Chapter 2

Justin didn't go home that day. He had made sure to make it looked like he was sleeping in his bed before he left home that night. If he was lucky, his dad wouldn't notice his absence until Sunday morning at least, if not by that afternoon. His father worked tonight. It was wonderful, and simple to fall back on habits that he'd formed when he'd last been an active ranger. Justin got settled in his cabin that he shared with Andros on the megaship, and found time in between a battle to program everyone's communicators to be able to teleport to the Power Chamber in case of an emergency. He found a place where Storm Blaster could live on the ship, and made sure to mentally note in his head to rebuild the garage in the Power Chamber so Blaster could have when he wanted to.

Andros was a lot like Tommy as a leader. He knew what he was doing, and knew what was best for the team. It was easier to work under Andros than it had been TJ. Andros didn't treat him like a child, he treated him as an equal. It was a nice change. He felt like he had when he had first gotten his powers. Andros had as much faith in Justin as Rocky had. There was a trust that Justin could get the job done and well. It was warming, and Justin felt accepted once again.

He called Rocky and Billy, his fellow blues, to tell them he was back on a team. Despite never having fought together with his predecessors, he was close with them. They had knocked some sense into the original Turbo's for the one week when they struggled to take Justin seriously. There was a special blue bond between the three that would always be there. Rocky was proud of him, and a bit jealous that Justin was in space without him, again. Billy said that if he ever had spare time, or was near Aquitar to come visit. Justin promised to take him up on that offer.

Astronema was being kind it seemed on Sunday. Justin went back to his house in his new, black and gold, auxiliary ranger uniform, with the jacket slung over his arm, and his pajamas balled up under his arm. His gold teleportation beam dropped him off a block away from his house. The gold was nice, but he realized he need to work on his glider, so he wouldn't be the only one relying on just teleportation and running. Blaster need a break, and he would give him one. Blaster didn't need to be driving Justin around everywhere he needed to go all the time. It was counter-productive, he believed. He traced both his new and old communicator's on the walk home. It was a reminder that he was taking steps back into the life he wanted. To where he truly belonged.

Justin barely blinked as he unlocked the door to his house and collapsed on the couch. He needed to eat more, and had forgotten how fast an increased metabolism kicked in after receiving a new morpher. He was really hungry and was debating going to the store or just finding whatever he had bought the last time he went to the store. His dad often forgot that he needed to shop. Justin would take money from the savings jar to buy food more often than he should be.

Then he needed to call Jason to see if he had anything in gold or black he could have. He looked in his closet after he'd trudged up the stairs to take a nap. There was a lot more dark yellows and black than he remembered buying. The morpher chose him a long time before he had gotten it.

Homework was still a necessity, so Justin reluctantly got out of bed in the later afternoon and went to work on it in the kitchen. College applications were due soon, and he was going to get his national exam scores in the mail any day now. He'd already has been sought after by many prestigious colleges, and had interviews lined up with MIT and CalTech for after he got accepted into them.

The front door opened, then was abruptly slammed shut, altering Justin that his father was home. The crazed senior glanced up and waved before turning back to his essay.

"Hey, Justin, how was your day today?" his father said. Justin barely took notice of how his father talked down to him.

"Homework filled. I've got an English essay due tomorrow, and a chemistry test on Tuesday that I need to study for. Both are worth huge percentages of my grade. I've been working on these most of the day," He replied. It was a lie. He only had been doing that this afternoon. He spent most of the morning doing much needed maintenance on the Megaship. Andros was good at keeping it running, but Justin was surprised that they had made it this far without it breaking down in the midst of a zord battle.

It fell silent in the kitchen. Justin had made it clear with his tone that he wasn't in the mood to talk. Justin had actually thought his father walked away.

"Where were you this morning?" Mr. Stewart asked. "You weren't in bed when I left."

Justin froze, but was surprised it had taken his father so long to actually notice he was missing.

"I went to hang out and study with Tommy and Rocky. I either left before you, or after you." Justin found lying was so much easier when you had an excuse not to look someone in the eyes. There was no way that he would be admitting to not being home since Friday night. It wasn't a lie entirely. He was hanging out with some of his friends, just not Tommy and Rocky. He'd have to let them know that he was a ranger once again. That way they knew to lie for him.

"Don't lie to me, Justin," his father said firmly.

"I'm not. Rocky picked me up this morning, and I spent around three hours studying with them in Angel Grove. I got home at one, and have been sitting here working on papers and homework since then."

His father still didn't buy it. "Are you sure that you aren't overworking yourself? You are only thirteen. I could have you moved down a few grades if you need a break."

"Thanks for worrying, Dad, but I'm fine. I've just got to finish out the year. Most colleges I want to go to have already sought me out. I'm not going to go backwards in my education now," Justin said tensely. His father really didn't get what he was trying to do with his life.

"Fine. But if I think this is getting to be too much for you, I will go in and talk to the school," Mr. Stewart stated.

"Whatever." Mr. Stewart walked away after that. Justin knew he wouldn't do that. His teachers would laugh his father out of the building if he came in claiming Justin was overworked and under too much stress. It was an empty threat. It left Justin feeling more at peace with himself. A year as a ranger had given him the ability to manipulate the situation to whatever form he wanted. His father wouldn't be able to do anything.

Justin was grateful for that.