A Ranger By Any Other Name
by: Cynthia

So deep asleep.... thoughts vaguely flickered through his mind. Why do I sleep so much? Why am I like this? I was not...born like this... No answers forthcame, and in the end, his mind drifted off again. He needed another mind to bring him out of the shadows, someone else to link to in order to be himself again. But imprisoned, trapped as he was, there was no one else he could bond with. He was alone...and ever would be that way.

"Captain, they're boarding us!" her second in command rushed over to her to report. The Eltarian frowned. She had hoped for a quiet run, just something simple for a change, nothing to complain about after the last few times she'd been out. "What are your orders?"

She made her mind up quickly. "Stand by to repel boarders," she snapped, reaching for the energy blaster at her belt. "And if they take us, make it cost them."

As she was about to pull her blaster out, she felt something tickling the back of her neck, and went stiff. A smooth, cultured voice spoke. "I think you just might be changing that order, captain." Footsteps sounded, walking around her until she could see General Havoc himself there. Her mind gibbered in panic briefly, then subsided. She wasn't a professionally trained warrior, but screaming wasn't going to get her and her crew out of here in one piece.

"And why would I do that?" she asked just as calmly as he himself had spoken. I thought he'd went to Earth to be with his sister. That was the news on the local reports, anyway. Guess he came back. Don't blame him; who would want to stick around with her if they had an option?

The general chuckled, his sword still pointed at her neck, but now the front instead of the back. "Because if you want to live, you're going to order your crew to stand down and surrender." There was a flatness to his tone that told the captain he would obviously thinking nothing whatsoever at all of plunging that blade into her unprotected throat.

Slowly she reached down to activate shipwide communications. "Crew of the Swiftstar, this is your captain speaking. We are immediately surrendering to General Havoc. Please offer no further resistance." She knew her crew wasn't going to like this, but if they fought, it would end in the same fashion, with death. Perhaps Power Rangers could believe good always triumphed over evil, but she was responsible for the lives of people she had led around for more years than she could remember. If surrendering kept them alive, that was what was important, not some baubles that could always be replaced if stolen.

Over the next few hours, Captain Nela and General Havoc watched as her crew loaded the priceless treasures they had been carrying on board his vessel. Havoc still had his sword out, but it wasn't at her throat now. It did remain within easy penetrating distance of her, however. She watched nervously as one of the cabin boys carried one of the last items, a map case of pure white ivory decorate with images of comets and stars, to the hold. Havoc frowned slightly and motioned towards the boy. "Bring that here." He ordered. The cabin boy's eyes flicked to the captain, who nodded briefly.

The general quickly opened the case and pulled out the delicate parchment within. If this is what I think it is.... His eyes glowed a brilliant yellow as he saw what was written on the parchment. Yes! It is it!

Without another word, he slipped the map back inside and stuck it into his waistband, then strode back to his ship. He had a great deal to do, and it would all start with heading back to Earth to talk with Divatox.

"Gee, Auntie D, how'd you guess?" Elgar wondered as he shuffled over to her. "You must be psychic!"

"If I was, I certainly wouldn't have brought you along in the first place," she growled as she pushed him out of her way. "You've done nothing but screw up every time!"

Elgar tried to protest, but she shut him up with one evil glance. Standing on the edge of the Space Balcony, she stared down at Earth with hungry, greed-filled eyes. Such a beautiful world, and it's going to be all mine. I just wish those Rangers weren't in the way! I can't even rob a bank without them showing up!

"Divatox," Rygog came over to her. "There's a message for you from General Havoc."

"What does he want now?" Divatox wondered. She hadn't heard from her brother since he'd left three weeks earlier, promising to have a new Metallasaurus when he got back. She hadn't really been looking for him back this soon.

"He says he's returning to the SpaceBase, and has something you're going to want to see, my queen."

She raised an eyebrow; this was interesting, Havoc didn't normally change his plans like this. Whatever he had promised to be quite worthwhile. "Did he say when he was getting here?"

"Right now, my dear sister," Havoc entered her throne room and came directly over to her. "I have found a way to destroy the Power Rangers once and for all!"

Divatox glowered at him. "I thought that was supposed to be why you were off building that new Metallasaurus! You're not going to make me wait two hundred years for that, are you?"

"I've already got my robot warriors working on it," he told her. "But I have a special surprise for you," she was surprised when he handed her a parchment map. "I believe you might want to take a look at this," There was an expression on his face that might have been mistaken for a smile if one didn't know him well enough to figure out he didn't do things like that. "I stopped to plunder a ship on my way back to start the new Metallasaurus, and I knew you'd want to see something I found on board at once."

"What is it? Gold, jewels, fabulous works of art?" she asked, her attention wandering over the treasure she'd already accumulated over the centuries she'd been plundering the universe.

"Better than that," Havoc actually laughed, a sound she would have wagered much money that he couldn't make! "Take a look!" he urged her as she unrolled the parchment. She ran her eyes briefly over it, then as what it meant hit her, she stared in complete surprise at her brother.

"The White Comet Turbo Powers?"

"Yes, they've been lost for several thousands of years, and this map shows where they're at!" Havoc told her. "On a small planet in the Delta quadrant."

She looked up eagerly at him. "Are they guarded by anything or anyone?"

Havoc shook his head. "No one knows for certain, all that is said is that the last White Turbo Ranger was killed by the enemies they fought against several thousands of years ago. Their powers and Zord could not be controlled by those forces, so they were sealed away in a cave to prevent the goody-goods from getting their hands back on them, in hopes that someday someone like us could find and use them properly. Some sort of protection probably was placed on them, but we don't know what. According to the map, and the stories I've heard, the Turbo Chargers and the White Comet TurboZord itself are there just waiting to be picked up...by us!"

Divatox threw her head back, laughing in triumph. "Everything we need to create our own evil Ranger to destroy those other Power Rangers!"

"Not so fast, sister," Havoc held up a hand to halt her enthusiasm. "We still need two more things once we have the White Turbo Chargers and the Zord."

"Oh, and what's that?" she glared at him; being disturbed in the middle of one of her evil laughs was never fun.

"We need someone to become the White Ranger, and we need some way to control them."

Oh, he's always coming up with some way to spoil my fun! "Well, pick out some evil human on Earth, there's got to be one we can talk into it."

Havoc sighed; sometimes Divatox was just a little too fixated on being the essence of evil. "The White Powers are still Power Ranger powers, which means they have to be held by someone who's good. That's why we have to control them. If they're controlled by us, they won't lose the powers when they're used for evil."

"Then go grab some kid off the streets!"

I'm going to have to go through this one step at a time with her, I think! "Divatox, the Powers enhance what is already in the bearer; if we find a trained fighter of some type, then they will be made even deadlier once they morph!"

Divatox finally stopped looking at the map to look at her brother. "Oh, that's enough, Havoc! We'll decide that once we have the Turbo Chargers. Come on, we're going to the Delta Quadrant!"

"Well, I'm just glad we've got some time off, I need to do some studying," T.J. decided. "I almost flunked that last biology quiz because of having to take time out whenever Divatox's monsters attack."

"Yeah, that's right," Carlos nodded. "I can use the time to catch up on my sleep, too!"

Their friendly banter was interrupted by the unwelcome beep of their communicators. Carlos glanced around to see if anyone was near enough to see them, then spoke quickly into the wrist device. "What is it, Dimitria?"

"Rangers, report to the Command Center at once!" her soft voice ordered them. Carlos and T.J. exchanged rueful glances.

"Looks like the vacation's over with," T.J. sighed. In flashes of red and green, they teleported to the Command Center. Ashley, Cassie, and Justin were already there, and Alpha was running back and forth between the computers, doing something that they couldn't identify.

"What's going on?" Carlos asked. He didn't like the worried expression everyone seemed to have on.

"Divatox has left the SpaceBase in the company of General Havoc," Dimitria told them quietly. The Rangers all looked at each other; they weren't quite sure how to take this. Joy? Fear? Both seemed appropriate, but it was kind of hard to determine just how much of each should be felt. They hadn't been Rangers long; this was something they honestly had no idea of how to deal with. What did you do when it looked as if your enemies were giving up?

"Yo-yo-yo," Alpha shuffled over to them, waving some printouts. "Our readings indicate they're taking off for the Delta Quadrant!"

"What's there that they could be after?" Ashley wondered. The thought of them finding a monster capable of destroying everything they'd worked for didn't sit well with the Yellow Ranger. A strange sort of dread filled her; something she couldn't name and had no idea of how to describe. It was just dread, fear without a name, terror of something that was to come. And it would come, as surely as the sun rose in the east.

Justin shook his head. "Whatever it is, it can't be good for us!" the youngest Ranger stated solemnly. Something very odd was twitching around in his insides; a merging of anticipation and fear, as if the events to come would change them in a fashion they had never and could never dream of.

"Dimitria, is there any way we could get what they're after before they do?" the Pink Ranger wondered. She did her best to sound strong, not to let them know the chill that was clamped itself onto her spine and brought up memories of being in Divatox and Havoc's prison. It's just a memory. I can deal with it. She fixed her eyes on Dimitria, listening to the Inquirian.

"Without knowing what they are searching for, or precisely where they are going, we cannot beat them to their prize," their quiet mentor told them. "We can only hope that whatever they seek, we can deal with it when they return."

"And the White Turbo Ranger powers," Havoc reminded her. They were the only two on the ship; neither had wanted to trust even their most loyal minions with this mission. It was simply too important to allow anyone to screw it up. "The map says they're just beyond that plateau over there."

Divatox yawned and put her feet up on the control panel; completely ignoring the several warning lights that blipped on as she did so. Havoc growled a little, but when she paid no attention to him, he simply returned to piloting the ship.

They came down in a quiet clearing next to a stream, and Havoc checked the map quickly. "The Turbo Chargers and the White Comet Zord are in a cave on the other side of those trees; I landed us as close to them as I could."

"Well, fine, come on then, I can't wait to have those powers and my very own Power Ranger!" Divatox growled. She started off through the woods, only to have her brother stop her suddenly. "What is it?"

"It's that way," he gestured briefly. She snorted, then headed off into the direction he indicated. I can't believe we're related at times, Havoc thought. This had better be worth everything.

As they stomped through the woods, Divatox thought longingly over the prospect of having her own Power Ranger; her very own little Ranger to pit against the Turbo Rangers. She considered several prospects for the position, all of them fine fighters, but rejected them all. None of them seemed to have quite the flair or style she wanted, and all of them were known to the Rangers somehow. I want an unknown, an enigma, someone the Rangers haven't met at all. Someone who will be my secret weapon against them. Someone who will destroy them!

"There it is!" Havoc pointed up ahead of them to a wide cave opening. "In that cave rests the White Comet Turbo Chargers and the White Comet Zord: the keys to destroying the Power Rangers!"

Divatox headed for the cave. "What are we waiting for, then? I want to get those powers and get those Rangers once and for all!"

Talk about your one-track minds.

Just outside of the cave was a stretch of land as bare as possible, with four stone snakes on pedestals, two on each side. Each snake's mouth was wide open, with fangs exposed and glistening with something that was probably water, though it did give off the impression of being poison. Divatox snorted. "Is this supposed to scare us off or something?"

"No, I don't think so," Havoc shook his head, one hand gently placed on the hilt of his sword. "Something else is going on here." He stepped forward carefully, his eyes not leaving the snakes for a moment. As he came closer, black light sparked in their carved eyes, and swished down them, leaving dark flesh in it's wake. Havoc paused briefly, his hand tightening on the grip. "What are you?" he snarled.

"We are the guardians of the White Turbo Powers," all four snakes hissed in unison. "We will permit only those of the utter dark to pass here to claim them, for the cause of the darkest of evil. State your name and whom you serve, intruder."

Havoc drew himself up proudly. "I am General Havoc, son of Divatox the Third, brother of Divatox the Fourth, warrior and commander of my own army of evil. It is my task..no, my pleasure to cause destruction, chaos, panic, and disorder wherever I go." He glanced behind him to where Divatox was watching with a slightly interested expression. "With me is my sister, Divatox the Fourth, sorceress and Queen Pirate of the Universe. Together we are two of the most fearsome evil ones this or any other universe has ever seen!"

The snakes somehow failed to look impressed, and Divatox frowned. "We are evil! What do you need, letters of reference??"

"Step closer to us, those who claim to be evil," the snakes' voices were sibilant whispers. "Step forward and let us taste your shadow-souls."

The brother and sister exchanged glances, then both stepped forward. Evil they might be, but neither lacked for courage in the slightest. The snakes, still on their pedestals, leaned forward, tongues flickering out into the air, tasting the area around the two of them. A moment passed, then another, the snakes' forked tongues coming dangerously close to Havoc and Divatox's faces. Neither flinched as the snakes curled up again, and hissed. "You serve the darkness well, General Havoc, Queen Divatox. Enter and take that which you find. Use it to spread chaos and evil to all who exist, and to corrupt the soul of an innocent, for only one who has never tasted evil before may carry the White Turbo Powers."

As the words faded away, all four snakes flickered and returned to stone. Divatox and Havoc watched as the guardians remained still, then slowly entered the cave. The interior of it was lit by a strange brilliant white light, that was neither sunlight or any artificial source either pirate could identify. It grew brighter as they went deeper into the cave, then suddenly, they could see plainly.

On a pedestal of white marble was a pair of Turbo Chargers, and the key to activate them. Just behind the pedestal was a Zord, magnificently white, in the form of a sleek car that made Lightning Cruiser look like an old jalopy. Embossed on the hood was a golden comet. Every inch of the Zord was either whiter than snow or a brilliant gold. The headlights gave off the impression of being eyes, but without a spark of life or intelligence in them at all. Divatox stared in unabashed wonder.

"They're ours," she whispered. "And soon all of Earth will be ours as well!"

Havoc's hands closed quickly around the Chargers, then with a scream he dropped them just as quickly. "The things apparently react to the touch of evil," he growled, glaring at the innocent devices. "Well, there's more than one way to do this." Quickly he drew his sword and extended it, picking the Chargers up by the wristband and sending them into a pocket dimension for safekeeping. With a slightly offended growl, he then waved his sword at the White Comet Zord, teleporting it to the spaceship. "Now all we need is to choose the proper human to become the White Comet Turbo Ranger, and all is ours!"

T.J. had been worried from the moment they'd heard their two enemies were leaving the SpaceBase. He'd already faced enough challenges in his short time of leadership, if they came up with something nastier than Metallasaurus, he wasn't certain if he were up to the job. But I won't let my friends down. "I just wish we knew what they were looking for. How can we fight something if we don't know what we're fighting?"

"Patience, Rangers," Dimitria advised. "Rest assured, Havoc and Divatox will reveal what they have sought in time, and we will deal with whatever weapon of destruction they have come up with."

Carlos muttered, "I wish I were as confidant as she is. This not knowing is freaking me out!"

Ashley tried to calm him as best she could. "Whatever it is, Dimitria's right, we'll take care of it."

Justin glanced over to Cassie, who was staring quietly into space. It was a fairly safe bet she wasn't thinking about what Divatox and Havoc were doing. Something else from the stars had caught her mind. They all knew perfectly well what was going on with her; she'd been like this ever since the Phantom Ranger had left. She missed him more than any of them did. He hoped she'd be able to keep her mind on business once Divatox and Havoc returned with whatever they'd went to get.

For that matter, I hope I can. Whatever they're going for, it's got to be dangerous. For us, and for the Earth. He wasn't going to let on about the strange dreams he had been experiencing off and on since his birthday. The dreams about Divatox, and someone else...someone different. He shook his head slightly. Whatever it was, finding out what Divatox and Havoc were up to was far more important.

"Someone good enough to hold the Ranger powers, someone who is already a fine fighter, but someone whom the Rangers do not know, yet who is close to them, or will be soon," she murmured as she stopped to stare at the list in Havoc's hands once more. "There has to be someone."

"Not to mention, we need to be able to control them," Havoc reminded her. "Of course, I've already got something in mind for that."

"Oh?" Divatox raised one eyebrow elegantly. "And just how might that be?"

"All in good time, sister dear," he promised her with an evil smile and a soft caress to a console his minions were installing in her throne room. "First we have to choose our new Ranger. And I think I know just the person."

"Who?" she asked eagerly, sitting next to him and grabbing for the list in his hands. She ran down it quickly, trying to figure out who he had in mind for the important task of being their Ranger.

He gestured towards one of the names on the list, and she quickly checked it. "Perfect! She's going to be moving to Angel Grove next week, she's a fourth-degree black belt in karate, and she doesn't know any of the current Rangers, even remotely! A total enigma, just what I wanted! What's her name?"

At fifteen, Morgan was a lean, lethal killing machine. Her entire body was covered with hard muscles and sinew. She moved with complete grace and speed through her morning kata. Madeline had watched her daughter grow from a gawky adolescent into the incredible martial artist she was now.

She takes after her father so much. Well, he taught her everything she knows about martial arts and then some. But. . .I must admit. . .she gets her looks from me. It was no real vanity to think that; Madeline and Morgan looked as much alike as mother and daughter should. Long red hair, green eyes, and a figure to kill for, currently covered in Morgan's case by a white karate gi, tied by a black belt. As the kata came to it's end, Morgan looked over at her mother.

"What is it? I'm just about ready to go." Morgan intended on spending her last weekend in the state she'd grown up in on her own; out camping and spending three nights under the stars. It was a delicious Friday afternoon, and she had no intentions of being back home before sometime as late as possible on Monday. Since they weren't moving until Tuesday, she had plenty of time to play with. She intended to use it all to her best advantage.

"Just wanted to see if you've got everything you need," Madeline told her daughter, glancing at the single bag neatly packed on the bed. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Morgan sighed briefly. Her love of camping and anything at all related to the outdoors made her somewhat unique in her family. "Yes, I am, mom. This is the last chance I'm going to have to wander around my own stomping grounds for who knows how long. I don't know anything yet about Angel Grove, and it'll take me a while to find my way around there. I want one last fling in my backyard first."

Her mother chuckled at the habit Morgan had of referring to the surrounding wilderness as 'her backyard'. "All right. You be careful, though." Unnecessary words; Morgan had been camping by herself since she was twelve, and wandering in the wilderness since she was eight. As Madeline headed back inside the house, Morgan chuckled to herself as she stepped into the bathroom. Her chuckle turned into a sigh as she looked around the mini-apartment that had been hers for almost two years now. On her thirteenth birthday her parents had told her she was 'moving out', and she'd been worried for all of ten minutes: until they'd shown her the garage. As a surprise for her, it had been turned into a three-room palace for herself, where her brothers and sisters were absolutely forbidden to enter. The bedroom, workout room, and bathroom were all Morgan's.

Even now, just a few days from moving day, signs of her occupancy were everywhere. Posters of martial arts masters and advertisements for various forms of camping gear were splattered on the wall, as well as a small rack where the few trophies she had won were displayed. Most of her possessions had already been packed up; she would be boxing up everything else late on Monday after she got back.

Her most precious possession had already been boxed up: an autograph from her famous cousin. She kept it, and the invitation to his wedding in a couple of months, tightly locked up in a box she'd bought just to hold that in. He had taught her a lot of what she knew about martial arts; what her father hadn't, anyway, and she was very much looking forward to seeing him again when she had the chance. Wonder what he'd think about us finally moving to Angel Grove? He always said I'd love it there if I went...well, I'm going! Too bad he's not there anymore.

She hummed to herself as she showered, thinking over the move to come. By this time next week, we'll be in Angel Grove, California. I wonder what it's like there. I've heard a lot of weird things on the news. Superheroes in spandex, alien invaders. Wonder how much. . .if any of it. ..is true. Wonder if they've got some place I can work out at.

Morgan dropped to the floor in the workout room once her shower was over and she'd dressed in her usual white T-shirt and jeans. She took several deep breaths as she closed her eyes, preparing to spend her usual hour meditating before heading out to the great outdoors. The sound of sudden footsteps broke into her concentration, though, and she looked up, meaning to yell at whichever of her younger siblings dared to intrude on her private space. She got a major surprise.

She saw a batch of creatures that could only be described as 'humanoid fish'. I am not seeing this. This is not real. That thought was quickly banished when the things charged her. She was on her feet and in a fighting stance a moment later. "I don't know what you creeps want, but you'd better get out of here!"

The creatures didn't take her advice, and seemed to be trying to grab her as they circled around her. "Sorry, fishfaces, but if it's a fight you want, it's a fight you're going to get!" Morgan flipped, kicked, punched, and struck with every ounce of strength and bit of skill her father and cousin had drilled into her over her entire life. Whatever these things were, they were no match for her. She stepped back as the last of them fell, out of breath and triumphant. "Told you that you were in for a fight!" she smiled a little. The very last thing she'd expected to hear was the sound of someone clapping behind her.

Or more precisely: two someones. She turned to see a tall woman in what looked like gold and red armor of some type, with a golden mask covering most of her face, and a strange, almost robotic-looking person next to her. The woman spoke. "Congratulations, Morgan St. Clair, you have passed your test!"

"What are you talking about?" Morgan tried to catch her breath, not taking her eyes off either of them for a moment. "Who are you? What are you doing in my house?" Cousin Tommy described a lot of hideous things in his letters, but I think these two take the cake!

"All will be explained to you in good time," the robotic person spoke in a gruff male voice. "All you need to know at the moment is that you have been chosen to serve us."

"In our great and glorious cause to conquer and plunder the world!" the woman laughed, and Morgan had never heard a more evil sound in her life. She stepped away carefully.

"No way," she shook her head. "I don't know what freak show you two crawled out of, but you'd better crawl right back into it, because I'm not going to help you do anything!"

"She's being difficult, Havoc!" the woman stared balefully at Morgan. "She's perfect for the Powers, and she's being difficult about it!"

The robot creature, Havoc apparently, shrugged and pulled a sword out. "That won't be anything I can't handle!" he pointed the sword at her, and utter blackness shut itself all over Morgan.

Voices. She recognized them briefly; the strange woman, the robot thing. Others, ones she didn't know. All sounded servile and obedient to the woman and Havoc. Her head ached unimaginably, and as her mind and thoughts cleared, she found herself in a strange and unfamiliar place.

"My queen, she is waking up," was the first sentence she heard and completely understood. Her eyes flashed open and she looked around. To one side was a creature that looked amazingly like a huge marshmallow with a porthole for a face. To the other side was a tall, hideous thing she couldn't even describe to herself. It looked more or less like a person carrying a huge blue turtleshell on his back, with glowing red eyes! Standing by a doorway, obviously guarding it, was a weird looking thing that giggling goofily and had a serrated sword in one hand and a head shaped like a large, oblong egg.

"Well, well, well, so you've made it back to the land of the living," a semi-familiar voice spoke. She turned to see the woman and Havoc standing behind her. "You truly are worthy of becoming the White Turbo Ranger."

She absolutely could not have heard that right! "What?" she asked. "What did you say?"

"It's very simply, my girl," Havoc told her. "I am General Havoc, and this is my sister, Divatox, the most feared pirate queen in all the universe. We are here to conquer and plunder Earth of all it's riches, and the only things that stand in our way are the Power Rangers. You are going to help us, by defeating the Power Rangers."

"Oh, you have got to be kidding!" Morgan laughed. "How do you expect me to defeat the Rangers, even if I wanted to, which I don't?!"

Havoc and Divatox exchanged glances that definitely caused Morgan a few moments of nervousness. What do they know that I don't? "Well?" she tried to get an answer from them.

"How, is with these," Havoc pointed to one side, to where the White Turbo Chargers lay on a table. "And you're going to want to!"

She glanced at them for a moment, feeling an unmistakable sense of rightness at the thought of using them, feeling as if doing so for a good cause would be a grand adventure, and to use them for the wrong reason...no. She wouldn't do that. She shook her head violently. "No way!" Divatox laughed as she turned to a console near her and touched a button.

Incredible, intense agony burst through Morgan at that moment, enough to drive her to her knees. "Ohhhh. . .ohhhhh. . .stop it!"

The pain eased off and she stared up at Divatox and Havoc. "What did you do to me?" she whispered. Oh. . .that was pain to the extreme. That hurt me in places I didn't know I had!

"Feel the back of your neck," Havoc suggested, a gleeful tone in his voice. Hand shaking, she reached behind her to feel a small bandage under her hair. "While you were unconscious, Porto implanted a very special little device in your brain. It's controlled by that console there," he gestured towards where Divatox stood. "To put it simply, if you don't do what we want you to, you're going to suffer enough pain to make you want to die: but you won't." He paused for a moment, and she had the strangest feeling something even worse was about to be said. "And if you do obey us, you're going to experience equal amounts of pleasure."

Morgan quite literally felt as if the ground had been cut out from under her. That pain, that horrible, hideous pain forever? And pleasure only if she obeyed? As she stared first at Divatox, then at Havoc, she realized they would do it, without remorse, without a second thought. Her hand touched the implant again, and her stomach cemented itself together with fear.

Havoc chuckled. "Let me demonstrate." He touched a different control than the one Divatox had, and once again Morgan almost crumpled, but this time from pleasure that set every nerve she possessed on fire. As it subsided and her mind began to function again, she gasped.

"W..w..why me?"

"Because you are a fighter," Divatox purred, filing her nails and watching the show with disinterested eyes. "You're a weapon I can and will mold you into the destruction of the Rangers. Your choices are simple: accept and know pleasure, deny and go crazy with pain."

I can't do it. I just can't. But if I don't. . .who knows what else they'll try? I don't think if I tell them no, they'll just torture and forget. She said crazy with pain, and I don't think she was joking. They could do this to someone else, and I could never live with myself if that happened! I won't let it happen. . .no matter what that might cost me. I won't let someone else suffer this if I can help it.

She looked up at them, defeat in her eyes. "I'll do it," she whispered brokenly. I can't believe I just said that. I'm going to serve evil. This is one rotten day.

"Very wise decision," Divatox congratulated her. Havoc nodded, touching the same button he had before, causing waves of pleasure to caress throughout Morgan's body. She shivered, not quite certain just what to expect next.

Havoc stepped up. "Before we send you back, we're going to be certain you will obey in every situation. Come along." He snapped his fingers at her, heading out of the room she had awakened in and down a corridor. Morgan quickly following, half-curious and half-fearful at what was going to happen next. Havoc led her to a wide training room, where various Piranatrons were training in various forms of combat. With a yell, he gathered together a group of them, and turned to the young woman next to him. "This is Morgan St. Clair, our White Turbo Ranger. The group of you will be working under her once she's ready to attack the Rangers. For now, it's training time."

The fish-things and Morgan exchanged glances. Neither of them looked all that impressed by what they were seeing. Havoc cleared his throat, stepping back. "Spar with each other," he instructed. "Morgan, it will be you against them for this time. I think you'll find this most instructive."

He raised up his sword, and brought it down quickly. "Fight!"

Morgan opened her mouth to protest, to say something anything, when one of the Piranatrons smashed a fist into her stomach. Instinct kicked in, as well as a jolt of pain from the implant, and she backflipped, spinning into a low kick than knocked the Piranatron back down. Just as it was skidding across the room, one of the others tackled her, and she elbowed it in what on a human would've been the ribs, encouraged by a trickle of pleasure.

The fight wasn't a fair one, quite obviously. It was Morgan against fifteen Piranatrons, and each of them was somewhat stronger than an unmorphed human. In just a few moments, she was on the floor, gasping for breath and writhing in agony. Havoc stepped quietly over to her, nudging her with a foot.

"Get up." His voice was harsh and cold. "You've got a long way to go."

Morgan slowly dragged herself to her feet, moving more quickly when a jolt of pain shot through her. "Now what?" she asked sullenly. Havoc raised his sword just a little, and she flinched automatically.

"Now, we try again."

It was Monday morning before she had anything that resembled relaxation. Ever since the first battle, she had been going non-stop. She wasn't permitted rest, she was hungry enough to devour the first item of food presented to her, and she wanted a bath more than she had ever imagined in her life. But one thing had come of her weekend of torture and pleasure.

"Fight." Havoc's voice hadn't changed, still cold and hard. Before the syllable finished leaving his mouth, Morgan leaped forward, a sword he had given her in hand, thrusting it quickly and firmly at a Piranatron. As it backed away, she followed the feint, for such it was, with a powerful certain kick to the midsection, and a backhand to one of the ones behind her. Havoc watched approvingly as Morgan used every trick she'd learned over the weekend, and in her previous life to fight off the Piranatrons. As the last one fell, she whirled quickly to drop into a kneeling position before Divatox and Havoc, both of whom were observing. "Did I please you?" her voice was as much of a flat monotone as Havoc's was. She subsumed her emotions to the newfound need to make them happy. The equation was simple in her mind: a happy Divatox and Havoc meant a Morgan who wasn't screaming in pain.

"Very much so." Divatox approved, not just of the skills she displayed, but of the obedience and the humility. "Come here, Morgan." The young warrior stepped quickly over to the queen, kneeling once again as she drew closer. Divatox pointed a finger and a beam of violet light shot out, wrapping itself around Morgan's neck. As it solidified, it became a rather beautiful collar of beaten silver with an amethyst in the center. "Touching that and thinking of where you want to go will teleport you." She told her slave. "You've done well this weekend, and I look forward to more from you."

Morgan bowed her head, feeling the cold collar against her skin. It would also serve to hide the slight bump on her neck where the implant was just barely noticeable. "Yes, my queen." She murmured the words softly, fighting to keep her composure. Will this nightmare never end?

"It's time to send you back," Havoc said unexpectedly. "You know your place now, do you not?"

"Yes, sir," Morgan whispered softly, and felt the unwanted, unneeded, hated, despised pleasure running through her. "You are my masters. I obey."

Divatox chuckled, then led the three of them back to the throne room. As she seated herself, she looked to the young redhead. "Now, you'll need to know who the Rangers are. Look through the periscope," she gestured towards the device. Morgan went over obediently, trying not to let the revulsion she still felt at the whole set up show through.

She saw five young people around a table somewhere. One was obviously the very youngest, he couldn't have been more than twelve or thirteen at the most. The other four looked to be possibly anywhere from fifteen to seventeen; it was odd enough to see them hanging out with the littlest one. If these were the Power Rangers, that was probably the main reason they were together like that.

"The short one is Justin Stewart, the Blue Ranger," Divatox's slimy voice came from behind her. "The one in red is T.J. Johnson, the Red Ranger and the leader. The other boy is Carlos Valerte, the Green Ranger. The two girls are Cassie Chan, the Pink Ranger, and Ashley Hammond, the Yellow Ranger. Remember them all, and remember when you meet them: they are the enemy."

"What if I don't meet them?" she asked quietly; hoping she wouldn't get to know them as people. She might have to fight them, but she didn't want to be fighting friends. She stole another glance at Carlos; something about him caught at her heart. He's gorgeous, that's what he is. And I'm going to be fighting him. Does life suck or what? Now that the 'training' was over, she was starting to feel more and more like her old self, with the exception of having to do everything these two monsters wanted her to.

"You will," Havoc assured her. "They make a point out of welcoming new people into their lives. Now it's time for you to become the White Comet Turbo Ranger."

He pointed her towards the Turbo Chargers on the table near Divatox's throne. "Put those on, and morph!" he ordered. She picked them up and slid them onto her wrists, her hands working almost by sheer instinct. "Shift into Turbo!" she heard the words coming out of her mouth with sheer surprise. "White Comet Turbo Power!" a moment later, the newest of the Power Rangers stood before Divatox and Havoc, clad in a Turbo Ranger's uniform just like that of the Pink and Yellow Rangers, complete with skirt, blaster, and helmet.

"The Rangers are just gonna hate her!" Divatox purred triumphantly. Havoc looked just as pleased as she did over it.

Morgan's thoughts weren't quite so happy. I already hate myself At Divatox's command, she demorphed, though a touch reluctantly. It had felt so good to morph, to wear the costume of one sworn to defend good against evil. . .but it felt hideous to know she had to attempt to defeat the Power Rangers. I have no choice. At least not now.

"All right, we'll return you to Earth. Give no sign to anyone of what's went on. No one has suspected you've been with us, and you will do nothing to let anyone know anything different." Divatox told her. Morgan sighed to herself. Somehow, this wasn't how I wanted to start off my life in Angel Grove.

"Should you associate with the Rangers in civilian form, you aren't to reveal to them just how good of a fighter you are. Keep that part of your life a secret from them," Havoc ordered. She nodded dully. "Don't let them know who you really are as the White Ranger. Don't even attempt to push them away or be unfriendly to them. You can act like their friend all you want. But don't be their friend; you're a warrior and a spy for evil, remember that."

Once again she nodded. Divatox looked harshly at her, then touched the console again. Pain, not as much as some of the sessions she'd had that weekend, but enough, tore through Morgan's body. "Remember, White Ranger, we can do that to you whenever we want. Do as you're told, and you'll get this instead." Pleasure rippled through her again, and Morgan bit back a cry of enjoyment.

"I will," she promised. No matter how much it revolts me.

Divatox sent another wave of pain through her, then told her, "That's just to remind you who you serve now. And because I wanted to do it, too!"

Havoc interrupted Divatox's torment of their new Ranger. "She has to be sent home, or else there will be trouble we don't need to attract," Havoc pointed his sword at her again, and she found herself back on Earth, in her workout room. She would have thought it was all a dream, if it weren't for the Turbo Chargers on her wrists, which faded even as she looked at them, the collar around her neck, and for the small lump under the skin on the back of her neck that reminded her of the implant.

Reality asserted itself quickly. Moving as fast as he could, she headed for the bathroom and a hot shower. She would handle food later, right now the main things on her mind were getting clean, getting into clean clothes, and getting into bed for some heavy duty sleeping.

Half an hour later, Mrs. St. Clair opened the door to her daughter's room and smiled quietly when she saw Morgan tucked into bed, her eyes shut and the most peaceful sleeping expression ever seen on her face. She must've got back in earlier and come in through the side door. Looks like this trip took quite a lot out of her. I'll talk with her later...she must need her rest now. Quietly the older woman shut the door and went down the hall. They had a lot to do before they went to Angel Grove.

"I don't think so," Justin shook his head. "I mean, think about it, Carlos. It's just not like them, really. Divatox is trying to conquer Earth because of her wedding getting ruined. I really can't see her giving up."

Ashley nodded. "They're probably up there plotting something now, and it's just taking a while." Oh, great, now I'm not going to sleep at night.

"Not a pleasant thought," Cassie shivered, trying not to think of the incredible power and evil that the brother and sister of darkness represented.

T.J. nodded. "Well, whatever it is, we'll deal with it." After all, that was what Rangers did.

In a quick, whispered conversation, the five of them had agreed before class to stick close to each other as much as they could, and to keep an eye on their communicators. "We don't want to take any chances we don't have to," was T.J.'s comment. They'd all agreed, then went on to class.

"Students," the teacher called all their attention to the front of the room. An unfamiliar young woman stood uncertainly next to the teacher's desk. "We have someone new joining us today," they were told. "Morgan St. Clair."

It was all Carlos could do not to let his jaw drop in amazement. She was quite literally the most beautiful creature he'd ever seen in his life! A long twisted braid of flame-red hair, green eyes that laughed and danced like springtime, an olive complexion, and just flat out gorgeous! She was casually dressed, in jeans and a white blouse, her only ornament being a simple silver collar with an amethyst set in it around her neck, and was glancing just as casually around the room.

She's beautiful! Carlos, for the first time since hearing about Divatox and Havoc leaving the SpaceBase, stopped thinking about what they were up to. All that seemed to matter was finding out if she had a boyfriend or not! He glanced over to see T.J. chuckling a little at his obvious reaction.

Morgan, on the other hand, wasn't quite so pleased to see Carlos and T.J.: especially not Carlos. Oh, this is just my luck! Two of them are in my homeroom! And one of them is HIM! Carlos. The Green Turbo Ranger. Quite possible the best looking guy I've ever seen. Fate must hate me; first I have to be an evil Power Ranger, now I'm trapped in homeroom with two of the good Rangers, one of which I've got a major crush on already! Well, at least things can't get any worse!

"Morgan, you can take the seat next to Carlos," the teacher gestured towards the only empty seat in the whole room. Morgan took a deep breath, covering the scream of horror she wanted to make as she sat next to him. I was wrong, they just got a lot worse. He won't say anything, please, God, don't let him talk to me! Let's hope I don't attack... Her mind flashed briefly back to the conditioning she'd undergone, to attack Rangers, morphed and unmorphed, on command. She knew if they'd done one thing wrong with warping her mind, she could give the whole thing away. She honestly wasn't certain if that was a good thing or not.

"Hi," he held out his hand. "I'm Carlos Valerte."

Obviously, God is not taking requests today. At least not mine. She shook his hand; she had to act normal. "I'm Morgan St. Clair. Nice to meet you, Carlos." I'd rather be a thousand miles away, with this damn implant out of my head, and for this whole thing never to have happened, actually.

"I take it you're new in Angel Grove?"

She nodded. "My family just moved here from Nevada," she told him. "My dad's company transferred him here and we got shipped along with the luggage," she smiled a little ruefully. "It's kind of weird being in a new school after all this time; we'd spent my whole life there."

"Oh, that's too bad," he looked as if he really felt sorry for her. She couldn't help thinking if he knew who and what she really was, he'd be running screaming away from her. It was all she could do not to sigh in sadness. "You think maybe after school you might want to come over to the Youth Center; maybe hang out a little?" he asked, doing his best not to show how excited he was waiting for her answer. After a moment's consideration, she nodded.

"Sure. I should be able to make it. Only one problem; I don't know where it is!" she told him. "Remember, I just moved to town yesterday!"

Carlos chuckled a little. "No problem; I'll meet you after class and walk you over there!"

Great, just what I need, more time around him! "Thanks; that'd be great!" I'm supposed to act normal around them; this is what I would do if I weren't on the other side. How can I act normal around this guy? I'm not going to be able to do this! As she thought that, a mild shock ran through her. She knew precisely what that meant: a reminder that she had to do it. Her life depended on it. I can't let Divatox and Havoc find out I like Carlos. If they do, they'll make things even worse for me! Even he can't know. . .no one can.

She turned her attention to the teacher as class began, sighing a bit under her breath. "This just isn't my lucky week," she murmured lightly. Carlos, just one seat away, was thinking the exact opposite.

Havoc nodded. "We will send her out soon to meet the Rangers soon, and she will devastate them!"

Divatox nodded, then reconsidered suddenly. "I don't want to just blow them away. I want to tease them some," she giggled evilly. "I want to make them suffer before destroying them utterly!"

"As you wish, sister," her brother agreed. "The White Ranger is the perfect tool to destroy them with!"

"This afternoon," Divatox decided. "This afternoon, she'll make her grand debut. . .and the Rangers will wish they'd never been born when she's through with them!"

"Alpha, has there been any sign of attack from the SpaceBase?" Dimitria asked softly. He looked up at her and shook his head.

"No, Dimitria," he reported. "Whatever they're up to up there, they're being awfully quiet about it!"

"This is worrisome, Alpha," she said. "We must find out what they are planning, before it is too late."

"I'm looking, but I ain't finding anything! Whatever it is, they're keeping it under tight wraps!"

"Keep searching," she urged him. "They are up to something, we know it. We must discover what it is."

I wish they would. Find some other way to get rid of the Rangers, some way that doesn't involve me. I'd be perfectly happy to live out the rest of my life never seeing either of them again.

She stiffened suddenly as a voice, one all too familiar to her, spoke firmly and clearly in her mind. White Ranger, morph and join the Piranatrons in the park; it's time the Power Rangers met their newest enemy! For a moment, Morgan was confused, then she remembered. This was how she was to receive her orders, through a telepathic link to Divatox. She hated the thought of that demon rummaging around in her mind, but as with so much now, there was nothing she could do about it.

"Yes, Divatox," she whispered her reply. She was glad she'd told her parents she was going to go for a walk and some exercise after school; she wouldn't be missed. "I'll go at once."

She leaned against the locker for a moment, breathing deeply. This is it. There's no turning back once I do it. Once I attack them, we're enemies forever. She sighed. I can't break the conditioning. And even if I did, they'd just do it to me all over again. I can't win either way. At least if I fight, the Rangers might defeat me. They've never lost a fight yet. I don't see that changing just because they're fighting me.

A jolt of pain from the implant reminded her of what she had to do. She glanced around again to make sure no one was looking, then quietly morphed. Thinking of the park, and a group of Piranatrons waiting for her, she touched the amethyst and teleported.

The White Turbo Ranger was about to make a very vicious appearance.

"Yo-yo-yo, Rangers, there's a group of Piranatrons causing trouble in the park, you'd better get over there before they hurt someone!" the robot's voice came over the communicator. The two Rangers looked at each other; the same thought was going through their minds. Looks like the vacation's over with!

"We're on the way, Alpha," T.J. told him. "Have the others meet us there."

"You got it, T.J.," Alpha agreed. T.J. and Cassie looked at each other nervously for a moment, then slipped around to a quiet corner behind some bushes.

"Shift into Turbo!" T.J. called out. A moment later, the Red and Pink Turbo Rangers arrived at the park, to be joined by the others a few moments later. The Piranatrons were tearing up things all over the place, and putting the people to swift flight. "Hey, fishheads!" the Red Ranger called out. "Leave those people alone!"

Morgan watched from the shadows, torn between what she knew she had to do and what she wanted to do. She wanted to go out there and fight with the Rangers, alongside of them, defending Angel Grove and the world. But she had to fight them, and help Divatox in her plans.

White Ranger, attack the Power Rangers! It's time!

"Yes, Divatox," she said helplessly. She took a deep breath, looking at the fighters a short distance away. If only. . .

She wouldn't attack Carlos first; that was one thing she wouldn't do. She'd wait till he attacked her, if she could. Any of the others were fair game, but not him. She stepped out of the shadows, and blasted them from behind with the laser pistol at her hip, making certain to get their attention, but not to hurt them.

The Rangers turned as one to face whatever it was that was firing on them from behind. They saw not another monster or even Elgar or Rygog. They might even have been mildly relieved to see Divatox there. At least that would've been a familiar enemy, one they knew something about.

Not like the strange figure that met their eyes as they looked behind them. Clad in a white version of their own uniforms, blaster in one hand, and regarding them with what could only be described as a hate-filled look was another Ranger. "Who are you?" T.J. asked.

The only reply the Rangers received was one of pain as the stranger attacked them. Any thoughts that this might be some new ally, like the Phantom Ranger, were driven out of their minds as they were tossed first to one side, then the other. Silently the White Ranger regarded them, chilling each of them with a mere glance.

"Anyone have any ideas about just who that is?" Justin asked, keeping his eyes on the stranger. One by one the Rangers shook their heads. "Great. An evil Ranger." He'd never faced a real one before. From things Tommy had told him, this wasn't going to be an easy fight.

"My, my, my, you catch on fast, Blue Ranger," General Havoc appeared next to the White Ranger. With a flick of his hand as a command, she charged towards them again, finally stopping at T.J. The Red and White Rangers stood face to face, visor to visor. Surprisingly similar thoughts passed through both minds.

I can't believe I'm fighting another Ranger. I never thought this would happen! T.J. stared, wishing he could see beyond the dark visor to see the face beneath the helmet.

I'm fighting the Power Rangers. I wish this wasn't happening! I'd give anything to be fighting alongside them, not against them! Morgan glared, wishing with all her heart and soul she could take off her helmet and reveal herself to them.

"White Ranger!" Havoc got her attention a moment later. "Don't just stand there and stare, fight!"

At the word that had been drilled into her, she kicked quickly and powerfully, into T.J.'s stomach, following it up with a hard right to his chest. The Red Ranger was taken by surprise at the sudden switch from staredown to combat and fell back. White Ranger didn't waste a moment; she quickly turned to where Ashley was and snapkicked her in the stomach. She wasn't surprised to see the Pink and Green Rangers coming up on her, and warded them off quickly with her blaster, firing haphazardly with one hand while she kept an eye on the two Rangers she'd already managed to knock down. Okay, took them by surprise, that won't happen again. They're already back up. Five on one, not good odds, and I'm not betting money on the Pirantrons actually helping out. I've seen how they fight.

"Now!" the cry came from T.J., and as far as she could tell, he was talking to something or someone...behind her? Morgan whirled quickly, just in time to see a pair of boots heading for her. The Blue Ranger! Her reactions weren't quite quick enough, and she found herself going face first into the dirt. Oh, now that was embarrassing!! She wasn't surprised to feel a rather harsh crinkle of pain through her. Yes, I know I screwed up, you don't have to keep reminding me!

Just as she was getting back to her feet, Red and Yellow Rangers charged up into the fight. Morgan knew she was good, and she proved it that moment, moving like liquid light to fight off each and every one of their attacks. Blows, blocks, strikes, and counters flew almost too fast for the eye to see, with neither side really getting a breath until it somehow turned out that they were on one side of the battlefield and she was on the other, all ready for battle.

"White Ranger!" Havoc's voice crackled again, and she turned to see what he wanted, glad she'd decided not to speak whenever morphed. If Divatox asked, she would say it was to make it harder for the Rangers to find out who she was, without a voiceprint to analyze. The real reason was she was too afraid to speak, she didn't know if she'd be able to keep her emotions for Carlos out of her voice, or the reluctance she had for this whole affair. Havoc gestured again towards her. "Go back to the SpaceBase, Divatox wishes to speak with you!"

She nodded briefly, then triggered her teleportation quickly. Instant obedience seemed to be important to these evil types. Havoc chuckled softly.

"Now you've met our newest weapon, Rangers! The White Ranger will destroy you all, and when you are out of the way, Divatox will have control of the whole world!" he proclaimed.

"You're never going to win, Havoc!" Carlos promised him.

"We shall see, Green Ranger, we shall see!" the general laughed, then vanished, along with the Piranatrons and Elgar. The Rangers all stared at each other in mixed fear and wonder.

"We'd better get back to the Power Chamber," T.J. said finally. "Maybe Dimitria knows something about this White Ranger."

"I don't exactly have a lot of choices, do I?" Morgan hoped this 'interview' wouldn't take long; there might be difficult questions to answer if she were late meeting Carlos.

Divatox laughed icily. "You don't have any choices! Just keep that little thought in mind and you'll do just fine." She touched the console in that way Morgan dreaded, and watched as the White Ranger trembled with the strength of the pleasure rocketing through her. As it subsided, Divatox continued, "Go back to Earth now; I'll call you when I want you to do more damage to the Rangers!"

"I'll be waiting," was all Morgan could bring herself to say before she teleported away shakily. Divatox glanced at Havoc and laughed a little.

"That implant of yours was a brilliant idea, Havoc," Divatox laughed. "I've never had so little trouble controlling someone before!"

"Naturally, dear sister. Humans respond to pain and pleasure equally well; put them together, and you've got an unbeatable combination. It's just like training a pet. Praise them when they've done well, punish them when they disobey." Havoc glanced at the Earth. "We will have to keep an eye on her, though."

Divatox shook her head. "You worry too much, Havoc! We're going to win this war at last!"

"She was incredible," Carlos' voice held mixed amounts of awe and fear. "But why is she working for Divatox and Havoc?"

Dimitria observed the Rangers quietly; it had been thousands of years since the White Ranger Turbo powers had been forged, and she had thought them lost shortly after that. Apparently Divatox and Havoc had rediscovered them. "Divatox and Havoc obviously discovered the White Turbo powers during their recent absence from the SpaceBase. I am uncertain as to why a being of good, as only such a one can be endowed with any Power Ranger powers, would be working for them, however."

"Maybe they have her under some form of mind control?" Cassie suggested. Alpha-6 shrugged.

"I dunno, but something about her's preventing me from scanning her to find out. It's like our sensors just bounce right offa her!"

Justin came over to him. "Let me take a look, maybe I can figure out a way to bypass the block, or whatever it is."

"Here ya go, Justin, these are the results I got already," the genius and the robot put their heads together, hoping for a way to find out what was going on with this new Ranger. The others gathered in a corner to discuss the battle.

"She's strong," T.J. noted. "Quick. She seems to be ruthless too, I think she wouldn't have minded killing us all right then if Havoc and Divatox hadn't pulled her back."

"I wonder why they did that," Carlos glanced suddenly at his watch and paled. "Oh, man, I've got to run! I promised I'd meet that new girl, Morgan, after school! She's probably wondering where I am!"

"You go, Carlos," Ashley giggled. "Wouldn't want to make a bad impression on her!" The attraction she and Carlos had felt for each other had faded after a while, and transmuted into a much stronger and more lasting friendship. She had half had her eye out for a nice girl for her friend to date, and this Morgan just might be what would work out.

Justin glanced over. "Yeah, we'll get in touch with you the moment there's anything to tell you!"

Carlos nodded, hit his communicator, and was out of the Power Chamber a second later. The others giggled a little, enjoying themselves over his sudden attraction to the new girl, then got back to the serious business of finding out just who the White Ranger was.

"Morgan!" he waved to her a few moments later, and was repaid with a warm wave and grin of her own. As he came up to her, he asked, "Have you been waiting long? I would have been here sooner, but something came up."

She smiled at him. "No, I had something unexpected to take care of myself. I was only there for a few minutes when you showed up."

He didn't notice the shadow of pain that crossed her eyes as she said that; he was too happy over just being with her. "Come on, the Youth Center's this way."

Less than half an hour ago, I was fighting him and his friends. Now we're going out. . . well, not quite on a date. But we're going to hang out together. Imagine that! Me, the White Ranger, supposed to be their sworn enemy, at least sworn to fight them, and him, the Green Ranger, the sworn enemy of evil! If it wasn't so real, it would be too funny!

"Yeah, a lot of people hang out here," Carlos told her. "My friends should be showing up later, if they get done with what they're doing." I hope they do find that White Ranger; she's going to be serious trouble if we can't do something about her.

"I'd like to meet them," she smiled a little. He noticed she was quite beautiful when she did that. What he didn't notice was the slight clouding of her eyes at the same time she spoke, and he most definitely didn't hear the thoughts going through her mind.

His friends. The other Power Rangers, who I just spent a hideous ten minutes trashing all over the park. If they recognize anything about me, I'm toast! I'll have to be careful. I can probably fool them, but one wrong move, one slip of the tongue, and everything's over with. For me, for them, for this whole world.

As the two of them sat there, quietly nursing the drinks Carlos had bought them despite Morgan's protests, she found it easier and easier to forget she was supposed to be his enemy and to think of what was going on as an actual semi-date. She was brought back to harsh reality when the other Rangers joined them.

"Hey, guys," Carlos greeted them. "Everyone, this is Morgan St. Clair, she's new to Angel Grove. Morgan, this is T.J., Ashley, Cassie, and Justin."

She shook hands politely with them all, wondering in the back of her mind if they'd be so friendly to her if they knew she was the one who had torn them up in the park only a short time earlier. She sighed a trifle; she knew the answer to that, and it wasn't a good one.

Carlos looked over at Morgan; she seemed a bit depressed over something. I wonder if she's having a good time; she hasn't said much since the guys got here. "Let me get you another drink," he suggested. She nodded almost absently and as she was handing Carlos her empty glass, a sudden jolt of pain from the implant jerked her hand to one side, dumping Justin's own full glass straight into her own lap!

Things were rather confused for a few minutes, as Morgan apologized profusely, Justin repeated several times it was all right, and Carlos went to get them both fresh drinks and a towel. Without even thinking about what he was doing, he started to help Morgan dry her shirt and jeans off. It was only when a sudden silence seemed to fall over their little group that both Morgan and Carlos realized just how close they were.

Carlos jumped back as if something had bit him, and Morgan blushed a fiery red. "I'm sorry," he said, dropping the towel. Morgan grabbed it quickly and finished drying.

"No, it's my fault," she told him. "I need to get home anyway, I'm going to be late for dinner if I don't hurry. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Wait a second!" Carlos called quickly, his instincts kicking into overdrive. I waited until the last second to ask Ashley out once, and we fizzled out. If I jump now...maybe it'll last... "Are you busy Friday night?"

Morgan paused for a moment, as if considering. Then she smiled just a little. "Not really. Why do you ask?"

"I was wondering if we could maybe....go out that night?" Carlos blushed a fiery scarlet as she casually tilted one eyebrow at him. She's going to say no, I know she is!

"All right." Morgan smiled just a little, then vanished out the door before Carlos or any of the others could say anything more to her. The Green Ranger sighed a little.

"I hope I do see her tomorrow," he murmured half to himself. T.J. grinned.

"I think he likes her!"

"Ooooh, Carlos, you've got a date!" Ashley teased. "Remember the Halloween dance isn't that far off. You don't have a date yet, do you?"

Cassie chuckled. "I think I know who he wants to ask, and she just went running out the door!"

The gentle ribbing continued, with Carlos ignoring most of it. His eyes rested on the door Morgan had left by. I wonder if she would go to the dance with me.

Carlos was finding it rather odd that unlike most of his other would-be girlfriends, Morgan didn't seem at all surprised or upset when their occasional walks or talks together would be interrupted by the beeping of his 'beeper'. Sometimes she herself had to leave abruptly; Carlos put it down to having just moved to town. Even with the attacks, things were going back to normal.

The White Ranger, on the other hand, was feeling as if things never would be normal again. Fighting the Rangers wasn't anything like she had half-imagined every now and then from some of the stories her cousin had told her. It was hard, it was annoying, and she was seriously wondering if she would ever escape from their control. I fight, I feel the pleasure. I disobey, I feel the pain. It's almost at the point where I can start to feel the pleasure before I start to fight. Just because I know they're going to do it. Morgan sighed, toying with a small leaf in her backyard. Tonight's my date with Carlos. Please, don't let it be ruined.

Morgan played with the leaf absently, her mind jumping from subject to subject. At least Divatox can't read my mind. She just gives me orders that way. If she could read me and know just how much I hate her...

The young woman looked up as her mother poked her head out of the house. Unlike back home, Morgan didn't have the three room spread that she'd so gloried in, but she didn't mind. Not only did she have other things on her mind, but she spent most of her time in the backyard, out in the air she loved so much. "We just got a phone call from your favorite cousin." Mrs. St. Clair told her. "He and his fiancée are coming down for a visit next month."

"Oh, cool!" Morgan grinned, then went just a little stiff as a familiar voice ripped into her mind.

White Ranger, join the Piranatrons and my latest monster, Rayzor, in the warehouse district, Divatox instructed her Ranger. And this time: don't show any mercy to the Rangers.

Yes, Divatox. She acknowledged her orders. "I've gotta run, Mom. I feel like going for a walk. See you later!" Without waiting for acknowledgment, the young woman quickly got up and headed out. As soon as she was alone and out of anyone's sight she took a deep breath. Here we go again. "Shift into Turbo! White Comet Turbo Power!"

She appeared next to the Piranatrons and the monster, which looked to have been made out of a thousand razors. She could see the Rangers just ahead of them, unmorphed and obviously suspecting nothing. Morgan sighed a little, not enough for her 'companions' to notice, and wished, not for the first time, that she didn't have that implant in her.

She watched as the Rangers got a little closer, then closed her eyes for a second under her helmet. "Forgive me, Carlos," was all she mouthed, then she started towards them, silent and deadly.

"Oh, she seems not to mind...but it's just not right to keep ducking out on her like this." The Green Ranger had been worrying over it like a dog with a bone.

"Cheer up, Carlos," T.J. tried to reassure his friend. "If she were bothered by it, wouldn't she say something?"

Carlos shrugged. "Maybe. I still can't stop feeling as if something's wrong and I just don't know what it is."

"She is kind of new in the area, Carlos," Justin reminded him. Carlos sighed, and was about to say something when a sharp sound broke into their conversation: the sound of running feet.

"ATTACK!" the Rangers looked up to see a small army of Piranatrons, a monster that looked like a walking razor, and the White Ranger boiling out of an alleyway.

"Oh, great," Cassie groaned. T.J. shouted, "Shift into Turbo!"

They barely had time to morph before White Ranger and her companions were on top of them. Ashley found herself staring into the visor of the White Ranger's helmet.

We've got to find a way to stop her, the Yellow Ranger thought as the White punched and kicked at her quickly and hard. She'll destroy us all if we don't.

Carlos saw Ashley locked in combat with the White Ranger, and raced over to help her. He was surprised to actually see the enemy Ranger falling back when he joined the fight; and he wasn't vain enough to think it was because she was afraid to fight him.

If he didn't know better, he would have sworn she hesitated just before she leaned back and kicked him hard in the chest. If it hadn't been for his powers, he knew she would have just broken several of his bones. As it was, he just staggered back some.

He's always been weak in covering his chest, Morgan thought sadly to herself as she picked Ashley up quickly and threw her at Carlos. They'll fix him up at their base.

White Ranger! Divatox's voice echoed in her mind. "You've had enough fun with the Rangers, report to the SpaceBase for a reward."

White Ranger glared at the Rangers one last time, then she issued a low, echoing, evil laughter, the first sound she'd uttered towards them. It was so much unlike anything she ever used normally she figured it was 'safe' to do so. A moment later, she teleported away.

"Man," Carlos muttered. "That's one enemy down, at least," he turned his attention back to the monster, Rayzor, as it fought with Justin and T.J. "And one more to go."

"What is that?" Morgan asked carefully. She didn't trust Divatox one tiny bit, and all this talk of a 'reward' was actually making her nervous.

"Come with me," the pirate queen rose from her throne and beckoned Morgan to follow her. Helpless to do otherwise, the White Ranger did so, heading down several corridors to a wide storage bay. Inside was a sleek, trim white car with a golden comet design on the hood. Morgan felt an instant kinship with it, almost recognition. "This is the White Comet TurboZord: your Zord, White Ranger. It is your new weapon against the Rangers."

Something as magnificent as this, and she thinks of it as a weapon. That's so like her. But this is my Zord: my partner. The other half of my powers. She found herself walking over to it almost unconsciously, the magnificent creation seemed to call to her. She ran a hand over it's hood and to the top, it was warm, despite the chill of the storage bay. I remember you.... Morgan mentally gasped. I've seen you before...in my dreams... Ever since becoming the White Ranger, she had dreamed bewildering, confusing dreams of things she could just barely remember. This magnificent creation before her was one of the clearest images.

"You may take it out for a test drive," Divatox decided. "But don't let the Rangers see you. I'll let you know when I want you back here; I'll have further orders for you when you return."

"Yes, ma'am," Morgan said almost absently as she slid into the driver's seat. With a flip of a switch, she and White Comet were on Earth. Morgan leaned back against the seat, truly happy for the first time since she'd seen the Piranatrons in her training room. "I've been in you five minutes and already I'm in love, White Comet."

I love you too, Morgan St. Clair.

"Not too bad," the Green Ranger eased himself against a console. "If I hadn't been morphed, that could've been deadly, though. I think she was actually trying to kill me."

"The White Ranger is a deadly opponent," Dimitria told them unnecessarily. "We must find out how Divatox and Havoc are controlling her and free her."

Cassie looked worried. "What if she can't be freed? What if whatever they're doing can't be fixed?"

"We'll deal with that when the time comes, Cassie," Dimitria advised. "Alpha, have the scans revealed anything yet?"

"No, Dimitria," Alpha shook his head. "As long as she's morphed, we can't detect the White Ranger, and when she demorphs, we have no idea who she really is!"

Ashley frowned a little. "If we could find out who she is, then could the computers detect her?"

"It's a long shot," Justin mused. "But it might work."

Carlos straightened up a little. "The problem is finding out who she really is. She could be anyone, anywhere!"

Dimitria told them, "Whoever she is, she is also a master martial artist. From the fights you have had with her, it is evident her fighting prowess is only enhanced by the White Powers; not endowed by them."

"So that means, we need to look for someone who can fight: and fight well," T.J. noted. "Around Angel Grove, that covers a lot of territory."

Justin agreed. "But how many of them are female? That cuts down the people we have to look through."

Alpha looked over at Carlos. "You'd better get some rest; those ribs are going to be all right, but you need to rest them anyway. You've got that date with Morgan tonight, remember?"

Carlos nodded and teleported back to his house; he'd wanted some time alone to think over the situation with the White Ranger, Morgan, and everything. This was almost the perfect opportunity to do so.

"Maybe if we can add up what we do know about the White Ranger, and compare it to every female martial artist in Angel Grove, we can make some educated guesses on who she is," T.J. suggested.

"Let's get to work then," Ashley sighed. This looked like it was going to take a long while.

I did. The voice was very quiet, warm, and full of a deep and abiding strength.

"Who are you?" she tried to fight the tremble in her voice, but this was terrifying her. She had to be losing her mind; she was hearing voices. It had been too much for her; the training, the conditioning, the fighting, all of it had combined to destroy her mind at last! There was a strange feeling of relief in that...

You are within me, dear child. I am the White Comet Zord. Your Zord, as you are the White Ranger. The engine seemed to almost purr at her.

"Th. . that's impossible. . ."

Nothing is impossible, Morgan. There is even the chance you will be free of Divatox and Havoc one day.

She sighed. "I wish I could be; but this thing's in my head and I can't get it out!"

There are others with power, Morgan St. Clair, and there is a chance, a slim chance, that one day one might help you. But until then, you must remain strong. Hold true to your inner principles, and do not let Divatox take you over completely. Always hold to that one spark of light within.

"Do the other Rangers. . .do their Zords talk to them too?"

No, Morgan. Alone among the TurboZords, I am sentient. I was crafted eons ago by a civilization forgotten in your time. The first White Ranger was defeated by that civilization's enemies, and his Chargers and Zord were placed into a cave where they were guarded by representations of that enemy's gods, who would only permit those of evil intent through. I went into a deep slumber, and only awakened when you first morphed. I am glad I did.

"So am I," Morgan laid her hand gently on the steering wheel and smiled. In less time than she thought possible, a matter of seconds, it had become perfectly natural for her to be talking. . .thinking. . .whatever. . .to the Zord. "I don't feel so alone anymore."

You will never be alone, dear child, not any more. We are together. You will be able to communicate with me wherever you are, morphed or unmorphed. It is good to be with you at last.

"I know," she whispered. She felt tears brimming in her eyes as she leaned against the seat, feeling the warmth of White Comet surround her. If only things could be like this with Carlos.

They may be one day.

Comet? You heard me thinking?

I hear you always, dear child. I have since you first morphed. I waited until Divatox let you take me out before revealing myself, though. I wanted to make certain you were truly worthy of being the White Ranger.

Guess you were disappointed.

No, I wasn't, dear Morgan. You are everything I hoped for, and more. Be strong. There is hope yet. There is always hope.

Carlos lay on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. The image of Morgan St. Clair floated behind his eyes. She was beautiful, smart, witty, everything he liked in a girl. And what was even better, he had a date with her that night! In just a couple of hours, they were going to be going out together!!

The phone next to his bed rang suddenly; he reached over, grinning a bit as he always did before looking at it. He'd bought it at a novelty shop about a week before becoming a Ranger; it was almost an exact duplicate of the Desert Thunder Zord. If I'd only known. . . he thought to himself as he raised the receiver to his ear. "Hello," only a few people knew this number anyway; he half-expected it to be one of the other Rangers.

"Hi, Carlos."

He shot straight up. "Morgan! How'd you get this number?"

"That's my little secret, Carlos," she chuckled a little. "Since we're going out tonight, I thought it might be a good idea if we settled on where we're going and what we're going to do when we get there."

Carlos felt like hitting himself. He'd been so wrapped up in Ranger business that he'd forgotten the cardinal rule of dating: settle the details first, then do everything else! "Oh, yeah, that might be a good thing."

"So, what would you like to do?" She sounded happier than he could remember hearing her before. "There's some good movies playing at the Multiplex, I think. That's what the newspaper said, anyway."

"That sounds like a good idea," Carlos agreed. The two of them spent the next ten minutes figuring out just what they were going to be doing, when Morgan suddenly stopped in the middle of her sentence.

"I'm sorry, Carlos, but I've got to go! I. . .I didn't realize it was quite this late!" There was an unexpected note of strain in her voice that worried him. I wonder if I should ask...

"It's all right." he told her. "See you..." There was a click on the other end, and Carlos found himself staring at the phone in amazement, wondering just what was going on here.

"I'll be right back, Divatox," she reported.

See that you are. Divatox's thoughts faded away, an indication that she had ended the communications link. Morgan leaned back into White Comet's driver's seat, her heart pounding.

I will drive us to the SpaceBase; you rest and regain your composure. If you give any hint of your emotions towards Carlos, Divatox will suspect something.

I know. I still can't believe you let me use your communications system to call him. Heck, I can't even believe you were able to patch into the phone lines like that!

I would do anything for you, you know that. White Comet settled into the storage bay on the SpaceBase a few seconds later. Remember, Morgan, give no hints that I am intelligent, or of your relationship with the young Green Ranger.

I won't. Morgan saw a group of Piranatrons waiting for her; Divatox still didn't trust her that much it seemed. Sheesh, I've got this thing in my head, and would probably jump off a cliff if they ordered it of me, and she STILL doesn't trust me!

As she entered the throne room/main chamber of the SpaceBase, she felt White Comet's warmth in the back of her mind. I'm here with you, her Zord told her. Always.

"Ah, my White Ranger," Divatox 'welcomed' her. "I have some very special orders for you."

Morgan's eyes flicked to the Earth visible through the Space Balcony, and felt a sudden pang of homesickness. Havoc's voice reminded her of where she was, though. "You performed well fighting the Rangers this last time. Now it's time to get serious."

Serious? I don't like the sound of that. Morgan glanced at them both, fighting the fear that always touched her around them. "What do you want me to do?"

Divatox and Havoc shared a viscous glance. "Kill the Green Ranger."

All the blood drained from Morgan's face at Divatox's cold order. NO! She was about to say it out loud when White Comet spoke sharply to her.

Morgan, agree for now.

"I believe she is reluctant, dear sister," Havoc tapped his sword against one hand thoughtfully. "We can't have that, now can we?"

Divatox shook her head as she reached for the pain controls. Morgan spoke up quickly. "I'll do it. When do you want me to kill him?" I can't believe I just said that! Comet, you know I can't, I won't kill Carlos! Somewhere in the back of her mind, beyond where he could feel it, however, there was the panic that she could. And would.

Calm down, Morgan. The important thing at the moment is that they believe you will.

Morgan felt a rush of pain as Divatox turned the switch. She could tell the pirate queen enjoyed seeing her in pain. Luckily it wasn't as much as it could be; she had the strangest sense if that control was ever turned all the way up, it could be fatal. They can't do that. But if it came down to me killing Carlos or them killing me: I'd die first.

"Very good," Divatox told her. "We'll let you know when the time comes. When you go on your date with him tonight, find out everything you possibly can about him, learn anything you can get out of him about the Rangers. You'd better get back to Angel Grove, I'll call you when I want you."

Morgan teleported straight to Angel Grove, and made her way home almost in a daze. She must have said something sensible to her parents about why she was so late coming home from school, since they didn't give her any trouble about it. She found herself in her room and staring at herself in the mirror suddenly.

Things will be all right, Morgan, was White Comet's comment.

Comet, you know I can't do that to Carlos! I just can't!

You must get ready for your date with him, Morgan. You will have a much better time tonight if you are not thinking about Divatox and Havoc.

Morgan sighed and started to get ready. "Comet," she whispered softly as something occurred to you. "Divatox and I have a semi-link, she gives me orders in my mind. Could she feel us talking or something?"

No. Our bond is synonymous with the White Powers. All she senses is them in you when she touches your mind. Put yourself at ease. And the white dress would look the best on you.

Divatox shook her head. "Oh, you worry too much, dear brother! She'll obey, because if she doesn't, we'll kill her with pain! And she knows it!"

Havoc shrugged. "Yes. But what if she does turn against us?" he was somewhat surprised by his sister's venomous reply.

"Then she will learn the hard way that I am to be obeyed! Even at the cost of her life!"

Divatox threw herself into her throne and gazed petulantly at the Earth, at the world she wanted so much to conquer and despoil. And with my White Ranger to lead my armies, the Power Rangers will fall! Then Earth and all it's riches will be mine forever!

"Why do you want the Green Ranger killed, sister?" Havoc wondered. After all, the Red Ranger was the leader, and the Blue one was the brains of the outfit. Either of them made a much better target than the Green one.

Divatox grinned with such evil force it nearly shook the SpaceBase. "Because our little White Ranger likes him! If she kills him, then she will have proven herself our slave, and if she doesn't, I'll know her weakness, and will be able to purge it from her. I will have no weak warriors in my army!"

"Excellent!" What a mind his sister had!! What a mind! "The Green Ranger was the perfect target after all! This would make or break their Ranger, he decided. She would either kill: or suffer the consequences of not killing.

Either way, they won. That was the way General Havoc liked things.

You're going to be just fine. White Comet reassured her. She felt a little better, as it began to sink in more and more than no matter what now, she was going to always have someone with her. Being alone was never something she had to worry about again.

"Morgan!" her father's voice drifted upstairs. They'd been rather surprised to find out she had a date within two days of their arrival in Angel Grove, but she had reassured them frequently that Carlos was a very nice young man. "Your date is here!"

Quickly she headed downstairs, casting a quick glance at her outfit. She'd changed her mind four times about what she was going to wear, and finally settled on a pair of slightly fancy white jeans and a green blouse, with her flame-red hair pulled back to show off the collar somewhat. She didn't like to draw attention to it, but if she continually hid it, she reasoned, that might attract notice that she really didn't want. The best thing to do was act as if it were a normal part of her attire. Telling my parents I found it at a junk shop was the easy part. Getting them to understand why I don't take it off isn't all that fun.

"Hi, Carlos!" she smiled as he did a doubletake at the sight of her. "Dad, Mom, this is Carlos Valerte, he's in my homeroom at school and he's been showing me around town."

Mr. St. Clair nodded slowly. "Nice to meet you, Carlos. So, where are you two going tonight?" He was doing his 'large and impressive father' bit, something Morgan had seen him practicing in the years before he let her start dating. His first time being able to use it, too.

"To the movies, then out for some dinner," Carlos answered politely. "We might go for a walk after that." His eyes casually roamed around the living room they were standing in, then widened slightly as he saw a framed photo on the wall. "You know Tommy Oliver?" The picture was of the race-car driver leaning against his car, with Morgan standing next to him and looking quite happy there.

Morgan nodded. "He's my cousin. His mom and my mom are sisters. How do you know him?" This had to rank up as one of the major coincidences of all time; her cousin knew the guy that she was about to start dating!

"Friend of a friend," Carlos smiled a little; he still remembered being shocked that his soccer coach's friend was a Power Ranger. What a coincidence. Would've been nice if I knew Tommy had a cousin like her! Wonder if she's into martial arts like he is..

"Well, we'd better get moving," Morgan stepped closer to Carlos. "The movie starts in about half an hour. Bye, mom, bye, dad!" Moving perhaps slightly quicker than the situation called for, Morgan nudged Carlos on outside as her parents waved. As the door shut, she glanced at her friend. "Sorry about that. But if we stuck around much longer, Mom was going to haul out the camera, and I have no intentions of standing around posing all night!"

Morgan was feeling wonderful and at peace as they walked through the park. There hadn't been a twinge from either pain or pleasure, and she'd almost been able to forget who she was.

Carlos had never had such a good time on the few dates that he'd been on before this. He had no idea of Morgan was his 'soulmate', if such a thing existed, but he was fairly positive they were going to remain friends. If his Ranger-duties didn't get in the way.

"So, what do you think of Angel Grove?" Carlos asked. They had been fairly quiet as they walked; he wanted some kind of conversation going!

"It's an all right place," Morgan shrugged a little. "Kind of quiet, compared to what I've heard, though. I kind of got the impression you couldn't step outside your house without getting jumped by some monster or other."

If only you knew. He half-chuckled mentally. "Well, it's not quite that bad, but we do have some weird things going on sometimes."

Morgan opened her mouth with the intention of asking just what sort of weird things, when there was a slurping sound, and a half a dozen Piranatrons leaped up all around them. "Is this what you meant by weird?" Morgan shouted, controlling her instincts at once. What in the heck is going on here?

"Something like that!" Carlos told her, falling at once into a battle stance. "I'll take care of these things, you better run, Morgan!" A ranger's first instincts: protect civilians.

Do as he says, White Ranger..but don't run too far...I want you to watch this. Divatox's voice crackled in her mind, and Morgan nodded, though whether it was to her or to him she really had no idea. Moving as fast as she could, she dodged up behind a tree where she could see him fight, but he wouldn't see her. Watch, White Ranger. Divatox's slimy voice echoed in her mind with a sense of triumph. I could make you go out there right now, and morph in front of him. Do you think he'd be so nice to you if he knew that you're the White Ranger, the bane of his life? Would he smile at you the way he does if he knew that you're the one who has been trying to destroy him and his friends for the last two days, and who is going to keep on trying until she succeeds?

Morgan's hands clutched onto the tree bark as she stared at the fighting young man below. Her shoulders shook with fear and anger as she saw him kick, punch, throw, and flip in various fashions all over. The beautiful evening had been ruined...and all due to the fact she was the White Ranger. Yes, it's your fault. If you were just some normal human girl, I wouldn't have bothered. You forgot, White Ranger that it is your task to spy and learn for me. You tried to be what you are not, and I will not have that happen again. Date him, it will give you a fine cover, but do not love him. You have no need for love. I tell you this now, once we rule this planet, you will be the chief of my army and will be feared all over the world. Now won't that be nice? At those words, Morgan felt a rush of pleasure through her. A tear worked it's way out of one eye; she was no longer certain if she felt the pain and pleasure because of the implant, or because of her own emotions.

Do I even have emotions anymore? she wondered. She knew she could be afraid; she knew she could hate; hate and fear were words and emotions she associated quite strongly with her masters. But love, friendship, compassion, kindness...those were things that she was punished for.

Morgan... White Comet's soothing voice startled her. Calm yourself. I will help you escape them. Trust in me, and trust in yourself. You can do this.

Divatox's mental words overrode Comet's briefly, and once more Morgan felt fear that she would somehow detect the link between herself and her Zord. Start running back to him. Look agitated and afraid. You'll see why. Morgan moved at once, feeling another twinge of shame at how absolute her obedience was these days. As she moved, she wasn't surprised to see a second group of Piranatrons pop into existence behind her.

Carlos glanced up just in time to see one of the Piranatrons grab Morgan by the arm, spin her around, and rake a claw towards her face. Her own hands flew up quickly and seized the creature by the wrists, but as she held it, a second one seized her wrists and appeared to be jerking her towards it. "I don't think so, creeps!" he growled, launching into a kick that knocked both the fish-things away from Morgan. The whole group backed off as he did this, then vanished.

"Morgan!" he turned quickly to her. "Are you okay, did that thing hurt you?" She was holding her wrist...he started to reach out to check it, when she jerked away quickly.

"No, I'm fine, Carlos," she muttered. Stupid thing cracked a bone, I think! "I think I should go home...it's getting kind of late." As was her usual fashion, she didn't wait for him to say anything else, but quickly started away, almost, but not quite, running. Carlos stared after her, then sighed.

"Thanks a lot, Divatox."

You're right. Rangers are drawn to their Ranger colors to wear. White Comet told her. You've noticed the others wear their respective colors when not morphed.

Won't they be able to figure out who I am then?

No. She could sense her Zord's slight humor. You see, there is a sort of blocking field, for lack of a better term, around a morphed Ranger and an unmorphed one. Unless someone directly sees you teleport or morph, no one will make the connection. Their own minds will make up the explanation for why you consistently wear white, T.J. wears red, Ashley yellow, etc., etc. Your secret will be safe.

I wish I didn't have this secret. She sighed a little as she continued to mall-trawl. But then again, if I didn't, I wouldn't have you.

I am glad we have each other. White Comet was fast on his way to become Morgan's best, and only, friend, she knew. She didn't care if he was a car or not, it didn't matter to her. He knew the inside of her mind, as no one else could.

"Hey, Morgan!" she looked up to see Ashley and Cassie sitting at a table and waving at her. She waved back before thinking about it, then wished she hadn't.

I can't be friends with them! They're. . .

They're people, Morgan, just like you are. Be calm. Once again, she was grateful to White Comet. "Hello," she went over to them.

Cassie smiled at her. "How was your date with Carlos last night?" The black-haired Ranger was quite curious as to what had happened; Carlos hadn't told them anything when they'd met up earlier.

Morgan shrugged a little. "It was all right." Thank goodness the Power heals even me quickly. I wouldn't want to have to explain how I got hurt. Or that I did get hurt.

"Has Carlos asked you to the Halloween dance yet?" Ashley asked warmly. She was feeling quite happy; of all people, T.J. had asked her to the Halloween dance. She had never really thought that hard about him as a boyfriend-type, but she knew he was a truly nice guy. Maybe they could make something work together the way she and Carlos hadn't..

"Not yet," Morgan felt a sinking on the inside. Another date? Something else to be ruined by the monsters she had to work for...and naturally, she had to go along with it. "But he probably will. We had a pretty good time last night, really."

The three of them talked for a few minutes, then Cassie noticed something. "That's a really beautiful collar you've got there. Family heirloom? I've never seen you take it off."

Morgan stiffened just a little, then smiled. "Nope, just something I picked up at a junk shop," she said casually. "I happened to like the look of it and got it."

"It looks nice," Cassie said, making room for Morgan to sit between them as she looked she was getting a little tired of standing. "What sort of dress are you going to wear to the dance? Presuming Carlos asks you?"

The three Ranger girls, two good, one forced to be evil, chatted about dresses, boys, and other subjects dear to their hearts for almost an hour. Morgan managed to relax, even knowing at any moment she could get the signal to have to kill Carlos. All of her nerves came back, though, when Ashley asked her, "Want to come to the beach with us? We're supposed to meeting the guys there in about half an hour."

Morgan managed to put forth an effort and not stutter out an immediate denial. White Comet, who had been silent since she'd started talking to the girls, spoke up suddenly in her thoughts again. Why not go, Morgan?

I've risked enough just hanging out with them here! What if Divatox and Havoc seeing me having such a good time?

Take a chance.

"A. . .all right," Morgan finally said. "Just let me drop by my place and pick up my bathing suit." Let's hope they leave me alone. One afternoon to myself, without them forcing me to do anything, that's what I ask. Just that.

"No problem," Cassie smiled. "Let's go."

He looked at his friend. "I'm not that bad, am I?"

"Let's just say, you'd better wipe that off your chin before she gets over here! I don't think girls like guys who drool in public," T.J. advised. Carlos quickly checked to see if he was drooling, then came over to Morgan.

"Nice to see you here," he managed to say without stuttering or tripping over himself the closer he got to her. She glanced at him with a casual eye, seemingly unmoved by his outfit of nothing but swimtrunks.

Oh, my God, he's perfect! I didn't think anyone could look that good, but he DOES! "Well, the girls asked me," she glanced towards Ashley and Cassie. "And I didn't have anything else to do, so I came along."

"You look great," he said, eyeing her as discreetly as he could. She looked as if she really had taken no damage the previous night; she must have just been freaked out by the Piranatrons. He made a note to talk to her about it as soon as they were alone. "Look, I'm going to go take a swim. Want to join me?"

She shook her head. "Maybe later. I just want to soak up some sun for now."

"No problem," he smiled, then headed for the ocean as Morgan found an empty spot and sunned herself. She sat on the beach quietly, watching the play of the sun on the water and sand. If it weren't for the implant in my head, this would be a perfect day, she mused to herself. As always, White Comet was there with it's own comments.

Just enjoy the day as it comes. Be a teenager, not a Ranger, good or evil, today, Morgan. Look, Carlos is coming back from his swim. The sentient Zord could see through her eyes and hear through her ears; their telepathic link provided him with full sensory capabilities. Morgan looked up, and involuntarily caught her breath.

Standing tall and bronzed in the warm California sunlight, wearing only green swim trunks, Carlos stood a few feet away, shaking the water out of his hair. His chest gleamed with what was either water or sweat; Morgan couldn't think clearly enough to be sure at the moment. Every sense she possessed was focusing totally on him.

Her eyes drank in his handsome face and muscled chest and stomach. Her ears listened to the sound of sand falling from his feet as he stepped closer to her. Her nose caught what could only be described as his scent. Her hands itched to hold him close to her. Her tongue longed to join with her lips in a kiss that would go on forever. . .

Her entire body stiffened as a surge of pain swept through her. Divatox obviously wasn't going to let her enjoy the day completely, at least not without a reminder of who she was forced to serve. She could only hope she'd be permitted to go live for a while without having to fulfill her heinous orders.

"Morgan?" Carlos flopped next to her. "Are you okay, you look kind of...." His words failed him, and he flopped a hand in the air, hoping that got some of his message across. She smiled faintly.

"I'm okay. Just thinking. You look really nice." Morgan winced internally at that. She sounded like some ten year old bubble-brain! Okay, got to show I've got a functioning brain in here. Why should I wait around for him to ask me? She glanced over at him and smiled. "I hear there's a Halloween Dance next week at school. Would you happen to have a date yet?"

"Yeah," Carlos was looking around for Morgan; she'd suggested they meet at the dance rather than he pick her up. The place was decorated for Halloween, with people in weird costumes everywhere. Cassie was leaning against the counter in a long pink gown and a crown, representing a queen. Ashley was clad all in black, with a yellow sash around her waist, doing her very best ninja impression. Justin was a miniature Abraham Lincoln, while T.J. had pulled out all the stops and probably a hefty chunk of cash to pull off a very reasonable copy of Lord Zedd's look. Carlos himself was dressed up in a costume that made them all do a doubletake: he was dressed up as his own TurboZord, Desert Thunder. "Looks. . .fabulous," the slightly dazed sound in his voice clued in his friends that Morgan had arrived. Following his gaze, they looked over to see Morgan entering the room.

She had refused to tell them what she was going to come dressed as, wanting it to be a surprise. Though they didn't know it, the way she was dressed now had been dictated, and given to her, by Divatox herself. They had seen it before, but never had it quite look as good as Carlos felt it did on her. It wasn't a costume that really inspired romance or love, but rather, a slight amount of fear.

Morgan was dressed as Divatox.

"Hi, Carlos," she said, almost shyly as she reached the small group. In the last week, she had fought them on a regular basis as White Ranger. She and Carlos had went out walking a couple of more times, but she had used each time as a chance to pick through his brain over what kind of battle techniques each of them used and what sort of weaknesses they had. She incorporated all of that information, plus things she saw when she hung out with them at the Youth Center and saw them sparring together there. It was a rough call on which side was winning, but the forces of evil had a clear advantage.

"Hi, Morgan," he was just as shy as she was. They stared awkwardly at one another for a moment, then were both spared from having to make small talk as the band struck up another song. "Would you care to dance?" he asked. Morgan smiled and nodded.

"I'd love to," she almost murmured. Hand in hand they headed out to the dance floor. T.J. turned to Ashley, smiling.

"What about you?" he asked his date. "Want to dance?" Soon they too were out there, twirling around happily together. Cassie and Justin watched them for a few minutes; both of them dateless. Justin was feeling slightly out of place, himself. He'd only come because T.J. had insisted, he didn't want any of the Rangers being left on their own if at all possible.

He was so intent on watching the others, the girl next to him had to ask twice before he heard her. "Do you want to dance?" she asked, tapping her foot a little impatiently. "Am I going to have to scream to get your attention, Justin?"

"Gia?" she was in his karate class, and he'd seen her around the Youth Center a few times. Blonde hair and blue eyes, she was his height and age, and he guessed she was pretty. "Um, you want to dance with me?"

"No, I just came over here and asked you that twice because I wouldn't dance with you if my life depended on it," she snapped sarcastically. "Oh, if I wait around for you to answer, I'll be standing here all night!"

Before he had a chance to accept or decline, she had pulled him out to the dance floor and started to move with the music. After a moment of disorientation, Justin started to dance as well, and found himself having a good time, to his surprise.

Cassie watched with glittering, almost envious eyes. Everyone else had someone, even Justin! He was with Gia, T.J. and Ashley were together, and Carlos and Morgan looked almost as if they glued together at the hip! Even if he were here, the Phantom wouldn't-- "Excuse me?" A quiet voice broke into her thoughts, and she looked up to see someone clad as a vampire standing in front of her. "Excuse me, would you like to dance?" He smiled quietly, and she found herself smiling back.

"I'd love to," was her reply, and took his hand as they went onto the dance floor. Each of the Rangers was content, happy, glad that for once, everything seemed to be going all right. Each of them was having one of the best times of their lives, including Morgan. She refused to let herself think about the fact she hadn't as yet been ordered to carry out the death sentence on Carlos. What worried her, when she let it, was that they hadn't told her to yet.

Of course, the Piranatrons that appeared on the dance floor a few moments later, along with Rygog and Elgar, didn't exactly care they'd just ruined one of the best times of quite a few lives.

Carlos looked around, catching the eyes of the other Rangers. He wondered where the White Ranger was, if she was going to be in on this attack. That doesn't matter, we don't WANT her here, that's for sure. But we do need to get away from here and morph. If they start causing trouble. . .

The Piranatrons started trashing everything in sight even as Carlos thought that, sending people scattering in all directions. Morgan dodged quickly away from Carlos, shouting out, "Let's get out of here!" as she did so. He started to come after her, but she quickly twisted under a Piranatron and was lost to his sight. With a slight sigh, he ran as well, but his flight was just a subterfuge to get to the other Rangers. He looked around as he dodged Piranatrons and henchmutants alike, trying to find Morgan again. I don't see her anywhere. I hope she's all right. We've got Piranatrons to deal with now. They better not hurt her! His heart calmed as he spied her running quickly out of a door. Glad she's all right.

"Is everyone out of the Youth Center?" T.J. asked as they grouped in their usual corner. Justin peeked back around and scanned quickly to make sure no one, especially Gia, was in sight.

"All clear, Teej," he reported a moment later. I hope Gia's okay. I'll have to find her later, make sure she's all right. But for now, we've got fishheads to kick around!

A morphing moment later, the Power Rangers were in the center of the dance floor, and in the middle of a fight. As soon as they got out there, things started to move very fast; a group of Piranatrons and Elgar cut Carlos away from the others almost at once, keeping him herded into a corner. Ashley called over to T.J., "Something's wrong, they're keeping Carlos over there without us!"

"Tell me about it!" the Red Ranger groaned as he was thrown back by a couple of the fishfaced warriors. "We've got to get to him!"

"How?" Justin asked as he kicked one away from him. "There's almost a full army between us and him!"

"And it's about to get even worse, Blue Ranger!" They weren't all that surprised to see Havoc appear between them and Carlos, with a strange device in his hands. "I think this should keep you out of the way until we've done what we're here to do!"

He set the device on the floor, touching a button on it. A wave of greenish-gold light washed out, circling the group of them quickly. T.J. raised his fists and pounded against the light-barrier, then growled. "Whatever this thing is, it's keeping us in here!"

"That's the plan!" Havoc chuckled, then turned to where Carlos stood, held tightly in the grip of a half-dozen Piranatrons. "You are much too overdressed for this, Green Ranger." He motioned briefly with his sword, and Carlos winced as he felt his connection to the Power briefly interrupted and he was force-demorphed.

Cassie winced as she saw her friend being robbed of his protection. I wish the Phantom Ranger was here. We sure could use his help. She had lost track of the man she'd been dancing with in the confusion; but she trusted he'd gotten away. Her eyes widened suddenly as a very familiar ripple in the air appeared before her. "Phantom....?"

Her question was answered as the armored Ranger came into full sight, and started pummeling the Piranatrons as if it were going out of style right before them. She stared hungrily at him, wanting more than ever before to find out just who it was that was behind that mask of his. I'm glad he's here, but I'm just as glad the White Ranger isn't! That maniac is the last thing we need now!

Unfortunately, that maniac was the next one of Divatox's minions to arrive on the scene, and she appeared less than a foot away from Carlos.

Then she'd seen T.J., Carlos, Justin, Ashley, and Cassie all converging on a spot just out of her sight. She hadn't been able to see them, but she had heard plainly what was going on. When the Power Rangers came running back out, her jaw had almost hit the floor.I was dancing with a Power Ranger? Oh, WOW!

She was going to go help, when an icy voice stopped her in her tracks. "White Ranger, just where do you think you're going?" she didn't know who it was, but a quick look around showed it wasn't talking to her! She didn't recognize the low voice that spoke in response; indeed she could hardly hear anything they said! But the first person she heard loud and clear.

"You have your orders. Now morph, and go kill the Green Ranger! Elgar and the Piranatrons have him cornered over there. I don't want any slip-ups, girl. You know what will happen to you if you fail!"

Gia tried to get a bit closer, maybe see who this White Ranger was. She'd heard there was a new Ranger in town, one who served the space pirate Divatox who was the latest in the line of attempts to conquer Earth. That was probably who the voice she heard clearly was.

There was a flash of white light, then she heard a low, satisfied chuckle. "Very good. You obey orders, and you'll be well-rewarded. Now, go!" A second flash filled the air, and Gia could see the White Ranger now standing in front of Carlos. She looked back to where the voice had been coming from, and listened with all her hearing, trying to see if Divatox, or whoever it was, was still there. When she couldn't hear anything, she turned her attention back to the Rangers. She had to know what happened.

"All right, White Ranger," Elgar tried to look important. "You heard Divatox's orders. Now, get rid of him!"

Get rid. . .as in kill? Oh, this isn't good! I need the others, and now! Carlos thought to himself, glancing to see the others still behind the shield, with the Phantom fighting through Piranatrons trying to get to either the device or Carlos himself.

The White Ranger stepped closer to him. He reached for his communicator, only to find himself seized by a half dozen Piranatrons. "Oh, don't you believe in a fair fight?" he snarled.

"Nope, not really!" Elgar said, pushing the White Ranger a bit closer and shoving his sword into her hand. "Go on, girl, do your job!"

She looked long and steadily at him, then back at Elgar. Carlos would have sworn she was. . .hesitating. She took another step towards him as he struggled in the grip of the Piranatrons, then stopped. She pulled the blade back and started it towards him.

Carlos watched as it sped downwards towards his neck, he was helpless to stop it. The Rangers couldn't get to him, there was nothing he could do as death raced towards him.

And stopped an inch from his neck.

He stared up at the White Ranger, who had halted the death blow. Oh, God. . .the control that she has to have to do that! She could've killed me! Why didn't she?

"No," the first word he had ever, that any of them, had ever heard her say. "I won't do it. I will not kill him."

Just as the words fell from her lips, she dropped to her knees, holding her head and screaming in what appeared to be raw pain! "No!" she hissed. "I won't do it!"

In a blast of light, Divatox stood there, only inches away from both the Green and White Rangers. She grabbed her servant by one shoulder and forced her head up. "You will kill him! I have given you an order! Kill him or die yourself! Those are your only options!"

"I don't care!" the White Ranger told her, and Carlos was surprised to hear total conviction in her voice. She really would not kill him! "I would rather die than serve you one moment longer!"

Divatox growled as she threw the White Ranger into a group of Piranatrons. "There are things worse than death, White Ranger. And you will learn them all!"

Before any of the Rangers could do anything about it, Divatox, Elgar, Rygog, the Piranatrons, and the White Ranger all vanished. Carlos heard a faint crackle as the Phantom finally destroyed the device, and stared at the others as they joined him. "What was that all about?" T.J. wondered as they demorphed.

"I don't know," Carlos shook his head. "But we've got to get to the Power Chamber. Something's up with the White Ranger, and I want to know what it is." She defied Divatox to spare my life, and she looked like something was hurting her. Badly. I have to help her. She spared me. It's only right. If she doesn't want to work for Divatox, I'll do everything I can to get her free.

Cassie looked around, wanting to ask the Phantom if he would go with them. "Phantom..?" she breathed out the word in shock as she realized something. "He's gone again!"

"We'll find him later, if we can," T.J. told her. "Right now, we've got other things to deal with." In their usual rainbow of color, they vanished.

Gia stepped out onto the dance floor wide-eyed. Justin's the Blue Ranger. He sure gets BIG when he morphs. No way am I telling them I know. This is gonna be my little secret, for as long as I can keep it, anyway. She headed home, hoping that things would be all right for all the Rangers, especially Justin. She would keep his secret, even though he didn't know she knew it.

He was mistaken as Alpha turned to them, waving a sheaf of paper happily. "Yo-yo-yo, Rangers, good news at last!"

"What is it, Alpha?" Justin ran over to their metallic friend. "What did you find out?"

"Rangers, it appears we know now why the White Ranger serves Divatox," Dimitria told them. "This is more heinously evil than anything any prior evil overlords have tried. Always they resorted to spells, incantations, and potions to do their work. Not this."

T.J. looked up at their mentor. "What is it, Dimitria? How is Divatox controlling her?"

"And why isn't it working now?" Carlos wondered.

"Many thousands of years ago, General Havoc invented a way to control organic life by the simplest means of them all: pain and pleasure. It is a device planted within the brain of the subject, and connected through microwaves to a controlling mechanism Havoc also designed. In essence, what has happened is that Divatox and Havoc placed this device within a human woman, and have used the pain it causes within her to force her to attack you. I would imagine when she is obedient, she is given pleasure, in a form of training method." Dimitria explained. Carlos took a deep breath, he had never imagined it was that. Then he remembered what he'd seen, how when the White Ranger had refused to kill him, she'd clutched her head. . ..

"It's all making sense," he murmured. "Them ordering her to kill me must've been the last straw, she just wouldn't do it." I wonder why they wanted to get rid of me. All I do is fight. I'm not a leader like T.J. or a brain like Justin.

Cassie stepped up. "How can we help her, Dimitria? We can't just let Divatox and Havoc kill her! It wouldn't be right! She risked her life to save Carlos!"

Dimitria looked seriously at them all. "Rangers, Divatox's SpaceBase is impenetrable to our scans, and we cannot teleport there. We cannot rescue the White Ran