Sarah barely registered as her dad pulled up outside the school. While it had taken a few weeks to come through, one of the perks of his new job had been a company car, and he had been asking to give Sarah a ride to school now for a while. She reacted with a start as he pulled on the parking brake and killed the engine. She wasn't asleep, but she wasn't far off it.

"Are you absolutely sure you need all this stuff?" He asked, gesturing into the back seat. Sarah could only nod as she was too busy yawning to answer verbally. She had been up most of the night, even after her dad had asked her to go to bed after eleven.

"I don't know how much the school provides." She told him, unhitching her seatbelt. Her dad put a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

"Sarah, can...can you wait just a moment?" He asked her. She wasn't really in the mood for another lecture, but she knew her dad had her best interests in mind. He took a deep breath. "I've been noticing you seem a little...run down lately."

"Run down?" She asked him.

"I mean, you've got your school work, all those little projects you work on, all that time you spend with your friends, now you're signing up for four extra-curricular activities?" He asked her. "You're not really leaving a lot of time for relaxing or sleeping."

"The next few years are going to be a lot of work..."

"And you seem to be burning the candle at both ends." Her father interrupted her. "Believe me, I really appreciate how much work you put into everything but there is such a thing as taking on too much."

"Dad, I..."

"I know I'm going on about this a bit, but no one knows more about putting too much pressure on yourself than me." He told her. Sarah just sighed; she knew her dad worried about her, not just because he cared about her, but because he had a part of his own past that he wasn't proud of.

"Dad, you don't need to worry..."

"I do need to worry; it's kind of my job Sarah." He reminded her. "It took me a long time to get back to where I am now, and when I think of what it almost cost me, I am grateful every day that there were people close to me that made me see what I was doing to myself and everyone around me."

"Dad, this is only a temporary thing." Sarah assured him. "Believe me; I'm all about work/life balance. I don't intend to be doing 60-70 hour weeks all my life..."

"Neither was I." Her dad told her. "The worst part is, I can't even claim money was the reason. I was earning about ten times more than I am now as an investment broker, but I also know that it made me a person I hate, and someone I work very hard to make sure I never see again. Please, promise me..."

"I promise dad." She whispered. "If it's getting too much, I'll cut back, I promise."

He leaned in, kissing her forehead and smiled.

"You may have gotten some things from me, but thank God you got your brains from your mother." He answered. "If I can't convince you to leave some of this behind, can I at least give you a hand in with some of it?"

"I'll be fine dad." She assured him, getting out and beginning to load herself up. He smirked a little, seeing her looking a little more like a pack mule than a teenager by the time she was finished. Between her school bag, her hoverboard, her chess board, the box with the pieces, her gym bag, her compound bow and arrows and her tent, it looked like she was carrying more than she actually weighed, and he couldn't see her face, giving him concerns that she wouldn't be able to see where she was going.

"Are you sure?" He asked her. "I guess if you end up taking a tumble down the stairs a trip to the hospital will guarantee you get some time to rest."

"Ha ha, very funny dad!" She said sarcastically. "I'll see you at home!"

He pulled away from the kerb, heading on his way to work, hoping that his daughter really did take more after her mother than she did after him.

In the school, Monty was making his way through the school, carrying a quiver as he looked for Victor. He didn't really have much interest in archery himself, but he had joined the club with Victor, as he had with virtually everything. Victor already had the school record for distance in archery, but Monty had created a brand new kind of arrow, one he hoped would help him break that record. Victor was immensely proud of his trophy collection, which currently stood at 49, and he was always on the lookout for how to add number 50 to the cabinet. He knew it wouldn't win him another trophy, since Victor already owned it, but he would happily help wherever he could.

"Hey there Monty." He heard an all too familiar voice saying. He gulped as he turned around slowly. Ace and his crew were standing behind him.

"Ace." He managed to force out as he started to shy away. He was looking around for Victor for protection. While Victor and Ace were no longer friends and didn't hang out anymore, Ace at very least never did anything to Monty while he was around. "I was just going to meet Victor..."

"Yeah, nice try, you forget we're cousins. I know he's never at school this early." Ace told him, reaching for him and grabbing the quiver, ripping it from his hands. He looked into it, pulling out an arrow and looking to him in disgust. "Wait...are you walking around school with weapons?"

"They're for archery club..." Monty managed to say, before Ace shoved him roughly against the lockers.

"You little shit! You think after what you did you should be walking around with weapons?" Ace asked him. "You shouldn't be walking around at ALL! You should be in a cell!"

"Ace, they're just for archery class, I wasn't..." Monty hit the floor as Ace back-handed him to the floor. He heard a cough and looked around, this time finding Calvin standing there.

"Hey Ace." Calvin greeted him, before looking to Monty on the floor. "Is there some problem here?"

"Melvin! Naw, there's no problem here is there?" Ace asked. Monty shook his head. "Monty here just took a little spill and we were going to help him up."

Ace pulled Monty up off the floor, at which Calvin just looked between the two of them.

"Yeah...I just heard you did some more work on your car." Calvin stated. "I was wondering if I could have a look at it; see if I could get a little inspiration."

"Sure thing Melvin." Ace stated.

"Calvin." The Yellow Ranger corrected him as Monty started collecting arrows from the floor. He looked to the smaller student. "You sure you're OK?"

"Yeah, I just...slipped." Monty told him. He didn't want to get anyone else involved in his problem, he was just thankful that it looked like Calvin could get Ace to leave him alone.

"OK then." Calvin stated. "So, what is it you got this time? V8? V10?"

"Um...yeah, the bigger one." Ace said with a smile. "Nothing but the best for my baby right?"

As they left, Monty gathered up the arrows and put them back in the quiver. He hated how Ace treated him, the older student had bullied him as long as he could remember, but the last few years especially, it had only gotten worse. Of course, given what had happened, Monty couldn't really blame him. Monty couldn't blame anyone but himself for how much Ace hated him now.

Over at the front door, Sarah had finally managed to navigate her way carefully up the stairs. Given the load, she could barely see where she was going, and it had taken her quite a while to get up the stairs without being able to see them. She had almost ended up on her face a few times, but coming in the front door, she breathed a sigh of relief."

"OK, I have everything, I'm all set." Sarah told herself, trying to reassure herself more than anyone else. "You've got this Sarah!"

Unfortunately, after being able to negotiate the stairs, the one thing she couldn't negotiate was a shop class teacher who was paying as little attention to where he was going as she was. Mick was reading a note from the Principal's office when he accidentally bumped into Sarah. They both managed to remain on their feet, but she dropped so much, it looked like she was about to set up a jumble sale in the middle of the lobby.

"I'm so sorry Mick!" She rushed out as she started to gather things. Mick helped her, grabbing some other stuff and helping to heap it all back onto her in a way she could carry it.

"It's alright; I wasn't watching where I was going either." Mick told her. "I got a note from Principal Hastings about some Dinosaur Museum in Amber Beach the science department wants to take the kids to and was trying to arrange to take me out there to check it out."

"Really?" Sarah asked him. "Principal Hastings wants to take you...alone?"

"Would you stop that? It's bad enough the guys all think she wants a piece of the Mickster without you starting too." Mick grumbled. He noticed the mish-mash of items she was carrying. "So, the rumours are true. You signed up for four clubs?"

"Yup, I sure did!" Sarah told proudly. "It's going to look great on my college application!"

"You don't happen to be Triforian do you?" He asked her. Sarah just looked confused.

"What's a Triforian?" She asked.

"It's just that all four clubs happen to be meeting at the same time." Mick said as he reminded himself of the fact that with the exception of Brody, none of the current Rangers had actually left Earth, and so had limited knowledge of aliens. A few older humans, he found, could remember a team of Aquitarian Rangers serving for a brief period to cover for the Earth team, and everyone remembered that aliens had invaded the planet a few times over the years, but that didn't mean most people knew a lot about aliens. "How can you possibly be in four places at once?"

"Well uh..." Sarah started to say, before thinking about it. She did have a solution, the new device she had been working on would indeed allow her to be everywhere she needed to be at the same time, but for some reason, she loved the idea of pulling a surprise on the team when they realised she had done everything she had intended to in the day. For now, she was happy to leave him in the dark. "...that's for me to know and you to find out! OK, bye!"

With that, she sprinted off. Mick just stood, scratching his head, before shrugging and heading off.

"And the humans say I'm weird." He mused.

Up on the Warrior Dome, Madame Odious made her way to one of her hidden doors, this time seeing Wrench heading past on an errand. She just gave him a quick glare to remind him of their earlier conversation, before opening the door. Wrench was nothing if not a coward, and she was confident he wouldn't have told Cosmo about her hidden lab. Stepping inside, the door closed behind her.

She went to the console and started checking on her readings, entering a few commands.

"How are you my little experiment?" She asked insincerely as her prisoner grunted and struggled. He was putting up an amazing fight still, even weeks after he had been kidnapped. She was almost sorry to think that she couldn't somehow use him in her plan herself. He was a lot stronger than she had anticipated; she had been led to believe that humans were a fragile species. Many much more robust species had perished much earlier in her experiments. Still, if he was strong enough to survive, she couldn't guarantee that her programming would be strong enough that he wouldn't be able to overcome it eventually. That was where the transfer came in. She already had another subject in mind to give the Gold Power Star to, and had literally built him herself to do her bidding. This human would serve his purpose, but after that it was too much of a risk to give him that power. "Ah, the transfer is almost complete. Then I will toss you away like a piece of garbage!"

She laughed as she left him behind, exiting her secret lab once more. Wrench was still there, working on something. She closed the door and made her way over.

"Still snooping are you?" She asked him. "I thought we'd discussed that before."

"I don't care what you're up to in there." He said, trying to sound as confident as possible. She had already subtly threatened him not to tell anyone what he had seen in her laboratory. He was well aware of the fact she was dangerous, and even being in Cosmo's good graces, he couldn't guarantee that Odious couldn't get to him before Cosmo could protect him. "I'm working on the next show. I just concentrate on my own job."

"Hmm...an admirable and...wise approach." She said with a smirk as she tapped the side of his face. "Wise people last longer around here."

In another part of the city, Sarah's dad arrived on the top floor of the office block, looking a little nervous. He had only worked in Mr Tien's firm for a few weeks, but he had never actually met the man. This apparently wasn't uncommon, he had heard from people that had worked in the company at the lowest levels for over a decade that wouldn't know what the man looked like if it wasn't for his appearances on the local news or the newspapers. If anything, he was surprised he had been summoned to see him at all. As he stepped out of the elevator, he found a large door with two large men in suits, with noticeable bulges that indicated shoulder harnesses under their suits standing either side of the door, and a large, antique mahogany desk to his right. A woman, presumably his PA was sitting behind the desk, though his eyes were drawn to what was behind her. A huge painting, about twelve feet by eight feet hung behind the desk, showing Mr Tien's wife, and a young man he presumed to be Preston. It was a commission that had to have cost him thousands.

"Alistair Thompson?" The PA asked.

"Everyone calls me Al." He told her.

"He's expecting you." She told him, gesturing to the door. Al nervously made his way to the door, where he was patted down by one of the guards. He lifted Al's phone from his pocket.

"No phones, no recording equipment of any kind." He told him. The other once presented a contract to Al.

"This is a legally binding non-disclosure agreement. If you divulge the details of anything you see or discuss within the next 25 years, you'll be subject to summary dismissal and litigation to the fullest abilities of the company. Do you understand?"

"I'm...an auditor, not a spy." Al joked with a weak laugh. "It's not like we're going to be discussing nuclear arms is it?"

"Are you refusing to sign?" The security guard asked. "I can always inform Mr Tien and escort you back to your desk..."

"No, its fine, I'll sign." Al said, scrawling his signature on the document. He was quickly realising that they weren't joking in the slightest! This job offer had been a good one for him; it had come along with a full-ride scholarship for Sarah, a company car, and a salary that was at least ten percent higher than any equivalent position in another company. To say that he couldn't afford to let this go easily would be an understatement.

"Mr Tien will see you now." The security guard told him, gesturing Al inside. Al went in, finding Mr Tien pacing his office, his putter in his hand and his cell phone in the other. He was a little animated in his manner.

He was wearing a dark blue suit, and a silk tie. He had silver hair, and on his right wrist, he was wearing a Rolex that would pay Al's mortgage for the next decade. He was wearing a couple of rings, a couple of them large, decorative affairs with lots of gold and diamonds that demonstrated his wealth, and probably explained the paranoid guards outside, but one was just a plain gold band, his wedding ring.

"Charles, I keep telling you, this deal is going to revitalise the city. What could be better than housing for the hard-working people of Summer Cove?" He asked, trapping the phone between his shoulder and his ear as he lined up a put, aiming for his putting machine. "Well yes, I know there are a few people who like that area, but there are plenty of parks in Summer Cove. I'm certain no one will miss one."

He didn't seem to be too happy with the response, as his putt was noticeably pulled, missing the machine.

"I think I should remind you that the election is in three months. I've put my support behind you the last two years, but if I'm wrong about your commitment to building the future of Summer Cove, I can always find someone else who'll support..."

He smiled as he heard a response.

"I'll expect the letter from the zoning committee." Mr Tien said. "Thank you for your time!"

As he hung up, he looked to Al.

"That was..."

"None of my business." Al said, holding his hands up defensively. He had been in investments long enough to know strong-arming when he heard it. The fact that Mr Tien had mentioned something about the Zoning Committee meant it was something he had a feeling he really didn't want to hear. "With all due respect sir, I'm a man who likes to keep to my own job."

"Yes, I've heard that about you." Mr Tien said. "I've also heard you're the best auditor I've had here in years."

"I appreciate that sir..."

"In fact, from what I hear you've saved me more in the time you've been here than your predecessor did in a year." Mr Tien stated. He gestured to a table a little way off, where a number of decanters were sitting. "Scotch?"

"Um...no thank you." Al said, stroking his chin, looking at the bottles. "I wouldn't mind a mineral water though."

"Help yourself, I'll have a double. Get it from the decanter with the crest on it, its thirty year old malt, best in the world."

Al hesitated as he was asked to do this. He made his way over to the table and found the decanter, picking it up. He gripped the stopper, but paused for a moment. Mr Tien just looked to him.

"Today would be good Mr Thompson." He said with a little chuckle. Al took a deep breath, holding his breath as he opened it, before pouring the glass. He replaced the decanter and took the glass and a bottle of mineral water carrying the glass to Mr Tien as he lined up another shot. As he handed over the glass, he finally let out his breath.

"I have to say Mr Thompson, given your CV I'm a little surprised you're in the auditing department." Mr Tien told him. "I'd have thought you'd like to be up where the real money is."

"I'm very happy where I am Mr Tien." He assured him.

"Really?" He asked. "I think you might change your mind when I tell you about the development I'm about to unveil. If you were a little higher up the chain you'd be entitled to stock options..."

"I appreciate that Mr Tien, but I've been in that life once before and...I'm much happier where I am." He told him. "Work/life balance is much more important to me these days."

"Yes, of course, you're a family man." Mr Tien said with a smile. "I believe my Preston goes to the same school as your daughter! It wasn't my first choice but my wife, God rest her, she hated the thought of private schooling. Even though she's gone I feel beholden to the promise I made her."

"That's correct sir." Al told him.

"Just think how much better you could do for your family if you were making considerably more than you are now." Mr Tien stated. Imagine being able to retire in five years with no mortgage and still send your girl to college."

He pointed to the table again.

"How about it?" He asked. "Take a drink and we can discuss the details."

"I...I don't sir, not anymore." Al told him. "Thank you for your offer Mr Tien, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to decline."

"You don't like the idea of..."

"No, I do like it, but that world doesn't like me." Al told him honestly. "Like you've said, I've been there before and I became someone I don't like. So thank you, but I think its best I go back to my work now."

"I can't say I'm not disappointed, I could have used someone like you." Mr Tien said with a shrug. "I'm keeping my eye on you Mr Thompson! You seem like a man I can trust!"

With that, Al turned and left the office, heading into the elevator and pressing the button for his floor as though his life depended on it. His old life had once almost cost him everything, and walking away and rebuilding his life after that had been one of the hardest things he had ever done. As much as he had the strength to refuse to go back, it scared him that there was a part of him that he knew wanted to.