The scene that greeted the DinoThunder Rangers' eyes was a typical one--a trashed street, civilians running every which way in panic, and the bad guy laughing in the middle of it all. But the fact that this time it was a Ranger was jarring.
"Back for more, Dino-Wimps?" Even behind a helmet, White Ranger's sneer was obvious.
"Not this time, Trent!" Connor shouted back confidently.
White Ranger paused in surprise. "So you figured it out, huh? Makes no difference; you're still going down!"
The other Rangers braced themselves as White Ranger drew arrows in the air. "Keep him busy," Connor said quietly. "Don't give him a chance to call his Zord; the last thing we need is another Megazord battle." The others nodded.
White Ranger fired his arrows, but at the last the second the DinoThunders scattered—all except Cassidy, who inexperience left her caught flat-footed, the arrows knocking her painfully backward and to the ground.
"Cass!" Connor shouted in concern.
"I'm…all right," she groaned. They're right; the suits only stop SOME of the damage. "Just…go get him!"
"Right!" Connor nodded and, drawing his Tyranno Staff, joined the others.
The battle raged for several minutes, and though Cassidy quickly recovered, she hesitated to join in. She had no martial arts experience, and she figured she' d just get in the others' way. But as time wore on, it became obvious that White Ranger was winning. While he could no longer short-circuit their powers thanks to Haley, he still had more raw power. Only Dr. O. was still on his feet now.
That's it, I HAVE to help them! Weapons…I need weapons! They always told me this stuff was instinctive…Cassidy concentrated her thoughts…and then she knew! "Plesiosaur Paddles!" The twin fan-like weapons appeared in her hands. Now what? She thought, and then the instincts kicked in again. Paddles were good for making waves…in this case, air waves!
White Ranger had just finally taken down Dr. O. and was about to administer the killing blow, when a wall of air knocked him off his feet, sent him flying backwards, and finally through a concrete wall!
Cassidy hurried to put herself between the gaping hole and the other Rangers, who were still groaning on the ground, trying to keep her hands from shaking. She knew White Ranger wasn't down for the count, and he was going to be PISSED. How was she going to beat him in a fair fight?
That's when she got an idea. I'm Cassidy Cornell…since when do I fight fair?
White Ranger leaped back through the hole, growling. That had HURT, and Pinky was going to pay! But to his confusion, he saw only the other Rangers. Had she chickened out?
He was caught completely off guard when two slender arms wrapped around his waist from behind, and plain, unmorphed Cassidy took herself…and him…up into the air.
"You blond bitch! Put me down!" His vastly superior strength was of little use now, because he couldn't get any leverage.
"Not…yet!" Cassidy grunted with strain. They now floated 200 feet above the street. With a silent prayer that she hadn't misunderstood the Haley of her universe when she described how tough the Ranger suits were, she whispered "Sorry, Trent…"—and let go.
He cursed her all the way down.
An exhausted Cassidy made a stumbling landing not far from the other DinoThunders, who where gathered anxiously around the hole in the concrete street White Ranger had made. She staggered over just in time to see him groan…and demorph back into Trent.
Tommy quickly handcuffed the unconscious boy. He and Ethan began dragging Trent towards Connor's car, which was concealed nearby. Connor clapped Cassidy on the shoulder. "Not bad for a rookie!"
Cassidy was glad the helmet hid her blush.