Welcome to the next installment in the Ariverse! This is a short story (and for once I've managed to keep it short. Looking at you, What If) that's focused on how Venjix returned and became Evox. With some peeks into how things went in the RPM timeline after his initial defeat!

Hope you like it!

Chapter 1: Road to Recovery

The sky was such a vibrant shade of blue, that people still sometimes stopped to look up and admire it. With the pollution at a record-breaking low, and the dust kicked up from the ruin finally settling, the brown hue that had cast everything in a yellowish light was a thing of the past.

Even now, twenty years after Venjix's defeat, Dr. K still liked to step out of the domed city of Corinth to admire the sky. It was almost like a symbol of their hard fought victory, and it always brought a smile to the usually stern, stoic woman's face.

It had been Scott's suggestion, when Dr. K had been taking a day off to enjoy the peace they had fought so hard for. At first, the woman hadn't been too sure. Leaving the safety of the garage was one thing, but to leave Corinth entirely, even just to step out into the waste, was a daunting thought.

But she had faced far more terrifying things. So Dr. K had mustered her courage and gone to the city limits, where a few guards were still stationed just in case any stragglers of Venjix's army had survived. She didn't go too far, not daring to let the gateway to Corinth or the soldiers out of her sight, and finally looked up at the sky.

It had been a few weeks since Venjix's defeat by then, and the miserable brown was only just starting to fade and let the blue shine through. Regardless, Dr. K couldn't take her eyes off it as tears had run down her face.

To her, it was the most beautiful thing in the world.

Having spent so many years within Alphabet Soup, all she had wanted was to go outside. And now, that miserable project was dismantled and Venjix was destroyed. She finally had that choice.

Since then, the wasteland that had surrounded Corinth had blossomed. Roads had been paved to link Corinth to the next city, and without the poison of Venjix's machinery and his blockade, flora had started to spring up. The once brown, dusty sands were no more, as a lush green expanse could be seen for miles. The trees still had a lot of growing to do, but it was a damn sight better than anything else.

"Good…"

"Morning…"

"Dr. K!" the twin chorus pulled Dr. K from thoughts of her past, and she smiled before she had even turned around to look at Gem and Gemma. No matter how much time had passed, the two were still hyper and excitable.

"Good morning," she smiled at her dearest friends, who were in their usual piloting gear. "Heading for another test flight?" she asked, remembering their work with Scott to create even better jets for Eagle Squad.

"That's…"

"Right!" Gem finished for his twin sister. Even now, they always finished each other's sentences when they were together, and it made Dr. K's smile grow. They never changed, and she was glad for it. "What are…"

"You doing today…"

"Dr. K?" they finished together.

"Just getting some peace and quiet before I return to the lab to get back to work. I believe Cassie is visiting today, so I might try and convince her to allow me to check on her old implants," Dr. K explained. At the mention of the hybrid, anyone else might have simmered down and looked more solemn. But the twins only brightened, adoring Cassie even years after they stopped working together.

"Tell her we said…"

"Hi!" Gemma finished brightly.

"I will. Good luck," Dr. K finally stood from the bench that she often frequented. "And…try not to crash into anything again," she added. Gem and Gemma only looked more eager at that thought, and not for the first time, Dr. K felt sorry for Scott, who they reported directly to.

The city of Corinth stood tall and proud, with the shields having been down for a very long time. It had taken years to make all of the repairs necessary after Venjix's final strike, especially with the hybrid army taking priority over everything. Now, to someone who had never set foot within Corinth before, it almost looked as if nothing had ever happened.

But the people of Corinth would never forget. The world would never forget.

The garage that had once been the base of operations for the RPM Rangers was still Dr. K's home, with her lab expanding to house all of her work as she was finally able to use her genius and talents to better humanity. She wasn't decrypting codes for Alphabet Soup or making things to benefit them, nor did she have to dedicate all her time and effort into staying on step ahead of Venjix.

"Ah!" the shout reached Dr. K's ears as she stepped into her lab, glancing over her shoulder at the bike that was stationed in the garage. It wasn't a strange sight to see vehicles in there - it was still a garage, but Dr. K didn't recognise it, and she knew it didn't belong to either of her assistants. "Welcome back!" the blonde stepped into view and gave a bright smile that was familiar to Dr. K not just because she was used to her, but for her parents.

"Thank you, Kiana," Dr. K nodded to the pretty blonde, who had her mother's eyes and her father's smile. "How is everything here?" she asked as she stepped into her lab and went for her lab coat. Even now, she felt more comfortable wearing it.

"All's good. The upgrades you've made to the weather controls within Corinth are holding steady," Kiana reported.

"Except for the five minutes when it was snowing," another voice piped up, and Dr. K immediately looked to the corner where she could often find her second assistant.

"I fixed it," Kiana said with a weak smile.

"Good, thank you," Dr. K told her, and Kiana brightened again. "And how is the new scanner looking, Ryne?" she asked. Finally the small, black haired girl looked up. She wore a pair of goggles over her eyes, which she claimed helped her eyes to focus on certain things. Dr. K had always entertained the idea of studying the strange young woman, but refrained. She refused to end up like Isabella.

"Almost done. I just need to connect the circuit boards and it should be good to go," Ryne answered, and went back to her work. Dr. K almost laughed. Sometimes she couldn't help but wonder just how the tech-obsessed, quiet Ryne was the daughter of the loud, bright, former White Ranger. Kiana was smiling too, and Dr. K wasn't sure if she was just thinking the same, or if she was picking up on her thoughts again.

Probably both.

"Thank you both," Dr. K told them, going back to her computer. As she reached it, she paused. "Who does the bike belong to?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder.

"Oh, that's Keeva's," Kiana answered. Dr. K's face twisted into a look of exasperation. "I told her I'd check the engine when I have some time. It's been making some strange noises," she explained.

"I see," was Dr. K's only response, and Kiana hid her smile. Even Ryne smirked, well aware that Dr. K was very easily exasperated by the young woman, who was far too much like her father for the doctor's liking. Dr. K didn't say anything else as she sat down and got to work, her mind instantly going elsewhere as she began to work.

"I see you're still a workaholic," the voice pulled Dr. K from her thoughts. For a moment, it felt like she'd only just gotten started on her work, but the clock sitting on the desk - a present from Spencer in hopes that she might try and take it easier - told her that she'd been working without pause for almost five hours.

"Good afternoon, Teddie," Dr. K spun around on her chair, and despite everything, she smiled warmly at the black haired woman who grinned at her.

"Hey, Doc. Since Cass was dropping in, I figured I'd stop by and say hi, while also making sure that you're not being too much of a terrible influence on my favourite daughter," Teddie told her, gesturing to Cassie as she walked in. The other woman smiled, waving lightly at her. The scars on her face and down her neck barely even registered to Dr. K anymore.

"I'm your only daughter," Ryne piped up, not looking up. Teddie put her hands on her hips.

"She's too much like Heckyl. Right down to that snarky attitude," she complained. Dr. K bit her tongue, but Teddie didn't miss the look on her face. She rarely missed anything, especially after she had taken up the mantel of 'Legendary Protector' from her mother.

"It's good to see you. You too, Cassie," Dr. K told the woman, who lifted her hands to sign.

"Likewise, K. Do you have time for a break?" they all knew sign language at this point, understanding her well. It had been Dr. K's suggestion for Cassie to learn it when the implants in her vocal chords stopped working, unable to repair themselves now that she was free of the Venjix virus that had turned her into Siren.

"Of course. Tea?" Dr. K suggested. Cassie nodded.

Kiana had taken a break from what she was doing with Dr. K, and was working on fixing up Keeva's bike. They could hear her clanking nearby as the others took a seat out in the garage. Teddie had dragged Ryne away from her work, insisting that she needed a break or else she'd send her to the Magical Realm to train for a while.

"How's JJ doing?" Teddie asked Cassie as she sipped at the tea that Dr. K had brewed for them.

"As great as ever. He's been helping out at the camps with Dillon and Summer, and was talking about teaching some beginner karate classes," Cassie told them, making both Teddie and Dr. K smile. Jeremy was always busy helping out, as even now there were displaced people from Venjix's destruction all around the world.

"What have you been up to, Teddie?" Dr. K asked her, and Teddie leaned back in her seat.

"Just finished up another tour with Levi," Teddie answered. Cassie smiled at the mention of the singer, who she had once performed with. She had a small pang of sadness at the memory, but she had long since adjusted from the loss of her voice, and was doing her best to help the world recover in her own way.

Teddie glanced at Cassie, as if sensing her thoughts. "I also stopped into New Tech on my way back here. Seems SPD is getting another new wave of support sent in. They're sending on some of the tech over here, so Flynn's already promised to split it with you," she added, and Dr. K's eyes lit up at the promise of new tech being sent to her.

While SPD had returned to New Tech City once it had been rebuilt, there was still a small branch within Corinth, as those who had planted roots decided to stay there. Spencer and Annie were two of those people, and acted as liasons between SPD and the communications network that had been set up after Venjix, allowing humanity to get back on its feet quickly.

"Sounds great," Dr. K managed to sound casual, but neither Teddie nor Cassie bought it. Teddie laughed openly, while Cassie at least tried to hide her smile by taking a sip of tea. Ryne looked just as happy at the idea of new technology being sent to them from civilisations that hadn't been set back decades because of a computer virus.

"How is it, working for Dr. K?" Cassie directed her question at Ryne. Her dark eyes widened a little, not expecting to be addressed. Instantly she squirmed, a little embarrassed by the attention. Teddie's grin only widened at the sight.

"It's been great," Ryne answered honestly, her ears turning pink. "I've learned a lot," she admitted.

"When she's not too engrossed in her own projects," Dr. K said, and Ryne went red as Teddie snorted and Cassie once again hid her smile behind her drink.

"Heckyl has a lot to answer for," Teddie shook her head.

"What is he up to now?" Cassie asked her, grinning.

"He's working with Flynn, mainly. The main SPD branch keep trying to get him to work there, but he keeps saying no," Teddie shrugged.

"You'd think he'd do it, to get away from Spencer," the new voice made them look up as Flynn walked in, his hands in his pockets as he smiled at the group sitting. "Oh, just in time for tea. Love to see it," Flynn took a seat with them and helped himself. Dr. K gave a roll of her eyes, but was smiling.

The former RPM Rangers often stopped by unannounced, checking on Dr. K and keeping her up to date with everything going on outside of her own work. Even after all this time, they were still a team - a family.

"Neither of them will ever admit that they're friends," Teddie rolled her eyes.

"Aye, stubborn lads, the pair of them," Flynn agreed. "Good to see you lovely ladies again," he told them as he stirred sugar into his tea.

"Good to see you too, Flynn. How's the communications network?" Teddie asked the former Blue Ranger. Despite his easy smile, he looked tired. Working as hard as ever, it seemed.

"A bit busier since I finally convinced my da to retire," Flynn admitted. "But we're getting there, and the old man can finally relax," he chuckled. "Everything's running smoothly, and like you said, we're expecting some fun new toys over the next few days," he chuckled, looking forward to it almost as much as Dr. K was.

Flynn still saw himself as nothing more than 'a simple mechanic', but he had proven himself capable time and time again, running the communications network with his father as they built it from scratch, until they finally succeeded in contacting SPD, who had initially left Earth to prevent Venjix from spreading across the universe.

His eyes lit up, and he grinned as he set his cup down. "Oh, I heard about the Colonel's new project," he said, emphasising the title as Teddie giggled. Ryne couldn't help but join in, well used to hearing how the former team tormented one another.

"Yes, Scott is working with Gem and Gemma to improve the jets for Eagle Squad," Dr. K confirmed.

"That sounds…explosive," Teddie admitted.

"In their defence, they've had less explosions in their work since Gemma had Jasper," Flynn spoke in defence of his wife.

"Not saying much, is it?" Teddie teased him, remembering all too well how much the lovingly dubbed 'boom twins' enjoyed blowing things up. Flynn shrugged, unable to deny it. "I still can't believe Scott's the new Colonel," she mused idly.

"It is definitely a change," Cassie agreed.

"Aye, he's back to bossing us all around again," Flynn gave a cheeky smile.

"Like nothing ever changed," Teddie agreed.

"I chose him as your team leader for a reason," Dr. K added, and both the Blue and White Rangers giggled. Dr. K just rolled her eyes in good humour. Even now, the two got on well when they were together, and behaved just as they did back when they were still teenagers.

A cry and a crash nearby earned their attention, and all but Dr. K looked up at the sound of someone falling over and knocking over the toolbox that Kiana had been using. The genius doctor shook her head, letting out a soft sigh.

"Hello, Keeva," she greeted. A lanky teenager shot to her feet, laughing nervously as she set the toolbox back down on the table she'd knocked it from. Her curly dark hair was falling out of its ponytail, but her dark eyes were sharp.

"Hi, Dr. K," Keeva said, before dropping back down to pick up the tools that had fallen from the toolbox.

"Oh, Keeva, I figured out what was wrong with your bike," Kiana popped up from where she was working. "Well, not wrong exactly. Your bike is fine, it's the parts that are wrong. Oh, would that mean the bike is wrong, if a part of it is?" she wondered, distracting herself immediately. Flynn snorted, well used to Bridge and his own rambling tangents.

"Breathe, Kiana," Ryne called over as she fiddled with a small device in her hand.

"As noisy here as ever," Flynn grinned. "And I see that look you always gave Ziggy still comes naturally," he told Dr. K, who rolled her eyes.

"Perhaps I do miss the quiet," she considered.

Once everyone had left for the day, including Ryne and Kiana, Dr. K had told herself that she was only going to keep working for a little while longer before she went to bed. It had been a long time since she had worked through the night, refusing to sleep until she passed out at her desk.

Quiet had fallen over the garage, and despite her earlier words, Dr. K did miss the chaos that went on, both earlier and in general. While the days of the RPM Rangers were the darkest in humanity's history, they were also some of the most important days to the doctor, who had found her family in the Ranger team she had assembled.

The former Rangers often stopped by, just as they did today. They refused to leave Dr. K alone for long, even with busy lives of their own.

Scott, as Flynn and Teddie had mentioned, was now the Colonel. Mason Truman had retired, moving to the sleepy town of Pine Ridge as he left everything to his son, believing that Scott could handle it all. And the former Red Ranger was doing just that.

Flynn, having married Gemma, stopped by at least once a week, either to talk about work, or just to catch up with Dr. K. Sometimes he brought his son Jasper, who seemed even smarter than both of his parents, and the young man was always eager to learn about what they were working on to better the world.

Summer and Dillon were the ones that Dr. K saw the least, but she wasn't surprised. After liberating camp after camp with Tenaya, as well as the military, they had started to run shelters for hybrids, as Dillon and Tenaya knew exactly what they were going through. Those shelters had expanded, helping people who had lost everything to Venjix.

Tenaya had, as Dr. K predicted, lost her eyesight. She refused any offers to help restore it through technology, having had more than enough of that for one lifetime. As she lost her sight, some of her memories had started to return, and she and her brother were closer than ever.

Ziggy, to Dr. K's exasperation, was one of the more frequent visitors to the garage. Helping out at the orphanages around town, he always stopped in when he was passing by and bombarded Dr. K with ridiculous questions, like if she had remembered to eat, and when the last time she had slept was. No matter her attitude, he always stopped by.

Teddie was also one of Dr. K's visitors, when she wasn't travelling the world performing her music in the recovering world, but Dr. K knew that it wasn't just for her own sake. With Ryne working for Dr. K, Teddie always checked in to make sure she wasn't following too closely in Dr. K's footsteps. When Teddie wasn't around, Heckyl did the same - assuming he had dragged himself away from his own work with Flynn and Spencer.

Speaking of the former Gold Ranger, Spencer had settled down in Corinth, even after SPD had been fully re-established in New Tech City. As a new father, he didn't want to uproot his family, especially as Kendall had been working to open a new museum in the city. Working with Bridge, Flynn and Heckyl, Spencer had found a place outside of being a hero, and was happy with the part he was playing.

Annie had also remained in the city, helping with military operations as they worked to liberate the last of Venjix's camps. Now she worked with Scott as his second-in-command, helping to train new recruits while offering her advice on anything Scott worked on - whether he wanted her to or not.

Arianna had returned to what was left of Zandar with Philip and his family. They had worked with what remained of their people, Ivan included, to restore Zandar to a semblance of its former glory. The Mercurian herself became a paramedic, helping those in need as she had always dreamed of doing - without having to leave Earth. Dr. K saw her and her daughter, Fane, often enough. With Fane and Ryne as close as Teddie and Arianna were, they often came to visit.

As she had seen that morning, Gem and Gemma were still their chaotic selves. Scott, for whatever reason he had chosen not to share with anyone, had placed the pair in charge of Eagle Squad when he became Colonel, trusting them to keep Marcus' legacy alive.

Then there was Nora, who stopped by almost as much as Ziggy did - usually to deter her husband from harassing Dr. K so much that she used him as a test subject. What surprised all of them, was her decision to become a therapist, talking to them about what they had been through. After all, she was one of them. On top of that, she still enjoyed photography, becoming quite well known for her talents and subject matter.

Dr. K's fingers had stilled as she thought about her former team - both Rangers and not - and how grateful she was to each of them for everything they had done. She smiled - something that she had only truly learned to do because of them. The doctor then reached out and lifted the framed photograph that sat beside the clock, staring at her younger, awkward self, standing in the middle of everyone as they took a victory photo, courtesy of Nora. She was blushing, looking embarrassed as Teddie wrapped an arm around her, telling her to smile as they all laughed.

So engrossed in the nostalgia of the past, Dr. K didn't hear the beep at first. When the computer beeped again, she blinked and lifted her head, her eyebrows knitting together as she wondered what system had woken up now. She had only just set the photo back down when a window opened on her computer screen, and horror spread like ice through her veins.

"It can't be…" she whispered. The logical part of her mind was overshadowed by the emotional part, as desperation clawed at her. For a moment, Dr. K didn't dare move, praying that it was a nightmare. The same nightmare that had plagued her for years, and had only started to fade away as peace seemed set in stone for Corinth.

Finally Dr. K moved, feeling like she was going to be sick as she started to work through the readings on her screen. It was a program she had set up not long after the RPM Rangers had won their final battle and returned their Morphers to her, after she'd dragged herself from another nightmare.

This program had been created for a very specific purpose. To track and monitor any sign of Venjix, to warn them in advance of his return.

Dr. K hadn't even realised that tears were streaming down her face, her hands shaking, and the more she read, the less she doubted it. With a heavy heart, she reached for her phone and found the contact she was looking for. It rang twice, before the person on the other end answered.

"If you're calling at this time of night, it's not good news, is it Doc?" burning the midnight oil himself, Scott was straight to the point. More tears spilled down the woman's face, and she took a ragged breath.

"He's back," she whispered, before clearing her throat. Wiping away her tears, a stern, serious mask returned to Dr. K's face. "Venjix has returned."

Uh oh!

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