Episode 27:

Chain of Command

There was an eerie quiet across the lot, with little more than a breeze to dare creep through the sights. The air hung heavy, still as a held breath in anxious anticipation, as rows and rows of hidden eyes narrowed in shadowed scrutiny of the entrance. They had the compound surrounded, men in position and ready to strike. All they needed was the order.

From the mobile command unit, Lieutenant Commander Avery Freeman watched the surveillance screen with bated breath. They needed to be careful, if they struck too early, they risked some getting away, scattering like frightened birds. He wanted the whole flock in a fell swoop. Which meant their timing had to be perfect.

Behind him, a soldier entered the module, standing alert and saluting on arrival.

"Sir!" he announced. "We've got one, the deserter. Grabbed him as he entered the perimeter."

"Was there a struggle?"

The soldier shook his head. "We surrounded him quickly; he didn't put up a fight. He surrendered to our custody."

Freeman nodded without retracting his vision from the screen. That was good; the deserter had been the biggest worry. He was the most experienced of the group, the one most likely to spot their hidden positions, and by far the largest threat. But as a known entity, he was also the most predictable.

"Recon says more are coming," the soldier continued. "Should we engage?"

Freeman shook his head, "No, let them through. We don't want to tip our hand. If we grab a couple too quickly, the others could scatter. We want to get them all at once."

"Of course, sir. I'll tell the men to stand down."

"Tell them to be ready," Freeman ordered. "Once all have arrived, we'll want the men in position. With Mason in our custody, we're now on a clock. It'll only be a matter of time until they realize something's wrong. We'll want to have breached well before then."

"Yes, sir!"

The man saluted and exited the pod, leaving Freeman alone with the surveillance. In the corner of the screen, he caught what he was looking for, the movement the soldier had described. Five targets, all teenagers, wandering into the warehouse yard and toward the strike zone. He hit the button to alert recon, to positively ID before confirming. He needed to be sure, one hundred percent certain before striking.

But in his gut, Freeman knew it was them. The numbers and timing were too much of a coincidence; and if he was right, it meant all his targets were now in one place.

Once he had confirmation, he'd give the all-clear to engage.

And then at last he'd return what Dr. Benson had stolen; the Digitizer would be in the military's rightful hands once more.

The sun shone behind them, a bright and perky Saturday morning. As far as Ray was concerned there was no better time to be wandering around the empty warehouse lot in answer to Doc's summons. Nothing, not even a surprise Byte-Bot attack, could ruin his mood by this point. It was a beautiful day, and the sun was shining. All his schoolwork was well and truly done, with nothing left but the anxious wait for their final report cards. Prom and graduation were at last in sight, and all five of them were reveling in the liberation within their reach.

Things were even going well on the monster front. Despite Mileena's attack on the school the week before, they'd felt on top of every recent battle they'd had. No de-morphs, no traps. It was as if finally, after months of donning the suits, they all had a handle on being Rangers. That they were thriving in it.

"So, what do you think Doc wants to talk about?" Jake asked as they wound between the storage houses toward their makeshift command center.

"No idea," Ray admitted. "But he made it sound pretty urgent."

"Must be pretty complicated," Jake agreed. "If it were simple, he'd have just told us over the com-line, right?"

"Yeah," Hilary nodded. "Which means whatever it is, he probably only wants to explain it once and then have me on hand to translate for the rest of you."

"And then," Ben laughed, "all we'll need is someone to translate you,"

Hilary rolled her eyes with a chuckle, lightly shoving her brother back for the gentle ribbing as the five of them arrived at the warehouse and stepped inside.

"Hello?" Johnny called, voice echoing around the cavernous walls.

"Doc?" added Ben. "Kyle?"

"I'm down here," came a voice from under the desk.

The Rangers made their way over, huddling around to see a pair of legs poking out from beneath the console, wires poking out in all directions. Pushing himself down on a flatbed trolley, Doc emerged from beneath, tools in both hands.

"Time for some rewiring?" Hilary inquired.

"Something like that," Doc replied, pulling himself up and into his chair. "We caught a flicker on the firewall this morning without any known source. Figured we'd do a diagnostic to catch any glitches. Kyle's just outside checking sensors."

"Weird," said Ben. "We didn't see him on the way in."

"He's probably just around the other side," Jake reasoned. "It's a big building."

"I'd say he'd be just about done," said Doc. "He'll be back any minute."

"Do we need to wait for him?" Johnny asked.

"Yeah, when you called it sounded kind of urgent," Ray agreed.

Doc nodded and tapped at the keyboard, new windows on the screens flashing to life as turned to face the Rangers. All leaned closer to see a strange silver device with four, long mechanical arms protruding from the sides. It took Ray a moment to even realize what it was. Those were the tentacles attached to the virus they'd fought the other week.

"Isn't that from Octo-Claw?" asked Hilary.

Doc nodded. "Yeah, and it turns out to be more than just a way to wail on you guys. Take a look."

He punched another key as the monitor kicked over to footage from the battle. Two Megazords charging on either side, Octo-Claw in the middle. The blades sliced through, carving through the virus in fluid, simultaneous motion.

"Yeah," Jake grinned in self-congratulation. "That was pretty cool,".

"Wait for it," Doc warned.

The video slowed, sluggishly jumping frame by frame as every final movement of Octo-Claw jolted back. The monster stumbled, flailed, and then fell as Doc wound the rolled through at an agonizing pace. Then, as the monster fell back and vanished from the frame, they caught it. It was barely a single still, in real-time barely a fraction of a second, but it was there.

Just before Octo-Claw had convulsed into a torrent column of fire, a thin green flash of light had burst from his position.

Something had been teleported.

"I figured it was best to show you," Doc explained.

"But what does that mean?" Johnny asked, nodding toward the rotating render of the device. "You think it's got something to do with that?"

"It wasn't destroyed," he confirmed. "Actually, it looks like it wasn't even designed for combat."

"That didn't stop him using it that way," Ben muttered.

Beside them, Ray caught the narrowing look of Hilary's expression, the sure-fire tell that the cogs were turning in her mind.

"So, Gideon waited until the exact moment Octo-Claw was going to be destroyed," she reasoned, "and ported out only the backpack at the last second? How could he even do that?"

In answer to her question, Doc pulled up a fresh screen, showing a bunch of graphs and readings beside the device. "It looks like they made it separately," he said. "That would allow them to pull it away while the monster it was attached to detonated."

"But I didn't think they could do that," Hilary replied. "Not if he wanted to make it bigger."

"He must have found a way," said Doc. "I think the battle was a smokescreen, including destroying Octo-Claw."

"Letting us think it was gone and never questioning where it went," Johnny realized.

Ray's eyes narrowed as he stared at the footage. It wasn't like Gideon to simply let them win. He'd sent monsters a diversion before, sure, but they'd never been easy. Whereas this one, they'd taken down in no time at all. Could Gideon really have had no faith in it holding them up?

But if he never had any hope of succeeding, why send it at all?

"What do you think it was for?" asked Ray. "The device they retrieved."

Doc's face looked grim, narrowing to a new breed of seriousness as if he'd hoped to never actually announce the theory aloud. "He's collecting power."

The Rangers turned to each other in uncertainty. Power? But that didn't make any sense.

"But why would he need to do that?" asked Jake.

"Because he's running out," Hilary realized. "That's it, isn't it? He's trying to operate everything on an external power source and now he's running out of juice."

Doc nodded as he rose from his chair, slowly walking over to the Digitizer in the corner and the large square generator it sat connected to. As he did, Ray couldn't help but feel reflective; on how something so small had caused all of this to happen. Gideon, Cyrax, their powers, their Zords.

All of it.

"I designed this thing to work with the Digitizer," Doc explained. "It was one of the few things I managed to secure before Gideon destroyed the labs. It's connected to the city's power supply, creating a jolt that kickstarts the Digitizer's link to the Morphing Grid. But Gideon doesn't have anything like it and can't so long as he's in the air."

"So, what's he been using as a power source then?" asked Johnny.

"I don't know," Doc admitted. "But these past few months I've noticed that he only seems to ever make a certain amount of Byte-Bots, and he's stopped growing every virus you guys have fought. Whatever he's been using for energy, it's not enough, not anymore. Which means sooner or later, he's going to have to either find something bigger or take it."

"So, he's just sucking power from the city because he doesn't have enough of his own?" Jake asked in confirmation.

"I think it's more that he needs something more efficient," Doc replied. "Siphoning from a source is patching the hole but it's not fixing it. And while his air fortress is what's keeping him safe, it's also got to be chewing through energy to stay airborne. Which means sooner or later the power he does have is going to run out."

"But that's good right?" Ben realized. "That means we've got him on the ropes! All we have to do is keep fighting until he runs out of power. And then that's it; game over!"

But Ray was less convinced. Not once had it ever been that simple, and he didn't think for a moment that it would be now.

"No, it's not," he said, turning to others to address their shock at his pessimism. "Gideon's not an idiot. He's building for a play, and if we're not careful he's going to catch us off-guard. I think we need to keep a close eye on the power station; he's bound to target it again. If this is what's holding him back, he'll stop at nothing to fix it. That means sooner or later he'll hit us with everything he's got."

Now was not the time for complacency. The warning was stern but necessary. They'd rested on their laurels before, and Gideon had punished them for it. But even in his caution, Ray still had to admit the need to remain encouraging for the sake of morale.

He was just about to continue, launching into some speech about how well they were doing, and how far they'd come when suddenly Doc's face dropped.

"Is everything okay?" Ray asked.

"Not sure," Doc replied, eyes narrowing as he flicked over to the surveillance feed. "Every camera on the perimeter just dropped."

All of them snapped up; there was no way that was good.

"Think it could be Gideon?" Hilary asked.

"If it is, then he's doing something weird," Doc admitted. "Firewall's still up, so it can't be Byte-Bots. Just stay alert, I'll see where Kyle's up to with his ch-"

And then the doors exploded.

The bang was thunderous and deafening, echoing through the warehouse as the entrances burst from the hinges. Smoke billowed, flushing through the gaps as the Rangers leaped tight together and prepared for whatever was coming. Footsteps, thumped in rhythm as the dark shapes moved with swift precision, snapping up their weapons at their targets.

But they weren't Byte-Bots; they were human.

Soldiers, clad in black, faces obscured by visors with long rifles leveled at all of them. Ray's hand had barely moved to his Morpher when he heard the clicking of safeties.

They were outgunned, and they were surrounded.

"Put your hands on your heads!" a voice commanded, and Ray dared a look at the others as he complied. Johnny was glaring back, teeth gnashed like he was ready to jump, while Jake, Ben, and Hilary all were looking at him with cautious glances. But Doc's reaction was perplexing; serious, concerned, almost angry.

But not surprised.

"On your knees!" the same voice commanded. "NOW!"

With no other options, the Rangers were about to comply when another voice cut in. "That won't be necessary," it insisted, confident and commanding. "Stand down."

In a solid, sharp motion, every soldier snapped their weapons away and stood at sharp attention. They parted in a single step, like a Red Sea of black fatigues that revealed a lone man standing at their center. Where the soldiers were armored in black Kevlar, this man wore a suit; a dark blue military dress with a peaked hat under his arm. His hair and matching mustache were brown, although hints of grey were showing themselves at the roots, both combed so neatly that not a single strand dared sit out of place.

He stepped through the column of men, and Ray caught Doc tense beside him; it was a flinch of recognition. Johnny caught it too, both boys instinctively placing themselves between their mentor and the newcomer. But as they did, Doc placed a warning hand on Ray's shoulder.

The programmer caught his eye and shook his head; not here. Releasing a tense exhale from behind his clenched teeth, Ray shot a look at Johnny before both boys stood down. As they did, the man approached the desk.

"You're looking well, Julian."

Doc's reply was no more than a curt nod and a single name in recognition, "Avery."

Terse greeting exchanged, the man stood back, looking upon the five Rangers who remained ready to pounce upon a moment's warning.

"Apologies for the dramatic entry," he said. "We weren't sure if there was a method of peaceful approach and we needed to be sure you were all together. My name is Lieutenant Commander Freeman of the United States Military."

"They put that together," Doc growled. "What are you doing here?"

Freeman lifted his hand, a lone finger warning them to wait. Then he looked over at the closest soldier. "Bring him in."

The soldier complied by muttering into the radio at his shoulder. Moments later, two more soldiers strode into the warehouse, flanking a wriggle figure whole wrestled against their grip in angry protest.

Kyle.

Next to Ray, Hilary gasped as they watched the soldiers drag him in, watching him struggle with every step. Thankfully, it looked like the only wounds were to his pride. As they approached, they threw him forward, forcing him to join.

"They grabbed me outside," Kyle admitted, tone a mix of fury and sheepish shame. "Jumped me before I could warn you."

"Apologies again, Corporal Mason," said Freeman. "But now that we're all here, I suppose it's time to get down to business."

"Save the big sell, Avery, we know why you're here," Doc snarled before looking back to his team. "They're after the Digitizer."

It took the effort of every muscle in Ray's face not to react. Doc had always said the military had given up on the project but never said they wouldn't want it back.

Suddenly, it all made sense. That was why they were here, that was why they'd burst in the way they had. It was the only way to ensure they could recapture their property.

Seeing he was making no friends with his attempted sociable demeanor, Freeman straightened up, face sharpening to an expression that was blank and unreadable.

"All right then, I'll cut to the chase," he said. "For the past six months, you have all been making use of stolen military equipment to defend the city. Your actions are admirable, and many people are safe because of them. But that doesn't change the fact everything here is property of the United States Government, and they would like it back."

Just like that. For they'd done, all they'd fought for. They were just meant to hand it over without a second's hesitation.

"You can't do that," Ray said angrily. "You can't just take away our Morphers. What about the people of this city? What about Gideon?"

"We thank you for your service," Freeman replied. "But it is no longer required. My men can handle the threat from here."

"Avery," Doc cut in sternly. "They're doing a good job. You're taking away the city's best defense. Besides, they're the only ones who can use the Data Morphers."

"A temporary setback," said Freeman. "Should it still be necessary, we can find suitable replacements now that you have made the Morphers operational. But the United States government cannot willfully put minors under our command. Despite your long and unexplained… absence, you and Corporal Mason are still military personnel. But we cannot allow the involvement of the children."

"Children?" Hilary scoffed, "Look pal, some of us might be a few months short of the right birthday, but we are not kids!"

"And when the day comes that you turn of age, you are welcome to enlist. But until then, we can have no more involvement with you."

There was a way he'd paused on the word, the lingering in his tone as he reflected on Doc and Kyle's position. Neither had formally resigned and had taken the remaining equipment in flight. The implication was clear as day; Freeman was letting them both back in. But if they didn't take it, they just as easily be considered AWOL.

Deserters.

And that leniency could just as easily be withdrawn if the Rangers decided to be a problem. The weapons may have been stowed, but Doc and Kyle were still their hostages; leverage to ensure their compliance.

Freeman motioned again to a soldier by his side, the black-clad man stepping forward with a large silver box. "I'm sorry that your tenure as the city's protectors is coming to an end so unceremoniously," he informed them, "but this really is for the best. Please surrender your Morphers."

Ray could only stare at the container as it opened, knowing what it meant. He could feel his Morpher, sitting in his pocket, almost a weight that refused to budge should he try to lift it. He wanted to fight this, to refuse to budge. Barely a few months ago he'd been so happy to have the burden lifted; but now?

Now he knew what was at stake? What he was fighting for? These men had no idea.

But as the thought crossed his mind, Doc and Kyle both shot him a warning look. And both were right. There was nothing that could be done.

They were surrounded, and even if they were able to move in time to Morph; what could they possibly do? Take on the entire contingent of the US Army? And even if they did fight them off, secure the warehouse, and retain control of the Digitizer, Freeman would just be the first of many. More would come almost immediately. And then they'd be fighting a war on two fronts, their own side along with their enemy.

And were they to flee, all Freeman had to do was disconnect the Digitizer and cut off their powers. He'd played his hand perfectly; caught them off guard before they could even make a move. Ray glanced at the others, knowing they were thinking the exact same thing. They had no choice.

Ray felt his heart sink as he shot a look them a look, desperate in the vain hope that one of them had thought of a fresh solution. But their looks were the same as his. None of them had an answer. And certainly, none that wouldn't further endanger Kyle and Doc's already precarious position.

With a shuddered breath, Ray retrieved his Morpher, pushing back the memories now flooding the forefront of his mind. Beside him, the others had done the same; all staring at the colored devices in their hands, the devices that had thoroughly transformed their lives.

Then, one by one, they placed their Morphers in the box.

"Thank you," said Freeman as they finally stood back. "I can assure you that this is for the best. The military is more than happy to compensate for any damages that you have had during your tenure as Rangers. But beyond that, we thank you for your service."

Ray looked back at Kyle, and then to the man who had given them their powers in the first place. Their looks were identical, a silent message of understanding.

It was okay.

The teens were not betraying them by leaving them to the wolves. It was what they wanted, even if it was begrudging. But even then, the silent consolation didn't feel enough.

"We're sorry Doc," said Ray.

"Don't be," Doc assured them, sadness creeping into his voice as his eyes continued to glare at Freeman. "It's not your fault. I think we all knew this day would come."

But whatever sympathy Freeman had been offering, it vanished the moment he snapped the lid shut. "This base is now under the care and occupation of the United States military," he announced. "Which means we need to clear it of all unauthorized personnel."

Again, the soldiers moved, snapping in a single motion to clear a direct path to the door, showing it to the former Rangers. Freeman didn't need to clarify whom he meant by 'unauthorized'.

"We got it," Ray growled bitterly, sending a glare that Freeman was unmoved by.

Then, one by one, the Rangers filed out toward the door, stepping out into the empty district and leaving their lives as Rangers behind.

Kelgar stumbled onto the observation deck, so panicked he almost tripped.

"Problem!" he cried. "Problem!"

From the viewing window, Mileena turned and scowled. More foolery from the creature that had failed to land even a single victory against the Power Rangers. Did he want to bemoan about problems? He was the whole reason their airship was about to drop out of the sky!

But before she could snarl a cutting remark, Gideon interjected from his throne.

"Is something the matter, Kelgar?" he asked aloofly.

"Master!" Kelgar stammered. "I have been monitoring the Rangers base of operations, to make sure that there are no developments that catch us by surprise…"

"And yet you're acting like you've seen a ghost," Mileena scoffed. "You could have all the warning in the world, and you'd still leap a mile when you're that skittish."

Kelgar's eyes glowered at her, jaw clenching in preparation to deliver some form of a "witty" retort. But then he held it, spinning it over to continue addressing his master.

"The Rangers have received reinforcements," he announced.

Suddenly Mileena's face dropped, bravado vanishing as she strode from where she stood to loom over Kelgar with an angry glare.

"And why didn't you lead with that?" she barked. "Why didn't you tell us there were more Rangers?"

Like the last time wasn't bad enough.

But Kelgar shook his head, clawed hand lightly pushing her away as he stepped closer to the throne. Gideon remained emotionless and unmoved.

"I didn't say that," he clarified. "The Rangers have help. Their Command Center has just been surrounded by military personnel. It looks like the big guns have come to their side!"

Mileena expected an outburst, an angry snarl, or a roar at the change in circumstances. Things were already dire, but if the Rangers now have the backing of official support…

But as Gideon sat there, absorbing the news, he did not appear even the least bit perturbed. In fact, as he looked down upon his two minions, he smiled.

"Dear Kelgar," he said slyly. "Do you not remember what you told me when giving your frank assessment of our power problem?"

The shelled reptile grimaced. "I said that we'd need a miracle to stay in the air much longer."

"Hmmmm," Gideon agreed. He rose from his seat, descending the steps of his throne to circle the subordinates. "You see Kelgar, our friend Dr. Benson did not leave the armed forces under the best circumstances. In fact, he may well have taken some classified technology with him."

Slowly Mileena felt her heart begin to slow, the worry easing as what he was saying began to dawn.

"It would certainly be an issue if anyone had alerted the military to the exact origin of the Power Rangers," Gideon continued. "I can only imagine that those in charge would want their property recovered as soon as possible. And they would certainly want all unauthorized usage to end immediately."

"You… you planned for this?" Kelgar stammered.

"They took longer than I'd have liked," Gideon admitted. "They must have wanted to authenticate the assessment for themselves. But now that they are here, I do not anticipate the Rangers to be a problem any longer."

"Aren't you forgetting something?" said Mileena. "Even if they sideline the Rangers, they're still literally an army."

But again, Gideon did not seem in the least bit concerned. "The military was no obstacle the night I ascended," he reasoned. "Why ever would they become one now?"

Placing a hand on each of their backs, he slowly steered them to the observation window to gaze upon the city below.

"Our time is at hand, to take control of the city's power supply, to eliminate our enemy before they regroup," he said proudly. "You asked for a miracle, Kelgar? Well, I give you the United States Armed Forces. Now gather the Byte-Bots, I think we should give them a nice, warm welcome."

They didn't know what to do, or where to go, and it seemed like everywhere they thought of led them back to memories of their time as Rangers. The park, the city square, the Shak; all sites of too many battles to count. Nothing is left untouched by the brush of remembrance.

Haunting them.

Eventually, they found themselves at the river, at Ray and Hilary's thinking spot. None of them had explicitly decided upon it or even suggested it, they had all just moved in a dazed stupor, sitting by the bank in a vain attempt to process what had just happened.

Jake stood at the edge, skipping rocks across the water, while Ray and Hilary had both plunked themselves beneath the tree. Ben sat above them, balancing on the branch while Johnny leaned trunk, eyes staring at the ground in sullen brooding.

"I can't believe it's over," Hilary breathed softly.

"I can't believe Doc just let them take our Morphers like that," Ben grumbled. "After all we've done, and he just lets them turf us out?"

"What choice did he have?" Ray pointed out. "They were on us in seconds, had us completely surrounded. They gave Doc and Kyle a way back in, but I don't think for a second Freeman was going to keep that open if we didn't cooperate."

"They've kind of got a point," Jake added.

All heads turned to him, jaws dropping as he tossed another rock into the stream, watching it sink into the bed with a heavy plonk. Of all people to take the responsible, reasonable route… Jake?

He turned to see their faces, at first his only reply being a sad, resigned shrug.

"We are kids," he admitted. "And way back when we started, we were so out of our depth. I mean, let's be real, Doc basically gave us all the same reasons back when we first got our powers."

But Doc had caved, eventually. And while their early battles had been difficult, they'd found their feet eventually.

"You know, it's funny," Jake acknowledged with a chuckle. "If my car hadn't broken down, if we hadn't decided to take the shortcut to my house, the city wouldn't be here anymore…"

"Guys, these factories are abandoned right?"

They'd all seen the light, flickering where it didn't belong. A structure long abandoned showing signs of life. But it had been Ben who'd made the choice to venture further.

"I'm going to go check it out!"

"What are you crazy?"

When did Ben ever listen to his sister? Although Ray supposed that had changed since; a lot had. They'd followed, like good friends. They couldn't well have let him go alone.

But whatever it was they'd expected to find, it had not been what awaited them.

It was a machine, although unlike one they had ever seen before. A large metal box, easily reaching four feet in height. It had wires sprouting out of it; each one connecting the machine to the wall.

"What do you think it is?" Ben asked his sister as she too climbed down and approached.

"And how am I meant to know?"

"I don't know, maybe because you're a geek? And this looks like a… geek… thing?"

"Ahguys, I think we may have a problem," Johnny warned suddenly.

They all looked at the screen that had previously been blank, now flashing in a vibrant blue. Three words and a number burst to life in front of them.

PULSE ACTIVATED IN…

Ray's eyes widened "Oh cra-!"

A thunderous boom echoed from the device, a wave bursting out like a whelming wave and catching them in its path. All of them were thrown from their feet, slamming into the wall as the light enveloped the room.

Hilary laughed as she shot a knowing look at her brother. "Maybe if Ben had controlled his overly curious mind, you mean?"

"What?" her brother chuckled from above. "It seemed weird. How was I supposed to know what would happen?"

"None of us did," Ray acknowledged. "No way we could be ready for what was coming next."

Again, Ray nodded as he thought back to that night; meeting with Johnny, Ben running off into the abandoned factory, and the Digitizer's pulse that gave them superpowers. And the first time they'd meet those who'd become annoyingly familiar…

"Give us the Digitizer!"

They couldn't let these things get to that device. The others nodded in reluctant agreement and slowly backed toward the exit.

"Don't move!" one of the things ordered. "No sudden movements!"

"No sudden movements," Ben repeated, as he stepped back into the machine. "Like… this?"

He whipped around, hands snatching the device on top and yanking it free as the creatures lunged.

Johnny and Ray got to some of them first, vaulting forward to put themselves between the creatures and their friends. He shifted his stance, keeping his guard up as the creatures engaged, punches flying as his arms parried blow after blow.

Then the others seized him, hands snatching it his clothes to hold him in a vice grip.

They had him.

With all his might he struggled, desperate to pull himself free as another creature stepped toward him. This one was armed. A large sliver of metal, like an oversized sword, was grasped in its hand.

Then his vision turned red.

The flash was short, barely an instant, but the sheer moment had felt like the sensation physically expelled from his body.

And to his shock, the armed creature was lying on the ground with smoke rising from its chest.

With a moment to breathe, he looked at Johnny, but all he could see was a blur that dashed between the creatures. The blur that was Johnny!

"Jake!" Ben called outside. "Go long!"

Had Jake been anything other than the school's star Running Back, he wouldn't have made it. Instead, he dived arms outstretched the grab the metal box before snapping to his feet and continuing his stride.

Just as the creatures jumped on Ben and Hilary.

Ben jumped towards them, punching the first square in the chest before leaping into the air to kick one on either side. Beside him, Hilary flipped around in a cartwheel. His sister! A cartwheel!

Ben spun, ducking beneath another below before grabbing the outstretched arm and hurling over his body. One of them grabbed him by the shirt, hoisting him into the air before hurling him at a nearby lamp post. Without thinking he outstretched his arms, hands snapping to the post and gripping on instinct. He spun around swinging wildly, as he brought his legs down and rebalanced his feet, now stuck to the lamppost.

His widened as he looked at his attackers.

"Surprised? Well, so am I."

Jake was running, using all his football training to keep pace as he shrugged off blow after of the creatures determined to grab him. Ben could only gasp as he watched his friend catch his foot on the pavement before hurling to the ground.

"Jake!"

The running back spun, throwing out a hand with the device clutched tight to his chest. And he did, a powerful wave of force erupted from his palm. It rippled through the air, catching the pursuers and flinging them backward. Jake could only stare at where the things that had been chasing him were now lying, only to then shakely turn his attention to his hand.

A second later he saw what, as a figure barreled through the Byte Bots, flinging them into the like ball through lined up skittled. Hilary stopped by his lamp post a second later, and had it not been for everything else that had happened, Ben would never have believed what he saw.

Her skin was shiny and metallic. One brave attacker rushed toward them, only for Hilary to lash out with her hand. Her fingers grasped around its throat, feet kicking helplessly as she lifted it into the air. And then she hurled it back, sending crashing back into its barely recovering comrades.

Ben dropped to the ground as the two of them turned. They were ready for more, and the creatures knew it.

And instead of charging in, they ran. As the creatures limped away, a strange emerald light began to envelop them. The glow grew and grew, building into a flash.

And then they were gone.

Ray couldn't help but grin in reminiscence, "Good times."

And that had been it; Doc had found them, Gideon had attacked, and they'd become Power Rangers.

"It's so weird," Jake realized. "That our powers weren't the only ways our lives would change that night."

"Look at us now," Ben agreed, "It's kind of hard to think of what we were all like six months ago."

"I mean, you're still pretty annoying," Hilary jabbed.

"Yeah, but now I'm not in mortal peril every time I jilt your nerves," her brother replied. "You know, at least not as often now."

"That's true."

It was amazing to think how right they were, how little the two had gotten along before that night. Not that gaining powers had actually helped with that.

"You're going the wrong way!" she called to them.

"I'm sorry," Ben retorted through his helmet. "I was a little more concerned with the whole running for our lives than where to go!"

"Well let's go, we need to get him outside!"

They'd been running fully morphed down the hall, guiding Professor Murphy away from the pursuing Byte-Bots.

"Okay, let's go left!" Hilary decided

"No," Ben disagreed. "I remember this place, we need to go right."

"Blue, I spend a lot more time here than you do, we need to go left!"

"You spend a lot more time with your nose buried in an exhibit," Ben snapped back. "But if you were paying attention, you'd know that turn you want is blocked off!"

"Fools, you really are too easy!"

Hilary's heart stopped.

No!

She and Ben spun to see Cyrax standing triumphantly behind them, holding the Professor by the neck.

"Come along Professor," Cyrax laughed, "I have a friend that would very much like to pick your brain."

And the warrior 's laughter echoed through the corridor as he and his forces vanished in a flash of emerald light.

The arguing had only grown worse when they'd reached the warehouse.

"You should have listened to me," Hilary growled.

"Here we go…"

"You couldn't just listen to me?" she hissed. "Just once? Are you that determined to fight with me that even a simple turn is something you have to have a debate about."

"Fine, go about with your "I told you so" attitude," Ben shouted back. "See where that gets you."

"At least I'm smart enough to tell when I'm wrong! You're barely smart enough to peel a banana!"

Then both teens spitefully spun their backs and stormed in opposite directions out of the warehouse, leaving their teammates standing in the wake.

"We pulled through, though," Ben pointed out. "And made a hell of a team when we did."

"Yeah," Hilary replied, smiling at the now fond memory. "Yeah, we did…"

Cyrax grasped Murphy by the neck, swinging the professor around to dangle him over the fifty-story drop.

"Take one step closer and it will be the end of him!"

"And lose your bargaining chip?" Hilary scoffed. "I don't think so."

"You're call, not mine."

He dropped him, and Hilary didn't waste a second.

"Ben! Go! Now!"

Down below, the Blue Ranger, bounded up the surface of the building as he bolted toward the falling Murphy. It wasn't going to be enough, but the Blue Ranger didn't stop.

"Data Squad! Digitize!"

The sapphire surrounded him before launching himself from the glass. Hands outstretched the blue caught the tumbling professor in his outstretched arms, clutching him tight before crashing through the window on the other side.

"Another happy landing," Ben laughed.

"Nice catch!"

Cyrax spun as a blue steak appeared in the air. Ben, hammer at ready, had leaped from the opposite building to his sister's defense. He held the weapon high, reading to bring it down at full strength.

As Cyrax spun in surprise, Hilary felt his weight loosen. She slapped away his foot and rolled, bringing up her sais to slash at his turned back.

He howled in pain, sparks kicking off his armor as Ben closed in. The hammer struck the breastplate, a shockwave erupting from the impact as Cyrax went soaring across the roof. He tumbled across the roof, skidding to a stop as his hand grasped the concrete.

"You really should have seen that coming," taunted Ben, "I mean really."

With an angry growl, Cyrax leaped to his feet.

"This fight bores me," he snarled. "I will return when you present an actual challenge."

And then he stepped off the roof.

"We had no idea how lucky we'd got," Jake admitted. "I mean, were we to fight those same monsters now, we'd do things so differently."

"I mean," Johnny added. "At least we'd know about Kyle."

"Yeah," Ray realized. "We'd know about Kyle…"

"Corporal Mason," said Freeman as he came up from behind. "A word?"

It was not a request.

Kyle rolled his eyes, turning from the soldiers he was briefing to turn to his new superior. They were wasting time. They knew what Gideon wanted, what he was aiming for, and here he was showing a bunch of soldiers around a warehouse. But these weren't his calls to make anymore. Now he had a chain of command to follow.

Over at the console, Benson was hard at work, briefing the technicians on Gideon's capabilities. But knowledge wasn't their problem, they already had plenty of that. Deep down Kyle knew that for all of the soldiers they'd throw in Gideon's direction, it wouldn't be enough.

Not when they were down five Power Rangers.

Freeman wasn't going to hear it, no matter how much Kyle would tell him.

"Let me guess," Kyle said to him as they stepped to one side. "You're worried I'm going to be a problem."

Freeman's face remained stony, giving nothing away. "Are you?"

"I'm the only Ranger that can fall under direct command," Kyle commented. "You can't keep the kids, which means right now you've got no one to use those Morphers. You need me, which I can imagine is the only reason you're keeping me and Julian on board."

Again, Freeman's eyes were steely, a perfect poker refused to react to anything that he said. "You were missing for quite some time. What can you tell me about your whereabouts in that period?"

Gideon had got to him. He'd barely put distance between himself and Digitizer when the Byte-Bots jumped him, spiriting him up to Gideon's airborne lab to turn him into that… thing. It had taken all his effort to keep the information of the Digitizer from Cyrax, and even then, it had almost been too late.

Had it not been for those kids…

"I was captured by the enemy," he replied. "They hoped to use me to get to Benson."

"And what did you experience at that time?"

Boy, what didn't he…?

"Hello, Rangers!"

Cyrax stood atop the slope, staring down at the Rangers with a horde of Byte-Bots at his back.

"Oh, come on!" Jake cried out. "How did he pull that off with us noticing?"

"Your ineffectiveness does not concern me," Cyrax sneered. "Byte-Bots, attack!"

He vaulted from the slope and descended upon the Rangers. Ray stumbled back; his own weapon barely able to keep up with the flurry of attacks that came his way. He was saved only as Ben and Hilary launched themselves into the fray, drawing enough attention for him to catch his breath.

"I guess asking for a surrender is out of the question?" Ben taunted as Cyrax's sword caught the haft of the hammer.

"How did you guess?"

The warrior flicked the blade, knocking Ben off balance before striking across the chest. The blue stumbled as sparks flew from his suit, Hilary leaping between before Cyrax could get another shot. Sais spinning, she went right on the offense, forcing Cyrax to give up ground as he parried her blows.

But even she wasn't enough, and Cyrax lashed out his hand as he found the gap between her strikes. He grasped her neck and held her upwards.

"I still owe you for the other day, Yellow Ranger," he growled as Hilary struggled against his grip, writhing in panicked desperation as his hand began to squeeze…

Every time he'd watch it happen, peering helplessly through his own eyes as his body obeyed the commands of another. That time he'd been lucky, the Rangers had rushed to each other's rescue, just like so many others. To this day, he owed them for the lengths they'd gone to free him before Cyrax made him do something he could never forgive.

"Facing your doom head-on?" the warrior scoffed. "Finally, something I can respect."

Ray was walking toward Cyrax slowly, fresh intent in his step. As the Red Ranger arrived, he tossed his sword to the ground and shifted into a fighting stance.

"Let's finish this," he growled.

"As you wish."

The weapons clattered from his hands as he moved and struck. But Ray was ready, hands flashing to block the punches before recovering to hit back his own. Something moved below him. A kick!

Keeping his footing, Ray stepped backward, smacking away the attack before spinning and launching his foot into Cyrax's chest. The warrior stumbled for only a moment before surging into another onslaught.

"Brave of you to discard your weapon," he sneered. "But foolish of you to fight alone."

"Let's where you're wrong," Ray replied. "Because I never said I was fighting you alone."

And that's where Johnny, having been given the time for a good run-up, soared through the air to plant his foot into the side of Cyrax's helmet. The kick sent the warrior spinning, and the two boys wasted no time chasing after him. The warrior had barely landed as boys pounced on him again, every blow covering the other as they began their assault.

"You have grown as fighters," Cyrax snarled. "But it will not be enough to defeat me!"

"Wrong again," Ray hissed. "Beating you was never the point. Hilary, now!"

Both boys flipped backward, pushing Cyrax off balance as the Yellow Ranger vaulted into the air and hurled the device at Cyrax's feet. The orange bubble burst to life, encasing the warrior in a ball of arcing energy.

The bubble filled with light, electricity zapping from the walls and arcing all around Cyrax's body. Smoke sizzled off his armor as the warrior's hands gasped at his head and he sunk to his knees. His fist slammed against the wall, skin sizzling as the energy started to burn him. Then there was a flash, the bubble bursting into tiny beads of light that shattered in all directions. The device lay on the ground, now nothing more than a pile of steaming pieces.

And standing over them was a man. His face looked tired and weathered, red hair shaggy from months without attention.

"Thank you..."

"I owe the Rangers everything," Kyle said flatly. "They've proven themselves time and time again. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for them."

"So, I've been told," Freeman nodded. "In fact, I understand your joining the team was just as unorthodox, albeit equally ill-advised…"

"That's it!" he decided, snatching the shield unit and ending the program.

Benson's eyes widened, fearful of what was unfolding before him. "Kyle, if there is even one ounce of the Cyrax virus left in that system the program rebuilt itself and reassert control. You could charge in there to fight Gideon and end up standing right alongside him. Cyrax could take you over and you could end up destroying the Rangers yourself!"

"In a moment that won't matter," Kyle shot back. "Because if I don't do something, right now, then Gideon will end up destroying them anyway."

Then he snapped back the kickstand and revved the throttle. Before Benson could say any more, Kyle was already rocketing out into the Cranston city streets.

Without a second's hesitation, he'd gunned it toward the battle, launching himself into the fray in a desperate bid to save those who owed so much. Gideon was baring down, Mileena standing to the side with menacing glee.

To this day it was the biggest risk he'd ever taken.

"Here goes nothing," he muttered, "DataSquad! Digitize!"

He slammed the activation button, and his entire body was consumed with light. He could feel the suit covering his body, the energy swirling around him, strengthening his muscles and bones. The weapons materialized in his hands, others at his belt, arming for the conflict that awaited. Finally, the familiar orange visor slid in front of his eyes, and the light faded.

And as he moved, he realized that his body was still his own.

His mind was still his own.

"It feels good to be in control this time!" he declared. "Data Squad, Security Ranger!"

From that day on he'd been part of the team, embraced by the others with open arms as they fought side by side. He owed them everything, and it was a debt that he would never be able to repay.

"Those kids that you dismissed," Kyle warned. "This city owes them everything. And letting them go was a big mistake."

But before Freeman could retort, the alarm blared. Already the soldiers were moving, the warehouse filling with the sound of clacking boots as Kyle and Freeman rushed to the console.

"They're at the plant," Doc stated, tone terse and matter of fact. Outside of the mandatory briefings, he still hadn't said one word to Freeman since the Rangers had departed.

But the Lieutenant Commander seemed unequally unfussed, producing a radio from his brace pocket and speaking into it.

"Strike Team Alpha," he ordered. "Target spotted at the Cranston City power plant. The Security Ranger will rendezvous there. Freeman out." He then looked up at Kyle. "Well? What are you waiting for?"

Kyle didn't even bother with the salute, moving out the door to where the soldiers were filing, leaping into the transport as it took off the power plant.

Five Rangers down.

He just hoped that whatever Freeman had brought instead would be enough…