A\N: liron-aria and I felt Wild Force could have been...better done...


Merrick loved the sea.

Zen-Aku wasn't thrilled, especially since the other campers at Bald Mountain made rednecks look normal. He opted to sleep at a hidden place along a trail nearby, while Merrick made do with the, as Zen-Aku put it, 'giant lawn'.

He woke at midnight to pain.

He had a sixth sense about the Org, and running to his side was something he did by instinct. He had to leap over a highway to do it, admittedly, but he was a Power Ranger, he'd live. He scrambled up the mountain trail, cursing the Org's tendency to sleep far away from humans.

Then he came to a stop.

A man with short black spikes and an aura of Power had a green dagger to Zen-Aku's throat. A younger man-a boy? No, a teenager-was standing idly to one side, playing with a gun.

"Whatever you want," Merrick said slowly, "I'm sure we can figure this out. Peacefully."

"Probably." The man agreed. "Here's what I want. You two can continue your nice little vacation." His eyes narrowed. "But if I hear anything about you interfering with the United Alliance of Evil, I come back, find your Princess, and destroy everything you hold dear. Okay?"

"O...okay." Merrick stammered, horrified. What was this man?

The man smirked and dropped Zen-Aku, turning to walk away. The teen-his son, maybe-followed, and Merrick ran to Zen-Aku's side.

Fading, he could hear the boy ask, "Hey, Tom, why aren't we recruiting them?"

The man snorted. "Because, kid, they're retarded."

Merrick winced as their laughter faded into the California night.