Things at the high school had been hectic with Randal missing in action, which meant there was more work put on the shoulders of the faculty and the school board. For the past couple of days Tommy had been in and out of board meetings, being questioned nonstop by staff and the police as to the disappearance of Randal. Sources had said he had been the last person to see her and that they even went out the night of her disappearance.

So not only did he have Mesogog, Janixsaur, Elsa and Zeltrax on his back, he had the police as well. And he knew if he told them the truth they probably just laugh and think he was crazy.

"So tell us again, what happened?" asked the officer.

Tommy sighed and rubbed his eyes. He was in his classroom with two officers; a pile of papers and folders lay on his desk that needed to be graded. He didn't have time for this. He had more important issues to deal with, but he just couldn't tell the cops he was a ranger. Eric had even tried to get him out of it, but apparently Eric had no authority here. "I told you, we went to dinner, talked about the prom, made arrangements and after that we both went our separate ways. How many times do I have to tell you this?" He was tired, his endless nightmares and countless battles were starting to take their toll on him.

"What restaurant did you say you went to?"

"Mac's Diner," he replied flatly, not thinking anything of it.

"Mac's Diner? Hasn't that place been closed for a year?"

He felt his heart skip a beat. He thought he knew there was something strange about going to Mac's Diner, but he didn't think anything of it. The whole thing had been a trap and he had walked right into it blindly. I'm getting too old for this. "I don't know, it looked pretty open to me. Look, I'm new here, I've been here a little over six months, so I really couldn't tell you."

The two officers glared at each other then back to Tommy. "According to what we gathered from your background you worked with Anton Mercer."

"Yeah, so? What does that have to do with what's going on now?"

"Didn't Mercer go missing while under your watch?"

Great! Just what I need, someone prying into my past. "He's not missing, he's in Reefside as we speak, his son Trent is one of my students."

"Uh huh." The officer scratched his chin. "When was the last time you spoke with Anton Mercer?"

"I don't know, a couple months ago. Why?"

"Weren't you two working on a project together?"

"Yes, four years ago, but that project has been terminated," replied Tommy.

"On what grounds?"

Tommy was about to speak, when a man walked in. "I believe that is between Dr. Oliver and myself," announced Anton Mercer.

The two officers turned around and were faced with the businessman. "Dr. Mercer." Both officers seemed quite surprised to see him standing there, as if they didn't expect to see him. "What are you doing here?"

Mercer walked over next to Tommy. He nodded his head, like everything was going to be alright. Tommy felt quite confused. How did Mercer know he was in trouble? The only way he would have known was if Trent had said something, but as far as he knew Trent hadn't said a word. Mercer gripped Tommy's shoulder. "I heard my friend was in need of help, so what can I do for your gentlemen?"

"Your friend, Dr. Oliver, may be involved in a missing persons crime. Principal Randal is missing. And Dr. Oliver was the last person to see her."

Mercer laughed. Which was something Tommy found odd, Mercer was never one to joke around. In fact ever since he had learned that Mercer had been alive these past four years, something had been different about him. "Gentlemen, do you really think that Dr. Oliver would have done something to her, truthfully? I'm sure you have checked his background, he's clean, no crimes. I should know, I checked it once myself."

"Yes, that is true. But what about your disappearance; no one really knew what happened to you for four years, and then one day you show up out of the blue."

"I can assure you Dr. Oliver had nothing to do with my disappearance, or even knew where I was, or even if I was alive."

The officers eyed Mercer and Dr. Oliver closely. "And why is that?"

"That is between Dr. Oliver and myself. Now this Principal Randal, have you checked her background?"

The two officers looked at each other and then back to Mercer. "Well no-"

"I thought so. Don't bother looking, you won't find anything on her, no birth place, family, not even dental records. It's as if she just showed up out of nowhere, doesn't even exist."

Now Tommy was even more confused. How did Mercer know that? Did he really check for records, or did he really know? That made Tommy wonder what else he knew.

The officers talked silently amongst themselves. "We'll look into this." They then eyed Dr. Oliver. "We'll be in touch." Mercer and Tommy watched as the officers left the classroom.

"Thanks."

Mercer smiled and patted Tommy on the back. And without saying a word started to head towards the way out.

Tommy stood up. "Anton, is everything alright? You don't seem like yourself lately," he asked, concerned for his friend.

Anton stopped. If only he knew. He turned around. "You look tired, Tommy, get some rest," and with those last few words Anton left Tommy standing alone with his thoughts. Something was up, but what?

Tommy walked down the stairs to find Trent, Kira, Eric and Jen in the lab. Alex was off training with Conner and Ethan in the park. "Sorry guys, the police wouldn't leave me alone."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Before we all left after school let out, the cops were talking to everyone, asking about Randal and you. I thought they'd never let us go," commented Kira.

"They still haven't gotten off your back? Maybe I should talk to them again, see what I can do, call Mr. Collins if I have to," said Eric, who had had about enough of these cops questioning Tommy non-stop.

Tommy shook his head as he took a seat. "No, I don't think you need to. Anton Mercer got them off my back."

An alert and half concerned look crossed Trent's face. "He did?"

By the sound of Trent's voice, it sounded like Trent was surprised or something. "Yeah. You told him about the police, right?" asked Tommy, searching into Trent's eyes for answers.

Trent gulped in heavily. "Yeah. I-I must have forgotten I said something to him over dinner." He looked down at his watch, as if to avoid eye contact. "Well, I got to get going, homework to do," and with that said Trent took off in a flash. Leaving everyone to wonder what that was about.

"Wait. Trent told me he already did his homework," announced Kira.

"Maybe he forgot that he hadn't done something," replied Jen.

"I don't know, Jen. I would expect something like that out of Conner, but Trent?" Eric didn't find it likely that Trent would have forgotten to do all of his homework, from his understanding Trent was a very good student.

"You know, I've been noticing that anytime his father is brought up or is involved in something, Trent acts... I don't know, kind of weird. Dr. O?" asked Kira looking to her teacher for answers.

Tommy bit his lip. He had a feeling something was going on, something that no one knew about, except for Trent and his father. Perhaps there were problems at home or something. He knew it couldn't be money issues; Anton had more than enough money. And he knew it couldn't directly have anything to do with Trent. Trent wasn't a troublemaker. So then, what was it? "I don't know what to tell you Kira, but Trent knows we're here for him, if he wants to talk about it."

Trent walked into his home to find his father sitting in the kitchen reading the paper. Anton and Trent had a long history, with a lot of hardship, one both of them wished to put behind them. They had tried to forget that one day that changed both of their lives forever, a day Trent never talked about to anyone, a lie he had come to live, from a tragic past.

"I heard you helped out Dr. Oliver today. Thanks."

Anton sighed. He knew this whole situation wasn't easy or fair on Trent. "It was the least I could do, considering-"

Trent stepped forward. "Don't say that! What happened wasn't your fault. It's Mesogog's."

"But I am Mesogog. He's a part of me, and me of him."

Trent sighed. He hated this. He wanted this whole nightmare to be over, it wasn't fair. He had already lost his birth parents. He couldn't bear to lose his adoptive father as well. "I hate this! Why can't we tell Dr. Oliver, maybe he could help you!" Trent was near tears.

Mercer sighed heavily. "I've already put a lot on Tommy's shoulders as it is." To this day Trent didn't even know the whole truth of what had gone on a little over four years ago. He knew nothing of the research he and Tommy had done, or the ended lives they were responsible for. "I couldn't put any more baggage on him."

"Then let me help you," he pleaded.

"I'm sorry, Trent, but it's too dangerous. The other rangers need you more than I do. I'm sorry, son."

Alex was having both Conner and Ethan team up on him. And of course Conner was thinking since the odds were on his and Ethan's side, two to one, piece of cake. Boy was he wrong.

He threw a punch towards Alex's face, only to have it quickly blocked. Alex grabbed the arm, twisting it back. With Conner's free hand, he tried to swing a punch at him. But Alex was ready. He swept Conner from under his feet, causing the cocky red ranger to fall to the ground.

Ethan came flying right at Alex, jumping over Conner, but Alex moved quickly, grabbing a hold of Ethan and throwing him over his shoulders, sending him crashing to the ground.

Alex just stood there shaking his head, watching as the two teens slowly pulled themselves to their feet.

"Didn't you say this was going to be a piece of cake?" asked Ethan, as he rubbed his elbow looking over to Conner.

Conner just gave Ethan an annoyed look. He hated being wrong.

"You two aren't concentrating hard enough! You need to start working together, both of you with your strength combined should have easily been able to take me down," Alex yelled.

"Yeah. Well, we're all not all hot shots like you," remarked Conner, putting on his cocky and smartass attitude.

Alex's eyes grew stern, if there was one thing he hated, it was a disrespectful teenager with an attitude. "You think you know me?" His words were hard and edgy, as he locked eyes with Conner.

Ethan remained silent. He could sense a lot of tension between the two, one of the reasons being that Alex looked like Wes. And he knew Conner hadn't quite dealt with his issues surrounding Wes. He just hoped that Conner had enough sense to keep his big mouth shut.

"Yeah. I think I do!"

I should have known Conner wouldn't be able to keep his big mouth shut. Where's Dr. O when you need him?

"Really?" Alex crossed his arms against his chest. "Do tell me."

Conner smirked. He began to see why Wes had such a problem with this guy. "Okay." Conner walked right up to Alex. "I think you're a complete loser, all you ever do is work, you push everyone around like you own them and try to turn them into you."

"Are you finished?" His voice was harsh.

"No. You wanna know the real reason why I think Jen left you for Wes? It's because all you care about is your job, always have to be at the top, be the hot shot. Don't you? I bet it really ate you up when they all wanted Wes to be the red ranger and not you." Conner crossed his arms against his chest.

Is he right? Did I care more about my job than her? Was I jealous and hurt that the others had chosen Wes over me? For once Alex was caught off guard. He didn't know what to say.

Conner just stood there, waiting. Waiting for Alex to say something, waiting for him to snap and beat the living daylights out of him. But Alex just stood there, his face blank.

Ethan's eyes lit up in fear. "GUYS!" he yelled.

They turned to him to see him pointing at something; they turned in the direction he was putting at. It was Janixsaur, or was it? Something was different.

"Janixsaur?" said Alex.

"No. I'm Hexasaur, prepare for your destruction, rangers!"

"Hexasaur? Is he from your time, Alex?" asked Ethan, getting into a fighting stance.

Alex's eyes stayed locked on Hexasaur. "No. And that's what scares me. You guys ready?"

"We're ready!" yelled Conner stepping into a fighting stance. The three of them morphed and sped off into battle.