With all the determination they could muster, the Mainframe Override thundered upwards, its thrusters flaring with maximum force with the captive trapped in their arms. Bound by the Ultrazord's iron grip, Xaviax thrashed against their hold, bashing against the machinery to spray sparks with every strike. But the Ultrazord held firm, unrelenting in its grip as it rose and rose and rose. But it wasn't fast enough.
The Ultrazord was no longer at max capacity, hobbled together by seven damaged Zords while carrying a monster as large as itself. It was still climbing, but the added drag was slowing them. To make matters worse, the glow from Xaviax's battered body grew brighter by the second. He was set to blow at any moment, and they were nowhere near the rift. As they surged high into the sky, Erika saw the altimeter and the readouts of Xaviax's energy.
They weren't going to make it.
"More!" Erika urged. "We need more power!"
"We can't give it anymore!" Zeke realized. "We're giving it all we've got!"
"The Zord's can't!" Lena corrected. "But we can!"
"She's right!" said Hilary as she punched into the coms. "Jess, siphon from us! Anything that our suits can spare and send into the Megazord!"
For a moment, there was a silence, the kind that came from uncertain calculations, weighing whether it would matter or not.
"On it."
As the Megazord continued climbing, the cockpit surged with light, flaring from each of the Rangers as Erika's strength sapped suddenly. The transfer lasted barely a moment, leaving their suits disintegrated and worn and their helmets gone completely. More exhausted than they already were, the Rangers nonetheless held firm as the thrusters burst with fresh power and the Ultrazord surged further into the sky.
But for all they'd gained, they still weren't climbing fast enough. Winds battered them, violent turbulence shaking the Megazord and its captive as Xaviax continued smashing into them. But for all their temptation to hit back, the Rangers stayed the course, not risking even a sliver of power as they continued toward their destination.
"Rangers! Abort!" Doc warned them. "You're not going to make it to the rift, and if you keep going, you'll never escape the blast!"
"If we don't make it, then no one will!" Erika replied curtly. "We've got to make it! There's got to be something! There's got to be some way of giving the thrusters more power!"
"There's not!" Jess pleaded. "I can't give it anymore without the Megazord collapsing! I've tried everything! Just get out of there, please!"
Erika knew why Jess was asking, why Doc had told them to retreat despite the grim reality. With the odds shrinking by the second, the survival of the Rangers was the only hope they were clinging to. But they had to hold out hope; they had to keep trying. Because there was no point in surviving without a world left to live in.
And then Abbey got an idea.
"Power! That's it! We can give it more power, just not in the thrusters! We don't have to reach the rift; we just need to get Xaviax through it!"
"Abbey?" Miguel asked. "What are you saying?"
But having caught her eye, Erika's look of terror flashed into a daring smirk as Ray caught on immediately. "We're going to hit him really hard."
With burning resolve, the Rangers hit the controls, everyone to battle stations as they prepared to make the switch.
"One minute to detonation!" Doc warned them.
"Lena, Miguel; arm the canons!" Erika ordered. "Ray and Hilary, get ready to transfer all power as fast as possible! Abbey! Zeke! Get us in position!"
"RIGHT!"
Finally letting go, the Ultrazord's arm shot out with a thundering punch, smashing into Xaviax's face as the duo continued to ascend. Not to waste an opportunity, Xaviax swung back, ramming a flaring fist into the Ultrazord's chest. It was strong enough to send the Ultrazord soaring back, at last forcing it to relinquish its grip.
"IS THIS ALL YOU HAVE?" Xaviax demanded, crowing in triumph as he soared freely from the Megazord. "ALL YOUR POWER AND IT IS STILL NOT ENOUGH!"
The thrusters flared, bursting again as the Megazord rushed their foe before he fell. Their arms outstretched, squeezing tight as they pulled him in.
"YOU ARE FOOLS TO CONTINUE FIGHTING! SLAVES TO YOUR SHORT-TERM COMFORTS THAT BLIND YOU TO REALITY!"
As the Megazord re-engaged, it swung a mighty elbow into Xaviax's face, bashing him back as it repositioned beneath him. Thrusters directed down, it grabbed hold again, arms locked tight around Xaviax's chest as they continued rocketing upward.
"Thirty Seconds!"
Abbey and Zeke yanked at the limbs, curling up the legs to wedge the feet into Xaviax's back.
"THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN SAVE YOU! NOTHING! THIS WORLD WILL BE REMADE IN ITS ENTIREY!"
Armed and ready without wasting a single drop of power, Lena and Miguel pulled out the guns, opening the ports as the long barrels protruded from the shoulders and rammed into Xaviax. At their stations, Ray and Hilary were ready, hands at the power controls and awaiting Erika's command.
"FIFTEEN SECONDS!"
"ALL OF YOU ARE UNWORTHY!" Xaviax bellowed. "UNDESERVING OF THE NEW, PERFECTED WORLD!"
With her team at the ready, Erika placed her hand on the lever, ready to give him everything they had.
"You want a perfect world?" Erika replied. "It's all yours."
And then they unloaded with everything they had. "Magna Deletion Overload! FIRE!"
The gun erupted with atomic ferocity, blinding as their energy exploded into Xaviax at point-blank range. Yanking him upwards, it joined with existing momentum to fire him like a bullet into the sky. It towered into the air, splitting the atmosphere with beams of inspiring light as every ounce of morphing power catapulted Xaviax toward the rift. Directly in the path, Xaviax could only scream, the g-forces pummeling upward too much for even him as his dimensional tear awaited welcomingly.
As the source of the blast, the Ultrazord whiplashed back, propelled downward as the blasters and thrusters gave out, and all their might was directed into hurling their colossal foe. And then, with the full force of the morphing pours from the titanic weapons, the guns finally spluttered and gave out.
By then, the Ultrazord was in freefall.
One by one, every light across the consoles faded, darkening the entire cockpit as the Rangers looked up at the nighttime sky. As the remnants of their energy pummeled up into Xaviax with no opposition, they hurled him like a reversing comet toward his doom. To the tear in the sky, now dwarfing its creator, hungrily awaiting its unwilling occupant.
In the background, Doc's reminder of the countdown buzzed through the coms, but it merely faded into the background as Erika watched with a smile on her face and relief in her heart. Because she didn't need a ticking clock, a fancy readout, or a visual measurement to tell her how close Xaviax was to their target, she knew. Erika could see it with her own eyes, her whole body relaxing as the final burst of energy finished pouring into Xaviax and exploded. The blast was dazzling, a multitude of evanescent colors blooming like a sun as the concussive force blasted into Xaviax to propel him the final distance and into the rift.
The Rangers were too tired to even cheer, watching the sheer majesty of the sight as Xaviax became a tiny spec inside the torn aurora and Doc's countdown hit zero. Compared to the blast from the Ultrazord's cannons, this one seemed anti-climactic. Although, Erika supposed, the blast was on the side they'd wanted to avoid. Instead, the entire rift flashed, bursting out for a moment before snapping inwards as it folded in on itself. Like a blinking eye, the glowing scar slammed shut, leaving nothing but the empty night sky in its place as the Dreamworld vanished for good.
For a moment, one that could have happily lasted a lifetime, Erika turned in her seat to see her teammates. Battered and bruised in torn and decaying Ranger suits, all stared back at her with exhausted looks of relief and beaming pride. Because they'd done it, they'd stopped the detonating monster and prevented the creation of Xaviax's hellish reality.
They'd save the world.
Erika didn't know if it was the sheer euphoria of the moment or the dampeners in the Megazord, but for a fraction of a second, it felt like she was floating. And for the singular heartbeat, she and her best friends in the whole world sat in their cockpit, grinning at each other like idiots.
And then the Megazord hit the ground.
The concrete buckled from the impact, quaking as the mighty machine crash-landed and ruptured the cushioning earth. With their Ranger suits barely holding, all inside felt the impact of the crash, slammed forward in their seats but the inertia, and were saved only by their harnesses holding them tight. There was a brief moment of quiet as they sat there, stunned by the landing. Then, the entire Megazord glowed around them as flecks of light began peeling off the surrounding surfaces and wafted into the sky.
Lying back in the central seat, Erika didn't need to guess what was happening, feeling the sensation in her body as the last of her power began to fade. What once had been a raging inferno was down to its final embers, and now they were dying down to smoking coals. One by one, each Ranger glowed as well, emanating with the light of their powers as the suits began peeling off to vanish into the disintegrating Megazord.
Erika closed her eyes and, with a smile on her face, said goodbye to the very power that had changed her life. The power that was leaving her, as it was always going to. As the powers all reached their limits, nothing remained to hold them together, and the last of it let go with a flash of combining light as the Morphers on their wrists crumbled to pieces. And then all that was left was the seven of them, lying in torn clothes at the bottom of a crater.
She could have lain there forever, privately reveling in the impossibility of their success. But amazed as she was that she'd survived, Erika wanted to make sure the others were all right. Mere feet from her, Ray lay sprawled on the ground, and Erika limbed over to extend a hand.
"You doing alright there, old-timer?"
At the sound of her voice, Ray coughed out a wheezing chuckle as he took the offer to stand. "You better watch it. Fifteen years from now, when you save the world again, someone's going to give that to you."
"I look forward to it," Erika smiled warmly.
All around her, the others were rising. Abbey and Miguel were in each other's arms, Lena and Zeke steadily helping each other as Ray dutifully stepped to his wife's side and embraced her. It was only then that Zeke cast a glance to the edge of the crater.
"Uhhh, guys?"
Slowly, all the others looked up to realize that every citizen in Lakeview was standing at the edge, staring down at the powerless Rangers in awe. And then, as everyone stood there in stunned, awkward silence, Erika saw a pair of familiar faces among the crowd. And as Deryck and Whitney caught her eye, they knew the truth and were unable to hold it in.
"THEY DID IT!" Whitney cheered.
The gathered crowd cheered, the sound of celebration echoing into the night as they sounded their cathartic enthusiasm and relief. People were leaping into each other's arms, others bursting into applause as the Rangers stood there, sheepish in the face of showering praise. Nearby, Dirk was watching, paw-like hands unrelentingly pounding as he looked at his volunteers with pride. Further down, Principal Goodson smiling, with what Erika suspected was a mixture of satisfaction and surprise at the five of her students who had just saved the world. Even Mayor Fielding was among them, cheering with his constituents and already spinning a tale about the crucial role he claimed to play.
"YOU'RE OKAY!" All of a sudden, Jess burst through the edge of the gathered crowd, Doc right behind as she skidded down the crater's slope and tearily leaped into their arms. "You did it," she added quietly, refusing to let either Lena or Hilary go as both looked past her to see Doc beaming with pride.
And then, having taken in more of the crowd's praise than they thought they could ever handle, Abbey looked to the sky and gasped.
"Look!"
For a moment, Erika's heart seized in worry that it actually hadn't worked, that Xaviax had made yet another last-minute recovery to complete his scheme. But instead, what met Erika's eyes as she cast them up was a dazzling sight. Where once the rift had been was a beautiful strand of colors, the last remnants of digital energy floating like a wistful aurora. Like a nighttime rainbow, with all seven of its colors vibrant and distinct, it moved and bent like a calming wave, following the stream of the wind as all those below basked in the splendor.
But for all its majesty, it wasn't the aurora that captivated Erika's attention. Instead, it was what lay just beyond it, speckled all across the night sky. The stars, shining individually, specks of light piercing through the darkness, invisible to sight in the bright of day. And as she saw the little rays of hope shining toward her from lightyears away, Erika finally let out a gasp of relief as the dams broke, and she allowed herself to cry.
It wasn't a wail or scream of despair but a release of unadulterated joy as Erika sunk to her knees with tears streaming down her cheeks, overwhelmed by the world's beauty. A world that had left her frightened and alone but had also given her a family. A world that had made her angry and resentful, but let her use it to fight for what was right. A world that was made every bit fantastical by the imperfections of its creation.
And as Erika knelt there, staring up at the sky that urged her to dream, Abbey's arms reached around and held her tight. And so did Zeke, and Miguel, and Lena and Ray and Hilary. United in their awe, their exhaustion, and their relief, the seven powerless Rangers reveled in the beauty of the world they shared.
A world that they had saved and was worth fighting for.
The next week passed in the blink of an eye.
The first thing to deal with was the sea of reporters who had swarmed them first at the crater and then again after Scolex had been arrested. Thankfully, a certain star journalist was a step ahead, barging through the press pack claiming exclusive rights to the story. The Rangers supposed it was technically true, even if none of them planned on sharing, and Cassidy had no intention of collecting. So, before any could snap a clear shot, Miguel Wisped them back to the museum before the public could bombard them with questions.
Scolex was not where they left him, but he hadn't gotten far. With the Ranger's Megazord battle with the titanic Xaviax had drawn the crowd from the museum, the disgraced billionaire had seen his chance to sneak away. But with the very building he'd erected in his glory destroyed by the darkness that he'd enabled, there were very few places for Scolex to go. They found him skulking in an ally, slinking around a darkened corner in hopes of slipping off into the night.
Without wasting a second, Erika unleashed a bolt of lightning, crashing into the wall in front of him as Scolex gasped and fell backward into the muddy concrete. And then, as he looked up from the ground, he saw all seven Rangers standing over him, demorphed but no less ready to stop him. As Scolex hung his head in defeat, Hilary smirked and knelt to his level.
"If it's still on offer," she said. "I think I'll take that drink now."
From there, law enforcement took over. The police secured the streets, keeping the area destroyed in the Megazord's battle cordoned off as, late but still welcome, the Silver Guardians arrived to assist. Very shortly, Scolex was whisked away by a patrol of Guardians, led by a stern-looking captain who gave the Rangers Kyle's regards and assured them the billionaire would be very well taken care of.
That had at least given all of them some room to breathe, providing Hilary the space to make a few calls that ensured their identities didn't get farther than they needed to. There was still some footage captured by surrounding cellphones, but almost all of it was too blurred, distant, and grainy to make out any discernable details of their identities. While the Ranger's true selves had been revealed to the world, it soon became clear that it would be a secret that remained between them and the people of Lakeview.
After that, there were hugs all around as they made calls to their families, letting them know it was safe to return and that everyone had made it through. From that point on, it had taken the rest of the week for things to finally quiet down, with seemingly everyone they passed wanting to stop and express their gratitude. Now that most of Lakeview had given their thanks, the team could finally put their minds to other matters. Graduation was one, but even more pressing was the museum.
Even as Erika stepped inside, expecting a stab of grief similar to when they first surveyed the wreckage, what surprised her instead was the feeling of renewal. Scaffolding had already been set up to repair the walls and walkways, and tarps had been thrown over the remaining cabinets to keep them clean and safe. It felt like a strange sense of full circle, as if the building had been returned to what was just before Hilary arrived in Lakeview. Before Erika, Zeke, and Abbey had snuck inside and changed their lives forever.
That time of the museum was now over, but as the morning sun shone through the upper windows and basked the site in the soft, golden glow, it felt like a new era was in its infancy. So instead, Erika stepped among the repairing wreckage, letting herself settle into the strange nostalgic feeling as she noted that the entrance was every bit as deserted as when she'd first stepped inside. Only this time, she knew where she was going.
Having arrived ahead of her, Abbey and Zeke were waiting in the empty corridor.
"Taking a trip down memory lane?" Zeke smiled.
"One last trip to the museum," Erika replied. "Thought it'd be fun. Where're the others?"
"Already downstairs; we thought we'd wait for you," said Abbey. And then she paused, finally conceding to her hesitance as her eyes began to shimmer. "I don't know if I'm ready for this."
"I know I'm not," Erika admitted. Then, she stepped toward her friend and took her by the hand. "But that doesn't mean it isn't time."
"So, let's do it like we always do," said Zeke as he took Abbey's other hand. "Together."
As Abbey gave a teary nod of agreement, the three of them turned toward the innocuous wall that concealed the secret door as Erika tapped her keycard against the frame. With a soft, welcoming beep, the wall slid away to reveal the secret elevator, and the three teens who'd started it all stepped inside for the very last time.
If the Museum above had been strangely comforting, the lab was a different site. After Hilary's week of gradual clearing with Ray, Jess, and Lena's assistance, most of the debris and damaged servers had already been removed. As a result, the once bustling lab was now a sparsely filled cavern, with only a few servers along the walls and a couple of monitors set up on a temporary table. As Erika, Abbey, and Zeke stepped out of the elevator, they saw the others gathered around the table watching a news report.
"…but first, to our top story. Just five years ago, Davian Scolex was Silicon Valley's Golden Child as Cyberdyne Industries broke ground after ground in the world of tech. But behind his charming face was terrifying darkness, hiding a tale of kidnapping, stolen technology, and a plot to take over the world. Now, Davian Scolex is facing charges across multiple jurisdictions as his grand empire and even grander dreams lie in ruins. Cassidy Cornell reports…"
The TV screen shifted to the main report, first showing some grainy cell phone footage of the rift in the sky before cutting to flashing camera bulbs around a police car. All the reporters were calling the same name, like magpies swirling for a prize, as the Silver Guardians guided their prisoner to the van. With little grace, the man in handcuffs was pushed into the back of the vehicle, and Hilary paused the feed to get the perfect shot of Scolex's scowl.
"Yup," she decided gleefully. "I'm definitely getting that framed."
"Shame we don't have one of Gideon," Ray noted. "Then we could have a little side-by-side."
"Hmm, that is a good point," said Hilary. "I wonder if Freeman's got anything secretly stashed away…"
"Wouldn't that be considered classified intel?" Jessica asked.
"It would be in his very secret stash."
But while their mentors were content to keep enjoying their nemesis' fall from grace, the new arrivals were more preoccupied with the emptiness of the lab. Their home away from home and their sanctuary when all else went wrong. And now it was empty, all packed up and ready to move on to the next adventure.
Just like the rest of them.
"Wow," Abbey realized. "It's almost all gone, isn't it?"
"Yup," Ray admitted. "It's kind of weird; it reminds me of when we first moved in here and started setting up."
"And the Cranston warehouse," Hilary added wistfully. "Kind of feels like going back to the beginning right now."
"But it's not all gone," Lena reminded them. "Some of it's just been moved. A new location for a new beginning."
"Full circle," Erika smiled wistfully.
And then, they all gathered in the center of the room. For a long while, they stood in silence, taking in how much the walls around them had changed their lives for the better. And then Zeke finally asked the question that they'd all been wondering. "So this is really it then? Our powers are really gone?"
Hilary nodded. "Even if the Morphers hadn't crumbled to dust after our last de-morph, we fried almost every single server getting Xaviax through the portal. The Mk II Digitizer? That's history."
In their hearts, all of them already knew it, but they couldn't help but sink in solemn grief at Hilary's confirmation. They all knew that the day would come to hang up their morphers, that they couldn't be Rangers forever. But the well-known truth did nothing to ease the sting as the day finally arrived.
"They're not gone, though," said Ray. "Not really. Sure, we can't access them anymore, but the Morphing Grid will always be there. And I'm sure if the day comes, then they'll for us to pick them up again."
"Once a Ranger and all that, right?" Miguel asked.
"Exactly," Ray agreed. "Besides, that wasn't the true source of your power, not for any of you. This, the team we have right here and the bonds we forged together, that's what pulled us through. And we'll have that long after any need for shiny suits or Ranger powers. Because nothing is ever truly gone if we hold to what it gave us, to what made it special. And those memories, those are forever."
One by one, all of them looked around, smiling at their newfound family as they remembered the times they'd shared. And as they remembered all the ways they'd helped each other grow, it made what came next hurt a little bit less. After sharing a knowing glance with Ray, Hilary breathed in deeply and turned toward a silver tray on the table, holding it out before the others.
"It's time," she said.
Erika could only stare, knowing exactly what Hilary meant while still feeling the reluctant tremor in her heart. But in that week since the battle, she'd had time to prepare, to steel herself against the inevitable. She'd had time to face the world without her powers once again and was ready for the journey toward her future without the anchor of the past.
Stepping forward, Erika reached into the pocket of her red leather jacket and produced her Morpher's keycard. While useless as an activator, it still granted access to the lab, and with the whole operation shutting down, there was no longer any need to hold on to it.
"Time to log out," Erika decided. And then, with a shuddered breath to steel her resolve, she stepped forward and placed it on the tray. Taking Erika's lead, each of the other four did the same, all of them tearily handing back their access to the lab. Then, as they stared at the red, blue, yellow, black, and white keycards that lay across the tray, Hilary put them to one side.
"One of the greatest responsibilities that comes with power is knowing when it's time to give it up," said Ray. "Lakeview and the world owe you all a great debt, but now it's time for you to find out who you are without the weight of the world on your shoulders. Evil will always be out there, stirring to rise again just as they'll always be Rangers, ready to stand and fight. But as for us, we've earned our rest, and I could not be more proud to have served on the team with you all."
"When all of this started, it was only me and Ray," said Hilary. "We thought it was us against an unknown foe, an all-powerful evil that hilariously outnumbered us. But then you three walked into our museum, and you met Miguel and Lena and brought them into our crazy world. And I know that I will never be able to thank you enough."
Holding back the tears, the five teens nodded in solidarity. Because Ray was right, they were ready. They didn't need the strength of their powers or the sanctuary of the lab anymore. They'd grown beyond it, and now it was time to see what the future had in store.
"Thank you, Rangers," Hilary said. "And may the power protect you all."
Later that afternoon, Erika sat with Zeke, Miguel & Lena in the front row, adorned in regal blue graduation gowns beneath the early summer sun. The entire Senior Class of Lakeview High sat around them, all jittering with bittersweet excitement as their valedictorian addressed them. Further back, the vast majority of the crowd were parents, along with the young siblings dragged to the grand event. But as Abbey stood at the podium to begin her speech, Erika's smile widened with knowing pride. It was a feeling shared by the others at her side, all of them watching intently as their friend spoke to the crowd in acknowledgment of her achievement. An honor that Abbey had well and truly earned, and Erika couldn't have been happier.
"No one really knows what the future holds," Abbey began, her voice reverberating through the speakers for the entire gathered crowd to hear. "That's what makes it so daunting. But that's what we face now, standing at the end of one journey and preparing for the unknown of a new beginning. As we do, it's impossible not to look back at the road that once seemed impossibly long and see the path that's led us to its end. Because a destination is nothing without the journey, and a journey is nothing without the trials and challenges it brought upon us. The challenges that pushed us beyond our comforts, the trials that confronted us with everything we wished to ignore. And they made us better for it. In our time within these walls, we've grown, both in size and as people. We've found parts of ourselves that we never knew were there, and we've seen glimpses of a world beyond that we're now eager to discover.
"But the road behind us was one we shared; it was a path laid out already within those same four walls, ruled by schedules to follow together. But that's not the path that awaits us now. Here is where our roads diverge, where we say goodbye to the halls and classes and say hello to the job and the taxes. For some of us, our paths part for good, and for others, just for now. But what all these winding paths have in common is the unique unknown awaiting each of us. There's no longer a map, no compass to guide us as we stumble in the dark on a journey tailored for each and every one of us.
"So, what can we do?" Abbey asked the uncertain crowd. "How can we navigate an unseeable road ahead, with only one destination that many wish to avoid for as long as possible? The answer lies within our dreams, within our hopes and aspirations that we conjure whenever we feel inspired. Because until now, our dreams have only been ideas, wonderful considerations of what might one day come without any way of making that reality. But today, that changes. Today, we see our dreams with open eyes and work to make them a reality. Because what else is a dream if not a blueprint for courageous action?
"So here we are at last. The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done, and from fearful trip, the victor ship is in with object won. From here, it's up to us to strive ahead and forge a future for ourselves, to make the most of the courage we've built together. To listen to the whispers of our soul and pour our sweat, determination, and hard work into them until they stand before our eyes, fully realized. So go forth, Seniors of Lakeview High, be courageous, and make your dreams come true."
The close of her speech was met with a resounding cheer, squeals, and cries of celebration as the entire student body leaped to their feet and hurled their caps into the air. Still at the podium, Abbey went bright red, and the parents in the audience joined in the revelry with a standing ovation. Far about the crowd, Ray, Hilary, and Jess all stood together, waving and cheering not just for Abbey but all the teens as they celebrated the first day of their brand-new lives. Just beside them, Doctor Benson cheered with them, proud of the teens his former proteges had raised as Rangers of their own. Scattered throughout, all their parents were standing tall, hands unable to keep up with enthusiasm as they cheered on the growth of their children, proud of the people they'd become.
But up the front was the source of the greatest adulation. Abbey's best friends and boyfriend, hands in thunderous applause as they expressed their pride and admiration. Miguel was beaming tearily as his eyes refused to move off Abbey while Lena finger-whistled in adulation. The first on their feet, Zeke's cheers were the loudest among the crowd, sounding even among the excited buzz as he celebrated his best friend's achievement. But who surprised Abbey the most was Erika, who once was envious of the showering praise that Abbey lauded, yet now screaming at the top of her lungs with overwhelming adulation.
"Wooooo!" she cheered. "Go Abbey!"
She'd barely stepped off the stage when they rushed toward her, bundling her in their arms as Abbey tearily embraced them back. Five best friends, bound together by chance and bonds forged by their experiences. A bond that was unbreakable, stronger than the toughest steel, one that would always hold no matter how far apart they were. Their world may be changing, their paths diverging, but after everything they'd been through, nothing was going to stop their love from reaching across their world and cementing their friendship forever.
And then, the day finally came, the day they'd been preparing and bracing for the entire summer; it was time for the five teens to part ways. Abbey was first to leave, departing early for her long flight to the East Coast as she began her new life at Harvard. The morning had been filled with hugs and tears, all of them swearing to stay as close as they could as they scattered to the corners of the country. And then, as they put their hands in the center and cheered one last time, Abbey kissed Miguel goodbye, deeply and passionately, before flying away from her family and friends.
The second the wheels hit the tarmac in Boston, Abbey was ready, determined not to waste a single second for the gift she'd been given.
"Okay, so I've got it all lined up," she eagerly told Miguel on the phone a few days later. "Got my class schedule and all my important dates. Now that I've got everything that I have to do mapped out, I've got everything open for my next priority: you."
"Just make sure you leave some time for yourself as well," Miguel replied warmly. "No point being on an adventure if you can't enjoy it."
"Way ahead of you," Abbey replied, grinning at the yearly planner she'd stuck to her dorm room wall. "There's a yoga studio down the road that does nightly classes, and Hilary's given me a ton of places to check out where I'm here. By the time you come to visit, I'm going to have a full itinerary for us to explore!"
Miguel's only reply to that was a knowing chuckle, not even remotely surprised at his girlfriend's enthusiastic organization. Finally letting herself relax, Abbey fell into the bed, smiling at the comforting sound of Miguel's laughter.
"I miss you already," she admitted finally.
"I miss you too," Miguel replied. "But hey, I'm over in just a few weeks, and then you'll be back for Thanksgiving. And meanwhile, Ben's been telling me that there are a few Former Ranger perks that make long distance a lot more manageable."
Abbey decided she'd believe it when she saw it, choosing to put her excitement in the things she knew instead of hopeful expectations that may never eventuate. What she did know was that they were going to make it work, no matter the means available to them; that if they could overcome the odds and defeat world-destroying evil, then long distance was going to be a cinch.
"Uh-oh, I better go. Ben's starting to make kissy faces at me."
"Oh, you're still at work!" Abbey realized. The time zone differences were definitely going to take some getting used to. "Give Ben my best, one Blue to another."
"Will do," said Miguel. "I love you, Abbey."
"I love you too," Abbey replied.
And then she hung up the phone, giving her a moment to let her heart longingly pang in the silence. And then, with a deep breath, Abbey got up and strode out the door, ready for her new adventure head-on.
"She's all settled in?" Ben asked Miguel as he put away his phone.
"Like there's any doubt," Miguel replied merrily. "Give it a week; she'll be like a duck in water."
"Just make sure you stay on her good side," Ben advised. "Because I've seen the other side of her, and boy, do you not want to be there."
"Oh, don't worry, I know."
Because no matter what it took, they were going to stay together. They were apart for now, but it wouldn't be forever. And until then, Miguel knew he had to do everything he could to be worthy of her whenever they got the chance to reunite. And that meant being the best he could possibly be.
"So, what am I working on this afternoon?"
"There's a ground craft spluttering a bit," Ben replied. "Thought it's be a good chance to go over the basics of internal combustion."
"Let's do it!"
With a big smile on his face, Miguel practically skipped to follow Ben out of the office and toward the main hanger, walking past the site's main sign: NASADA ANGEL GROVE- CHECKPOINT 31.
They stepped beneath the gigantic roof, Miguel looked up, basking in the marvelous site that he hoped never to get sick of. An enormous rocket ship rose before him, towering up to the ceiling.
"Sorry, I've got you working on working on the boring stuff," said Ben. "But I've got to get you across the basics before I put you on the big girl over there."
But Miguel didn't mind at all. He was happy to take it one step at a time, to enjoy what he had in the moment instead of lamenting what wasn't coming fast enough. Ben had offered him the chance of a lifetime, and Miguel was determined to make the most of it.
"I don't mind taking it slow," Miguel replied happily. "Nothing is coming up ahead that can't wait a second. Now, come on, let's see what's tripping this baby up!"
The roller door rumbled as it opened, flooding the cavernous space with daylight as Hilary stood at the threshold and peered inside. Mostly barren concrete, all that lay within were the two camping tables that Hilary had dropped off the previous day.
"It isn't much," she admitted. "But it's got potential."
"Couldn't agree more," Doc smiled proudly as he stepped inside. "I mean, four walls and plenty of airflow. What more could we need?"
With her heart singing from her mentor's approval, Hilary skipped inside, clutching the rolls of paper close to her chest as she watched Doc begin mentally planning \ the room's layout.
"I didn't mean for it," Hilary admitted. "But you've got to admit; a drafty, empty warehouse to set up all our technology? Kind of feels like old times."
"Not quite," said a voice at the door. As Hilary grinned and turned around, Lena stepped inside, wheeling a trolley of computers ready for set-up. "For starters, Ray will not be happy if you start sleeping here instead of the house you just bought."
"Good point," Hilary conceded. "Besides, the company's even better this time."
"Are you sure about this?" Doc asked. "You gave everything to that museum. Are you sure you're ready to walk away from it?"
"I'm ready," Hilary nodded. "I left it in the best of hands, better even. And now I get to work on this out in the open instead of sneaking into a secret lab between meetings."
"Okay, enough with the secrecy," Lena insisted. "The truck with all the servers will be here in the next ten minutes. Can you finally tell us what your exciting big project is?"
To be honest, it had taken all of Hilary's effort just to keep quite this long. Had it not been for the business of moving house, the museum hand-over, and finding a location for a start-up, Hilary was pretty sure she'd have spilled the beans within minutes of having the idea. There was still so much to do and so many things that could go wrong. But Hilary also knew that they'd never find an answer if they held back in fear. And now, with two of the greatest minds she knew working by her side, Hilary knew they'd find a way to make her dream a reality.
"Okay, I thought we'd take things back to basics," Hilary said proudly. "Take our project back to before a bunch of supervillains got involved."
As Lena and Doc leaned in close, Hilary put down her bundle of papers and unrolled them. And as they saw what the blueprints they contained, their eyes widened with exhilarated enthusiasm.
PROJECT DIGITIZER: 3.0
"So, what do you say?" Hilary asked them. "Partners?"
The reopening was days away, and anyone who had seen the extent of the prior damage would have been amazed at how quickly the museum had been restored. Now, the operation was in cleanup, with crewmen moving back and forth to hurriedly clear the scaffolding, tarps, and dust in preparation for the big day. As she stood at the entrance, Jessica Pearson looked upon their efforts with glowing pride.
What had stood before had been her greatest achievement, and what stood now was even better. She supposed having complete autonomy over the restoration had helped, given that she no longer had to run her ideas past someone else. Now, it was only City Hall that she had to convince. Mayor Fielding seemed more than eager to approve the budget, given his gratitude and a looming election that was questioning his competence and connections to Scolex.
"It's looking fantastic, guys!" Jess thanked the workmen. "I cannot thank you enough!"
"Uhh… Jess… I mean, Miss Director… mam'?"
Hearing the inquiry, Jess turned around to see her brand new assistant standing nervously behind her, a coffee in hand and tablet in the other.
"Jess is fine, Whitney," Jess replied warmly as she took the delivered coffee to free up Whitney's hand. "Now, how're you going?"
"Oh, I've totally got this," Whitney replied. "I mean, obviously, I had a fantastic successor who already had everything organized, but I've already taken some calls and made some appointments."
It had raised every single eyebrow when Jess had hired her new assistant, from Abbey most of all. But when Jess had seen the application in her inbox, she hadn't wanted anyone else. Even if it involved some teething.
"Hit me."
"So, someone called from a bigwig LA museum, the Jetty, or something. Anyway, they're moving one of their exhibits, and I told them we'd look at the schedule to see if we could squeeze it in. Cassidy Cornell wants to do an interview, so I've already booked your hair, nails, and stylist. I know you don't actually need the last one, you're slaying it in those heels, by the way, but it never hurts to see what the latest trends are."
Jess couldn't help but chuckle a little as she sipped on her coffee and mentally ran a checklist of what she'd likely be fixing following Whitney's involvement. She was going to take some work, but at that moment, Jess remembered herself from times past. Highly strung and tightly wound, she'd been so obsessed with getting everything right that she'd almost fallen apart. So maybe it wouldn't hurt to have a little 'devil may care' around.
"Anything else?"
"Oh, right! The mayor's office sent an email about launching their campaign at the museum. They said something nauseating about investing in lifelong learning or something." Whitney then gave her new boss a devilish smirk. "I left them on read."
"Attagirl."
Ready for the day, Jess was just about to head to her office when Whitney stopped her. "Director Pearson, can I ask you something? Why did you choose me?"
Slowly, Jess turned back to see Whitney demurely shrinking away, physically pained by the admittance of her insecurity.
"I mean," Whitney continued. "I'm not exactly someone who'd be caught dead in a museum. And I know that you were tight with the Rangers, and we weren't exactly the best of friends. And I mean, I guess I could have gone to college. It's not like my parents don't have the money, but I know that my test scores weren't getting me into anything good without Daddy writing a massive check. So, I guess I want to know, did you not have anyone else to choose from?"
Smiling, Jess stepped toward the young girl to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Everything you just said is true, but do you know what else is? Despite all of that, you still applied. You still want to be here, and that tells me something. You want to change, and I think we can find what you need without losing the parts of yourself that make you special. Because, once upon a time, someone very wise took a chance on a young, insecure girl with no college education. And I owe it to her to give you that same chance."
Then, with a smile on her face, Jess turned toward the steered with an inviting outstretched arm. "Come on," she offered. "Let's go make the world a better place."
"This place is a maze! It's like an entire city inside a city!"
Erika couldn't help but chuckle at Zeke's amazement, and she shared an amused look with Jasmine and Valerie. Three days on campus, and the boy was still lost.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Zeke said to them as he saw their expressions. "You've got, what, three buildings to go to? And all of them are next to each other! I've got five that I've got to run a marathon between!"
"It's like a block, Zeke," Erika jested.
"Even still," Zeke pouted.
Deciding to let him have his freak out, Erika turned to her bandmates as they were reading to leave.
"Time for class," said Jasmine. "It's like we never left school."
"Usual hangout tonight?" Valerie checked.
"I'm going to skip out on tonight," Erika replied. "I'm catching up with Val."
She also had a talk with her Dad scheduled. He'd messaged her the day before, saying that there was something he wanted to tell her. Erika thought it was weird; she'd only left home three days ago, but she suspected that he just missed her already and didn't want to admit it. Feeling mutual, Erika was hardly going to blame him.
"Give Val our best," Jasmine replied. "What about you, Zeke?"
"Yeah, I'll see you there. I might be a bit late, though. I'm tutoring Deryck in his math."
Another shared look, this one less condescending and more surprising pride. None had been shocked when Deryck's football skills had got him into college, but what was much more extraordinary was when he'd actively approached Zeke for help. He wanted to stay on top, to make the most of the opportunity when he wasn't on the field. And, in another move that astounded everyone, Zeke had said yes.
"Maybe he can give you some cardio tips for when you're getting your steps up," Erika poked."
Zeke rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I guess I'll need it if I'm walking to Young Hall every day."
"Excuse me, did you say Young Hall?"
At the sound of the unexpected voice, all four turned around to see a young girl with blonde hair standing behind them, clutching a laptop and bundle of books to her chest. Suddenly getting a lot more attention than she expected, the girl shrunk away slightly.
"I'm… I'm Danika," she said nervously. "I've got my first class in Young Hall, but I'm completely lost. Have you got any idea how to get there?"
"What a coincidence!" Erika exclaimed without missing a beat. "This is Zeke. He also has class right now at Young Hall."
As Erika invoked his name, Zeke shot her a look of panic, eyes wide as she gently shoved forward. Then, breathing in deep, Zeke took the cue and stepped toward the cute girl.
"Yeah, uhh, I've got Intro to Advanced Computer Science there in a few minutes. Want to walk with me?"
"Me too! Uhh… Yes. Yes, please. I mean, if it's not too much trouble…"
Smiling nervously, Zeke motioned to the path before awkwardly striding to Danika's side. As they walked away, Zeke turned back to shoot Erika a look, part annoyance, and part gratitude, before looking ahead to give his new companion his full attention.
Laughing at the cute, blossoming nerd attraction, Erika then bid her bandmates farewell. Turning toward that central promenade stretching out from Royce Hall, she took a moment to admire the sprawling splendor of the grounds. And as she did, Erika couldn't help but pinch herself at where she was standing.
She'd done it. Despite all odds, she'd made it further than she ever thought possible. Twelve months ago, Erika had been terrified of dropping out of High School. And now here she was, on a full-ride scholarship at UCLA. It had been a long road, one she so often thought she'd never reach the end of. But now, Erika couldn't be happier. Every ounce of faith that people had put in her had paid off, and now it was her turn to make the most of it. No matter where it led.
And so, taking a deep breath for luck and a final look out at the grounds that awaited her, Erika stepped out into the sunlight, ready for the next adventure.
"I've got to hand it to you," said Principal Goodson. "I'm getting so much demand for you that I might need to hire you an assistant."
"I'm just here to help," Ray replied. "And I'm glad that the kids here are seeking it out. I'm sure we can find another counselor to help cover the demand."
As the two of them strode through the halls, both took a moment to appreciate the quiet before the chaos of the new year flushed through the doors. But Ray couldn't wait and wanted nothing more than to help the fresh student body with their challenges.
"I've got to say, I do appreciate the new office, though," Ray admitted. "I mean, the old one was fine, but it's nice not working in a shoe box anymore."
"Consider it my way of saying thanks," Goodson replied. "You turned around some tough kids last year, and I think I speak for all of us when saying that they'd never have got as far without your patience."
"They'd have figured it out," Ray insisted. "They just needed someone to listen."
"Hmm," Goodson replied knowingly. "Although, if you could maybe work your magic this year without recruiting them to be superheroes, that would be great."
"Cross my heart, I didn't even mean to do it the first time," Ray laughed. "And trust me, my Ranger days are behind me."
Goodson gave him only a half-believing look before continuing onward. "I guess I can't be too mad. In addition to you saving my life, I think things worked out after those robots attacked you at the school."
And now it was Ray's turn to chuckle knowingly. Six months of sneaking around and hoping Erika wouldn't notice were finally at an end. "And when are you and Ken planning on telling Erika."
"He's calling her tonight," Goodson replied sheepishly. "He decided to wait for her to move out before admitted that he's dating her old Principal."
Ray could only imagine the conversation, no doubt involving the very exasperated and liberal use of the word 'weird'. Ironic for a girl who shot lightning from her fingers.
"I'm happy for you," Ray replied.
"Thanks," Goodson replied. "I've got no idea where it'll go, but I guess there's only one way to find out. Weird world, huh?"
"Hey, as we Rangers like to say, nothing is impossible. I'm just happy for some peace and quiet."
"And you came back to working in high school?" Goodson laughed. "You're even crazier than I thought."
Smiling, Ray bid his boss farewell and stepped inside his new office. A new year and a new start. A year ago, he'd been excited to start working in a high school, helping kids find their way in the world as they grew. He'd expected to find that everything changed, only to find that, where it mattered, it was exactly as it had always been. Even the giant monsters.
Now, it was time to begin again, to help the next generation find the courage to awaken their dreams and make them happen. To help them grow and find their strengths. To do their part in making a better world.
Putting down his bag, Ray reached inside to produce a small pair of photo frames, carefully positioning them to be visible from the desk but nowhere else. The first was himself and his friends in their Data Squad days, standing morphed with Kyle and Doc and their helmets removed, the one commemorative photo they'd been allowed to hold onto. The second was almost identical, taken fifteen years later, as Ray and Hilary stood smiling with Jess and the team they'd trained themselves. A team that had, unbeknown to anyone at the time, kick-started the moment Erika had first walked through his office door. A team he'd cherish forever.
And as Ray stood there, staring at the photos in fond reminiscence, there was a soft and gentle tap at the door. Placing the photo down, Ray approached and opened to see a young teenager, head down in a poorly fitting hoody. From the way they stood, the threshold of Ray's office was the last place they wanted to be. And that it made it exactly where they were needed.
"Sent to my office before the year's first bell, huh?" Ray said. "How can I do to help?"
And then he stepped aside and welcomed them in.
The End.
A/N: Of all the Author's Notes I've written, this one feels like the most personal because even now, I can't believe that I'm here. This entire series started as a vague idea, a little daydream that I'm sure every Power Rangers fan has about being on a team of their own creation. What unfolded was the most important creative writing project that I've ever written: the one that started it all. Power Rangers Data Squad ignited my love of writing, and while I didn't know it at the time, it helped me process the anxiety of my own adolescence while undergoing a pivotal moment in my life.
And now I'm here.
I've written before about how the original Data Squad was far from perfect and that I eventually took it down. But it was mine, and it left a mark on me that I never forgot. It left such an impression that I eventually considered a sequel, an idea that kept churning and evolving despite failed previous attempts that I made in the past. And that led to a revisiting of the work that changed my life, a complete rewriting of the original story that instilled a passion and drive to then write a story much bigger in size, scale, and complexity than the original. But I hope that, upon reaching the end, it was worth it for all of you. I know that it was for me.
To say that Power Rangers Server Force is big is an understatement. It turned into a mammoth undertaking, the chapters sprawling to far bigger sizes than I could ever have imagined. When posting the series, I tried my best to recapture that feeling of watching the series, getting one episode a week with small breaks for the duration of the series. That came with its own drawbacks, and I'll never be the ultimate arbiter on whether I succeeded, but I will say that it's been a privilege to post my series for all of you to read across the year.
In a way, it felt fitting. Both times I posted Data Squad, it was during years when Power Rangers was ending. This is the first year since 2010 where there's been no new Power Rangers whatsoever, and so I can only hope that, for many of you, this series helped fill the void. In that time, it's been absolutely heartwarming to hear from the people who've taken the time to post comments. From brief encouragement to fully detailed excitement, it's always the highlight of my day to see that my work means enough for someone to take the time to post something.
To that end, I want to make a special shout-out to DBZfan45 (who, with only a guest account, I can't even thank in DMs). You have been, without a doubt, my longest and most consistent reviewer. I went back and checked; you've been commenting on almost every chapter since Data Squad episode 9! Your support means so much to me, and knowing that there's someone out there passionate enough to leave a little thanks after every update means the world to me. Following that, CodeTransformers, don't think I've forgotten about you either! And, xXRocketShark216Xx, if you're still reading along after all this time, thank you so much for your commentary and support. Thank you, all of you, for your continued dedication and support. Often, when I'd be tired from a long day of work, knowing that there were people eagerly awaiting the next update was what gave me the drive to see this project to its conclusion.
As for where to go now, I'm taking a much-needed break. From conception to final posting, it's been a project that's lived in my brain for the better part of five years, and I've been writing continuously since first sitting down to rewrite Data Squad three years ago. This project has been a mammoth undertaking, and while I'm immensely proud of what resulted, it's time for some rest.
But have no fear! Once a Ranger, always a Ranger, I've got many more plans for upcoming fics in the pipeline (including something very exciting for any JenXWes shippers out there). I also plan to go back and do another edit of all my previously posted chapters, because no matter how thorough my edits are before posting, there's always at least one annoying typo that manages to slip through. In the meantime, if this is the first of my fics that you've read, Power Rangers Data Squad and Operation Timeline Rescue are both sitting there, fully complete and riveting rides, just waiting for new readers. And if you're really hungry for more Server Force, jump on over to my Tumblr (same username), where I've been posting artwork made on heroforge of all the suits, monsters, and Megazords!
But that's enough about me; I want to hear from all of you! Now that it's complete, I'd love to hear people's thoughts on the series.
Who was your favorite Ranger?
Out of all the strange monsters that they faced, was there any that particularly stood out?
What was your favorite episode/ moment in the series?
I'd love to know any thoughts you have, either in response to the questions above or about the series overall, I'd love to hear from you.
So, thank you again, all of you, for taking the time to read my OC-centric Power Rangers fic. Your support means more than you can possibly ever imagine. So long for now, but not forever.
And may the power protect you all