Centuries ago, a legendary inter-dimensional being known as Zordon came to the city of Angel Grove to establish a Command Center for his never ending struggle against evil. With the aid of his trusted assistant, Alpha 5, the noble master sought out six extraordinary teenagers and gave them the power to transform into a superhuman fighting force. In time of great need, the young heroes could use their power to call upon colossal assault vehicles known as Zords. The identity of the six remained a guarded secret. At least, they thought it had…

This is their story. This…is the longest day of their lives.

The following takes place between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Events occur in real time.

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San Francisco, CA

3:00 p.m.

Katherine hit the ground and immediately started running as fast as her long legs would carry her. As she ran, she refused to look back at the Infernians out of fear that they were going to catch up to her, a prospect she was trying to put deep in the back of her mind. The alley was a long one and she had easily a hundred yards to run before she hit the main street.

Her legs burned from running for so long. She hadn't had to put that much exertion on her body since she had been an active Ranger. Her body wanted to shut down but she kept pushing, knowing that the pain in her legs was minimal compared to what she would feel if the Infernians got a hold of her.

Fighting the urge to look back at them, she let out a small sigh of relief when she saw her unmanned Explorer come to a stop at the end of the alley. Continuing to run, she reached into the pocket of her jeans, pulled out a set of keys, pointed the clicker at the SUV, and unlocked it.

"Katherine, what's happening?" Billy's voice came through on her earpiece. She didn't respond, just kept running. "Kat, I need you to talk to me, sweetie. What's going on out there?"

"What do you think is going on!? I'm running from the Infernians and trying not to die!" she shouted.

At this point, Katherine's impending escape was only twenty-feet away and closing. She just kept pushing, willing her legs to not give out. When she reached the Explorer, she practically ripped the door of its hinges. She started to climb in, only to freeze when she felt a strong hand fall on her shoulder. Immediately, Katherine spun around, knocked the hand away, and dropped into a fighting stance.

"Woah!" the man in front of her exclaimed. Katherine exhaled deeply and gave the man an embarrassed smile when she realized it wasn't an Infernian, but an officer with the San Francisco Police Department instead. "Are you okay, ma'am? You were running like someone was chasing you."

"I-I was, uh," Katherine started, doing a quick look around. Neither of the Infernians were in the area. "I'm late for an important meeting," she quickly covered for herself. "I'm fine, though. Thank you for your concern, Officer."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Katherine nodded quickly. "I really am terribly late, though. I hate to be rude but I must be going."

"Okay, then. As long as you're alright. You have a good day, ma'am," the officer replied, tipping his cap to Katherine who smiled back at him. She mumbled her thanks and started to get in her car as the officer turned to walk away. Her door was halfway shut when he spun around and called out to her. "Oh, ma'am!?"

"Yes?" Katherine responded impatiently after sticking her head out the door.

"Try not to speed too much," he answered with a joking smile. "I'd hate to have to pull you over and make you even later for that meeting of yours."

"Duly noted, Officer. Have a good day."

Finally alone, Katherine settled into the seat of her Explorer, laid her head back on the headrest, and let go another deep sigh. "Kat, are you okay? Who were you talking to? What's going on?"

"I'm fine, Billy. Just fine," Katherine replied with relief. Smiling at her luck, she inserted the key into the ignition, and turned the engine over. She had never been happier to hear a car start than she was at that moment. "It was just a police officer. I don't know why, but the Infernians seemed to have completely disappeared."

"Affirmative. That is excellent news!" Both enthusiasm and relief were evident in Billy's reply. Losing Katherine would have been devastating, not only to him but to the mission as well. "Unfortunately, I think it's probably best if we move you out of the city. Do your parents still have that condo in San Mateo?"

"Yes, but I don't have a key and all my clothes and personal items are still in my hotel room."

"Don't worry about your things, we'll get in contact with local law enforcement and have them retrieve everything for you. As far as not having a key goes, that's never stopped you before, has it?" Billy questioned with a laugh. Hearing Katherine chuckle back at him put a smile on his face.

"No, it definitely hasn't. Sometimes I think you know me better than I know myself."

"Well, after everything we've been through together, I'd like to think that I know you pretty well, my love," Billy replied seriously. Katherine, knowing what Billy was talking about, silently nodded her head in agreement with him. "Listen, Kat, I have to brief the others on what has happened recently. I need you to go straight to San Mateo. Don't stop for anything and call me as soon as you get there. I'm sending Adam, Rocky, and Aisha up there to take care of the potential threat at the baseball game this evening. I'll give them directions to the condo and have them meet you there and pick you up on their way, okay?"

"Okay, Billy. Kat out," Katherine responded. She moved to end the phone call but Billy's voice stopped her before she pushed the button on her earpiece.

"Hey, Kat!"

"Yes?"

"I'm glad you're okay and I-I…" Billy started, stammering in hesitation. An anxious smile crept across Katherine's lips in anticipation of the words she had been waiting to hear Billy say for almost two years. "I'll talk to you when you get to San Mateo."

The smile on her face was gone as quickly as it came. In her heart of hearts, she knew Billy had wanted to say it but she was thoroughly disappointed when he hadn't, especially after what she had just gone through. The knowledge that she could have been captured and most likely killed…

"Okay, Billy," she sighed. "I'll talk to you soon."

Before he could say anything else, she tapped the button on her earpiece and ended the call. A solitary tear slid down her cheek as she pulled her Explorer into the traffic on Mason Street and pointed it in the direction of Interstate-80.

She had been so caught up in her conversation with Billy and the fact that the Infernians had let her go, that she never noticed the police officer slip his hand under the bumper of her car, nor did she see him disappear into the alley. Concealed by the shadows the hotel presented, the police officer stood face-to-face with one of the Infernians.

"Is it done?" the Infernian asked.

The officer's body began to shake back and forth as his appearance suddenly started to change. When the transformation was complete, the officer had been replaced by another Infernian. He reached into the inner pocket of his navy blue suit jacket and pulled out a device that looked like a compact. Flipping it open, he looked at the screen as a red dot turned left from Mason Street onto Eddy Street.

"Yes. The tracker is in place. We will know her every move," he replied and nodded his head in confirmation.

"Good. She will be the first of many to meet her demise for betraying us." The lead Infernian let out a maniacal laugh then turned to his partner and stopped his laughter almost instantly. "What of the files on the other Rangers? Do we have those in our possession yet?"

"The others are working on that as we speak. We have the files on Ms. Hillard, Mr. Oliver, Ms. Hart, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Stewart, and Mr. Park. We are still waiting on the others but we should have them shortly. The British woman has proven herself to be quite a valuable asset to our cause."

"Indeed she has. It is such an unfortunate shame that she too will eventually have to meet the same fate as the other Power Rangers."

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Briefing Room

NBMAA Headquarters

Angel Grove, CA

Outskirts

3:14 p.m.

Once again, the Rangers were seated in the black leather office chairs surrounding the long oak table, enclosed on three sides by glass walls, only this time the curtains were drawn so that no one outside of the eleven people in the Briefing Room could see what was happening on the inside.

At the head of the table, Billy was using his laser pointer on a map of California, the small red dot hovering right over San Francisco. Adam, Rocky, and Aisha, knowing they were headed to San Francisco, made sure to pay close attention to everything that Billy was telling them. With the possibility of an airborne virus that had the potential to wipe out millions in less than a week's time, they all understood that missing even the smallest of details could spell disaster, not only for them but for the citizens of the United States, as well.

"As I explained before, intelligence gathered by our agents has led us to believe that AT&T Park on the China Basin will be one of the main targets for an attack by the Infernians today. Based on tickets sales, members of both teams, members of the media, and stadium employees, our estimate for attendance at the game is anywhere between fifty and sixty-thousand people," Billy started. Solemnity was the only emotion being shown by the Rangers. They understood better than anyone the consequences if they failed. "Because the symptoms of the virus take exponentially longer to appear in humans than they do on lab animals, it is a one-hundred percent certainty that anyone infected with the virus will pass it on. Whether it be through sneezing, coughing, touching door handles, sharing drinks, hugging, kissing, et cetera, this virus will be spread to the masses. Fortunately for you three," Billy continued, pointing to Adam, Rocky, and Aisha "there are two positives in this situation."

"Positives, Billy? You're joking right?" Adam scoffed, shaking his head. A few of the Rangers who shared the same sentiments as the former Black and Green Ranger winced inwardly. "What positives could there possibly be when we're dealing with a virus that threatens the lives of millions of people?"

"Well, for starters, AT&T Park is an outdoor stadium. If the virus was released inside of a stadium with a dome, or a basketball arena, the chances of people being infected would increase exponentially," Billy answered. "Secondly, I firmly believe that the three of you, along with Katherine, have what it takes to make sure that this virus is not released tonight."

"Speaking of Katherine," Kimberly interjected. "You still haven't explained to us exactly what she's been up to in San Francisco with the Infernians. Would you care to enlighten us on that one, Billy?"

To Jason, Zack, Kimberly, and Trini, those who had known Billy the longest, it was obvious that this Billy was not the same person they had grown up with. Outside of the way he now dressed and the increased muscle mass, he was the same person aesthetically but his personality and demeanor told a very different story.

Everyone at the table outside of Justin had known Billy in some capacity and they were all struggling to understand the man standing before them. Whether it was his years on Aquitar, his time with the NMBAA, or a combination of both, that had caused this change, they didn't know. But what they did know was that trusting Billy was quickly becoming something that they really weren't comfortable doing.

Taking off his glasses, Billy carefully placed them in the breast pocket of his dark blue dress shirt. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and let out a deep sigh, one of both fear and uncertainty. It wasn't a lack of trust in the Rangers that made him apprehensive. He had known and gone to battle with almost all of the men and women surrounding him for many years.

As a child, the four other original Rangers were the only ones who had been willing to look past his geeky, awkward exterior and befriend him. In his teenaged years, they and the ones that joined the team after them, knew his greatest fears and insecurities. They shared in his successes and were there for him when things were tough. He knew he could trust them with anything but by allowing Katherine to go undercover with the Infernians, he had put her at risk of losing her life, something he was still trying to come to terms with.

Being Rangers, they had all faced the possibility of death on a daily basis but it had never been at anyone's orders other than Zordon's. Billy was still struggling with being in a position forcing him to make decisions that could potentially cost his friends their lives.

"Well?" Kim persisted when Billy hadn't replied after a minute or so. Looking at his friends, the people he loved more than anything, Billy let out another sigh.

"Seven months ago, myself and a few other high-ranking members of the bureau set up a false paper trail so that Katherine could infiltrate the Infernians. The Katherine Hillard that you all know became Katie Jameson, an escaped ex-con who had served multiple sentences for drug trafficking, armed robbery, and grand theft auto, at federal penitentiaries in Virginia and Louisiana. Using her false background, Kat quickly managed to work her way into a meeting with a pair of Infernians, the same Infernians that attempted to attack her today."

"So you put Kat undercover to get information about what the Infernians were planning on doing with the virus?" Jason chimed in.

"That's part of it," Billy answered. Instead of waiting for someone else to ask a question, Billy decided it would be best if he just told them the truth. "Yes, putting Katherine in with the Infernians provided us with an immense amount of knowledge of their plans. But no, not in regards to the virus. You see, before Katherine associated herself with the Infernians, they didn't even have possession of the virus. Per her orders from the bureau, she sold them the virus."

Anger, sadness, disbelief, and frustration littered the faces of the ten other Rangers in the room. Tommy felt his hand being squeezed tightly and looked down at Kimberly. It was clear from the look on her face that she was having trouble digesting this news. Knowing that Billy, one of her oldest and best friends, had authorized the sale of such a lethal weapon was damn near impossible to comprehend but it wasn't her that questioned him.

"Why, Billy? Why?" Trini croaked. She began shaking her head back and forth, unwilling to believe that the man she had known for almost all of her life was capable of doing such a thing. "How could you do that? How could you put so many innocent people at risk?"

Looking at his friends, he half expected Jason to jump out of his seat and attempt to throttle him again. He wouldn't have blamed the first Red Ranger if he had done so. At that point, Billy truly felt like his actions were absolutely reprehensible, even if they had been for a good cause.

"At the time, it was the only way myself and my advisors could come up with to get close to the Infernians. Look, I don't expect you all to understand why I did the things I did or made the choices I made," Billy answered, choosing his words carefully. "I'm sure you all think I'm a terrible person and I don't blame you for feeling that way. Right now, I feel like I'm a terrible person, too, but giving the Infernians the virus was the only way that we could get close to them and figure out their plan."

"I can't believe you. Newsflash, Billy, the Infernians wouldn't have even had a plan for the virus if you hadn't authorized Katherine to sell it to them."

Ten sets of surprised eyes all turned to look at Tanya. Tommy, Jason, Rocky, Adam, Justin, Billy, Aisha, and Zack, those who had served with her and were close to her, were all somewhere in between shock and amusement. The Tanya they knew was soft spoken and didn't go looking for confrontation.

"I'm aware of that, Tanya, but the Infernians never had any intention of telling Katherine their plan for the virus. Their only intention was to purchase it from her and then never speak to her again."

"So what made them change their minds and tell her?" Rocky asked.

The second Red Ranger looked to Jason, his predecessor, and shook his head. Knowing what it felt like to be the new guy on the team, Rocky had always been rather protective of Katherine. Now, there were two former Red Rangers who wanted to strangle Billy.

Billy suddenly felt nauseous because he was the only one who knew what Katherine had gone through to get that information from the Infernians. He lowered his head and closed his eyes, gripping the table hard as vivid and disturbing images burned in his psyche. Slowly, he raised his head and looked at them.

"Outside of their increased speed, strength, and their regenerative abilities, Infernians are very much similar to humans. Not only do we share a similar anatomical makeup with them but they crave the same things humans crave: money, status, power, physical contact."

"You mean she-" Aisha started. Unable to verbally say it, Aisha allowed her voice to trail off as Billy nodded his head solemnly.

"Yes, Aisha. Against my wishes, Katherine engaged in a physical relationship with one of the Infernians. I told her that I didn't want her to do it, that it was dangerous, but she was committed to finding out as much as she could about them," Billy answered. Thinking about it made his stomach lurch and he had to swallow his own vomit back down before he could continue speaking. "Unfortunately, and I'm positive that if you don't hate me already, you will now, Katherine's course of action was a good one."

"What!?" Jason roared, making those around him cringe as he stood up and leaned across the table, pointing a finger at Billy. "What the fuck is going through that brain of yours, man!? How could you let Katherine put herself in a position like that!?"

"Jason, I-I promise you, I didn't want to. I know you probably don't believe me but it's the truth," Billy replied. "I've dealt with the consequences of my actions for the last seven months. I know that I shouldn't have let Katherine go through with it but you know her as well as I do. Once she has her mind made up about something, trying to fight her about it is like kicking a dead horse."

"I hate to admit it, I really do, but Billy's right. I dated Kat for almost two years and she's more stubborn than I am," Tommy interjected to Billy's surprise and relief.

Tommy shifted his attention to Jason and gave him a soft head nod. Letting out a deep breath, Jason returned the gesture, and slowly returned to his seat as Tommy looked to Billy once again.

"Listen, Billy, I don't agree with a lot of the shit you've told us today and, as a former leader, I'm trying my best to understand why you've made these choices but, unless you tell us right now that Kat found out something other than what the Infernians wanted to use the virus for, you don't have a leg to stand on, my friend."

Sighing, Billy nodded his head. "She did. It wasn't her relationship with the Infernian that allowed her to acquire this information, it only put her in a position to do so," Billy murmured softly. One look at Billy told the others that his decisions were tearing him up inside. Opening up the briefcase resting on the table in front of him, Billy pulled out a small vial with a clear liquid inside and held it up for them to see. "This is Sodium Pentothal. Do any of you know what this is used for?"

"I do," Justin spoke for the first time as everyone's attention shifted over to him. "It's a barbiturate general anesthetic. Police use it in interrogations sometimes. It's supposed to weaken the resolve of a suspect and make them more susceptible to telling the truth. International law also classifies it as a form of torture."

"Very good, Justin. For many years, Sodium Pentothal has been used as something of a truth serum but the results of someone under the influence of this drug have always been questioned. However, for reasons we have not yet discovered, Sodium Pentothal works on Infernians in a manner far superior to that of an average human."

"So Katherine injected an Infernian with that stuff and it made him tell her what they were going to do with the virus?" Zack asked, getting a confirming head nod from Billy. "But that still doesn't explain what else Katherine learned from them other than what they plan on doing with the virus, man."

"Actually, it does. I really don't want to agree with you at this point, Billy, because you've abused my trust and pissed me off beyond belief in just a few hours today, but it makes sense," Jason supplied, much to the surprise of Billy, and everyone else for that matter. No one was expecting Jason, of all people, to come to the defense of Billy. "If that stuff made the Infernian tell Kat about the virus than that means it should make them say just about anything if they've been injected with the drug."

"That's correct, Jason. Unfortunately, the time came for Katherine to make the sale of the virus to the Infernians before she could extract any more information from them. That's why your missions today are all two-fold."

"How so?" Tommy asked.

"The knowledge Katherine gained from the Infernians gave us three targets: the baseball game in San Francisco, the film festival in Los Angeles, and the surfing competition in San Diego. Not only do you need to prevent the virus from being released but you must also apprehend at least one Infernian, inject them with the Sodium Pentothal, interrogate them, and extract as much information as possible from them."

"Easier said than done, Billy. I fought those guys and they're tougher than anything we've ever dealt with before," Adam interjected. "I think it's pretty convenient that you want us to put our lives on the line when you get to sit here behind a freaking desk the whole time."

Billy started to reply to Adam when a knock came at the door. Rolling his eyes, Billy stepped from behind the desk and walked over to the door, opening it to find Agent Adamson standing there holding a royal blue PDA. Billy's eyes went wide at the sight of his Blackberry. Without saying anything to the Rangers, he ducked outside, and shut the door behind him. Once he was outside and face-to-face with Agent Adamson, Billy extended his hand as Adamson placed the Blackberry in his hand.

"Agent Adamson, you have fifteen seconds to explain to me how you found this."

"Mr. Cranston, I assure you I had nothing to do with this. As I'm sure you know, Agent Pierce was found trying to get into the safe in your office earlier this morning," Agent Adamson started. Billy knew about Pierce and nodded his head to show that he was aware of the situation. "Because Agent Pierce is my partner, and my friend, I wanted to be the one to take care of his body, to make sure that it was handled properly."

"That still doesn't explain how you got your hands on this," Billy replied, holding up the PDA and waving it in front of Agent Adamson's face.

"I'm getting there, sir. You see, I was the one who shot Pierce and I needed some time to compose myself before I could handle seeing his body. I went into your office at approximately 3:25 to extract Agent Pierce's body and found that," he pointed to the Blackberry "laying on the floor next to him. I quickly recognized it as belonging to you and, after everything that's happened today, I don't know who I can and can't trust in this place so I left your office immediately to bring it here to you, personally."

Billy gave the PDA a quick once-over and found that it had been turned off, which he never did. He made Agent Adamson stand there while he waited for the device to turn on. Once it came to life, he began searching through the files that belonged to the Rangers. It only took a single look at the files to know that they had been tampered with.

"Agent Adamson, have you tampered with this device at all?" Billy questioned. "Did you turn it off or look at anything that is on here? You have one chance to tell me the truth because if I find out otherwise, there will be dire, dire, consequences."

"No, sir. I swear to you, I didn't touch anything," Adamson answered, shaking his head adamantly. "Like I said, I found it laying next to Agent Pierce and brought it straight here. I didn't do anything with it other than that, I promise."

"Okay. I believe you," Billy nodded as Agent Adamson let out a sigh of relief. "Listen," he continued, patting Agent Adamson on the shoulder. "I know you've had a long day, and I know that Agent Pierce was a close friend both to you and your family. I want you to take the next couple days off. Relax, grieve, do whatever you need to do, okay?"

"Mr. Cranston, I appreciate the offer and, believe me, I'd love nothing more than a few quiet days away from this place with the wife and kids but, with all due respect, sir, I need to see the rest of this day through. After what happened with Agent Pierce, we don't know who we can trust here, anymore. You need an agent that you can trust."

"I respect your willingness to be involved with what's going on today, Agent Adamson. However, at this moment in time, the only people I know that I can fully trust are Ms. Hillard and the ten people sitting in that room," Billy replied, pointing to the glass wall behind him. "So please, go home. Enjoy some time off with your family and trust that I will call you as soon as I need you back here."

"But, Mr. Cranston-" Agent Adamson started.

"No buts about it, Agent Adamson! That wasn't a request it was an order!" Billy barked. "I respect you as an agent and as a person. I don't want to have to call security and have them remove you from the premises but I will do so if need be!"

Sighing, Agent Adamson nodded his head. "I understand, sir."

"Good. Now, please, go home."

"Yes, sir," he muttered in defeat.

As one of his best agents turned and walked away, Billy re-entered the Briefing Room with his head down, going through his PDA at the same time. He had only taken three steps into the room when he came to an abrupt stop and looked up at the other Rangers.

"Shit."

"What's going on now?" Tommy asked.

"No time to explain! You need to call your immediate family, any spouses, girlfriend, boyfriends, close friends, anyone that you are close to and you need to do it now!" Billy shouted, panic apparent in his voice.

"Woah, Billy-man! What's happening, bro?" Zack added.

All around the table, fear and nervousness controlled the emotions of himself and his friends. Rolling his eyes and then shaking his head in frustration, Billy stopped at the head of the table to address the Rangers who, apparently, didn't think that his orders were worth taking very seriously.

"Like I told you before, the bureau has extensive files on all of us. But in order to keep those files confidential, they only exist in three places: hardcopies which I keep in my safe, and electronic copies on my computer and Blackberry. Approximately one hour ago, I discovered that my Blackberry was missing and that I hadn't had it on my person for over three hours. Earlier this morning, we discovered an Agent working undercover for the Infernians trying to steal those files from my safe. He instigated a firefight and was killed by his partner."

This was news to the Rangers who had no idea there had been a mole within the bureau. Eyes and mouths went wide as Billy frantically continued to explain the situation to them.

"When Agent Adamson returned to extract the body a few minutes ago, he found my Blackberry laying next to the body of Agent Pierce. He just brought it to me. After checking the files, I discovered that someone had accessed and transferred them."

"How detailed are these files, Billy?" Kim questioned, giving Tommy's hand a squeeze from under the table.

"Extremely. They contain information on everything from where you went to school and where you work, to who your friends and family members are. If this information went to the Infernians, which I don't doubt it did, they now know everything about all of us," Billy answered solemnly. As the news began to sink in, the other Rangers could only look to each other in silence and in fear. "So please, call anyone you think could be a potential target. Let me know where they are the moment you find out and I'll send extraction teams to pick them up immediately. Go, now!"

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The Galleria at Ranger Point

Reefside, CA

3:24 p.m.

Though Kimberly Hart was not her mother, Jessica had inherited many of Kimberly's traits in the last few years that she had spent with her aunt. Out of everything Jessica had learned from her aunt, nothing was more prevalent than their shared love for shopping. After a long first day at Reefside High, she had walked the mile and a half from the school to the mall with her new friend, Jenny, with the intention of buying herself a new ensemble and maybe a few CD's using some of the money she had gotten from her birthday in August.

Checking out her surroundings, she came to the fast conclusion that this place was going to be a far cry from the high-end boutiques and shops she had grown up around in San Francisco. Still, like Kim, she could smell a sale from a mile away. Her intuitive sixth sense for shopping led the pair to a small store specializing in clothes for female teens and young women.

It only took her ten minutes in the store before she had found two pairs of jeans, a pink halter top, a cute pair of white flip-flops with little pink flowers on the straps and sides, and a vintage tee shirt with the six members of the original Power Team emblazoned on the front. As they exited the store, with two bags in her hand, Jessica looked at her receipt and smiled.

"Sixty-three bucks. Not bad for all this stuff," she said to Jenny with a laugh.

"Teach me to shop like that?" Jenny asked, giggling.

"Hang around with me and my aunt and you'll be a trained professional in no time," Jessica answered as the pair made their way across the first floor of the mall.

"Speaking of your aunt," Jenny started. "What time do you have to be home?"

"Kim owns the Reefside Sports Center so she's usually there till six or seven. As long as I'm home before she is, it's all good. Why?"

"Well, I invited some boys from my English class to meet us here. Apparently, your little outburst in Dr. Oliver's biology class this morning made quite the impression on one of them," Jenny replied.

Jessica blushed slightly and let out an embarrassed laugh. "Boys, huh? Are they cute boys?"

"The cutest," Jenny answered. A nod of approval, a smile, and a quick wink from Jessica's front let Jenny know that her new friend wasdefinitely up to meeting a few cute guys.

"Where are we supposed to meet them?"

"The food court."

"K, I'll tell you what. You take my bags and go get us a table. I need to go use the little girl's room," Jessica started, handing off both her bags to Jenny. Jokingly, Jessica continued. "If I'm not there in ten minutes, call the cops."

"Haha. Girl, if you're not up there in ten minutes I'm gonna claim both of them as my own and leave you here," Jenny shot back, getting a laugh from Jessica. Two minutes later, they reached the restrooms and Jessica received a playful push in the direction of the ladies room.

"Ten minutes!" Jessica called out.

Checking her cell phone, Jenny shook her head. "Eight, now!"

"Whatever!"

Laughing and shaking her head the whole way, Jessica headed for the restrooms as Jenny made her way towards the escalator. Entering a stall, a pair of black, male dress shoes in the adjoining stall immediately drew Jessica's attention.

Those feet are way too big to be a woman's Jessica thought to herself. Feeling nervous and uncomfortable, Jessica quickly decided to find a different restroom. She picked up her purse and started to open the stall door when a firm hand suddenly grabbed her around the elbow.

Scared out of her mind, Jessica looked to her left and saw an arm goingthrough the plastic wall separating the two stalls. She opened her mouth to call for help but another hand quickly clamped over it. Dropping her purse on the floor, the body of an Infernian passed through the wall and into her stall.

"Speak or try to call for help and you die, is that understood?" the Infernian questioned in a low hiss.

A thin, brown spike slowly started to poke out of the Infernian's forearm with a sound that made Jessica nauseous. The inherited traits stopped here. Kimberly would have fought back but Jessica, who didn't have the exposure to alien activity that her aunt had grown up with on an almost daily basis, only nodded her head.

"Good. You are Jessica Hart, a relation to Kimberly Hart, yes?" Again, Jessica just gave a simple head nod in reply. The smile on the face of the Infernian scared Jessica even more than being grabbed had. "Excellent. You are coming with me. If Kimberly and her friendscooperate with us, then you will live to see another day. If not, then you will die."

With a snap of his fingers, the Infernian and Jessica were gone in a bright flash of green and red light. Only two minutes later, the cell phone inside Jessica's purse began to vibrate loudly. It was Kimberly.

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Briefing Room

NBMAA Headquarters

Angel Grove, CA

Outskirts

3:44

In order to contact their family and friends in relative peace, the Rangers had all spread out into various areas of the building that had once been the Power Chamber. Jason, Trini, Adam, Tanya, and Zack had all gone to the holding room where they had first been brought to after arriving earlier that morning. Rocky, Aisha, and Justin were standing just outside the Briefing Room, and Tommy and Kimberly were inside the Briefing Room.

Still seated in her chair, Kimberly's spirit completely deflated as she tossed her cell phone on the table, burying her face in her hands. Tommy, who was standing fifteen feet behind her, saw her actions and chose to hurry his own phone call.

"Thomas James, what in God's name is going on!?"

"Look, mom. I can't explain everything to you over the phone. You just have to trust me on this one, okay?" Tommy requested, letting out a deep exhale. "I need you to get dad home immediately. People will be coming to pick you up as soon as possible."

"Tommy, what-" Janet Oliver started, only to be cut off by Tommy.

"Mom, no more questions right now, please," Tommy pleaded. "I don't have the time to explain everything to you. Just call dad. I called Sam and he's going to meet you at the house. I tried to get in touch with David but his phone's off. Try and call him, too."

"Tommy-" Janet tried again, meeting the same result.

"I gotta go, Mom. I love you."

With that, Tommy flipped his phone shut and returned it to his pocket. Walking over to where Kim was sitting, he stood behind her and laid his hands gently on her shoulders. He felt her tense up and started to massage her shoulders lightly.

"Are you okay, Beautiful?" he asked in a whisper.

"Jessica isn't answering her phone," Kim muttered, shaking her head. Tommy slid into the chair next to hers and turned it so that they were facing each other. "I'm really worried about her, Tommy. It's not like her to not answer when I call."

"Maybe she got detention and became a Power Ranger. Wouldn't be the first time that happened at Reefside." Tommy's attempt at levity and lightening the mood didn't work. All he got was a glare from Kim. "I'm sorry, Kim. She probably just met some new friends and doesn't want to be bothered. I'm sure she's fine."

Sighing, Kimberly nodded her head. "It's okay. I know you were just trying to make me feel better," she replied. "How about you? Have you been able to get in touch with your family?"

"I talked to my mom and Sam. Mom's gonna call dad and Sam's already on his way to my parents house. But David didn't answer his phone. Probably working or something."

"How is David, anyway? What's he doing now?"

"I haven't talked to him since his wedding. He just got back from his honeymoon last week but last I heard, he's doing good," Tommy answered. "Chief Stone made him a Lieutenant a couple of months back and I know that he was really excited about that."

"David's a police officer? I never knew that," Kimberly said softly.

Shaking her head, she began to realize just how much of Tommy's life she had missed out on and how much she would have loved to have been a part of; meeting the family he discovered after she had moved, his sudden interest in paleontology, becoming a Ranger again. They were all parts of his life that she'd never be able to share with him.

"Yeah, he joined the force about a year after Dimitria made us pass on the Turbo Powers. I think when he found out I was a Ranger, he was a little bit jealous and wanted to do something similar," Tommy joked, getting a small laugh from Kimberly. "Are you sure I didn't tell you about that when I came down to see you in Florida? I know my memory's terrible but I could have sworn I told you."

"I don't know. Maybe," Kimberly shrugged. "With everything that was going on, when I think about that year…it just feels like a complete blur most of the time. I don't even remember a lot of what happened after the-the…"

Tears quickly began to flood Kim's eyes. Immediately, Tommy pulled her in close, pressing her face to him, and started to stroke the back of her head, allowing her to let out her emotions against his chest.

"Shhh, Beautiful. It's okay," Tommy cooed in her ear. "Everything's okay, now. I'm here for you."

Sniffling, Kim pushed back a little, nodding her head as she wiped the tears away from her face. She was just about to say something when Billy came bursting through the door, the other Rangers following closely behind him. Jason and Trini were the first to notice Kim and came to her side immediately.

"Are you okay, Kim?" Jason asked after taking a knee next to her.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just can't get a hold of my niece, Jessica," Kim nodded, half-lying. She wasn't quite ready to tell everyone the truth about why she hadn't had any contact with them for almost a decade.

"Guys, I hate to interrupt but it's time," Billy interjected. The focus in the room instantly shifted to where he was standing at the head of the table.

"Time for what?" Tommy questioned.

"We need to get you all in transit immediately. Adam, Rocky, Aisha," Billy started, turning to look at them. "Agent Brock is waiting outside for you. There's a chopper waiting to take you guys to San Mateo right now. A car will be waiting for you when you land. I've got directions to the condo where Katherine is staying. After you pick her up, you need to go directly to San Francisco. For some reason, the game has been pushed back from five o'clock to seven so you'll have plenty of time to familiarize yourself with the layout of the stadium."

"Billy, how are we supposed to stop these guys?" Rocky asked. "I mean, we don't even know what we're looking for."

"You'll be briefed in the helicopter. I wish I could brief you all personally but we just don't have the time," Billy answered. "You need to leave immediately. I'll be in contact with you once you've rendezvoused with Katherine."

Knowing what needed to be done, Adam, Rocky, and Aisha stood up. As if on cue, the others all got out of their seats, as well. Hugs, handshakes, and wishes of luck were exchanged between the Rangers, and then the trio was gone.

Once they had left, the remaining Rangers settled back into their seats around the table and Billy returned to the head of the table to address the rest of them on their missions.

"Tommy, your team is going to Los Angeles. Jason, you and your team is taking San Diego. We've identified a hotel in each city that is housing a majority of the people attending these events. Since L.A. and San Diego are both relatively close to Angel Grove, you can drive there," Billy started, looking to the Rangers and getting confirming head nods. "Before you all can go, though, I need you to come with me to the medical wing."

"Why?" Kim asked.

"So you can be inoculated with the anti-virus. It will prevent you from being infected if the Infernians somehow manage to release the virus to the masses," Billy explained. "And before you ask why Adam, Rocky, and Aisha didn't get the vaccine, they will, I promise. Agent Brock is going to take care of them on the helicopter."

"Why can't we take the vaccine with us to use in case anyone does get infected?" Tanya questioned.

"Unfortunately, we don't have enough of the vaccine for everyone. We're still trying to find a way to mass produce it but, so far, we've only been able to make about fifty vials of the vaccine."

The Rangers all nodded their heads in understanding.

"So, what are we supposed to do when we get there, man?"

Billy turned to address Jason. "Each of your cars has a monitor that is connected directly to the bureau's intelligence database. Everything you need to know about your missions is on there. It's up to you to familiarize yourself with all the information before you get there."

Jason shook his head and looked to Tommy who gave him the same reaction. No one in the room was happy about what was happening. It was as if they were going into a life-or-death situation with blinders on.

Still, they understood that they were the only ones who could handle a situation of this magnitude. They had the training and the experience to take care of business. They knew what needed to be done.

"I guess there's nothing else to say then," Justin spoke. Shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head, the youngest member of this prestigious and exclusive group let out a soft chuckle. "I never thought I'd have to say it again, but let's go save the world, guys."

Everyone but Kimberly and Trini got up. They remained planted in their seats, eyes firmly trained on the first Blue Ranger. The glares they were giving him sent shivers up his spine. He could deal with Jason, Tommy, Rocky, and the other Rangers being mad at him but it tore him up inside to see the first two people that he had really ever been able to call friends staring at him like that.

"What about our families, Billy? I still haven't been able to get in touch with my niece and Tommy hasn't gotten a hold of his brother, either."

"Your niece lives with you, right?" Billy asked. Everyone but Tommy looked at Kim in surprise. She avoided their looks and nodded her head. "I'll send as many men as I can to Reefside. If she's there, they'll find her."

Kim nodded her head. "Thank you, but what about David?"

"David's a big boy, Kim. He can take care of himself" Tommy interjected. "He's been a police officer for almost a decade. David's the one person in my family that I'm not really worried about."

"Are you sure, Tommy?" Billy asked. "I can send a team into Angel Grove to look for him if you want me to."

"I appreciate the sentiment, Billy, but I think it'd be best if you focused as much of your man power as possible on taking care of this crisis," Tommy answered. The nod Billy gave him was an appreciative one. "Like I said, David can take care of himself."

"Tommy, I really think-" Kim started but Tommy held up a hand to silence her and put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into his side.

"Kim, trust me. We're dealing with the lives of millions of people today. As much as I want to know that David is safe, we've got more, and bigger, fish to fry right now," Tommy selflessly replied, then looked to Billy. "But if you hear anything about him or my parents can tell you anything when they get here, I'd appreciate it if you let me know."

"Absolutely, Tommy.".

He offered his hand to Tommy who stared at it hesitantly for a few seconds. He still wasn't all that trusting of Billy. But rather than cause more potential drama, Tommy pushed his emotions down and shook his friend's hand.

"Well, now that that's settled," Jason interjected, jerking his thumb towards Justin. "Little Boy Blue's right. We have a job to do."

Tommy nodded. "Let's do it, man."

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Angel Grove Police Department

Angel Grove, CA

3:53 p.m.

The steps in front of the Angel Grove Police Department had become a rather intense media circus. Reporters from various newspapers, television stations, and radio stations, both local and national, had gathered to await Police Chief Stone and the impending press conference that was set for 3:55.

Amongst the reporters in the crowd was Cassidy Cornell, a young woman who had been one of Tommy's students during his first, and most exciting, year at Reefside High School. But Cassidy was not the same person she had been as a teenager. Interning at a television station in Reefside, working hard with no pay and even less respect had turned her from the annoying, pestering girl she had been into a confident, charismatic, hardworking, and respected woman.

It had only been two months since Cassidy had been offered a newly-vacated reporter position in Angel Grove and, with no daily monster fights or active Power Rangers, this was her first really big story. The look on her face was one of both excitement and trepidation which quickly turned to frustration when she felt someone tap her on the shoulder. Police Chief Stone was supposed to be coming out at any moment and she'd be furious if she missed anything that he said.

She tried to ignore the tapping but it persisted until it became impossible to block out. Spinning around, her eyes widened in surprise when she saw a young man standing behind her holding a camera on his shoulder. His shoulder length hair and goofy grin made him look like he belonged more in the 1970's than in the middle of a sea of reporters.

"Devin!" she shrieked, practically jumping at him. She threw her arms around his neck of the man who had been her best friend, cameraman, and almost-boyfriend back in high school. Once their embrace had broken, she stepped back and looked at him with a bright smile. "It's so good to see you. What are you doing here?"

"I'm working for KRTC down in Turtle Cove, now. Been doing camera work for them for almost a year," Devin explained. Laughing, he shook his head from side-to-side. "God, Cass. It feels like it's been forever. What have you been up to?"

"Oh, you know, the usual," Cassidy shrugged. Devin knew all too well what that meant. He couldn't help but smile when he thought of all the crazy things that had happened to Cassidy and himself during their senior year at Reefside. "I got a job at AGTV here in town a couple months ago so I've just been doing that and I'm taking a journalism class at AGU now, too."

"That's awesome, Cass. I'm proud of you," Devin replied.

"Thanks," Cassidy blushed, smiling at the compliment.

Nodding his head, Devin took a deep breath and tried to mentally prepare himself to ask Cassidy a very important question. Cassidy sensed what was coming, and was actually hoping he did it but he was cut off by Chief Stone before he could do anything.

"Attention, everyone!" Stone called out.

Cassidy immediately turned around to face the podium at the top of the steps. When she looked back, Devin had disappeared into the crowd. Frowning at what could have been, she directed her full attention to Chief Stone. Standing at the podium, Chief Stone looked down at a prepared statement and began to read it.

"As I'm sure most of you all know and, for those of you who don't, the Angel Grove Youth Center, Gym, and Juice Bar was the target of an assault this afternoon. At this time, we do not know who was behind this attack, nor do we know their motive for it, either. We are also unaware of the condition and location of owner Ernie Genelle. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Angel Grove P.D. as soon as possible."

Jerome Stone was both visibly shaken and saddened by the day's earlier events. As he continued to speak, his eyes slowly began to fill with tears and his voice cracked on more than one occasion.

"The city of Angel Grove and its police department lost three exceptional members of the police force today; two officers and a lieutenant who, even though they were all off-duty, put their lives on the line in an attempt to save the life of another. We are both shocked and saddened by the loss of these fine men."

Chief Stone paused momentarily before reading off the names of the three who had lost their lives defending Ernie from the Infernians. He had to take a few deep breaths to compose himself before he could continue. At the very least, though, he was grateful that the members of the media were being respectful of the situation considering the way that they had all mobbed him at the Youth Center earlier.

"The first to be identified was Officer Michael Talbot. Michael was one of our youngest, and newest officers to join the police department. In the short time I knew Michael, he proved himself to be not only an exceptional officer, but an exceptional human being as well. He is survived by his wife, Jillian, daughter, Summer, age 5, twin girls, April and Melissa, age three, and his parents, Donald and Michelle Talbot."

Knowing that those three young girls would grow up without their father brought tears to Cassidy's eyes. It was clear that this was the last place Chief Stone wanted to be but, as Chief of Police, he felt it was his personal duty to deliver this information firsthand. Sighing, he read further down the list.

"We also lost Officer Talbot's partner, today. Officer Jonathon Dessler was in the middle of his second year on the force. In just under two years, Officer Dessler left an imprint on all of us that will not soon be forgotten. He is survived by his girlfriend, Alexis Benson, a brother, Adam, age 22, a sister, Alison, age 19, and his parents, Stephen and Denise."

The last name on the list sent shivers crawling up and down the spine of Chief Stone. Though losing a member of the force was never easy, the loss of this person, out of all of them, was the one that hurt the most. At this point, Chief Stone was crying without hesitation.

"The third young man we lost is one who had a profound effect, not only on myself and the other members of the police department, but on each and every citizen of Angel Grove, as well. He moved to Angel Grove over ten years ago in 1996 and became an officer in 1999. From there he was made a detective in just over two years."

Tears slid down Chief Stone's face in full force now as he struggled to maintain some semblance of composure. His eyes made their way further down the paper, his body shaking as he continued to read.

"The ranking of Corporal soon followed in the early months of 2002. In 2004 he became a Sergeant and, six months ago, I had the honor of making this young man a Lieutenant, the ranking that I had when I came to Angel Grove in 1995. Survived by his wife, Danielle, grandfather Sam, and brother Thomas Oliver, it is with a profound sadness in my heart that I am forced to announce the loss of Lieutenant David Trueheart."

3:59:57...3:59:58...3:59:59...

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A/N: WOW! I'm sorry it's been so long since I've updated this. Life's been crazy as hell this last month and change. Time just flew by and before I knew it, it had two months since I'd updated this story. Hopefully you're all still hanging around.

On a lighter note, anyone who has heard Chuck Norris Facts needs to go to my profile page right now. Someone started a thread on Rangerboard for Tommy Facts and I contributed quite a few facts about the Rainbow Ranger that were not just knock offs of Chuck Facts. They're original, pretty damn funny, and if you like Tommy, I think you'll get a kick out of them. And my survey is still up on Shawn's website which is linked on my profile page, as well. So, check those out and let me know what you thought about them.

Oh, and don't forget to hit that review box on your way out. Talk to you soon.

-WK