Since evacuating their parents and loved ones, the Rangers agreed to stay together. If Sledge was going to plan an attack as soon as his wedding was finished, and he had the power of the dark energem in his hands, they needed to be ready for an attack at a moment's notice (if they were even granted that much warning). All the Rangers agreed staying in the museum and the lab would be safest, and would draw Sledge and his army to a single location.

However, if they were going to stay in the lab and the museum for an undetermined amount of time, and they were getting ready for the fight of their lives, Kendall insisted they eat more than the fast food her cafe offered. She managed to convince the Rangers to let her head out, by herself, to the store to pick up some groceries, insisting nothing would pull Sledge and their army out into battle prematurely more than seeing a single Ranger out on her own.

The Rangers were tracking her location, and could be at the store in five minutes, or ten at the most.

She walked through the store alone, stocking up on bottle water, fruits, vegetables and meat. She packed her cart with canned food as well, certain that if the lab were ever attacked, the canned food would be able to survive.

She had several bags in her hands. With ten people to feed, most of which were hungry young men, there was a lot to bring home. As she tried to find the best way to hold all the bags in both arms without crushing any of the more delicate foods, someone approached her from behind.

"Pretty lady."

"Good grief!" she called out, jumping in surprise, dropping one of her bags. Heckyl picked it up for her and held it as they waited to cross the street. "You scared me."

"More so than being out here by yourself, knowing what's coming?"

"Yes."

"Have you taken care of your family? Sledge is planning his assault soon."

"They've been relocated."

"Good," Heckyl smiled. "And as for yourself..."

"We're staying at the lab," Kendall said. She didn't see the harm in telling him. Snide already knew the location of the lab and was more than likely to share that information with Sledge.

"Exactly where they'll attack first," Heckyl shook his head. "You need to do better than that. Take the PlesioZord of yours and leave the planet. If you do it before Sledge attacks, you'll have a head start. He might never find you or the energems."

"You're telling us to leave?"

"I've seen what the dark energem can do," Heckyl stated. "Please, Kendall, if you'll take my advice on anything, just heed my warning and get yourself and that band of colourful dinosaurs to safety."

"Someone needs to stay and defend this planet and the people on it," Kendall shook her head. "I appreciate what you're trying to do, Heckyl, I really do, but..."

She was interrupted as a blast hit the ground just a few feet from where she was standing. Kendall was thrown back into the pavement, skidding along the parking lot until she came to a stop just in front of a van. Looking up, she saw Heckyl had suffered a similar fate, but was quick to get up to his feet. He glanced to her once, as if contemplating helping her out, but then shook his head and turned to leave.

"I can't save you if you won't save yourself," he said to her and hurried off. Kendall grumbled as she watched him go, surprised that after trying so hard to be accepted by her and the Rangers that he would choose to leave at a time like this, but also not surprised that he would choose to save his own skin.

There wasn't much more time to contemplate Heckyl's decision. Kendall saw Sledge's boot land next to her head and looked up to see him with a weapon. She could faintly make out the dim glow of the dark energem and cursed herself for not coming to the store prepared with something to counter its strength. Her energem alone would not be enough.

Gasping, she realized the problem she had. All ten energems were needed to counter the power of the dark energem. Even one short would put the Rangers and the planet at a fatal disadvantage. No matter how much her body ached and her head was spinning, she couldn't let Sledge snatch the purple energem from her.

"We've got one already!" she heard Poisandra screech and noticed the pink, heart-shaped alien appear over Sledge's shoulder, shaking him with excitement. Kendall saw that as her opening, pushed herself to her feet and morphed quickly. She leaped over the van behind her, taking cover behind it as she tried to plan her way out. She heard Poisandra scream at Sledge to take the purple energem to add it to her collection, while Sledge groaned that as much as he loved her, she was being a distraction. Kendall had never been more thankful for the shrieking oversized heart.

With the van between them, Kendall had a little going for her in terms of escaping. Sledge would either have to make his way around the car, or blow it to pieces. Either way, it was a road block. Kendall knew she could start her run, call the other Rangers on the way and meet them closer to the lab. However, before she could get her feet moving, Fury and Wrench appeared about a dozen feet ahead of her. She groaned loudly.

"Dammit."

"Hand over the energem," Fury demanded. She shook her head and held up her blaster. Fury laughed, "You think that can compare to the power of our newest weapon?"

Kendall shook her head. She knew she was outpowered. Even without the dark energem, Sledge, Fury, Poisandra and Wrench were far too strong for her alone. However, she had something on them. She knew what they were here for. She knew exactly what they wanted.

"PlesioZord!" she called out and powered down instantly. Her enemies watched, a little surprised she seemed to be calling in a Zord already. Generally, the Rangers waited until the enemies were supersized before they needed their Zords. It was something Sledge, Heckyl and Snide could rely on.

"You can't do that yet!" Wrench called out. Kendall smirked, grabbed her energem from around her neck and pulled it free. Just as the PlesioZord soared over her head, she threw her energem into the air. The PlesioZord opened its mouth, catching the energem and swallowing it before Sledge or Fury could get their hands on it, and then soared off.

"Damn Rangers!" Sledge shouted and started to run after the PlesioZord, with Poisandra squealing behind him about how her wedding gift was getting away. "Fury, Wrench, finish off that purple nuisance."

Kendall saw the two remaining monsters approach her and she morphed again. Her only hope now was that the other Rangers would show up in time. With her energem out of her hands, she could only rely on the energy stored up in her Dino Charger to get her through this battle, and while it could do some damage, it wouldn't get her as far as she needed to go.

"I should have splurged to give Sledge and Poisandra a honeymoon," she muttered.

Meanwhile, off in the distance, Heckyl had taken cover in a bus station. He knew Sledge and his army would be focused on getting the purple Energem, so as long as he took himself out of the picture, Sledge wouldn't bother to come after him. However, he felt guilty leaving Kendall against the four monsters by herself. So he watched, and admired her plan to have the PlesioZord take the purple Energem away. Having been in Sledge's shoes, he knew that their main goal was to obtain the energems, and the rangers were but nuisances to their goal. Kendall had cut her chances of death in half with her quick thinking.

And yet, she was still unlikely to walk away from this fight. Fury and Wrench had been tasked with destroying her, and with her limited power, she couldn't count on overpowering or outlasting them. She'd be seriously injured, at best, before her friends arrived.

Heckyl frowned and glanced in the direction of the museum. It wasn't too far, perhaps a ten minute run, maybe a little more. He was certain the Rangers would come, but there was a feeling in his gut that told him something was wrong.

Glancing back to Kendall, he saw her on her knees, holding back Wrench's axe with her dino sabre. She was completely at Fury's mercy as he approached her, ready for a decisive blow.

The other Rangers needed to show up, and fast. Heckyl looked down the street, hoping he would see the black Ranger, the silver Ranger, or even the blue Ranger. He was sure they would be the first ones to arrive. However, there were none of the other nine colours in sight.

"Damn," he muttered and glanced back just in time to see Kendall had used what was left of her powers to blast Wrench off her and stop Fury's attack with her sabre. In doing so, she lost her suit, leaving her exposed. Wrench, with his armour, only needed to shake off the attack before he was back in the fight, rushing at Kendall from behind while she held off Fury.

"No," he grumbled as he watched Kendall sink to her knees. He looked down the street again. Surely, by now, the Rangers should have turned up. He should have been hearing those three words that he dreaded when he had been in command of Sledge's ship: no hurt Kendall.

"Come on," he muttered. "Where are you..."

He trailed off as he realized the hold up. The Rangers most certainly were on their way. They were fiercely protective of each other. Only something more pressing would keep them from coming to their purple Rangers' rescue.

"Snide," Heckyl whispered as it dawned on him that his former other half, who seemed to have agreed to help Sledge obtain the energems, hadn't been present at all through this fight. He hadn't been with Sledge or Poisandra, and wasn't here to help Wrench and Fury finish Kendall off. He had to be near the base, keeping the Rangers busy.

Help wouldn't come for Kendall. Not fast enough, at least. Heckyl knew there was only one thing he could do.