Author's Note: Welcome to my Operation Overdrive rewrite. This season we welcome a new ranger to the Lightning Sister Saga.

Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended in the making of this series. I simply own my OCs and anything that is unrecognizable from the show. Power Rangers belongs to Saban although Operation Overdrive was created by Disney. Enjoy.

Warning: Rated T for safety.

Warning: Before you go any further, I suggest you read the stories that come before this rewrite, or else some references and storylines may confuse you. Thanks.

Lightning Storm! Ranger Form! - Prehistoric Storm - Against All Odds.

Title: Secrets and Lies

Summary: Aliyah thought that Rebecca and Tyler were the only family she had left until she landed in San Angeles six months ago. Now, after being approached by a man who claims to be her mother's brother, she's pulled into another life and death battle for Earth.

A young woman jogged through the garden. She had tied her hair back into a high ponytail and was clad in white running shorts and a black t-shirt, loud music echoed from her ear buds, and she seemed oblivious to the rest of the world around her.

She turned a corner and spotted her eighteen-year-old cousin lying in his hammock, he was fast asleep, his book resting on his chest. He was kicking around relentlessly, obviously dreaming. The young woman rolled her eyes and jogged closer, she knew of her cousin's tendency to dream of fast-pacing adventures and usually ended up hurting himself in the process.

Picking up the book from the teenager's chest, the young woman tossed it aside after reading the title. 'The Baron's Betrayal.' What a surprise.

Suddenly the teenager, who was also known as Mack, turned sharply in his sleep and rolled out of the hammock and landed face first in the grass. The young woman smothered her laughter, but couldn't help the amused grin that appeared on her face.

"Oh, crap," groaned Mack, pushing himself up onto his hands. He spluttered, spitting pieces of grass from his mouth, and rubbing soil from his face.

"What were you reading this time?" asked a thick English accent.

Mack gave a start and looked up to see Spencer making his way towards him with two glasses of lemonade on a tray.

"Nothing," said Mack. "Just shifted to fast."

"He was reading the Baron's Betrayal," the young woman answered, startling Mack who hadn't even realized she was there.

Mack spun around and glared at her.

"Ah, yes, the Baron's Betrayal," said Spencer. "A classic up there with Dickens himself, no doubt. Lemonade?"

The young woman smiled and took a glass from the tray that had been extended to her. She sipped the cool and refreshing liquid.

"Reading adventure books seems to be a dangerous endeavor for you, young sir," said Spencer as Mack took a large gulp of his lemonade, choked and spat it back out in an instant. "You'd prefer it sweetened, sir?"

"I would." Mack nodded, putting the glass back on the table. "Spencer, any word from Dad? Why can't I ever go with him on any of his archaeological adventures?"

"Perhaps when you've mastered the hammock," teased the young woman.

Again, Mack turned to glare at her. "Don't you have some innocent kid to terrorize?" he asked.

"Yeah, his name would be Mack," she snapped. "And he's standing right in front of me."

Spencer sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

Since his boss, Andrew Hartford, had returned three weeks ago with a young woman, she and Mack had done nothing but snap at one another. It was clear that Mack didn't approve of the newcomer, one who his father claimed to be his cousin, although he had no memories of her, and the young woman didn't want to be in San Angeles any more than she wanted to believe that Andrew and Mack was a part of her family.

Again, she, just like Mack, had no memories of them, but yet she couldn't deny that there was some truth behind Andrew's claims. His parents, Mary and James Hartford were her grandparents, they were her mother's parents, but they had died long before she was born.

"I'd give anything to be with him on his adventures right now," said Mack, choosing to take the high road and ignore his newfound cousin. "Digging through ruins, looking for the crowd of the gods - The Corona Aurora."

The young woman, also known as Aliyah Logan, or Ali to her close friends and family, rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Ah, yes, The Corona Aurora." Spencer repeated, almost mockingly. "Your father has spent 10 years and twice the net worth of New Mexico looking for something that, quite frankly, doesn't exist."

~*Six Months Later*~

"Anyone have a clue why we're here?" a small girl, around the age of eighteen, asked as she walked around the large study/playroom that she and three others found themselves standing in. They had each been contacted by a man called Andrew Hartford and asked to meet with him at his home in San Angeles, but they were there, and he was over an hour late. Within the time span of his delay, the group had taken the liberty of getting to know one another's names.

The girl who had spoken was called Rose Oritiz. She was a Mensa level genius with an encyclopedic knowledge that could rival that of Cam Watanabe. No more than a few hours ago, Rose had been in London, saving her University professors and class-mates from the robotic laser arm she had created.

"Nope," shrugged a dirty-blonde female. Her name was Ronny Robinson, the top race car driver of worldwide fame. She had just won another championship in Italy when Mr. Hartford had contacted her and asked her to come to his house, he had said was urgent and that he would explain everything when he saw her in person. "That Hartford guy said he'd explain everything when he saw me."

"Same here," nodded a spiky-haired man in blue. His name was Dax Lo, an absolute highly skilled film stuntman.

"This Hartford guy must be some wacky gazillonaire," said the last member of their group. His name was Will Aston, a suave and cocky spy-for-hire. "He had me break in to his own bank in Brazil."

Rose turned and stared at Will. He smirked and nodded, wondering slightly if she was going to challenge him on whether or not he was lying.

"Gazillonaire? Possibly!" repeated a voice from the door. The group of four outsiders turned to see a female, around the age of 21, leaning against the frame, her arms folded across her stomach and her hair tied in a high ponytail. "Wacky? That's a definite."

"Who are you?" Will asked, surprised to see her.

The female snapped her attention to him.

"I could ask you the same question," she said.

"Hey," smiled Ronny, walking forward and holding out her hand. "I'm Ronny. Ronny Robinson."

The female smirked and shook Ronny's hand.

"Aliyah," she answered, her eyes flickering at Will. "Aliyah Logan. You're here to see my alleged uncle, right?"

"Wait, your uncle?" Rose asked.

Aliyah nodded. "Supposedly," she said. "He's got all the birth records that prove he is blood related to me, he even did a DNA test as I told him documents could be forged. It came back that we had 99% probability."

"Basically it said you were related," said Rose.

"Yeah. But I have no memory of him," said Aliyah. "He's a total stranger to me."

"What's going on in here?" Mack asked as he entered the room. He was carrying his adventure book in his hands and only looked up from it when he had heard Aliyah talking to someone, at first he wasn't going to tease her about talking to herself, but had stopped when he had heard another voice respond, one that was not Aliyah's.

Ronny looked from Aliyah to Mack and smiled. "Join the party," she said. "We got a message from that Hartford guy, just like you."

"What message?" Mack asked.

"Ronny, meet Mack," said Aliyah. "My cousin and Hartford's son."

"Oh," said Ronny, realizing her mistake. "My bad."

Aliyah waved her off, just as the doors to her uncle's study opened on the otherside of the room and Andrew and Spencer walked out.

"Welcome everyone," said Andrew.

"What's going on, Dad?" Mack asked, earning his father's attention.

Andrew hesitated as he noticed his niece and son lingering in the doorway. He smiled at his guests and walked towards them, forcing them from the room. "I'm having an important meeting. We'll have to talk later." He said.

"But, Dad, what are - who are these peo -" Mack cut off as his father closed the door on him and Aliyah.

Aliyah scoffed and shook her head. "Whatever," she said, walking off down the hall towards the kitchen.

"What are you doing?" Mack asked. He had followed after her and was surprised to find her crouching on the floor next to an air vent.

"Shh!" Aliyah hissed, pressing her finger to her mouth. "Do you want your father to know you're eavesdropping?"

Mack scowled at her, but didn't retort. Instead he watched as Aliyah loosened the vents outside panel and opened it slightly more so that they could hear what was going on behind the wall.

"I'm Andrew Hartford. I'm glad you all decided to accept my invitation. Before we get started, can I interest anyone in some lemonade? Spencer?"

"Oh, thank you, sir, but i'm quite fine." Spencer replied.

Aliyah had to cover her mouth to keep from laughing out loud.

"For them, Spencer." Andrew said.

"Oh."

"I am sure you all have many questions," continued Andrew. "And I promise you I will answer every one. But first I need your help, because without you, without your talents, without your intelligence, our world, our universe is going to be destroyed."

On the otherside of the vent, Aliyah, Mack and Spencer, who had joined them after departing the room to get lemonade, exchanged looks.

~*Secrets and Lies*~

After much confusion from his guests, Andrew turned on the TV News report he had recorded of an attack from Lava Lizards and Chillers from the downtown area of San Angeles. He had hoped that it would help Ronny, Dax, Rose and Will to change their minds and accept his proposal to help save the world.

"That was three days ago," he said. "Evil has arrived on Earth."

"And all this, um, supposedly because you found some crown?" Ronny asked.

"Not just a crown - The Corona Aurora, which, according to legend, has powers, not just over this planet but the universe." Andrew explained. "Millennia ago, in a galaxy on the other side of the universe, there were two brothers - Moltor -"

"And Flurious," interrupted Rose. "Who tried to steal the Corona Aurora. But the crown was so powerful; it cursed them, changed their appearance and sent them off to distant planets, imprisoning them in their own elements." She paused and looked around as she realized everyone was staring at her. "What? I took a year of 'Ancient Universal Legends' at Harvard. Anyway, it's just a myth."

"There's more." Andrew added, quickly. "In order to stop anyone from getting the power again, the guardian took the five jewels from the crown and scattered them on a distant, uninhabited planet. That planet, those many Millennia ago, was Earth."

"Now this -" said Dax, energetically. "This would make a great movie. I know this guy who knows the sister of a cousin of Spielberg's limo driver's aunt. I bet I could play you." He added, pointing to Hartford.

Hastily, Andrew rushed to the vent behind him.

"Spencer!" he called, his voice echoing.

Aliyah and Mack, who had been leaning in closer, than expected, cringed as Andrew's voice screamed down their ears.

"Coming, sir!" Spencer called back, deafening the pair in the other ear.

"Dude!" Aliyah complained, leaning back and rubbing both her ears. "That was so not cool!"

"I accidentally freed Moltor and Flurious." Andrew explained, turning back to his guests. "From their imprisonment, and now, thanks to me, they and who knows how many other power-crazed beasts are here - or soon will be - looking for the crown."

Spencer returned carrying a tray of Lemonade. He offered it to the group of four, but they declined it politely. Andrew, on the other hands, and made a mad dash for his vault in hopes that if he could show them the crown it would prove he was not lying.

"Gee, it's getting late," said Ronny. "And i'm sure there's an engine overhaul waiting for me. I'm gonna go."

"Wait," called Hartford, turning back to them. He clutched the crown in his hands. "Everything I told you is true. I need your help. We need to protect this from falling into the wrong hands."

"You're rich. By an army." Rose said.

"An army can't stop them," said Andrew. "But you can."

On the otherside of the wall, Aliyah groaned. "Oh boy," she muttered, resting her head on the wall above the vent. "Here it comes..."

"Here comes what?" Mack asked, confused.

"The whole 'I can turn you into Power Rangers' speech." Aliyah said.

Mack frowned, as he heard his father repeated Aliyah's exact words. "How did you know that?" he asked, as Dax exploded with excitement at the idea of being a Power Ranger.

"Have you been living in a box or something?" Aliyah asked. "Since 1993 evil has been showing up in different cities all along the California coast, and every year a new team of Power Rangers has been formed in order to fight it. Why should here be any different?"

"You seem to know quite a bit about this Ranger deal," said Mack.

"More than you think," muttered Aliyah.

Mack's eyes glittered with excitement. "Tell me more," he said.

"Are you kidding me?" Aliyah asked. "Are you seriously telling me that you don't know anything about the Power Rangers?"

"Yep," said Mack with a bob of his head.

"Wow, you really have lived a sheltered life."

~*Secrets and Lies*~

Far beneath the Hartford Manor, the new Ranger recruits found themselves wearing all new black uniforms, each one trimmed with their respective Ranger colour.

"Team, thank you for accepting my offer." Andrew said, walking around the giant globe to face them. "The uniforms look good on you. As we speak, your bodies' physical and mental capabilities are being enhanced by a DNA re-sequencer - a Hartford industries design. As your body adapts you'll soon be able to do and know things that only a moment ago were thought impossible."

"Are we going to turn into a weird fly or something?" Dax asked.

"Not a chance." Andrew chuckled. "This is totally harmless. But you are now stronger and smarter than when you first arrived."

The re-sequencer turned off and the four new Rangers walked away, each wondering when exactly they'd feel the effects of their scrambled DNA.

"Welcome to your new base," said Andrew. "One thing you should know about me is that I would never ask you to do anything that I wouldn't do myself."

"Except get his genes re-scrambled," said Aliyah, as she stepped out of the lift. Mack followed her, looking around excitedly.

Andrew looked startled.

"Mack, Aliyah, you need to go home," he told them.

"We are home." Mack replied. "Technically, we're several hundred feet below our home."

"You said I couldn't go home," said Aliyah. "Now you want me to go home?"

Andrew sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You know what I mean, Aliyah," he said, trying to keep his temper. Rebecca had been right when she had told him Aliyah would test his patience, she was definitely her father's child.

"What's the big deal?" Aliyah asked. "So we see your Ranger base, and meet the new team of Power Rangers, it's not like it's gonna bring about the end of the world." She paused and looked over the team of four. "You're missing a colour. Where is the red Ranger? You can't have a Ranger team without red."

"He's about to join them," said Andrew. "I'm the red Ranger."

Aliyah looked from the team to her uncle, and then back again. "This reminds me too much of the Dino Rangers," she muttered, shaking her head.

"Aliyah, please," said Andrew. "Can you and Mack just go back upstairs? I'll explain everything to you later."

"How about you explain it to us now?" Aliyah asked.

~*Secrets and Lies*~

"I knew something was going on." Mack gushed after his father had explained the whole story and situation to him and Aliyah - the former was more excited than the latter. "Ever since you got back from your trip, you've been working 24-7. I never see you anymore."

"I know. I know. I-I..." Andrew sighed.

"You messed up big-time," said Mack. "I understand."

"Oh, he messed up alright," said Aliyah. "He messed up so bad that he unleashed evil into the world. He's put hundreds of thousands of lives in danger, all for some stupid and pointless artifact."

"Stupid and pointless - I've spent my whole life looking for the crown," said Andrew. "I didn't know that it would unleash terror on the world."

"You never do." Aliyah argued. "Humans never learn from their mistakes. 1993 two astronauts discover an extraterrestrial container on the moon and breach the unit, releasing the evil sorceress Rita Repulsa from 10,000 years of confinement, she tried to overthrow Earth and the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers were born. In the year 2000, demons are released from their tomb in the desert, and they threaten to conquer Mariner Bay - Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue comes into play. In 2004, Ethan James, blue Dino Ranger, messes with Tutenhawken's tomb, effectively cursing himself, a civilian, and putting the whole of Reefside and the world in danger, the same year, human interference sees the return of Lothor, a rogue Ninja who, only the year before, tried to eliminate all Ninja Academies and take over the world using dark Ninja powers. And now, human interference sees the return of the powerful Corona Aurora, bringing with it unseen evil and powers. When are humans ever going to learn that something's, especially powerful relics, do not belong to them?"

"You're mad at me for unleashing evil..." said Andrew.

"I'm mad at you for not being able to contain your curiosity!" Aliyah snapped. "It's because of you that people are danger. It is because of you that Ronny, Dax, Will and Rose have to put their lives on hold, in order to fight on the front line against mutant creatures that can easily destroy them."

Andrew stared hard at his niece, and was very surprised to find that she was holding back tears. "Aliyah..." he sighed.

"It's because of people like you that people cannot have normal lives," said Aliyah, sadly. "I can't have a normal life."

"Why can't you?" Andrew asked.

"You really think your newbie Rangers can take on these new threats?" Aliyah asked. "Don't lie to me, Andrew; this is why I am here, isn't it? To become a part of a new ranger team. It's why you've been in contact with Rebecca for the last year. What I don't understand is why she's passed legal guardianship - and I mean that in the literal sense - of me over to you. She should still be the head guardian, despite being in different countries."

"You're not here to be a Power Ranger, Aliyah," said Andrew. "You're here to hide away from evil."

"You mean the evil you brought directly onto our doorstep?" Aliyah asked.

Andrew sighed as he realized he had, involuntarily, put her in danger without really meaning too.

Mack stared, wide-eyed between his father and cousin. He was slowly taking his father's lack of an answer as a yes. "Hey, wait a minute," he interrupted. "If Aliyah's gonna be a Power Ranger then I wanna be one too," he said. "It's only fair. Why should she get to have all the fun?"

"Absolutely not," said Andrew, shaking his head at Mack. "Aliyah has the experience of being a Ranger, you do not."

"Dad," sighed Mack. "I know I can help. Just give me a chance."

"Mack, it's not gonna happen." Andrew said, shaking his head. "Even if I did think of offering Aliyah a position on the team, I can't offer one to you."

"Why not?"

"Because Aliyah's decision to join would be her choice," said Andrew. "I have no control over her, I do you."

"Technically he is eighteen," interrupted Aliyah. "He's his own person. He can make his own choices. And besides you don't need to be a Power Ranger in order to fight. You can protect the world without the cover of spandex."

Andrew growled at her.

Aliyah folded her arms over her stomach and glared at her uncle, just then Spencer burst into the room, and he looked out of breath and appeared to be sweating.

"Sir!" the butler cried.

"Spencer, we're talking." Andrew said.

"Actually, you're lecturing," muttered Aliyah, well-aware that she was driving Andrew up the wall. But she didn't care.

"Sir!" Spencer puffed.

"Spencer!" Andrew sighed.

"Sir," huffed Spencer. "Big Lizards are attacking your house guests, sir."

Andrew's eyes widened. "Lava Lizards," he whispered. "Spencer, you get the team. I'll get the crown. Mack, Ali, you're both to stay inside where it's safe."

Aliyah shook her head as Andrew run from the room. She pushed herself off of the pool table and walked towards the doors, pausing and turning back to Mack. "Well, are you coming?" she asked.

"Dad said to stay inside," said Mack.

"And, I suppose, if your dad told you to go jump of a bridge, you would?" Aliyah asked, rolling her eyes. "Fine. You be daddy's little angel and stay inside, i'm going to help anyway I can."

She walked out, leaving Mack to consider her words. He wanted to help, but he couldn't do that from inside the mansion.

~*Secrets and Lies*~

Spencer turned to the sound of running footsteps.

"Mr. Hartford told you to stay in the house where it's safe," he said to Aliyah as he grabbed her arm before she could run straight past him; he did the same to Mack as he appeared on his other side. "Do you ever listen?"

"It's not in my nature to just stay behind," said Aliyah. "I'm a fighter. Good and simple."

"Yeah, and I'm tired of being safe," said Mack. "I'm helping."

"You'll do nothing of the kind." Spencer scolded. He was really surprised with Aliyah's behavior, she was older than Mack, and therefore should have set a better example. "Rangers!" he called to the new team. "We need to leave right away," he added as they re-grouped. "You three," he pointed at Dax, Ronny and Will, "you'll ride by yourselves. You'll find the vehicles in the garage."

The three nodded and run off.

"Rose, you come with me." Spencer added to the genius. She nodded and headed to the 4x4 sitting in the drive.

"I'm going with Rose," said Aliyah, not feeling the need to be around any bikes. Dino Thunder was the only time that she had to be around a bike, and she had been terrified of it them, having needed Hayley to pre-coordinate the bike without her having to physically drive it.

"I'm going to the garage," said Mack, trying to follow Ronny, Dax and Will.

"You're coming with me, too," said Spencer, pulling him back by the scruff of his neck. Mack sighed and followed Rose and Aliyah towards the 4x4. He climbed into the seat beside Rose, and behind Spencer, while Aliyah sat behind them on her own.

Mack grinned at the newest pink Ranger. "You guys were awesome," he gushed. "You were really giving it to them."

Aliyah rolled her eyes as she listened to the conversation going on ahead of her.

"I'm not exactly sure who was giving what to whom," said Rose. "But thanks. Mr. Hartford, apologies again for doubting your story."

"No worries, Rose," said Andrew.

"No worries?" Aliyah repeated. "In the Ranger world, that'll be the day."

"Unfortunately, she is right, sir," said Spencer, spotting trouble ahead.

Aliyah looked over the edge of the 4x4 and spotted a group of frozen foot soldiers. "See what I mean about curiosity being a bad thing!" she yelled to the front of the car. "Bet you didn't think of this when you found that stupid crown!"

"The Lizards are behind us," said Will, as he, Ronny and Dax regrouped with the car. Rose jumped down from the back of the truck and looked up at Hartford as he held up a container box. "Who are these guys?"

"I don't think they're the welcoming committee," said Mack.

"We're going to the big time," said Andrew, opening the container and revealing tracker-morphers to the new team. "These are you Overdrive trackers. These are what will morph you into Power Rangers. 'Overdrive Accelerate' is the activation code."

Will smirked as he turned his morpher over in his hands.

"Let's do it." Andrew nodded, holding onto his own morpher.

The others nodded and raced off, but Andrew held back as Mack protested about being safeguarded again.

"Mack, I -" he broke off as the rest of his team morphed without him. "Mack, I have to join my team. The answers no. Do you hear me?"

"I'll keep an eye on him, sir," said Spencer.

"Them, Spencer." Andrew said, staring down at Aliyah. He knew she'd want to help, but it was not her place anymore. She wasn't a Ranger, she had no special powers, and he couldn't afford to put her life in danger any more than it already was.

"Of course, sir," said Spencer. "I'll watch them both."

Aliyah rolled her eyes and muttered something about 'not making promises that you couldn't keep.'

Andrew nodded and jumped from the car. He prepared to morph, but failed in doing so as Lava Lizards surrounded him and grabbed his wrists. He dropped the morpher and was pulled forward, away from it.

"Dad!" Mack shouted, desperately.

"Should have seen that one coming," said Aliyah, jumping over the side of the car. She swiped up the red Overdrive Morpher, and easily fended off a Lava Lizard. "Mack, catch!" she shouted, throwing the morpher at her cousin, as several more Lava Lizards jumped at her.

Mack caught the morpher and dived out of the 4x4.

Breathing heavily, Mack spun the morpher in his hand, and swung it around so it rested on his right shoulder. "Overdrive," he called out, running the dial down the length of his arm. "Accelerate!"

There was a burst of power and Mack transformed into the red Overdrive Ranger.

~*Secrets and Lies*~

After delivering the final blow to the Lava Lizards she had been fighting, Aliyah looked around to see Andrew lying sprawled on the ground, and Moltor standing over him.

"Hey!" she shouted, racing towards him. She jumped over Andrew and landed a well-aimed kick to the chest of the giant lizard. "Why don't you pick on someone with a lot more fight in 'em, you overgrown lava lizard!"

Moltor laughed and tried to blast her, but a streak of white lightning hit him, knocking him as far away from Aliyah as possible. The Lightning Ninja frowned and looked around, she hadn't done that which meant either Rebecca or Tyler was somewhere close by.

Moltor growled and pushed himself up from the ground. "Enough of these childish games," he snarled. "Just give me the crown and you can all walk away, unharmed."

"Unharmed?" Aliyah repeated. "I find that one hard to believe."

"Aliyah, Dad!" Mack shouted, running over. The others were behind him. "Back off," he warned Moltor, standing in front of his new team-mates, and wielding his blaster.

Moltor laughed, but the sound of screeching caused him to look around. Two Lava lizards were running towards him, brandishing the crown in their clawed hands.

"Finally," he said, taking it from them. "The crown is mine!"

"Spencer!" Aliyah whispered, looking around for the butler. She saw him stumbling towards them, clutching his arm.

"I'm sorry, sir," said Spencer to Andrew. "They overpowered me."

"The choice is yours, Rangers -" said Moltor, earning the Rangers attention again. Aliyah growled, her eyes narrowing on the crown in Moltor's possession, while her hands curled into fists. "Go after me and the crown..." he swung his head to the side, blasting the skyline above the city with a fiery burst of energy. There was an explosion of rock and a spray of lava, as a volcano appeared, spewing molten magma into the air. "Or save the city below."

The Rangers gasped at the sudden turn of events.

"You want to be heroes?" Moltor challenged. "Be heroes!"

He turned and disappeared in a flash of light.

To Be Continued…

Copyrighted ©

Chapter written by xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx

Chapter updated Monday, September 09, 2013 at 03:30am