Legal: I do not own Power Rangers, or the associated names, places, characters, events etc. Anything not covered by the above rights should be considered purely the creation of the author.

Rating: T – may be some mild adult themes, including language and violence.

Shelby muttered some obscenities as she turned over in her bed, mashing her hand down on the alarm clock, shutting off its hellish screeching. While none of them expected any time off after their long journey to recover, they at least hoped that she would be able to arrange some later shifts for them so they could get a little more time to sleep. However, she had run out quickly after their meeting, saying something about having an idea and saying she would be back in a couple of days. While the Rangers would have liked to complain, Kendall had been stuck in the Dino Lab 24/7 since they left, and so they really couldn't begrudge her the first break.

As she got up, she heard her dad downstairs, making himself some coffee. This didn't do anything for her mood, she had been fortunate enough that when she came home, it was late and her father had already turned in for the night, but since she was due to leave for work before he was, she was sure he was bound to have some kind of lecture lined up for her.

Heading into the shower and turning on the water, she started trying to prepare herself for the day ahead. Thinking about it, she really couldn't blame her dad for having a lecture for her. The last time she had seen him, she had told him in a very off-hand hi/bye kind of way that she was heading to New Zealand for a few days! As much as she didn't see many things from her dad's point of view, she could see that it had to be something of a shock, especially since as far as he could see, her job was more of a glorified hobby than anything else. It wasn't as if there were many kids her age whose employers would send them half way around the world at the drop of a hat!

Washing her hair, she could already imagine what he would have to say. He would likely say that responsible people didn't just run off without any kind of planning, without notifying anyone that they wouldn't be around. He would likely ask how this was meant to further her ambition, once again pointing out the online courses that by her own admission Shelby had allowed to slide, and which were now long past due. He would also probably point out that while she was travelling on behalf of the museum, she sincerely doubted they were covering anything other than her normal wages, meaning that at best she was breaking even on the trip, and at worst she had ended up paying for the privilege of working.

Shelby didn't dislike that about her dad, she understood where he had come from. Watkins Ice Creams hadn't always been a successful business, it had only really taken off in the last four years. Her dad hadn't always strode around the place dressed like a cross between Wilson Fisk and Ce Lo Green. He still had his original chequered trousers and white jacket hanging in his office from when he ran the ice cream truck. The Watkins' had not started out as a wealthy family, everything they now had was literally down to him building everything from the ground up with his own hard work. It didn't make it easy to talk to him about the fact the path she had chosen in life would cost a substantial amount of money, and would most likely leave her in significant debt for years at best, presuming she ever broke even. Sadly, academics was not exactly a very profitable career path.

As she got dressed for the day ahead, she looked to the mirror, fixing her hair, and straightening herself out before heading down the stairs. She found her dad sitting on his recliner in his suit, reading the Financial Times while the news played in the background, citing the latest ridiculous statement dropped by a Presidential candidate. She always wondered why he read the Financial Times. It wasn't as if he played the markets. That was far too much like gambling for his tastes. She'd once heard him refer to the stock exchange as "casinos without the bright lights and loud music." He preferred products, actual, physical things that were tangible than numbers on a screen. He always felt a lot more comfortable when he could see and touch what was being bought and sold. He set his coffee down on the edge of the table.

"You were quiet when you came in." He stated, a slight element of accusation in his tone. Shelby knew exactly what he was inferring, that she had sneaked into the house, like she was ashamed of what she had done and was trying to get away with it. He needn't have bothered, the one thing Shelby knew through experience was that her father had a long memory. It was rare he forgot anything he took as a slight against him.

"I was trying to be considerate." She answered. "The flight came in late."

"So, how was New Zealand?" He asked her. "Did you find anything?"

"It was a productive trip." She replied as she went to the coffee maker, pouring some into her travel cup, along with some cream and sugar to her taste.

"I'll take that as a no then." He answered with a little snort, putting down his paper as Shelby turned to face him. She wanted to answer him, but it wasn't as though they brought anything back. Nothing that she could show him anyway, that was a big downside to his obsession with physical goods, it wasn't like he could put a real value on 'what she learned' from an experience. He'd have been happier with a fossil with a dollar value attached to it. "Shelby..."

"Dad, don't even start." Shelby started to say, but this only seemed to anger him further.

"I'm sorry, is it unreasonable to expect an explanation when some...casual entry-level job sends my daughter to the other side of the world without even a couple of days' notice?" He blustered as he looked to her.

"Dad, this trip was amazing! You have no idea what..." She remembered something and pulled out her book, showing him the autograph. "I spoke to Dr Runga! He signed this! I visited his dig site, his work is incredible..."

"You spoke to Dr Runga." He said with a smile, but one that Shelby knew was only going to precede further questioning. "So, did that get you any closer to that scholarship you're looking for?"

"Well...um..." Shelby stared to say, looking a little sheepish. "Actually, he's taking a sabbatical for a while..."

"So to summarise, you went halfway around the world for work, during which you brought nothing back to benefit the museum and you accomplished nothing whatsoever to advance your career." He replied. Shelby started to shift a little uncomfortably.

"I wouldn't say we accomplished NOTHING." She said in a barely audible tone. Mr Watkins just sighed and put his hand on his shoulder.

"Shelby, I don't want to hurt you. I only want what's best for you." He told her. "I've been willing to go along with this, but you remember what you promised. You said if it didn't lead to anything..."

"I said I'd give business school a go." She muttered. "But dad, I'm already doing more at the museum, and I've already gotten certificates..."

"And I have a 300 metre swimming badge, but that doesn't mean I'm going to sign up for the Olympic team." He told her. "Do you want to know what I did while you were off living it up in New Zealand?"

"Selling ice cream to some Russians?" She replied sarcastically, twirling a finger in the air. "Whoopee."

"Oh, that's old news." Her father told her with a bright smile. "I just signed an exclusive deal, which will net our company an order of over 6 million bars per year!"

"Really?" She asked, suddenly becoming a little dejected. That was a big deal, she was kind of hoping that her dad wouldn't have much to rub in her face when she got back.

"You are now looking at the sole distributer to the sovereign nation of Zandar!" He declared proudly, straightening out his suit.

"Zandar?" Shelby asked. Her father nodded.

"By personal decree of the Hereditary Prince himself!" He said proudly.

"Oh, you mean Phillipe?" She answered. "Nice guy, really serious about his workouts. Have you seen his gym? Or did he only give you the tour of his treasures?"

"I uh..."

"How was his bodyguard Margaret when you met him?" She asked him. With that, Shelby just turned and left the house with a cocky grin on her face as her father stood dumbfounded. She could imagine him spending the rest of the day trying to figure out how exactly his daughter knew the Hereditary Prince of Zandar on a first-name basis.

At the Dino Bite Cafe, Allison was in the office, going over Kendall's notes, hoping beyond all hopes that she could begin to understand what exactly she was expected to do. The museum had been looking for staff for a while now, and she had only just gotten enough applicants that it was worthwhile arranging interviews. However, ordinarily it was Kendall who would be expected to do the interviews. When she declared she had an idea and run out, interviews had already been scheduled. She just told Allison that she had left notes on what to ask, and told her to use her judgement. Allison though was having a little difficulty. This definitely seemed beyond her level of responsibility.

Kendall had told her that it was just a list of questions, but she could see that there were several notes, suggested follow-up questions and suchlike. Allison was getting a little lost in all the notes indicating what to look for in an answer. Chase and Riley came in, bringing some coffee with them.

"Are you ready for this?" Chase asked her, sitting down with her. She just shook her head.

"Ms Morgan really believes in preparation doesn't she?" She asked. "She is aware I only have a high school diploma so I don't know what most of this psycho babble means right?"

"Trust me, most of us have difficulty with what she has to say." Chase laughed as he took a seat with her.

"I really wish she had dealt with this before she went." Allison groaned. "What do I know about hiring people?"

"Well, she did leave you in charge, and she did tell you to use your judgement right?" Chase reminded her. "Well, that's all you can do then!"

"Thanks, that's really helpful." She responded sarcastically.

"I'll tell you what, how about we sit in on a few interviews with you?" Riley asked her. She just looked to them. "You know, for moral support or something."

"I...guess that might help." She answered. Chase smiled.

"Alright, then I'll just go and show the first one in." He told her. He went outside the door, fetching the first applicant. He showed the guy in, indicating a seat for him to take, before sitting around beside Allison. He had dark hair, and sunglasses, and he was wearing a Nirvana T-shirt with torn jeans. She just looked to the form he gave her.

"So, your name is Curtis, is that right?" She asked him. He nodded. "Alright, can I just ask why you want this job?"

"I don't." He told her very abruptly. She just stared at him, unable to believe what he had said.

"You don't want to work here?" She asked. "So...why are you here?"

"I need to apply for jobs so they don't stop my social security." Curtis told her honestly. "So, could you sign that to say I've applied?"

Allison was so taken aback by the whole thing, she just signed the form and gave it back to him. Curtis got up and headed out the door, leaving her thoroughly speechless.

"Well, that wasn't exactly the kind of start we wanted to make." Riley commented. "Can you believe that guy?"

"Hopefully the next guy will be better." Chase said rather hopefully. "NEXT!"

On the road out of the city, Kendall rubbed her eyes. She was exhausted, not only because of the fact she had spent days in the Dino Lab while the Rangers were out of the country, but also because she had left the city as quickly as she possibly could once she realised that they needed to find a bearer for the Purple Energem.

She had never met Albert, and as such she had nothing against him. In fact, as far as she knew from the information she gathered about their battles, he had done them a great service as Purple Ranger. He had found the Energem, he had kept it safe despite the fact he was being pursued relentlessly by Fury, even without any kind of training in how his powers worked or how to use any of his equipment. He had even found and activated the Plesio Zord, bringing the Rangers a powerful new weapon for their arsenal.

She understood his decision to stay in New Zealand. She understood why he didn't want to leave the only home he had ever known when he had lived his whole life there. It was way too much to ask of him. They also owed him a great deal, and so when he made it clear he genuinely didn't want to be a Ranger any longer, there really was no point in trying to force him. Even if they could force him to come, having someone who didn't want to be there in the field would only seek to weaken the team and put them in danger. When all was said and done, it was for the best that Albert was separated from his Energem.

Unfortunately, that left them in a hazardous situation. The Purple Energem had been unbonded, but since Albert was still alive, the bond existed in something of a limbo state. The Energem now no longer repelled others. One of the things that was an advantage to the Rangers was that until they were bonded, the Energems would repel anyone they deemed unworthy, violently as Kendall had found out through painful experience. Now that the Purple Energem no longer repelled people, anyone could carry it. It was a lot of power for anyone to carry, and now there was nothing to stop just anyone picking it up if they somehow lost it.

That left them only one option. They needed to break the flux state. They needed someone else to bond to the Purple Energem, and they needed it quickly, before Sledge and his cronies figured out there was an Energem that was able to be handled. Turning off the main road, she yawned loudly. She had only given herself time to pack a bag and have a short rest before she set out. However, time was against them. Given how often Sledge and his crew had spied on them, she doubted it would be long before someone figured out there was an Energem up for grabs. As she got close to her destination, she pulled up and stopped, getting out of the jeep, deciding to make the rest of the journey on foot.

It was a reasonable walk before she got to her destination. When she got there, she saw a man standing in a field, a little way off. A smile crossed her face as she approached him, and her heart quickened. He still hadn't seen her, perfect! She leapt up, snatching the hat off his head, causing him to spin around in surprise as she landed by him, twirling the hat and putting it on her head. He started to laugh, and a huge, bright smile crossed his face as he grabbed her, picking her clean up off the ground in a tight hug.

"KENDALL!" Matt called out, spinning her around before placing her back down on the ground, looking to his girlfriend happily. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, a certain someone kept saying I should really come and see this harvest festival, so I thought...maybe I should take him up on it." Kendall replied. "I wanted to surprise you!"

"Well, you definitely did that!" He laughed as he looked to her, seeing her standing before him. They had been dating for a while, but they didn't really get to see each other as often as they would have liked. They did try to get to see each other when they could, but between Matt's work on the farm and Kendall's time taken up by the museum and the Ranger business, they unfortunately didn't have a lot of time to visit each other. "You're really here for the festival?"

"I figured I could stay across the festival." She answered. "I'm parked a little way down the track. I was going to head into town and get a room at the inn..."

"You will do no such thing!" He insisted. "You're staying right here!"

"Here? On the farm?" She asked him, sounding a little uneasy. "Are you sure your mom would be alright with that?"

"Trust me, mom would insist on it." He assured her.

"Then I guess I'll go and get my bag." She told him, heading back for the jeep. Matt called out, stopping her. She turned to face him.

"Watch your step." He told her. "You were about to step in manure."

She smiled as she heard him say this.

"My hero." She answered, turning and heading to the jeep, carefully stepping around the offending manure.