Episode 2: High Five

"We rock!" Crows Jake Holling in success, a massive grin plastered on his face.

"Did we just save the city?" Gasps Noah Taylor in front of his console, as the systems on display no longer show an enemy. "Are we superheroes now?"

"You got that right buddy," Jake's grin can be heard clearly by everyone, with the enthusiasm beginning to seep into them.

"We did good work today," Concedes Troy Burrows, with a small grin of his own forming. "But we did almost everything by ourselves. None of us fought as a team and if the enemy was ready for us..."

"Things would have gone a lot worse." Gia agrees with a sigh.

"Dude," Balks the black ranger, as he steers his ebony mastodon back towards it's resting place. "Are you seriously going to be one of those coaches that is never happy we win a game?"

"If those goals are people's lives..." The new leader calmly responds. "I'm going to make sure we train, until we save every one of them." The raw conviction in his voice, has Jake go silent in contemplation.

"It sounds like you already have ideas for that." Emma Kwan is already out of sight, her pink falcon clearing the vast distance first.

"I want everyone to meet at the Command Center after breakfast," Insists Troy, which has them all groan at the early time. "I really want us to work on fighting as a group."

"As cool as that ice of yours was Jake," Noah raises a complaint with his best friend. "It made it impossible to back you up if something went wrong."

"And I had no idea the range on my flames," Volunteers the red ranger. "If one of you was on the other side of that gold monster..."

"We'd have been toast," Gia acknowledges and brings her yellow tiger to a rest.

Five crackling bolts of color, arc through the sky once the ancient machines have been returned. Entering the brown stone building covered in runes, five disheveled teens appear in a heap.

"You did it Rangers!" Alpha cheers when they materialize.

"Thanks Alpha," Replies Emma with a cheery smile. "It was so exhilarating."

"And terrifying," Admits the now unmorphed Noah. "I thought I was going to die the whole time."

"As you should be ever aware," The echoing voice of Zordon, reverberates through the room. "Overconfidence will only lead to an early demise. But likewise, self doubt will stop you from acting in the face of danger."

"We're a team and we need to learn from each others strengths," Agrees Troy, who gets an approving smile from the floating head.

"Or you shall all be taken down by your individual weaknesses," Zordon confirms the grim declaration. "Tonight however, you have earned the knowledge that people are safer because of you."

"Why pick us Zordon?" Troy finally works up the nerve to challenge the ancient being. "Why not adults?"

"Are you not physically mature?" Zordon looks to the other for explanation. "I enter cycles of dormancy for hundreds of years at a time, but when I was last active in the defense of Earth… you would all have been paired off with children of your own."

"How long have you actually been awake?" Snorts Gia as she takes on a more relaxed stance. "You've been watching us, but how in depth?"

"The systems record potential candidates, when incidents of great challenge arise in life." Alpha speaks for his master. "Of the several hundred candidates approved, you five were closest and most likely to be emotionally motivated in the cause."

"Well it has been a long time since people our age," Explains Gia with a roll of her eyes. "Got considered mature."

"We're fifteen," Admits Noah, but corrects himself when Jake coughs. "Or sixteen. We don't even live on our own yet."

"Zordon," Alpha's voice has a tremor of guilt in it. "I believe I have made a mistake in the parameters of the potential rangers. Aye ai ai!" Shame begins filling his tricolor body.

"We might not be adults," Troy places a comforting hand on Alpha's gold shoulder pad. "But you chose us to be Earth's defenders for a reason."

"And we will never surrender," A fierce expression of determination grows on Gia's face.

"So you're stuck with us now, deal with it." Jake stands between his teammates, throwing an arm over the shoulder of both.

"I grew up with Gia." Emma steps forward and links arms with her blonde friend. "You aren't going to change her mind, so you better make do with us."

"I don't know guys," Noah admits, worrying about his own lack of combat skills. "What if we're not the best choice for this?"

"Well..." The red ranger begins, waiting for Noah to look at him before continuing. "I seem to recall you saved all those seniors."

"I saw people running," Agrees Jake, as Gia shakes his arm off her with a bemused smirk at the seriousness being displayed by the goofball. "But each of us stood our ground."

"Find me someone more willing to fight for this planet and I'll trade with them." Troy's declaration has Noah grow resolve of his own.

"It would appear Alpha," Zordon's relieved voice reverberates through the Command Center. "That you made no mistake in choosing these rangers."

"What a relief," Slumping forward, Alpha begins to giggle. "I was worried I had doomed the world."

"Rangers." Announces the ancient being. "Alpha will send you back to the park. When an emergency occurs, you must seek isolation for swift transit."

"Anything else we should know?" Noah's earlier concern begins to worm back into his voice.

"Never escalate a battle." Zordon confirms with a heavy sigh. "Because if you break the rules of challenge first, the ancient protections on Earth will be broken and the universe's evil will be able to locate you again."

"Never use your powers for personal profit," Adds Alpha. "If you do, the powers will find you unworthy."

"And try not to reveal your identities, it will only make life difficult." With a quirk in his lip, Zordon chuckles at the five teens. "When I was the red ranger of my own world, I learned this the hard way."

"People are beginning to return to the park Zordon," Interrupts the agitated robot. "I must send the rangers back now, or risk detection."

The five teens wait beside Jake's truck and frown at the absent family members who have yet to make an appearance. Troy finally determines enough time has passed for worrying to begin and gets the others' attention.

"Jason met them at the Juice Bar," Troy breaks the uncomfortable silence. "Maybe his jeep got wrecked in the attack?"

"That makes sense," Answers Emma with a worry filled voice. "Can you give us a ride Jake?"

"No problem," He agrees with an equally panicked expression. "Hope in everyone." He holds open the passenger door and stares intensely at Noah, diverting his friend from his normal seat and sending him to sit in the back.

Noah slides in after a giggling Emma, who takes the middle seat without complaint. Rolling her eyes at the obvious intent, Gia climbs in.

"Shotgun," She mutters with no enthusiasm. "Let's go cowboy, Goldar tore downtown up and I'm worried about Billy."

"Twice now you've mentioned him," Jake acknowledges without taking his eyes off the road. "He a boyfriend, brother, or?" He trails off.

"Step brother." Keeping her eyes locked on the destruction being passed, Gia admits with a sigh. "My dad bailed on us last year and my mom married his dad in February." She changes the subject with a smirk. "What about you Mister sixteen, you fail a grade?"

"Found out me and my mom are actually the secret second family," Jake grunts back with a voice filled with unresolved anger. "And even though I'm only five months younger than Kimberly, I was kept back a year so we never met."

"Oh..." Her face contorts in guilt for bringing it up.

"Don't worry about it." He waves of the concern with a smile, while the three in the back remain awkwardly silent throughout the exchange. "If it wasn't for Noah here, I probably would have been held back."

"How many times do I have to tell you Jake," Growls a no longer silent Noah. "You aren't stupid, you're just dyslexic."

"I heard what happened to Kimberly's friend last year, Farkas got torn apart in weeks and he just had a weight problem." Jake shrugs off the concern of his passengers. "How do you think it will go for me, if it gets out something is off in my head."

"People are cruel." Gia has dropped her guarded expression. "But my mom says. 'The worse it is now, the better it will be after'."

"Only three more years," Agrees the black ranger with a sardonic chuckle, before throwing his friend under the bus and tries to divert attention from himself. "I see your eyes locked on the left and both are cute I'll admit, but who has you speechless?"

"What are you talking about?" A red faced Noah blurts out in embarrassment, swiveling his head towards the sidewalk.

"Someone is just embarrassed at the attention," Emma and Gia smirk in the rear view mirror at each other.

"Oh," Noah understands and shares a laugh of his own.

"Uh oh..." Jake lets out a frantic gasp as he pulls up to the wreckage of Jason's jeep.

"I don't really feel like celebrating anymore," Emma whispers and in the sudden silence of the truck, it carries like an explosion.

"Good," Agrees Troy as he opens the door. "Because people might still need help."

"I'll see you guys in the..." Troy pauses and looks at the dash clock. "Later today. How about after lunch instead?"

"I say," Yawns Jake. "You won't see me before two."

"Alright," Concedes Troy with an exhausted chuckle. "Two thirty at the Command Center."

"I'll call Noah, let him know the change of plan." Waving goodbye, Jake backs out of the driveway and turns to his remaining passengers. "Can you two keep the whole second family thing quiet?"

"Of course," Emma agrees with an insistent look at the back of Gia's head. "We won't say anything… will we?"

"We'll keep quiet," Unable to resist the sensation of her friends stare any longer, Gia agrees. "Same as what you learned about us."

"My lips are sealed," Jake responds with a puckering of his lips, which has Gia rolling her eyes and Emma giggle. "See?"

"Is it alright if we stop for some food," The yellow ranger sighs and starts looking through her wallet. "Don't want to have to explain everything before I have a chance to eat."

"Yeah and don't worry," Waving off her attempt to find cash, Jake pops open the middle console and grabs a stack of coupons. "My dads been trying to buy off my love, now that I know how big of a dick he really is. My treat, as long it's one of these places." He tosses the stack at Gia.

"How chivalrous," Emma grabs the ones that drift into the backseat. "I don't care, as long as they have chicken."

"As the ladies request, so shall I deliver." His response is complete with a flirtatious wink.

After he pulls in to the nearest place, the three blink at bright flood lights that have been set up in the parking lot. Inside resteraunt, is a larger collection of people usually found at this time of the night. The attack clearly leaving them all in desperate need of company.

"What do we have here?" Farkas Bulkmeier notices the entrance of the three starving rangers and turns to confront them. "Three dweebs looking for a bite to eat."

When his normal accompaniment of giggles is absent, the larger teen frowns at the balking Eugene Skullovitch.

"Bulk." The scrawny teen groans and screws up what little courage he currently has inside himself. "You said we'd leave Emma and Gia alone." The leader of the two considers this slowly.

"I am a man of my word," Bulk pulls his leather jacket up and growls at Jake. "But this geek isn't an ex."

"Bulk, back off." Gia steps forward, only for Jake to face the challenge himself.

"I saw you help those kids at the park, that was really impressive man." Bulk blinks in shock at the praise. "Everyone else was running away and you looking out for others. So for tonight at least, can we just not fight." Jake grabs the coupons from Emma and tears some of them off for the surprised punks. "You look like you could use a burger, so call it the hero special."

"Uh..." Bulk looks at him with wide, considering eyes. "Okay, thanks dw-." He stops himself and looks Jake in the eye. "Bullet." He nods to himself slowly. "Yeah if your one of use for tonight, you need a cool name and I've seen you play. Shouldn't really be lumping such a jock in with the geeks anyway"

"Did'ya see when he kicked that one between the legs?" Skull cackles almost like a hyena in support. "That thing flew like a hundred feet!" He chews loudly, his gum squishing grossly with each movement.

"Don't be a moron," Smacking the back of Skull's head, Bulk tries to share a look with Jake. "Was only like forty feet. I could have done fifty but you heard Bullet, I had to save those kids." He brags to the girl at the counter, who actually giggles at his attitude.

"You look good," Blurts out a pale faced Skull, which makes Emma go still.

"It's a truce, not a reconciliation." Gia glares at the skinny punk who was once her friend.

"What does she mean Bulk?" He frowns and turns to his leader.

"She means that tomorrow everyone goes back to being losers again." Bulk grunts and places his order. "Except Bullet here, especially if he keeps being this cool."

"Oh," Finally understanding, Skull begins chewing again and asks for his own food. "Okay." He gives Emma a sad look, before following his Bulk outside.

"What the heck was that?" Grumbles Gia as she takes her seat.

"Kim told me his dad died on deployment when he was a kid." Jake lowers his voice and leans closer to he girls. "His mom is depressed and bad with the pension."

"I had no idea." Emma frowns and goes silent.

"Doesn't excuse how he acts." Replies the other girl, which is followed by a fierce growl from her stomach.

"He didn't tell you, I did." Jake firmly declares. "So you don't know, same as the other stuff we talked about tonight. I was just too exhausted to come up with any reasonable lie."

"You sound so mature," Admits Gia in spite of herself. "What's going on?"

"My dad thinks laughing is a waste of time and money," Growls the raven haired boy. "With all I've learned this year, I decided to waste as much of it as I could." He shrugs and chuckles darkly. "Too bad he just says, 'Good thing you're an athlete'."

"You don't want to be?" Asks Emma, since the yellow ranger is preoccupied swallowing.

"I want to be a vet." Admits the blushing athlete. "I want to look after animals, but my dad would only complain. 'Humans are the ones who pay, so don't waste time on fur balls'."

"Suns starting to come up," Gia points out the orange on the horizon. "Better get home and give mom and David the bad news.

First thing in the morning, Noah wolfs down his breakfast and leaves a note for his family. Grabbing his morpher and holding it aloft, transports him as a bolt of crackling blue energy.

When he arrives first, he pays it no mind and launches into a scientific discussion with Alpha. The two don't realize hours pass in rapt conversation, before a bolt of red arrives and deposits a grunting Troy.

"Man did you over sleep," Laughs Noah as he checks his watch and notices it's nearly three.

"Jake didn't call you?" A well rested Troy asks with a frown.

"No, why?" Noah asks without any concern.

"We rescheduled training." He explains and runs a frustrated hand through his hair.

"That's why I had time to ask Alpha everything I wanted, without any interruptions!" Noah snaps his fingers in realization.

...

"Why didn't you call Noah last night?" Troy questions Jake, as the five train outside the command center. "You said you would."

"It's no big deal," Jake tries to wave off the concern, but the red ranger won't budge.

"Yes it is," Insists Troy and locks eyes with him. "We're a team and if I'm supposed to lead you four, I need to know I can rely on you."

"After dropping you off, we got distracted by Bulk and Skull." Jake blocks the red ranger's spinning kick. "Which reminds me, what did they mean about you two being safe?" He turns the question towards the either of the girls, but both pretend not to hear him.

"You went somewhere without us?" Noah blurts out and gets taken down by a leg sweep from Emma.

"Switch," The yellow ranger calls time and changes places with Jake, who replaces Noah. "And yeah. I was hungry, so we grabbed some food." Gia ducks under a punch and returns the attack with an elbow to Troy's chest.

"Good thing we did," Agrees the sweaty pink ranger, who knocks Jake back with a swift jab. "My dad stayed up the whole night, in case Trini was found." Emma's mood is tense and her eyes are filled with guilt. "You don't think they're dead... do you?"

"The news had footage of the attack," Noah reassures her with a tension filled grimace. "The Putties were capturing people and bring them through a portal."

"So we need to find out where Master Vile and Goldar are hiding out," Jake looks re-energized by the news. "Then we can save everyone and finish this whole invasion thing, before the whole city is leveled."

"Zordon said we can't escalate things though," Emma reminds Jake. "I'm going to assume that means not attacking the bad guys base."

"How is it escalating?" He retorts in frustration. "If they kidnapped our family, it's a rescue mission and not an attack."

"As much as I like the enthusiasm," Troy tries to compromise. "We aren't ready yet."

"I don't know if I ever will be," Admits the sweat soaked blue ranger. "You all seem miles ahead of me."

"My sister and I," Emma offers with a memory soaked voice. "We learned Tae Kwon Do from our grand parents."

"I've been in kick boxing for a couple years," Adds Gia with a smirk at the blue ranger. "I was told it would help with my aggression."

"We're trying yoga now," The more cheerful of the girls explains when Jake snorts.

"I know Jake studies Capoeira," Noah points, before turning to Troy and asking curiously. "What about you? You kicked butt yesterday."

"About six months after Jason started taking classes, my parents enrolled me in Karate." Troy grabs a water bottle of his own and plops down in the shade beside the panting Noah.

"So come on," Jake begins to question Gia, a curious expression dances on his face. "Why are you two safe from the punks?"

"No reason you need to know," She crosses her arms in irritation. "Just drop it… Bullet."

"What?" Noah hisses to Troy who only shrugs, equally confused by the byplay.

"I was just trying trying to be nice," Jake grumbles and rubs sand from his eyes.

"And we're trying to avoid them," Retorts Gia, with irritation flashing in her eyes. "So thanks for putting us back on their radar."

"Before we start biting each others heads off," Troy acts as the voice of reason. "How about we call it for the day? We're tired, cranky, and if we stay out here much longer, someone might get hurt."

"Maybe that's why you're so sluggish today Noah," Trying to cheer up the more intellectual ranger, Emma makes a hesitant suggestion. "You only got a few hours of sleep after all."

"I don't need to listen to this," Growls Jake, assuming he's being blamed again. "Some glowing blue head decided you're in charge and we just have to go with it?" He clenches his fists and turns to the others for support, Gia nodding along with him slowly.

"Hate to say it, but he has a point." She sounds surprised with herself for admitting this fact. "Zordon and Alpha may have evaluated you, but to us you're a stranger."

"Maybe instead of jumping right into the training today," Noah tries to head off the argument. "It would have been a better idea... just to get to know each other first."

"How can you think of hanging out?" Emma gasps, her face flushed from the heat and exertion. "We all have someone to rescue."

"That's why we're here today." Troy brushes the sticky bangs away from his eyes. "Preparing for when we do find them, so we can bring them home safe." He stares at his disgruntled teammates and sighs. "I'm not really good at making friends, so I'm sorry."

"Not a bad idea per say," Jake admits, his posture losing his earlier defensiveness. "But maybe bad timing, I'm clearly not in the best mood and Emma looks like she's in shock still."

"I just can't believe that when I go home..." The girl of Vietnamese descent looks distraught. "Trini wont be in the garden."

"I haven't slept yet," Noah explains the dark rings under his eyes. "Every time I close my eyes, I start imagining what those Putties are doing to Zach."

"How about we call it for today?" The red ranger changes into a fresh shirt, unaware of the appreciative looks at his swimmer's body.

"How could five people stop you?" The Sorceress of Sin shrieks. "You're supposed to be my strongest… my champion!" The corrupted body of Kimberly has rage plastered across her face. "So why are you laying here in such a pathetic state!"

"You never said we would face any capable of fighting back," The burnt monster pleads rather pathetically. "But once we sacrifice our captives, I will be strong enough to crush the Rangers."

"You have already failed me Fool!" The witch slams her moon shaped staff against his head. "It's Scorpina's turn now. Since muscle was not enough, it seems a woman's cunning will be required."

"Let me have a second chance," Goldar desperately begs his leader. "I won't fail you again, I swear it!"

"Oh I know you won't," A cruel smile appears on her lips. "For you aren't going to be in charge this time."

"Yes Empress," Goldar drops into a respectful kneeling position before the deceptively powerful witch. "As you command, I shall obey."

"Good," Purrs Rita, as she reaches forward and strokes her general's head like a pet. "Now take Finster's next batch of Putties and head to Stone Canyon." She does some quick math and finishes giving her orders. "We're going to need at least another hundred souls. Any extra you manage to acquire today, will go to you."

Banging on his bedroom door, jerks Noah out of his restless sleep and has him jumping to his feet in a panic. When no attack comes, he calls through his door with a relieved chuckle.

"What's going on mom?" His voice is lined with anxiety.

"A girl's calling for you!" His mom is excited for him, despite her ever present grief. "Open the door and say yes."

The blue ranger grabs his glasses and smiles to himself. If a girl was calling Zach in the middle of the night like this, mom would be pissed.

"Thanks mom," He cracks open the door and reaches for the phone. "I got it."

"If she's in trouble, just let me know." His mom shares a worried smile, wanting to help at least one kid get home.

"I will mom, but she probably just wants to talk about the attack." Noah offers a partial explanation. "We hid out with Emma, Gia, and this new guy Troy."

"Oh I'm just glad you're okay," She let's out a sniffle and leaves him alone.

"Noah here." He lifts the receiver and whispers. "What's going on?"

"It's Emma and you need to get to the command center." He blinks in shock at her insistent attitude. "Stone Canyon is being attacked right now."

"Rangers, thank you for arriving so swiftly." Zordon greets them, his voice tense. "In an attempt to delay your arrival, the neighboring city of Stone Canyon is being attacked by Goldar."

"He's already back for more?" Jake grumbles. "I thought that inferno would have put him down."

"Master Vile's magic is strong and his evil grants his followers great power," Answers Zordon with a frown. "Only destruction or purification will be able to defeat an enemy for good."

"How do we do that?" Troy asks before anyone else, his voice hopeful at a second option.

"Alpha and I have finished work on new weapons for you each," He nods towards his robotic assistant, who takes over the conversation with an excited titter.

"Indeed rangers." Alpha pulls a cloth off of a table, revealing five color coded weapons of various design. "These are your power weapons and when you combine them, they will form the Z-Cannon." He bows stiffly and waits for the rangers to express excitement.

"Whoa..." Jake lifts the black ax and looks closely at the cannon in the handle. "It's a two-in-one weapon."

"These are incredible Alpha," Agrees Troy as he examines his own crimson sword in glee. "Thank you."

"I can feel the power in them," Gia gasps when she grabs her pair of yellow daggers, the two weapons connected by an extendable cable. "Goldar and his Patrol will be going down even faster this time."

"I don't know how to use a bow though," Admits the pink ranger with a blush dusting her cheeks.

"That is alright Emma," Zordon is quick to end the distress. "We have connected them to the power coins, much in the same way as the Zords have been. You will know how to use them instinctively."

"That's a relief," Chuckles Noah awkwardly and begins unscrewing his lance into two maces.

"When you combine these weapons and focus the power of the Morphing Grid through them," Explains Zordon with a confident expression. "You will be able to exorcise the evil from one of Master Vile's victims and restore them to a mostly normal state."

"...Mostly?" Gia notices the word choice and raises an eyebrow.

"The more power Vile has granted them, the harder it is to purge the changes." Alpha answers, his voice managing to sound more emotive than most people. "I'm very sorry, but we lack the ability to remove all traces of Vile's magic. Evil leaves a mark forever."

"It's not your fault," Troy consoles the shame filled Alpha. "We have people to save, it's morphing time!" In unison, five bolts of color shoot into the sky and towards the battle.

Arriving on the chaotic streets of Stone Canyon, the five color coded heroes defend the panicking civilians from the babbling grey goons. The angry roar of Goldar is all the warning Troy is given, before he is forced to dive away from a blast of flame.

The attack of Goldar strikes the street and melts through the asphalt, leaving only bubbling black rocks behind. Drawing his new sword, Troy accepts the burnt generals challenge and charges for him. While the two clash in a flurry of blade strikes, the Putties are methodically dismantled by the other four rangers.

"Alpha was right," Cheers Emma, her bow rapidly snapping forward with perfect aim. "It's like this bow is a part of me."

"I know what you mean," Noah agrees and smashes a Putties head to clay paste between his maces. "I actually feel useful this time." He catches a clawed fist with one weapon and drives the prongs of his other through the Putties chest.

"Give me a boost!" Gia calls to an exuberant Jake and races towards him, forcing him to cup his hands.

As she descends gracefully through the air, she swings one end of her bladed cable like a cyclone and carves through the heads of half a dozen Putties. Finishing off the stumbling foes, Jake fires his cannon into the easy targets and sends a shower of clay raining onto the street.

"Let's bring these things together," Calls out the red ranger, his muscles straining against his aggressive foe. "This guy is tough and I think it's time to show him we are too."

"Power Bow!" Emma jumps into the air, suddenly knowing what is required and laying her weapon on it's side.

"Power Ax," Following her lead, the black ranger adds his own weapon as a base to the combination.

"Power Daggers," Gia calls out her own arsenal and connects her daggers to the bow.

"And my Power Lance!" Next in the air is Noah, attaching his weapons beside the daggers.

"Now the Power Sword!" Troy roars and slams his blade on top of the entire ensemble, bringing the cannon down to the ground with him. "Let's see you come back from this Goldar!" He roars in defiance at the golden monster, as the five rangers send a surge of destructive energy through the combination cannon.

Five beams of multi hued energy lance, across the distance between the heroes and the evil general. At first are held at by by the power of evil, but as the seconds pass the energy begins to crack the armor and pierce through the monster.

Goldar's body folds in half and is thrown down the road, leaving only a smoking body of black fur. As the ranger's pant from the effort exerted, the rescued civilians begin to clap slowly and soon erupt in cheers when he doesn't rise.

"Is it over?" Gasps Noah in disbelief.

"I think this battle is at least." The red ranger kneels beside the hulking figure and watches as the body convulses.

The energy of the Morphing Grid worms through Goldar's veins and purges what vileness it can. The fur begins to fall from Goldar's face and his body starts to shrink back down to a normal human's size.

"No!" His pained wail has the celebration cut short, as he clutches the now human body to his chest. "Zordon, get us out of here now!" A second passes and the five rangers vanish in crackling light, with the body of Jason Scott becoming a bolt of gold accompanying them.

"How did this happen?" Troy demands with clenched fists. "Goldar attacked before anyone went missing!"

"It would seems he and his friends, found Master Vile's container." Zordon explains with a pained sigh. "He corrupted them with his full powers, changing them into his monstrous generals."

"He's going to pay for this..." The rage filled Troy stares at the covered body of his cousin, with no one being willing to bring up that it was them who did this. "If it's the last thing I do, Vile is going to die."

"I will transport him to one of the areas still damaged," Alpha speaks softly. "And then place an anonymous call to the authorities."

"I should be home for the call." Standing stiffly, Troy wipes the tears from his eyes. "Can't let my aunt and uncle deal with this alone."

"You have all of our numbers," Emma reminds him with a soft voice. "Call us if you need anything."

"Or even if you just want to talk," Adds Gia.

"We're a team and you're our leader," Jake offers the grieving leader a comforting hand. "Let us know if we can do anything."

"I might have an idea," Blurts out Noah with a thoughtful expression.

Sneaking in the back door, Emma stops in shock when she enters the kitchen. In her sobbing father's arms, is her deviously smirking sister.

"Trini..." Gasps Emma in disbelief.

"They found me near Jason, I was just released for the hospital a little while ago." Trini smiles at her younger sister, but it never reaches her golden eyes.

"It's a miracle Emma!" Their father cries and pulls Trini back into his tight embrace, ignorant of the looks being exchanged between his girls. "Your mother must have kept her safe for us."

"I'm really getting tired dad, is it okay if I go to bed now that Emma's home?" Trini yawns and stands.

"Of course dear," He stands and resists the urge for another bear hug. "You need your rest."