THe Quantum Ranger and several of the cadets and officers stormed outside of the academy. They were surrounded by an army of Troobians fighting other cadets and officers with the Omega Ranger leading them in battle.

Eric stepped forward when he saw Broodwing in the center of the battle. "If any of you are having second thoughts, now would be the time to turn back," he announced, as he changed from blaster to sword form. His hands tightened around his sword. "No guarantees that you'll live though this."

"We're not going to leave you Commander Myers," replied one of the cadets proudly.

"This is our home. We have to protect it," replied another.

Another replied. "Sir, it would be an honor to fight by your side, and if it comes down to it, die by your side."

"All right. Let's go help our friends!" Eric led them into battle, knowing that there was a very good chance that this could be his last battle. His eyes locked onto Broodwing, he stormed right up to him, while the cadets and officers he led into bat5le joined up with the others and Omega to defeat the Troobian army. "Broodwing!"

Broodwing turned around. "My, my, my, if it isn't the Quantum Ranger, Eric Myers." Broodwing laughed. "I'm surprised that you had the courage to show up, considering what happened last time when you were in a battle such as this."

"Cut the shit and fight. I don't have time for small talk," exclaimed Eric.

"Fine, have it your way!" Broodwing was quick and was up in Eric's face slashing the Quantum Ranger with his sword and then kicked him hard in the chest, sending Eric flying back a few feet. "I was expecting more out of one of the most feared Power Rangers. Time seems to have slowed you down," mocked Broodwing as he stood over Eric.

Eric pushed himself up and took a deep breath. "I may not be as young as I used to be, but I promise you I still have what it takes to take you down!"

"We shall see."

"Rangers!" Cruger's eyes widened, when he saw Gruumm and five Krybots coming with Jack and the others. His wife stood by his side holding his arm tight.

"Commander, you're all right," announced Jack, as he and the others were shoved into the holding chamber. They all looked relieved to see that he was still alive and appeared to be unharmed.

"For now, anyways," hissed Gruumm glaring in the cell eyeing them all with a stare that sent chills down their backs. "It won't be long now, the Earth will soon fall." His plans were all starting to come together once earth was defeated he would set his eyes on the remain SPD alliance worlds.

"Not if I can help it," roared Sky as he stormed up to the bars, ignoring Cruger calling his name. Once Sky's hands touched the bars he was shocked with a powerful electric surge of energy, sending him falling back towards Bridge and Syd.

"Sky, are you alright?" asked Syd, her voice full of concern and vividly shaken ny what just happened.

"I'm..." Sky could still feel the tingling in his hands, slowly moving up to his arms. "...fine," He glared at Gruumm hard, anger burning in his eyes, as he breathed heavily.

"…And this from a son of a red Ranger; I would have expected something more from you," Gruumm laughed at Sky shaking his head in amusement. "Pathetic!"

"Why you-" Sky was about to lash out at him again heading back towards the bars, but found his friends holding him back with all their might.

"Sky, cut it out," exxlaimed Syd as she and Bridge held him back. "You're going to get yourself killed!"

"Sorry to cut this short, but I have more important business to attend to," hissed Gruumm as he made his exit. Once Gruumm and the Krybots were gone, Bridge and Syd let go of Sky.

Frustrated, Sky walked up to the back wall and punched it. He didn't even feel the pain; he was too angry, whether at himself or Gruumm he didn't know.

"You need to learn to control that temper of yours," announced Cruger, knowing that more than once it had gotten Sky into trouble. He waited for Sky to answer or talk back to him, like he had done so many times in the past, but this time Sky just went to a corner and turned his back towards everyone. Cruger sighed and turned back to the others, grateful to see that all of them appeared to be unharmed. "It is good to see that all of you are all right. I was afraid that the A-Squad might have eliminated you."

All their faces fell as they began reliving what had happened just moments ago. "Actually it was the other way around," answered Syd softly, she still couldn't get the picture out of her head, of the A-Squad protecting them from Gruumm… They sacrificed themselves for all of them, but now looking at their surroundings that sacrifice seems in vain.

"What do you mean?" questioned Commander Cruger.

Jack gulped in heavily; he couldn't even bring himself to say it. Bridge then took it upon himself to explain what had happened. "They took a hit that was meant for us, but not before we learned about their pasts."

"Oh dear…" Isinia cried. "The poor dears, all they've ever known was pain." She felt her husband put his arm around her comforting knowing how difficult this must be for her.

"Did they survive?" asked Cruger.

Bridges face broke up. "I…I..."

Z smiled faintly and gripped his shoulder. "I don't think so; Gruumm took us away so fast we didn't get to see." It almost brought tears to her eyes, they were going to help them, help them get their lives back, give them back what Gruumm had taken from them. And then this happened….

"We're sorry we failed you, sir," announced Jack.

"You didn't fail me," announced Cruger as he gripped Jacks shoulder. "You did your best, that's all I could ever ask of you." Jack smiled faintly and nodded his head. Cruger then took his wife's hand. "Rangers, I would like you to meet my wife Isinia."

"But I thought you said…" started Syd.

"It would seem that we were both lied to for many years." Isinia stepped forward. "It is an honor to meet you all. Doggie has told me so much about you."

"The honor's all ours." Jack shook her hand. "It is good to know you survived the attack on your home world."

She smiled. "Thank you." She then looked over at Sky, although she had never met him, or his father, she had known that Sky's father was one of the best Power Rangers there was ever was. She knew he was hurting, that he was troubled by what Gruumm said. She walked up to Sky. "And it is an even greater honor to meet the son of Wesley Collins, I never met him, but I know he accomplished many things in his time as a Ranger," she announced as she held out her hand.

For a moment Sky looked into her eyes, and soon felt himself at ease. Cruger was right, he did need to learn to control his temper, especially now. The team needed him. The last thing they needed was him losing his cool. "Thank you." He shook her hand, and then his eyes wandered over to Cruger. He smiled faintly and shook his head.

"You're going down, Broodwing, once and for all!" Eric jumped in front of the cadets that had been assisting him. Most of them were young teenagers and not fully trained to handle a monster like Broodwing who is highly skilled in combat.

"Do you really think you can protect them?" Broodwing mocked trying to get under Eric's skin. It was no secret even throughout the galaxy that after the death of his partner the Quantum Ranger abandoned SPD. "When you couldn't even protect your partner, your friend." Broodwing knew the death of Commander Wes Collins haunted the Ranger before him and he would use that to break him, to bring him down once and for all.

Eric sighed heavily, turned his head, looking over his shoulder at the scared and frightened faces of the young cadets, shaking in their boots, but trying to be so brave, faces so young, shouldn't have to be so brave. They shouldn't be fighting at all. He turned back and looked Broodwing hard in the eyes, becoming serious and determined, as if he could feel all the anger and fury of Wes's death returning to him full force.

Broodwing smirked as he walked circles around Eric. "I should tell you, Gruumm was a fool for putting the hit out on your partner," he exclaimed cunningly. He stopped right in front of Quantum Rangers visor. "He wasn't any real threat."

Erics fists tightened together. How dare he talk of Wes, as if Wes had been nothing! Wes had given his life as a Ranger. He sacrificed his life for others. He sacrificed everything! "You're wrong!" Eric exclaimed. "Many lives wouldn't be alive today, if it hadn't been for Wes." He raised his wrist up, sword in hand. "This one's for you, Wes." Wes, his best friend, his partner, his brother - he wasn't going to let Wes down, not this time.

The young cadets' eyes widened, as a feeling of hope came over them. They watched as the long retired SPD Ranger and Commander fought against Broodwing; none of them had known him, but they all knew his history as the Quantum Ranger, as being one of the most feared Rangers, throughout the galaxy. "Yeah, go get him, Quantum Ranger !" they cheered. They soon rejoined in what looked like the never ending battle with the Troobian army.

Sam fought hard, but he was growing weary. He had been fighting for hours to no end. When he had seen Eric arrive his heart skipped a beat; part of him was relieved that he had come, but another part of him was fearful of what could happen next. And now with the Rangers captive or dead, it seemed that what he had come back to prevent might have not been prevented at all, only delayed…

He faced off with the Troobians surrounding him. "You won't win. I won't let you!" He used his weapon and twirled around, taking out three Troobians. But the three he had taken down didn't seem to compare to the army of Troobians around him, thousands were still left. "It's happening again…." Even now he could see it happening all again right before his very eyes. He had been so young, but he still remembered the day he and many of the younger cadets had been sent away, underground. He would later learn of the many deaths from that dau that included the Rangers. Many deaths would follow the days, weeks and months after and one of those was fighting here today.

"Look around you, you can't win!" Broodwing roared. "Gruumm has the Rangers. It's hopeless, give up while you still have the chance!" Sam whirled around and watched as Eric and Broodwing circled around.

"If you know me so well, then you would know I don't give up so easily," Eric exclaimed breathlessly, as he charged towards Broodwing, holding his sword firmly.

But Broodwing was ready for him as soon as Eric jumped in the air. He moved quicker than light, up behind him and slashed him in the back. Eric cried out and groaned as he dropped to the ground hard, his helmet visor cracked. He rolled himself over, and watched Broodwing approach him. He heard the Omega Ranger cry his name out, he was vaguely aware that they had never even been introduced. How does he know who I am? But right now he needed to worry about getting up and staying alive. He had to stop Broodwing, but his body ached and he was already exhausted from the nonstop massive battle.

"Make it easy on yourself, and don't get up." Broodwing raised his sword high above his head.

"NO!" Sam started towards them, but Broodwing quickly turned around and used a small blaster from his belt and shot Sam.

Sam dropped to the ground, stunned, and could only watch helplessly as Broodwing was about to kill one of the greatest Rangers the Academy had ever had. His head dropped, not being able to watch. He felt an enormous amount of guilt about the promise he had made, as it started to come undone. He failed. "I'm so sorry, old friend…"

Eric wondered if this was what it had been like for Wes, seeing flashes of his life. His childhood that had been a mix of good and bad, meeting Wes, becoming a Ranger, and finally meeting Hayley again after so many years, falling in love, starting a family. "I'm sorry, Hails..." And just when he thought it was over a bright light emerged above them….

Broodwing looked up. "What?"

Eric glared up at the bright light and watched as something jumped out of it and now was in between him and Broodwing. "Another Ranger? Who the hell are you?" exclaimed Eric shocked that she had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

"I'm the one who's going to save your ass," she annouced before she turned around and faced Broodwing. "Broodwing, it's so nice to see you again. I got a little present for you, from the future!"

"The future?" gasped Broodwing. What was happening? Who was this Ranger who seemed to know who he was, but he had never seen any data about the Ranger before him. In fact she was more of a mystery then even the Omega Ranger who showed up months ago.

She tightened her fist and it began to glow. She punched him square in the chest, and watched as he went flying back. She turned back around to Eric. "You okay?" she asked as she held her hand out to help Eric up.

"Yeah." He brushed his Ranger uniform off. "Thanks."

Sam came rushing over. "M-…" Nova shot him a look, and even though he couldn't see behind her helmet, he knew she was giving him a look that could kill. "I mean Nova, man am I glad to see you!"

"Nova? What the hell kind of name is Nova?" asked Eric.

Nova looked ahead and saw Broodwing starting to get up; her hit apparently had only knocked the wind out of him. "Do you want the whole name story, or do you want to take care of fish bowl head first?" She picked up Eric's sword and handed it to him. "But together this time, that is if you're up for it."

"I'm always up for it." He smirked. "It's time to show you kids what one of the big boys can do."

"Oh really, if it weren't for me you'd be in little pieces about now!"

"I was just waiting to make my move," he answered.

Sam sighed. "If you two are done arguing, we have a battle to win."

They weren't sure what had gone on or what to expect. Kat and Boom had snuck around from the back entrance of the academy and had taken one of the trucks. They drove straight to where the Rangers had faced off against the A-Squad. Time definitely wasn't on their side, and if this was some kind of trick, they were walking right into it. But Boom had assured Kat that he didn't believe that the A-Squad was a threat anymore.

"It doesn't look good," stated Kat as she stopped the truck seeing five mangled unmoving bodies.

"We have to at least check," urged Boom. ...Just maybe there was a chance.

Kat nodded her head, knowing he was right, whether they were on the good side or bad it was the right thing to do. She couldn't just leave them. She was a doctor, she had taken an oath. "Okay, but we go in nice and easy." She opened up the glove compartment and took out a blaster. Safety first.

The two walked slowly over to the motionless bodies. It didn't appear that any of them had survived the brutal attack. Kat stepped over Cliff's legs and knelt down next to him, as Boom stood a few feet back, waiting for her command. She put the blaster down and slowly moved her hand towards his neck, to feel for a pulse. Time seemed to stop as she waited, and waited… Her head dropped and she turned back to Boom shaking her head.

Boom's head fell. "I'll go gather the gear, so we can at least prepare them for transport."

Kat nodded her head and smiled faintly. She got to her feet, but then was yanked back down. Her heart was racing and her face turned white as a ghost as she turned her head back around and found Cliff looking right at her. His dark stern eyes glared right through her, sending chills down her back. "…Boom!" she gasped.

Her voice was so soft that he barely had heard her. He turned around and was blown away. "W-Wah…."

Her voice was shaky as she spoke. "Let go!"

Cliff didn't answer. He slowly released his grip that had been firmly holding onto her wrist. He stood up and looked around, at his teammates that were lying on the ground motionless. He knelt down, going from Kane and Kim, to Tusk and Charlie, while Kat and Boom stood back watching, not knowing what to do.

"It's not possible," exclaimed Kat breathlessly as she watched Cliff check on his comrades. "You didn't have a pulse." He shouldn't be alive. She couldn't explain it. How was he up and moving around?

Cliff sighed heavily each time. He closed Charlie's eyes and bowed his head down. They were all gone, like so many things before. All he could hope was they were in a better place, no longer having to live in fear and pain. That they found peace and were back with the ones they had all lost so long ago. "May you finally be at peace, my friends." He stood up and headed towards Boom and Kat, but only to pass them by.

"Where are you going?" asked Kat as she started after him. There were still so many unanswered questions.

Cliff stopped and looked over his shoulder. "Someone has to save the Rangers and Commander Cruger," he answered with a heavy sigh. "...and I'm the only one here that has access to Gruumms ship."

"You can't go alone. You could be killed," exclaimed Kat. She wasn't even sure how he survived the attack. The others had all been killed on impact, but somehow Cliff survived.

"I've had worse things happen to me," he answered regrettable. There were worse things then death. He bit his lip and then turned around and met her eyes, but not before taking one last glance at his friends. They had been through so much over the last twenty years; all any of them wanted was for the nightmare to be over, and maybe now it could be. He would finish things for them. "Take care of them for me."

Before Boom or Kat could say another word, Cliff was gone in a flash of yellow light. Boom turned back to the remaining four, who had bravely sacrificed themselves to save the Rangers. "Do you think he can do it?"

"He may be our only chance at getting the Rangers back," exclaimed Kat. She didn't know it then, but something told her there was a very good reason that Cliff had been able to survive the blast, unlike the others. There was something about him, something that separated him from everyone else. "We just have to believe he can do it."