Disclaimer: Let's get this out of the way first, shall we? I don't own Power Rangers, and I never did. I am writing this story purely for my own amusement and torture, no infringement intended on whoever owns the series now.

Author's Note: This story takes place in the same time line as Taking up the Mantle, a short vignette I wrote. However, you do not need to read that to understand this. The prologue to this story takes place a few weeks before the first chapter does, at the very beginning of the school year. Updates will happen when they happen. I will try and make them a regular occurrence, but I'm not setting a schedule in stone.

Oh, and I apologize in advance for the terrible fight scenes. I assure you, they look much better in my head then they probably turn out on paper. Or on screen.

Reviews are always appreciated. Flames will be used to roast the Overlord's minions.

There's No Place Like Home

"Hey Storch, see ya tomorrow!"

"Yo Jarhead! Sure you don't want to come with us? It wouldn't kill you to miss a class."

"Knock it off guys, he spent the whole summer with us. Let him have his own life!"

The last comment was greeted with boos, and started another round of a teasing sort of angry babble.

"His own life? Why would he want his own life?"

"Yeah, we should be life enough for him. I can't believe the J-man's really gonna blow us off for those karate geeks again."

"Don't call them geeks!"

Jared Storch grinned as he listened to the litany of complaints and counter complaints that followed as he got ready to part from his friends to go to the karate class he attended three days a week at the local dojo. The bell for the end of the day had rung just a few moments before, and his friends had quickly separated from the mass of students that had run out the double doors, headed for the various modes of transportation that would take them back home. They, on the other hand, were headed towards the sports park for a couple of games of basketball before heading home, which was where they wanted him to go. And on any other day, he would. But karate had become an integral part of his life, and he would choose it over a basketball game any day. The adrenaline rush he got after successfully completing a kata, or defeating an opponent in a spar was incredible, and yet somehow it also helped him become more calm, more focused.

"Sorry guys, no can do," he told them. "We're learning something new today and I can't miss it."

Besides, he thought, unconsciously looking down at his clothes, a karate uniform isn't exactly the best thing to wear for a game. It's too bulky and hot for me to feel comfortable running up and down the court, and I don't want to go through all the trouble of taking it off.

Much to the amusement of his teachers, Jared often wore his uniform (minus the belt) to his last class on the days he went to the dojo. It saved him that extra time so he could get started on his warm up exercises right away and finish them before the lesson actually started. While the dojo was close by, school didn't end all that much before class and it did take him a couple of minutes to walk there. Not only that, but he was running late today, courtesy of a history test. Normally, Miz Lewis was very big on letting her end of the day classes out early, but on test days she insisted that everyone remain in their seats until the bell rang. It was her thinking that if you finished your exam early, then there was a good chance that you did something wrong, and she wanted everyone to have a chance to go over their work. Jared usually agreed with this, except on the days when a test put him in danger of being late to karate class. There were times when he thought about switching classes, but he liked Sensei Dennis too much to do anything about it.

Speaking of which...

Jared looked down at his watch. He'd really be in for it if he didn't head out now. Maybe he would use the run there as part of his exercise.

"Bye guys! Catch you later!" he called. He shouldered his backpack, and ran off to more boos and groans.

As he ran, Jared wondered what the other people on the street watching him must think. There he was, a short, shrimp of a kid who barely looked his fifteen years wearing a karate uniform. They probably thought he was going to a costume party or something. That's what his friends had thought the first time he showed them his uniform. They had teased him endlessly about his newfound passion, even when they saw that he was serious about it. But that had changed one day, when they watched him successfully defend himself against some Shadows before the Power Rangers could come. The Shadows were Overlord Vordel's henchmen, who were part robot and part something else, but they could move so fast you would think they were only shadows. His friends still teased him about his hobby, but sometimes they also asked him to show them things they learned in class which he was more than happy to do. Living in Oceanview, you never knew when or where a monster attack would occur, and you always had to be prepared.

The teen rounded a corner and was about to stoop down to tie his shoe when he suddenly became aware of loud booms and terrified screams all around him. He was just beginning to wrap his mind around the significance of this when he felt an inhuman hand grasp his shoulder and he snapped up sharply, hitting the Shadow's face with the back of his own head and causing it to stumble back a few paces in pain. That gave Jared the distance he needed to launch into a kick that landed directly in it's stomach. He nodded in satisfaction as the Shadow broke up into pieces and disappeared.

Damn, he thought, not this again! Where are the Power Rangers when you need them?

He re-shouldered his backpack in time to block a blow meant for his head, then unslung his backpack and threw it at a third one to distract it before finishing off the one who'd tried to give him a concussion. But when he tried to retrieve his backpack, he found that the Shadow who had it had started a game of catch and there was no way for him to get it back without making himself look like a fool.

"Hey!" he shouted at them. "Give that back!"

But they just continued playing as if they hadn't heard them. More of them came at them and he didn't have time for anything else except to concentrate on not getting himself killed. Jared wasn't sure what to make of all the attention he was getting, but something inside him told him that the Shadows had come specially for him.

Jared leapt up and kicked two of them at the same time, then swept down with his leg to knock several more off their feet. One more tried to give him another concussion, but he blocked that punch and sent it careening back into its fellows with one of his own.

But no matter how many of them he managed to destroy, more of them just kept on coming, and he was getting tired.

And just when he thought that things couldn't possibly get any worse, they did. With a loud boom, a large, mud colored monster that was at least two feet taller than he was and wore some sort of armor appeared on the opposite side of the street, and was headed toward him.

Aw hell, he thought, staring at it. Why me?

"Having fun yet, Ranger?" the monster taunted. Jared cringed. The sound of his voice was less than pleasant.

His brow furrowed in confusion and he looked around. He certainly was no Ranger, and none had yet arrived on scene.

"I don't know who you're talking to, but you might want to make like a banana and split before the Rangers do show up," Jared said.

The monster looked at him like he was crazy.

"Not a Ranger? Of course you're a Ranger! You fight like a Ranger. The Overlord never lies."

Jared's jaw dropped. Overlord Vordel himself had sent these goons after him? But the monster gave him no time to ask any questions.

"But enough chit chat. The Overlord sent me to retrieve you, and retrieve you I will."

The monster rushed at him.

Before he fully understood what was happening, a silver gem appeared, embedded in the palm of his hand. He curled his fingers around it then pumped his fist up and released them, bathing him in a wash of silver light. Unbidden, words came from his mouth that he never thought he'd use.

"Lunar power, Ranger form!"

Jared felt a rush of power and when he finally looked down he found himself dressed in a silvery-blue colored spandex get up.

Hot damn, he thought with wonder. I really am a Power Ranger!

The teen looked around quickly to make sure that no one had seen him, but he didn't have to worry; the street was empty for as far down as he could see. Jared snapped to just in time to block a blow aimed for his stomach, and he marveled at his new speed. Morphed, he found that he could block attacks faster than ever before, and deal blows with more force.

But his victory was short lived. Jared left a side unintentionally undefended and the monster grabbed the opportunity, striking full force and sending him stumbling backwards into a group of Shadows who had finally decided to stop playing catch. They grabbed him, some holding his shoulders and arms back while others held his feet down. He struggled, but they had him effectively trapped. And the Rangers still hadn't shown up yet.

This can't be happening... this is only a dream. It has to be a dream. Any minute now I'm going to wake up and find that I just dozed off during the test, and school hasn't finished yet. Come on now, say it with me. There's no place like home... there's no place like home...

Yet no matter how tightly he shut his eyes, or how many times he attempted to tap his heals together, the monster was still just inches away from his face, so close that he could smell his putrid breath. He looked down to give himself the opportunity to breath fresh air.

Oh yes, and he was still wearing the spandex.

"You put up a good fight, my pet," the monster said. He put a none too gentle finger underneath Jared's chin and lifted his head up so Jared was looking into his eyes. "But soon, you will learn to call the Overlord Master."

"Never!"

It didn't matter that he didn't know who it was he worked for now, but he knew for certain he was never going to join the Overlord's forces. If he was a Power Ranger now, it was his job to protect the world from the likes of him. Not aid him in his conquest.

The monster didn't acknowledge his conviction.

"Take him to the Overlord," he commanded the Shadows in a hard voice. "And don't be afraid to be rough with him when he tries to put up a fight. I was only commanded to bring him back alive; the Overlord doesn't care what condition he's in."

The monster thrust Jared's chin away, and stepped back. The teen gulped, some of his defiance gone in favor of worry.

"Now go."

Jared didn't see the six beams of light that finally arrived on scene.