Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers RPM, nor do I derive a profit from this work.

A/N: This is an original story written in the Summer's Boys universe and runs concurrent with Get in Gear. There will be a merge between GIG and Outsiders in the next five to ten chapters of GIG. Nicole Winter-Thorn is an original character taken from The Power of Friends: Honor and is Chip's adopted cousin, although they also consider themselves as brother and sister. William Rawlings is the son of Joel and Angela Rawlings, and Lance Rocca is the child of Chip and Vida genetically, although he also considers Xander his dad. (Vipander!). Finally Eric McKnight, Conner's brother and ninja school drop out. He is, I think, my only real cannon character.

She isn't ready to get off the bike yet. She knows that when she stands up and takes her helmet off, she will have something else to count. It seems like she is always counting, the number of people she couldn't save, the number of days since the Fall, the number of children she has to feed. Never a fan of math, or numbers in general Before; the numbers have become the only thing keeping her going, but she's not sure she can handle another number. Her wrist piece beeped and Nicole Winter-Thorne shook her head, this was not the time to be daydreaming.

Nicole slid off the bike and took up her helmet. She pushed the bike up to house and, with a wince for her adopted mother's floors, inside. It wouldn't do to leave a working, energy adapted bike out where anyone could find it. Even if it weren't stolen, it would give her away. She walked through the house quickly, ignoring the signs of looters and destruction on her way to the back door. It opened before she got there and Nicole froze, hand dropping to her blaster. "Nicole?"

Madison slipped around the door, her head tilted slightly, "Madison," Nicole said, and raised her blaster, "Prove yourself."

Madison looked sad, but she pulled out her wand, no longer disguised as a cell phone, and waved it in the air. A heart of water formed between them, and then shot forward, soaking Nicole with little warning. "Proof enough?" Madison asked.

Nicole blinked and shook her head slightly, "Cute. How do you know I'm not a bot?"

"You would never have found Winterlight if you had even a hint of non-organic material in you." Madison replied, "We've hidden our outposts well."

"So I see," Nicole said.

"Why are you here?" Madison asked, "You haven't been near Winterlight in years, even before Venjix."

Nicole lifted her wrist, "Where I've been doesn't really matter, Maddie. Why I'm here does." She crossed her arms, giving Madison a long look, "I'm helping protect a group of refugees out of Sacramento and we can't stay there much longer. During the evacuation, the Mystic Force took in Briarwood civilians, and others. Is that protection still available?"

Madison's sorrow increased, "We can't, Nicole. If we open the barriers, we risk a Venjix operative getting in."

"My people are clean," Nicole replied.

"That isn't my decision, Nicole," Madison said, "we had three operatives sneak in that we missed."

"What happened?" Nicole asked, her stomach sinking.

"Caidy's dead," Madison said tonelessly, "Anna probably won't ever walk again. Lance is traumatized. Claire has lost her sight. Daggeron and Leanbow still haven't finished healing."

"But Chip," Nicole began.

Madison's eyes filled with tears as she gently interrupted her, "Vida, Xander and Chip were covering the last of the evacuees to the forest when the Army arrived. They were arguing with the Army when Venjix's forces attacked. Vida, Xander, Chip, Monica, Arthur and Gwen never made it to the forest."

"You have Lance, though," Nicole said.

"Lance was in Rootcore but Wildfire and Firefly took off back to Briarwood, Monica followed. Chip was tracking them down when Venjix attacked." Madison said.

"I see," Nicole replied. She tilted her head slightly, "You said Lance was traumatized?"

"He's never seen anyone hurt as badly as Anna, or die like Caidy did. He's so timid now, it's hard to believe he's Vida's son." Madison replied.

Nicole nodded, "How's his magic and his training?"

"About as well as can be expected," Madison said, "he hasn't done more than archery training since the attack, but his spell work has always been advanced."

Nicole took a deep breath, "If I can't bring the refugees here, we're going to make a try for Corinth. If you think it might help, we could use a healer, apprentice or not."

Madison smiled, "I'll ask. Getting away from Rootcore might make all the difference in the world."

"Thank," Nicole began, but Madison vanished in a swirl of sparks, "you."

She sighed and continued out the back door. Looking around, she was struck by how much the farm had changed. Even as her mind started to wander, Nicole's feet carried her out to the equipment shed, where she hoped she would find the ATV and trailer. If it was there, and the Mystics allowed, she'd bring it back to help her people.

The ATV was there, just as she'd remembered, as was the trailer. Smiling, Nicole began to check the machine over. It looked ok, all it needed was to be converted for solar and she had a kid who was an expert at the adaptation. "Nicole?"

Nicole turned, grabbing her blaster from where she'd set it down. Nick and Lance stood in the doorway, "Can I take this?" She said bluntly.

"Yes," Nick said instantly. "Just, remember us to Corinth."

"I will," Nicole said, "Lance, are you coming and can you drive this?"

"Yes," Lance replied, "I can."

"Good," Nicole replied, "Nick, one more thing. Can you wiggle your nose and make sure this will run for a few days? I've got someone in the group who can convert the energy modules, but we got to get this down there first."

"I don't wiggle my nose," Nick said, "but," he snapped his fingers and the ATV roared to life, "will that do?"

"Thanks," Nicole said.

"I know that spell," Lance said, "I can do it too if you need it."

"Thanks kid," Nicole told him, "but like I told Maddie, what we really need is a healer. Chip always said you had the heart for it, and the skill."

The freckled red head gave her a shy grin, "Thanks," he said.

"I hope you make it safe," Nick said, "be careful, Nicole Winter."

"Winter-Thorne," Nicole corrected him. "Let's go, Lance. 'Long goodbyes give the enemy time to aim.'"

Lance hugged Nick and slid onto the ATV, "I'm telling Maddie who you quoted," Nick told her seriously.

"Bite me," Nicole replied as she finished hooking up the trailer. "Wait for me by the gate, Lance."