A yellow rover slowly crept forward to a picinic table where a group of teenagers were hanging around.
The teenagers seemed to take no interest in the yellow rover, instead continued speaking to one another about an inaudible subject.
A slightly older man came out of the rover and walked over to the group of teens, in particular the one wearing the red jacket.
"Excuse me." The man said, catching the teens attention. "Cole Evans?" The man asked for confirmation.
The teens came closer to the older guy, the red one looking genuinely confused as to how he knew his name.
"Cole Evans-?" He asked again, thinking for a moment and adding, "Red Wild Force ranger?"
The teens looked at each other.
"How do you know who I am?" Cole asked.
"I'm Carter Grayson, Lightspeed Rescue." He raised his left wrist to show him his morpher, "Red ranger." After letting the teens admire the wristlet he explained further, "I was sent to recruit you for an important mission.. The fate of the entire Earth is at stake here." Cole could hear him speaking from his heart, but Carter wore a neat facade of apathy... "We need your help."
Cole instantly agreed, assuring his friends that he'd be all right, joining Carter in the Rescue Rover for the top secret mission.
...
Wes and Eric had just gotten off a minor skirmish, no aliens, Orgs, or mutants, just a small robbery... but at the first sign of Time Force Red and Quantum the thieves returned the stolen items and were arrested.
They got back in their Silver Guardian standard issue police vehicle and prepared to leave when a voice came on in their ear pieces.
"Wesley Collins, Eric Meyers." The voice said coolly.
"Who is this? This is a closed channel." Eric said into the PA system.
"My name is Thomas Oliver, I'm the Red Zeo Power Ranger... I need your guys' help. The fate of the planet is at stake here. We need the Time Force Red and Quantum ranger at the Nasada Space Port by tomorrow morning.. its a matter of life and death." Thomas' voice cut off.
"Looks like we need to change our plans of going to the movies tonight." Wes joked.
"You kidding?" Eric asked.
"Yeah you better call Taylor." Wes said straightfaced.
Eric put the keys into the ignition and started it up.
"Why would I do that?"
"To tell her you're going not going to be there in the morning when she wakes up." Wes joked, earning him a punch in the shoulder by the Quantum ranger.
"At least my girlfriend's not 1000 years in the future." Eric caught what he said too late... it was 1 date!
"You said girlfriend!" Wes said, "We all heard it... you said it!"
"I need to start working alone again." Eric said, driving away.
...
"TJ?" Andros asked into the phone.
TJ had just been interrupted from a very romantic dinner he had set up for him and Cassie. "What's up Andros, now's not the best time." Tj said, hushed into the phone.
"TJ... there's a threat to the Earth... Tommy needs your help... we all do."
TJ sensed the solemnity in his voice.
"I'll tell Cassie to ready up the others."
"No, no others... this is a Forever Red mission."
"All right, I got you." TJ said, "When and where?"
"Nasada Space Port, tomorrow at 12:30 pm, no later." Andros said.
"I got it." TJ said hanging up the phone.
"Cass..." TJ began. "Looks like roller blading tomorrow's gonna have to be rescheduled."
...
The Rescue Rover went into the compound with no problem... it pulled to a stop in front of a Silver Guardian vehicle and a red car nearby.
Cole didn't recognize the man in the red car, but his face was covered because he seemed to be looking for something in his glove compartment.
"Wes!" Cole said, grinning as he got out of the Rover. "Eric!" He shook their hands.
"Cole, its good to see you again." Wes said.
"What are you guys doing here?"
"Well, we got a call that said meet here at the Nasada Space Port."
""I see you've met the Silver Guardians." Carter said, walking up the trio.
The man in the car got out slowly and walked up.
"That's the Red Turbo Ranger, Theodore Jay Jarvis Johnson." Carter said, trying not to mess the name up.
"Please, call me TJ." TJ said as he shook the Silver Guardians hands.
"Wesley Collins Red Time Force Ranger, this is Eric Meyers the Quantum Ranger. Carter said, introducing the Time Force to the Red Turbo.
"And that's Andros." TJ said, gesturing to the guy walking up from outside the hangar.
"Glad you could join us all the way from Turtle Cove." Andros said, reguarding the new guy.
"You guys are all red rangers too?" Cole asked, like a fanboy. "What's going on here?" Cole asked.
"We were all assembled by a veteran ranger, ourleader for this mission." Andros explained.
"Leader?" Cole asked.
Tommy walked around the corner into the hangar, he didn't walk too briskly... he felt like a dramatic entrance would ease the tension.
"Who's that?" Cole asked TJ.
"That's Tommy." TJ chuckled.. "The Red Zeo Power Ranger... he's a legend."
Thank you guys for coming on such short notice." Tommy said, as he reached the group of 6 reds.
"So what's going on? The call sounded urgent." Wes asked.
"I was hoping this day would never come." Tommy began, "Andros has recently tracked down the remains of the Evil Machine Empire."
"But I thought the Zeo rangers destroyed them years ago?" TJ interrupted.
"We destroyed their leaders, but some of their Generals have managed to survive... The've been in hiding all these years, they finally regrouped their forces and are amassing on the moon... preparing to invade Earth." Tommy finished.
"The moon?" Cole asked... stepping forward nervously. "So, how are we supposed to get there to stop them?"
Andros cut in, "In this, I present the Astro-Megaship Mark 2... fresh off the construction yards of Keo 35, the fastest spaceship in the galaxy." Andros said proudly.
"Guys, this is going to be a very dangerous mission... but I can't force you to go... this is a decision you have to make on your own." Tommy explained.
Cole stepped forward, not as nervous as last time, "I don't know much about... spaceships... or this Machine Empire... but I will go whereever I must.. to protect the Earth." Cole said, not even quivering once.
"Same goes for us." Wes said, looking at Eric.
"Count me in." Carter added.
"Its not even a question." TJ finished.
"Then its settled." Andros declared.
"Let's do it." Tommy said, smiling and walking towards the ship.
The group followed until Andros stopped them.
"Wait... wasn't there another Red Ranger here on Earth?" Andros asked.
It hit Tommy in the gut, but he couldn't let these guys see that... it wasn't everyday a Red Ranger looked to someone else for leadership, and if he was going to lead the leaders he had to look the part.
"I was hoping he'd show up." Tommy said, recalling the conversation he had had with Jason mere hours ago. "But I guess he couldn't make it... we'll have to go on without him." Tommy said, not having the heart to explain why Jason wasn't with them leading the charge as the original Red Ranger.
The sound of a motorcycle echoed through the hangar, "Guys!" Cole said, getting excited and running outside.
The other rangers followed him.
The figure on the motorcycle was wearing jeans, a leather jacket, and a biker's helmet.
Tommy looked at the figure quizzically... he hadn't seen a motorcycle in Jason's open garage when he left... and he didn't see Jason pull up in one. But then again he hadn't seen him pull up in anything... but he did have a vague memory of a black Saturn in front of the house next door... which is what Tommy had assumed was Jason's car... and aside from Jason, Leo, Aurico, and Rocky were the only ones who actually wore red left... and Rocky had just been in a car accident, while leo and Aurico were on alien worlds right now... so Tommy had no idea who it was.
The figure pulled up next to the team of Reds and turned around to take off his helmet, turning his head and giving them a fake cocky smile.
"Jason." Tommy said, smiling.
"You guys weren't gonna do this without me, were you?" Jason asked.
Jason set his helmet down on the bike and walked up to the first one in line.
"You must be the new guy." Jason said, giving him a once over.
"Hi, I'm Cole." Cole extended his hand.
"That's good." Jason said, patting his arm and walking up the line, "I recognize... uh... some of you guys..." He reached Tommy last. "Some, more than others."
"I was beginning to wonder if you'd show up at all." Tommy stated.
"You didn't think I'd let you do this without the original red ranger did ya?" Jason asked, shaking Tommy's hand.
...
Deep in the outer reaches of outer space, was a man wearing a simple jean jacket and red shirt who walked up to a rock structure that held 5 blades.
The man reached for the middle one and pulled it from the rocks binding crevice, pulling it away and allowing it to cross his chest...
The reds were finally assembled.
