The Hub was quiet the next morning, and being honest, Miguel had assumed that a Saturday would have been busier. The last few times he'd visited, it seemed like the place to be, and therefore a weekend would be packed. But it was still early hours, and he was an early riser at that. The truth was, he was really just looking for Abbey.

He just didn't get it. One moment she was acting super friendly, as if Miguel was the most important thing in the world to her, and then all of a sudden she'd ice him completely. No reply, no calls, nothing.

She'd always be apologetic, always have some reason for why, and Miguel knew deep down it wasn't any of his business. Abbey didn't owe him anything, and he should just have been grateful that she was taking the time to help him fit in. It was certainly a warmer reception than he'd got at his last school.

And yet there was something about it that niggled at him. House after house, his life had been filled with promises people couldn't keep. It certainly gave him a good sense for when he was being lied to. And despite all her smiles, and all her help, Miguel couldn't help but shake that instinct whenever Abbey reappeared from one of her vanishing acts.

"Morning, Sunshine," Dirk grinned from the counter as Miguel stood at the threshold. "Anything I can do for you at this hour?"

"I was just looking for Abbey," he admitted. "Have you seen her?"

"Not since yesterday afternoon," Dirk replied. "Not since she ran out yesterday for some emergency."

Emergency? Maybe that was why she wasn't replying.

"Did she say what happened?" he asked, but Dirk just shook his head.

"Nope, just that it was something to do with school. Must have been big, Erika took off as well to help out."

The guilty pangs hit him just as quickly; he'd been so focused on feeling rejected that he hadn't even begun to consider what Abbey may have been dealing with. Resolving to offer help the next time he saw her, Miguel bid Dirk his thanks before stepping back out into the street. Just in time to see Lena walking toward the Hub.

"Hey Miguel," she smiled. "You're up early."

"I could say the same to you," Miguel admitted. "Didn't think kids in this town liked getting up with the sun."

"I'm always up and moving," Lena shrugged. "Parents say I'm a machine. What're you doing here?"

"I was looking for Abbey, but I think she's got a lot on her plate."

"Yeah, I can only imagine."

But just as Miguel was about to inquire further into Lena's meaning, his heart skipped a beat as Abbey stepped out into the street, slowly making her way across the square toward the city science museum.

"Abbey!"

Miguel called out and jogged over, leaving Lena to catch up as the red-haired jolted at his cry. The jogging was a mistake, his body was still sore from yesterday. That blue-skinned man had hit him hard!

"Oh, Miguel!" her smile was warm and inviting as if she'd broken from a daze at seeing him, and for a moment, the two just stood there, enjoying the sight of one another.

"Hey, Abbey," Lena grinned as she too appeared behind them and broke the moment.

"I heard you had to take off from the Hub yesterday," said Miguel. "Is everything okay?"

For a moment, Abbey blinked, as if she wasn't quite able to catch up with what he was saying. "What? Oh, that. Yeah, some student council display thing went haywire and they needed a few extra hands. It's all sorted now."

And just like that, Miguel's instinct returned, the strange eerie feeling that there was more to it than she was letting on. Not missing detail due to lack of thought, but willful omission. Like there was something about it that she didn't want him to know.

But before Miguel could follow the train of thought, he watched as Abbey's face turned to concern, her eyes filtering down as she saw that he was standing with a limp. "What about you? I heard you got into some trouble at the park. Are you okay?"

"A little sore," he admitted. "But I've had worse."

A stretch of the truth. He'd been in enough scrapes, but it was still his first time being hit by… whatever that thing was. But it was only then that another thought occurred to him. The park had been practically empty at the time.

"How'd you hear about that?" he asked.

"Zeke told me," Abbey replied, surprisingly quickly, as if she too had realized the obvious question. "Thanks for helping him out. It was really brave of you to do that."

It was then that Miguel felt his tingling warmth flush across his cheeks. "It was nothing. Anyone would've done the same if they saw it happening."

"But they didn't," said Abbey. "You did. Thank you, it means a lot to know someone else is looking out for him." But as she said, Miguel caught a sadness creep into her voice, a painful reminder filled with both anger and regret.

"Is everything okay?" he asked her.

"Yeah,' Abbey replied. "It's just… we had a fight. It's nothing, really."

But her tone said it was anything but. In the few weeks that Miguel had known them, one thing that had become abundantly clear was just how close Abbey was with Zeke. For them to fight at all, let alone one that would leave her so raw must have been incredibly painful.

"Do you… want to talk about it?" he offered, but Abbey just shook her head.

"That's sweet of you to offer," she said warmly, "but I just need some time to think. Walk around, be in my head, you know?"

And still, there was that feeling, the niggling that there was something she wasn't telling him. But now wasn't the time, not when she was hurting. Maybe later he could find time to broach it. Whatever that conversation looked like.

"Of course," Miguel said instead. "Take whatever time you need."

"Thank you," Abbey said gratefully, looking back at him with those large green eyes that felt like they were staring into his soul. And like he was looking at hers. "Tell you what. I'd love to show you the museum sometime. I can imagine it'll be a lot better when I'm with someone and not wallowing."

"I'd love that."

"Me too. Thanks, Miguel. It was good just to talk to you. I'll see you at school. You too, Lena."

With a wave she turned and left, wandering toward the steps of the towering museum to leave Miguel standing at the Hub's threshold and watching her go.

"I don't know what it is," said Lena curiously as Miguel turned back to face her, "but I can't help feeling that she's holding out on us."

It was like she'd been reading his mind. It wasn't the first time she'd said something of the vein, but after seeing the state Abbey was, Miguel was in no mood to pry.

"She can tell us as much or as little as she wants," he decided. "It's not like we know her that well."

"But she knows lots about us," Lena reasoned. "Most lunchtimes she's acting like we're on 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire."

She had a point. Most days Abbey seemed completely captivated by him, always asking about his life before coming to Lakeview. Sometimes, when it was just the two of them, she'd broached the subject of his home life, of his foster family and the few he'd lived with before. She never pressed beyond his comfort and the conversation would only ever be broached in response when something Miguel had mentioned. He'd felt so comfortable with her, so appreciative of how affirming and non-judgmental she was.

But Lena was right. For all that Abbey knew about them, she was very cagey when it came to explaining anything about herself.

"I know it's probably nothing," Lena admitted. "But still, it feels sometimes like she doesn't trust us. Or doesn't want to."

"What do you mean?"

"You know," Lena shrugged. "She's got this super tight friendship thing with Zeke and Erika. It's like they're in some super special club that they don't want anyone else joining. It's just a bit weird I guess, it's all I'm saying."

He wanted to retort, to tell her he was imagining things, but as he turned to leave, he caught a glimpse of the museum's front steps. Of Erika, walking over and greeting Abbey before walking inside together. As he turned to go about his day, Miguel couldn't help but feel that perhaps Lena was on to something after all.


The elevator dinged open as Zeke stepped into the lab and nervously shuffled toward the desk. He'd barely slept, head swirling as the sinking in his chest continued to churn and churn. They'd never had a fight that bad, never. And to make it worse, he was completely in the wrong. It was his words that had hurt her, born from anger, said with an aim to do nothing but injure.

Hurt his best friend in the whole world.

Ray and Hilary were at the desk, the programmer explaining something in great detail from her chair while her husband watched and leaned over her shoulder. Ray seemed to only understand every fourth word, and even that seemed a stretch. For a moment, Zeke considered backing away and leaving them to their work. But he had to start looking somewhere, so it may as well be here.

"Hey guys," Zeke said awkwardly, breaking the adults from their spell as they turned to face him. "Have you guys seen Abbey around?"

"No, not this morning, sorry," Ray replied. "Have you tried calling her?"

"Yeah…" Zeke awkwardly. "It rang out."

"Messages?" suggested Hilary.

"She… uhh… hasn't replied yet."

Both diplomatic ways of saying that she was probably screening him out after leaving his messages on read. Zeke had hoped maybe she'd come here, either for some guidance or to blow off some steam in the training room. So far both chances had struck out.

"Do you want us to let her know you're looking for her?" Ray offered.

"No, that's okay," said Zeke. "I guess I'll just talk to her later."

He was about to turn to leave when he watched them share a glance, both knowing and uncertain; a strange, silent conversation within the weird psychic connection that married people seemed to have.

"Zeke?" Hilary asked him when they were done. "Is this about yesterday?"

It was like the air had been stripped from his lungs, a sharp inhale as Zeke wanted nothing more than to shrink away in shame. "You guys know about that?"

Hilary's suddenly scrunched in a confession of awkward guilt. "You… kind of left the communicator on. It transmitted the whole thing."

"Oh…"

Nice going, Zeke, now everyone on the team thinks you're a jerk, not just Abbey and Erika. Smooth.

But Ray and Hilary simply sat there, offering neither judgment nor rebuke. As if they were waiting to see what Zeke had to say.

"So, I guess you know why I want to find them," he admitted. "To tell them I'm sorry."

"And are you?" Ray asked. "Sorry?"

"Of course, I am," said Zeke. "I made Abbey cry. How could I be happy about that?"

"Because it's possible, and even okay," Ray continued, "to be sorry for the impact of what you did, without regretting why you did it."

"I don't understand…"

"Zeke," Ray tried again softly, "why'd you really get upset yesterday? Because that didn't happen for no reason. What's going on?"

As Ray asked, Lena's words from yesterday echoed from the back of his mind, taunting him. 'Don't worry, I'll still be around to rescue you.'

No matter how hard Zeke tried, he'd always fall, he'd always need people to pull him back up. And now the only people left to help him were leaving him behind; like he was a weight that was dragging them down. All because he couldn't keep up.

"All my life," he said sadly, "it's felt like everyone's had it out for me. Grade school, middle school, now? There's always been someone just wanting to make my life harder. But for the longest time, it was okay, because I had Abbey and she always had my back."

"So, what changed?" Ray asked, again without even a hint of judgment. "Why was okay for so long, but not now?"

Because she was leaving. Not physically, but every day Zeke could feel his best friend drifting further away from him. Like he was a tether to the past, one that Abbey was only holding out of obligation. Out of duty, because he couldn't take care of himself.

"Every time she steps in, or anyone else, it just makes me feel useless," he admitted. "Like everything is too much for me to handle. It's like if they don't do something, I'm going to get squashed. Like I'm some kind of burden that they have to carry because I can't even walk on my own."

"Why do you think you're a burden?"

"How I could not be?" Zeke demanded. "I can't even handle a bunch of Cyberdrones on my own. It's all I can do to not get knocked flat, I just throw out some lame forcefield when they go for the face. It's not like I have any cool powers like lightning or laser vision to help me out. Even when I'm morphed, I can't even do real damage to a monster. I just have another shield to hold up, something to block what's coming because I can't actually fight."

Every word seemed to add another weight, pulling him back onto the rack behind him, shoulders slouching further and further as every admittance pulled him lower. At the desk, Ray seemed to have had enough, sending any look of silent communication to tag Hilary in. But she wasn't having any of it.

"Zeke?' she asked. "Do you know what a shield is for?"

The question took him by surprise, the answer seeming so obvious he almost thought it was a trick. "To…block… stuff?"

"Yeah, to block stuff," Hilary chuckled. "But more specifically, to keep something else safe. When a knight would go into battle, they'd hold the shield out front, to keep their sword arm protected."

She spun around to the terminal, punching at the keys as the monitor flashed some form of archival footage. Five warriors, each in a different color: red, yellow, blue, green, and black.

"Is that you guys?" Zeke realized, watching in awe as the Rangers flipped and dived as they carved through the ranks of robots on screen.

"Yup," said Ray with a smile. "Good times."

"Still miss those sais," Hilary agreed. "But Zeke, I want you to watch what happens."

Zeke leaned closer, watching as the footage rolled on and the Rangers continued to fight. Suddenly, the Green Ranger swung his axe too far, stumbling for balance. Now exposed, a robot lunged in, striking him in the chest to send him flying.

"Our weapons packed a punch," said Hilary, stopping the video just as the rest of the team snapped to their teammate's side. "But we were all offense, and when we were on the backfoot it left us with nothing but reflexes and wit. So, when it came time to build the new Morphers, I took it as a chance to correct it."

"So, you made my powers completely defensive?" Zeke realized. "But what if you need an extra punch?"

"Trust me, I did a lot of calibrating on those things before you guys took them for a road test," said Hilary. "Truth is, sidearms were more than enough to deal with Byte-Bots, and if we were hitting a big monster with all five of our Power Weapons, then it was probably time to build the cannon. If everyone always has to do every job, then it means that no one can do it well. But if everyone had a role, then the heavy hitters could focus on hitting hard. It meant that I could put more power into Erika's axe and Abbey's bow because I knew your shield would be tough enough to defend them."

Because his job wasn't to blow up monsters, it was to defend those who could. To keep them safe.

"You're their shield," Ray agreed, "when they're out there, they trust you to keep them safe. But you can't do that for them if they don't look out for you. It can be easy to focus on what you can do yourself, but the truth is that you guys are always strongest when you work together and have each other's backs."

That's all they were trying to do, look out for him. It wasn't that they didn't think he could handle it. It was because they wanted to have his back.

"I'm not saying they should always jump in to help you blindly," said Ray. "I can only imagine how it must feel to have other people insist on fighting your battles for you. But if you apologize for what you said, without acknowledging why you said it, then the problem isn't going to go away. If you don't tell them how you really feel, you're not giving them a chance to do anything different. And you're just going to keep being frustrated, and probably blow up at them again later."

Because Abbey was even still talking to him by that point, if he kept blowing up, he would lose her for good. All because he didn't want to tell her to stop fighting his battles for him. All because he shrunk away every time she did. Ray was right; what was there to stop her, or anyone else, if he never made moves to correct them? How could they know any better?

How could he get better?

"I bet you guys are getting sick of pulling the team back together every week," Zeke realized sheepishly, only for both Ray and Hilary to laugh.

"Trust us," Hilary smiled. "It comes with the territory."

"I mean," Ray added with a cheeky smirk at his wife, "you could have argued with a teammate so intensely that a bad guy snuck up and kidnapped the person you were protecting."

"Oh, we're bringing that up, are we?" Hilary scoffed. "I guess he could just take one bad hit and then walk away from everything."

"My Morpher was fried!" Ray protested, "I thought you guys needed to be ready to fight without me. I didn't know Doc would have it fixed the next day."

As his two team mentors continued teasing each other, Zeke began to realize the conversation waiting for him. Of what he'd have to say to Abbey and Erika.

But where would he even begin?

"I guess I really do owe them an apology, huh?" Zeke realized. "Maybe you could let them know I'm looking for them? If they're still even willing to talk to me."

"No need," said Hillary, giving a smiling nod toward the back of the lab. "Looks like here's your chance."

Her words were punctuated by the dinging elevator doors, and Zeke turned around to see Abbey and Erika stepping out. Erika remained stone-faced, but Abbey flinched as she saw him. Zeke's eyes shot to the floor, shame gripping his chest and stifling his breath. Behind him, Ray and Hilary slowly slunk back to be very interested in their work at the terminal.

"Hey…" Zeke said nervously as they approached.

"Hey." Erika's reply was gruff and curt, while Abbey seemed much more hesitant.

"Hi, Zeke…"

And all of a sudden, the words vanished. Everything he wanted to say was swirling around his head, blurring into mush like they'd been thrown into a blender. But as every vowel mashed to unrecognizable sounds at the back of his throat, Abbey stepped toward him, big eyes looking up as she clutched her arm for comfort.

"We talked it over," she said shyly. "And you're right, it wasn't fair for us to just assume when you needed saving. We shouldn't have intervened without asking."

"We got carried away," Erika agreed. "We're sorry."

For a moment Zeke was taken aback, expecting that he'd have to convey the feelings that he barely understood himself. And yet, after one conversation between the two they'd comprehended completely. But now, as the two girls stood in front of him awaiting acceptance, Zeke realized that the harder part was still before him.

His turn.

"I'm sorry too," he said. "I shouldn't have snapped like that. You were only trying to help, and I completely blew it. I should have told you what was bugging me."

Every breath felt tight, the cold air clinging to the walls of his lungs and refusing to release. Already, Abbey's eyes were shimmering, gulping back as she took a small, contritious step forward. As she spoke, a quiver escaped her lips, and a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Zeke, you're my best friend," she insisted. "I just don't want to see you get hurt."

"I know," Zeke admitted. "And I know you've always got my back, just as I hope you know I'll always have yours. I just… I just want to feel like I can handle things on my own. Because what else am I going to do when you're not around? We've only got one more year before we go, and even now you're spending more of your time with…"

He trailed off, realizing the other source of his anger, one that until now he'd been refusing to admit—a feeling of abandonment from all of Abbey's time with Miguel.

Of envy.

Because of the looks he'd watch her give him, a look Zeke would've given anything to see come his way instead. Something that he'd hoped for the longest, but had been Miguel's in an instant.

Ray was right, it was better to lay it all out in the open. But Zeke wasn't ready to talk about that; not yet.

Thankfully, Abbey seemed to realize what he was talking about; on the surface at least.

"I guess I haven't been around all that much, have I?" she admitted. "I didn't mean to make you feel forgotten, I promise. It's just everything's been so crazy, with school stuff and then Student council, and then now we're superheroes on top of that and-."

"Abbey," Zeke interrupted. "It's okay. There's more to your life than me. I guess I just don't want you feeling like time with me is a burden, like something would happen to me if you're not there."

"I promise that I don't think that," Abbey replied. "When we hang out, I'm there for you."

Again, Zeke nodded. "I know. But it means a lot to hear it. Thanks, Abbey, and I'm sorry for being such a jerk."

Blinking back her tears, Abbey's sorrow slowly rose into a smile, arms stretching wide in invitation.

"Friends?"

"Yeah," Zeke smiled. "Friends."

He stepped into the hug as they they their arms around each other, a remorseful embrace that squeezed out the last of their feeling. Then, as they pulled away they turned invitingly to a reluctant and nervous Erika.

"Oh, I'm not a hugger," she insisted. "But that's okay, we're good."

"Awww," said Hilary behind them. "Look at them sorting out their problems with maturity."

"They grow up so fast," Ray agreed.

Suddenly aware of their audience, all three teens turned towards their mentors, both beaming proudly from the desk.

"A wise man once told me that becoming a Ranger means joining a family, and families sometimes fight," said Ray. "But they're united by a common goal, by an ideal that's core to each and every one of them. And every time they find their common ground, it makes them that much stronger. It brings them together, and when Rangers are together, they're unstoppable."

"We're proud of you guys, all of you. Of everything you're doing." Hilary agreed. And as if waiting for her affirmation, the alarm started blaring throughout the lab. "Now how about you go out there and show that monster you mean business?"

With a single look, all three teens were in shared understanding, their grins broadening with cocky confidence as nodded in agreement and turned towards the door.

"You guys ready?" Erika asked them as she pulled out her keycard.

Zeke and Abbey shared one more look, a silent understanding of their bond. Of having each other's back. "Ready!"

The Morphers flashed to their wrists, all three holding their cards high as they called out the command. "Server Force! Login Access!"

The cards flashed through the reader, unleashing a burst of light that consumed them. The suits materialized as they formed around them, conforming to their limbs as the helmets locked around their faces and the grid flowed through their bodies. Then, with their suits imbued and ready, they felt the power surge, flashing them up into the network before dropping them down on the scene.

As the light faded, the scene came into view, the chaos of the Cyberdrones swarming downtown. And with them, a giant metal turtle.

"About time you guys finally got here!" it yelled at them. "Talk about a bunch of slowpokes!"

"Coming from him, that stings," said Abbey.

"I don't know about you guys," Erika decided, "but I say we dust him fast."

"Yeah!"

In complete agreement, their hands snapped the Security Pistols from their belts, barrels leveled as they opened fire. The rounds seared on target, exploding on contact into a giant ball of flame. But as the smoke cleared, their hearts sunk.

The turtle's shell had whipped around, blocking the bulk of the blast to protect it from harm. The carapace cracked apart, part whirring as they unfolded from the front and withdrew behind the monster to reveal its cackling face.

"Urgh," Hilary groaned in their ear. "They always try out a shield."

"Uh oh, looks like that barely left a scratch!" the monster laughed before turning to the Cyberdrones. "Show them how it's done!"

Having been protected from the blast, the Cyberdrones flushed out from behind it, sprinting at top speed with their weapons drawn. And this time, Xaviax has sent a lot. Too many to deal with the monster as well.

"You guys deal with the goons," Zeke told his team. "I've got our amphibian friend. "

"Zeke, no offense," Erika warned. "But I don't think you can take him on your own."

But Zeke's shield had already flashed to his hand as he stared down the monster. "I don't have to. I just need to hold long enough for you to deal with these creeps."

He lunged without another word; no time remaining to hear their protests. But as he soared overhead, some Cyberdrones skidding to intercept him, all he heard from behind was the bolt of a blaster. The drone in his path dropped as the laser lanced its chest, way now clear for Zeke's direct approach. With a precious second to spare, he shot a look back. Abbey's pistol was smoking, as across the battlefield their visors locked as she nodded.

He had this. She trusted him.

And then the Blue Ranger leaped back, bow appearing as she unloaded a volley and Zeke skidded to a halt before the giant turtle.

"Alright big guy," he taunted. "Don't tell me, they gave you a stupid name as well."

"I think Shell-Shield is a brilliant name!" it snarled back. "Why don't I show you what it can do?"

Just like before, the shell on its back broke apart, separating into four separate arms that shot out at Yellow Ranger. Zeke dived aside, hitting the ground and rolling as the jabs hit empty air, swinging his shield to bat the strikes away. Shell-Shield was undeterred, his left pair already winding back to hit again as Zeke crouched and let his barrier take the hit.

The speed of the strikes was immense, and were it not for his suit-enhanced reflexes, Zeke knew he'd have no chance of keeping up. With four attacks coming in all directions, it was almost impossible to strike between the gaps.

But he didn't have to. As long as he held strong, if he used his shield to tank the blows, then all Zeke needed to do was wait for his friends to catch up. To swing in and bail him out.

Like a team.

Something flashed in his peripheral; a piece of shell was coming from the side! Zeke snapped up the shield, heaving in his shoulder to deflect. The two hard barriers collided, force reverberating and pushing Zeke back. Just as he planned. As the collision threw him backward, another strike shot towards him, only to hit the empty air he'd sailed through.

"Missed me!" Zeke cheered. "Man, you really need to work on your aim."

"Then how about you dodge this!"

Shell-Shield threw itself forward, all four arms burst out before shooting inwards, four bludgeoning pincers coming from all sides. Thinking quickly, Zeke stepped back, thrusting out his shield into the middle of the strikes. The shell pieces hit, exerting pressure to lock it in place like a vice. With the shield held tight, Zeke had nowhere to go.

"Ah ha!" Shield-Shield laughed. "I've got you now!"

"You'd like that," Zeke replied. "But maybe I've got you. Erika, now!"

Like a scarlet streak, the Red Ranger lunged from behind him, axe held high as she closed in for the strike. Shell-Shield shrieked, releasing its grip on Zeke as the shell arms darted to block the blows. Erika upped the pressure, every swing soaring for a weak point, but every single one was intercepted.

"Looks like I'm still faster!" he laughed before the shield arms lashed out. Erika dived backward, balance barely holding as she landed and leaped again, falling back as the weird mechanical turtle maintained its pursuit. Then her foot caught the rubble, throwing her just enough to slow. That's when Shell-Shield shot in for the kill.

"I don't think so!"

Zeke's shield flashed across the distance, flinging from his arm to smashing into the driving attack. The two surfaces clanged, throwing Shell-Shield off balance as Erika recovered and fell back, scooping up the fallen shield and handing it over.

"Thanks for the save," she puffed. "Don't suppose all those blows you took gave you any ideas?"

"Actually," Zeke grinned. "It did. Get behind it, and hit it with everything you've got."

"I think those arms might disagree," Erika pointed out. "Unless you've got a plan for that too."

"I'll give you a boost," Zeke decided before opening his com. "Abbey, give us some cover, then get ready."

"You got it, Zeke!"

A heartbeat later, blue bolts unleashed behind them, searing toward Shell-Shield with deadly aim. The turtle smiled, locking the pieces together in a sold wall that the energy flashed off before exploding.

Erika didn't waste a second, bounding for Zeke as he crouched and lowered the shield. Her boots hit the surface, and Zeke's legs snapped high, vaulting Erika into the air as she somersaulted over the monster. As she landed, she spun, crimson axe slicing into Shell-Shield's back.

"Too slow!"

The shell opened up all four arms, snapping backward to lock behind as the axe-head sheered their carapace.

"Made you look!"

Zeke yelled into the com. "Abbey, now!"

He whipped out his pistol and fired, diving backward as the yellow beams seared into Shell-Shield's exposed flesh. As he moved, Abbey released the bowstring, firing a massive, charged shot that pierced through the air like a flash of lightning. With Erika still threatening behind, Shell-Shield had no time to reposition. The arrow hit him dead center.

"Bullseye!" Abbey cheered as Zeke landed beside her.

Shell-Shield screamed, bursts of lighting escaping from within, flashes of micro-explosions peppering his body. From her position behind, Erika leaped away, rejoining her team just as Shell-Shield toppled over. And then they exploded.

The first was small, a puff flame that suddenly expanded in size, the rest following straight after to flash into a blazing plume as the monsters shattered to pieces.

"Yeah!" Erika cheered.

"Way to go, Zeke!" Abbey congratulated.

"Don't get too comfy guys," Hilary reminded them. "The encore's coming right on up."

Right on queue, the green light burst from the sky, engulfing Shell-Shield's scatted remains and drawing them back together. Glowing with newfound energy, Shell-Shield's revitalized form continued growing, expanding to an engulfing size before they were suddenly towering over the city.

"That really helped me come out of my shell!" they cackled. The ground quaked as their feet landed, and people screamed in terror as they desperately tried to flee from the rampaging monster. But the Rangers were well ahead of them.

"Deploying Zords!"

The engines roared as the mighty machines burst into the street, all three Rangers leaping into the air as they landed in the cockpits. Firmly in their seats, they engaged the merging sequences, moving together as Erika's car, Abbey's jet, and Zeke's truck whirred and shifted to combine. Moments later, a heavy step slammed onto the ground, the mecha-warrior fully ready as the three Rangers sat in full control together.

"Cyber Security Megazord!" they called together. "Online!"

"That's all you've got?" Shell-Shield laughed. "Maybe you should have shelled out for something tougher."

"All right," Erika warned. "I don't think that same trick's going to work twice. Got any other bright ideas, Zeke?"

"Actually, yeah. Deploy Blaster!"

The side vent on the leg hissed open, and an enormous pistol flung into the air as the Megazord snatched it.

"No matter what he does, keep firing," Zeke ordered. "And keep moving forward."

"Got it!"

The enormous pistol hounded booming blasts energy unloading at the Turtle.

"Wow, talk about slow learners!" it laughed, the shell snapping out and enclosing its front. The blast burst apart on contacts, breaking against the shield like water on rock. But Megazord kept advancing round after round. It was just like Hilary had said. Her old team couldn't focus on offense and defense at the same time. And the same was true for Shell-Shield.

With a nod from Zeke, Erika slapped the controls, might blade flashing to the hand with a thunderous boom. The pistol kept firing, blasting into the carapace to force the monster to remain withdrawn. Then, at last, the Cyber Security Megazord loomed over their foe.

"Now!"

Zeke yanked at the controls, lurching the Megazord to the side as Erika slammed the attack. The Megazord sidestepped, skidding beside Shell-Shield as the blade flashed upwards. Right for the arms that held the shields in place. The monster shrieked as the weapon tore through the metal, carving the joints as the shells were rent from the body and sent clattering to the ground.

Howling, Shell-Shield clambered back, as the Rangers readied the blow.

"This guy's just a shell of his old self," Erika decided. "Ready to end this?"

"Let's do it!"

The Megazord lunged, thundering forward with growing speed as it raised the sword to strike. Defenses shattered, Shell-Shield could only flail in terror, nowhere to run and directly in the Megazord's path.

"Cyber Power…" they called together, "STRIKE!"

With a mighty blow, the broadsword cleaved through Shell-Shield's form, the blade blasting with light as it sundered the metal monstrosity in two. Its momentum carrying, it continued in its pace, skidding to a stop as the virus toppled behind them.

"Talk about a case of shellshock!" they wailed as at last they fell, bursting into a towering blasting of flames.

The fire soared into the sky, the tongues surging in all directions before fading into smoke. And as fumes subsided, the Megazord remained, standing tall and proud as it looked upon the city. Forever ready to defend when the need arose again.


The weekend passed and school returned to normal, and soon the week followed along with similar ease. By Friday, Zeke had opted to journey alone, willing to take the shortcut alley without Erika's escort. That day, however, the alley was empty, and Zeke strode on without a care. His locker was unattended, and he easily withdrew his first-period supplies before heading off for class.

Abbey had beaten him there, and the seat beside was sitting there and waiting, saved for his arrival.

Things were finally starting to feel normal again.

It wasn't until lunch that the ugly side of that normality reared its head. Sitting at the table alone in the cafeteria, a meaty hand slammed down on the table as Zeke was glaring at the week's 'mystery meatloaf'.

"Hey dork," Deryck sneered. "That's my spot."

Zeke's eyes looked up, but he didn't turn to his bully. Up ahead, like they'd sensed a disturbance in the Force, Abbey and Erika had entered with Miguel and Lena at their side. But rather than rushing, the duo stopped at the threshold. Their gazes narrowed, their eyes locking with Zeke's to convey a silent message that was loud and clear.

Whatever play he made, they'd back him.

With a nod that steeled his resolve, Zeke rose and turned to face his demon.

"Deryck, I know that reading's not your strong suit," he said. "So, you just have to believe me when I say that your name isn't on it."

Deryck's eyes flashed, a swirling cocktail of confusion and boiling rage as he stepped closer, invading Zeke's personal bubble to loom over and bend down into his face. "What'd you say to me?"

"I said this seat's taken, find somewhere else."

At first, Deryck's jaw clenched before his puffed-out chest began rumbling with disbelieving laughter. "You better watch yourself, dork. You haven't got your girlfriends around to save you from a pummeling."

"You're right," Zeke conceded. "I'm all on my own. Just little old me, with no way to defend myself. Real scary. Aren't you brave?"

Then he shot a look over Deryck's shoulder and called out. "Hey everyone, come take a look at how awesome Deryck is!"

A crowd was already beginning to form, students clustering as they felt tension grabbing hold in the room. All eyes slowly settled on the standoff, and now Zeke's turn to take a step into Deryck's space.

"Go on Deryck," he sneered, "do it. Hit the defenseless little nerd. Show them what kind of man you are."

Zeke's eyes were fixed, staring in a contest he was refusing to lose. In his peripheral, he caught the flicker of a clenching fist. But still, Zeke refused to budge, glaring back as a million emotions flooded behind Deryck's eyes. Fury, shame, panic. Fear. Like he was suddenly aware of every single pair of eyes staring at him. And judging.

With a hiss, Deryck looked away, stepping back in furious surrender.

"Atta boy," Zeke chuckled. "Now, if you don't mind, I was just about to eat."

"You better watch yourself," Deryck snarled back. "Because once it's just you and me, then you'll be sorry."

"That's where you're wrong," Abbey's voice cut in, curt fury rolling off her tongue. Behind her were the other three, all standing ready. All to back him up. "He'll never be alone."

"I forgot," Deryck scoffed. "You've got your little bodyguards."

"No," Erika replied, her tone growling into annoyed indifference. "Just his friends."

"You know what those are right?" Abbey added. "It's only one syllable, so you should be able to understand."

"And his friends aren't going anywhere," Miguel agreed as he and Lena both stepped beside Abbey and Erik in support.

Scowling, Deryck shot one last look at Zeke. "This isn't over."

"Actually," Zeke replied, "I'm pretty sure it is. Now if you don't mind, the people I actually want to see are here."

With a growl, Deryck stormed off, jutting out his shoulder in a final, petulant act of defiance. With all the grace of a leaf in the wind, Zeke stepped past, sliding his foot in front of Deryck's ankle and planting. Now solid as a rock, Deryck's foot hit the immovable object, snapping back as the rest of his body continued. The bully's eyes bulged as he toppled, his hands flailing for support only to slap against a lunch tray on a nearby table. The contents were catapulted into the sky, meatloaf and jello launching for freedom as gravity caught and dragged them down and splattered them all over Deryck.

For a moment, no one said anything. Then the entire cafeteria thundered with laughter as Deryck shot to his feet, fuming as the ooze of indeterminate meat trickled down his face.

"Oh, and Deryck," Zeke added. "Don't ever touch me again."

With a final scowl, Deryck bolted from the cafeteria, and without a word, Zeke returned to his seat and picked up his cutlery.

"Okay," Abbey gasped. "That was awesome!"

"Smooth," Lena agreed.

"Look, you're not my type," Erika admitted. "But, damn!"

"You really showed him, Zeke," said Miguel. "Good job."

And that left him with one more wrong to right.

"Hey, Miguel?" he said. "Thanks for bailing me out the other day. I really appreciated it."

The boy just shrugged, smiling a bashful grin. "Don't sweat it, you'd have done the same for me."

Zeke couldn't help it, his eyes daring a look at Abbey, whose attention was still completely captivated by the new boy at their table. The boy that right now meant the world to her. Who made her happy.

For now.

"Yeah," Zeke admitted, before finally making a start on his lunch. "I guess you're right."


The kids were coming into their own.

Ray hadn't meant to be near the cafeteria when it went down, watching from the top balcony as Deryck threatened to start an incident, but he had to admit it had been good to watch. Of course, trying to watch while appearing to not notice was a difficult line for a member of the faculty, but Ray was pretty sure he'd managed it.

Certainly, no one asked him about it after.

They'd had their trouble, and they'd overcome it. And then they'd made each other all the stronger for it. His Rangers, four for zero in monster fights, and tackling their inner demons to boot. Every challenge, they were taking in their stride.

It finally felt like the kids were finding their rhythm. All at training on time, moving in synch like never before. Whatever Xaviax would throw at them next, Ray knew that they'd be ready, and as he wandered over to the parking lot that afternoon, Ray knew he couldn't be any prouder of them. He knew that wherever he was, Doc would be of him too.

For a moment, the memory of his old mentor panged at Ray's heart, a guilty reminder of the mystery that remained unsolved. The one with no leads, save for the city they were currently in, and only the hope that he was still alive to keep them going.

They'd find him. They had to.

He and Hilary owed him everything.

Reaching his car, Ray had just produced the keys when a voice suddenly called out to him. "Mr. Granger?"

Ray turned around to see a young, dark-haired girl walking toward him. He'd seen the other Rangers hanging out with her during and after school. Lena, he thought they'd said?

Turning from his vehicle, Ray waved in acknowledgment as the girl approached. It was funny, he had no idea why, but there was something eerily familiar about her.

"It's Lena, right?" Ray asked. "What can I do for you?"

But as the girl stopped walking, something prickled at the back of Ray's neck. An old instinct honed over countless battles. A warning that sounded from the back of his mind, screaming as the reflexes of muscle memory twitched in anticipation.

It was warning him of danger.

As Lena looked up at him, her soft smile sharped, twisting into a sinister grin.

"Die."

Ray's hands were already moving as she jabbed for his throat, battering the arm away as his feet leaped back. His arms raised into a guard, ready for another assault as his mind raced with confusion. But Lena didn't seem at all concerned or frustrated. No, she seemed almost pleased, excited.

Like she was enjoying it.

"Oh," she grinned. "It's been so long since I've done this dance. I almost forgot how good it feels!"

She launched at him, foot stamping into a powerful kick that Ray deflected before retreating further. This time she didn't relent, pursuing a hungry assault that kept Ray on the back foot.

He needed to get out of there.

He couldn't be seen fighting a student and knew full well how badly things could turn if he dared fight back while there were other options. But with every move Ray made, something else was ruminating in his mind, a strange sensation that he couldn't shake. These moves, he knew them. It was like his body already knew how to defend against her.

Like he'd had this fight before.

As Lena threw in another punch, Ray caught it, reeling her in as tried to hold her in place.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

But the girl just smiled with sinister enjoyment, like a cat that eyed its prey. "You haven't figured that out yet? Red Ranger?"

There was something about the way it snarled off her tongue, a snide, taunting tone that triggered a distant memory—a flash to a time long since passed.

No! It was impossible. She was destroyed!

There was no way…

Lena swung out her elbow, flinging herself from Ray's grip as she spun backward and her sneakers skidded on the asphalt.

"Maybe this will trigger your memory," she sneered as her body began to glow. With a flash, armor appeared around her, olive green and fitted to her form as a long, green blade of energy materialized in her hand. "How about now? Remember me yet?"

It was her. She'd been destroyed, and yet somehow, she was back. Xaviax had brought back!

Ray stumbled back in horror, knees shaking and jaw dropping as he, at last, gasped with the admission of the impossible truth.

"…Mileena."


NEXT TIME:

With an old enemy returned the Server Force Rangers are put on high alert. But while the team reels from the news of their friend's secret allegiance, Lena puts the next step of her plan into motion. What sinister schemes does she have in store for the Rangers? What other secrets of Ray and Hilary's past could come back from the grave? And why does Lena have so much interest in Miguel?

Find out Next time on-

POWER RANGERS

SERVER FORCE

Going Dark- Part I

Power Rangers: Server Force is a fan-made team of Rangers, and not explicitly based on any other existing Rangers or Sentai property, with artwork character models created through Hero Forge.

Power Rangers- Sever Force updates on Tuesdays and Fridays. If you like what you read, you can always drop a comment to let me know and don't forget to subscribe/ follow to find out the second I update. Until next time, may the Power Protect You.