Trip found them all seats at the back of the bus where they would be alone and undisturbed. He sat down and leaned against the wall as the others crowded around him. He grinned as he heard the bus driver sigh, and knew that the early morning air traffic was jammed in the lower lanes.

"We have a good half and hour," said Katie as she settled into the seat next to him and flashed him a dazzling smile.

Jen and Alex took the seat in front and leaned over the back to get a better look at the book as the bus slowed to a complete stop and Trip finally cracked the rules open.

"If we're lucky there will be a harmless fender-bender ahead and we'll be stuck here even longer," said Alex with an innocent shrug.

Jen's jaw dropped but If Alex saw her shocked expression he ignored it like a pro. "Alex," she hissed, "you really have been hanging around us to long!"

He threw her a charming smile, "at least I'm in good company."

"Guys!"

The duo turned their attention to Trip, who was holding the book on his lap and glaring daggers at them. "Are we gonna read or talk all morning?"

"Read," they said in unison.

261. RESPECT people! The older rangers deserve it and if you do not give it to them...you won't like the way they'll make you polish things. (Yes, I said polish Cole!)

262. If Lucas is eyeballing your car...it's more than likely that you will be given the ride of your life, plus a ticket to go along with it!

263. It's not the loud Rangers that'll get you; it's the quiet ones you have to watch out for... (Not mentioning any names…Adam….)

264. When giving a report to a commanding officer, do not ask "Do you want the official version or the real version?" (Cruger was not amused by Sky's new found sense of humor.)

265. To err is human, but if you really want to screw something up, call Conner. (Tommy…did you write that? TOMMY!)

266. Orgs do not make good pets and "It followed me home," is not a valid excuse!

267. It is not nice to tease people about their fears. (There is such a thing as Karma.)

268. Super glue is henceforth banned from all dorm rooms, command centers, and lairs. (Apparently Ethan found it highly amusing to put it in all the key holes….needless to say, Tommy was not amused and Jason was quickly dispatched to the scene.)

269. Even if the food in the cafeteria is horrible, it is not to be referred to as "The Grand Experiment." (Please Rocky, give it a break.)

270. So you are a genius who is obsessed by buttery toast, that does not give you the right to build a talking toaster to keep yourself company! (BRIDGE!!!)

271. The word 'Dude' has been officially banned. (I think we all know why…)

272. Watching Anime on the big screen in Ninja Ops is a strict no-no... (Dustin, if you touch the remote one more time...)

273. C'mon Alex, lighten up. Live a little. There's still a pulse, right? (Wes and Eric, you guys might want to hide for a few days…)

274. There are over 1,000 windows on the front of SPD headquarters. Mess with Cruger and you will spend the rest of your life cleaning them. (Jack and Z still shake when someone mentions washing windows.)

275. Yes, Hunter and Blake don't have swords, they have sticks. Very BIG sticks. But don't call them that unless you really, really want to be in pain...

276. Don't knock the cheerleaders, they'll turn into Rangers that'll kick your ass to the moon and back… (Kim…)

277. Do NOT attempt to build lightsabers. (It's not funny anymore Wes and Eric's eye is starting to do that twitchy thing again!)

278. "Want to test drive my zord?" (Ashley was not amused by Andros's pickup line.)

279. Do not make voodoo dolls of your superiors. (Just...no.)

280. When on a secret red ranger mission, don't let the damn rookie steal all the glory. (It makes us look bad Jase, do something next time!)

------

It was nearly five thirty in the morning and Conner had just finished with his push ups. His arms burned as if they had been stung by several angry hives of bees, and his lungs were on fire, but he leapt to his feet at the sound of Jason's voice and started towards the obstacle course. It had only taken Conner a few days to realize that Jason liked to see other people suffer with a passion that bordered on sick and twisted, his obstacle course was the only proof anyone would need to see that.

There were ten different obstacles that Conner had to complete successfully, so far he had yet to live up to Jason's standards, and he secretly believed that he never would. There was just no pleasing the man.

As he ran his way through the tires and headed for the wall climb he decided that painting the man's motorcycle pink had not been a very smart move.

"You know what they say Conner," came Jason's unwelcome voice cutting through his thoughts.

"No," he panted as he fell over the side of the wall.

Jason watched his young pupil throw himself through the makeshift 'tunnels' he had set up out of old wooden crates and smiled in amusement as he cried out in frustration and pain when he received a handful of splinters.

"What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger!"

Conner rolled his eyes and glanced over at Jason. He bit his tongue in order to keep from adding to his punishment by saying something potentially stupid and detrimental to his well-being. That was another thing that he head learned very quickly, back talk around Jason was hazardous to one's health, literally.

He shook his hand and ran towards the tree limb that served as a bar for pull ups. He felt the splinters slid deeper into the unprotected flesh of his hand, but he paid them no attention as his arms began to burn painfully once more.

"Count 'em out!" Barked Jason from behind him.

"Five….ten….twenty….thirty!"

He dropped heavily to the dirt and tried to catch his breath, but Jason would have none of it. "Move! I'll teach you to mess with stuff that doesn't belong to you," he growled.

Conner obeyed and soon his legs were taking him along the well worn path through the woods, every step bringing him closer to salvation. He felt Jason running along behind him and chanced a glance back. For a moment he forgot about the storm that had blown through Reefside the night before, knocking out the power and blowing over trees. He turned back the trail ahead but by then it was already too late. He saw the branch laying across the path and despite his attempt to stop his momentum carried him forward as his foot hooked under the branch and the rest of his body fell over it. He collapsed to the ground and howled in agony as he felt something in his leg twist and snap. He heard Jason yelling something at him, no doubt telling him to get back up, but he couldn't quite make out his words through the haze of red pain.

"Are you ok?"

The red Dino ranger glared up to see two men hovering over him and spat something unintelligible at them.

"I'll call the ambulance," said Jason, a hint of regret and sorrow laced into his steely voice.

"No need," said Tommy as he rushed over to inspect Conner's injured leg. "We'll take him in my car."

Conner shook his head, trying frantically to tell him that he wasn't going anywhere with them, but Jason reached down and scooped him up despite his tearful protests.

"Calm down," he heard Tommy say as he was placed into the backseat of his teacher's jeep.

The ride to the hospital was the longest ride of Conner's young life. Longer than the time he had spent trapped in the backseat of his father's car with two of his female cousins, aged 7, and forced to play dolls and makeup on the way to Denver for "the greatest family vacation ever." No, this was sheer agonizing torture. He felt every bump in the road, and cursed Jason the whole way to the emergency room.

"Take it easy," he heard him say from the front seat. "We're there."

Conner gritted his teeth together and tried to stop the flow of tears as he was rushed inside.

"Right this way," said a pretty little blond nurse with Scooby Doo scrubs on.

Maybe it was his imagination playing tricks on him, or maybe it was a side effect of the painkillers she had just given him, but he could have sworn she had just winked at him. He shook his head as he was wheeled away from his two 'teachers' and into the confines of a back room, as far away from Jason as humanly possible.

You guys know what to do. Keep the suggestions coming, the more the merrier!