Conner's senses were assaulted by the number of sights, smells, and sounds in Reefside international airport. Some were pleasant such as the aroma of cinnamon rolls and the sight of families reuniting. Some were unpleasant like the shoving strangers pushing past him and the curse words floating past his ears. However, Conner barely noticed these sensations as he searched left and right. Finally he caught sight of his longtime girlfriend, Krista. She was wearing a dark blue sleeveless maxi dress that was belted at the waist. Her dark hair had grown to where it hit her elbows.
"Krista!" Conner squeezed through the crowds to meet her and opened his arms for a hug. Krista wrapped her arms around Conner for a quick hug.
"I missed you," Conner said as he took her tote bag to carry. "Do you have any other luggage?"
"No," Krista replied. "I packed light." After a moment, she responded to Conner's first statement saying, "It has been a long time." She followed Conner out of the busy airport to Tommy's Jeep.
"I know you don't like using cars, but I didn't know if you would have luggage, so I borrowed Dr. O's jeep." Conner started the car and started driving towards downtown Reefside.
Krista hesitated and said, "I guess you are still close with Dr. O."
"Yeah, a lot of us are. Ethan, Trent, Kira, and I are all close. He has been a great mentor." Conner laughed a little at the irony." In fact, all of us are involved in Hayley's new rec center. I am coaching soccer for the kids."
Conner didn't notice Krista roll her eyes. "More soccer?"
"Why not? It is a great way to help the kids." Conner replied light heartedly. He grinned and said, "I know I already told you, but I really missed you. I have hardly heard from you." Conner took one hand from the steering wheel and took Krista's in his own. Conner suddenly froze. Along with callouses formed from planting and studying plants, Conner also felt something hard on Krista's fourth finger. His heart plummeted to his stomach. Seeing the driveway to the park, Conner signaled a turn and drove to an empty parking space. He had long since let go of Krista's hand when he looked into her face directly.
"I suppose congratulations are in order," he said in a dead voice.
"Please don't make a big of this," she pleaded. She had lost all color at the accusation.
Conner laughed sarcastically. "How big a deal should I make of the fact that my girlfriend of four years has been cheating on me, and apparently thought I would be too dumb to notice an engagement ring on her finger? How long?" He asked.
"How long what?" Krista asked, although it was clear that her ignorance was an act.
Conner's voice grew louder and more clipped. "Unless this is a cheesy Disney movie where the guy just happens to have a ring in his pocket when he meets a girl and proposes 0.2 seconds after saying hi, you have been with him for a while. How long?
Krista looked at Conner with some scorn. "He proposed two months ago."
"And before that?"
Krista looked away before saying, "A year. Conner, I didn't know how to tell you."
Conner, in anger, slammed his fist on the steering wheel emitting a loud blast of the horn. A few power walkers glanced up startled at the sound. "I don't know, a call on the phone, write a letter, or visit when you claim you are coming. Anything, a text even!"
Krista sighed and said, "It started out innocently. He and I were just working together. He was so great with the plants, and so passionate about the work we were doing."
"So it comes to that again," Conner broke in. "If I don't want to hug a tree like you do, I'm not good enough."
"It would be nice for you to have some passion about something," Krista shot back. "All I ever hear you talking about are those soccer camps."
"What about my soccer camps?" Conner demanded. His voice was rising steadily.
Krista stared at him with steel in her eyes. "Roger realizes that there are bigger things in the world than a stupid soccer game. There are issues that need to be dealt with."
Conner looked at her agape. How dare she insinuate that he didn't care about the world? He was a power ranger for goodness sakes.
Conner let out a bitter chuckle. "It's kind of ironic, you know? At the beginning you didn't want to be involved with me because you thought I was a player. Looks like I was the one played." He thrust the key back into the ignition and the engine fired up.
"What are you doing?" Krista asked.
Conner looked at her with a tired gaze. "I am taking you home, just like I promised." After that, the ride was silent.
Kira was jumping rope as Conner pulled up she coughed as the dust flew in her face and winced when Conner slammed the door shut. "I thought you were going to hang out with Krista today."
He responded by kicking a tree a few times. "Apparently, things didn't go well with Krista."
Conner turned to her with a bit of wrath. "She has a fiancé," he bit out.
"No!" Kira gasped.
"No offense, but I don't want to talk about this right now," Conner's mouth was set in a fine line.
Kira was silent for a few seconds. What could she say to make him feel better? She looked at him. He was clearly agitated and was tapping his foot with nervous energy. Kira stood up and nudged Conner. "If you don't want to talk, let's spar."
Conner looked surprised and a little doubtful. "That might not be a good idea."
Kira smirked, "I can take care of myself." She started gently bouncing from foot to foot in a boxer shuffle.
Conner sighed and removed his leather jacket to reveal a red t-shirt. Conner knelt and took off his shoes. He then got into a fighting stance. Kira and Conner started circling each other always keeping sight of the other. Finally, Conner launched out with a jab. Kira ducked out of the way and set an upper cut towards Conner's jaw. Conner easily blocked. Kira swung her foot around Conner's legs and pulled his feet out from under him. Conner came down on his butt with a thud. Kira held out her hand out to help him, but Conner responded by pulling her down with him. Kira laughed and swung up ready for another round.
"You have to do better than that", she said.
Minutes passed as the two rangers sparred. Sometimes Conner won and sometimes Kira did. Finally, Kira lost balance as Conner swung her and she fell on her hands and knees. Conner put his hand out to help her up to standing. As they looked around they noticed most of Tommy's beginner martial arts class watching and clapping. Kira and Conner bowed to each other as if it were an official match instead of a stress relieving endeavor. Tommy ushered his class in to finish his lesson, having given the students a short water break, nudging certain students noting certain techniques that one of them used.
Conner chuckled nervously. It had been a surprise to realize that everyone was watching them with so much interest.
Kira handed him a water bottle. "Are you ready to talk now?" She asked.
Conner groaned. It had been easy to forget his problems while they were fighting. "You're not going to stop until I do, are you?"
"It isn't likely," Kira replied with a sympathetic smile. Although she knew it would be hard for Conner to talk about Krista, it would be better than holding in the negative emotions.
Conner sighed and began, "Krista is engaged...and I didn't propose." Kira nodded silently, urging him to continue.
"What did she say?" She asked.
"It's the same old story. She sees me just as a jock," Conner replied frustrated.
Incredulous, Kira searched his face to see if he was joking. He was not. "Boy, is she wrong," she finally replied. Conner turned his head.
"What?"
Kira scoffed and said, "You have a lot of passion. You could never be the red ranger without it."
Conner shook his head and replied sarcastically, "Well it's not as if I could just tell her that I dress up in a spandex suit and save the world every other week."
"You don't have to know you are a ranger to see that you have passion," Kira defended.
"What, soccer?" Conner laughed sarcastically.
"No," Kira said, "your passion is not soccer."
Conner looked shocked. For years he had been known as the soccer jock, but suddenly his passion wasn't soccer?
"A passion is something you want to do all the time, something that you pursue in spite of the odds, something that you won't let anyone or anything get in the way of," Kira said.
Conner looked at her warily. He didn't expect to be talking about passion when they sat down together. He looked down at his hand, locked in her grasp. "Not soccer?" He asked a little confused. For years, Conner's identity had been wrapped up in his soccer abilities.
"No," Kira answered as if it was the simplest concept to understand. "You decided that soccer was less important than other things years ago."
Conner's mind jumped back to when Conner was forced to make a decision between being a ranger and playing soccer competitively. Conner had decided that the world's safety was more than soccer stardom.
"Well, of course I chose to be a ranger. I still play soccer a lot," Conner defended. It felt strange that Conner was acting so defensive about his choice.
Kira shook her head, "That's just it. Yes you chose in that moment to save the world, but after Mesagog was defeated, what did you do? You didn't join a league."
Conner smiled at the memories flooding his mind, "I started planning the soccer camps. After all of the excitement and everything that we did for this town, playing in a soccer league just didn't feel right. Almost like a letdown."
Kira placed her small hand on Conner's cheek gently forcing him to look straight in her face. "And that is exactly why your passion is not soccer. It is the kids. If your passion was soccer, Mesagog himself wouldn't have been able to keep you from playing soccer. Being a ranger awakened a big part of you that allows you to care about these kids."
Conner still wasn't ready to give up, and defended, "It still is playing soccer."
Kira replied, "Of course soccer is involved. You are really good at soccer, but soccer isn't the only thing you do with them. Think about all of the times you stayed late with the kids because their parents didn't show up? And when the kids started walking home, you followed them home to make sure they were safe."
"Oh, you think I'm really good?" Conner asked with a grin.

Kira narrowed her eyes at Conner.
Conner continued, "Those things you just said really don't matter."
Kira sighed. Why was Conner so adamant that he wasn't good enough? "What about the times that cleats just happen to appear on kids' doorsteps, or bags of food." Kira grinned and commented, "Or the homework help? Conner, those things might not be big to you, but for those kids, it's huge."
Conner laughed thinking of how he was so frantic trying to help Danny with algebra homework. "Kira, some of these kids don't get any help at home. I just want them to grow up happy and healthy."

"What are you staring at?"
Tommy jumped half of a foot in the air. He turned to see Kimberly chuckling at him.
Tommy tried to regain his composure and look nonchalant, but not before Kimberly peaked around him and saw Conner and Kira sitting close together.
"Are you spying on them?" Kim scolded, hands on hip.
"What? No!" Tommy defended, looking very guilty. "What do you think they are saying?"
Kim glared at him and retorted, "I wouldn't know, I don't have supersonic hearing as a super power!"
Tommy's eyes widened with an idea, "that's it! Superpower." Immediately, Tommy started turning invisible, but Kim used her talon-like nails to dig into Tommy's forearm holding him in place.
"Don't you dare use your powers to spy on them?" Kim warned in a deadly whisper. If the tone was not enough to deter Tommy, the fire on her eyes definitely was.
"Fine," Tommy relented. Kim released her grip and Tommy tenderly massaged the afflicted area. "Geeze," he whined with a pout.
Kim scoffed, "Poor you. Tommy, you know you are acting like a father, watching a couple on the front porch. Face it, Oliver. You are getting old."
"That's rich. At least I haven't turned thirty yet, unlike some people." Tommy was answered by a withering stare.
Finally Kim asked, "How long have they," she nodded towards Conner and Kira, "been dating?" Kira was now reaching for Conner's face.
Tommy was too distracted by the progression of the two rangers to answer Kimberly. It wasn't until Tommy felt a hard slap on the back of his head that Tommy finally looked away from Conner and Kira.
"Hey!" Tommy complained. Kim repeated her question and Tommy answered, "They don't date. Conner's girlfriend should have arrived home today from the Amazon. That's weird, Conner told me he had a full day planned with her." Tommy's voice trailed off with unspoken thoughts.
Kim said what Tommy was thinking. "I wonder what happened."

Conner and Kira had been sitting silently for a while when Conner asked, "Kira."
"Mhmm," she replied.
"How did you know all that stuff about me? It's not like I advertise it," Conner wondered.
Kira smiled and turned and stared directly in Conner's eyes. "Conner, I see and hear the passion in you every day. The minute those kids show up, you brighten up and are immediately invigorated. I hear you talk about them and I hear the energy in your voice." She paused and grinned. "I don't think you realize that you do it, but your voice changes when you're with them, or even just talking about your kids. It's like you have so much to say and so you have to speak faster to keep up with your brain. Anyone who is really listening can hear the passion dripping off your tongue."
She paused and continued, "Conner, you don't just have passion. Krista is an idiot for leaving you like that. Conner, you don't see it like others do. You are a good man." Conner started shaking his head. "Stop, Conner. You are the best man I know. I trust you with my life."
"Kira," Conner started, but Kira interrupted him again.
"No Conner," she said. She stopped and the world seemed to become silent. She put her hands on his forearms. "Conner, I trust you with my life. Not because you are a ranger or because of your physical strength or anything like that. I trust you because you are the best man I know. You are honest, brave, kind, caring and trustworthy. Conner in every relationship you have, you are always all in. With the kids, the rangers, with me. You are always there. Krista is the one who messed up. She broke the relationship, not you." She held his gaze, trying to communicate that she was not just making this up.
Hearing her cell phone ring, Kira broke eye contact and fished the phone out of her bag. "I have Emma coming in for her piano lesson soon. I should go. Are you ok?" she asked.
Conner sat up and replied, "Definitely, thanks for listening, and for what you said. "He stood to walk in with her. "How are those lessons coming along anyway?"
Kira smiled widely and answered, "They are great! You know, I think Emma is ready to start playing some real music, not just the practice exercises."
Amused, Conner accused, "I think someone else has some passion for the kids."
"I think I might," Kira replied in a light tone. "I'll see you later."
The two parted ways but as Kira walked into the rec center, she was startled by Tommy jumping back from the window.
Tommy ran out of the building chasing after Conner.
Kira rose her eyebrows. "Do I even want to know?" Kira asked with question in her voice.
Kim laughed and replied, "No, I don't think you do."
As usual, Trixie was spying on the rangers. "Poor Conner lost his girlfriend," she said in a phony sympathetic voice. She turned to Domino who was reading at the desk. "Domino, I just feel so horrible that Conny-poo is sad. We should send him a present."
Domino looked up with a sinister smile. "I think we should, sis. It would be a shame if we didn't send our consolation to him." He sat up and observed the screen that showed Tommy catching up with Conner.
Trixie jumped and Domino heard her shoes click across the floor to the far wall where her sketch pad lay. "What kind of monster shall we send? An archer, perhaps? I'm sure he feels as though he was shot in the heart," she asked much too cheery for the circumstances.
Silent, Domino laced his long black fingers together pressed them to his lips in thought and loftily said, "Peace, sister. I believe we need a more delicate plan."
"What?" she shrieked. "I thought you said we were going to send a monster!"
Domino rubbed his temple in irritation of her high voice. "We will, don't worry. However, I would ask you, why have these power brats won every time?" he asked in a smooth voice.
For once, Trixie looked unsure. "I don't know? They are pathetic little humans. Look at those feelings. These feelings make them weak. Why do they bother to find a mate they are attached to when that mate just betrays them? It's like they need to be together."
Domino looked up suddenly shocked. "Why Trixie, you just figured it out!" He leaned forward toward Trixie and invited her to sit across from him.
Sitting, Trixie asked, "Of course I did!" After a pause, she continued, "What did I say?"
"You just said that the weakness in humans is their need for others. If we could just isolate one ranger on his own, we could bring them down one at a time." Domino smiled.
Trixie's eyebrows crinkled in confusion, "How are we going to do that? Even if they aren't together, they have those communicators."
Domino was silent for a moment watching the screen where Tommy was talking to Conner. "What were they talking about?" he asked. He took a remote and rewound until the conversation had just began.
Tommy put his hand on Conner's shoulder. "I'm guessing that your reunion with Krista didn't go well."
"Not exactly." Conner said evasively. "Look, Dr. O. I appreciate you coming out to talk to me, but I'm a little talked-out. Kira was really helpful and great, but I really just want to forget what happened."
Tommy gave a weak smile and replied, "Believe me, I get what you are saying. Actually I wanted to tell you about this meeting I was invited to."
"Dr. O, I really don't want to hear about a bunch of dusty dino freaks." Conner replied.

Tommy's eyebrows rose and he replied wryly, "Well, I will let Jason and Rocky know you aren't interested in meeting the other rangers."
Conner snapped his head towards Tommy, his mouth open wide. "What!?" He gasped.
Tommy chuckled and answered his question. "Well, I won't force you to come, but every year, we have a little get together and discuss the state of the planet. Get to know the new team of rangers and make arrangements in case things get out of hand."
"I get to meet a group of red rangers!" Conner asked excitedly. He jumped up to his feet.
"Well, it isn't just red rangers. We have some pinks and blues to fill out the group. To make things a little more balanced," Tommy replied suppressing a grin. He looked forward to this meeting every year. "If you are interested, we leave in the morning." As Tommy walked away, Conner punched the air victoriously.

The next morning the rangers met at Tommy' jeep to send off Conner and Tommy. Conner slung his duffle bag into the back of the jeep and grinned. Tommy was all business, giving directions and warnings.
"Now I expect you all to train tomorrow today, even if I'm not here. I left a workout on my desk," he ordered.
Kim scoffed, "Relax Tommy, I am more than capable of whipping these 'power punks' into rangers, even with your wimpy workout. Now go before I drive you myself."
"Fine," Tommy relented with a sigh. "Please keep a watch on the city. The enemy likes to strike when one or more ranger is out of town"
Kim rolled her eyes playfully and replied, "Honestly, Tommy you are acting like this is my first time at the rodeo. I know what to do."
"And so do I," Hayley added in. "We have everything handled. There are no lessons today at the rec center and there will always be someone at the monitor. Now go!" She made shooing motions with her hands.
"Fine," Tommy said. "Ready, Conner?" Conner nodded and stepped forward to offer up hugs and high fives to the rest of the team. To Kira he said, "I know you'll keep the city safe." Sweeping his gaze to the rest of the rangers he said, "Especially when you work together." Conner climbed into the car and left.

"And now," Domino stated, "Is when we carry out the plan." Domino sat in his captain's chair looking out at the viewing screen. He saw the rangers from various points of view, including a close up of Conner as well as the other rangers walking back to the rec center. He increased the volume to hear their conversation.
"Well," Kira said. "Now that they are gone, we probably should start our training." Her excitement level was less than stellar.
Ethan cut in, "Actually, I was thinking we could have a day off? I have this deadline for work and I really can't miss another deadline."
Trent nodded and joined in saying, "Yeah, I have a meeting with someone this morning. It is really important. Can we come back this afternoon?"
Kim narrowed her eyes at the blue and white rangers. "Back at noon, or you won't live to reap the consequences." The look on her face left no room for argument. The boys gulped and nodded.

"Now?" Trixie asked. Trixie and Domino stood side by side observing the events below.
Domino grinned and nodded. "Excellent, the yellow ranger is isolated. Release the bug." Trixie pressed a small button and 4 small metal lady bugs crawled out of a slot in the machine. She tenderly picked one up on her finger.
"Hey little one, are you going to block the puny ranger's signals. Are you going to make that Kira fight alone? What a good little computer bug! Let's let her die." As if on a signal the bugs took flight sailing towards the earth. Looking to the monitor she saw each bug wiggle inside the rangers morphers. She looked to Domino, "And now, brother. Let's make a monster."

After the boys made a hasty exit, it was just Kira and Kim. Putting her arm around Kira's shoulder, Kim asked, "What shall we do?"
Kira shrugged and then smiled. "I know, we should clean up the lab. Dr. O is such a pack rat. I can never find anything in there."
Kim replied, "Tommy never was organized in high school." She paused and replied, "Let's do it."
A half hour later, the girls were laughing at a photo of Tommy from when he was aged backwards the first time. Tommy's young face scowled at Kira as she giggled. "Look at those chubby cheeks!"
Kim rolled her eyes and confided to the young ranger, "He was so cute when that happened to him. He hated it, though. Tommy has always hated feeling powerless. That is probably why he is so connected to the Power." Kim looked at the photo for another second with a wistful smile before she placed the photo in the keep pile.
Next, Kim picked up a small wooden box. Opening it, she found Tommy's green power coin.
Kira looked at the coin and then at Kim. "Do you miss it?"
Before Kim could answer, alarms sounded in the lair. Kim and Kira ran to the monitors. There was a sea serpent destroying the buildings around the coast. Civilians fled from the beach screaming. Kira clenched her fists and brought her morpher up to her chest and cried out, "Dino Thunder, Power Up!" Immediately, her jeans and yellow tank top were replaced by a yellow spandex suit with white diamonds running up the sides. Her long strawberry blond hair was drawn up into a helmet.
Her light tone disappeared and instead took on a determined voice.
"I will distract the monster and get the town people out of the way. Get Ethan and Trent." Kim nodded in reply and Kira dashed off to the side and climbed on her raptor rider. She quickly disappeared towards the beach.
Immediately, Kim went into action, sitting down at the command center. She thought back to the training Hailey had given her about the machines. She found and pressed the contact button that would connect with the Blue and White rangers. After hearing only static, she tried again. And again. Still there was no answer. She pulled out her cell phone and used speed dial to call the boys. Ethan's went straight to voice mail and Kim heard Trent's phone ring on the back table. She swore softly under her breath and mumbled, "Stupid boy forgot his phone." She quickly tried to connect with Kira and thankfully she was answered from a tired sounding Kira.
"Did you get a hold of the others yet? I wouldn't mind some company."
Kim replied, "I'm trying but there is no answer. Do you want me to get a hold of Tommy and Conner?"
"No," Kira said. "They are probably just getting to Angel Grove Now. They don't need to turn around especially if I will have this taken care of soon. Just try to get a hold of Trent and Ethan."
Uneasily, Kim agreed. Privately, however, she had a bad feeling about letting Kira fight alone. Immediately she began contacting the absentee rangers.

Several miles away, Conner and Tommy were indeed just entering Angel Grove Youth Center. Conner eyes seemed to revolve in his head as he took in the sights. There were color coded adults everywhere. The majority of the adults wore red on one or more articles of clothing, while many other wore blue. There were also several pink outfits and yellow. One or two former rangers resembled Tommy in that they wore a variety of colors. Tommy was wearing dark green gym pants, a white t shirt, as well as black and red shoes, representing every color he had worn as a ranger.
At that moment, another ranger with two colors came up to Tommy and fixed a stern look, hands on hips, upon the veteran ranger.

When Tommy looked up and saw the harsh ranger, he only grinned and wrapped his arm around the other man.
"Hey Bro!" Tommy exclaimed.
"Bro?" Conner said with a confused look on his face. These two men looked almost nothing alike. Where Tommy had tan skin and brown hair, this man had black hair with a pale face.
'Bro' looked at Conner with amusement in his eyes. Any indication of anger fled from his face.
"Conner McKnight," Tommy said, addressing the younger ranger. "I would like to introduce you to Jason Lee Scott, the original red ranger." Jason held out his hand for a handshake.
Conner merely looked at Jason's outstretched hand with disbelief. Could it really be that THE Tyrannosaurus Rex ranger was going to shake his hand?
Laughing, Jason withdrew his hand and slapped him on the back. Conner felt the power in the man through the slap on the back. "Conner, welcome to the red ranger family. In this club, we are conceited, easily angered, and over confident. Welcome!"
In spite of the awe that Conner felt, he let out a hearty laugh. "Is that so? I am often told by Kira, our yellow ranger that I am many of those things. She also adds pig-headed."
Finally, Conner slapped Jason's outstretched hand. Jason chuckled. For the moment, Conner's thoughts were turned away from Reefside and on the former rangers.

At the far off planet, Trixie and Domino were mocking the solitary yellow ranger as she struggled to fight off several Blekkies along with General Mayhem and the sea monster. Frantic, she aimed a kick at Mayhem, punches at the blekkies, all while firing her ray gun at the sea monster. Unfortunately for Kira, she missed every single target.

"At last, Domino," Trixie cried in jubilee. "It's time to finish her off-" Trixie was interrupted by a sharp cry. Mayhem and the Blekkies fell away as Kira let out her ptera scream. Disgusted, Trixie yelled, "Domino, this is all your fault!"

"My fault!" Her brother replied, "How is this my fault?"
"It just is!"

Kira swung around and knocked out the last Blekkie to see General Mayhem strolling over to her. She immediately took a defensive stance and studied her new opponent. Indeed the cyborg looked intimidating as he leered at her through metal shades. She had no idea what kind of weapons he had.
Surreptitiously, Kira brought her communicator up to her lips and whispered, "Do you have any info on this guy?"

After a moment, Kim replied, "I do have info, but you aren't going to like it. Mayhem is one of the top generals in Casecordia's army. Before he was a cyborg, he was a top gladiator. Then he was injured and changed into what he is now. There is no information about his weaknesses or weapons."
"Great," groaned Kira.
Kira was soon taught firsthand about Mayhem's weapons. Mayhem brought his arm and took aim at the yellow ranger. Kira begged her legs to move but she remained fixed as a target of an unknown attack. With a burst of light, Kira felt the impact of a powerful ray and fell to the ground as she demorphed.

Conner flinched and looked around suddenly and accidentally dumped over his glass of water. He grimaced seeing that he had dumped water on his and Tommy's communicators. He quickly wiped them clean. Of course the material was more than waterproof, but he hated to abuse them. Conner shook his head trying to figure out what was wrong. There was a lump in is stomach that wouldn't go away. He looked over at Tommy and saw that there was no change in his expression; he barely noticed that he was wet. Although Dr. O was serious, it was clear that he was overjoyed to be with some of his best friends. On one side was Jason, and on the other Adam Park. Dr. O didn't seem worried, but Conner couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right.

Shaking his head, he reassured himself that if something was wrong, Kira or the others would have reached out by now.

Groaning, Kira sat up and saw Mayhem leering down at her from behind his silvery shades.
"The yellow ranger is not worth my time. I will let the sea monster dispose of you." With that, Mayhem disappeared. The sea monster, however, roared in reply and slashed its tail at Kira.
Kira quickly shuffled on all fours away from the sea monster. Hearing her communicator let out its familiar tone, Kira asked, "Do you have any news?"
"Still no reply from the others. I am going to call Conner and Tommy-"
Kira had the wind knocked out of her as the monster tail came down on her again. She gasped at the sound of broken ribs.
Shakily, Kira stood and silently called for her yellow pterodactyl. She sighed in relief as she heard the comforting reply of the yellow zord. She jumped up into the soft leather seat of her pterodactyl vehicle. She pressed several buttons to gain the upper hand. The sea monster recoiled in pain. Kira searched to see where she hit the monster to find its weak point. She could have cheered when she found a line down its back, like a seam where she had hit the thirty foot sea eel.
BAM! Kira realized too late that she spent too much time looking for the monster's weak spot. His tail had slammed right into the pterodactyl zord. She heard the crunch of metal.
"Alright, time to finish this fight," Kira muttered. "Before anything else happens." She slammed down the button to attack the monster again, but nothing happened.
Kim's voice filled the zord and said, "That last attack from the monster jammed the weaponry. You need to come back."
"No!" Kira cried. "I can't leave Reefside defenseless." She flew the zord up quickly to get a moment to think.
"This is not a good idea. You could get hurt." Kim pleaded.
"That doesn't matter as long as I save the city." Kira defended.

Conner heard Tommy's communicator go off. "Instantly he heard the sound of metal crunching and screams fill the air. "Kira!" Kim cried. Conner turned white with fear. Without realizing he stood and pushed away from the table. Then he started running. Ignoring the car, for it would have taken far too long, he went into super speed mode. Automatically, he maneuvered around trees and over rocks in the forest. All that mattered was getting to Kira. Conner didn't even notice when his shoes fell off his feet. Instead the hard ground pushed into his skin without his notice.
Along the way he heard updates from Kim. Apparently Kira was facing off against a sea monster alone. The thought made his blood boil. Why in the world were Trent and Ethan?
However, all of these thoughts were completely secondary. With every step and every leap, Conner heard the sound of Kira's musical voice saying, "I trust you with my life." Pushing onward, going even faster, he tried to erase the voice, but it only got louder, as well as the doubts creeping into his. Why wasn't Conner there? Why was Kira fighting alone?

Once again Domino roared in consternation. "Why did you not send those bugs to block their signal?" He stomped up to where Mayhem and Trixie sat looking angry and worried.

"I did," cried Trixie. "I don't know why the bugs in the red and black rangers didn't work right."

Domino snarled in response, "Just get out of here. Maybe something will actually be accomplished."

Finally the beach and the monster were in view. He stepped onto the beach just in time to see the Pterodactyl zord crashing into the sea monster. With a cry of pain, the monster sank into the sea and did not return. But in response, the ptera zord started hurtling towards the sea and Conner could just see a glimpse of Kira's lifeless body coming down towards the water. Despite how fast Conner could run and how much he begged his feet to move, he was glued to his spot. Only when he heard the splash of her body submerging into the water, did he spring back into action.
He ran and used his relatively recently acquired swimming skills to dive into the water and he began searching. Once he ran out of air, he returned to the surface gulped another breath and went back down. He did this two or three more times each time not seeing the yellow ranger. Finally he saw her, pale and bruised with red hair floating around her. He swam down a little more, feeling his ears pop with pressure, grabbed her around the arm pits and swam up to the surface.

As he got closer to the shore, he saw Rocky, the second red ranger and Chad from Light speed Rescue climb off of the red raptor cycle. They rushed out and took Kira from him, each putting one arm around her to support her. Conner slowly stumbled towards the small group of former rangers surrounding Kira. Rocky began listening for any sign of life. Seeing none, he nodded to Chad, who started CPR. Conner focused in on Kira's every forced movement. He inwardly begged her to sit up, speak, or even breathe. His heart seemed to jump inside of him with every chest compression. In all of this, Tommy drove up on is raptor rider with a blond woman in pink. She joined in with the two other men. Tommy joined Conner kneeled down besides Kira waiting. After what seemed like a lifetime, Chad smiled and stopped the chest compressions. He had found a pulse. Hurriedly, the three worked together to put Kira onto a stretcher and into a waiting ambulance. Urging his feet forward again, he followed close by the stretcher. Kira's half dried hair seemed so dark against the deathly pale pallor of her cheeks. The only sign of life was the weak pulse he felt in her wrist as he held her hand. Thankfully, no one dared to argue as he stepped into the ambulance with the paramedic and Chad. In the close quarters of the ambulance, it was hard to be ignored by the other passengers. The woman looked up at Conner from where she was holding an oxygen mask over Kira's face.

"You should get checked out," she said quietly.

Conner shook his head. "No," he replied. "Take care of her."

She rolled her eyes and scoffed. "You reds are all the same. You would deny you were hurt to the end, especially when someone you care about is hurt."

"Does she look bad off?" Conner asked.

"I will look at her closer when we get to the hospital. The sooner she wakes up, the better I expect. I'm Dana Carter. I was the pink Light speed Rescue ranger."

Conner failed to look impressed. He didn't care about her ranger history right now. Zordon could have appeared on the wall right now, and he would not have cared.

Dana continued with her evaluation. "I think she will be ok. The morphing grid usually helps rangers heal faster. This is a bad injury, though. I can already feel broken ribs and I see burns all over her. I will have to see how much sea water she swallowed. But despite all of that, I believe she will be alright." She gave him a little smile. "Now, please, let us check you out." Conner sighed and allowed Chad to look after him.

As Trent exited an office building in downtown Reefside, he looked down at his watch. He gasped seeing that it was already a quarter past noon. "Kim is going to kill me!" He got into his car and started off towards the recreation center. At the door, he saw Ethan. "What's going on?" he called to Ethan.

"I was waiting for you." Ethan replied. "There is no way I was going in late alone. Maybe together we will have a sporting chance."

Trent laughed, "Please, Kim is going to hand both of us our butts for being late. Tommy is even scared of her."

Ethan paused, then asked, "How bad do you think it is going to be?"

"I don't think I'm the one you should be worrying about right now." Trent and Ethan froze recognizing Kimberly's clipped voice. They turned around wearing guilty faces.

Kim looked furious, but there was more to the expression than anger. She stood there with her arms folded across her chest.

Trent was braver than Ethan. "Kim, I'm sorry we were late. It took longer than I thought to finish the job."

"Where were you?" Kim shrieked hysterically.

Ethan started, "Like Trent said, things took longer than we thought. We lost track of time."

"We will stay late to make up for it." Trent attempted to appease the livid ex ranger.

"Why the heck didn't you answer your communicator?" She demanded. She refused to be swayed.

"Nobody called that we should answer." Ethan defended.

Kim looked angry, but a little unsure now. "I tried several times to get in touch with you. Neither of you buffoons bothered to answer."

The two rangers answered at the same time. "What happened?" "How could that be?"

Kim paused and her anger broke down. "Kira had to fight a monster alone. Mayhem was there, and a sea monster. Nobody was there to help her. She-" Kimberly stopped.

Trent's eyes widened. "She's ok isn't she? She beat them right?"

Kim only responded with, "We need to get to the hospital, soon."

Domino stood and observed the red ranger staring at the ptera ranger, willing her to move. Domino smiled as he looked at her vital signs. "Very weak," he murmured with a small content smile. "Perhaps it is time that I introduce myself."
He searched around the well-lit room. Below the screen was a patchwork of colored lights and buttons. He quickly typed in a set of coordinates and flipped a lever. He felt himself dematerialize into the air and then saw the same hospital room from before form around him.
Conner snapped his head up seeing Domino in front of him.
"Who are you?" The red ranger demanded in an angry tone.
Domino straightened up regally and announced, "I am the crowned prince Domino of Casecordia. My sister and I have been sending some," he paused considering his words, "friendly visitors to your planet. I'm afraid you really haven't been too welcoming to royalty. Normally my subjects bow before a prince."
Conner sneered and replied, "Not even if you broke both my legs."
Domino took on a pitying tone. "Oh dear," he mocked. "That would be unfortunate." He walked over and stood by Kira, lightly touching the tubes giving her oxygen. "I saw what happened to poor Kira. It really is a shame. She really is a sweet girl." He looked over at Conner with a challenging glance. "She isn't doing so well is she? Perhaps it would be better to let her go nice and easy."
Conner's face darkened and warned, "If you so much as touch her, I swear you won't be alive to regret it."
Domino's hand closed over the oxygen tube.
Conner pounced and slammed him up against the wall. The door burst open and Dana, Tommy, Trent, and Ethan ran in.
"What is that?" Ethan asked appalled.
"You better stay away from her!" Conner shouted. His elbow dug into Domino's black viney neck. If it would have been a human, Conner would have been cutting off air supply. However, Domino was not human, so he only felt mild discomfort.
Domino laughed, "Such a temper you have. You think you're so tough, but you have no idea who you are up against. You are barely past boyhood. What are you doing in a man's fight?" Conner gritted his teeth and dug harder into Domino's windpipe. Domino did nothing but smile coolly with a steel glint in his eye.
Tommy stepped forward and put his hand on Conner's shoulder. "Now isn't the time, Conner. You'll have your chance."
Reluctantly, Conner stepped back and released the prince of Casecordia. Domino stood up straight and dusted off his tan leather tunic. He fixed Conner with a challenging glare. He took one slow step after another towards Conner and taunted, "I believe I am going to enjoy defeating you. Now, I don't want to just kill you. I want to destroy you inside and out. I think I will force you to watch me kill her." He gestured to Kira. "Not now, of course. It wouldn't be nearly as fun. No, I think I will wait so you can see her begging for her life, writhing in pain. Now that moment will be sweet." Domino's voice trailed off into eerie silence.
If Conner was angry before, now he was full of wrath. He ran at Domino, unsure if he was going to choke him, bite him, or tear him limb from limb.
Chuckling, Domino's voice rang out, "Next time, Red Ranger," and dematerialized right as Conner would have leapt upon him. Instead Conner slammed his arm into the hospital wall, leaving a huge dent.
"Why didn't I stop him right there!?" Conner raged. "This fight could have been over right here and now."

Tommy took on his teacher tone. "Conner, Domino was right about something. You let your anger cloud your judgement. You didn't see that he was holding back. Domino was teasing and goading you. We have no idea what kind of power he has."

Conner ran his fingers through his hair and slid down the wall until his knees were next to his chest. "Why wasn't I there for her? I had to sit and listen as she defeated the monster on her own. And now? I just let Domino threaten her and could do nothing." He looked up at Ethan and Trent. "Why was she fighting alone? We are a team. No one should fight alone."

Ethan and Trent looked at each other and then at Conner. "We didn't know, man!" Ethan defended.

Trent continued in a pained voice, "If we would have known, we would have been there in a second."

Kim interjected, "How didn't you know? I called you several times."

Hayley, who had silently joined during the 'discussion 'between Conner and Domino, said, "Give me your communicators."
Without arguing, the white and blue rangers handed over their communicators.
Hayley examined the communicators for a moment and sighed. She picked up a small chip and showed it to the boys. "This interfered with your communicators." She looked at Conner. "They really didn't know, Conner."
Conner didn't look comforted but he did pick himself up off the ground. "I'm sorry, guys. I know it's not your fault. I just-" Conner broke off looked away distractedly.

Tommy asked, "I wonder why ours worked but theirs didn't." HE looked like the scientist he was as he thought.

Hayley probed further, "Did anything happen to your communicators at the meeting? Something that might have interfered with the bug?" She looked hopefully at Tommy and Conner.

Conner merely shrugged, but Tommy replied, "Conner, you dumped the water and it hit our communicators. I bet the bug didn't like that."

Nobody decided to continue that conversation.
Conner's scattered thoughts were interrupted as Kira began to stir.

"Look," Dana said. "I think it would be best if we let Kira rest in peace for a while. Why don't you tell her goodnight and go home. "I will call you when something changes." The rangers nodded.

Ethan patted Kira on the arm and apologized for not helping. Tommy gave Kira a fatherly kiss on the forehead and left with Hayley, leaving Conner alone with Kira and Trent.

Exhausted, Conner sank back into the hard chair by Kira's bed. He leaned forward close to Kira's face and spoke in a soft voice. "Hey Rock star. You have to wake up. We are all waiting for you. We all need you"

As if in a trance, Kira mumbled, "Thank you," and fell back into unconsciousness. Both men looked troubled.

"I hate seeing her like this," Trent said.

Conner nodded. He would do anything to have her get up and sing or play, even to mock him. "I'm sorry I was so hard on you. This can't be easy for you. I know how much she means to you." Trent was startled. Didn't Conner realize that the two of them were not together anymore? "You know how lucky you are right? Kira is awesome. She really helped me yesterday. She just won't give up on us. Look at what she did here. She could have run, but she wanted the city to be safe."

Trent looked down at Kira. Despite being bruised and battered, she was still beautiful. A familiar ache filled his chest.

"Yeah," Trent replied huskily. "I'll never take her for granted again." She deserves more, he thought. He would be more. He would never let her down again.

Author's note: I apologize for the wait again. I had the major plot points planned, but it took a while to connect everything together. It looks like Trent is going to try to win Kira back again.