It wasn't often her bosses called her. The reason they hired her was because they knew they could trust her to do the job and do it right. The occasional check in was expected, but otherwise, Wes and Eric often left her alone.

"I know Summer Cove isn't technically on my patrol list," Gia explained to Wes as she sat in her office and rolled her eyes. Rebecca, on the other side of the room, could tell from the tone in Gia's voice that she was irritated. Wes always meant well when he checked in, but Gia never liked being babysat. "I know I have officers who can cover it, but with Oedius in town, I really think being a Ranger on patrol is comforting to everyone."

"Your patrols center around one kid, Gia."

"That kid just lost both parents," Gia said. "Oedius is targeting her and the other Rangers and if word gets out that she killed someone else, the whole city's bound to riot. I'm a visible presence, I can help them feel like we have things under control."

"And your other cities?"

"I've hired more officers," Gia promised. "I assure you, security is just as tight, and people are just as safe here even with my focus on Summer Cove. You know I like to follow the monsters."

"Leave the kid alone," she heard Eric say to Wes in the background. "We've had no complaints about this."

"I'm trying to prevent any from coming in."

"You think that's going to happen?"

"Can you two lovers spat later?" Gia asked. "Wes, I promise, I'm on top of things here. I might be in Summer Cove, but I've got more officers at home, and Rebecca's overseeing everything they do."

"Ironic, since I can't see anything," Rebecca called out. Gia shushed her.

"And I trust Rebecca, and I like her, but… I get serious Armada vibes from this Oedius person. I'm really worried she won't just stop at Summer Cove. If she decides she wants to spread her wings a bit, and you're busy in Summer Cove…"

"Do you want me to tail Oedius?" Gia asked. "Because I can do that."

"No," Wes answered. "Oedius isn't your responsibility. The cities are. As long as you're sure no one's going to suffer."

"I'm good at my job."

"I know. I just wouldn't be a good boss if I didn't check in," Wes said, to which Gia and Eric both responded with a scoff. Wes sighed loudly over the phone at both. "A good boss needs to know what's happening with his own company!"

"And we know crime is down, there are no complaints and Gia's good at her job," Eric said.

"Thank you," Gia responded, causing Wes to sigh again.

"I hate it when you both team up on me," he said. "I miss Jordan."

"Me too," Gia nodded, then wished her bosses a goodnight as she hung up the phone. She sighed as she looked to Rebecca. "I hate check ins."

"Funny, because I heard several of your employees saying the same thing," Rebecca chuckled. "You may act more like Eric, but you definitely have some Wes in you too."

"Who asked you?"

"No one," Rebecca smiled. "I'm headed out. Noah should be waiting. Want a ride home?"

"I think I'll stay a little longer. I've got to make sure everything I said to Wes is true."

"Okay. See you tomorrow," Rebecca waved before taking the elevator down. Gia was left in her office alone and picked up some of the paperwork. This had been a job that Jordan used to take care of himself before his death. Gia hated all the filing and paperwork that needed to be filled out after a job and since Jordan didn't trust her not to write how idiotic and useless people were in her reports, he took care of it by himself. After his passing, Gia had to take on that load herself. Now that she had Rebecca as a partner, she got some help. Rebecca had a computer that could process speech to text, but Gia didn't think it would be fair to dump the entire load on her, especially when Rebecca didn't like paperwork either.

She really had to make sure to dot her "I"s and cross her "T"s when it came to her report about the barn explosion. Even if she hadn't been on duty, since she was the only officer who witnessed what happened, she convinced her entire department that she could take care of the follow up. After she explained what happened to Wes and Eric, they approved her taking on the investigation and the reports solo. Everything that she had written claimed that the explosion was just an accident. She never made a single mention about Oedius. She wanted it that way in case there was ever a leak of confidential information. Disgruntled employees could really harm her public image. She wanted what was confidential to match with what she shared with the public.

Her phone rang as she put away the file. Everything seemed to be in order. She answered the call and heard Sarah on the other line.

"Can I come up?"

"I'll buzz you in," Gia answered. Everyone else had gone home for the night. Emma left at the usual time, so she could be home with the kids. Whenever Gia knew she would be home late, Emma left at the end of the day and vice-versa. It was important that their kids always have a parent at home with them, and with Jordan gone and Jake away for playoffs, it was more important now that ever.

A few minutes later, the elevator door opened. Sarah stepped out.

"I couldn't go home just yet."

"So, you come all the way out to Angel Grove?"

"Shane knows I'm here."

"And Kelly?"

"She's training with Serena."

"She's started already?"

"She wants to be prepared. I told her to text me when she's on her way home. I'll leave then."

"And in the mean time you thought you'd hang out in another city?"

"Everyone's busy," Sarah said.

"Even Preston?"

"He invited me to stay at his place until Kelly came home but… I kind of hate his parents. They're… homophobic."

"Oh."

"I mean, they're trying not to be for Preston, but… I can still sense it and I don't really want to have to explain myself tonight."

"Calvin's parents?"

"I don't know them all that well and Kelly said she might be home late. She's loving training. I'd have to stay for dinner and so it'll just be a lot of awkward small talk, where no one really knows what to say."

"Brody?"

"He and Levi are helping his dad clean up the workshop. I think it's understandable why I don't want to go there."

"Right. And I guess Mick is there too?"

"He and RedBot were living there," Sarah nodded. "They're salvaging what they can."

"The HQ is definitely a good choice," Gia agreed. "You're welcome to stay. If you have homework, you can use Rebecca's desk."

"I don't, but maybe I can see if I have any ideas to work on?" Sarah asked. "On the way home, Mick said it would be a good idea to try getting back into engineering."

"You could work on a device that'll answer my boss' calls for me."

"You have bosses? I thought you were the boss."

"Of my cities," Gia nodded. "But they oversee everything. For the most part they leave me alone, but Wes likes to do check ins occasionally. They're harmless but I know what I'm doing so it is a bit annoying to have to prove it."

"Well, I won't do that, but maybe I can tinker with the idea of something to help you at work?"

"Go for it. Just don't move things around on the desk. Rebecca has it memorized, and it really throws her off when something's not where it should be."

"I'll keep everything in it's place," Sarah promised as she took her notebook from her bag. She wasn't sure how long Gia intended on staying, but the former Ranger was kind enough not to make Sarah feel pressured to leave. She kept busy while Sarah waited on the text from Kelly.

In the meantime, Sarah looked at her notebook and tried to come up with something she could build. Nothing came to mind, but she did do a few doodles. It was nothing she could build, and didn't spark any ideas, but at least Mick was right. Getting back into something she loved did make her feel a little better.

Neither of them spoke for the whole time they were working, so when Kelly texted, and Sarah's phone vibrated, it made them both jump. Sarah was quick to check it, then looked to Gia with a smile.

"Kelly's on her way home. Thanks for letting me stay."

"You're always welcome. Want me to walk you to the bus stop?"

"I've got my hoverboard in the lobby," Sarah told her. "I'll ride it home."

"In the dark?"

"It's got lights. I'm visible."

"I'll call you a cab."

"I'm fine, really."

"I'm not letting a seventeen-year-old girl ride across two cities at night on her own," Gia shook her head. "Wes just checked in today and I said everything was fine. If something happens, he'll check in way more often."

"You really hate check ins."

"I know how to do my job," Gia insisted and reached for the phone to call a cab. As she did, the phone rang. She looked to it curiously, then up at Sarah.

"Odd."

"911?"

"The police handle after hours calls," Gia shook her head. "And they don't call my office if they need help, they call my cell."

"Maybe the cab knows you were going to call," Sarah shrugged. Gia shrugged as well, then answered the call.

"Do you know where your kids are?" the voice on the other end asked. Gia felt her heart sink. Emma had gone home. She was watching Ciara and Joe. They were supposed to be at home, safe and sound, tucked into their bed.

"Who is this?" she asked.

"Did you kiss your daughter goodbye this morning?" the voice asked. "Wouldn't it be a shame if today, of all days, you were too busy?"

"What do you want?"

"Come home. We'll talk," the voice said, then hung up. Gia slammed the phone back down on the desk, grabbed her morpher and rushed for the elevator. She couldn't call it up fast enough.

"Who was it?" Sarah asked and rushed to clean up, so she could leave with Gia.

"Someone's got the kids."

"Your kids? Who would be that stupid?"

"Way too many people," Gia muttered. The elevator finally came. Gia rushed Sarah inside and it brought them down to the lobby. There, as the doors opened, they saw Oedius standing there.

It was too much of a coincidence. Gia gripped her morpher tightly.

"Where's my daughter?"

"At home, I'm assuming," Oedius said. "Safe and sound."

Her gaze shifted to Sarah.

"I was sure I had killed you. You can imagine my disappointment when, as I'm watching over the city, I see you riding around. I thought the explosion would have finished you off."

"You're going to have to try a lot harder," Sarah said.

"Don't worry, I will," Oedius smirked and the threat was too much. Gia morphed instantly, and Sarah was right behind her. Both charged at Oedius, but she flicked them away easily. "Two Rangers are too easy."

"Legendary Ranger Mode!" Gia called out and, in a flash, her Ranger suit shifted from her Super Megaforce to a team Sarah barely recognized. "Mighty Morphin!" Consumed with power, Gia rushed Oedius again and this time, Oedius couldn't flick her away.

"Neat trick," Oedius said as they locked weapons. "I have to admit; this shifting Rangers trick has taken me by surprise. But I'm nothing if not adaptable."

"And I fight better cornered," Gia told her. "The harder you try to take me down, the more I'll push back."

"Maybe you aren't my target," Oedius said. She pushed Gia back just as the yellow Ranger powered back down to her own suit. As Gia stumbled back, Oedius shifted to Sarah and charged the pink Ranger.

Sarah was ready for this. If anything, she had been waiting for this moment. Oedius was responsible for all her pain right now. If Sarah could channel that into strength, she was sure she could take on the devious fox herself.

And she did, for a moment. For a moment, she had Oedius overpowered. She revelled in that feeling and enjoyed the flash of panic on Oedius' face when she realized the pink Ranger was stronger than she anticipated. But Sarah spent too long in that moment and as she distracted herself with her own victory, Oedius took advantage. She pushed back against the pink Ranger and kicked her to the ground. Taken by surprise, Sarah couldn't cushion her fall at all and landed roughly on her back, with her head taking a hard hit against the ground.

When Sarah lay unmoving on the ground, Gia felt really fired up. Oedius had already done so much damage and now, not only had she threatened her daughter, but she had just hurt a Ranger. Gia knew never to expect the enemy to allow time for recovery, but Oedius was downright cruel in her attacks. She used Brody's brother against the Rangers, she had Jordan killed, forced Sarah's father to work for her, then killed him and Sarah's mother. She paralyzed Kelly, killed Anne, and she wasn't about to slow down.

Gia trained her blaster on Oedius after knocking the fox to the floor. It wouldn't be enough to kill Oedius, but right now, Oedius had nothing stopping her from striking again soon and Gia didn't have the strength to stop her alone. So, the yellow Ranger did everything she could to buy herself and the young team more time. She put all her power into her blaster, draining herself of the protection her Ranger suit offered, and even tapped into her life force slightly. She doubted it would kill Oedius when she had already survived an explosion herself, but it would slow her down.

If Gia didn't miss. Her aim was good, but nothing was guaranteed. As she fired, using all the power her body could provide her, she blacked out. She thought she hit Oedius, but if she hadn't, she and Sarah were dead.