"This is really good," said Circe.

Anabel blushed under the praise. She had been writing for the school newspaper for four years now, but she still felt fuzzy when someone complimented her work. "Thanks," she said.

"Is it part of a bigger piece?"

"Yeah. I'm just playing around with ideas now," said Anabel. "But this piece should help my mother's campaign."

"You've spoken to her?"

Anabel nodded. "Last night. She's doing good," she answered. "Little frustrated with being under house arrest, but she's safe, so that's all I care about."

"You and she will be together soon, Anabel, I promise," said Circe, reaching across the table and squeezing her friend's hand.

"I know," said Anabel. "It's simply hard. I mean, Zeltrax hasn't attacked in weeks, and I think she's just worried that most of her major rallies may be cancelled because of this interruption."

"Which is why you're writing articles?"

Anabel nodded, slowly. "It's my fault she in lockdown," she admitted. "The least I can do is help out where possible."

"It's not -" Circe cut off as a tray went skidding across the ground, stopping short of their table. The two girls looked around, surprised to find Ethan sprawled out on the floor a few metres from the tray, and splashes of milkshake pooling around him.

Anabel raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you work here?" she asked.

"Hayley's been shorthanded since Trent quit," said Ethan, picking up the plastic glasses. He reached into his apron and removed a towel, using it to mop up the split drinks. "I'm just trying to help her out."

Anabel sunk back in her seat and sighed. She had fought tooth and nail to convince the others of Trent's innocence, but it seemed he had been right when he had said she was a naive to believe he could and was worth saving.

"Hey, don't feel bad," said Circe, turning her attention back to Anabel. "Your intentions were good."

"Not good enough, apparently," Anabel sighed.

~X~

The city centre was bustling as the monster appeared in the middle of a parking lot. He laughed as the people ran screaming from the area.

"Alright, creep, we're taking you down," Conner yelled, arriving with the others."

"Oh yeah?" the monster asked. "Says who? Here's a pepper for you." He held up a large red bell pepper and threw it at Kira.

Serving her Thundermax, Kira swung the dull edge of the blade around, whacking it against the pepper and sending it soaring backward. "No thanks," she said, grinning. "I'm not supposed to have to many spicy foods."

"Then how about some seafood!" the monster declared. He held up several shells and, one-by-one, tossed them at the Rangers. "This is what I call shell-shocked."

"Ew! Gross!" Anabel shrieked. She wielded her Thundermax sabre in a circle, deflecting each of the shells.

"You'll pay for that," said the monster.

Stepping up next to Anabel, Ethan nodded at her, and the pair touched the front of their belts.

"Tricera Shield!" Ethan called.

"Compy Claws!"

The monster chuckled. "I was hoping you would do that," he said, raising his arm. Attached to his wrist was, what looked like, an LED light from inside a photocopier. "Here's my secret weapon. Copy!"

Exact replicas of the Tricera Shield and Compy Claws appeared in the monsters' hands.

"Hey, what gives?!" Anabel cried.

"Fire!" the monster called. He fired a blast from the Tricera Shield at Ethan, and then dashed forward, slicing up Anabel's stomach and chest with the Compy Claws. He pulled back as the pair hit the ground, and the other two run to help them.

Anabel hissed as Kira helped her stand.

"Now it's on!" said Kira, her hands clenching into fists.

Conner nodded and stood beside her. "Ready?" he asked.

"Ready!"

"Tyranno Tail!"

"Ptera Grips!"

"Copy!" the monster said, raising his own arm again. For the second time, the exact replicas of the Tyranno Staff and Ptera Grips appeared in the Monster's hands.

"That's cheating!" Kira cried.

Running forward again, the monster attacked both Red and Yellow rangers with their respective weapons. He pulled back once more as blue, and Green helped up their fallen friends.

"He's got our weapons," said Kira, clinging to Anabel. "What more could he want?"

"Copy!" the monster echoed. He waved his hand in front of his face, and when he spoke, he sounded more like Kira than himself. "Hi, I'm the Yellow Ranger. Aren't I cute?

Kira's eyes widened. "My voice!" she gasped, horrified.

"Oh, that's cold!" Ethan snickered. Anabel smacked his arm.

"That's enough!" Conner said.

The monster nodded in agreement and stepped back. "Yes, I have more important things to copy that you Rangers and your weapons," he said. He turned tail and disappeared.

"How are we supposed to stop him?" Ethan asked.

"We start by finding him," said Kira.

"We should use the bikes," said Anabel, holding up the small button transporter that Hayley had made. "We can call them from here."

Conner nodded. "Right. Let's do it!" he said.

~X~

Dismounting, Anabel and the others searched the area. They were on the outskirts of town, near the forest that led to Doctor Oliver's home and the museum that her father owned.

"The signal is coming from somewhere around here," said Conner, wandering away, but not too far where he would become separated.

"See anything?" Ethan asked.

"Yes," said Kira, her eyes seeking the creature they had been searching. He had just wandered around the corner at the end of the road, carrying an arm full of peppers.

The foursome circled up, and the monster stopped when he saw them.

"You're just on time, Rangers," he called. "I just finished picking peppers." He threw two red and two yellow bell peppers at the team, knocking him back into their bikes.

Anabel swore under her breath as she clutched her chest. "What are we going to do?" she said. "We can't stay here all day and play rag dolls."

"But he can copy our weapons," said Ethan.

"I have an idea," said Conner, punching his fist into his hand. "We close the head of the Z-Rex blaster, he makes a copy, fires it, and it explodes!"

"Sneaky," said Ethan, grinning. "I like it."

Anabel and Kira shared a glance and nodded.

"Let's do it!" said Kira.

The foursome touched their belts, their weapons appearing in mid-air before them.

"Z-Rex blaster!" they called once Conner had closed the head of his Tyranno Staff and their four weapons merged successfully.

"Copy!" the monster announced, holding up his arm. A replica of the Z-Rex Blaster appeared, and he aimed it at the team.

"That's it," said Conner, muttering under his breath. "Just a little more…"

"Oh, wait," said the monster. He opened the head of the Tyranno Staff.

"No!" the team cried.

"That's better - FIRE!"

The energy blast collided with the four rangers, lifted them from their feet, and over the side of the reservoir into the water. They disappeared beneath the surface with a splash.

"Get up!" the monster yelled. He had followed the team down onto the banks of the reservoir. "So, I can blast you again."

"If that's the alternative, I think I'll stay here," said Anabel, breathing heavily. She rolled onto her stomach, looking up as through the trees a black Raptor Rider raced towards them. She sighed in relief as Doctor Oliver dismounted and charged the monster.

The monster turned in surprise as a fifth ranger struck him from behind. "Another one?" he questioned, before shaking his head.

"Brachio Staff!" Doctor Oliver said. "Red Strike!" He thrust the tip of the sabre into the ground, blowing up debris and smoke, and sending a shockwave of energy hurtling toward the monster.

Anabel and the others groaned as, with the monster distracted by the attack, Doctor Oliver run over them. He grabbed Anabel under the arm and around the back, allowing her to lean against him as she struggled to wade into shallower waters.

"You shouldn't have done that," said Kira, clutching Anabel's hand as she dragged her out of the deeper part of the lake.

"What do you mean?" Doctor Oliver asked.

"She means that," said Ethan, nodding at the monster. He had recovered, and was standing a mere foot away from them, his arm raised.

"Copy!"

"What the -?" Doctor Oliver gasped as a replica of his Brachio Staff appeared in the monster's hand.

"Brachio Staff! Green Strike!" the monster hollered. He thrust the tip into the ground and spouts of water exploded up, like a fountain.

"This is going to hurt," Anabel whined.

The ground beneath the Rangers shifted, and a geyser of water exploded, shooting them into the air, and backward onto the far bank. They landed with a crash amongst the trees.

"Yep, that definitely hurt," said Ethan, clutching his sides.

Anabel coughed and looked up. The monster had followed them to their landing zone, the Brachio Staff still in his hand.

"How does the dirt taste?" the monster laughed. He geared up to attack them again, pausing only at the sound of an engine racing through the trees. He turned to the sound, and the Rangers craned their necks to try and see who was coming - friend or foe?

The monster howled as he was hit in the chest by a blast of white energy. It scorched the air, and lifted the monster into the air, slamming him into the trunk of a tree.

"What?" Conner asked.

Anabel felt Kira's grip on her arm tighten as the pair spotted Trent weaving through the trees on his ATV. He stopped a short distance away and dismounted, turning his attention to the monster, but passing a slight glance at the team.

"You guys look like you could use a little help," said Trent.

"Whose side is he on now?" Conner asked.

Getting back to his feet, the monster faced Trent. "Bring it on," he challenged.

"I intend to," said Trent. He removed his Drago Sword from his belt, turned it over in his hand, and then launched himself through the air. He slashed at the monster several times, and then landed and locked blades.

Shoving Trent back, the monster raised the sword and rushed forward. He disappeared, moving so fast he couldn't be seen by the naked eye, and attacked Trent from all sides. Stopping in front of Trent, the monster stabbed the tip of his Drago Sword replica into the White Ranger's shoulder, and he was propelled backward into a tree.

"How do you like it?" the monster asked.

"That's crazy!" said Kira.

Anabel cocked her head to the side as she watched Trent get steadily back to his feet. She had never seen him take a hit so badly before, granted the last time they had fought she managed to get a few good hits in, but never enough where he was thrown backwards due to the sheer force.

"Is that all you got?" the monster asked.

"Actually, no," said Trent. He crossed his arms and drew them down to his waist. "Super Dino Mode!"

"He's got a Super Dino Mode!" Conner exclaimed.

"And I like it," said Trent.

Anabel shrugged. "Makes sense, in a way," she said. "I mean, he's linked to the Dino Gem power just like we are. Makes sense that he would have the upgrades we do. Right?" she turned to Doctor Oliver.

Doctor Oliver nodded.

"Big deal!" the monster yelled, firing purple energy blasts at Trent.

Trent raised his arm, blocking the blasts with the spikes on his wrists. "We're not done yet!" he said, as the monster turned tail and tried to run. He jumped into the air, launching himself forward and spearing the monster with the spikes that stretched above his hands.

The monster howled as he was pinned against a nearby tree. "I thought we were on the same team?" he sneered.

"Not anymore," Trent replied. He pulled back, pulled his arms across his chest, and then hurled them around and out, blasting blue lightning at the monster.

It collided with his chest, and he exploded.

"Trent?" Kira asked, her voice trembling.

Anabel squeezed Kira's hand, just as the familiar tingle at the base of her skull erupted. She looked up, seeing the black rain cloud and seconds later, the monster towering over them.

"Copy this, Rangers!"

"Whoa!"

"Brachio!"

The Brachio zord roared as it lumbered into view.

"Go," said Doctor Oliver. He turned to his students, his hand landing on Anabel's shoulder. "You can do this!"

The four nodded and run off, leaping into their respective Zords as they thundered towards the area.

"I'm ready for you, Rangers," the monster laughed.

"You're going to wish you weren't," said Ethan.

The monster roared and raced forward, raising his arm, and slashing down at the megazord. The Rangers blocked with their Tyranno tail. He pulled back, rearing his head back and then lurching it forward and firing lasers from his eyes.

The team cried out as they stumbled, desperately trying to maintain their balance.

"Oh, it's on now," said Anabel. "Ankylozord!"

From the back of the Brachio, the Ankylozord bounded down the neck and charged towards the Megazord.

"Weapon formation!" the teens called, replacing the Tricera fist with their new drill and shield.

The monster laughed and fired at them again.

Raising their arm, the team blocked the laser attacks with the rotating shield and fired them back at the monster. He stumbled in surprise and shock.

"Thundersaurus Megazord, Double Drill attack!"

Raising both arms up, the Rangers pushed all their power into the drills causing them to spin wildly and generate more than enough power. They jogged forward, pushed off from the ground with one food, and launched themselves at the monster, ripping through him with both drills.

The monster howled before he exploded.

~X~

Anabel hugged herself as she followed the others towards the dinosaur skeleton outside the secret tunnel. She hated coming this way into the base, her fear of getting hurt because of her cheer career, which was why she usually entered the Dino Base from Doctor Oliver's home.

"Anyone know what Doctor Oliver wanted us to meet him here?" Ethan asked, reaching for the lower jaw of the skeleton. He pulled it down, and the wall hiding the base from the tunnel creaked outwards and started to rise.

The others shook their head.

"He just said something about a big surprise," said Kira, shrugging.

As the wall rose and slotted into place, the team found themselves face-to-face with Trent. Instantly, they slipped into a defensive mode, their hands clenching and drawing up, protecting their faces and shoulders from any attacks he may throw at them.

"Hold on," said Trent, his hands coming up, palms facing out. His eyes were wide, and he looked nervous at their instant reactions. Not that he could blame them.

"Whoa. How did you get in here?" Conner asked.

"I let him in," said Doctor Oliver, turning his back on the mainframe. He stood and approached the team.

Anabel furrowed her brow. "What? Why?" she asked, approaching her teacher.

"Because he's on our side now," said Doctor Oliver.

Ethan scoffed. "Every time we hear that, he burns us," he said. "Why should we believe him now?"

"That's what I said," said Circe, wandering down from the house above.

"Because he saved my life," Doctor Oliver answered.

Anabel turned from Circe to her teacher. She had been so preoccupied with destroying the copy monster that she hadn't seen what had happened to Doctor Oliver after leaving him in the forest.

"Is that true?" Conner asked, turning on Trent.

Trent nodded. "I'm in control of the Dino Gem now," he explained. "I want to use it to fight with you."

"I wouldn't have brought him here if I didn't think he was telling the truth," said Doctor Oliver. He took hold of Anabel's hand, squeezing it gently and staring down at her. "But only you can decide on whether or not you trust him."

While Ethan and Conner hesitated, Trent stared apprehensively at Anabel. She and Kira had fought tooth and nail to keep his innocence alive with Conner and Ethan, and he had let them down big time, also he had targeted Anabel directly by actively going after her mother. What if she held that against him? There were no words that he could give that could make up for his actions.

"Well, I guess if Doctor O's is down with it then so am I," said Ethan, finally.

"Yeah, especially since I'm tired of fighting you," Conner agreed.

Circe turned to Anabel. "What about you?" she asked.

Anabel sighed, her shoulders rising and falling as she met Trent's gaze. While she didn't have actual proof that he was the reason Zeltrax had targeted her to get to Doctor Oliver, and in doing so had dragged her mother into the middle of a Ranger battle, she knew in her gut that he had to have been involved. But he had also just saved Doctor Oliver's life, if this were another trick, then he wouldn't have gone through all the trouble. Plus, he seemed sincere in his words and actions.

"Why my Mum?" Anabel asked, unable to help herself.

Trent felt his heart sink. He should've expected this question, and while he knew he would regret the answer, it was the only one he could give. "To get at him," he admitted, pointing at Doctor Oliver. "Zeltrax needed a weak spot, and you'd have to be blind not to see that it's you."

Anabel swallowed as both Conner and Ethan turned in her direction, their gazes sliding from her to Doctor Oliver and then down to their hands. While they weren't joined properly, Doctor Oliver was still holding onto her fingers.

"You weren't going to just give yourself up," said Trent. "So Zeltrax went after the next best thing - Your mother. It's like the saying goes - 'if you want to cause someone devastating, soul-crushing emotional pain? You don't go after them -"

"You go after someone they love," Anabel finished, her barely above a whisper. She lifted her gaze and narrowed it at Trent. "You're sick! My mum could've been seriously hurt and because of you, I haven't been able to see her for two months!"

Trent sighed and nodded. "I know, and I can say that I am sorry a thousand times over, but it wouldn't change anything," he admitted. "The only thing I can promise you is that from this point forth, as long as I'm around, nothing will happen to your mother."

"Actions speak louder than words," said Circe.

Trent nodded. He looked like he wanted to say something more, instead he resigned himself to Anabel's tongue lashing and turned away, his gaze finding Kira's. "Like Anabel, there is nothing I can say to describe how sorry I am," he said. "But, again, I promise, this time, I won't let you down."

"Well, I guess everyone deserves a second chance," said Kira, smiling.

Trent felt the beginnings of his own smile appear on his lips. It paused and fell, however, as Kira continued speaking.

"But" Kira said, her smile shifting into a grin as she looked over at the others. "Isn't there a rule that says that newbie rangers have to clean all the Zords?"

Ethan chuckled, a grin matching Kira's appearing on his face. "Hey, I forgot about that rule," he said, grabbing a bucket and sponge.

"The Zords?" Trent repeated. "But they're gigantic."

"Yeah," Conner said, chuckling. "They are. So, better get started." He added a squidgy brush and spray bottle to the basket, along with a rag.

Trent balanced the basket on one hand, as Doctor Oliver stepped forward. "I'll show you to the Zord bay," he said, leading Trent from the lab.

Anabel sighed as she watched Trent go. She felt… torn at his appearance. She wanted to believe desperately that he was back on their side, but there was a nagging doubt in the back of her head that something wasn't right, and for reasons unknown, she felt that part of that doubt was linked to her father.

"Hey, you, okay?" Kira asked, breaking Anabel from her stupor.

Anabel blinked and nodded. "Yeah, sorry," she said, shaking her head. "You need a ride back into town?"

"If you don't mind," Kira smiled.

Anabel smiled and shook her head. Of course, she didn't mind. She fished her keys out of her pocket and tossed them at Kira. "Go get the car started," she said. "I'll let Doctor O know that we're leaving."

Kira and Circe left the base, Conner, and Ethan in tow.

As the others wandered upstairs, Anabel turned to the tunnel that led to the Zord bay. She took a deep breath and headed down it, following the familiar path that Trent and Doctor Oliver had just taken; turning the first corner, she squeaked as Doctor Oliver collided with her as he came from the opposite direction.

"Anabel!" Doctor Oliver gasped, grasping her shoulders. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah," said Anabel, wrapping her hands around his forearms to stabilise herself. "I was just coming to tell you that we were leaving. I'm going to drop Kira off at her home, and then come back for Trent when he's done."

"Hayley's stopping by later," said Doctor Oliver. "She can drop Trent home when he's finished."

"Oh. Okay," said Anabel, nodding. "Do you need anything before I leave?"

Doctor Oliver shook his head. "You have a nice night," he said. "See you tomorrow."

Anabel smiled. "Okay. Goodnight, Doctor O," she called, releasing his arms, and heading upstairs. She waved haphazardly before disappearing entirely from view.

Doctor Oliver listened as the hatch leading to his kitchen closed with a soft hiss, and Anabel's footsteps creaked across the floorboards towards the front door. He imaged her bounding down off his porch and getting into the driver's side of her car, while Circe and Kira waited for her inside.

He couldn't help but smile as he returned to the mainframe. Even though it had been his idea that they spend as much time apart, hoping beyond hope it would dampen his growing feelings, Doctor Oliver could now admit that he couldn't have been more wrong. Distance did make the heart grow fonder, and he found himself wanting to be around Anabel increasingly. Being stuck in Ranger form didn't help matters, and he couldn't help but resent Trent a little more because of it.

Which was why, when he had offered to show Trent the way to the Zord bay, he had done it with ulterior motives. Spinning his chair back to face the mainframe, Doctor Oliver replayed his last conversation with Trent, before leaving him at the entrance to the Zord Bay, a panic-stricken look on his face.

"You may have saved my life, Trent, but you go after her again, and you'll regret doing both."