Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers.

Assessment
By: Jeanka

Jack watched the monitor with intensity. Nothing seemed to jump out at him, but this was only the fifth time he had watched the scene. Something was wrong. Bridge had been the one to say it out loud, but just by looking at his team, he knew they felt the same way.

It was the surprise of a lifetime when the Commanding OverLord for the Forces of Good decided to pop in for a visit. While Cruger showed him around, Kat informed the B-squad that this was more likely a disguised examination. That information slowly passed down through the ranks until Bridge began complaining about everyone's emotions.

Then, strange things began happening. E-squad found themselves trapped in a real burning building and the only suspects were SPD. Saying Cruger was furious was a critical understatement, but nothing compared to his embarrassment and wrath when someone cut off main power to the complex. At that point, no one was safe. Even RIC stayed away from him.

Sky wasn't as convinced as everyone else that someone at SPD was behind the incidents. He grabbed Sam to do some recon and Z to distract. Syd and Bridge were suppose to "act normal" while Jack and Sky checked out the surveillance records.

"This is a waste of time," Jack heard his Blue Ranger grumble on the other side of the divider.

"You thought it was necessary an hour ago," Jack reminded him.

"Yeah, that was before we had all this to examine and then if Cruger ever found out..." Sky trailed off.

"So what?" prodded Jack. "We're doing our jobs."

"No. Syd and Bridge are doing our 'jobs'," Sky immediately objected. "We are wasting time."

"I'm not so sure," Jack said replaying the scene one last time. "Bridge said he didn't like these two girls the Commanding OverLord brought with him."

"No, he said he didn't like their feel. There is a difference."

"Maybe, but I've been focusing on their movements. In each instance, I can place them within 100ft of the problem."

"You're kidding," Sky said coming over to his teammate.

"I can't prove they did it because there's not proof they were the ones to set off the episodes. There's no visual way they could have done it," stated Jack. "But still if the documents were altered..."

"Or they had someone else plant and they supervised," suggested Sky. "Nice work, Jack. Now all we have to do is cross everyone who went into those areas with people who came in contact with those girls."

"Easier said then done. I estimate it's over 500 people and with the amount of video on each of them..."

"We're looking at hours of work for us," conclude Sky. Jack nodded. Suddenly Sky's face lit up. "Boom!" he said and started moving toward the door.

Jack was on his heels after logging out of the system. Boom was tinkering with the machinery when they ran in. He dropped his scanner at the distraction. Sky closed the door and keyed the surveillance system to run silent.

"What's going on, guys?" asked Boom when he realized what Sky was doing.

"We need your help," said Jack and he moved to take a stool across from the man who dreamed of being on his team.

"Sure, what can I do?"

"I'm going to call Bridge. Two minds might work better on this," said Sky and he moved to a corner of the room to make his call.

"We're trying to find out who's behind the 'accidents'," Jack said to Boom. "Sky and I have been doing some video tracking and we have a theory, but we don't have time to prove it ourselves before we assigned more training or some other mindless task like the ones they've asked us to do this week. We would like you and Bridge to create a computer program to cross-reference people who've run into other people."

"I'm assuming you have specific people in mind," said Boom as Sky rejoined them.

"Bridge and Z are on their way. Syd's in the middle of helping Kat and Sam is still keeping an eye on our boss," Sky said taking a seat on another stool.

"We do," Jack answered Boom's question before acknowledging Sky. "Did you actually speak with Sam?"

"No, but he'll be at the meeting tonight," Sky reassured him. "Oh, Boom. You can't tell anyone what we're doing."

"You got it," promised Boom.

"Not even Kat," specified Sky.

Boom nodded and Jack passed Sky a small smile. Bridge and Z came in a second later. Once Bridge found out what the plan was, he and Boom got to work.

Jack and Z decided to go and let them be. Sky stayed to keep them on task. In the meantime, Syd was standing on a floating platform looking down at Kat in another section of the research deparment.

"Do you think this angle makes my feet look big?" she asked starring at her feet.

Kat fought to urge to roll her eyes. "How are the stabilizers feeling?" the scientist asked looking down at her clipboard.

Sydney shifted her weight from one foot to the other and back again. "Seems good to me. Why are there footprints on the floor of this thing?"

"Syd, I need you to focus," Kat said looking up at her. "They're suggested foot placement. Now, no more questions."

"Sorry Kat," Syd apologized.

"Would you test the latitude controls, please?" Kat asked looking back down.

Sydney used the up and down arrows to float higher and lower. Kat put a check in the box as the Omega Ranger came in the room.

"Hey Sam!" Syd said with a smile.

"I hate to do this to you Kat, but I need Syd for a while," he said.

"Alright," sighed Kat. She almost looked relieved. "I'll just have to find another cadet to help me."

"Thanks Kat," both Rangers said as Syd jumped down and followed Sam outside.

"What's going on?" Syd asked as soon as the door closed behind them.

"Jack found something and I need your help," replied Sam. "You know those girls who came with the Commanding OverLord?" Syd nodded as he led her down the corridor. "We think they might have something to do with the fire and power surge."

"Really? They seemed friendly to me," Sydney said surprised.

"Actually," Sam said with a smile in his voice. "Jack wants you to stay near them, become their friend. That way we can keep an eye on them. What do you say?"

"It's almost dishonest, but if they are behind it, I want to know," Syd said thinking out loud. Turning to him, she said, "I'll do it."

"Great, Syd. Here's the plan..."

TBC