Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers

A/N: In which we meet someone we all know...

Scott, Summer and Flynn returned to the Garage to find it filled with unexpected guests. Corporal Hicks and Lieutenant Tate were standing by Colonel Mason's jeep while a man in a set of Air Force BDUs with a solemn expression on his face leaned against a car next to them. "What's going on?" Scott asked as he shut the door to his car.

"Scott," Colonel Truman called from the briefing area, "can you three come here, please?"

The three Rangers exchanged glances and hurried over, "What's wrong?" Scott asked as they reached their table. "Why are all these people on base?"

"Sit down, son," Colonel Truman said.

Scott nodded at Flynn and Summer, who claimed their spots, then folded his arms, "What is going on, dad?" He demanded.

"During the attack," Colonel Truman began, and then paused, "during the attack, there were casualties when some of the buildings collapsed." Scott swallowed, but didn't move, staring stoically into his dad's eyes. "Julian Park, or Jinx, was one of them. Dr K and Park were rather close, as I'm sure you know." Scott nodded sharply; a swishing noise behind him was probably Flynn putting his hand on Summer's arm. "Dr K is unavailable," Colonel Truman continued. "During this time, Dr Ashcroft will monitor the city and Major Bradley will oversee your training." He raised his hand and gestured.

Scott turned and watched as the man in BDUs straightened up and hurried over. Scott studied him for a moment before placing his age as mid-thirties. "Colonel?" He asked.

"Major, this is Scott, Flynn and Summer, the RPM Rangers. Rangers, this is Major Blake Bradley." Colonel Truman said.

"It's nice to meet you," Scott said, he looked at his dad, "You don't trust me to handle training dad? There's a surprise."

Major Bradley frowned, "I assure you, Red Ranger, I am fully qualified to assist you in training."

Scott started to open his mouth, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him, "Thank you Major," Summer said, as Flynn cocked his eyebrow at Scott. "Is there anything else you need, Colonel Truman?"

"No," Colonel Truman said. "McAllister, if you would move your truck, I will return to the command tower."

"No problem," Flynn said. He headed across the room with the Colonel on his heels.

Scott watched Flynn, then glanced at Summer, "You ok?" He asked.

"Fine," Summer replied, but her smile was shaky.

"Go shower," Scott said, "get comfortable. Briefing in an hour."

"Right," Summer said, she took a deep breath and started towards the stairs.

"And make sure you eat something!" Scott called after her and waited to see her wave her hand.

Scott turned back to Major Bradley, "All right, Major," he said, "let's talk training."

"Don't you want to go shower?" Major Bradley asked.

"Flynn goes first," Scott replied, crossing his arms. "Training."

"Right, do you have a schedule, or what?" Major Bradley replied.

"With the shields at normal," Scott replied, "we were supposed to revamp our training to maximize our time without draining us. So far, we've all agreed to move our strength training to after supper, and that we don't want to spend more than three hours a day training. I'm sorry that you're going to find this to be a waste of your time, Major. The rangers are self sufficient and non-military."

"Ranger Truman," Major Bradley said, "please, call me Blake. I don't want to force you to accept my help; I am only offering you a level of training previously unavailable to you. I have trained in the martial arts since I was a small child. I am a recognized master of several forms of the arts, and can claim a high level in many others." He gave Scott a measured look, "Amongst my studies, I have even mastered several forms of swords. If nothing else, I could teach you something to help you appear competent to the civilians."

"All right," Scott said, trying to keep his face neutral. He shifted his weight and couldn't hide his wince as his back reminded him of the earlier blow.

"Are you ok?" Major Bradley asked.

"I took an unmorphed blow on my back," Scott replied. "But its ok, we've got really good creams for that.
Flynn owes me a backrub anyway. And call me Scott; I don't need a fancy title."

"Hey Scott," Flynn shouted, "shower's free."

Major Bradley smiled, "Go shower, ok? Ashcroft's still in Dr K's control room, I think he plans to spend the night or something. I don't have anywhere to be either."

"Thanks," Scott replied. He turned and headed across the Garage and made his careful way up the stairs. Flynn, wearing a pair of sweats, was waiting for him.

"Go shower," Flynn said, "then I want to take a look at your back. Colonel Truman was asking about it."

"What?" Scott asked, "How did he know?"

"Probably because he's the one who shot the Grinder who hit you," Flynn replied. He snapped his fingers in front of Scott's face, "Shower, now!"

"Sir, yes sir," Scott muttered as he walked past his friend. He gathered his things and headed into the shower.

Flynn sighed as he trotted down the stairs and swung around to the kitchen. Spotting the Major sitting in the briefing area, he nodded, "Major."

"Blue Ranger," the man replied. He grinned slightly, "You can call me Blake, if you want. I'm not so much a stickler as all that."

"Call me Flynn," Flynn replied. He popped open the fridge and pulled out the bowl of pasta left over from the night before and set it on the counter. "I'm surprised, though. Most of the Defense Force gives us dirty looks if we mess up their ranks."

Blake laughed, "They do indeed." He settled down on a stool at the breakfast bar. "I didn't actually join the Defense until after the shield went up though. The rank of Major was conferred on me in view of my actions during the evacuation and obvious knowledge of the martial arts and fighting experience."

Flynn pulled out some fruit and some beer, "Want one?" He asked.

"Yes, please," Blake replied. "I lost my whole family in the evacuation," he said, accepting the open beer from Flynn. "I joined the Defense to lend myself to the protection of Corinth. I thought about the Ranger program, but I figured they were looking for younger people."

"You aren't that much older than me," Flynn observed.

"I'll be thirty-seven in a few weeks, Blake said.

"Ten years," Flynn shrugged, "still not old."

"Flynn," Summer said as she cleared the stairs, "is there any pasta left?"

"I just put it on the counter," Flynn replied over his shoulder. "Leave me some, please."

Summer smiled at him as she retrieved plates from the counter, "No problem."

Blake gestured, "How does this work? I mean, you all live together and fight together? Do you have any privacy?"

"We all have our own rooms," Summer replied, as she moved around the kitchen, "and I have a private bath."

"Not to mention we are all lucky enough to have family in Corinth," Flynn added. "When I need space, I go bug my dad."

Summer shrugged, "There's a motocross track that I go ride on."

"I know the track," Blake replied. "I used to be a profession motocross racer."

"Really?" Summer asked, she walked over with a trio of fresh beer. "When did you ride?"

"I retired in 2012," Blake replied, "but I was AMA champion three times."

"You're that Blake Bradley?" Summer demanded.

"Probably," Blake replied.

"I thought you became a history teacher," Summer said, "that was what your bio in AM said."

"I was," Blake said. "As I was telling Scott, I joined the Defense when I got here to get my own back from Venjix. My wife died during the evac."

"I'm sorry," Summer said.

"Hey Flynn," Scott called, "can you give me a hand with this bruise ointment?"

Flynn jumped up; "Sure," he called back. "If you'll excuse me?"

"Sure," Blake replied.

Flynn trotted up the stairs and found Scott in his room. "What do you think of the Major?" Scott asked.

Uh oh, Flynn thought, he took the cream from Scott, as he sat on the bed behind him. "I'm not sure yet," Flynn replied. "He seems nice. Summer was excited when she found out he used to be a professional motocross rider." He rubbed the cream in his hands and began to message it onto Scott's back. "I haven't heard anything to tell me he's qualified."

"What I don't get is why dad thinks he has the right to assign someone without asking first," Scott replied, he sighed, "That feels so good."

"You were hit pretty hard," Flynn replied. "I don't presume to read your dad's mind, Scott. If anything, the Major might know a style we don't. Didn't you say sparring against multiple opponents was good for training?"

"You aren't going to let me be mad about this, are you?" Scott asked, looking over his shoulder.

"I don't let you do anything," Flynn replied. "Are you sore anywhere else?"

"My bicep," Scott replied, "but I can," Flynn began to rub the cream in. "Never mind. Thanks, Flynn."

Flynn grinned, "Do you really want Summer to do this?"

Scott laughed, remembering how Summer had reacted to the idea of rubbing the greasy cream into her male teammates. "Good point," he stood up and reached for his shirt. "Let's go debrief, and see if this Major is worth his rank."

Flynn stood as well and led the way out the door. When they got down stairs, Summer was eating a plate of pasta, and two others were waiting. "I went ahead and heated up plates for you two," Summer said.

"Thanks," Scott said, "you've come a long way from being unable to work a microwave."

"You're still not cooking unsupervised, though," Flynn added.

Blake bit his lip to hide what was probably a smile. The door to the Ranger Room whisked open and a dark skinned man in a lab coat walked out. "Dr. Ashcroft," Blake said.

"Major," the man said, "Rangers, I just received a message from my wife. I'm needed at home. I've set up the automatic alerts, so things should be fine for a few hours."

"Of course," Scott replied, "do you need a ride?"

"No," Dr. Ashcroft said quickly, "I brought my car," he added calmly.

Scott ignored Flynn and Summer as they hid smiles, "We'll see you in the morning then, sir."

"In the morning," Dr Ashcroft replied.

The three Rangers and the Major watched Dr Ashcroft leave, and then Flynn looked at Blake, who looked exceptionally nervous. "Is something wrong?" He asked, calling attention back to the Major.

"There's a reason I agreed to be here," Blake said, he toyed with his beer bottle. "I'm not just a martial
artist. I know that in history classes now, there's a segment on the Power Rangers." He settled back slightly and looked at the three of them, "Do you remember the team from Blue Bay Harbor? The Ninja Storm Rangers?"

"Yes," Summer said, and Scott nodded.

"That's the one with that was more of an alliance than a team, right?" Flynn asked.

Blake grinned, "Exactly. They were ninjas who became Rangers to fight Lothor and then went back to the academies with Lothor was defeated."

"What about them?" Scott asked.

"I was a ninja student back then at the Thunder Academy," Blake replied, "I was one of Lothor's captives." He shook his beer bottle and took a drink, "The point is, after that year, I was able to finish my training and graduated. Two years later, I stood for my mastery. I'm not just an ex-motocross rider slash history teacher turned soldier. I'm a Thunder Master. Yes, Scott, your dad is aware of my rank, that's why I was made an officer when I joined the Defense, so that I could train officers easier."

Scott nodded slightly, "I guess then it's on me to say welcome to the Garage. May you enjoy it as much as we do." They clinked their beer bottles and laughed.