"When was the last time you saw Blu?" Anabel asked. She was sitting in the empty science classroom with Dr. Oliver.
It was only 12:45, and class didn't start for another fifteen minutes, not that they would be doing much classwork today. Today, Dr. Oliver had organised a field trip for his students to provide an understanding on what it was like to work in the field as a palaeontologist, plus, it gave them a better understanding of the fossils they had already learned about.
"A little over eleven years," Dr. Oliver answered.
Anabel lowered her gaze for a brief second. Lately, she had noticed, everything seemed to occur around the time her father had left her as a small child. "So, Blu wasn't the person who asked you to make the video diary?" she asked, looking back up with a frown.
Dr. Oliver chuckled. He should've guessed that Anabel would catch just about everything, or close to everything, he had said in his video diary. "No. Blu, did not ask me to make the video diary," he answered, shaking his head. "The current Hellhound did."
"Kali Briar."
Dr. Oliver nodded. "I'm curious," he said, moving away from his own desk and taking the empty seat beside her. He noticed that she had a notebook out in front of her, and just managed to glance a few words that she had written before she covered it with her phone. "Have you met Kali Briar, you're awfully interested in her, and it makes me wonder if you've met her and want to know more."
"I met her once, but I didn't know who she was at the time," said Anabel, shaking her head. "But, during the US Action Games last year, before the Abyss was open, Conner's brother, Eric and his friends were involved in an attack with the Kelzaks - they interfered, actually - but Eric told me there was this girl there, she was a little savage in telling him that he was foolish to get involved."
"That sounds like Kali," Dr. Oliver nodded. "She's not a bad person -"
"No. I understand completely," said Anabel. "I would've probably done the same. Believe it or not, I can actually be the stereotypical cheerleader that you see in the movies."
Dr. Oliver chuckled. "The 2004 movie Mean Girls' comes to mind," he teased. "Are you a Regina George?"
"I'm more concerned that you actually know quite a lot about Mean Girls'," Anabel teased. "It's such a teenage girl movie. Why are you watching it?"
"My girlfriend at the time dragged me to see it."
"Oof."
Dr. Oliver chuckled.
"Your girlfriend at the time?"
"The relationship didn't last long."
Anabel smiled, somewhat sympathetically at him. "I want to say her loss, but I feel it would be inappropriate," she said.
"Normally, it would be," Dr. Oliver said. "But then, we've already had a detention date."
Anabel's laugh caused Dr. Oliver to smile.
Looking up, Anabel met Dr. Oliver's gaze and smiled as he held it for longer than what would normally be appropriate for a student and teacher relationship. The moment was broken, however, when the door opened, and the first lot of students piled in.
Dr. Oliver wrenched himself away from the table and was back at his desk before anyone even realised how close he and Anabel had been sitting. He glanced back at the girl in question and found her hiding a small smile as she looked away, her attention focusing on Cassidy and Devin as they sat opposite her.
"What are you doing in here?" Cassidy asked.
"Had some questions about last week's homework," said Anabel, flawlessly.
Cassidy stared, curiously at her friend, and then shrugged. "By the way, I have to miss practice tonight," she said. "My brother's home and my mother wants me to pick him up from the airport."
"That's fine," said Anabel, nodding. "Tell Joshua I said Hi,"
"You know he hates being call Joshua," said Cassidy.
"Yep."
Cassidy rolled her eyes. "Whatever," she muttered, as Dr. Oliver called for everyone's attention.
"Alright, there's only so much you can learn in a classroom, who's ready for some field work?" Dr. Oliver asked.
"Let's go," said Devin, collecting his personal belongings.
Anabel took her time packing away her things. From the corner of her eye, she saw Cassidy approach Dr. Oliver.
"Dr. Oliver, may we have permission to film today's dig for Journalism class?" Cassidy asked. "It's just, I think it would be good for my career if I start focusing on more interesting things like nature and science."
She sounded enthusiastic, but Anabel could hear the false excitement in her tone. If there was one thing that Cassidy hated more than anything it was dirt and being forced to search through it looking for prehistoric bones was not something she envisioned herself doing with her life.
"But, Cass, I thought you said this stuff was dull as dirt?" Devin asked, interrupting.
Anabel snorted.
"Actually, Devin, I think I was talking about our last conversation," Cassidy snapped.
Meeting Dr. Oliver's eyes. Anabel bit back a smile and shook her head. With her backpack secured, she pulled it from the table, swinging it up onto her shoulder. She was hoping that Cassidy and Devin would leave without her, leaving her alone with Dr. Oliver for a few more minutes, she knew at one point they would have to separate, but she couldn't deny that she enjoyed his company.
"Relax, Cassidy, you can film the dig," Dr. Oliver said, reassuring the young journalist.
Cassidy beamed. She turned to Anabel as Devin headed for the door. "You coming?" she asked.
"I'll catch up," said Anabel.
Cassidy eyed her curiously, shrugged, and then left the classroom.
"I feel like I should apologise for her," said Anabel, her gaze meeting Dr. Oliver's.
Dr. Oliver cocked his head to the side. "Why? You're not accountable for her actions, are you?" he asked.
"Well, no, but most of her journalism entries are for the school newspaper," said Anabel. "Especially since we normally write a piece on any field trips that are organised by the school."
"You seem to cover a lot in a school newspaper."
"You sound surprised?"
Dr. Oliver shrugged. "Angel Grove High had a school newspaper," he admitted. "But the editor and journalists weren't as active as you and your team."
Anabel smiled. "I guess that's my work ethic again," she admitted. "Plus, I feel that people deserve to know what goes on at this school, and, believe it or not, people who aren't at Reefside High read our newspaper. Most of these field trips are funded by the school board, and the governors are curious how their money is spent. Our newspaper is like a report for them."
"Sounds logical," said Dr. Oliver.
"Exactly."
"I guess I'll keep a look out for it," said Dr. Oliver. He pulled his briefcase from the desk. "Shall we?"
Anabel nodded and turned towards the door, she stopped as she spotted Principal Randall standing outside. Randall met Anabel's gaze with a furious glare, but quickly replaced it with a forced smile. "Miss Brooke's," she said, her voice sickly sweet.
"Principal Randall," said Anabel. She lowered her gaze, taking in Randall's outfit - a British hunter's uniform, including a pith helmet and black boots. It reminded Anabel of Van Pelt from Jumanji.
"Do you mind, Miss Brookes'?" Principal Randall said, interrupting Anabel's thoughts. "I wish to speak with Dr. Oliver, privately."
"Oh. Um, yeah, no problem," said Anabel. She glanced back at Dr. Oliver, smiled, and then left the classroom.
~X~
"Hey, you guys, over here!" Ethan called.
Turning away from the fossil she and Kira had just uncovered, Anabel found Ethan crouched at the edge of a second ditch, furiously wiping aside dirt chunks and unearthing, what looked like an egg.
"What did you find?" Conner asked, kneeling beside Ethan.
"I don't know," said Ethan. "Could eggs really survive this long?"
"It doesn't look fossilised," said Anabel. "Maybe we should get Dr. Oliver? He'd know."
Kira nodded and looked sideways. Conner and Ethan also looked up their gazes finding Anabel's.
"Oh. No, not me," said Anabel, shaking her head. "Randall hates me enough as it is. Pretty sure she thinks she has competition for Dr. O's attention when I'm around."
Kira laughed. "Everyone competes for attention when you're around," she teased, dusting off her hands on her jeans. "I'll go get Dr. O."
"Hey, wait a second, what's that supposed to mean?" Anabel called after Kira. When Kira didn't respond, possibly because she was too far away, Anabel turned to Conner and Ethan, her eyebrows raised, waiting for an answer.
Ethan shrugged. "It's just, you kind of take over the room when you're around," he said. "You have a very commanding presence about you. Guess it comes with being cheer captain."
Anabel rolled her eyes. "Just because I'm not a push over doesn't mean I'm a control freak," she said. "If you took the time to notice, I'm actually pretty quiet."
"Until you need to be," said Conner.
"What have you got?" Dr. Oliver asked as he returned with Kira.
Ethan straightened up. He had managed to dig the egg out of the Earth and was in the process of examining it. "Well, I think it may be a Dinozord egg," he answered.
"Careful," Dr. Oliver murmured, as Ethan haphazardly passed the egg over. He took it carefully in his hands and run his fingers across the ridges.
"Ooh! A discovery," Randall said, popping up suddenly. It was enough to surprise the teens and Dr. Oliver, all of whom hadn't heard her approach. "How exciting!"
"Ah, no, we not really sure what it is," said Dr. Oliver awkwardly.
"It looks like a prehistoric egg," said Randall. She held out her hand. "May I?"
Dr. Oliver hesitated, glancing at his students for help, despite knowing that they couldn't very well do anything against the Head of their school.
"Oh, don't worry, I won't drop it," said Randall.
"Uh…" Dr. Oliver sighed and handed over the egg. His body was tense with nerves as he watched Randall examine the egg. "You know," he said, reaching for the egg again. "I should really take that back to the lab and examine it."
Randall nodded. "But, of course," she agreed. "Here."
Before the egg had even passed back from Randall to Dr. Oliver, a scream echoed across the field. Anabel turned, her eyes widening as a gasp escaped her lips at the sight of Tyrannodrones attacking her classmates. "What, here?" she whispered, looking around at the others.
Dr. Oliver nodded at them, indicating that they were to help in any way they knew how.
"Cassidy!" Anabel called, spotting her friend and Devin nearby. Instead of running and screaming, like a normal student, the pair were just filming the chaos from their vantage point. With a slight grunt of annoyance, Anabel dodged between Tyrannodrones and students, jumped up the ridge separating her from the pair, and caught Cassidy's arm as she stopped beside her.
Cassidy weaselled her way out of Anabel's grasp. "Hey, watch it, this shirt wrinkles easily," she said, running her palm down her sleeve.
"What are you still doing here?" Anabel asked. "You and Devin have to get out of here!"
"Are you kidding me?" Cassidy asked, "This is an exclusive. I bet I can get top marks if I show this in Journalism class. Besides, look at Randall and Dr. Oliver, it's so obvious that they'd be perfect together in any shape or form. I mean, earlier, she was flirting with him, and look, now he's being protective."
Anabel spied the pair in question. Dr. Oliver was doing his utmost best to protect Randall, but then, he was a Power Ranger, it was his job to protect the innocent from the Tyrannodrones. But even though she knew Dr. O was only doing his job, Anabel couldn't help the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Hello, Anabel, you in there?" Cassidy asked, snapping her fingers in Anabel's face.
Anabel blinked and pulled back, her eyes narrowing at Cassidy. "You know I don't like that!" she snapped.
"Well, you're the one who blanked out in the middle of a siege," said Cassidy. "What's the matter? You look irritated and disappointed. Jealous that Dr. Oliver prefers Randall over you?"
"He's my teacher, nothing more," Anabel defended.
"And?"
Anabel rolled her eyes. "You know what? Fine, if you want to stay here and film, do it, but don't come crying to me if you get hurt," She turned and stormed off, heading towards the pit where Conner was fighting. She took a running jump and flipped over him, bringing her feet together as she levelled out and kicked a Tyrannodrone in the chest, knocking him onto his back.
"Thanks," said Conner.
Anabel nodded once and then spun under another Tyrannodrones arm. She chart wheeled to the left and straightened up, raising her arms in time to block a downward attack. Pushing her arms into the air, Anabel raised her foot and planted it against the armour-plated chest and pushed, as hard as she could.
The Tyrannodrone stumbled back, taking out two of its own species in the process.
With a clap of the thunder, the Tyrannodrones, beaten and bruised, disappeared through an invisiportal, leaving the four teens to frown at one another. Why had they attacked in the middle of the day, and more to the point, why had they attacked a class of students, on a school field trip, knowing full well that the Power Rangers would be there.
"We better get back to the bus," said Anabel.
The others nodded at the suggestion and headed back to where everyone else had gathered.
~X~
That afternoon, once school had let out, Anabel and the others raced over to Dr. Oliver's to further investigate the egg they had found. Dr. Oliver had already set it up on an incubator, and was scanning it when the students entered, he passed the scanning process over to Ethan, while he took his place at the computer, scanning the area for signs.
"You got anything?" Kira asked.
"I don't know," said Ethan, shaking his head. "Something's not right. I'm not picking up any form of life."
"That's weird. I'm sure that's a Dimetrozord egg," Dr. Oliver said.
"Dimetrozord?" Conner echoed.
"Developed from the Dimetrodon," Dr. Oliver explained. "It's really amazing."
"I'll say," said Anabel. "The Dimetrodon's not a real dinosaur, though," she pointed out. "Didn't it go extinct sixty million years before the first dinosaur existed?"
Dr. Oliver nodded. "My research with your father didn't extend to just Dinosaurs," he answered. "It was anything prehistoric, including creatures that were alive before them."
Anabel pursed her lips and then shrugged. "Fair point," she said, turning her attention back to the egg, She lifted the tablet from the desk, using her fingers to swipe right and left on the data that was coming off the incubator.
"Anything?" Conner asked, leaning over her shoulder.
Anabel tapped on the icon labelled - sonograph - and shook her head. The image was fuzzy, but it didn't show any form of a Dino foetus beneath the eggs shell.
"Regardless, it would explain why the Tyrannodrones want it," said Kira.
The others nodded.
"I still find it strange that they showed up at that exact moment," said Anabel, lowering the tablet. "I mean, first of all, how did they know? Second of all, if they didn't know, why did they attack? And third, why attack at all knowing we would be there?"
"Maybe they didn't know we would be there?" Conner suggested. "Tyrannodrones aren't exactly known for their brains, are they?"
"True. But that just means Zeltrax, Elsa, or Mesogog sent them down," said Anabel. "How did they know what was going on? Are they watching us?"
"Probably," said Dr. Oliver.
Anabel shivered. "Because that's not creepy at all," she said.
With the conversation at a standstill, Dr. Oliver turned back to the computers and the four teens remained crowded around the egg. Ethan was still scanning it, hoping to find something of value beneath the shell, while Anabel continued to search through the data packets that were being downloaded onto the tablet.
"This is weird," said Dr. Oliver, breaking the silence. "I'm still getting a heat signature from the dig site where we found the egg."
"But the eggs not even there anymore," said Kira, confused.
"Maybe there's another one?" Ethan suggested.
"I better go check it out," said Dr. Oliver. "You guys stay here and keep analysing this one."
The four teens nodded and, as Dr. Oliver left the lab, Anabel reached for her phone.
"What are you doing?" Conner asked.
"Cancelling practice," Anabel replied, typing quickly on her screen. "Something tells me we're going to be here a while. May as well let the others know I can't make it."
Conner nodded. "That actually sounds like a good idea," he said, taking out his own phone. "I'm just going to let coach know I can't make it."
As Conner wandered away, Anabel stuffed her phone back into her pocket and turned back to Kira and Ethan. "What?" she asked, surprised to find them staring at her.
"Nothing," said Ethan, shaking his head, He returned his attention to the egg.
Anabel furrowed her brow and looked to Kira. "Spill," she said.
"I'm just wondering how you manage to balance everything you have going on," said Kira. "Cheer Practice, Journalist, Editor, and Power Ranger."
"Not to mention being a straight A student," Ethan inputted.
Kira pointed at him. "How come you haven't worn yourself out, yet?" she asked.
Anabel shrugged. "If you haven't noticed, all that I am good at requires teamwork," she said. "It's not just me on the cheer squad, I work with a team at the Editorial office, and I got you guys when I'm on Ranger duty. Even sometimes, when I am doing work as a journalist, I have help."
"So, you're not above asking for help?"
"Of course, I'm not above asking for help," said Anabel. "How stupid would I be to try and take it all on?"
"Stupid?" Ethan asked, cocking his head to the side. "Maybe. Ambitious? Definitely."
Anabel rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Can we get back to the egg?" she asked. "I'm still not getting any data on the tablet. Therefore, I think it's safe to say that there is no dinozord in here." She indicated to the Dino Egg.
"I agree," said Ethan.
"Well, there's one," said Conner, looking around at the computers as they beeped. The Dinozord was rather large and long in shape, with a huge sail on its back and a massive jaw to match its size. "Is that a Dimetrodon?" he asked Anabel.
Anabel nodded.
"But how?" Kira breathed.
"Should we -?" Ethan asked, looking down at the egg.
Conner nodded. "Open it," he ordered.
Ethan put down his scanner and reached for the incubator. It beeped as he lifted the arm, and the shell split right across the middle. A bright light erupted inside, and the teens had to shield their eyes until the light had dimmed. But, instead of a baby metallic dinosaur, there was nothing except for a holographic image of Elsa.
"Not what you were expecting, Rangers?" Elsa cackled. She then disappeared.
"Can I just sat that I am so over the evil laugh," said Kira.
The computers beeped again. It showed the Dimetrozord rearing back onto its hind legs, the sail on its back spinning wildly like the blade on a saw, before it lunged forward into a spin and crashed through a tower.
"It's attacking little Tokyo," said Conner. "Ready?"
"Ready!"
"Dino Thunder, Power Up!"
~X~
Anabel craned her neck as the Dimetrozord stormed straight past her and the others, heading directly for the four Zords that were charging through the trees.
Over-taking the T-Rex and Compy, the Tricera and Ptera reached the Dimetro first. The Tricera lowered its head and charged, barging into the Dimetro with its horns, but despite the sparks from impact, the Dimetro didn't appear damaged or phased by the attacks,
With a screech, the Ptera zord swoop down, extending its head and pecking at the Dimetrozord with its beak. The Dimetrozord roared and reared back, smashing itself way through the two Zords with no problems.
"No!" Ethan and Kira moaned.
"Come, Tyranno!" Conner called, as the T-Rex Zord faced the Dimetrozord head on. It opened its jaws and nipped at the Dimetro's massive head, the sound of metal on metal screeched through the forest, and Anabel resisted the urge to cringe at it.
"Compy!" Anabel yelled, as her much smaller zord leapt onto the T-Rex's tail, run up its back and jumped onto its head. It chirped and then launched itself at the Dimetrozord, landing on its nose and digging in its claws.
The Dimetrozord roared and backed away from the T-Rex. It shook it's large head, smacking it's snout into the Tyranno and knocking it off of its feet, all the while dislodging the Compy, too.
With a roar, the Dimetrozord reared back and then burrowed itself into the ground, disappearing from sight.
"Where's it going?" Ethan asked.
"Our Zords," said Anabel, starting towards her Compy. She stopped as Conner placed his hand on her shoulder and held her back.
The ground started to shake.
"Now what?" Conner asked, looking around.
"Targets located," Mesogog's newest monster exclaimed as he peeked over the trees, leering down at the rangers. He looked like a scorpion-hybrid with swords for hands.
Anabel took an involuntary step backwards. If there was one species of creature that she hated above all others, it was the arachnids.
"The Zords have recovered!" said Kira, pointing at the four Biozords as they got back to their feet. The Ptera screeched, spread its wings and took to the skies.
"Dino Zords, now!" Conner yelled.
The four Biozords roared and charged through the trees, again, each one lining up parallel with its respective ranger. Sharing a look, the team nodded and leapt into their cockpits, before initiating the command to combine.
"Do it, Kira!" said Conner.
"Ptera Rang!" Kira commanded. She slipped the yellow boomerang from the Megazord's chest and thew it at the Scorpion. It managed to clip his shoulder the first time, but when it came back around for a second attack, the creature chopped through it with its swords.
"Tricera fist!" Ethan called, lifting his left arm. The Megazord followed and swung the Tricera arm out at the scorpion. It raised its swords and blocked with one, before attacking with the others. Doubling back, the Scorpion pivoted and swung its tail up and around, cracking it against the chest of the Megazord like a whip.
The Megazord stumbled and the Scorpion advanced for another attack.
"I don't think the Thundersaurus is powerful enough," said Dr. Oliver's voice. He must've made it back to the lab while they had been battling the Dimetrodon. "You need something that can break through its armour."
"Like what?" Conner asked.
"Like a blade or a saw."
"We'd use the Dimetrozord if it was playing well others," said Anabel, her jaw set tightly as the Megazord tilted dangerously to the left. She squeaked and stepped back, the Megazord following her lead and catching its footing before it could tumble over.
"Let me see if I can do something about that," said Dr. Oliver.
The line went quiet, and Anabel turned to Conner. Her body language must've conveyed the question on her lips because Conner shrugged in response.
A rumble from underground caused the Megazord to turn right and the Rangers inside to tense as the Dimetrozord charged towards them. It's tongue lolled out of its mouth, it's metallic teeth shone brightly in the dying sun, and it's eyes narrowed as it roared at them.
"This is gonna hurt!" Anabel cried as the Dimetrozord launched into a forward roll, it's saw slicing right through them.
The team cried out in alarm as the Megazord shuddered and collapsed into a mountain, knocking rocks loose, and causing them to rain down onto the ground.
"Dr. Oliver, now would be a real good time for a miracle," said Anabel. She whined as the Megazord shuddered again, this time because the Dimetrozord and reared back and smashed it's front legs down onto the Megazord's chest.
"Oh, this is it!" Ethan whined, covering his face.
The Dimetrozord roared, reared back again, and the Rangers prepared themselves for the final attack. All they needed was one more drastic hit and their energy levels would be at critical, and they would more than likely have been ejected from the cockpit.
As the sail on its back whirled the life, the Dimetrozord turned and smashed its way through the Scorpion.
"Huh?" Anabel and Kira asked, lowering their arms.
"What's it doing?" Ethan asked.
"He's all yours, guys, and wait until you see what he can do," said Dr. Oliver.
Conner chuckled. "Oh, sweet!" he said, clenching his fist.
"He did it!" Kira said.
"Dimetrozord, combine!" the four teens called, retracting the Dino Drill from their right arm and replacing it with the Dimetro Saw.
Raising its swords, the Scorpion sliced them down through the air, aiming for the Megazord. The Rangers lifted their new arm, cutting through the blade like it was nothing.
Angered, the Scorpion raised its second sword and slashed at the Megazord, but the Dimetro Saw merely cut through that, too.
"Now, I'm really mad!" the Scorpion hissed.
"Oh, you want some more?" Ethan asked, punching his controls. The head of the T-Rex opened and blasted the Scorpion with its fire breath.
Raising her right arm, Anabel punched the right side of her control. "Dimetro Blade!" she called, the others echoing her commands. They slashed the blade horizontally across the Scorpion, and then vertically downward.
The Scorpion howled and then exploded.
~X~
Anabel smiled apologetically at Dr. Oliver as she scurried into class the next morning. She was all of ten minutes late and was only so because she had been finishing up a meeting with the editorial team that had run over.
Taking the only available seat best Kira, Anabel was in the process of removing her notebook/organiser, pencil case, and laptop from her backpack when the small TV, mounted on the wall beside the blackboard flickered to life.
Cassidy appeared on the screen, her backdrop was the school outside, but Anabel knew it was a simple green screen in the school studio.
"What's going on?" Conner asked Anabel. "We don't normally do morning reports unless there is an announcement."
Anabel sighed. "I tried to stop her," she said. "But she wouldn't listen. Maybe this will teach her a lesson."
Conner, Kira, and Ethan shared confused looks as the morning report continued.
"This is Cassidy Cornell with a special report. I have discovered that we have a superhero working right here at Reefside High."
"What?" Kira muttered, looking around at the rest of her team. "Anabel, how could you?"
Anabel rolled her eyes. "Relax," she whispered. "She's got no evidence to prove this statement."
"Yes. Our very own Principal Randall fended off several prehistoric creatures in an act of selfless bravery," Cassidy continued.
Conner furrowed his brow. "Randall?" he asked. "What's she talking about."
"Now that she might have evidence of," said Anabel.
"What?!" the three hissed.
"I was on the scene to bring you the exclusive footage. Let's roll tape." Cassidy looked off camera, and Anabel knew she was looking to Devin in the recording booth, prompting him to play the footage they had recorded at yesterday's dig. However, all the footage showed was Cassidy plucking a flower out of the ground in front of Devin and peeling away the petals.
The classroom erupted into quiet laughter.
"Uh, we seem to be having some technical difficulties," said Cassidy, hastily. "Please stand by."
Anabel pressed her lips together at the humiliated look on Cassidy's face as she turned to glare off camera. As the TV switched off, Anabel turned back to her friends, and smirked. "What?" she asked, laughing at the looks on their faces. "I told you that she might have evidence." She reached into the front pocket of her backpack and withdrew a small cassette. "I never said that she would."
The others scoffed and then laughed.
Laughing, Anabel looked around and met Dr. Oliver's gaze. She licked her lower lip and beamed before dropping the cassette back into her backpack and turning her attention onto her work. She had also said that she had tried to stop Cassidy, and she had succeeded.