Author’s Note: Some hints of action at the beginning. Mostly recovery and fallout.

Chapter 5 Recovery

Tara stood on a high walkway, watching the fight below. Alyssa and Merrick stood one on each side of her, both morphed. Alyssa was gripping the railing tightly; Merrick stood with arms folded, listening as Tara quietly described the scene below. So far, the Rangers hadn't had to call the Zords; Laserorg was human sized still.

"Can Toxica make him grow without you blowing him up?" Tara asked Merrick.

"She never has." Merrick answered.

"Doesn’t mean she can’t." Alyssa added. Tara suddenly grabbed both their arms, pulling them down into a crouch.

"What?" Merrick asked softly.

"Toxica knows we’re here. And the others are busy with Laserorg. Stay down."

"Tara, we need to know what’s happening."

"I know that, Merrick. Stay down." Tara took a deep breath. "Guys, I think I can show you what’s going on. But it’s risky; you need to stay morphed, and I can’t predict…"

"Do it." Merrick interrupted her.

"Alyssa?"

"Do it." Alyssa agreed. Tara took their right hands, laying them against the wall in front of them.

"Don’t move." she warned them. "I’ll lose you if you move." She lapsed into silence.

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A moment later, Alyssa could see.

Not quite the same way as normal; everything was tinged odd colours, and she could only see the Rangers when they moved. But it was sight, of a sort. Since it was night, she could probably see better than any passerby.

"The colors are wrong." Merrick muttered. "Tara, who is who?"

"Cole’s sort of green. The purple one’s Taylor. Max is orange. And the odd blue one’s Danny. Can you see Laserorg all right?"

"He looks shorter." Alyssa said.

"Yeah. Your perceptions are a bit off. Don’t worry about that."

"Can we fight this way?" Merrick asked.

"No. I can’t keep you able to see if you move, especially not if you’re fighting. Not when you’re morphed."

"What if we…" Merrick started, but she cut him off.

"You have to be morphed, Merrick. The whole point of you coming here was so your Zords could help if they had to."

"Guys!" Cole’s voice came through the comms in their helmets; Merrick quietly relayed the message for Tara. "We need Alyssa down here; we need the Jungle Sword."

Merrick looked towards Tara; she was glowing brightly, almost blinding him.

"Merrick, can you call the Wolf? While Alyssa and I go down."

"I’m coming." he said, taking his hand from the wall and rising to his feet. He watched his vision fade out again.

"Merrick…" Tara started.

"Let’s go, Tara." He reached out until he found her arm, giving it a light shake. "I’ll call the Wolf when we get down there."

"Call him now, and we’ll go." she said, turning slightly. "Alyssa, we have to go down."

"I know." Alyssa agreed regretfully. Merrick reached down for her hand, pulling it gently away from the wall.

"The sooner we beat him, the sooner we can see again." he reminded her.

"Yeah. Let’s go." Alyssa agreed. Her hand tightened around Merrick’s.

Tara led them quickly down to the plaza, guiding Alyssa to stand by Cole and then backing away slightly with Merrick.

"Go back up." Cole yelled at her, even as they brought the sword together.

"No."

"What?"

"Fight, Cole! Yell at me later!" The glare he gave said he’d be taking her up on that.

"Savage Slash!"

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Alyssa cried.

Later, that was mostly what Tara remembered. Alyssa cried when the Megazord destroyed Laserorg for the second and final time.

Merrick demorphed and, eventually, left.

But Alyssa cried.

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Tara hadn’t much time to think about either of them; enraged at the destruction of his newest Org, Mandilock blasted them as they demorphed. Taylor shoved Alyssa out of the way, unsure if she could see, and took the brunt of the blast.

Satisfied with that and unwilling to face the Rangers, Mandilock left. The Rangers huddled around Taylor.

"We have to get her back to the Animarium." Alyssa said.

"Wait a minute." Tara said. She was leaning over the unconscious Eagle Ranger, one hand on her chest.

"Why?" Cole asked.

"Just hang on. She’s bleeding somewhere inside."

"She’s bleeding outside." Max pointed out.

"How can you even see that? Never mind." Without looking at him, Tara caught Max’s hand and pressed it down on Taylor’s arm, which was bleeding sluggishly.

"Where is she bleeding?" Alyssa asked.

"Her head. Concussion." Tara looked up at Cole, shaking back her hair. "She needs a hospital, Cole."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. She’s bleeding into her skull, and the blood’s going to damage her brain if it isn’t stopped. This isn’t something Princess Shayla can help with." Cole nodded.

"All right. We’ll get her there." He looked up at Danny, who stepped forward and lifted Taylor carefully.

"Max, keep a hold of her arm. Slow that as much as you can." Cole directed him. The younger boy nodded, tightening his grip on Taylor’s arm.

Tara rose, a little shaky, and caught Merrick’s eye just as he turned to leave. Nodding faintly, she turned back to Alyssa.

"Can you see?"

"What? Oh—yes."

"You should go back to the Animarium." Cole said. "We’ll be fine, and I’ll call you when we know about Taylor."

"Promise?" Alyssa asked reluctantly.

"Promise." Cole agreed, and then he turned and ran after Danny and Max.

"Tara, do you want to come?"

"No, thank you. I need to go. But I’ll come tonight, maybe."

"Sure." Alyssa nodded. Suddenly she was absolutely exhausted. All she wanted to do was sleep for a few days. "I’ll see you then."

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Late the next afternoon, Alyssa came to the Animarian memorial. Merrick was sitting with his back against it, looking out across the area. Alyssa approached slowly; when he didn’t say anything, she sat beside him.

"How do you feel?" he asked finally.

"Relieved. Overwhelmed, I’m not sure yet."

"No side effects?"

"Not from Laserorg." He looked at her sharply.

"Ah. I thought maybe that was just me."

"Flashes of Tara-vision? No." She smiled suddenly. "Princess Shayla glows."

"So did Tara." He shook his head. "It’s fading. I see it less often, and less clearly."

"Yeah. Me too."

"How is Taylor?"

"Hmm?" Alyssa blinked. "Oh. She’ll be fine. They’re keeping her in overnight for observation."

"Good." He looked away. "I’m glad."

"Hmm." Alyssa was falling asleep again. "Merrick?"

"Yes?"

"How did Tara know?" Merrick turned to look at her.

"You won’t remember if I told you."

"I would."

"No, you wouldn’t. Go to sleep, if you want." Alyssa nodded tiredly.

"I should go back to the Animarium."

"Do you want to go back?"

"No." she sighed.

"Then stay here."

"Merrick?" She looked over at him. "You won’t leave?"

"You won’t be alone, Alyssa. I promise." Alyssa nodded and leaned her head back.

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It was nearly dark before Cole came to find her. Merrick hadn’t moved in all that time, sitting quietly beside her as she slept.

"Hey." Cole hunkered in front of her, brushed her hair out of her face. "Is she ok?"

"She’s tired. But she’s all right. How’s Taylor?"

"She doesn’t like staying. But she’ll be fine. Danny and Max are staying with her." Cole looked up at him. "Are you all right?"

Merrick blinked. "Of course I am. Why?"

Cole shrugged. "Thanks for staying with her."

"Tara stayed with me." Merrick murmured. Cole smiled suddenly.

"Whatever reason you had. Thank you." He lifted Alyssa carefully. Merrick rose and watched him walk away. Halfway down the slope he hesitated.

"Do you want to come to the Animarium?"

"Maybe later." Merrick said softly.

"All right. Good night."

"Good night, Cole."