A/N: Happy Saturday! As promised, I'm back with another Episode. This one will continue the main plot and kick off a series of Ranger-focused episodes intended to wrap up each Ranger's primary character arc and highlight their growth. Think of them like RPM's "Ranger (Insert Color Here)" episodes, only I've titled them "CPU Yellow/Blue/Red" etc in order to avoid confusion.

I hope you guys enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it! Wendy's one of my favorite characters to write for (if not my favorite period) and her focus episodes usually wind up being among my favorites; this one is no exception. Anyway, I don't have much else to say, so enjoy the chapter and I'll see you in the second author's note! Happy Reading :)

Episode 23: CPU Yellow

Winter had finally released its hold on Starview Heights, and spring had sprung in its stead. The sun smiled upon the west coast metropolis and bathed it in warmth, while a gentle breeze bristled through the grass and budding flowers. The birds chirped melodically overhead, the finishing touch to this perfect, picturesque morning.

"Hey, guys!" Griffin, Kenny, and Quincy looked up to see Wendy, accompanied by a middle-aged man with salt and pepper hair and a farmer's tan. He bore a striking resemblance to her, with the same diamond-blue eyes and light dusting of freckles flanking the bridge of his nose on either side. Wendy was grinning ear to ear by the time she reached the picnic table where her friends were sitting.

"Guys, this is my Dad; he's here for a visit. Dad, I'd like you to meet my friends!"

"Whaddup?" Kenny greeted with a slight wave. "I'm Kenny."

"I'm Quincy," Quincy echoed. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Rowan."

"Mr. Rowan was my father; please, call me Simon." Simon turned to face Griffin, who stood and extended his hand. Simon gave him a firm handshake. "It's a pleasure to meet you, young man."

"L-Likewise…" Griffin stammered. He retracted his hand, then rubbed the back of his neck as Simon elbowed Wendy.

"So *he's* that Griffin you're always telling me about, huh?"

"Daddy!" Wendy's face went fire engine red, and she lightly slapped her father on the arm.

"I've heard a lot about you guys," Simon told the trio. "I'm glad Wendy's made such good friends here at school."

"Best friends I've ever had," Wendy's eyes flicked to Griffin, and a shy smile tugged at her lips. Griffin met her gaze and smiled back as his cheeks turned a rosy hue. "Anyway, c'mon, Dad. I wanna introduce you to some people from Econ."

"Right behind ya, pumpkin." Simon followed Wendy as she turned and left the quad. "Nice meeting you boys!"

Once the pair were gone, Kenny turned to the other two and tilted his head. "I thought she dropped outta Econ?"

"She did," Griffin replied, and his eyebrows furrowed. "Did she not tell him?"

"I read his mind. Not only did she not tell him, she also told him she's majoring in Business." They both stared at Quincy, who then added, "Telepathy doesn't have an off switch; I don't know what you want from me."

"I know she's self-conscious about being undeclared, but why would she lie to him?" Griffin plopped back onto the picnic table and sighed. "I worry about her…"

"We know," Kenny teased, earning himself an elbow to the ribs.

Hydraulic footsteps reverberated off mounds of scrap metal as a bronze silhouette tiptoed through a junkyard on the outskirts of town. Delete skulked through the littered landscape, keeping low to avoid attracting attention from workers patrolling the area. He crept up to a garage on the far end of the complex, then slipped through its rusted-out door. Rows of tool cabinets lined each wall of its interior and commanded his attention.

"...Perfect," A hint of sarcasm crackled in his voice as he pulled open a drawer and began to rifle through its contents. "Stupid Father. Sending me on this *pointless* quest to gather more Energon when our harvest from City Hall should *more* than suffice... it's just *ridiculous*! And how much Energon does he need, anyway?! I could've taken over Earth-1 *three times over* if I was in charge...wait a second..."

He retracted his arm, pulling a large spring out of the sea of junk. Dull light from the ceiling reflected off the metal spiral, casting a faint glow on a nearby wall. "This should counter Ranger Yellow's agility quite nicely. She's been a *constant* thorn in my side since the beginning, and with her pacified...oh yes. I have an idea."

He set the spring atop the tool cabinet, then produced his smartphone and a small canister of Energon. He connected the two objects via a USB-C cable, swiped a Venjix Virus Card on his phone, and attached it to the spring. He thumbed across his phone screen, and the spring glowed green as Energon seeped into it.

"Installing virus," The spring grew exponentially, becoming a tall silver robot. Its head, torso, arms, and legs were solid metal, connected via a series of segmented springs. Its head was cylindrical, its trio of optics forming an upside-down triangle.

"Spring Attack Bot, ready and raring to go!" It pounded its right fist into its left palm, then turned to Delete and bowed its head. "Just gimme some orders, and I'll hop to it!"

"Excellent. Head into the city and draw the attention of the Power Rangers. When they inevitably intervene, destroy them – especially the Yellow Ranger. You are to show her no mercy!"

"Yessir!" The Spring Attack Bot saluted, then turned and hobbled out of the garage. "Ready or not, here I come!"

The bell on the front door of Puzzle's Pizzeria jangled as Wendy and her father stepped inside. Wendy scanned the crowded dining room, then went to the booth where her friends were waiting.

"Hey, sorry we're late," She set her purse down next to her, then shifted to make room for her dad once he joined her. "Traffic's a bitch today."

"I hope we haven't kept you boys waiting long," Simon apologized, then picked up a menu and added, "What were you thinking in terms of toppings?"

"Pineapples, jalapenos, and anchovies are my go-to's," Kenny said, which earned him a disgusted look from Quincy.

"My favorites are pepperoni and banana peppers," Griffin chimed in, then hastily added, "We can get whatever you want, though. I'm fine with anything."

"Well, I'll be. Those're my favorite toppings too!" Simon closed his menu with a good-natured chuckle. A waiter approached the table, and Simon looked up at him and said, "We'll have two large pizzas with pepperoni and banana peppers, please. Just the one check; this one's on me, boys."

"Right then. I'll get this to the kitchen, and we'll get that started for you," The waiter scribbled their order onto his notepad, then turned and made his way to the back.

"You don't have to do that, Dad," Wendy said.

"We can pay you back, Mr. Rowan," Griffin echoed. "It's really no trouble."

"Please, I insist. And it's Simon, remember?"

"R-Right. Sorry."

"No need to be sorry, son. Being called Mister Rowan just makes me feel a bit old, is all," Simon chuckled again, then cast a quick glimpse out a nearby window. "Y'know it ain't Texas, but this is a nice place,"

"Yeah, it's not half bad," Quincy agreed with a thoughtful nod. He shifted to face Simon, but his eyes flicked to Wendy. "So what'd you think of Wendy's Econ classmates?"

"They're nice kids. Seemed kinda awkward, though. If I didn't know any better, I'd have thought she barely knew them." Simon smiled at Wendy and didn't seem to notice how she squirmed in her seat. Just then, the waiter returned and set their two pizzas down on the table. "Hey, thanks, pal. It looks great!"

"Yeah, thanks a million!" Kenny echoed as the waiter walked away. He and the others reached for a slice, only to stop when their morphers emitted a familiar electronic beep. "Uh oh…"

"I'll be right back; gotta use the restroom..." Griffin said sheepishly. He stood and crossed the dining room, stopping once he reached the alcove that led to the bathrooms. He checked to ensure no one was looking, then raised his morpher and whispered into it. "Go for Grif."

"Ranger Red, I'm detecting irregular Energon usage approximately two clicks from your current position," Doctor K informed via the comm-link. "ALPHA's on his way to intercept; recommend you and the others link up with him ASAP."

"We're on our way. Over and out," Griffin lowered his morpher, then turned and returned to the table. He rubbed the back of his head and let out an awkward chuckle. "We uh, we gotta go. K's called an impromptu club meeting..."

Kenny and Quincy hopped up immediately, and Wendy swore under her breath. She gestured for her father to let her up, then reluctantly followed her friends as they made for the door.

"Sorry Dad, something came up!" She apologized. "I'll meet you back at Aunt Dahlia and Uncle Peter's!"

"Wait, Wendy! You forgot your…" Simon trailed off lamely, glancing down at the handbag on the table. "Purse…"

"Hahahaha!" The Spring Attack Bot chortled as it chased a group of terrified civilians across a downtown plaza. It bounded after them and used the springs in the soles of its feet to propel itself forward. "Hippity hoppity, your screams are my property!"

"C'mon, we gotta get outta here…!" A teenage boy urged his friend, who he grabbed by the arm and yanked behind him. The duo ran as fast as they could, but the first teen tripped and fell, which pulled his friend down with him. "Aw, crap!"

"Nice going, dude!" His friend said facetiously. The pair looked up in horror as the Spring Attack Bot stopped in its tracks and took an interest in them.

"What's the matter?" It taunted as it pounded its fists. It thrust out its hands, and the helpless teens squeezed their eyes shut as its arms extended to comical lengths and sprang toward them. "Not up for a hopping good time?"

"Stop right there, foul villain!" The teens opened their eyes and found themselves in a shimmering silver force field, which sparked as the Spring Attack Bot's arms came into contact with it. It recoiled in pain, and they turned and spotted ALPHA as he dashed toward them with his fingers pressed to his temple. "Fear not, youths, for I am here!"

He offered them his hand and pulled them both to their feet as his Energy-Shell dissipated. He herded them and the other remaining citizens to safety, and the two teens waved to him as they fled. "Thanks, robo dude!"

"Just doing my civic duty!" ALPHA watched them leave, then turned his attention to the Spring Attack Bot as it glared at him. "Problem?"

"We certainly have one now," The Spring Attack Bot held out its palms, and orange streams of binary code ebbed from his fingertips and solidified into a squadron of Xanadroids. "ATTACK!"

The robotic footsoldiers drew their weapons and charged toward the Buddy-Droid, who brandished his CellTech Blaster in kind. He stood his ground, extended his morpher's sunglasses, and held down its trigger.

"Install: CPU!" ALPHA's Ranger suit appeared in a dazzling burst of light. He drew his sword, ready to face the oncoming Xanadroids head-on. Just then, Griffin and the others exploded onto the scene, their arrival punctuated by thundering footsteps.

"Looks like we've got our work cut out for us," Griffin remarked as they observed the unfolding chaos. Determined, he turned to the others and said, "Let's roll up our sleeves and get to work!"

Meanwhile, Simon rounded the corner, Wendy's purse clutched in his hands as he struggled to regain his breath. As he reached the edge of the battlefield, his eyes widened in disbelief. He watched in awe as the quartet activated their morphers, and a surge of colorful energy enveloped their bodies.

"Wait, are those…?" Simon stammered, confused.

"It's Morphin' Time!" They hollered triumphantly. "Install: CPU!"

Lightning crackled as their Ranger suits materialized and wrapped around them like a second skin. Simon blinked rapidly as he struggled to process the extraordinary sight before him.

"She...my Wendy, she's a...Power Ranger?" His voice trembled with a mixture of shock and pride. He gripped his head, coming to terms with this startling revelation as his daughter and her friends rushed to back up ALPHA. "Is this actually happening…?"

"Friends! I'm glad you could make it," ALPHA said to his teammates as they joined the fray. He gunned down several Xanadroids with his blaster, then turned to face the others. "I was worried you'd feel left out if I handled things myself."

"When you programmed him, did you mean to make him this humble?" Kenny asked Quincy, his facetious grin audible as he pummeled Xanadroids with his fists.

"Now is so not the time!" Quincy replied. He blocked a Xanadroid's incoming swing with his sword, then spun and countered with a roundhouse kick to its neck.

"Quincy's right; we should hurry this up!" Wendy leaped out of the way of incoming lasers, then retaliated with blaster fire of her own. The Xanadroid shooting at her was dead before she landed on the ground again, and she sent its ruined chassis crashing into one of its comrades with a swift kick to the sternum. "If it's all the same to you clankers, I had plans!"

"They're starting to regroup!" Griffin warned. He gestured to the other end of the plaza, where the surviving Xanadroids had gathered together and formed a phalanx. As the robots unleashed a hailstorm of projectiles, he barked, "Perform evasive maneuvers, then execute Attack Plan Echo!"

"Right!" The five dove to avoid the coming fire, then launched their counterattack. Kenny scooped up an empty car and winged it at the Xanadroids; as it soared towards its target, Griffin and Quincy stood shoulder to shoulder and hoisted Wendy and ALPHA up into the air when they ran up behind them. The Yellow and Silver Rangers aimed their blasters at the car and pelted it with blaster bolts, which caused an explosion that wiped out the robots.

"Woah…" Simon marveled, awestruck. The Spring Attack Bot scoffed.

"The Xanadroids never were built to last. Cheap and expendable," It bounded towards the Rangers and pounded its fists. "But the wonderful thing about Spring Attack Bots is that I'm the only one!"

"Well then they're about to be extinct!" Griffin tightened his grip on his saber and supersped towards the Attack Bot. He slashed wildly at his opponent, shouting, "You're going down!"

"I think not," The Spring Attack Bot sneered. It avoided the assault with a simple sidestep, then knocked the wind out of Griffin with an uppercut to the stomach. The Red Ranger was sent flying and breathlessly fell back onto the concrete.

"Griffin!" Wendy rushed to his side, concern evident in her tone. Her glove creaked as she balled her hand into a tight fist. She whirled around to face their foe, filling the air with blaster bolts as she ran toward it. "I'll kick your ass for that!"

"Ranger Yellow! Delighted to meet you!" The Spring Attack Bot exclaimed. Its legs extended, propelling it higher. Wendy grit her teeth as she watched her projectiles slip through the gaps in its coiled appendages. "I was specifically designed to counter your superagility! I'm bouncing off the walls with excitement!"

"I'm really not in the mood for this!" Wendy shouted, summoning her saber in her off-hand. She attempted to slice through the Spring Attack Bot's legs, but it extended them further, and her blade missed its mark. "Dammit!"

"What's the matter?" The Spring Attack Bot sneered. It retracted its legs, thrust out its arms, and spun around to create a vortex of coils. Wendy yelped in fright as she was smacked aside. "Had enough?"

"Not even close!" Wendy growled. She lunged toward the Attack Bot and planted her blaster's barrel into its chest, but her foe reacted before she could pull the trigger. It stretched its arms and legs, encasing her in a deadly grip. She wriggled in a vain attempt to break free, only to howl in agony as currents of electricity surged through its metal limbs. "Arghhhhhh!"

"Didn't you hear? Daylight savings just went into effect!" It released Wendy from its grip, then leaned backward and extended its legs again. Once its upper half was several feet off the ground, it retracted its legs and executed a flawless front flip. Wendy pulled herself back to her feet just in time to catch a swift flying kick to the midsection. "Time to spring forward to pain o'clock!"

"Oww!" Wendy winced as her back slammed into a nearby brick wall. She fell forward and immediately pushed off the blacktop to get back up, but her legs turned to jelly and caved in under her. "Dammit, not my Weakpoint! Not *now*!"

"I seem to have worn you out, Ranger Yellow!" Her foe taunted as it angled its foot and pushed off the concrete, which propelled it backward. It landed on the far end of the plaza, where it began pooling energy into its palms. "Don't worry! You're just a hop, skip and a jump away from a good nap...or perhaps a coma!"

"Not gonna happen!" Griffin shouted as he and the others rushed to Wendy's defense. ALPHA activated his Energy-Shell and used it on himself and the other four for good measure.

"...Fine. I was getting bored, anyway," The energy in the Spring Attack Bot's hands dissipated, and it turned tail and bounded away. Quincy moved to intercept, but it fizzled into ones and zeroes as it teleported away. "Ta ta, Rangers!"

"Damn, he got away…" Wendy demorphed and fought off her paralysis to stand up. She staggered, fell to the ground again, and landed square on her butt. "Woahhh…!"

"Wendy!" Griffin's voice rang out as he and the others demorphed and rushed to aid her. He propped her into a seated position, then said, "Are you okay?!"

"Wendy!" Simon emerged from cover and scurried toward them, his eyes widening as they landed on his daughter. "Are you alright?!"

"Dad!" Wendy's gaze met his, her panic evident. "Yeah, I'm fine. Umm...you just got here?"

Simon shook his head, and Wendy grumbled, "Aw, hell's bells…"

The constant coiling and uncoiling of springs reverberated off steel beams as the Spring Attack Bot bounded up to the skeletal frame of an incomplete building. Delete was waiting for him, his arms folded. He stood rooted to his spot, a collection of stolen Energon canisters laid at his feet.

"Spring Attack Bot reporting for duty, boss!" It greeted ebulliently, saluting its unamused creator.

"I take it you bring good news?" Delete inquired. "How did you fare against the Ranger Operators?"

"I'd say I more than sprang into action!" It replied. "They were strong, but I was stronger! As for Ranger Yellow, oh, the tumble she took after our little tango...well, let's just say she's spending some quality time with the ground right now!"

"Wait a second, 'spending'?" Delete pressed, an edge in his voice as he put two and two together. "You mean to tell me that she's still alive?! I explicitly instructed you to kill her!"

"I know, and I was going to, but then the other Rangers got in my way, and-"

"And nothing! I have no interest in your excuses!"

"Why're you flying off the handle all of a sudden? I wiped the floor with her; next time, I'll send her to the scrapheap!"

"You'd best make due on that promise then, because if you don't, there will be consequences," Delete threatened, getting up in his creation's face. "I will not be made a mockery because of your folly. You will go, and unless you return with a confirmation of Series Yellow's demise, I'd strongly advise you not to return at all! Do we understand each other?"

"Yes, sir!" The Spring Attack Bot pivoted and hopped away, bouncing off the blacktop and vaulting into the air. "I'll be back before you know it!"

As Delete watched the Attack Bot's departure, a frustrated sigh escaped his verbal processing unit. "Why is it that whenever *I* make Attack Bots, I always end up with the imbeciles…?"

Simon's eyes widened as he followed the Rangers into the lab, and his gaze swept across the room like an enraptured child's. The forest of terminals connected via a rat's nest of cables and the assortment of books, computer parts, and disassembled Ranger weapons stacked atop metal tables reminded him of a mad scientist's workshop.

An ethereal glow spilled from the adjacent hangar, where Cheetor, Apex, and Bugz tinkered with the numerous Zords. As always, Doctor K sat at her desk in the center of the room, her fingers dancing across her keyboard as she reviewed footage of the latest battle.

Simon had never seen anything quite like it. He turned to his daughter with a sparkle in his eyes. "Wendy, this is...incredible!"

"I can't disagree with you," Doctor K replied, spinning her chair around to face him. "It is quite incredible that the secret identities of my Ranger Operators have now been revealed to not one, not two, but three different civilians."

"Actually it's four," Kenny corrected, which earned him a pointed look from Doctor K. "Technically more if you include the folks from ARC."

"To be fair Doc, we didn't exactly realize Mr. Rowan followed us." Griffin interjected. "Err, I mean Simon. Sorry..."

"You sure do apologize a lot. You wouldn't happen to be Canadian, would you son?" Simon chuckled. The dad joke earned him a pointed look from Doctor K, which prompted him to clear his throat and add, "Anyway, don't let me keep you from your work there, Doc."

"Agent Wright is bound to have a field day with this one..." Doctor K grumbled as she turned back to her computer. Simon rubbed the back of his head, then shifted his gaze to Wendy.

"I have to be honest pumpkin, I'm a little dumbstruck right now," He admitted. "So you're a Power Ranger...when did this happen? Why didn't you tell me?"

"It all started in the fall," Wendy replied. "And I wanted to, Dad, I just...couldn't. The more people know, the more people we put at risk. I'm sorry."

"Ah, that's alright; I forgive ya," Simon gave her a reassuring smile, then added, "Anything else you'd like to share with me?"

"No, that's pretty much everything," Wendy replied. Griffin gave her a weird look, then approached her and placed a gentle hand on her arm.

"Can I borrow her for a sec?" Griffin pulled Wendy off to the side, offering her father a quick apologetic, "We'll be back!"

"Griffin!" Wendy protested, yanking out of his grip once they reached the far end of the lab. "I was in the middle of a conversation; what's gotten into you?"

"Why are you lying to your dad?" Griffin folded his arms, his voice laced with concern. "You stopped taking Econ two months ago; why'd you tell him you're majoring in Business?"

"I couldn't help it, okay? I was surprised when he called to tell me he was coming to visit; it was the first thing that flew outta my mouth." She explained. "I just didn't wanna disappoint him, alright? What does it matter, anyway?"

"Well firstly, your dad's a really nice guy and he deserves the truth. Secondly...I care about you. A lot." Griffin's expression softened as he continued, "I want what's best for you, and lying to him...it just doesn't seem like the right way to go about this."

Wendy hesitated and averted her gaze. "...You're right; I should tell him. I just...can't."

"Why not?" Griffin pressed gently. "What are you so afraid of...?"

"I...I just...I wanna make him happy because Mom never did!"

Griffin's concern deepened, and he locked eyes with her as she collected herself. "...I shouldn't have yelled; I'm sorry. It's just...Dad's been through so much…"

The school bus' brakes hissed as it stopped in front of the Rowan family farm. Eleven-year-old Wendy bid her friends farewell, then shouldered her backpack and stepped down the aisle.

"Thanks for the ride!" She waved to the bus driver, who opened the door to allow her to get off. She watched the vehicle roll down the dirt road and leave a trail of swirling dust in its wake, then turned and went down the driveway.

"I got straight As!" She chirped, clutching her report card to her chest. "Mama will be so proud!"

She bounded up the porch steps, then retrieved the spare key from beneath a potted plant. With a familiar twist, she unlocked the front door and stepped into the welcome embrace of her family's farmhouse. Her gaze immediately fell upon her father, who was seated on the sofa. Without hesitation, she leaped toward him and crushed him in a bear hug. "Papa, I'm home!"

"Heyyy, pumpkin!" Simon smiled, but his voice lacked its usual bounce. He hugged her back, and as Wendy pulled away, he said, "How was your day?"

"Amazing! Look at my report card – straight As!" Wendy grinned ear to ear, but her smile faded once she saw the sadness in her father's eyes. Her face flickered with confusion. "Papa…? Is everything alright?"

He didn't respond, and that was when she noticed the living room was in disarray. Pictures and cherished items were conspicuously absent, and before long Wendy realized that everything that was missing belonged to her mother.

"Papa, where's Mama's stuff?" Wendy's voice trembled, and her lips formed a troubled frown. A lone tear rolled down her cheek as realization dawned. "...Mama left, didn't she?"

"I'm so sorry, pumpkin!" Simon hugged her, his tears mingling with his daughter's as he did his best to console her…

"When Mom left, it broke his heart...but he still put me first. He's always put me first," Wendy confided in Griffin. "My whole life, he's gone above and beyond for me. I wouldn't have even been able to go to college if it wasn't for him!... I guess I just wanted to make him happy for a change."

"I get that. I really do. But seeing you stress yourself out trying to be something you're not isn't gonna make him happy." Griffin told her. "Seeing you genuinely happy will."

"...You're right," Wendy relented. "I'll tell him; just gimme a minute to work up the nerve."

Klaxons blared, and red alarm lights pulsed. They rushed back over to the others, then stood at attention as Cheetor and the other Buddy-Droids moved to their stations.

"Doc, the Spring Attack Bot's at it again!" He informed. "I've pinged the Rangers' morphers with its coordinates."

"Right then," Doctor K replied. "Simon, you'll stay here. Rangers, move out!"

The Rangers nodded and turned to leave. Before they were out the door, Doctor K added, "Ranger Yellow?"

Wendy turned back to face her mentor. "Yes?"

"I've been reviewing the footage of your last battle. That Attack Bot exploited your weakpoint – but it has a weakness of its own," She explained. She pulled up the video on the holoscreen, then paused on a frame of the Spring Attack Bot extending its limbs. "See the springs in its limbs? They can only stretch so far. If you can trick it into overexerting itself-"

"Then it'll be payback time!" Wendy concluded, pounding her fists. She then ran after her teammates, saying, "Thanks for the tip, Doc!"

"Good luck," Doctor K watched her and the others leave, then turned back to her computer. Simon settled onto an empty chair, his lips curled into a nervous smile.

"Wendy's got this," He told himself. He turned to face Bugz, who was busy working on her terminal. "...Right?"

"Don't worry, Mr. Rowan," Bugz assured him. "Your daughter's a fighter."

"Good to know," He replied. "And it's Simon; for the last time, Mr. Rowan was my father."

"Ehhhhhh, whatever you say, doc."

High-pitched screams echoed off the concrete as the Spring Attack Bot and its Xanadroid underlings chased terrified mall goers through the adjacent parking garage. A guy in his mid to late twenties squeezed his girlfriend's hand tight as they scrambled to get away, looks of horror etched onto their faces.

"All this for some stupid movie!" The girlfriend lamented. "We could've just stayed in and streamed it, but noooo. We had to 'help save cinema'!"

"Oh, throw that in my face!" Her boyfriend grumbled as they skidded to a halt in front of his silver car. He fished his keys out of his pocket and fumbled to unlock it, only for Xanadroids to surround them on all sides. "Aw, crap…!"

The couple squeezed their eyes shut and resigned themselves to their fate, but nothing happened. The boyfriend tentatively opened one eye and watched as the robots sparked and slumped to the ground, killed by a barrage of blaster bolts Wendy had fired at them.

"What're you waiting for?!" She hollered. "Don't just stand there! Get the hell outta here!"

"R-Right!" The couple leaped into their car, and Wendy watched it pull out and speed off. Griffin and the others stepped in and covered the remaining civilians as they made their exit.

"Rangers!" The Spring Attack Bot greeted as it motioned for its subordinates to hold their fire. Its optics dialed in on Wendy as the Rangers regrouped, and it continued, "Still reeling from your defeat, Ranger Yellow? There's no shame in admitting it!"

"Cut the crap, you overgrown paperclip!" Wendy defied. "You may've gotten the better of me before, but this time'll be different. I'm not leaving here until you're six feet under!"

"We'll have to see about that then, won't we?" The Attack Bot gestured to its troops, who promptly marched toward the Rangers en-masse. "Let's hop to it!"

"It's Morphin' Time!" The Rangers brandished their morphers, then shouted, "Install: CPU!"

A shimmer of light enveloped them and formed their suits in a matter of moments. The Rangers drew their weapons, then moved to meet their foes without hesitation.

"Climax Jumper!" Wendy pelted the Xanadroids with blaster fire, then leaped into the air and used her superagility to avoid their attempts at retaliation. She kicked off a concrete pillar and launched into a backflip, then delivered a flying kick to the nearest robot's jaw. "CPU Yellow!"

"Limit Breaker!" Griffin became a scarlet blur that whizzed along the tops of parked cars and left a trail of spasming Xanadroids in its wake. He screeched to a halt, scissor-kicked a Xanadroid in the head, then finished the stunned robot off with a slash to the chest. "CPU Red!"

"Shield Buster!" Kenny scooped Xanadroids up as they charged them, then tossed them aside like they were weightless. A pair of the robots flanked him from the east and fired a volley of blaster bolts, but he acted fast, scooping up a parked car and using it as a makeshift shield. As the lasers pinged off the vehicle, he winged it at the robots in retaliation. "CPU Blue!"

"Mind Flayer!" Quincy lunged forward and jabbed each Xanadroid in the chest before leaning back to avoid their counterattacks. They attempted to double back and surround him, but he subverted their efforts by lifting them off their feet with his telekinesis. He put an end to their hubris by slicing them apart in mid-air. "CPU Gold!"

"Circuit Smasher!" ALPHA cartwheeled around the battlefield to avoid incoming fire, then changed his trajectory and bowled into a dozen Xanadroids. He planted his feet to stop his forward momentum, then capped off the final robot with a point-blank blaster bolt to the cranium that sent nuts and bolts hurtling in all directions. "CPU Silver!"

"Covertly protecting the universe from evil!" The five regrouped and struck a group pose with Wendy as the centerpiece. Pillars of smoke in their respective colors erupted behind them as they concluded, "Power Rangers: CPU!"

"A rousing performance, but you'll forgive me if I'm not leaping out of my seat to applaud you!" The Spring Attack Bot got down on all fours, then extended its limbs so that it towered over its foes. Griffin supersped towards its nearest extremity and slashed at it with his saber, but it stretched its coils further apart, and his blade phased right through. Kenny scooped up another parked car and spiked it into its midsection, sending it hurtling upwards. Its back slammed into the concrete ceiling, but it pushed off with its feet and adjusted the length of its appendages as it cascaded downwards. It launched him backward with a kick to the jaw, and his trajectory arced dangerously close to Wendy just as she'd lined up the perfect shot. The Yellow Ranger was forced to lower her blaster and disengage to avoid being flattened.

"This isn't working! ALPHA, on me!" Quincy motioned to his silver teammate, and the pair trained their blasters on the Spring Attack Bot. "FIRE!"

They fired twin energy blasts at the robot, but it quickly swatted the projectiles aside. It then retaliated with deadly swiftness; its foot sprang forward and sent a row of parked cars hurtling toward the Rangers. They scattered, and a sharp groan escaped Wendy's lips as she landed on her gut, the impact knocking the wind out of her.

"You may as well stop kidding yourself and give up," The Spring Attack Bot stomped toward her, then scooped her off the pavement and lifted her up by her neck. "I mean, who do you think you're fooling? Why do you keep struggling when you know you can't win?"

Wendy wriggled in its grip and fought for breath as her life flashed before her eyes. Vignettes of those she held dear whizzed through her mind as she struggled...

"You may measure your value to this team based purely on your marksmanship, but there are a lot of other things about you that make you a good Ranger!" Bugz told Wendy as they stood on her Aunt and Uncle's porch. "You may not always be the first to act, but you *always* check on your teammates when the battle's over. And while we're on the subject, Griffin and Kenny only out-shot you once. I *know* you'll kick their butts next time!"

"...Like this?" Wendy asked Doctor K, sliding a piece of paper across the table towards the Earth-2 scientist. Doctor K looked it over, her lips curling into a small smile as she surveyed her work.

"Exactly like that. You're picking this up remarkably fast," Doctor K marveled. "I knew you'd get the hang of Biochemistry!"

"You did…?" Wendy ventured, to which Doctor K nodded.

"Of course!" Doctor K beamed with pride. "You can do anything you set your mind to, Ranger Yellow. Remember that."

"There's no rush; you'll figure out what you wanna do eventually. And when you do, it'll be *your* dream, and nobody else's." Griffin told Wendy, who nodded thoughtfully. A shy smile tugged at the Red Ranger's lips as he added, "Oh, and for what it's worth, you could *never* let me down...I'm really proud of you."

"Dad...?" Wendy's forehead wrinkled in confusion as she opened the envelope her father had just given her. Inside was an application to Starview Heights University. "Is this-?"

"It is," Simon nodded in confirmation. "I've been saving back since you were born. It's not much, but it'll help get you there. Your Uncle's already agreed to let you live with him once you're in California."

"But...I don't even know what I wanna do yet!" Wendy shook her head and tried to hand the envelope back to him. "I can't let you-"

"Pumpkin, I believe in you." Simon gently pushed the envelope back into her hands, then wrapped her fingers around it until she relented. "I want you to have the opportunities Pete and I never had. You deserve a better life...the *best*."

"I...I can't...give up…" Wendy sputtered as she summoned the strength to fight back. "I won't...give...UP!"

She reeled her leg back and kicked the Spring Attack Bot in the groin, prompting it to drop her as it recoiled in pain. She vaulted into the air, then grabbed onto the top of the garage's nearest support pillar.

"Come and get me!" She taunted as she pelted the Attack Bot with blaster bolts. It leaped up and stretched its legs springs to reach her, but she kicked off the pillar and dove toward the adjacent one. The Spring Attack Bot adjusted its trajectory at the last second, its coils weaving around the first pillar and then the second as it chased her. Wendy continued using her superagility to evade the robot, and its limbs soon formed a tangled web around all four pillars. By the time it realized its folly, its limbs were wound too taut for it to retract them.

"You...you tricked me…!" The Spring Attack Bot grunted as it fought to free itself, but each attempt to do so only tightened the knot it had tied itself into. "Why, you little…!"

"LionTech Bazooka!" Wendy landed back on the concrete and slapped her Transpod. The LionTech Bazooka appeared in a flurry of ones and zeroes, and Griffin and the others gathered around her as she scooped up the weapon and aimed it at the Attack Bot's midsection. "Bestial BARRAGE!"

She squeezed and held down the trigger, which caused yellow, red, blue, gold, and silver lights to shimmer in the weapon's central orb. The barrel pulsed with green energy, which was then discharged as Wendy released the trigger. "FIRE!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" The Spring Attack Bot howled in agony as the attack punched through its armor and fried its inner circuitry. Its head and torso exploded, and a hailstorm of nuts, bolts, and springs cascaded downwards and clattered onto the concrete.

"Yeahhh! That's my girl!" Simon shot out of his chair, his lips curled into a triumphant grin. "She did it!"

"Ehh, of course she did, doc," Bugz told him. "Wendy always comes through in a pinch."

A klaxon blared throughout the lab, and Cheetor's fingers danced across his keyboard as he pulled up a readout on his terminal.

"We're not outta the woods just yet," He warned, turning to Doctor K. "Doc, I'm picking up an incoming Attack Zord! ETA: Right now!"

The Rangers were still recovering from their battle with the Spring Attack Bot when the ground rumbled beneath their feet and shook the very foundation of the parking garage. Their attention was drawn to the sky, where shapeless blobs of green energy coagulated and coalesced into a massive portal. Ones and zeroes rippled off its edges, and the earth trembled as the Spring Attack Zord burst through it and landed on the street below.

"Doc!" Wendy raised her morpher and spoke into it, saying, "We need Zords!"

"They're on their way!" Doctor K typed a string of commands into her terminal with blinding speed, then shifted her gaze to Cheetor. "Hangar. Now!"

"Right!" Cheetor, Apex, and Bugz tore away from their stations and hurried into the hangar. Simon watched as they boarded and integrated themselves into their respective Zords; the rumbling of engines echoed through the lab as they took off.

"Downmorphing Zords now!" Doctor K informed via the comm-link.

"This is too cool!" Simon hollered, unable to mask his excitement.

"And confidential," Doctor K told him without taking her eyes off her monitor. "Extremely confidential."

"Right," Simon cleared his throat and slumped back into his seat. "Of course."

"Rahhhhhhhhh!" The Spring Attack Zord bellowed as it stomped towards the mall and pancaked abandoned cars with the springs in its feet. Wendy and the others watched helplessly as it advanced, but their attention was soon diverted by the timely arrival of their Zords.

"Get in!" Bugz's voice echoed from the Rabbit Chopper as it hovered above the parking garage. Wendy took a running start and leaped onto her Zord, then promptly boarded it as the others boarded their own Zords.

"Been a while since we used these," Griffin observed as he reacquainted himself with his cockpit's control system. "Here's hoping we've still got it..."

"Of course we've still got it," Kenny assured him from his cockpit. "Now c'mon, let's hop to it!"

This pun earned Kenny a collective groan from his teammates, but they set to work and combined their Zords. Within moments, the SpyTech and BeetleBlast Megazords stood tall.

The Spring Attack Zord unleashed an ear-piercing howl as it pivoted and charged straight toward its adversaries. The SpyTech Megazord dug in its heels as the Attack Zord propelled itself forward and spring-like tendrils sprouted from its back. These coils snaked around the Megazord and ensnared it, then split open to reveal jagged barbs. Internal sirens wailed within Griffin, Kenny, and Wendy's cockpits as their Megazord's armor sparked.

"I don't think these dials are supposed to be spinning like this!" Kenny remarked.

"We're sitting ducks here!" Griffin replied. "Quincy, we need an assist, now!"

"Fear not comrades, for we are here!" ALPHA tightened his grip on his controls, and his targeting reticules locked onto the Spring Attack Zord's back. "Ready when you are, Quincy!"

"Right then. Allons y!" Quincy slammed his fist on a button in his cockpit, firing a barrage of lasers from the BeetleBlast Megazord's chest cannon. Motes of light collided with the metallic tendrils and tore them asunder, which broke their death grip on the SpyTech Megazord. The Spring Attack Zord stumbled backward, then threw back its head and wailed as plumes of smoke billowed from its ruined appendages.

"Rangers, quickly!" Doctor K beckoned via the comm-link. "Finish it off!"

"Right!" Wendy twisted her morpher's dial, and her arms and visor glowed bright green as she gripped her controls. "Charging sword!"

"Boosting output!" Kenny added as he cranked a lever in his cockpit. "70, 80, 90...100%!"

Griffin slammed his fist down on a button in his cockpit, and sound waves shot out of their Megazord's knees, which encased the Spring Attack Zord in a massive bubble. Quincy and ALPHA drew their CellTech Blasters as it struggled to break free.

"Check!" The BeetleBlast Megazord's weapons glowed as it aimed at the Spring Attack Zord. "BeetleBlast Megazord: Beetle BARRAGE!"

"SpyTech Megazord: Dimension CRASH!" All five Rangers gave a unified shout, and the twin Megazords unleashed their finishing attacks. The Spring Attack Zord howled in agony as the BeetleBlast Megazord's lasers and missiles struck it, then let out a high-pitched wail as the SpyTech Megazord slashed it diagonally with its sword. Its armor crackled with electricity, and it doubled over before erupting into a massive explosion. When the smoke cleared, only a smoldering pile of rubble remained in its stead.

"Is it o-o-over…?!" Apex anxiously sputtered, the green glow of his face filling Kenny's cockpit.

"It's over," Cheetor confirmed from Griffin's cockpit. "We won!"

"The day is saved!" ALPHA bellowed triumphantly. "Victory is ours!"

"I knew you could do it, Wendy," Bugz told her human counterpart from within their cockpit. "I'm so proud of you!"

"As am I," Doctor K echoed, her face appearing on Wendy's cockpit screen. "You all did good work today, Rangers. Return to base, and I'll debrief you."

Wendy smiled beneath her helmet, then stood from her chair and declared, "Shutdown: COMPLETE!"

Meanwhile, Delete came to an abrupt halt, his eyes glued to a live feed of the battle on his smartphone.

"What do you know? That blithering idiot's corresponding Attack Zord wasn't any smarter...oh well," Delete stuffed his phone in his pocket, then glanced over his shoulder at the cart full of Energon canisters he'd wheeled behind him. "I'm not going back empty-handed, so the trip wasn't a total wash..."

"That was amazing! You were incredible out there, kiddo!" Simon beamed with pride as he looked at Wendy, then spun around to look at the other four as they reentered the lab. "And you guys! You were awesome, too! My daughter and her friends are Power Rangers; whodathunk it?!"

"We're all very proud of your work today, Ranger Operators," Doctor K glanced at Wendy, noticing she'd grown quiet. "Series Yellow, is something troubling you?"

"No, I uh...Dad, I kinda need to tell you something," Wendy rubbed the back of her neck, and Simon tilted his head. "See, uh, thing is...I'm not majoring in Business...or in anything, for that matter. Truth is, I'm undeclared…"

"I know," Simon told her, which earned him a confused look. "I'm your dad; you don't think I can tell when you're lying? Besides, you've never been interested in economics."

Wendy chuckled a bit despite herself, but her toothy grin quickly rotted into a deep frown. "When you said you were coming to visit, I panicked...I didn't wanna disappoint you."

"Pumpkin, you could never disappoint me."

"But-"

"You're eighteen. Do you think I knew exactly what I wanted to do when I was eighteen?... Wendy, don't stress over it; you'll figure it out. Trust me, these things have a way of falling into place after awhile," Simon told her. "And whatever you decide to do, know this: I'll always be proud of you, no matter what."

"...I love you, Dad!" Wendy crushed him in a giant hug, her eyes brimming with tears.

Simon hugged her back, then gave her a reassuring smile once she let go. "I love you too, Wendy. Now, what's say we celebrate your guys' victory with some ice cream? My treat,"

Kenny and Quincy hooted in approval, and the Rangers made for the door. Simon motioned for Griffin to hang back as he moved to follow his friends. "Hold on, son. I'd like a quick word with you."

"Oh?" Griffin's eyes flashed with confusion, but he complied with Simon's request. "What's up?"

"It's about Wendy," Simon told him. "More specifically, you and Wendy."

"W-What…?!" Griffin's face reddened, and he stammered, "I d-don't know what you're g-getting at…"

"Son, I'm not blind. I've seen the way you look at her." Simon continued. As Griffin twiddled his thumbs, he assured him, "Relax Griffin, it's not what you think. I actually approve."

"You do? ...Err, I mean-"

"As much as I hate to admit it, Wendy's a grown up now. It probably won't be long until she starts dating, and if she's going to date anyone, I'd like to think it'd be someone like you. You're a good kid," Simon said with a genuine smile. "If you make her happy and do right by her, then yes. I approve."

"Date? That's awfully presumptuous. What's to say she even feels the same way?"

"You mean you really don't see it?" Simon's eyebrows lifted slightly, and he stifled a chuckle. With a gentle smirk, he continued, "Have some more confidence. You'd be surprised what believing in yourself can do for ya, son."

"I'll give it a try, Mr. Rowan," Griffin nodded. "Err, I mean Simon!"

"Good deal," Simon slapped him lightly on the back, then wrapped his arm around his shoulder and guided him to the lab door. "Now c'mon, let's get some ice cream!"

The two made their way to the lab steps, and Griffin noticeably straightened his posture and broadened his shoulders as they moved to catch up with the others.

Meanwhile...

"DELETE. I SEE YOU'VE RETURNED," Venjix's voice reverberated through his warehouse, and light from his containment tube cast a menacing red glow that filled the room. Delete approached the throne room and bowed his head, feigning deference. "I TRUST YOU'VE BROUGHT ME MORE ENERGON?"

"Indeed I have, Father," Delete replied, presenting him with a single Energon canister carefully chosen from the stash he'd acquired. "Regrettably, my efforts yielded only this modest offering. I apologize for its meager size."

"IT'S NOT MUCH...BUT IT WILL DO FOR NOW. THANK YOU, MY SON." Control and Alt entered the room, flanking Delete. Venjix's voice rose as he declared, "SOON MY ASCENSION WILL BE AT HAND, AND THE POWER RANGERS WILL RUE THE DAY THEY DECIDED TO DEFY ME!"

- POWER RANGERS: CPU -

A/N: What's Delete up to? When will Venjix finally strike? Will Griffin and Wendy ever get together? The answers to these questions and more will be revealed in time, but until then, feel free to share your predictions in a review, along with some feedback on this episode and what you thought of it. I read each and every single review I get, and I always enjoy hearing what you guys have to say. It really motivates me to keep going and do my best to deliver a series you can enjoy!

Next week we'll continue with a Kenny-focused episode, but in the meantime, stay safe, and may the power protect you - always!