"You're not going on the ship?" Jenny asked as she looked to the Rangers, completely baffled by their plan. If it were her making the decisions, she would have already stormed Galvanax's ship to bring Preston and Sarah home. Nothing could have stopped her.

Unfortunately, that wasn't a call she could make, and she had no powers to support her if she tried to take on any monsters. She had already lost against Drex before Madam Oedius gave him a power boost.

"It's too risky," Brody stated. "We'll be up against Madam Oedius, Drex, Galvanax, Ripcon, Cosmo and any other monsters Galvanax has on board, including his prisoners and Kudabots."

"But…"

"Our best strategy would be to draw Drex out," Levi said as he agreed with his brother. "Take his armour, stop him and get Preston and Sarah back that way."

"But what if he doesn't bring Sarah and Preston?" Jenny asked and it was a reasonable question. He already had two Rangers and one Power Star. There would be no reason to bring either of them for a trade.

"If he wants the rest of our Power Stars, he'll bring them," Brody said. This time, it was Kelly's turn to object.

"Uh… wait a minute," she frowned. "I want Sarah back as much as… more than anyone," she said. "But she put her Power Star in her back pocket for a reason. She knew she was going with Drex and she still didn't want him to have her Power Star. I'll do whatever I need but… we can't just trade."

"What else are we going to offer him?" Calvin asked and Kelly looked around the base. The Rangers really didn't have much that they were willing to spare. All their weapons came in the form of a Power Star and their technology was no different from what was on Galvanax's ship already. Hell, it probably wasn't nearly as advanced as anything Galvanax owned.

"I… I don't know."

Jenny didn't like hearing this. Not one bit. Not only were the Rangers not going to storm the base to save Sarah and Preston, but they were going to offer up a trade to Drex and Madam Oedius and exchange their only protection? It didn't seem right.

"So, we're giving up our Powers… for what?" Jenny asked. "In the hopes that Drex, a drug dealing pimp, will honour a trade?"

"Well…"

"Whose to say as soon as they have the Power Stars, they won't just kill you all on the spot?" Jenny asked. "You won't be able to stop them."

"Yeah, but…"

"There isn't time to debate this," RedBot announced and turned his computer screen around to show the Rangers. "Drex is back. He doesn't look happy."

"Probably found out he's only got one Power Star," Hayley muttered.

"That's some heavy-duty armour he's got there," Calvin pointed out.

"Do what you can, for now, to defeat him," Mick stated. "Hopefully, a better plan will come to us before it's too late."

The Rangers nodded as they headed out. Jenny breathed a sigh of relief as she looked to the screen, prompting Mick to turn to her with a curious look.

"You're… happy he's fighting?"

"Not happy," Jenny said. "But if he's here, he's not hurting Preston… or Sarah."

"Ah," Mick nodded his head and sat next to Jenny. "You know, Madam Oedius is going to keep him busy until he has all the Power Stars for her. You can't… worry."

"Mick, all I do is worry," Jenny stated. "I mean, I never thought being a parent would be easy or fun. I never wanted kids to start. But even so, this parenting thing is just… worry after worry and… I honestly lose my mind once a day now and what can I do?"

"You're doing excellent," Mick assured her. "Sarah really is better off thanks to you."

"Thanks, but… she's in trouble right now and all I can do is sit here. She's supposed to be able to depend on me."

Mick chuckled lightly, "Jenny, Sarah's never needed to depend on anyone. At least, not as long as I've known her."

"But that should still be an option," Jenny said. "She should still know that when she needs me, I'll pull through. Mick, you weren't there. I… Drex showed up and I couldn't do anything. Sarah's with him right now because she protected me. That's not the way it works."

"Your roles are a little off balance," Mick said. "As her mother, it is your responsibility to protect her. As a Ranger, it is her responsibility to protect the planet, you included."

"But…"

"Mrs. Thompson, you're doing everything you can," Mick smiled. "You may not be able to protect her from Galvanax or Madam Oedius or even Drex, but Sarah is strong because of you."

"Because of Bill…"

"Because of you," Mick insisted. "Mrs. Thompson, you may not have always been in Sarah's life, but I can guarantee, her life is better because you are in it. Everything she does, everything she is, is a reflection of you."

Jenny smiled to hear this. Mick put his arm around her.

"She may provide the planet with safety. She may protect you. But knowing she's got your support is what keeps her strong."

"Thank you, Mick," Jenny nodded. "I really think I needed to hear that."

"Oh… oh boy," RedBot said and Jenny and Mick both looked over to see him growing anxious. "Drex's armour is… there's way too much power in it. Even with five Power Stars, I don't think the Rangers can stop him."

"What's happening?" Mick asked and came around to see the fight for himself. He saw the Rangers were struggling, and though they were doing their best to stay on their feet, they were losing power. "Oh… this isn't good."

"What? What's happening?" Jenny asked but Mick didn't answer. Instead he turned to the Prism, but it showed him nothing. He shook his head. Jenny continued to frown. "Mick? What is it? Are they going to be okay?"

Mick watched his Rangers take a hit, then another, and then another. Drex shot at them with his blaster and their energy readings took a nosedive.

"Rangers, fall back!" Mick commanded them, but as they tried to rush away, Drex stopped them, firing again. "Rangers…"

"He won't let us go!" Brody called back. "He's got way too much power!"

"Leave the Power Stars!"

"But Mick, we already can't beat him with them."

"Leave them, Brody. We can figure something else out!" Mick said and though he spoke with confidence, he wasn't sure he believed his own words. However, he knew the Rangers were on their last leg. If they continued to fight, they would lose. At least if they abandoned their Power Stars, they could escape with their lives and a new plan could be made.

"But…"

"Just do it!" Mick shouted.

-Ninja-Steel-

"Is it working?" Sarah asked and looked up at Preston's hands as he tried to use magic to break their restraints. Preston sighed and shook his head.

"It's… it's too tough," he said. "And I'm losing feeling in my hands so it's just getting harder."

Sarah nodded. She knew what he meant. Their arms were pulled up over their heads and were slowly losing circulation as a result. Her fingers were feeling numb and her arms felt like jell-o. She knew Preston had tried his best, it just wasn't enough anymore.

The door to their cell opened as Madam Oedius walked in. Usually she was smirking, but this time, there was something about her smile that left both the Rangers feeling uneasy. She held up Preston's Power Star.

"Looks like blue isn't the only colour in my collection anymore," she said. "Drex is on his way back with the five remaining Power Stars. Seems your friends weren't strong enough to stop my armour."

"What did you do to them?" Preston asked, his voice shaking as he did. He wanted to be strong. He knew he had to appear brave, but his worry for himself, and now for his friends was too great.

"Let's just say, they won't be joining you," Madam Oedius answered.

"So what now?" Sarah said. "You just destroy us, give the Power Stars to Galvanax and let him rule the galaxy or universe or whatever?"

"Hand them over?" Madam Oedius laughed and shook her head. "Are you kidding me, child? After all that work I put in creating that armour? All the work I put in getting Drex out of that prison? All the work I put in obtaining these Power Stars? You think I'm just going to hand them over?"

"Isn't that the plan?" Sarah asked. Madam Oedius shook her head again.

"My dear, Galvanax is just a face," she answered. "At one time he was the greatest warrior. At one time, I marvelled at his strength and power. At one time, I worshipped him and would have done anything for him, including sacrificed myself. However, that time has past. Galvanax is no longer the warrior anyone thinks he is."

"So, he's not the big bad?"

"Without your Power Stars, I still wouldn't fight him," Madam Oedius said. "Your human strength is no match for Galvanax even at his most vulnerable. However, with all six Power Stars in my possession, my own strength and my superior intelligence, I am best fit to become the ruler of the universe. The title and power of champion is about to be mine."

"So then what are you going to do with us?"

"You're worth nothing to be," Madam Oedius shook her head. "Drex can decide for himself what he wants for you."

"No… no," Preston said and started to fight his restraints while all the blood drained from Sarah's face. "Madam Oedius that… it's not smart! You may have our Power Stars and you may have defeated our friends but… as long as we're still alive, the Rangers have a fighting chance."

Preston had no idea what he was doing. All he knew was he didn't want Drex to be making any decisions about what happened to him or Sarah. He didn't want Madam Oedius to kill him, but he didn't want Drex near Sarah.

"A fighting chance?" Madam Oedius laughed loudly hearing this. "You? Well, I have to say, as much as I would enjoy killing you, you surrendered yourself to Drex, not me. You are his prisoners, not mine. I will honour that."

"I'll tell Galvanax everything you told me," Preston stated. Madam Oedius feigned fear for just a moment, then laughed again as she turned away.

"Goodbye, Rangers. Should you live long enough, next time you see me, I will be the ruler of the planet," she slammed the door as she left. Though Preston had already tried without success, he resumed using his magic. He needed to break his restraints. He needed to get himself and Sarah out.

"It's going to be fine," he told Sarah. "I'll get us out of here."

He tried, in vain, to summon his magic. He could see the slight glow in his fingers, but it was never enough. His hands were growing weaker by the second, but Preston was determined.

"I always win," Drex announced as he walked in. "What I want, I get. You knew that, though, didn't you, babe?"

He looked to Sarah with a smirk. Sarah pulled on her restraints and tried to step back. Drex grabbed some cuffs from his belt and slapped them on her wrists before unlocking the others. When Sarah tried to pull away, he pushed her to the ground, then climbed on top of her.

"Right here?" he asked. "You want to celebrate my win right here so your friend can watch?" he teased as he leaned down and kissed her cheek.

"Get off her!" Preston shouted and pulled on his own restraints but to no avail.

"I'm okay with an audience," Drex said. Sarah tried to push him off, but he pinned her arms down over her head with one hand. Her restraints made it easier for him and his armour meant he didn't need to use that much strength to control her.

"Don't hurt her!" Preston shouted again, but that was all he could do.