Episode 15: Part 1

"Lord Gideon, we can explain," Shemhazai pleaded as she and General Abaddon cowered before the Lord of the Cambion Legions. Archangel Gideon pounded the armrest of his marble throne furiously and eyed his two generals.

"I am not interested in either of your excuses! I've heard enough from both of you! Your actions have allowed the Rangers to gain the allegiance of a new titan and cost us 3 field commanders in the battles."

"My Lord, I apologize…" Abaddon began but his master cut him off.

"I won't hear it General!" Gideon snapped, "I thought I made myself clear that neither of you are to conduct attacks without my permission. And what's more? Your demons are working against each other… in battle!

"Lord Gideon…" Shemhazai started but the fallen Archangel waved his hand and roared, "Enough! Both of you leave my sight! Until you figure out a way to coordinate your future actions, I will handle the current campaign. Is that understood?"

Both demon commanders bowed in shame from having been rebuked and hurried out the doors of the throne room to plot their next moves, sulking off into the dark shadows.


"Are you really certain about this Professor?" Kara asked as she and Professor Bishop walked into the main lobby of the student dormitory that Tuesday afternoon.

"Of course Kara," Bishop replied with a smile, "It's been about what, three weeks since you came to live with me? The best way for you to start adjusting to modern life is to not be scared and just dive right in. You can't deny that since the girls took you shopping, you've started to look like a regular college student now."

Kara glanced down at the new clothes she was wearing and sighed. Admittedly, the dark flats, blue jeans, and stylish yellow sweater was still going to take some getting used to, but the Professor was right. She'd have to start trying to fit in at some point… whether she liked it or not.

As they entered the dorm, they came across Claire, Nick, and Danny who were just leaving the cafeteria from eating lunch.

"Hey Kara! Professor! What's going on?" Nick asked greeting them with a cheerful smile.

"Hi everyone," Bishop nodded back, "I was just passing by with Kara and wondering if I could ask the five of you a little favor."

The three students exchanged a curious look as their teacher continued, "I was wondering if any of you were free this week to show Kara around a little more and maybe give her a taste of regular student life."

At that, the three gave apologetic faces, "We'd love to Professor, but it's just that you picked a real bad time for all of us," Claire began, "Everyone's kinda got a lot going on right now. I've actually got to run to a Science Club meeting. "

"Yeah, sorry Professor. I've got intramural basketball practices too," Nick added.

As they turned to Danny, the Blue Ranger shrugged apologetically, "I volunteered to help a friend teach their swing dancing classes this week. I'm afraid I can't help either."

Bishop sighed and rubbed the stubble at the side of his face, "Ok then, what about Izzy and Joe?"

At that moment, the Red Ranger came hurrying down the nearby stairwell with the Pink Ranger at his heels pulling on the sleeve of his sweater, "Come on Joe! Please? I really need your help on this one! The sorority function that I'm coordinating is counting on it!"

Joe stopped a moment and sighed, "I really wish I could help you Iz, but I told you already. I've got to work several shifts at the Library this week. I won't have much time to practice with the jazz band, and besides… I'll be tired."

"Well I can't help it that the piano player came down with mono either! I don't know anyone else I trust enough to fill in for him," Izzy pleaded, "Come on, this isn't because you're afraid Jen is going to be there is it? Because I can guarantee you she won't."

The Red Ranger frowned and gave a pointed look as she continued, "I know for a fact that she'll be on a night out in the city with her new boyfriend and… Oh crap! I shouldn't have said that…"

Joe glared in irritation at the Pink Ranger before stalking off down the side hallway, "Bye Izzy. I'm going to work now," he called in a mock sing-song voice.

Nick shook his head as he watched Izzy chase after Joe, continuing to beg and apologize every step of the way, "Well… so much for those two. Sorry again Professor, but we've got to run."

Professor Bishop gave a reluctant wave as his students hurried off before turning to his newest charge, "Well Kara, I guess it's just you and me then. I've got a couple hours before my next class, so maybe we can shoot a few rounds of billiards at the Union. What do you say?"

The Gold Ranger gave a blank look and raised an eyebrow, "What are billiards?"


Later that day, after returning home, Gabriel Bishop tossed his necktie and black blazer on an armchair and flipped on the television to a local hockey game. As he rolled up his shirt sleeves, he headed toward the kitchen to cook dinner. Nearby, Kara sat down on a footrest to observe the game.

"It's strange that this modern world is so 'civilized', yet so many of your people still enjoy watching these violent competitions," Kara said absently, "Though, I find this hockey sport to be most entertaining."

Bishop curled his lip into an amused smile as he began to put breading and spices on some chicken, "Oh really? And are there any teams you favor to win the err... grand tournament?"

Kara frowned in thought for a moment before nodding, "I believe the Blackhawks of Chicago are superior warriors."

Bishop laughed aloud, "A fan of my own home team. Kara, you and I are going to get along just fine."

As Bishop finished seasoning the chicken and threw it in the oven, he joined Kara in the living room only to be greeted by a curious look. "Do you ever get tired of living alone Professor?"

Bishop stopped at the abrupt question and gave a thoughtful frown as he sat down in his own armchair, "I'm sorry?"

The Gold Ranger wrinkled her brow for a moment before speaking again, "I couldn't help but notice how orderly your home is and how you still find time for tasks like washing, cooking, and cleaning."

"What can I say? I'm a man of many talents," Bishop chuckled lightly trying to wave it off, "I guess it's easy when you don't have little children running all over the place."

Kara nodded, "Exactly. I just find it unusual that for a man of your age, you decided not to take a wife or have any children."

Bishop frowned in mild indignation for a moment before turning off the hockey game, "Now hold on Kara. First, I'm not that old at all. Secondly, I didn't settle down and have a family yet because... well, it's a little personal."

The Gold Ranger sighed and continued to look at him in slight curiosity, "Professor, in many ways, I've lived much of my life alone and had to grow up doing things for myself. If anyone would understand that kind of lifestyle, it would be me."

Bishop fixed her with a long steady look before giving a sigh, "I suppose I can't argue there. If you really want to know, I'll tell you... but it's something I generally don't like talking or thinking about."

Kara nodded respectfully as Bishop rose from his seat and paced toward a nearby table. He picked up a framed photo and came back over handing it to Kara.

It was a picture of a beautiful dark haired young woman. In the picture, she was smiling brightly with her arms around a younger looking Bishop and they both looked to be around college age students. Glancing back at Bishop, Kara handed the photo back, "She's beautiful. Who is she?"

Bishop smiled wistfully and took the photo, "That was Julia... a girl I was once engaged to."

Kara sat back and regarded him with a look of growing curiosity, "What happened?"

"She passed away," Bishop replied softly looking away for a moment.

Kara bit her lip a moment, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Bishop sighed putting the photo back on the table and reaching for a bottle of liquor he kept on the counter, "It was many years ago, but..."

"But part of you still hasn't let her go?" the Gold Ranger finished.

Bishop gave a grim chuckle as he poured some bourbon whiskey into a small tumbler glass and sat back down, "I don't know... maybe something like that."

Kara sat quietly as Bishop told her the story of how he had met Julia during his grad school years at Hyperion University. They had dated, fell in love, and as Bishop was finishing his doctorate, they became engaged hoping to start a new life together. That was when tragedy struck.

Bishop paused and gave a distant look, "I remember when Julia suddenly became sick and how quickly the illness took her. I remember how much time I spent in prayer, begging and bargaining for Julia's life… but all in vain."

"You are a religious man?"

"Was," Bishop corrected her as he took another sip of his drink, "I used to be a devout Catholic, though a good friend and colleague of mine has been trying to do something about that ever since. Maybe you remember me mentioning a priest by the name of Father Santos?"

Kara nodded quietly as Bishop swirled the contents of his glass around, "After Julia passed away, I figured it was best to just bury myself in my work. I guess in some ways it kept me sane, but in other ways made me appear a bit odd toward others... especially when I was researching the history of your race."

"You're a teacher of History," Kara stated, "I can't exactly fault you for dwelling in the past and spending so much time trying to understand it. I suppose I'm still struggling with the same problem right now too."

Bishop nodded and gave a gentle smile, "Well Kara, it seems like we're kindred spirits then: both stuck in the past and both sort of outcasts from our respective people. I guess it's good that we're sharing a home then."

A faint smile appeared on the Gold Ranger's lips as she said, "It seems we're both looking for direction or some semblance of family in our lives Professor. I'm not certain yet, but I can't help but feel that the five Rangers we have in common may lead us there."

Bishop laughed slightly and raised his glass to his new ward, "Well spoken Kara. I'll drink to that."

With that, Bishop finished his drink and rose from his seat, trying to put on a more cheerful face "In the mean time, we've got some time before the chicken is done. Why don't you give me a hand with the side dishes?"


Later that week, Kara sat in the back of a classroom paging through a textbook while Professor Bishop gave a lecture to upper classmen about the European Renaissance. While she followed along with the lecture and listened intently, she couldn't help but be surprised at the way some students seemed to give the lesson only partial attention.

It was strange to her that these students were supposed to be here to gain knowledge and skills for later on, yet some were not taking it seriously. It was their own form of training, just as she had to go through when learning to become a warrior. The only difference was, if she didn't pay attention or take things seriously, she would be disciplined harshly, or worse, her fellow soldiers could get killed.

Still, Kara continued to pay attention in hopes of learning more about the history of humanity. It was interesting to see what had happened during the time that she was sleeping, as well as see the progress made by the race she shared some of her heritage with. After she had been freed of service to the Blind Seer Remiel, she had been in need of a new teacher and Professor Bishop seemed the next obvious choice for a mentor figure. It was her hope that he and her new Ranger friends would be able to teach her more, especially once their extra curricular obligations were taken care of this week.

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted as a now familiar siren went off causing the students in the classroom to momentarily freeze and fall silent. As attacks from the Cambion demons had unfortunately become a regular occurrence for the residents of Hyperion Falls, so too was the sound of the city's new warning siren, urging people to quickly find safe shelters.

"All right, settle down everyone," Bishop called to the students while trying to sound reassuring, "This isn't the first or last time this has happened. Let's all just stay calm and wait here. I'm sure the Power Rangers will have everything under control soon."

As the students settled down and began murmuring quietly among themselves, Kara rose from her seat and approached the front of the classroom where Bishop stood. The Professor gave her a knowing nod as his phone vibrated. After checking the message, he turned to the Gold Ranger, "The demons are close by and making a raid on the edge of campus. The other Rangers are on the way."

Kara nodded quickly, "Then I'll go and help them. Will your class be safe here?"

"We'll be fine Kara," Bishop reassured her, "Go help the others. I'll keep an eye on everyone here."

Turning back to the class, Bishop called out to the class to draw their attention, "Ok everyone, let's uh... try to take our minds off of everything and maybe finish the lecture?"

While the class was distracted, Kara saw her chance and slipped out the rear doors of the lecture hall so that she could join the other Rangers in battle. No doubt they were close and a battle was raging nearby. As she hurried down the empty hallway and began reaching for her Keyrune, Kara was surprised as she noticed the twinge of a strange feeling that she hadn't felt in quite some time... genuine concern for the safety of others: for Professor Bishop, for his class, and for her fellow Power Rangers.

Shaking off the thought, she gripped her Keyrune tightly. Now was the time to focus. There were monsters terrorizing the campus and she still had a job to do.