Episode 9

Great Expectations

"Morning!"

Erika bounded gleefully into the kitchen, a spring in her step and a grin on her face as her still-awakening father looked up from the half-poured box of cereal.

"Morning…?"

There had been few times in Erika's life where she'd seen such confoundment on her father's face. The first had been when the Big Horns fumbled their playoff-making ball in the final down, and the second was hearing the circumstances surrounding Erika's second high school expulsion. The third was that morning, as he watched his daughter skip around the apartment in a mood so chipper he had to wonder if it was actually her.

"I'm going to be late this afternoon," Erika reminded him. "I've got community service at the Hub straight after school."

Her dad nodded, still sluggish from the late-night shift, and clearly deciding that Erika's mood was too energetic for 'before coffee'. Erika, however, was well ahead of him, stepping to the counter with an eager grin to push forth the steaming cup she'd had the foresight to prepare. Her father's eyes only widened further as he saw it, picking it up to sip and immediately sounding appreciative of its perfection. His affirmation only made Erika's smile widen. And then it was back to business.

"You've got to be coming to an end with that soon, right?" he realized. "The community service? It's been nearly three months."

"Yeah," Erika admitted. "But I'm thinking I might stay on. Dirk says I'm happy to keep volunteering as long as I want to, and it's not getting in the way of my grades, so…"

Way back after her first shift, on the fateful evening that now felt like a lifetime ago, she'd half-heartedly expressed a similar sentiment. In Erika's head, it had seemed like a good way to improve her father's mood after she had almost been suspended again. But now, after a few months of working behind the counter, spending shifts with Abbey, and listening to Dirk's terrible jokes, she was enjoying it more and more. Three months ago, she'd have kicked herself, but now it barely even felt like penance.

"Look at you," her dad beamed. "You've really turned it around this year. I know you had a rocky start on day one, but you really have kept your head above water ever since."

"I made you a promise," Erika smiled back. "No more trouble."

Ranger stuff didn't count, obviously.

"I know," her dad agreed. "And I'm proud of you."

She was already in a good mood, but upon hearing those words Erika's heart nearly burst, like all positive energy was flowing out of at once with no hope of being contained within. They'd been through heaps, and there were plenty of times when her dad was still sometimes running on fumes to keep them going. To hear that Erika was not just making his life easier, but making him happy; it meant the world to her. And Erika's cheeks felt like they were going to leap off her face with how hard she was smiling.

"Thanks, Dad."

Checking her watch, Erika suddenly realized the time and rushed to the to grab her backpack.

"Got to go!" she realized. "Don't want to be late."

Scooping the loop around her shoulder, Erika skidded past the kitchen to kiss her dad on the cheek before bolting out the door. She skipped the stairs two at a time, music thumping through her headphones, practically dancing while making her way downtown for her ritual walk to school.

Zeke was already waiting for her at the alley, his eyebrow rising as he noted her mood. "Morning…?"

"Morning!"

They set off for school, Erika striding along as Zeke hurried to keep up. She expected him to start some conversation, but the boy just seemed too gob-smacked to even find the words. In fact, he was so perplexed that he barely even noticed that Deryck, once again, was waiting for them at the other end. But neither broke their stride, and Deryck only scowled as the two proudly walked past before he could so much as huff.

"How you doing, toots?" Erika slyly winked, Deryck scoffing an angry growl as he let them through, and minutes later they were outside Lakeview High, ready for another day. With both arms, Erika threw open the doors, strutting into the hall as a bemused Zeke followed in behind her. And then she stopped, catching sight of someone as her heart leaped.

Valarie was already by her locker, peering inside for her first-period books. They'd been messaging for weeks, and also sharing idle small talk when paired together in class. Slowly, Erika had been probing for interest, trying to determine whether the attraction was in more than one direction. While all signs were promising, Erika hadn't been game to dare the final step. To stand up tall and take the plunge. But now, with Valerie at her locker, both in different classes all day, and easy avenues of escape for both, this was her chance. Bolstered by her fantastic mood, Erika was taking it.

"You know what, Zeke?" she decided. "Go meet the others, I'll catch up."

Zeke was clearly in no mood to argue, either from a desire to see Abbey or a willingness to step away from the new, weirdly happy Erika. He didn't even seem that annoyed about having to spend time with Miguel. Either way, he nodded in acceptance before heading off down the hall. After a deep breath, Erika strode toward Valerie's locker.

"Hey!" she excitedly, and her heart skipped a beat as Valerie spun around, her smile widening as she saw her.

"Hey, yourself."

"So," Erika decided. "I've been thinking. We've been talking heaps, and I think we've got something going on. I think we should go out; nothing big, just coffee and a movie. And if that's not cool with you, I totally get it, but I just want to shoot my shot and see where you were at. So, what do you think?"

For a moment, Valerie seemed taken aback, surprised by Erika's abrupt forwardness. A moment that stretched into the infinite, a singular heartbeat that felt like it would never fall again. And yet, the freeze ended just as swiftly, as Valerie finished her pause of contemplations and her lips spreading into a warming smile. "I'd love to!"

Wow! Soon there wasn't going to be any room inside for how good she was feeling.

"Awesome!" Erika grinned. "Movie? Your pick? Maybe a bite at the Hub beforehand?"

"Sounds great!"

Could this day get any better?

Coolly, Erika bid Valerie farewell, choosing to not end their wonderful conversation by making her late for homeroom, and strode further into the building to drop off her bag. The other three were already waiting for her, and Abbey's face lit up as she turned as see Erika almost skipping toward them.

"Hey there," she giggled. "Things are going well?"

Zeke must have told them why she wasn't with him. But it didn't matter, not when she had nothing but good news to report.

"Yup," Erika replied, spinning the dial to fling open the locker door and swing in the backpack. "Very well."

"That's awesome, Erika," Abbey smiled. "I'm glad things are looking up."

"Yeah," Miguel agreed. "We're happy for you."

"It just feels good, you know?" said Erika, fishing out her English book and closing the locker behind her. "I'm on top of school, we're kicking Xaviax's butt, I even managed to take down the Dark Ranger. Oh, no offense."

"No complaints from me," Miguel admitted, hands high in surrender. "I'd still be dancing around like a puppet if you hadn't shown that guy who's boss."

Yeah, she really had, hadn't she?

"So yeah, things are going great," said Erika. "And you know, I just decided with Valerie; what the hell? I'm not doing myself any favors by keeping my cards to my chest. It turns out things get a whole lot easier when people just say what they're really feeling."

At that, she caught an uncomfortable shift among the three of them; Abbey and Miguel decidedly looked away from each other while Zeke uncomfortably looked at Abbey.

Oh, right. That.

Well, that was their problem. If none of them could muster the courage to tell each other the truth, then they'd just going to wallow in their cowardice a little longer. It wasn't going to affect Erika, not on a day like this. Nothing was going to ruin it, not even…

"Well, would you look at that," sneered behind them. "If it isn't the squeaky-clean brigade?"

In recognizing the voice, the four spun around, their faces twisting into scowls of annoyance. Lena was standing behind them.

"What're you doing here?" Abbey snarled, instinctively moving her hand in front of Miguel. "Couldn't find any puppies to kill for your fashion label?"

"What does it look like I'm doing here?" Lena said, cooly. "It's a public school and I'm still enrolled here. I guess you guys will still be seeing a lot of me."

"Lucky us," Zeke growled.

"Oh, don't be like that," said Lena. "You all got what you wanted in the end, right? And what area few blows between friends, anyway?"

"You're using that word," Miguel replied. "But you don't know what it means."

"I know plenty," Lena scoffed. "Enough to know to know that they just slow you down."

The others looked like they were about to pounce, but Erika shot up a signaling hand, warning them to stop.

"Back off guys, she's not worth it," she decided before turning to Xaviax's teenage general. "You know what, Lena? Even you can't ruin my good mood today. And do you want to know why?"

Lena looked almost amused, leaning onto her backfoot as her smirk widened. "Oh, this'll be good. Go on, give me a challenge. Why can't I kill your mood, Erika?"

"Because you failed," said Erika. "You made your big play, and not only did it not work, it backfired. And now we're up one Ranger, and you're still stuck in high school. That's got to be anyone's definition of hell. Is that why you're still here? Is Xaviax so mad that your plan didn't work that he's making you take fifth-period trig?"

She'd found the nerve, and Lena's face dropped to a scowl in an instant. So, she wasn't here by choice. Worth remembering, in case Lena got a bright idea and planned on watching from the sidelines.

"So anyway, Lena, we've all got class to go to." Erika decided, reaching forward and placing a condescending hand on Lena's shoulder. "But look up, it's Senior Year. These are meant to be the best days of your life. Come on, guys."

And with that, Erika practically skipped down the hall, the other three Rangers following along to leave Lena behind in dumbfounded fury.

Yup. Today was going to be pretty great.

"…and a long black," the waitress announced as she placed the cup of coffee before the empty seat, just as Hilary directed. "Will that be everything?"

"Yeah," Hilary smiled. "That's all, thanks."

Third coffee for the day, and it wasn't even nine a.m. Hilary could just hear her husband tutting at her worsening habit. Maybe she should've suggested that he get a Ph.D., that would've changed his tune pretty quick.

But Hilary didn't have the luxury of a cruisy morning, or letting her brain slowly get into gear while perusing the museum's daily paperwork. No, not today; for this conversation she needed to be as sharp as a tack.

It was too important for her to miss even a sliver of detail.

The door to the diner chimed, and Hilary smiled as an older man stepped inside. He was dressed in a short-sleeved shirt, bright pink and tucked just slightly too high into his khaki pants, with crewcut hair and a mustache that was starting to show signs of grey. He beamed as he saw her, sitting and waiting.

"Hey there, Hawkins," smiled retired Lieutenant-Commander Avery Freeman. "Been a while."

"It sure has," Hilary agreed, and she rose to embrace her old ally in a hug. "It's good to see you, Avery."

"Same for you. What's it been, nearly four years?"

She'd lost count. When she was much younger, Hilary had been completely perplexed at the way adults seemingly had no ability to tell how much time had passed. It was ridiculous, how hard was it to just count back the years and know? And yet now, with every turn of the calendar, she herself found the years bleeding together into an indiscernible mural of time. The fact that they seemed to be passing faster wasn't helping.

Had it really been four years?

It seemed like only yesterday that she was standing with Doc and the entrance to a military warehouse, signing more papers than her mortgage for complete ownership of the Digitizer technology. Freeman had already retired by then but had supervised the exchange as a favor. Acting as a "civilian consultant", he'd practically advised the pair through the entire process.

It had seemed so simple then. Hilary and her mentor, hoping to change the world.

No idea of how it would all go so wrong.

"How's Patrick?" Hilary asked as they seated, watching as the retired commander smiled at the mention of his husband.

"Loving Florida," said Freeman. "He wasn't sold at first. But once he realized that most mornings involved sipping mojitos within walking distance of a beach, his tune changed pretty quickly. What about you though? Gave up big tech to work a museum job in small-town California?"

"What can I say?" Hilary admitted. "Just can't kick up the roots."

"I'll say…"

She rolled her eyes at the statement deliberately left unsaid. She should have known he'd be one of the first people to put two and two together, but Hilary was also grateful that Freeman was smart enough to not ask further questions. Not if he wanted to maintain any plausible deniability.

"And how's Ray?" Freeman asked. "Finding his feet as a high school counselor?"

"He sends his best," Hilary replied. "And he's living his best life right now. Even now I can just hear our teenage selves grinning at him, telling him that we told him so."

"Something that I can imagine you remind him on the regular?"

"Any chance I get."

The two of them laughed, enjoying the wistful reminiscence. It was strange to think that the first time they'd met was at gunpoint, surrounded by an entire patrol of his men as Freeman insisted that they surrender their Morphers. Ten years later, he would officiate Ray and Hilary's wedding.

"Thanks for making the trip down," said Hilary. "I know it was a bit last minute."

"It's a good thing you called when you did," Freeman admitted. "If you were off by even a couple of days, I'd be back in Miami."

And then he learned in close, smile fading as he moved to business, lowering his voice to ensure they couldn't be overheard.

"What can I help with?" he asked. "I kind of figured that this wouldn't be a social call once you told me that we shouldn't talk on the phone."

Guilt panged at Hilary as she again released the inconvenience of her contact. With no idea of Xaviax's full reach, she'd surmised fairly quickly that outside communications could be intercepted. Anything on an unsecured line could well have unwanted listeners, and given its nature, she didn't envisage the military would be too happy if classified intel were discussed cross-state. But at the same time, if anyone understood the importance of security, it was Freeman.

"It's about our old Morphers," she said. "I need to know what happened to them after we gave them back."

Not there was much to give back. The half-melted, scorched-out husks had been completely fried when they destroyed the original Digitizer in their final battle with Gideon. Still, Freeman had insisted on collecting them afterward.

"Sealed in secure storage," Freeman confirmed. "Some vault in a black site that even I don't know the name of."

"So, they weren't destroyed?"

"No," he confirmed. "But they weren't repaired either. We figured, should they ever be needed again, we'd know how to find the person to fix them, as well as the people who could use them. Just turned out that, ever since, other Power Rangers have appeared whenever there was a world-ending threat. So, we never had to break that glass."

A fair point, and Hilary supposed that since the formation of Grid Battleforce, the likelihood of them ever needing to pull out the old units was slim. Even during the alien invasion the year before, Hilary and Ray had found themselves able to help just as much with their civilian powers, assisting with evacuations and aiding the resistance without the help of their Morphers. Now that she had a team of her own running around with the new and improved powers, their old Data Morphers were practically obsolete.

"So, there's just… put away?" Hilary asked. "Sitting in some warehouse next to the Ark of the Covenant?"

Freeman blinked but didn't answer; Hilary wasn't sure if his silence was a non-disclosing confirmation of her jovial comparison. But as he saw the look on her face, catching the theme of her questions, he leaned in closer still.

"Hilary?" he asked. "What's this about?"

With bated breath, Hilary reached into her purse and pulled out a file, sliding it across the table for Freeman to look at.

"We had a situation last week," she explained. "Seems Xaviax found a way to make himself an evil Power Ranger. It's been dealt with, and hopefully, Xaviax doesn't have the either resources or the inclination to try again. But when inspecting the Dark Morpher, I noticed something else. It uses the same inline code structure as our original Data Morphers."

Freeman's face narrowed, the only outward acknowledgment of the deeply concerning situation. "You're sure?"

"Compared the sets myself," Hilary confirmed. "As far as I was aware, Doc and I were the only people with access to the original Source Code."

"Me too," Freeman agreed. "What does Benson have to say about all of this?"

The sudden question was like a stab from the dark, one she should have been ready for yet still with the recollection. Finally, she willed herself to say it allowed, her worrying tone only rising as she did. "Doc went missing a little over six months ago."

Again, barely a blink, but enough subtle changes in Freeman's expression to acknowledge the horror. "I… I didn't know."

"It's why we're here, in Lakeview," Hilary explained. "We think it's all connected. Xaviax has a Digitizer, we know that much, and Doc's last communication with me was a warning that he's up to something big. But if Xaviax has intel on the Morphers, it could be even worse than we thought."

Freeman nodded in grim agreement. "I've still got some contacts at DARPA, they should be able to confirm for me."

"Thanks, Avery, I really appreciate it."

'Hey, it's you," Freeman smiled. "And it's Benson. I'll always owe you guys big time. I just hope whatever I can find out will help. And that won't just lead to more questions..."

Failed?

FAILED?

She'd show them, wipe their smug little grins off their stupid little faces. They got lucky, and now like they were lording around they were the paragons of goodness. The Red Ranger didn't even win her damn fight, she had to get herself knocked out just to reset the Dark Morpher.

Hardly a resounding victory.

And why is she even talking like math would be torture, anyway? Her programming allowed her to do calculations that would send a human mind into spasms. High school is hell? It was a cakewalk!

But even as she stalked the halls, Lena couldn't help but feel the restlessness crawling at her skin as it jittered beneath the surface. She hadn't failed, it was just an unexpected setback. She was still going to destroy the Power Rangers. She still had the means with which to do it. It was just going to be a little more complicated, now that they knew what she was up to. But that was hardly her problem now.

She was just so bored!

She had the knowledge of an entire encyclopedia in her memory; instant access to millions of scholarly journals with which to pull a nuanced answer, miles above any of the pea-brained high schoolers she was forced to spend her hours with. All for the sake of keeping an eye on the Rangers. The purpose she had to endure since her last plan had been blown to pieces.

Delayed, but not failed.

Stupid Red Ranger.

She was meant to be getting into their heads, not the other way around. She didn't even know why she was walking down that corridor in the first place, it's not like she didn't know that they'd be meeting there, like they had every morning of the year.

It must have been muscle memory, pulling her into the instinctive routine that she'd formed during her period of infiltration. That was it. They could go on laughing without her, she didn't care. She'd have the last one soon enough.

But that wasn't going to help Lena stave off the near hour of nothingness that was lunch.

Slinking around a secluded corner, she pulled back her sleeve to expose the communicator built into her watch. Moments later, Ender's voice sounded on the other line.

"Midday report," Lena confirmed. "The Rangers are lulling in their false sense of security, soon they'll be unprepared for a strike."

"So," Ender giggled. "I assume that it's another stirring day at our local beacon of public education?"

Jackass. Lena should have known talking to him was only going to make her angrier. But since the Dark Ranger incident, she'd definitely fallen out of favor with Xaviax, and now all her communications had to be funneled through the snickering monster maker. Filtered, more like.

"I don't see the purpose of me being here," Lena grumbled. "The Rangers are aware of who I am, so all advantage of surprise is gone. Surely my time would be far better spent working on some other scheme to destroy them."

"Maybe our Master merely wishes the best for your education?" Ender jested. "Or maybe, he's decided to let you rot after your soft spot for the Dark Ranger cost us our hostage?"

Lena scowled at the barb, teeth gritting as she listened to Ender go back to his snickering. Yes, she'd listened to Miguel when he'd demanded they take Granger with them for the handoff with the Rangers. And yes, she should have known that Hawkins was likely going to pull some trick to avoid being captured herself.

But the override protocol wasn't exactly perfect, either, and she'd been stuck between a rock and a hard place. She could have potentially been dealing with a defective Dark Ranger just as they had the Rangers at their mercy. And ArcKnight was equally to blame for that fiasco! He'd retreated just as they had the red one cornered.

He wasn't getting sent back to school as a punishment.

"You just sit tight, and don't worry your pretty little head about a thing," Ender advised with a sickening layer of elated condescension. "I've got the next plan to destroy the Ranger all under control. So, pull up a chair and relax. It's sure to be a show."

Rolling her eyes, Lena cut the line, striding back into school to finish off the day. Sit back and watch? Sure.

So long as the boredom didn't kill her first.

The rest of Erika's day went just as swimmingly, barely a second going by without a grin on her face. She made every class on time, blitzed through the work without any trouble at all, and even had a smile returned by Principal Goodson as they passed each other in the hall.

The only minor break in her stride had been during last period, where her science teacher had decided to pair them up for frog dissections. Surprisingly no one, Abbey had jumped at the chance to work with Miguel. No one except Zeke, it seemed, who had been eager to be by his best friend's side as they took a scalpel to their assigned amphibian. Instead, Erika had graciously offered to partner with him and was forced to spend the rest of the class working beside the green-eyed teen.

"Do you think they're a couple?" Zeke asked her, glaring over their shoulders as Abbey and Miguel giggled their way through the dissection. "They're not a couple."

"Why do you care?" Erika asked pointedly, full-well knowing the answer as Zeke pouted and looked away from the budding pair.

"I don't," he insisted. "So, what do they want us to do with this frog again?"

The instructions hardly mattered, not when Zeke found his squeamish side almost immediately after the first incision. His dark complexion swiftly washed into a sickly pale, his gaze averted harshly in the sudden, desperate search for the trash can.

"You know what?" Erika decided, "Why don't you just stay over there? I've got this."

Zeke could barely muster a grateful nod before making a dive for the bin, managing to avoid hurling while clutching the bin close in comforting preparation.

Soloing of group work aside, Erika thought she'd done a pretty good job, and even managed to get her all notes finished by the time the final bell had sounded. The students in the labs scattered all but immediately, flooding into the corridors as Abbey and Miguel reunited with the pair. All three stared at Zeke, rocking in his chair, eyes straight forward as if any diverted attention would trigger a mass exodus from his stomach.

"Maybe we should get him some fresh air," Abbey winced as she saw him.

Probably a good idea.

Taking one arm over her shoulder, and Miguel taking the other, Erika slowly guided Zeke from the classroom. The journey was longer than expected, guiding a sickly teen through a hall of swarming students wasn't exactly easy, and certainly not when their only method of carrying him was by forming a tethered line of three. But eventually, they made it to the doors, stopping at the steps as at last Zeke took a deep breath and the color began returning to his face.

"You still don't look so good," Abbey admitted. "I know we were all going to the Hub to celebrate the end of the week but…"

"Yeah, dude," Miguel agreed. "Maybe you need to take it easy."

There was an extra flare of fury in Zeke's eyes as Miguel took Abbey's side, no doubt because it would mean being sidelined while Abbey and Miguel huddled closer still.

"No… it's…!" he tried to stammer, only for his protest to be swallowed by a discomforted gulp.

Erika rolled her eyes. His body was ready to hurl, and all Zeke could think about was a girl who wasn't interested. She better head this one off before it became a problem.

"Sorry buddy," Erika declared. "Will of the council; you're getting overruled three to one. Come on, I'll walk you home."

Zeke opened his mouth to protest, only to shut it as another threatening gurgle sounded from within. Erika shot the other two a knowing look, and then Abbey a wink as Miguel was already turning to make the journey to the Hub. Then Erika and a sheepish Zeke began than slow journey up the road.

"You know," Zeke decided, about five minutes into their walk as at last he'd found his voice. "I'm starting to feel a bit better. Maybe we can still catch up to them if we…"

"Oh no," Erika disagreed, offering the water bottle from her backpack. "Let's get you keeping down some fluids first, then we'll reconsider your afternoon activities."

Zeke clearly knew better than to argue and pouted instead as he took a gentle sip. He could grumble all he wanted, but being there wasn't going to stop Abbey and Miguel from being… whatever it was going on between them. He may as well take care of himself first.

By the time they'd reached the alleyway, Zeke finally picked up properly, the fresh air taking effect as it eased his nausea. But that wonderful calm was broken as a piercing scream shrieked across the air.

Both teens shot each other a look, agreeing with a silent, all-too-knowing dread what it meant. They whipped around and bolted in the direction of the disturbance, skidding to a stop at the nearby street corner and hearts sinking as their fears were confirmed.

Cyberdrones, a whole gang of them running rampant down the street, ArcKnight taking the lead as civilians scampered in all directions. Brilliant. They just couldn't have a normal start to the weekend, could they?

Shooting Zeke an agreeing look, Erika's Morpher flashed to her wrist as she retrieved the keycard from her pocket and hit the distress button.

"Shouldn't we wait for the others?" Zeke asked, although Erika wasn't sure if it was the uncertainty of his lingering queasiness. "There's a lot of them, and they've got ArcKnight with them."

It wasn't a bad question, but whether they should wait or not was immaterial to the bigger problem. The longer they left it, the more the Cyberdrones would run amok, and the more people would be in danger. Besides, Erika had dealt with ArcKnight before, and he'd run away like a coward. And he was nothing compared to the Dark Ranger.

"We'll be fine," Erika decided. "We just need to keep them busy while the other two catch up. I'm sure they're on their way."

Her reply did nothing to ease Zeke's look of concern. If anything, her abounding confidence made him shrink back further.

"Zeke, would you relax?" Erika insisted impatiently. "We've got this. Now, are you ready?'

Still unsure but clearly aware that Erika was going with or without him, Zeke nodded and raised his wrist to hold his Morpher beside Erika's own. "Ready."

"Server Force! Login Access!"

The cards ground through the slot, red and yellow light bursting from the devices to consume their forms. The suits materialized around them, sealing them inside as the grid infused them with power. Erika's fist clenched with excitement, feeling the exhilarating rush as a smile crept to her lips and the helm encased her vision. By the time the light faded, the two Rangers were leaping into the fray, Security Sabers drawn and slicing.

The Cyberdrones clattered back, the first rank cleaved through as the pair cleared their landing and gestured menacingly toward ArcKnight and his goons.

"ArcKnight, I'm surprised to see you so soon," Erika taunted. "I never took you as a sucker for a punishment."

"You may laugh now, Red Ranger," ArcKnight growled back. "But the only punishment I deal with is the kind I hand out."

He bellowed a command, and the Cyberdrones launched themselves at the duo as the Ranger split to divide the forces. Erika took the air, flipping over the swinging blades before striking with her own, spinning around to block as another swung for the opening. The blades collided, Erika's strength winning out as the henchman stumbled back and the Red Ranger's sword sheared across the armor.

But as her weapon scorched across the chest, sending her enemy clattering harmlessly across the street, more were already closing in.

Time to go!

She waited, just long enough for them to commit, before lunging backward and flipping the saber around into a blaster. She squeezed the trigger with a cheering war cry, crimson beams bursting from the barrel to rain down upon the Cyberdrones. The blasts shattered at their feet, booming into balls of flames that sent them scattering across the ground. As they tumbled away, bodies steaming, Erika allowed herself a split-second to admire her handiwork.

Damn, she was good.

"I leave the seat for two seconds!" Hilary suddenly groaned in Erika's ear. "What's the 'sitch?"

'Sitch? Erika was definitely storing that one way for the next chance to take a crack at the programmer's age.

"Oh, nothing big," Erika replied. "Just a couple of guys that are up to no good. They started making trouble in the neighborhood. The usual"

"Here's hoping it's just one little fight," Hilary replied. "The others are on their way, just hold tight."

"They probably don't even need to bother, we've got things more or less tied up- WHOAH!"

The second she said it, a giant blade swung seemingly from out of nowhere. While she'd been busy with the Cyberdrones, ArcKnight had lurked on the sidelines, waiting for the moment to strike. Seeing the opportunity, he'd lunged at the openings, Erika barely diving away as the mighty blade cleaved overhead. Flipping into a handspring, Erika recovered and readied her weapon, rebalancing her stance as the armored knight turned menacingly toward her.

"You should be more aware of your surroundings, Red Ranger," ArcKnight sneered. "You never know what hazards may befall you."

"You really want to do this, ArcKnight?" Erika replied. "You're track record against Rangers hasn't been too hot recently."

"That may be, but this time I've decided to take a page out of your book. This time, I brought a friend."

Just as he said it, the Cyberdrones parted, and the air was filled with the flash of emerald light, blooming in a blink before vanishing just as fast. In its place, right where the foot soldiers had cleared, stood a strange creature, snakelike save for its muscular arms and legs, one long fin extending down its back from the top of its head, and another running up the chest to touch the chin. From its forehead, dangling from a drooping stalk, was singular, yellow light.

"Happy to be here!" it proclaimed. "I've got to say, the air here is just electric!"

"ElectrEel," ArcKnight commanded. "I'll handle the Red Ranger; you handle the Yellow!"

"You got it! I'll give them a real shock to the system!"

Erika barely had time to react, already retreating as ArcKnight launched into a furious assault. His blows were slow but strong, designed not the harm but control her, the very wind pummeling away as she was forced to dodge strike after strike. Dammit! ArcKnight wasn't trying to beat her, not yet. He was keeping her busy, trying to keep Zeke fighting all on his own.

And she just had to hope he could hold it.

"You better get ready!" ElectrEel cackled, blue sparks sizzling as they danced around his body. "Or you're gonna be in for a shock!"

He threw his claws forward, the sparks converging into a singular blast of lightning that cracked across the distance. The bolt split the air, flashing straight at Zeke as the Cyberdrones dived for cover. The Yellow Ranger barely had a second, but he reacted just in time, spinning around and summoning the Power Shield before slamming it in the path of the bolt. The impact boomed like the crack of thunder, slamming the Ranger back as his bracing feet ground against the concrete.

"Now, now!" the giant Eel laughed. "Don't go against the current!"

All Erika could do was watch, glancing between careful dives as ArcKnight continued his assaulting determination to keep her from her teammate. Zeke was holding, but for how long? She needed to get to him, help him finish the fight, to tip the scales away from purely defense.

Her relief came just in time.

A bolt from the blue streaked the air, soaring from the sky as it blasted into ElectrEel. The monster shrieked, stumbling back as their onslaught relented and a fully morphed Abbey somersaulted beside the Yellow Ranger.

"We came as soon as we heard, are you okay?"

"Yeah," Zeke panted, already standing upright as he shook his smoking shield. "Good timing."

"Aww," ElectrEel snicked, having already recovered from Abbey's attack and preparing for another blast. "Coming to your friend's defense? Now, that's a moray!"

Great, and now his jokes were getting worse.

She needed to get over there!

But thankfully, ArcKnight soon ceased to be a problem. Hers anyway. As ArcKnight closed in for another swing, a black flash crossed her vision, another blade entering the fray and clashing the ArcKnight's own.

Miguel.

The Dark Ranger landed between them, throwing ArcKnight off before nodding back to Erika.

"This guy just doesn't take a hint," he noted.

"That's what I said," Erika agreed. "Happy to remind him of old times while I help the others."

"Be more than happy too!"

ArcKnight rumbled an angry growl as Miguel charged in, Dark Saber out and ready as he closed in on the warrior. Without wasting a second, Erika leaped up high, pistol flaring as the rounds flashed into Electreel, singeing his leathery skin and throwing off his aim. The lightning cracked away, striking harmlessly in the distance as an explosion boomed from the impact.

"Okay, big-slithery eel, big gross," Erika decided as she landed beside the two of them. "How're you doing there Zeke?"

"I'm fine, you can stop asking."

Erika was just about to give her plan when suddenly she realized a new problem. The Cyberdrones were starting to get back up, and with the arrival of new Rangers, fresh reinforcements were flashing down to lend a hand. They were far from out of the woods.

"It looks like my bow managed to do some damage," Abbey pointed out. "If I can just get a clear shot, then maybe I-."

"No," Erika decided. "Those Cyberdrones are going to do everything they can to stop you from holding steady. I need you to keep them off of us, we'll hit it up close."

"You're worried about swarming Cyberdrones but you want to hit it up close?" Abbey retorted. "I can handle a few of them. Once I get them clear I should be able to-."

"We're not going to have the time, okay?" Erika snapped. "Just stick to the plan and thin their numbers. Zeke, think you can keep the fire off me while I close in for the finish?"

"I mean, sure," he replied hesitantly. "But maybe we can split its fire? If we can try hitting it from all angles, maybe we'll have a better shot?"

"What're you going to do, give it a push?" Erika scoffed. "Miguel's got his hands full with ArcKnight right now. My axe is our best chance of taking him down."

There was no more time for arguing as the Cyberdrones lunged, numbers now replenished enough to renew their confidence. Abbey flipped back, unloading a volley of fire with her bow that lanced through the bots surrounding. As the android warriors fell, Erika and Zeke engaged, rushing toward ElectrEel with all the speed they could muster.

"Back for more?" they laughed. "I'm de-lighted!"

The lightning unfurled from their hands, just as Erika predicted, and Zeke vaulted forward with his shield on an intercept course. The two collided, booming thunder splitting against the surface as Erika lunged for the side for a flanking approach.

"Careful Erika," Hilary warned. "All his power might be hitting that shield, but he could still pack a punch up close."

"Would you relax?" Erika replied. "I've got this!"

The Cyberdrones were busy, the lightning attack was occupied; all she needed was to land one good hit.

Piece of cake.

But ElectrEel had another trick up his sleeve.

"Hey look!" he crowed. "I got parallel circuits!"

With one hand focused on blasting Zeke, the other snapped back, another bolt unleashing as it surged toward a nearby junction box. The structure exploded in a rain of sparks, casing shattered as stray electricity sprayed in all directions. But having hit the box, ElectEel's current didn't stop flowing.

It reversed.

The blinking yellow light on its head began to glow, flashing brighter and brighter as more and more power suctioned into its body. Then his head whipped around, locking eyes with Erika as his smile widened into an array of sharp, sinister, teeth.

"Now that's the recharge I was looking for!"

"Erika, get out of there now!"

But it was far too late, and the Red Ranger was far too determined to land her blow. Erika took to the air, Power Axe poised and ready to strike the deciding blow. Right as ElectrEel whipped around his hand and unleashed a secondary blast.

It flashed across the sky, hitting Erika square in the chest as the energy lanced through her suit. The blast split the sky, striking her from the sky as the lightning exploded on contact. Fully whiplashed from the trajectory, Erika went soaring backward, slamming into the concrete a hundred feet away and rolling the final distance in her steaming suit.

"Erika!"

Abbey leaped high, spinning around with her bow to unleash a volley of blasts. She landed by her teammate's side, just as the ranger suit vanished in a flash of red and Erika wearily looked up to see a cackling ElectrEel.

"What's the matter, Ranger?" he laughed. "You seem shocked!"

But his laughter didn't last long, as a black streak burst across the street and sliced against his skin. ElectrEel shrieked and stumbled back. Miguel had come to their aid.

He skidded to a stop and spun, ready for another round, just as Zeke raced to his side and pointed to the powerline.

"Time to show this guy the real meaning of resistance!"

"Right!"

Both leaped high, slicing the Dark and Security Sabers through the city's powerlines before landing beside the poles and swiping again. Like trees felled in the woods, the giant towers of cables tumbled down, colliding with a surprised ElectrEel and bursting upon contact.

The giant eel screamed, hands thrown high as wild bolts of lightning surged from the claws. Like they were striking in reverse, the lightning surged into the sky, flashing above the city as the monster's cries rumbled with a vibrating rhythm. Then, as the lightning finally stopped, ElectrEel keeled over, body steaming as he struggled to remain standing.

"I need to get out of here!" he realized as ArcKnight raced to his side. "That gave me a bad case of overload!"

"You consider yourselves lucky, Rangers," ArcKnight snarled at them. "For the next time we meet, it will be your last!"

The emerald light returned, engulfing the warrior and monster as the Cyberdrones were whisked away in the retreat.

With the street finally clear, the other Rangers checked that the coast was clear, powering down their suits to return to civilian forms. But as the light flashed around them, Erika couldn't even meet their eyes. Struggling to stand, she slowly made her way with the others to the museum, knowing full well the glares they were giving her.

Have this, she did not.