POWER RANGERS: SPACE PATROL DELTA
YEAR TWO

"GRAY"

"S.P.D. Emergency!"

Anubis "Doggie" Cruger shouted the phrase for what he figured was the fifth time today. He lowered the morphing device in his hand and stared at Kat, who was seated at her laboratory desk, inputting data into her computer.

"Feel free to tell me if I'm doing this wrong," Doggie said to her.

Kat sighed, as she stood up and walked over to him.

"I can't figure out what the problem is," Kat said, looking disappointed.

It wasn't often that a problem could stump one of the greatest minds in S.P.D., Cruger thought.

"I've tried everything," Kat explained. "This is the third new morpher I've created and none of them are working."

"Maybe I'm the problem," Cruger said, somberly.

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, you're not exactly an amateur when it comes to making power morphers, Kat. If the morpher's not working, maybe it's my fault," Cruger wondered.

"I don't see how," Kat responded.

"Maybe Cartiron or Omallix did something to me after the Fericks jumped me in town, while the imposter was here," Cruger said.

"Dr. Sevarus gave you a physical yesterday. He didn't find any problems. Besides, I can't think of anything medically that would cause you to be unable to morph," Kat explained. "The morpher is designed to work with your body chemistry specifically. Even if there was a problem with you holding the powers, the morpher should still activate, even if it it's only temporary."

"And you're sure the Shadow powers are in there?" Cruger asked, as he handed the faulty device to her.

Kat couldn't help but smirk, as she laid the device on a nearby table.

"I'm sure," she said with a smile. "It's a puzzle that I just can't seem to solve. Omallix destroyed the clone while he was morphed in the containment card. It was dust. There was nothing left of your old morpher. I collected the leftover ashes and studied them myself."

"In theory, if there's nothing left of my old morpher, the new one should work fine?" Cruger asked.

"In theory," Kat repeated. "Remember when Bridge was captured by Bork. He broke his morpher. That's why I was able to create a new one. His powers could only be bonded with him through one morpher. Since yours was destroyed, the same should hold true...only it doesn't seem to."

Doggie could tell Kat was truly baffled, troubled that she couldn't make things right. He raised his hand to rub her arm, consoling his friend.

"You'll figure it out," Doggie said. "I have faith in you and your abilities."

Kat smiled. Then, the doors to the laboratory opened and in walked B-Squad. None of them were smiling. They were all clearly interested in what was going on in Kat's lab. The group of five all stood, looking at Kat, then Cruger, waiting.

"Well?" Bridge spoke up first. "Any luck?"

"Not yet, Rangers," Kat answered.

"Have you figured out what the problem is?" Sky asked.

"Yeah. It's been days," Syd said.

"Rangers," Cruger broke in, stopping the questions. "Kat is doing her best. We just have to give her time and some space."

"This is the worst time to be without Shadow Ranger," Z said. "Omallix seems to be getting more dangerous by the minute."

"We're well aware of the stakes," Cruger stated, looking at each of them.

They looked tired, Cruger thought. Omallix and his threats against S.P.D. were wearing them down. Cruger couldn't reassure them of the future, but he could try to help make the best of things right now.

"Rangers, I understand that you're all worried about the dangers to S.P.D. and to Earth and about my powers, but you can't go on like this," he said.

"What do you mean?" Quinn asked.

"You've been on alert non-stop for almost a month since Omallix escaped. You need some time off," Cruger said.

Groans and objections could be heard instantly.

"But, sir," Sky said first. "This is no time to take our eyes off the ball."

"Especially after what Omallix did to your powers and to Officer G'laktu," Syd added.

"If you're too stressed and tired, you'll never be able to defeat Omallix," Cruger stated. "Your ordeal on the simulator proves my point even more. I want you all to take the next 24 hours for your own personal use. Rest, relax, play a game, I don't care. Just leave this war behind you for a little while."

"I don't know if that's even possible," Sky said.

"Yeah. What if there's another attack?" Z asked.

"Then, we'll call you. That's what morphers are for...most of them anyway," Cruger said, as he glanced over at his own, which was useless.

"I still don't think this is a good idea, sir," Sky spoke.

"Well, it's an order. No training, no morphing, no Command Center," Cruger ordered. "Now, get going. Your 24 hours starts now."

The Rangers all took deep breaths and left the lab, all looking a bit troubled. Cruger watched them leave, as Kat walked to his side.

"That was a good idea," Kat said. "They need some R&R."

"I only wish I could order some for you too, Kat," Cruger said, as he turned to her.

"Who needs rest?" Kat said, mustering a smile. "I've got a morpher to fix."

She walked back over to the table holding the Shadow morpher and picked it up. She took it to a nearby desk, where her tools lay. She began dismantling it piece by piece. Cruger let out a low growl, so low he didn't even think Kat heard it.

'We can't go on like this,' Cruger thought to himself. "Let me know if you find out anything," Cruger said to her, as he headed for the door.

Kat simply nodded.

An hour later, Kat was still hunched over her work desk, scanning the insides of the dismantled morpher. On her computer screen she saw the graphical readouts, showing the Shadow Ranger. It didn't make sense. The powers were in there. She just couldn't get it to work. Frustrated, she slammed the scanner down on the desk, just as the entrance to her laboratory opened.

Kat looked up to see the head of Quinn Gray peeking in. Kat's frown faded, as she sighed.

"Quinn, what's up?" she asked.

Quinn walked in.

"Commander Cruger gone?"

"He left a while ago. Is something wrong?" Kat asked.

"Well, not really. I just didn't want him to think I was still working. He didn't mention whether your lab was off-limits," Quinn said, as he came in and leaned on one of the tables.

"Unless you've decided to become a scientist, I think you're in the clear," Kat said with a smile. She noticed Quinn was holding something. He stared down at the LCD pad every couple of seconds. "What you got there?"

"It's a letter," Quinn said, before taking a deep breath. "It's from my mother."

Kat smiled, as she walked closer to the cadet.

"Oh? How is Ellie?" Kat asked.

"She's good. She told me to say hello and to thank you for taking care of me."

"Oh, I haven't taken care of you. You've proven that you're perfectly capable of that yourself," Kat responded.

"Still, you've been a great help, especially in the last month," Quinn said, as he nodded affirmatively. He still looked troubled. He stopped leaning on the table, as he started to wince. "Do you mind if I sit down?"

"Of course not," Kat said.

Quinn walked over to her stool and took a seat. He let out a deep sigh.

"Don't tell me your feet are still bothering you?" Kat asked.

"Yeah, but that's not the big problem," Quinn said. He looked into Kat's eyes. "I don't know what to do about my mom's letter."

"What do you mean? I'm sure she's just curious about how things are going. She's no doubt seen coverage of what's been happening around here," Kat said. "The letter arrived today?"

"Actually, it got here a couple weeks ago," Quinn revealed.

Kat looked surprised.

"And you haven't answered?" Kat asked, shocked. "Have you even spoken to your mom since then?"

"I haven't figured out what to say. Kat, she asked about Darren. I haven't even had the heart to tell her that he's gone," Quinn said, looking down in sorrow.

"Quinn, your mother was an S.P.D. Officer for years. She knows the risks and she knows the danger. She'll understand, probably a lot better than most people," Kat explained.

"What if she's disappointed in me?"

"How could she be? You've served S.P.D. with courage and honor as the Green Ranger," Kat said.

"But, it's still my fault that Omallix escaped...and that he killed Darren."

"You can't change the past, Quinn. Believe me, I know," Kat said, as her mind wandered to something else that had been eating at her for weeks now. "Did you mother say anything else in the letter?"

"Just the usual. She wants to know how I am. She asked about the rest of C-Squad and how things were going as a Ranger. She seems proud," Quinn said.

"So, nothing about you?"

Quinn gave Kat a curious look.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

Kat sighed deeply, realizing Quinn didn't know what she was fishing for.

"It's nothing. Look, Ellie Gray was a good friend of mine when she was an officer and she saw some losses in her day. You know she was on the team led by Nathan Tate?" Kat explained.

"Sky's dad?"

"Yes. They were good friends. She was very upset when Nathan died," Kat said. "She had retired a few years before, after she became pregnant with you. She told me that a part of her regretted that decision. She thought maybe she could have been there to help him against Mirloc."

"Really?" Quinn said, looking surprised. "She never told me that."

"Well, now you see that she knows about losing a teammate and a friend. I suggest you take some time to write her back. You might just find that she's more understanding than you think," Kat said, with a smile.

"Maybe you're right," Quinn said, as he stood up, wincing a little from the pain in his feet. "But first, I've got some other friends that I need to talk to."

"Who?"

"C-Squad. I haven't spoken to Casey, Duc or Meg in a while. I guess I've been having the same problem with them, wondering if they'll accept me after everything that's happened," Quinn revealed.

"If they're truly your friends, they will," Kat said.

"Thanks, Kat. My mom has good taste in friends," Quinn said, with a smile.

"So do you, Quinn. So do you," Kat said, as she watched him leave.

Aboard Omallix's base, inside the retrofitted A.F. Rawlings science center, there were many rooms. The science wizard Jintari had transformed most of them into usable space for Omallix's plans for Earth. In the basement of the building, the temperature was hot. The rockets that propelled the structure into space were so close to that floor that the temperature down there would probably have burned a normal human to death.

The group of monsters that now resided in that basement had even seen one of their own succumb to the heat. When they informed Cartiron, he simply dragged the alien creature to the nearest window and tossed him out into space. He was truly ruthless and Omallix was ruthless for making them stay down there.

But, some part of Themaskrion admired them both for their ruthless nature. He knew they were all alike. That is why he offered his services to Omallix in the beginning and why he remained in this basement for weeks, with barely any attention from the alien villain whom they called leader. Cartiron was the one who made the immediate impact. He was the one Omallix chose to be at his side in the battle against S.P.D.

Themaskrion himself was only a petty criminal. He had a few altercations with S.P.D. and had managed to escape by the skin of his teeth, except he didn't have any teeth. The black hole that was his mouth was one of his weapons. He had the ability to spew fire. The intense heat within his body made the blazing temperature of this basement easier to bare for him than it did for a lot of his fellow criminals.

They knew being here was better than life on the streets amongst the humans. But, while he was able to deal with the heat of this basement, Themaskrion was not content to go unused any longer.

Cartiron entered the large room, walking amongst the aliens and monsters. He nodded, silently, as he passed by. Themaskrion figured he was just making sure they were all still alive. Omallix didn't tolerate dead weight, he surmised. Cartiron did these inspections every few days. He reached Themaskrion and stopped. Could Cartiron smell the heated anger and frustration within him?

"Who are you?"

"I am Themaskrion," the monster responded.

"You are a fire-breather?"

"Yes, Cartiron," Themaskrion responded. Everyone knew Cartiron as the Dark Hellion, a true fire demon. "It is a grave weapon."

"Indeed," Cartiron said, as he began to walk away.

Themaskrion wasn't going to let this opportunity pass him by. He stepped forward and called out to Cartiron. Surprised, the red beast turned back to him.

"Is it possible to get an audience with our lord Omallix?" Themaskrion asked. "I believe I may have an idea to strike S.P.D."

"Omallix is not interested in your ideas," Cartiron shot back. His dark voice was smug and any listener could tell that he demanded fear and respect with every breath. Cartiron walked back to face Themaskrion. He then looked past him to the other creatures in attendance. "Omallix has a grand plan for the destruction of S.P.D. While he cannot guarantee you all a place in that battle, he does appreciate your loyalty and your sacrifice."

"But, Cartiron," Themaskrion spoke up again. "We could be of more use if we weren't left to sweat and spoil in this room."

"You will be of use anyway Omallix sees fit," Cartiron said. This time his golden eyes were trained solely on Themaskrion. "When and if Omallix needs your services, he will come for them."

"Maybe I'm tired of waiting," Themaskrion said, before using his power to engulf himself in flames and teleport away.

Cartiron was surprised, but he never let it show, as the creatures all moved, startled by Themaskrion's departure. Cartiron could hear their murmurs.

"Silence!" he yelled. "If any of you cannot take the pressure of this war, then you had better make that decision now. Omallix will not tolerate weakness or rogue behavior."

When none of the creatures spoke up, Cartiron marched out of the basement, leaving them all behind. As for Themaskrion, Cartiron wondered what Omallix would think about one of his army deciding to abandon ship.

Quinn Gray walked down the corridor on Level 3 of the Space Patrol Delta Academy. He approached the living quarters assigned to C-Squad cadets Casey Parker and Meg Thurman. He was about to trigger the door chime when he turned and faced the room that was across the hall. A month ago, those were his quarters. He shared them with Darren Miller, C-Squad's team-appointed leader and his best friend. At that moment, Quinn couldn't help but think back to the last time the two of them were in those quarters together...

"Are you listening to me?"

"Yes, Quinn. I'm listening. What do you want me to do? Cruger offered me the promotion. Was I supposed to say no?" Darren asked.

"I thought we were in this together, all of us. Now, you're just gonna up and leave C-Squad behind," Quinn said, angrily.

Quinn shook his head. Now, he was the one who had left C-Squad behind.

"You don't know what the future holds, Darren," Quinn said. "This is gonna change everything."

"Maybe you're right, but let's not let it tear us apart now..."

They had been torn apart. C-Squad was changed forever on that day. Quinn took a deep breath and turned away from his former home and faced the home of two of his closest friends. He could feel the fear inside him. He could also feel the pain on the soles of his feet. He needed to sit down. He decided to let that be the catalyst to push the door chime. He did, but no one answered. Quinn entered anyway.

Quinn couldn't help but smile. It was just like he remembered it. They had all spent many days in here and in his old quarters. They were a tight-knit squad. He glanced at Meg's side of the room. Her favorite band's poster was on the wall. She liked the hardcore stuff. It fit her personality. She was headstrong and one of the best fighters he knew. He glanced at her model weaponry. She loved putting together old-style guns and rifles. She was the best marksman on C-Squad, gritty and fiery to the end. He grinned as he saw the hand-drawn poster at the head of her bed. It said "Mega Meg." He was there when Darren drew and painted it for her, as a gift. They nicknamed her that a few weeks after they all met. Her toughness was clear even then. She kinda reminded him of Z, except she was much more serious, most of the time.

Quinn turned to the other side of the room, which was completely different. Casey's biggest poster depicted a blue sunrise. Casey loved seeing the lowering blue sun of the planet Finelly, where she spent a few years. Casey's parents were explorers and she spent most of her life in different parts of the galaxy. Her side of the room was filled with artifacts and souvenirs from six different star systems. She was C-Squad's free spirit. He wondered how she & Meg got along so well, being so different. She always managed to bond them all together, though. A small picture frame caught his eye. Casey had made it for Darren's birthday. She must have taken it back when they cleared Darren's things out. Inside the frame was a photo of the five members of C-Squad, all smiling. Quinn sighed, holding it in his hands, as the doors to the room opened and three individuals from that photo walked in.

"Seems like a thousand years has passed since then, huh?"

Quinn turned to see Casey's somber smile. Meg and Duc were at her sides. Quinn was on the verge of tears, but he held them back. Casey held her arms open for him and he walked over, hugging her. The hug between two soon added two more bodies, as Duc & Meg joined in. Quinn held tight to that photo, almost as if he could feel Darren there with them too.

A few minutes later, after the emotions had cleared a bit, the quartet found themselves sitting around the girls' room, smiling and laughing.

"We heard about what happened on the simulator," Duc said to Quinn. "Sounded brutal."

"It was, but we managed to make it through," Quinn said.

"Too bad about G'laktu," Casey said. "You know he was one of the Officers that gave me a tour of the campus before I joined the Academy?"

"Wow," Meg said. "Small world." She looked at Quinn, who was still holding the group photo of them. "So, how's B-Squad treating you, Gray?"

"They're...B-Squad," Quinn said, chuckling. "I mean, they can be intense and honestly I can be a little intense when I'm with them. But, it's interesting. They're not you guys, though. You know I miss the old days when we were all together. Things were so much simpler then."

"That's true," Duc said, "but things change." Duc was always the grounded one of the group. He dealt in facts. He was never one to dwell on the past. Quinn always figured it was because he was adopted. He had been dealt a hard life. A crazed alien killed his parents when Duc was only three years old. S.P.D. had captured the killer and Duc told him how he became enamored with the idea of being an officer after that.

"You're right, Duc. I guess I just never realized they would change so much," Quinn revealed. "I'm sorry, guys."

"Sorry about what?" Casey asked, putting a gentle hand on Quinn's leg, sensing his pain.

"About everything. I haven't been around. I know we all lost Darren. We should have stuck together, mourned together," Quinn said.

"We have," Meg said. "In our own way. We never felt like you abandoned us. B-Squad needed you. Omallix sure wasn't gonna wait for anyone to shed any tears before he made his move. I mean look what happened to Jack Landors."

"Yeah, B-Squad was shook up over that. They still are. Still, I can't help thinking that I let you guys down. I mean, I don't even know what you have all been up to in the last month," Quinn said.

"Well, we've been doing our part," Casey said.

"Exactly," Duc chimed in. "Besides training, we've been helping with the shelter for all the displaced people who lost their homes in the firewall massacre. It's been a lot of work setting up. There are lots of people who need help."

"And we're there to give it," Meg said.

"So, you guys are really doing okay?" Quinn asked.

"We still miss Darren...and you," Casey said, with a somber smile. "But, we're finding that being a trio isn't so bad. I mean it worked for Sky, Syd & Bridge, didn't it?"

"For a while," Quinn said, "but they weren't alone too long and hopefully you guys won't be either."

"We're not alone," Casey said. "We have each other...and you. Whether you like it or not, you're C-Squad forever. Green Ranger or no Green Ranger!"

Quinn looked at each one of them, as they chuckled together. He smiled, knowing what Casey said was true. This felt good. His day off was turning out better than expected.

Inside Commander Cruger's office, the Sirian sat at his desk, looking at the computer terminal there. It was blank. He had a lot on his mind. Sometimes it felt like it was enough to fill an entire computer system. His door chime sounded. He glanced over, knowing exactly who it was.

"Come in," he called out.

The doors opened and his wife, Isinia Cruger, walked in, smiling. Sirian moods were hard to read, when they weren't growling. But, between them, he knew she was happy and her smile was obvious to her husband.

"You wanted to see me?" Isinia said, as she came further inside.

"Have a seat," Doggie responded.

"Oh, should I call you Commander or sir?" Isinia said, with a laugh.

"Well, believe it or not, I idid/i call you here on official S.P.D. business," Doggie revealed.

"Now I'm really curious. What's going on?" Isinia asked.

"You've heard about the shelter that S.P.D. has set up for the Newtech City residents and victims that lost their homes in the massacre?"

"Of course," Isinia responded.

"We've got over 200 beings down there and it's gonna take at least a year to get this city back to where it should be," Cruger explained, as she nodded along. "They need food, clothing and medicine. It's been an administrative nightmare."

"It's a big job," Isinia remarked.

"One I think you'd be perfect for," Cruger said to her.

"Me? You want me to run the shelter?" Isinia asked.

"Yes. You have the time and you have the attitude to take charge of this situation and make a real difference. And, you have the soothing voice that I think could help those in need of real support," Cruger said.

"And, what does Supreme Commander Birdy think about this?" Isinia wondered.

"I've talked to Birdy and he's onboard with whatever decision I make. I need someone I can trust who will keep me advised of the situation and treat these victims with the soft hand they need. I trust you, Isinia."

"Well, I can't very well refuse after hearing that, now can I?" Isinia said, giving him another smile. She leaned over in her seat and put a hand on Doggie's. "I'll do it."

"Good. You'll have tons of resources at your disposal and this will be your project. You'll have full authority when it comes to running the shelter. If there are any problems, you report directly to me," Cruger said. "Thank you. Your support right now is very important to me."

"I know, Doggie," Isinia said. "You've got a lot on your plate. I wouldn't want you to be overloaded. It can all be so stressful."

"Things would be a lot less stressful if I could get a working morpher in my hands. You know my role as Commander of S.P.D. Headquarters here on Earth has always been my primary focus, but having that morpher in my pocket made me feel a little more secure," he explained.

"Me too. I'm sure Kat is doing everything she can," Isinia said.

"Yes, I know. I just can't help but feel a little useless without it. Kat's working virtually non-stop to fix the problem. But Omallix could strike again at any moment and the Rangers would find themselves without another piece of their arsenal. They've lost so much already. We can't stand to lose much more," Doggie said.

Isinia held tight to her husband's hand, giving him quiet reassurance that he would never lose her support and hopefully, together, S.P.D. would never lose the battle against the evil of Omallix.

Sky settled into his chair and grabbed the book he had been looking forward to finishing for a while now. It wasn't the first time he had read it, but it seemed right to dust it off these days and give it another glance, given the things he had experienced in the last month.

Sky looked around his quarters and sighed. It was quiet, a perfect time to read. He had gotten comfortable in dark gray shorts and a blue t-shirt. His ensemble contrasted his room's design. Ever since he was promoted to Red Ranger, Sky embraced his new color, like many Rangers before him. The red bedding on his bunk blended nicely with the framed photo of his father in his uniform. Sky brought most of the room's other decorations from his last room assignment, including his wardrobe.

Sky took a deep breath, cracked open the book and started reading the first page. Barely two seconds later, someone was at his door. Sky gave a loud sigh.

"Come in," he said, closing the book and laying it across his chest, as his arms folded.

Sky looked over to the doorway, as the automatic doors slid open and in walked Sydney Drew. Sky noticed Syd was also out of uniform, wearing snug-fitting jeans, a low-cut dark pink blouse and a white jacket. She was smiling. Sky couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"What's up, Syd?"

She looked around the vacant room, then back at Sky. "Enjoying yourself?"

"I was about to."

"What are you reading?" Syd asked, as she walked closer to his chair and picked up the book, answering her own question. She read the title of the book aloud. "The Red Badge of Courage."

She handed the book back to Sky. "How ironic?"

"Well, I thought it fit. We are in the middle of a war. Maybe it'll give me some ideas," Sky explained.

Syd sighed. "Isn't that book like a hundred and thirty years old?"

"It's a classic," Sky said, giving her an incredulous look.

"I don't know if reading a book about war qualifies as relaxing, Sky," Syd said, giving Sky a sly grin. Sky couldn't help but smile.

"Well, what did you have in mind?" Sky asked.

"I'm so glad you asked. Bridge, Z & I were talking and we decided to go see a movie. I thought you might want to come along," Syd said.

"A movie? With Bridge?" Sky said. "I'll pass."

"Oh come on, you know you miss having Bridge as a roommate. I'm sure he kept you in stitches when you guys were together," Syd said.

"He kept me awake at night is what he did. I feel sorry for Quinn," Sky said, with a smile that told Syd that he was half-joking. "Speaking of Gray, he didn't sign on for your little movie excursion?"

"Nope. He said he had plans," Syd said. "So, come on, are you gonna join us?"

"I was just about to start my book, Syd."

"It will be here when we get back. Aren't you tired of being cooped up in the base day-in and day-out? We have time off. We need to get out and get some fresh air," Syd explained.

"You know, I could counter that by saying that we spend almost every waking hour together while we're on duty too. Maybe we should all take a break from each other on our day off."

Syd looked shocked. "Are you saying you don't like our company?"

"No, of course not. I'm just saying...I'm not in the mood for a movie, especially not one where Bridge talks through the whole thing," Sky said.

"You don't have to worry about Bridge. He promised not to talk through the movie...if we let him pick the movie."

"I shudder to think of what he chose," Sky said, with chuckle.

"Well, you'll just have to come along and find out," Syd said. "Please, for me" she added, making a sad face.

"All right," Sky said, as he let out a deep breath.

Syd extended her hand, taking his and pulling him out of his chair. She gave him a smile. "This is gonna be fun, I promise," she said, as she tried to let go of his hand, but Sky held it a bit tighter. She looked at him.

"I'm holding you to that," he said, before letting go.

It took Sky a few minutes to get dressed and he joined his three comrades, as they walked side by side towards the exit doors to S.P.D. Headquarters.

"You know, I've actually never seen Quasar Clowns 6, before?" Bridge said, announcing his film choice.

Walking next to him, Z winced a little. "Why am I not surprised that you picked a mindless comedy?"

"I figured we wouldn't really be in the mood for anything too violent given recent events," Bridge said.

"Well, I agree. I'm all for some escapist comedy," Syd said, walking on the other side of Z. Next to her, Sky smiled, but only for a second.

"Remember to keep your morphers handy. We don't want to miss Cruger's call if there's trouble," he said.

"Right," Z said.

"Don't worry," Syd said, "Just think positive thoughts."

"I for one am happy to finally be getting out for a change," Bridge said, as he & Sky opened the entrance doors, allowing Syd & Z to walk out first.

They were all stunned.

"...or maybe not," Bridge said.

In that instant, there was complete silence for a few seconds, as the four absorbed what they saw standing at the entrance to Headquarters. Then, flashbulbs started going off and cameras were recording. Microphones seemed to come from every direction. Shouting voices came with them.

"Rangers! Rangers! There have been reports that Omallix appeared again in the city! Can you confirm this?"

"Rangers, over here! Can you comment on S.P.D.'s latest casualty?"

"Is Commander Cruger losing his morphing powers?"

"Is it true there's been a decline in S.P.D. recruitment numbers?"

The questions were fast, furious and unending. The Rangers all stood in awe at the mass of news reporters that had gathered in front of the building. Sky frowned. Next to him, Syd also frowned.

"You know, I'm not really in the mood to go out anymore," Syd said.

"Me either," Z nodded to her.

The girls rushed back inside, followed by Bridge. Sky headed for the entrance door too, before turning back to the gathered news crews.

"Uh, no comment," he said, before rushing back inside.

His response, however, was not enough for one of the reporters, standing in the middle of the crowd.

On the other side of S.P.D. Headquarters, things were starkly different. While there was a crowd of people present, the grounds outside the building weren't there for reporters or their questions. Here, tables were set up and Isinia Cruger had just assigned people to man each of the stations.

Quinn Gray descended the staircase that led into Headquarters. He walked down the steps at a quick pace. The hardness of them bothered his feet, which were becoming a serious problem for him. He put that behind him and began searching the area for his target. When he didn't see the one he was looking for, he spotted Isinia Cruger and walked over to her.

"Hi, Mrs. Cruger," Quinn greeted her.

"Hello there, Quinn," Isinia answered. "I've told you all time and again to call me Isinia."

"Right," Quinn said, with a smile. "How are things coming with the shelter?"

"Well, of course, things were unorganized until I got here. I love my husband to death, but he's no humanitarian. If it doesn't involve alien larceny or a Shadow Saber, he can be a bit clueless," Isinia explained.

Quinn was surprised at how candid she was, especially since he imagined that Commander Cruger would be growling at them both if he could hear her.

"It looks like you've got things under control," Quinn said.

"Well, I just hope we have enough for all the refugees."

"Looks like the supplies are coming in fast and furious," Quinn said, as he watched several officers and cadets walking past, carrying large boxes.

"Yes. My new system seems to be working. So, what can I do for you?"

"Actually, I know C-Squad's helping out. I was kinda looking for them," Quinn explained.

"Oh, sorry but I sent Duc & Meg to pick up some clothing donations from the Samuels family. But, Casey is manning the water station right over there," Isinia said, as she pointed far off in the distance.

Quinn instantly recognized her smiling face. He also smiled.

"Thanks, Isinia," he said, before heading off.

Isinia, however, grabbed his arm, stopping him.

"You're here now. I could use an extra hand," she said, as she pointed to a box on the ground nearby.

Quinn peeked inside and saw that there were water bottles packed in the box. He picked it up and headed off towards Casey's table. As he approached, the box obstructed her view and she couldn't see his face.

"You can sit that right under the table," Casey said. "Do you know how many are in there?"

"Judging by the weight, it's enough to feed a small army," Quinn said, as he lowered the box to the ground and slid it underneath the table.

Casey smiled, seeing the identity of the delivery boy.

"Well well, look who it is," Casey said, as Quinn walked around the table and gave her a hug. "Two visits in one day. I'm starting to think you really are homesick for C-Squad."

"Well, I've got the day off. I figured why not come see if I could lend a hand."

"We could use it," Casey said.

"I see that. Although, you seem to have the water under control," Quinn said, admiring her well-organized station.

"Hey, you know me. Always looking to make an impact. Besides, the boss's wife is in charge now, so we have to be at our best. Don't want to get demoted," Casey said, with a smile, as she nudged Quinn on the shoulder.

He frowned, as he looked around. Casey noticed.

"What's wrong?"

"You know the last time we were all together out here, it was on this exact spot...at Darren's memorial service," Quinn revealed.

Casey looked around and took a deep breath. "You're right. That was a tough day. Although, I think Darren would be proud of the work we're doing to help all the people who were left homeless in the massacre."

"Are you kidding?" Quinn responded with a smirk, "He'd be on top of one of these tables entertaining everyone."

Casey chuckled. "Yeah. You're right. That was Darren. He was such a comedian. Strangers would have never pegged him as our squad leader, unless they knew him."

"True. But, that's what he was known for. He was the funny one, until we had to do actual work. Then, he lead...with a joke," Quinn said. After a few seconds of smiling, he looked down at the ground.

"I miss him too," Casey said, as she put a hand on Quinn's back, rubbing it to comfort him.

"What was I?" Quinn said.

The comment caught Casey completely off-guard. She gave him a confused look.

"What do you mean?"

"To the team? He was the leader and the class clown. Meg's the tough as nails weapons expert, Duc's the smart one, and you're the heart. What was I?" Quinn asked, giving Casey a serious look.

"Honestly, I never saw the team like that. To me, we were all the same thing – friends." Casey said.

"Of course you'd say that."

"Why? Cuz I'm the heart of C-Squad? Oh please. We all brought different backgrounds to this team and we were all different, but we meshed because we were friends. We came together and it just worked," Casey explained. "As for you, you're starting to sound like the emotional one of the group," she said, raising her eyebrow, sarcastically.

Quinn gave her a nervous nod. "I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. Just tell me what's going on," Casey said.

"I don't know. I guess it's all just piling up. For the last month I've managed to keep my head on my work and my training, completely. I've tried not to think about Darren or you guys or my mother or anyone else. Now that I have time on my hands all I can do is think about the past," Quinn revealed.

"Well, that's good," Casey said, "If you're thinking about the past then you must remember what an asset you were to C-Squad. Who was the one who helped us ace our field training when we helped that Barconian convoy?"

"What? That was nothing."

"Yeah, it was nothing for you, since you spoke Barconian, a language I still don't believe is teachable," Casey said, with a chuckle.

"You can thank my mom. She was the one who taught me. There was a Barconian officer on her team back when she was on active duty. She picked it up really easy. I guess I did too."

"I remember us all thanking her for her great care packages. She made killer brownies," Casey said, with a smile. "But, we didn't love you because of your mom. We loved you because you were C-Squad. You were the one that kept us all sane. I truly believe that a little bit of all of us is in you, Quinn and that's why you were a perfect fit. That's why we're so proud that you're on B-Squad now. It's like we're all there with you."

Quinn smiled and gave her a hug. He was feeling better already. In that moment, he thought he felt the pain in his feet die down a bit. He also knew how to start his letter to his mother.

Several blocks away from S.P.D. Headquarters, C-Squad Cadets Meg Thurman and Duc Sato were heading back home. Both were carrying boxes, overflowing with clothes.

"Tell me again why we didn't bring a patrol jeep?" Duc said, as he seemed to be almost struggling with his box.

"Because we haven't been off the grounds in weeks," Meg responded. "Besides, it's good exercise." She seemed to be having much less trouble with her box.

"That's easy for you to say," Duc said. "They didn't put shoes in your box."

"Oh, come on, Duc. We're C-Squad. Be a man."

Meg smiled a bit, as they kept walking, passing an alleyway between two buildings. With the boxes they were holding, neither noticed the figure standing in the shadows of that alleyway. After they had passed, the figured walked forward and peeked around the corner at them.

"C-Squad," Themaskrion repeated to himself, watching the two approach the rear of S.P.D. Headquarters.

Inside S.P.D. Headquarters, the four senior members of B-Squad sat around in the Rec Room, all looking extremely bored, except for Bridge, who was chomping on a piece of buttered toast. He swallowed a bite, then looked to his left at Z, who sighed. She looked to her left to see Syd, who also sighed. She looked to her left and saw Sky, who also sighed, before picking up "The Red Badge of Courage" and opening it. Syd rolled her eyes and smirked at him.

"I won't even ask where you were hiding that," she said to him.

Sky only smiled back at her. His eyes were glued to the book. Then, the doors to the Rec Room opened and Commander Cruger strolled in, with a female visitor. She was a blonde, who appeared to be in her late thirties. None of the cadets recognized her, but they immediately stood up and saluted Cruger.

"At ease, cadets," Cruger said. "I'm glad I found you all together, almost all of you anyway."

"What's going on, sir?" Sky asked.

"Rangers, the Galactic Council believes S.P.D. has been a little too silent in recent weeks regarding the situation with Omallix. Therefore, they've requested that we open our doors to their handpicked news reporter. She's been given unprecedented access to our facilities. She's here to observe you all and interview you for her next in-depth report. You may be familiar with Global News Network's lead anchorwoman, Cassidy Cornell," Cruger revealed to them.

Cassidy immediately stepped forward and went about shaking hands with the Rangers.

"Well, hello B-Squad! It's a real pleasure to meet all of you. I just want you to know I've done my research and I'm going to try my best to make this as painless as possible on everyone involved. I'm not here to do anything but observe you in your natural environment and get a feel for who you guys are and how you're dealing with this horrific situation," She said to each of them as she passed.

She then turned back to face Commander Cruger. "And you, Commander, thank you for allowing all of this. I'm sure my viewers will be looking forward to getting to know B-Squad."

"I hope so. Rangers, you are to give Cassidy your attention. Since you have the rest of the day off, this might be the perfect opportunity to handle the interviews," Cruger said, as he headed for the exit. Sky excused himself from the others and caught up with Cruger before he could exit.

"Sir, what is this?"

"I thought I explained it all quite efficiently, Cadet Tate," Cruger said to him.

"Interviews with the Global News Network?" Sky said, looking troubled. "Do you know that we could barely walk out of the building without being bombarded with reporters? Sir, this could make the situation worse."

"Or, it could make the situation better, Sky," Cruger explained. "The public wants to know about B-Squad. If we give them what they want, the news hounds may back off. Look at it this way, as B-Squad's leader, you can go first and get it over with quickly," Cruger patted Sky on the shoulder, before disappearing down the corridor.

Sky winced a little as he turned and saw the smiling face of newswoman Cassidy Cornell smiling back at him. She looked way too happy, he thought to himself. Little did he know that Cassidy was a predator looking to sink her teeth into B-Squad's personal lives.

Sky proceeded to hit the punching bag harder, with each new question from Cassidy Cornell.

"No comment," Sky responded. It wasn't the first question of Cassidy's that he had chosen not to answer.

"That's becoming a trend with you, Cadet Tate. May I ask why you're so hesitant to comment? All I asked was how you feel your leadership differs from that of Jack Landors, the former leader of B-Squad."

Sky stopped punching the bag for a moment.

"Look, Jack and I are totally different people. We handle situations completely different. We always have. But, I'm not gonna be dragged into some debate about it that will lead to me looking like a stone-cold jerk. I can't criticize a dead man," Sky explained.

"Does that upset you?"

"What?" Sky asked, looking confused and a bit upset.

"Does it make you mad that Jack's no longer here? Before he died, he was the guy who resigned from B-Squad. You stepped up to lead the team, to make them complete. Now, he's a martyr that this city calls a hero, while frankly people have real doubts about your ability to lead the S.P.D. Rangers. How does that make you feel?"

"Jack was my friend. We had our differences, but once I got to know him, I respected what he did for S.P.D. and I'll always respect him for that. As for my emotions over his death, frankly they're none of your business," Sky said, sternly, before going back to his punching bag.

Cassidy sighed deeply.

On the streets, a few blocks away from S.P.D. Headquarters, C-Squad cadets Meg Thurman and Duc Sato were now joined by Casey Parker. The trio was headed back in direction that they had come from some minutes before.

"I can't believe the Samuels have more stuff," Duc said.

"Well, they want to give back," Meg said. "Their daughter was killed in the massacre. For some people, it's a way of helping the mourning process."

"Besides, I'm going with you, so you won't have your hands completely full," Casey said, with a smile, which quickly faded.

The three passed the alleyway formerly occupied by Themaskrion. The monster was still there and he was watching them again. But, this time, however, he wasn't content to stay hidden for long.

"You guys, we should really try to make time to hang out with Quinn more. I can tell his mourning process is gonna take a lot longer," Casey told her friends.

"Yeah, he looks to be better though," Duc said.

"I agree, but we have to keep an eye on him," Meg added. "He's still C-Squad. We gotta stick together."

"You poor little things!"

The trio turned around to find the voice belonged to the villainous Themaskrion. They all looked at him strangely.

"Sticking together is probably a good idea," Themaskrion shouted as he spit a cloud of fire from his mouth.

Without hesitation, Meg grabbed the arms of her two companions and they all rolled out of the way of the fire cloud. The three rolled into the street. While Duc & Casey gathered themselves, Meg went running towards the monster. She tried scoring some punches and a few side kicks, but Themaskrion grabbed her foot, holding it tight.

Casey & Duc glanced at each other and then both went running towards the monster. Duc scored a tornado kick to Themaskrion's head, but it did no damage. Casey tried grabbing at the monster's free hand, but he grabbed hold of her, throwing her into Duc. He held her up, just as Themaskrion twirled Meg around, still holding her leg, tossing her into the two. All three C-Squad members feel to the ground.

"We gotta get up," Meg said.

"Right," Duc & Casey said together.

The three made it to their feet, but this time it was Themaskrion who went on the assault. He came at them. This time, they were ready. At the exact same time, they all pulled their laser pistols and fired! The beams caused sparks to fly from the monster, as the momentum of the blasts sent him flying into the air and then crashing to the street.

High above the sky, in orbit, Omallix watched the action occurring on Earth, thanks to his viewscreen. Watching with him were his evil allies, Cartiron, Jintari and Charlie. Omallix looked to Cartiron.

"Is that the one that decided to leave us?" Omallix asked him.

"Yes. His name is Themaskrion. He's a fire beast."

"He looks to be on the receiving end of a beastly beating to me," Jintari quipped.

"No," Omallix said, as he looked closer at the image. "He's luring them in," his dark words surprised them all.

Down on the ground, Meg, Casey & Duc surrounded Themaskrion, as he lay on the ground. They all had their lasers drawn, as they walked closer to the monster.

"It's over, whoever you are," Meg shouted.

"Yeah, why'd you attack us?" Casey asked.

Themaskrion was silent, as he looked at each of the three of them. Then, he let out a low, evil chuckle. His mouth opened, but no words came out. A puff of fiery smoke came shooting out. Taken off-guard by the smoke, the three Rangers were knocked backwards, all landing on the ground.

Aboard Omallix's base, the evil villain let out a dark chuckle of his own. "This Themaskrion may be more useful than you thought, Cartiron. You know how I enjoy initiative. I'm curious about his plan."

"What makes you think he has one, my lord?" Charlie asked.

"Because, he could have destroyed those petty humans easily just now, but he restrained his powers. He must have a reason," Omallix said, before looking to Jintari. "Send the Fericks down there. Show him that he has our support."

Jintari nodded, before keying in a few commands on his console.

Down below, the C-Squad cadets were coughing and rubbing their eyes, trying to see and breath through the black smoke. They managed to join together, but as the smoke cleared, they not only saw the white, blank eyes of Themaskrion gazing at them, but the metallic bodies of a dozen lifeless Fericks surrounding them, with weapons drawn. Honestly, Themaskrion was surprised at their arrival as well, but it was a sign to him, a sign that his plan to make an impact and get Omallix's attention was going just the way he wanted.

Inside the S.P.D. Infirmary, Cassidy Cornell entered. She quickly located her target, as if it were a helpless deer and she were an experienced hunter. She walked right over to the bed that belonged to a comatose Piggy. At his side sat Z Delgado, holding his hand. She looked up and sighed, seeing Cassidy's approach.

"Not now," Z said.

"Cadet Delgado, we only have a limited time to do these interviews," Cassidy said, as she glanced at Piggy's body. "I should have known I'd find you here. I know you two were friends."

"We are friends, present tense. Piggy's gonna make it. I know he will."

"Well my research also told me that Piggy was in business with Jack Landors & Ally Samuels before their unfortunate deaths. It all must have hit you very hard, given your closeness to Jack," Cassidy said. On the surface, her tone seemed to console, but Z sensed there was more to it than that. "Would you care to comment on that?"

"Comment on what? Jack's dead. Cartiron did it. He destroyed half of this city, including my best friend," Z said.

Instinctively, she grabbed at the ring on the chain around her neck.

"Is that your ring?" Cassidy asked.

"No. It was Jack's."

"It looks like an engagement ring," Cassidy said.

"You would know. How many times have you been married now?"

"Four, but that's not as bad as it sounds, since it was to the same man each time. But this isn't about me. This is about that ring. Was Jack planning to propose before he died?" Cassidy asked, looking very interested.

Z gave Cassidy a very long look. She was visibly upset. "I'm not gonna help you gossip about my friend like you usually do about people on your so-called news program. You know, I come to visit Piggy here every day. I usually stay for about an hour. Sometimes it's so hard for me to leave him here. But for some strange reason, I wish I were anywhere but here right now. I wonder why?" She said, sarcastically, as she left the Infirmary.

Cassidy watched her leave, then slumped her shoulders, stopping her recording device abruptly for the second time today.

Quinn strolled onto the grounds outside S.P.D. Headquarters. He was once again looking for C-Squad. This time, he noticed that none of them were there. He spotted Isinia.

"Hey, Isinia. Where's C-Squad?"

"I have no clue. I was just gonna ask you the same question," Isinia said. "I sent them back to the Samuels to pick up another load of clothes. When it seemed they were taking too long, I called Mr. Samuels and he said they never arrived."

"Oh no. Something's wrong," Quinn said, as he ran back into S.P.D. Headquarters at top speed, ignoring growing pain in his feet.

It wasn't long before he came running into the Command Center, where he found Kat working at the main console in the middle of the room. She gave him a troubled glance, seeing that he was in distress. Commander Cruger stood up from his station also looking at Quinn.

"Cadet Gray, what's the matter?" Cruger asked.

"C-Squad, no one's seen them. I have a feeling that something happened to them. They were supposed to be picking up some donations from the Samuels family, but they never showed," Quinn said, as he could feel his knees starting to buckle.

Kat walked over to him, helping him stand up straight.

"Are you okay?"

"No. My friends are in danger. I can feel it," Quinn said. "Ow," he added, bending over to rub his boots.

"Quinn, are your feet still bothering you?" Kat asked.

"Yes."

Kat took a deep breath and sighed, realizing it was time to tell him. "Commander, I need to get Quinn to the Infirmary. It's very important."

"All right. Go."

"What about my friends?" Quinn said, protesting, as Kat tried to help him out.

"We'll scan for them, retrace their path" Cruger said to him. "If we find anything out of the ordinary, I'll alert the other Rangers."

Inside her quarters, Syd was sitting at her desk, fixing her hair in the mirror and humming aloud. She was smiling. Behind her, Cassidy Cornell paced the room.

"What's that tune?" Cassidy asked, with a smile. "A new song to feed the masses?"

"Oh, it's nothing really. Just something my mother used to hum," Syd said. "But, I had been thinking about doing some recording. Unfortunately, that was before Omallix escaped. I just haven't had any time to think about music lately."

"That's interesting," Cassidy said, with her recorder picking up everything. "You know while I was researching you, Cadet Drew..."

"Call me Syd!"

"...Syd, I learned that Kira Ford was one of your musical influences?" Cassidy finished.

"Yes. That's so true. I loved her music, even her early work. I always wanted to have a career like hers," Syd revealed.

"That's also interesting, because after your first and only album, media experts panned you, saying that you were all flash and no substance," Cassidy said. Syd looked completely shocked.

"Excuse me?" Syd said, as she stood up and looked Cassidy in the face.

"Of course as we both know, Kira Ford's songs spoke to a generation. How do you respond to critics who say that you'll never reach Kira's level of success? I mean, we all know she was a talented musician and a Power Ranger at the same time, yet you can't seem to balance both?"

Cassidy pulled her recorder right up to Syd's mouth, which was wide open, as she tried to formulate some kind of response that would match the pure shock of what she had just heard.

"Is making meaningful music too much for you, or is this war too much for you? Where is Sydney Drew's real focus?" Cassidy persisted.

Syd finally found a phrase that almost matched her disdain for the reporter at that moment. "Get out!" Syd pointed to the doorway, as she shuffled Cassidy out. Cassidy looked shocked.

As the doors to Syd's quarters closed, Cassidy turned her back on the doors and gave another disappointing sigh. Her in-depth story was falling apart before her eyes.

On the north side of downtown Newtech City, outside a large warehouse, Themaskrion glanced at the twelve Fericks who were standing guard. He chuckled, as he walked inside the building. The smell of the smoking vat of acid permeated the warehouse. Themaskrion walked closer to the large container. He glanced high above, where a pulley system had been rigged. On the end of the hanging rope, the three members of C-Squad were tied tightly, hanging 10 feet above the smoking vat of acid. All three looked terrified.

"Comfy, cadets?" Themaskrion called out, with a villainous chuckle.

"Sorry to interrupt."

Themaskrion turned to see the human female emerge from the shadows.

"Charlie," the monster spoke out.

"In the flesh, which is more than I can say for C-Squad in a few minutes," she answered, with a smile. "Omallix has sent me here to tell you that you've impressed him. That's why he sent you the Fericks...and me."

"I knew that he would be unable to ignore my talents once he saw me in action," Themaskrion said.

"It's true. Now, Omallix is curious as to what you have planned for these lowly cadets," Charlie said, as she pointed up to C-Squad.

"I plan to use them to lure out the S.P.D. Rangers and when I do, I will crush them, destroying them forever," Themaskrion said.

"Perfect," Charlie said, with a devious smile, as high above her, the C-Squad cadets looked terrified and heading for their doom.

Inside the S.P.D. Academy Rec Room, Cassidy was slumped on a stool on one side of the cadet's food counter. On the other side, Bridge was sitting in front of a plate of toasted bread, meticulously buttering each slice, as he was clearly in the middle of giving her an in-depth demonstration of his lunch ritual.

"...and that's how you get maximum coverage," Bridge said, before taking a bite out of the toast.

"I wish," Cassidy said.

"What's wrong? Don't you like toast? It's buttery!" Bridge wiggled his fingers.

Cassidy gave Bridge a long, confused stare.

"What's wrong is that I'm not getting maximum coverage. None of the other B-Squad Rangers will give me the time of day and frankly, Cadet Carson, you're long-winded speeches regarding toast and headstands are just not that fascinating," Cassidy said.

Bridge gave her a sad face for a moment. Cassidy stood up and began pacing around the Rec Room.

"This was supposed to be an expose, inside the lives of B-Squad, but I have nothing. Cadet Drew is living in a fantasy world, where she thinks she's perfect. Cadet Delgado is wallowing in her own misery. Who knows where Cadet Gray is and Cadet Tate is clearly not the capable leader that this city thinks—"

"Hey!" Bridge yelled. He put down his lunch and walked over, staring Cassidy in the face. "You have no idea what you're talking about, lady. Those people have gone through more than you'll ever know. Syd doesn't think she's perfect. She has a heart and strength of determination that speaks volumes. Z was a wreck over what happened to Jack, but she has risen above it and dedicated herself to this fight. Quinn actually has a life that allows him to take his mind off the death and destruction that surrounds us every day and Sky is one of the best Rangers ever."

Cassidy seemed taken aback by his words and his tone seemed to gain more anger with every sentence.

"Every single one of them is guided by their emotions and you just stood here and tore them down. How do you, or this city, expect us to accomplish anything when we're constantly asked if we can handle it?" Bridge asked. "We have handled it the best we know how. If it weren't for those people, I might not be standing here right now. They have all saved my life on countless occasions and I'm not gonna let some media-hungry news hound dog them for not wanting to share their innermost thoughts and feelings with the world. What has the world shared with them? What have you shared?"

"Well," Cassidy tried to say something. "I just wanted—I—I..."

"Yeah," Bridge said, as he headed for the exit. "No wonder they didn't want to talk to you."

Left behind, Cassidy sighed deeply, realizing that maybe Cadet Carson had a point. At that moment, the alarms sounded. Instantly, Cassidy knew there was an emergency afoot.

Inside the Command Center, Cruger spoke into a communications panel.

"Kat, we've located C-Squad. There's a monster and Fericks in the area. I've dispatched B-Squad. They will need Cadet Gray," Doggie said.

"I understand, sir," Kat said, from the Infirmary. "I'll get him there as soon as I can."

Inside the warehouse, Themaskrion and Charlie were talking, as the monster showed her the lever that lowered C-Squad closer to the vat of boiling acid. Charlie laughed with glee.

"You're not gonna get away with this," Meg shouted.

"Blah blah blah," Charlie said, waving her off. She turned back to Themaskrion. "You may have just earned yourself a place in Omallix's top echelon, Themaskrion, if you can handle S.P.D.'s Rangers."

Just then, blasts were heard coming from outside the warehouse.

"Speak of the devil..." Charlie said, with a sigh.

"Funny, I thought the devil was Omallix," Themaskrion said.

"It's showtime, Themaskrion. You take care of the Rangers and I'll take care of C-Squad," Charlie said, as Themaskrion went running from the warehouse.

Outside the warehouse, the four B-Squad Rangers were decked out in S.W.A.T. mode, destroying Fericks at every turn. Themaskrion came onto the scene, blasting at them with a cloud of fire. The four Rangers all dove away, blasting him together with their Delta Enforcers, sending him flying to the ground in a wave of sparks and smoke.

"Have you found it yet, Doctor," Kat asked Dr. Sevarus.

"Yes," Sevarus said, looking surprised. "This is extraordinary. I'm surprised I never noticed it before."

"Well, you wouldn't, unless you were looking for it," Kat said, as she walked back over Quinn, who was sitting on one of the examination beds.

"I thought there was no medical diagnosis for my foot pain?"

"There isn't. You're foot pain has nothing to do with a medical problem. It's more of a medical miracle," Kat said.

Quinn looked confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Quinn, there's something I have to tell you. 22 years ago, S.P.D. was in its infancy. We had just established the base here on Earth and I was put in charge of a special experiment. Myself, along with five other scientists were working on it when there was an accident. It was brief and barely noticeable...until those scientists had children," Kat explained.

"Are you talking about the accident that caused the B-Squad's genetic powers?"

"Yes," Kat revealed. "You see when the accident occurred, the lab was not immediately quarantined. Like I said, we barely noticed the chemical reaction. Those scientists went on to become parents to Jack, Z, Syd, Bridge & Sam. But, it was later that I discovered that there was residual energy from the flash. The two officers who were assigned to keep the lab secure came in right after. They were infected too. One of them was Nathan Tate and the other was Ellie Gray."

Quinn looked completely shocked. "My mother?"

"Yes," Kat said.

"I still don't understand," Quinn said. "Are you saying that this pain in my feet is related to some kind of genetic defect?"

"I've been thinking back over each time you told me that your feet were bothering you. Every time it was during a stressful period, or right after one. We've learned through observing the other Rangers that their genetic abilities become heightened when they undergo stress," Kat explained.

"That explains their performance on the simulator when we were trapped," Quinn said. "But, what are you trying to say? My genetic ability is having heavy feet?"

"No," Kat said. "I had Dr. Sevarus check for the variation in your genes that's present in all the other Rangers. It's true. You are genetically enhanced and it seems to be concentrated in your feet. I think the stress of everything that's happened has caused you to subconsciously repress your genetic ability when it tries to manifest itself."

Quinn hoped down off the exam bed.

"So, what do I do?" he asked.

"You relax and concentrate. Just let go of everything, all your worries, all your fears," Kat said.

Quinn closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He let go of all the strain, all the stress. It was hard, because he knew his friends were out there, in danger. He tried his best.

"Oh my gosh," Kat said.

Quinn heard her and he opened his eyes to find that his head was about to hit the ceiling of the Infirmary. He looked down to see Kat & Dr. Sevarus standing on the floor, almost eight feet below him. Quinn looked around, seeing that his body was floating in the air.

"What the...?"

"Levitation," Sevarus said aloud. "You have the power of levitation, Cadet Gray."

"How do I get down?"

At that moment, Commander Cruger's call came in.

"Kat, we need Cadet Gray! The Rangers seem to have the monster under control, but C-Squad is still in danger and the Rangers can't get to them," Doggie explained.

"Understood," Kat said.

"C-Squad...they're in trouble," Quinn said, as his body started falling rapidly. He landed on the examination bed, hard. "Ouch."

"I guess we figured out how you get down," Sevarus said.

"Quinn, you just have to focus and you should be able to control your genetic power," Kat said, as Quinn was headed for the door.

"I'll try to be more graceful next time, I promise," Quinn said, as he stormed out.

Outside the warehouse, the Fericks were falling quickly and Themaskrion found himself staring down the barrels of four Delta Enforcers once again. The four B-Squad Rangers fired and the monster was only barely able to escape the blasts. He rolled away, swiftly getting to his feet.

"All right, Rangers," Themaskrion shouted. "I'm through playing."

The monster let out a large roar, which took the Rangers aback. His body became engulfed in flames and began to grow taller than the warehouse itself.

Aboard Omallix's base, they were all watching intently. Jintari was the most surprised by this large development. "Well, that's something you don't see everyday!"

"How did he do that?" Omallix wondered, aloud.

Now, large enough to wreck the entire city, Themaskrion tried to stomp the Rangers. They rolled away. The Red Ranger grabbed his morpher.

"We need the S.W.A.T. Flyers," Sky spoke.

His voice came through loud and clear in the Command Center, as Kat came running in, taking her station. Cassidy Cornell was standing with Cruger, staring at a monitor, showing the battle. They all looked deadly serious.

"The Flyers are coming..." Kat said aloud, "And so is Cadet Gray."

Inside the warehouse, Charlie played with the mechanical lever, slowly lowering C-Squad closer to the vat of acid, then pulling them upwards, away from it. The constant motion caused the rope to swing, making them even more uncomfortable. Charlie only laughed.

"This is fun," she said.

"We'll see about that."

Charlie turned towards the shadows near where she entered, but she didn't see anything. She looked troubled. The members of C-Squad all glanced at each other, recognizing the voice instantly.

"Who's there?" Charlie called out.

"S.P.D.," Quinn shouted, as he landed behind her, taking Charlie down.

He went for the lever, but Charlie was right behind him. She grabbed him by the shoulders, whipping him away from the lever. Quinn broke her grip on his shoulders and went for a kick to her stomach, but she blocked it, countering with a punch to his face. He stumbled away. Charlie grabbed the lever and began lowering it.

Quinn heard the screams of his friends and literally lifted himself off the ground and towards Charlie. Quinn pulled her away from the lever, but his comrades were dangerously close to the acid, as they tried to lift their feet to keep them away from the pit. Quinn & Charlie traded punches, blocking each other blow for blow, until Quinn scored a thrust kick, sending Charlie rolling to the ground. Quinn grabbed the lever and raised his friends to a safer distance. He turned to see that Charlie was now gone.

"Quinn," Casey shouted.

He looked up to the trio.

"We could use a little help here," Duc said.

"Yeah," Meg added.

"Coming up," Quinn said, as he levitated off the ground and rose high enough to face them. "Literally," he said with a smile.

Quinn guided the pulley system over to the ledge, where they had been tied to the rope in the first place. He carefully untied his friends and the four ran down the nearby staircase, getting a safe distance away from the acid. Then, Quinn's morpher sounded. He answered.

"What's up?"

"Is C-Squad safe?" the Red Ranger asked.

"Yep," Quinn said.

"Good. We could use the Green Ranger out here," Sky's voice came through.

"You got it," Quinn said, closing his morpher briefly, as he looked to his friends.

"What are you waiting for?" Meg asked.

"Yeah, we'll discuss this flying thing later," Duc added.

"Go for it," Casey said, with a smile and a wink.

Quinn smiled, as he opened his morpher once again. "S.P.D. Emergency!"

The Green Ranger hopped aboard S.W.A.T. Flyer 3 and joined his comrades in the S.W.A.T. Megazord formation, facing down the beast, Themaskrion. The monster sent a cloud of fire in their direction, but the S.W.A.T. Megazord took flight, rising above it.

"That looks familiar," the Green Ranger shouted.

"What?" Bridge wondered.

"Long story," Quinn said, beneath his helmet.

"Let's finish this one, first," Sky called out.

"Right," his fellow Rangers responded together. "S.W.A.T. Flyer Cannon mode!"

The five S.W.A.T. Flyers came apart, transforming into their alternate cannon mode. Inside the cockpits of their vehicles, the Rangers locked and loaded their Delta Enforcers.

"Fire!"

With one blast, Themaskrion was captured and carded.

Inside the S.P.D. Command Center, Cruger, Kat & Cassidy watched the action play out. They heard the cheers coming from the cockpit.

"Great teamwork guys," the Red Ranger's voice was heard.

Cassidy turned away from the monitors, with a face full of sorrow.

An hour or so later, Bridge found himself once again in the presence of Cassidy Cornell, as he was escorting her out.

"Sorry, we couldn't give you more to work with," Bridge said. "If it helps any, we will be watching your broadcast tonight."

"It's okay," Cassidy said, as she turned to face Bridge. "I'm the one who's sorry. I approached this story the wrong way entirely. It's my fault. But, I think I may be able to salvage something for tonight's broadcast."

"Another skewering expose?" Bridge asked.

"Not quite," Cassidy said with a smile. "The world's going to hear exactly what this reporter thinks about the Power Rangers of S.P.D."

"And what's that?"

"I think that you guys are very capable of taking down Omallix and helping the world become safe again," Cassidy said, with a smile. "If anyone should know that's possible, it's me. I mean, you'd think I would have become a better judge of character by now. They don't just pick anybody to be Rangers."

"What are you talking about?" Bridge asked, curiously.

"Well, let's just say that the S.P.D. team isn't necessarily the first team of Rangers that I've underestimated, before really getting to know them," Cassidy said, with a wink, before exiting.

Bridge looked curious and confused as he turned around and headed back in the direction he came from.

Inside Kat's laboratory, Doggie Cruger found himself in a familiar position.

"S.P.D. Emergency!"

The morpher in his hand still refused to activate. Kat sighed at her desk. She walked over, taking it back.

"Sorry," Kat said. "I really wish I could figure this out."

"It's all right. Maybe we need to take a step back and give it a few days. Approach it with a clear head," Cruger said. "Besides, the Rangers seemed to have things under control today."

"That's true," Kat said.

"Why didn't you ever tell me about Cadet Gray's genetic ability?" Cruger asked.

"Honestly, I never realized that Ellie had came into the lab all those years ago. I remembered seeing Nathan in there clearly right after the flash, especially after Sky's genetic powers became evident. I contacted her earlier today with my suspicions of Quinn having genetic powers and she confirmed that she peeked in, right behind Nathan," Kat explained.

"Strange she never mentioned it before," Cruger said. "Not even to you. You two were good friends."

"Well, she probably never thought about it either. Quinn was a late bloomer, so to speak. The other Rangers' genetic powers all manifested early on, when they were around Sam's age," Kat said.

"Well, we better get going. The broadcast is about to start," Cruger said.

Kat smiled, as they strolled out of her lab and soon found themselves in the Rec Room, along with B-Squad, C-Squad and Isinia. Soon, however, Quinn found he was the center of attention.

"This is so unbelievable," Z said. "You've got genetic powers."

"And he knows how to use them too," Duc added.

"If it weren't for Gray, we would be skeletons right now," Meg said.

"Awesome," Syd added, as she patted him on the back.

"Aw, it was nothing," Quinn said, as he blushed.

"Oh, take the compliment, Quinn," Casey said, as the others chuckled.

Bridge high-fived his teammate. "I knew I passed my powers on to the perfect candidate. This just proves it."

"Please, Bridge, like you had anything to do with Quinn joining B-Squad," Sky said.

Quinn's thoughts veered to his fallen friend, Darren, who did have a lot to do with him becoming the S.P.D. Green Ranger. He missed Darren, but felt he would be proud of him today. In his hand, Quinn held the LCD pad. He had filled it almost to capacity with a long, extended letter to his mother.

"Cassidy's report is coming on," Isinia announced, as they all gathered around the viewing monitor.

"Good evening, this is Cassidy Cornell," Cassidy started. "For decades our planet has been special. We've fallen under the veil of protection of an amazing team of super heroes that has never failed to protect us from danger. These days, we need those heroes more than ever. Earlier today I got an inside look at what makes the Power Rangers our heroes. I learned that what makes them the best is that they're just like you and me, subject to ridicule and emotion, but strong in spirit and determination, never failing in their mission to fight the good fight and win it...for all of us..."

As Cassidy's broadcast continued, Syd noticed Sky duck out. She followed him and found him in his quarters.

"Hey, what's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing. I guess I just don't feel too much like celebrating," Sky said.

"Why not? This was a good victory," Syd said. "Sky, sometimes you've got to just let go and be happy. Quinn made a breakthrough. At least you can be happy for him, right?"

"It's hard," Sky said.

"Just smile and go with it. Let go. Do something spontaneous," Syd said.

"I wouldn't even know where to start," Sky said.

"Start here," Syd said, as she leaned up to Sky's face, kissing him.

Syd pulled away, seeing the utter shock on his face. Her smile faded.

"Don't ever do that again," Sky said, sternly.

"What? Why?"

"It's against S.P.D. regulations," Sky said. "We could both get booted out of the Academy for fraternization."

He headed for the doors, as Syd looked surprised and couldn't help but feel stupid at what she did. Then, Sky walked back over to her, grabbed her in his arms and kissed her, deeply. He pulled away.

"Never again," Sky said, however, his tone wasn't stern at all anymore. "I'm serious," he said, as he left, looking a bit flushed.

Syd instinctively put her hand up to her lips and smiled.

High above, there were no smiles, no celebrations and no kisses. There was, however, the feeling of unexpected developments on the horizon. The green alien scientist Jintari walked into Omallix's throne room, where he stood with Cartiron and Charlie.

"Well, that was certainly interesting," Jintari said.

"Themaskrion lost and C-Squad got away," Cartiron said, angrily.

"Yes, but I think I learned something very valuable in that zord battle...something that will help you, lord Omallix, to further punish Space Patrol Delta," Jintari said.

Omallix's anger subsided only a bit, as he pondered the possibility of what Jintari was planning and how it might help him destroy Space Patrol Delta.