"… so, when sulphuric acid is launched into the atmosphere via a volcanic eruption, it can alter the planet's climate temporarily," said Doctor Oliver. "Hope you guys got all that."
Looking up from her notes, Anabel noticed that more than half the class were staring at the board tiredly. For the last hour, they had to listen while their science teacher droned on about volcanic activity and how it had shaped the world as they now knew, killing most of the dinosaurs, and repopulating with other animals.
"Could that happen today?" Lawrence asked, his hand shooting into the air and drawing attention to himself. "I mean, could a volcanic eruption alter the way things are in modern times?"
"Yes," said Doctor Oliver. "Every volcanic eruption that occurs in modern times could cause a climate change."
"Climate change isn't just linked to volcanic activity, though," said Anabel, now drawing attention to herself. "The Greenhouse Effect is climate change, and that has to do with the warming of the planet."
"Yes, but the Greenhouse Effect takes years to form," said Doctor Oliver, smiling slightly. "A cloud of sulphuric acid is more devastating in the sense that it would block out the sun, cooling the Earth at a considerable rate."
Anabel bit the inside of her cheek and looked back at her notes. She wasn't actively seeking a discussion, but rather pointing out that climate change could happen regardless of a volcano eruption.
"Alright, before we go, just a couple of announcements," said Doctor Oliver, calling for the class's attention one more time. "Our very own Ethan James is going to be competing at the Detonation Man competition at Hayley's Cyberspace this week," he said, grinning at the boy in question.
The room erupted in an applause.
"I hope you all come down to watch," Doctor Oliver added. "Also, I just want to let you guys know that we'll be having a sub tomorrow."
Anabel furrowed her brow as she looked up. They had only just got Doctor Oliver back, so why was he missing class again so soon?
"He's someone who knows a lot about volcanoes. I think you're going to find what he has to say interesting," Doctor Oliver said.
The bell rang, signalling the end of class.
"You can go," Doctor Oliver said, releasing them.
Anabel slowly packed away her things, watching as each of her classmates trickled out of the science room. She passed a smile to Chris as he clapped a hand on her shoulder and filed out behind Devin and Cassidy.
Soon, only she and Doctor Oliver remained.
"Here," said Doctor Oliver, passing her a folder of notes.
"What's this?" Anabel asked, taking it.
"It's for Circe."
"Circe's back in the Mystic Realm," said Anabel. "Why would she need this?"
"For the same reasons I am missing class tomorrow."
"And they would be?"
"Zeltrax. After what happened to you, I don't want to take any chances," Doctor Oliver explained. "I've already contacted Root Core. They're sending Blade back to assist your mother, and Circe should be at my place this afternoon."
Anabel groaned. "Overprotective, much?" she asked.
"Aren't I allowed to be?"
Anabel shrugged. "I guess," she said, hesitating slightly.
"What?"
Anabel sighed. "I'm not used to someone being this protective of me," she said. "I mean, my mother is the mayor, I'm supposed to have a security team that follows my every move, but I asked my mum to pull them off because they were interfering with my social life."
"I thought you liked Circe?"
"I do, I like her a lot, and I do miss her," said Anabel. "I'm just don't like the idea of someone putting their life on the line for me. Plus, my independence takes a hit when I have someone watching my every move."
Doctor Oliver sighed and stepped out from behind his desk. He had yet to pack away the rest of his things, but the need and desire to make sure that Anabel was alright with his plans drove everything else out the window. He reached for her hand, tangling his fingers with hers and reached up with his other hand to cup her face.
"I'm just doing what I think is best for you," said Doctor Oliver. "I mean, I can't be there for you all the time. You said yourself, you have your own social life, and we don't live together. I'd feel better knowing there is someone always watching over you. At least Circe is your age, and fits into your social circle, and it's only for a little while."
Anabel sighed. "Please don't turn this into a 'do it for me' thing," she said.
"Well, I can't now," Doctor Oliver laughed.
Anabel shook her head with a smile. "That being said," she added. "Thank you."
"Now I'm confused. First you disappointed that I want a protection detail for you, now you're thanking me?"
"I'm thanking you because you didn't just think of me," said Anabel. "You thought of my Mum, too."
"I know how much she means to you, and I'd rather see you smile, knowing she's okay, than be sad if something happens to her."
Anabel smiled and leaned forward, pressing her lips to his. The kiss lasted less than a minute since they were still in school and therefore not alone.
"I would offer to help you find Zeltrax," said Anabel. "But that defeats the purpose of having Circe back. Besides, I'm covering the Detonation Man competition for the school newspaper, and Ethan owes me an interview."
"Sounds fun," said Doctor Oliver.
"I hope so, because I know absolutely nothing about gaming."
Doctor Oliver chuckled.
"If you do find you need help, you'll know where to find me and the others," Anabel added.
Doctor Oliver nodded and turned back to his desk. He packed away the rest of his belongings and then followed Anabel out of the classroom. They parted ways in the school parking lot.
~X~
The next morning, Anabel sat in her usual seat at school with Chris Hayes one side of her and Circe the next. To have the Mystic Defender back did make Anabel feel a whole lot safer, especially since the weeks they had been a part, Circe had done nothing but train her magic and skills both on and off the battlefield. She also now had permission from her family to use her dark magic, should she need too.
"I don't understand why your parents would be so against you using something you were born with," Anabel had said when Circe told her the news. "I mean, shouldn't they be proud that you can defend yourself?"
"It's not so much they were against me using it," Circe had explained. "It was more that they felt a kind of betrayal. I'm the second woodland elf that has dark magic. My parents believe I should have something connected to the Earth."
"Beggars can't be chooses," Anabel had said.
"They're slowly coming around to the idea," said Circe. "Especially since I am now training under the Dark Mystic, Eithne Devine."
"I met her. She's great."
Circe nodded. "She told me about meeting you," she said. "She thinks you're very brave."
"I didn't really do much."
"I beg to differ. It takes a lot of courage to enter someone else's mind. Not a lot of people would do it."
Anabel smiled and shrugged. "I couldn't lose him," she admitted. "None of us could."
"Uh-huh," Circe said, smiling knowingly.
"Shut up."
Circle laughed and fell against Anabel. "I'm just glad you're okay, and you know, happy to be back here," she said.
"I'm happy your back, too."
Now, the two girls were listening to a Doctor Morton rattle on about Volcanoes. If Doctor Oliver had said yesterday that the substitute teacher they would be getting today was a volcano expert, then Anabel would've guessed straight off the bat that Morton was the one he spoke of. If there was anyone in Reefside that new more about Volcanoes than Morton, she wasn't aware of them.
"Who can tell me what was right here in good old' Reefside just 1 million years ago?" Morton asked.
Ethan leaned forward, his finger in the air, the answer settling on his lips as the door crashed open, and Cassidy rushed inside.
Anabel's eyes widened as she took in her friends appearance. She was wearing a green short-sleeved t-shirt underneath polka-dotted dungarees. Her hair was sticking up in odd places and looked like she had washed it that morning but not dried it, and she instead of a face full of makeup, she was wearing anything bar mascara and a little lip gloss.
"Uh, may I help you?" Morton asked.
"Yea, I'm in this class," said Cassidy.
"Young lady that's impossible. This class started twenty minutes ago," said Morton, tapping the face of his watch.
"Yeah, I know, but I -" Cassidy hesitated.
"Yes, we're all waiting," said Morton, patiently.
The dam broke. "Well, you see, I had a hair emergency because there's someone who normally gets my product for me, but he's busy doing who knows what!" she snapped at Devin, causing him to wince. "So, I had to go sans product. Then there's my dry cleaning, which is still at the dry cleaners, so I had to wear clothes that are so last year. But, you know, here I am…"
"Yes, here you are," said Morton. "How lucky for all of us."
Cassidy frowned at him.
"Take a seat and let's continue before the bell rings," said Morton, indicating to the seat beside Ethan.
Cassidy pointed at the seat beside Devin. "Actually, that's my - okay," she breathed, scurrying into the seat. She caught Anabel's gaze, puffed out a breath that blew a strand of hair from her face, and settled in as Morton continued.
Tearing a piece of paper from her notebook, Anabel wrote 'Why didn't you call me?" and tossed it across the table at Cassidy.
Cassidy read it, scribbled out a reply, and passed it back. "You didn't answer."
Anabel frowned and checked her phone. It wouldn't turn on. She sighed and met Cassidy's gaze, mouthing 'I'm sorry' as she crumpled up the two notes and turned her attention back to Morton.
"As I was saying, believe it or not, on this spot at one time was a -" Morton cut off as Ethan interrupted.
"Volcano."
There was a titter of laughter throughout the room.
"No, no, no," said Morton. "He's right. How did you know?"
Ethan shrugged. "You're the lead volcanologist in the state, and we're learning about volcanoes in Doctor O's class. I just put two and two together," he said.
"Excellent deductive reasoning," said Morton. "Yes. Right here, one million years ago, was a giant, active volcano."
Smiling as Morton imitated a volcano above his head, Anabel felt the familiar prickle at the base of her neck. She reached back, massaging the spot as her gaze sweeping the class.
"You okay?" Circe asked, leaning closer.
"Yeah," said Anabel, rubbing her neck. "Must've been a spasm or something. It's gone now."
Circe nodded but continued to cast curious and cautious glances at her charge throughout the remainder of the lesson.
~X~
Circe smiled as she followed Anabel into the Cyberspace and made a beeline for a young girl sitting at one of the computers. Anabel frowned and followed her, curious as to who Circe had recognised in a city that she was only in because of an assignment from Root Core.
"Rune, hey, you're here!" Circe said.
The young girl, Rune, looked up and beamed. "Hey, Circe, what are you doing here?" she asked.
"I'm on assignment again. This is Anabel," said Circe, nodding at the brunette beside her. "Anabel, this is Rune Winters. She's one of students studying under Eithne."
Rune looked over at Anabel. "Hi," she said. "Nice to meet you."
"Same. How do you know about the Mystic Realm?" Anabel asked curiously. "Are you a Defender, like Circe?"
Rune shook her head. "My story is a little more complicated than Circe's," she said. "But, it's also a family secret and I can't talk about it."
"I think you'll find that your secret is safe with Anabel," said Circe. "She's what you will be if the Nighlok return."
Rune's eyes widened. "Circe!" she hissed, glancing around, fearful that someone had overheard. "You can say stuff like that outload. No one is supposed to know."
"Wait, Nighlok?" Anabel asked, sitting on an empty chair. "As in the creatures of the Netherworld?"
Rune snapped attention to Anabel. "You know about the Netherworld?" she asked. "How? Only…"
"Rangers know about that?" Anabel asked. "Yeah. I happen to know a Ranger legend."
"Dating him, actually," said Circe.
Anabel kicked her under the table.
"You're the Ranger that Kali mentioned," said Rune. "The Green Dino Ranger."
"You know Kali?"
"She's my big sister, sort of," said Rune. "I'm training under her mother until she comes back from an assignment in Ocean Bluff. Then she's taking over my training."
"What kind of training does a Samurai need from the Hellhound?"
Rune smiled. "She teaching me to harness the dark side of the moon," she answered.
"Cool. So, Rune, what are you doing in Reefside?" Anabel asked.
"I'm a gamer, if you couldn't guess," said Rune. "I heard about the Detonation Man competition and asked my mother if I could enter. She knows how much Gaming means to me and said yes. So, here I am. She's over there," she added, nodding at the bar.
Anabel twisted in her seat and spotted a tall dark-haired woman sitting at the end of the bar, drinking a cup of coffee. "Rhea Winters," she said, turning back to Rune. "You're Rune Winters! I've heard of you!"
"You have?" Rune asked, nervously.
"Yeah. There was an article about you a few years ago - Eight-year-old Gamer Girl Discovered in Angel Grove Beats World Champion during Online Campaign - Rune Winters, eight, has been playing games since she was diagnosed with Autism at aged six."
Rune forced a smile and nodded. "Yep. That's me," she said. "My autism made it difficult for me to interact with people on a social level, so I took to doing it via a headset. Granted, at six and eight I shouldn't have been on certain platforms, but my mother used to oversee me, and she was alright with it. As I grew older, I advanced to different games, and started streaming on YouTube, and managed to get myself a following."
"What's your gamer handle?"
"GamerGirl18."
Anabel jotted it down. "Do you mind if I include you in my article?" she asked. "I'm writing it on this competition seeing as one of my best friends is the champion, and I would love to include other competitors."
"Uh, sure," Rune nodded. "Just, could you not include my handle?"
"Can I ask why?"
Rune shrugged. "I don't want people associating me with it," she said. "My personal life doesn't mesh well with my gamer life, and if the Nighlok do reappear, like Circe said, then I don't want to risk people recognising me and linking me to my Ranger status."
"Okay," said Anabel, nodding. "I can feel that reasoning. If you want, I cannot use your picture, too?"
"Please."
Anabel smiled and nodded. "No problem." She looked up as the door to the cafe opened and Conner and Kira entered. She waved as they headed for the bar and turned back to Rune and Circe. "I'll be right back. Do you want a drink?"
"Please," said Circe.
"Rune?"
"Oh, um, sure," said Rune, reaching for her pocket.
Anabel stopped her. "This one's on me," she said.
Before Rune had a chance to ask if she was sure, Anabel had left the table and made a beeline for the bar.
"Hey, what can I get you?" Trent asked.
"A water, a strawberry smoothie, and whatever the kid has been drinking," said Anabel, indicating over her shoulder at Rune.
Trent nodded and set about filling the order.
Anabel turned to Kira and Conner. "Where's Ethan?" she asked. "He still owes me an interview."
"I don't know," said Kira.
"Technically, as last year's champion, he doesn't have to be here until the final round," said Trent, setting a tray of drinks on the bar and taking Anabel's card. "He should be here though to check out his competition."
"He has been acting kind of weird lately, even for Ethan," said Conner.
"Well, he is very good at video games," said Kira. "There's nothing wrong with being confident."
"Yeah, but there is confidence and then there is cockiness," said Anabel.
Conner nodded. He could remember well what Doctor Oliver had said to him about the same subject. It was only when he realised that his cockiness was going to put Anabel in more danger with Zeltrax than she already was, that he realised his truest potential as the Red Ranger. It was then his confidence in himself as a Ranger sky-rocketed and he was able to access his Battelizer.
"Would wearing a t-shirt that sat I am Detonation Man be considered confidence or cockiness?" Kira asked.
"I'd say that puts him squarely in the cockiness factor," said Anabel. She took her card back from Trent, slid it into her back pocket and grabbed her tray as she looked to Kira. "Why?"
Kira cleared her throat and nodded towards the door.
Conner and Anabel turned and spotted Ethan flexing his t-shirt. The very same words that Kira had just spoken were imprinted on the front.
"You have got to be joking!" Conner scoffed.
A gaggle of customers swarmed forward, all of them surrounding Ethan and blocking his way into the cafe. They were all talking over one another, asking for autographs and pictures.
"Now, no pushing, there's plenty of me to go around," said Ethan, grinning. "Boy, am I thirsty."
Several of the swarm broke away and ambushed the bar, each one talking over the other as they asked for a drink for Ethan.
"I guess in the realm of cyber geeks Ethan reigns supreme," said Conner, as he was jostled from his stool.
Kira shook her head. "I can't watch this," she said, sliding from her own seat and walking away.
"Right behind you," said Conner, following her.
Anabel picked up her tray, offered Trent a sympathetic look, and returned to the table where Rune and Circe were still sitting. "Here you go," she said, handing out the drinks.
"How much do I owe you?" Rune asked.
"Absolutely nothing," said Anabel. "And if you go for your pocket one more time, I'll hit you."
"She won't really," said Circe.
Anabel stuck her tongue out. "Shush you," she said, setting the empty tray on a nearby table.
Rune smiled bashfully. "Thank you," she said.
"So, tell me more about gaming and what it means to you," said Anabel, picking up her pen and notebook.
~X~
After interviewing Rune for a solid hour, Anabel and Circe bid her a good luck as they left her to her gaming, and quickly sought out Ethan on the couches. He was surrounded by a group of people, all staring at him in awe as he relived his gaming experience at last year's competition.
"You promised me an interview," said Anabel, shooing a boy away from the couch so she could sit beside Ethan. She took her note book out of her bag, along with a pen and turned to the rest of the crowd. "A private one."
They all groaned and dispersed.
"Yeah, because you're not a mean girl," said Ethan, chuckling. He lay back in his seat, arms behind his head, and his feet resting on the small table in front of him. He made sure that he was clear of any bottles that littered the surface and turned his attention to Anabel.
Anabel rolled her eyes. "Listen, cool dude," she said, nudging his feet from the table. "If your answers are going to be about how 'good' you are then I'll find someone else to interview."
"What's wrong with being confident in my abilities?" Ethan asked. "All I really need is to give you my honest opinion, and you can write me in an epic light."
"I have to remain unbiased," said Anabel. "Besides, if you're answers are going to sound patronising to other players, then I won't be able to remain free of judgements."
Ethan booed and sat up. "Fine. What's your first question?" he asked. "Or do you want me to just talk? Give you my full story? Like you did with Chris?"
"We can do both," said Anabel. "If I ask you questions, and you give me the answer, and maybe a story behind it, then I can write the story and include the interview, too."
Ethan nodded. "Great. Shoot," he said.
Anabel looked down at her notepad. "When did you start playing video games?" she asked.
"Well, I always knew I had a gift for them," said Ethan. "But my first time playing an actual console was probably 2003. I was thirteen and the Game Boy Advanced SP was released."
Anabel nodded and jotted down his answers.
"I was also playing PlayStation One at that point," said Ethan. "You know, at the time, the games weren't played on live-action platforms. They were just things like Sonic the Hedgehog or Crash Bandicoot. I advanced to actual live-action platforms two years later, at fifteen. That was the year I entered my first competition at the gaming expo in Pasadena."
"Did you win?"
"No," said Ethan, shaking his head. "But it was a fun experience. I made me want to get better at gaming. So, I did, and now I'm here."
Anabel nodded. "How do you feel about the Detonation Man competition so far?" she asked. "Have you met any potential competitors?"
"A few," Ethan said. "Devin is here. Cassidy would flip her lid if she knew therefore he ditched her this week."
"Yeah, let's keep that on the DL for as long as possible," said Anabel. "Do you think Devin will make it to the final round?"
Ethan scoffed and then laughed. "Dude, no way," he said. "Devin's good, but he's not final round material."
"Do you think anyone here is final round material?" Anabel asked, although she could anticipate his answer before he said it.
"Not really, no," said Ethan. He glanced around the room. Most of the competitors were his age, while there were a few that were younger than him.
Anabel glanced at Rune. She was deep into her game, her focus set on the computer screen in front of her. "Do you think this competition should have an age restriction?" she asked Ethan.
"Oh, yeah, definitely," said Ethan, nodding feverishly. "I mean, it's not nice to blow a kid out of the water, is it? Yeah, okay, they entered with the risk of losing, but they're still kids."
"So, you're certain that you'll play someone your own age in the final round?"
Ethan nodded.
Anabel glanced at Circe and smirked. She thought, for definite, that Ethan would be playing Rune. The kid was good for her age, and she couldn't wait to see the look on Ethan's face when she was proven right.
"What?" Ethan asked, looking between the two. "What do you know that I don't?"
"Nope. Remaining neutral," said Anabel. "Okay, so, next question is -" she broke off as both hers and Ethan's morphers beeped.
The trio looked shared a look, stood, and made their way out of the cafe.
~X~
Arriving at Doctor Oliver's, Anabel, Circe, and Ethan found the others already in the base.
"What's going on?" Ethan asked.
Doctor Oliver did a double take, reading Ethan's shirt and then shaking his head. "These two just had a run in with Zeltrax and the White Ranger."
"I know you mean the clone because Trent is still at the Cyberspace," said Anabel.
"What did Zeltrax do?" Circe asked Conner and Kira.
"Not much, but he's strong now," said Kira. "Very strong."
Anabel rubbed her wrists anxiously. The feeling of the rope that Zeltrax had bound her with still very much real. "Yeah, tell me about it," she mumbled.
Circe wrapped an arm around Anabel, squeezing her tightly, She was determined that nothing bad would happen to Anabel any more than it already had.
"How did you stop him?" Ethan asked.
"The White clone tried to get him to remember who created him - Mesogog - and then he just vanished," said Conner. "It was weird."
"He just vanished?" Doctor Oliver repeated.
Conner and Kira nodded.
"Not that it's a bad thing," said Kira.
"His fight in Battelizer mode must've taken a lot out of him," said Doctor Oliver to Conner.
Anabel sighed and rested her head against Circe's shoulder. The idea that Zeltrax was still weakened from his fight with Conner came as a relief to her.
"He needs Mesogog to keep him alive now," Doctor Oliver added.
"And Mesogog needs us to defeat him," said Conner.
Circe clenched her hand into a fist. "Send him my way," she said. "I'll take him out with a well-aimed Darkness Wave. It seemed to slow him down last time, and then I was only at half strength."
Anabel smiled at Circe. While at first she had been put off by the idea of having a bodyguard following her everywhere, she was now glad that Doctor Oliver had requested Circe's return to keep her safe.
"Now that we know that, what's next?" Ethan asked.
The computer beeped, showing a monster downtown.
"Isn't it a larvally day? What to do? Oh, I know, first I'll create bad weather and then a volcano or two."
"You had to ask," said Anabel.
"Sorry," Ethan apologised, sheepishly.
Doctor Oliver turned his back on the computers. "You guys' deal with the monster," he said. "Circe and I'll stay here to monitor the Zeltrax situation."
The teens nodded and drew back.
"Ready?"
"Ready!"
"Dino Thunder, Power Up!"
~X~
"Hey, thunderhead!"
The monster turned, allowing the teens to get a full glimpse of him. He was a weird bear-like creature with six sets of glasses, and hockey sticks for hands.
"Sorry to rain your on parade," said Conner.
"Then don't!" the monster replied, throwing his hands into the air. Spiked-electrical beams entered the clouds, turning them a dark grey and causing thunder to roll in.
Anabel gasped and looked up. "Whoa, check it out," she said, pointing at the sudden appearance of mountains elevated over the city.
"What's that?" Kira asked.
"You're making me blow my top!" said the monster.
With an explosive rumble, the mountain exploded, shooting balls of fire into the air. Then, the ground started to shake, and the fireballs rained down upon the city, leaving gaping holes in the ground as they landed.
"Whoa!" the Rangers cried, each of them stumbling away from the other as the city continued to quake.
A second and third mountain exploded, sending another load of fireballs into the air.
"What is this stuff?" Conner asked, dodging a fireball as it crashed into the ground nearby. He stumbled into Anabel, knocking her off balance as the ground rocked beneath their feet.
Anabel breathed heavily. "I think they're lava bombs," she said, taking Conner's offered hand and standing up. "If we're not careful, they'll level the entire city!"
"What do we do?" Kira asked.
"We need to stop him," said Ethan.
"But how?" Conner asked.
"You don't," the monster replied. "Nothing can stop me now."
"Don't count on it."
Looking around, the four teens sighed in relief as Doctor Oliver arrived atop his black Raptor Rider. He dismounted once close enough and rushed to his team's side/
"Bring it on!" the monster challenged.
"You're reading my mind," said Doctor Oliver, standing protectively before his students. "You're all mine, six eyes!"
The monster counted the team and cocked his head to the side. "Five against one?" he asked. "Doesn't seem fair." He snapped his fingers and the Triptoids appeared.
"Tyranno staff!" Conner called, summoning his weapon from his belt. He rolled it over his shoulders and rushed forward, just as the others did the same, calling their own weapons to hand.
Anabel flipped over several Triptoids and spun in a full circle. "Compy Claws!" she called, extending the two hooked claws out, raking then across the Triptoids chests as she spun.
With the Triptoids defeated, and the monster down for the first round, the Rangers regrouped.
"Nice one, Doctor O," said Conner.
Doctor Oliver nodded back. "Now we have to finish it," he said. "Conner, go for it."
"Okay. Guys?" Conner said, looking to his friends.
As Doctor Oliver pulled back, Anabel, Kira, and Ethan flanked Conner. The cupped their hands above and below the Dino symbol on their chest, and then fuelled enough of their energies into the Triassic Shield.
"Battelizer, engaged!" Conner called.
"What the -?" the monster cried as he righted himself.
Conner stepped forward and folded his arms across his chest. "Dragon Yo-Yo!" he called, summoning a phantom dragon which spun rapidly in front of him. He hooked his hand around a thin golden chain and swung the yo-yo above his head, unleashing it onto the monster without hesitation.
Several times the yo-yo hit the monster until he exploded.
Anabel waited anxiously for the familiar prickle in her neck which indicated an invisiportal or a regeneration cloud, however, what she didn't expect was for Doctor Morton to come tumbling out of the explosive cloud and fall to his knees in front of the Rangers.
His hair was sticking up at odd angles, his glasses were askew on his face, and he was covered from head to toe in soot.
"Doctor Morton!" Doctor Oliver called, rushing to the older man's aid. The others followed him as Conner powered down to his regular ranger suit.
Doctor Morton laughed, giddily as Doctor Oliver and Ethan helped him stand.
"Are you okay, Doctor?" Anabel asked, touching his shoulder.
Morton flinched and turned quickly. "Did you know that volcanoes can lay dormant for thousands of years? And then they can just spring into life spewing hot magma into the air," he stumbled backwards, causing Kira to grab him and hold him upright. "Poof!" he giggled.
Anabel covered her mouth with her hand and glanced at the others. She wasn't 100% certain if Doctor Morton was okay, given he has seemed a little eccentric earlier that morning, but now? Now he seemed downright crazy.
"We should get him out of here," said Doctor Oliver.
The others nodded.
~X~
Anabel caught Devin's arm as he found her in the crowd. "You ruined Cassidy's life for a video game?" she asked. "She's going to hit the roof when she finds out."
"I know, but I just wanted one day where I could be myself, you know?" Devin asked. "Cass knows I love video games, but she'd never approve of me entering a competition for one."
"Your secret is safe with me," said Anabel. "But you should at least call her and check in. Last I saw she wasn't doing so well."
Devin sighed and removed his phone from his pocket. He winced at the thirty-seven missed calls from Cassidy and ducked away from Anabel to return them.
Anabel shook her head as she turned back to her friends. "I love Devin, but he needs to start standing up for himself more," she said.
"Cassidy is going to have a meltdown," said Conner.
"I think we're way past the meltdown stage," said Anabel.
Conner chuckled and turned back to the stage. "So, who is Ethan playing in the final?" he asked.
Kira and Doctor Oliver shrugged.
"We have an idea," said Circe, throwing her arm around Anabel's shoulders. "We don't know if it's true or not, but we have a good idea."
Conner and Kira shared a look.
"Come on, then, tell us," said Kira.
Anabel grinned and looked toward Trent as he took the stage.
"It's the final!" said Trent, claiming everyone's attention. "And here he, your returning champion - Ethan James!"
The café exploded into applause as Ethan climbed up onto the stage. He waved and grinned as Anabel snapped a photo of him for her article.
"And your challenger, with the highest score of the day so far, Rune Winters!" said Trent, indicating to the young fourteen-year-old sitting at the bar. The crowd parted and Rune shyly climbed the stage.
Circe whistled and cheered. "You can do it, Rune!" she called.
Anabel offered the kid a thumbs up as the gaming started.
"Aren't you getting Rune's picture for your article?" Doctor Oliver asked, as Anabel backed up into him. He slid one hand around her waist, resting it on her belly as she reached back and held his other with her hand. They were hidden enough behind their friends that no one else could see what they were doing.
Anabel shook her head. "She has a good enough reason for me to leave her as anonymous," she said. "I'm surprised you don't recognise her."
Doctor Oliver frowned. "Should I?" he asked.
"Rune Winters," said Anabel. "Daughter of Rhea Winters. Silver Samurai," she added, dropping her voice so only he could hear.
"Oh!" Doctor Oliver gasped. "So, she's -?"
"Yep."
"How do you know this?"
"Circe told me," said Anabel, glancing at the mystic defender. "Rune is training under Eithne until Kali gets back from Ocean Bluff."
Doctor Oliver smiled and leaned down, pressing a quick kiss to Anabel's temple. "Seems you're learning more and more about the Mystic Realm," he said, his breathe tickling her ear and causing goose bumps to rise all down her spine.
"The more I learn about it the more breathless it makes me," Anabel replied. "I didn't realise how big of a place it was until now, and it just keeps growing."
"It'll keep growing as long as there is evil to be fought and Ranger teams that need assistance," said Doctor Oliver.
Anabel smiled as she felt him press a kiss to the curve of her throat. She then pulled away as Conner jostled her, the crowd moving slightly around them as increased people joined the action.
"Yes!" Ethan gasped, raising to his feet. "Twenty-One million and four hundred thousand points. I won!"
The crowd cheered.
"Not so fast, Ethan," said Trent, clapping him on the shoulder and indicating to the other end of the table. "Rune's still playing."
Ethan's smile dropped.
"Twenty-One million points and counting?" Kira asked, staring slack-jawed at Rune.
"Twenty-One, two hundred thousand," said Conner, as Rune's points continued to grow.
Ethan looked from Rune to the crowd and back again. The cheers that had once been for him had shifted to her, and everyone was cheering her on.
"Twenty-One Five Hundred," said Doctor Oliver as Rune's session ended.
The cafe erupted into applause.
"That's it. Rune wins, game over!" said Trent.
Unable to fathom what had happened, Rune looked around the cafe, a dull blush rising in her face. She covered it with her hands as her mother jumped up onto the stage and hugged her.
"Why is she crying?" Kira asked. "You'd think she'd be happy."
"She's autistic," said Anabel. "Probably too overwhelming in here for her. I'll be right back," she pushed through the crowd with Circe and approached Rune as her mother helped her back to the bar.
Circe beamed as she swooped in a hugged Rune.
Anabel turned to the crowd. "Give her some space!" she snapped, shooing them all away with a look. "You'll get what you want later."
The crowd groaned but shuffled away.
Anabel then turned to Rune. "Well done, kid," she said. "I knew you had it in you."
Rune beamed. "Thanks, Anabel," she said. "Do you think your friend hates me?" she looked across at a dejected looking Ethan. He was sitting on the edge of the stage while the rest of his friends patted him on the shoulders.
"He'll get over it," said Anabel. "Besides, there's always someone better than you at something out there, right?"
"I didn't mean to humiliate him," said Rune. "Will you let him know that for me?"
"You want to tell him yourself?" Anabel asked.
Rune hesitated and glanced at her mother.
"It's okay," said Rhea. "You don't have too."
Anabel nodded. "You're mother's right. I'm not going to force you outside of your comfort zone," she said. "But, if you do choose to meet Ethan. You'll be meeting the rest of the Dino Rangers, and future allies in the fight against evil."
Rune's eyes widened. "Uh, okay, I guess?" she said, nodding.
Anabel smiled and, taking Rune's hand, led her back through the crowd to where the others were standing. "Guys, this is Rune," she said, presenting the fourteen-year-old to the other Rangers. "Ethan, she has something she wants to say to you."
"I'm sorry," said Rune. "I didn't expect to make it to the final, much less win."
Ethan smiled and held out his hand. "You beat me fair and square," he said. "But next year, you better bring your A-game."
"Promise," said Rune, shaking his hand.
Anabel smiled and hugged Rune to her. "Put it this way, Rune, if you're as good a Ranger as you are a gamer, those Nighlok don't stand a chance," she said.
"I hope my possible future teammates agree with you," said Rune.
"They'd be foolish not to," said Circe, clapping Rune on the shoulder. "And if they do give you any hassle, at least you know you have backup."
Anabel caught Conner's eye and turned to Rune. "Trust me, don't provoke in-fighting on a Ranger team," she said, shaking her head. "It'll get your nowhere."
"Duly noted," said Rune.