Disclaimer: The Power Rangers and all associated indicia are property of Saban and Toei Inc. I am using their names without permission, but not for any personal gain. Wow . . . this disclaimer's gonna be short!

Author's Notes: This story takes place during the first season of Power Rangers in Space after the Rangers got the Delta Megazord. I decided to write this story for Halloween after seeing the Halloween episode of _Sabrina: The Teenage Witch_ where she had to accept Halloween, and all that good stuff. If you like this story, please feel free to send me comments on it! You can send them to:

festa@gte.net

Dedication: I would like to dedicate this story to my good friend, Jeremy Ray Logsden. Jeremy edits ALL of my stories for me, and I love him to death for doing it! Jeremy has a very interesting Halloween type series going under the pen name of Red Warrior. I think you should all check it out because they are awesome stories!!

Raising the Dead
By Jason Festa

"DECA," Andros began, "run a diagnostic scan on rotors one through seven." He finished as he read the monitor before him. He was sitting alone in the main bridge of the Megaship running tests on all of it's components.

"Beginning scans." DECA responded as she started her tasks. Andros pushed a lock of his striped blonde hair behind his ear as he read another monitor on his console.

"DECA, what is the current shield phase?" He asked as he made a confused face at the readings.

"8.92." DECA responded.

"I thought that was low." He thought aloud. "Change the phase to 12.97 and begin rotating 3.74 every . . . ten minutes." DECA's monitors began to make small noises as she made the changes. Andros went back to his work on the other monitor after she did this.

"Boo." Ashley stated as she leaned in over Andros' right shoulder. He jumped slightly at her voice but then sighed.

"Ashley. You startled me." He stated as he went back to his monitor.

"Sorry." She stated as she sat in the seat next to him. "TJ told me you were up here running tests, so I thought I'd come up to see how it was going."

"Pretty good, so far, but I still have to run checks on Megadecks four through nine and I have to test the boosters. So, I'm gonna be here for a while." Andros replied.

"You want some help? I all ready finished cleaning up in the mess hall." Ashley offered. Andros smiled at her.

"I'd like that." He replied.

"Good. Where do you want me to start?" She asked. Andros though about it.

"Well, I'm working on the rotors right now, so I guess you can start with the Megadecks." He answered.

"Will do." Ashley stated as she stood up and walked to the consoles at the back of the room. "So, are you going out with us on Halloween?"

"Halloween?" Andros asked as he made a funny face. "What's that?"

"You don't know what Halloween is?" Ashley asked. Andros turned around and looked at her as he smiled. "Oh, duh . . . . You know, sometimes it's easy to forget that you aren't from Earth." She responded. Andros laughed and turned back around.

"The feelings mutual." Andros replied. "So, what is Halloween?" He asked as he went back to work.

"It's sort of a Holiday. Basically, kids dress up and pretend to be something else while they go from door to door asking for treats." She responded.

"And, what's the point of this all?" Andros asked.

"It's the fun of dressing up and pretending to be someone else for a night. People get into because it's fun. It's also the one day of the year where people can express themselves without fear of being put down by others." Ashley responded.

"It sounds like a trite holiday." Andros stated.

"Yeah, but it's still fun to play around. But, anyway, we're going to a party at this new teen club in Stone Canyon. Do you wanna come?" Ashley asked.

"Would I have to dress up?" Andros asked.

"Oh, of course! That's a given! But, I will let you pick your costume. And, we all ready agreed that morphing does not count as a costume." Ashley joked.

"Well, then, I'm lost because I don't know what to get." Andros stated.

"I'll take you shopping to find something. We could go to the mall . . . ."

"No." Andros stated as he interrupted her. "The last time you dragged me to the mall, it took me a week to recover!" He joked.

"Oh, give me a break! Those bags were not that heavy! And besides, I offered to carry some."

"Yeah, the small ones that I had no problems with!"

"Look, I promise, no shopping for me. This trip will be only for you. In fact, I'll leave all credit cards and cash at home." Ashley promised.

"I don't know . . . ." Andros hesitated.

"Oh, come on!" Ashley whined.

"I suppose. BUT, whatever I get, you have to match with me." Andros stated.

"You want us to go to the party as a couple?" Ashley asked, excitedly.

"Yeah. It would be fun, don't you think?" Andros asked as he turned around and looked at Ashley. He smiled as she blushed and turned away.

"Yeah, it would be . . . ."

~*~

High above Earth's atmosphere rested the Dark Fortress of the evil Astronema. Inside, she sat at her vanity mirror observing her purple hair and growing bored with it the more she looked at it. She raised her hand and waved it at her hair, and suddenly it turned a dark shade of orange. She smiled at it and laughed.

"What do you think, Ecliptor? Is it festive enough for the humans' holiday?" She asked her trusted guardian as he watched over her.

"I think it is silly for you to continue changing your hair in such a manner." The large black man replied.

"Has anyone ever told you that you really know how to ruin a mood?" Astronema asked as she stood up. She looked at her outfit and frowned. "This isn't working." She replied. She slid her hands down along her body, and her silver and black armor immediately changed. She now wore a tight leather body suit with a turtle neck and long sleeves. It's black color contrasted beautifully with her hair. Boots formed around her legs and came up past her knees, but stopped low enough to show some of her bare thighs. Metal cuffs wrapped around her arms and spikes jumped out of the backs of them. Orange sequins were then tossed here and there on her body suit, and then her locket appeared on top of everything. Her shoulder length, orange, hair then sprouted down to her backside. Astronema looked in the mirror and smiled. "I like this much better. Ecliptor, what do you think?"

"I think you look beautiful, princess." He responded as he bowed to her.

"You have to say that because I'll kill you otherwise." Astronema responded. She smiled as her staff appeared in her hand and she left her quarters. As she walked onto the bridge, Ecliptor followed her. "What are our favorite humans up to, Elgar?" She asked the clumsy monster as he stood off to the side.

"They're on the Astro Megaship." Elgar responded. "I think . . . ."

"You're useless." Astronema responded as she walked over to the main monitor and stood before it. "Show me the Rangers." She ordered. Immediately, an image of Andros and Ashley appeared as they worked on the bridge, quietly. "Where are the others?" She asked. The image changed to show TJ, Carlos, and Cassie in a room, trying on different costumes.

"Man, I can't wait to go to that party!" Cassie stated as she looked in the mirror at the biker costume she now wore.

"It's gonna be awesome!" TJ responded. "I heard that Five would be performing there."

"Get out!" Cassie cried as she punched TJ in the arm. He stumbled back and rubbed his arm.

"Why tell me to if you're just gonna push me out . . . ." TJ joked.

"I heard that it was gonna keep going on 'til the morning." Carlos stated.

"What are they talking about?" Astronema asked Ecliptor as she watched the three.

"I believe they are talking about a Halloween party they will be attending tomorrow night." Ecliptor answered.

"So, the Rangers want to get into the spirit of Halloween, huh? I'll throw them a party they'll never live to forget!" Astronema responded as she smiled and walked away from the monitor.

~*~

"Okay, that takes care of all the tests on the Megadecks." Ashley responded as she looked over her monitor one more time. "How goes your end?"

"I'm finishing up with the last booster now." Andros responded as he typed in a few commands. "That does it! DECA can take care of the rest." Andros stated as he leaned back in his chair. He yawned and stretched as he did, and then sat back up as he made a strange, painful face.

"Are you okay?" Ashley asked.

"No, my back hurts." Andros responded a she tried to rub at the spot. Ashley smiled as she came back down by him and then placed her hands on his back.

"Where does it hurt?" She asked as she stood there. He pointed toward the middle of his back and then she set to work. "Does that feel better?"

"Wow, Ash. You should do this professionally." Andros responded as the pain in his back subsided and he began to relax.

"You know what I just though of?" Ashley asked. Andros shrugged. "TJ, Carlos, and Cassie just bought a whole bunch of costumes today to try on and see what they liked. I'm sure there are some leftovers that you could play with to find a costume." Ashley stated.

"Does that mean no blissful trips to the mall anytime soon?" Andros asked sarcastically.

"I knew I shouldn't have let TJ teach you about sarcasm . . . ." Ashley stated as she finished on Andros' back and then moved to his side. She leaned her backside against the console and faced the blonde-streaked boy. "Do you wanna go see what's left before we turn in for the night?" Ashley asked.

"Sure. I'm not ready to sleep yet, anyways." Andros responded as he stood up.

~*~

"Okay, I think this is the one." Cassie stated as she looked in the mirror. She was wearing a pink prom dress that flowed down past her feet and covered the ground around her. The top was a simple heart shaped design with thin spaghetti straps.

"Now, if we throw some red catsup on you, you could be Carrie instead Cassie." Carlos stated as he looked at her.

"Not gonna happen." Cassie stated as she punched Carlos in the stomach. As he rubbed his stomach, they all looked up and watched Andros and Ashley enter the room.

"Anything left for us?" Ashley asked.

"Just barely." TJ stated. "Whatever Cassie didn't like, she tore out of."

"Not true." Cassie stated as she ripped off the prom dress. Ashley laughed.

"Well, before you tear anything else up, why don't we let Andros look at what's there. He's coming with us tomorrow night." Ashley stated. TJ leaned in to whisper to Andros.

"I thought you told me you didn't wanna go?" TJ asked.

"I changed my mind." Andros replied. "Once Ashley asked." TJ smiled as he pulled back and looked at more costumes.

"I think I've got the perfect costume for you, Andros." TJ stated as he held up an alien mask and a large red robe. Andros smiled at the joke.

"Very funny. But I think I'll let you keep the mask. You need it more than I do." Andros joked. Carlos began to laugh.

"Nice one, Andros!" He stated as he high-fived Andros.

"Well, I've got my costume, so, I'm off to bed." Cassie stated as she picked up a bag and began to head out of the room.

"Which one did you pick?" TJ asked.

"You'll have to wait 'til tomorrow to find out." She answered as she walked out of the room.

"I've got mine too." Carlos stated as he shoved a black outfit into another bag.

"You gonna keep it from us too?" Ashley asked.

"Yep. My costume has sort of a sentimental value." Carlos answered as he picked up the bag and headed for the door. "Good night everyone." He stated as he left.

"Night, Carlos." Ashley called after him. She moved over to the pile of costumes and began to rummage through them all.

"So, you have any idea of what you're gonna be yet?" TJ asked Andros. He shrugged.

"I'm leaving this part up to Ashley since she's the one who wants me to go." He responded.

"Sounds like a plan." TJ stated as he picked up his costume and folded it up. "I'm going too. Night guys!" He stated as he left.

"Okay, let's get started . . . ." Ashley stated as she held up a small Superman costume. Andros swallowed heavily as she approached him with it.

~*~

"My princess, what are you looking for?" Ecliptor asked as he watched Astronema dig through some old books. She flipped through another one and then threw it to the side.

"I'm looking for a spell to call upon Riser." Astronema responded.

"Riser? What good is he? All he can do is bring our monsters back to life." Ecliptor asked.

"Yes, but I have a specific plan that requires his talents. In fact, the entire plan requires him." She stated as she looked through more books. "YES!" She cried out as she found the spell. She rose from the floor and waved her hand at the books. Magically, they all flew back into the closet they came out of. Astronema opened the book on her bed and stepped back "Here goes . . ." She stated as she closed her eyes. "For a Halloween surprise, the Rangers must fight the demons that Rise!" She stated as she called upon her staff. It's tip began to glow orange. "Riser, monster of rebirth, come to me now to take over the Earth!" An orange ball of light rose up from Astronema's staff and entered the book. It floated up from the bed and sat in the middle of the air. A moment later, a dark figure transported out of the book's pages into Astronema's room. The figure was mostly black, with orange eyes. On his chest, were various heads whose faces were contorted in pain. A crooked smile graced his face as he took in the site of Astronema.

"My princess, what services may I perform for you today?" He asked as he bowed to her.

"Riser, I've got a big job for you. I want you to help me get rid of the Rangers." Astronema stated.

"My princess, all due respect, I do not fight humans. They are beneath me." Riser stated.

"I agree, but you will not have to fight the Rangers. I need your powers to fight them." Astronema explained.

"What do you have in mind?" Riser asked.

"I want you to use your powers to raise the dead of Stone Canyon and send them after the Rangers. I want them to bring the Rangers back to a dimension I created just for them where their powers are useless and they must fight the dead without morphing." Astronema finished.

"And if the Rangers defeat the dead?" Riser questioned.

"You'll be waiting to destroy them. That is, if they destroy them. And, with one of my spells, they won't be able to." Astronema countered. Riser nodded.

"My services are yours." Riser stated as he bowed. Astronema smiled evilly as her plans went into motion.

~*~

"Good afternoon, Rangers!" Alpha stated as he walked into the mess hall where the Rangers were currently enjoying lunch.

"Hey Alpha! How was your recharge?" TJ asked. Alpha shrugged.

"I think I was on for too long . . . ." Alpha stated.

"Not likely." DECA interrupted. "By galactic standards of the Alpha units, your period of recharge was less than sufficient. If anything, you should go back in."

"Yeah, well, what do you know?" Alpha asked as he joined the Rangers at the table. "So, is everyone ready for Halloween?" Alpha asked.

"Yep. We picked out our costumes last night." Cassie stated.

"And what is everyone going to be?" Alpha asked.

"I'm not saying." Cassie stated. "I want everyone to be surprised." Alpha turned to TJ.

"I'm saying, either." TJ answered. Alpha then turned to Carlos.

"Nope." He stated before Alpha said anything. Alpha turned to Andros.

"Should I even bother?" He asked. Andros shook his head.

"Andros and I are going as a couple. He's gonna be Peter Pan, and I'm going to be Tinker Bell." Ashley stated as she patted her hand on Andros' back. TJ and Carlos began to laugh quietly. Andros hit TJ upside the head. He raised his shoulders and laughed again.

"I think it sounds cute." Cassie stated.

"Whatever." Carlos responded as he and TJ kept laughing. Cassie then hit him in the arm. As Carlos pulled back and grabbed his arm, he still laughed.

"So, when are we gonna be leaving?" Andros asked his friends.

"The party starts at seven, and it's four thirty now, so probably in another two hours." TJ stated.

"Good." Andros replied as he stood up. "That gives me time to run some scans on the shields and the engines."

"How about we go scan some stars for Zordon, instead?" Ashley asked as she stood with him.

"Okay, we can do that." Andros stated as he extended his arm for Ashley to take it. As she did, he then escorted them out of the mess hall and to the main bridge.

"So, who wants to bet that they'll hook up tonight?" Cassie asked as soon as they were gone.

"I got dibs on nine to midnight!" TJ stated as he stood and gathered up his dishes.

"Considering how in love Andros is and how persistent Ashley is, I'll take seven to nine." Carlos stated.

"I'll take everything after that, then." Cassie stated as she grabbed her dishes and took them to the sink.

"What's the betting table, this time?" Carlos asked as he took his dishes to the sink, as well.

"Winner has no chores for a month?" Cassie asked.

"Okay. If they kiss between seven and nine, Carlos has no chores for a month and we split 'em." TJ stated. "If they kiss between nine and midnight, I have no chores for a month. And, if they kiss from midnight 'til the morning, Cassie gets no chores for a month."

"Then it's a bet." Cassie stated as she held out her hand. TJ placed his on top, and so did Carlos. They all pump their hands once and then separated.

~*~

"Is everything set?" Astronema asked as she stepped on the bridge of her Dark Fortress.

"The dimension is set. Once inside, the Rangers will not be able to morph." Ecliptor stated. "The parameters of the dimension are restricted to all of Stone Canyon. So, once the Rangers get there, they will be trapped in Stone Canyon with the dead until the sun rises and the spell is broken. However, it is doubtful that they will last that long." Ecliptor stated.

"Good. And the humans of Stone Canyon?" Astronema asked.

"They are being removed as we speak." Ecliptor answered.

"Very good, Ecliptor. Now, Riser, are you ready to do your part?" Astronema asked. Riser stood from his seat and bowed.

"My spell is all ready into effect. When the sun sets, the dead will rise and go after the Rangers. Since they will be stuck in Stone Canyon all night, I am only raising the dead of Stone Canyon. After the sun rises, the dead will return to their graves and the humans of Stone Canyon will be returned. They won't even realize they missed Halloween." Riser stated.

"Good. The dead of Stone Canyon had better get rid of the Rangers for me. If not, you will fight them." Astronema ordered Riser. He bowed in submission.

"I doubt they will last. The dead will have superhuman strength and an immense hunger for human flesh and brains. The Rangers will die slowly, and painfully." Riser stated.

"VERY good. Ecliptor, continue with the plans and alert me as soon as the Rangers enter Stone Canyon." Astronema ordered. Ecliptor bowed as she left the room.

~*~

"Negative." Andros stated as he read aloud more results. "We've searched all of the stars in this system and every one of them has come up negative."

"Well, it was worth a shot." Ashley stated. "Can we begin searching the next system?"

"No, not right now. There's not enough power left in the scanners to leave this system. We'll have to wait until tomorrow to search outside of our system." Andros explained.

"All right." Ashley responded as she looked up at the clock. "Well, it's almost six anyways, so we better start getting ready for that party." She stated as she stood up from the chair next to Andros'. He looked at the clock and nodded.

"Okay. I'll go get ready in a minute. I wanna set DECA for her rotations while we're gone." Andros stated. Ashley nodded as she left the room. Andros sighed as he pulled out a small round disk. He placed it in a hole in the console before him, and then punched a few buttons. A moment later, an image of two children playing appeared on the main screen ahead of him. One of the children was a boy wearing red, and the other was a girl wearing yellow. They were playing with a large expanding ball that was floating between them. Suddenly, the ball floated away and the boy got up and ran after it. As the girl sat alone, she was startled as a large figure scooped her up and began carrying her away.

"ANDROS! Help me!" she cried out as the large figure disappeared with her.

"Karone?" The little boy asked as he came back with the small ball. He looked around for the little girl, but didn't find her. "Karone?!" He cried out again. "KARONE!" He shouted. As the image finished playing, Andros closed his eyes and let a few tears roll down over his face. As he wiped them away, he pulled the disk back out of the console and placed it in his pocket. He rose from the station and quietly made his way to the turbo lift. As he entered it and the doors closed behind him, Alpha stepped out from a side door and lowered his head.

"Poor Andros." He stated as he walked around the bridge.

~*~

"I'm ready now." Cassie's voice called out from her room. TJ was standing outside waiting for Cassie to display her costume. He was dressed up in a baseball player's uniform and held a baseball bat in his right hand. "Here I come." Cassie stated as she walked out of her room. She was wearing a simple biker chick outfit. She had on a white tank top with black, leather pants and boots. She held a black leather jacket in one hand and flipped it over her shoulder. She had a metal spiked collar around her neck, and her hair was pulled up into a ponytail and then teased out.

"Wow. You look great!" TJ stated as his eyes went wide at her.

"Thanks." Cassie stated as she blushed. They both looked up as Carlos walked over. He was wearing an outfit of all black with a little green. He had on black pants, with a green shirt, and a black leather vest and then a black leather coat. His hair was slicked back and he had his mouth closed, but it was evident that something was in his mouth. A moment later, he opened his mouth to reveal a set off fangs.

"I don't get it? I thought you said your costume had sentimental value?" TJ asked. Carlos slumped.

"Geeze, don't you guys remember when I was turned into a vampire by one of Divatox' monsters? This is the outfit I wore." Carlos answered.

"The scary part is that I actually remember that . . ." Cassie stated as Ashley walked up in her Tinker Bell outfit.

"Carlos! I love it! Your vampire gear!" Ashley stated as she placed her hand on Carlos' shoulder.

"You remember that?" TJ asked.

"What? When Carlos was turned into a vampire?" Ashley asked. TJ nodded. "Of course! Carlos is my best friend! I remember everything." TJ shook his head.

"At least someone does." Carlos stated as he turned away from the others. Ashley smiled at him. Their fun was interrupted as Andros entered the hallway wearing his green Peter Pan outfit, complete with a size too small pair of tights. He pulled at the tight everywhere as he walked up. Cassie, TJ, and Carlos immediately began laughing.

"Go ahead, get it out now, because I don't wanna hear anything about this for the rest of the night." Andros stated as he crossed his arms.

"I think the tights are a bit too small, Andros." TJ stated. Cassie leaned in to Ashley's ear and began to whisper.

"At least MY questions about Andros are now answered." She stated as she pointed at the prominent bulge in the tights. Ashley elbowed Cassie in the stomach and then smiled.

"I think you look sexy." Ashley stated as she came up by Andros.

"Thanks, but I disagree." Andros stated as he pulled at the tights once again.

"Well, it's six thirty nine. We ready to go yet?" TJ asked.

"I'm ready." Cassie answered as she put on her leather jacket.

"Me too." Carlos answered.

"Then let's get going." Andros stated as he began to walk down the hallway toward the jump tubes.

"Andros, I hate to see ya go, but I love to watch you leave." Cassie stated aloud as she followed him. Ashley giggled as she held onto her friend's arm and came along. TJ and Carlos soon followed. As the five teens arrived at the five jump tubes, they each stood in front of their appropriate colored tube. Andros stood before red, Carlos stood before black, TJ stood before blue, Ashley stood before yellow, and Cassie stood before pink.

"Have a fun time, Rangers!" Alpha stated as he walked up.

"Hold down the fort for us, Alpha!" TJ stated as they all jumped into their tubes and then teleported down to Earth.

~*~

"My princess." Ecliptor stated as he entered her room. "The Rangers just teleported down to Stone Canyon." Astronema stood up from her vanity mirror and picked up her staff from its resting place next to her.

"Good. I want to go down there and meet the Rangers myself, first. When will the sun be setting?" She asked.

"In about ten more minutes." Ecliptor answered. Astronema smiled.

"And the spell will not take effect until then, right?" she asked.

"Yes, Astronema." Ecliptor answered.

"Then I will be back in twenty minutes." Astronema stated as she waved her hand and disappeared in an orange light. Ecliptor then left her room and walked back onto the bridge.

"What did Astronema say?" Riser asked.

"She decided to go down there and meet the rangers face to face and play with them. She will return in twenty minutes." Ecliptor answered. Riser stood quickly.

"No, she can't go down there!" Riser cried out.

"Why?" Ecliptor asked, getting nervous.

"As soon as the sun sets, no one will be able to leave or enter Stone Canyon until it comes back up!" Riser cried out. "We've got ten minutes to track down Astronema and get her out of there, or else she'll be stuck down there with the Rangers and the dead, powerless."

"Let's go." Ecliptor stated as he grabbed Riser and they disappeared in a green ball of light.

~*~

"Man, this night is going to be so much fun!" Ashley stated as she held Andros' arm and they all walked through a park in Stone Canyon. The five Rangers landed in the middle of the park, and planned to walk across it to get to their party.

"I hope this party is as good as all the hype about it has been." Cassie stated.

"Hopefully, it will be." TJ stated.

"We are never gonna forget this night!" Ashley stated as she smiled, brightly.

"Well, you're right about that, Yellow Ranger." Astronema stated as she appeared in an orange hail of light in front of them. The five rangers jumped back into defensive stances at her appearance.

"What do you want, Astronema?" Andros asked.

"Just to inform you of a little game we're going to play tonight." Astronema stated.

"We're not playing any games with you, lady!" Carlos cried out.

"Oh, Ranger, such courage! But, you see, you have no choice in the matter." Astronema stated as the sun started to set. "As soon as the sun sets, you will be trapped here in Stone Canyon, all alone to fight my army of the dead!" Astronema cried out as she raised her arms and orange light flew out. As the sun finished setting, a visible dome began to fall down upon Stone Canyon. As it became dark, the ground began to shake. At the edge of one of the dome's sides nearby, Ecliptor and Riser appeared. They tried to step forward, but found that the dome was all ready in place.

"No! My princess!" Ecliptor cried out. Astronema and the Rangers looked over to the two monsters.

"Astronema, find shelter somewhere high, fast!" Riser called out.

"What are you talking about?" Astronema asked. The rangers looked at each other.

"You are trapped in there with the rangers and the dead without any powers, my princess!" Ecliptor cried out.

"WHAT?" Astronema cried out.

"I'm sorry, princess, I forgot to tell you this because I did not realize you wanted to come down here." Riser stated. "You're stuck here 'til the morning, just as the Rangers are."

"Does anyone else hear that groaning?" Ashley broke out with, suddenly. As the Rangers, Astronema, and the two monsters looked off to the side, they saw a large group of dark figures approaching. Riser suddenly became nervous.

"Princess! RUN!" Riser cried out. Astronema's eyes grew wide as she and the Rangers all saw that the group of people was a group of the dead. Astronema quickly began to run in the other direction.

"What are those things?" Cassie asked as she looked at them all. Their faces were all brown and peeling away, and their clothes were tattered and torn away. Their decaying hands were raised and reaching for the flesh of the Rangers.

"I don't wanna stick around to find out!" Andros stated as he grabbed Ashley. "The club is on the other side of this park. We could make it over there before those things even realized we had moved." Andros stated.

"I ain't waiting around to test out that theory!" Carlos stated as he began to run in the direction Andros had pointed to.

"Carlos, wait up!" Cassie called out as she grabbed TJ's arm and pulled him along with her.

"Let's go after them. We don't wanna be separated right now." Andros stated to Ashley as she stared at the dead.

"You ain't gotta tell me twice!" she stated as she let him pull her along.

~*~

"How could you have been so stupid?!" Ecliptor shouted at Riser as they entered the bridge of the Dark Fortress. "Are you sure you can't reverse the spell?" Ecliptor asked.

"Yes, I'm sure, for the one hundredth time! I cannot help it if your princess feels she is immune to everything! This will be a valuable lesson for her. She will learn how to get along without her powers. That may come in handy someday." Riser snapped back.

"If one hair on her head is harmed, you will suffer, Riser, do you understand me?" Ecliptor cried out. He then left the bridge and left Riser alone. Riser began to smile.

"Princess Astronema, so predictable. Now that you are trapped down there with the Rangers, you will die just like them. And then, your dead, power filled, body will be mine, and Dark Specter will have to bargain with me if he ever wants it back!" Riser cried out as he stepped up to a monitor and activated it. "And once he does get it back, I will have all ready drained you of your powers." A picture of Astronema wandering around in the dark appeared. "And after I bargain with Specter, I will become more powerful than anyone else in all of the universe!" Astronema appeared to be lost and mad.

"If I ever get my hands on that Riser . . . he will regret ever being called upon." She stated as she continued to stumble around.

"That's if you ever make it out alive!" Riser cried out and began to laugh evilly.

~*~

"Guys, I don't think the club is this way." Cassie stated as she held onto Carlos and TJ and they stumbled around in the dark.

"Cassie, this is the way to the club, see, there's the bench we were at." TJ stated and then stopped.

"You took us around in a circle?!" Cassie cried out as she beat TJ's arm.

"I'm sorry, but it's hard to navigate in the dark." TJ stated.

"Maybe we should try morphing?" Carlos suggested.

"Astronema said it wouldn't work in here." Cassie stated.

"Since when should we ever take anything Astronema says at face value?" TJ asked. "I agree with Carlos, let's do this."

"All right." Cassie stated reluctantly as she threw her right hand out before her and called upon her morpher. "Let's rocket!" She cried out. The three of them then opened their morphers and pressed in the numbers 3-3-5 and then proceeded to morph. Their suits appeared around them briefly, in a bright flash of light, but then quickly disappeared. As they looked around, Cassie frowned. "Nothing."

"It was worth a try." Carlos stated.

"A bad one!" TJ cried out as his eyes grew wide and he pointed ahead of them. A group of the walking dead had seen them morph and was now attracted to them.

"No!" Cassie screamed out. She began to run in the opposite direction.

"Cassie, wait up!" Carlos cried out as he stumbled after her. TJ turned around to run, as well, but jumped back as he came face to face with one of the dead.

"Back off!" He cried out as he kicked the man in his stomach. The man bent forward as the blow hit him, but then came back up and tried to grab TJ. TJ pushed his hands aside and then kicked him in the chest. He then elbowed the man in the back and he fell to the ground. TJ jumped over him and then ran to catch up with his friends.

~*~

"Andros," Ashley began as she held onto the boy and looked around. "I think we lost the others."

"I think you're right." He stated as he looked around, as well. "We have to find that club. It's where we were heading, so they'll know to go there."

"Yeah, we just have to find it." Ashley stated sarcastically. "Maybe we should try morphing?" She asked.

"It's worth a try." Andros stated as he looked around. "Let's rocket!" He shouted as he and Ashley typed in the 3-3-5 combo and proceeded to morph. A bright light engulfed the two for a moment, and then they were morphed. But, just as quickly as it had appeared, their armor melted away.

"Well, at least we really know where we stand." Ashley stated.

"Trouble." Andros stated as he looked ahead. A group of the dead was coming for them.

"Let's get going." Ashley stated as she turned around. But, she found herself facing another group of the dead. She screamed loudly and pulled Andros' attention that way.

"We're surrounded." Andros stated as he saw the other groups closing in.

"What are we gonna do?" Ashley asked. Andros dropped into a defensive stance.

"Stay alive." He stated as he ran at the nearest group of zombies. He jumped into the middle of them and began to kick them down left and right. But, just as fast as they went down, they got back up. Ashley stood terrified at the sight of the monsters, and was helpless to do anything as one of them grabbed her by the arm.

"Get off of me!" She screamed out as she kicked at the man. Suddenly, he sunk his teeth deep into Ashley's arm and made her release a deafening, high-pitched, scream. Andros then came to her rescue and pulled the man off of her. He broke the man's neck and then dropped his body to the ground. Andros then grabbed Ashley's arm and examined it. It had a big chunk missing out of it, and the bite was deep enough that he knew the man had broken her arm. Andros let go of her arm and took a hold of Ashley's head to make her look at him.

"Are you okay to run?" He asked. Ashley slowly nodded. "Then do it!" He shouted as he grabbed her other arm and began to pull her along. They ran past the groups of zombies, and deeper into the park.

~*~

"TJ?" Cassie called out as she and Carlos moved along. Cassie jumped at every noise, and then asked if it was TJ. She had been doing that for twenty minutes.

"Cassie, it's not him, just drop it." Carlos stated as he grew tired of her.

"I'm sorry, but this whole situation freaks me out. How are we gonna last until the morning with an army of undying zombies chasing after us? I mean, those suckers look pretty hungry!" Cassie stated.

"Yeah, and if you don't shut up all ready, I'll feed you to them and save myself!" Carlos snapped back. Cassie looked at Carlos and then punched him in the face and watched as he fell down. What the hell was that for?"

"For one thing, you yelled at. For another thing, even thinking about sacrificing me to those things!" Cassie yelled as she placed her hands on her hips.

"Cass, move!" Carlos shouted as he pulled her away and kicked up to catch a zombie in the stomach. As it stumbled backwards, Carlos scrambled to get up, and grab Cassie. He pulled her along and continued to run in the other direction, looking back every once in a while.

"Carlos!" Cassie cried out as he ran into a group of zombies. They both fell backwards, and then scrambled to get up again. Before they could move, a few of the zombies grabbed them by their arms. "Get off of me!" Cassie cried out as she threw her leg back and kicked one of her zombies in the stomach. As he let go of her, she brought her leg up and kicked the woman holding her in the face. As she was released, she jump-kicked away both of the zombies holding Carlos. "Let's go!" She cried as she grabbed him and began to pull him away. They stopped when they realized that they were now surrounded by several groups of zombies.

"Great, now what?" Carlos asked. Cassie looked over and noticed a manhole off to their right. She pointed to it and Carlos got the idea. He moved that way to try and open it, but a few zombies moved that way to block it at the same time. Cassie then catapulted herself over Carlos' head and slammed into the few zombies. Carlos hurried to open the manhole, and then pulled Cassie up and shoved her towards it. As she jumped down, he followed her. As they landed in the sewer below, a bright light engulfed them both and they were suddenly morphed into the pink and black Rangers.

"Wow, what just happened?" Cassie asked. Carlos grew wide-eyed.

"We're out of the field! It didn't extend to down here! We can get out!" Carlos cried for joy. Cassie looked behind him, and pointed.

"Yeah, and so can they!" As Carlos turned around, he saw the zombies dropping down into the manholes after them.

"We can't let them out of Stone Canyon." Carlos stated. "People are safe while they're stuck here. If we let them out, we're asking for trouble."

"Let's do this." Cassie stated as she spun around and produced her weapon. "Satellite stunner!"

"Lunar lance!" Carlos cried as he spun around and produced his weapon. He did so just in time to intercept a zombie that was coming at him. He slammed the crescent shaped end into the zombies stomach, and then slammed him into the wall. "We need to seal that manhole, and get back up there. We may be powerless up there, but as long as we're there, they won't go anywhere." Carlos stated. Cassie nodded.

"Let's get these guys back up there first." She stated as she grabbed the one zombie by his collar and proceeded to walk over to the others. She threw him into the few others that had made their way down there. Cassie lifted her weapon to the open hole, and then fired. The hole collapsed and sealed off. Cassie then turned her attention to the zombies that were starting to get up. "Maximum setting." She stated as she changed the settings on her weapon. She held it out at the zombies and then pulled the trigger. Waves of sound then radiated out towards them. They stopped moving for a few moments, and then proceeded to explode in a mess of blood and guts. Cassie jumped back as some of the remains landed on her. "Nasty!" She cried as she wiped herself off.

"Looks like we didn't need catsup . . . ." Carlos joked. Cassie looked up and then punched him in the stomach again.

~*~

"Ecliptor!" Elgar called out as he looked for the large black man. He stepped into Astronema's bedroom and looked around. As he was about to leave, he caught a glimpse of Ecliptor in Astronema's closet. Elgar entered the room and stood behind Ecliptor. "What are you doing?" Elgar asked. Ecliptor looked up to acknowledge him, and then continued to look around in the closet.

"I'm trying to find the book that had the spell in it that Astronema cast to call upon Riser." Ecliptor stated. "What do you want?"

"I came to tell you that I overheard Riser talking to himself on the bridge, and he was saying something about how once Astronema dies, he'll get her powers and something about Dark Specter being powerless . . . something like that." Elgar finished. Ecliptor stood up and grabbed Elgar by the shoulders and shook him.

"Think clearly, Elgar. Use what little brain you have left to remember and tell me exactly what he said." Ecliptor ordered. Elgar blinked, and then a massive light went off over his head.

"He said that the zombies would kill Astronema and he'd take her body and bargain with Dark Specter for it. And while he did that, he'd drain her of her powers and after that, he's get more power from Specter and be all powerful." Elgar clarified.

"Dammit . . . I knew that monster was not to be trusted." Ecliptor stated as he turned around and continued to look for the book. "It's not here!"

"Are you looking for the book that Riser took?" Elgar asked as he scratched his head. Ecliptor glared at Elgar and slowly stood.

"Leave, now, before I remove you painfully."Ecliptor stated as he made balled his hands up in anger. Elgar shrieked and then left the room quickly. Ecliptor grabbed his sword from it's resting place on the floor and exited Astronema's room. He walked along the hallway that lead to the bridge, and then emerged in the bridge. He lowered his sword down by his side as Riser looked at him. "Riser, we need to have a little talk."

~*~

"Guys?" TJ called out as he stumbled around trying to find his friends. He pushed through a group of trees and made his way to the other side to find himself face to face with the tip of Astronema's staff.

"I may not have any powers, but I am still a first class martial artist with a deadly weapon, so if I were you, I'd do as I were told." Astronema stated as she let TJ step out of the trees. "Raise your hands." She ordered. TJ did as told and Astronema led him by the tip of her staff over to a tree and pushed him up against it.

"What do you want, Astronema? Isn't it enough that we're stuck in here together? That's torture enough!" TJ stated as he became upset. Astronema hit him across the face with her staff and cut him across his left cheek. As he came back up and felt the cut, he grew angry.

"Listen here, little Ranger, you should feel privileged to be trapped in here with me. Many men would kill for this setup." Astronema stated.

"Look, since there are so few of us, and so many of them, we should be working together, not against each other." TJ stated.

"See, that's where you're wrong. I'm on their side." Astronema stated.

"But they just don't know it, right?" TJ asked sarcastically as he lowered his hands. Astronema jabbed the tip of her staff up under TJ's chin and pushed his head back into the tree. He raised his hands again.

"They will know it, once I sacrifice you to them. And, even if they don't ,at least I'll be rid of you." Astronema stated as she looked over. "In fact, here comes a group of them now!" She cried as she hit TJ across the face and forced him out in front of them. The group of zombies saw him and immediately came after him. TJ tried to turn around and run, but Astronema stood in his way with her staff. TJ turned and then faced the zombies. He leapt at them full on with a tornado of kicks and punches. As each one fell to the ground, TJ worked his way through them and made it to the other side. As he was about to run away, he saw them turning toward Astronema. "Get away from me! Go after him, he's the human flesh you want!" She cried out. The zombies proceeded to grab her staff and yank it away and then grab both of her arms. TJ sighed and then jumped over the group of zombies and kicked away both of the ones on Astronema. He then scooped her up and jumped back over the group of zombies. As he reached the other side, he started to run away with Astronema in his arms. As they grew farther apart from the group of zombies, Astronema grew impatient. "Put me down." She ordered. TJ slowed down and then put her down. Astronema glared at him. "If you ever touch me again, I'll slit your throat!" She stated.

"'Gee, thanks for saving my life, TJ.' 'Oh, no problem, Astronema.'" TJ mocked. Astronema looked down, and then looked back up.

"I would have fed you to those monsters if they would have taken you, but you came back and saved me. Why?" Astronema asked.

"Because, no one deserves to die like that. Not even you." TJ stated. As he began to walk off.

"Thank you, TJ." Astronema stated. TJ sighed and turned around.

"Look, why don't we call a temporary truce for the night. We pretty much need each other to survive." TJ offered.

"I don't need you." Astronema stated defensively.

"Fine, but I need you. I need someone to watch my back, and in exchange, I'll watch yours." TJ stated. He offered Astronema a hand shake. She looked at his hand and then gave in and took it. After they shook, TJ looked around. "We need to find the others if we want better chances of surviving." TJ stated. "Can't you do anything to help us out?"

"I can do simple, mortal tricks. Nothing else. My powers are as gone as yours are." Astronema stated.

"Can you at least make a fire so we can get some torches going for light?" TJ asked.

"Yeah, I can do that. But we have to find some rocks and some cloth to wrap around branches to make the torches." Astronema stated.

"I can use my shirt as cloth, and we can find branches everywhere. Rocks would be down by a pond." TJ stated as he looked around in the dark. "But I can't see anything to find a pond." Astronema sighed and opened up her palm. A small flicker of fire rested in her palm. She raised it up to her face and pressed it against her eyes. As she pulled away, her eyes changed to fire. "What was that?" TJ asked.

"It's a glamour spell. It enhances the vision so that you can see in the dark easier." Astronema stated as she offered the flicker of fire to TJ. He looked at it carefully. "Trust me, it won't hurt." She stated. TJ looked at it again and then nodded. Astronema stepped up to him. "Keep your eyes open, or else the spell won't work." Astronema stated. TJ nodded as he stood still and watched as the fire came up to his eyes and then Astronema's hand covered his eyes. When she pulled it away, TJ's vision was changed. Everything he looked at appeared to be lit up by fire. He could now see the surroundings and he was able to see the top of a building nearby.

"I can see everything . . . ." TJ stated. "I think I can see the club we were supposed to be at." TJ began to walk towards the clumps of trees standing in his way. He pulled Astronema along by her arm, and pulled himself and her through the trees. As they emerged on the other side, TJ could see the building. It had a neon sign on it that read 'Shay's disco hall.' "That's the place we were going to." He stated as he looked at Astronema. "Come on."

~*~

"Here, sit down." Andros stated as he helped Ashley to sit down on a bench. She was holding her arm and sweating immensely.

"Andros, it's so cold." She complained as she shivered. Andros unbutton the green over shirt he wore and took it off. He wrapped it around Ashley and began to rub her arms. His rested Ashley against his now bare chest. He looked down at her arm and sighed. It was infected from being dragged through the trees.

"Ash, I'm so sorry that I let you get bit." Andros stated.

"Andros, it wasn't your fault. It couldn't have been helped. At least you saved me from being completely eaten." Ashley joked as she nudged up closer to Andros.

"I've gotta get a fire started to get you warm." Andros stated as he started to pull away.

"No." Ashley stated as she pulled him in closer. "Don't leave me." She stated as she rested against him again.

"Ash, I'm not going anywhere, I just wanna get a fire started." Andros stated.

"Andros, there's something that I wanna do before I never get to do it again." Ashley stated as she looked up at him.

"Ashley, don't talk like you're dying. You're gonna be fine." He stated.

"Look, I just wanna do this one thing before it's too late, so stop arguing with me." Ashley stated as she propped herself up against the bench. She looked into Andros' eyes before she leaned in and kissed him passionately. Andros wrapped his arms around Ashley, tightly, and continued to kiss her back. But, he suddenly broke and sat back.

"Ashley, you bit my tongue!" He stated as he felt the wound.

"I'm sorry, you just tasted so good . . . . I think I'd like another!" She stated as she grabbed his arm and tried to bite him. Andros pushed her head back and jumped up. "Andros, I'm so hungry. Please, just let me nibble on you . . . I'm just so hungry!" Ashley stated as she began to rise. She slipped off Andros' shirt and her face became crazed. "Come on, just a little taste!" She cried out as she lunged at him. Andros jumped to the side and let her fly past him.

"You're one of them, now." Andros stated as a group of the zombies came up beside Ashley and didn't even attack her. Andros began to back up. "I don't wanna leave you, Ashley, but it's the safest thing to do. Please forgive me!" Andros stated as he began to run in the other direction. The zombies, however, managed to lunge out and grab his arms. He threw his leg up and kicked away one of them and then head-butted another one away. He then spin kicked one of them to the ground. As soon as he could, Andros ran away. As he pushed through several trees, he found himself facing a large building with a neon sign on it. He looked at the building, and then back at the confused zombies and Ashley. He sighed as he made his way toward the building.

~*~

Riser cried out as Ecliptor pushed him up against a wall and put pressure on the back of his neck. Riser was breathing heavily at the larger monster's strength.

"Now, I'll ask you again, were you planning on leaving Astronema in there all night?" Ecliptor asked.

"I all ready told you, no! It just worked out that way to my benefit!" Riser stated as he pushed back again Ecliptor. When Ecliptor pushed him back at the wall, Riser stepped up against the wall and flipped over Ecliptor. He then pinned Ecliptor to the wall. "And now, I'll take your powers!" Riser cried as a light engulfed the two. Ecliptor began to glow green, and then melted into Riser. After the light subsided, Riser had a new head on his chest. It was Ecliptor's. It rested next to Elgar's head as he had absorbed him right after he left the room. Riser picked up Ecliptor's sword and placed it in a new holder that appeared on his back. He then walked over to the monitor to check on Stone Canyon. "Show me Astronema." He ordered. The monitor lit up to show an image of Astronema in a building. Riser saw the fire in her eyes and smiled. "You crafty little witch! You knew about the glamour spells." He chuckled to himself as he continued to watch her.

~*~

"So, as soon as the sun comes up, the zombies will return to the ground, and the field will be lifted?" TJ asked as he and Astronema walked through the empty club. None of the lights were on, but they could still around.

"That's right. So we just have to make it until the morning, and then we'll have our powers back." Astronema stated.

"And then our truce is broken." TJ stated, sorrowfully. Astronema lowered her eyes.

"Maybe." She stated as she walked past TJ. He looked up at her and smiled.

"TJ?" Andros' voice called out as he entered the building and saw him. TJ turned around and smiled.

"Andros! Thank God you made it!" TJ stated as he walked up to Andros and hugged him. "What's up with the bare back look?" TJ asked.

"Long story. Short version- Ashley is a zombie." Andros stated.

"She got bit?" Astronema asked as she stepped up to the two. Andros dropped into a defensive stance.

"What are you doing here?" Andros asked.

"Andros, relax. I made a temporary truce with her. We need her help if we're gonna make it out of here." TJ stated as he looked at Andros. At that moment, Andros got a good look at TJ's eyes and saw the fire.

"What's wrong with your eyes?" Andros asked as he stepped back. TJ shook his head.

"It's nothing, just a simple glamour spell Astronema did to help us see around. It's like having a torch, but not having to carry it or worry about it blowing out." TJ explained. Andros looked him over. "Relax, Andros. She's as powerless as we are. She doesn't have the power to turn me evil." TJ stated. "Trust me." Andros nodded.

"Can you do the spell to me, too?" Andros asked, captiously. Astronema nodded and then opened her palm to reveal the small flicker of fire once more.

"Keep your eyes open, or else it won't work." She stated as she approached Andros. He tensed up as Astronema came at him and pulled her hand up to his face. "Relax, Andros. If I wanted to kill you, I'd be a bit messier about it than this." Astronema stated as she covered Andros' eyes.

"That makes me feel so much better about it." Andros stated sarcastically as Astronema pulled her hand away from his eyes. As his vision adjusted to the light, he smiled. "It worked."

"There, see, I can be trusted." Astronema stated. Andros smiled, and then looked around.

"We have to find some way to alert the others that we're here. They probably can't find their way over here without any lights, so they'll need our help." Andros stated.

"But, won't the zombies find their way over here, too?" TJ asked. Andros shook his head.

"No, otherwise, the neon sign would have attracted their attention a long time ago." Andros stated. "I saw that this place has search lights on the roof, so why don't we make our way up there and see if we can get them working." Andros suggested. TJ and Astronema nodded.

~*~

"Thank you." Cassie stated as Carlos helped her up out of the manhole. As she stood up, her armor melted away and she looked around. "Looks like it's back to guess and check for us." She stated as Carlos placed the cover back over the manhole.

"Well, while I was morphed, I was able to see that the club is in that direction." Carlos stated as he pointed to their left side. "If we can make it to the club, we may stand a chance. We could barricade ourselves inside and stay the night."

"And then if any of the zombies break in, we'll be trapped in there with them." Cassie stated.

"I'd rather be in the house with them, than out here. Plus, if they do break in, we could always break out and set the place on fire." Carlos stated.

"I suppose it is better than staying out here all night." Cassie stated as she looked in the direction of the club. "Let's do it, then." She stated. Carlos nodded and looked around as Cassie began to walk in the direction of the club. As he followed her, she stopped.

"What's wrong?" Carlos asked as he looked at her.

"Look." Cassie pointed to the sky. There was a large light pointing straight up.

"It must be the others! They must be at the club and they're trying to give us a north star, if you would." Carlos stated.

"Let's follow it, then." Cassie stated as she began to move forward.

"Fresh flesh." A voice stated from behind them. They turned around to face Ashley and a group of zombies. They saw her arm and then her crazed face and knew what had happened.

"Ashley, we don't wanna hurt you." Carlos stated as he raised his hands and he and Cassie began to walk backwards.

"Then don't fight back!" Ashley stated as she lunged at them. They broke apart and let her slide between them, only to be grabbed by zombies. Cassie tried to fight off her three, but was having no luck. However, Carlos had managed to break free from his three and went to Cassie's aid. After he freed her, they turned to run, but found themselves facing Ashley again. "My food, you shouldn't fight back, it'll just make you lose your sweetness!" Ashley stated as she lunged at them again. This time, Cassie moved aside and pushed Ashley into the other zombies. Then, she grabbed Carlos by the arm.

"Come on." She cried as she pulled him along. As Ashley slowly stood up, she looked to the sky and saw the light.

"Andros . . . ." She stated as she narrowed her eyes at the light, and then motioned for the other zombies to follow her.

~*~

"Okay, that ought to help Carlos and Cassie get over here faster." TJ stated as he stepped away from the search light.

"That's if they haven't been turned into zombies all ready." Andros stated.

"I still can't picture her as a zombie . . . ." Astronema stated as she tried to see it. "I'll be she looks even uglier dead." Andros Lunged at Astronema.

"Whoa, Panny boy!" TJ stated as he held Andros back.

"She's not dead!" Andros yelled at Astronema. "She'll be fine as soon as the sun comes up!" Andros cried out as he settled down.

"Face it, runt! Ashley's