In the middle of a fairly sunny day in Winter Valley, Mark found Steven staring solemnly into the distance. "Hey there, mind if I join you in your reverie?", he asked.

"Go ahead.", Steven answered him. "I'm just staring at the scenery, for what might be the last time."

Mark was surprised by his friend's sudden display of what was seemingly pessimism. "Wow. Didn't think you'd be such a downer about our situation as it is. We're still winning against the Dominion, even if Algrin is in charge now."

"It's not that.", Steven shook his head. "It's just that I'm probably going to be returning to my own decade soon, especially with Wayne working on the thing that brought me here in the first place."

"I wouldn't get down over that.", Mark assured him. "After all, Jangar's ship has technology that could probably put even our greatest minds on Earth to shame. Wayne might take months to figure it out, maybe decades. Besides, even if he does manage to perfect it before we win, none of us would want you to go. You're a valuable part of the group, and we need you to help us at a bad time." He put his hand on his teammate's shoulder. "Don't worry about your future. Focus more on the past."

Steven smiled at his friends words. "Thanks for the advice, Mark. I needed that."

As the two turned around, they found themselves face to face with a new Hybrasect. This one resembled a woolly mammoths, with a visor tinted red, a clock on his head and an hourglass at the end of his trunk. "Really going a bit too far with the time motif, aren't you?", Mark commented.

"I am Chronophant.", the Hybrasect declared. "What a surprise. The Red and Yellow Rangers, both the items on my to-do list."

"If you think you can do better than the other rank-and-file bugs, then you're mistaken.", Steven said. "Do you really think exposing yourself to us right away was the right idea?"

Mark and Steven both reached for their bracelets, announcing "Let's Fly!" A flash of light later, the two were now morphed and running towards Chronophant.

"Oh I have a little edge over all my brothers and sisters.", Chronophant declared. He waved his trunk, which had the ruby crystal dust inside glow red. A ripple surrounded the area, freezing everyone and everything but Chronophant in place. "Namely, I can stop time in its tracks and do a little meddling." He walked over to the two Rangers and rubbed his arm gently along their chests. "And let's see what happens now.", he said as he walked off, his hourglass glowing once again.

As time unfroze, the two Rangers were knocked back by the force of the rubbing, which had been amplified by the acceleration of the motion in real time. "What happened?", Steven asked as he looked around, rubbing his head.

"Chronophant's gone.", Mark noted as he registered his surroundings. "We'd better get back to Lowfall and discuss it with the others."

Onboard the ship, Chronophant returned to be greeted by Galvahex. "Excellent work my creation.", the robot said sincerely. "Once again, your powers have shown themselves to be impressive enough to counter the Rangers."

"Of course, but I already knew that.", Chronophant bragged. "After all, you wouldn't have taken out that poser Tann without me."

Tann saw the Rangers and the blast from their Rover Launcher frozen in front of his eyes. At first, he was tempted to breath a sigh of relief, thinking himself safe. Then he heard the clanking of metal feet heading towards him. "Who's there?", he demanded. "Show yourself."

He turned around to be greeted by Algrin, who was being accompanied by Galvahex and Chronophant. "Don't be scared, my Emperor. After all, we saved you from the Rangers' fate for you.", Algrin said.

"You!", Tann said, shocked. "You finally came to recover me. I should have you punished for your failure to act faster."

"You seem to have misunderstood my Master's words, when he said you were saved from the Rangers.", Galvahex pointed out.

"Yes, I must admit my motives were entirely selfish.", Algrin smiled. "I saved you so that I could take your power for myself." He jammed his hand into the body of Tann, sapping him until the Emperor was unconscious. To celebrate this, Algrin transformed into his Berserker Mode. "This power is incredible. I feel like I could do anything.", he bragged.

"What should we do with the former Emperor?", Chronophant asked.

"Teleport him to these coordinates.", Algrin said, displaying a hologram. "And then restart the paused time. I wish to make a big announcement to the Rangers."

"As you wish.", Galvahex said, teleporting Tann to the given location, even though he didn't recognise it. He then grabbed the flames launched by the Rangers' weapon and absorbed the heat energy, all to refuel his systems and downplay the power of the blast. He then teleported out as Chronophant resumed time.

Galvahex dismissed Chronophant to continue his own devices and went back to thinking. "Algrin, what're you planning?"

Within his room, Algrin observed his creation, as it continued to grow. "Soon, my Neo-Mutabrid. Soon all will bow before you and I."

Back at the Lowfall, Mark and Steven had shared their story with the others. "And we don't know how that Hybrasect did… whatever it did to us."

"You think this one has super speed.", Lulu asked.

"It doesn't seem likely.", Wayne pointed out. "They generally seem to have powers based on their materials. Like Shutterbug having the power to trap us in pictures, being made from a camera."

"And Replakor had the power to copy people's appearance, like a chameleon copying its environment to blend in.", Carrie added.

"But what power would an elephant covered in time related stuff have?", Lulu asked.

Everyone thought about it for a while, before Mark came up with an answer. "What if this thing can slow down time around him to the point he can do everything he wants before we can even move to stop him?"

"Atomic clock manipulation.", Wayne pondered. "This is gonna be a tricky one to beat, unless we can distract him before he can use his powers."

"And even beating him in our current state will be difficult.", Carrie commented. "The Rover Launcher is in for upgrades and our AviAttackers are being examined for mass production. We're stuck with our basic equipment."

"Maybe there's something in the security recordings of our last encounter with him.", Steven suggested. "Something we can use to counter his powers."

"It's worth a shot.", Mark said.

At the air base, technic Lefee walked into Major James' medical ward, to say a few words. However, she was shocked to see that the patient was moving. The woman in the hospital bed burst awake, taking in her surroundings. "Where am I?", she asked before getting a good look at her visitor. "Lefee, is that you?" The technic didn't know what to say in this situation.

In the town, Chronophant was once again on the attack, blowing steam that exploded some of the remaining intact buildings in the empty city. "Come on out, Rangers!", he growled. "Come out and face me. If you can, that is."

As if on cue, he was attacked by all 5 Rangers, with Mark and Wayne starting the attack with a pair of kicks, followed by a similar pair from the girls. Finally, Steven jumped forward and punched him in the chest. "You wanted us, you've got us.", he said.

"This is really good for me.", the Hybrasect laughed. "My count will be five for five. Not bad for a second try." He then fired a blue beam from his tusks, initiating the time pause again. "And the best part is that you losers can't do anything about it."

However, as he approached the frozen heroes, Steven moved out of position and kicked him. "Never ignore the one guy who uses his fists." He then fiddled about to reveal two hairs in his arm, one of which he wrapped around his wrist, with the other one being wrapped around Mark's wrist. "Especially when it lets him take a souvenir."

With the hair around his wrist, Mark was unpaused by Chronophant's powers. "Thanks for that, Steven. Our plan worked exactly as we hoped."

"Plan?", Chronophant said, confused. "What plan?"

"We figured that the only reason you were able to move inside your little bubble was exposure to the energy given off by your machine.", Steven clarified. "Your whole body's saturated in that energy."

"So we just had to get a piece of you, or rather at most 5 pieces.", Mark continued. "Then we could continue to fight you inside your own house."

And so the fighting resumed, with Mark slashing at the Hybrasect with his Wing Saber, and Steven shooting at it with his two firearms. Eventually, Steven ran forward and pulled on Chronophant's hourglass, breaking it off. "Let's see how well your powers work without this."

"No!", Chronophant yelled as time restarted, with the other 3 Rangers moving again.

"Wha it, I'm confused.", Lulu said. "How did you guys get over there?"

"They must've pulled off our plan to infiltrate the time freeze.", Wayne clarified.

"Which mean that all we have to do is defeat this thing and then we can go home.", Carrie concluded.

"You guys are awful.", Chronophant began blubbering like a baby, as his hourglass regrew, only empty. "I'm getting away from you horrid people." With that said, he turned face and ran away.

"Oh no you don't.", Wayne said, throwing a small device onto the Hybrasect before it completely got away. "Now then, let's get back to the Lowfall. There I can show you what I just put on that thing."

"Good idea.", Mark said in response. "Let's get back to base."

In a cave, Chronophant was chomping down on the ruby crystal that gave him his powers. "Those awful Rangers. Now I'm gonna power up on the energy within these rocks and power up." As he continued to consume the crystals, he eventually began to glow and enlarge to giant size, breaking the cave ceiling off in the process. "Now I'll prove I'm no small fry.", he declared.

On the ship, Algrin saw the giant Chronophant appear in the city. "This should provide ample distraction to deploy my creation.", he said as he turned to the Neo-Mutabrid. While still humanoid, it was more reptilian, with a long neck, scythe-like tendrils for arms (multiple other tendrils on both arms) and glowing red eyes. There was also what looked like a face on its neck. The Neo-Mutabrid snarled as it teleported down and began growing.

At the Lowfall, Wayne brought up a computer display to show the others what the small device he had planted could do. "I realised that a lot of the time, the enemy gets away and it takes us a lot longer than it should to find them."

"Tell me about it.", Lulu commented.

"Which is why I invented this homing device to help us find them easier." Wayne brought up an image. "In a moment, we'll know where that thing is hiding." When the image came up, it showed a large picture of Chronophant from a ground view."

"That's not good.", Mark realised. "He's already figured out a way to grow without our help. We need to take care of him with the Icarus, come on."

As Mark, Wayne, Carrie and Lulu ran out of the room, Steven prepared to follow them. Then he noticed a flash in the corner of his eyes. He turned around to see the others were now somehow behind him, all 4 now morphed. "How did you get over there?", he asked. "You just left."

"I'd like to know the same thing.", Lulu said in response. "And what do you mean 'we just left'? We haven't been back here in…"

"22 minutes.", Mark concluded in a matter of fact tone. "That portal didn't just send us back to this place, it also displaced us in time. Chronophant's getting stronger, if he's able to pull a stunt like this."

"I don't understand.", Steven said. "You say you've already dealt with the Hybrasect you just set out to fight?"

"Don't try to understand time travel.", Wayne assured him. "And we didn't actually deal with him. He came back through the portal with us. We don't know where he is now."

Suddenly, the building was rocked by a tremor. "I think that answers that question.", Carrie commented.

"We need to stop him.", Mark said as he pulled up his communicator. "We need the vehicles ready, now."

At the base, Ratcliffe noticed something on his monitor. "That's odd, I'm getting the same readings for 4 of the Rangers and a Hybrasect twice."

"Probably just a computer glitch.", Lefee tried to assure him. "It's probably just our luck it happened on our shift." Then she noticed somehing else on the monitor. "Hang on, I don't recognise that thing. What is it?"

"I don't know.", was Ratcliffe's answer. "But whatever it is, it's getting bigger and heading for one of the Rangers' locations."

"What?" Both Ratcliffe and and Lefee turned around to see Mary, out of bed. "We've got to warn them."

"I would Miss, but we don't know where to call.", Ratcliffe responded. "There are two copies of the same frequency, so we're having difficulties."

"Then I'll go out and warn them myself." Mary turned around and ran out of the building, with Lefee making a futile effort to try and stop her.

In the chasm, the Rangers of the present descended, with Lulu realising something. "Where's Steven? Shouldn't he have come with us?"

"That's not the only weird thing going on.", Carrie noted. "I've tried calling my Swan Sonic, but nothing's happening. As if someone's already using it."

"My frequencies are also getting nothing but interference.", Mark noted. "We'll have to check once we get back to the city."

It was then that the giant Chronophant appeared in front of them. "So you came to stop me in the nick of time, eh Rangers?", he gloated. "Well your time has run out."

"I hate the ones that always crack jokes.", Wayne commented. "What're we supposed to do, if we can't even call for help and we're down a couple of weapons?"

"We improvise.", Mark answered. He then took out his Wing Saber and his Beak Blaster, assembling his Hyper Cannon with them. The others did likewise, following his lead. "Aim for the part where Steven hit him earlier."

"Roger." All 4 aimed and fired at the bump, causing the giant Hybrasect to stagger.

"Why you.", Chronophant growled. The damage caused his clock to generate a portal with an image of the city on the other side. He then jumped into the portal, vanishing through it.

"He must have learned how to get back to the city using those portals.", Wayne theorised. "Fascinating."

"Never mind that now.", Lulu pointed out. "We need to follow him."

With that said, all 4 leapt up and glided into the portal, as it closed. On the other side, they found themselves back in the hotel, with a confused Steven turning around to see them. " How did you get over there?", he asked. "You just left."

"I'd like to know the same thing.", Lulu said in response. "And what do you mean 'we just left'? We haven't been back here in…"

"22 minutes.", Mark concluded in a matter of fact tone. "That portal didn't just send us back to this place, it also displaced us in time. Chronophant's getting stronger, if he's able to pull a stunt like this."

"I don't understand.", Steven said. "You say you've already dealt with the Hybrasect you just set out to fight?"

"Don't try to understand time travel.", Wayne assured him. "And we didn't actually deal with him. He came back through the portal with us. We don't know where he is now."

Suddenly, the building was rocked by a tremor. "I think that answers that question.", Carrie commented.

"We need to stop him.", Mark said as he pulled up his communicator. "We need the vehicles ready, now."

Vehicle Shift, On! Flier! Zoom! Sonic! Plane! Take Off! Go, Go!

The 4 Rangers ran out of the hotel, leaving a confused Steven behind to try and catch up, again.

Out in the city, Chronophant continued his rampage. "Look at me, a big pachyderm in the big city.", he shouted.

Then he saw 4 of the Ranger's vehicles heading towards him. "I'm still confused about this whole time travel stuff.", Lulu said. "Are we know older by twenty minutes? If that's the case, then what do we classify as midnight?"

As she pondered this, Lulu's Swallow Plane was grabbed by Chronophant. "No, Lulu!", Mark cried out.

Chronophant then began to swing his captive around as if he was playing with a toy. "Let me go.", Lulu cried out. "Stop that, this thing is expensive."

Vehicle Shift, On! Jet! Take Off! Go, Go!

The Owl Jet appeared above the Hybrasect, a rock in its claw. "And release.", a now-morphed Steven yelled, as he pressed a button.

The Owl released its load onto Chronophant's head, causing him to let go of the Swallow Plane. "Thanks for that.", Lulu said.

"Don't mention it.", Steven radioed back. "Let's just combine and deal with this thing."

"Okay.", everyone responded, as they inserted their chips into their consoles, beginning the sequence.

Action Shift, On! Flier! Zoom! Jet! Sonic! Plane! Icarus Megazord! Take Off! Go, Go!

The Icarus now engaged it's opponent in battle, with Chronophant getting the upper hand. "Man this thing's tough, but we can beat it.", Steven declared.

As he said that, multiple explosions rocked the city, smashing buildings and conveniently destroying Chronophant. "But it's not my time yet.", the Hybrasect cried as he was destroyed. As the explosions cleared, everyone say the body of the Neo-Mutabrid, standing tall amongst the city.

"Man, what's that thing?", Mark asked. Before he could get an answer, he saw someone on the ground, with a zoom in letting him make out who it was. "No it can't be." He got up out of his seat. "There's something I need to take care of. Wayne, take the wheel." Before any complaints could be registered, he was out of the room and making his way to the ground.

"I can't believe he's doing this.", Wayne said, as he moved to the centre seat. "But if he wants me to clean up this mess, then I'm not going to complain." The Icarus flew in to face its new opponent.

On the ground, Mark ran out to the person he had seen on the monitor. Sure enough, it was who he thought it was. "Mary, you're awake!", he said as he hugged her. "But what're you doing here?"

"I came here to warn you guys about that thing.", was Mary's answer. "But it seems I'm too late."

Up in the cockpit, Wayne commenced the battle with the Neo-Mutabrid. "Flying Knuckle!" But this did nothing to buffet the creature.

"He deflected it.", Steven said, worried.

"Then let's try something with a sharp edge.", Wayne replied. "Icarus Saber!" The Icarus commenced an attack with it's main weapon, only for said weapon to be broken on impact. "This guy's a tough one. Falcon Corde, go!"

F-F-F-Falcon!

The second robot appeared and commenced its combination.

Miracle Falcombine!

Ultimate Action Shift, On! Hawk Flier! Condor Zoom! Owl Jet! Swan Sonic! Swallow Plane! Falcon Corde! Birdonic Ultrazord! Take Off! Go, Go, GO!

The Ultrazord tried a punch attack, which had minimal effect. "Time to break out the big guns. Black Hole Crusher!", everyone declared. The creature began to walk forward, taking the blast and shrugging it off, to everyone's surprise. It then drove its claws through the robot's chest, buffeting everyone in the cockpit out of their morphed state. It then knocked its robotic opponent down before vanishing."

"Man, what was that thing?", Lulu asked.

"Best guess: the end of everything we hold dear.", Carrie answered. "And we don't know when we'll be facing that thing again."