Nate and Steel returned from their jog, Steel following his brother in as he got back. It was always good to go out for a jog, Nate did like to keep in shape and he regularly trained on the simulators as a way to ensure that they were operating as he wanted them to, but also because there was a little part of him that had always hoped to have his own turn at being a Ranger as well. Steel was bombarding him with questions throughout the jog. While he did have some pretty extensive knowledge databases already, mainly so he could identify what was and was not a valid target, he was still curious about the world around him.

"But are you sure I should use 'Steel' as my nickname? I think 'Handsome' might be the part to go with." Steel remarked. "I mean, did you see the way a lot of people were staring at me? They knew they were looking at one fine looking human!"

"I don't think that's why they were staring." Nate said with a little shake of the head. Coral Harbour was a very modern city, at the forefront of a major technological boom. While Morph-X was, of course, the feather in its cap by a significant margin, much like other areas, anywhere that a major technology was being developed, a lot of others were built right alongside it either as supporting ventures or just inspired by it. It wasn't unusual to see people with highly advanced prosthetics, self-parking cars or smart home systems set up to have the temperature and lighting set up just the way the home owner wanted before they even got to their front door.

Robotics was a science that was coming along in leaps and bounds, but even then, compared to Steel robots were still quite crude. There were some gimmick restaurants with 'robot waiters' which were little more than vending machines on wheels and suchlike, but Steel was not just next-generation, he was several generations beyond what anyone else was likely to see for many years. Seeing one literally running around the city was certainly something that caused the average person to do a double-take. Some thought it was a cosplayer attending a convention. Some thought it might be some kind of advertising campaign, but most just wanted to know what the giant metal man was.

"I guess I do stand out from the crowd!" Steel said, striking a pose. Nate looked to him.

"Steel, we have some spare time before I need to go back to the lab." He told him. "Do you want to go and see our new Zords?"

"Do I ever!" He shrieked out in glee. He started running down the hall, before Nate whistled to call him back. He pointed down the hall.

"The Zord bay is this way." He informed him. Steel just laughed.

"Sorry, I get a little over-excited." He answered, strutting down the hall. "Let's see what we're going to hit Venjix with next!"

When they got into the Zord bay, Joanne was overseeing their instruction. With her primary role in Grid Battleforce being the deployment and maintenance of the Zords, she needed to be intimately familiar with them, and so when Nate had set a team to constructing the two new Zords, she had insisted on coming down to oversee things.

"That's some nice-looking work there." She complimented the team. She saw them coming and smiled. "Hi, Nate, here to check out the new Zords?"

"We are indeed." Nate said, looking up to them.

"Ooh, those are shiny!" Steel commented. "So, which one is mine?"

Both Nate and Joanne just looked at each other, before looking at Steel, who just burst out laughing.

"It's OK, I was just kidding you! I am hilarious!" He declared. Nate just looked to Joanne, who face-palmed. He wasn't quite sure if the jokes were something Steel would grow out of as he 'grew up', like how human children's jokes tended to be very simplistic and unrefined until they grew up a little. Seeing Joanne, he remembered something.

"Hey, you were meant to have an appointment a couple of days ago." Nate reminded her. "You never showed up."

"It really wasn't a good time; I had a lot on." Joanne rushed out regretfully. "Besides, it's not been so bad lately…"

"I'd still like to keep a close eye on it. I really don't want to see you in any…"

"I said it's fine, really." She interrupted him. "I'll…book an appointment with the lab later."

"OK, if you insist." Nate said, not really wanting to press the issue. Joanne was still extremely private about her personal life, and as far as he knew, only he, Commander Shaw and a couple of others in the lab knew about her implants. To anyone else, she just occasionally took sick days with back pain. Steel wasn't paying attention though, admiring the Zords.

"Now, that is a sight! Your Wrecker Zord is quite phenomenal Nate." He said in an impressed tone. "But my Jet Zord is utterly magnificent! I can't wait to start learning how to fly it."

"Oh, that's the best part. You won't need to. I can upload a flight program directly into your hard-drive." Nate told him. Joanne booted up a computer.

"Yeah, we can do it right now if you like, it shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes." She added. Steel just looked between them for a moment.

"So…I don't need to use the simulator?" He asked.

"Not when we can upload the training and experience of a dozen of the most decorated fighter pilots in Air Force history right now." Joanne explained. "Here, take a seat for a moment."

"Oh…alright." Steel said, sounding a little more subdued than he had been. He found a crate sturdy enough to take his weight and sat down, at which Joanne plugged a cable into the base of his cranium and started the program.

"There, you'll be able to pull loop-the-loops in no time." She told him, before heading off to help the team. Nate sat with him, while he uploaded the data.

"So, just think, next time the Rangers are in battle, we can use these to help them." Nate told him. "We even have our own Megazord mode!"

Just then, General Burke came in. Nate was a little surprised to see him.

"General Burke, I didn't know you were here." Nate said, starting to feel a little nervous. His turning into a Ranger hadn't really been 'planned' as far as Grid Battleforce was concerned, and so his building of his own weaponry was a little sudden. He was trying to remember if he remembered to include the General in for his budget request for the building of the Zords.

"I was here on another matter, so I thought I'd check out the new Zords you were building." General Burke told him. It was true, he was still discussing with Commander Shaw how to proceed with what they had found out about Arthur Winchester. He'd been sitting, listening to a statement from Eli about his own investigation all morning. It did give him an opportunity to visit the base though. "So, you must be our new Rangers! Nate, has to be said, nice to see a familiar face in there!"

"It was…definitely something." Nate replied. General Burke looked to Steel, and his face slipped a little.

"And…this is…?"

"That is the Silver Ranger." Nate explained. "Steel."

"Although, that is only a nickname." Steel said, raising a hand. "My full name is Mr…"

"Yes, I'm fine with nicknames. There's something of a history of military units using nicknames. There was a time I was called Bulldog…I never did find out why." He said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Now, Nate…could I talk to you for a minute?"

He escorted Nate a few steps away, before leaning in and whispering.

"Your Silver Ranger is a robot?" He asked. "I thought you said that couldn't happen. That your technology only worked on humans."

"Well…it's a long story." Nate replied. "You see, Steel isn't just fused with animal DNA like a Beastbot, he also fused with my DNA, making him part human. So, he's able to morph."

"I…see." General Burke said, sounding a little hesitant. He was one of the ones that was quick to rule out using machines and instead insisting on human Rangers. It wasn't that he had a particular problem with technology, technological advancements had been at the forefront of the military for many years. Bomb disposal robots, minesweeping robots, and even combat drones had revolutionised warfare in many areas it was simply too dangerous to send a person.

One of the biggest losses the Armed Forces suffered was in the sheer cost of training and experience in its personnel. Most troops went through years of training, and by the time specialised skills such as pilots were taken into account, sometimes their personnel were worth into the millions of dollars, and years of time and training. However, even unmanned drones were not COMPLETELY unmanned. There was an operator or pilot at the controls, even if they were in another country when the drone was deployed. There was a human who would make the decision whether or not to fire or abort the mission as the situation called for it. The idea of military hardware completely without human control just seemed a little outside his comfort zone.

"There, that's done!" Steel said, unplugging the cable from his cranium. "Hey, bro! I just learned out to fly a fighter jet!"

General Burke looked a little non-plussed by this. He had just learned in a matter of minutes what it took many of the good men and women he'd served with years to learn? He'd just uploaded that with the casual disregard one might snap their fingers?

"Uh huh…yes, well…that's something." General Burke said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to be going. Urgent business calling."

With that, he left. Nate just looked to Steel, who was admiring his Zord.

"That thing looks awesome! I really can't wait to try it!" Steel told him. Just then, their communicators bleeped. Nate was the first to answer.

"What's up Zoey?" He asked.

"The guys and I have just finished training and since Ravi can now leave the base again, we were heading to Riptide to celebrate." Zoey told him. "You guys want to come and hang with us?"

"That sounds great!" Nate rushed out. "Just let me get changed and we'll be right there!"

As he cut off his communications link, he looked to Steel.

"I just need to get changed, meet me in the lobby in a couple of minutes." Nate told him. Steel watched him run off.

"My big brother is so cool!" He declared in admiration.

Over in the Cyber Dimension, Blaze and Roxy were listening in with interest. Blaze had used Scrozzle's computer to turn the radio receiver into a new Robotron, one with the power to track communications frequencies. Scrozzle had all but completed his Cyber Gate, and now the only thing that they needed was to find Steel, the new Silver Ranger. Venjix needed a new body to inhabit once he came through the Cyber Gate, and right now, Steel was the most advanced technology that would allow Venjix the free reign he would need to finally bring the world to heel. Blaze smirked as he put down his headphones.

"See, I knew it wouldn't take long." Blaze remarked. "Riptide Gym."

"Guess it's time for a workout." Roxy agreed as she came to his side and they both teleported away.

Devon, Ravi and Zoey were all at the Riptide, waiting outside for Nate and Steel to arrive. Zoey's phone started ringing as they waited. She checked her phone.

"That's weird." She remarked. "The Commander's calling me."

"On your phone?" Devon asked. That was unusual, if she wanted Zoey for any Ranger related issues, she would use her communicator. The only reason they could think of that she would call Zoey's phone would be on a personal matter. She answered.

"Commander Shaw?" She asked. "What is it?"

"Zoey, I've had a call from Central Coral Harbour Hospital asking for you." Commander Shaw told her.

"The hospital?" Zoey asked, sounding surprised. Both Ravi and Devon just looked at her. There weren't many good reasons that someone would bring up the word hospital in casual conversation on the telephone. "Did they say what it was about?"

"They couldn't tell me any information due to confidentiality." Commander Shaw told her. "You don't know what it's about either?"

"Not really." Zoey responded. This was something of a relief for Commander Shaw. At least it didn't seem to be something wrong with Zoey. While she was sure the medical bay would tell her if there was something they needed to worry about with the Rangers, she did have the same worries anyone had when a hospital called for a friend.

"They asked you to call them." Commander Shaw told her. Zoey just nodded.

"OK, thanks." Zoey replied, before hanging up. Ravi was the first one to speak.

"Is everything OK?" Ravi asked her.

"Apparently the hospital wants me to call them." Zoey informed them.

"Are you OK?" Devon asked. Zoey just nodded.

"I haven't been to a hospital in years…I use the medical facilities at GB." She said, fumbling with her phone. Devon showed her his, which he had pulled up the number on. "Thanks, Devon."

She dialled the number, getting through to the reception desk.

"Hello, my name's Zoey Reeves, I had a message to call here." She told the receptionist.

"Yes, I have a note of that, I just need to ask some security questions to verify your identity, you understand that?" The receptionist asked.

"Sure, whatever." Zoey replied.

"What is your relationship to Muriel Reeves?" The receptionist asked. The change in Zoey's face was immediate.

"This is about mom?" She asked. "What happened? Is she alright?"

"Please, try to remain calm Ms Reeves…"

"Not until you tell me what happened to my mom!" She screamed.

"Ms Reeves, I'm afraid your mother was attacked this morning." The Receptionist told her. "Now, she's in intensive care…"

"SHE WAS ATTACKED?" Zoey screamed. She saw the way Ravi and Devon were looking at her. "Can I see her?"

"Of course, if you just come to the hospital with some identification…"

"I'll be right down there, thanks for telling me." Zoey rushed out, before looking to the others. "Guys, I need…"

"There's no need to explain. We understand." Ravi said, getting the keys to the truck. "I'll take you."

"I'll stay here and let Nate and Steel know what's going on." Devon told her. "I hope your mom's OK."

"Thanks." Zoey gulped, heading with Ravi for the truck. As they drove off, Devon took a seat on a bollard, waiting for Nate and Steel to show up so he could explain what was going on.

Meanwhile at the Channel 6 building, Vernon walked into a meeting with some of his researchers and reporters to do a rundown of new stories coming in. The news, like any other form of media, was not a static entity. It needed to constantly be refreshed or people would start to get bored and look for something else to watch. As much as people liked to be informed, there was only so long a story was something people wanted to listen to before they were hungry for something else.

"So, what do we have from the political desk?" He asked.

"City hall is in the process of approving new clean-air measures in the city that are expected to improve air quality by fifteen percent in…"

"And that's a snore." Vernon interrupted. "In any other city, that would be a story, but this is Coral Harbour! The Mayor's done everything short of painting the whole damn town green! Seriously environmental stories in this city by now are as dead as the dinosaurs. What's next?"

"Well, there's talk in place of converting the old foundry into a new recycling centre." Someone called out. Vernon just rolled his head around wearily.

"OK, so the political desk is a bust." He commented. "Let's see if we can't get something a little juicier. How's the crime desk?"

The rest of the table went silent. Like any news crew, they monitored the police scanner for any promising stories. Vernon just looked around.

"What?" He asked. "What's happening?"

"You haven't heard?" One of his reporters asked. "There was a break-in across town. In the Fern."

The Fern was a neighbourhood in one of the less affluent areas of the city. However, there was another reason he knew the area. He just gulped seeing the faces of the other reporters as they said this.

"Where?" He asked them.

"357 Elmwood." One of them forced out. "Apartment 416."

The blood drained from Vernon's face as he heard the address.

"Muriel?" He asked. They all just nodded.

"Word is she was there when it happened." One of them said. "She's in Central Coral Harbour Hospital."

Vernon ran a hand over his face as he tried to think about what to do.

"We were thinking of running it." Carol stated. "Maybe if we did, some witnesses…"

"We're not running the story." Vernon interrupted her.

"But…it's one of us. One of our own!" She protested. "Some son of a bitch…"

"We're not running the story!" Vernon snapped. "The cops will have a lot of information coming in, the last thing we need is to have their information lines flooded by every well-intentioned fan of the show."

"But…"

"We'll…we'll do a whip-around, get her something from the office." Vernon told them. "Channel 6 will pay her salary and the bills, of course. Like you said, she's one of our own. If we pull together, we can help where she needs it."

He saw the way they were all staring at him, and just waved his hand.

"Clear the room." He told them. "I said go!"

They all got up and filed out the room, leaving Vernon alone. Vernon locked the door, before pulling out his cell phone and dialling.

"Vernon, good to hear from you." Arthur greeted him. "I have to say, that report you did was some quality work…"

"Please, tell me you didn't." Vernon interrupted him.

"That I didn't what?" Arthur asked.

"You know what I'm talking about." Vernon said venomously. "I did what you asked, I killed the story, you didn't have to send someone after her!"

"I'd be careful about making accusations like that." Arthur told him.

"I killed the story that's what you asked me to do!" Vernon yelled. "But I swear to God, you hurt the people that work for me…"

"And how would the people that work for you feel if they knew about our little meeting?" Arthur asked him. "You see, I record all the meetings that take place in my building."

Vernon flopped down into his chair as he heard him say this.

"It's inadmissible in court, but I'm perfectly sure Channel 5 or NewsZone or Coral Harbour View would just love to get their hands on it." Arthur warned him. "If you try and do anything to me, your career is history. Not to mention, as you already know, this can be a dangerous game. Sometimes, people get hurt."

With that, Arthur hung up the phone. Vernon's hands shook as he dropped his phone on the desk. Sweat was running down his face as he just stared into the wall, realising the full gravity of what he had done.