Sheriff Johnson watched the salt flats through his police issued sunglasses. The air was hazy but the long-time sheriff was use to it. No lawbreakers would escape him. Then down the road a shape began to form and the sound of an engine tore through the silence. Sheriff Johnson smiled, that person had to be speeding. He revved his engine getting ready. The vehicle had to be going too fast to come to a full stop at the sign.

To his shock, a motorcycle skidded sideways drifting to a full stop behind the line and then the engine revved as the bike straightened out and the brake was released. The bike sped down the road again. It had all happened in a matter of seconds, the biker had even looked over to the sheriff's car almost flaunting his skill. The sheriff stared, there had only been one biker in his career that could pull off that move. A completely legal one he hadn't seen in about two years. "It can't be."

Back at the hub, Vert paced nervously.

"Vert, calm down," Stanford insisted.

"Calm down! Lin is out there alone in Handler's Corners. What if he has another panic attack? What if he slips and talks about the multi-verse? We're not there to cover for him."

"We had to do this," Tezz said. "He cannot hide in the hub forever. And if we were out there, one of us could be the one who slips."

"Tezz is right, Vert. If you truly don't want him going back into the multi-verse, then he must go somewhere," Sage insisted.

"I know you're right, guys. It's just…we still don't know what's going on in his head. And that programming he was doing and doesn't remember doing confused even you," Vert snapped turning away from her.

Sage started to say something but stopped. She looked worried but kept her concerns to herself.

The diner bell rang, as the door opened. Grace looked up from her sweeping and stared at the biker pulling his helmet off. He shook out his black hair and adjusted his shades. The young man glanced around and something at the back of the diner caught his eye. He strolled to the back wall setting his helmet on the counter.

Zeke walked out of the kitchen and asked, "Grace, what's the matter? Aren't you going to take the fellow's order?"

Grace looked at Zeke then at the biker. He was examining a picture. Grace came around him to get a better look at his face. "Lin?" It certainly looked like him.

His head turned slightly, showing he had heard her.

"It is you, isn't it?"

"I'm not sure, but people keep calling me that," he said softly. He pointed to the picture of himself. "If this me, what was I doing?"

Grace blinked, not believing what she was hearing. "Lin, you had just finished a race and just smoked everyone. It was an amazing shut out. Have you seen…?"

"Do I have family?" he said cutting her off. "Around here, I mean…please."

"Don't you remember, you vanished two years ago?" she snapped at him.

He frowned, "I woke up in a hospital over a year ago. I don't remember… anything but motorcycles."

Zeke slowly said, "Lin, your mom's Dr. Zang. She has an office near the center of town. You should go see her."

Lin nodded, "Thank you." He picked up his helmet and walked out.

"Who would have thought, amnesia?" Zeke said watching him start up a strange looking, tan motorcycle. "Or maybe he met aliens and had his memories wiped."

"He doesn't remember us," Grace whispered, "He didn't even ask about Angel." She rushed to the phone and dialed. Waiting for someone to answer took forever.

"Hello?"

"Angel, it's Grace. You're not going to believe who just left the diner."

"Are you sure you want to tell her like this?" Zeke warned. "This is like an episode…"

Lin drove through town carefully. He knew where the office was, but the people staring at him grated on his nerves. He figured his knuckles were white under his gloves. He would have rather worn his shock suit instead of the T-shirt, jeans, and jacket he was wearing. The team insisted he leave his weapons behind. Not so that he could not protect himself. It was so he wouldn't hurt anyone in the attempt to protect himself.

As he parked the Guardian, it felt like so many eyes were on him. He told himself over and over that, 'he was surrounded by people who were not there to hunt him'. He pulled off his helmet and someone whistled. He spun before he could stop himself. He barely kept himself from taken a battle stance. He was grateful for the shades as someone said, "That is a sweet bike, mister."

Lin walked inside the office building quickly trying not to run. He knew there was a small hallway, almost a closet, on the ground floor that was usually empty and quiet. He hide in there letting his panic run through him. He hated going from semi-normal to scared out of his mind in a matter of seconds. His jaw was clenched so tight it hurt. He slid to the floor making himself as small as he could. He couldn't just go to his mother like this. He still had to get pass her assistant while pretending not to remember her.

He didn't know how long he was there, trying to get over this attack. Finally, he could breathe and move properly. He dragged himself to his feet. He rubbed his face and looked into one of the mirrors that decorated the building. He didn't look terrible, mostly very tired. That was ok. He could get away with that.

He walked up the stairs to her door. Vert had told his mother to expect him, so she should be in. "I can do this," he whispered. He opened the door and walked inside.

"Do you have an appointment?" the assistant asked, without looking up.

Lin shook his head and waited a moment before realizing he had to say something. "No."

"I'm sorry, you can't see Dr. Zang without an…" the assistant looked up and sat there with her mouth open.

"Please don't stare," Lin said.

"Lin…?" she stammered and suddenly rushed to the other door. Lin backed into door controlling his breathing. "Dr. Zang!"

"What is it?" his mother kindly demanded. "There's no need to shout." His mother came into the room and gave him a once over. Lin was teetering between flight and fight. She had to get him alone quickly. "Lin, oh Lin." She carefully went up him. He stared at her, his mind blank. "Where have you been?"

"I…" Lin tried. He couldn't remember what he had practiced saying.

"It's all right. Come into my office. We'll talk this out. Sarah, cancel all my appointments today," she ordered guiding Lin toward her office. "And call my husband. Let him know." The moment the door was closed Lin crumbled into the nearest seat. "Lin, you had an attack didn't you?" He looked up at her, the question in his eyes. "You parked your bike about ten minutes ago."

"I… couldn't tell…This is so hard," he said.

"I know cub," she said petting his hair.

"She tried to ask about Angel. Grace is going to tell her. Those two. How am I going to face her?" he asked looking into her eyes. "I have to lie to her."

"Yes, you do have to lie. You must choose to either hang on to her or let her go before you see her."

"When will dad be here?" he asked changing the topic.

She smiled removing his shades, "He won't be long. I don't doubt your brother Lee will be far behind."

"I hate lying," he whispered, "especially to dad."

"One day he will know and understand why we choose this path."

The BF5 were working in the garage when a sports car drove up. Out of the driver's side hopped out a beautiful brunette. "Vert! Have you heard?"

Vert looked over wiping the grease from his hands. "Heard what, Angel?"

"Who is that?" Spinner asked wide-eyed.

"Lin's girlfriend Angela or Angel," AJ whispered.

"Angel is right," Stanford said. "Straight from heaven."

"Put your eyes back in your skull, Stanford, or did you break up with Grace," Agura snapped.

AJ leaned over with a grin and whispered, "She's also the sheriff's daughter." The guys looked at him shocked.

Tezz shrugged and said, "Well, either Lin has always been very brave or border-line crazy."

"Lin! Grace saw him," Angela said.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Well, no. Of course I wasn't there but she said Zeke sent him to his mother. You want to come and see?" she asked.

"Yes, but don't you think his family might want some time with him first?" Vert asked stalling for time.

Angel frowned at him, "You were his best friend, weren't you? I just want see him. Vert. I just want to know he's ok." She ran back to her car and drove off.

"Oh man," Vert said throwing down the grease rag and turning to tail her in the Saber.

"Remember Vert," Agura said. "He's not supposed to remember either of you."

"I know!" he said and tore out of there.

"This should be interesting," Spinner said, "so, anyone for pizza?" Some of the team looked at him. "What? Do we, since we don't know Lin, have anything better to do? Really?"

The team shrugged. "He has a point," Zoom said. "I call a Lin special."

In the Red Sentient stronghold, Kyburi was concentrating before growling in defeat. She stood and paced about like a caged animal.

"Anything?" Krytus asked.

"No, it was him. I am certain," she snarled. "How dare he hide from me like this?"

Krytus frowned at the news. The defeat at the battle zone and the lost of the Mobias was bad enough, but to find his theory was correct. A blue guardian had survived by merging with the human warrior that had evaded them for so long and his twin was unable to sense him while in front of her own face. He had heard rumors of the technique but never thought it was possible or even desirable to choose an existence inside an organic's mind. "Maxim," he muttered.

Kyburi spun, "Don't say his name! I thought I had finally beaten him. That human will suffer for aiding him."

Krytus promised, "He will and tell us all he knows."

"And once he is of no value, the human's death will mean your brother will never regenerate," Kytren said.

Kyburi purred at thought. "When Battle Force 5 reenters the multi-verse, I wish to be there."

"Why not encourage their arrival?" Krytus asked with a wicked grin.

She nodded, "Why not?"

Vert tailed Angel down the road, until he heard sires. Behind him was Sheriff Johnson signaling him to pull over. Vert rolled his eyes and watched as the sport car continued on. Naturally, the sheriff would not pull his own daughter over.

"Yes, Sheriff is there a problem?" Vert asked.

"You were speeding Wheeler," he said writing up the ticket. "So where were you off to in such a hurry?"

Vert smiled remembering how Sheriff Johnson could barely stand his daughter's old boyfriend before, "To see if Grace was right when she said Lin was back."

The sheriff stopped writing and blinked, "That was Lin."

"You saw him," Vert said watching the sheriff's shocked expression trying not to laugh.

He frowned, "That blasted kid hasn't changed from his cocky moves after years. He's still going no where fast."

"Ok, ticket, please," Vert said taking it out of the sheriff's hand. "See you." He drove off before the sheriff could pull himself together. "Now, to catch up with Angel. And find out what Lin did to annoy the sheriff so fast."

By the time he got to town, Angel was parked right beside Lin's motorcycle. She was waiting impatiently from her expression.

Vert pulled up beside her. Carefully, he asked, "So, any sign of him?"

She glanced at him before stated, "His dad was going inside when I pulled up. I thought about what you said. Then Lee ran in."

"Well, now we know something's going on," Vert said hoping to make her feel better before the bomb dropped.

"Vert, why do you think he was gone so long?"

'Uh-oh,' Vert thought. Aloud, he said, "I have no idea… Maybe, it wasn't his fault."

"Grace said he didn't know who she was," she said.

"Oh… whoa," he answered not sure what else to say.

She frowned, "Oh, that was useful, Vert."

"Sorry. What do you want me to say?"

"I don't know… I wish this had never happened. I'm leaving in a few days."

"Leaving?"

"I couldn't stand being here anymore, Vert. I mean, my dad has been going on and on about responsibility, the future, and my possible careers. It drives me crazy," she explained. Then she said more to herself, "Maybe if he really doesn't know me anymore, it's best if I don't see him."

"Angel, I…"

They looked up as the door opened. The Zangs came out, Lee walking backward talking rapidly to Lin who had a talking parent on each side. His mother had an arm wrapped around his waist, for his mental support. Lin was concentrating on what his family was saying to him. His head turned toward the Saber and Vert saw only the slightest hesitation on Angel before Lin forcibly focused on Lee again.

Angel lips quivered and she turned her key violently. Recklessly, throwing her sports car in reverse, she tore out of town as quickly as she could.

Vert heard Lin say in a flat voice, "What just happened?"

Lee answered, "…That was your old girlfriend, Angel."

Lin frowned and hung his head. "I don't know…" he stopped catching himself before he slipped.

"Easy son," his father said. "Give it time. Besides, here's one of your oldest and closest friends." He motioned to Vert. "Vert Wheeler, it's good to see you?"

"Mr. Zang," Vert said coming over. "Lin? How have you been? Where have you been?"

"Far enough away that no one knew who I was… not even me," Lin said the rehearsed line. He leaned on his bike.

"Whoa, nice bike, big brother," Lee said.

"Thanks, do you…?" Lin started to offer his helmet. "Should I be comfortable with him on my bike?"

Lee frowned and grabbed the helmet. "I'm a good biker and quit whispering."

"Lee, you know how Lin was with his bikes. It's obvious that hasn't changed," Mrs. Zang said.

"And the whispering?"

"Force of habit," Lin said shrugging.

"Let's go home," Mr. Zang said.

"Feel free to stop by my garage anytime, Lin. The track too." Vert's com went off, warning him of trouble in the multi-verse. Vert and Lin traded looks. "I got to go."

"See you around."

In the battle zone

The team carefully tracked the beacon Sage had found. "Careful team. Let's take this nice and slow."

Zoom drove ahead over the massive vines that grew like roads over the battle zone. "I don't see anything."

"Easy Zoom," Agura warned. "Don't get separated from us."

"I know what I'm doing."

"Agura's right, this place looks good for an ambush," Vert warned.

"Right, coming back," Zoom said turning. "You know, it would have been cool to see what kind of vehicle a fused Chopper and Guardian would have made."

Agura smiled, "I was actually thinking the same thing about the Tangler and his camouflage."

"It's too dangerous," Vert said. "We can't risk Krytus getting his hands on Lin."

"Speaking of danger," Spinner said checking his scope. "Sarks and Sentients!"

"Evasive maneuvers, now," Vert ordered.

The Sentients looked about the team. "They didn't bring him," Kyburi snarled. "I want my brother begging for mercy!"

"Then we make them bring him. Sarks capture their scout!" Krytus ordered. "Alive, your brother will be driven to rescue him."

"Yes, his protocols would not let him ignore a comrade in trouble," Kyburi agreed as she moved to separate Zoom from the others.

At that time, Lin was washing up for dinner. The scent that floated up from the kitchen was wonderful. His family was fixing some of his old favorites. When he looked into the mirror, it wasn't his face that was reflected. A blue Sentient male look back at him. The man looked puzzled and worried. He felt his lips move and heard a voice that wasn't his come out. "Lin, we need to talk."

"It's you, isn't it? Why can't I remember you, clearly?" he asked.

"We met in a battle zone more than one of your years ago. Where you saved my life and I saved your mind. The guardian protocols have been maintaining the original security orders. It's time to remember." His eyes grew impossibly bright and filled Lin's vision.

In a dusty canyon of a battle zone, Lin in his ragged clothing made his way along the rocks and loose slate. He watched his footing carefully. His eyes were wilder and less sane. As he passed an opening in the canyon he noticed a light. He reached in, hoping for supplies, but pulled out a flickering dodecahedron. Lin frowned and then fell back as the dodecahedron flashed and transformed into a Sentient. The Sentient blinked up at him and they spoke. The Sentient could no longer sustain himself physical and Lin lacked the knowledge and experience needed to maintain his survival or sanity much longer. They came to the agreement that led to the Sentient transferring his mind into Lin's subconscious. Then the Sentient warned Lin to hide quickly. A squad of Sarks arrived to examine the Sentient's empty shell and recorded him as deactivate.

Lin blinked and he was looking at the mirror with the Sentient's reflection again. "Maxim, that's your name." They both nodded. "I wouldn't have survived, if you hadn't kept me grounded."

"I did very little, Lin. You are a strong person and warrior. If you were Sentient, you would be picked for Guardian without a doubt."

"Is my trauma real? Are any of these reactions real?" he asked hoping Maxim could make it all go away.

"Yes, I'm afraid so. After we got out of the battle zone, the security protocols activated making you forget I was inside you. You thought you were going mad hearing my voice in your head. I did what I could when I could. It probably is the main reason for the trauma. I'm sorry about it. Truly I am."

"Why have you waited so long to show yourself to me?"

"Those protocols had locked up somehow I was trapped within you until your most recent injury. Besides, unless it was outside the battle zones what would have been the point. I needed a reflective surface so that you could see me, not just hear me. That way you would know you weren't crazy. You also earned some recovering time more than you have allowed yourself, but…"

"What? There's something else. We made an agreement that day. Maxim, let me remember."

"We have a mission. Vert, I understand is your friend and he is trying to protect you. But in order to protect Earth and restore my people, we have to complete the mission giving to the Guardians by the Council."

"I remember it now. Sage, we, you need to talk to her."

"Yes, I'm sorry my friend. You deserve time with your family…"

"I have time now. We will make sure we both get the time. They won't stop us. Kyburi won't stop us."

Maxim rolled his eyes. "Oh yes, my dear sister. Tough as Hydron crystal and so competitive to be as sweet as your world's worst vinegar."

"The Reds know, don't they?" Lin asked tapping his temple. "They know you're here."

"I'm afraid so. In order to complete the last mission, I gave up the element of surprise. Try not to worry about it too much. Kyburi will get worked up over it, but we should not. For now push it aside and enjoy a family dinner, my friend."

"Then we get back to work."

In the battle zone, things were not going well for the team. Stanford fired repeatedly at the Sarks, but there were so many. Agura and the Cortez brothers smashed and bashed. Vert tried to get to Zoom, slicing through Sarks and Kyrosys. Zoom was about to be overwhelmed by Krytus, Kyburi, and Kytren.

"Give me a break!" Zoom shouted avoiding Kyburi's claw then Kytus' blades. "A little help… please!"

Kyburi's claw swung back and caught the Chopper's rear wheel. Zoom shouted as he lost control. Kytren's vehicle vanished and the Sentient attacked while Zoom was still trying to orientate himself. "Hey," he yelled being forced away from the Chopper and then fought back with more skill than Kytren possessed.

"Zoom, behind you," Vert yelled.

Kyburi was there and slammed him with her claw as she had Lin in the last battle zone. Dazed, Zoom struggled weakly in her claw and the Sentient lifted him and began driving off with him.

"Let me go!" Zoom shouted.

The claw jerked forward bringing Zoom closed to her windshield. "No," Kyburi purred. "I want the sword wielder." She looked to Battle Force 5. "Hear that humans, bring that human to us or you won't see this one alive again." She laughed and quickly drove away.

Kytren activated his vehicle to cover her.

"Zoom!" Vert screamed spinning and slicing the Saber through anything in red that dared to get in his way. "Battle Force 5, converge on Kyburi now, before she escapes!"

The team tried, but Krytus commanded his Sarks to block them. Kyburi drove quite casually through the portal to their homeworld, Zoom still struggling to escape. "Good-bye humans," Krytus said. "We expect to see you soon with the sword wielder."

"Regroup," Vert growled watching as the Sentients drove away with their Sarks following them.

Agura snared the Chopper and asked, "What do we do? We need to make repairs."

"We rescue Zoom, somehow, right?" Stanford said.

"Let's get back to the hub, quickly." Vert said.

Sage opened a channel. "Vert what happened? My scanners showed…"

"They took Zoom," Sherman said.

"Took?"

"And they want Lin to come to their world or else…" Spinner added.

"I will contact him."

"Sage, no. There has to be another way."

"Very well."

Lin smiled, listening to his brother talk about school and tasting the wonderful food he was enjoying. It was so ordinary, such a simple pleasure.

"Bro, what's up with the smile?"

Lin blinked and looked around the table. His parents were waiting for his answer. At least, he could give them an honest answer this time. "I had dreams about this. Sitting around a table, eating a great meal, having a conversation, and it felt so right. Sort of silly to have wanted such a boring dream to come true so badly."

His mother placed a hand over his and stated, "It's called welcome home."

"You'll remember. Just stay out of the ravines."

"Ravines?"

Lee pulled out a knife and set it on the table. Lin knew exactly what it was but kept his face blank. "This was found in one of the ravines out in the salt flats. You were going to give me this for my birthday."

"Your birthday?"

"There was a card. You didn't finish it though. Those were the only things we could find of yours."

Lin thought it over, and chose to lie. "I don't remember." The conversation moved on till Lin had an odd feeling.

Maxim spoke in his mind, "Something's happened in the multi-verse. I think it's time to speak with Sage."

Lin stood, "Excuse me. I need to call someone."

"Who?" his mother asked a little startled.

"Sage, my old boss. Just letting her know the penniless kid she helped out is all right." It wasn't a total lie.

Lin took a phone outside and dialed the garage. It was Tezz that answered. "Hello, Vert is not here right now."

"Tezz, it's Lin. I need to talk to Sage."

"…It's not a good time right now."

"I know, can you tell her that the Sentient Maxim needs to speak with her, now?"

Tezz was quiet a moment. Then he covered the phone and repeated the message to Sage.

"Maxim, but how?"

"Who is Maxim?"

"The guardian unit's second in command. I thought we had lost him," she explained taking the phone from Tezz. "Maxim?"

Lin felt Maxim's conscious become stronger in his mind and Lin let him stepping away from his body in a sense. "Sage?" Maxim said. "You have no idea what a relief it is to know you are safe."

"Maxim, how is this possible?"

"Sage, I will explain as soon as I am able, but what has happened in the multi-verse? My protocols are sending me warnings but I can't understand them without my body."

"Your body? Lin… you're in Lin's body. How?"

"Yes, Sage please. What's going on?"

"The Red Sentients have captured Zoom, taking him to their world. They want Lin, or perhaps, I should say you to come to their world."

Maxim groaned, "Honestly Ky… Sage, there are things I have to tell you. I was given a mission by the council before our world fell. We may not have much time. And we should not disappoint our twins."

"Am I to be left alone again?" Sage asked sadly.

"Maybe not," Lin said surging forward. "I've got an idea. Sage, we'll be there as soon as we can. Tell Vert to remember the Dune's Down race we competed in. He'll understand and there's a good chance it will work."

"I will, thank you Lin."

"Sage, the purple key," Maxim said quickly. "Erase any data you have on it. It goes to closed zone. I will explain why, but there can't be any other way to get to it."

"Maxim… I will do what you ask, but please survive."

"You too."

Lin hung up the phone and turned realizing someone was behind him. His mother stood there alone. "Going somewhere?" she said quietly.

"Zoom's been captured. Mother if I don't help Battle Force 5, if I don't help the Sentients…" he looked around, "the world I lost and regained could be taken away for good. I can't do nothing. I've got the abilities and knowledge to make a difference. I have to help them."

His mother smiled sadly, "And the cub grows into the tiger who can defend his house. I am proud of you." She picked up something hidden by the doorframe. "You will need this." She held out a war sword of the house. A tiger blazed on the metal sheath. Lin knew as he bowed in respect the metal of the blade rippled like water from the many folds it had taken to forge it. "Protect your allies, defend your home with this blade. Make them safe from those who would see them destroyed."

He accepted the sword and said, "Thank you, mother, for understanding. I will be back."

"Go, your friends need you."

Vert parked in the hub, so angry he could hardly speak. "How could this have happened?" he muttered.

"Vert," Sage said. "Lin has…"

"You called him! I asked you not to."

"He called me or I should say the Guardian within him did," she explained. "But Lin has a plan. He told me to remind you of a Dune's Down race."

Vert stopped and thought trying to remember why Lin would think an old race could possible be useful at a time like this. Then he blinked and whistled, "Oh, that's a lot of work in a short amount of time."

"Will it work?"

"It's a long shot, but it should. Team let's move. We have to be ready when Lin gets here."

"But I thought you didn't want Lin…"

"AJ, help with the repairs. We don't have time to be picky," Vert insisted.