"…and a double shot long black with three sugars for Doc."

Hilary had gone straight to handing out the drinks when she returned, feeling guilty that her delay had caused them to grow cold. The truth was she was just doing anything that keep her from thinking about Ray.

"Thanks, Hilary," said Doc, "you're a lifesaver."

But as she handed the last of them, caught Ben looking at her closely. "Hey Hil, are you okay?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, your eyes are a bit red."

His comment caught her off guard. She thought she'd well and truly dried her eyes before she stepped inside. "Really?" she replied, wiping her face, "Probably just pollen allergies or something."

"It's barely winter and your allergies don't kick in until spring."

"So?"

"Hilary, I've been meaning to tell you," said Doc, before Ben could press her any harder. "Thanks for those designs, I think I might have already been able to put them to good use."

Hilary was stunned. She'd barely been happy enough with the designs to hand them over in the first place and had assumed there would still be heaps of tweaking before even attempting to implement them.

"Really?" she asked, "But I didn't think you'd be able to create it without a secondary transmitter..."

"I wasn't," Doc agreed before his tone saddened, "but given that I was already working on Ray's Morpher…"

He nodded to the red device lying on the desk.

But before he could elaborate any further to Hilary, the alarm shrilled through the warehouse. The four remaining Rangers dashed to the desk, huddling around and staring at the monitors to see Byte-Bots had returned to the park.

"Looks like our favorite friends are back," commented Kyle.

"What do we do?" Ben asked. "It could be a trap, just like yesterday."

One by one, all heads turned to Johnny, but all the Black Ranger could do was freeze as he suddenly became aware of the attention on him.

"I don't know," he admitted. "Doc, what do you think we should do?"

"I know I kept guys back last night," Benson conceded. "But I also know we can't keep that up forever. You guys will have to face them sooner or later."

"I just…" Johnny stammered. "What if I screw up again? What if can't make the call when you need it? What if I can't be Ray?"

"Then don't be."

The Rangers turned around at the sudden words of advice to see Jake standing tall in the middle of all of them. All of them shared nervous glances, wandering where their teammate was going with his sudden words of wisdom. But gulping down, Jake seemed undeterred, stepping into the middle of them to continue their address.

"Ray always thought the best of us," he agreed. "But that was only because he saw something that we never saw in ourselves. Now he's going through a rough time, and maybe he's not thinking clearly, or maybe he is. But either way, we need to give him space while he figures it out. And that means that we need to learn to work without him, to not need him. If we can be stronger without him, then we'll know that we can do this. And if Ray does come back and we don't need him anymore, then that's not sad; that's awesome! Because then he doesn't have to worry about holding us together, and he can help lift us higher instead!"

As Jake spoke, the others looked around, feeling more confident with every word. Kyle pulled himself off his leaning perch on the desk, and Ben was nodding adamantly while Johnny's posture straightened from shy and insecure to self-assured. Even Hilary felt a smile begin to creep between her cheeks, a sneaky, beaming pride in her teammate's words. And in herself.

Jake was right; they could do this.

"Ray wasn't the only Ranger on this team," Jake reminded them. "So how about we go out there and remind Mileena that? And while we're out there, let's hand out a little payback."

He put his hand in the middle, only for it to be swiftly joined by Ben, then Hilary, and even Kyle. Then, at last, Johnny placed his hand in the center to join them.

"Let's go," Johnny announced. "Power Rangers!"

"Right!"

They broke from the circle, but Johnny hung back for just a moment.

"Hey, thanks for that," he said to Jake. "I just wish I'd thought of something like it."

But Jake just smiled as he shook his head. "See that's the part that Ray never got," he replied. "You never have to carry the team on your own. We're all in it together."

Then they raced over to join the others.

"Guys," Doc warned cautiously, "I know that you took yesterday to heart, but be careful out there."

"We will," Johnny replied, holding up his Morpher. "It's time to show Gideon that we're not giving up just yet. Ready?"

"Ready!"

"Data Squad! Digitize!"


Shhplop…

Another stone hit the water as Ray tossed it into the river, its weight crashing through the calm surface before sinking to the bottom. After his talk with Hilary, the last thing he felt like doing was going home. Knowing full well that Bulk and Skull would resume their questioning, he'd opted to make a detour instead.

To the thinking spot.

For a moment he was worried that Hilary had had the same idea, to come here to clear her head, and his face grew heavier as his memory flashed to the way she'd looked at him as he left. At her sadness, her disappointment. Her hurt

He squeezed his eyes, trying in vain to force the image from his mind but his thoughts refused to obey, refused to let him forget. In all this time, he was so worried about letting down the team. And now he had, in a way he was certain he could never take back.

They'd needed him, and he'd abandoned them.

No matter where he went, all he could see were the memories of his friends, the friends he'd left behind. The playground where he'd rescued Ben and Hilary from a group of bullies at the age of five, or the basketball court where Jake had run countless rings around him. Or river… this very spot, where he and Hilary had stood in the silence of perfect understanding.

You bring out the best in people…

Hilary's words echoed within him, a haunting reminder that refused to let go. The last time he'd been here, he'd been the one offering advice. Now he was the one wishing more than anything for guidance. But maybe that was it; maybe he needed to stop giving out advice and start listening to his own.

"All right, Ray," he said to himself. "What are you avoiding?"

Failure; a realization that hit him the second the words left his mouth. A fear that everything he'd worked for would be nothing.

One question down, time to see if it was more than beginner's luck, and Ray started to hope no one walking past would notice him talking to himself as he asked aloud, "Why are scared you of failing?"

Because despite all the hardship, and all the stress, he never felt more alive than when he was powered up, fighting real monsters. Because for all else that he did, it was when he'd picked up his Morpher that he'd truly found himself.

But deep down, he knew that he could get that back. Doc had built the Morphers, he could make a new one from scratch if he really wanted to. Blackout's attack had only depowered him temporarily. His spot on the team was there for him if he wanted it back. Maybe.

So why was he so scared of walking back into that warehouse?

Because he'd tasted what it was like to lose it, to fall and crash the landing. Because even if he got back up, he could lose it all again. And maybe next time it really would be for good. And he'd go through all of it again. Better it be on his own terms than out of his hands entirely.

But even he knew that was not the truth of it. Plenty of times they'd lost, and he'd been the one to rally the team and get back in the fight. Get back in and win. No, losing a fight wasn't what he was afraid of. It was failing as a Ranger, at what it meant to be a Ranger. Because going in and losing it all again, hanging around the warehouse and twiddling his thumbs as he watched his friend continue to soar into battle, it would only serve to remind him of what he no longer was. What he could no longer be.

Because if he wasn't a Ranger, what was he?

"Help!"

Ray snapped to his feet, head whipping around to the screaming's source.

"Help!"

He broke into a run, rushing up the hill to see a young mother with a pram, running for dear life to the cover of a small playground. A gang of Byte-Bots was hot on her heels. On instinct, he reached for his Morpher.

Oh… right…

But he couldn't just do nothing. He couldn't just walk away. And left only one thing for it.

Without a second's hesitation, he took off after them.

His eyes narrowed, twin beams bursting from his gaze and slamming into the first of the Byte-Bots. As the lasers pierced the chest, the others stopped and turned as their comrade clattered to the ground. But Ray was already moving, leaping into the air and kicking them away before landing between the bots and the mother, hands raised in defiance.

"Look, guys; if you want to adopt, there's an agency for that."

He ducked beneath the first strike, his arms shooting up immediately to block the second. Grabbing the wrist, he twisted, flipping the bot around and kicking it square in the stomach to send it flying back into its friends. The flailing robot was helpless to the force, clattering into its comrades as more surged around to surround him.

Then one got to him, throwing its arms around Ray's waist in a tackle. He hit the ground with a thud, but he was already shifting, cracking his elbow to break free and crisscrossing his feet to snag a Byte-Bot by the ankle. Gripping tight, he twisted, sending the robot careening into its comrade as Ray snapped back to his feet and launched a powerful tornado kick that smashed another backward.

But another was already coming his way.

Thinking quickly, his feet shifted back, leaning to roll over the one he'd tripped before cracking out with his foot. The strike sent the hunching one barreling into its friend, clattering the pair to the ground.

Not bad, he had to admit. He may not have a Morpher, but he could still get the job done.

"My Baby!"

No!

Ray whipped around to see some of the goons had broken away, reaching the mother and yanking the baby from its stroller. Not on his watch!

Springboarding off the Byte-Bot he'd just knocked, Ray lunged into the air to crash tackle the Byte-Bot to the ground, scooping up the baby as he rolled to his feet. The little tyke cooed at him, blissfully unaware of what was happening as Ray shifted to better footing. Now backing him against the playground, the Byte-Bots closed in, and Ray clutched the babe to his chest with his spare arm holding up a guard.

He kicked the first one back, spinning around to sweep the leg of another. One got in closer, swinging wide as Ray snatched its hand from the air before twisting, flipping the bot from its feet to send it crashing to the ground.

Three more were coming at him, and he was boxed in. He needed better ground, and with the baby cradled in his arm, his fighting at a disadvantage. He needed to shift the odds, and fast. The mother was too far away, as was the stroller where he could place the baby safely. Only one option left.

He just had to be quick.

Ray looked down at the baby. "Hey there, little guy, we're going to play a little game, okay?"

The question was more to assure himself than the oblivious bub, and breathing in for might, Ray tossed the baby high into the air.

With his hands free, but now on a clock, Ray launched into the Byte-Bots with a powerful flurry of punches. The first crumbled back, the second hoping to strike only to be blocked and countered. But Ray needed to wrap things up; the baby already completed its arc to begin its glorious descent from above.

Kicking out, Ray knocked over the closer Byte-Bot before leaping to spin his heel to the last one's face. His foot crashed into the faceplate, colliding with such force that the robot went flying and spun crashing into its friends. Just in time.

With the Byte-Bots rolling in the dirt at his feet, his hands outstretched and snatched the falling babe.

The dust kicked beneath his feet as he skidded before the mother and her stroller, the limping Byte-Bots vanishing behind him in an emerald flash. The woman was absolutely beside herself.

"Oh, thank you!" the mother cried, "Thank you so much!"

She took her child from Ray's arms and squeezed them tight. The baby seemed none the wiser of the danger they were in, smiling and cooing while shaking their hand in hopes that Ray would toss it again.

"It's not a problem," Ray smiled. "I can't just stand by and watch those Byte-Bots messing with people."

The woman lifted her baby out of the pram. "Well, I know this little boy really appreciates it."

As the mother doted on her child, she strapped him back into the pram as Ray stood back and watched with pride. The woman was so happy, clutching her son with relief. And he had made that happen.

It was like the world had stopped. No anger, no sorrow, no sinking disappointment. Just a serene moment of realization, striking with a strange, anti-climactic tap with the obviousness of hindsight. He couldn't stop bad things from happening, it was an impossible burden that he'd never achieve. But he could do all he was capable of to stop them from hurting anyone else. And right now, there were still some people who needed him to do that.

"I need to get going," he said to the woman. "Listen, it's getting crazy out here. Maybe it's a good idea to get home and get this little tyke somewhere safe?"

The woman nodded profusely. "Of course. Thank you!"

"You're welcome."

"Wait," she said, taking his hand as he turned to leave. "I don't even know who you are. How do I even begin to thank you?"

"You don't need to worry about any of that," said Ray sincerely. "I'm just glad you're all right."

Then he walked away, slowly at first, before his step gained speed all on their own, before propelling him to a full gallop. By the time he'd reached the bend of the river, he was running at top speed to where he needed to go.


"And this time stay down!" Johnny snarled, polearm flashing trip another Byte-Bot that had just climbed to its feet.

Group number four, and they were beginning to tire. Kyle hadn't been kidding when he'd warned that Gideon would up the stakes, and the time between waves was shortening every time. But they were not giving up, not when they were all that was standing to keep the city safe.

Despite their exhaustion, their spirits were lifting. They could do this.

"How are you guys going?" Johnny checked in as the latest group retreated in a flash of green.

"We're doing great!" Jake panted, "I can't believe these guys beat us last night."

"Well, there were more of them," Hilary reminded him

"And less of you," added Kyle.

"And Mileena was there," concluded Ben.

"Well, if we're going to get all technical…" Jake admitted sarcastically.

And then a laser bolt blasted at their feet. The fireball mushroomed outward, booming in size to send the Rangers flying. They hit the ground as the flames died, sprawling across the ground as the smoke rose around them.

Mileena was back, standing on the hill with her sword at the ready, and Blackout standing beside her.

"Thought we'd join in on the fun." She laughed as they clambered to their feet, scrambling to form defensive positions.

"Funny," retorted Johnny. "We were just wondering when you were going show up."

"Well, you might have to wait a bit longer," said Mileena lazily. "I'll only bother joining if you prove worthy of my time. They're all yours, Blackout!"

The virus stepped forward and unleashed a fresh torrent of lasers. The Rangers leaped into action, energy barraging before them as somersaulted from harm and landed with their weapons drawn.

"All right, guys," Johnny ordered. "This one's for Ray!"

"Yeah!"

Hilary made it first, rolling below a punch to get behind and slashing at the hamstrings with her sais. The monster howled as it buckled, perfectly lined for Ben as swung the hammer into its head. The flat of the mallet boomed, unleashing a shockwave against Blackout's face, the monsters doing it could not fall as it flailed for balance while Johnny, Jake, and Kyle closed in.

Taking advantage of the wobbling, Johnny swung low, sweeping the legs and forcing the monster to fall into the path of Jake and Kyle's weapons. The axe and sword cleaved against it, slicing against its metal armor with a burst of sparks that send Blackout flying.

But as the Rangers regrouped for another round, they realized their mistake. Mileena, it seemed, had hung for more than simple pride. She'd been prowling on the edges for an angle. Allowing them to focus their attention on the virus, she was now in the perfect position to strike. She swung her blade with a roar, summoning the enormous vane of energy that went hurling toward the Rangers, exploding at their feet and sending them flying.

With the team groaning to their feet, Blackout had taken their chance to recover.

"That wasn't friendly!" they cried. "Let's see how you like a load of this!"

The nozzle began to glow, electricity drawing inward before unleashing on the Rangers. The lighting tore through them, forking through their suits, sparks bursting off their bodies before the bolts exploded at their feet. With the force erupting from beneath them, the Rangers went soaring, flames tossing them like rag dolls as their suits flashed and withdrew into their Morphers. The five hit the ground, bodies steaming as they lay there, powerless.

They groaned as they slowly rolled and crawled, struggling to stand as they recovered from the onslaught. Mileena stood proudly by her virus, watching the writhing Rangers at her feet.

"Time to end this!" she ordered, "Our master has grown tired of these interfering children."

"Right on!" Blackout agreed.

From their position on the ground, lying sprawled across the grass with the bodies refusing to rise, the Rangers were helpless.

"Guys you can't take another hit like that!" Doc warned them through their communicators. "You've got to get out of there now!"

But bruised and battered, their limbs would not obey, all of them struggling to stand as they watched Blackout raising his hands, cackling maniacally as the energy coalesced above it once more.

Among them, all Hilary could do was scream, "NO!" as she raised her hands to shield herself.

Blackout raised its hands and cackled manically, bolts arcing in all directions, a sharp whirring growing stronger as it prepared to unleash its final attack.

"Goodbye," said Mileena with a sinister, "Power Rangers!"

Then two bolts of energy seared through the air.

The lasers collided with Blackout's chest, causing him to stumble right as the blast unfurled. The energy released, bursting into the air, crackling against the sky with thunderous intensity; frightful but harmless.

Mileena hissed as she whipped around to the source of the attack, and Rangers followed her gaze. Their hearts leaped as they saw the figure standing on the hill, smoke rising from his still-glowing eyes and glaring furiously at Mileena and the virus.

Ray.

He strode toward them, pace constant and defiant as his voice rumbled in a low and threatening snarl, "Get away from my friends."

Mileena's posture slackened, a smile splitting her lips as she looked at the former Ranger with sadistic glee. Blackout also turned beside her, cackling.

"Little Red Ranger," Mileena mocked. "Oops, sorry. Not anymore."

"Oooh, what's he going to do?" Blackout laughed. "Aren't you forgetting something? You have no Ranger powers!"

But their glee was cut short as Ray stopped moving, his glare shifting into a playful smirk.

"Really?" he replied. "Then I guess that'll going to make this next part real awkward."

His hand whipped behind him, pulling it back to reveal the fresh red Morpher in his hands; good as new. Mileena's eyes widened, Blackout gasping as Ray's body wound up and prepared to face them down.

"Data Squad! Digitize!"

Crimson light burst from the device, enveloping Ray in radiant light as the power of the grid flowed through him. To feel it again, the pure energy coursing along his limbs, wrapping around his body as the ranger suit materialized, was exhilarating. The red suit snapped to his form, helmet encasing around him as the visor locked in place. Then, as the light cleared, he stood, empowered and ready to fight for his friends.

"Oh yeah!" he cheered, "It's good to be back!"

"What?" Blackout cried, "But that's impossible!"

"Relax," snarled Mileena. "One more Ranger won't make a difference. Or did you forget what happened last time?"

But while her eyes glared back at him, Ray could hear a quiver in her voice. A fear underlying the anger. An uncertainty in Ray's sudden reversal of fortunes.

Because if he got his Moprher back so quickly, just what also could he do?

"I guess we'll find out," Ray decided, holding up his wrist as a light flashed around it. In an instant, a secondary device had appeared on his wrist in place of his Morpher. "Time to take Hilary's designs for a test flight. Battleizer! Digitize!"

Again, the air was filled with light, even brighter than before, shifting and moving as more data emerged and formed over his body. Where before it was swirling, now it carried weight, hammering like a hurricane as the massive armored plates formed. They shunted into place, locking around his limbs as giant generators appeared on his back, humming with power that they flushed through his systems. His visor lit up, a fresh display of systems as even his helm was further reinforced.

When it faded, Ray stood proud and defiant, now equipped in a large suit of red armor, chest piece as tough as it was bulky, with large gauntlets and greeves enforcing his limbs and the whole system whirring as the last of its pieces locked in place.

The team cheered, their faces growing from frightened to excited as Ray stepped forward, ready for round two.

"It worked!" Hilary exclaimed, excitedly grabbing her brother as she watched her design come to life. "It actually worked! Go get him, Ray!"

"Red Ranger Battlizer!" Ray declared as the last of the systems whirred to life around him. "Online!"

"What?" Blackout demanded. "What is this?"

"It's time to put your light out for good!" taunted Ray, "Blades, activate!"

Two long blades, razor sharp with jagged edges unsheathed themselves the gauntlets. Ray raised his arm, the tip glinting in the sun as he pointed it at Blackout in a daring challenge.

"You think that scares me?" Blackout scoffed, unconvincingly. "You think tha-"

But he never got the chance to finish. The armor was heavy, bulky even, but with a row of thrusters flaring along the back Ray wasn't slowed for even a second. The blades sheered across the monster's form, sparks flying as he stumbled backward and Ray followed up immediately for another blow. He struck hard, again and again, before spinning around in a devastating X that exploded across Blackout and sent them soaring from their feet.

The other five could only watch in awe as Ray stood there, smoke rising from the blast as the flickering crackles died. But just as they were about to cheer, their triumph turned to horror as they watched Blackout emerge from the smoke.

"My turn!" they roared. The electricity began rumbling, sizzling as more and more of it built, sparks arcing out as Blackout once again formed the great ball of lightning above their head.

"Ray, get out there!" Johnny cried.

The blast seared forward, a scorching beam of lightning that lanced across the park. Ray had barely turned as it crossed the distance, bracing as the attack flashed with direct contact. The forks burst into the blinding light, electricity arcing in all directions and cracking into the ground. Then, as the last of the lightning vanished from Blackout, the built-up energy detonated, climaxing in a deafening boom as the flames engulfed the surroundings in the announcement of suffocating smoke.

"NO!"

They could only stand and stare as the smoke filled the blast site, consuming all from sigh. Johnny began to shake, Ben and Jake grasping each other's shoulders for support as Hilary sunk to her knees in despondent disbelief. They'd been so close! But Ray… they'd knocked him down anyway.

But then they saw it, the silhouette emerging through the smoke, of a Ranger in armor, still standing. The dust began to settle, air clearing to reveal a shimmering golden glow, a giant dome that surrounded Ray and his crimson battle armor completely.

It had taken the full brunt of the attack, and Ray hadn't received so much of a scratch.

Mileena and Blackout gasped in horror, stumbling back as the energy shield flicked out and Ray turned to face them in full.

"What?" Blackout stammered. "That's impossible!"

"Power Shield!" he grinned beneath his helmet. "What, did you think you'd get me with the same trick twice?"

The two blades had retracted back into Ray's arms, and now the rig was whirring and hissing as the armor plating shifted to allow two canons on each gauntlet to emerge from within.

"Time to finish this!" Ray yelled. "Jet Pack, activate!"

Two large ports shot open from the unit Ray's back, rumbling and glowing as the ground beneath him trembled. The ports flared, smoke unfurling in a trail as the Red Ranger rocketed upwards, climbing higher and as the Blackout watched in horror. As he finished his ascent, the blasters lowered, barrels pointed directly at Blackout and glowing.

"Power Cannons! Fire!"

All four guns erupted, erupted spiraling into a column of radiant light that seared from the sky and plunged into the earth. From his vantage below, all the helpless Blackout could do was scream. Their arms flailed like mad as the onslaught reached him and consumed him, the very outline of his shape vanishing in the blinding brightness. The energy continued to flow, carving into the earth, burrowing deeper into the rock as they unleashed the full might of the Battlizer on the monster. Then, when the blast could push no further, it detonated, bursting into a ball of flame that bloomed from a central point before expanding with violent force, a shockwave slicing through the fire in a condensed, visible ring.

With the firing sequence complete, Ray's armored form dropped from above, slamming the ground in a crouch as the flames began to die. At the point where his blasters had impacted, all that remained of Blackout were their scattered fragments, littering the scorched and cratered earth. As the smoke danced into the sky, Ray turned, looking toward Mileena with a menacing glare. "You want a turn?"

The warrior snarled as she stumbled, a tremble in her step as she stared at the blackened crater where Blackout had been standing. Then her head whipped back, glaring at the armored Red Ranger with renewed, furious hatred.

"You got lucky!" she spat before throwing up her arm to signal. A second later, the flash of emerald appeared above to spirit her away.

The Rangers cheered, rushing over to their red teammate as last Ray turned to them.

"Power Down!" Ray called, and in a crimson flash, both armor and Ranger suit returned to data and flushed into the Morpher as he de-morphed. Just in time for Hilary to reach him, throwing her arms around him and squeezing tight. Her voice was quivering, tears shaking in her eyes and her body pressed so tight to his that he thought she'd never let go. And he didn't want her to.

"You came back!"

"Yeah," said Ray with a smile. "You told me there was someone who could bring out the best in people. I figured maybe I should listen to them."

For the breadth of a heartbeat, they stared into each other's eyes, grins broad and shining as exchanged their silent gratitude. A heartbeat was all it was, but for both teens, it could have lasted forever. And then the others reached them.

"Wow Ray, that was awesome!" congratulated Ben.

"Thanks," Ray said bashfully, "but it was Hilary's armor that did the heavy lifting. All I had to do was put it on."

"I'll say!" Jake grinned. "I doubt after that there'll be any data left to recover."

But as if waiting for his words, the green beam split the sky, slicing downwards and basking the crater where Blackout had met their end. The ground glowed a sickening green, rumbling and rising with every beat. And just like that, Blackout was back and eighty feet tall.

The Rangers teenagers dived, the enormous metal foot crashing into the ground as Blackout cheered with a celebratory stomp.

"Remember kids!" they laughed, "Always have a backup in case of outages!"

"I know, I know," Jake groaned. "I shouldn't say it."

"Great!" Ben grumbled. "Because once wasn't enough!"

But Ray stared up at the monster, already turning to unleash their power on the city. He had a plan, and it was going to work. So long as the others were up for it.

"Guys, it's okay," Ray assured them, "I've got an idea."

But as he turned to them, he realized that they were steps ahead. The five of them were gathered together; Hilary, Ben, Jake, Johnny, and Kyle; all of them standing together and waiting.

Waiting for his command.

"We're behind you," said Hilary, earning a nod from others. "And we always will be."

"Yeah," Johnny agreed with a grin. "Let's kick this tin can!"

Together. The unspoken word of understanding, the true secret to their strength. The reason they went to fight, the force that helped them stand. Their inspiration to rise again when their enemies knocked them down. Because as long as they stood by each other as a team, then nothing could truly take them down.

And now it was Ray's turn again to lead them.

Feeling his confidence rising within him, spilling from the brim as he whipped around and stared at their colossal nemesis, Ray stepped with his Morpher tight in his grip.

"In that case; are you guys ready?" Ray asked them with a commanding forward step, snapping his Morpher high as a signal to the others.

"READY!"

There was no question, no pause, and all stepped together in perfect agreement. In synch once more, the Rangers moved, twisting their bodies in synchronous motion and hitting their Morphers to activate.

"DATA SQUAD! DIGITIZE!"

The power erupted forth, surging through their bodies as the suits materialized and wrapped around them. Then, as the helms encased their vision, they held their Morphers high again, summoning Zords and leaping into their cockpits. The mechanical beasts whirred and shifted, forming together to build and strengthen. Moments, the twin mecha had formed, and Rangers sat together in the cockpit, united and ready to take down Blackout.

"Server Patrol Megazord! Online!"

"Firewall Megazord! Online!"

Both mighty metal warriors stomped into position, forming a wall between Blackout and the city. In the face of their new opposition, Blackout cackled with sinister laughter. "You can't get rid of me that easily!"

"We'll see about that," Ray replied, slamming at the controls to bring the wings of Jake's Zord swinging from the Megazord's back and into its spare hand. "Eagle Wing Shield!"

"So what's the plan, Ray?" asked Kyle over the com system.

"We're going to draw its fire," Ray ordered. "You get ready!"

"Got it!"

The Firewall stomped away as Ray guided the Server Patrol forward, steering it right into Blackout's path. The monster's gaze narrowed, menacing enjoyment fading as it stared the Rangers down, first sparks of energy kicking to life above their head.

Ray turned to the team.

"Jake, get ready to divert all non-essential power to the Eagle Shield. Johnny, prepare the chest armor for maximum impact, if that shield falls then the plating is all that's keeping us upright."

"Copy that!"

"Ben, Hilary," Ray commanded. "Ground the legs. Blackout's going to hit us with everything we've got, and we need to hold!"

"On it!"

"Don't you forget about me!" Blackout roared. The energy above them was crackling into a swirling maelstrom, convulsing with violent intensity and almost blinding light.

"Ray!" Doc warned, "If that thing tears through your Megazord it's going to wipe out half the city!"

"Then we better make sure we hold on," Ray decided. "Kyle, get ready!"

"You're all so serious," Blackout screamed as he unleashed his lightning. "You need to lighten up!"

The Server Patrol snapped up its shield, a giant emerald wall to stand against the raging torrent. The lightning collided, crashing into the shield as the whole mech shook against the impact. The energy burned against them, the ground beneath them tearing as the entire Megazord shifted back. Before him, the screen was blitzing warnings, screaming the levels of damage and lingering integrity. The shield was holding, but only just.

"Shield structure's almost gone!" Jake warned.

"Circuits are starting to fry!" added Hilary

"Nearly there!"

Lights were flashing, claxons were blaring as the Megazord held against the onslaught, standing like a rock against the tide as the energy began arcing around their shield. The whole mecha shook, sparks bursting from the consoles as the Rangers braced in their seats.

Then he saw their chance, and with Blackout putting all their efforts into the team, they now had nowhere to go.

"Kyle, now!"

From the flank, the Firewall Megazord lunged into the fray, swinging Data Blade in a mighty arc that scoured into the virus. Blackout screamed as the giant sword carved across their bodies, flailing as they stumbled backward. With no way to direct it, the energy unfurling from their head blasted upward into the sky, petering off into nothing.

With the pressure relieved, the whole Megazord shuddered, lurching forward from the sudden release of force. Smoke was steaming from the controls, half the screens cracked or lifeless, and every movement was accompanied by a grinding groan. But they were still standing, and now it was their turn

"Be careful," Doc warned them. "Damaged systems at critical levels."

"Then it's time to end this," Ray commanded. "Terabyte saber!"

The mechanical behemoth stomped forward as the blade appeared in its hand. Blackout was stumbling back, having used the last of its power in the blitz, and was now struggling to keep up with Kyle and the Firewall. Locked in place, the Server Patrol Megazord closed in for the final attack.

"Time to put your lights out for good!" Ray called. "Terabyte saber! Strike!"

"Data Blade!"

The two swords crossed paths, slicing across Blackout's body in a giant X. The virus tumbled back, sparks flying from its body as its system shocked into overload. Then they fell, screaming all the way down as their limbs gave and crumbled.

Then he exploded, energy bursting from within, a chain reaction of the remaining pent-up power rushing to escape their confines. Blackout's entire form, shattered, pieces flying in all directions as a grand fireball soared outwards, consuming the fleeing pieces and scorching them to ash.

And as the remnants of their foe vanished into dust, the Megazords stood together, basking in the glow behind them as they posed triumphantly before the city, its guardians once more.

"Come on guys." Said Ray to his team, "Let's go home."


"Hilary!" Ray gasped, feeling the air expelling from his lung in a single forceful grasp. "Hilary, you can stop hugging me now!"

"What's the matter?" she grinned over his shoulder. "One hug's not good enough for you?"

"It's not that," he wheezed. "I just can't breathe."

"That's the idea."

At last, she let go, relinquishing to Ray the control of his airways. But as the tightness around his head faded, he watched as her beaming grin turned to lament regret.

"Ray, I'm sorry for what I said to you earlier," she said. "I didn't mean to put more pressure on you."

"No, it's okay, it's what I needed to hear," Ray insisted before looking at the others. "And I'm sorry guys. I should have let all of you know how I was feeling earlier. Should have let you help."

"Well, I for one am very happy to hand leadership back over to you," smiled Johnny. "Leading the charge into Byte-Bots is hard."

"I don't know," Ray conceded, "I heard you did a pretty good job. And I also heard that Jake gave a pretty good motivational speech back there."

"Ah, it was nothing," said the Green Ranger, going so red that with his shirt he looked like a Christmas tree.

"What made you change your mind?" Ben asked.

"I saved a mom and her baby from some Byte-Bots," Ray admitted. "It sort of made me realize why I was doing it all in the first place. That I love helping people, and that being a Ranger, it's part of who I am now." Then turned and gave meaningful smile to Hilary. "And I wouldn't give it up for the world."

"Sounds like words to live by," she replied with a smile and a blush.

"They are" Ray replied, before playfully adding. "Ever consider being a shrink?"

"Yeah, but someone once pointed out that I wouldn't be able to use the couch."

Ray felt a hand being placed on his shoulder; he turned around to see Skull indicating towards the stage.

"Time for your spot."

"Yeah thanks," he replied before turning to Johnny, "you coming?"

"You know it," he laughed, walking with Ray over to the stage and picking up his guitar. Looping the strap over his shoulder, Ray leveled his trusty red Stratocaster over his waist before leaning into the mic.

"Hi everybody, we're The Argonauts and we'll be playing for you this evening."

Then her looked over to the table where his three friends were sitting, casting a glance at his lead guitarist. The four people whom he could always rely on to keep things going, even he felt he could. Who would always be there for him.

"This first song is for my friends," he announced. "It's about being in a bad place, but having the courage to work your way out of it."

Carefully, he placed his fingers on the opening chords, striking down in a single, purposeful strum. And then, as the note rang out, resonate through the room as the crowd awaited the words, he sang:

"Manage me, I'm a mess.
Turn a page, I'm a book half unread.
I wanna be laughed at, laughed with, just because.
I wanna feel weightless and that should be enough.

"Well, I'm stuck in this ugly rut,
Waiting on a second-hand pick-me-up
and I'm over
getting older.

"If I could just find the time,
Then I would never let another day go by
And I'm over
getting old…

He held the end of the chord, letting Travis build the symbols as he looked at his friends. His then, as the whole café inhaled the tension of the held note, he nodded to Johnny, and the band burst to life.

"Well, maybe it's not my weekend,
but it's gonna be my year!
And I'm so sick of watching while the minutes pass as I go nowhere.
And this is my reaction
to everything I fear,
'Cause I've been going crazy, I don't wanna waste another minute here!

"I make believe that I impress.
That every word, by design,
turns a head.
I wanna feel reckless,
I wanna live it up just because.
I wanna feel weightless,
'cause that would be enough.

"If I could just find the time,
Then I would never let another day go by.
I'm over
getting old!

"Maybe it's not my weekend,
but it's gonna be my year!
And I'm so sick of watching while the minutes pass as I go nowhere.
And this is my reaction
to everything I fear,
'Cause I've been going crazy, I don't wanna waste another minute here!

As the energy of the crowd rose, building with every chord to a climax of booming excitement. His hands were squeezing the frets, plectrum picking the high notes as Johnny moved to the breakdown, rising up the neck with the notes the trilling in intensity as Ray readied to bring home.

"This could be all that I've waited for!
And this could be everything I don't wanna dream anymore!"

Then it grew quiet, notes ringing out as Ray leaned closer, the audience cooling as the tension rose as they braced themselves for the bridge. Alone in the quiet once more, Ray muted the strings and hushed his voice to draw them in.

"Cos' maybe it's not my weekend
but it's gonna be my year.
And I've been going crazy,
I'm stuck in here…"

The note hung in the air, holding like a question unanswered, as with a readying breath, he looked across the room. To Hilary, grinning with adoration, at where he stood now, and what he'd overcome. And those last words, the final chorus, were all for her. A thank you for what he'd climbed out, of because of her.

"Maybe it's not my weekend,
but it's gonna be my year!
And I'm so sick of watching while the minutes pass as I go nowhere!
And this is my reaction
to everything I fear,
'Cause I've been going crazy, I don't want to waste another minute here!"

The crowd burst into applause, cheering like wild as Ray reveled in their delight. But for all the screaming adorations, the only faces that mattered to him were his bandmates and the three teens at the table up the back. They beamed at him, and all he could feel was humbled that they were so willing to accept him as their friend.

His Rangers.

His friends.

His power.


NEXT TIME:

Kyle finds himself haunted by disturbing dreams; ones where he's still Cyrax and destroys the Rangers! But as Gideon unleashes a new, seemingly indestructible monster, Kyle must confront his past and his actions. But can the team ever truly trust him after what he did as Cyrax? Or will his uncertainty spell doom for the Rangers?

Find out next time on-

POWER RANGERS

DATA SQUAD

Live And Let Kyle


A/N: Power Rangers- Data Squad updates on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If you like what you read, you can always drop a comment to let me know, and don't forget to subscribe/ follow to find out the second I update. Power Rangers: Data Squad is a fan-made team of Rangers, and not explicitly based on any other existing Rangers or Sentai property. Until next time, may the Power Protect You.

Weightless (2009)
Written by- Matt Squire & Alexander Gaskarth
Performed by- All Time Low

Courtesy of- Hopeless Records & Sony Music Publishing