Disclaimer: I claim Dallas, Roland, Alexis, Petra, Jet, and the Cyviens. Everyone else belongs to Haim Saban.
Author's note: This is the first fic in a new series called Gray Area. Which will take a look at what wasn't shown in the rest of the fics. This is a short character piece in first person. Dallas is the ranger.
Song note: Eve of Destruction belongs to Barry McGuire. I took out some of the lyrics that didn't go with the fic but it's still Mr. McGuire's.
Time frame: A week before Defenders.

Eve of Destruction
By Dana

I'm not a leader. Who was Dimitria trying to fool when she named me second in command? Andros and Zhane were just captured by Petra and Jet. Now Alexis and Roland are looking to me for help. What can I do? We're headed to some planet called Earth on the chance that they are headed there.

I sit here and stare out the window at the planet KO-35. We couldn't save it in time. Now it's almost completely gone. My parents and sister are gone. No one's left there. Maybe we are fighting a losing battle. Can three Defenders beat the Cyviens?

I don't know. I really don't. I think about when we were first selected for the KO-35 army. I don't think any of us knew things would end up being this way.

I stood in the control room waiting for my orders along with Alexis. It was my first day on the job. My parents weren't too keen about me and Alexis joining the rebels. But I don't want to see my planet go without a fight.

But you tell me over and over and over again my friend, Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

Don't you understand what I'm trying to say? Can't you feel the fears I'm feeling today?

General Carl Emberson came up to us and smiled. "Dallas Meyerson and Alexis Verte?" He asked. We nodded. "Welcome to the team."

"Uh thanks General." I said shaking his hand. "I hope we can help."

"Me too!" Alexis said with a smile.

We were quickly shown around the base and then taken to the main room where we met Zhane and Roland. They were quickly debriefed.

If the button is pushed, There's no running away,

Two days later I was sent down to KO-35 on our first fight. It wasn't easy. I may be a good fighter, but the Rock Drones aren't easy. They were blowing up buildings left and right.

When we retreated back to the base I was crying. My mother told me that thirteen year olds shouldn't have this much responsibility. We were too young to be fighting an adult war. But I'd never let someone take over my planet. That's right my planet.

There'll be no one to save With the world in a grave, Take a look around you It's bound to scare you

This war did scare me. But why wouldn't it? War's aren't supposed to be something to enjoy.

I went back to the room I shared with Alexis and found her sitting on her bed writing in her diary. She never told me what she wrote in it but then again I never asked. She always closed it when I came in the room. This war has changed us all.

Take a look around you It's bound to scare you

And you tell me over and over and over again my friend, Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

I don't think we'll win now. Our team was once five people now we're down to three. Maybe my parents were right. Maybe it's not a war I should have joined.

I wondered back into the control room and sat down with my head in my hands. I'm not cut out to be a leader. I don't even know what to do next. If Zhane was here he'd know exactly what to do. I looked up at Dimitria's tube and finally asked the question. "Why did you name me second in command? You should have picked Alexis."

Dimitria looked down at me and if she wasn't wearing a smock I'd think she was smiling. "DALLAS I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD NEED TO TELL YOU. YOU ARE A GREAT LEADER YOU JUST HAVEN'T HAD THE CHANCE TO DO IT. ALEXIS MAY HAVE BEEN A GOOD LEADER BUT YOU HAVE MORE LEADERSHIP ABILITY THEN SHE DOES."

I didn't know what to say.

"DALLAS WHEN THE CYVIENS TOOK ANDROS AND ZHANE YOU MADE A WISE CHOICE TO RETREAT. YOU COULD HAVE ALL BEEN CAPTURED IF YOU DIDN'T. I KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT."

"Yeah I think I do. Dimitria start looking for two people to join the team. We're going to need some help."

"I AM DOING SO RIGHT NOW. DALLAS?" She asked.

"Yes?"

"I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS QUESTION AFTER BEFORE YOU ANSWER. IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO THE DAY I ASKED YOU TO BE THE SUN RANGER WOULD YOU HAVE SAID NO."

I thought about it. I thought about all the turmoil I saw while I was a Ranger. How helpless I felt watching my planet destroyed even though I had powers. Would I go back and change my answer?

yeah, my blood's so mad, Feels like coagulatin', I'm sittin' here, Just contemplatin', I can't twist the truth, It knows no regulation, This whole crazy world is just too frustratin',

And you tell me over and over and over again my friend, Ah, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

Think of all the hate Ah, you may leave here, For four days in space, But when your return it's the same old place, The poundin' of the drums, The pride and disgrace, You can bury your dead, But don't leave a trace,

"No I wouldn't." I answered. "I can't imagine what it would be like to have to flee the planet. I feel like I still have a chance."

"I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE YOUR ANSWER. DALLAS JUST LISTEN TO YOUR HEART. YOU'LL KNOW WHAT TO DO."

I called Alexis and Roland into the room. We had to make plans for when we arrived on Earth. We had to stop the chance of destruction on Earth.

And tell me over and over and over and over again my friend, You don't believe we're on the eve of destruction. No, no, you don't believe we're on the eve of destruction.

So what do you think? Email me at Willow@grrtech.com. I hope to have Ninjetti Revelations (Guardians of Time) finished soon. Hopefully you won't have to wait forever for the next fic in this series, Starlight, which looks at what Kat was