The screen in the command center went black and everything was quiet. Cadets standing around were frozen as they watched their remaining rangers rooted to the spot.

After what seemed like a small lifetime, Ani came to her senses.

"Syd get that link back now! Z, rewind the footage and see if you can determine the time of impact! Kat I need all the known hideouts of Jervix, and Commander… I need a ship," she said as she pulled up the last coordinates that Jack had sent.

"Animaria, I'm not giving you a ship," Cruger said as he watched the others around him frantically follow her orders.

"I'll take my zord then," she said as she turned to him.

"I forbid you to use an SPD-"

"I designed it and built it," Ani snapped. "Not to mention that my husband and brother are up there! I'm not just going to sit back and wait!"

Kat, Sydney, and Z all turned to Ani and they saw the tears that had fallen down her face. That was all it took for Sydney and Z to start crying softly as well.

Cruger stood his ground. "If you take your zord I will be forced to relieve you of your duties here at SPD."

"Commander you can't do this!" Sydney shouted as she stood by Ani's side. "I trust Ani completely. If she thinks she can do this then let her!"

"Stand down Cadet Meyers," he said to Sydney. Z walked over to Ani and Syd and stood her ground.

"If you release Ani then Syd and I will walk too," Z said. Cruger looked to Sydney and she nodded. "Those are our friends and family up there. You know better than any one of us what it's like to nearly lose the one you love. You can't stand there and tell us that if that was Isydia up there you wouldn't do the same thing."

Kat saw the hurt look in her comrade's eyes and knew that Z had hit a hot spot with her comments.

After thinking for a moment Cruger sighed. "You're right Carson… I would do the same thing." He paused a moment as he heard a faint beeping noise coming from one of the consoles.

The girls turned to the scattered image that appeared on the screen and their breath left them.

Morphed, in their SWAT gear were Sky, Bridge, and Jack.

Kat pulled up what communications they had. "Rangers? Are you alright?" she asked.

"The ship… heavy damage… Jervix… containment… Jack… injuries…" Bridge's broken up babbling was barely heard over the elation in the command center.

Ani only heard one part though… Jack was injured. She saw him in the corner of the screen and she could tell he was extremely fatigued.

"Need… assistance… fuel levels and oxygen dropping…" Bridge got out.

Kat confirmed their coordinates. "We're sending the Flyers, Bridge," she said calmly. She turned to Cruger and he nodded.

"Landers, get up there," he said to Ani as he turned and walked out.

Syd and Z let out happy sighs and tears as they embraced Ani. Ani got out of the embrace and just about sprinted down to the hanger under the Academy. Within minutes she was morphed and piloting the SWAT Megazord into space.

As he watched her take off, Cruger clenched the metal railing in front of him. He had known that Ani was loyal to SPD and would be for the rest of her days. He truly believed that she wouldn't have defied him if he had stayed firm in his decision to dismiss her.

She was one of the finest people he had ever had the pleasure of working with. She was extremely intelligent and sure of herself. He never saw her fight a battle and lose, and he had come to a very serious decision… when he left the Academy he would promote Kat to Commander, and hoped Ani would take on Kat's former role in the technical department.

He hadn't told her as much, but Kat knew; it was her idea after Cruger asked her to take over for him. Animaria was the only person Kat trusted enough to take on her former job. Ani could handle it all right… but what about Jack?

Kat walked out to the balcony where he was standing and took up a spot next to him.

"You think she'll still want the job?" she questioned carefully.

"Yes," he said. "I do… As soon as they all get back I'll sit her down and we'll officially announce my relocation to headquarters and your promotion." Kat nodded her head.

"Sydney has contact with Ani and they all should be back within the next few hours." With that Kat returned to the command center and Cruger waited out the return of his rangers…

Nearly 10 hours later the SWAT Megazord returned to New Tech City and the Rangers were all reunited.

When Ani had reached them, she had been told the entire story which the boys were now relaying to Kat, Cruger, and their wives.

Apparently the extra power to the shields had worked enough for them to get their wits together and fire back at him.

Their shot hit his ship and it exploded instantly. Just as they were about to turn back though, they noticed their fuel and oxygen levels dropping. Jack went to the engine room to try and fix the problem, only to find that Jervix was hanging on to the ship, firing at it with a blaster of some sort.

Jervix fired relentlessly at the ship and Jack had been hit with flying pieces of debris. After informing Bridge and Sky, they all morphed just as Jervix gained entry to the ship. Jack took a heavy blast and Sky and Bridge immediately sprung into action.

The battle wasn't overly long, what with the criminal being outnumbered, and he was contained. The damage to the ship however was unfixable and they knew they would never make it back alive if Ani hadn't come when she did.

Jack was in the infirmary almost immediately with Ani by his side. Dr. Felix began taking numerous tests and Jack groaned.

"It's not like I haven't been hit in battle before doc," Jack winced as the feline drew some blood.

"I understand that cadet, but from the surveillance video you took a direct hit from an alien weapon. We need to take all the proper precautions." He finished his workup and left the room.

Ani took his hand and kissed it. "Honestly… are you feeling alright?" she asked gently.

"I'm a little sore in my shoulder, but besides a few bumps and bruises I feel fine," he said as he tried to sit up, only to wobble slightly.

Ani grinned. "And besides the dizziness?" Jack pulled her to him and kissed her gently.

"A few days of bed rest and I'll be fine."

Ani grinned cheekily. "Well then we're going to have to get you into bed as soon as possible." Ani was about to kiss him again when they heard someone clearing their throats.

Dr. Felix entered the room and handed Ani a readout. She looked over the chart and signed off.

"You're being released Jack, but I want you back here tomorrow for a follow-up," he said.

Jack didn't need to be told twice and, with Ani's help, he got out of the bed and they walked down to their apartment.

Ani opened the door and Jack headed straight for the bedroom where he promptly stripped down to his boxers and lay down under the rich bedding.

While Jack was in the other room, Ani checked their messages and sighed when she found one from Cruger requesting a meeting with her the day after tomorrow. From the tone in his voice things did not sound good.

Sighing, she turned the lights off, plunging the room into darkness and walked the short way to her bedroom. Once in her nightshirt, she climbed into bed and curled up next to her husband.

Jack's arm wound it's way around her and he began kissing her neck. Ani knew where this was going to lead and rolled over to face him.

"Are you sure you want to do this? You're injured, not to mention fatigued from the trip and-"

"Can you get rid of the scientist and let me make love to my wife please?" he asked gently.

Ani sighed happily and climbed on top of him. "If that's what you want… but don't blame me if you're sore in the morning," she said as she leaned over to kiss him.

Jack grinned devilishly and rolled them so he was on top of her…

Hours later, Jack rose from bed to get a glass of water from the kitchen. Ani was nestled safely in his arms and he hated having to wake her to get up. He kissed her forehead, and as he had done numerous times, he used his powers so not to disturb her…

What happened next was something he was not expecting. As he lifted his arms, they began to lift Ani. Jack's eyes widened and he shook his head. He tried again, but got the same result.

Panic now rose within him as he cautiously got up. He stared at his hands and attempted to phase through the mattress… nothing happened.

Jack looked to the closed door and, although his brain told him not to, he ran towards it.

Ani shot up from bed when she heard Jack slam into the door. She looked and saw Jack laying on his back groaning.

Instantly she was up and at his side. "What the hell happened?" she asked,

Jack sat up and held his head, still in shock.

"My… my powers," he muttered. Ani looked at him strangely and waved her hand, turning the lights on slightly.

"What happened?"

Jack took her hand in his and pushed against it. "My powers… they're gone."