Chapter 3 – Rangers Assemble

September 28 – Silver Hills, WA

Team meetings for the Silver Hills branch of the Silver Guardians were never hugely exciting affairs, today's though was exceptionally boring. Since the appearance of the Mut-Orgs in Turtle Cove a few weeks ago, nothing of interest had occured in the city. They had kept their eyes on events happening down the road in Turtle Cove but it looked like the Wild Force Rangers had everything under control. Instead Jen and her team were left investigating a spate of petty vandalism and stuck on traffic duty.

Lucas leaned back in his chair and stretched his stiff back. He tried to suppress a yawn but unfortunately he wasn't successful, "Am I boring you?" Jen asked.

"Do you want an honest answer to that", the blue Time Force Ranger replied. His leader frowned and folded her arms across her chest, "Come on Jen, even you can't find this stuff very interesting", he added.

"No but it still needs to be done", Jen stated, "the incident with the Mut-Orgs shows that anything can happen. We need to be ready for anything".

"Forgive me for saying it but filing traffic tickets correctly isn't what we should be worried about", Eric stretched and slowly stood up. "I agree that we need to be ready so I'm going to spend some time on the shooting range".

"Eric come on we haven't got that long left", Wes said and looked at Jen, "I hope".

"Look I get it, this is boring and even I'll admit that", the pink ranger huffed, "but I still have to answer to Mr Collins and he insists on these meetings. So can we just finish this off and we can get onto something more interesting. After all you never know who's going to walk through that door".

"You can say that again", the Time Force Rangers turned around and saw three people, a man and two women in their early twenties, standing in the door way. One of the women had long brown hair and was wearing tight brown pants and a yellow blouse. The Hispanic male was dressed entirely in black and the other female had shoulder length blonde hair and was wearing black leather pants, a silver top and a black flight jacket, "Sorry to barge in but the guy on the front desk told us to come straight through", the one in yellow added.

Wes cast his eye over the three, he couldn't put his finger on it but they looked familiar, "So you guys are the Time Force Rangers", the man began, "we were all impressed with how you handled those monsters last year".

"Actually they were mutants", Trip replied.

"Trip", Jen hissed and glared at the three newcomers, "how do you know we're Power Rangers?"

"Hey chill out", the blonde held up her hands, "we're all rangers here", she added, "I'm Karone the silver Space Ranger, this is Carlos Vallerte the black ranger and Ashley Hammond the yellow ranger".

"No way", Wes approached the trio, "I thought I recognised you, this is a massive honour".

"Thanks", Ashley began, "but we're not here on a publicity tour, we're here to recruit you for a special mission".

Wes noticed that Ashley was only looking at him, "What me?"

"Yeah him?" Jen added in disbelief.

"An old enemy of the Power Rangers has unearthed a weapon that could destroy the planet", Carlos began, "we're helping to recruit a team consisting of all the previous red rangers to stop it".

"Hang on, why just the red rangers", Jen exclaimed, "Wes wasn't even the leader of the team".

"Thanks Jen, you made me look bad in front of the Space Rangers", Wes hissed in response.

"We're not sure why", Karone answered, "unfortunately we're not in charge of this mission", she added with a slightly bitter tone. She then turned back towards Wes, "So are you in?"

The Red Time Force Ranger didn't even have to think for a second, "A chance to go on a mission with the previous red rangers, count me in".

Ashley smiled, "Good, we'll be in touch once we have further details". The three Space rangers were about to leave when Eric cleared his throat loudly, "Something to add?"

"I just thought since you're recruiting red rangers you'd want me on board as well", the Quantum Ranger smiled.

"Eric you're not a red ranger", Katie snorted.

"My suit's red", he shot back, "just because I'm named tbe Quantum Ranger shouldn't make a difference".

"You're absolutely right", Carlos said, much to the surprise of his two team mates, "now you should both go and pack, the call could come at any moment". Eric gave the other Time Force rangers and arrogant smirk and left the room with Wes.

"Why did you do that?" Karone whispered to Carlos, "we were told only to ask Wes".

"I've heard about Eric's reputation", the black Space Ranger began, "it'll really piss Jason and Tommy off having to spend several days stuck with him".

The two women laughed, however, they was interrupted when Lucas snaked an arm around their shoulders, "I don't believe we've been introduced properly", he began with a smooth tone, "Lucas Kendall, blue ranger".

"Ashley Hammond and we're both very much taken", she smiled sweetly and removed his arm from her shoulder.

"Better luck next time", Karone added and lightly tapped him on the cheek, much to the amusement of the remaining Time Force Rangers.

Mirinoi

"So that's the situation Leo", TJ's voice called out from the video screen, "I'll understand if you're not able to get here in time".

"Are you kidding", Leo Corbett replied, "I wouldn't miss this for the world. Plus the new wormhole system is finally ready to use. If I ask my brother nicely I might even be able to get a priority shuttle".

"Good I'll let Andros know", TJ began, "he's trying to reach Aurico on Aquitar so he might meet you on Mirinoi then you can both travel together". TJ adjusted himself slightly in his seat, "Can I tell you something Leo?"

The Red Galaxy Ranger frowned, "Anything buddy".

"It's a little weird being back in red", he indicated towards his t-shirt, "I had to go and buy this especially for the occasion".

Leo leaned back in his chair and laughed, "That's what you get for being greedy and having two sets of powers".

"It's not just that", TJ began, "the last time I was the Red Turbo Ranger, things didn't exactly end well".

"Maybe this is what you need to exercise those demons", Leo answered. Just then the door to his apartment opened, "I've gotta go, I've got the break the news to the other half".

TJ laughed, "From one red ranger to another, I wish you all the best", with that he shut down communications. Leo then turned towards his girlfriend Kendrix Morgan. After the pink Galaxy Ranger had been freed from Psycho Pink's control, Leo had taken Karone's advice and confessed his feelings to her and the pair had been together ever since. Kendrix was now responsible for integrating technology with the natural history of the forest planet. Leo's status as the red ranger made him almost certain to be elected the next chief of Mirinoi. Commander Stanton and his brother Mike still looked after Terra Venture which had been repaired and now doubled as extra accomendation for the Earthicans.

"Hey honey", Kendrix called out, she had several bags of shopping in her arms, "was that TJ you were speaking to?"

"Yeah it was", Leo replied, "something's come up on Earth and he wants my help".

Kendrix stopped putting the shopping away and closed the gap to her boyfriend, "Is this ranger related?" she asked.

Leo nodded, "Do you remember Serpenterra?"

"Vaguely, that was the massive dragon like zord belonging to Lord Zedd wasn't it?" Unlike Leo, Kendrix wasn't a native of Angel Grove so she didn't experience the repeated alien invasions first hand.

"Yeah that's the one", he answered, "the Machine Empire have found it and are about to launch an attack. All the red rangers are being assembled to destroy it once and for all". Kendrix nodded but didn't reply straight away, "Rixie, are you alright?" he asked nervously.

"Yeah", she replied hesitantly, "just a little apprehensive about you going".

"I don't have to, if that'll make you feel better", he grasped her hands and looked into her eyes.

Kendrix shook her head, "No you have to go", she took a deep breath, "just promise me you won't do anything reckless".

Leo placed his finger under her chin and gave her a kiss, "Don't worry I'll be surrounded by fellow rangers, what could possibly go wrong", he replied, "now I need to get some stuff together and speak to Mike about using the new wormhole".

The pink ranger gave him a weak smile and when he was about of ear shot, she muttered to herself, "Just come back safely to me".

Mariner Bay Fire Department

Carter Grayson was extremely concerned as he sat by himself in the Fire Department's canteen. A couple of hours ago he received a call from Tommy Oliver telling him that Phil Spader of Hexagon was on his way over. He had heard of Spader by reputation but he had never spoken to the man. Tommy explained briefly about the mission but didn't explain why Spader was coming all the way to Mariner Bay to see him.

After defeating Queen Bansheera and her demons, Carter had returned to his job at the Fire Department. The extra attention he got due to his ranger status had gradually faded away until he was just one of the boys again. He had kept in touch with the other Lightspeed Rangers but they had also largely returned to their original lives. Strangely Captain Mitchell had dropped off the face of the Earth, not even Miss Fairweather knew how to get hold of him.

The one regret he did have was with his relationship with Dana Mitchell. The pair had been seeing each other off and on for the last couple of years but they had drifted away from each other in the last few months. He was busy at the FDMB and she was finishing off at medical school. They resolved to see how things went but right now, Carter wasn't feeling too optimistic.

"Ah Mr Grayson", Carter's head snapped up and saw a middle aged man in a dark suit, glasses and greying hair walking towards him, "I see you got my message".

"Philip Spader I presume", he replied, "forgive me for getting straight to the point but why are you here? Tommy's already briefed me about the threat".

"No apology needed Carter, I can call you Carter right?" the Red Lightspeed ranger nodded, "I appreciate someone who gets to the point". He took a deep breath, "The truth is Carter I need someone I can rely on for this mission, someone who can paint Hexagon in a good light".

Carter frowned, "I'm not sure I understand, you've got the two most senior red rangers coming with us".

"There is some tension between with Jason and Tommy on one side and the Red Turbo and Space Rangers on the other", Spader answered, "something to do with a bust up four years ago. I've told them to play nice but I think you know as well as I do that the peace might not last". Carter nodded slightly in agreement, he knew too well from the Fire Department that putting together two men who hated each other never ended well. "I'm sending you to bring in the Red Wild Force Ranger, Cole Evans. I want you to take him under your wing and show him how Hexagon Rangers should behave".

"I thought Wild Force turned us down Sir", Carter asked.

"Technically they never responded", Spader began, "perhaps they need a demonstration of what we've got to offer". He leaned forward and clasped his hands together, "If an argument breaks out, keep out of it and keep Cole away from it as well. Build up his confidence and allow him to experience how he would flourish with Hexagon's support".

Carter didn't respond for a moment, it sounds like Spader wanted him to manipulate the young man. Then again if Cole was a red ranger, surely he was smart enough to make his own decision about Hexagon, what was the harm in selling it a little bit more, "You can count on me Sir", he answered.

Spader smiled, "Good now I believe you've got a shift soon. I'll be in touch with the final meeting time", Carter nodded and shook the man's hand. The second Carter had left the room, Spader's smile fell and he reached into his jacket pocket. He pulled out a cell phone and dialled a number, "Spader here, Grayson's in". He waited for the person at the other end to respond, "No the idiot never even questioned me, he took it as an order from a superior and he'll follow like a good little soldier". Spader smiled and snapped his phone shut. He stood up, brushed his suit off and left the empty canteen.

A/N – That Spader character is a manipulative bastard isn't he? Sadly this is just the beginning of his reign of smooth talking terror...