Author's Note: Here's the first chapter of Trial by Fire. First of all, I have to admit that I goofed up somewhat on my time line, and didn't realize it until after I posted the prologue. The reason why no Rangers showed up at the scene of the battle until very late is because that's when the transfer of power took place, and the new team took over for the old team. In any case, we will be seeing more of Jared throughout this fic, though he won't actually join the new team until later on in the game, quite possibly not until the next one.

Now that that's over with, Call to Arms is divided into two parts; you'll get the second one a little later in the week. Since you don't get to see the new team's first battle and all, the main purpose of this chapter is to be a "getting to know you" type thing.

As always, I apologize for the terrible battle scenes.

Reviews are always appreciated. Flames will be used to roast the Overlord's minions.

Call to Arms

Dennis is right, I thought, wriggling my toes slightly, you just can't beat the feeling of sand between your toes and underneath your feet.

It was early morning, and my brother and I were jogging along the expanse of beach that was just a hop over a barrier away from our house. For my brother, the run was just a part of his morning routine. For me, it was a chance to spend some quality time with my only sibling. The clear blue waters and pearly white beach were just some of the many things that drew our parents to Oceanview all those years ago. And now, a little over a decade later, the new generation was enjoying them.

My brother and I were both wearing jogging shorts and a red tank top. It was a little cool this morning, but we both knew that we'd be too hot by the time we finished our run to wear anything else. Or, at least, I knew I'd be too hot. Dennis could easily run five miles without breaking a sweat.

Anyway, Dennis had only taken a liking to the color red a few years ago. Three to be exact. I was more than a little annoyed, and surprised, when the color started cropping up all over his wardrobe and even his possessions when he had shown indifference to it before. Red had been my favorite color for as long as I could remember, and I somehow thought that he was trying to be like me. Why I was annoyed by that, I can't figure out. If that had really been the reason Dennis started wearing my favorite color more than usual, I should have been honored.

I found the real reason for his sudden affinity for my favorite color at the end of the summer: my own brother had been the red Power Ranger. It had been quite a shock to find out that my brother had lead the team of Oceanview's defenders. But it had been even more of a shock to find out that I would be his successor.

To this day I still have my doubts about being the Red Ranger, but everyone assures me that it was meant to be.

I was pulled out of my musings by a sharp feeling of pain from my side. Thinking it was a Shadow, I dropped into my best imitation of a fighting stance, only to find myself swept off my feet before I could launch an attack. Unbalanced, I fell flat on my back. But instead of looking up at the face of one of Vordel's foot soldiers, I was staring at Dennis's.

"What the hell was that for?" I managed to get out after recovering my breath.

Dennis was unrepentant.

"As a Power Ranger, you must always be aware of your surroundings. Even more so as the Red Ranger."

"I was perfectly aware of my surroundings!"

He gave me a look.

"No, you weren't. Had I really been a Shadow or one of Vordel's other creations, you would be dead now before you even knew what hit you. Even you could have easily defended yourself had you really been paying attention."

Dennis offered me his hand and I used it to haul myself up. Now I had sand in my hair as well as between my toes. I was definitely taking a shower when we got home. I looked warily at my brother, expecting him to attack me again but he gave me a small smile and shook his head.

"I think you've learned your lesson for today," he said.

Yup, that was my brother. Always looking out for me. I nodded in agreement and rubbed the back of my head.

"So what were you thinking about?" he asked.

I shrugged.

"Just... stuff."

"Well, you better not be thinking about what I think you're thinking about, because then I might seriously have to hurt you," he declared.

I grinned at him.

"You wouldn't," I said confidently. "I'm your favorite brother!"

He laughed, and ruffled my hair.

"You're my only brother, squirt."

"The argument is still valid. And don't call me squirt!"

Out of all my brother's nicknames for me, squirt was one of the ones I hated most, since I was only just a few inches shorter than he was.

"I can call you whatever I want, Steve-o, and there's nothing you can do about it."

"Oh yeah?" I challenged, "You just wait and see!"

Dennis gave me an odd look.

"What if I don't want to wait? Show me now!" he commanded, and there was something in his tone that made me very glad he was on our side. "Doofus," he added after a heartbeat.

That did it for me. I could tolerate being called names like doofus and nerd by anyone else but my brother, even though I now knew what his game was. Dennis had managed to put a few feet between us during our conversation so I ran at him, and tried to bring him down with a tackle. But he was ready for me, and had dug his feet firmly into the ground. He let me struggle for a few minutes, arms folded across his chest, then he pushed me back and threw a punch at me. Only slightly more prepared than before I attempted to throw both my hands up in defense but Dennis grabbed the opportunity and switched tracks to my undefended side. I staggered sideways for a few steps before kicking out at him, which he ducked easily.

"You call that a kick?" he taunted. "Grandma Evans could break boards with her kick and she's never had a karate lesson in her life!

It was true. After watching Dennis break boards one day, Grandma Evans decided she wanted to give it a try, despite everyone's protests. But to everyone's surprise, her wild kick had broken the board clean down the middle. Breaking the board had given her such a rush, she'd said, and it was all she talked about for weeks. But she also complained about a sore foot for a few days after.

I charged at him again when I sufficiently regained my balance, only to find myself flat on my back once more. Dennis smirked at me, but when he bent down to help me up again, I threw all of my weight into dragging him down. It worked. We tussled around on the sand for a few minutes until the funny looking watch I wore on my wrist beeped. I looked apologetically at my brother and he got off me, then motioned for me to answer it.

I sat up gingerly, then lifted my wrist to my mouth.

"What's up Sorosi?" I asked.

"Steven, your presence is required immediately."

Something about the woman's. tone caused Dennis and I to look at each other.

"Sure thing," I told her.

"Prepare for teleportation," she said, and I knew something was wrong. Because of the close proximity of our mentor's base of operations to Oceanview, we usually got there our own way to conserve what little power she had available.

"Okay, I'm ready," I said after Dennis and I looked around to make sure no one was watching.

A second later I was face to face with the woman who had become a mentor to my team.

The shower would have to wait until later.

Christina March spent a good couple of minutes rummaging around in her her closet drawer before triumphantly pulling out a pink, short sleeved t-shirt. Her treasure found, she pulled it on over the long sleeved white one she was already wearing. Fully dressed and ready for the day's activities (which would more than likely include sending some Shadows to kingdom come), she turned slightly to examine herself in the full length mirror that covered the back of her closet door.

"You never used to like that color," a soft, feminine voice commented from behind her. Christina jumped, then turned around to give her mother a sheepish grin. Shadows couldn't even talk, and none of the monsters Vordel sent ever said anything like that.

Chris herself could hardly believe that she was wearing that she was wearing something pink, when just weeks ago she eschewed anything with the barest hint of that color. Then again, so much had changed since she had become a Power Ranger. Sometimes, she hardly recognized herself.

"I know," she said. Then she shrugged. "Just thought I'd try something new."

Her mother gave her an approving nod. If there was one good thing that Chris could say about her mother, it was that she wasn't close minded. Elaine March was always into trying knew things and going to different places. And while not all of those new experiences were good or pleasant for her, Chris knew that her life was more enriched by them. "Character building", her father was fond of saying.

Her mother sat down on the edge of her bed, and Christina awkwardly tugged down the bottom of her shirt. It wasn't every day her mother came to see her when she got dressed, even on the weekend.

"So what's up mom?" she asked, hoping to find out what it was her mother wanted quickly, so she could go meet her friend Phoebe by the park.

Her mother looked reproachfully at her.

"Can't a mother see her only daughter for just five minutes before she rushes off to her friends? I feel like we barely see each other any more Christina, what with you so busy with school and all."

Christina sighed. So her mother was trying to guilt trip her again? What could she possibly say to push the rest of the conversation off?

"I know mom, and I'm sorry," she said quickly, "but we just have this really big and important project we're working on right now. I promise we'll spend more time together as soon as my work load lightens up."

Well, it wasn't technically a lie. Saving the world was from an evil villain trying to take it over was biggest and most important project anyone could possibly take on. But Christina hated to lie to her mother, and she was certain her promise was going to come back to bite her later.

Luckily, her mother accepted the bait.

"Thanks sweetie. We'll have lots of fun together, I'm sure."

Christina nodded, and cheered inside. Wonderful! And now for her mother's big exit...

"So what are you doing today?" her mother asked. "You never did tell me last night during dinner."

...that never happened.

She sighed. So close. She had been so close to escaping.

"Well, Phoebe and I are going to the park now." That much was true. "And then we're probably going to meet up with the rest of our friends and head over to the library." That was partially true.

Her mother looked thoughtfully at her.

"Why don't you invite some of your friends over for dinner one night sweetie? I'm sure they'd have a good time, and your father and I barely ever see them."

Christina let out a frustrated breath instead of the screech that wanted to come out. Was her mother ever going to let her go?

But just then, an escape route presented itself. At the same time, her cell phone rang and the funny looking watch she wore beeped.

Looks like Vordel is getting an start early today, she thought. She gave her mother an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry mom, but that's Phoebe. I've gotta go, but I'll be back for dinner. Bye!'

Without giving her mother a chance to say anything else, Christina gave her a kiss on her cheek, grabbed both her phone and jacket from her bed, and ran out the door. Once outside she made for the nearest tree and stooped down, pretending to tie her shoe. At the same time, she lifted her wrist to her mouth and spoke into the watch.

"Christina here."

To her ears, the feminine voice that spoke back to her sounded slightly distressed, and that worried her.

"Christina, your presence is required here immediately."

"Here" was ops for the Star Force Rangers, a place she and her teammates called "the Cave". It was entirely appropriate, because their mentor had set up shop in a large cave system just outside of Oceanview.

"Sure thing Sorosi," she said.

A beat passed.

"Prepare for teleportation," the same voice recommended.

Another moment later, and she was in the place that had become like a second home to her.