The next morning Jason met his younger alternate at the same health food store they had gone to after their workout. Since Ernie's was rather unaccommodating, this small place served as a convenient meeting place. Taking their juice and muffins to the park, the two of them sat at a table and quietly discussed what they hoped to accomplish that day.

"We should be able to find Zack at the arcade. He likes to play video games, and often hangs around there. If we catch him early he should be sober and straight."

"How bad is his drinking and drug problem?" Jason asked apprehensively.

"He drinks on a daily basis, or so I've heard. I think he only does marijuana at this time, but I know some of the guys he has been seen with do really hard drugs. I heard through a mutual friend that Zack has resisted the heavier stuff so far, but that could change at any time. Will Bordon let him be a Ranger if he drinks?"

"I doubt it. He's going to have to clean himself up. And we are going to have to help him all we can. This isn't going to be an easy task, you know. For whatever reason, all of you have some problems, which will have to be overcome. Tommy, according to the information Bordon and Alpha provided, is a vicious bully. Trini tends to get into fights, as do you. It appears Billy has been, and possibly still is being, abused. I don't know about Kimberly, except at least two people have described her as a bitch. It is so strange, the Kimberly in my world is one of the nicest, kindest hearted people I have ever known."

"What is Zack like in your world?"

"He's got a great sense of humor, he's brave, loyal, and incredibly graceful. A dancer as well as a martial artist. He never drinks or takes any sort of drugs, he gets high enough on life. Any idea why he drinks?" Jason wondered.

"I think it is a defense against his parents' complete lack of interest in him. It's hard to take when your parents just don't give a damn. My folks are bad, but Zack's are far worse."

"Your parents don't care?"

"Not much. Kind of strange, given their jobs. Mom's a nurse, Dad's a policeman. Jobs that focus on helping people, yet they don't really seem to care much at all," the younger teen revealed.

"Why don't they care?"

The dark haired youth shrugged. "We had a severe economic depression in the late seventies, and a lot of our parents went through some hard times then. For whatever reason, it seemed to leave them unable, or at least unwilling, to care much about anything. Or anyone. And Dad, being a policeman, he often sees people at their worst. I think he shuts himself off from others because of that. Mom's a little better, she takes an interest in my life, at least." The future Red Ranger looked a bit abashed at this confession.

Jason thought through this new information. "Wow. So we have a whole generation largely being raised by parents who have no hope? Who are now afraid to care or fight for anything?"

"Um, yeah, basically. Sounds really bad when you put it that way."

"It's bad no matter how you look at it." Jason felt his hopes beginning to waiver a bit more. This was going to be even harder than he had expected. However, there was no backing out now, he was committed to do all he could to help Bordon. "Let's see if we can find Zack or Tommy."

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The video arcade had just opened when Jason and his alternate arrived, but already the place was quite crowded. They found Zack playing one of the most elaborate games in the back of the dim room, for the moment alone and lost in the complexities of the game he was enjoying. They stood back and watched him in action for a while, noticing he had excellent reflexes and fierce concentration. Despite Zack's skills, however, the game eventually prevailed.

Zack turned and was startled to find the other two standing behind him quietly. "Whoa, who are you and why are you watching me? Hey, I know you, dude! What's happening?" he turned to his world's Jason and addressed his comments to him.

"This is Lee, and we need to talk to you, man. Why don't we head on over to the park, take a walk. It's important other people don't hear us, you know?" the future Power Ranger leader replied easily.

"I dunno. I was just kinda planning to hang out here today, and it's kind of, you know, bright outside. Makes my head hurt, if you know what I mean."

Jason understood what Zack meant, at least academically, if not from experience. He figured if Zack had gotten wasted the previous night, then he was probably pretty hung over this morning, and bright daylight would compound his headache. Though the Gold Ranger did not really wish to cause the younger teen any undue distress, they needed to get him somewhere to talk, and the sooner the better.

"Sorry, man, but we really need to do this now. Come on, you will find this very interesting, I think."

Reluctantly, Zack agreed. He wasn't sure what it was, but he felt he could trust these two. He knew Jason slightly, having been in the same class at school a couple of years ago. The muscular youth had never given Zack any trouble, never teased him or mocked him, which was a little unusual in itself. But he had never offered to befriend him either, which wasn't unusual.

"Okay, I guess that's cool. Not much happening here anyway," Zack relented.

The three of them headed to the park, and began to stroll along one of the many paths not speaking, just allowing Zack to get used to the brightness. Eventually they stopped by a huge tree and sat together at its base.

"Zack, what I am going to tell you is going to sound a bit crazy at first. All I am asking is that you listen to everything I have to say, and not jump to any conclusions. Will you do that?" Jason asked.

"Okay. I guess so. I mean, how weird can it be, right? You aren't going to tell me you are some sort of space alien or anything," Zack laughed, then reconsidered seeing the other two boys' expressions. "Are you?"

"No, not exactly," Jason smiled.

"What do you mean, 'not exactly'?" Zack asked apprehensively.

"My name is not Lee, it's Jason. Jason Scott. Just like his. And I am here from another dimension, to help prevent the destruction of your world. Zack, you are destined to be a Power Ranger, the Black Power Ranger, in fact. And I'm here to try to help you prepare for that, if I can," Jason stated, going on this feeling that this Zack, like the one he knew in his dimension, preferred the truth straight up.

Zack looked at him with an expression of startled disbelief, then burst into laughter. "You're kidding, right?"

"No, I'm not. Here, look at this," Jason handed him the picture.

"Hey! Where did you get this?"

"It was taken almost three years ago, in my dimension. While we were all Power Rangers. I take it you recognize the others?"

"Sure. Well, except the guy with the glasses. These guys are supposed to be Power Rangers, whatever those are?" Zack looked frankly disbelieving.

"Yes, they are all Power Rangers. As for what a Power Ranger is, perhaps Bordon would be the best to explain that. What do you say, Jason, should we introduce him to Bordon?" Jason asked the younger teen.

His alternate's smile was the answer. "Absolutely. It's hard to disbelieve when you meet Bordon. Hang on, Zack, this is quite a ride." With that the two future Rangers grabbed onto Jason, who teleported them all to the Command Center.

Once they had arrived, Zack let go of Jason and took a couple of shaky steps before noticing Bordon in his tube.

"Whoa! Wha…who…what is that?"

"Zack, this is Bordon. Bordon, Zack Taylor. Your future Black Ranger if all goes well," Jason said easily.

"Are you real, man?" Zack asked the ancient mentor.

"Very real. Welcome to the Command Center, Zack."

"Thanks. I guess. What's this about being a Power Ranger? I don't understand," Zack said dazedly.

Bordon explained about the Power Rangers, their origin and tradition. He also informed these first two of his new team of the rules that they would have to follow as Power Rangers. Zack listened quietly, looking more serious than Jason had ever seen him look.

"So I have to do this? I don't have a choice?" he asked when Bordon finished.

"You always have a choice, Zack. I cannot force you to do this. We need you, but it must ultimately be your choice to join us," Bordon replied.

"There is something else, Zack," Jason stated quietly. "If you choose to become a Ranger, you will be expected to be sober and ready for action at all times. You will not be able to drink or do any kind of drugs. Personally, I think that is a good enough reason for you to join the team. You are heading toward some big trouble the way things are going."

Zack tried to rally some anger at the older teen's words, but he had too much basic honesty to react with anger to Jason's blunt assessment of his situation. Deep down, Zack knew he was making a mess of his life, but until now no one had bothered to comment on it. His parents were completely in the dark regarding their son's lifestyle, and even if they knew they might not care enough to get him straightened out. Jason was the first one to show any interest in Zack's future.

"I have to think about this, guys. I mean, this has to be dangerous, you know? And I'm not really the 'hero' type. I'll get back to you on this, okay? Now how do I get home?"

Jason could hear a note of desperation in the teen's voice, and knew he could not push him right now.

"We will teleport back to the park. Here, take this business card. This is the motel where I am staying, room 38. If you have any questions, or when you reach a decision, please contact me there in the evening. Or leave a message at the front desk and I will contact you."

"Got it," Zack replied, pocketing the card. "And, uh, don't worry about me telling anyone about you. I won't."

The three teens teleported back to a secluded part of the park, and Zack immediately headed out toward the downtown area. Jason looked at his younger counterpart and sighed.

"Went about the same as it did with you. I hope he reaches the same decision. Guess we should look for Tommy, huh? Any idea where we might find him?"

"Maybe the gym. I've seen him there a few times. Maybe we should pick up our gear and workout even if we don't find him. Sound good?"

"Yeah, it does," Jason agreed.

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Tommy wasn't there when the former and future Red Rangers arrived at the gym, so they started their workout, chatting quietly.

"Do you know Tommy very well?" Jason asked the younger teen.

"No, not really. But I have never had an altercation with him, either. For whatever reason, we have kind of avoided each other. Are you close to him?"

"Yeah, I am. We almost instantly became friends. I guess it's at least partly because of similar interests, and partly just because of who he is. Funny thing is, in my dimension, he started out as an evil Ranger, and still we became friends. When I left the Rangers, Tommy was the leader, and he still is. So you can see why it is important we get your Tommy on board as soon as possible."

"Yeah, I guess so. It's just that our Tommy is so mean. Seriously, he landed a kid in the hospital last year. Just a vicious beating, and I don't even know what the kid did, if anything, to deserve it."

"I'm going to tell you something in the strictest confidence. Bordon and Alpha provided me with you guys' school and medical records. I think Tommy has been abused. I know he has been in and out of foster care since his parents died when he was very young. That very well could be why he is so mean."

"You read all our records?"

"Yeah."

"What do they say about me?"

"That you got into a lot of fights, and are not doing the best you can in school."

"You're a good student?"

"A very solid A- or B+ student. You are just a little off track. It might have helped having Billy around to study with," Jason said with a smile.

"Billy is smart?"

"Billy is a genius. I mean that quite literally."

"So, maybe he's in a special school here and that is why I don't know him."

"According to his school records, he attends Angel Grove High and is barely making a C average. Something is wrong there."

"If you have the school records, then you have addresses. Why don't we just go to everyone's home and talk to them?"

"Partly because we don't want their parents suspecting anything. Also, I think it helps to get them when they are out and about, and gradually work up to it. At least it worked okay with you," Jason grinned.

"Oh, yeah, you were so subtle," the younger teen laughed.

"There he is," Jason said abruptly, spotting Tommy entering the gym.

If Jason had thought his own alternate had seemed cold and menacing when he first met him, that was nothing compared to this world's Tommy. Everything about Tommy, from his black jeans and T-shirt, to the swagger in his walk, seemed to add to the air of danger the teen exuded. Jason noted that this Tommy was also more muscular, bulked up a lot more than his dimension's Tommy. He felt a pang of unease. This was not going to be a bit easy.

"How do you think we should handle this?" Jason asked his alternate quietly.

"The direct approach, I guess. Let him get his workout, then ask to talk to him. What's the worst he can do, besides beat the shit out of both of us?"

"That's very reassuring. Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

They surreptitiously watched the taller teen as he worked out, noting the amount of resistance he used on the various machines.

"Darn, he is a lot stronger than the Tommy I'm used to," Jason muttered. "Do you know if he has studied martial arts?"

"I don't think so. We don't have but one instructor in town, and he isn't very good. Or so I've heard."

"Well, we are going to have to change that. Have you taken any lessons?"

"No."

"Okay, starting this coming week, I will begin to instruct you in karate. You and whoever else we get on the team. This is important. Isn't your spring break coming up?"

"Yeah, week after next."

"Great. We will be doing some very intensive training that week. Here's the plan then: this week we will contact everyone, get as many on board as we can, then intensive training in hand to hand next week. Then more training after school the week after that. I only have three weeks total, so we will have to hustle. I will check out this instructor in town, see what can be done there, if he is as bad as others think. Maybe even check out if anyone is available in Stone Canyon. Sound good?"

"Sounds like we are preparing for war."

"In a way, you are. Jason, if you want to survive against Rita, you have to be prepared. In my world we didn't have this training time, but we already were friends, and Zack, Trini, and I all had martial arts training-I was already a black belt and certified instructor. Billy was just starting karate, and Kim was a gymnast. In other words, we were all capable of defending ourselves. Well, all of us except Billy, and he got up to speed pretty quickly."

"I guess that makes sense. But, still, you can't really blame me for worrying, can you?"

"No, I can't. Okay, looks like Tommy's done. Let's see if we can talk to him."

The two teens had been waiting outside the gym for Tommy to finish, so when the longhaired teen left the building and started down the street they approached him.

"Hey, Tommy, got a minute?"

Tommy turned at the sound of his classmate's voice and coolly surveyed the other two boys.

"What do you want?" The voice was anything but friendly.

"Just to talk to you for a couple of minutes," Jason replied.

"About what? I don't know you and I have nothing to say to you."

"Look, man, the attitude isn't necessary. We just want to talk to you. What's the problem with that?" Jason asked reasonably.

Tommy looked a bit taken aback by Jason's calm insistence. "Okay, so talk."

"Not here. Let's head on over to the park. We can talk without being overheard there."

Tommy didn't look like he liked the idea, but raised no objection as the three of them walked toward the large park.

Once safely out of range of any unwanted listeners, Jason turned to the surly young man.

"This is going to sound very strange, and all I ask is that you hear me out," Jason started. He proceeded to tell Tommy the entire situation, and what they needed to do to fix things.

Tommy listened quietly enough, but it was plain he didn't really believe Jason. Even the picture did little to convince the tough youth of Jason's sincerely. Finally, taking a careful look around to be sure they weren't being observed, Jason removed the mask.

Tommy calmly studied Jason's face and compared it to the younger version sitting quietly beside them.

"So what? Maybe you are this one's older brother, and this is all an elaborate trick," Tommy finally said.

"Why would we do something like that?" Jason asked, surprised at Tommy's conclusion.

"I don't know. But I do know you both should be in some sort of institution qualified to deal with your delusions."

The two Jasons exchanged a look.

"Maybe he will believe Bordon," the younger one said with a twinkle in his dark eyes.

"Maybe. Guess we'll have to try." Turning his attention to Tommy Jason said softly. "Gonna introduce you to the 'head honcho', guy, so just hold on." Taking Tommy's arm firmly in one hand and feeling his alternate grab his other arm, Jason teleported them all to the Command Center.

"What the hell! What did you do to me? Whoa! What's that?" Tommy nearly staggered in his surprise and confusion.

"Bordon, here's Tommy. He's having a lot of trouble believing us. Maybe you can convince him we're on the up and up. I tried, but he just doesn't get it."

Tommy was slowly approaching Bordon's tube, a wide-eyed look of amazement on his face. "This can't be real," he muttered softly, a look of dread on his lean features.

"It's real, Tommy. Very real. It's your chance to make a real difference in the world. A good difference."

"I've dreamed of you," Tommy said unexpectedly. "I dreamed of this place. How can that be?"

"It is your destiny to be a Power Ranger. Perhaps you intuited that at some level, and it revealed itself to you in your dreams," Bordon suggested.

"I don't buy that, man. Get me out of here! I don't want to hear this! Get me out of here now!" Tommy sounded frantic.

Jason quickly grabbed the tall teen's arm and again teleported them all, this time back to the park. Tommy quickly threw off Jason's hand and hurried away without another word.

Jason sighed deeply. "That was the worst yet. I'll be surprised if we see him again anytime soon. Damn."

The younger teen looked at his older counterpart and tried to dredge up a smile. "He may surprise you. For some reason an odd quote popped into my head while he was spouting off: 'Methinks he doth protest too much'," the future Red Ranger misquoted. "I think he was just caught very off balance. At least I hope that is the case. Had enough for today?"

Jason had to smile at that. It was already late afternoon and he was a bit exhausted. "Yeah, I have. You want to meet me here after school tomorrow? I believe you indicated we could find Trini at Ernie's then?" At the other boy's nod of agreement, Jason continued. "Great. Maybe we'll have better luck with the girls. And don't forget to see if you can locate Billy Cranston, maybe find out a bit about him for me."

"Will do. I better head home and do the last of my homework. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah. Tomorrow."

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Monday morning found Jason in the Command Center, having passed a restless night.

"Bordon, what happened with this team the last time? I know you said they were all killed, but how? It might help to know what went wrong the first time."

Bordon's expression was one of deep sorrow as he contemplated the young man before him.

"When Rita was released from the dumpster, I ordered Alpha to assemble the team. From six different locations he pulled together the teenagers that destiny had indicated would create a force powerful enough to protect our world, and ultimately the universe. But something was wrong. They looked at each other with suspicion and dislike, when I told them of their destinies, they simply stared at me. Jason, and perhaps Trini, showed some willingness to at least consider my words. Zack seemed distant, uninterested. Tommy was angry looking, telling me I had no right to drag him here. Kimberly responded much the same way, demanding to be sent back immediately. And Billy….Billy just stood still, staring at the floor. He didn't speak at all." Bordon's expression sobered further.

"I gave them the usual lecture about what being a Power Ranger entails, and assigned their powers. Rita launched an attack immediately, and the Rangers were soundly defeated, teleporting back here in a panic. I explained how the Zords all worked together, and how they could combine to create an awesome force, but it didn't help. Kimberly and Billy gave back the coins and left. The other four tried, but without the Pink and Blue Rangers, they were at a disadvantage. Two battles later, the Pink Ranger returned, which helped some. But they just didn't have enough to battle effectively. Two weeks after receiving their powers, the Black and Yellow Rangers were killed in battle, and Goldar claimed their coins. Three days later I lost the Pink and Green Rangers, and their coins. The Red Ranger tried to go on alone, and I tried to find the Blue Ranger again, but even when Alpha scanned for him he couldn't be found. Then Jason found out Billy had died at home in some sort of accident, right around the time Rita first appeared. We tried desperately to find a new Blue Ranger, and finally decided on a young man named Rocky DeSantos, but both he and Jason were killed in battle within a week." The ancient being's expression was sorrowful. "Earth fell to Rita's control a short time later. Other planets followed suit, until Rita was the ultimate ruler. But she was incapable of properly ruling the universe, and she ultimately set up its destruction. This is why we need to be sure this team can stand up to her. They must."

"They will. Somehow, they will," Jason declared firmly.

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That afternoon Jason sat at the table in the park, thinking about the story Bordon had told him earlier. He was a bit heartened by the fact that at least four of the kids had tried the first time, however unwillingly. And Kim had come back voluntarily, so that also was encouraging. But, Billy didn't, or couldn't. That would bear some checking into. His thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of his alternate.

"Hey, man, ready to take on Trini? I saw her at school today, we ended up talking for a few minutes, and I told her we would be by. She seemed receptive. She's pretty cool, really."

"Great. It would be nice to have at least one person we don't have to strong arm into helping. Did you find out anything about Billy?"

"No, nothing yet. He isn't in any of my classes, and I didn't see him anywhere. I didn't want to start just asking people, that might raise some suspicions."

"Good point. But it may come to that. Well, do we head on over to Ernie's?"

"May as well. But we will have to wait for her to finish her workout."

They ended up sipping smoothies in a dark corner where Ernie wasn't likely to notice them. They watched the slender Asian girl do some weight training and a couple of Kung Fu routines that seemed to be a perfect melding of grace and power. After an hour and a half she finally headed toward the locker room to change.

She emerged a while later and headed over to where the two young men sat waiting for her.

"You wanted to talk to me?" Her tone and expression were not exactly inviting.

"Yeah. Let's go to the park, it's a bit more private there."

They sat at what Jason was starting to consider to be 'his' table. For the fourth time he went through the whole story of why he was there and what he needed to accomplish, and her role in that. She listened calmly, her expression unreadable.

"…and this all has to be done in three weeks time," Jason concluded.

Trini sat deep in thought for a moment, then asked suddenly. "Can I meet this Bordon?"

Both the boys were surprised. "Sure. Come on, I will take you there," Jason replied, taking Trini's arm. Soon the three of them arrived in the Command Center.

"Welcome to the Command Center, Trini. I am Bordon."

Trini looked around in amazement. "Okay, so it was all true. I really thought it was a bluff. We are really going to try to save the world?"

"Yep."

Trini thought about it carefully. "Okay, I'm in. What do we need to do?"

"Just like that?" Jason asked, surprised.

"Yeah. You are telling the truth, aren't you? You need me, don't you?"

"Well, yeah. It's just everyone else has required some time to think about it. I'm just surprised, and glad, actually, that you decided so quickly. Welcome aboard, Trini."

The two boys quickly filled her in on their plan for the next three weeks. She commented that it seemed they had a good plan, provided they could get the others to go along with it.

"We are going to approach Kimberly tomorrow, and maybe Billy if we can find him," Jason said.

Trini had been shown the picture earlier, and had recognized the young man in blue. "He's in a couple of my classes. I'll see if I can get him to meet with you guys. He's very, very shy. So shy he is almost invisible. Unfortunately, the only ones who ever seem to notice him tend to beat him up. But maybe I can get him to talk."

"I hope so. We will really need him. Kim also. And I'm still hoping Zack and Tommy choose the right course. But, we can't force them. They have to choose to do this. Did you see either of them today?" Jason asked his double.

"I spoke to Zack, briefly. He was a little wasted. I don't think he is going to go for it. We may have to try again."

"Well, we'll give him until the weekend. It may take a lot of time. Though time is something we are running a bit short on."

"I can't believe that the future of our world may depend on someone like Zack Taylor. He is such a mess. Are you sure about him?" Trini asked.

"Yeah, very sure. There is a lot of good in Zack, he's just not using his head right now. If we can get him straightened out he will be a great asset to the team," Jason declared firmly.

"If you say so," Trini replied, doubt evident in her voice.

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That night Jason laid on his bed, hands behind his head, thinking about the four kids he had met so far. And the two he had yet to meet. It was one thing to speak so surely to the younger teens he was recruiting, and something else altogether when he was alone. He thought about the story Bordon had told him that afternoon, of what had happened to the team the first time. He couldn't shake the feeling he might be recruiting these kids just to condemn them to a horrible death. All six…no, seven…dead before they reached sixteen years of age. That was a bit much to take. And Bordon had given no details, just 'killed in battle'. That did not make it any better, to Jason's way of thinking.

He fell asleep to uneasy dreams of death and destruction, and young lives cut cruelly short.

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Jason was a bit bleary eyed the next morning as he sat at the table in the park waiting for his alternate and Trini to stop by on their way to school. They were going to try to arrange a meeting with Kimberly that afternoon, and possibly Billy, if they could find him. Jason was thinking about how he might be able to convince the future Pink Ranger to join the team when he was startled by someone clearing his throat behind him. He turned to find Tommy standing there looking tired and unhappy.

"I'll do it," the tall teen blurted out.

"What?" Jason asked, hope suddenly rising in him.

"I'll become a Power Ranger," Tommy clarified, his gaze darting up to meet Jason's before returning to his shoe tops.

"That's great, Tommy. The team really needs you," Jason replied with a smile. He considered Tommy's behavior, which was considerably different than the self-assurance he was used to from 'his' Tommy, and found himself wondering about something. "If you don't mind me asking, why did you change your mind?"

"Partly because of the dreams," the future Green Ranger replied.

"Partly?"

"Also, I was just wondering.."

"Wondering about what?" Jason prompted.

"Well, it was the first time that someone, had, you know, asked me to join something…so I wondered…"

"What it would be like to belong?" Jason asked gently.

"Yeah, I guess so."

Jason smiled in understanding. "It's good to have you with us, Tommy. I think you'll find that things are going to change in your life."

"So, what do I do now?"

"You go to school. We will meet here after school lets out, then to the Command Center to start some basic training."

"Okay, I'll be here after school. Um, who all is on the team so far?"

"Jason and Trini. Zack hasn't changed his mind. We will be meeting with Kimberly Hart today, I hope. Try to get her on board," Jason told him.

"The cheerleader? That Kim Hart?" Tommy shuddered.

"What is it with Kim? Is she that bad?" Jason asked.

"She's a bitch," came the soft feminine voice from behind Jason.

Trini and the younger Jason stood there smiling a bit at the older teen's startled expression.

"Great. You guys will have to change those attitudes. And she will have to change hers. Jason, Trini-Tommy has decided to join us. So after school let's meet here and decide what to do. If Kim is willing, bring her along. Or, else, try to arrange a meeting a little later. Same with Billy if you have any luck finding him."

Murmuring their agreement, the three teens headed off to Angel Grove High School.

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By the time school had let out Jason had decided that he would first have the three members of the team join him on a tour of the Command Center. That was one of the things his team had never done, consequently only Billy had ever really known what was in the back rooms and where all the various corridors led. He had already discussed it with Bordon and Alpha, and the little android would give them all the grand tour.

The three younger teens met him in the park, along with Kimberly. Jason felt a smile cross his face as he looked at the petite girl. He quickly went through the story of what was going on, and what they needed her to do. She listened quietly, then turned to him with a sweet smile.

"Your 'urgent message' is that I am supposed to be a pink clad superhero saving the planet? Are you completely insane? I gave up a chance to go to the mall with my friends for this? I cannot believe you! Get real, loser!" Her voice had steadily gotten louder until she ended the mini tirade at a volume roughly equivalent to a police siren. Finished, she flounced away before Jason could even respond. He watched the small, trim figure stalk quickly back toward the school, then turned a bemused expression to his three companions.

"What a bitch!"

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Despite the anything but encouraging encounter with Kimberly, it ended up being a pretty productive afternoon. Alpha was happy to show the kids around, and answered all the questions they came up with. In some sort of odd way the tour seemed to begin the bonding process among the three Rangers. They joked and laughed with the little 'droid, but they also looked to be absorbing the information they were being given, and memorizing the layout of the labyrinth of corridors that spread out from the main room. Jason found a large, unused room that would be perfect to convert into a gym. They spent the rest of the time finding and laying out mats, and moving the odds and ends of equipment stored in the room to a new location.

To be continued...