Sarah knew her job would require confidentiality agreements when she signed up for it. Even via email and over the phone, Commander Shaw had been clear that Sarah would have a high level of clearance in the building but that it would come with the expectation that she not discuss her work to anyone with less clearance.
So, coming home, Sarah wasn't too sure what she could and couldn't tell Kelly about her day. As they walked into their new home and started to unpack the few things they brought, Kelly began to ask questions. Sarah didn't know how to answer them.
"Do you know what you'll be researching?" Kelly asked.
Sarah shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not sure I'm allowed to say." She knew Kelly could keep a secret, and since they were getting married, Sarah didn't think she wanted to hide anything from her bride-to-be. However, this was a brand-new job, and Sarah didn't want to blow it on the very first day by sharing details she wasn't allowed to talk about. Commander Shaw had even asked for privacy from Kelly, indicating that she didn't want Kelly to know everything going on.
"Even if you leave out the details?" Kelly asked.
"I know it's interesting," Sarah nodded her head. "And I'm definitely qualified for the job. I'll be working with another researcher and helping Grid Battleforce assemble a team."
"A team of…"
"Confidential," Sarah said with a sigh. She hated that she couldn't share her day with Kelly. Fortunately, Kelly seemed to understand, and instead of talking about secret matters, decided to change the topic.
"Well, while you were talking business, I got to sit in the cafeteria and have a nice chat with… damn, I forget her name. Anyway, she's lived here her whole life and told me a few places to check out."
"Any place seems interesting?"
"She said the mall has some good shops, but it's always full of teenagers. The high school isn't far, so the place is always packed with teens just hanging out."
"You know we're still technically teens, right?" Sarah asked with a chuckle. "And if I hadn't skipped a year, I'd still only be a senior, right?"
"We're far more mature than they are now. We saved the planet, we have our own house, you have a career."
"I'm eighteen, you're nineteen."
"Details," Kelly chuckled. "She said the park is nice too. Good for an evening stroll or a picnic. And then she suggested this place called Riptide Gym. It's got all kinds of fitness classes, which I think you might like if the Grid Battleforce Gym is a bit lame, but it's also like a hangout spot. It's got a juice bar and seating and since most of the teens are at the mall, it's a pretty chill place. They don't have fitness classes for people in wheelchairs but I'm sure I could make something work if I wanted to keep in shape. I mean, I did save the world in this chair and trained with unparalysed people, so…"
"Sounds like we have some exploring to do."
"We can start with Riptide Gym? They serve food and we have none. Makes the most sense to me."
"Me too," Sarah smiled.
-Beast-Force-
After a night of exploring the city and setting up their new home to sleep, Sarah found herself rather exhausted as she drove into work the next morning. She and Kelly had a great time together at the Riptide Gym, and while it didn't sound like a good place to grab a bit to eat, they found it was fun to enjoy their dinner and watch some of the fitness classes. After that, they did a bit of their own exploring in the city. Kelly picked out a few places she wanted to check out to make their new house a home and the park was a great place to finish off the night for an evening stroll. By the time they got home, it was already late and they realized they hadn't set up their bed yet. Kelly unpacked the sheets and blankets while Sarah quickly set up the bed. It had to be after midnight by the time they were tired enough to sleep, and Sarah had to be at work for six that morning.
She grabbed her coffee and her ID badge before she made her way inside the building. Just like the day before, the same two security guards were standing at the front desk.
"Good morning," the female officer Burke called out happily, while it seemed her brother looked a bit more like Sarah felt. Sarah smiled to both of them and decided that once she was a bit more alert, she would make a conscious effort to learn their first names, so she didn't have to call them male and female officer Burke.
Sarah headed upstairs to her office where Commander Shaw was already waiting for her, fortunately with a warm cup of coffee. Sarah was please, since she was running low.
"Thought you might need a pick-me-up after your first night in a new city," Commander Shaw said as she handed over the cup. "Between the excitement and the time difference, I had a feeling it would be a late night."
"I can function off far less sleep," Sarah said. "And I'd do it before I discovered the joys of caffeine."
"Well you have free coffee in the cafeteria whenever you need it, just don't go overboard," Commander Shaw smiled. "So, I'm assuming if I were to ask again about the red Ranger position, the answer would still be…"
"I wish I could accept it, but there's too much to lose," Sarah said apologetically. "I am so ready to help in every other way, though."
"Excellent, then let me introduce you to your direct supervisor," Commander Shaw led Sarah out into the hallway and down into a lab, where a young man was typing away on a computer. Sarah couldn't see his face, but could read his body language like a book. He was completely lost in his work, and probably had been since the early hours of the morning. She knew that determination well and could only hope that her boss had also discovered coffee – otherwise he might not be too happy to work for. "Nate Silva, I'd like to introduce you to our latest researcher: Sarah Thompson."
Nate peeled himself away from his work and Sarah had to hold back a gasp. Based on the back of his head, she figured he had to be young, but Nate looked younger than her.
"Nate has been working for us as a researcher since he was just six years old," Commander Shaw said proudly. "When he was ten, he stumbled upon a way to harness energy from the Morphin Grid."
"And you're how old now?" Sarah asked before realizing it was a bit rude and took another sip of coffee. Fortunately, Nate didn't seem too offended as he laughed at the question.
"I get that a lot," he said. "I'm sixteen now, and I must saw, I'm thrilled to be working with a Ranger on this project. The Morphin Grid is completely fascinating and though I've been studying it and its energy for about ten years now, I've never… you know… been connected to it."
"As in a Power Ranger?" Sarah asked. Nate nodded his head.
"It's an endless source of power," he said. "It replenishes itself and basically creates energy from nothing! And though everyone here is impressed that I could convert it into a liquid energy that can be used to power the city, I'm looking forward to understanding it in it's purest form."
"As in a Power Ranger?" Sarah asked again. She had to admit feeling a little intimidated. She had always been the smartest kid in the room. Even when she transferred to Summer Cove and met Monty, her test scores still averaged slightly higher than his. She wasn't used to being outsmarted and out-youthed. The fact that her boss seemed to be a prodigy, while she was only a genius, and that he was two years younger than her left her feeling like somehow, she had fallen behind.
And she had successfully invented a time machine – twice!
"So what's it like?" Nate asked her. Sarah didn't know what to say.
"Uh… powerful?"
"Sarah, you'll be working with Nate on our Ranger project. You'll help him develop and upgrade weapons and armour for the Rangers that they can use in battle against anyone who tries to steal the Morph-X, and you can assist Nate with the testing of some of our products. Being a former Ranger yourself, I'm sure you have a good idea for some gadgets you could have used in your day."
"I… I think…I have a notebook full of ideas."
"Perfect, you can bring that in tomorrow and we'll see what we can bring to life," Nate smiled. "Right now, though, I'm working on some basic weapons for the Rangers. Blasters and sabres. Nothing too fancy but enough to get the job done. I also have a special project going."
Nate brought Sarah over to his computer. She could recognise designs for creatures or… robots? Since she couldn't read his notes, she couldn't be too sure what she was looking at, but she was convinced it was both.
"These are Beastbots," Nate explained to her. "The energy from the Morphin Grid is powerful, as you put it, but we can increase that power almost tenfold by adding a few other elements to the Rangers. I've found that by combining our Ranger candidates DNA with animals, we can provide our Rangers with hidden abilities that could help in battle. Commander Shaw already offered you the cheetah red Ranger position, which I know you turned down. The other two candidates will receive gorilla and jackrabbit DNA. Gorilla is strength and the jackrabbit is energy."
"Energy?"
"Well, the cheetah is the fastest animal, but only for short bursts of time. The jackrabbit is also quick but we found endurance would be a bit more beneficial for the longer fights."
"What about jumping?"
"We added that too," Nate nodded. "Now, since the Ranger candidates will bond with animal DNA, they'll need specialized training. Since they're going to be one of a kind, I decided to create the Beastbot. Robot assistants to the Rangers who'll also have a bit of the cheetah, gorilla and jackrabbit DNA in them and can help the Rangers better understand their animal instincts and help with their training."
"Interesting."
"And I thought that could be your project," Nate smiled. "I still have to put the finishing touches on the blasters and sabres, and then I want to create personalized weapons to match each of the Rangers animal abilities and that will take up a lot of time."
"I think I can handle a few Beastbots."
"Beastbots and overseeing our candidates, I hope," Commander Shaw said. "You'll report back here after lunch. Right now, I need you in the training simulator. We have a dozen candidates who are waiting to show us they have what it takes to be Rangers, and I need you to narrow that down to three."
"Three? As in the three who'll be Rangers?" Sarah asked. Commander Shaw nodded. "You do understand I just pulled a small star out of a bigger star? Right?"
"Imagine you were selecting your own teammates," Commander Shaw advised her. "Go with your gut."
"Even if it's full of coffee?"
"There's breakfast waiting," Commander Shaw chuckled. "Don't worry, Sarah. We hired you because we trust your judgement. All twelve candidates would make great Rangers. We just need to find the best."