First Light
by Starhawk

She knew she should get up, but convincing herself to actually do it was another matter. She had spent a good part of yesterday afternoon in one of the Aquitian battle simulations, and despite Aquitar's relatively peaceful history, the training sims were as harsh as anything she'd gone up against on Earth.

Cassie rolled over, squinting in the dim blue glow that emanated from the single window. They weren't far enough under the ocean that sunlight didn't reach them, and the illumination from the transparent citydomes bathed most habitable locations on Aquitar in a constant muted radiance. Gazing out at the steady traffic to and from the command center dome, she tugged her pillow a little closer and snuggled deeper into the blankets on Saryn's bed.

She smiled, remembering Billy's hesitant question that first day. "Will you, uh, be wanting your own accommodations?"

Somewhat overwhelmed by the unfamiliarity of this alien planet, she had said yes automatically. And when Saryn had been busy in the command center until later than she could keep her eyes open, she had retreated to the room Billy had shown her to sleep. It had been strange and more than a little lonely, and she had had to remind herself that she had chosen to come here.

The next morning her misgivings had only increased. She had not had the faintest idea where to go, or even how to access the computer system to find out something as simple as what time it was. Luckily, Billy had found her just as she stepped out into the hall, and he had kindly invited her to join him and Cestria for breakfast.

Now she stretched, smiling again and very glad she had stuck those first couple of days out. She knew now that Cestria--and indeed all of the Aquitian Rangers, to varying degrees--was telepathic, and it had been she who sent Billy to find Cassie that morning. Those two had made her feel welcome when Saryn was too busy to really notice her, and they had not only answered her myriad questions but also taken time out of their own schedules to show her around.

And they had mysteriously disappeared that evening when Saryn finally removed himself from the command center long enough to take her aside. The first thing he had done was apologize, which had reassured her somewhat.

And he had proceeded to tell her. He had spent the rest of the evening with her, taking her out in one of the divers when he learned that she had already seen most of the Rangers' base. They had gone to one of the agricultural domes, a place that was, essentially, a very large underwater greenhouse, maintained to grow and supply food for Aquitar's many offworld visitors.

The dome had been deserted at that hour, and he had once more demorphed. They strolled hand in hand through the terrestrial environments, and he had explained as much of his position as she could stand, interrupted by numerous tangential explanations about organizations, League politics, and Ranger influence.

She had fallen asleep in his arms that night, more awed than ever by his offer to leave all this behind and stay with her on Earth.

Now, more than a week later, Cassie still couldn't bring herself to return home. Two more days, she knew, and she would *have* to go--school started on Wednesday, and somehow she didn't think Kaplan would take a little detail like being on another planet as an acceptable excuse for missing classes.

She sighed, reluctantly pushing the blankets away and sitting up. No time for lying around in bed. She would be alone again soon enough, and she wanted them to be together for as much time as he could spare in the meantime.

The floor was warm on her bare feet as she padded over to her duffel bag. She pulled on her jeans and pink t-shirt, untroubled that she'd been wearing them for the past three days. The Aquitian Rangers seemed to wear their uniform tunics as often as her team wore their flight suits, and she doubted anyone would notice her own clothes.

She ran her brush through her hair, slipping a headband on to hold it away from her face. She looked around, a slight smile on her face as she reflected that the room was far less neat than it had been a week ago. She hadn't brought much with her, but she had a habit of not putting anything away…

She shrugged, heading out into the corridor without a backward glance. He said he liked it that way, and she wasn't going to argue. She suspected he was only humoring her, but she would be gone soon enough and he could put the room back however he wanted it.

She sighed again without meaning to. She had no idea how she was going to readjust to Earth in general--and school in particular--after these wonderful days on Aquitar. She understood perfectly why Billy had come back… after all, everything he was living for was here.

The door from the control room to the hall in which the Rangers' quarters were located was locked open this early, so she peered in without having to do an ID check. Saryn was standing in front of the main viewscreen, talking--or arguing, it looked like--with someone she had come to recognize as Tobin, one of his partners in the leadership of the Frontier Defense.

She paused. The main screen had a fairly wide view, taking in most of the control room, and she wasn't sure it would be wise to have someone in civilian clothing wander through in the background.

Aura and Cetaci were there as well, off to one side. Cetaci was conferring with Zordon, but Aura looked up when Cassie appeared in the doorway. Noticing her hesitation, the Red Aquitian Ranger waved her in.

She entered the wide, windowless chamber, and joined Aura just out of range of the screen's video pickup. "What's going on?" Cassie asked quietly, nodding in the direction of the main screen.

She'd never seen an Aquitian roll their eyes, but that was the impression Aura gave nonetheless. "I am not sure I know anymore," the other girl answered, just as quietly. "Ever since the Inner Alliance started to come together, they spend as much time arguing over that as they do about the Defense."

"I thought Zordon was in charge of the Alliance," Cassie said, glancing over at where the interdimensional being was transferring data to Cetaci's console readout.

"He leads it," Aura agreed. "But Zordon, for all his experience, is not and has never been a fighter pilot. He is not a suitable field commander, and I believe today's 'discussion'--" she shot a look in Saryn's general direction, leaving no doubt as to what she meant, "began when they attempted to agree on someone to fill that position."

Cassie watched the two argue, knowing Saryn wasn't as calm as he looked. She could feel his frustration, and was thankful that Cestria had been teaching her how to keep his emotions from overwhelming hers.

"They're two different forces, and they should stay that way," Tobin insisted, and Cassie saw Saryn shift. She could tell from his stance that that had been the last straw.

"I wish to have Linnse's opinion," he said, voice even.

"What!" Tobin stared at him from the screen. "She has enough on her mind right now. You can't ask her to take sides on something this trivial."

Cassie took a deep breath, trying to remember what Cestria had told her. "You are a separate entity--concentrate on your own sensations as far as possible, distancing yourself from his."

"It is not trivial," Saryn ground out. "The Defense will continue to be pushed back until there is no frontier left to defend. If we do not cooperate now, the Inner Alliance will be left to throw Dark Spectre's forces back alone. Tobin, I do not ask that they merge, I only ask that they work together in some way!"

Tobin folded his arms. "The Alliance is weak and disorganized. We can't afford to spend our time training them to work with each other while our homes are destroyed."

"We can't afford *not* to," Saryn shot back. "I call on Linnse to do her duty as third party and settle this dispute."

Tobin looked, if anything, irritated. "Fine. I'll call her from the launch bay."

He reached forward, and the screen greyed out, the words "Transmission paused" flickering across the bottom. Saryn drew in a deep breath, and Cassie found herself echoing him. Aura glanced sideways at her but said nothing.

Saryn turned to her at last, stopping at the comm control panel to put the screen on standby before he joined her and Aura. She knew he was smiling, despite his argument with Tobin, and she smiled back. "Morning," she offered. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Aura move a discreet distance away.

"Good morning," he replied, and she could indeed hear the smile in his tone. "Did you sleep well?"

She nodded, glancing back toward the main screen. "Yes--which is more than I can say for some, apparently. Trouble with the Inner Alliance?"

He sighed, leaning against the console beside her. "The Inner League fighters are not the problem," he muttered, and under his breath she heard him add, "for once."

She tried not to smile, knowing how annoyed he was with the new Alliance's lack of cohesiveness as a fighting unit. "The problem," he continued, "is finding someone with the experience and skill to organize them."

"You have someone in mind?" she guessed.

He nodded. "There is a wing commander among the Frontier Defense who could undertake such a task. Lesris Tari manages his own squadron incredibly effectively, and has the tact necessary for dealing with such varied cultures as those that have been brought together in this Alliance. Unfortunately, Tobin thinks Defense members are more urgently needed where they are--*all* Defense members, no matter how suited for other tasks they might be."

*Stalemate,* Cassie thought to herself. Saryn was the most stubborn person she knew, and it sounded like Tobin had a little too much in common with him. No wonder Saryn had asked for Linnse--Cassie suspected she had been the tiebreaker in numerous similar confrontations over the years.

"Is Tobin right?" she asked gently.

His head tilted sharply, and she thought he had just given her a startled look. "I--" He stopped. "No," he said at last. "No, he is not right. We cannot continue as we have. The Defense could not stop Eltare's fall, and the frontier is crumbling. If the Alliance is not organized to support the Defense, the rest of the League will follow Eltare."

She smiled a little. "That's what you have to tell Tobin, then. Or Linnse--she's more likely to listen than he is. The Defense isn't enough alone; and if something doesn't change, they're going to have that forcibly proven to them."

He sighed. "That's what worries me. I do not wish to lose another world before they are convinced. But they have already lost their home, and Tobin is reluctant to agree to something that he sees as a division of forces, rather than an augmentation."

"Don't let them guilt you into this," she said softly, only barely keeping herself from saying his name. "They're not the only ones who've lost a home."

He looked away. Linnse and Tobin knew perfectly well who the Phantom Ranger was. Years ago, they had both been Eltaran Rangers, part of the team sent to support Elisia against Dark Spectre. Tobin had led the Rangers that forced Dark Spectre off Saryn's planet, and Linnse had saved the life of the only surviving Elisian Ranger.

"They will not," he answered. "Tobin is too caught up in the frontier to see what is happening to the rest of the League, but I am hoping Linnse will understand how much more than the Defense is at stake here."

She sighed. "No flying this morning, huh?" she assumed, smiling to show she didn't mind.

His head turned toward her again. "If you can forgive me, no," he said apologetically. "I do not know how long this is going to take."

"It's all right," she assured him. She was disappointed, yes--not only were their morning flights the only time she could positively count on seeing him, but they were addictive in and of themselves.

On her third day on Aquitar, he had asked, seemingly out of nowhere, if she would like to try piloting a starfighter again. The offer had surprised her, but, remembering the freedom and smooth control of his small craft, she had agreed eagerly. They had gone out every morning since, leaving Aquitar's atmosphere only when he was satisfied that whatever bizarre instinct she had relied on in sector 439 was now accompanied by some amount of skill.

"The Aquitian fighter wing launches in an hour and a half," Billy commented from somewhere behind her right shoulder. She hadn't even noticed him come in. "They're just doing some training drills, and I was planning to join them--you're welcome to come with us, Cassie."

Her eyes widened. "I can't do that!"

Saryn did not answer, so she turned to Billy. "I mean, I'm flattered that you offered, but I can't fly with a fighter wing."

Billy shrugged, smiling at her. "Why not?"

"Because…" She gestured helplessly. "There's so many other people! I'm lucky when I can get my ship to do what Sa--Phantom's is doing, let alone twenty others…"

"It wouldn't be anything difficult," Billy assured her, not even blinking at her near slip. "Like I said, it's just some training drills. You can slave your ship to mine if it gets too tricky."

She hesitated, glancing at Saryn again. He disapproved. She could feel it. But he still said nothing, and she didn't want to ask him why in front of everyone else. And Billy was going…

"All right," she said, knowing she would always wonder what it would have been like if she didn't go. "Thanks, Billy."

"No problem," he said. "You'll want to eat first, though, if you haven't already. We could be out there for several hours."

She took a deep breath, wondering *what* she was getting into. "I will. Where should I meet you?"

"Actually, I'll join you for breakfast, if you want company," he offered. "*I* haven't had anything to eat--I just came up to see if Delphinius was here."

"Delphinius is in the mess hall," Cetaci said without looking up from her console. "He plans to fly with the fighters this morning as well."

"Thanks, Cetaci," Billy answered. She did not acknowledge his thanks, but he didn't seem to expect her to. Instead, he just cocked his head at Cassie.

"Sure," she said, hoping he would explain what was going on once they were away from the others. She shot one more look in Saryn's direction, and he lifted his head as though he had not expected her to catch him watching.

"Be careful," was all he said.

She nodded, not understanding his reticence. "See you later," she offered, before following Billy out into the hall.

Shaking her head, she reminded herself to corner him about it later. Lengthening her stride to match Billy's, she asked quietly, "What was Cetaci so upset about?" The Aquitians were not as expressive as humans, but she was learning to read them.

Billy glanced over his shoulder as they walked toward the mess hall. "She doesn't like Delphinius flying with the fighters," he told her, his voice low. "Cetaci would rather he stayed in the command center with the other Rangers--she thinks it's safer."

"But you don't," Cassie pointed out.

"Cestria understands," he said with a small smile. There was no time for further conversation as they approached the open doors of the mess hall.

Delphinius was there, of course, calmly finishing his own breakfast. "Greetings," he said politely, as they joined him.

"Greetings to you, my friend," Billy answered, setting a tray down across from the Black Aquitian Ranger. Cassie sat next to him, wondering how long it had taken him to become accustomed to this food.

"You might want to stay away from the control room for a little while," Billy advised, digging into his meal with far too much enthusiasm, in Cassie's opinion. "At least until this afternoon."

Delphinius gave him a flat look that Cassie was starting to interpret as exasperated. "She is upset."

Billy nodded. "She's not talking to anyone except Zordon--although when I asked where you were, she did answer me. Grudgingly."

Delphinius set the utensil in his hand down carefully. "I have not flown with the fighters for weeks. Cetaci has no reason to complain."

Cassie kept her eyes on her tray, certain this was not something she should get involved in. She saw Billy shrug out of the corner of her eye. "She's just worried about you, you know," he said quietly.

The other Rangers' shoulders were tense. "I just--" He stopped abruptly. "I will go talk to her."

Billy reached out and put a hand on his tray to stop him. "Aura and Phantom are the only ones up there now. You know Aura can deal with her, and Phantom won't notice anyway. Maybe you should just let her be for a while."

"No." Delphinius got to his feet, removing Billy's hand from his tray. "This is not necessary. I will meet you at the launch bay."

Billy nodded, and Delphinius stopped only to return his tray before leaving the mess hall, as close to stalking as Cassie had ever seen him. She dared a glance in Billy's direction, and he shrugged at her. "They…" He seemed to consider his wording. "The two of them were involved until Cetaci was chosen to be a Ranger. Lately they've been having--difficulties."

"Because he flies?" Cassie asked, curious but not sure she should pry.

Billy shook his head. "He used to be a regular part of the wing, but he stopped flying so much after he joined the Rangers. And then when she became a Ranger, I think she tried to make him stop altogether. They're--I think it's as much an authority issue as anything else."

"Oh," Cassie said, realizing the problem. Delphinius had been a Ranger first, but Cetaci was the leader. Who obeyed whom…

She was silent for a moment, wondering if her friends would ever have that problem. The Astro team wasn't that structured--frankly, they all disobeyed Andros on a regular basis. His word wasn't the be all and end all of any given situation, and he didn't try to insist that it be that way. She supposed that was the difference that made Andros's and Ashley's relationship work where Delphinius's and Cetaci's was struggling.

Billy paused, glancing over at her. "I know you don't always eat breakfast, but wing drills do take a lot of energy…"

She looked at him nervously. "What did I agree to, exactly?"

"Nothing you can't change your mind about," he assured her. "But I honestly don't think it will be that hard for you. I monitored two of the flights you and Phantom took, and unless your ship was slaved to his, you can handle a fighter well enough to do this."

"It wasn't," she said, taking a deep breath and looking at her tray. "And maybe I can… but what if I *can't*? What if I throw the rest of the wing off?"

He smiled. "First, you shouldn't be able to throw them off. If one of our own can do that, how effective do you think they'd be against Dark Spectre?

"Second, you *can*. Phantom must have taught you well, because it took me weeks to learn to fly the way you do. You don't have anything to worry about."

She nodded once, spearing a small, unidentifiable object on her tray. His words reassured her to some degree--and she really did want to fly. Actually, what she really wanted to do was fly with Saryn, but failing that, there was no question that this would take her mind off of him…

Billy seemed to sense her distraction, and he let her eat in silence until she spoke again. She asked how he had started flying with the wing, and he was quite willing to tell her while she finished her breakfast.

At last, pushing her tray away from her, she asked, "So isn't it going to seem a little strange for an Earth Ranger to just show up and ask to fly with an Aquitian fighter wing?"

Looking up, she caught his slightly amused glance, and she blushed. "Well--but you're different. And you're an Aquitian Ranger, besides."

He smiled. "It won't be so strange. Any Aquitian pilot can be called on to join the fighter wing during an attack, so almost everyone here who can fly flies with the wing from time to time, just to stay in practice. The regular wing is used to having other pilots join them--especially during training drills."

She shook her head, looking over at him. "I'm still glad you're going to be there," she told him honestly. "I don't think I'd dare, if you weren't."

Billy gave her a sympathetic look. "I know what it's like, believe me. All this can seem overwhelming at first."

She nodded emphatically. About to speak, she paused when she saw him tilt his head to the side and frown. "Aura says I'm needed in the control room," he remarked, obviously puzzled. "Excuse me for a minute?"

She must have looked worried, for he put a hand on her shoulder reassuringly. "I'll meet you outside the launch bay. I promise."

"Right," Cassie said, taking a deep breath. "See you there."

He nodded, picking up his tray and heading for the door. He dropped it off before he left, and she followed suit more slowly. What if there was some crisis, something that kept him from joining the wing? Would she have the courage to walk into the launch bay and ask to fly?

She supposed she wouldn't know until and unless it came to that. Touching her morpher, she teleported out of the command center dome. The world that rematerialized around her was one she had visited frequently with Saryn--but this was the first time she'd been to the launch bay alone.

Glancing around uncomfortably, she leaned up against the wall and waited for Billy to reappear. It seemed an interminable amount of time, but finally a blue water molecule shape teleported into the hall beside her, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Billy looked like he couldn't decide whether to be annoyed or amused. "I couldn't help noticing that Zordon was mysteriously absent just now," he said wryly. "Otherwise, I seriously doubt even Phantom would have done that."

Cassie frowned. "Done what?"

"He had Aura ask me to come to the control room. Aura and Cestria can broadcast to anyone, telepathic or not, and they usually coordinate team movements. But they're not really allowed into our heads unless it directly relates to Ranger business…"

"But what did--Phantom want?" Cassie asked, more confused than before. It was getting harder and harder to think of him as "Phantom", and she caught herself just in time.

Billy gave her a wry look. "He just wanted to express his displeasure in my suggestion that you fly with the fighter wing. He also mentioned something along the lines of, 'if anything happens to her, do not bother coming back.'"

Cassie stared at him in astonishment. Not knowing what to respond to first, she found herself speechless.

Billy just shook his head at her expression. "If you ever had any doubt about his feelings for you," he said, more quietly but still with a hint of amusement in his expression, "Don't."

"But--" That was all she could manage, before Billy gestured her toward the launch bay.

"We should go. Darian is the wing commander, and he doesn't appreciate tardiness."

From there on, the morning was a blur. Billy introduced her to the wing commander as a visiting Ranger from his home planet, thereby avoiding the discomfort involved in originally explaining her presence to the Aquitian Rangers. Darian let her take the same fighter she had been flying with Saryn, and the fact that she and Billy could morph instead of donning flight suits gave them the few extra minutes they needed for him to explain slaving to her.

Confident she could link her ship's computer to his if she had to, Cassie started the preflight with the rest of the wing. The routine Saryn had taught her got her through it, and soon the bay doors were opening to let the starfighters stream out. The tense seconds while she waited for her turn were the last moments she had to think until the fighters returned to the bay.

***

"Lesris Tari will command the Inner League fighters," Linnse announced reluctantly. "If that is his wish," she added, glancing at Saryn.

Saryn closed his eyes, knowing they couldn't see the gesture. He should feel relief, he knew, but it was all he could do to keep his mind off of the fighter wing in orbit far above the citydomes. "If that is his wish," he agreed.

"I will speak with him before tomorrow," Tobin said. The time for arguing was over, and he knew it. They had decided, and now it was up to him to carry out the plan.

A console on the far side of the control room chimed quietly, and he tried to ignore it. Cassie would kill him if she found out he was tracking her whereabouts. Aura had disappeared at least an hour prior, but Cetaci did not look up at the noise.

"I leave it to you, then," he told them, his voice as even as he could make it. "Thank you Linnse, Tobin."

They each nodded to him, even as he reached out to break the comm link. He knew it was an abrupt end to their conversation, but he had no doubt that he would be speaking to them again very soon, and they all needed time to calm down.

Besides which, he needed to know where Cassie was.

The readout tracing the Pink Astro Ranger would not have escaped Zordon's notice--if he had been in the control room. Fortunately, he had left for one of the research domes several hours ago, and showed no sign of returning before the end of the day.

The fighter wing had returned to the launch bay. He had to stop himself from breathing a sigh of relief. He had had the worst premonition as soon as Billy mentioned the wing, as though something awful and irreversible would happen to her as soon as she was out of his sight.

He had known it was ridiculous--aside from the Rangers, there was probably no other group of people who would keep her safer than those that made up Aquitar's fighting wing--and he had not voiced his concern. But he had been unable to shake the feeling, and it had stayed with him all morning.

The sense of dread finally abated at the knowledge that the starfighters had returned to the planet's surface, and he busied himself at the comm console. Today's complaints from the Inner League fighters were as trivial and numerous as always, and as usual, he was behind in responding to them.

He remained aware of the time, however, and he could feel concern creeping back into his mind the longer the control room stayed empty of all but himself and Cetaci. He had expected to see Cassie, full of enthusiasm as always after a flight, burst into the control room shortly after her return.

As the minutes ticked by, he couldn't help wondering if anyone would have thought to tell him if something had gone wrong. Billy would probably not have introduced her in any way that related to him--but Billy would have contacted him. Wouldn't he?

Glancing over his shoulder, he noted Cetaci scanning the patrol readouts from the outer solar system. Bypassing the voice command, he entered a request for Cassie's location directly into the computer system--and was relieved, if a little surprised, to find her in their room.

He hesitated, but as had happened so often in the past few days, he failed to convince himself that the Inner Alliance was more important than she was. Saving the messages he'd been going through, he turned away from the comm console and headed out into the hallway where the Rangers' quarters were located.

He knocked softly on his own door before entering. Cassie was seated on the floor inside, stretching. She had her headphones on, but she looked up as the door opened, and he let his armor fade away. She smiled, pulling her headphones off and murmuring, "Hey."

She was all right… He couldn't help staring, feeling a smile curve his lips as he looked at her. What had he ever done to deserve someone like her? And *why* had she waited for him?

"Are you all right?" Cassie asked, pushing her walkman aside and moving to stand up. She winced, though, and he motioned to her to stay where she was.

"I am well--what's wrong?" he wanted to know, sitting down beside her.

She grimaced. "I am *so* sore. After that battle simulation yesterday, I probably shouldn't have spent all morning sitting in a cockpit…" She rubbed her legs for emphasis, and he couldn't resist.

Gently pushing her hands away, he started to massage her calf muscles. She closed her eyes, sighing, and he asked, "Did you enjoy flying with the wing?"

She nodded, not opening her eyes. "Yeah. It was cool--not as hard as I expected."

"The training drills are only meant to keep pilots acquainted with their craft's abilities," he felt compelled to tell her. "The battle simulations are much harder, as are the scrimmages."

"Oh, thanks," she said wryly. "Your faith in me is amazing."

"That is not what I meant," he assured her, easing her sandals off and rubbing her feet. She inhaled sharply, opening her eyes to smile at him. He spoke quickly to distract himself from the warmth of her skin and the look on her face. "I only thought you might want to know… I could not keep myself from worrying about you this morning."

He had not meant to say that. He knew his fear for her was unjustified, even as he knew his jealousy of every man she spent time with was ridiculous. But she was everything to him. Without her, he would have no reason to go on.

"Why?" she asked, leaning forward to touch his face. "I wanted to ask you earlier--you didn't want me to go with the wing. Why?"

He shook his head, looking down. "I… It just did not feel right. I do not know why."

"How?" Cassie insisted. "Like you just didn't like it, or like there was really something wrong?"

He tried not to sigh in frustration. Pressing his fingers against her feet, he shook his head again. "I do not know."

She reached out and covered his hands with hers. "Saryn, that feels really good, but you have to stop if we're going to talk," she said with a small smile. "I can't concentrate."

He looked up, catching his breath at how close her face was and sorry he had said anything. *I will *not* kiss her,* he thought firmly. Her bare feet brushed against his hands as she pulled them closer, sitting cross-legged in front of him.

"It's just… you have good instincts," she said softly, glancing down. "But you're a little overprotective--I was wondering which this was."

"If I am overprotective," he murmured, stroking her hair away from her face, "it is only because I could never live without you."

"Is it just that?" she asked, studying him. "Because if you really don't want me to fly with them…"

"Just that?" he repeated gently, a chuckle escaping. He knew there was no way he could tell her not to fly with the fighter wing. He had no right to ask her to give up something she had obviously enjoyed, just because it worried him. "Just the fact that your life is more important to me than my own?"

Her expression had softened. "I love to hear you laugh," she whispered, reaching up to capture the hand that was still playing with her hair.

He couldn't stand it anymore. Her tender look stole the last of his resolve, and he leaned forward to kiss her. She closed her eyes, tilting her head toward him, and his heart was racing as their lips touched. It was all he could do to let the kiss end naturally, instead of pulling her close and kissing her until neither of them had any breath left.

She didn't seem to think that would be such a bad idea, though, and he was only too willing to let her draw him into a warm embrace. How could he have gone all morning without her touch, he wondered, even as her kiss erased the question from his mind.

***

So the League was finally rallying. The League worlds were coming together to form a fighting alliance without precedent in an organization where every planet took care of itself. Rangers, yes, planetary fighter wings, yes, but an intergalactic alliance of fighters? It had never been done.

*And it will never last,* the girl thought, gazing out her window at the blue-green world below. The League was based on compromise, where the forces of evil answered to absolute authority. Negotiation could never build an empire to rival Dark Spectre's.

Besides which, worlds like Earth would always be vulnerable. The League's policy of non-interference with technologically disadvantaged worlds left hundreds of planets with inferior protection. The fact that Earth itself refused to fall was an anomaly, a result of its irregular contact with stronger worlds--and Zordon's own intervention.

She grimaced at the thought of Zordon. That meddling Eltaran had turned an easy target into a source of constant irritation for the side of evil. Once off Earth, he had been surprisingly easy to capture, but the team he had broken all League rules to create had come for him, and the interdimensional being was once again free.

She lifted her gaze away from the unconquerable planet, staring out of this galaxy and into the next. Rumor had it that Zordon was now on Aquitar. Aquitar--another weak world, despite its technology. The water planet avoided fighting with as much determination as evil avoided love, and it had managed to duck out of more disputes than she cared to count.

That, too, would not last. Where Zordon went, evil would follow, until that ancient power became Dark Spectre's prisoner once more. Aquitar, so deep inside League territory, had been allowed to escape the full force of evil's wrath for many hundreds of years. The planet did not remember what war truly was, and there was no way they would survive a direct attack.

At least, they would not now. Given enough time, Zordon might be able to strengthen that planet's defenses the same way he had Earth's. Evil had to strike before he had the chance--and yet Dark Spectre ordered her to remain in Earth orbit, tormenting the Earth Rangers but making no appreciable dent in their forces.

She clenched her fingers around her staff. The Monarch of evil was punishing her for Zordon's escape. And it was costing his armies a valuable opening. The chance to attack Aquitar before it was prepared to defend itself was one they could not afford to let pass.

With Eltare under Dark Spectre's control, it was only a matter of time before the League found a new planet from which to focus their counterattack--and if Zordon was where rumor said he was, that planet could very well be the Aquitian homeworld. It needed to be subdued before it could mount any substantial resistance.

A flicker of violet played around her fingers as she turned. If she was the only one who could see that, then so be it. Dark Spectre was not the omniscient, all-powerful being Ecliptor made him out to be. He had failings, just like everyone else, and this blind spot with regard to Aquitar was one of them. She would see that his mistake was remedied.

And if she happened to make a name for herself in the process, so much the better. Dark Spectre had threatened her one too many times. Fear was fine for keeping the lower forms of life in line--if quantrons could even be considered alive, which she doubted--but it was unacceptable for one such as her. Though she had shared it with no one, not even Ecliptor, she was determined to prove herself, at the very least, Dark Spectre's equal.

*I refuse to hear "I will crush the Dark Fortress while you sleep" one more time,* she vowed. One way or another, she would free herself from his tyranny.

She stalked away from the observation window, knowing Ecliptor would be in the engine room. The Dark Fortress would leave Earth orbit, bound for Aquitar, very soon--but there was something she *would* finish first.

Her locket. If those Aquitians had turned it over to the Earth Rangers, she would get it back before she left this planet.

"Ecliptor!" She strode into the engine room, her eye falling on the dark shadow of her bodyguard.

He looked up the instant she called. "Yes, my princess?"

The girl tossed her azure locks over her shoulder with a twist of her head. "We need to find a monster."