"Have you told Tommy this?" Billy asked gently, afraid of the answer. Please be no, please be no, he thought. She nodded mutely and the look in her eyes told him some of what his reaction had been like. Oh God, this was bad.

"That's okay...I'll speak to him later." he reassured instinctively wanting to shield her from further trauma and pain.

"I don't want to die!" Kim raged, "not like this!...I have fought, and fought against it....and...nothing I do makes any difference...""Yes. Tae Shalrith, one of the oldest structures still in existence. It dates back to the time of Kramon, before the coming of Erex, the first Masked Rider. The Warlord built his structures to last."
          "If that fell to the Resistance, it would pretty much be all over but the shouting, wouldn't it?" Parker asked, seeing where Daystar's train of thought was going.
          "And surely the Resistance could handle clean-up without you," Zack added, catching on. She leaned closer again, inviting his kiss, and he pressed his mouth to hers hungrily. Cassie closed her eyes and surrendered to the heat and passion behind that kiss, a smoldering desire that he had let burn openly ever since he realized she matched him want for want, need for need. Sometimes it seemed strange to think that they had become lovers before they had been friends, but at times like this she knew exactly how it had happened.

"Still want dinner?" Saryn breathed, kissing his way down to her neck. She tilted her head to the side, knowing she should say "yes" for his sake but unable to make herself voice the word.

          Lexian thought for a long moment, then nodded. "Yes, I believe they could. But Tae Shalrith is nearly impenetrable. The combined forces of the entire Rebellion couldn't pry Kramon out of that hole. Erex himself had to go in after the tyrant."

"We will do something Kim....we will find a way..." Billy said hoping desperately that his words were not as empty as they felt. "Don't give up on me yet...most of all don't give up on yourself!" he said with conviction. "You were always the heart and spirit of the Original Rangers, and you always will be - you cannot leave us!"