Kimi moved with mechanical precision, her artificial intelligence loaded with every sword fighting technique known to man. Her Racer Saber flew at the Phantom Ranger like a surgical scalpel. And missed.

That was when she finally understood that they were screwed.

The Phantom Ranger moved. Despite his bulk the enemy Ranger was unbelievably fast. His body drifted like vapor, appearing behind the Pink Racer to send her stumbling forward with a powerful kick.

Ayron rushed to her aid, but that was exactly what the Phantom Ranger had hoped for, and fired point blank into the Blue Racer's chest with his

phantom laser.

T.J knew he had to intercept. These kids were good, but few were Phantom Ranger good. As the Red Racer moved to join the fray he was suddenly intercepted by a beam of blue energy.

"In the name of intergalactic law I am required to ask you to freeze," the robotic voice spoke with emotionless authority.

T.J scowled under his steering wheel helmet. "Oh come on, don't pull that shtick with me."

"I am sorry, Mr.Johnson," the Blue Senturion spoke with a hint of regret in his synthetic voice.

T.J drew his racer saber. They were screwed, they were all totally screwed.

"It should've been me," T.J said as they trio made their way through the slums of New-Tech City.

Zephyrus gave the veteran ranger a side glance. T.J continued, whether anyone wanted him to or not.

"I should've been the one to get arrested," he said. "My team… they're just kids. I feel like I failed them."

"You haven't failed them yet," Xect said. "Not when there's still a chance to save them."

T.J offered the insectoid a sad smile. "You're right."

Nobody else dared to speak as they approached the warehouse.

"Who goes there?" asked an alien with spiky, callused skin who stood guard at the entrance.

"You know who we are, Piggy," Zephyrus said.

"Do I?" He asked carefully with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "Then, what's the password?"

Xect sighed and handed the alien a 20 dollar bill.

Piggy snatched the currency and exclaimed, "Zeph! Xect! How are you two strapping lads doing? And- uh… who's your friend?"

"That would be Theodore Jarvis Johnson," a voice said from behind Piggy.

The alien whipped around towards the open door. "Oh- uh- yes… of course!"

The source of the voice, a man with thick dreadlocks, was giving Piggy a look that left T.J with a smirk of his own.

The man stepped past Piggy and extended his hand. "Sir," he said with the firm authority of an officer. "It's an honor to meet you."

"Likewise," T.J replied. "You must be Landors."

"If it's no different to you, I'd much prefer Jack."

T.J took Jack's hand. "Alright, sounds good Jack."

Jack Landors' eyes glowed with raw admiration. "Seeing the footage of you from Dark Spectre's invasion… it meant so much to me as a kid… you're my hero."

"What I did is nothing compared to taking the down Troobian empire."

"T-thank you sir…" Jack muttered as stoically as he could, his voice breaking slightly. "Now… how about we head inside and get to business."

Inside the warehouse T.J found himself surrounded by crates upon crates of supplies. Food, clothes, and other essentials.

"Right now our focus is on getting this stuff to the Hive-Worlds," Jack explained. "Especially the holo-tapes, DVDs, and books."

T.J raised an eyebrow. "Why those?"

Jack smirked. "There's power in knowledge. But more than that, there's hope buried in every good story, and hope is exactly what they need."

"I could use some hope," T.J admitted with a pang of guilt.

"What happened?"

"My team is in SPD custody," T.J spoke. "If I had to guess they're probably being held in one of the top security prisons on KO-35."

"Oh crap," Jack muttered. "So that's why you came to me."

T.J nodded. "You're the only one who can help us."

Jack offered T.J a sympathetic look, "I don't even know if I can help you. That's a big ask, and it would put my entire operation in jeopardy."

T.J studied Jack in the tense silence. He knew Landors' history and would be lying if he said he hadn't at least considered that the former officer was sympathetic to SPD.

"But…" Jack said. "There's some people who, if you can get them on your side, would make me seriously consider it."

"Who?"

"The Desert Riders," Jack replied.

T.J furrowed his brow, "I'm sorry, but who are they?"

"An underground Edenoi resistance cell," Xect spoke before Jack could supply an answer. "They're famous throughout the Hive-Worlds."

"That's right," Jack said with a nod, "With them on your side your chance of success rises significantly, as does my willingness to help you."

T.J studied Jack Landors. He didn't know how feasible this task was, or if Jack was merely sending him on a fool's errand. For all he knew it could be an elaborate trap. But his team needed him, and T.J needed Jack. He had to hold onto hope. No matter what.

"Well alright," T.J said. "I'll be back when I have the Desert Riders."