The six SPD rangers only held their own along with the Mystic Force rangers

"Shadow Saber!" a voice said

"Commander!" Kat said

After the battle they all returned to Rootcore and Kat explained to Cruger and the rangers what was going on, the rangers weren't in uniform so they could blend with the citizens of Briarwood if such was necessary. The only ones that couldn't blend were Kat and Cruger, whom had both decided to stay within the area of Rootcore.

Kat was sitting outside when Cruger found her.

"Kat, are you okay?" he asked

"I'm fine" she replied, "… no, what am I saying, I'm not okay, Doggie I'm scared,"

"Scared, why?"

"I don't know if I'll ever see home again or my daughter" Kat sighed then felt her friend rest his hand on her shoulder.

"Its okay, Kat, we'll find a way" he hugged her shoulders lightly and felt her snuggle near him and thought it best not to yield to the temptation to fully embrace her. No matter how tempting the thought was to him until he realized that was what she truly needed and hugged her close.

Udonna knew that Cruger and Kat were close and she knew that it was best for her to stand back and let Cruger take care of Kat because he knew how to help her best.

"Clare, I think it is time for you to work on some incantations you've been getting wrong." Udonna said

"Okay, Udonna" Clare peeked at where Cruger and Kat were before going to get started.

The rangers were talking, sort of getting to know each other, Vida and Z were talking about music, Nick and Jack were sparring, Bridge and Chip were talking as were Xander and Sky, and Madison and Sydney. (Madison had started to pull out her camcorder, but Sydney talked her out of it telling her that they would have to take the tape when they left, if the left).

Then Vida and Z heard Xander say something about their music that Sky agreed with that insulted them both

"Xander, Shut up!" Vida said

"No!" Xander replied stubbornly and Sky agreed until Z and Vida took to their feet and approached them

"Take that back!" Z said

"No" Xander said, "I won't take it back"

"Neither will I"

"That might be your trouble" Vida said as the girls were ready to fight, it would take a miracle to stop this from turning into world war three… or maybe just Kat and Udonna!

Udonna was the first to step up with Kat close behind her

"Rangers I will have no squabbling in here, I'd much rather have you save your energy for your enemies!" Udonna said angrily

"She's right" Kat said in controlled aggravation "you fight your enemy not your teammates, and furthermore this is not the time or place to be trading insults"

Until that moment very little about Udonna and Kat seemed similar, but at that minute some similar qualities between them came forward to be noticed.

Cruger started to step in but didn't as he realized that Kat and Udonna have things under control.

The four agreed that they would resolve this peacefully and let it go at that in order to try and keep Rootcore halfway peaceful.

That would be a challenge, what with two teams of rangers in one place, Kat thought asking five teenagers to put up with each other in tight quarters was bad, try controlling about twice that many in even smaller quarters… no easy feat by any standards.

The ranger teams began to work together and both Kat and Udonna saw the silence as meaning they were plotting something mischievous that might cause serious problems.

"What do you think they're up to?" Kat asked

"I am not sure, but I do not like the silence" Udonna answered calmly as she worked on her potion barely looking at the felina scientist as she leaned on the wall nearby.

"I don't like it either" Kat sighed and stood in sheer boredom, her workaholic nature was being bristled by the fact that she had absolutely no work she could do "but they aren't killing each other, that's the only good thing from this silence." Kat shrugged calmly.

Udonna had to find some humor in Kat's "bright side" that the rangers were getting along after the squabble four of them, two from the SPD squad and two mystic force rangers, Z and Vida versus Xander and Sky.

Then something happened in the far corner of the room and Udonna realized Clare had messed up again.

"Clare!" Udonna sighed "Excuse me…" she passed Kat rather quickly and Kat found something about this intriguing and headed down there with Udonna to find that somehow Clare had turned herself into another animal, a cat! Only the SPD cadets saw the true irony of the situation that Kat comes and Clare just happens to end up inadvertently turning herself into a cat!

"Oh dear child, you have to learn eventually how to keep from turning to animals" a silent wave of Udonna's wand caused Clare to turn back to normal.

"Yes, Udonna, thank you" Clare smiled awkwardly as she was rather embarrassed by this latest screw up.

"You said she was harebrained, you just didn't say how bad she was…" Jack whispered to Nick

"I guess I didn't realize how bad she truly was…" Nick paused as they walked away "did I tell you she turned herself into a sheep once and later on that week a goldfish?"

"Oh shoot sounds like she's just clumsy"

"That just about sums it up," Xander said

The rangers didn't know that Gruumm was plotting with Koragg to try and destroy the rangers

Nick watched Madison carefully as she spoke with Sky and Bridge, he didn't know whether he could trust those guys or not, he didn't doubt that he could trust Madison, but it wasn't her trustworthiness in question it was that of Sky and Bridge, and he wasn't sure how to react to them so he just gave them benefit of his doubt, but still kept a watchful eye on them in case he had to step in on Madison's behalf.

To Be Continued…

Pls. leave a review and note that all flames will be redirected at either Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein" or at the nearest hurricane, whichever I chose.