“Wes is going to die,” Alex said and turned away from her while biting his lip. “ . . . and so will Dave.” He stared at her vacant face as her eyes continued to stare past him, her breaths silent.

“You’re lying,” she whispered breathlessly as looked away from him. “You’re lying to me, Alex.” He gave no immediate response. Her face broke down into cascades of tears. “Alex, please tell me you’re lying.”

He bowed his head, unable to look Jen in the eye without the response she wanted to hear. “I . . . can’t.” he whispered. He watched as Jen put her arms around herself and sat down on the bench by the wall. She stared off into the distant setting sun and followed its light to the darkness beneath.

He heard her swallow heard, knowing she was fighting the sensation to break. “Is there anything we can do to . . .” she trailed off as she continued to hug herself tightly, chills engulfed her body.

The Commander bit his lip. “I don’t know. From the looks of it, the damage has already been done. It’s just a matter of time.” Alex said, but Jen showed no signs of hearing him. He walked over to her and sat next to her. “Believe me, Jen, if there was anything I could do to make the pain go away—” he reached for her hand, but she pulled away. “Right,” he muttered.

“Guys!” Alex heard Chip calling from within. “Alex, we just received a message from Kane. Everyone’s requesting that you be down there before they play it.” His eyes caught a glimpse of Jen who sat quietly on the bench and stared. “Is everything . . . ?”

“Fine,” Jen cut him off immediately. “Everything’s fine. You go ahead, Alex, I’ll be down in a few minutes.” She gave the young Yellow Ranger a reassuring smile and turned back to the setting sun. Something in Chip’s mind told him something was off. It wasn’t like her— she would jump up whenever something arose, but now, she sat quietly and simply stared.

Alex quickly pushed Chip out of the way and back into the home. He gave Jen one last glance, then began his walk towards the living room where the message would be playing. He didn’t need to hear it to know what the message would be about.

Once Alex and Chip were around the corner, a figure slowly immerged from behind his standpoint, where he was on his way to finding them. He had just returned from his ride around the block when word of the video came in and went upstairs to get Jen and Alex, only to hear the deadly fate the Commander revealed. Tommy didn’t move very far, and stood in both astonishment and sorrow by the news Alex told Jen.

Making sure the coast was clear; Tommy began to slowly walk towards the veranda where Jen sat. From his perch just before the doors he heard her quietly sobbing, curled up into a ball on the bench with her head in her knees. He swallowed hard and thought of something to say, but immediately shut his mouth. What words of comfort could he offer to a person who just found out everything in life that matters will soon be nothing but dust before their eyes?

He backed away from the door and began his walk downstairs to where the group had gathered around the computer monitor and listened to Kane’s message. Tommy stood in the back but his mind was elsewhere. He looked to Wes who kept turning his back, and Tommy knew who he was looking for. Dave stood by Wes’s side and followed the Red Ranger’s glance looking for Jen but again she was nowhere in the room. ‘For Christ’s sake, the boy is only ten . . .’ Tommy thought to himself. How could Alex live knowing that the boy he helped raise would soon perish?

He chewed his tongue in thought. He sighed and looked around the room once more. It was a crazy idea, he knew, but maybe they would have a chance . . . Once again he slowly exited towards his car in the driveway and started the engine. He drew in one last deep breath, put the car in reverse and drove onto the streets. Exiting onto the turnpike, he began his journey towards the city of Angel Grove.

--

The sun had left Jen in complete darkness, a world she had recently become familiar with. No light shown over the horizon and a cooling summer breeze floated gently over her, cooling her face which felt like it was on fire. Her heart ached as she drew in deep, filling breaths to try and calm herself. They had cheated destiny once before, what were the chances they could do it again? That single question replayed over and over in her mind as the sun fell to night’s black spell.

“I can’t do it,” she gently whispered. “Not again. Please, not again.” Her eyes stung from crying.

“Jen?” Wes whispered gently as he walked out onto the veranda and saw her shadow sitting on the ground. She quickly dried her eyes and became thankful it was dark outside. He sat down next to her and drew her against him in a gentle hug. “You didn’t come downstairs, is everything okay?”

Jen stood up and walked away from his open arms. “Everything’s fine, Wes.” Her voice was hoarse from crying.

He stood up slowly in confusion. “You always turn me away when something isn’t fine.” He turned in front of her. “What’s wrong? Don’t shut me out, Jen, talk to me.”

“We have nothing to talk about,” she said quietly and left Wes standing outside in astonishment.

He stood silent outside, running the words from her through his head. None of it made sense. What did Alex say to her that had upset her like this? Shaking his head Wes left the veranda and headed for his office to sit and think.

From the bedroom, Jen closed the door and slid down as trembles overtook her body. She wanted to be alone— doing this would make it easier, she told herself that over and over, and the more she repeated it, the more she wanted to run downstairs and tell Wes. But doing that she knew would set him off and send panic throughout the house. This was her only option, to push him away, because in the next few days, she wouldn’t have anyone to cry to.

--

Tensions were high as the sun rose steadily over the horizon of Silver Hills, its golden fingers stretching from the sea and beyond to the sleeping city. Slowly it crept to the Collins mansion and slipped between the curtains of Wes’s bedroom, and into Jen’s eyes. She had been up since three that morning, her mind racing.

Today’s the day— the day when Kane would make his final move, and the day Jen would find out if her life was really worth living; everyone knew that as the mansion began to wake up. In the kitchen, the coffee maker turned on and began to bubble and churn. Doors opened and closed quietly as some of the assistants awoke and began their daily routine, unaware of the events that would later take place.

Wes slept quietly next to her. They hadn’t said a word to each other in two and a half days, not even last night when they made love. She wanted to hold him close, but Alex’s words lingered again in her mind.

For a moment she closed her eyes and pretended it wasn’t happening— that any moment she was going to wake up and discover this whole war between them and Kane was nothing but a bad dream. However as many times as she tried to wake up, she found herself still in the same trance she had been in two days ago.

Jen quietly moved the sheets away from her naked body and grabbed the clothes she had carelessly thrown down the night before, and then proceeded to the bathroom. After dressing herself again she stood over the sink and stared at herself in the mirror and bent her head down. Grabbing two palms full of water she splashed it on her face and sighed.

“Today’s the day, Jen,” she whispered to herself. “Do or die. It’s your choice.” Jen sighed once more and let another handful of water drip down her body, down her neck and back, her chest and stomach. It soothed her slightly; relaxing the muscles that had tensed up the night before, knowing what events would soon follow.

The clock beside her blinked quarter to five as she exited the bedroom and quietly made her way down to her son’s bedroom. She turned the knob and entered Dave’s room, where a familiar snoring filled the room. He looked so peaceful in the growing dawn that Jen didn’t have the heart to wake him. As quietly as she came, she exited the doorway and walked down the hallway towards the kitchen. The soft scent of French vanilla filled the foyer and tickled her nose.

Floating down the stairs she followed the scent and arrived at the coffee maker, and proceeded to pour herself a cup. Dawn had just began to break over the horizon as the floor was covered in a pink-orange glow. With her cup of coffee in hand Jen walked towards the light and onto the porch to watch the sunrise.

Jen sat down on one of the lounge chairs and sipped her coffee. She loved sunrises probably more than anything. The dawn always seemed so peaceful, so calming that no matter what was going on, the entire earth just stopped to see the sun break over the horizon. Swallowing another mouthful Jen sat silently and tried to push everything out of her mind, but found the task difficult by its standards. After today, who knew what the next sunset would look like, if there would be another?

On the other side of the house, Tommy moved slowly from his bed. Like Jen, he too had had a sleepless night. Today was the day when life as they all knew to exist ceased by the hand of a madman. He drew in a deep breath and stood. The light of the sun bathed him gently as he moved from the bed and began his trek downstairs to grab a cup of coffee.

Sipping the black liquid he sighed and sat Jen sitting on the veranda and felt a tug at his heart. Tommy made his way over towards the doorway and slid it open.

“This seat taken?” He asked. Jen looked at him and moved over giving Tommy a place to sit. “Beautiful morning, isn’t it?”

Jen nodded. “Yeah, it is.” She stirred her coffee.

Tommy bit his tongue. “You scared?”

“To death, honestly.” Jen swallowed hard. “Who knows when everything you love could be—”

“Jen I don’t think you’ll lose them, honestly I don’t.” Tommy watched as her head snapped around and stared at him. “I overheard you and Alex talking the other day, and I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”

The Lieutenant shook her head. “It’s okay, Tommy. At least now I’m not the only one who heard it.” Again, Jen was silent for a few moments. “A part of me doesn’t know whether to believe him, or not. I’ve known Alex for years, and he would never lie to me.”

“He also doesn’t seem the type that would drop such news like that. Maybe he said it out of spite.”

“Out of spite? What does Alex have to be spiteful about?”

Tommy rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell me you haven’t seen it, Jen, he still loves you. Everyone can see that.”

Jen’s shoulders dropped. “I know, but that part of our lives is over.”

He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Not for him. It’s not over, and if Alex loves you as much as I think he does, he wouldn’t want to see you unhappy. Wes and Dave the two greatest things in your life, right?” Jen nodded. “Then something tells me that they won’t perish. I don’t think Alex would allow it, regardless of what the timeline says.”

“Then what will happen, Tommy? You’ve fought wars like this, what’s always the outcome? I’ve fought in battles like this, and for the first time, I don’t know what will happen.” He saw tears swelling in her eyes.

Tommy cocked his head. “We’ve all fought in wars like this, and we all know that someone gets hurt, one way or the other. In the world we want to belong to, a happy ending where no one gets hurt is the outcome we get, but what reality brings us sucks.”

“I . . . I can’t lose them. If I do, I’ve got nothing left to live for.” Jen said and looked down at the ground again.

“I know. I’ve said the same thing.” He quieted himself down and sighed. Knowing the next move, Tommy stood up. “I’ll let you be; we all have things we need to get done. Keep your head up, Jen, things will turn out okay.”

“I hope you’re right, Tommy.” She sighed again. “I hope you’re right.” He smiled gently as she sun rose completely and rested on the watery horizon before moving higher into the sky.

--

Dave sat quietly in his room looking through the photo album Wes had given him a few weeks ago, of Jen’s journey to the past for the first time. It made him smile to see his mother so happy, and above all, she was as radiant as ever. One picture made him laugh— when they were cleaning the clock tower after they arrived from the future. Wes was juggling dirty cloths over the floor Jen had finished cleaning and she was furious. He turned the page to see the picture of the clock tower after it was cleaned up. The picture below put yet another smile on the boy’s face. Wes held Jen in his arms in the park while Katie and Trip made faces at them.

“Whatcha looking at?” Wes asked and sat down on the floor next to the boy.

“Pictures, from the album you gave me.” Dave turned another page. “Mom looks so happy in these photos, Why does she look so sad now?”

Wes sighed. “I’ve been asking myself the same question, but I’m pretty sure I know why.” Dave urged him on for the answer. “You see, your mother and me could never be together.”

“Why?” Dave protested loudly.

“You were born into a world that I can never be apart of. Jen and I live a thousand years apart, and the only thing we have that keeps us connected is you.”

“But you love her, don’t you?”

“Very much, yes.”

“Then why can’t you be together? It’s not right that time is the only thing keeping you two apart.” Dave closed the book and set it next to him. “I live a thousand years away too, and that means I’ll have to leave too. I don’t want to leave, I love it here. I don’t want to leave you.” He curled up angrily against the wall.

Wes tried to think of a response but none came to mind. “I . . .”

“Wes?” asked Trip’s small voice. He slowly opened the door with a distraught look upon his face. “It’s time. Kane has sent another message that he’s attacking at dusk. We’re all getting ready downstairs.”

The clock in Dave’s room blinked five past five. Something tugged at Wes’s heart. “Right. I’ll be down in a minute.” He reached over and kissed his son’s forehead. “Stay here, and stay safe. We’ll be back soon.”

Wes stood and followed Trip downstairs to where the Rangers all stood— some in uniform; others in casual attire, and prepped their weapons. No one spoke as gun barrels were cleaned and the click of clips opened and closed with each loaded weapon. As if in a daze he walked to where Lucas was cleaning his weapon and picked up the red colored blaster. Reaching for a cloth be wiped the dust that had accumulated on the blaster’s tip.

Looking up he saw Jen standing outside again, and watched the sun as it began to set. He hadn’t heard anything from her today, not even a good morning. Judging by the way she stood, the angle of her head, he knew something was wrong; he had known it since two days ago when she was sitting on the veranda crying. Wes sighed and was about to walk outside when he saw Alex walk towards her and place his hands on her shoulders. She turned around and drew him into a tight hug and sighed.

He then turned around and began to walk towards the house with Jen in trail. Opening the door he slipped through and sighed. Looking towards the horizon, and drew in a deep breath.

“We’ve all come to a point in our lives where we think we can’t do anymore, where we want to quit. Today, I ask you for one final battle, to end the war once and for all. Call upon your colors once more and help us to fight for peace. This war is dangerous, I call tell you that much. However if you choose to fight, I leave this decision up to you. Those who do not wish to fight; you may leave without any judgment.” Alex held his breath to see the same seventeen Rangers standing before him. “Let’s move out, then, the night comes fast.”

Grabbing equipment and weapons the Rangers piled into numerous cars that drove away once filled to the maximum. As Wes and Cole threw their equipment into the back of Wes’s truck, he caught a glimpse of Jen and Dave at the door and sighed. Releasing his things from his hands he walked over to where Jen stood with her head down.

“Jen,” he said and pulled her hand towards the side of the house, not giving her a chance to escape. Jen turned and placed her back towards the house and tried to avoid him but found no means to. “What’s wrong, Jen, and don’t lie to me. You haven’t said a word to me in almost three days. What the hell is wrong?”

Jen immediately tried to push him back. “Wes, please, this isn’t the place or the time—”

“Yes it is, Jen!” He slammed his hand against the side of the house. “Every battle we fought, every time we had a reason to fight, I had something to fight for. Please, Jen, give me another reason to fight.”

She bit her lip. “Fight for everyone, our team, your friends; fight for Dave, fight for me.” He felt her hand tremble. “Fight for your life, Wes, because if you die, I won’t have anything left to fight for.” Jen left as tears streamed down her face and she got into her car and drove off, leaving Wes confused. She knew something was going to happen . . . was he to die in this fight? Was that what Alex had told her?

“Wes, let’s get moving!” Nick called out. Shaking off the shock Wes walked over to his car and started the engine while Nick, Xander, Cole and Vida piled in and began their drive to where columns of black smoke were seen rising on the horizon of the setting sun.

--

Kane smiled triumphantly as he unleashed yet another barrage of lasers into a building, sending people running for the hills. Healthy, healed and royally pissed off was what fueled his rage. He looked towards Samira who also looked much better than she did a few weeks ago. It was true, that rest and relaxation can cure any illness.

“Here come the troops,” he said and turned to the street. “Right on schedule.”

Morphed and ready, both the Time Force and Mystic Force Rangers pulled up and dismounted their vehicles. One by one they walked towards where Kane and Samira stood with confident grins on their faces, and tall shadows from the setting sun behind them.

“Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity, and so we ask ourselves: will our actions echo across centuries? Will strangers hear our names and wonder that we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved?” Kane called out as they approached him cautiously. The smile on his face increased. “Odysseus said the same thing before Troy burned to the ground. Now I repeat those words to you all. Today is the day when the strong city walls fall from the inside out.”

Jen stepped forward holding her weapon out. “We won’t let you get that far, Kane, even if you have to go through all of us.”

He looked towards the setting sun, and a mysterious grin spread. “If that’s the way you wish to play it, we’ll go by your standards, Lieutenant, but we’ll play by my rules.” He held up a remote and pressed a button. Out of no where the ground beneath them began to crumble. “Rule number one, we play on my grounds.”

“It’s a trap, get out of there!” Kira’s voice came other their headsets. But it was too late— as fast as they tried to run the ground imploded beneath their feet and send the Rangers falling down beneath the ground and into deep, descending darkness . . .