Chapter 6

An Overdue Reunion

San Angeles

There hadn't been any explorations planned in a few weeks and it was a beautiful day, so Mack Hartford decided to do what he hadn't done in a long time: curl up in the hammock with a good book. Mack was engrossed in his tome just like in the old days, but he just couldn't help but feel that a book based on his life would be awesome. After all, he'd had some adventures that not many would believe. To start, his father, Andrew, was the one who had found the legendary Corona Aurora, "The Crown of The Gods." But when that happened, two brothers who had tried to steal it many centuries ago and were cursed because of it-Moltor and Flurious- were revived.

To collect the jewels of the Corona Aurora, Andrew brought together a very eclectic group: a professional spy, a stuntman, a racecar driver, and possibly the smartest person in the world. Now, Andrew hadn't wanted Mack involved, but Mack stowed away and ended up becoming the Red Ranger of Operation Overdrive. He and his new friends had been in a war with three other factions over the Corona Aurora's jewels: Moltor and his Lava Lizards, Flurious and his Chillers, and Kamdor and Miratrix; masters of deception.

Mack himself had found Tyzonn, a rescue squad leader from another planet, who had been forced to serve Moltor. The team broke Ty loose; using two of the gems of the Corona Aurora restored him to his original form; and after a long decision period, Ty became the Mercury Ranger. Having Ty on the team was great; but it also brought a fourth enemy faction, the Fearcats, into the equation. It was the Fearcats who had captured Vella, Tyzonn's fiancée. After a long, tough road, Mack developed a weird twitch, and it was with that he discovered that he was in fact an android. He tried to keep it a secret, but when he used the Sentinel Battlizer that everyone knew wouldn't work with humans, (thanks a lot, professor) Mack had to reveal the truth.

At the end of it all, the Fearcats were eliminated. Kamdor imprisoned Miratrix in the same crystal that she released him from. Thankfully, Kamdor was defeated in one-on-one combat. Unfortunately, Flurious took out Moltor (taking possession of Vella in the process) and got his hands on the crown and the jewels, covering San Angeles and the surrounding area in a near-apocalyptic blizzard. Mack ended up taking on Flurious one-on-one and sacrificed himself to destroy Flurious. Thanks to the Sentinel Knight and the Corona Aurora, however, Mack was not only revived, but made fully human. Now if that wasn't a story, Mack didn't know what was.

Mack was reaching the best part of the book. The hero had just broken the princess loose from her prison, and together they had fought their way into the villain's lair. It had been a close battle, but the princess's magic had helped the hero hold his own. The fiend and the hero crossed swords and both were poised to strike a final blow…

"Excuse me, Master Mack?" This caused Mack to snap back to reality… and fall out of the hammock. Mack shook it off and saw Spencer, the Hartfords' butler, staring down at him with great concern.

"Oh, goodness, are you all right, Master Mack?"

"I'm fine, Spencer. I've gone through a lot worse, you know that."

"Indeed." Spencer was always concerned for Mack's safety, and Mack always looked upon Spencer as a surrogate uncle. "Your father wants to speak to you, Master Mack. He says he has something to plan with you."

"OK, thanks, Spencer." Mack turned to head inside. "Hey, Spencer, did he tell you what he wanted to plan about?"

"He said that was a surprise."

"O…K. Maybe there's a new expedition soon." Mack smiled and turned back towards Spencer once more. "Hey, Spencer, have you read this book yet?"

"Hmmm…The Crimson Champion. I can't say I have."

"It's really good. Go ahead." Mack handed the book to Spencer. "Just don't spoil the ending for me."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"Sweet. Thanks, Spencer."

Mack headed inside and searched for his father. "Hey, Dad, where you at?"

"Down here," Andrew replied. "In the command center."

The command center? As in Overdrive HQ? Mack hadn't been down there in much in the past few years. Yet he knew the way by heart and sprinted down to the pole to meet up with his father.

"So what's this about a surprise?" Mack asked Andrew.

"Spencer told you, huh? Well, I've been thinking. It's been a long time since the end of our great adventure. So I thought we should get the team back together. Catch up and all that. What do you think?"

"Are you kidding me? Dad, that's awesome!" Mack was ecstatic. "When are they coming?"

Andrew smiled and sort of winked towards a spot near the old uniforms.

"They're already here."

"What?" Suddenly…BAM! Something came from out of nowhere and tackled the unsuspecting Mack, pinning him to the floor.

"Dad, what's going on?" Mack hollered, struggling to get free.

"Ask the mastermind," Andrew answered, his hand pointing towards Mack, or rather, above Mack.

Mack was bewildered for a second, but tried to think. Whatever it was that tackled him was still on top of him, only it seemed to be…invisible.

"Mastermind, huh?" Mack got it now. He stopped struggling and shook his head. "Hey, Rose. Why am I not surprised you're behind my current state?"

"Technically, I'm not behind your current state," said Rose Ortiz as she appeared sitting on Mack's chest. "I'm on top of it. Yep, invisibility definitely has its perks."

"Oh, yeah?" Mack grinned. "Well, so does super strength!" Mack activated his technologically enhanced power (which had somehow survived Mack's transition from android to human), and in the blink of an eye, he had not only gotten Rose off him, but had hoisted her up and now held her above his head by the waist with one hand.

"What the… HEY! No fair! Put me down!" Rose squealed.

"Let me think about that…no," said Mack, a devilish grin plastered on his face.

"This isn't funny, Mack. Put me down!"

"And tackling me while you're invisible is? No, I think I'm going to enjoy this a little longer."

"Jerk."

"Brat."

"I am so going to get you when you put me down."

"Then I just won't put you down. That simple."

"Ugh, fine, enough already, I quit, you win, I'm sorry already, just PUT ME DOWN!"

"What, I actually got one over on you? I'm actually winning today!"

"JUST PUT ME DOWN WHILE YOU'RE STILL AHEAD!"

"All right, all right. I've punished you enough." Mack lowered Rose back to the floor, chuckling.

"You jerk," Rose growled as she gave Mack the biggest hug she could. Mack just couldn't help but smile as he hugged her right back. Luckily, he had deactivated his super strength.

"Dude, that's perfect. That scene was worthy of the silver screen. And believe me, I know."

Mack and Rose turned around and saw Dax Lo with a big smile on his face, slow clapping like the perfect moment had arrived. Ronny Robinson and Will Aston were right behind him doing the same. Tyzonn and Vella had also arrived, and though they weren't clapping, they had big smiles on their faces as well.

"What's up, guys?" Mack greeted his friends. "How you doing?"

"Pretty good," Dax answered.

"Not too bad, brother," said Will.

"Eh, can't complain," was the answer Ronny gave.

"We're all right." Tyzonn and Vella said at the same time.

"Okay, question," said Rose. "When Mack lifted me up like a bale of hay, why didn't you guys help me?"

"It was funny," Will answered.

"Exactly, it that scene had rom-com written all over it," Dax added. "Man, I wish I recorded that."

"So just because it was funny you leave me scared out of my wits?"

"It's not like Mack would've hurt you," said Ronny, trying to smooth things over. "At least not on purpose."

"Well, what if he'd dropped me? What then?"

"I never would have dropped you," said Mack. "I was in complete control."

"Guys, just let it go," Tyzonn sighed. "This is getting crazy."

"Yes, honestly," Vella added. "Rose, Mack; you two sound like an old married couple."

"What was that?" both Rose and Mack growled, though inside each wasn't exactly opposed to the idea, although neither would state as such.

"WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Right then, Norg showed up. The friendly Yeti had slid down the pole, carrying a big white box. It was Norg who had helped rescue Vella from Flurious.

"Hello, everyone. I heard all the Rangers were getting together again, so I made something for everyone. I hope you like it."

"Sweet. Thanks, Norg," Mack smiled.

"So what do you think it is?" Rose asked.

"Only one way to find out." Mack and Rose pulled open the box and… BOOM! They had whipped cream all over their faces.

"Oopsie. I think I put in a little too much yeast," said Norg.

Mack and Rose stared right at each other. Then a smile crept across Mack's face, Rose snickered, and then giggled, and this led to all-out belly laughter from everyone.

"Oh, that was just awesome," Will laughed. "Maximum Ownage."

Dax was absolutely rolling on the floor. "That is just classic. Note to self: my friends a gold mine of ideas."

"Well, this idea blew up in my face," Andrew said, shaking his head.

"Technically, it blew up in our faces, Mr. Hartford." Rose laughed.

"What she said." Mack agreed.