Power Rangers:

All grown up

Chapter 4

By the time Alaine landed at NASADA on the fringes of Angel Grove, Drake was already waiting for her. The evening sun was beginning to set, covering the sky in pastels of orange, yellow, and red. She marveled at the display, wondering when the last time was that she enjoyed and appreciated a sunset. It had been years, at the least. Drake had been sitting on the curb right outside the front entrance. He rose when he saw her approach.

"Hey. You all set?"

"You know it."

They stroll in, past the security guard, and up to the main desk.

"Hello. Can I help you?"

"Um...we have an appointment."

"Oh? You do? Can I have your names?"

"I'm Drake Hillard, and this is Alaine Hart."

"Oh yes! We've been expecting you! If you have a seat, it'll be just a minute."

The secretary taps madly on a keyboard, and dials a phone. She chatters excitedly, as our 2 heroes sit on a leather, overstuffed bench. Drake takes in the environment.

Last time he was here was over a decade ago. Part of a field trip to the observatory portion of the facility. He had a deep fascination with outer space and the cosmos. Learning about all the different planets, solar systems, and galaxies. He had dreamed of being one of the first people to get to see the Andromeda galaxy up close and personal. Unfortunately, the program was only sending unmanned craft; drones. Like the one on Mars.

That same fascination and wonder was brought to the surface, and bubbled over. He looked over a few framed photographs of various space bodies; like nebulas, distant stars, constellations, before hearing the voice of a young woman greeting Alaine. He strolls back over.

"Hi. Nice to meet you. I'm Sophie. I'm the Senior Deep Space Rocket Technician here at NASADA. Safe to say that we are very excited that you're here."

All 3 of them start walking down a hallway, deeper into the facility. Soon, the sounds of machinery at work mixes with the voices of several people talking at once. Vibrations are felt through the floor.

Drake was still wrapping his head around that job title.

"Wait…deep senior…what?"

"Quite basically, a rocket scientist. I oversaw the design and construction of the vessel that will carry us through space."

" 'Us'?"

"Sure."

Sophie swipes a cad through a card reader, submits to a retinal scan, and punches in a 6 digit number on a chrome keypad. A pair of heavy steel door slowly slide open with a whoosh revealing a cavernous construction bay. Towering over them, a navy blue disc-shaped vessel, with an obvious protruding cockpit, sits, with all sorts of cranes raising parts into place as men and women criss-cross the surface welding the parts into place and making sure everything fits together correctly.

"Rangers… I present to you the Mark 4 Astro Megaship. Modeled on the one used by Andros and the other space rangers, it was a sturdy megazord right up until the end…and even past it."

"So it can transform?"

"Sorry, Drake. Given Zordon's late notice, we weren't able to include the megazord transformation systems in time. If we did, production would have moved back almost 2 years. Safe to say, we couldn't do that. However, there are numerous cannons, missile launchers, and turrets installed all through out, so we'll have enough firepower to hopefully deal with whatever comes our way."

"You keep saying we. Are you coming too?"

"Yes, ma'am. As the person responsible for the construction, I am also responsible for upkeep, maintenance, repairs, and so on. Also…I'm Space Patrol Delta, Silver"

"You're what now?"

"The silver SPD Power Ranger."

"A power ranger? You look like you're barely 15!"

"I do have my reasons for that; maybe I'll tell you someday. For now, Drake, let me show you the cockpit and give you some piloting lessons."

That night, our 4 heroes sleep in the same house. Except for Alaine. She tosses and turns; having a series of incoherent, yet frightening dreams. One of which involved Kimberly turning into a monstrous demon, devouring a group of little children. Another having Lord Zedd decapitating Tommy. She startled awake in a cold sweat. Not knowing what else to do, she slipped on a pair of jeans, an old T-shirt, and a ballcap.

She strapped on her communicator, grabbed her morphed, and teleported to the command center. She found it completely dark, except for a few lights, and a couple of consoles.

"Hello?" She whispers into the dark "Zordon? Are you here?"

The liquid in the large tank lights up and bubbles. Later, his face appears.

"Welcome, Alaine. Is everything OK?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

"It is alright. I was merely recharging. Something I had to do since I returned. How are you?"

"I can't sleep, Zordon. I keep having nightmares."

"What kind of nightmares?"

"Mostly about my parents…gross things…I can't even…"

"Master Vile has the power to warp dreams. It wouldn't surprise me if he was doing that to you."

"How? I mean, he's so far away."

"His power is not limited by physical distance. Any planet touched by his presence or that of his minions, is permanently tainted by his dark magic. How worse it is for those who encounter him, or whoever works for him."

"But I've never…wait, White Ranger!"

Zordon nods solemnly.

"Yes. And Lord Zedd. Pawns in his game to eliminate you so you wouldn't be a threat to him. By defeating you early, there would have been no one left to oppose him."

"Why me though? I'm no leader! I can't do this."

"Even though you can't see it, you do possess an inner strength. A strength that has allowed you to overcome the worst obstacles that Vile has been able to put in your way. You have defeated Lord Zedd, and the evil clones of your father. These battles have pushed you past your limits and you have overcome. When the time comes, you will find that strength. And you will overcome once again."