How it makes you feel; what was Lena even meant to do with that?

With a curse of frustration, Lena cast the paper and pencil aside, abandoning the apple she'd been staring at for the last half-hour for inspiration. After Ender's attack in the street, Ray had shot straight back to the lab to debrief with Hilary, providing no opportunity to console Lena or provide advice. Left to her own devices, Lena decided to at least try applying Erika's suggestion. So far, it was to no avail.

Ever since returning to the apartment, Lena had been staring at the fruit bowl, trying all she could to consider how she felt about the inanimate object, how she could inject imperfection into an immaculate recreation drawn from her perfect recall. The results had drawn no fruit.

Urgh! Lena didn't even know why she cared so much. It was just one stupid grade, and the task was done and dusted. There was no reason why she couldn't move on with her life. And yet, this stupid drawing lingered in her mind, taunting her with failure.

Because deep down, Lena knew why it was that she didn't understand, why it was that she'd failed. She'd recreated the object perfectly, yes, but in being absent of feeling, it had put her inhumanity on full display. Because her teacher was right, her creation had been lifeless. It had been a copy, nothing more, created by a soulless machine. She could replicate, perfectly even, but no matter how immaculate Lena's handiwork could be, it would never be unique. It would never be something that she created.

Sighing with sullen resignation, Lena gathered up the drawing supplies on the bench and readied to go downstairs. Running computer algorithms, she could do. It would at least put the machine side of her to good use, and she didn't need a single creative impulse to do it.

Cheepcheep. Cheepcheep.

The sound broke through Lena's thoughts, puncturing the defeated silence. Surrendering to curiosity, Lena turned slowly toward the source, letting her eyes track the surroundings before spying a tiny robin basking on the windowsill. It was hunched over, pecking at the brickwork as if expecting a chance find, undeterred by its lack of discovery, as it leaned back and hopped to another location to try again. Every time it did, its burnt orange plumage pushed out into the sun, proudly displayed for anyone watching. And for a reason that Lena couldn't quite describe, it captivated her.

Every time the bird bounced to a new location, it drew her further, silently daring Lena to examine it more closely as she slowly took a chair and rested in awe-inspired observation. It was beautiful, so small and simple, yet so elegant and complex. It didn't seem to be looking for anything in particular, at least nothing that it was going to find so high up, and yet, it seemed to simply be reveling in simply… being.

And as she watched it, that same sense of serene calm fell upon Lena as well. Its movements were jerky, imprecise in its ill-fated search of spoils. And yet, just from the way it danced in the light, it was beautiful.

Lena didn't even need to reach for a pencil; her inbuilt photographic memory would allow her to easily recall the shapes later. Instead, she simply sat there, watching the small bird revel in the sunlight as she joined in its sweet serenity. Reveling in the feeling. And when, at last, the bird had taken flight, blustering its wings before the sunset to flutter away into the city, Lena exhaled a cathartic breath and smiled with a fresh understanding.

And then she reached for her pad and pencil and set to work.

The elevator doors dinged to announce Ray's arrival, barely giving him space to step into the room as Jessica hurried past him.

"Sorry!"

Far from being one to interrupt or slow her down, Ray expressed his acceptance as he headed to the terminal. Sitting in her seat, Hilary was watching the news footage of Scolex's press conference with narrowing eyes of resentment.

"Just look at him," she said bitterly. "Lapping up all the praise for making this city worse. If the people only knew…"

"He'll be his own undoing," Ray assured. "Pride always comes before the fall. Eventually, he won't be able to hold up the weight of his own ego. We've just got to help throw his balance."

"Easier said than done," said Hilary. "He's got everyone in this city strung up like a marionette, and we don't exactly have many strings to pull ourselves."

"Things strike out with the mayor?"

"As long as these security personnel are here in a private capacity, Feilding's go no interest in stopping them," Hilary explained. "And in the meantime, it gives him an excuse to stop funding the Silver Guardians. He's got a chance to offload a problem away from the taxpayer, and he's not going to say no."

Ray nodded with resigned agreement. He could hardly blame the mayor for that decision. Ever since Kyle arrived with the Silver Guardian reinforcements, Xaviax had only upped the attacks on the city. If anything, the extra hands were making the place less safe, all the while, Scolex's own brand of private forces could swoop in as new saviors.

One option was looking far more effective than the other and a whole lot cheaper to the city to boot.

"Is there anything we can do?" Ray asked.

"For now? I think we've just got to wait it out," said Hilary sadly. "And who knows, maybe giving Scolex what he wants will even turn the tables. He might want his own security forces to look effective, but he'll have to keep sending the monster attacks to justify these Cyberdyne Protectors. Maybe giving him the stage to play both sides without a hand to play into is exactly the chance to make him slip up."

Ray's only reply was a skeptically raised eyebrow, to which Hilary sighed in agreement.

"I said it was an option, not that it was a good one."

And yet, it still seemed like the only one available to them. Hitting mute on the news coverage, Hilary turned in the seat to at least look at her husband.

"I feel like I've barely left here since getting back from San Jose," she admitted. "Sorry, I guess I haven't been the most attentive partner recently."

"If you haven't been down here, then I've been out there looking for ArcKnight," Ray replied. "It's been a crazy couple of weeks for both of us. It feels like we've barely had time for ourselves, let alone each other."

A sad admittance of their times, and Ray had to admit that the only thing getting him through it was that it was temporary. He hoped. Scolex already had them chasing their tails, but with ArcKnight on the loose and putting innocent people in danger, it was burning them at both ends just to keep the city safe.

Seeing her husband's exhaustion, Hilary reached out to take his hand, guiding him into the chair beside her. "You know what? You told me months ago that even Atlas needed a break. Maybe that's what we need, too."

"A night off?" Ray asked.

"Don't look at me," Hilary said playfully. "I'm just following your advice."

"You are, are you?" Ray smiled. "Well then, if you're in an obliging mood, I might have a few other suggestions. What kind of night off did you have in mind?"

"Well, I did see that they've got a community night at the Hub…"

Ray's face dropped, pouting and unimpressed as he wheeled the chair back and looked at her skeptically. "You've been talking to Erika, haven't you?"

He didn't know what he expected: half-hearted denial or guilty admission. But instead, Hilary looked at him with perplexion, short-circuiting as she tried to compute his accusation. "What?' No, I just saw that it was on and thought it would be nice to go to. What has Erika got to do with it?"

Busted.

For a moment, Ray considered passing it off as nothing, something that didn't matter. But it did, and it had been bothering him since his protégé had first suggested it that afternoon. At the time, it had caught Ray off guard, but it had left a sense that lingered with a prevailing unease. He could barely convince himself, let alone his loving partner of fifteen years.

"She tried to convince me to play a set," Ray said finally.

"That's a great idea!" said Hilary. "I know it wouldn't quite be an "us" thing, but you should totally give it a shot!"

But try as he did, Ray was unable to muster an expression that matched his wife's enthusiasm.

"…or not," Hilary backpedaled. "What's the matter? You used to love getting up on stage to play."

"In high school? Yeah," Ray admitted. "But that was a long time ago. And I don't know if…"

He'd never been able to put a finger on when his feelings about playing had changed. The truth was that it hadn't been just one singular moment. In his teen years, the instrument had been practically attached to his hand, and any spare night had been spent strumming to his heart's content. It had been a dream come true when his classmates had suggested starting a band and then when they became good enough to play a weekly spot at the café. They became even stronger when Johnny joined them to tear up the stage.

But as time went on, there was something about it that lost its spark. Following graduation, each of the Argonauts went their separate ways, a fresh start for all of them in a new stage of life. In his first year at Berkley, Ray had given a new band a shot, answering a sign sheet posted on his dorm's message board. They'd met a few times and jammed through a couple of songs. But while it had been fun, the group had peated out soon after. Without the same friends whose company he'd loved so much, the drive to keep playing slowly faded. Soon, weeks would go by, and Ray wouldn't even touch his guitar, leaving it to gather dust on the stand, the strings dulling out of tune from lack of use. Then weeks turned into months, and then to years, and now the guitars that Ray still owned felt more ornamental than an extension of who he was. A relic of a time long gone.

As he trailed off, Hilary sat in patient silence, taking his hand in a soft encouragement to take his time. In truth, his choice to put down the guitar had never been an active one, just something that happened over time. And now it was back, staring him in the face like an old friend demanding why they'd been forgotten.

"Some of my best memories of high school were on that stage," Ray admitted quietly. "The time spent just screwing around with Gary and Travis or opening the door to get to know Johnny. All those afternoons I'd spend at the Shak with you guys, before and after a show."

"I know I certainly enjoyed them," Hilary smiled back. There was a warmth to how she said, an acknowledgment that was almost guilty of the personal satisfaction she'd gained from seeing him on that stage. Remembering all the times that she, even if it was only in hindsight, had been the object of his inspiration. That so many songs had been for her when both had been too shy and awkward at the time to admit it. "So, what about now?"

"Now? I don't know. It's been so long since I've played, I guess I'm worried that it's gone for good. That those moments will only ever be in my memories, and that it'll never be the same as it was."

Or worse, that those memories had never been as Ray recollected. That returning to the stage would reveal the folly in his reminiscence and taint the happy memories for good.

And then, direct as ever and nodding slowly with soft acceptance, Hilary told Ray exactly what he needed to hear. "It won't be. Those memories, you'll still have those, and nothing needs to take away or change them. Your time on stage, the hours spent with your friends, and the Shak, that'll always be a part of you. It shaped your life, all of ours."

A soft chuckle forced its way from Ray's chest as another memory flashed by: five teens leaving the Shak after his first gig to take a shortcut home through an abandoned warehouse district. She was right, that night had changed their lives forever.

"But just because you'll always have those memories from High School," Hilary continued softly, "that doesn't mean you can't make new ones either. It'll never be the same, but that doesn't mean it'll be bad. You're not the same person that you were then; neither of us are. The people we were when we fell in love have changed and grown together. But that doesn't mean we can't return to something we once enjoyed to see if there's still something there. And if it is different from how you remember? If those memories that you cherish never really unfolded the way you think they did? That doesn't make you a fool or a fraud. It makes you human."

As his heart slowed to a soft and calming beat, Ray looked into the eyes of his warmly beaming wife. The woman he'd been through so much with, who'd stood by his side in so many ways over so many journeys. Friend, teammate, girlfriend, wife. She'd seen all of him, his good times and his bad. And there was no one else who Ray trusted more.

"Whether you go on that stage or not," Hilary assured him, "it won't make you any less the man I love."

With an alluring smile, Hilary pulled Ray closer for a deep and loving kiss, and Ray gratefully returned it as he pulled her into his embrace. When, at last, they pulled away, they both sat smiling like a pair of idiots, enthralled with each other's joy and no other care in the world.

"You good?' Hilary asked sweetly.

"Yeah, I'm good," Ray replied. "Thanks for the pep talk."

"Hey," said Hilary as she spun the chair back around for the desk. "I had to have picked up something after all these years."

But her timing couldn't have been worse, as the muted broadcast showed Scolex striding up the podium just as they returned their attention to the screen. The lights flashed from the camera bulbs, and the billionaire waved to the crowd as he stood before a large rectangular structure draped beneath a sheet.

"Well, that certainly ruins the mood," Hilary said dryly.

"He knows how to put on a show, I'll give him that," Ray agreed.

"Six months ago, this city came under a frightening attack," Scolex announced proudly. "A malicious frequency nearly brought us to our knees, crippled by our reliance on modern technology. But since that day, the engineers and Scientists and Cyberdyne Industries have been working tirelessly to advance our technology further so that we will never again be made vulnerable to such a vindictive assault. Today, we can proudly announce the culmination of this work: The Cyberdyne Industries Power and Telecommunications Network!"

With a proud flourish, he reached back to the sheet and yanked it, revealing the tall metallic device beneath. It was almost built like a miniature building, rising above the platform with glowing, green rectangular panels on each side. The top of the device spired upward, a long pole shaped like a lightning rod protruding from its apex. Seeing the finished product, Ray noticed Hilary's jaw clenching beneath her otherwise stony expression.

"On a scale of one to ten, how bad is that for us?"

"If he's gone to this much effort, it's at least a seven," said Hilary. "As for whether this is the endgame or not, the jury's still out."

"Wild to think that he pushed this out early if it's so important," Ray noted. "Wasn't the initial announcement scheduled for next week?"

And then he stopped, the whole world freezing as the idea occurred to him just as Hilary reached the answer. Both stared, eyes widening in horror as it slowly on them what Scolex was up to. He'd changed the schedule for a reason: to trip up the people who had originally planned around it. Or one in particular who would be unable to resist.

"It's a trap," Hilary gasped. "He's set a trap for ArcKnight."

"He's putting himself out there as bait," Ray realized. "And he's putting a whole of people in danger to do it."

Each of them diving for the console, the two Rangers hammered at the controls and dials, activating all channels to contact the team.

"Rangers, ArcKnight's making a play for the Press conference!" Ray warned into the coms. "We need to get down there, now!"

A sea of hands shot to the air, a hive of eager reporters all searching for a soundbite. Up on stage and in his element, Scolex continued his charismatic performance as he selected the first question.

"Lovely to talk to you again so soon, Ms. Cornell."

"Sure. The last few months have seen a rapid involvement of your company with City Hall, raising concerns about a private citizen taking over the role of elected officials. Can you comment on how your company won the tender for so many government contracts?"

As Scolex grinned like a watchful predator and readied to answer the question, the team hurried to the crowd's edge. With so many people over such a large area, there was no telling what ground they needed to cover, even with all seven of them present.

The Silver Guardians had been the scene from the outset and already formed a careful perimeter. But with Scolex providing his own security, the Guardians were stuck on the wider edges, out-staged by the black-clad enforcers.

"We've got to get everyone out of here," Miguel realized. "There's no way we can protect everyone when they're all gathered like this."

"Trust Scolex to find the most dramatic way of endangering people," Lena agreed bitterly.

"This is insane," Abbey gasped. "Is he really going to put all of these people in danger just to make himself look good?" Beside her, Zeke shot her a skeptical look, and Abbey conceded almost immediately. "I know, I heard it as I said it."

"We haven't got time to figure out the game plan," said Erika. "We've just got to adapt on the fly. Split to cover more ground, and if you see a Cyberdrone, call it in."

Lena didn't like it, but they didn't have a choice. As a plan, it was far from perfect, but it was all they had. They just had to pray that it would be enough.

But half a second later, the plan was already blown to hell as a flash of green burst in the distance, and a scream sounded from the crowd. Over toward the stage, the reporters whipped around, clambering backward in fear as Scolex masked his satisfaction with a menacing scowl. Moving through the fleeing crowd, ArcKnight was striding forward with a horde of Cyberdrones at his back.

"By order of the Silver Guardians on behalf of Lakeview," Kyle ordered as the perimeter guard raced to block his path. "Stand down and disperse immediately!"

"I am here for vengeance that is rightfully mine," ArcKnight said darkly. "If you insist on standing in my way, then it is you that must disperse."

There was no warning, no wind-up to prepare. With one fell swoop, the blade sliced through the air, unleashing a blast of emerald light that carved toward the intervening Guardians. Kyle barely had a chance to dive, leaping from harm with his fellow soldiers as the attack blasted at their feet. The Guardians went flying, and ArcKnight continued his menacing stride toward the stage.

Scolex's security was already lining up to intervene, with the billionaire standing strong in defiance against his attacker. The message was clear: Scolex wasn't going anywhere, no matter the danger to him or anyone else.

"He's not backing down," Zeke realized in horror. "It doesn't matter how many people are in danger."

"Then it's a good thing they've got us," said Erika. She took a bold step forward, morpher flashing her wrist with her keycard drawn. "You guys ready?"

"Ready!" replied the six as they stepped to her side.

"Sever Force! Login Access!"

Seven columns of blazing light burst from their wrists, consuming them all in blinding beams of red, blue, yellow, black, white, gold, and silver. The power surged through them, stoking the power within from embers to a roaring flame. As the grid imbued, the suits molded to their forms, completely encasing them in the protective layer as their faces vanished behind the visors. With the light fading, the Rangers leaped into the field, striking down the rampaging Cyberdrones as they faced off against ArcKnight.

"Can't have a party without us," said Erika.

"We've got you surrounded, ArcKnight," Ray warned. "Seven to one, what're you gonna do?"

In response to the taunt, a surging crimson light consumed the armored warrior as he laughed. The glowering grew, splitting out beside him before suddenly they were facing not one ArcKnight, but seven.

"You had to ask him," Hilary said dryly.

"If more of you have come to fall, then allow me to oblige," said ArcKnight sinisterly.

"Remember, everyone," Lena advised. "The more of him there are, the weaker he becomes."

"My power may be split…"

"…but it is more than enough for you!"

Lena didn't know what she was expecting, but it was certainly a lot less than she got. They lunged in a united front, knowing that the Rangers would stick to defense, and the ArcKnights charged with full fury to split the Rangers from each other. The sword cleft forward, faster than Lena was ready for, and she stumbled back with a desperate parry to rebuild her footing as the dark warrior glowered toward her.

"Had some upgrades, huh, ArcKnight?"

"I merely have the freedom to make modifications now that I am rid of Xaviax's tyranny," said ArcKnight. "Perhaps something you should consider."

"Thanks, I'm good."

This time, Lena was ready when he lunged, stepping into a full defensive stance as he rocketed forward like a steam train. The blades clashed, sparks bursting as the Security Saber collided with the dark iron. But while ArcKnight pressed on with the assault, Lena had a different plan. As the giant sword rocketed forward, Lena sidestepped, leaping into a twisting pirouette to land on ArcKnight's flank. With the dark knight committed, Lena sliced the sword against the armor, shearing it across the metal.

The warrior howled as he stumbled forward, and Lena launched into an offense of her own. Having barely turned around in time, it was ArcKnight's turn to be on the back foot, deflecting Lena's onslaught while backstepping with every blow.

"You think I'd want to mess with this?" Lena scolded. "Looks like I'm holding up just fine."

"You cannot defeat me, White Ranger," ArcKnight growled. "You may have an advantage over your comrades, but I am the superior in a duel."

"Really? So how come you've never beaten me?"

With a roar of renewed fury, ArcKnight threw her back and roared, just like Lena hoped. Too blinded by his anger, the warrior swiped wide, all power and no finesse in a raging attempt to cut the White Ranger down. With the flicker of a smirk, Lena dived and rolled, feeling the blade pummeled the air above as she rose behind him and sliced against the hamstrings. The blow connected with a spray of sparks, and ArcKnight howled as he dropped to the ground.

Before Lena could plunge in for the finish, ArcKnight whipped around, sword slicing the air in an attempt to force her back. Lena saw it just in time, flipping away as the warrior staggered up.

"You may as well give it up, ArcKnight," Lena warned. "Even if there's still more of you, well, it's still only more of you."

"But that's where you're wrong, Mileena," ArcKnight chuckled. "You forget about the most crucial part of facing a Knight. You must always be wary of where they can land."

In the space of a nanosecond, Lena's mind re-evaluated, computing new variables as she considered not just ArcKnight's plan but his endgame. ArcKnight was the embodiment of Scolex's wrath, who pursued the objects of his hatred with unyielding zeal. Who could make copies of himself.

Copes that weren't limited to the seven that they'd seen.

With a gasp, Lena whipped around, eyes widening as she saw Scolex's forces battling it out with the Cyberdrones before the podium. Scolex stood above them, proud at his podium in a defiant refusal to back away. And if anyone would expect that, it would be ArcKnight.

"Guys, get to the stage!" she yelled into the coms. "There's another ArcKnight! I repeat, there's another ArcKnight!"

Ray heard the warning but was in no position to reply, locked in combat with an ArcKnight of his own that chased him further from the others. He may not have been strong, but he was certainly quick and had enough of both to give the Gold Ranger a world of trouble. Ray knew in the long game he could handle ArcKnight, but the long game was no longer an option. Their enemy had played them perfectly, splitting the seven of them off to prevent them from changing the field. If any peeled away, then the ArcKnight left unaccompanied would be free to charge his true target, damning anyone else in their path.

They needed to reset the terms of battle, and they needed to do it soon.

"Jess, I'm taking suggestions here."

"Right now, if there's an eighth one of him, it's not coming up on my scans," Jess replied. "But I've been analyzing the data from your last few fights with the ArcKnight copies, and I think you've got another problem. Copying himself splits up his power, but when a copy goes down, the power goes back to him."

"Meaning?"

"Every ArcKnight you destroy will make the other ones stronger!"

"Well, isn't that great?" Hilary grumbled across the coms. On the other side of the venue, Ray could just make her out, weaving beneath a blow as she thrust in the Mainframe Broadsword.

"You should be less concerned about your teammates," ArcKnight warned. "And more concerned with me!"

Rightly calling Ray on his distraction, the warrior swiped to take advantage. The Gold Ranger saw it only just in time, leaping back and reading the Broadsword for a parry as ArcKnight mounted a fresh offensive.

Think, Ray! Think!

What did ArcKnight want?

It had to be more than Scolex's destruction, that was too simple. If vengeance was what ArcKnight wanted, then there needed to be something else to it. Some reason why he picked an arena so public.

And then it hit him, and it gave him an idea.

"Erika?" he asked into the coms. "How're you going over there!"

"ArcKnight has got to have been working out, I swear," came the reply. "Must be all that free time."

"Think you could handle another? I've got somewhere to go."

"Well, if it's important, how could I say no? Time to Battlize!"

Throwing the ArcKnight copy back, Ray's feet shifted, side-stepping the warrior before delivering a devastating blow to the side. The blow was enough to send the armored warrior flying, tumbling across the ground as a bolt of crimson lightning cracked down from the sky.

"Cyber Ronin Battle Armor! Online!"

For a moment, the ArcKnight facing Ray considered charging right back at him, only to quickly see he had bigger problems. Seconds later, a blast sounded from behind as a second ArcKnight went soaring to tumble at the other's feet. Rising from the smoke, Erika's armored form leaped into view and landed at Ray's side.

"We can handle them all at once if we destroy them together," Ray told her.

"Then I guess I've got my work cut out for me!" Erika decided.

Erika charged the pair of ArcKnights without another word, her glowing nodachi flashing as they levied their blades to parry. As the two engaged the Red Ranger, Ray leaped deeper into the crowd, making for the cluster of Cyberdrones in the middle who were battling it out with Scolex's security and the remnant Silver Guardians. A second later, Ray saw who he was looking for: Cassidy Cornel from Channel 3, along with her loyal cameraman, Devin.

If Ray hadn't known better, he'd have been shocked at how calmly the two were handling the chaos surrounding them.

"Miss Cornell!" Ray called out as he dropped beside them. "How're you doing? Long time viewer, big fan."

For a moment, the veteran reporter looked at him with shock, brain short-circuiting as the Gold Ranger openly addressed her in the middle of a crisis. But the moment of confusion lasted only a moment, and seconds later, she was all business.

"Devin, keep it rolling," she ordered before holding up the mic to Ray's helmet. "Mr. Gold Ranger, do you have any comment on the danger the city has been placed in today?"

"Only that you should watch closely," Ray advised. "Because have I got a story for you."

As Devin scrambled to keep the camera trained on their new arrival, some of the Cyberdrones broke away from the chaos, rushing toward them with the Ranger in the sights.

"Look out!"

Without even thinking, Ray leaped in front of the two civilians as the henchmen opened fire, swiping the broadsword through the blasts to bat them away. A few strays scattered at his feet, bursting searing sparks against boots as the rest went flying away. Flying right at Scolex's black-clad security. The laser bolts boomed as they hit their new targets, bursting with explosive force as the soldiers went flying.

Hoping he'd been right on the money, Ray seized the opening made by the confusion and lunged toward the Cyberdrones. With no time to react, the henchmen were cut down in an instant, rendered to scattered parts as Ray stood among the wreckage and glanced to the felled security. Sure enough, there they lay, stray, sparking wires protruding from their suits. Behind him, Cornell gasped.

"Devin! Devin! Are you getting this?"

"Ah, hang on, Cas, I'm getting it now."

Scolex's proudly hired security were just Cyberdrones with a different skin, and now the evidence was going to be splashed across the evening news. With one gamble won, Ray decided to double down, turning toward the surrounded podium.

"If you want more, stay tuned," he said. And then he leaped to the stage before Cornell could utter a follow-up.

Once again, Ray's instincts had been dead on. With all the ArcKnights occupied, Scolex had remained, standing in the defiant assumption that the Rangers had helped evade disaster. But as he did, an emerald blaze flashed behind him, basking his back as another Arc-Knight materialized behind him.

"You remain on the edge of the battle while your minions fight for you," ArcKnight chuckled. "How predictable."

The last time he'd been cornered by his former henchmen, Scolex had cowered in shock, too surprised to react appropriately and too frightened of what he'd have to unleash to fight back. This time, however, the billionaire didn't seem phased at all.

"Oh look, a surprise attack," he said dryly. "How surprising. Can you see how surprised I am?"

"Your arrogance will be your undoing," ArcKnight warned. "Kneel before me while I still have a shred of mercy."

"The people of Lakeview will not bend the knee to those who seek to rule through fear," replied Scolex, so crisply Ray could have sworn it was rehearsed. "Do you really think that we're afraid of you?"

"I would expect that you would be," ArcKnight said darkly. "After all, it is human nature to fear what they create."

"Well, how about you fear this?"

Having soared over the battle, Ray plunged downward, broadsword blazing as he cleaved it where ArcKnight was standing. Gasping in fury, the armored Knight staggered back and glowered.

"I grow weary of your intervention, Gold Ranger," he said.

"Trust me, the feeling's mutual," Ray replied. "You think this is really how you're going to go? You're all split up with nowhere to go!"

And right on cue, he heard all the others lining up for the finish.

"You ready, everyone?"

"Yeah, let's do it!"

From all directions, the team cried out as their power unleashed, consuming the ArcKnight clones with the full weight of their power. Six simultaneous attacks against seven targets, perfectly timed in unison. The warrior could only scream as each of his copies were consumed, vanishing in six blazing columns of fire that vanquished their foes. On the stage, ArcKnight staggered back, disoriented as the power returned to his body and Ray brandished the Mainframe Broadsword in his direction.

"Looks like you're all alone again, ArcKnight," Ray warned. "Whereas I've got my team coming. Not a bad time to surrender."

But as his head lifted up, there glint in the visor of ArcKnight's helmet, a sinister satisfaction hat warned Ray that this was far from over. That even if they'd managed to foil the warrior's main plan, he was still right where he wanted to be.

"I disagree," ArcKnight chuckled. "I already have what I came for!"

Before Ray could stop him, ArcKnight lunged for the glowing device. A blast of light unleashed as the warrior made contact, consuming him completely as the glowing began to grow. And grow. And grow.

Without even thinking, Ray lunged for Scolex, grabbing hold and vaulting away as ArcKnight's form engorged to cover the stage, crushing the structure beneath his weight. Too close to the sight, many of the Cyberdrones and Scolex's Security were caught in the forceful expansion, cast aside as Kyle and the remaining Silver Guardians dived from harm.

Landing safely, Ray roughly dropped Scolex just as the other Rangers leaped to his side, Cornell and Devin carried safely by Hilary and Erika as the team looked up at their latest, big problem.

"You thought you could horde power for yourself!" ArcKnight laughed at his new colossal size. "But it is man's destiny to be destroyed by their own hand!"

"Well, at least now his size matches his ego," said Abbey.

"Mr. Scolex!" Cornell was already rushing to his side, pushing the microphone into his face. "This attacker has been terrorizing Lakeview for months, but he just called you his creator. Do you have any comment?"

If there was anything Ray wished for at that moment, it was to stay and listen as Scolex tried weaseling out of everything that had just unfolded before the camera. But the Rangers still had bigger fish to fry.

"Ground control?" Erika said into the coms. "We've got someone who needs to be taken down a size."

"Already on it," Jess replied. "Deploying Zords!"

As the Rangers leaped for the sky, the air was filled with the sound of roaring engines, and seven hulking machines surged into view as their pilots landed in the cockpits. Strapped in and ready, the Rangers flicked to the controls, priming the sequence as the Zords moved into formation.

"Let's bring them together!"

With a burst of speed, the vehicles surged forward, locking together on the ground as the trio of flyers converged in the air. The plating opened up with the sound of whirring gears and pumping pistols, and the clamps engaged with a clank to lock the Zords together. As the central body reefed into an upright position, the airborne combination rocketed downward, latching in place as the seats were whisked into their new positions. From the view of their new cockpit, all seven Rangers glared at ArcKnight with united resolve.

"Mainframe Override Ultrazord!" they called together. "Online!"

"Your machines may have bested me once," ArcKnight replied. "But to think it will again shames only you."

"Trust me," Erika replied. "There's plenty of shame coming your way!"

Hitting the throttle, the Ultrazord thundered forward, colossal fist raised to drop like a comet. But for all their combined might, ArcKnight only chuckled. As the MainframeOverride closed in, the warrior sidestepped, laughing as they lumbered past and hit the empty air. His giant blade carved up the back, spraying heated sparks in all directions as the Rangers were thrown around the cockpit.

"We're too slow!" Miguel realized.

"We've got all the power in the world!" Zeke agreed. "But it doesn't matter if we can't land a hit!"

"Then we use the numbers!" said Lena. "Can we disengage the formation without retracting to all the Zords?"

"The base model of the Ultrazord is based on the CyberCrash," Jess replied. "In theory, Ray and Hilary could eject without pulling the whole formation."

"Then we do that," Lena decided. "Lure him in with a bulky target and then hit him on the flank."

"I've never tried it before," Hilary admitted. "It'll be risky. If you take a hit full on in the smaller Zord, there's no guaranteeing you'll hold."

"It doesn't have to be perfect," Lena replied. "It just has to work."

"We'll just have to be fast on the draw!" said Miguel.

From the center seat, Erika turned to the White Ranger, visor locking as they nodded in shared understanding. And as Ray turned to Lena, he realized the same thing.

"Let's do it," he agreed. "Prepare to disengage!"

He and Hilary began toggling switches, flicking through screens for the rapid shift. Their teammate's safety was in their hands, and they couldn't let them down. Just like old times.

"Hey, ArcKnight!" Erika called out. "That the best you've got?"

"You have only experienced a taste of my power!" the giant warrior replied. "But if you would like another, I will gladly oblige."

"Get ready…"

The Warrior braced, leveling the giant sword to strike as the Ultrazord stood firm in his path. For a moment, there was silence, a tense waiting standoff as ArcKnight's power gathered. And then he charged with all his might.

"NOW!"

As the Warrior closed in, Ray and Hilary released the clamps, yanked from the cockpits as the Gold and Silver Flyers disengaged from the mech. As the two planes soared away, the shrinking Megazord dived to the side, the dark blade shearing across the armored plating as ArcKnight thundered past.

"CyberCrash Megazord!" declared the five as the mechanized humanoid recovered to slam a powerful haymaker into the stumbling warrior. "Online!"

Up above, the two Zords were already reconverging, refolding into the smaller warrior as they rocketed downward.

"SigmaDrive Megazord! Online!"

The mighty machine plunged like a meteor to slam the mighty fist into ArcKnights helmet. The warrior howled as the attack collided, dropping to his knees as the ground quaked from the SigmaDrive's landing. The warrior staggered as he tried to recover, but by then, it was too late, and both Megazords stood together as they readied to finish him for good.

"Sorry, ArcKnight," Ray chuckled.

"But this interview's over!" Lena agreed.

And they unleashed upon him with everything they had.

"SigmaDrive Blasters! Fire!"

"CryptoShred HyperCannon! Fire!"

The barrels of the twin Megazords unleashed with a calamitous boom, energy erupting from cannons as they flashed on impact with their target. Caught between the blasts, ArcKnight could only scream as the energy consumed him, shredding away his armor as the secondary explosion ignited. The flames soared into the air, shaking the rooftops of the city as the shockwave rang out from the epicenter. By the time the smoke and the flames subsided, ArcKnight was gone, rendered to ash by the Rangers' Zords. And standing triumphant, the twin Megazord formations towered above the city, forever its loyal guardians.

Deep within the bowels of the city's tunnels, a green light burst from the hidden machinery. With an inhuman scream, ArcKnight reconfigured, staggering forward as his contingency activated.

Foiled again! And this time, he was so close!

At least, for once, he could take some satisfaction in his efforts. No doubt his public confrontation with Scolex was going to cause a stir, the perfect words to scour against his creator's perfect image.

No matter. ArcKnight could be defeated, but he could not be destroyed. And as long as he could return, ArcKnight would continue trying until his enemies lay broken at their feet. After all, they were only human, and their human imperfection would spell their undoing.

"Well, now," snicked a voice from the darkness. "That didn't so go well, did it?"

With a furious snarl, ArcKnight whipped around, sword raised to cut down the intruder as Ender emerged from the shadows. And he didn't look even the least bit concerned. "You!"

As ArcKnight lunged to strike, Ender smirked with the flick of his wrist, and bursts of lightning surged from the surrounding tech. The warrior howled as the energy seared against his armor, wrapping around his limbs like bind tendrils and forcing him to his knees.

"H… how?"

"Oh, dear ArcKnight," Ender replied. "Don't feel bad, you had a good run. But I always was the brains of the pair. I have to admit, setting up an isolated network within the backup drives was inspired. It nearly got me, really; you had me stumped! But then I thought to myself, "If I was a meatheaded blunt instrument hellbent on nothing but petty revenge, how would I set myself up to recover from inevitable failure?" And, well, here we are.

"Honestly, it leaves me to wonder how long you were working on it before pulling your little disappearing act. But you know what they say about all good things. If only you hadn't plugged yourself into the system for a little power boost, maybe I'd never have found your little hidey hole. But then again, there's only one thing that you do well, and that does make you oh so predictable."

All ArcKnight could do was let loose a threatening growl, thrashing at his bindings as Ender slyly strode toward him.

"You know, Xaviax wanted you destroyed, but his softer side won out," he said. "Can't say which I prefer, but I think I will enjoy what comes next. Don't worry; you're not going to be deleted. We're just going to make some improvements…"

With a cackle of sinister intent, Ender whipped up his hand as the electric coils burst with renewed intensity. Bound and with nowhere to go, ArcKnight could only scream, thrashing in desperation as the electricity scorched through and unraveled him.

"You …!" ArcKnight gave one final warning to his traitorous comrade. "You will pay for this!"

And then, with a final wail of absolute agony, he was gone.

"Don't worry, ArcKnight," Ender snickered, "We're not done with you yet. And the job we have for you is absolutely perfect…"

A few days later, the Hub was packed. Not a table was empty as the sun set on Lakeview, and the local citizens packed inside for the inaugural event. The energy was infectious, excited smiles grinning across every face in the house, and the Rangers were no exception.

Of course, they had something else to be smiling about. Up on the TV in the corner, Mayor Fielding was sitting down with Lakeview's most preeminent journalist, squirming in his seat about the uncomfortable freedom given to Scolex in past months.

"When you approved Cyberdyne Industries for work in private security, were you aware that they were utilizing robots for the labor force?"

"No, Ms. Cornell, we were not. Who in their right mind would even leap to that conclusion?"

"Are you denying the footage that was captured at the press event two days ago?"

"Of course not, what I'm saying is that I'm as shocked as everyone else. Between that and the strange way his new communications device powered up that monster, I can assure you that city hall is freezing all contracts with Cyberdyne Industries until a thorough investigation has been conducted."

If there was anything that made Lena lament no longer being in Xaviax's thrall, it was the inability to see the look on Scolex's face when his entire public image turned. Between all the questions asked of the mayor and ArcKnight's bold declaration of his origins, Lena smugly suspected that the billionaire philanthropist would be shying away from the public eye for a while.

Of course, no victory was without its cost, and this one made the particular spoils bittersweet. Sure enough, just as Lena had thought it, she saw Kyle Mason step into the Hub. No longer in his navy fatigues and red beret, he was dressed down in jeans and a casually open shirt beneath his jacket.

"Did I make it in time?" he asked as he reached the table.

"They haven't started yet," Miguel replied.

"Don't worry, we're still waiting on a few more," said Zeke as he nodded to the remaining chairs.

Five of them now were full, with Jess having already hurried over from the museum to join them, and only two empty seats remained as they all waited eagerly before the stage. It was a good thing that Abbey and Erika had taken the afternoon shift to help set up; there was no way that they'd have otherwise found a big enough table with the crowd gathering the way it was.

"So, you're really heading out?" Abbey asked.

"Last patrol shipped out this afternoon," Kyle confirmed. "With all the heat on Scolex's security, the mayor's trying to save face by stripping back on outside contracts. It's probably for the best; for all our intentions, we really just patrolled the streets with a target on our backs."

"You don't really believe that, do you?" Jess asked him. "That Lakeview's better without the Silver Guardians?"

Kyle shook his head, an open acknowledgment of the renewing danger that was arising. But even as he did, he smiled. "I'm always happy to help, but the truth is that city's still got the best defense there is: the Power Rangers."

The four teens at the table all looked away bashfully as the veteran Ranger basked them in praise, and at the same time, Lena couldn't help but notice where Kyle had been looking when he'd said it. For a moment, their eyes locked, a silent admittance and understanding that made Lena only further shy away. The jolt it sent through her heart made her almost too embarrassed to do what she'd planned.

Almost.

"Hey, Kyle, you got a sec?"

After catching a knowing look from Abbey, Lena produced a piece of paper as she stepped away from the table. Then, to Kyle's confusion, she presented it to him.

"I wanted you to have this," she said. "It's just a copy; I submitted the original to my art class for some extra credit. But I wanted you to see it."

There was something about that bird the other day that had triggered the idea, the way it had stretched its wings on the ledge before flying. The way it had stood in the auburn light of the afternoon, backlit by the warmth of the descending sun. It had lasted barely a heartbeat, but in the banks of Lena's perfect recall, it was all that had been needed to trigger the thought.

Of something small taking flight.

Of something taking off again despite its failure at its tasks.

Of how the color of the sky evoked fire and flames, like a warm comfort on a winter's night.

Of how it felt like a renewed breath of air, one that was only possible because the last one had ended.

"I called it Rebirth," Lena said as she handed it to Kyle.

Sketched in charcoal, the bird's silhouette remained, now nothing but a shape as its wings stretched between the edges of the portrait paper. Where the sun had shone through, flames now curled around it, rising in inviting flight both behind and before it. And in the center of the bird was a shadow, a humanoid shape giving itself to searing fire in welcoming consent.

For a long time, Kyle stared at the picture, taking in the details as its true subject slowly dawned on him.

"This is beautiful," he realized, eyes still unable to tear themselves from the paper. "The lines, the shading, the composition; everything! But why are you giving this to me?"

"Because everything that I am now, it all started with you," Lena replied. "Because I'd never have been able to walk the path that I'm on now if who I was wasn't taken down. That moment, for all its pain and agony, for its rage and despair, made me who I am today. I don't think I'll ever be able to thank you enough for that."

"And you'll never have to," Kyle smiled warmly.

With misty eyes, the former enemies embraced, squeezing tightly in a bid of good-bye and gratitude. And somehow, that was still only the second hardest thing that Lena was going to do that night.

"Lena."

Abbey's calm voice called to her, drawing Lena's attention to the door as two new entrants stepped inside. The first was Hilary, already scanning the room for the table of Rangers. The second was a man who Lena had met only once before, and yet somehow, his arrival filled her with more nerves than the last.

It was Edward Chalmers.

"Is that him?' Miguel asked as Lena nodded in confirmation.

"Now there's a face I never thought that I'd ever see again," said Kyle.

"What made you give him another chance?" Abbey asked.

It was a thought that came to her amid her drawing, as she'd reflected on how far she'd come. On where she'd started. On the value of a second chance despite all else.

"I don't know if he'll ever be what I want him to be, if he could ever live up to everything I've built in my head," Lena admitted. "But he'll never see me as something else if I don't give him the chance to. And who knows, maybe there's a middle ground between what we both want."

Still at the door, Chalmers slowly turned around, searching with uncertainty as Lena took another step forward. And she did, he saw her, perhaps fully, for the very first time.

"It doesn't have to be perfect," said Lena, "but it still has the chance to be something."

And then, with a nervous breath, Lena ventured out to the crowd to meet the man who she could call her father. The others watched from the table, warmed at the sight of the nervous meeting between the two as Hilary helped them find a seat. Then, after Lena nodded that she was okay, the programmer left them alone as she joined the others.

"Am I too late?" she asked hurriedly, just as Kyle had before. "I haven't missed it, have I?"

"You're right on time," said Jess. "And we've got you the best seat in the house."

"Now we just have to hope there isn't a monster attack," said Zeke.

"Don't even joke," Hilary warned. "If Scolex chooses now of all times to make a mess, I will be personally marching into his office. Ranger Code be damned."

"Shhh," Abbey hushed. "It's starting!"

As the lights dimmed, all heads slowly turned toward the stage, where Erika stood excitedly in the spotlight.

"Umm, hi, everyone, and welcome to the first annual Talent Spotlight Night at the Lakeview Community Hub!" she grinned. What followed was raucous applause, whistles, and cheers from the excited patrons as Erika grinned and waited for it to settle. "Thank you. As some of you may know, the girls or Electrohead and I recently won the local Battle of the Bands. But tonight isn't about us; it's about this place. It's about Dirk, who has worked so hard to give back to this community, to give people a chance even if they didn't know they could have one. I know that we could never have achieved what we did if it wasn't for all your support and encouragement. So, give it up for Dirk!"

Again, more applause, and this time, the venue's patron waved to the crowd while doing all he could stop his face turning bright pink. And then, at last, the crowd settled once more, and Erika finished her spiel.

"More importantly, the success of our band, and so many others like it, would never have been possible if they'd even had a chance to showcase what they could do. Tonight is about the people in this city, about their many hidden talents that are just simmering away beneath the surface. We might not always be perfect at it, but it's always amazing when you're taking your shot in the spotlight."

Those at the table were beaming with pride, knowing exactly what was about to happen as Erika stood before the crowd and smiled back with a grin that was equal parts sly as it was exhilarated.

"And so, to open our inaugural evening, please welcome to the stage Lakeview High's very own Guidance Counsellor, Mr. Ray Granger!"

If the crowd had been excited before, they now were in absolute uproar as Erika stepped aside and Ray humbly stepped onto the stage. All the Rangers were on their feet, cheering and whistling with encouragement as Erika raced to join them. Then, taking his seat on the stool and propping the acoustic guitar on his lap, Ray leaned into the mic with an expression of nervous excitement.

"Thank you," he said. "It's been a while, so bear with me."

The very next moment, the pick hit the strings, strumming a perfect chord that resonated out from the body of the instrument. The strums were steady, rustic in their eminence as they settled into a steady rhythm. And then, as the audience drew closer with captivation, Ray leaned back to the microphone and began to sing.

"Keeping up appearances, don't break now;
We're buckled from the weight.
Pretend to laugh, but don't laugh too loud.

Do you feel the pressure building?
The anger spilling out now?
Meanwhile, the cracks have formed on
the masks we've worn up 'til now.

We are far
From perfect,
But perfect as we are.
We are bruised,
We are broken,
But we are goddamn works of art.

Works of art."

The strumming grew stronger, more confident in rhythm as Ray embraced the music of the night. And with every note, the look of uncertainly faded, replaced by a growing smile of enjoyment as the thrill began to return to him. As he sang to his new audience, to the new chapter of life. To the people in it that propelled him forward.

"The pieces of our hearts are gravitating
Together, but
Before we could be part of this mosaic
We had to break apart like glass
We're falling faster than stars.
Meanwhile, the cracks have formed on
The masks we've worn up 'til now…

Take a look, we are far
From perfect,
But perfect as we are.
We are bruised,
We are broken
But we are goddamn works of art.

And in every color, we shine
A tapestry of scars.
With every step
We're growing stronger
And moving onward.
We're finding right ways,
Despite the wrong ones.
We're clearing paths.
We're locked by storms.
We're finding the beauty
In what you've ignored!"

The audience leaned in, silent as a moonlit night, as Ray concluded the bridge and softly strummed, leading into the final chorus. From the table, his Rangers, his students, watched with captivated awe while his adoring wife looked on, beaming with pride at the step he'd taken.

"We are far
From perfect
We're perfect as we are…"

Not for the past, not for the future. But for the here and now, whatever it brought them. Perfection be damned.

"We are far
From perfect
We're perfect as we are
We are bruised, we are broken
But we are goddamn works of art!

Yeah, we are,
Perfect as we are!
Yeah, we are!

Perfect as we are…!"

NEXT TIME:

With his public image tarnished, Scolex scrambles for a fix, something that would put him back on top and see his plan to fruition. Meanwhile, college acceptances have begun arriving, and the looming cloud of future partings overshadows the Rangers. For some, it's a new adventure that awaits them, but as Abbey learns that she is destined for her dream college, Miguel realizes that her dream may not have a place for him.

Will Miguel be able to come to terms with the cost of Abbey's dream?

Will they find a way to make a long-distance relationship work?

And what desperate act will Davian Scolex resort to now that his precious public image is unraveling?

Find out the answer to these questions and more next time on:

POWER RANGERS
SERVER FORCE
Two Roads in a Wood

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.

Far From Perfect- Ghost Note Symphonies (2018)
Performed by Rise Against
Written by Brandon Barnes, Joseph Principe, Tim McIlrath, & Zach Blair
Produced by Bill Stevenson, Jason Livermore, Andrew Berlin, Chris Beeble
Courtesy ofVirgin Records (US1A)