Episode 19

Taken Identity

Early in the morning, and so far, no one was home.

Perfect.

With a gleeful grin, Gail slipped through the wall of the Museum with a barely whisper step. She supposed she should be worried about the cameras, but she also knew well that anyone who saw her skulking the halls would assume she was Abbey in search of validation. They wouldn't think anything of it, certainly not at a glance. They wouldn't suspect for even a moment that their darling little sweet pea would slip inside their security and take whatever she wanted.

To take what she needed and pay the toll.

She reached the wall with the secret elevator, not even bothering to look for the switch as Gail traced her approximate footing and prepared to sink into the floor. All too easy.

And that's when the light flashed from beneath her. Energy surged through her, like her barefoot had stepped on a live wire, a current of energy coursing up her leg before slamming her back. Hissing, Gail hit the ground and skidded along to polished tile with a painful thud.

Dammit!

So, Hilary had thought of that. Abbey makes one little transgression and their paranoid programming mentor is already prepared for another intrusion. So much for the quiet approach. She guessed she'd just have to go with plan B.

Gail waited for a moment, just one, to make sure that her attempted intrusion had been unnoticed. And then she skulked back the way she came and slipped through the wall once more. Moments later, she was back out onto the street, striding in the sun without care beneath the concealment of her stolen skin.

This. Felt. Incredible! Striding down the street, not a care in the world. No worry about being recognized or having people think they were seeing double. Now if anyone saw her, they'd just think she was Abbey. Because she was Abbey, and Gail was going to show that good-for-nothing goodie two-shoes exactly what she could be making of her life if she weren't such a people pleaser.

Be nice to everyone.

Smile, it makes people happy.

Make sure everyone's comfortable and having a good time.

Please; the only good time that girl should be worrying about was her own. Gail supposed she should be thankful, if Abbey hadn't been so determined to hold everyone's approval, she'd never have been so desperately stupid to create a clone in the first place.

Now there was at least one Abigail Carmichael in the world who was going to have a good time, and Gail planned to have the best one. After all, if it was the last day of Abbey's life, what else could she do but enjoy it? And she knew exactly where to start.

Striding down the street, Gail sauntered toward the Hub just as Miguel was stepping out. Seeing him first, Gail's chest flushed with fresh scorn. A stupid boy, one who had no idea what was right in front of him. At the opportunity he'd been getting.

He'd had the chance with her once, and in what Gail could only fathom was sheer stupidity, had turned her down. Because, oh no, because she wasn't the real Abbey. Well, she was still the best he was ever going to get, and far better than that meek and prudish doll he was so desperate for.

So, why the hell not? She had time. Time to make him lose the only chance with the one girl he wanted.

Miguel's face lit up as he saw her, a stupid lovestruck fool with no idea what he was turning down. "Abbey! I was just inside, Dirk said you weren't working today."

She could hear it in his voice, the angling for an opening, looking to see if she was free to spend time with him. Oh, this was going to be fun. And all too easy.

"Nope, no work for little old me," Gail replied. "Just a lazy Sunday and nothing to fill it with."

"Really?" Miguel's smile only grew as Gail eagerly watched him pull closer to her trap. "That's great!"

That's it, see the opening. Go on Miguel, ask her out.

"It's so good to see you're taking it easy," Miguel said encouragingly. "I know the last few weeks have been a lot, so it's good to know that you're finding time for yourself."

Oh yes, soooooo difficult? How could I ever unwind without company?

"Anyway, I won't intrude," Miguel decided. "I hope you have a relaxing day."

Hang on… what?"

That wasn't how that was meant to go!

"Wait, that's it?" Gail spat before she could stop herself. "You're just going to walk away with just a 'have fun'?"

Miguel's face scrunched in confusion. "Well, I guess that it's been hard for you to have any self-care time recently. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to hang out if you want to, I just… I just don't want to take away time you had planned for yourself."

"Oh, Miguel," Gail said dryly. "I think we both know that you want to do more than just 'hang out'."

Her cutting remark caught him off guard, his expression dropping completely as if he'd been slapped in the face.

"Isn't that our thing?" Gail asked. "Dancing around each other and playing hard to get. Or is that getting boring? Because I know it is for me."

"I said last night I needed time," Miguel stammered. "Okay, maybe I didn't say that explicitly but…"

Oh? So they had had a conversation since. Maybe Abbey finally grew a spine and took what she wanted for once. Doubtful, it was more likely that Miguel had finally made a move. Urgh, she's so traditional!

Gail needed to be careful. Last time, coming on too strongly had led Miguel to figure it out, and that was when she wasn't even looking to do damage. She needed to tread lightly, to strike only when she had a clear shot.

At least this time she had some advantages, Miguel wasn't looking out for Abbey's clone, and the topic of conversation was clearly throwing him already.

"Come on Miguel, you should know how this works by now," Gail purred. "You flirt, I flirt. I look at you with my big eyes. Then we walk away to come back and do it all again. Only, I'm sick of walking away. So, if this little dance we're doing is as far as it's going to go, then I think I might be done with it. So, I guess that also means I'm also done with you."

And then, seeing the pained look on Miguel's face as if a knife had been slid between his ribs, Gail rolled her eyes into a stony expression and walked away. God, she wanted to look back, to see him watch her leave, to realize exactly what he was missing out on. Of course, that would ruin the effect, she'd just have to revel in that small moment of satisfaction.

But Miguel did nothing, didn't try to stop her, didn't call back, he just let her… walk. Probably too wounded to summon the nerve.

And he was just the first of Abbey's toys that she was getting to play with. No doubt there was plenty else that she could mess with.

This was going to be fun!

With a skip in her step, Gail wound through the streets, flashing Abbey's card at every stall that caught her eye. One friendship ruined, her bank accounts drained; now all Gail needed was to find the rest of those goody-two-shoe Rangers and burn those relationships to the ground as well.

But where to begin with first…?

Gail was so caught up in her delight that she didn't even notice the figure sidling up beside her. "Having fun, now, are we?"

Like an ancient instinct twinging deep inside, Gail spun around, ready to strike. Standing next to her was a man, his body concealed beneath a long trench coat and face shadowed by a broad-brimmed hat. Seeing her raised fist, the figure snickered, looking up to sneak her a glimpse of his cerulean skin and crimson eyes.

"Oh," Gail said, fist lowering as she suddenly recognized her company. "It's you."

"What? No snide remark? No hint of a threat?" Ender chuckled.

"I'm sure Abbey would have some lame one-liner to give you," Gail replied. "I know her embedded instincts still seized at the sight of that mug of yours. But I'll keep a lid on the insults, I've got no beef with you."

"Oh, but that's such a shame," Ender snickered. "Because we've got plenty of beef with you!"

Suddenly a pair of hands grabbed from either side as two figures in black hoodies snatched Gail's arms to yank her into a side alley before she could react. With a snarling hiss, Gail's arms phased from their grips, spinning from the concealed Cyberdrones to launch her heel into the first one's face. The faceplate crunched as it impacted the wall, the second robot stumbling in surprise as Gail lashed for its arm to send it reeling to the floor. Spinning around, she saw Ender blocking her path with nothing but a look of condescending disapproval.

"If you wanted to take me out," Gail warned. "You should at least make sure I have what you wanted."

"Oh, this?" Ender gestured at the defeated Cyberdrones. "This isn't an end to your employment. This is just a reminder of who's really in charge."

"You?" Gail scoffed. "Please. Your creations barely spout out a few puns before being blown up. If your boss really wanted to send a message, he'd have come to threaten me himself."

Whether it was the knock at his handiwork or the inference of inferiority, Ender's face darkened, the shadow of his brow folding further to give his crimson eyes a sinister glow. Beside her, the two Cyberdrones were already rising as Ender took a threatening step toward her.

"Maybe you need a reminder of the pecking order here," he said. "It goes you, then the dirt, then the worms in the dirt, and then Heckle and Jeckle over here. At some point higher up you'll get to me, but you're so far below you're lucky to even see me when you squint."

The Cyberdrones stepped in again, Gail's arm swatting it back only as Ender lashed out. His blue claw squeezed at her wrist, and before Gail's eyes, her pale skin began to change. Her eyes widened, hissing a panicked breath as her flesh began to peel away beneath Ender's touch, and the layer of turquoise scales seeped from the shedding skin.

"Or maybe," Ender suggested. "Maybe you want to go back to that hole we found you in? Maybe you're not interested in the deal anymore? Maybe you liked being what you were?'

Gail snatched her hand away, relinquished from Ender's grasp as the monster maker looked at her with a sinister grin.

"That's what I thought. You're getting me because you're not worth Lord Xaviax's time. Frankly, you're barely worth mine."

"You speak pretty high and mighty of yourself," Gail snarled back. "But I wonder what the Rangers would think if they found out who your boss really is?"

"Oh no! You wouldn't dare tell them that their arch-nemesis is secretly the renowned billionaire philanthropist, Davian Scolex?" Ender exclaimed mockingly before chuckling. "Try again sweetheart. They've already figured that out, or at least I assume so given that our dear and treacherous Mileena managed to shake off her override code. And there's also nothing that they can do about it."

Gail could only scowl, eyes narrowing as Ender continued his peacocking, eying the two Cyberdrones as she readied for a quick getaway. Thankfully, Ender was already backing off. "Stop overplaying your hand and messing about. You bring us what we want, you'll get your end of the deal. But play around any longer, and you'll get to learn the real meaning of 'cut loose'."

With that, he reached forward, straightening Gail's jacket before the two Cyberdrones joined his side.

"Well, hasn't this been an enlightening conversation?" said Ender. "Hope our next one is even better. TTFN- Ta-ta for now!"

Then, with an infuriatingly gleeful twirl, Ender vanished in a flourish of emerald light, leaving Gail alone in the alley. Gritting her teeth, she looked back down at the patch of skin he'd peeled away. While pasty, white flesh had already regrown over the scales, Ender's warning remained loud and clear.

She needed a way into that lab, and thankfully, she remembered exactly where she'd left it…

Her head was pounding, heavily drooping down every time Abbey tried to raise it. Her eyelids felt like they were made of lead, struggling to open as her neck slowly found its balance, inch by inch. She was upright, Abbey could tell that much, leaning against something to stop her from falling into a heap. The cold hard concrete lay flat beneath her legs while her back pressed into something long, round, and narrow.

A pipe maybe?

Urgh… what had she been hit with?

As Abbey slowly came around, her last conscious moments slowly emerged from the hazy mental fog.

The earring on the driveway.

Gail!

Cyberdrones!

And something hitting her hard on the back of the head.

Somehow that had led to her waking up in… a warehouse?

Slowly, Abbey's eyes adjusted to the shadows of the room, the creeping, dusty light providing dim charity through the lone window. Her legs were still numb, although Abbey wagered they'd most likely fallen asleep, but as she groggily tried to move she felt something press around her wrist and pull her back

It was a metal cuff; she'd been chained to the pipe.

Brilliant.

Her communicator was also missing, but one problem at a time. They were just handcuffs; they should be a piece of cake. Breathing in slowly to calm herself, Abbey felt the tingling digital energy ripple down to her arms, shifting her molecules out of alignment as she pulled to free herself from the binds.

But nothing happened. The round metal sunk into her skin, yanking her back and slamming her into the pipe she was bound to. Before Abbey could kick herself for the obvious, a slow, sarcastic clapping echoed from the corner of the warehouse. She wasn't alone, and only one person could know where she was. She hoped.

"Please, Abbey," Gail mocked. "Don't insult me. Do you really think I'd forget about our little escaping superpower? It's like you keep forgetting; I am you."

"Much to my shame and embarrassment," Abbey said dryly, sinking to the floor as she glared at her doppelganger. "How're you even stopping my phasing?"

"It's like I said last night," Gail replied. "I made some new friends. And it seems like they have a vested interest in blocking that pesky superpower of yours. So, you know, quid pro quo, and all that."

So, it was Cyberdrones that had jumped Abbey last night, not just her hazy memory playing tricks. And that could only mean one thing, Xaviax. Abbey guessed that it also explained how Gail had returned to her human appearance after going full monster.

"Out of home a few weeks and you've already taken a deal with the devil," said Abbey. "I'm guessing your new friend Xaviax is to thank for your better complexion?"

"He offered enticing terms and even better perks," said Gail. "And I don't know why you're so shocked. After all, I am-."

"You're me and I'm you. Yeah, I know. I've been given that speech already, thanks."

"Well then, far be it for me to tell you what you already know. I'm just dropping in to pick up something I left."

As Abbey continued to glare, Gail moved toward the dusty table on the opposite wall, and the captive girl gasped as she realized what the doppelganger wanted. Her communicator and keycard.

"It's funny," the clone mused as she strapped the watch to her wrist and spun the keycard between her fingers. "You grab this every day without thinking, so I actually forgot about it when I left you earlier."

But there was a strange annoyance in her tone, a mild self-depreciation that Abbey recognized from herself. Gail was kicking herself for something, and Abbey quickly realized what it was.

"Phasing didn't get you into the lab, did it?" Abbey smirked as Gail's face dropped and she hissed in her direction. "Oh; did you think no one would remember the superpower of ours?"

"Laugh all you want," Gail sneered. "Because while I have this, I might as well use it to have some real fun."

With bated breath, Abbey watched as the Morpher suddenly flashed to Gail's wrist. With sinister glee, the digital copy smiled as she held up the keycard and rammed it through the slot. "Server Force, Login Access!"

But nothing happened. A buzz sounded from the device, a red light blinking as Gail repeated the phrase and tried again to no avail.

"What is this?" she demanded, "Why-?" She looked over at Abbey, now smirking, and rolled her eyes. "Why am I bothering with you? If I don't know the answer, then there's no way you do."

"Looks like things aren't working out so well," said Abbey. "Going to have a hard time replacing me when you can't even morph."

"Is that what you think I'm doing?" Gail scoffed, frustration shifting into a gleeful enjoyment as she slowly sauntered back toward her captive and kneeled. "Oh, Abbey, try to keep up. Why would I want your life? Stuck simpering for scraps while everyone else reaps the benefits? Sure, I could take things my own way, but then I'll just have to deal with everyone's disappointment that I'm not like "the old Abbey." No, I don't want your life. I want a new one."

Abbey ground her teeth, hissing with the realization of exactly what Gail's deal was getting her. With Scolex's money and resources, Gail could go anywhere, she could disappear and start afresh. But only if Scolex got what he wanted.

"So why are you still here then?" Abbey asked. "Why hang around?"

"Obviously I've got my end of things to hold up," said Gail. "Although, the whole situation got me thinking. Even if I'm not taking over your life, I can have some fun while I'm in it."

She didn't want Abbey's life at all, she wanted to destroy it. But as much as Abbey wanted to scream at her, the thrash against her bonds and threaten hellfire, she couldn't help but feel a sinking inside. A sadness, growing from guilt and empathy.

At the shame of failure and neglected responsibility.

"I'm sorry," she said "I should have taken better care of you. I shouldn't have just treated you like a tool to fix my problems. You didn't ask to be made, and I shouldn't have rushed to make you because I was scared of being found out."

"You think I want your pity?" Gail sneered. "Do you think I care about the reasons you made me? Maybe we're not as alike as I thought."

"We're not," Abbey said sharply. "We stopped being the same person the second you came out of the Digitizer. And I know that because I'd never do what you're doing. I'd never hurt my friends."

"Maybe not," Gail shrugged. "But we'll have to see what your friends think. Miguel sure didn't seem too happy after I ran into him this morning."

She wouldn't…!

Now the fury came, Abbey's body lunging before her mind could catch up, yanked back by the chains on the pipe as she thrashed against her bindings. "What do you say to Miguel?"

"Nothing he didn't need to hear," Gail said slyly. "That you were sick of waiting around. That you were getting bored. And that you weren't interested in the dance if you weren't going to get anything out of it."

"That's not true. And there's no way Miguel would have believed that."

"Really?" Gail snicked as she tapped her temple. "Because I think it's truer than you want to admit. I think Miguel would have had plenty of reasons to believe you'd string someone along. After all, what else have we been doing with Zeke?"

It was like a knife had been run through her heart, a cold gasp escaping Abbey's lungs her as eyes widened in horror. No, she'd never done that… had she?

It wasn't that she didn't know how Zeke felt, but she'd never take advantage of it. She just… didn't know how to talk to him about it. She'd hoped that maybe he'd move on, but she'd never held it over his head.

…hadn't she?

Slowly Abbey's stomach began to twist, a sickening lump clogging in her throat at the horrifying realization. Gail may be a different person now, but she was still born of the same mind. The same thoughts and understanding linked them together. There was nothing about Abbey that Gail didn't understand.

And there was no greater hurt she could hurl than the truth.

"Now that I think of it," Gail decided. "Maybe I'll give Zeke a buzz. I can't think of anyone better to help me with my little Morpher problem."

"You stay away from him!" Abbey warned. "Don't you dare hurt Zeke!"

"Me?" Gail scoffed. "Don't you worry that pretty little head of ours. I'm just going to ask him for a little help. After all, we both know there isn't anything he wouldn't do… for you."

Cackling with glee, Gail traipsed toward the door, slamming it behind her as she abandoned Abbey to the darkness.

One text was all that was needed.

Hey Zeke, sorry to bother you. Just having a little tech problem. Can you help me out? Smiley face.

The boy was so smitten that he was basically putty in her hands. And the fact that it was breaking Abbey's heart to talk to him just made it all the sweeter. The more Gail thought of it, the more sinister her plans grew, and the more she realized exactly what she could convince Zeke to do. Of the power she held.

It honestly surprised her that Abbey had never really thought of it, that she refused to admit the hold she had on him. But then, Gail supposed that wasn't exactly true, now, was it? Abbey knew; she knew exactly how her childhood friend longed for her. Only she was far too much of a coward to do anything about it.

Shame, but all the more to Gail's gain.

At least one of them should get a good time out of it. And who knew, maybe Zeke deserved a little hope?

He was right on time, waiting at the pier as they'd arranged. So eager please, so happy that "Abbey" had even bothered to remember him. It was just all too easy.

"Hey, Abs," he grinned as Gail approached.

"Zeke!" Gail hurled her arms around him, smiling sweetly enough to give him diabetes. "Thank you so much for coming, you're a lifesaver!"

She could feel his heart suddenly jolt at the physical contact, Zeke's pulse doubling as he shuddered in a breath and slowly returned the hug as if uncertain it was real. It was a risk, to be so overtly affectionate right out the gate, but it was a risk Gail decided was worth it. No doubt the sudden dangling of everything Zeke wanted would be more than enough to override suspicion.

He'd be just too stunned to think anything of it.

She let him hold her, just that little bit longer than expected, and as he began to pull away, Gail pulled him back. It was barely longer than a heartbeat, long enough for Zeke to look at her in surprise as their eyes locked. Just long enough for Gail to catch his longing, for him to see her suggestion. Then Gail giggled and released him, skipping back as if jolted by uncertainly, averting her gaze completely to create the illusion of uncertainty.

"I… uhh…" Zeke stammered, also looking anywhere but her in a vain attempt to conceal his sudden fluster. "So, what can I do?"

Hook, line, and sinker.

"It's my Morpher," Gail said pathetically. "I don't know what happened, I must have dropped it. I was hoping that maybe you take a look at it and see what's wrong?"

"I guess…" Zeke admitted nervously. "But I don't how helpful I can be. Hilary knows them back to front; she'd really be the best person to talk to about it all."

"I know," Gail replied, looking pouty with eyes her big, pathetic, and pleading. "But I don't think I'm exactly in back in her good books after the whole… you know…"

"Oh," Zeke realized. "Gail…"

"Besides," Gail insisted. "Her brother's in town, I don't want to take time away from that. Please, Zeke, just do what you can? If you can't fix it, then I can go to her. Just promise me you'll give it a shot?"

"I don't know Abbey," Zeke admitted. "It's a pretty long shot."

Dammit, she'd forgotten how much of a chicken Zeke was as well. Yet another reason he and Abbey were caught in their endless awkward spiral. Still, nothing ventured.

Keeping her eyes big and lips pouty, Gail reached out to stroke at Zeke's collar as the boy inhaled sharply in surprise. Once might have been by chance, an awkward but unintended stumble. But now Zeke was starting to realize the truth in Gail's intent, his eyes bulging as his wildest dreams were suddenly in front of him.

As much as he thought anyway.

"You know," said Gail, as she slyly played with the buttons on his shirt. "I've been thinking. I don't think I've been a great best friend lately. I mean, you do so much for me all the time, and I never show any gratitude. Makes it easy for me to… miss what's right in front of me."

"Abbey, what are you saying?"

Gail took a step, a conniving, calculated distance that drew her even closer, turning from her side to bring him face to face. Their chests were lightly pressing now, the fingers that had once been fiddling with his collar now meekly took his hand like a pitiful plea. Zeke's body tensed but he didn't step away, like every breath drew in but was too frightened to release. As if letting it all go would make it all go away.

"I'm saying that maybe it's time I started thinking about what I actually want," said Gail. "That maybe it's time that I admitted what I've been too scared to until now, about who and what matters to me most. It made me realize how much I needed… you.'

Zeke stared at her, speechless, mouth opening and closing at a complete loss to what she was inferring. As a final sell, Gail looked away, a gasp of uncertainty passing through her lips in a feint of embarrassed shyness.

"This whole… clone thing," Gail decided. "It really put a few things in perspective. How I've been too busy to leave time for anything else. And I want to make time, Zeke. I want to make time for you. I want to give this a shot. So, what do you say?"

"Wha… what about Miguel?"

"What about him?" Gail replied, refusing to allow her gaze to break. "He's a great guy. But he's not you. He never has my back the way you do. I wouldn't be lost without him, not like I would with you."

She allowed the words to roll off her tongue, a venomous whisper that lulled him closer like a siren's call toward the rocks. A call Zeke was unable to resist. His heart was slowing, the shaking of Zeke's body beginning to recede. He was buying it; he was starting to realize what Gail was offering. And now it was time to seal the deal.

"I want you, Zeke," said Gail, allowing a quiver to fluctuate her voice, a shimmer washing over her eyes as she pressed herself closer and her lips began to part. As if her very breathing pulled her closer, beckoning him closer still. "And I'm sick of pretending I don't. I'm sick of being scared of everything changing, of things not working out and losing you."

"Hey," Zeke said softly, reaching to his clasped hands and holding them in his own. He looked at her with frightened eyes, his chest shuddering with uncertainty as he held her tiny fingers in the warmth of his own. "You'll never lose me."

And that's when Gail kissed him.

Her toes propelled her upwards, lips locking as Gail's hands freed from Zeke's grasp to stroke the side of his face. Her fingers clasped his head, pulling him deeper into her kiss as at last he surrendered and kissed her back. Then, Gail pulled away, allowing a stunned gasp to escape her lungs as Zeke almost staggered forward in shock.

Like she'd completely taken his breath away.

"Sorry," Gail said quickly, in a fluster of false modesty. "I didn't mean to. I shouldn't have…"

"It's okay," Zeke smiled back to her. "I… I liked it."

Gail let them stand there in the silence, just long enough for the uncertainty to kick in, long enough for whatever confidence she'd given him to return to uncertainty. For his lack of confidence to begin convincing him that he'd imagined it.

"So…" Gail said in the continued visage of nervousness. "Do we… want to catch a movie?"

"Movie…?" Zeke repeated in a cloudlike daze. "Yeah…"

Now to keep him guessing.

"Shoot," Gail said suddenly checking her watch as if suddenly remembering the time. "I said I'd help out at the Youth Centre today. Dammit!"

"It's okay," Zeke insisted. "We can. We can talk later."

"We'll definitely talk later," Gail smiled at him.

As if at last realizing the opportunity, Zeke outstretched his hand with a nervous smile. "I can take a look at the Morpher," he admitted. "At least make sure we're not wasting Hilary's time…"

"You're the best!" Before he could stop her, Gail flung her arms around him and squeezed him tight. "I don't know what I'd do without you!"

The device flashed to her wrist as she removed it and handed it to him.

"Maybe you can show me how you fixed it tonight?" Gail suggested. "Over dinner?"

"Dinner?" Zeke asked. "Dinner sounds great."

"Great!"

And then, Gail slyly kissed him on the cheek and walked away. Every chance Gail got, she looked back, eager to convey the adorably smittenness that was sure to keep Zeke enraptured. Zeke just stood there, blushing profusely, waving in a daze until at last Gail reached the corner and vanished behind it.

All too easy. Gail had just rocked the boy's world, it was a shame there wasn't going to be any follow-through. She almost felt bad for him. Almost.

Alone again, Gail's shoulders dropped, her skittish skids melting into a sly saunter as she slipped between the buildings toward her ultimate destination.

The lab.

Back in town for a weekend and she was already bossing him around.

Ben, help me fix the Server Cycles?

Ben, my car needs servicing; fix it would you?

Hey, Ben, can you carry this heavy box of parts down to my lab?

Rangers, monsters, and his twin sister gradually getting on his nerves? It really was starting to feel like old times. Still, as much as Ben was glad that the proximity to his twin was only for the weekend, he couldn't help but smile as he looked around it all.

No matter what they said, Hilary and Ray were in their element, fiddling with tech and dishing out sage advice. All they needed now were Morphers of their own and they really would be reliving their glory days. All those years ago, watching his sister and best friend awkwardly flirt in complete obliviousness of each other's feelings, Ben had never imagined that it would have led to all of this. And now he couldn't imagine either of them anywhere else.

Although functionally adopting the teen reincarnation of their former mortal enemy was definitely not something he'd seen coming.

With a soft chuckle, Ben stepped out into the lab as the doors binged open, moving the central table to put down the box of heavy parts. It was only as he unburdened himself that he realized he wasn't alone, that someone was by Hilary's precious wall of monitors and punching away. It couldn't have been Hilary; she and Ray had headed out, and he'd left Lena upstairs as he came down to deliver the box.

Curious, Ben made his way around the machinery to spy who was tinkering away at the lab, being greeted by a head of neat red hair. Abbey, he was pretty sure Hilary had called her.

"Need a hand with anything?" he asked.

The girl nearly jumped out of the seat, spinning with wide eyes as suddenly she realized Ben was standing right behind her.

"Ben!" she stammered. "I… I didn't see you there."

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," Ben chuckled. "I guess I didn't know anyone was down here."

"Yeah," Abbey said nervously. "I was just… I have this paper due tomorrow and Hilary's computer is way better than mine. I kind of hoped her terminal would speed up the research, you know?"

"I get it," Ben admitted. "I spent many sleepless nights in high school getting papers finished just before they were due. And if anyone built a computer for fast research, it's Hilary."

"Right," Abbey nodded, as the awkwardness continued to swirl around them. "Well, I should probably get back to it then."

"Of course. Don't let me hold you up."

He turned to leave, only for another thought to strike him and turn him back.

"Actually, while I'm here," he decided. Abbey spun back with visible annoyance worn plain on her face. Unfortunately for her, growing up with Hilary had made Ben completely immune to that expression. "How are you doing? You know, one Blue Ranger to another?"

Abbey's face scrunched for a moment. "What do you mean?"

"You know," Ben shrugged. Before gesturing to the interior of their command center "This all can be pretty overwhelming. Giant monsters, killer robots, fighting evil. I know Ray and Hilary are kind of old hats at this, and guess I am too. But I know that being in the thick of it can make it hard to see when others are struggling. I know you don't really know me, but I guess I just… thought I'd check in."

"That's kind of you," Abbey replied, looking away and conveying an air of nervous sweetness. "But I'm doing okay… really. And I know you're being really generous with your time, but… I really should get back to this."

Conceding her point, Ben bid farewell and backed away, returning to the elevator just as Lena was stepping out of it.

"Ben!" she realized, although her tone sounded more worried than surprised. "I just got a message from Hilary."

"Really?" he rolled his eyes. "What favor does she want for me now? You know just because she's giving me a place to stay, that doesn't mean she gets a slave for a weekend."

"She was... just hoping that you'd maybe take a look at one of the exhibits in the museum?" Lena said quickly. With every word she spoke, a fresh air of tension emanated from her. Her eyes were looking past him, as if scanning the surroundings behind him and focused on anything but Ben. Like she was scanning for a threat.

"…Sure," Ben decided. "I was just getting to know Abbey while I dropped off some parts."

At the mention of her name, Lena's eyes flashed before shooting behind him. "Abbey's here?"

"Yeah," Ben nodded over his shoulder toward the terminal. "She's working on a school project, or something."

"Actually!" the girl's voice called out as she stepped into view. "I was just leaving. Turns out I didn't need the computer like I thought."

"History paper?" Lena inquired as Abbey hurried from the console and made a B-line for the elevator. "That one was a killer for me."

"I know," Abbey agreed. "I think I've got what I needed thought now, so I should be okay."

Then Lena's arm jutted out, sharp and ramrod straight, and as she pushed past Ben, Abbey suddenly found her path blocked. Lena's face narrowed, sharpening to a threatening glare as Abbey staggered back in fright.

"On your way out," Lena snarled. "You can hand over whatever you downloaded, Gail."

Wait… what?

There was an icy venom in Lena's voice, a cold fury boiling behind her glare as it fixed unwaveringly on Abbey. For a moment, Ben was about to react, to admonish Lena with concern that her old, evil ways were resurfacing. But then he caught Abbey's reaction.

He expected her to be shocked, for the sweet young girl he'd until to be horrified by such a strange accusation. Instead, her shoulders dropped, and the girl's face shifted from shocked innocence into a sly, sinister expression of satisfaction. Ben c knew that look. A look he was used to seeing worn by Mileena. It was an evil smile of intent.

This wasn't Abbey at all.

"I guess nothing does get past you, does it?" the girl sneered. "What gave it away?"

"Abbey's not exactly a programming genius," Lena scoffed. "When she made you, she forgot that the scan was mirrored. Every part of you is an exact opposite, from that freckle on your cheek to your own DNA."

Suddenly the not-Abbey, Gail, scowled, as if kicking herself for an obvious afterthought. Pushing back to the edge of the room, Ben could only watch; the two girls were beginning to circle each other, step by step, like two predators prowling in search of vulnerability.

"You may as well give it up now," Lena warned. "The others are already on their way."

"No, they're not," Gail scoffed. "Hilary would have the whole lab on lockdown if she knew I was here. It seems the only people that know are you two. And that means there's no one coming to save you."

"Uh…" Ben said cautiously. "I think I'm missing a detail here."

"Evil clone," Lena replied impatiently.

Wow, okay, so he guessed that that was a thing. Ray did warn him that things could still get weirder.

Through gritted teeth, Lena glared in acknowledgment of her bluff, her eyes flicking to Ben without lifting her gaze off Gail. "Ben, get out of here. Warn Hilary."

As much he'd have gladly run, Ben's feet remained glued to the floor, posture straightening as he shifted to support instead. He was no longer a Ranger, but he wasn't walking away. Not from where he was needed.

"She's right," Gail snickered. "Wouldn't want you to throw out your back."

Ben was about to snarl a response when he caught Lena's eye. A single, stern, look; not a command but a warning. That there was more going on than he knew.

And he needed to run.

"You know what? You two look like you've got something to work out," Ben decided as he backed toward the door. "So, I guess I'll leave you ladies to it."

And that's when Gail stuck.

Her fist flew first, so fast Lena's eyes bulged as her head narrowly swerved to avoid. The android's forearms swatted back, slapping the blow as Gail followed up with another strike. Only this time she didn't stop. As Lena's arms snapped to block, Gail's entire body shifted through her to emerge on the other side and spin between Ben and the door.

Seriously?!

"I said you should run," she snickered. "Not that I was going to let you."

"You've had some upgrades," Lena commented bitterly. "Made some new friends?"

"They had an opening," Gail replied snidely. "I heard my predecessor was quite the disappointment."

"And they still went with you? They must be desperate."

This time, it was Lena who lunged, moving with frightening speed as she whipped out a kick that forced Gail to dodge. The clone stepped back, snarling as Lena stamped into her space, pushing her back as the android swept between the clone and Ben. But Gail wasn't having any of it.

"You really think you can hold me in here?" Gail scoffed. "I can move through walls, remember?"

"Hilary's firewalls will answer that," Lena reminded her. "The only way you're getting out here is through me. Of course, you could always surrender."

But as Lena issued the threat, Gail's eyes flickered sinisterly toward Ben. Standing as confidently as he could, hoping his fighting stance wasn't betraying the years of neglect, Ben's eyes caught Gail's as he felt his insides grow cold. She didn't need to go through Lena, not when there was another weak link she could exploit.

Gail's fist flashed, Lena's palms a blur as she swiftly moved to swat them. But that was only an opening, and Gail was already shifting gears. With Lena on the defense, the clone spun into a kick, air pummeled out from the forceful sweep as Lena staggered back to avoid while Gail recovered and lunged for the opening.

Not at Lena; through her.

The teenage clone emerged suddenly behind her, charging on the offense at Ben as her fist drove down into a haymaker. But this time, Ben was ready.

His feet planted firmly, waiting for just the moment where Gail committed before swerving back to avoid. Pummeling down with a driving punch, Gail was defenseless.

He hoped.

Ben kicked out, feeling the tightness pull up his hamstrings as his body resisted a move he'd once done easily, the instinctive hesitation just enough to give Gail room to breathe. Recovering, she launched forward again, her fists a furious flurry of punches that took all Ben's efforts to keep up with.

But there was something else, something different.

Even after all these years, Ben never forgot what it felt like, for the metal arms of the Byte-Bots to clank against his as he battered them away, how the limbs of his teammates would collide with his as they trained to improve their abilities.

But Gail's strikes were different, stronger.

Inhuman.

And his shock of realization was the opening that Gail needed.

"Too slow, old timer," she snarled.

Dropping low, she swept into a kick, the sole of her foot smashing into his stomach to send him reeling across the floor. Gasping for air, Ben staggered to stand, but Gail was already on him.

"Oh no, you don't!"

Having finally caught up, Lena lunged at the clone, only for Gail to gracefully stop and spin with sinister satisfaction. In the same instance, both Ben and Lena realized the same thing. Gail had focused on the veteran ranger, splitting Lena's attention and luring her into dropping her guard.

And now she was wide open.

Gail's arm lashed out, clotheslining Lena across the neck as the Android crumbled to the floor. Lena hit the laminate, clutching her throat and gasping her air as Gail snickered and began strutting toward the elevator.

"Well," she decided. "This has been fun. I do so enjoy catching up with old friends. But I think I'm done here, for good, actually. Honestly, I'm just too good for any of you."

Classic villain mistake, talking when she should be acting. And Gail's gloating had been just long enough for Ben to get his wind back. As the imposter turned away, Ben rose and lunged, making for the side wall and kicking out as Lena screamed after him, "Ben, no! Wait!"

But Ben was too busy hoping this would work.

Ben's shoe hit the concrete pillar, the sole sticking to the surface as his left foot followed and did the same. With all the speed he could muster, Ben raced up the wall, kicking off the ceiling and flipping over to suddenly land between Gail and her exit.

"I might be old…er," he decided. "But I can still rock it."

"We'll see."

A mere moment was all it took for Ben to realize that he could not, in fact, still rock it. Before, Gail had been toying with him, keeping him busy to lure Lena into dropping her guard. With the android down, the clone now unleashed upon him in full furry.

Her hands were like whips, tightly lashing his shoulders as Ben swung in vain to block. He winced at her strikes, and his fists hit empty air as at last the clone moved in for the kill. With a predatory smile, Gail swiped across the face, Ben hitting so hard he staggered and slammed into the doorframe. As Ben braced against the frame, Gail lunged to finish him.

He had a moment, just one, and he was taking it.

Ben dropped to the floor. Graceless and undignified, his legs crumpled, dropping too fast for Gail to react as she lunged at the now-empty space. Too committed, her face slammed into the metal frame, slamming with unearthly force as Ben took his opening and swept out his leg. The limb crashed through hers, stealing the gravity from beneath to send Gail crumbling to the ground.

Panting heavily, Ben groggily rose, seeing Lena rising behind him as she too recovered.

"Can still… teach…a thing… or two", he panted.

Only Gail wasn't down.

With Ben's eyes suddenly widening in horror, Gail pushed against the frame and stood tall. Only she no longer looked like the girl Ben recognized. Not entirely.

Her eyes were a venomous green, with black slits where her pupils belonged, and a row of razored teeth in her snarl. Her skin had torn where the doorframe impacted, only no blood seeped out from the serrated flash, instead revealing a fresh layer of green scales within. Her arms were similarly torn, thin tendrils beginning to emerge from beneath her fingernails. And as Gail hissed at him, a forked-like tongue flittered out from her snarling lips.

"Go back to your home, old man."

The tendrils glowed, brightness intensifying as Gail whipped them up to strike. Behind him, Lena reached out to him, screaming as she pleaded, "Ben, look out!"

But there was nowhere to run, and no time to dodge. Gail's arm lashed out, scythes of yellow emerging and slicing into Ben point-blank from her fingertips. He barely even felt it, the searing strike against his chest. But he definitely felt it throw him from the floor, soaring backward with flailing limbs before colliding into an equally exposed Lena.

The two crumbled, slamming back into the table and dropping to the floor as Gail sneered and turned away. Only the escaping clone seemed to be the last thing Lena cared about.

"Ben?" she begged him. "Ben, are you okay?"

And then he felt it.

Burning and stinging all at once, a singeing burn flaring across his chest. As his vision faded, Ben watched Gail melt into a blurry silhouette, hearing the faint dining of the door as Lena knelt over him.

"Ben!" she pleaded. "Stay with me, Ben! Please! Stay with me!"