At Link Magyar, the Boss once more activated his hidden communicator to Bovile. "Report on the progress of the Earth mission."

"We have begun to acquire some sales, due to the efforts of Technorg.", Bovile reported. "But they haven't reported in as scheduled for a while, so Viperior has an agent on the planet to ascertain why." An image came up, showing Mover throwing the Super Hydro Blaster to a morphed Lee. "And the agent discovered something intriguing. M0-VR is alive and hiding on Earth."

"Why that little-!", the Boss fumed, before composing himself. "Looks like our order of business should include taking revenge for his ratting me out and hiding the Solar Element from me."

"It'll be on the agenda.", Bovile informed him. "For now, Technorg is the more pressing issue on our agenda. Report end." Sure enough, the transmission ceased.

But in spite of the assurance he had received, the Boss was not mollified. "M0-VR. You thought you could defy me and hen leave me to rot in prison. Well now that I know you're still alive and kicking, I won't rest until you're made to suffer until there's nothing left for you to lose." He then turned to his masked cellmate. "You, what's your name? Ninchuu?"

"And so after centuries of his family's loyal servitude, the Red King of the time chose to forge a more secure alliance with the rulers of the universe. The Absolute Insect Overlord would provide his wife with a scion that had all of the same power that he possessed…"

"Right, still telling that fairy tale.", the Boss sighed. "Listen, if you're as impressive as I've heard, then perhaps you can help me, while I help you."

Down on Earth, the main 5 Rangers and C.B showed up at Geo's house, where they were greeted by his grandmother. "Oh, you must be friends of Oswald, like that robot fellow.", the old woman noted. "Oswald, your friends are here."

"Coming, Grandma!", Geo called out as the sounds of footsteps thudding down the stairs came from within the house. The old lady retreated within the house as Geo darted to the door. "To what do I owe this pleasure? Because Rev's at your place helping Mover with something."

"The Crosslands Crusaders have the first game of the season today.", Bobby said excitedly. "And Kit says you have a brand spanking new plasma tv just in this week."

Geo turned to Kit, an angry look forming on his face. "I told you that in confidence.", he hissed.

"Hey, what can I say? Other than 'Bobby plays hard ball'.", Kit offered.

"And besides, Lee and I have some catching up to do.", C.B added. "And what better way to do that then pretending to watch a sports game."

"She says it's about me, but I took the liberty of giving Leo an uplink via his Zord module.", Lee clarified as he took said module out.

"Let's just say, the dissonance in what two pairs of electronic eyes see is massive.", Leo stated.

"But you look so cute in this state.", Anna said as she stroked the tiny fire engine.

"Let's just go inside.", George sighed, before inviting himself into Geo's house. "It's freezing out here."

Back at the Rangers' base, Mover came to. "Well, how'd it go?", he asked Rev.

"The circuit installation was a success.", Rev nodded, giving a thumbs up. "You and Leo should be good to go the next time you're needed."

"Hopefully not too soon.", Mover said as he looked around. "Where is everyone today?"

"I dunno. Place was empty when I got here.", Rev shrugged.

"We're over at Geo's place for a sports game.", Leo answered. "I'm in an uplink to my tiny version so I can be there and here at once."

The two robotic lifeforms looked at each other and shrugged. "Well, I say we give them the break.", Rev said.

"Yeah, it gives me time to fix the HD Gate.", Mover nodded in agreement, before walking down to commence work.

Back at Geo's place, the game between the Crusaders and the Newinthal Raiders had begun. "And the Crusaders' star pitcher, Infant Ester comes on to throw against The Newinthal Raiders' newest most promising batter, Harry Stone.", the announcer on the TV said. "The crowd is at a fever pitch."

"Yes! Come on, Ester.", Bobby practically, yelled, to George's discomfort.

"Hit him out.", Anna added.

The ball left the pitcher's hand and made contact… with K.P's Overclock Key. "So if the ball doesn't hit the bat, this guy isn't allowed to play anymore.", she commented. "Looks like I can make a hard ball out of his soft ball."

She turned the key, causing the ball to be surrounded in flames as it floated in midair. "Folks, it seems that something's happening to the ball.", the announcer gulped. "You might want to get out of here."

The flames subsided revealing a new Automobeast, whose upper body resembled a baseball glove, with the head resembling a baseball wearing a cap. The crowd decided this was the cue to follow the advice of the announcer and bolt. "Power Rangers. Come and face the superior skills of… Hardball!", the monster declared.

All of the Rangers got up off the couch, with Kit switching the TV off. "Looks like it's time we played ball.", Lee said. "C.B, stay here."

The Rangers then set off out the door. "Not like I could go anywhere while you're my ride home.", C.B pointed out.

Within a few seconds, the Rangers had Accel Boosted to the outside of the stadium. "Looks like the home team decided to show up and challenge me.", Hardball said as he was surrounded by the Star Kats and a group of Robolts.

"It's time you got struck out.", Bobby practically yelled as he swung his Stick Saber at the mosnter several times, failing to damage it at all. "What the-?"

"Foul ball!", Hardball cried as he summoned a baseball bat, which he used to send Bobby flying backwards. "That kind of play won't fly with me."

"Then let's see how this does.", George said as he pulled out his Wheel Saber in Blaster mode, firing a few shots.

But Hardball took this attack head on as well. "Sorry boys, but our latest creation can't be beaten except in a game of baseball.", Grillion stated.

"Oh come on!", Geo almost yelled. "How is that fair?"

"Now now.", K.P tutted. "Nobody likes people who don't play by the rules."

"That must be why no-one likes you three.", Anna snapped back.

The three Star Kats were all dejected by this. "You didn't have to make it personal, you know."

"Enough of this foolish bickering." Technorg teleported in. "It seems that the only way to resolve this conflict is with a game of Galactik Baseball, with an impartial referee. And as someone who has no strong emotions towards either side, I volunteer."

The Rangers stood there confused, before Bobby spoke up. "We accept your challenge."

"Oh? But how can you?", Hardball asked. "You need 9 players for a starting lineup, and you guys only have 6."

Grillion and K.P then took out all but 5 of the Robolts. "And unfortunately, we don't have any spares due to sudden staffing shortages."

"Don't worry about that.", Lee said as he held his Morpher out. "I can call in some help."

And within a few minutes, Mover, Rev and C.B had all shown up, with the Rangers powering down so all 5 could wear a set of matching baseball caps and jerseys, which their three allies were also wearing. They were all white and had the Rangers' logo prominently emblazoned. "When exactly did either of you have time to make these?", Kit asked.

"Who cares?", Anna asked as she began swinging a bat eagerly. "I finally get to use my years of training at this for something practical."

"That's nice.", George commented. "But since the Star Kats won the coin toss, we're the pitching team for the first round. Get to second base." Anna moaned as she dropped the bat, walking to the base in question.

Hardball, the Star Kats and 5 Robolts then stood triumphant, all wearing blue jerseys and caps, with the Mafia logo. "Ready to serve.", the group all said in unison.

"You're batting, you morons." All of them fell backwards at hearing this, as Technorg walked forward. "Now then, I've programmed the appropriate rules and terminology into the Robolts to ensure there's as little foul play as possible. I honestly don't care who wins the game, as long as you take your time."

"Sir.", the main three said, as Grillion and K.P saluted.

"First to hit for the Away team is Grillion. Now we don't have a lot of information on him, or any of the Away team for that matter, but file footage shows him carrying some form of club around at all times, so he must have some proficiency.", an announcer called out.

"Alright, time for my patented super swing to be shown off.", Grillion said as he began swinging a bat covered in nails.

"That isn't exactly regulation, but I'll still hit you out.", Bobby, serving as the pitcher, said as he prepped the ball, before throwing it. Grillion managed to hit the ball, with the Rangers managing to catch the ball as he reached the first base, with the scoreboard calling a "Base hit". "Yay, I made it."

"Okay, so they're a little ahead.", Bobby noted. "But don't worry, we can still stop them from getting more points."

"We're calling in our pinch runner.", Hardball declared.

"Since Meowbile can't exactly hit with a bat, we're making him our replacement.", K.P clarified.

As Grillion returned to the stands, Meowbile took his place. "Do us proud, little Buddy.", Grillion said before he moved off the field.

"Don't worry. I'm revved up and ready to serve.", was Meowbile's response.

Next to bat for the Mafia was a Robolt. But before he could, Bobby noticed that Meowbile was setting off. "We need to hit him out before he goes home.", Bobby called.

"I think we got that.", Anna said as she tried to touch the ball to base. But Meowbile was faster.

After Meowbile returned home, he began to circle the field again. "Hey, that's not in the rules.", Kit called out.

"It is in Galactik Baseball.", Technorg clarified. "Instead of running home, the player keeps going until they get caught out. You'd better hurry."

Meowbile continued driving around the field an additional 8 times, before Kot fishtail the ball and placed it down on the home square before Meowbile could make it. "He's out!", the Robolt umpire announced.

"What do you mean?", Grillion asked as he and K.P approached the umpire.

"He's clearly still in.", K.P insisted.

"No, he failed to touch the base before the ball did.", the umpire said in response. "Meowbile is out of this inning."

"Damnit, let us cheat.", Grillion growled.

"The judgement has been given.", the Robolt insisted. "If you do not return to the stands, your team will be disqualified."

"Maybe I gave them too much knowledge.", Technorg thought to themself.

"So they're going to both play by and ignore established rules.", C.B noted. "This game will be different."

"And we're not exactly the Celtics or the Knicks.", Rev pointed out. "We're more like the Detroit Lions."

"We're not sunk yet.", Mover pointed out. "We may be down now, but we can pull this out of here frying pan."

Sure enough, over the course of the first eight innings, the Rangers' team pulled it out of the frying pan… and into the fire. Whenever they batted, the team accrued more outs than their opponents, while only getting a scant few points, while the Mafia team managed to accrue 910 points to the Rangers' 6. Now it was the last inning, and the Rangers were down. Both in points and in mood. "We might as well give it up.", Geo sighed. "It'd take a miracle to turn things around at this point."

"It doesn't help that the Mafia are cheating like hell.", Anna surmised. "Honestly, I'd swear that Galactik Baseball is a game where you make up the rules as you go along."

"It actually is.", Rev chimed in. "Greatest blood sport in 5 galaxies. Or it was, until three of them outlawed it. And the other two changed the rules to be more restrictive."

"That's it!", Lee realised. "If they're playing by older, looser rules, then we need to beat them at their own game."

"But can we do that?", George asked. "I mean at this point."

"We are behind by quite a lot of points.", Anna pointed out.

"Hey, the points difference is surmountable if we don't give up.", Bobby stated. "Things may look bad, but they don't have to be. So long as we can keep playing, there's still a chance we can win this."

"He's right.", C.B added. "We've been trying play a game of honour with a group that don't really care for that sort of thing. We have to stop treating them as equals, and start treating them as opponents to overcome. You're Power Rangers, for crying out loud. You take down much tougher foes than this guy constantly. So I'm sure you can overcome this if you just push forward, right."

"Right.", the 6 Rangers nodded, before putting their hands in a circle. "Let's do this."

"Looks like it's Morphing Time.", Lee said as he took and the others took out their Shift, Siren and Control Morphers.

The 6 stepped out to the field, preparing their morphing sequence. "Ready! Set!"

"Morph!/Log On!"

In a flash, all of them had assumed their Ranger suits, but with their baseball overalls worn over them.

"Number 17: Red!"

"Number 18: Blue!"

"Number: 3: Pink!"

"Number 1: Black!"

"Number 12: Orange!"

"And playing Number 4: Violet!"

"Let's score a home run. Power Rangers Turbo Baseball!"

"You think some new uniforms will turn things around?", Hardball asked.

First to bat in this inning was George. "Hit me with your best shot." Hardball threw the ball at an irregular angle, which George leapt up to hit back. "Fired away!"

Next to bat was Geo. "I've played my fair share of baseball games. This'll be a cinch.", he declared. As the ball came flying he opposite direction to him, he leapt forward in an arch to hit it.

"How the-?", Hardball could only stand and state. While he did this, the ball flew down onto the field, giving Geo a chance to run to first base.

Bobby was the third batter this time. "Knock him out this time, Hardball.", Grillion, serving as the catcher, called out.

"Hit a home run, Bobby.", the rest of the team, still in the stands, simultaneously called out.

"Let's get this over with.", Bobby said, his energy renewed through the cheers of his teammates."

"Let's go.", Hardball cried out as he threw his ball towards Bobby.

"Acceleration Boost!" Bobby began spinning around at high speed, managing to hit the ball far enough away that he and he others could run to the next base. "Lee, it's all on you."

"Right.", Lee nodded as he walked up to the pitch.

"You want to try and hit me out?", Hardball growled as his eyes lit on fire. "Well now you're gonna see me get really fired up." He charged a massive amount of energy into the ball he was holding.

He then threw it at Lee twice, both times being misses for the Ranger. "Strike!", the Robolt umpire called out both times.

"One more strike, and the game is ours.", Hardball laughed. "Now to get really fired up." He charged more energy into the ball, before throwing it again.

"In that case," Lee took out the Hydro Blaster. "I'd better cool you off. Hydro Up!" He cocked the gun before pulling the hammer to initiate his transformation, becoming the Red Hydro Ranger, before activating his attack. "Extinguish Blasters!" The coolant managed to cool the ball down enough that Lee was able to bat it back at Hardball with enough force to knock him out and go flying again. "Alright, now for part 2 of the plan."

"Acceleration Boost!" The Ranger started running around the diamond several times, with Lee stopping once to taunt Grillion. "Looks like your own rules are working against you."

"Keep going, guys!", Kit, Anna and the two assistants called out as the group kept racking up points to close the gap between the two teams. The ball finally landed, with the Robolts scrambling to get it and throw it to one on a base.

As Lee approached the home base as he saw the score was all tied up, he saw Grillion catch the ball. "Once I drop this on the floor, you lose.", he gloated.

"Not if I get there first.", Lee said in response as he slid under his foe and touched the base, bringing the score up to 911 points for the Rangers and 910 points for the Mafia.

"That's the game!", the announcer declared. "Rangers win!"

"Who's making those announcements?", K.P asked. "Because you're not helping."

The Rangers all crowded around Lee to celebrate their victory. "Looks like we turned it around after all.", Kit said to no-one in particular.

But Hardball recovered from being knocked out. "Congratulations. Now that you've won, you can hurt me the normal way.", he growled as he charged forwards.

"Thanks for the tip.", Lee said as the others cleared space for him to prepare his final attack. "Hydro Nova!" He fired a full pressure water spout that sent Hardball flying into the air.

"Looks like I'm out.", Harball cried as he exploded midair.

Meanwhile, the Mafia were commiserating their losses. "Well as the humans say, we reap what we sow.", Grillion commented.

"And we were downing our own defeat, it seems.", K.P nodded.

"The game ain't over yet.", Meowbile declared as he leapt into the air. "Gigantify!"

As the beam was fired, Hardball returned as a giant. "Time for me to be my own pitch hitter.", he announced. "And I'll make sure your options for movement are limited." He went over to the stands and set them on fire with his power.

"Leo, we need your assistance.", Lee said into his Morpher.

"Alright, keep your helmet on.", Leo growled as his larger body woke up. "I'll get there." He turned and bolted out the emergency door, turning into his fire engine form.

Lee inserted Leo's Zord module at the same time Bobby inserted Movers, with the two taking the wheels of those two Zords. "Leo Coolant!", Lee called out as Leo unleashed water to send Hardball reeling. "Now I'm fighting fire with fire… fighting."

"Mover, let's help out.", Bobby suggested.

"Ok.", Mover responded as he assumed his Megazord mode to grab a water tower. "We may not be able to use the regular Zords, but I can still help." He kicked Hardball back, before throwing the water onto him.

"Why does everyone want me to get wet?", Hardball bemoaned. Meanwhile, Lee had finished dousing the flames around the stadium. "If you're gonna out me out, then I'll bring the blaze direct to you." He then threw fireballs at Mover, sending him reeling.

"Perhaps we should try out that circuit Mover installed in himself.", Leo said.

"Wait, what?", Lee asked, confused.

"We'll show you.", Mover answered. The Rescue Lion split into multiple pieces, with the back half of the fire engine becoming a pair of boots, the ladder and the front half's lower section becoming arm-mounted weapons, in the form of a lance and a shield, the front legs of the Lion mode becoming shoulder pads, and the lion head rotating the leonine face to reveal a humanoid face as it formed a head. "Rescue Force Megazord, rescue ready!"

"So I see you got yourself a bat.", Hardball mocked, as he prepped another fireball to throw.

"Yeah, I think I'll use it to knock you out.", Mover said in response.

"Let's play ball.", Hardball said as he threw the ball.

"Batter up back to sender.", Mover replied, knocking the balls back into Hardball to buffet him.

"Now let's give him a knuckle sandwich.", Bobby said as he had Mover move forward and use his new shield to throw a punch at Hardball's face.

"Let's lift him up.", Lee decided as he had the ladder collide with Hardball, sending him flying as it extended at the pull of a lever.

But Hardball was quick to recover. "Lee, combine your two Morphers for a final attack.", Mover instructed.

"On it.", Lee said as he plugged his Shift Morpher into the Hydro Blaster. "Hydro Shift Shooter!" He pressed the pedal and cocked the gun. "Hydro Whirlpool Blast!"

"Hydro Whirlpool Blast!", Mover and Leo said in unison as they fired water from the ladder, which took the form of a whirlpool which doused Hardball's flames, before striking him.

"That's the game.", Hardball said as he fell backwards and exploded.

Mover then moved to douse the remaining flames. "And that makes another job well done."

"Alright.", Bobby cheered from within the Megazord.

Down on the ground, the Star Kats had remained behind and were shovelling dirt into a bag. "The Mafia Boss loves exotic dirt samples.", Grillion explained.

"Hey, yer shovellin' me into a sack.", Meowbile yelled, as Grillion tried to fit him inside the small bag. "I ain't dirt."

"Er, what's the difference with us?", K.P asked earnestly.

The Rangers' team on the other hand were celebrating. "Let's go to the Drive-In.", Anna suggested. "First round comes out of my pay."

"Is this really necessary?", Lee asked. "We win against the Star Kats all the time."

"But this time, you did it in front of one of their bosses.", C.B pointed out. "Surely that's cause to celebrate some kind of personal victory."

"Well, I guess you're right.", Lee smiled. "Let's go drinking."

As everyone else moved, George and Kit stopped to think. "You noticed that too, didn't you.", Kit was the first to speak.

"Right.", George nodded. "Technorg left that game partway through, despite supposedly serving as referee. And the last couple of schemes don't seem like their usual M.O."

"They're up to something, and we're being distracted by these plots.", Kit stated what they were both thinking. "And we've got to find out what's going down, before it's too late."