A week and a half went by. The ranger teens were at the Cyberspace Café after school. Lena and Katie were talking about going to the mall.
"You going to the mall Lena?" Ethan asked.
"Of course silly, Where else do you think I get my make up and the newest video games? Who knows I might find some new scarfs," she said.
"OO video game shopping, sounds like the perfect shopping trip for you two," Conner said looking at Ethan and Lena.
"Whatever bro," Ethan said.
"We could use a big strong man to go with us in case of a monster attack," Katie said sounding flirty.
"There you go Ethan," Conner said.
"She was talking about you jock boy," Kira said.
"Me uh un no way. I hate going to the mall. My mom drags me there when she wants to buy me new clothes. Think goodness Trent you have a girlfriend who doesn't like to go to the mall."
"You two are defiantly not like Dr. O and Kim," Ethan said to Conner and Katie.
"Like Dr. O went to the mall with Kim when they were together," Conner said while crossing his arms across his chest and leaning back.
"On the contrary, Tommy went with Kim on several shopping trips," Billy said standing behind Katie.
Conner fell causing a few chuckles. Meanwhile, Katie and Lena looked at each other and grin.
Those two are up to something. Maybe I can be a part of it. Kira thought.
She grin as well.
I don't like this. The girls all have grins, that could be trouble. Trent thought.
Are they going to blackmail Conner? Ethan thought.
Three girls grinning? Ok now I'm scared. Conner thought.
Meanwhile Tommy was in the lab. There was something on his mind and he could not concentrate on searching for any attacks. He knew there was only one thing to do. He grabbed his cellphone and called somebody.
"Hey Tommy, I know the team is not done so I know you are not asking me out now," Kim said.
"Ha ha very funny. The reason why I called is because there is something that has been on my mind since I got off work today. Kimberly Ann Hart, will you go to prom with me?"
"I'm honored, but you are a few years to late."
"I mean I will be chaperoning the prom at Reefside High this year. I cleared it with the superintendent if I could bring a date."
"Why did you have to go to the top? Why couldn't you ask the principal?"
"She makes Principal Kaplan tame. Imagine if Rita or Zedd was human and our principal."
"Scorpina might have mad a worse principal."
"Hearing that name send shivers down my back."
"Oh sorry."
"Anyways, what do you say? I mean since I did not get to take you to prom when we were in school."
"Let me think about it. I'll call you back."
"Ok bye."
"Tommy Oliver don't hang up! Of course I'll go with you. Just as long as Conner doesn't try to hit on you."
"I believe he does it because he knows we are kind of sort of together."
"As long as he is not serious."
"Katie will take care of him if he tries."
Kim laughed.
"I'll talk to you later."
"Ok bye," Kim said when they hung up.
The next morning the rangers arrived at school and found a classmate handing out fliers and trying to get people to sign a petition.
"I wonder what save the planet idea Krista has now?" Kira asked.
"I don't know, but I do know that some people are going to far with the save the planet idea," Katie said.
Maybe the environmentalist are trying to do what they think is right, but unless we win, there aint nothing they can do to stop the creepy lizard," Lena said.
"I agree with Lena. I mean there are plenty of natural gas and oil in this country. If we don't start using that I am afraid gas prices will keep on going on," Katie said.
"I did hear my parents complain about gas prices going up," Conner said.
Meanwhile, Messogog was in his lab. Zeltrax had left on his own.
I don't need that fool Zeltrax. Mesogog thought.
With Elsa still at her 'day job' Mesogog was left to figure out what to do.
After school Katie and Lena were setting at a table talking at the Cyberspace Café while their boyfriends were getting smoothies.
"That is how you do Conner's payback," Lena said.
"We did share a kiss last week. I bet that is how he did it. Two can play at that game," Katie said.
The girls were smiling when Conner and Ethan came back to the table.
"Has anyone seen Trent and Kira?" Ethan asked.
"I'm sure they are fine," Katie said.
"Cover me," Ethan said. He spoke into his communicator when he said, "Trent, Kira are you two ok?"
"Yea we have a bit of car trouble. My dad is one his way with a spare tire," Trent said.
"We were wondering if you guys ran into any trouble," Ethan said.
"Nope, other than a flat tire," Trent said.
Conner grabbed Ethan's wrist and said, "Come on man what is the real story? Are you getting some?"
Katie slapped him in the back of the head before Trent and Kira said, "Conner!"
"You have been watching too much NCIS," Conner said to Katie
"Ethan said to Trent and Kira, "We'll see you guys when you get here."
An hour later Trent and Kira showed up. Conner was going to say something, but everybody gave him dirty looks before he could say anything. That evening Conner dropped Katie off at the dance studio. Before she got out, the two of them kissed. Little did Conner know, it was the beginning of his payback. When she closed the door, she chuckled. The next morning, Conner picked Katie up when she asked him if he wanted to go to the mall with her and Lena.
"If it is going to rain all day, sure why not. I can't really practice soccer in the rain, I mean I can, but it would not be good to the team if I got hurt."
"Which team?"
"The rangers of course. At this point an injury probably would keep me from making a soccer team in college."
Katie smiled while she sent a text to Lena. Before first period, Katie asked Lena if Ethan would be joining them. She said no. Principal Randall overheard their conversation and that gave her an idea. After school, Elsa made a shape shifting monster who would pose as Ethan at the mall. The monster would find Lena, Katie, and Conner there and act just like Ethan.
"If this plan doesn't work, you will be one step closer to becoming who you were before I found you," Mesogog said.
"Oh no, please not that master."
"Then this plan better work!" He hissed before he walked off.
Katie, Lena, and Conner were at the mall when the monster (disguised as Ethan) landed in the men restroom. It found the three near the Food Court.
"I thought you did not want to come," Lena said.
"I changed my mind. If Conner is willing to be here, then I guess I should also."
The girls just smiled.
They have smiled a lot lately. Conner thought.
Meanwhile, the real Ethan was playing a video game at the Cyberspace Café. Tommy was grading papers while Billy and Hayley were working at the café. Alpha was in the lab when the alarm went off.
"Ayi-yi-yi! Why is it showing four of the rangers at the mall?"
Alpha pressed a few buttons that revealed the monster.
"Oh I have to let Tommy know, but how? I don't think I am made for walking up the stairs. I know!"
He contacted Tommy.
"Unless if is a monster attack I can't be bothered," Tommy said.
"Mesogog has unleashed a shape shifting monster. It is posing as Ethan and is at the mall with Katie, Kira, and Conner."
"Conner, at the mall? Are you sure that is not the monster?"
"Yes I am sure. When I saw the four of them on the computer screen, I did a vital scan and it showed Ethan as the monster."
"I'll meet you down there."
In the lab Tommy said, "I'll contact Ethan."
"Ethan here."
"Mesogog created a monster posing as you and it is at the mall with Lena," Tommy said.
"I'm on my way there."
Ethan told Trent and Kira. He found the group in Sears Trent and Kira stood out of site but they saw the events unfold.
"Hi guys," Ethan said.
"Dude are my eyes playing tricks on me? I see two Ethan's," Conner said.
"There has to be a logical explanation," Katie said.
Before she could say another word Lena said, "A clone."
"I thought we were done with the clones," Conner said.
Ethan pointed to the monster and said, "It's not a clone, Mesogog unleashed a shape shifting monster."
"It's true," Tommy said via the communicators."
"I'm the real Ethan, he's the monster," the monster said pointing at Ethan.
"Is anybody else freaked out about this?" Conner asked.
"I know how to tell who the real Ethan is. What is the name of our favorite video game?" Lena asked.
"Super Ninja Space Wars," the two Ethan's said in unison.
Meanwhile Elsa and Mesogog were watching.
When is he going to make a move?" Mesogog asked.
"What is my biggest secrete?" Lena asked.
"Sounds like the purple ranger is to smart," Mesogog hissed.
"Your middle name, and I know you do not want anybody else to know," the real Ethan said.
The monster ran outside.
"Drat busted," Elsa said.
Once outside, Conner caught the monster. It changed into Conner before everybody else got there.
"Principal Randall would flip if she was here now," Lena said.
Elsa saw this and said, "She's right."
The monster started attacking Conner with him dodging all the moves.
"Talk about fighting yourself," Ethan said.
A few minutes later, the monster ran towards the rock quarry. The rangers found a spot to morph then they ran in the direction the monster went.
The rangers were at the quarry when Kira said, "Great where did it go?"
The monster disguised as Katie said, "Good question."
A couple of seconds later, the rangers looked at the monster.
Alpha was in the lab watching all of this when he said, "It's like Zedd or Rita is using some of the old ideas they had for their monsters.
"Here we go again," Lena said.
"I know how to tell who the real Katie is. Fight me," Conner said.
"You know I couldn't do that," Katie said.
"Gladly," the monster said.
While Conner was dodging punches, Trent used his sword and struck the monster. The monster revealed its true form, a lizard monster that was green, orange, and blue.
A chameleon monster, that makes sense," Trent said.
The rangers formed the Z Rex Blaster, then the monster re formed and grew. Conner called for the zords, then the megazords formed. The Dinodrill was used to destroy the monster.
Mesogog turned to Elsa and said, "That's strike one."
Think goodness it is only one strike and not two. Elsa thought.
After the rangers got out of the megazords and un morphed Katie said, "I hope nobody took our bags."
"I'll see you at the mall," Conner said.
"I thought you put some of your bags in his car. Didn't you put the rest in my car?" Trent asked.
"Yep," Lena and Katie said in unison.