaranteed."

"You are so not helping... If we were meant to jump off cliffs, we'd have been born with wings."

"That's what parachutes are for." She grinned at him. "Come on, Zeke. Live a little."

"I'd like to. That's why I'm reluctant to do this."

"Just shush for a minute. Look at that view. It's beautiful, right?"

"Well, yeah..."

"So let's get a closer look. You're a Power Ranger, Zeke. I've seen you face actual monsters without blinking. Are you seriously going to tell you this is scarier for you?"

"Alright... I'll try it."

"That's the spirit! Come on." She took his hand. Then she pulled him closer to the edge, making sure he was in a good position before jumping. She still held his hand, taking him with her.

"Oh shit!" Zeke screamed. "Holy shit!" After a few moments of this, he began screaming, "Whoo-hoo! Hell yeah!"

She let go of him when it was time to open their parachutes. Maddie's opened cleanly. A few scary seconds later, Zeke finally got his to open, too. They landed safely a little while later.

"We're alive," Maddie said with a smirk.

"That was insane!" Zeke said. "Can we do it again?"

"My, how far you've come." She pulled him into a hug.

"Where'd you get this crazy streak?"

"Mom always says life is only worth living if you actually experience it... So I try to experience everything. Or maybe it comes from my father, whoever he is."

"Tanya still won't tell you?"

"I'm pretty sure she'll never tell anyone... It's okay, though. I have my mom, and she's amazing. I don't need a dad."

"You should still know who he is... He's part of you." He paused. "And I have my dad, and he's great, but sometimes I really wish my mom was still around."

Zeke never talked about anything this serious. Maddie was surprised. "It's different for you," she said. "You knew your mom. I never met my dad. It's not like I can miss a stranger... Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Zeke said quickly. "Sometimes, parents leave. It's no big deal. At least she's alive, last I heard... Josh has it worse. He lost both his parents."

"It's not a competition, Zeke."

"I know. I just refuse to feel sorry for myself. I've got my dad. That's more than enough ninety-nine percent of the time."

Their communicators began to go off. "We're here. What's up?" Zeke answered his, effectively ending their conversation.

"Rangers! A wicked beast is attacking in the park. Aye-yi-yi!" Alpha replied.

"What kind of beast?" Maddie asked.

"It's some sort of cross between a wolf and a bird... It's tearing apart everything in its path."

"Beam us up, Alpha," Zeke said. They morphed.

Moments later, they arrived at the scene. Sage and Thorn were already in the middle of the battle. Kenny, Josh, and Katie arrived seconds later. The flying wolf immediately dove toward Katie. She dodged the attack with ease, but it got too close for Maddie's comfort.

They called in the Zords as the monster suddenly grew before their eyes. The thing was huge now. It took to the air and flew at the Megazord.

Everything shook as it hit. Maddie was nearly knocked over. Zeke steadied her automatically. "Katie, watch out!" Kenny shouted as the monster tried to attack the White Tigerzord. Katie reacted quickly, knocking the monster away from her Zord.

They hit the monster hard and Maddie thought they had it beat, but as it fell, it angled itself toward the Dragonzord. It hit and knocked the Dragonzord down. Sage was ejected instantly.

"Sage!" Thorn screamed as she flew through the air.

"I've got her," Katie said as the White Tigerzord rushed toward Sage. Before she could reach her, however, there was an explosion. The Dragonzord remained on the ground, but the monster vanished... And so did Sage.

THORN

He stared at the place where his sister had been. "What just happened?" Zeke demanded. "Where's Sage?"

They exited their Zords and demorphed. Thorn continued to stare, not sure what he'd just witnessed. Josh was trembling. "Not again..." He whispered.

"Josh..." Kenny said gently.

"I have to go," Josh said. He ran off before anyone could stop him.

"Sage..." Katie whispered.

"She's okay," Maddie insisted. "She has to be."

"Then where is she?" Zeke asked again.

It was a pretty good question. Thorn couldn't feel her. That had never happened before. They were twins. Did the fact that he couldn't feel her mean that she'd been killed in the blast? No... No, that was impossible. He'd know if Sage was dead... Wouldn't he?

"She's okay," his mother said as she ran toward them with his father and his Uncle Tommy and Aunt Kat.

"Okay? She just blew up!" Katie shouted.

"This is part of Sage's journey," his mother insisted. "She'll be back."

"Casey, I think we need a little more information here," Tommy said.

"I can't, Tommy... Sage must walk this path alone."

"But... Where is she, Casey?" Thorn's father asked. He looked as broken as Thorn felt.

"Somewhere we cannot follow. She will return. I promise."

"That's not good enough!" Katie shouted. "Your hippie bullshit won't cut it this time, Aunt Casey! My cousin is missing! Tell us how to fucking find her!"

"Katie, don't curse at your aunt," Kat said.

"She knows where Sage is! She needs to stop keeping secrets from everyone!"

"Katie... I know this is difficult for you," Thorn's mother said carefully. "Please understand that I'm telling you as much as I can. Sage has to walk this path."

"Is this a Shaman thing?" Thorn's father asked.

"It is. We cannot interfere. She has to make it back to us on her own."

"Screw that! What if Sage doesn't want to be a Shaman? We're a team! She needs us!" Katie insisted.

"Katie, there are some things we don't understand," Tommy said. "My sister does."

"Forget this... I'm out of here." Katie ran off. Kenny ran after her.

Maddie and Zeke left together. That left Thorn's family. "Thorn... Are you okay?" His father asked.

Thorn shrugged before walking away, too. There was nothing to say. His twin was gone, there was no telling when she'd be back, and his mother wasn't volunteering any information. He'd never felt so alone in his life.

ADAM

For the first time in his life, Adam was pretty pissed off at his wife. In the many years they'd been together, Adam and Casey rarely fought. They had a fairly perfect marriage. Normally, he rolled with her Shaman beliefs very well, but this was different. This was their daughter.

"She'll be back, Adam," Casey said again.

"I know," Adam said quickly. He didn't want to upset her. This must be hard on her, too... But he was struggling not to demand she tell him where Sage was and how they could rescue her immediately.

"Casey, this isn't okay," Tommy said sharply. "You can't just wave this off."

"Every Shaman must face death to come into their power. It's time. I was younger. I was only seven," Casey said.

"What if she's not a Shaman?"

"Only a Shaman can hold the Green Ranger power. Anyone else might be corrupted by it. The original destiny of the Green Ranger was the path of evil."

"I know that!" Tommy snapped. "And I chose differently and have worked my ass off proving I'm a force of good ever since."

"Tommy... I didn't mean to imply-"

"You did more than imply."

"Tommy, your sister knows you're not evil," Kat said quickly. "She saved you, and she saved the power before it could be destroyed."

"Forget it. Just... Just tell me when Sage comes back. I'm going to go find our daughter." Tommy stormed off.

"He's just upset," Kat said apologetically before running after her husband.

"He hates me," Casey said sadly.

"He doesn't," Adam insisted. "It's Tommy. You guys fight. He'll get over it."

"Will you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Will you get over your anger?"

"I'm not mad, Casey."

"Never lie to a Shaman. It's pointless. I'm sorry, Adam. I know you don't understand why it has to be this way." She shook her head and walked away.

Left alone, Adam stared at the place where Sage had been. His heart hurt. He tried so hard to take things on faith, but what if that wasn't enough this time? He couldn't shake the feeling that wherever Sage was, her entire life was about to change.

ANGELINE

She was walking back to her room from the bathroom when someone cornered her. "Hey, Witch Girl," Jeremy said.

Angie tried to walk by him. He grabbed her arm and flung her toward the wall. "You know, beneath all that goth shit, you're kind of hot." He pressed his body against hers. Angie could have screamed for help. It probably would have woken someone up. Instead, she felt the magic flowing through her hands. All she had to do was let go and this idiot would regret the day he ever decided to cross her.

"Let. Me. Go." Angie said firmly.

"Nah, bitch. We're gonna have some fun."

She was ready to attack when someone yanked Jeremy off of her violently. "Back off!" Josh said sharply.

Angie stared at him in shock. She hadn't needed saving, but Josh didn't know that. She watched as he swung his fist toward Jeremy, who fought back. She knew she should do something, but she also knew now that Josh could handle himself. After all, he was a Power Ranger. He was her mortal enemy... Her mortal enemy who'd just risked getting into serious trouble to protect her from a creep.

Josh was holding his own well until Jeremy hit him with a cheap shot in the gut. He doubled over and Angie realized he must have already been injured.

"Fag!" Jeremy shouted, knocking Josh to the ground. He started kicking Josh in that same spot. "Mind your own business!"

Josh was clearly struggling not to cry out. Angie lost control. The group home began to shake. "Earthquake!" Someone shouted from one of the rooms.

Angie flung one of the tables in the hallway toward Jeremy with her mind. It hit him hard, knocking him away from Josh. Jeremy stared at her.

"You were right, Jeremy," Angie said. "This is fun."

"Witch bitch!" Jeremy screamed.

"Right again! Gold stars for you! Remember that the next time you want to fuck with me, or with him." She paused. "Speak of this to no one, or you'll wish I killed you."

Jeremy looked appropriately terrified. He nodded quickly. Angie stopped the earthquake after pinning him with a large sculpture. Several people ran into the hall.

"Is everyone okay?" Cindy, the oldest girl in the group home, asked. She saw two things right away, Jeremy pinned beneath the sculpture and the youngest girl in the home, ten-year-old Lexa, sobbing in terror. Cindy went to the cute boy first.

"It's okay, Lexa," Angie said gently. The kid had only been there for a week. She'd been deemed a problem child because she had refused to speak since surviving the car accident that had killed her parents one year earlier. She spent her nights screaming from night terrors. No family could handle her, so they'd dumped her in this hell hole where no one gave a damn about her. Angie felt sorry for the kid. "It's over now. You're safe," she promised the little girl.

She pulled the girl closer to her as the staff finally showed their faces. They began checking the others. Ian looked like he was going to go straight to Josh, but then Cindy cried out, "Jeremy's trapped! I can't lift this thing off of him!" Ian helped her instead.

Angie knelt beside Josh. "Are you okay?" She asked.

Josh shook his head. She watched him cough up blood. "Lexa, can you keep a secret?" She asked the mute girl. Lexa nodded. "Good. Help me help him up and don't tell anyone where we've gone." Lexa nodded again, helping Josh stay on his feet as Angie pulled him up. Leaving Lexa, she began pulling him down the hall to her secret place. Angie had created a room only she could enter. Now she was bringing her mortal enemy inside.

"Just hang on, Josh," she said. "You'll be okay." He coughed up more blood in response. Angie began digging through her supplies until she found the healing potion she needed. "Drink this. It'll help."

Josh stared at the greenish purplish drink and hesitated. "I promise it'll fix you," Angie said gently. He nodded and began to drink it. Angie supposed he figured it couldn't possibly make him worse than he already was.

After a minute, Josh took a deep breath. He followed this up with several more. He wasn't coughing now. "What was that?" He asked.

"An herbal remedy." Angie replied. It wasn't exactly a lie... Josh just probably hadn't heard of most of the herbs before because they came from other realms.

"You... You caused that earthquake." It wasn't an accusation, and he didn't seem to be afraid. He was simply stating a fact.

"Yes. I did. I didn't mean to, but he was really hurting you, and I lost control."

"Incredible! You have the ability to manipulate matter and mass with your mind!"

"Um... Yeah, I guess. I can make things move. When I get upset, things shake or fly... I can do a lot of impossible things. It's why no one keeps me... They're afraid of me." She paused. "Are you?"

"No," Josh said immediately. "Some people are born with gifts. We may not understand how they work, but there's a scientific reason for everything."

"You don't think freaks need to be destroyed?"

"Not all of them," he said with a slight smile. "And you're not a freak, Angeline. You're just different. You saved my life."

"I wouldn't go that far, and I owed you for saving me from that asshole."

"You didn't owe me anything. No one should ever be forced to go through that." He looked haunted and Angie knew he spoke from experience. Suddenly, she wanted to destroy anyone who'd ever hurt this kind-hearted, broken boy.

"Will you keep my secret, Josh?" She asked.

"Of course I will. It's not my secret to tell."

Angie kissed his cheek. He only jumped slightly, but she still noticed it. "Thanks for being my hero tonight," she said.

"I'm no hero," he said.

Liar, she thought. Power Rangers prided themselves on thinking they were heroes. Still, she couldn't hate him, even if she was supposed to. He was the only person who'd ever risked their own safety to protect her. Josh was her friend, and until he discovered her true identity and probably turned on her, she'd continue to treat him as such.

THE NEXT DAY.

KENNY

It was hard to focus with Sage having been blown up, but he had to try. Everything was riding on him perfecting this routine. He slipped on the pommel horse as he saw the explosion again in his mind.

An explosion just like that had killed his Godfather. Or had it? Kenny still had his doubts. Like his mother, he was someone who never gave up hope. There hadn't been a body. Billy was smart. Maybe he'd survived somehow... But if he had, why would he leave Josh? Kenny knew he'd never do it willingly. Did that mean someone had him held hostage? Had he been blown into some other place like Casey was saying Sage had been?

Casey said he's gone, Kenny thought. Gone, not here, never coming back... But she never said he was dead. He was clinging to semantics, but maybe he was on to something. What if her word choice had been deliberate? If Sage could blow up and be fine, why couldn't Billy?

"Penny for a Kenny Thought?" Katie asked. He jumped and slipped again. She caught him before he could fall and hit his head. "Are you okay?"

"I think Billy's alive," Kenny blurted out.

Katie's eyes went wide. "Seriously?" She asked. "Kenny-"

"The only proof of his supposed death is that Casey said he was gone. Gone, not dead. What if there's more to it?"

"Kenny... Shit. With how she acted about Sage, I wouldn't put anything past her."

"But why would she let us all grieve his death?"

"She's a bitch? I don't know... But if she'll tell anyone the truth, it's Josh. He needs to ask her."

"We can't tell Josh this. What if I'm wrong?"

"Do you think you're wrong?"

Kenny sighed. "No. I feel it with everything in me, Katie. Billy's not dead."

"Then it's time we get some answers. I'll talk to Josh. You... Try to rest. You're exhausted."

"There's a big competition this weekend. I have to practice."

"You have to sleep sometimes, Kenny. Okay?"

"I can sleep after the competition's over."

"Take it easy, Pinky. Alright?"

"I'll try."

"At least let me feed you."

Food sounded good. Kenny couldn't remember his last meal. "Okay," he agreed. "Thanks, Katie."

"Anytime. Someone's got to have your back, and I'm currently the only team leader, so it's me."

"You take care of me anyway."

"You're Kim's. Olivers take care of Harts." She smiled at him, and Kenny gave her a quick hug. He hoped they were on to something, because if they weren't, he would be responsible for breaking Josh all over again.

JOSH

He looked at Katie curiously. "What's so important?" He asked her.

"Josh..." Katie sighed. "Kenny thinks your dad might still be alive."

Josh stared at her. "What?" He asked.

"He made some valid points, Josh... We never found him."

"Because when someone is that close to an explosion, there's nothing left." He shook his head, trying not to flash back on the worst moment of his life.

"Josh, just... Humor me."

"No," Josh said firmly. "I was there, Katie. I watched my dad die."

"Did you actually see him?"

"I saw the spot he was standing in explode. That was enough. The details are a bit sketchy. I had massive head trauma."

"I know..." Katie paused. "Josh... If there's a chance-"

"There's not! Do you have any idea how long it took them to convince me he was gone? I refused to believe it... But the evidence finally convinced me. He's gone. He's not coming back. Casey even told me that."

"Exactly. Casey said he's gone... Not that he's dead. What if there's more to it?"

"Katie, I can't do this."

"If there's even the slightest chance that your dad's still alive, you have to try, Josh. We owe him that much."

Josh felt like he was getting kicked in the gut again. "How do I find out?" He forced himself to ask.

"Go talk to my aunt."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I'm on lockdown... For fighting. Remember?"

"So you defend yourself and they punish you... It's total bullshit... You really need to get out of this place."

"Agreed... But I don't have any other options."

"Maybe that'll change. Your dad must have had an updated will... But who would he trust to be the witness?"

"It's not Kimberly. She's too obvious... Dad was a little paranoid after Mom died. Besides, Kim would have gotten me out of here by now if she knew where the will was."

"So someone he trusted who no one would suspect..."

"Trini," Josh and Katie said at the same time.

"She's on the other side of the world," Josh said. "She'd be the last person anyone would think of, but they were very close. And Trini probably doesn't know I'm here. She had to leave right after the funeral. I was still in the hospital. She's not in touch with most of the others much... She may know what the will said and which lawyers have a copy."

"I'll get in touch with her. I know Kim still talks to her sometimes. She should have her number," Katie said. "I'll have Aunt Casey come see you since you can't go to her."

"Okay," Josh said nervously. Was it possible? He couldn't allow himself to hope, but he had to know for certain.

An hour later, Casey walked into the group home. "Josh," she said. "Katie said you needed to see me. Are you alright?"

"Not really," Josh admitted. "Casey, I need to ask you something, and I need you to be honest... Is my father still alive?"

Casey hesitated, and Josh expected her to tell him how sorry she was for his loss. Instead, she sighed. "Yes, Josh. Billy's alive."

He froze. She couldn't have said that. He was hallucinating. "What?" He whispered.

"I'm so sorry, Josh. I couldn't tell you. Your father is gone. He's somewhere we can never follow. He's lost to us. I thought it was kinder to let you all believe he was dead so you could mourn him properly."

"My dad's... alive?" Josh asked. "And you didn't tell me?"

"We can't rescue him. He is beyond our reach. It's crueler to know that-"

"No it isn't!" Josh snapped. "This is my father!"

He was crying. He hated himself for that, but he didn't know what else to do. His dad was alive. The last three years of hell had been for nothing.

"Josh, please understand-"

"I don't understand. I can't." He shook his head. This couldn't be happening.

"Josh, sweetheart-"

"No! Just stay away from me!" Josh ran. He didn't know where he was going, only that he needed desperately to get away from this place.

He kept running, as fast as his feet would carry him, until he reached a hill that kept him hidden but gave him a perfect view of the neighborhood he'd grown up in. A brand new house stood where his home had been. A different family lived there now. He had no home. He had nothing.

He couldn't go back to the group home. He'd run away. The punishment would be too severe. Josh shuddered as he thought about what would happen once Ian got him alone. He shouldn't have run. Now he was screwed.

It had all been for nothing. The beatings from other kids... The emotional abuse from staff... The things Ian did to him when they were alone in his office... And Ian hadn't been the first. Josh had known for a while that he would never truly be safe. Three years had been wasted grieving when he should have been searching for his father. He didn't care what Casey said. There had to be a way to save his father, and he was sure as hell going to find it.

TOMMY

He knew something was wrong as soon as he saw his daughter's face. "What's wrong, Katie?" He asked.

"It's Josh, Dad," Katie said frantically. "Aunt Casey's a bitch and she's been lying to us all and Josh ran away from the group home because of it!"

"Back up. What happened?"

"Billy's not dead!"

Tommy felt like the floor had crumbled beneath his feet. He stared at her. "Katie, that's impossible."

"Casey admitted it to Josh!" She shook her head. "And now he's run off and it's my fault for making him talk to her in the first place. He'll get in serious trouble, Dad. They had him on lockdown."

"I'll find him." Tommy paused. Was it possible? Had his sister been lying to them for all of this time? He couldn't focus on that. Josh was in danger. He needed to find him. He could figure the rest out later.

"Okay... If I were Josh, where would I go?" He wondered aloud. His mind thought of libraries and school and the Command Center and a million other places, but none felt right. Then, he shook his head. "I'm an idiot."

"I'm glad to hear you admit that," Katie teased him.

"Shut up, Punk. He's just like Billy... And Billy would go home."

"But the house blew up."

"It doesn't matter. He still went there. I'm sure of it."

"Okay. Let's go."

Tommy didn't argue. When they arrived to the place Billy's house had once stood, there was no sign of Josh. "I was so sure..." Tommy mumbled.

"Dad... There's a hill in the park that's got a great view of this area. It would be a good place to hide," Katie said.

"You're brilliant," Tommy told her as they hurried to the park. Sure enough, Josh sat at the top of the hill, staring straight ahead.

"Josh..." Katie said gently.

He looked up at her with tears in his eyes. "It was all for nothing," he whispered.

"I'm sorry, Josh... But we're here for you, okay?"

"I'm going to get into so much trouble... I shouldn't have run... When they find me..."

"They won't. You can hide in the Command Center until we find your dad's will. Right, Dad?"

Tommy knew it was illegal, but the fear in Josh's eyes was enough to convince him. "Absolutely. We'll get you a sleeping bag or a cot or something," he said.

"I... I don't have to go back there?" Josh asked.

"No, Josh. You're never going back there. I don't care what it takes," Katie said confidently. Tommy knew if anyone could deliver on that promise, it was Katie. His daughter didn't know how to fail.

"Come on, Josh," Tommy said gently. "Let's get you to the Command Center. You'll be safe there." He knew Alpha and Zordon would take care of the kid. He just hoped that it would be temporary. If they found the will or if they brought Billy back, Josh wouldn't have to worry anymore.

Billy... Tommy thought. Billy's alive... As that began to sink in, Tommy knew he was in for a long couple of days because he would need to tell the others. First, however, he needed to have a talk with his sister.