Jake and Noah couldn't send their parents back home. Noah's house was surely trashed, if not completely gone from the attack, and Jake didn't feel confident sending his father back to his house. Vekar had targeted them, and the Rangers knew the parents wouldn't be safe until they were out of the city.
Unfortunately, finding a safe place for their parents to go was tough, and it was going to have to wait a little longer as the alarms rang. An alien was spotted again in the city, and from the sensors, the Rangers were sure it was the ghost monster they thought they had defeated. However, for Gia, getting rid of the monster wasn't going to be as simple as winning the battle. Her entire team was invisible to her. Even morphed, she couldn't see where they were standing. It meant she risked putting her friends in danger. Even when her teammates were visible, there was always a risk of bumping, kicking, hitting, or accidentally shooting each other. Gia didn't want to see any of those accidents happen due to carelessness and so pulled Rebecca aside.
"How confident are you today?" she asked. Rebecca frowned.
"Huh?"
"I can't see the others," Gia stated. "That means everyone's in danger."
"So are you..."
"Only if you're okay with it," Gia nodded. She put her morpher in Rebecca's hand. "Only if you think you can get the job done. You don't need to see the others. You've got your echolocation."
"Dolphin senses," Rebecca smiled and then shook her head. "But I'm not a Ranger. And Troy and Noah..."
"They'll cover you," Gia said. "That monster's got an odd shape. You'll know who he is. The X-Borgs have the helmet heads and they'll be attacking you. Just don't hit anyone that sounds remotely human."
"Do you really think I can do this?"
"Better than me right now," Gia nodded. "I'll find a safe place for Jake and Noah's parents. You lead the team."
"Lead?" Rebecca asked and her face lit up. "As in I'm in charge?"
"I don't want the Armada to know it's you in this fight," Gia said. "You've got to play me, only better. You have to keep the others safe. I can't see them. I can't risk accidently hurting them."
"You think I can play you? But I'm not... I mean..."
"Rebecca, Gosei would have chosen you to be a Ranger if the morpher hadn't disappeared. Obviously he knows something we don't and as crazy as it sounds, I trust him. You can be a Ranger. You can win this fight. Just stay focused, breathe, remember what Swoop taught you and have fun. The others will keep you safe."
"Okay," Rebecca smiled. She held Gia's morpher tight in her hands and then talked to the others to explain the sudden change of Ranger. Gia watched and saw the looks Troy and Noah were pointing her way but had to ignore them for now. She was sure Rebecca would be fine. The suit would protect her.
Gia sent the Rangers off and then turned to Jake's and Noah's parents. She saw they were trying to hold back tears, knowing this would be the last time they would see their sons for a while. Gia felt badly for them but knew what had to be done.
"I'll take you somewhere safe," she told them and the four of them teleported off the ship and into the backyard of what appeared to be just a regular house. Gia looked around carefully before she walked up to the door and knocked. It was the back door, so she was sure it would take a little longer for someone to show up. Eventually, someone did, but it wasn't who Gia expected. As the door slid open she frowned deeply.
"Jordan?"
"Gia?" he asked with just as deep a frown. "What are you doing here?"
"Me? What are you doing here?"
"Dr. Oliver's letting me stay here," Jordan said. He invited Gia, Mr. and Mrs. Carver and Mr. Holling into the house. It was still early in the morning and he was wearing nothing but his boxers. It was a sight Gia had seen countless times having lived with him in the command center and on the ship, but Jordan felt a little exposed because of the parents. He grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around his waist.
"You're staying here?" Gia asked and gestured around the house. "Jordan, when Emma said she wanted you to leave..."
"She just wanted me out of the way and safe. I can't cause trouble here and I am safe. I'm living with Dr. Oliver. If anyone knows how to handle aliens and monsters, it's him."
At that very moment, Dr. Oliver came down the stairs, "Jordan, who was at the door?"
"An annoying person," Jordan smirked. Gia punched him hard in the chest and smiled at Dr. Oliver as he walked over. She then gestured to Jake and Noah's parents.
"We've run into a bit of a problem."
"Okay," Dr. Oliver frowned. Jake's father seemed to recognize him and raised his eyebrows.
"Wait, weren't you the kids' teacher?"
"Dr. Oliver," he offered his hand for a shake. "But you can call me Thomas. And yes, I am their teacher."
"Um, why are we at your teacher's house?" Mrs. Carver asked Gia. The yellow Ranger smiled.
"Dr. Oliver's one of the original Power Rangers. He's been helping us. If anyone knows where it's safe for you to go, it's him."
"You were a former Power Ranger?" Mr. Carver asked. "How many of you are there?"
"A lot," Dr. Oliver chuckled. Then he turned to Gia, "So, how exactly did this happen?"
"Would you believe invisibility?"
"I lived it," Dr. Oliver nodded. "You've got to be more careful."
"Hey, this time, I'm not the problem," Gia held her hands up. "Jake and Noah were the ones who decided to go home. Vekar and his crew tracked them down. Apparently, I'm the only one who can't see the others."
"Well, no more telling your parents who you are."
"There are no more parents to tell," Gia smirked. Dr. Oliver sighed, pinched the bridge of his nose, and then shifted his attention to the parents. He gestured to the living room. "Please, come in. Make yourselves at home. I'll get right to work on finding you somewhere safe to hide out. I promise, you won't have to worry about aliens attacking you again."
"It's not us we're worried about," Mr. Holling said. Dr. Oliver offered him a reassuring smile.
"I've worked with your kids for a while now. Believe me when I say, they've got what it takes."
The parents went to the couches while Dr. Oliver brought his attention back to Gia just for a moment to tell her not to leave. After making sure the parents were comfortable and offering them something to eat or drink, he excused himself upstairs. Gia, meanwhile, stared Jordan down until he felt uncomfortable. He sighed loudly.
"What?"
"Dr. Oliver was supposed to send you somewhere..."
"I didn't want to be too far," Jordan shrugged his shoulders. "If anything happens..."
"Emma will kill you."
"I mean if anything happened to her," Jordan said. "I don't want to be three hours away. I don't want to have to take a bus, a train, or even a freaking airplane while she's hanging on for dear life."
"I'm not letting that happen..."
"You're not indestructible," Jordan shook his head. "Look, Dr. Oliver's managed to stay off Vekar and Vrak's radar. He's got a basement full of weapons and the know-how to stay alive in dangerous, end of the world situations. I don't think I could be any safer."
"Yeah but..."
"Emma's not the one worried here, is she?" Jordan asked with a little smirk. Gia frowned and punched him again.
"I'm speaking for her!"
"Emma doesn't know I'm here. And won't know or worry unless you tell her."
"Or something happens and you die."
"I'm with Dr. Oliver. I'm safer than your moms right now."
"Jordan..."
"Gia," he put his hands on her shoulders. "Nothing's going to happen to me. Even if it does, I'm with Dr. Oliver. He's also training me, you know. He even said I'm almost good enough to be a Ranger myself."
"Almost isn't good enough."
"Hey, his training is rough. It makes Troy's look like preschool gym class. I'm fine, alright. Nothing's going to happen to me."
"I'll kill you if something does," Gia muttered. "You know, because Emma will be devastated."
"Yeah, okay," Jordan smirked while Gia punched him in the arm again. Finally, Dr. Oliver came back into the room and he was carrying five rolled up pieces of paper, each tied with ribbons matching the Rangers' colours. He offered them to Gia.
"It didn't feel right sending these online," he told her. "I had Ms. Chesterfield print them up before the school closed for the summer."
"What are they?" Gia asked. Dr. Oliver smiled.
"High school diplomas. You all left a little work incomplete, but I gave you points for extra credit because, you know, saving the world really should be a class for Rangers."
"You mean we all graduated?"
"Did you ever have any doubts?" Dr. Oliver chuckled. "Congratulations to all of you. I know you have a bright future awaiting you."
"After you save the world," Jordan smirked. Gia rolled her eyes at him and then smiled to Dr. Oliver. She took the diplomas in her hand and then put them in her bag. Gia thanked him, punched Jordan lightly in the arm one last time and then walked out of the house.
