Author's Note: Someone requested a background of how the Rangers became famous, and how they ended up where they were in "Alone in a Crowd". This is supposed to be a one-off, but you never know. Sarah made her first public appearance in "Wallflowers" (which is technically in continuity with the "Breeze" universe), but she was originally intended as a character for the Breeze series.

Truth Revealed: Crying for the Heroes
by Selma McCrory (Estirose)
c 2003

Tam is crazy, I swear it. It's Power Rangers this and Power Rangers that, and she never lets up. One would think that someone her age would have something better to focus upon, but I guess not.

"Sar, Mom, Dad, come watch!"

She thinks the Power Rangers blew up the bad guys. She thinks. Certainly I won't grouse if they did, but I don't understand this worshipfulness. I mean, these are probably ordinary people with just a little bit more dangerous lives than usual. Being a police officer, a fireman, or a stunt-person is dangerous, too. And the Cops catch a whole lot more miscreants than the Rangers defeat monsters.

"What's up?" I grouse.

"Somebody got pictures of the Rangers changing back," Tam says. "See, they're going to show it on the news!"

Poor Rangers. They do their jobs and look at what they're faced with? Tam and the other fangirls she exchanges messages with are the kind of people who would drive them crazy.

"Come on!" she says, appearing and pulling me towards the TV in the living room. Mom and Dad are there too.

The news comes back on, and I watch involuntarily. I want to close my eyes, save them from one more person knowing who they are, but I can't. It's like watching a car accident.

"The Power Rangers have saved the city once again, and this time, they are not anonymous. This video, taped by a local resident, shows the Rangers changing form into ordinary citizens."

The tape plays. The Rangers watch the explosion, and then their forms shimmer. It's as if their uniforms shatter like glass, though I'm sure it's an illusion. They turn around, oblivious to the camera.

With a sick feeling, I recognize the first. Hunter. One of Cam's friends. Beside him is his brother, Blake. I want to close my eyes once more, but I have a feeling... I know if I look, if I don't look, if I don't render myself deaf, that I will find out something I don't want to know.

Tori. I remember Cam and his five friends hanging about on the beach. Tori had coaxed Blake into surfing with her... something about not surfing alone.

Ever since Cam and I chaperoned that dance together, I've gotten to know about him. And I know that his five teenage friends are the closest friends he has. Including me.

Shane. Oh, poor Shane. He must be the team leader, which means he'll be under the most pressure. Everybody's going to want a piece of him now.

Dustin. Wacky, joking Dustin who sold me those clothes at Storm Chargers after Cam had told him what we'd need that weekend. The Yellow Ranger went solo once... protecting... oh, Storm Chargers. He was protecting his boss and his livelihood, I realize now.

But he's part of a team. Part of six friends who'd do practically anything for each other.

My eyes stray, unwillingly, to the green-clad form, knowing somehow what I'm going to see. Short black hair, glasses, a pendant around the neck....

The only guy I've been on a date with more than once. The guy who, despite being eight years older than Hunter, the oldest of the teens, hung out with them.

I see him clearly now. "Cam," I say involuntarily. Mom looks at me. Dad doesn't seem to hear, and fortunately, neither does Tam. He's safe from my sister at the moment.

"Whoever these brave heroes are, our thanks go out to them. More developments as they come."

Developments. I snort. I'm sure Cam and the others will view this as more than a development. Much more than a development.

Still sickened, I leave before I can say anything more. I will not be a part of this. I swear. Poor Cam. Poor Rangers.

I cry for them.