Wes felt his blood turn cold, as his heart nearly stopped dead. He was afraid now he couldn't hide it, not from the mutorgs, Merrick, Eric or even himself. The sound of his voice said it all, because now Ransik was ransacking the home he had shared with a few surviving members of the Silver Guardians, but they weren't the only ones down there. Nadira, James, and Jen were there as well. He would never be able to forgive himself if something happened to all of them. It would just be too much to lose them, especially Jen. Especially when so many lives had been lost, just so he could protect her, prevent her from dying.

He just stood there unmoving and frozen, with his fear of what could happen to Jen with him not there to protect her from Ransik. He was imagining every possible evil horrible thing that could be happening to her. Sure, he knew Jen was one of the strongest girls he had ever met, but she would be all alone. The Silver Guardians' weapons wouldn't be able to stand up to Ransik's powers. He had barely survived his own battle against Ransik. "Jen…."

Eric watched as Wes went into a frozen state of mind. He knew how Wes was when it came to Jen, but something else was there, something worse…. This wasn't the Wes he had remembered. Wes wasn't even paying attention while the mutorgs regrouped and were planning an all out attack on him.

Merrick watched as the mutorgs began to power up, seeing an opportunity to take out the Quantum Ranger, while he was lost in his state of mind. Merrick quickly nodded to Eric, letting him know he had the situation under control. He started charging at Wes. "Wes, look out!" He tackled him to the ground, just as a powerful blast beam of destruction hovered over their heads.

Now on the ground Merrick quickly scrambled for the Quantum Defender and handed it to Wes. He knew right away that Jen being in danger and possibly near death was going to be a problem for Wes, a problem that would just be added to the other problems on hand. "The quicker we take out these three, the sooner we'll be able to get back to Jen and the others. Can I count on you?"

But even as he asked it, he could already sense that his young friend wasn't thinking straight. Wes was deeply concerned for Jen, the woman he loved more than anything. Love… A feeling Merrick knew too well, he knew the kinds of things that could happen when you're worried about someone you love, someone you love too much. He had been in that situation before, and things hadn't ended well. He just hoped the same thing wouldn't happen to Wes.

"Get off of me!" Wes shoved Merrick off of him and yanked the Defender gun from his hands. "I'll handle those three, you get Eric!" In that moment Wes gathered his bearings, but not in the way anyone would have wanted him to. He jumped to his feet and went heading towards the three creatures all on his own, as if he felt like it had to be his job and no one else's. That he alone had to be the one…

"Damnit, Wes!" Merrick slammed his fists onto the ground. Wes was more stubborn than he thought. The Wolf Ranger quickly jumped to his feet and rushed over to Eric to free him from his chains. He knew that Wes wasn't going to be able to handle the three mutorgs alone, not while he was in his blind rage, bent on taking anything out that stood in his way. His heart beat faster with each passing second, as he tried to get the chains off of Eric, knowing that time wasn't on their side and that Wes would only be able to hold out for so long.

"Merrick, what the hell is wrong with Wes?"

"The only thing I know, is something terrible happened." Merrick morphed into the Wolf Ranger and called for his sword. "Don't move." It only took one good swing, and Merrick broke the chains. He had to move quickly as Eric's legs gave away, due to the exhaustion from standing up for so long. The two just stood there for a moment, watching as Wes put up the battle of his life, taking every punch and blow, like he somehow deserved it. Merrick sighed heavily; this was what he had been afraid of all along… "He wants to die, Eric."

"Wes wants to die?" Eric played the words over and over in his mind. It just didn't seem possible. The Wes he had known was full of life. The Wes he had known since prep school didn't want to die, not when he was still so young, so much to look forward to, not when Jen was in trouble. "Why would he want to….." And then he knew. He knew…. He knew the very reason why Wes would want to die. There was no question that people had died the day Ransik and Doomtron made an all-out attack, even Eric himself had put it on Wes's shoulders that if anyone died it would be his fault, because he had been the one who sent the others back.

Eric shoved Merrick away from him, wanting to stand up on his own, getting into a fighting stance. He had been angry that day. He had said things he probably shouldn't have and now those very words could be just what were eating away at Wes. He couldn't undo what he had said, but he could fight by Wes's side. Not to mention the fact that he wasn't planning on letting Wes die. Not this time… He would do whatever it took to make sure Wes lived to see another day, lived to see his father again.

"Eric…" Merrick turned to him, concerned. He knew that Eric was in no condition to fight against the mutorgs, yet again without ranger powers. He wouldn't stand a chance. "You can't…."

"By my calculation there's three of them and three of us." He looked right at Merrick, very firm with his words. He wasn't about to back down, not now, not when Wes needed him. Wes had once been there for him, now it was his turn to repair the favor. "I'm doing this whether you like it or not!"

"Alright. I don't like it, but I understand." Besides, Merrick knew it was going to take all the help they could get, especially with Wes not quite right in the head. He loosened his grip around his sword and handed it out to Eric. When Eric hesitated to take it… "Go on, take it, you're going to need more than quick fancy moves to get past these guys."

"Thanks." Eric took the weapon and tightened his hands around it. "Let's go show these three why you don't mess with the Power Rangers."

"You got it!" Together Merrick and Eric ran together to join Wes, knowing they were up for the biggest fight of their lives so far. Merrick knew the mutorgs wouldn't go down easily. It was going to take everything they had to defeat them and put an end to their reign of terror.

It hadn't taken long for them to storm in and take over the situation. Injured and dead bodies of Silver Guardians lay all over and a battle was still going on. Jen could still hear blaster fire going off. They had just walked past her, left her where they had thrown her, figuring she would no longer be a problem to them. And at that moment she wasn't, but now the sharp pain she had been feeling in her shoulder was starting to fade away.

She should go join the remaining Silver Guardian and assist them, even knowing full well that she didn't stand a chance. Not against Ransik, he had already come close to killing her numerous times, not to mention the fact that both Alex and Wes had nearly died while trying to take him down. Taking a deep breath Jen moved her wrist up, she needed to contact Wes and Merrick, let them know what was going on. She wasn't going to be able to do this on her own.

"Jen…."

Jen turned her head and saw Nadira peering out behind one of the walls. Her face was fearful and showed deep concern. Nadira knew the situation was bad, she had seen her father and the army of cyclobots storming throughout the underground barracks, so she had quickly hidden James and herself in one of the back rooms, but had grown concerned for her new-found friends. So she had left James alone, and that was when she found Jen lying there helplessly, next to the dead body of a Silver Guardian.

Nadira rushed to Jen's side, helping her up. She knew time wasn't on their side. "Come on, I'll get you somewhere safe."

"No." Jen pushed Nadira away, she didn't want to go and hide. That wasn't what a Ranger was all about; a Ranger will fight no matter what. "I have to go help them."

"We need the other Rangers." Nadira grabbed Jen again, knowing she might have to use all the strength she had to get Jen to safety. "I know my father; he'll stop at nothing, at killing you." But that wasn't the only reason, there was an even more desperate reason that Nadira needed Jen to go with her. "I need your help in protecting James."

"James…." Jen knew the young baby would be a sitting duck when it came to Ransik and an army of cyclobots. The Silver Guardians stood a better chance at survival than the young boy Nadira had been caring for. "You're right." She didn't like it, but right now James needed her more. Once she was safe in the room where Nadira was going to take her, she would be able to contact Wes, let him know what was going on. And then they could work on a plan and maybe by then they would be able to get in contact with the other Wild Force Rangers from Merrick's team.

Nadira, Jen and a few Silver Guardians made it into a back room. The Guardians quickly bolted the door shut and blocked it with whatever they could find in the room, hoping and praying that it would be able to hold until help could arrive. They stood a few feet away from it, standing tall and strong, blasters pointed straight forward, ready to shoot at whatever would come through that door. Outside they could hear cyclobots blasting away and the cries of their fallen comrades.

There was no denying that everyone in that room was afraid, afraid for their lives, for each other and those outside that room. They wanted to go out and help their friends, but with the limited weapons they had, it would be suicide. And if something happened to them, who would protect James? Nadira held James close to her, trying to comfort him as he cried heavily in her arms. Little James didn't have to be a grown-up to understand that what was taking place outside that room was bad. He could feel it; he could sense the fear growing inside the room. The distress was building up in their eyes, and their hearts pounded loudly against their chests.

"It's going to be okay, James." Nadira kissed him on the head. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you." But even Nadira wasn't sure for just how long she could protect James. Her father was out there killing men, her friends, people she had saved and nursed back to health. He would be less than pleased to see how she had taken up with the humans, with this child. She was one of them now…

The noises outside were getting worse. Jen could feel her heart racing. It wouldn't be long before someone found out where they were, and once they did, it would all be over. She had to get a grip; they needed her to stay focused. Come on Jen; take a few deep breaths…. She raised her morpher up to her mouth. "Wes, do you read me, come in." There was no answer, but she wasn't about to give up; she had to try again. "Wes, please come in, this is Jen." But still there was no answer… She began to fear the worse, what if something bad had happened to him and Merrick? What if Ransik had gotten to them first?

"Hang in there Jen, help is on the way…"

"Wes…." But even as she said his name, she knew that it…..

"No, it's Alex."

"Alex…."

"Just hang in there, Jen. We'll be with you soon."

"We?"

Alex and the rest of the gang were getting close to the motel; they had picked up a signal from Jen's morpher just moments after Trip had gotten one of his visions that something terrible was happening.

"Don't worry, Jen, everything's going to be okay," Alex reassured her once more, before lowering his wrist. The motel was within eyesight, a battle just within their grasp, a battle that very well could be their last. The others closed close around him, waiting for his word. Even Taylor stood back, now seeming to understand that what was before them was bigger then anything she had ever faced before.

"Just say the word, Alex, we're with you all the way," announced Lucas. Though he and Alex had disagreed in the past, the young Blue Ranger knew that Alex was the best suited to lead them into this battle.

"Good." Alex turned to them all. "Because that's what it's going to take for us to go all the way." He took a deep breath, a part of him wished the Wild Force Rangers hadn't gotten involved, they had their own mission to accomplish, but at the same time he knew they needed them. "I can't promise you that any of you will survive this." He eyed them, all hard and firm, as if giving them a reason to turn and walk away. "If Ransik has the chance he will kill you, no questions asked."

Both Trip and Katie had to agree, recalling the time when they had seen Ransik strike Alex down, showing no mercy. None at all. So they turned to their new friends, wanting to make sure they were willing and ready for this.

"There's no way I'm turning back now, not when we've come this far," announced Alyssa. "I'm fully prepared to make any sacrifices I must."

Max and Danny were the next two to step forward, both of their faces showed they were prepared for the task that lay before them. "Whatever you need us to do, Alex, we're ready!" exclaimed Max.

"You can count on us," added Danny.

Cole stepped forward and faced Alex and all his new-found friends. He was still new to this world, learning just what it was to be part of a team, what it took to be a hero, the risks and sacrifices a hero must make, to save the many. "If there is one thing I've learned about friendship and teamwork - you don't back down, no matter how bad the odds are." He put out his hand. "I'll go with you to the end, if that's what it takes."

They were even braver than the legend ever made them out to be. Before him stood heroes in the making, warriors of the past that had been the focus of his training at the Academy, when he has just been a boy. He shook Cole's hand firmly, proud to have him go into battle and fight by his side. His eyes then wandered over to Taylor, the toughest of the five, stern and bold, everything that made her a great Ranger and leader.

"You don't think I'm going to let you guys have all the fun." She was ready to face any org or non-org opponent, because she knew that if neither one was stopped, sooner or later the threat would reach her home and it would no longer be only Silver Hills fallen in ruins. "Let's go kick some mutant ass!"

The battle had just begun…………