The day was still lovely, the sun shining and only a few clouds skidding across the sky. But the people in Hillside Park were no longer there for pleasure. There were a few civilians, most of them hurrying toward the exits, a few victims still waiting for transportation to the hospital; medical personnel, and police and Silver Guardians.

Alex began to feel out of place almost immediately, acutely conscious of the fact that they had no official reason to be there. For a moment he wished for his Time Force uniform and the respect it automatically gave him, as he saw one of the navy-blue uniformed Silver Guardians spot them and head their way, frowning in obvious annoyance. He was about Alex’s age and size, black-haired, Asian eyes glaring at him, then narrowing in perplexity as he got closer.

“Wes?” he demanded. “What the hell did you do to your hair?”

“I’m not…” he started automatically, then caught himself and continued, “It’s none of your concern.”

The man looked even angrier. “Have it your own way. But all of you shouldn’t be here. We’ve got the situation under control. We don’t need help from you.”

“We have resources you don’t, Eric,” Jen said, helpfully identifying who he was talking to. Eric Myers, Wes’s troublesome former friend, the same one who had accidentally discovered their identities and told Wes’s father.

“Resources. Right. Well, we have resources, too. I said we can handle it. So you can all just turn around again and go home.”

“No way,” Lucas growled, taking a step forward to confront Eric face to face. “You have no idea what you’re up against. So stop being so pig-headed and get out of our way.”

“Who’s gonna make me?”

“Calm down, Mr. Myers,” Alex interrupted. “This is public property. Unless you’re planning to arrest us, we’re staying.”

“Mr. Myers?” Eric stared at him more closely. “Wait a minute… you’re not…” He was cut off by a scream, ringing through the air and bringing them around to look toward a nearby exit.

Something was happening; something dark and violent was happening under the bright sun and clear sky. A small group of people was running, shouting; as Alex and his team started towards them they saw a woman collapse to the ground, a small, pale man stepping over her and darting after the others with impossible speed, reaching out to brush his fingers over a man’s arm. The man cried out in pain and staggered to a stop.

“Venomark!” Alex shouted. “Morph, now!”

They followed his order, barely in time, the suits protecting them as the mutant charged, slashing at Katie with small, cat-like claws extending from his fingertips. He snarled like an animal in anger as she jumped back. Alex already had his blaster out; he fired and missed, unable to aim fast enough as Venomark dodged between the others, and then came after him.

Alex met him with a kick, knocking him back, but he came again, clawed hands reaching out. The suit would protect him -- probably -- Alex retreated, twisted out of the way, dropped and kicked again, sweeping the mutant’s feet out from under him. As he scrambled back out of reach again, he brought up the Quantum Defender, ready to fire, aware of the other Rangers closing in, Eric running up...

A blast caught him by surprise, coming from behind. Alex fell to his hands and knees, seeing more blasts drive his teammates back. Venomark was already up, but not attacking, he was backing off, eyes wide with fear.

“You’re mine, Venomark!” a deep voice roared.

Alex blinked, froze, then turned to look as that sound sent echoes of past fear and pain through him. It was Ransik. As tall, massive, and fearsome as he remembered, striding towards them, anger blazing on his face, the blaster he had used on them in his hand.

“Ransik!” Venomark cried in a squeaky voice.

“Glad to see you remember me! I haven’t forgotten you.” Ransik raised a hand to his scarred face. “For years I’ve dreamed of this moment. Thought of it every time I looked in the mirror, every time I had to take that damn serum. And now... it’s time for you to pay for what you did to me!” He aimed the blaster as Venomark cringed.

“Ransik!” This time it was Alex shouting, swept away by the rage that filled him at the sight of his enemy, the man who had almost killed him, who had caused all the misery he had been through, who was responsible for the horror he had seen his world become. As a burst of fury brought him to his feet, he forgot for a moment about Venomark, his teammates, about everything except Ransik.

“Stay out of this, Ranger!” The mutant started forward.

Alex brought the Defender up and fired, feeling a fierce satisfaction as Ransik staggered and cried out in pain and anger. “Give up, Ransik! I beat you once, and I can do it again!”

The black-haired mutant looked directly at him for the first time. “What are you talking about?”

“You thought you killed me, didn’t you?” He took a step closer. “The last time we fought, I was wearing red and white. I’m wearing a different suit now, but I’m still going to take you in.”

“The red Ranger...”

“That’s right.”

“As I recall, I beat you, the second time we met.” Ransik’s eyes moved away from him again. “But today, my quarrel’s not with you. Just stand aside, and let me take care of that-”

“Don’t move!” Alex fired again, hitting him with a radiant burst of energy, then was taken by surprise as Ransik shot back.

They both fell to the grass, both trying to take aim again. There was a shout and a flicker of movement. Alex glanced to see Venomark running, the other Rangers leaping after him but left behind by his speed. Eric was in his path, running to block him, blaster in hand; he managed to fire just before the mutant charged into him but the shot went wild. There was a cry as Venomark grabbed him, seeming to hug him for a moment, sunlight catching the mutant’s long fangs in a flash of white before they ripped at Eric’s face. The Guardian fell, collapsing to the grass, but Katie had caught up to them, Lucas right behind her.

“No! He’s mine!” Ransik shouted, climbing to his feet, ignoring Alex and starting for the struggling group.

“Ransik!” Alex was up again, too, taking a few steps before he stopped, staring. Something was wrong with Ransik. He had staggered to a stop, hunching over, seeming to be in pain. A hoarse gasp came from him as he abruptly fell to his knees, trembling as he fumbled in his belt for something.

“Oh, my God...” Alex stepped closer, watching in disbelief as bluish blotches appeared on Ransik’s skin, as he recognized the vial of blue liquid the mutant now had in a shaking hand. “No, you don’t!” Acting on instinct, urged by hatred, he took quick aim and fired again, but not at Ransik himself, striking the little tube, sending its contents spilling to the grass in a shower of shattered glass.

Ransik looked up at him, his face a mask of fear and stunned surprise. Alex heard a shout and looked around to see Venomark swing at Jen, knocking her down, and leap to crouch over the fallen Silver Guardian, who was lying helpless and moaning on the ground, face covered by bloody hands. He started for them at a run as the mutant pulled Eric up, forcing his head back, ready to slash his throat with those deadly fangs.

He was grinning at them, starting to back away, dragging his hostage with him, when a beam blasted into him, sending him spinning back and falling to the ground. Katie and Trip were on him in a heartbeat, as Alex looked behind him. He recognized Conwing instantly, blaster in hand, giving them all a grim smile as he knelt over his fallen leader, touched a control on his belt, and vanished in a sparkle of transporter light.

“Daddy!” Nadira cried out in shock and horror when she saw him. Ransik was sick, as bad as she had ever seen him, a large part of his visible skin covered in an ugly blue, staggering into the main control room with Conwing’s help.

“The serum...” he gasped. “The Quantum Ranger destroyed the vial I had with me... help me...”

“Bring him!” She dashed for Ransik’s workroom, and the supply she knew he kept in a small trunk in the corner. Ran to the door, turned the knob and pushed it open, turning as Ransik lurched to her side and leaned against the doorframe, saw his eyes widen and looked inside, pulling in a sharp breath of horror.

The room was splashed with blue liquid, the surfaces shiny and wet with it, light glimmering off tiny fragments of glass scattered everywhere, as if someone had tossed a handful of diamonds into the air. Frax stood behind the desk, his expressionless metal face watching them, the trunk of serum open before him, and empty.

“My serum...” Ransik whispered.

“Yes, your precious serum, all gone. Looks like someone’s spilled it, all of it. What a shame,” the robot said, one hand lifting and dropping an empty, broken vial, his mechanical voice somehow vibrating with hate.

“Frax -- what happened?” Nadira asked, still not understanding.

Frax ignored her. “Tell me, do you remember the first time you met Venomark, Ransik?”

“Of course I remember!”

“And do you remember the man who saved your life? The foolish human who took pity on you, brought you to his home, treated you, showed you all the accomplishments that made his life worthwhile?”

Ransik only stared.

“You attacked him. Rewarded him with treachery.” Frax’s voice rose. “You left him for dead, set his lab on fire, stole his designs for the robots we use now. But he was still alive. Horribly wounded, dying, disfigured, but alive, and determined to survive.”

“What are you...”

“He had another, hidden laboratory. He managed to escape the fire and went there. Knew his only chance was to discard the human body you had destroyed, to remake himself, re-create himself as one of the robots you despise so much.” Frax leaned forward slightly, his voice lower now, but intense. “He succeeded. Reborn as a robot, he sought you out, became one of your followers, eventually gained your trust, as much trust as you have for anyone. And all this time, he’s been with you, waiting for his chance to repay the debt he owes you.”

“You...” Horror was growing in Ransik’s face, and in Nadira’s heart.

“Yes, Ransik. I was once Dr. Louis Fericks. I was once human, until you destroyed me!”

There was silence, for a moment, until Ransik gasped, “I don’t believe it...”

“Oh, it’s true.” The golden robot paused. “I showed you kindness, once. And you showed me hatred. I’ve learned my lesson well. Now I’ve corrected that mistake I made years ago. You’ll die, Ransik, not immediately, no, you’ll have a little time to suffer, but not as much as I’ve suffered.”

“Get him!” Ransik snarled as Conwing pushed by him, already with blaster in hand.

But Frax held up his hand. She could see blue in it, and the flash of light off glass. “Careful,” he said. “This is the last one. You wouldn’t want a clumsy, stupid robot like me to drop it, now would you?”

“Frax!” Ransik took a step forward, but Conwing held out an arm, blocking him.

The tall, white-skinned mutant’s voice was as calm as if he were having a casual conversation. “Frax, just give me the vial. We can make a deal. There must be something you want.”

“I have what I want. Or will. Soon.” Frax turned the tube in his claw-like ‘hand’, holding it up as if admiring it. Then Nadira moaned softly, helpless, as his metallic fingers opened, the fragile tube slipped down... Conwing lunged with eye-blurring speed, but it was too late. Frax vanished into a transporter flash, leaving behind only a smashed tube, mocking laughter, and Ransik’s roar of rage and fear.

“Daddy!” Nadira cried in panic as he stumbled forward and fell, doubling up in pain. She looked around frantically. There was nothing left. “What can we do?” she asked. Conwing stared at Ransik, at her, and then ran out. He returned in a moment, a small object in his hand. Nadira shuddered as she saw what it was. “No!” she cried.

“It’s the only way to keep him alive.”

“Oh, Daddy...” Tears blurred her vision as she nodded, and watched Conwing hold up the cryogenic containment unit, the same one that had imprisoned Venomark, and watched her father shrink, freeze, and vanish inside.

“We should have helped him,” Jen muttered as she watched the images on their television, back in the clock tower. She swallowed, feeling sickened by what she saw, even more by what she remembered of the day before.

It had been an ugly scene, after Ransik escaped with Conwing and they had captured Venomark, who was now safely inside a cryogenic container. Alex had been furious, had seemed not to even notice Eric, shivering and groaning on the ground, in agony from Venomark’s poison and the slashes across his face. Trip and Katie had wanted to help, asked permission to give him the serum, pointed out that their medical equipment could heal him in minutes, but Alex refused.

In a way Jen had to agree with him. Wes had done his part; the serum was now available to save everyone who had been attacked, so Eric’s life wasn’t in danger. They couldn’t afford to advertise the fact that the serum had come from them, couldn’t afford to show anyone any more of their advanced technology than they had to. But still... it had seemed so cold and heartless to just walk away... Jen hardly knew Eric, and didn’t like what she had seen, but she couldn’t help pitying anyone in pain.

“I wish we could have. But I hope you would have made the same decision.” Alex was standing just behind her, his voice startling her.

“I suppose you’re right.” What would she have done? Maybe it was better that Alex was in charge, after all. He was strong enough to make this kind of decision. Or hard enough... Once again she wondered why he seemed so different. He had always been dedicated and driven, but there had also been warmth and kindness in him. What had taken that part away? Was it only his injuries at Ransik’s hands? Was an experience like that enough to change a person so much? And... once this was over, would he be himself again?

“No, he’s not right. Eric’s gotten the serum now. But he didn’t have to suffer. And he could have scars from that bite. You should have helped.” Wes was at her other side, staring angrily past her at Alex.

“You know why we couldn’t,” Alex replied stiffly.

“Yeah, I know. But we could have asked Eric not to tell. Explained...”

“And we all know how well that worked before.”

Wes shot him another glare before looking back at the television. Jen watched him for a moment from the corner of her eye, then glanced at Alex’s stony face, once again struck by the sharp contrast between these two almost identical men. Alike physically, but so different mentally. Wes had all the compassion and gentleness that was suddenly so missing in her fiancé. There was a time she had wished he was more like Alex. Now it was just the opposite.

“Hey, look.” Lucas’s voice from the couch brought her attention back. Eric himself had appeared on the screen, almost unrecognizable behind a layer of bandages. He was in a hospital room, sitting on a chair, a horde of reporters thrusting microphones in his face.

“Mr. Myers, what happened to the mutant who attacked you and the other victims?”

With a shrug, Eric answered, his voice scratchy. “I don’t remember too much after I was bitten. But I think the Rangers took him with them.”

“And what about the mutant who calls himself Ransik, and his partner?”

“They got away.”

“The Rangers couldn’t stop them?”

“No.” Eric’s expression of anger was clear, even through the bandaging. “They let themselves be distracted. Venomark got me while they were all watching that new Ranger fighting with Ransik. Then they all went after Venomark and let Ransik get away. If it had been a squad of the Silver Guardians instead, all three of those mutants would be in jail right now, and I wouldn’t have... this.” He raised a hand to his face.

“So you think the Rangers made a mistake?”

“They made a lot of mistakes. Just shows Silver Hills shouldn’t be counting on a bunch of amateurs to protect them.”

“They seem to be the only ones who can fight the mutants successfully.”

“The Guardians haven’t gotten a real chance yet. And remember, no one knows where the Rangers came from, or what they’re really after. Why should we trust them?”

“Well, he’s right about one thing. We made a few mistakes,” Alex said.

“From where I was, you made the mistake,” Lucas retorted, surprising Jen with the defiance in his voice. “Ransik was after Venomark, not us. If you hadn’t attacked him, maybe we could have gotten all of them!”

“Ransik’s our target here. Venomark’s just a distraction.”

“He was more than a distraction to all those people he infected! You should have concentrated on him first!”

“If that’s your idea of strategy, it’s a good thing I’m in command!”

“Alex, Lucas, please!” Jen raised her voice enough to silence both of them. “Arguing won’t help. Ransik’s our enemy, not each other.”

Lucas looked back at the television silently, his expression still stubborn and angry. Alex gave her a cold, sharp glance, and for a moment she thought he would reprimand her, until his eyes slid away with more than a trace of discomfort, perhaps even guilt. But he only turned away and stalked off to his workbench, leaving the room in silence.

Conwing watched intently as the image of Eric vanished from the screen. A Guardian. The same one who had seemed to know the Red Ranger. He seemed angry, he blamed the Rangers for what had happened to him. He would be even angrier, and desperate, when he realized exactly what Venomark had done to his face. Anger and desperation, emotions Conwing was very familiar with. He had already begun to think of a plan, a way to get Ransik out of that container... And Eric Myers might be the right tool to make that plan work. He smiled in anticipation.