Ralph stood in the middle of the white room and watched as the others woke up. He always hated knowing that he would be fine when he was beamed aboard but Bill and now others seemed to always get stunned. "You guys OK," he said as he helped Pam sit up.

"Yeah, fine kid, just wish these guys would take it easier with their light show," said Bill grumbling.

Tony still layer on his pallet, eyes closed. "Tony..." said Ralph, shaking the man's shoulder, but didn't get a response. "Bill, you don't think he got a bigger shock?"

Bill looked at the younger agent, noticing a twitch only a senior FBI agent would see, and frowned. "Nah, he's playing possum. Come on Villacana, they can make us wait all our lives if they want to, pretending to still be out of it won't do ya any good."

"All right, fine Maxwell," said the younger agent sarcastically as he sat up and glared at the other man. "Look, you guys might want to talk to whoever it was who did the beam me up impression, but I don't..." Seeing both men's faces, he realized it was a losing battle, so he got up, yelping when he received a static shock.

Pam looked around and frowned. "Where's Aidan," she asked. "You don't think that..."

Ralph shook his head as the door opened, having a hint as to where she was. "I think you're about to find your answer," he said as he offered his arm to Pam. Tony followed alongside Bill, deciding not to ask anymore questions just yet, though inside he was worried he might actually pass out from fear.

As they entered the main room, a green guy walked up toward them and motioned for a little green creature, who came up to them on a moving cart. The little green guy dropped a small clear item in Ralph's hand, and did the same for Bill, Pam and Tony. "It's a translator," said Ralph as he put the item in his ear. "Bill and I've used these when we were on the ship before."

Pam and Tony looked at the items and turning to each other, shrugged and placed them in their ears. When they were ready, the green guy spoke.

"Mr. and Mrs. Hinkley, Mr. Maxwell, Mr. Villacana, welcome to the ship," he said. "I wish we could have met under better circumstances."

Ralph dropped his arm from Pam's and stepped forward. "Where's Aidan, is she all right?"

The alien lifted up a device to light up one of the healing chambers, revealing Aidan. She was still unconscious, but also bathed in a warm gold light. Ralph shuddered slightly, realizing this must've happened when he was wounded in that shootout so many years ago. It was the first time they ever met the green guys in the flesh. 'No wonder Bill briefly mentioned this part of that visit to me,' he thought. Just then, Aidan flickered and disappeared, causing Pam to gasp and Ralph to wrap his arm around her shoulders to steady her.

Tony started forward, wanting to tell off the green guy for toying with the Hinkleys' emotions, among other things, when they heard the door slide open again. They turned and found Aidan inside, standing up with her back to the group. "Hey Ralph, I've got a great idea for a school fund-raiser," she said, a bit delirious. Ralph and Pam chuckled, realizing she might have been given something before or while she was being healed. Oblivious to what was going on, Aidan continued, turning around. "We can have the teachers make jewelry for an auction, but you'll have to watch out for..."

She stopped and looked around, realizing this wasn't Whitney High. The others noticed that she was slowly starting to replay the events in her head when she touched her temple and pointed to her leg. When she looked down, noticing her embroidered jeans were clean but now had a tie and stick (now loosely tied) around her leg, she frowned in confusion and looked up, seeing the group. Aidan walked out of the room and up to Pam and Ralph, ignoring everything else. The two gave her a big hug, crying with relief. She returned the hug, still confused. "Uh, hi guys ... wasn't I shot?"

Ralph pulled back and looked into her eyes, smiling. "Yeah, Ade, you were, but someone helped you out." The three turned around and saw the green guy looking at them, smiling. Aidan gave a yelp and ducked behind Ralph, peeking her eyes over his shoulder like a scared three year old. Ralph chuckled and eased her back to the front. "Don't worry, they're friendly," he said, putting an arm around her shoulder. "I've known about them for years. This translator will let you talk to them."

After she took the translator from the assistant and, after a nudge from Ralph, put it in her ear, the green guy spoke again. "Aidan, I apologize for scaring you, but it was vital that you come here to be healed. Times have changed, and you and Mr. Villacana will be a part of it."

"Him and me? I've never met him until today," she said frowning, trying to clear the wisps of fog still in it. "Could you please tell me what's going on?"

The green guy motioned for the group to come forward to the screens and pushed a device. The screens flickered showing a much younger Ralph wearing the jammies. Aidan and Tony stood staring in awe and slight confusion as Ralph flew in the air, lifted up cars, and fought bad guys with ease. There were also pictures of Bill punching out bad guys and working with Ralph on missions; and Pam was helping with research, even fighting a couple of bad guys herself. As she listened to the green guy narrarate, Aidan started to understand that her godfather had been more than just a teacher and principal, he'd been a hero too. Turning toward Ralph, she was surprised to see the suit was a different color, remembering it was red at the school before she was shot.

"Sir, what happened to Ralph's suit," asked Pam.

"Yeah, I was wondering if it had some hint as to what was going to, uhm, happen to Ralph and me, for a very long time," Bill said, running a hand through his silver hair.

The green guy sighed and shook his head. "No, but it is time to move on and for changes to be made."

"Changes," said Ralph puzzled. "What do you mean, like I have to retire?"

When the alien nodded, Bill stepped forward. "Uh, sir, Ralph and me have been on the straight and narrow most of the time, especially after that dream you gave us. After all these years, what have we done wrong to suggest hanging up the cape?"

"Nothing, Mr. Maxwell. You and Mr. Hinkley have been partners for many years and have helped save the Earth from its own self-destruction," said the green guy. "However, we knew there would be a time when you and Mr. Hinkley would no longer be able to safely help out others, and as such realized the suit would pass to someone else and you would, as you say, retire. That time was today."

"So, why's the suit now gray," asked Pam "It's never done anything like that."

"Yes, I was wondering about that," said Ralph. "Normally, when I carry people they seem weightless, but a while ago I found it difficult to carry Aidan. What's wrong with the suit?"

"The suit you wear Mr. Hinkley will no longer function with you wearing it," said the green guy. "However, it will return to its proper color and the powers will be restored when it's handed over to the new person to wear the suit."

Tony gave the green guy a funny look. "So, uh, I still don't follow. Mr. H here wore this stupid getup all these years ... Hey waidasec! I remember this outfit. Hey wasn't this that getup you wore at the circus, when you got shot outta the cannon through the tent? And before that with Nelson Corey, the guy with the cape dat was you?"

Ralph nodded. "Yep, that was me Tony. Helped out quite a bit with a lot of things in this getup, as you say, and not just those times."

"You helped all those people and now this suit decides to retire you. Talk about funny descriptions. You sound just like a teacher with a bad dress sense... again."

"Hey Tony, I wouldn't say anything about funny job descriptions until you teach jewelry making," said Aidan sarcastically.

"Yea, that is a funny job. You look like something from grandma's attic."

Aidan wasn't amused. "Hey, there's a reason I'm dressed grubbier than the other teachers. It's a messy job, and I still get jokes about the time I fell into the sand casting pit. But, it's pretty obvious that this job description is the strangest one of all."

"So, if Ralph's not supposed to wear the suit, who is," asked Pam, still a bit confused at the greenguy's comments. "Does Ralph have to choose the next wearer?"

"The suit has already decided. It turned gray when it was certain the right person to succeed Mr. Hinkley was found and the time was right," the green guy said simply.

"If that's true, that means...," said Bill, stopping when he remembered an altered Holly dream he had a few times over the years, including recently, of a blonde haired woman with a certain necklace wearing the jammies. He didn't think about it at first glance earlier, but now... 'Nah, it can't be...' he thought... He looked at the necklace to be sure...

"Her!" said Bill.

"Aidan?" said Ralph, Pam and Tony.

"M...Me," Aidan stammered. The green guy nodded. "I'm going to be wearing this ... outfit? O-OK, so, why am I the one the suit chose?"

"You were selected by the suit because it knew you would follow in Mr. Hinkley's footsteps and use it for good. However, you were seriously wounded. When Mr. Hinkley was saving your life, the suit used its reviving powers in conjunction with his efforts to bring you back from the brink of death so you could fulfill your destiny. It worked, but you still had to be brought to the ship to finish healing and to receive the suit," said the green guy. "This was the last duty the suit gave you, Mr. Hinkley, but the greatest one... giving her back the gift of life." Aidan unconsciously rubbed her sternum and finding it sore, she realized exactly what the green guy meant.

"OK, so the suit's chosen her," said Bill a bit skeptically. "But that doesn't explain what Villacana is doing here, unless..."

"Unless what," said Tony. "I ain't gonna wear a dumb suit like that."

"No, you're to work with Aidan, just as Mr. Hinkley and Mr. Maxwell were paired up," said the green guy.

"Partners," said Tony condescendingly. "No way, I work alone. I ain't gonna baby-sit the teacher's daughter just because she has to wear her daddy's longjohns and go flyin' around like a kite. You'd have to be higher than a kite to think I would do that at all."

Aidan just glared at him for the moment and turned to the green guy. "So, um, now that I'm supposed to wear the suit, how am I going to wear it if Ralph still has it?"

Ralph put his hand on her shoulder to prove her point, but after the green guy pressed a button and a flash of light, Aidan was wearing the suit. It was in the same two-piece tunic and tights style as she saw Ralph wear on the screen and had the belt, boot spats, shoes and black cape with red trim. Unlike a few moments ago, however, the rest of the suit returned to its bright red color save the belt, which was always gray. Ralph was still wearing his regular pants, but now was shirtless and holding her streetclothes.

The green guy smiled softly at the group. "Things will be different now, and all will have to adapt to changes. Before you ask, Mr. Hinkley, we know that you lost both instruction books, but they would've been gone now anyway. They disintegrate after one of your years as most suit wearers would have learned all the skills by then. And as such, Aidan will be given a new instruction book with the possible changes that she and she alone must read first. All of you will still work together in your own ways to help keep the Earth safe. You must protect this garden planet from itself. Goodbye."

The green guy assistant punched a button and the five were beamed back down to the desert. Aidan looked up in the sky and her eyes widened amazement at the exterior of the spaceship. They watched as the spaceship took off into outerspace and flashed out of sight. Bill looked at Aidan and found she was holding the book of instructions.

Aidan sighed and started walking around, getting used to the way the suit moved. She fidgeted with the collar, finding to her disliking it was high and snug around her neck. She didn't mind trying new things, as that's how she found out she liked foods Pam and Ralph never touched, but this one was a little too odd, even for her. "Great, I'm now a Zorro wannabe in a dumb outfit," she said, grumbling.

Ralph noticed it was similar to the same reaction he had when he first wore the suit. "Come on Aidan, it isn't bad... once you get used to it."

"Yeah, but it'll be a long time, if ever. At least Zorro had a mask to hide his face, but... never mind. Well so, what do I do now," she said trying to figure out what to do next. "Do I just jump and take flight?"

She started to jump up and down, only to hear Tony laugh. "Aidan, you look like a little kid bouncing up and down on a mattress," he said with a smirk. "All you need to do is get a teddy bear and binkie and you'll be ready for bed."

Aidan stopped jumping and turned toward the agent. "Now, listen Tony, if I have to do this, I've got to start somewhere and you're acting like a..."

"Aidan, I wasn't the one that volunteered to be a babysitter..."

"Babysitter! ..."

Realizing in her posture that the argument might turn into a fight, Ralph put a hand on her shoulder before she got mad enough to punch Tony. "Uh, Aidan, this is getting no where. Let's take a look at the instruction book so we know what's different. I know some of what the suit can do, but if some things could change, then what I try to teach you could inadvertently hurt you or someone else."

Aidan started to open the book, and Ralph smiled, knowing she was about to learn how to use the suit properly, something he never was able to quite accomplish. ...

Tony, however, didn't want to have a partner, neither with the FBI or because some intergalactic travelers said so. He grabbed the book from Aidan's hands.

"Tony, give Aidan back the instruction book," said Ralph. "You can't read it. Only someone wearing the suit can read the book. ..."

"No way, I'm going to contact those green bozos and tell them I don't want a partner," said Tony as he opened the book and started punching buttons. "I ain't gonna work with no teacher's pet..."

"Gerbil, hamster, mouse..." said Aidan.

"Huh? What kinda stupid nonsense is that," said Tony as he stopped pressing buttons.

"Well, if I'm a 'teacher's pet,' I'd like to know which one, so what is it?" she said. "But I'm not, I'm a girl. Now lookit, Tony, I'm not sure about this either, but you and I are the partners now, and I've got to figure out what this is if I have to wear this thing. So give it to me..." She grabbed the book and took it away from him. Aidan opened the book and after the lettering changed to English, started punching some buttons to get it to work. Tony put his hands back on it and tried to take it away, starting a tug-of-war.

"Aidan, I'm going to call those green creeps..."

"Tony, there's nothing in here about this book having a 'phone home' function..."

"I don't care, I'm going to..." said Tony as he gave a Herculean effort, as well as Aidan. Because Aidan was stronger in the suit, the book slipped from Tony's hands and he fell to the ground. Aidan, surprised, staggered back a few steps before falling down and doing a backward roll, ending up on her back. Tony got up and glared down at her, only to receive the same glare from Aidan as she sat up. She then closed the book to make sure she didn't break it and stood up. "Now, as I said, I'm going to look at this book so I can ..." said Aidan.

As she was talking, the book began to glow several funny shades of green, the patterns changing rapidly. The five looked at the book, confused.

"Oh great, more of this galactic book nonsense," groaned Bill. "What's it doin' now?"

As it was too high for a human to hear, the suit let Aidan hear a telltale whine come from the book as the glow intensified. Panicking at what could happen, Aidan tossed the book. She was surprised to see that her toss was about 25 yards away.

"Duck," she shouted, and the five hit the ground shortly before hearing an small explosion. Getting up, they turned to see a small fire in the distance, and watched as it quickly burned out. The group walked over to where the book flew, stopping at a boulder. Aidan kneeled and found the book was completely destroyed, with only the suit emblem on the charred cover even noting there had been the book. It was a few moments before anyone spoke.

"Terrific, Artie, ya blew up the book," said Bill.

"Me? I was supposed to have it," she said levelly. "Maybe if Tony didn't try to punch the buttons to get the green guys the book wouldn't have exploded."

"Now listen, you punched them too..." started Tony.

"Yes, but I was supposed to..."

"So, I was going to tell those..."

"QUIET," yelled Pam. The others stopped and stared at the judge, shocked she could command such a presence with just one word. "Tony, Aidan's right, she was supposed to have it to learn about the suit. You had no right to commandeer it and start pressing buttons. My guess is that between both of you pressing buttons, the book got confused and started to act funny, and the green glow might've been from the circuitry overloading. But whatever happened, you both lost the instruction book."

Bill chuckled hearing her tell Tony off, but sobered up when he caught the man's glare out of the corner of his eye.

"This book of instructions," Aidan parroted softly. "So, now what?"

"So, we're back to square one ... again," Ralph sighed. "Well, Ade, you're going to have to do what I did learning suit powers."

"What's that," she said still looking at the charred remains of the book.

"The old tried and true 'here goes nothing again' technique," said the blonde-haired man wryly.