Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters.

Author's Notes: So continuing on with Jake's tribute. The story is beginning to progress in my mind and on paper. It should be finished by next week.

As I said in the last chapter, this tribute is similar to the episode "Always a Chance" from Power Rangers In Space.

Hope you enjoy

Chapter 2: Stricken with Doubt

Command Center

"What's the verdict, Noah?" Troy asked.

Gia continued wrapping therapeutic tape around Emma's arm while Noah scanned it with one of Tensou's tech.

"Thankfully, with Tensou's tools, we've managed to reduce the injury to a small fracture." Noah told everyone. "But it looks like Emma won't be able to fight for about a week."

Jake, who stood in the corner, hung his head in shame. He just couldn't believe he actually hurt one of his teammates. If only he hadn't tried to show off…

"Jake, you okay?" Troy asked placing his hand on the Green Ranger's shoulder.

Jake jumped at his friend's touch.

"Yeah, fine…." Jake replied flatly.

The others looked toward them, overhearing their conversation.

Emma got on her feet and approached Jake.

"Look, Jake, it was an accident." Emma told him. "It wasn't your fault."

Jake locked eyes with the Pink Ranger. Although he only had feelings for Gia, he always saw something special in Emma. It was like her entire aura was just pure innocence. Those beautiful eyes and sweet sounding voice made it seem like she would never in her life even try to harm another creature, despite being a Power Ranger. And yet she seemed like an innocent dove, and he felt he had harmed something that was too pure to attack. And that made him feel guilty.

"I just - don't know, guys." Jake mumbled.

"Jake, what's wrong?" Gia asked.

Jake began walking alongside the wall of the Legendary Ranger keys. He stopped mid-step as he saw the Space Ranger keys. His eyes focused specifically on the Black Ranger key. He had used one of those very powers and harmed someone that he was supposed to protect. If those Rangers witnessed what had happened today, they would have been very disappointed him.

"Guys, I just…." Jake began before cutting himself. "I-I just need time to think."

He then turned around and stalked outside the Command Center without even facing any of his friends.

"Jake!" Gia called, ready to chase after him

"Let him go." Troy told her, grasping her arm. "I think we need to give Jake some space."

Gia turned to face the Red Ranger.

"What do you mean?" Gia asked, not understanding her leader's reasoning.

"Gia, clearly the whole incident with Vric has Jake rattled." Noah clarified. "He could have really hurt Emma in that battle; and I think it's made him to doubt his own abilities."

Gia rolled her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous, Noah. This is Jake we're talking about. He's the most confident member of this team."

"Don't be so sure." Orion cautioned. "It's possible that there's side of Jake that we all have yet to see."

"Anyway, Jake won't be much use to us until he clears his head." Troy went on. "So I think for now, we should just give him some space, as his friends, be there for him if he needs us."

The others nodded.

"But Troy, you saw that monster earlier." Emma pointed out. "We barely stood a chance against him when it was six of us. What are you guys going to do if he comes back?"

"It looks like we'll have to pick up the slack for a while." Troy concluded.

Armada Ship

"Well, brother, I did it." Vric gloated proudly. "I managed to trick one of those Power Rangers into harming one of their own."

"Good work, brother." Vrak praised him. "However, simply defeating those Rangers won't be enough. We need a plan to take them all out along with the entire human race."

"And from that, I assume you have a plan in mind for this, my Prince?" Damaras assumed.

"Of course, Damaras." Vrak answered. "You forget, I've laid out many plans to conquer this planet before you and my older brother arrived."

"That's Vrak for you." Vric quipped. "Always one step ahead."

"Thank you, brother." Vrak nodded at his brother.

"So, Vrak, what's the plan?" Levira inquired.

"It's actually very simple." Vrak answered. "You see, during my time on Earth, I've had time to learn about its geological and atmospheric history."

"Go on." Damaras urged.

"And through many observations and long hours of research, I have learned that this planet's atmosphere is considerably weak compared to most planets." Vrak went on. "And after my time with the Toxic Beasts, I've learned that the cause of this reaction is actually the humans themselves, as they waste energy and allow harmful chemicals and gases into the atmosphere, thus weakening the layer they've named the Ozone."

"Ozone?" Vric repeated, unsure what Vrak was referring to.

"Yes, this layer is the only thing protecting these humans from the powerful ultraviolet rays of their sun." Vrak continued. "So, I say we speed up the process, thus wiping out the entire human race."

"Excellent idea, Vrak!" Levira agreed. "But how will you be able to do this?"

"Simple, Levira." Vrak answered. "You and I are going to complete the weather machine I've been working on and Vric will be the one to place on the Earth. Those Rangers will be none the wiser."

"How long will it take to complete?" Damaras asked.

Vrak held up his finger to his forehead.

"Hm. If we work around the clock, I would say about five days at least. Until then, no one is to engage the Rangers without my consent, understood?"

The three grunt in agreement.

Four days later, Harwood County High school

"Come on, Jake! Hustle! Hustle! Hustle!" The coach barked.

Jake ran as fast as he could, kicking the ball with him. The other players chased after him, readying themselves in case he passed the ball to them.

"Come on, move it, Move it!" The coach yelled.

Jake was getting close to goal, when one of the opposing team players kicked the ball away from him and ran across the field toward the other goal.

"Dude?" One of Jake's teammates scoffed while shaking his head. He went after the opposing team.

Jake shook his head as he rejoined the game.

"Stay focused, Jake."

Before long, the game was on Jake's team once again, as one of his teammates began leading the soccer ball across the field. Jake and the other teammates ran ahead of him to be ready in case the current soccer player kicked the ball to them.

As luck would have it, the player kicked the ball to Jake, who continued to go down the soccer field. Jake readied to kick the ball into the goal, which would win the game for his team.

However, when he locked his eyes on the goalie, all he could see was Emma in her Pink Ranger suit, holding up her hands to defend herself.

Jake hesitated for a split second.

"Holling, what are you doing?" The coach shouted.

An opposing team player rushed forward and kicked the ball away from Jake, allowing another player to kick the ball right into Jake's team goal.

Jake's team had lost the game.

Locker room

Jake patted a towel across his sweaty body.

"Nice game, Jake." One of his friends scoffed as he left the locker room.

His other teammates responded in a similar manner, leaving Jake alone to his thoughts. Jake grabbed his backpack and soccer ball as he walked toward the exit.

"Excuse me, Jake?" A voice called.

"Yeah?" Jake replied turning around to face the coach.

"Can I see you in my office?" The Coach asked.

"Sure." Jake replied, walking back to the small office.

Coach's office

Jake was sitting in a chair in front of the coach, who was sitting behind his desk.

The coach looked like he was in his early thirties. His wave brown hair was tucked under his white cap. He sported a shaven chin. He was currently wearing the team's jersey. At the moment, he was holding a folder in his hand

"Jake, I just finished reviewing your transcripts." The coach informed Jake as he opened the folder. "I have to say I'm very impressed. Says here you've been involved a part of a soccer team since you were a toddler. Never once lost a game, too."

"Well, my dad was a great coach." Jake smiled slightly. "He taught when I was a little."

"However, I've only been subbing for two weeks, and your skills don't seem to match up." The coach went on. "From what I've heard, you're one of the top soccer players in this school's history, but today it was like you had never played before. And that was just practice. Is there something that's troubling you?"

Jake hesitated for a second. Of course, something was troubling him, but he couldn't tell it to a civilian. So how was he going to explain it?

"Well, let's just say…." Jake stammered, racking the right words to say. "Something happened earlier this week that's kinda made me doubt myself."

The Coach seemed taken aback by Jake's response. "Well, that's quite an answer. Can you tell me what happened, Jake?"

Jake sighed. "Even if I did, you can't help me."

"Well, Jake, I am going to help you." The coach affirmed. "It's my job to make sure you live up to your fullest potential. Your friends need you to win this fight and you can't let them down."

"Fight?" Jake repeated in confusion.

The coach's eyes bulged for a second. "Game, I meant game." The coach stuttered. "Remember, we're taking on the Angel Grove league in a few days, and we need our star player focused."

Jake got the feeling the coach was hiding something, but he was too focused on his own problems to analyze it further.

"Well, if you think you can help…" Jake began.

"I know, I can help." The coach assured him. "Meet me tomorrow at noon."

"On a Saturday?" Jake groaned.

"If you want my help, we meet tomorrow." Coach replied.

"Fine, I'll be there." Jake sighed.

The Following Day, Armada Ship

"The Device is ready." Vrak declared as he entered the Command Room, followed by X-Borgs carrying the device.

"Excellent, Vrak." Damaras congratulated. "And I have good news: Zilas has recovered so he can aid Vric on this mission."

"No, this mission is for Vric alone, Damaras." Vrak retorted. "He has to do this without my help if he wishes to earn my father's favor."

"You can count on me, Vrak." Vric saluted.

Levira walked in. "Vrak, the coordinates have been locked onto the best spot to activate the machine."

"Good, Levira." Vrak nodded before turning to face his brother. "Vric, take Natacore and the X-Borgs with you. Even though they are down a member, the Power Rangers are most likely to engage with you. Don't fail me."

"Yes, sir. Yes sir, Vrak." Vric nodded in a goofy manner. "You can count on me, Bro."

And with that said, Vric walked out of the Command Room.

"Ahh." Vrak sighed with relief as he sat down on his throne.

Damaras approached him. "Sire, why didn't you send Zilas with him? With their combined strength, they could finish off those Rangers for good."

"Perhaps, Damaras." Vrak answered. "but Zilas is too valuable to sacrifice on this mission.

"Sacrifice?" Levira repeated. "What are you talking about?"

"My comrades." Vrak coaxed. "Once that machine has reached the highest frequency, the Sun's rays will burn everything on the surface of the planet."

"And you didn't mention this to your brother?" Damaras gawked.

"Why should I?" Vrak replied with a shrug. "After all, he's always been the black sheep of our family. My father disliked him even more than Vekar. Although he's was rather incompetent compared to me, Vekar was at least smart and devious. Vric is nothing more than a mindless brute that is too dim-witted to realize how much our family hates him."

"But your father….He sent him on those personal missions like you." Levira recalled.

Vrak bellowed with laughter.

"Oh, you fell for it, too." Vrak laughed. "That's what he thinks he was doing, but my father really sent him away because he was an embarrassment to our family, and had to be removed in order to maintain our reputation."

Damaras and Levira were in shock. They could not believe that the Royal Family was this cruel. Sure Vekar intended to have one of his minions perish to destroy the Rangers, but Mavro and Vrak sending Vric to his demise. Unimaginable!

"And you two are to remain right here!" Vrak commanded, obviously aware of what they were thinking. "If this plan is to succeed, my little brother must be kept in dark."

"Understood." The two acknowledged.

Meanwhile, back at the soccer field, Jake arrived carrying his gym bag.

The Coach was sitting on one of the bleachers, sipping on his water bottle.

"Ah, Jake, glad you could make it." The coach called as he ran over to the boy.

"Alright, I'm here." Jake shrugged. "So are we going to start?"

"Yup, but first we should put this in the locker room." The coach stated as he took the black bag from Jake.

"But….." Jake began.

"Ah, Ah, Ah! No distractions, Holling." The coach told him.

Jake groaned as the coach went into the locker room. He just hoped that the others wouldn't need him, not that he would be of any use anyway.

End Notes: Originally the Rangers were going to Vric and Natacore in this chapter, but I decided to move it up to next chapter to add the Royal Family story in this chapter.

Next chapter will feature a very special Legendary Ranger Mode, ones that won't include Jake and Emma, so keep your eyes peeled

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