"Dammit!"

The pick clanged on the strings as Abbey's fingers slipped into a disjointed collection of off-key sounds. She couldn't do it; no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't do it. The muscle memory was all there, Erika's body knew what to do. Abbey could feel the shapes in her hand, moving across the neck to press the frets, but they still needed a command, conscious direction of what shape and when. Her pick would move in time to the rhythm, but it kept shifting awkwardly with the pace every time Abbey tried focusing the lyrics.

It was hopeless!

And that was with help. Abbey had never been more thankful that Erika's bandmates were in the know about their identities. At the very least it meant that they didn't have to deal with any weirdness of Abbey pretending to be Erika while also learning to play guitar and sing on the fly. It equally meant that they could drop all pretense as they asked Ray to give Abbey pointers in an effort to get her up to speed.

Not that it was helping.

"It's okay," Ray encouraged from the side of the room. "It was more even that time."

"But was it right?"

"It's not about right," Ray said. "It's about how it feels. With the right amount of distortion in a live setting, your judges aren't going to make out the strum pattern. So long as you're keeping up with the tempo, they're not going to hear your ups from your downs. Then all you've got to worry about is the changes."

"Well, the changes feel wrong," Abbey grumbled. "Seriously, how does Erika do this? I can barely keep the different patterns for verse and chorus in my head. But I can't focus on that at all if I'm also singing."

Too much, it was way too much to keep track of all at once. The problem was her; Erika's body was all prepared for what the band needed, it was Abbey's mind that couldn't keep up. Not with all of it.

Ray opened his mouth to reply, only for it to close as he realized no answer could help. His own experience of live performance was working against them, as Abbey already knew how he had also once committed a setlist to both mental and muscle memory. Practice, which involved time they didn't have.

As Abbey's heart sunk in further defeat, the door creaked open to signal Jasmine's return and Erika in tow. But as Abbey looked up sheepishly at the occupant of her body, she saw that others had followed. So, she had an audience, fantastic.

Just the sight of them caused Abbey's pulse to race, the sudden reminder that the audience of her progress would soon extend beyond the understanding presence of the bandmates and her patient mentor. Even just the sight of Abbey's friends made her shrink away in frightful embarrassment. But the idea of performing in of strangers? Judges? Because it wasn't just her that was on display, it was Erika too. And it was Erika who would wear the consequences if she failed.

"It's not working," Jasmine admitted as she gestured into the room.

"I'm sorry," Abbey said meekly. "I just can't keep track of it all. Your hands are automatic but I don't have the mental practice to make the change without breaking tempo. I can't do it all, even with the easier song."

"Well, we've got to do something," said Melody. "The audition's at four, and if we can't get a functioning guitarist by then, we've got nothing to show them."

Hoping for a last-minute miracle, Abbey shot another desperate look to Ray, hoping that maybe his veteran Ranger experience was going to conjure something they hadn't thought of. But the answer didn't come from him.

It came from Lena.

"You could Freaky Friday it!" she said, shrilling with glee as Abbey and Erika turned to her with matching looks of disapproval.

"Not a good time, Lena," Abbey grumbled.

"Yeah, you can laugh at the fish out of water later, but right now we're on a clock."

"But I'm being serious!" Lena insisted. "Final act, Jamie Lee Curtis, backstage."

"She's right," Ray agreed. "You might not have to do it from the wings, but if you get someone to play guitar, then Abbey can focus on singing without distraction."

"That's true," Jasmine admitted. "There's no rule saying we have to audition as a trio."

"But where are we going to get another guitarist?" Melody asked. "I mean, no offense Mr. G, but I don't think you're the right demographic to be playing with a bunch of high schoolers."

But that gave Abbey an idea, and she spun around to Erika with desperate pleading. "You should do it!"

Abbey watched her own eyes bulge and jaw drop as Erika struggled to keep up with her thinking. "What? Me? But… you don't know how to play guitar! I mean, your body doesn't!"

"You could probably teach yourself in the time you have," Ray noted. "You did pick a song with easy chords. And you mentally know the pattern, so you just need to practice to build up the muscle memory."

"Power chords are pretty simple…" Erika conceded before realizing the bigger problem. "But I still need time to practice it, and I don't know how I'm going to find time with everything I need to-."

"Cancel them."

Abbey's order was sharp and commending, her voice in perfect synch with a decision voiced before she could second guess it. Erika turned, shocked at how decisively Abbey had thrown a wrench in her own plans.

"What?" she stammered. "But about your meetings? All the committees?"

"They don't matter," said Abbey. "Not compared to this. It's not like I'm actually there anyway, you'd be going for appearances. They can survive an afternoon without me being there. But this band? They need you, and I need to get you there."

Erika stared at her, dumbfounded, all while the rest of the team stood quietly by the door. For a moment, as Erika continued to process the offer, Abbey looked at Miguel, and as they locked eyes, he didn't shy away. For a moment, it was like he didn't see Erika at all, but the person who lay behind her face. And as he did, he smiled proudly, glowing in warm admiration.

"Are you absolutely sure?" Erika asked.

"Positive. There's no way I would let you miss your own audition." Abbey nodded. And then she turned to Ray with a hopeful, pleading look. "Don't suppose you could buy us some time out of class?"

"I'll see what I can do," her mentor smiled, already getting up to leave. "You guys get to practicing. I'm sure I can swing an excuse to cover your afternoon."

As the counselor headed off, shooing away the other Rangers to give the band the space to rehearse, Abbey offered Erika the guitar. With a deep breath of nervous acceptance, Erika took it from her and slung it over her shoulder.

"Alright," she decided. "So, what on the list did you settle on."

At that, Abbey felt Erika's body flinch in worry, realizing the new problem she may have caused. But thankfully, she wasn't made to be the one to explain it.

"None of them," Melody replied, smiling a little as she shared a knowing look with Jasmine and held up her phone. "Abbey made a suggestion, and we thought we'd roll with it."

Abbey watched as her own face scrunched in skepticism, looking at the phone screen to see what it was. But rather than scoff or rebuke, Erika looked at Abbey and grinned as she saw the new song. In the briefest of heartbeats, the girls looked at each other in silent, perfect understanding.

"I can manage that," Erika decided confidently. "Pull up the tabs; let's see these chords, and then get to practice. We've got a show spot to earn."

Hilary's eyes narrowed as she stared at the screen, watching the scan results play through the transference of energy between Abbey and Erika the day before.

"See what I mean?" Jess asked. "It's the constant connection to Cablelite that caused the problem. If it broke at any other time they might have been okay."

"Which means they're going to have to get a hold of him if they want any hope of switching back," Hilary agreed.

It also meant that Cablelite would have to let them, or at least be unable to stop it. Far easier said than done, and still wasn't even the most pressing of Hilary's concerns. The bigger problem was still the catalyst; last time it had been an accident, but that meant there was no way to easily replicate the conditions. There was no way of guaranteeing that hitting Cabelite's power source trigger the same kind of overload without knowing what they'd hit the first time. Even that was assuming that Ender hadn't upgraded the monster with extra protection for the identified weakness.

She just had to note how well things going. Great job, Hilary.

"I've got an idea," said Jessica. "I'm not sure how good it is, but…"

"I'm all ears," Hilary replied. "Because that's currently more than I have."

"Okay," her assistant explained. "So, I know that we were worried about how best to trigger another power surge, but that got me thinking. What if we don't?"

"We'd still need something," Hilary pointed out. "Cablelite's malfunction when he attempted to drain them was what caused this crazy switcheroo. A boost is still going to have to come from somewhere."

"I know," Jess agreed. "But what if instead of making it happen, we give it to him instead? What if instead of waiting for him to try and steal their powers, we give him some?"

Hilary bolted upright, suddenly catching Jess' drift as her mind began racing at top speed. "We could use him as a conduit. Trigger a surge on our end to give the power needed for another switch."

"We have all the readings we need," Jess continued. "All we need to do is calculate the exact output for the Morphers to discharge when they're both connected. If we can't recreate the original variable exactly, we can replicate the whole thing within our control."

"Jess, that's brilliant!"

Jess' face went red, surprised at the exclamation of confidence while Hilary dove for the keys to begin frantically running the calculations. The Morphing Grid got them into this situation, and the Morphing Grid would get them out of it. They just had to hope they had enough…

And then the alarm started blaring.

…time.

They sat in the green room in silence, perched in nervous anticipation as waited for Electrohead to be called. Abbey's jitters were in full flight, pacing frantically back and forth as the clock ticked closer and closer.

Back at school, she'd been all bravado. But now that they were actually there, it finally hit her what they were doing. What she was doing. Who was she kidding? She couldn't sing! Well, Erika's body could, but Abbey had never sung anywhere but the shower! And now she had to do it in front of strangers!

With every second, Abbey felt Erika's heart race fast, fresh anxiety coursing through her veins as her breaths grew shorter and shorter. Over in the corner, Abbey noticed her head look up as Erika calmly placed down the guitar and approached.

"I can't do this!" Abbey realized as Erika reached her. "I'm sorry, I… I can't…"

But as Abbey panicked, she watched her own face soften, far from the anger that she'd have expected from Erika as a comforting hand touched her shoulder. "Abbey," Erika encouraged softly. "It's okay. You've got this."

"You don't know that," Abbey replied. "I've never done this before. You've done this, you've nailed this. But I've got no idea what I'm doing!"

"You make speeches at school all the time," Erika reasoned. "What makes this any different?"

"You!"

The answer slipped out before Abbey had even realized it, rolling off Erika's tongue as she sunk her head in admission. If nothing was riding on it, then she wouldn't care. But this was Erika's big shot, her chance at recognition. And all of it rested in Abbey's hands.

"You're right," Abbey admitted. "I've got it easy. Sure, I work hard for what I get; but that doesn't change the fact that I'm given the chance to earn my successes. I've got a family that can support me, I've got a principal that looks out for me. It's easy to come to me with things because I succeed all the time. But you never get that chance, you've got to work so much harder for the same shot in the spotlight for reasons that aren't even your fault. And now you've got that chance, and I'm going to blow it."

All throughout the day, taking Erika's place in class after class, Abbey had been forced to reconcile with it. How every time she'd sat there unnoticed, even when she raised her hand to answer. How no one seemed to see her as she walked through the halls, passing by everyone around her. Invisible.

It was like they had no idea what Erika could do; how strong she was, how smart and cunning.

"You know I haven't seen your dad at all?" Abbey said sadly. "I was so worried about convincing him that I was you, and I never considered that I might not have to. All my life I've taken for granted how easily my family could support me; my mom's family stepped in to keep us going when my dad died, and Richard's always done all he could to be part of the family. I've never considered how hard it could be for anyone else. How hard it can be to get ahead when you're constantly getting by. And all the while I'm parading around, mad that I'm not getting praise for my millionth success that so many people never even got a chance to try for."

"It's not like you don't deserve it," Erika replied. "God, I've been living your life for less than a day and I'm exhausted. Look at all the work you do, how hard you try to make everyone happy and do some good. I totally get why you were mad when I dismissed you yesterday, acting like none of that mattered."

"But that doesn't mean that what you do doesn't," Abbey insisted. "And that's why I'm so scared, so worried that…"

"Abbey," Erika cut her off. "You're here, and you got me here to help you. And now that I've had a first-hand look at your schedule I know exactly how much of a sacrifice that was."

"It wasn't," Abbey replied. "None of that matters; not compared to this."

"And that's why you're not going to blow it," said Erika. "How can you? This wouldn't be happening at all if it wasn't for you. I wouldn't even be in this band if it wasn't for you. So, whatever happens next, happens. I'll always be thankful for everything you've done, and every way you've tried to help me, even when I haven't deserved it. And I'm sorry I haven't always given back the way you've needed me to."

It was strange, hearing such words of affirmation from her own voice, but as Abbey' looked at Erika, both girls couldn't help but grin as a new lightness fluttered in their chests. Erika was right: she could do this. She had to do this. Because her friend needed her.

As they broke away from the hug, the door opened, and the organizer poked his head into the room.

"Electrohead?" he read out. "Are you ready?"

Breathing in deep, Abbey looked back at the other two awaiting bandmates before taking one last look at her own eyes. Erika beamed back, a silent smile of affirmation and support.

"Yeah," Abbey smiled. "Yeah, we're ready."

And then, with her best friend's band beside her, Abbey stepped out into the other room, ready to face the music. What awaited them was an awkward, eerie silence, the judging faces of three strangers staring at the quartet as they took their positions.

"Ummm, hi?" Abbey said nervously, feedback screeching into the mic as she spoke too close before adding more meekly. "We're… Electrohead?"

Clearly at the end of a long day, the three judges rolled their eyes and turned their attention to their clipboards. The band stood there in the quiet, uncertain whether to even start before one of the judges eventually gave a tokenistic instruction. "Whenever you're ready."

Something stoked in Abbey's chest, an astounded irritation at their audience's indifference. She had no idea if it was her mind or Erika's body, which one was causing the fury to simmer from within, but she wasn't going to question it. With a single glance, Abbey shared a look with Erika, both in complete agreement. The judges were getting a show, whether they were ready or not. And with the fire lit within, Abbey embraced her inner Erika as her body hit the chords.

With Abbey's fingers into the frets, Erika struck a rhythm, defiant and proud as she guided the band into the tune. And then, with the lead established, Abbey took a deep breath and sang with the voice of her friend:

"Give me attention,
I need it now.
Too much distance
To measure it out,
out loud.

Tracing patterns
across a personal map.
And making pictures
where the lines overlap."

As she readied for the chorus, Abbey looked at Erika, catching her eye with a knowing look. Their expressions beamed into smiles of silent recognition, a clear message through a song from one to the other. As their eyes locked, it was like everything else had been forgotten. Abbey wasn't looking at her own body anymore, but Erika, guitar strapped over her shoulder and waiting for the signal to go.

"Where the lines overlap…"

Two girls in a band, playing together a song, for no one else in the room.

"No one
is as lucky as us!
We're not at the end but,
oh, we already won!
Oh, no, no one…!
Is as lucky as us!
Is as lucky as us!"

The judges' heads were beginning to rise, sharing looks of admiring surprise as they leaned forward in interest. To her own surprise, Abbey felt Erika's body moving, enjoyment translating to dance as she started bopping on the mic stand. Meanwhile, Erika was grinning, striking the chords with growing determination as Jasmine and Melody embraced the energy and went with it. They'd got their interest, and now they needed their attention.

"Call me over," Abbey sang, "And tell me how.
Well, you got so far
Never making a single sound.

I'm not used to it,
But I can learn.
There's nothing to it;
I've never been happier.

Never been happier…

No one
is as lucky as us!
We're not at the end but,
oh, we already won!
Oh, no, no one…!
Is as lucky as us!
Is as lucky as us!

The chorus reached the climax, the judges fully enthralled as, with a smile as broad as she could possibly manage, Abbey turned once again to the guitarist. As they settled into the bridge, she sang the words, words for her friend, and her friend alone.

"Now I've got a feeling if I sang this loud enough,
You
would sing it back to me.
I've got a feeling if I sang this loud enough,
You
would sing it back to me.
I've got a feeling, I've got a feeling,
That you
would sing it back to me.

That you
would sing it back to me…!"

Erika's eyes shone, pulling closer to the mic as the music stopped, nothing but the two girls in each other's eyes and they stood in perfect understanding.

"No one…!" Abbey bellowed with the emotion she had as the band rejoiced her. "Is as lucky as us!
We're not at the end but,
oh, we already won!
Oh, no, no one…!"

"No one…!" Erika sang with her.

"Is as lucky as us.
Is as lucky as us!"

As Abbey belted the final line, the rest of the band rose behind her, building the final bars as the melody overcame them all. One by one, they slowed, pulling away until all that was left was Erika, moving Abbey's fingers through the notes as she plucked the softening notes.

And it was just her, looking back at her friend her a look of beaming pride as the final note rang out.

The judges leaped to their feet, enthusiastically applauding as Abbey felt her cheeks flushed with warmth. But before she could even look away, Erika was already moving. Quick as a flash, she'd launched at Abbey, throwing Abbey's arms around her body to squeeze her in a grateful embrace.

"You did it!" she cried. "You did it!"

"We both did," Abbey smiled.

They turned to their friends, both Jasmine and Melody grinning with excitement as they launched themselves into the excited group hug. Over at the table, the three judges were in complete agreement.

"Well," said the one at the far end. "I think it's safe to say we'll be in touch."

"Thank you!" Abbey said gratefully. "Thank you so much!"

Eager to continue their celebration, the four of them hurried back into the green room.

"That was incredible!" Abbey exclaimed. "That was amazing!"

"Look who's talking," Erika beamed. "You put on a pretty good show for your first time on stage."

"I had some good support," Abbey replied warmly.

"Uh, guys?"

Still reveling in their excitement, Abbey and Erika whipped around to see Jasmine staring at a TV in the corner of the room. Their enjoyment vanished in an instant. It was a news report, and while the speakers were muted the visuals were more than enough. Cablelite was back, rampaging downtown as the rest of the team engaged him and his swarm of Cyberdrones.

Dammit.

Abbey's eyes shot to her communicator, showing no notifications or attempt to reach them. Something Erika was quick to rectify.

"Jess?" she demanded. "What's going on?"

"Saw the news, huh?" came the resigned reply. "Hilary wasn't sure whether to call you, we don't know if your Morphers will work while switched and she figured you were unraveling enough messes right now."

"Well, we know about it now," Abbey replied. "Where are they?"

"Corner of 63rd and West!"

"We're on our way!"

"Wait!" Jess' voice cut them off before they could shut the line, her urgent caution stopping them in their tracks as she continued. "Are you sure you're going to be okay? If you two morph now, you'll be in each other's suits. Neither of you has used those powers before."

She was right, and Abbey knew it. She knew how to hang back at range with her bow, but using Erika's Axe would put her right in the action. Sharing a look with the occupant of her body, Abbey knew that Erika was having the same thought. They didn't have time to lament their difference, not when their friends needed them.

"We'll figure it out," Erika said decidedly. "Hilary made any progress on switching us back?"

"We've got one idea, but it'll involve getting close."

"How close?"

"Real close."

Abbey gulped down but nodded. Thankfully, her weaponry would help her do it, and Erika hardly had issues running into the thick of things.

"We're on our way," Abbey replied. Then the two girls rushed out the door, waved off by Melody and Jasmine as they raced into the nearby alley with their Morphers flashing to their wrists.

"Want to do the honors?" Erika asked Abbey before adding with a smirk, "Red Ranger?"

Huh, she guessed was now. But as Abbey felt the pressure begin to squeeze at her anxiety, a confident look from Erika began to ease it. She could do this.

"Are you ready?" Abbey commanded boldly as she stepped forward with her Morpher raised.

"Ready!" Erika confirmed.

They moved as one in perfect synchronicity, drawing their keycards and slicing them through the slots to activate the devices. "Server Force! Login Access!"

The blinding light surged from their wrists, embraced by the spectrums of the grid as each was consumed by crimson and sapphire light. Abbey couldn't help but be surprised as the crimson energy coursed through her, strangely different while remaining familiar. The power she was used to was calm, almost tranquil in how it balanced the power flowing into her. But this, this had the force of a raging fire, an inferno surging with an intensity that felt too frightening to control. Was this…what Erika was always managing?

For a moment, as the suit wrapped around Abbey's body and sealed the power within, she felt an overwhelming panic seize her chest. It was too much, too strong, more than she could possibly manage! But as the helm encased her vision, and the visor's display lit up to link with the rest of the team, Abbey realized that she had to. She would manage it; because she wasn't alone, and the best person for advice was right by her side. She'd just have to be a little more aggressive than she was used to.

Their bodies vanished into the light, spiriting them across town as the digitizing beam slammed into the concrete and brought them to the battle. As the light faded, the two morphed Rangers stood proudly at each other's side, ready to get into the action. The site before them was utter chaos. Ray and Hilary were swarmed by Cyberdrones in all directions, flooded with overwhelming numbers to hold the Gold and Silver Rangers at bay. With the heavy hitters cornered, Lena and Miguel had been split up, pulled into a furious battle with ArcKnight and Ender. That left Zeke all his own, cornered by Cablelite's flurrying tendrils.

Wisely choosing speed over grounding, the Yellow Ranger dived and danced between the lashing strikes, Security Saber batting back the cables as he moved for dear life. The boy was fast, but he wasn't fast enough.

"I'll take that!" Cablelite cackled. As Zeke landed and readied to lunge again, the monster's whip snaked behind him, snatching the sword before yanking it from the Ranger's grip. Zeke didn't have time to fight it, already launching away before he fell victim to another strike. But Cablelite was already waiting, multiple arms zeroing in on the now disarmed Ranger.

Seeing their friend in danger, nothing else mattered. Without another thought, the two girls lunged and opened fire. Crimson beams burst from Abbey's barrel, pairing with Erika's blue energy to blast the monster back as they peppered him with sparking bursts. Somersaulting overhead, Abbey and Erika landed at Zeke's side.

"Someone call for reinforcements?" Abbey called out proudly as their power weapons flashed to their hands.

"Because we've got plenty more force coming your way!" Erika agreed.

"Thanks for the save guys!" Zeke grinned, turning at first to the Blue Ranger only to remember that it was Erika. "I'm trying to hold him off, but those cables are hard to keep up with."

"Then let's give him a few more balls to juggle," Abbey decided. Spinning the axe in her hand, she turned to the new Blue Ranger. "Got any advice for this? Other than "hit him really hard"?"

"It's pretty top-heavy, so don't swing until you're ready to commit," Erika advised. "Any tricks for the bow?"

"The draw gives you more power than you think, and too much pull can throw your aim," Abbey replied. "Oh, and then ends make a good club if you're in a bind."

"Awesome!"

"Back for more, eh?" Cablelite snarled as he saw the two newly arrived Rangers. "Don't blame you. I certainly can't say no to an encore!"

"Just the opposite!" Erika retorted. "It's curtains for you!"

"We know all your tricks," Abbey agreed. "We can even see the wires!"

"In that case, I'll show you a new trick!" Cablelite insisted. "I'm going to cut one of you in half!"

The cables shot toward them, and the Rangers split, launching in all directions to divert the monster's attention. He may have had multiple arms, but Cablelite couldn't track all of them at once.

They hoped.

Abbey landed and leaped again, resisting the instinct to retreat and fire the non-existent bow. On the other flank, however, Erika wasted no time. Blue streaks flashed through the air, missing Cablelite and exploding behind him.

"Man, you weren't kidding about the aim!" Erika realized. "At least I know where to dial it back from!"

But Abbey had the other problem, feeling the pull of the weapon as she swung it back to ready a charge. Even with her enhanced strength, the weapon threatened to drag her down, causing her to stumble before leaping in fresh retreat as Cablelite's whips lashed toward her. The metal cable cracked the ground as Abbey flipped and readied another charge, only to see the swirling maelstrom of cables in her way. How could she commit when she couldn't even get a clear run?

"Erika, I've got a problem."

"I see it!" her blue ally replied. "I'm open to ideas!"

But taking the monster out wasn't their only problem. Jess had said her plan required them to get close, but there was no way they were making their way through the maze of tendrils. Not both of them.

"Guys," Jess instructed them. "We've calibrated your morphers to recreate the power surge that caused the switch. But for it to work, he'll need to be ahold of you; both of you!"

Then Abbey heard her own voice comment as Erika found another flaw. "That didn't go well for him last time. There's no way he'd risk holding two of us at once."

Not rationally, no. But…

"Then we make him mad!" Abbey realized, as her eyes narrowed on the monster.

"Wow," Erika chuckled. "One day in my body, and you're thinking like me already."

"Thanks to your caution."

"Oh, stop."

"He can't control his cables when he's distracted!" Zeke realized. "Sleight of hand, get him looking one way, and then hit him from the other."

Easier said than done, with his multiple arms it was hard to find an angle to make a ground approach. That's when it hit her, both Abbey and Erika coming to the same conclusion. "Fast Ball Special!"

"Zeke!" Abbey called as she raced into position. "Use your shield and line him up for us. Erika, think you can pull a midair shot while you reach me?"

"Only one way to find out!" Erika replied.

"You've got it!" Zeke cheered before playfully adding. "Red Ranger!"

Abbey shot toward her team, shooting past Zeke as the Yellow Ranger lunged into position and slammed down the shield. The barrier landed just in time, Cablelite's whips bouncing off the surface as the Erika took to the sky. The monster howled in fury, all his cables converging to hit the ranger on all sides just as Erika pulled back the bow.

"Breathe in!" Abbey called to her at the final moment. "Give yourself a second."

In the space of a heartbeat, one that only Abbey could notice, Erika paused, waiting for just a moment for her aim to readjust. And then she unleashed from the bow. A rain of sparkling sapphire burst from the knock, an unyielding torrent of energy. The arrow surged toward her target, and Cablelite was the perfect mark with all his tendrils focused on Zeke. Hitting the bullseye, the shot exploded on impact, consuming the monster in a fiery blast.

Right as Abbey hit the air.

Launching with all the might that the Red suit would give her, she rocketed upward, soaring into the air with a single target in mind. Erika. Having fired off the bow, the Blue-suited Ranger had reached her peak, shifting in mid-air as Abbey surged towards her with an outstretched arm. And Erika didn't waste a second, snatching out and grabbing hold as the two girls joined and spun.

With all her might, Erika swung Abbey around, twirling mid-air to build momentum at the peak of Abbey's flight. And then she let go and flung the Red-suited Ranger right at the dazed Cablelite.

With the axe in hand, Abbey wound back, roaring with all her might as her power flowed into the weapon. The axe-head glowed, a burning crimson as she felt the weight build behind as she closed in on her target at blinding speed. And then, as she crossed the distance with her enemy still stunned, Abbey roared as she brought down the weapon with everything she had.

The axe seared down, every ounce of Abbey's efforts committed to the swing, the full fury of the strike blazing as the weapon crashed into Cablelite's body. The energy unfurled outwards, crashing into her target to cascading into a devastating blast. Cablelite went rocking backward as Abbey kicked off, landing gracefully in a leg-extended crouch as her target smashed into the ground behind her.

Now that was power. Abbey could see why Erika liked the axe so much.

"Alright!" Erika cheered as she landed.

"Way to go, Abbey!" Zeke congratulated.

"Aren't you forgetting about someone!"

Cablelite's voice snarled in fury, the tendrilled magician leaping to his feet. "So, you want some extra reach, do you? Have some of mine!"

Step one: make him mad. Mission accomplished. Now Abbey just had to survive the backlash. It was the part of the plan she was least looking forward to; letting him hit her. Every nerve braced as her muscles tightened, ready as Abbey let him take the bait and the tendrils wrapped around her body. A rocketing force ripped her from her feet, reeling her toward him as she met his porcelain face to see a smile of sinister glee.

"Now!" Cablelite cackled. "With the help of my lovely assistant over here…!"

"We already said no!" blue streaks flashed across the air, splashing searingly against Cablelite's body as he spun and snarled to where Erika was standing her bow drawn and aiming. She'd used just the right amount of force, not enough to knock him down, but more than enough to grab his attention.

Erika pulled back, but Cablelite had other ideas.

"I don't think so!" Another cable whipped out, lashing around Erika to bind and hold her still. "I think that's enough of that!

"Oh, we're just getting started!" Erika retorted as the visor of her blue helmet locked with Abbey's Red one. "You ready Abbey!"

"All set!" Abbey agreed before bellowing into the coms. "Jess! Do it now!"

"Wait!" Cablelite cried, "What're you-?"

The Morphers burst to life. The energy flashed, red and blue blitzing outward before surging up the cables in sizzling arcs. The bolts bounded up their tracks, crackling with intent as the power flushed right through Cablite and crossed streams. And then they fired back, back into their Rangers holding tight at each end.

The last time had been intense enough; this time Abbey was surprised she was even able to hold on. The nerves fired together, numbing and pricking at every inch of her skin as the red energy coursed through her. Last time, she'd been too amazed, too confused; but this time Abbey knew exactly what was happening. And that just made it even weirder. Her vision blurred again, Cablelite fading into a shaking haze as the monster's howls filled her ears. Too much to handle, Abbey sunk to her knees, seeing Erika's faint blue silhouette do the same. She had done the same, the bodies were linked and responding to each other!

And it hardened Abbey's resolve only further. She wasn't letting go, not now. And Erika wasn't either.

"Almost there!" Jess warned them. "Just a second longer!"

The whole world spun like she'd been flipped on her head as the distant shape kept shifting from red to blue and back again. Like Abbey could no longer tell which one she was staring at, or what was staring back at her. But just as she'd wondered, a flaring blue hue consumed her vision, an almost blinding flash as at last Cablelite began to thrash from the power coursing through him. For a moment, just one, Abbey and Erika let themselves be thrown, valuing their connection more than they feared the danger as colored flashes burst from their morphers once more.

And just like that, as if gravity had suddenly reclaimed her, the sensation vanished and Abbey felt herself soaring. The last of energy crackled up the cables, converging on Cableite's body before culminating in a calamitous blast.

As the thunderous boom echoed beneath them, Cablelite let them go, and this time the girls didn't fight it. Feel the release, the soared, gracefully flipping through the air to land where they'd started as at last, they dared look at each other.

What Abbey saw staring back at her was a Red Power Ranger, morphed and ready for action. And if Erika was back in her body, then…

Looking down, Abbey's eyes widened, gasping with relief as she saw the comfort of her own light blue suit.

"We did it!" she exclaimed, hands pressing to her helmet with absolute glee. "It worked!"

"All right!" Erika cheered. "It's good to be back!"

"Way to go!" Jess congratulated. "Hilary, Operation De-Freak Friday was a success!"

Over in the distance, something boomed.

"I'll be with you in a moment, just got to deal with some parts that belong in the trash!"

"Speaking of trash," Zeke decided as he leaped to the girls. "Want to show this guy what we think of his tricks?"

"Yeah!" Abbey agreed.

"Let's put it together!"

With Zeke's shield as the foundation, Abbey and Erika moved in perfect synch, locking their weapons in place while Cablelite staggered in recovering from the backlash. By the time the monster had regained his footing, he was staring down the combined might of the three weapons.

"No! I'm not ready for the grand finale!"

"DeFrag Blaster!" the trio declared. "Fire!"

The mighty cannon boomed, the shot searing across the distance the shattering into the panicking monster. A mighty fireball erupted from the impact, flaring in all directions as Cablelite was blown apart. The Rangers cheered, retrieving their weapons as steaming chunks rained down on the ground.

Behind them, another series of explosions boomed, and the three of them watched as ArcKnight went flying backward. Seconds later, Ender followed, equally hurled from a powerful blast as Lena and Miguel launched themselves in pursuit. Seeing their comrades together, the Black and White Rangers diverted.

"Good to see you guys patched things up," Miguel decided cheerfully,

"Yeah, we just needed to be better in synch," Abbey smiled back.

"Oh, how heartwarming," Ender sneered. "They learned a valuable life lesson."

"Rather useless when we will cut it short," ArcKnight agreed.

"I wouldn't be so sure!"

Ray's voice bellowed across the battlefield as he and Hilary launched themselves high, unloading their Mainframe Blasters as they left a steaming pile of Cyberdrones behind. The two henchmen staggered to dodge as bursts of gold and silver rained down upon them. As the attacks exploded into fresh balls of fire, Ray and Hilary landed beside their team and all seven Rangers stared the two henchmen down.

"You were saying something about being cut short?" Erika taunted.

The two shared a look and scowled. "You may have won once this day," ArcKnight warned them. "But this battle is far from over."

The two vanished in their trademark emerald flash, heralding a fresh beam that descended on Cablelite's scattered remnants. The steaming chunks were drawn together, glowing white hot as they reformed and began to swell, growing and growing before restoring the monster at a massive eighty-foot height.

"Ta-da!" he declared triumphantly. "And just like that, I reappear!"

"I'm getting real sick of this guy's tricks," Erika grumbled.

But no giant monster was going to ruin Abbey's mood. Not after everything they'd just gone through, everything they'd achieved. She was back in her rightful body, but there was no way she was forgetting what she'd gone through. How it had made her stronger.

"Then let's take him down like we always do," Abbey said sweetly, smiling at Erika beneath her helm as the Red Ranger looked at her. "Together."

Erika didn't need to look, she knew, and as she nodded in agreement, Abbey realized that their expressions mirrored. Then Erika spun determinedly toward the rampaging monster and commanded into the coms. "Mission control? We need Sever Zord Power, now!"

"Coming right up!" Jess replied excitedly. "Deploying Zords!"

Engines roared in the distance, mighty engines thundering towards them as the vehicles materialized and closed in on the site. The Rangers wasted no time, leaping into the cockpits as Abbey took to the sky beside Ray and Hilary.

"Let's bring them together!"

The Gold and Silver fliers peeled off, converging into battle mode as the four ground vehicles moved into position. The screens lit up, the two cars locking into the truck and cycle as Abbey shot the jet into a dive to link with the others. As the plane opened up and locked into the back, Abbey's chair shot backward, pulling her into the elevator to wheel her into the fresh cockpit. Strapped in with her team beside her, the mighty combined mech took a quaking step forward as Ray and Hilary steered their own beside them.

"Cyber Crash Megazord! Online!'

"Sigma-Drive Megazord! Online!"

"New volunteers!" Cablelite cheered. "I love audience participation!"

"Thought we make something of our own appear!" Erika taunted back.

While their Red Ranger continued to taunt, Abbey's eyes were scanning the readings, determining capabilities as she concocted a plan.

"Erika?" she asked. "Think you can get him to hit us with those cables?"

"You know I can!"

"Miguel, Lena?" Abbey decided. "Get ready to put all power into the rear thrusters. "Ray, Hilary? Can you hang back for the opening? You'll know it when you see it!"

"Can do!" Hilary cheerfully replied.

"Hey, Houdini!" Erika challenged from the cockpit. "We're getting tired of your reappearing act. Don't you ever try something new?"

"Maybe I just appreciate the classics!" Cablelite sneered back. "Like this!"

With a furious cackle, Cablelite's tendrils whipped towards them, lashing at the Megazord to bind its limbs tight. Just as Abbey had hoped.

"NOW!"

The rear thrusters flared to life, lifting the Cyber-Crash off the ground just as the cables wrapped around it. The entire machine lurched as they yanked back down, rockets still pushing upwards as the two forces pulled in opposite directions. Down on the ground, Cablelite was heaving with all his might, furiously dragging at the ascending Megazord and pulling his tendrils tight.

"There it is!" Abbey exclaimed. "Ray, Hilary; do you see the wires?"

"Just like a Chris Angel show!" Ray laughed.

"Coming in hot!" Hilary warned.

With Cablelite doing all he could to keep the Cyber-Crash on the ground, he was pinned in place. Too focused on one Megazord, he'd paid no attention to the other lying in wait. The one that was now rumbling in, lunging for ties the bound and chopping down. The thousand-ton arm of the SigmaDrive Megazord crashed down on the wires, ripping them from their owner's grip as they sundered in two.

"Always hate it when I can see the wires!" Ray laughed as the Megazord spun around and Cyber-Crash landed beside it.

"I think his show's gone on long enough," Erika decided.

"Time to really make something disappear!" Abbey agreed.

"Let's do it!"

The rockets flared as the Cyber-Crash took off, soaring into the sky as the Sigma-Drive readied beneath them. Reaching the perfect flight, the canons emerged from the Megazord's arms, barrels glowing with white-hot energy as the targeting display aimed at the wounded monster.

"CryptoShred HyperCannon!" they called together.

"SigmaDrive Blasters!" Ray and Hilary declared.

Staggering, Cablelite looked at them all in horror, face still trapped with a permanent smile from its mask. "But I don't want to go out with a bang!"

"FIRE!"

The searing beams burst from both the Megazords, surging toward the monsters as they converged on the target. Both flashed in impact, blasts colliding to combine in a blazing ball of white-hot light. The concrete beneath him ruptured, buckling beneath the force of the blaster as every atom of Cablelite was incinerated into nothingness. With the blasters smoking, the Cyber-Crash touched down, landing beside the Sigma-Drive as the two Megazords stood tall and defiant.

With the monster gone, the city was safe again. And sitting up in the cockpit, Abbey looked proudly at Erika, the one who led them to victory time and time again. With a little help.

Another early Monday, and Abbey was already at school, right on schedule. She had to admit, she was glad she'd had the weekend to decompress and recover. Grateful as she was for Erika's attempts at living her life, participating and achieving were different things, and it felt good to be back in control of the direction again. After two days of realigning, Abbey was back in line with everything she needed to do, and now she could look forward to getting it done. Of course, that also meant an early start on a Monday morning, getting everything finished for the Spring Bloom Planning Committee before they met that afternoon. No rest for the wicked, it seemed.

Abbey had just laid everything out, ready to begin production when there was a knock at the door. While surprised that anyone was also at school for such an early hour, Abbey was even more surprised to see Erika standing at the threshold. But as perplexed as Abbey was, Erika's face bore an equal expression.

"I just ran into Principal Goodson," her eyes were still squinting in continued disbelief. "She wants me to take your speech slot later this week."

At the explanation, Abbey couldn't help but smile slyly, all too aware of the conversation. "Did she happen to say why?"

Erika didn't buy Abbey's innocence for even a moment. "Something about, "celebrating the triumph of progress." And I don't have to be a mind reader to know that sounds familiar to you."

Guilty, although Abbey didn't feel bad about it one bit. Sending that email had been the very first thing Abbey had done upon getting her body back. It was the first change she wanted to make, and in her eyes, the most important.

"You didn't have to do that, Abbey," Erika said as she stepped into the room. "You didn't have to give up your moment for me."

"But I wanted to," Abbey replied. "Because you were right. It's always the same people, all the time that get celebrated when there are so many more out there striving to be heard and noticed. And maybe it's a good idea to start spotlighting how far people have come instead of just the ones who got a closer start to the finish line."

One day in Erika's shoes was all it had taken for Abbey to see how invisible her friend really was. If Abbey truly wanted to make a difference, then that was where it had to start. At first, Erika stood there silently, her mouth slightly open as if she didn't know what to say. But then, she let the guard drop, nodding with a grateful smile.

"Thanks, Abs," she said sincerely. "It means a lot."

"Hey, and you let your hair down," Abbey realized, suddenly putting her finger on the different air about her friend. "It looks nice."

"Yeah," Erika admitted, shying away from the compliment as she nervously played with the dead-straight strands that brushed her shoulders. "Caught sight of something new, thought I'd give it a shot."

"Well, you're rocking it, but I'm also guessing you didn't come down here at an ungodly hour just to show me your new hair." Suddenly Abbey's eyes widened with glee as she realized the one thing that could possibly stir Erika into such an early rise. "Oh my god! Did you find out about the audition?"

"We did," Erika grinned. "We got it. We got into the Battle of the Bands!"

Abbey was already at the door, squealing with excitement for her friend as she threw her arms in congratulations. She half expected Erika to back away, but to Abbey's surprise the girl embraced her too, the two of them bouncing around with triumphant glee at the news.

"That's fantastic!"

"I literally couldn't have done it without you," said Erika. "I owe you big time."

"It was nothing," Abbey insisted. "You'd have done the same for me."

"You're right," Erika agreed, nodding to the collection of poster papers sprawled out on the desk. "And that's why I'm here. I joined the Spring Bloom committee."

Wait… she what?

Abbey didn't know what to say, she always assumed that the planning committee for a school dance would be Erika's literal definition of hell. And yet, the girl stood there without a single hint of humor, or sarcasm. To Abbey's absolute amazement, Erika appeared to be completely sincere.

"Are you sure?" she asked. "I would have thought you'd hate all that stuff?"

"Oh, I've got no interest in the meetings," Erika clarified. "Feel free to make all the decisions you want. But if an extra pair of hands helps free up some time, maybe show you the things you don't have to take on alone? Well then maybe that's where I can help. Abbey, you do amazing things, and nothing should ever take away from that. But you don't have to slave away at it alone. Not when you've got your friends to help you out."

To be honest, Abbey had to admit the realization from watching the horror on Erika's face upon seeing her schedule. If she felt so bad inflicting it on a friend, why was she so willing to do it to herself?

"It was a bit of a wake-up call," Abbey conceded. "Man, if I had a nickel every time I saw someone else looking like me and living my life…"

"Yeah, it is weird that it's happened twice," Erika agreed with a chuckle. "But it's not just you. Those changes that I made, that progress you insisted on telling Goodson about? That's not just about me; that happened because of you. Because you and Ray and everyone else took the time the time to help me. They didn't wait for me to ask, they stepped up and offered. So that's what I'm doing here, I'm not waiting for you to take a step back, I'm here to lighten the load. I'm here to help you see how things can be with less on your plate, and maybe even give you a little nudge toward the things you should be doing for yourself."

There was a glint of mischief in Erika's eye as she made that final comment, one that Abbey couldn't' quite discern. But whatever it was, it didn't matter, not there and then, not when a friend that she so often butted heads with was so earnestly standing there offering her a hand.

"So how about it?" Erika asked her. "Want to make some school dance posters with me?"

"It would be my pleasure," Abbey smiled.

For the rest of that morning, the two girls merrily worked on their project, time flying by as they made more headway than Abbey could have possibly done on her own. When the time finally came to meet their friends, the two of them merrily collected their work and strode off down the corridor. Ready for another day of their lives, another mile in their own shoes.

Partners until the end.

NEXT TIME:

The Spring Bloom is on the horizon, and everyone has the same question on their minds- who's taking who? But as Abbey and Miguel continue dancing around each other, the team decides to take matters into their own hands. Meanwhile, Zeke follows Miguel when he decides to investigate Xaviax's facilities alone, and soon the two are on the run for their survival. Can Miguel finally find the nerve to confess how he feels to Abbey? Can he and Zeke overcome their differences and escape from Xaviax's deadly clutches? And what further plans does Davian Scolex have for Lakeview, and how does it involve the members of the city council?

Find out the answers to these questions, next time on:
POWER RANGERS
SERVER FORCE

Beneath the Surface.

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.

Where the Line Overlap
Written by: Josh Farro & Hayley Williams
Performed by: Paramore
Courtesy of: Fuelled by Ramen/ Atlantic, Warner Chappell Music