The Rangers arrived at the gated estate where Principal Hastings lived. They were a little surprised that she lived in this neighbourhood; it was a pretty high-end area. It wasn't quite Tien family level, but considering the fact that most of the houses on the block were easily in the seven-figure neighbourhood with realtors, it was a bit surprising that a High School Principal lived here. They arrived by the gate, finding Mick had already arrived.

"Did you call the cops?" Preston asked him. Mick shook his head.

"I figured I'd leave it until after you guys went in. We have no idea if Odious has left any nice little surprises for anyone going in." Mick told them. Calvin just nodded.

"Great, so only we have to risk our necks." He commented. "That sounds about right."

"There are only five of you." Mick said, furrowing his brows, doing a quick head-count and trying to figure out who was missing. "Where's Levi?"

"I...don't know, he seemed a little weird." Hayley answered, stroking her chin...or rather the chin section of her helmet at any rate. "He said something about needing to go and shower."

"Alright, whatever." Mick answered, handing Brody a device. "Here, this should alert you if you're getting close to any explosive substances, but that doesn't mean there might not be other kinds of booby traps or guards. You need to move carefully."

"Alright, I'll take point." Brody instructed his team. "Once we cross the fence, fan out. I need you to check the rest of the neighbourhood, make sure there aren't any monsters or Kudabots hanging around. I'll head for the house."

"Right, it's the third on the left, the one with the gnomes." Mick informed Brody as the Red Ranger prepared to make his move. "I'm right here in case you need me."

"Thanks Mick." Brody answered. He signalled to the others, who all made their way over the wall into the gated neighbourhood. They made their way quickly through each of the houses and yards. It didn't take them long to signal as they ensured each of them was clear. The main challenge was the community's own security. Aside from having a private security firm covering the neighbourhood, most of the houses also had their own extensive and sophisticated network of cameras and alarms. By the time Calvin got to the last house, signalling that there were no Kudabots in the vicinity, Brody made his own move.

He flipped over the fence, and quickly headed for Principal Hastings' house, making a mockery of the cameras' sweeps. Between his ninja training and a lifetime growing up on the Warrior Dome, where paranoia of a slave uprising was so high that there was almost more surveillance on the ship than dedicated to the show, Brody had learned how to avoid surveillance, how to tell where cameras were pointing and moving to the blind spots. It was a little harder than it was with living guards, who would blink or would be inattentive when bored or tired, but the principals were largely the same.

He dove over the hedge into her yard, rolling to his feet and getting to the front door before one of the cameras swept back. He kept an eye on it and timed it for when the sweep took it away. He got to work quickly, picking the lock on the door and after checking for signs of any tampering or trip switches, before slipping inside.

"He's in." Sarah's voice came over the Ninja-Comm. "Alright Brody, tell us what you see."

"I would not have pictured Principal Hastings' place being like this." Brody commented, looking around. The furniture appeared to be antique, and there was a lot of artwork. He wasn't too surprised she was into arty things, he was however a little surprised that on her salary she'd be able to afford a collection like this. "I think once we find Principal Hastings we'll need to start looking for the owner of this place."

"It is hers." Mick told him. "The deeds were signed to her in 2004."

"She doesn't even have to pay rent or a mortgage or anything?" Brody asked. "Being a principal must pay a lot more than I thought."

"Not this much." Preston commented. "Some of dad's board of directors live around here, and I know roughly what they make."

"Can we focus here?" Hayley asked, sounding frustrated. "Sure, I'm certain how she got this place is a fascinating story but right now maybe we find out if she's still alive?"

"WHOA!" Brody called out. The team prepared to move, but he started calling out to them to stand down.

"What is it?" Calvin asked.

"Sorry, I was just startled." Brody answered, staring at a bear. "I...ran into a bear, but it looks like it's stuffed."

"Stuffed?" Hayley asked.

"Yeah, there's a whole room full of taxidermy." Brody commented as he swept the area. "There's a gun cabinet here too, a pretty extensive collection by the looks of things."

"You think she hunted those things herself?" Calvin asked. "Remind me not to piss her off again!"

"Guys, it looks like no one is in here." Brody told them. "Hold on, I think I heard something."

"What is it?" Sarah asked him.

"It sounds like it's coming from underneath me, I think there's a basement here." Brody told them. "I just need to find a way in."

"Maybe a few more sets of eyes will help." Sarah suggested.

"No, I think I've found it." Brody answered. "I found a door, but there looks to be some kind of device linked up to the door handle."

"A booby trap in case someone tries to come in?" Sarah asked. "What kind of device?"

"Mick's scanner is showing explosives...it says it's Brime."

"Brime, what's that?" Hayley asked him.

"It's an explosive mineral from near where I lived." Mick informed him. "Pound for pound it's more powerful than C4."

"It's wired to the handle, I think it'll go off if I try and open it." Brody informed them.

"I'll be right there." Sarah told him.

"I appreciate the thought Sarah, but if its Brime Odious used, the tech is probably a little beyond Earth's level." Mick told them. "I'm coming in."

"Mick, you can't." Brody barked down the line. "I'll set up a link; you can talk me through it."

"Brody, if it's an explosive device then I might need to make split-second decisions." Mick told him. "I won't be able to move quickly if I have to explain to you..."

"Mick, we're Rangers, we have protection!" Sarah reminded him. "If you talk me through it..."

"This isn't up for discussion, I'm coming in!" Mick told them. He climbed over the gate, landing on the other side before any of the Rangers could object. Unlike them, stealth wasn't really his strong suit, and so quickly there were flashlights on him. Security guards were quickly in the street with guns trained on him.

"Hold it right there!" One of them called out. Mick held up his hands defensively.

"Wait, I can explain..."

"You're in the wrong neighbourhood pal!" Another stated.

"The woman in that house, she needs my help." Mick told them, pointing to Principal Hastings' place.

"Then she can come and..."

"There is a bomb in there!" Mick rushed out. The men started to get a little more aggressive with their gestures with their guns.

"Is that a threat sir?" One of them demanded. Sarah and the others broke cover, revealing themselves.

"Rangers?" One of the security guards asked. "What are you...?"

"This man is telling the truth." Sarah told them. "He's helping us; we need him to defuse the device."

"If you take one step I'll call the cops!" One of them told them. "We'll check it out..."

"Yes! Call the cops, please do!" Mick told them. "But let me through and..."

"We're checking it out sir." One of them told him. Mick just sighed and went with them as they headed for the house. It didn't take long for them to find Brody standing by the door. They could see the device attached to it.

"Oh my God..." One of them gasped, going for his radio. Mick grabbed his hand.

"I...wouldn't do that." He told them.

"You think this might set it off?" He asked. Mick just shook his head.

"No, of course not. It's wired to blow if the door is opened." Mick told him. "But if you're talking, you'll distract me."

"What are you doing sir?" One of them demanded as Mick got out some tools and started to look at the bomb.

"I'm going to defuse it." Mick told him. "You might want to step back."

The security guards all took a step back, at which Mick just shook his head.

"No, I mean...if this thing goes off you're not going to want to be...you know...within the city." Mick clarified. "Clear out and call the cops."

The security guards all left pretty quickly after that. Mick looked to Brody.

"You might want to go too." Mick told him.

"Mick, I am not leaving..."

"The less people down here the better, I'm not kidding about this thing." Mick told him.

"Then I want to be here..."

"Brody, I didn't want to say this in front of the others, but...it's a cost-benefit analysis." Mick told him. "Sarah probably could defuse this, but I'm the only other one that can, and I'm not a Ranger."

"What does that have to do with anything?" Brody asked. Mick just looked at him. "Mick, you can't think like that."

"If this goes side-ways, then I'm the one that costs the team least if...you know." Mick told him. Brody just shook his head.

"Mick, you can't gamble with your life." Brody told him.

"I've been doing it for years and you guys do it pretty much every day." Mick reminded him. "I've made up my mind Brody, now please, leave this to me."

Brody didn't want to think of what would happen if Mick was wrong. He agonised over the decision, but he couldn't get over the fact that it was Mick's decision to make. The only decision he could make was whether to stay with him and potentially distract him, or do as Mick asked. He sighed and put a hand on Mick's shoulder.

"You've got this." Brody told him. Mick just nodded his head and started to get to work as Brody left the building.

In another part of the city, Levi was in the bathroom, having a long, hot shower! He was lathering up and scrubbing for the fifth or sixth time already.

He had no idea when he took the job at the High School that he was accepting a job from Madame Odious. Right now no one knew how long she had been replacing Principal Hastings, right now no one even knew what happened to the real Principal Hastings. However, given the conversation she had interrupted between himself and Mrs Finch, the one thing that was clear to him was that she had at least been there when he was hired.

In some ways it made sense as a move for her. She had been able to get close to the Rangers, to keep an eye on them and figure out their movements virtually unhindered. Indeed as their Principal, she had authority over them and there was little they could do to ignore or defy her. That she had been the one to bring Levi into the school, to give him the position as a teacher was most likely a way to ensure he stayed close, to keep the whole team in one place, ready to act if they ever gave her an opportunity.

He was still sickened to think how far she had taken her ruse. She had feigned affection for him...or at least he sincerely HOPED she had feigned that affection. She had given him the impression of a star-struck fan that was willing to use her position to offer him something that he needed at the time. She had carried on the act so convincingly it led him to...He gagged slightly to think about it.

He shut off the shower after realising his skin was now pretty much turning bright pink, and was starting to wrinkle giving him the appearance of a strange prune. He got one of his towels and started to dry himself off, before heading through to the living room and turning on the stereo. It was one of his CD's that was playing, but he couldn't be bothered to do anything to change it. He just tossed the handset aside as he continued to dry himself off.

He had to admit a certain part of him had to almost admire Odious for how long she must have kept up the act. To pretend to be someone else for so long, to convince people she was another person had to take immense talent, the kind of concentration and intellect he couldn't believe. He wasn't sure he could do that. He had always prided himself on being who he was; regardless of if it met with the expectations of others.

He was still a little stunned by how effective Shoespike's spell was. He couldn't believe how he had valued winning over everything else. He was disgusted to think of how he acted towards his friends, how he had acted around others. As he lay back on the bed and closed his eyes, his vision shifted.

He was on a farm, but it wasn't the one he grew up on, the Weston farm. It was a lot smaller and didn't look nearly as well tended, almost like it wasn't a working farm at all. It looked more like the people there only worked it to a minimum, providing for themselves and not for sale.

"HA! I beat you! I beat you! I beat you again! HA!" He screamed as he did an incredibly immature and disgustingly mocking dance.

"It wasn't a race!" He heard a screeching, high-pitched voice say. He turned to see a kid standing, looking far from amused, crossing his arms in front of him. Levi went over to this kid, and was surprised that he seemed to be about the same height.

"That's loser talk! LOSER!" He started saying mockingly, before he felt a strong hand on his shoulder and heard a voice.

"Go and practice your kata." It said to the other kid.

"But dad..."

"Go and practice!" The voice stated again. The young kid bowed and turned, running off in the direction of the barn. Levi turned around, finding himself facing a man, one he didn't quite recognise, but that he felt a familiarity with. The man looked down on him.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to act that way?" The man asked. "Your brother's just trying to learn!"

"I'm trying to get him to try harder..."

"By taunting him and teasing him that he isn't at the same level as his brother who's four years older than him?" The man asked. "Do you really think you were that good four years ago?"

"But competition..."

"Competition is a good thing if it's HEALTHY competition." The man told him. "If all that matters to you is winning at all costs, then you don't drive anyone else to improve, you only discourage people from wanting to be around you."

"But...but what do I care what other people think of me?" Levi asked.

"That is often a healthy attitude, but you'll quickly come to know the people that matter." The man told him. "It's a good thing not to care what people think of you, because you'll never make everyone happy. But you'll know the people that are important to you because they're the ones whose opinion DOES matter to you."

"But I won..."

"Yes, and that's good. But another day your brother may win." The man answered. "And when that happens, would you rather sulk about the fact you were beaten or shake his hand and learn from him how he beat you so that you can improve?"

Levi didn't answer, instead he hung his head. The man guided him towards the barn.

"Go and apologise to your brother." He told him. "Then maybe he might like a few tips on how he can improve his time."

Levi snapped back into the present, shaking his head. He wished he could make more sense of what these new memories meant, but since they were coming to him, he found himself more confused than anything else. He didn't even know what was triggering them.

He could only assume it was another memory from his childhood, from the years before the Weston took him in, he had ascertained that these other people were his brother and his real father, but he still had no idea who they were or where they might be, even if they were still alive.

He couldn't help thinking about one thing in the dream though; he couldn't stop thinking about his father's lesson. Going to his cell phone, he picked it up and looked up a number, calling it. It went straight to voice mail, at which he just sighed and tossed it aside, before slumping down on the bed.

"Levi, when you screw up, you do one hell of a job." He told himself.

Back at Principal Hastings' house, Mick was working on the bomb, taking it apart. He mopped his brow as he looked into the inner workings, trying to figure out the path of the circuits, trying to determine which would set it off and which would by-pass the whole system.

He gulped as he reached a difficult juncture. He had a couple of connections to take apart, but they were all entangled in a kind of anti-tamper system. Once he started, he would have only seconds to take them all apart or the whole system would go. He took out a spray, spraying into the mechanism to freeze it, giving him a few more seconds.

"Alright, I've found what I need to." Mick told them through his Ninja-Comm. "Once I start, I've got a few seconds to take it apart."

"Mick, are you sure you..."

"The less people in here the better." Mick told them. "In a few seconds we'll know one way or another if I'm successful. Everyone just stay back out of here."

"Mick, good luck." Brody told him. "We believe in you."

"That's good to hear." Mick told them. "Let's find out if I deserve it."

With that, he took apart the first connection, removing the screw quickly and pulling out the wire. From there, he could hear some of the workings starting to activate. He was now in a race against time with the ultimate penalty if he slipped up. He got through the second and third connection pretty smoothly, but the final one was proving a little trickier. He tried to turn the screw, but it started to chew up, and the screw wouldn't move. It was an old screw, and it looked like it wasn't going to go easily.

"Screw it!" He snapped as he opted for the biggest gamble of his life. Grabbing the wire, he closed his eyes and ripped it out sharply. There was silence, and for a long moment Mick was terrified to open his eyes in case he would find himself in the hereafter. Eventually though, he managed to open one eye, and found that either the hereafter looked surprisingly like Principal Hastings' taxidermy room, or he had managed it. Looking to the device he breathed a sigh of relief, pulling it off the door, before opening it.

He went down the stairs, into the basement to investigate. He found a light switch and turned it on. When he did, Principal Hastings scooted as far as she could into the corner, shielding her face defensively. He went over to her.

"Principal Hastings, it's me!" Mick told her. She just looked up to him.

"M...M...Mr K...K...Kanik?" She asked him. Mick nodded his head. "You need to go, that freak..."

"She's not coming back." Mick assured her as he took his screwdriver and started to work on the locks holding her chains. Principal Hastings looked to him, terrified in case he was wrong. "Don't worry, she's been exposed, we all know about her, she's not coming back."

As the chains fell from her ankles, releasing her feet for the first time in weeks, he began working on the chains securing her wrists. The second he was finished, she threw her arms around him, squeezing him tightly and refusing to let him go. Mick gently put his arms around her.

"It's alright, it's alright, we're getting you out of here." He assured her, sliding a hand under her legs. After so long in captivity, he had no idea how strong she was and didn't want to risk her hurting herself trying to walk herself. He picked her up and carried her up the stairs and out of the front door.

As he got there, the street was full of police, fire service and ambulance crews. There was a huge applause as they saw him. Mick looked to where the Rangers were all standing, applauding him too. Mick smiled. He never once complained about his part in the war against the Warrior Dome, but he had to admit, for once, being the hero felt pretty damned good!