Episode 14: Corrupted Paradox

SPD Academy (2025) – Meeting Room

"To be honest, the first time we saw you we had no idea of what was going on. It took us years to find out that the Dark Ranger, just like Bastro, had power far greater than we could imagine. He infected us with a virus, similar to the Venjix virus, that corrupted our powers and our memories in a weak attempt to make us his warriors when he realized that defeating us was going to be a problem," explained Jake with a chuckle. "Short story, we found ways to slow the process by passing that corruption from us to our objects. At this point, they are free, but we believe when you started to see the memories, it triggered parts of it, as our memories were the only place where we could dump the virus safely. The problem was, of course, the Dark Ranger saw this coming."

Jake took a few steps around the office where they were delivering the message, and it was that time when Gia could see the scar right over his lip where hair couldn't grow. There were also faint scars on his cheek and near his ear, and while she didn't care much about them, it gave Jake a look a lot different from the young man she used to know. It made her realize time really passed for them while she and the Rangers were in those crystals.

"He decided that torturing us with past enemies was not enough, so he added a layer with this virus that would eat everything in its path. The Dark Ranger went a step ahead, knowing we would try to slow the process by trying to lock up the virus somewhere in our body. By allowing it into our memories, we made a mistake because now the virus would run free there and eat our memories. Those are exactly the extra monsters you saw and the reason why our enemies are slightly stronger than you remember," explained Jake, getting serious.

"That's how the virus got to my Dino Gem, to Mike's Masamune, and to Jake's video recorder. Once we put the memories there, part of it must have taken over the objects, and while we know the threat is gone, the corruption continues there and was activated when you started to see the memories," said Conner, behind Jake, wearing his sunglasses as the sun was reflected in his face. "That is one of the reasons we wanted you to see everything, not only to be up to date but to help us destroy the remaining corruption so the Dark Ranger can't hurt anyone ever again."

"We are aware this is not fair to you, SPD Rangers, or to you, Kat. We should have talked to you about this, but at the moment, we weren't aware of the effects of the virus, and we didn't want to give the Dark Ranger any advantage, not after what happened…" said Mike and then smiled softly. "You are ready to face this challenge, and you won't be alone. It took us a while to find a way to use the energy we were retrieving to allow past Rangers to travel with you. It will give us an advantage the Dark Ranger didn't expect, and once it's over, we all will be able to rest in peace."

Mike's words made the Rangers wince. Even with them and the Dark Ranger gone, the fight still continued in those memories. It shouldn't matter that much; they were memories of dead people. But the fact that there was corruption there and everything they loved was tainted was enough for the SPD Rangers to want to do something about it. For the Rangers, it was even more personal because losing these would be losing the last reminders of Jake, Conner, and Mike, and they couldn't let it happen. Besides, they didn't know what the corruption could do once it took over everything, and if they could help destroy it… they had to do it.

"Rangers… we are deeply sorry. Our mistake, added to the already slow transfer of energy, and will make things slower, but we will get you all back, that's a promise. And now, you all can help us in our memories," said Jake, looking at the camera. "Every time we fight a new foe, the team who fought it before will be there with us along with the SPD Rangers to assist us. It will be confusing until we understand what happened, but please, do not say anything about future events. You need to see for yourselves, and we need certain things to happen."

Jake took a deep breath. Everyone could see how tired they were, as if they had been in constant battle for the longest time. It broke their hearts to see how their initial cheerful attitude was mostly gone now, replaced by the hardness of the universe they were trying to save.

"SPD Rangers, Cruger, and Kat, you all have advanced weapons to assist the Rangers and know a thing or two about traveling through weird situations. So this is the mission we are currently preparing you for. We are aware you may be angry because we didn't share all this information with you, but trust us that this was a choice that we had to make to preserve the future you will face," said Jake, his eyes glowing golden for a second. "Someday, you will understand. I promise you that."

The three Rangers looked at the camera before the message ended, and just like that, the people in that meeting room were left with more questions than answers as Kat Manx sighed. She knew at the time something was wrong, but she chose not to ask… maybe if she did… no, there was no way she could have known that. Jake, Conner, and Mike kept this secret for a reason, and they never failed before. Years of war taught them more than what they wanted to learn.

"So…" said Ziggy, finally breaking the silence. "Every time they fight our enemy, the team who fought them before can go too in order to stop the memory from being corrupted?"

"That's what it looks like," said Jack, also confused. "It would also explain why they were so adamant for you to see this and for us not to touch it until you were here, right Commander?"

"It certainly does, Jack, but I wonder what's there they are not telling us," said Cruger, and then he sighed. "In any case, there is no point in dwelling on it yet. You all know if they planned this, it was for a reason. SPD Rangers, our duty stands the same, show the Rangers the memories and trust that your mentors knew what they were doing."

"Your faith in them is pretty big, Commander," said Dillon, sitting beside Summer. "Don't you have questions? Because I do. I want to know how that Dark Ranger got a hold on something like the Venjix virus, and I want to know why Jake, knowing the Venjix virus, chose to 'dump it' and not destroy it."

"I understand your doubts, Dillon, and I know you are aware Jake would have destroyed it in a minute if he had the chance. But there were many things going on at that time, and you will understand when you see it. For now, I'm going to let you know one thing. Jake learned to keep his cards close to his chest at all times, and that, he said, he learned from the best."

Dillon didn't say anything else, but he chuckled softly and looked down, giving Summer a soft nod when she put a hand on his arm. Dillon made his plans before he found his team, and while he was still a lone wolf sometimes, he relied more on them, especially Summer. He had to believe Jake did the same, and he, too, had a plan behind the plan.

"If they wanted us to continue watching, we should do that," said Sky, not an ounce of doubt in his movement. He didn't need evidence to trust the Rangers; he had seen plenty of what Jake, Conner, and Mike could do.

Sky hid his morpher behind his back and extended his hand to simulate he was calling for another memory. It wasn't the moment to reveal who he was yet, but he could do something to ease some of the pressure they were going through right now. His father, despite his power and rank, was the best for the job.

"This is something We've been wanting to show you guys for a long time, and this seems to be the best time to give you a look into one of the many classes of Professor McKnight," explained Sky with a chuckle. "Please, get comfortable and allow yourselves to leave the events we saw to rest until it's time to face them again."

And then, Sky activated his morpher, only seen by his friends, Cruger, and Kat. The image of a new Professor McKnight appeared on the screen as he entered his class on his very first day.

-L-

SPD Academy (2015) – 2 Days after the first Attack – Classroom

Conner wasn't exactly sure what to do for his class, but he had taken it upon himself to teach the new cadets about Ranger history. Mostly because Tommy was a legend and he knew more than anyone, and being his Red Ranger, it was Conner's responsibility to pass that knowledge to the future Rangers.

But he seemed to forget the future Rangers were also young kids right now. He taught young teenagers too, but today, he would start with the younger generations, and that meant Bridge's class. Conner took a deep breath before he opened the door; at least, Bridge would be there.

"That's not true!"

Conner looked surprised as he saw Bridge standing in front of a slightly older boy. Bridge never got mad, he was a pure soul, but Conner could see him frowning, looking at the other boy. He walked into the class, wondering what was going on.

"It is true! Everybody knows Red is the coolest, and Pink is just for weak girls," said the other boy, and Bridge took a step towards him. "No! You don't know anything."

Conner acted by impulse, using his speed to get to them before Bridge could get in trouble. He stood between the two boys and looked at Bridge, surprising the boys before Conner knelt between them. "Enough, go back to your seats."

"But Professor…" said the boy.

"Sit down, Parker, please," said Conner, and then he looked at Bridge. "I know you mean well, Bridge, but let me handle it, alright?"

Bridge didn't seem happy, but he nodded, trusting his uncle and going back to his seat while Conner got up. He didn't know how to start the class, but right now, thanks to this development, he knew exactly what to do. With confident steps, Conner stood in front of his class, using his trademark smirk to get their attention.

"Good morning, class. I'm Professor Conner McKnight, and I'm going to teach you everything you need to know about Power Rangers: their story, their weapons, their battles, their enemies, and much more," said Conner as the door opened and Rico walked into the room. "Rico will help me from now on, and I think I have a good idea of how to start this class."

"You are going to tell us about the Red Rangers!?" asked Parker, excited, and Conner chuckled. "No, I'm going to tell you the story of all the Rangers, and we are going to start with Pink."

Parker groaned, and some other kids did the same, but Conner knew this was a perception. He knew once he finished, more than one kid would understand the importance of Pink in a team. "You think it's boring? Very well, challenge accepted. Rico, can you send a message to Sensei Mike and Commander Scott? They may want to be here for this as they both had Pink Rangers in their team."

"Sure thing, Friend Professor," said Rico, sending a message and getting ready for class while Conner looked at his class. "Now, Rico will showcase every Pink Ranger we know, and you, kids, are going to understand what it means to be the heart of the Power Rangers. For that, we are going to start with the one that started it all. Please, Rico, show the Original Pink Ranger, Kimberly Ann Hart."

Rico nodded and showed a video of Kimberly as a civilian and as a Power Ranger while Conner looked at the class. "Kimberly was chosen as Pink Ranger due to her agility and coordination as a gymnast, which provided the Ranger team with the advantage of speed and precision. But she also was chosen because of her kindness. She was the first who trusted Tommy Oliver when he first joined the team and the only one who didn't lose hope. Kimberly's faith in her friends helped the team to grow closer. As someone who had the honor to meet her, I can tell you by experience that my life changed for the better thanks to her support and her words of courage. The Pink Rangers often embody the light that guides us home, and there is no team that would tell you a Pink Ranger is a weak fighter."

The kids seemed to catch attention as images of Kimberly fighting with and without the armor appeared, thanks to Rico's extensive database. "Here you can see Kimberly fighting and also using her zords, the Pterodactyl Dinozord and the Firebird Thunderzord. Pretty amazing, huh?"

Conner saw the kids look at the images, their interest piqued. From the corner of his eye, he saw Jake and Mike walk into the room, and he nodded. "The next Pink Ranger on our list is Katherine Hillard. She received the powers from Kimberly when Kimberly made the complicated choice of pursuing her dreams, leaving behind her Ranger duties. As you know, being a Ranger is considered a job now in certain parts, but at the time Kimberly had to make a choice: be a Ranger or face the possibility of losing all her dreams and future. So instead of regretting her choice, she placed the power in someone who she knew could carry on her legacy."

Conner looked at Jake, and the Commander took the stage as images of Katherine were shown. Jake smiled softly before he spoke. "Katherine Hillard received the power for all the attributes Kimberly saw in her, especially in the emotional side. Kat's empathy and caring attitude made the team stronger emotionally and also gave them the humanity that sometimes seemed hard to find in the middle of war. She later went from Pink Ranger to Pink Zeo Ranger, Zeo I, and later to Pink Turbo Ranger, making her one of the most powerful Pink Rangers as she can use all three sets of powers. When she occasionally battled during my time as Megaforce Ranger, she used the Zeo Ranger power, leaving the Pink Ranger to Kimberly and the Turbo to our next Ranger. In addition, Kat Hillard is my adoptive mother and a woman I trusted my whole life with my most personal thoughts. Her guidance has made me a better man, and hopefully, those lessons will pass on to you now, reminding you that even in the darkest times there is always kindness hidden in the most unlikely places."

Jake watched the kids look at Kat piloting the Crane Zord and the Zeo II and smiled as he saw them get more and more interested. He knew what Conner was doing here and he was more than happy to help, bringing importance to the people behind the mask. It was as important as learning about their powers and how to use them. He took a step back, giving the stage back to Conner, who nodded at him before looking at the kids.

"Katherine Hillard passed her Turbo powers later on to Cassie Chan, who became the second Turbo Pink Ranger and the Pink Space Ranger," said Conner, and the kids looked at him amazed. "Yes, kids, she was in space. Very amazing, huh?"

The kids nodded as Rico showed them images of Cassie as the Turbo and Space Pink Ranger while Conner spoke. "Cassie is one of the Pink Rangers still active today. She protects the Universe with her team and is one of the most powerful Rangers known. She can adapt to any situation thrown at her, is very loyal to her people, and is extraordinarily resourceful. Her sense of justice and her perseverance saved many lives on Earth and around the Universe, and as you can see here, she is anything but a weak damsel in distress."

Conner took a look at Parker, who was very interested in Cassie piloting the Wind Chaser Turbozord and the Mega V5 Zord. He could see Parker taking an interest, seeing Cassie never giving up, with a perseverance he probably had not seen before. He knew he was on the right path to get these kids to see the truth about the women carrying the Pink Ranger legacy.

"Next, we have a true heroine. Let me introduce you to Kendrix Morgan. She was the first Galaxy Ranger, and her strength was her mind. She was a scientist, intelligent like no other, and with a big sense of duty. Her heart drove many of her choices, and her analytical, brilliant mind was the key to winning many fights for the Galaxy Rangers," said Conner, taking a moment as Rico showed images of Kendrix at the lab and fighting, and then Rico showed them the day Kendrix died. "Kendrix's courage will always be remembered as she sacrificed her life to save the Universe and her friends from the threat of the Pink Psycho Ranger."

"Wait…Professor, a Pink Ranger died!?" asked one of the kids.

"She did," said Conner, getting serious. "Kendrix gave up her life to save Terra Venture, her team, the Space Rangers, and the Universe. She was a true Power Ranger, someone who represents everything we fight for and the lengths we are able to go to protect the Universe."

The kids watched Kendrix die in silence, some of them surprised and others with tears in their eyes. It was hard to watch, but as cadets, they needed to learn what they were fighting for. This was not a game, and this was a moment where they could truly decide to give up this Ranger training or follow up. He was not surprised when he saw determination in those young eyes, and then he looked at the screen, showing the next Pink Ranger.

"After Kendrix died, her powers went to our next Pink Ranger, Karone. Karone is the actual Pink Galaxy Ranger and Andros' sister, and she knows better than anyone what it means to be on both sides of the war. As a kid, Karone was taken and raised as a villain, pulling her constantly against her brother. Thankfully, the Space Rangers finally managed to reach the true Karone, but she still held the guilt of her actions. Somehow, Kendrix's spirit managed to get to her and gave her the power of the Pink Galaxy Ranger, allowing Karone not only to fight with the Galaxy Rangers and aid them but also giving her a chance for redemption. Karone's experience on both the good and evil sides was key during battles, and even today, she still is one of the most resourceful Power Rangers we have and an active ambassador between Terra Venture, Mirinoi, Earth, and KO-35, her home planet."

Rico showed more images of Karone and also included the part where Kendrix came back to life. Conner chuckled. "On a good note, as a result of their victory, Kendrix managed to be brought back to life, and for a short time, she was back to being the Pink Ranger. But she retired, giving her powers back to Karone. Kendrix chose a more peaceful life, but she still aids the Rangers when necessary and fights with them in and out of the battlefield."

The kids cheered happily, and Conner laughed, allowing them to clap as they saw Kendrix coming back before they moved to the next Ranger. This time, Conner saw no other but their only doctor in her early years as a Ranger.

"Now, let me present you the most patient woman I know," said Conner, and this time, even Jake and Mike chuckled. "Her name is Dana Mitchell, and she is the Pink Lightspeed Rescue Ranger. She is our doctor, and I mean, a doctor for all the Rangers teams, and while we drove her crazy, somehow she manages to deal with all of us with a smile on her face."

The kids looked as Dana acted as a pediatric doctor and also how she took care of many Rangers over the years. Her light touch and smile represented not only kindness but also the focus necessary to treat the several injuries the Rangers sustained over the years.

"But don't let that gentle look make you think she wasn't powerful. Dana's empathy helped the Rangers see certain situations from a new perspective, and her sense of duty pushed them when everything seemed lost. Dana may be a gentle doctor, but she has shown time and time again to be also a Ranger to rely on, and she has no fear in taking charge when it's necessary."

The kids looked amazed at the change of attitude between the doctor and the Ranger, but it also made them see her leadership and gentleness as strengths to face the challenges, which made Conner think about the next Pink Ranger. It was funny, he thought, how they were all related in some way or another.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to shock you for life," said Conner, while Jake and Mike shared a knowing look. "Let me introduce you to Jen Scotts, the Time Force Pink Ranger and… the leader of the team."

The kids looked at him, gasping and murmuring. They didn't know there was a Pink team leader, and for Conner, it was almost cute to see them realize that Red was not always the boss in the field. In fact, to him, women were more badass when it came to battle and planning.

"Jen Scotts led the Rangers with a firm hand, but she also allowed them to grow when they had to travel from the year 3000 to the year 2001. Her discipline and determination in stopping their enemy was the main reason why the Rangers were able to defeat Ransik, and in the way, Jen managed to change her destiny in ways you can't imagine. She lives here now, in our time, and she is the main connection between the future and the present. She is the living presence of how fighting for what you believe in can give you great results. But Jen is a lot more than just determination; her training makes her one of the most powerful women we have ever seen. Skilled like no other, Jen won't give up, and let me tell you, you do not want to pick a fight with her."

The kids were greatly impressed, and this time, Parker was totally focused on the Pink Rangers. Conner could see he was realizing that the women he thought weak were everything but that. They were strong, capable, and resourceful in ways he never imagined.

"And from Jen Scott, disciplined and strong, we pass to Vida Roca, Pink Mystic Force Ranger," said Conner as Rico presented images of Vida. "Vida is cheerfulness and freedom in the full expression of the words, but that is exactly what makes Vida vital for her team. Her expertise in magic, specifically wind, makes her as unique as her free spirit. That, mixed with her strong-willed nature, makes Vida relentless and a powerful magic user. Traits that brought light to the complicated world she lives in, as she always has a way to help others through music."

The kids whispered, amazed, seeing Vida using her magic against her enemies, helping her sister and her friends, and mixing her music, showing her versatility in and out of the battlefield before Rico moved to the next Ranger.

"And now, we have Rose Ortiz, the Pink Overdrive Ranger," said Conner, smiling. "Rose is not only a tech expert on the same level as Billy Cranston or Ethan James, but she is also always ready to learn new things and is extremely intelligent. She would probably be your favorite teacher if she were here because she loves to learn as much as she loves to show others what she knows. Her love for adventure brought her to the Overdrive Team, and her expertise in technology made her an important asset to the team."

The kids watched Rose with interest; many identified with her curiosity and desire to learn. Conner could see that Rose would be exactly someone they would love as a teacher. He hoped someday Rose would be here to share all her knowledge and spirit with them, but for now, all he could do was continue, and he looked at Mike as images of the next Pink Ranger appeared.

"For the next Pink Ranger, I will let one of her teammates talk about her. Sensei Mike, take the stage," said Conner, and Mike nodded, taking a step forward as he looked at Mia training with a soft smile before he looked at the kids.

"Cadets, I want to present to you Mia Watanabe, the Samurai Pink Ranger," said Mike, trying to hide the emotion evident in his voice. "Mia is like an older sister to me and to the Rangers, a very proud Samurai. Mia's strength is in the way she took care of us, always supporting us and making sure we took care of ourselves. Her overprotective side was something that made us feel secure and loved, and while she could be a little too protective sometimes, Mia also allowed us the wisdom to grow at our own time, giving us space but always letting us know she was there for us."

Mike looked down, and going up his shoulder, the cadets could see a small pink turtle that Mike took in his hands softly before showing it to the cadets. "This is Mia's zord, Turtle, and she is as protective as her master, seeing that she doesn't leave me alone for a second. Someday, you all will meet her, and once you do, I promise you, there will be no fear in your hearts anymore."

The turtle zord made a sound, and Mike petted her before taking a step back. Finally, Conner asked Jake to step forward as the most recent Pink Ranger appeared. Jake took a deep breath, and then he took the stage again, this time to talk about his teammate.

"Kids, this is Emma Goodall, Pink Megaforce Ranger. Emma is someone you can always count on, and before she was a Ranger, she was already saving the planet," said Jake with a chuckle. "Her connection to nature made all of us realize the importance of the planet we were fighting to save, and she gave us a unique perspective, teaching us that even without powers, there were many things we could do to protect people around us. She is the one who would never give up on others and would fight for you to the very end. She did it for me over and over again. She did it for Rico, present here, and she did it for many others. Emma is all the good you can find in a Ranger and an amazing photographer who shows others how beautiful the world can be through her eyes."

Jake took a step back, receiving a squeeze on his shoulder from Mike and a sympathetic look from Conner before the teacher took the stage one last time, and Rico showed images of all the Pink Rangers beside him.

"As you see, cadets, being a Pink Ranger is in no way a weakness. They show us courage, strength, kindness, and love, points needed when you are constantly fighting monsters and thrown into dangerous situations."

The kids nodded, understanding the importance of Pink while Conner looked at them, satisfied. He could see he had made a point, and now, even Parker seemed more focused and ready to accept the importance of these women in their world. Conner chuckled, feeling as if he understood Tommy a little better now that he, too, had officially become a teacher. "Very well, class, this is all for today. Keep in mind what you learned today, and I'll see you next week."

The kids nodded, and then they collected their things while Conner took a deep breath. He saw Jake and Mike directing the kids out of the room with Rico as they said goodbye to him. Then, Conner turned around to collect his things when he noticed someone had stayed behind and turned to see Parker there, looking somehow shy.

"Parker is there something wrong?" asked Conner, slightly worried.

"All the Pink Rangers we saw were girls… I was wondering if there has ever been a male Pink Ranger?" asked Parker, looking away.

Conner looked surprised and knelt to be at Parker's eye level, encouraging the cadet to look at him. When he did, Conner noticed there was something in his eyes, sparked by everything he had seen in this class.

"No, Parker, there is not a male Pink Ranger yet, but that doesn't mean you can't be the first," said Conner, and Parker looked at him, hope shining in his eyes. "I'm sure you could be a Pink Ranger as powerful as the women you saw there as long as you hold their legacy in your heart and remember what it means. If you do that, there should be no stopping you from becoming a Pink Ranger, and I know Commander Scott and Sensei Mike will support you too."

Parker smiled, and to Conner's surprise, the kid hugged him. "Thanks, Professor McKnight! You are the best!"

Conner barely had time to say something when Parker ran out of the class, probably to talk with his friends. He smiled as the door closed and got up, looking around the now empty classroom and taking a deep breath. "I hope I did a good job," whispered Conner. He collected his things and then, in silence, he left the classroom with a warm feeling in his chest, as if the energy of the Pink Rangers was right there, in that classroom.

-L-

SPD Academy (2025) – Meeting Room

There was a collective silence as the image disappeared, and Sky squeezed Syd's hand gently. As the Pink Ranger, she was now part of that legacy, and he couldn't be prouder of her. She smiled at him, kissing his cheek, and took a step forward.

"As Pink Rangers, we learn many things over the years, but these classes, where Professor McKnight talked to us not only about you as Rangers but also about you as people, were special. His dedication to wanting us to learn about the variety of heroes and heroines we have to look up to allowed us to become Rangers proud of the color we wear, knowing the legacy that lives through us," explained Syd with a smile. "By the way, Parker did become a Pink Ranger. We are divided into different Squads. We are B Squad, and he is the Pink Ranger of A Squad—very strong and very kind. He continued studying your legacy and is now a very respected Ranger. He is also a professional photographer and teacher of photography here at the Academy if you want to go see him sometime."

"They never forgot," said Sky, taking a deep breath. "There wasn't a moment you weren't here around us or with us. That's why we were so emotional when we traveled to help the Megaforce Rangers or why we are so happy to have you here. It felt as if… it felt as if everything was worth it."

There was a moment when the SPD Rangers looked down. It was worth it, most of it, but there were moments when they wished they could have been stronger or different. Sky especially wore that weight heavily in his heart as he felt deeply responsible for the people he cared about. What he did not expect was Kira reaching for him, taking his hand in hers, and smiling at him softly.

"Don't beat yourself up, Sky. I'm sure you did everything you could, and if they were here, they would tell you it was worth it," whispered Kira, looking at their linked hands. "You know… you remind me of Conner, and this is something I always wanted him to understand: there are things we cannot control. You fought your hardest and you did the best you could, and that matters, Sky. Everything matters."

Sky looked at her for a long moment, almost revealing his truth, but then they were interrupted by Cruger, who gave Sky a meaningful look. Sky quickly understood what he meant with that look; he didn't need to say anything, as his secret was going to be revealed soon anyway. It was strange for him, as he remembered that day, and his memories would not be exactly the same ones they would have experienced because of the corruption. Yet, he was scared of the reactions he was going to get.

Sky was a very different person before he met Conner, Jake, and Mike. Syd stood beside him, hugging him closely. With Kira on one side and Syd on the other, Sky put his hand over the Red Dino Gem and looked at the Rangers.

"You all better get ready, there may be a chance we have to leave again soon with one of the teams," whispered Sky.

And then, the new memory started.