"I told you before," Jack complained to the creature on the other side of his screen. "I'm Jack Landers, SPD Red Ranger from Earth. Can't you check your records or something?"

"I'm sorry, but I have never heard of Earth before," the computer translated from him.

He rolled his eyes and the thing began howling. The Earth Ranger was taken by surprise as the computer refused to translate. It lasted a full two minutes before the channel cut itself off.

"That went well," Z commented from where she lounged behind him.

Jack picked up a pen and crossed off another planet from his list. "Even if I could get a Ranger to talk to me, there's no way to know if they investigated at all. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea."

"I think all you need is a break," said Z. "Why don't you let me try?"

"Right, as if it's not bad enough that the Red Ranger can't get through to anyone," said Jack as he moved to give her his chair.

She took it and looked down the list. "That's odd," she said. "Zyx is on here four times."

"I noticed that too, but there's no way to contact their Rangers."

"Why not?" asked Z.

"Their not SPD," answered Jack as he sat on the couch.

It was Z's turn to roll her eyes. "Just because they aren't SPD doesn't mean we can't reach them." She called up the transmission channels and chose the fastest.

ETC, Estimated Transmission Connection, flashed at ten light-minutes. "This could take awhile," Z said as the door opened and Sky came in.

"Your list," he said handing it over to Jack.

"Anything out of the ordinary?" he asked as he took the datapad.

"Just a crispy rat."

"A rat set off the internal defenses?" Z said surprised.

"No," said Sky. "A flea on the rat."

Z gave him a look of utter disbelief while Jack was just stung. Sky nodded in agreement to their reactions as Syd walked in with Bridge.

"Last night because," Bridge said and paused for their attention. "Mr. Minkle was there."

"Why Mr. Minkle?" asked Sky as he sat.

"It didn't necessarily have to be Mr. Minkle, but usually no one inspects that area at night. This was the first night in three weeks that someone was doing deep cleaning to that sub-level," answered Bridge.

"It's a set-up," concluded Z as Kat and Boom came in.

"It looks that way," she answered.

Bridge and Syd found seats and Boom pulled a pile of papers from a cart he was pulling with him. "This is a hardcopy of the commands given to the internal defense system. Most of it appears to be standard system subroutines, but when I did a simulation with them…" he looked nervously at Kat and then stated, "It should have been much worst."

"Then why wasn't it?" demanded Jack.

Kat and Boom were at a loss. Syd and Bridge frowned at each other and Sky passed a dishearten look toward Z when the screen changed and a humanoid woman appeared.

"How can I help a Ranger of Earth?" she asked calmly.

"Oh yeah!" Z remembered as she turned toward the woman. "I'm Elizabeth D, SPD Yellow Ranger from Earth. May I speak to the Power Rangers of Zyx?"

"You are," she replied cheerfully.

"Ma'am, we are investigating some strange things that are happening on our base. We were wondering if you had any similar experiences during the four visits of the Commanding OverLord to Zyx," said Z.

"I am unsure as to what you refer to," the woman replied.

"Let's see," Bridge said coming into view. "There's been a fire, a power shortage, and an internal defense mishap."

"How I do hope no one was injured," she said losing her tone for concern.

"Everyone is fine," Z took back over. "Did you have any instances like what we have?"

"Maybe you should speak with Kedar," she said pausing the transmission.

"Who's Kedar?" asked Z.

Kat shrugged as Sky and Bridge jumped onto the SPD database. A minute later, both boys said, "Red Ranger."

"Honorably declared for valor six times," added Sky.

"Created the plans for the Sky Fortress," said Bridge.

"Rangers of Earth," a man said appearing on the screen. Z turned and Jack stood to stand beside her. "I have been informed of your situation; however there is not much I can tell you. We too, after a time, began to suspect the Commanding OverLord, but he is clever. Our base can neither confirm nor deny that he was involved. I am sorry we could not be more helpful."

"Ranger Kedar," Jack said. "Is there anything that we should be on the look out for?"

The other Ranger leaned back to think for a moment. "We focused most of our efforts on the situations. Perhaps you should take a different approach. I may be willing to send you all available information as to our mishaps, if you would agree to share any information you gather."

"Consider it a deal," said Jack.

"Then I will send Junius to insure the information arrives safely and untampered. May the Power protect you."

"And you," offered Jack. The transmission disconnected as Jack turned to his teammates. "Now, we're getting somewhere."

"Using an outside source," he mused. "Very original."

"Should we stop them?"

"No," he answered. "Creativity, girls, must be rewarded."

TBC