It was early morning at Aaronsdale High School and the school's athletic field was packed with students trying to get their workouts completed before the worst of the Arizona heat took hold. Sitting near the finish line dressed in her running trainers, shorts and blue tracksuit top, one of the seniors tied back her long black hair. She let out a deep sigh, absently rubbing a scar on her right knee before slumping back in her chair and flicking down an oversized pair of sunglasses. The teen paid no attention to the hushed whispers aimed in her direction from passing students.

She wasn't sure how much time passed until a male voice called out to her, "Stephanie," she groaned at the use of her full name, "come on, look lively," the voice added with pep that didn't feel right before eight in the morning.

Without looking, the girl replied towards the Principle, "It's Stevie actually and I am lively for this time in the morning."

Stevie didn't need to look at Principle Guest, she knew he looked annoyed right now, "Alright then Stevie," Principle Guest began, "I wanted you to meet our new athletics coach."

"I dunno why," Stevie replied, "I quit the track team last year. I'm not sure if you remember but I blew my knee out, is your memory finally starting to fail?"

Still staring at the sky, she allowed herself a small smirk at the grumbling Principle. Moments later someone sat down beside her, it wasn't the Principle but a slightly older brunette woman. Her naturally curly hair was mostly held in place but a few strands dangled free around her cheeks, "So you're the famous Stevie Chang," the woman began, "Maddie Newton, the new coach of the Aaronsdale Tigers."

The name sounded familiar to Stevie until it dawned on her, "I know you, you were going to the Rio Olympics with Team USA until you went down with an injury."

"Torn ACL," Maddie replied whilst flashing a similar scar to Stevie's, "took me nearly a year to fully rehab, during which I earned my teaching qualifications. I think Principle Guest is hoping that my story will reassure you."

"Olympic prospect to high school gym teacher," Stevie snorted, "no offence but that's hardly an inspiration."

The teen heard Principle Guest bark her name but Coach Newton merely chuckled, "Believe me you're not the first one to say that to me," she replied, "I'm training for Tokyo 2020, national try-outs are in a few months. I do need a day job though, unless you're Usain Bolt, professional track and field doesn't pay much."

Stevie let a brief smile cross her face before she realised, "Look you're wasting your time, I don't run anymore, I've moved onto other things."

"And what things are they Miss Chang," Principle Guest began, "because these other things certainly aren't school related." Stevie shook her head, adverting her gaze from the Principle. She knew what was coming, she'd heard it from him and her parents several times in the last few months, "You've gone from a top prospect to struggling student, your GPA is tumbling, your classwork is unacceptable and that's when you bother to show up for class."

"Yesterday wasn't my fault," Stevie snapped back, she wasn't sure what happened yesterday but she remembered eating lunch by the bleachers and the next thing she knew, the janitor was waking her up several hours later. She had missed the last few periods and found herself dragged into an emergency meeting last night with Principle Guest and her parents. The Principle was all for calling the Police to request testing her for drugs. It took several strong words from her father and Stevie dumping the contents of her bag onto Principle Guest to get him to back down.

That led up to today, one last chance as the Principle called it. A meeting with the new track coach along with a trial run to re-join the team. "I'm out of words Miss Chang," Principle Guest sighed, "I made my position very clear last night and your parents agreed with me." Stevie grumbled again, crossing her arms over her chest, "You will complete the try out today, otherwise I will recommend that you retake your Senior year," he added. For once, Stevie was speechless, no retort on the tip of her tongue, not even a gesture or sigh, "I'll leave you with Coach Newton but I will be watching from the bleachers."

As Principle Guest retreated, Stevie allowed herself a shake of the head, "Look Stevie I understand your anger," Coach Newton began, "I felt exactly the same way during my recovery. I was frustrated that I couldn't run with the same speed or ease that I did before. It will get easier, you just need to take that first step."

Stevie slowly turned towards Coach Newton, gently chewing on her lip, "We'll take it easy today, just an 800 meter race against the rest of the team. I know you hold the school record but I'm not expecting you to get near that today."

"Good," Stevie shook her head, "I wouldn't be surprised if they lap me, it's been that long."

"Talent like yours doesn't disappear," Coach Newton replied, "so I'll make you a deal, if you're within ten seconds of the winners time then you're on the team."

"Ten seconds," she glanced over the rest of the team warming up on the track. There were a few familiar faces along with a couple of Freshmen, "That should be possible but I'm only doing this to stop your pep talks."

"Still need to work on those," Coach Newton shrugged, "you've got lane eight, have five minutes to warm up then we'll get started."

Stevie shrugged off her jacket, revealing a light blue running top. She jogged over to the track, allowing herself a few moments to feel out her legs. To her surprise there was nothing, ever since her injury there had been a little niggle in her leg, a gentle throb that reminder her of the torn ligament. Today there was nothing, not even a small amount of stiffness.

After going through a few gentle stretches, Stevie and the rest of the team were called to their marks. Having lane eight on the track meant that everyone was behind her. During her competitive running days she always liked to lead from the front in the middle distance races. There was no one of High School age in her across the state. That wasn't arrogance, her times spoke for themselves.

The runners were called to their marks and the starting gun fired. Stevie set off from her mark, moving into the inside lane as she entered the back straight. She quickly found a comfortable pace, it felt a little slower than she used to run but that was to be expected after her lengthy absence from the track. Coming towards the finish line to start the final lap, Stevie wondered where everyone else was. She expected the rest of the track team to breeze past during the first lap but she was still leading. She couldn't even heard the sound of pounding feet coming from behind.

The bell rung to indicate the final lap and Stevie begun to realise she had a chance to win. A part of her wanted to slow up, just to spite the Principle. The competitor inside though wouldn't allow it, her legs felt great and she didn't even feel out of breath. Still, she hadn't run properly for eighteen months, done no training other than weight training to prevent the pounds piling on. At some point the rest of the team would come past.

Exiting the bend for the final 100 meters, Stevie put in a little burst. Not a full sprint but enough to make sure she held onto her position. When she crossed the finish line in first place, she looked behind for the first time. To her surprise the rest of the team were still coming round the final bend, "Wow, either you told them to go easy or standards have really slipped," she said to Coach Newton. There was no response from the new coach though, instead she was still gaping at her stopwatch, "Go on then, how slow was I? I told you not to expect much from me."

Coach Newton numbly turned the stopwatch towards Stevie, it's display reading 01:53:83, "A one fifty three?" Stevie asked incredulously, "did you stop it early or something?"

"No," Coach Newton shook her head, just as the rest of the team crossed the finish line. They were all leaning forward, struggling to get air into their lungs, "I started on the gun and stopped when you crossed the line."

Stevie frowned, "There's no way, come on that time is Olympic class."

"Better," Coach Newton began, "if my memory is correct, that's the third fastest 800 meter time for a woman ever. No one has gone under one fifty four for around thirty five years until you," she waved her hands at Stevie, "a seventeen year old with a questionable knee who apparently hasn't run for over a year comes along." The coach shook her head, "To top it off, you're not even out of breath and barely look like you were trying. So Stephanie Chang, how did you do that?"

Stevie was silent for a moment before replying, "I have absolutely no idea."

Far above Earth, the mysterious ship that attacked the NASADA space station moved slowly through the debris field left behind. Inside the ship, a small figure watched a viewing screen with great interest. He was roughly the same size as a pre-pubescent boy, dressed in a dark body suit with armour that exposed his skinny arms. His pudding bowl haircut was kept out his face by an odd contraption, a headset that wrapped around his head, covering his eyes and ears but leaving his mouth exposed.

In a flash of light, he was joined by a dark figure, a tall mechanoid with exposed patched on his torso that gave a glimpse into the blinking circuity underneath. It's shoulders were bulky with curved armours, its bulging red eyes pulsing ominously. Despite towering over the child, the mechanoid knelt in obedient servitude, "Report Kane, what did you find?" the boy asked.

"Yes, what did you find?" a smooth voice called out from the murky shadows of the ship. A third figure entered, dressed in a similar black body suit to the child. This one covered his entire body with his arms, legs and chest protected by thick silver coloured armour. The chest armour linked with an elaborate silver helmet that covered one half of his face, specifically his left eye, "I don't have all day Kane," he added, the blinking red lights from the robot highlighting his blue skin.

"Remember your place Count Trivium," the boy stated with a deep voice that belied his apparent youth, "my mother, the Empress, placed me in charge of this assault. You are merely here as a regent until I achieve maturity."

Count Trivium let out a barely audible grumble before slowly bowing his head, "My apologies Prince Reise," he began carefully, "I am merely eager to commence the invasion of this pitiful rock and claim it for the Empress."

Reise glared through his headset at the Count, "Continue with your report Kane," he said, all the time maintain his gaze on his regent.

"There is nothing of use remaining from the vessel," Kane began with his synthesized voice, "the power source that we detected was most likely destroyed in the explosion."

"Unfortunate," Prince Reise replied, "I did caution against a full assault, didn't I Count Trivium?"

"Our covert surveillance indicated that the human ship contained something that could be a threat to the Vyglass Empire," Trivium began, "I merely wished to protect you and the Empire."

"At the cost of a valuable source of power," Reise snapped, "our orders were to capture the ship, not destroy it." A pedestal rose from the floor of the ship which the young Price approached, "our sensors showed that just before it's destruction, the ship discharged a great power towards the planet surface. This power has subsequently been detected on the surface."

"Impossible," Trivium began before pausing for a moment, "unless they have found a way to fuse this power to the human body."

"That is what I need you to find out Kane," Reise addressed his personal bodyguard, "travel to the surface and draw out any human that might have received this power. Feel free to use the Gougers and one of our elite troopers if you wish."

"As you wish my Lord," Kane replied.

Count Trivium clapped his hands together, "If you know longer need my counsel then I will retire to the laboratory. I must ensure that the Princess is settling into her quarters. He turned sharply, his cape twirling behind him as he disappeared into the mist.

Once he was certain his regent was gone, Prince Reise sighed, "I don't know why mother assigned him to me, I am perfectly capable of leading an invasion."

"I am well aware my Lord," Kane replied, "you have conquered many Earth's across numerous dimensions."

"There is something different about this one," Reise said as he looked down to the planet's surface, "there is great power on this Earth that was not present on the others."

"There is nothing mightier than the Vyglass Empire, my Lord," Kane stated, "any resistance will be quickly crushed."

"Be that as it may, proceed with caution," Reise replied, "and keep an eye out for the Count, I don't trust him."

"As you command my Lord," Kane was just about to leave when he added, "forgive me for asking but I wasn't aware there was a Princess of the Vyglass."

Prince Reise offered a small smirk, "All the more reason to keep an eye on Count Trivium." Kane was unable to express emotion but the Prince had known his bodyguard for a long time and he knew the mechanoid was confusion. Nevertheless, the robot turned and left the young Prince to gather an attack force and prepare to travel to Earth.

A/N – Our first look at one of the new Rangers together with the primary villains. One more "setting the stage" chapter and then I promise we'll have some Ranger action. I had a review on the last chapter asking for face claims for the characters, here's the cast for the main characters introduced so far:

Mark: Michael Evans Behling

Adrienne: Katherine McNamara

Jazz: Rukku Nehar

Stevie: Leah Lewis

General Harkness: Mark Harmon

I will put the remaining Rangers up when they're introduced. I haven't done one for Chris, mainly because (spoiler) he's won't be seen again.