"Congratulations, Data Rangers," smiled Doctor K. "I'll admit, I was wrong about you."

"Hang on, am I hearing right?" asked Ziggy, "Doctor K actually admitting that she was wrong?"

"While it is an irregular occurrence, Series Green, it is known to happen on occasion," she replied dryly. "You, however, are still to prove me wrong on anything."

Ziggy shut up pretty quickly after that.

"Have you got our Morphers ready?" Hilary asked.

"Yes, and I have programmed the chronal-destabilization algorithm for the Flux Overthruster. Unfortunately, there is no way to accurately simulate time travel, so it's more of a hope that it works rather than anything else."

"That's a comforting thought," said Johnny.

"However," K continued, "If my calculations are correct, with the Morpher from the Data Squad Security Ranger providing an additional statistical reference, the vehicle should return you to our own time, minus the period that has elapsed since you arrived here, of course."

"Why do you need to do that?" asked Hilary.

"Bio-rhythms," Dr. K replied, "Your bodies have been here for a few hours, which means the same amount of time has passed in your timeline. If I sent you back to the exact time you were pulled from your own period, then you would remain out of sync."

"And I've found a patch of road to use, an old runway." said Flynn, "If Hilary's calculations are right-"

"Which they are," the Yellow Ranger cut in.

"Then this stretch should be more than long enough to get to the speed you need." Flynn pressed some keys, and the road came up on the screen. The road was covered with Grinders. Mileena and Tenaya stood in front of them, along with another familiar face.

"Looks like our other old friend is back," Ray pointed out as he saw Timestein on the monitor.

"And he's had a few upgrades," Kyle agreed.

"Rangers be careful," K warned them. "That creature isn't scanning like an ordinary attack-bot, but it does appear to have been enhanced with Venjix hardware."

"Yeah, that tracks," said Johnny.

Then she turned to the seven RPM Rangers and nodded. "Operators, you know what to do."

The Corinth team nodded their heads and immediately turned to leave, this time the Data Squad staying where they were without complaint. But as they stood in waiting, Dr. K looked up from her computer.

"I meant all of you," she clarified, pushing forward the tray with their Morphers on it.

"Really?" asked Ray, "What happened to all that 'safety of the future' thing?"

Dr. K looked up at him and smiled. "Somehow, I don't think that that's going to be a problem. I think you've more than proved your capabilities."

"Besides," added Scott from the door. "This is your fight too."

"But what about our Morphers?" asked Hilary. "Last few times we've used them, they phased out after only a couple of minutes."

"I have managed to solidify the haphazard connection that you made to the Bio-Field," K confirmed. "I have also managed to connect the Data Squad Security Morpher into the system as well."

"So the whole team…?" Gem asked excitedly.

"… is go for Boom Time?" finished Gemma.

"Correct."

Each of the Data Rangers reached forward and picked up their Morphers. Then they turned to the awaiting RPM team.

"We need to give them everything got," Ray declared. "This isn't just about the timeline we're in. It's about all of them. If we can make it back, maybe we can stop this whole future from happening. But we can't do that if we don't get that runway clear."

Then he stuck out his hand, each member of his team adding theirs to form a circle as the RPM Rangers gathered around and put theirs in as well.

"So, let's go kick some tin!

"Right!"

Then they broke off, rushing the vehicles and roaring out of the garage to the danger that awaited them.


Over on the tarmac, the horde of Grinders stood waiting, flooding the filled the entire lane to block any chance of reaching the end. At the front of the line, both Mileena and Tenaya were standing in annoyance, impatience only growing as at last they watched the cars skid to a stop at the end of the asphalt.

"I'm going to enjoy this," Mileena grinned, eyeing off the Rangers as they filed out of their vehicles.

"Be careful," warned Tenaya. "They're not as easy as you think."

"I haven't had a problem the past few times."

"You only had an easy time because you were the decoy who could run out before they got serious!"

"You're just bitter because two of my Rangers beat you without their powers," Mileena shot back.

"Sounds like a regular Saturday for you."

"Ladies, Ladies," smiled Timestein, raising his arms as he stood between them. "I promise you, by the end of the day we'll all have a piece of the Rangers. We've got all the time in the world."

But as all the doors opened, Mileena began to regret her bravado as more and more of them stepped into view.

"All thirteen?" she gasped.

"You didn't see that coming, did you?" Tenaya sneered.

"Shut up."

The thirteen Rangers all stood in a line, a formation as long as it was defiant and glaring at the Grinders before them. The Grinders that were in their way. Standing proudly in the center, Ray shot a look at Scott, a daring and excited grin as the RPm nodded back with an identical expression. Then Ray held up his Morpher as the RPM Rangers inserted the engine cells in their Morphers.

"Ready?" he called.

They marched a single step, a proud stride as their devices lifted, all thirteen Rangers ready for the battle before them. "Ready!"

"RPM! Get in Gear!"

"Data Squad! Digitize!"

The light was blinding, swirling around the group of Rangers as the suits emerged and engulfed them. The power surged stronger than ever before, like a trickling river that had burst into a raging torrent, embuing them all as their link to Bio-Field strengthened. Their helmets materialized around their heads, visors snapping into place and as glowing slowly faded, all thirteen Rangers stood proudly before their enemies, morphed and ready. The last of the discharge energy was signaled by bursting plumes of colored smoke, vanishing in the explosion of the skyscraper-sized fireball behind them.

"POWER RANGERS!"

Mileena and Tenaya stumbled back in awe of the combined might, shocked by the unity of the teams. But Timestein was too cocky for his own good, already screaming the order to charge and rushing to join the Grinders in the assault. With all of them grinning beneath their helms, the Rangers drew their weapons and charged right back.

Hilary and Summer reached the hoard first, diving to carve through the Grinder's ranks with their blades shearing against their chests. Sais drawn, Hilary spun into a razored whirlwind, slicing into a Grinder with every strike; while Summer came up behind her, Nitrosword batting down any stranglers trying to come around the sides. Then, having corralled their numbers into a cluster, the two Rangers stepped back to admire their handiwork.

Hilary looked over to her partner with a gleeful grin. "I'll let you do the honors."

"Right!"

Summer whipped out a yellow device and clicked it to her arm. "Zip Charger! Fire."

With the end track glowing, a tiny Bear Crawler launched from the weapon, surging toward the gathered robots and zipping back and forth as Hilary's hand whipped to her side. With Grinders reeling, she yanked the Modem Pistol from her holster to squeeze the trigger in support. The lasers seared through the sky, beams surrounding the miniature Zord as all slammed into the Grinders, barraging them with energy that burst against their armor. Then, the resulting flashes combined, convulsing into a massing ball of fire that crashed through the Grinders' forms.

"Great shot!" Hilary congratulated.

"Thanks! I was going to say the same to you!"

Both women turned, the smoking ruins of the Grinders behind them as they launched back into the swirling melee to find their next victims.


But while the Grinders were being handled, Tenaya had zeroed in on Johnny and Dillon, pressing a deadly assault that forced the two Black Rangers onto the backfoot. One-on-one, they may have had a chance, but the surrounding Grinder numbers battered them at all sides, forcing them to split their defenses as Tenaya gleefully stuck in.

As Dillion flipped back, Johnny was less lucky. Having struck back a Grinder, Tenaya closed in, a powerful fist striking with inhuman precision to crack him in the chest and send him flying. He hit the ground and skidded, slamming into some barrels at the end of the runway as Tenaya loomed menacingly toward him.

"One down," she grinned, two long barrels protruding from her arm as she leveled them down on Johnny.

"I don't think so! Invincibility Shield!"

Dillion moved so fast that Johnny barely saw him. One second Tenaya was standing over him, smiling sadistically as the blaster flashed. In the next, a shadow appeared before him, a giant purple dome bursting between. The round flashed harmlessly against the surface, Dillion standing definitely before Tenya before glancing back.

"You okay?"

"Yeah," Johnny confirmed, jumping to his feet to stand beside him.

"Two Black Rangers," Tenaya lazily sighed as she turned her head to the Grinders. "And neither willing to learn their lesson. Boys, remind them for me."

The footsoldiers surged in again, scrambling to catch them in the swarm. But this time they were ready.

"Dillon!" Johnny called, "Catch!"

RPM Black whipped around to snatch the end of Johnny's staff, the weapon joining their grips like a tether as they ducked and weaved between the Grinders, long pole catching them beneath their legs and sweeping. With footsoldiers falling to the ground, Dillion relinquished his hand, flinging Johnny into a powerful spin that cleaved the other Grinders back.

But Tenaya wasn't done.

"Nice trick," she growled, rushing to duck beneath the staff. She pirouetted into a kick, sending Johnny on the defensive as Dillon rushed in from the flank. With the pressure off of Johnny, now it was Dillon's turn to attack, and Tenaya roared with rage as she hurled an inhuman punch straight at him.

Big mistake.

"Don't forget about me!" Johnny warned, leaping into the air with his Modem Blaster drawn. The volley unleashed from the barrel, Tenaya leaping back as Dillon took the opening to push. With her all her focus on Dillion, Johnny was free to move.

"Surprise!"

He somersaulted over and planted his staff, tip slamming into the ground as it fling him with massive force. Locked in a struggle with Dillion, Tenaya had nowhere to go as Johnny's foot planted into her back to send her flying.

The cyborg skidded to a halt across the asphalt, spinning with seething rage as recovering Grinders snapped up behind her. But by then the two Black Rangers were closing in for the finish.

"Need a lift?" Johnny offered, swinging his staff around for Dillon to catch.

As the RPM grabbed it, Johnny heaved him high, launching Dillon to a vantage point as a large black gun with twin silver barrels materialized in his hand.

"Rocket Blaster!"

The barrage of blue rockets erupted from the barrels, searing down on the Grinders like a scorching rain. With wide eyes, Tenaya watched the blast come toward her, leaping for dear life as they collided with the ground and exploded. The blast burst into a shockwave, catching her mid-flight to send her soaring across the runway. While Tenaya managed to dive from harm in time, the Grinders behind her were blown to pieces, shattered across the tarmac as their general retreated to reinforcements.


Meanwhile, the Green Rangers were having the time of their lives, Jake weaving between the bots as Ziggy leapfrogged overhead. Both were too nimble for the Ginders to land a strike, ducking and weaving as their enemies flailing punches hit nothing but empty air. Then the emerald pair leaped for the sky, somersaulting over the ground and spinning as they retrieved their axes.

"Time to chop these guys down to size," Ziggy grinned.

"Yeah!" Jake agreed. "After you."

"No, after you."

"Together, then?"

"Yeah!"

The duo charged in, feet launching from the ground in perfect sync as they somersaulted over the horde. The axes swung wide, powered by the full windup of their arms as they brought them down on the mass of Grinders. Blades of emerald flashed from the heads, slicing through their bodies as each Ranger landed on either side. The robots crumbled, their limbs falling into a clattered mess as their sparking bodies exploded. Then, with the towering ball of flames glowing at their backs, Jake and Ziggy spun to see the next group of bots, leaping to begin their charge again.


The big guy, meanwhile, got a three-for-one special. Gem and Gemma ran in low, cackling with glee as Timestein's rounds exploded around them. As the barrel of the cannon flared, the dynamic duo leaped into the air, soaring with their Cloud Hatchets poised to strike the virus-attack-bot hybrid. Tiemstein swung up his arm, abandoning the volley of fire to parry the blades with his metal arm.

"Is that all you've got?" he taunted. "I could take both of you in our sleep!"

"Oh…" said Gem.

"...Us?" finished Gemma.

"We're just…"

"… The distraction!"

He barely had time to gasp as Kyle rushed in, purple energy blade arcing as it carved into the monster's back. Timestein howled, sparks bursting from his armor as he relinquished his hold on the duo. With their weapons free and their enemy off balance, Gem and Gemma cheered as their daggers plunged in, Timestien howling as he was blasted back with a powerful force. As the monster hit the ground and staggered to rise again, the duo leaped back to join Kyle as he whipped out his pistols.

Gem shot him a look, a grin of gleam gleaming beneath his helmet. "Go for…"

"…Boom Time?" Gemma finished.

"Go for Boom Time!" Kyle agreed.

The three spun around, unloading all of the energy of their weapons at the monster. Slowed by his new armored machinery, Timestien had barely any time to run, the rounds flashing across the tarmac before exploding on his body. The shot combined, flashing on impact into a giant coalesced fireball that flung him far from his friends. With the robotic virus isolated, the three Rangers vaulted into the air, determined to keep up the assault.


Off to the side, the Grinders were charging up the flank, rushing wide to catch Rangers from behind. But together, the Blue Rangers were well and truly ready for them.

"Ben!' Flynn called out, as his giant blue cannon flashed to his hand. "Try to get them all together!"

"Right!" Ben agreed, "Going high!"

The two Blues split, Flynn bounding away as Ben stowed his sidearm. Instead, he leaped in deeper, punches swing wide to clobber back the Grinders and keep the focus on him. To get them nice and bunched together. With the Grinders pressed closer and closer together, Ben leaped into a spinning strike, suddenly knocking them back as he whipped out his hammer and brought it down. The shockwaves slammed from the impact, bursting from the ground and ripping across the tarmac to toss the Grinders into the air. With flailing robots raining down and thudding to the ground, Ben vaulted backward, backflipping through the air to stand beside Flynn.

"Turbo Cannon!" the Blue RPM Ranger cried as he squeezed the trigger. "Fire!"

With the trigger squeezed, the big blue blaster burst alight, a blazing ball of energy erupting from the barrel and tearing into the soaring Grinders. The round hit the center of the mass, expanding in a glorious detonation that consumed those still straggling behind. As Ben and Flynn admired their work, the remaining smoking limbs clattered to the ground, and Yellow and Green Rangers ran up to join them before all lunged into the fray once more.


Now the Byte-Bots were running out of places to retreat, and Mileena was in the same boat as Tenaya as Ray and Scott worked together to handily pull her group apart.

"Engine Cell!' called Scott as he slammed the cartridge into his Nitro Blaster, "Activate!"

"Catch!" Ray yelled. He tossed across his Modem Blaster as Scott snatched it from the air, flipping both pistols around to unleash a torrent of laser fire at the footsoldiers. Then he landed, passing back the borrowed weapon before switching to his Street Saber.

"Impressive," laughed Mileena as she raised her blade. "But it won't be enough to handle me!"

"We're just getting started," Ray retorted. "Modem Blaster! Blade Mode!"

Main weapons in hand, both Rangers flipped over their pistols, unfurling their secondary blades in their offhand before charging. Ray made it first, slicing the two like a pair of scissors as Mileena stepped from the deadly sweep. With her balance faltering, Ray chopped them down, forcing her to bring her weapon to bear and block the onslaught herself.

All locked in, and no way out. Then Scott closed in, Nitro Sword and Street Sabre flaring as he lunged into the fray and sliced the pair of weapons across her armor. She howled as the sparks burst off her breastplate, throwing herself from Ray's lock as she stumbled to reposition and stare Scott down.

Big mistake.

"Let's finish this!' yelled Ray, stepping behind her and winding up for a swing. "Scott! Batter up!"

Mileena was all teed up, back turned to Ray as the Power Sword barreled into her, blasting her from her feet and directly into Scott's path. All Mileena do was flail hopelessly as Scott surged forward, energy arcing from his sword as he hit dead center. "Street Saber Strike!'

His sword sliced the armor, sparks bursting from the plate as his momentum carried through. The strike exploded against her form, booming to send her flying and bouncing across the ground as she landed beside a retreating Tenaya. As Scott skidded to a stop beside Ray, Dillon and Johnny run up beside them, and the four Rangers took off in pursuit.

"Great plan," Tenaya sneered as the two women raced up to a fleeing Timeseign. "We've sure got them running now."

"Shut up," Mileena snapped back. "They're only able to use their powers because you let them get away!"

"Uh… guys?"

"WHAT?"

Both women turned with seething rage as they saw where Timestein was pointing. All thirteen Rangers had regrouped, main weapons all in hand, a roadway of smoking Grinder parts behind them. Herded to the corner of the runway, the two women and their monster had nowhere to go.

Ray looked over at the others with a grin. "I don't know about you guys, but I think it's time to put them together!"

"Yeah!" Scott agreed. "Let's do it!"

"Right!"

At their leaders' command, the Rangers snapped to the formation, their weapons locking into place as they formed the pair of mighty cannons. As the RPM team leveled the Enforcer, Gem and Gemma stood on either side, combining the Sky Morphers with their cloud Hatchets, while Ray's hand snapped to the device at his wrist, summoning the mighty armor before training the cannons down on the trio of warriors.

"Battlizer! Digitize!"

"RPM Enforcer! Engine Cell Activate!"

"Data Blaster! Security Mode!"

"SkyShift Blazers! Engine Cell Activate!"

Eyes widening, Mileena and Tenaya shared a look of absolute horror.

"Time to go," Mileena decided.

"Finally, something we agree on," Tenaya nodded desperately.

Both women bolted, fleeing the scene as Timestien angrily shook his blaster arm at them. "Where are you going? We've still got time to fix this!"

But the gun line before him told a different story. Two team blasters, gold and silver firearms, and the canons of Ray's Battlizer all leveled down with their barrels glowing. "FIRE!"

The energy surged from all barrels as they burst across the runway, the blasts merging into a combined assault, spinning inwards into a drill toward the helpless Timestien. The monster had nowhere to run, and the merged attacks exploded into a cavalcade of flames, booming into a ripping force that hurled his unconscious body backward. The virus-robot hybrid clanked as it crashed into the tarmac, still and lifeless.

"All right!' cheered Ray.

But it wasn't over yet. Suddenly Timestein's eyes snapped open, body glowing red he rose to his feet and began to grow. His form swelled in size, rapidly expanding until suddenly he was eighty feet tall and towering over the teams of Rangers.

"Yeah!" he cheered. "Second time's always the charm!"

"Good see your bad guys stick to the classics," Johnny noted.

"The quip's new, though," Ziggy admitted. "Our's aren't really talkers."

But Ray and Scott were already striding forward, both Red Rangers standing before their teams in defiance of the towering monstrosity.

"Let's do it!" called Scott.

"Yeah!" Ray agreed. "Time to take this guy down a size!"

"Engine Cell Activate!" cried the RPM Rangers.

"Zord Powers! Digitize!" called the Data Squad.

The air was filled with a shining light and roaring engines as the large collection of Zords burst into the sky. The Data Squads' herd of animals lunged into view, racing toward the towering Timestein as twelve machines burst from the RPM Rangers to join them. The vehicles whirred and shifted, steam hissing from their forms as between them, four giant mecha rose to face the monster.

"SkyRev Megazord!"

"Server Patrol Megazord!"

"PaleoMax Megazord!"

"Firewall Megazord!"

"ONLINE!"

"That's not fair!" complained Timestein. "I don't have time to deal with all of you!"

"Then it looks like your time's all up!" Ray declared. "Terabyte Sabre!"

"Data Blade!

Light flashed as the two Data Squad Megazords summoned their weapons. Behind them was a rumbling, the large form of the SkyRev hovering down to join them with its arms primed and ready.

"Wheel Blaster!" called the RPM Rangers as the Paleomax thundered up beside them and Scott agreed from his own cockpit.

"Let's finish this!"

"YEAH!"

The two Data Zords thundered in, swords surging as they struck into the monster, the blades flashing on impact as the PaleoMax pummeled in with a powerful uppercut. Then Timestein's eyes widened as it looked up at the SkyRev, just in time to see the barrage of technicolor bombard downwards.

Timestein screamed as he tumbled backward, the full blaster of the SkyReev consuming him as the three closer Megazord spun and struck down. Sparks burst from the monster's form, his entire body bursting into a ball of fire as he took the full brunt of all four attacks. The Megazords regrouped, all of them standing tall as Timestien burned, incinerating from the inside out as the resulting explosion shredded him down to his atoms. Below them, the remaining Grinders fled, rushing towards the exits as the four Megazords stood triumphant over them, the Ranger's passage home clear at last.


"SO!" thundered Venjix, "YOU BRING ME FAILURE?".

"You see?" smirked Tenaya, reclaiming her place by her master's side. "I told you they wouldn't do any better."

Kelgar shot her look before checking Mileena was beside him. The Data Ranger fully regaining their powers was a setback he had not foreseen, and with Timestein gone they had nothing left to bargain with. Already he could see the Grinders moving in, and his time in the mechanical palace told him exactly what fate awaited those that failed Venjix.

"Your plans brought nothing but failure!" Venjix roared, "And for that, you will suffer!"

Definitely, time to go.

"May I suggest leaving?" Kelgar suggested to Mileena, who now had drawn her sword as more Grinders rushed into the room.

"How can we?" she hissed. "Timestein was destroyed!"

"I built a second device in the case of emergencies," Kelgar explained. "But it's one use only. Timestein was designed to negate the drawbacks of the device."

"Drawbacks?"

"Upon entering a new timeline the device emits an electromagnetic pulse as it seals the breach behind it," Kelgar explained. "It would normally render the device useless for a second trip."

But Mileena didn't have time to question further, as the Grinders had completely surrounded them and Tenaya aimed his wrist blaster.

"Bye now," she laughed.

"Grinders!" Venjix ordered, "Destroy them!"

Every footsoldier in the room snapped their weapons toward them, and Mileena snatched the device from Kelgar's arms to hold it upright.

"Well, it's been a blast," she announced. "But all good things must come to an end."

The slammed her hand on the activator as the Grinders opened fire, blue light flashing as the lasers converged where they were standing. Moments later, the duo slammed into the ground, back on Gideon's airship in their own timeline. Mileena watched as the blue energy crackled from the device, the screen cracking as the outward wires crumbled to dust and fell harmlessly to the floor.

"So," said a cool, expectant voice behind them, "How did it go?"

Kelgar and Mileena spun around to face their master, kneeling in preparation for his disappointment.

"Not well, my lord," Kelgar admitted. "The people in the future were far too incompetent to be of help to us. It was due to their uselessness that Timestein was destroyed! No matter, I can simply build another machine and go to a different time."

"Uh, Kelgar?" Kelgar turned around to face Mileena, who was holding up the now useless time-travel device while pointing to all his computers. "You mentioned an electromagnetic pulse?"

Kelgar's eyes widened as he realized what she meant. Upon entry, the pulse would have affected more than just the machine in her hand; it would have hit every computer in the room. A computer whose memory would now be blank and empty!

Kelgar could only sink to his knees and scream with rage, snatching the device from Mileena's hands and shattering it on the ground. Outside the airship, flock birds were soaring towards it, only to change direction mid-flight in fear the roars were an angry incoming predator.

Any chance of returning to the future was well and truly gone.


"So," said Hilary as they stood around the DeLorean. "I guess this is goodbye."

"It's not forever," Summer insisted as the two Yellow Rangers pulled each other in for a hug. "We'll try to find you in this time, wherever you are."

"Take care of her for me," Flynn advised Ben, as he patted the DeLorean on the hood. "One 'Simple Mechanic' to another."

"I will," Ben promised before nodding to the Blue Hummer behind them "So long as you promise to take care of that girl of yours."

"Always do."

Ever the stoic ones, Johnny and Dillon nodded to each other, bidding goodbye with a silent, firm handshake.

"Well," Kyle decided, turning towards Gem and Gemma. "It's been… horrifying. But thanks for pulling me out of the fire."

"We had…"

"… so much fun." Gemma grinned. "Next time we blow something up…"

"…we'll think of you!"

"You know what?" Ziggy decided as he stretched out his arms to Jake. "This is a hugging kind of situation. Come on, bring it in!"

With that, the rest of the Data Rangers began the painful process of fitting themselves into the crowded rear of the DeLorean.

"Well," Ray decided, offering his hand to Scott. "It's been an honor."

"Likewise," the Red Operater agreed as he shook it. "You guys kick it pretty old-school, but you still kick serious butt."

"To be honest," Ray admitted. "I'm just glad to see that for everything that's changed, what's important hasn't. I'm glad to know that the future's in safe hands."

The two stood straight and saluted each other before at last Ray turned to take his seat.

"It's not just in mine," said Scott, stopping him and pulling a letter from his jacket, "Dr. K told me to give this to you. She said to specifically hand it over to a 'Dr. Julian Benson', and tell him it's about Alphabet Soup. She said he'd know what that meant."

Ray took the latter and frowned. "I thought she said meddling with the timeline was a bad idea?"

"I asked her that, too," Scott admitted. "Seems you changed her mind on that. That you were right, it was your timeline, maybe you could make the most of it."

Then he nodded to the DeLorean, Hilary standing beside the door and waiting for him to climb into the back.

"Now go on, go save your timeline," he said, before adding with a cheeky smirk. "And go get the girl."

"All right, K," said Dillon, patting the DeLorean's bonnet as Ray squeezed into the back and the front passenger seat and slid into position, "They're good to go."

"I have calculated exactly where they need to be when the lightning strikes," they heard through the car speakers. "Combined with the surge of energy from the connection to Bio-Field, it should be enough to punch a hole and open a time vortex. Just be sure to activate the Morphing device at the exact time you hit the lightning rod."

"What happens if I don't," Hilary asked, looking nervously at the device K had installed at the front with all their Morphers attached.

"Then your vehicle may disintegrate and your atoms will be scattered throughout all of space and time."

"Oh," Hilary gulped before looking at her brother in the driver's seat. "So then, I guess I better not miss."

Behind them, Scott had pulled up the train Paleozords while Flynn helped attach the welded rig. Ben nodded and looked ahead to the road revving the engine in anticipation.

"All right, Ben," came Scott's voice through the communicator. "Beginning pushing sequence."

Ben slammed the car in first, the whole vehicle shunting forward as it began to follow the momentum of the Zord.

"Let's hope this works," Ray said nervously.

The Zord picked up speed, Ben slamming up the gears as the dial climbed. The engine was whirring at them, well at its limit as the vehicle began to shake. The force pushed at them, slamming into the four squeezed in the back while upfront Ben and Hilary were pushed back in their seats. From the back, Ray's eye spied the dial.

280 miles per hour.

Already sparks were arcing across the surface of the car, the engine block roaring as the wheels screamed to keep up.

"Disengaging clamps!" Ben warned, pulling a leaver by his side as Ray heard the clunking of the rig behind.

295.

"Scott get ready to break!" Ben warned with his foot now flat on the floor.

They could see the wire strung across the runway, waiting invitingly for the rod atop the car to catch it.

"Striking lighting in three," warned Doctor K, "Two… One."

300!

The bolt split the sky as the dial hit three hundred, lighting surging across the wire as the rod snatched hold. Behind them, the Paleozords screeched to a stop, releasing the push as the car slingshotted it forward.

"Data Squad!" Hilary roared, slamming the lever on the device. "DIGITIZE!"

Blue lines appeared across the windshield as the lighting crawled the surface. The sky then burst, shattering into a whirl of colors as the whole car flung forwards. The Rangers' heads were rammed backward as the force slammed into them, the DeLorean surging through time as it picked up speed. Even from within it was as if Ray's insides were twirling around, the strobing lights around him becoming too much.

"Just..." Ben pushed. "a little… more!"

Then, with another flash, the colors broke away. Bursting into the night sky, Ben yanked up the handbrake, bringing the car to a screeching stop as the whole vehicle shook.

And just like that, they were back in Cranston City Square, a line of flames burning from where the tires had emerged from the vortex.

"If anyone's going to be sick," Ben warned, already rolling down the window. "Please wait until you're out of the car."

Beside him, Hilary queasily reached for her Morpher and opened the communication line. "Doc, are you there?" she asked. "Because boy, do we have a story for you."

The reply was an unfiltered cheer that crackled through their Morphers, and Ray looked out the window at the perfectly ordinary, untouched city square.

They were home.


"Gone?" Doc gasped, jaw hanging slack and open. "The whole world's just… gone?"

They all sat in the warehouse, having gone straight there once all of them felt well enough to travel again. Upon arrival, Doc had rushed to them, throwing himself in their arms, grateful just to know they were all right. Then they recounted their story.

"Yeah," Ray confirmed, "There's one city left, Corinth. It's well protected, but I don't know if they could ever rebuild the world to what it used to be."

Doc looked back at the computer, and Ray knew that all his spare time from then until judgment day would be spent figuring out ways to combat the coming threat.

"Is there any way to stop it?" asked Kyle.

"No," Hilary shook her head. "Dr. K refused to tell us any details about how Venjix was created. She said that anything we do might make it worse."

"That's not entirely true," Ray replied. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the letter. "Doc, she told me to give this to you specifically."

Doc looked at Ray with amazement. "Me?" he asked. "Why would she want to give it to me?"

"I don't know," Ray admitted. "But apparently it has something to do with 'Alphabet Soup'."

At the mention of the time, Doc's eyes widened.

"Does that mean something to you?" asked Hilary.

"They were a think-tank," Doc explained. "Heavily classified even for me. They went dark following Gideon's attack on Project Digitizer, but there were rumors that they kept going. What's in the envelope?"

"I don't know," Ray admitted, "but I think it might be information on how to stop that future from happening."

At last, Doc reached out and took the folded paper from Ray.

"I'll see what I can do." He decided, "But until then I suggest that we do not talk about this. Whatever is in this envelope, it's meant for someone, maybe not even me. The truth is that the less any of us know about the future, the better."

Ray nodded and looked back over at his friends. "Well, I don't know about you guys," he decided. "But I could do with a smoothy. Do you think Bulk and Skull will stay open late if we tell them about what just happened?"

"You bet," Hilary replied cheerfully, "And after seeing that place in ruins, it'll be nice to see it standing again."

"Come on, Julian," Kyle decided. "You're coming too. You've well and truly earned a break."

Having survived their ordeal, the Rangers laughed together as they slowly left the warehouse.

"Hey guys?" asked Ben, "I think there's one more thing for us to sort out."

Then they turned around, uncertain what they'd forgotten. But their fears were assuaged as the Blue Ranger grinned back at them and asked the all-important question.

"Who's keeping the car?"


NEXT TIME-

A dangerous Ranger mission lands Jake in trouble at home, keeping him confined until further notice. But as the rest of the team face off against Gideon's latest plan to cut the city's power supply, Jake is faced with the ultimate dilemma. How can help them while stuck in his room? Is there any way to get his parents to understand? And how can he come to the aid of his teammates without revealing his secret?

Find Out Next Time on:

POWER RANGERS

DATA SQUAD

Grounding Day


A/N:

It's amazing when I look back at what this story once used to be, way back when I started writing it all those years ago. I fell in love with RPM almost the moment it aired, and couldn't resist the chance to write a crossover. Back then I didn't have the full series, and it's been such an amazing experience to go back and incorporate some of the elements that got added well after I was done writing. But, more importantly, this posting marks an even more important milestone for me. With thirty uploads and 138,000 words, this new revised version has just as many chapters as the original Power Rangers: Data Squad (and is already longer in words). It's amazing to reflect back on how this story began, and how much I've brought more out given there's still so much to go.

For those that have been following along since I started reposting back in Feburary, thank you so much. Seeing that people keep wanting to read about Ray, Hilary, Ben, Jake, Johnny, and Kyle warms me more than you could possibly know. And for those of you who take the time to leave a comment or review, sometimes even with a few theories of what's coming next, it truly means the world that you've taken the time from your day to leave a message of appreciation. Thank you all, so so much.

So where are things going from here? Have no fear, Data Squad is going nowhere, but as we did earlier I am taking a break from posting for a couple of weeks just to get back on top. We'll have a two-week break, and then we'll be right back at the end of May for more Power Rangers- Data Squad!

In the meantime, what are people's thoughts on the series so far? What do they think Gideon will do now that his plans for the future have failed? And what do you think the Rangers will do now that they've returned from a nightmarish future? For those that have the time to comment, I'd love to hear your thoughts and theories.

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.