Chapter 6: Diva in Distress


At Hayley's Cyberspace...

It was packed today and Matt was working while Trent was having a break, listening to Kira on stage. Matt noticed he was sketching something and tried to peek over his shoulder, but couldn't get a good look.

Kira was up on stage and singing a song that Matt hadn't heard before. Her gaze shifted and from what he could see she was annoyed by the noise the customers were making. He was listening, but only barely as she strummed her guitar and sang. It was something about being over you. His own gaze shifted from Kira to the others, whom were sitting in the middle and were one of the few listening. Matt noticed the milkshake was done and got ready to serve it.

"That'll be three bucks." The customer he served paid her bill and smiled at Matt. He smiled back at her and went over to the others, who were clapping when Kira had finished. She looked displeased as she strolled over to the table, removed her guitar and sat down.

"That was awesome." Conner commented. "Was that something new?"

"Yeah…" She responded with a sigh. "I'm still working on the hook, but I think there's something there."

"I'm telling you if the superhero gig doesn't work out, you definitely have a musical career to fall back on." Ethan told her with a smile. He was wearing another cap and a blouse with funny pattern on it. Kira smiled sympathetically.

"It's kinda hard to have a musical career when you can't get anyone to listen to you play." She said feeling a bit down.

"I was listening and I think you rock." Trent showed up and put a drink down for Kira, he was still holding his sketchbook. Kira got a look at his sketches.

"What are you working on?" She asked him when looking at it.

"No, not till it's done." He quickly hid the sketchbook.

"Fine." She smiled.

"Kir, your music is great." Abigail commented. "What did you think, Matt?" Abigail stared up at him. Matt turned around and grinned. He hadn't been listening and now mentally slapped himself for it. 'Make that a double slap…' He saw her smiling at Trent a few seconds earlier and was about to walk away, before Abigail dragged him into the conversation.

"Matt? Were you even listening?" Abigail asked him, Kira looked up at him now too. 'Oh blast…'

"Um… Yeah, I was. Don't worry Kira, your voice is great. People who don't listen to you should mentally slap themselves silly." Abigail rolled her eyes at his dry joke.

"Nobody appreciates good music anymore." Dr. O. suddenly said. "All you here on the radio is that pop garbage." Hayley walked up to the table.

"Yeah…" She nodded. "Like what is her name? Kylee Styles?"

Kira's face fell and she sighed unnoticeably and her gaze shifted to Matt, who was watching her. He raised an eyebrow and tilted his head confused. She tried to smile, but it failed and Matt winked at her.

"Hey Kylee Styles has some good music, Dr. O." Conner replied. Dr. O. looked away with a face of disgust for Conner's taste of music.

"Translation, he thinks she's fine." Ethan told Kira and Abigail.

"No, I don't." He defended himself as Ethan laughed at him. "Okay, yeah I do, but that has nothing to do with it."

"I don't know I'd prefer Kira's music over hers." Abigail replied.

"She used to be a really good song writer." Kira began. "She was really sweet too. Now she's all about image." She finished reluctantly.

"You say that like you two are friends." Ethan remarked quizzically.

"Oh we used to be." Kira answered and Ethan and Conner shared glances. "What? It's true! We were in a band together, then she got discovered by this agent and now she's this huge pop diva." She defended herself.

"Oh, come on." Conner grinned. "You don't expect us to believe that, do you?"

"Believe what you want… It's true." Kira replied softly.

"No matter what these three think, I believe you Kira." Dr. O. pointed at Trent, Conner and Ethan. Abigail motioned that she believed Kira too.

"She wouldn't gain anything from lying now would she?" Abigail sipped her drink. Matt came back after serving drinks again.

"Matt, would you believe Kira if she said she knew Kylee Styles?" Conner asked him.

"Kylee who?" He blinked.

"Kylee Styles, at the moment famous pop artist?" Conner asked.

"Oh her… I'd say it's possible. I don't really know, don't listen to her at all." He replied truthfully, earning a stare from Conner.

"He may not look like it, but Matt usually listens to Rock and sometimes Punk." Abigail commented.

"Ahh… here's your chance to prove it." Ethan chimed in. "According to her fan site she's going to be in town to promote her new cd."

"Oh we are so there!" Conner suddenly responded. Kira sighed and she felt a hand squeeze her shoulder. She looked up and saw Abigail smiling at her.

"And since you two are such good buddies, you can hook me up." Conner finished.

"Don't worry Kira, it's-" But she never know what Matt was going to say next, because Trent interrupted him.

"Hey!" He greeted someone walking and made a step towards him. Dr. O. turned around and was surprised. Kira just gave Conner the whatever.

"Earth to Dr. O. you in there?" Conner called out to him as Dr. O. walked off.

"Who's that guy?" Kira asked.

"No way, couldn't be." Abigail suddenly noticed.

"Hi Trent." The man greeted Trent as Dr. O. walked up to him.

"Anton Mercer…." He let out. "I can't believe it." Dr. O. extended his hand and Anton shook it.

"Tommy…" Anton greeted him. "Tommy Oliver, how've you been?"

"You know my dad?" Trent interrupted before Dr. O. could respond.

"Your dad?" Dr. O. asked confused. "I had no idea; I mean your last name is-"

"Fernandez." Anton finished. "It's a long, complicated story Tommy. More importantly how are you?"

Hayley rushed over to Trent.

"Trent can you help out with table three?" She asked him kindly. "There's been a bit of a mocha chino incident. Matt's already trying to clean up." Hayley walked off.

"Uhh… Yeah. I'll be right there." He answered. "See ya."

Anton and Dr. O. looked around suspiciously.

"I don't understand." Dr. O. began. "I thought you were dead. I mean the island was destroyed." He got a brief flashback to when the island exploded.

"Well I was lucky Tommy." Anton answered. "From the looks of it, we both were."

"Why didn't you call? Send a message?"

"Well you know what it's like starting over. Trying to get your bearings."

"Yeah I do."

Dr. O. leaned in towards Anton and whispered.

"Anton, the experiments we were working on. Some crazy things have been happening. We need to figure some things out." Dr. O. whispered.

"Yeah…" He answered. "I suppose you're right."

He looked at Dr. O.

"Look. I'll clear out some time next week if that's alright with you." He looked at his watch and then back to Dr. O.

"But…" Dr. O. was confused, but got interrupted.

"It's good seeing you again." Anton said grabbing Dr. O. and winked. "Truly it is." He let go and turned to walk out. Dr. O. turned confused and just saw Matt acting like a goofball. Matt was cleaning up and fell over Trent's mop.


At the Mercer Mansion…

"Is something wrong with your room? Not that I mind the company." Anton asked Trent.

"I wanted to talk to you." Trent asked, looking up from his book.

"About?"

"You really have to ask?"

"Look Doctor Oliver is a part of my past that I have chosen to put aside. A part that was quite painful for me." He answered while scribbling autograph on some documents.

"Dad, the guy is my teacher… Am I just supposed to forget about…"

"I have forgotten about him and I expect the same of you." Anton interrupted. Trent sighed.


At the mall…

In the center of the mall a crowd had gathered to receive signed copies of Kylee Styles. Her music was already playing when she descended from the escalator. Behind her was her manager and bodyguards, she quickly adjusted her hair and put up a smile. Her fans started cheering and she waved gracefully.

"Thank you guys so much for coming out!" She yelled excitedly.

Conner, Kira and Matt were there.

"This is incredible!"

"Can a woman put up even more of a fake smile when she wants to?" Matt whispered under his breath to Kira.

"Well give the media what they want is what keeps her world rolling." Kira answered, just able to make herself audible over the noise. "Why did you come with us anyway?"

"To see what the fuss was about." He answered, smiling at her. "And to keep Conner in line." She laughed softly. He couldn't help but focusing his attention on Kira instead of Kylee. 'And to be with you, but you'd kill me for it.'

"What?" She noticed his stare.

"Oh nothing." He looked away, a blush crept upon his face.

Kylee Styles had made her way through the crowd and sat down in a chair at a table to start signing. Conner pressed him and Kira, dragging Matt after him, to the front.

"How many of these leeches are there? My hand is gonna fall off." She whispered pissed off at her manager. Matt just chuckled. 'True diva to the bone.'

"Go ahead, ask her." Conner nudged Kira. Kira just sighed and looked Kylee.

"Who do you want it made out to?" Kylee fake smiled.

"Just write 'To my old friend, Kira Ford.'"

She started writing and when hearing the name she looked up surprised.

"Kira!?" Kira gave small smile. "Wow! I haven't seen you for ages. I didn't know you were a fan. I'm flattered." She did the usual celeb kissing, where they miss you by half a meter.

"Actually, it's my friend who's the fan." Kira pointed at Conner.

"It's Conner, with an 'E-R'." He shook her hand and Kylee had a huge smile plastered over her face.

"Did uh… Kira tell you that she and I used to sing together?" Kylee asked Conner.

"Yeah." Conner answered. "I just didn't believe her at first."

"Oh, it wasn't anything professional. Just silly teen-angst stuff." She plucked her hair, pretending the past was nothing but a small thing.

"Oh." Kira replied. "I thought we had some pretty good songs."

"Oh, yeah. Sure." Kylee began. "At the time, they were great. But at some point you got to grow up."

"Okay, hello! Coming through!" Cassidy pushed her way forward. "I have a press pass. Move it!"

"Cassidy Cornell, Reefside Reporter. Anyway, I'm here to do a story on how you went from struggling nobody to pop super star."

"Aren't you kind?" Kylee told her.

"Well, you know, it all started -" Kylee explained. "Oh, hold on! Kira, I'm so sorry. Duty calls. Can we catch up later?" Her gaze shifted to Kira and Matt, who gave Kira a comforting pat on the shoulder, he whispered something in her ear and she smiled slightly. He merely chuckled and looked Kylee in the eye, he smiled gently.

"You're awesome." She twinkled at Kira, Matt merely rolled his eyes.


At Mesogog's lab…

"Elsa!" Mesogog hissed for his servant. "I have a project in mind." She was working on something at one of the workbenches.

"I'm sure it's utterly gruesome." She responded.

"Only if you think..." Mesogog began. "Sucking the life out of a miserable human being is gruesome." Elsa grinned maliciously as Mesogog reached forward to grab one of his projects and walked away with it.


At the mall…

Kylee Styles left up the escalator, with her entourage.

"Well you got to meet the famous superstar." Kira told Conner while looking at Kylee.

"Look…" Conner bowed his head. "If you're mad cause I didn't believe you knew Kylee, I'm sorry. But c'mon she's so… and you're so…"

"What?" Kira asked stupefied. "I'm what!?"

She stared at him and Conner looked quickly to Matt, who had put on a face that had 'You're on your own pal' written all over it.

"You know what? Forget it, maybe you're right. Maybe I don't know Kylee after all." Kira finished, Conner looked surprised, but his face quickly turned to resignation.

"Well that takes care of that, how about we head back to Hayley's and drink a smoothie." Matt swung his arms around them in a friendly manner. "My treat."

A scream interrupted that plan and they looked up the escalator. Not hesitating, they quickly ran up the stairs and out of the building to see Kylee being attacked by monsters.

"Get away from you freaks!" She screamed in panic. "Don't you know who I am?"

"Of course I do!" The monster answered, it vaguely resembled a rabbit. "I'm a big fan!"

Kylee was too scared to move.

"C'mon!" Conner urged them. Matt ran forward and kicked the monster out of the way.

"Hey bunnywabbit take it up with the big shots." Matt taunted. The monster jumped at him.

Conner spin kicked between the drones and blocked an attack. He elbowed the arm out of the way and hit the drone in the stomach, knocking it down. Conner proceeded to leap and kicked forward. The drone stumbled backwards and fell. Another drone attacked from the side and Conner kicked to his left, without thinking he reacted and blocked another attack pushing the drone on his right backwards. The other drone had recovered, but Conner knocked it back and turned 90 degrees clockwise. He threw a kick backwards and the drone toppled to the ground. He kicked another drone and looked up to see how the situation was.

Matt threw some kicks the monster's way and it easily blocked him. He spun around it and low kicked it to the ground. The monster recovered quickly and charged for Matt, it grabbed him and smashed him against a car. Its alarm went off and Matt used the monster's temporary confusion to his advantage to kick it back. Matt hopped onto the car and jumped towards the monster, in the air he formed a kick and it got thrown backwards.

Kira ducked and evaded an attack, she blocked on her left and then in front of her. The drone on her left attacked again and she ducked to evade once more. She stood up straight and kicked forward. Kira threw the same leg up in the sky to block an attack from above. One of the drones charged Kira and Kira punched towards him. Their arms clasped together and the drone, being stronger tossed her around, using their arms as rotation point. Kira spun round, but she too used that point for rotation and recovered by kicking a drone behind the one that was holding her. She grabbed his arm and threw him against a pillar that said level 3. It fell down and another drone jumped onto Kira's back. She threw it off of her and was about to punch him when a scream interrupted her thinking.

One of the drones charged for Kylee as she was screaming. Kira was just in time to fend off the attack and took a guarding position in front of her once friend.

"Kira, what are you doing!?" She asked hysterically.

"Ask later! Run now!" Kira ordered. Kylee, still hysteric, hid behind the limo as Kira once again charged for the drones. She ducked underneath one and blocked its kick. A second drone wanted to strike her, but she used her right arm to block it. She punched it back against a car and kicked the drone in front of her.

The monster had found a way to get rid of Matt and fired his cannons at Kylee. She screamed in agony as her life force got sucked out of her. She turned into an old woman and the monster sneered and teleported out, just before Matt saw him. Kylee, confused she was still alive, quickly grabbed her pocket mirror and looked into it. She saw the wrinkles and the grey hair.

"Oh my face!" She screamed. "My beautiful face!"


Outside the monster was wreaking havoc. He fired his beam at several people.

"Hope you like wrinkles!" He yelled at a girl who turned around to look at him.

"How nice… You'll be growing old together!" He yelled as he fired his beam at a couple. They looked at each other and panicked.

On screen a young man was sleeping on the bench when the monster spotted him.

"Here's your wakeup call!" And it fired its beam. They young man, now old, slowly woke up.

"A doggie that can extract the youth out of people?" Ethan asked. "That is wrong in so many ways."

"I think it's a rabbit Eth…" Abigail commented.

Conner had rushed off to warn Dr. O.

"Mesogog probably found a way to harness youth into energy." Dr. O. concluded. "We have to figure out a way to fight it." The monster bounced up and down happily

"Where are Kira and Matt?" Abigail asked.

"Kira's taken Kylee to the Cyberspace, Matt's driving. I think Kylee had a meltdown after seeing herself all old and shriveled up." Conner answered. "I gotta admit, it was kinda brutal."

"We'll talk about respect for the elders later." Dr. O. told him. "Right now there's something we need to take care of."

Ethan got up from the chair and the four formed a line.

"Let's do it!" Their morpher appeared.

"Dinothunder, Power up! Ha!" They morphed into Rangers and headed off to face the monster.


They arrived and faced him. The monster charged at them and it evaded a punch of Ethan and a kick from Abigail. It tried to kick Conner, but he moved out of the way. Instead its attention fell on Ethan, who he knocked to the ground. Dr. O. blocked his punches and evaded the last, but it was fast and kicked Dr. O. Abigail jumped in with a few well placed and fast kicks, but it didn't feel it. It grabbed her leg and swung her round. Ethan jumped at him, but it stepped aside. Dr. O. was next in line to attack, but the monster was once again faster to have Dr. O. on the defense. It easily knocked Dr. O. in the stomach. Its attention focused on Conner and kicked Conner's feet. He lost balance and fell forward, flat on his back.

"Suckers!" It snorted.


At Hayley's Cyberspace…

"My career is over." Kylee whined sitting in one of the relaxation chairs. 'Not relaxing her at the moment though.' Matt thought to himself. She had gotten some spare clothes and a blanket wrapped over her legs. "This is the worst thing to happen to anyone ever." She continued to whine.

"Ooh c'mon Kylee. I'm sure someone will find a way to reverse this." Kira said comforting.

"But I was supposed to go on 'You requested' tonight." She replied.

"Just cause you look a little older, doesn't mean you still can't sing." Kira tried.

"Right… Go on national TV looking like this." Kylee answered. "I must look at least forty."

Kira smacked Matt, because he was about to burst out laughing and she knew she would laugh too. Kira rolled her eyes as her morpher and Matt's went off.

"I gotta go." Kira suddenly said.

"No!" Kylee replied scared.

"Look, Hayley will look after you, you'll be fine." Kira told her.

"But I want you to stay. You're my friend. You can't leave me like this." She pleaded. 'Way to talk someone into a trip up guilt lane.'

"Matt?" Kira looked up, he had already gotten up.

"Do what you think is right." He shrugged. "It's not my place to say what you can and can't do."

"Kira…" Kylee pleaded, Matt showed his pack of smokes to show he'll be waiting outside.


Back outside the others were still fighting the monster. Dr. O. charged and it ducked only to be tagged off by Conner, whose punches it blocked and hit him in the stomach. It evaded Ethan and kicked him back. Abigail jumped on top of him and it threw her off him. Conner caught her and set her straight.

"Thanks!"

"No problem. Duo him?"

"You bet!"

They both ran straight at him kicked him. It smirked and ducked easily and knocked Conner beside Ethan. It then grabbed Abigail and threw her over him on top of the other two.

"We need Kira." Ethan told them.

"I called her! She's not answering." Conner responded.

"Damn, where is Matt then?" Abigail asked.

"Same thing there."


Devin and Cassidy were running towards the scene. Devin was practically dragged along with Cassidy.

"C'mon start shooting!" Cassidy shouted at Devin. "This is front page material."

"Oh right." Devin answered grabbing for his camera.

The monster had knocked down Ethan and tossed away Abigail and kicked Dr. O. when he went for a low attack. Conner jumped on the monster and they engaged in a power struggle. They let go and started parrying each other's attacks. Devin and Cassidy ran up to the Red Ranger and the monster.

"Cassidy Cornell, Reefside Reporter." She began. "Exactly when did you know you were evil? Did you feel unloved as a little… whatever it is you are?" The monster kicked away the Red Ranger.

"Well Cassidy, being evil has always come very natural to me." It explained, suddenly realizing something. "Hey, what am I doing?!" He stepped backwards.

"Give me your youth!" He shouted and fired his cannons on Cassidy and Devin. They too turned old.

"Oh great." Cassidy responded. "It's hard enough being a woman in this profession, now I have ageism too!" They quickly walked off.


The monster had resumed his attack on the Rangers. It began fighting Conner again.

"Hold on Conner!" Dr. O. raced over, but Zeltrax stepped in.

"Not so fast!"

"Zeltrax!" Zeltrax pointed his sword at Dr. O.

"We still have a score to settle, Black Ranger. Or have you forgotten?"

"I told you." Dr. O. answered. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Zeltrax fired his energy bolts at Dr. O. and it knocked him back.

The monster knocked Conner away and Ethan took over, but he easily rammed to the side. Abigail jumped and evaded his swinging arms. It kicked right where Abigail was supposed to land and she fell forward. Conner attacked him in the back and it blocked and rammed him in the chest.

"Catch me if you can!" It ran off. Ethan ran after him and so did Conner.

"Right behind ya!"

"Man almost like it becomes more of a kid when it absorbs youth!" Abigail ran after them.


Cassidy and Devin walked off a stairs.

"What are we doing here? My hip is killing me." Devin complained, reaching for his hips.

"We're exercising our rights as mature members of the community." Cassidy explained, walking up to a hot dog stand.

"Two hot dogs please." She asked the guy, while leaning on the stand. "Don't forget the senior citizen discount, sonny." The guy behind the stand stared at them confused, while making the hot dogs.

"Just a wee bit of extra ketchup." Devin chimed in.


At Hayley's Cyberspace…

Matt had returned from smoking and from the looks of things, Kira was still not ready to go.

"What am I going to do?" She complained. "I can't face my public looking like this."

"Calm down, Kylee." Kira was still trying to comfort her. "You're not the only one in trouble, you know. This thing is attacking people all over the city."

"Really?" She asked and it almost sounded genuine. "Well that is not my problem. I'm Kylee Styles."

Kira had about enough of her and reached down into her bag to pull out a tape.

"This is the Kylee I used to know." She held it out for Kylee and she grabbed it. "She was someone who cared about other people, not just herself."

Kira and Matt's morpher went off again.

"I gotta go." And she stood up and walked off, tapping Matt on the shoulder. He nodded and walked over to the couch to grab his things.

"Listen… Kylee… right?" He asked her as she nodded. "As Kira told me, you weren't such a bad person. To me, you seem like a self-conceited wretch who hasn't got her priorities straight anymore. A great person is never a person with a great image, but someone who helps others and doesn't forget his or her friends. She may not show it, but Kira is happy and hurt at the same time. Happy that you're here and hurt because you treat her like garbage even if she was your friend. Now if you'll excuse us, we have something super important to do, which includes lives to be saved." Kylee merely glared at him and he gave her an apologetic smile as he walked off.

She looked at the tape and suddenly started waving with it.

"Can you play this for me?" She whined.

Hayley walked over and she held it out for Hayley. Hayley didn't like her one bit, even if Kira told her she was nice.

"Sure." She responded somewhat icily snatching the tape from Kylee's hand and walked back. Hayley inserted it into the tape recorder and pressed play.

True love walked out the door

Couldn't take it no more

It was Kira and Kylee singing together.

"Now this I like." Hayley responded.

True love it broke my heart

You made my whole life sore

He said he'd be my baby

Then why did he betray me

Temptation got to his head

Something stirred in Kylee while listening to something she wrote together with Kira.

"This is the Kylee I used to know."

"To me, you seem like a self-conceited wretch who hasn't got her priorities straight."

"Hurt because you treat her like garbage even if she was your friend."

Kira and the words of someone she had never met rung in her heads like poltergeists.


Back outside Zeltrax was duking it out with Dr. O. Their weapons clashed and Dr. O. hit Zeltrax's shield.

"You will pay."

"For what?" Dr. O. asked. Zeltrax didn't answer, but pushed Dr. O. against a low wall. He ran up to kick him and Dr. O. evaded to the left. They slashed their swords at one another and they evaded each other. Dr. O. spun around to kick, but missed. His Brachio Staff hit Zeltrax's shield and he spun around again to kick low. Zeltrax evaded and Dr. O. did his best to land one of his attacks. They were equal in fighting power and the parrying and blocking carried on. Zeltrax found an opening and knocked Dr. O. back with his shield. Dr. O recovered and was able to knock the shield out of his hands. Without the shield Zeltrax was more agile and was able to land a blow with his sword. Their swords clashed again and again. Eventually Zeltrax almost landed a hit on Dr. O.'s face. Dr. O. jumped and rolled into the air to face Zeltrax again. Dr. O. charged and kicked Zeltrax back, who fell and let go of his sword.

"Give it up Zeltrax." Dr. O took a battle stance against him.

The monster came to a halt at a tennis court. Abigail, Ethan and Conner were hot on his tail.

"All right!" Conner said. "We've got you cornered!"

"That's what you think!" His eyes flared up and from his nostrils he started shooting something straight at the three of them. They took the full blast and fell to the ground. He got ready to charge them.

"It's over, Rangers!"

"This guy is brutal!"

"You said it."

"Sure could use some reinforcements now." Abigail mused, no sooner had she spoken or a deafening screech reached their ears.

The monster was thrown backwards and Kira arrived, Matt was standing behind her his arms crossed over each other. The others ran over to them.

"Ouch, my ears." Conner reached for his ears as Ethan shook his head and Abigail tapped her helmet.

"Sorry, guys. I should have given you the heads up on the Ptera scream."

"You think?" Ethan asked.

"Thought you'd never show up." Abigail told Kira, patting her shoulder.

"We had some diva trouble." Matt chuckled.

"Excellent…" The monster grinned. "More youth for me."

"I don't think so." Kira replied. "Ready, Matt?"

"You said it." Their morphers appeared.

"Dinothunder, Power up! Ha!" They morphed into Rangers.

"Ptera Power! Yellow Ranger!"

"Titano Power! Gray Ranger!"

"Thundermax Sabers!" They jumped and all five sliced the monster at once, but he blocked and knocked their swords back. In one slice he got all the Rangers in the chest. They were thrown backwards. Kira saw a tennis racket and grabbed it along with a ball.

"Think you're up for a singles match?"

"You're not match for me!"

"We'll see about that!" She threw two balls upwards, jumped and served them straight at the monster, which was shooting from his nostrils again. The tennis balls blocked up his nostrils, preventing him from shooting more.

"Ohhhh my dose." They figured it was supposed to be his nose, but he couldn't talk right with tennis balls stuck up his nostrils. The things that he shot from them became clogged up and started exploding from the inside. It knocked him back against a fence.

"Put them together guys!" Kira ran up to the others and they formed the Z=rex blaster.

"Ready?"Conner asked and they aimed at the monster.

"Go for it!" Kira yelled as the monster got back up.

"Z-rex blaster, Fire!" It was a clean hit and the monster fell into pieces. Kira jumped in victory.


Mesogog wasn't pleased.

"Activate the Hydro-regenerator!" He barked at Elsa.

"At once, My Lord." Elsa replied.


The sky grew dark again and it started raining. The monster grew big and there was only one thing to do.

"Wow!" Kira let out surprised. "Doctor Oliver this might be a good time for some heavy metal."

"You got it!" Dr. O. responded. "Brachio Zord, now!"

"Matt?" Kira looked at him.

"On it! Titano Zord, come here!"

The Brachio Zord and the Titano Zord came to the rescue. The other four Zords came out from the Brachio Zord. They jumped into their zords and combined to from the Thunderzord.

"Pomegranates away!" The monster yelled as he fired them at the Megazord.

"Supersuction!" The monster fired his beams at them and they were reeled in.

"Now I've caught you." It laughed and started to electrify them.

"Let's sink our teeth into this fight!" Conner activated the Tyrannomouth and it bit the monster in his nose.

"Ow! Not the nose!"


Dr. O was still fighting Zeltrax and jumped to slice him in the chest. Zeltrax was thrown back.

"Whatever your problem is, I don't have time for it right now!" Dr. O. said to Zeltrax, who recovered by using his sword.

"This isn't over!" Zeltrax ran away and teleported out.


"Pterarang!" The Megazord threw it at the monster and it stumbled backwards.

"Let me finish this, guys!" Abigail yelled.

"Plesio-rail gun!" On both sides of the legs two parts of the rail gun appeared. The megazord grabbed them and combined them.

"Fire!" The rail gun fired at the monster and it was on the verge of being destroyed.

"Dino Drill!" The Megazord drilled and the monster collapsed and blew up. A major green flash appeared and the youth slowly restored to all the citizens. The zord took a victory position.


Back at Hayley's Cyberspace...

Feels like it'll be a better day

Kylee was stroking a CD cover she had in her hands.

Cause I'll believe that in the end good things are coming my way

She noticed a change and felt her face. The wrinkles they were gone! Quickly grabbing a napkin holder to look at herself.

"I'm young! Oh! I'm beautiful!" She nearly cried. "I'm me again." She quickly checked her hair.

Hayley sighed.

"How great for all of us." She mumbled.


Cassidy and Devin were stumbling towards a counter.

"Two tickets please and as you can see we're seniors so don't try to rip us off or anything by jacking up the price." She didn't notice that they returned to normal. The man behind the counter looked up.

"Very funny. That'll be twenty dollars."

"Hey Cas listen…"

"Not now Devin."

"But seriously."

"Hello… he acts like he's never heard of the great depression. Well I for one am getting super depressed, wondering why a sweet little old lady is being forced to pay full pop for a lousy movie ticket." She suddenly noticed they had turned back.

"Let's go!"

"Stop it! I'm warning you! I'm calling the AARP!" Cassidy yelled at the seniors who were chasing her.


Back at Hayley's Cyberspace… Somewhat later...

"Hey that's me!" Kira saw Hayley holding a drawing. "Where did you get that?" The drawing had a cartoonish Kira, with a superhero costume riding on a guitar with music notes gliding behind her.

"Where do you think?" Hayley looked at Trent. Kira was holding her guitar and was wearing a hat. She walked up to Trent.

"That's what you were drawing?" She asked kindly. He wiped his hands on a towel. Matt was standing behind the counter, failing to shut down his ears. 'Oh for heaven's sake…' He felt sick and he knew the exact reason.

"Yeah… I wouldn't have Hayley put it up." He explained. "But you know how insistent she can be."

"No." Kira began. "It's great. But how come you drew me as a superhero?"

Trent began to shuffle his feet.

"'Cause you're brave, getting on stage. Playing stuff from your heart. Not conforming to some image. Besides superheroes are all I know how to draw."

"Well thanks." She thanked him. "It's really sweet." She walked off to the stage.

"Looks like a clear touchdown to me." Matt joked. Trent looked around and saw Matt grinning at him.

"You're not supposed to eavesdrop on someone's conversation." Trent chuckled. "Aren't you off today?"

"I would be if Hayley hadn't called to help out, saying it was super important and this way I couldn't be late for Kira's gig."

"Makes sense." Trent replied. "How long have you known Kira anyway?"

"Not much longer than you, I guess." He scratched the back of his head. "Ahh… sweet detention… the days of my youth… like the fresh scent of lemon… you see."

Trent looked at Matt confused and saw him acting like an old man.

"So why are you asking?" Matt raised an eyebrow. "If I may know that is."

"Because you seem close." Trent shrugged.

"Ahh…I thought it was because you liked her?" Matt laid the final piece of the puzzle as Trent blushed. He'd rather not step on this territory, talking about the girl he likes with someone who likes her too.

"How did you figure?" Trent asked.

"'Awareness is the greatest skill of the warrior, for he must not possess only strength, but also a clear mind if wishes to understand what makes him that warrior.'" Trent looked funny at him again. "It was something my grandfather taught me. If one is not aware of his environment he can never blend in." Retelling his survival basics.

"Do you think Kira likes me too?" Trent asked hopefully. 'This would be the point where a cruel man would shatter ones dream. Too bad I'm not that cruel man.'

"Trent, me boy." Matt put up a fake English accent. "If time could tell us stories, it would have some magnificent things to tell."

"But, I guess you could always give it a try. I think Kira likes you too, dunno if it's the same kind of liking as you." Matt shrugged.

Trent nodded and walked off, almost forgetting he was supposed to work. Matt made him feel more relaxed about all this and talking to him helped himself set some things straight.

"Trent likes Kira?" Abigail asked Matt, she was leaning on the counter and was wearing a green top with blue jeans.

"Looks like it." Matt answered raising his shoulders.

"And you're okay with that?" Abigail asked him.

"Why wouldn't I be? Did Kira and I become related somehow that I didn't know about?" He asked confused.

"I dunno, you just seem to have taken a liking to Kira." Abigail sipped her smoothie.

"Well I could say the same about taking a liking to our leader."

"Dr. O?"

"No dimwit, Conner." Matt shook his head. Abigail blushed quickly, but it had gone like snow before the sun.

"Conner has more talents than playing soccer and being an airheaded jock, you know." Abigail raised her eyebrow at Matt.

"That being?"

"Oh shush… You'll see, we were talking about you! You always twist the subject so it's about the person you're talking to."

"What can I say? It's one of my skills and about Kira; I just like her because she's different than other girls."

"Oh and I wasn't different?" Abigail faked her anger.

"You are like my sister, what does that have to do with anything?"

"Just kidding, I know what you mean."

"Cool, so can we lay off the psychological profile sketching of me, so I can return to work?" Matt asked agitated

"Sure, just give me another smoothie." Abigail handed him her glass.

"On its way."

Kira got onto the stage and everybody fell silent.

"I wrote this next song with a friend of mine a long time ago, I hope you like it." She told over the microphone to everyone. Everyone was there, Dr. O., Conner, Ethan, Devin, Cassidy, Trent, Abigail and Matt. He flashed a brief smile when she looked at him and he was already pointing at her drink and then to Trent who would bring it to her. She nodded curtly and smiled before beginning to strum her guitar.

Best friends they come and go

Depending on your highs and your lows

My best friend decided not be there

When I needed her the most

I thought you'd be there for me

Then why did you lie to me

Using me to get what you want

Then I couldn't believe it happened

No, I couldn't understand

Kylee Styles walked up on the stage and grabbed the microphone next to Kira, everyone started cheering. Kira smiled and almost couldn't contain her emotions, she felt like laughing and crying.

True love walked out the door

Couldn't take it no more

True love you broke my heart

You made my whole life sore

He said he'd be my baby

Then why did he betray me?

Temptation got to his head

Then I left him, yeah

And this is what I said

It feels like it's gonna be okay (it's gonna be okay)

It feels like right it just feels that way (it just feels that way)

It feels like it'll be a better day

Cause I believe that in the end

Good things are coming my way

"Oh yeah!" Devin was the first to respond and started clapping "Awesome, baby!" The rest was clapping too and cheering.

Kira and Kylee hugged and Kylee started clapping for her too.


After it was over, they both got off stage and Kylee walked up to Kira.

"I wanted to thank you for believing in me." Kylee told Kira.

"You're my friend." Kira replied.

"Yeah even though I treated you like garbage." She answered looking down.

"Hey, but you came through at the end." Kira grabbed her hands.

"Yeah I just needed a song and words of a stranger to get me to my senses."

"Words of a stranger?" Kira asked confused. Kylee pointed to someone with his back to them.

"Matt?" Kira asked once more. "When did you and he talk?"

"Just after you left. He said some pretty mean words." Kylee rethought about what he said. "So I guess he's not a big fan of me like your other friend huh?"

"Well he doesn't listen to pop, if that's what you mean. C'mon I'll get us some drinks and you can tell me all about your rise to stardom." They walked over to the counter.

"So what can I get our two lovely singers for tonight? I have everything except for alcoholic things, gotta keep the age down in this place. It's hard enough with all them young folk around here, don't want old people coming in here to complain as well." Matt joked pretending to be a bartender. Kylee could have taken offense at that, but she just smiled.

"Matt, can we have two…"

"Smoothies, one strawberry and one banana." Kylee finished.

"You still remember." Kira smiled.

"Well I haven't had a smoothie in a long time, so I wanted one and remembered you like banana."

"Well, coming right up." He reached for two glasses and threw them in air and caught them again.

"I never knew you could do that." Kira remarked.

"Well you never asked." He shrugged as he finished their drinks. "It's on me and enjoy."

They took a sip and just as Matt was going to clean Kylee called for him.

"Yeah?" He turned around.

"I wanted to thank you even if your words were cruel and mean." He smiled that apologetic smile again.

"It's never nice to raise yourself above others, true it'll make you feel better, but others might not." Matt explained. "Do you know why Hayley made something like this?"

They shook their heads.

"It's not just for cyber kids to meet up and being around other cyber kids, but she wanted to have a place where the youth could come together and at the same time learn about other kids that come around here. The world is full of different people and yes we may sometimes act like one another, but that doesn't mean that you have to be like others. You can be yourself as an individual and if you want to be different then no one can stop you." Kira was surprised someone like Matt thought about it like this.

"Here, this is for you." Kylee handed him a wrapped present and Matt took it from her and opened it.

"A signed copy of your cd?" Matt asked.

"I kinda thought you didn't like my music so I didn't want to give it to you, but Kira said you rarely listened to it." Matt flashed a smile.

"Well thanks; I listen to it when I get home. It's not that I think your music is bad, but just the image that comes with it I suppose." He scratched his temple.

"I hope you try and see past that image." Kylee smiled.

"I will and if you'll excuse me ladies, I have work to do… because I feel an angry presence lurking somewhere behind me."

"If you mean me then that's a yes." Hayley was standing behind him. Matt turned around.

"Boss, so great to see you!" He laughed nervously. "What did you think of the performance?"

"Work now, talk later and you'll be working overtime to pay for the smoothies." Matt bowed his head in defeat and went back to work. Kira and Kylee couldn't help but smile at Hayley's fake anger.

"Where did you meet him?"

"Detention." Kira shrugged.

"If his looks and friends didn't give it away, you'd think he was much older than he looked." Kylee said, staring at Matt who was now cleaning up. Kira stared at Matt too and as if he felt it, he turned around and waved, not noticing Trent who bumped into him and they fell over the mop. Kira and Kylee burst out laughing and had a fun time talking to each other about their highs and lows.


Abigail: I can't believe he fell over the mop twice.

Fire: You just had to taunt me that right? Because it happened once? I thought all events were unintentional!

Abigail: Yeah it is... just not this one.

Fire: *Sighs* R+R