The moon shown brightly through the trees as Alyssa continued her evening jog. She had always liked running right after sunset, the temperature wasn’t too hot or too cold, but just the right degree to be comfortable. Strategically she breathed in and out, pacing herself as she turned left and took the path that lead around the pond in Turtle Cove Park. Nonchalantly, she glanced up at the sky where a floating heaven once resided. It had hardly felt like seven years since her and her friends defended this city against Master Org.

She stopped for a second and grabbed her water bottle. The cool liquid drenched her dry throat as she wiped away the sweat that accumulated on her forehead. Her eyes scanned the horizon of the far side of the lake when suddenly a shiver ran down her spine. The air around her suddenly became cold as she turned around to see a man standing behind her.

His silver hair was tied back in a ponytail, and his black clothes neatly pressed. Something about him gave Alyssa a bad feeling. He stood ten feet away from her, a small smile flashed across his lips. He twirled the black cane he held in his hand around and placed it neatly under his arm.

“Alyssa Enrile,” his voice was cold as he bowed. “A pleasure to meet you.”

She slowly took a step back from him. “Who are you?” Her heart raced with fear as he stood up straight again and removed the black cane from under his arm.

He sighed and shook his head. “How rude of me, I apologize. My name is Kalvin Kane.”

Alyssa stepped further away, her eyes watching his every move. “How do you know who I am?”

“I know all, I see all, my dear,” he spoke smoothly and softly as he moved closer to the young teacher. “I am seeking information about a certain man you have come in contact with in the past . . . seven years. A man named Wesley Collins.”

Alyssa was silent as he stepped towards her even more. “Ah, so you do know him, Alyssa. Can you tell me where he is?” Again, Alyssa did not speak. He moved closer to her again. She tried to move but felt as if her feet were in cement. He raised his chin and looked directly into her eyes, putting a hand on her shoulder.

She stood in his gaze, frozen. Her heart beat wildly against her chest as her mind told her to run. But her feet would not obey. Her breath quivered as she tried to look away, but he had some sort of lock on her.

“Alyssa!” another man called. She turned in the direction of the man and stepped away from Kane. She panted heavily as she ran towards the man, both happy and relieved to see his all too familiar face. The second she jumped into his arms he hugged her tightly. “Are you okay? God, you’re shivering.”

“Cole,” she whispered and buried her face into his shoulder. “He . . .” she turned and saw nothing but air behind her. “He was just here. He saw inside me, he . . .” She let out a quivering breathe. “He said his name was Kane.”

Cole held her tightly and looked into her eyes. “Alyssa, what did this guy do?”

She wiped away a small glimmer of tears. “I don’t- I don’t know. But when he looked at me, when he put his hand on my shoulder, I just felt like I was dying. That’s when I felt him almost reading my mind.”

He shook his head in disbelief. “Come on, I’ll take you back to your apartment and let you calm down a little.”

“Wes,” she whispered and her eyes widened. “Cole, you need to find him, you need to call him. I . . . I think Kane is going to kill him.”

--

“He’s got a very bad concussion and a lot of internal trauma, Commander Collins. We’ve repaired what we could, but . . . we can’t guarantee he’ll survive. Another twenty- four hours will tell if the boy has enough will power to make it . . .”

The Doctor’s words echoed in Wes’s head as he sat in the chair with his head in his palms and sighed deeply. For the past twenty-three hours Dave had remained unconscious again and in critical condition. Now, his twenty-forth hour had come. If he could make it through this last hour then he might be okay. But for the past day, he had shown no signs of improvement. Only for a few brief moments did Dave wake and show signs of life.

“Where’s Mommy, Alex?”

“He called me Alex,” Wes muttered to himself. Those three words the boy spoke had made Wes feel uneasy for the past few hours. Wes signed again. “He thought I was Alex . . .”

Did that mean Jen and Alex were married? It was obvious they had a son together; he was lying on the hospital bed. For Dave to mistake the two, perhaps he didn’t know he was in the past? And what was that about Jen? Wes ran his fingers through his hair and closed his eyes, bending over in the chair again. Suddenly the cut on his chest sent a jolt of pain through him and he sat up straighter.

That dream of his, it was real. Yet, how could it have been? Jen was one thousand years away- yet her son was here with them. Was his dream a sign of something? Dave had asked if his mother was okay. Did something happen to Jen?

“Wes, honey?” a soft voice made his head turn around as Abby walked in and sat next to him. “Eric told me you stayed here to watch over that little boy. Is he okay?”

“I don't know,” Wes spoke quietly. “The doctors don't know if he’ll make it.” He returned to his pose with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands.

Something else was bugging him, that she was sure of. Concerned, Abby put her hand on his back. “Wes, what’s wrong?”

“Even if you would understand, I wouldn’t know where to be-” He stopped as he saw something in the distance outside the window. Suddenly he jumped up and grabbed Abby. “Everyone get down!” He screamed as the glass windows broke sending down shards of glass. Several heavy round objects rolled to his feet, fuses lit.

“Get out of here, it’s a bomb!” He kicked them away as he grabbed Abby’s arm and they ducked behind a table. Not seconds afterward the bombs exploded, sending a ball of fire flying through the hospital waiting room. Flames quickly ate everything in their paths as the fire alarms started buzzing.

“Abby, go with the nurses, they need help,” he told her and stood up. “Evacuate the building now; get all the kids out of here!” Wes commanded to the nurses who jumped up and began a scramble to get the kids out of here. Seeing a fire extinguisher near by he grabbed it and started to put the flames out.

“Headquarters from Commander Collins, do you read?” Wes spoke into his headset. “This is an emergency, to anyone who can hear me. I need units sent to Briarwood Pediatric Hospital. Bombs have exploded and we have several children trapped. I repeat-”

Another explosion rocked the floor around him as Wes fell to the ground and was greeted by a howling laugh. He rolled around and held his side tightly, coughing from all the smoke. Wes inched back from the flames as he grimaced and cursed. A figure stepped through the smoke and lowered its sunglasses.

“Wes Collins, we meet again,” Kane smirked.

Wes stood up and clenched his fists tightly, his eyes focused. “You, you were the one from my dream. You put Jen in the hospital.”

Kane stepped forward again as Wes backed up. “Yes, I did put her in the hospital, and no, my foolish friend, that was not a dream. I would have made that cut on your chest bigger if that loathsome woman had kept out of it and you would be out of my way.” He grabbed the end of his cane and pulled the two ends apart, revealing a pair of double edge swords that burned with a silver fire.

Wes stepped slowly to the right towards the hallway where Dave’s room was, but Kane followed his move. He shook a finger at Wes, “No, no, I cannot have you helping the boy. I need him later.”

“If you want Dave,” Wes said, “You’ll have to go through me first!”

Kane nodded. “I accept!” Seconds later Wes found himself on the ground yet again as a silver flame graced over him and singed his shirt. Kane kept sending out blasts as Wes quickly rounded corners and kicked Kane hard in the chest and sent the mutant flying back into the wall. “Nice hit, Wes,” Kane stood up and cracked his neck. “My turn . . .”

--

“From what I last heard, the kid was going to make it,” Xander said as he and Chip walked around the hospital’s courtyard with a cup of coffee in their hands.

Chip swallowed his mouthful of liquid. “I hope he does, Xander, because I’d hate to—”

“Watch out, mate!” Xander dived and pushed Chip off the sidewalk as seconds later a shower of glass fell to the ground, and large pieces shattered as they hit the pavement. Xander and Chip came out of their hiding spots and looked up. Several floors above their heads a figure was seen floating above them and entering the large hole in the building.

“What the hell is that?” Chip exclaimed. He looked at Xander as they saw the emergency doors open and several nurses, doctors and patients quickly come rushing out of the doors. On the other side of the building they watched as four people entered the building.

“Power Rangers?” Xander asked astonished. He looked at Chip who had his magi-phone out and to the ready. “I like the way you think, mate, let’s go!” Chip and Xander ran towards the door as they morphed and headed upstairs to where all the commotion was heard.

--

“Cole, look!” Alyssa jumped and pointed. To their right, a large explosion rocked the side of the building as chunks of concrete flew down. Hundreds of people rushed out of the building as more flames erupted from the hole. Cole slammed on the breaks and made a hard right.

“I don’t think we have to worry about making it to Silver Hills, looks like we may have already found Wes and Eric,” Cole said as they exited.

Minutes later they arrived to the hospital just as several black jeeps pulled up and men and women dressed in black all hopped out. In the bigger SUV a man with a red cap stepped out and immediately began giving orders. The passenger door opened to reveal a young blonde woman Alyssa knew all to well.

Literally jumping out of the car, Alyssa sped towards Taylor. Cole followed her. “Eric!” he called and ran up to meet the Quantum Ranger.

Eric turned around at the sound of his voice. “Cole, Alyssa, what the hell are you guys doing here?”

Cole huffed. “Long story, I’ll tell you later. Is Wes in there?”

Eric nodded. “Yeah, but who he’s fighting I can’t tell you. It’s too dangerous to go in now. If you can, I need all three of you,” he looked at Taylor. “Help move patients away from here, in case Wes decides to destroy anything else.”

“We can help with that as well, Eric.”

Eric turned and smiled to the man who walked up to him. A younger woman and a man stood next to him. “Tommy Oliver at your service.” Tommy grinned. He turned to where Conner and Kira stood next to him. “We pulled in here to get gas and saw the show. We want to help.”

Eric nodded. “Alright. I need all of you to help move people. If anyone gives you any crap about it, tell them to talk to Myers later.” He handed Taylor his headset as the group split. “Take over for now, Taylor.”

She watched in amazement as he raced off towards the door. “Where are you going?” she hollered to him.

“Someone’s got to make sure Wes doesn’t get his ass handed to him!” Eric hollered back and stormed through the doors.

--

A cracking sensation in Wes’s ribs told him something was, without a doubt, broken. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to ignore the pain, but it was all too much. That, and the fire had spread, sending black smoke through the air, choking him. His entire body ached from the beating he had received from Kane, who stood over him with a smug look on his face.

“Well, it looks like the infamous Wesley Collins has finally met his match. With you out of the way, I will have no problem in destroying Time Force and everything before it.” Kane smiled. “Too bad your precious Jennifer could not even take me. Her fate will be your own!” Kane brought his swords down as hard as he could and Wes squeezed his eyes shut waiting for impact.

The next thing he heard was Kane screaming in pain. He opened his eyes to see 3 multicolored pairs of boots in front of him. Wes smiled. “Guys! You came back!”

“Wes, you okay?” Lucas said as he held his chrono saber trained on the mutant. Trip and Katie assisted Wes to his feet. Wes gritted his teeth as his sore and broken body straightened out. In amazement, he saw another person stand in front of them.

“Alex.” Wes muttered.

Alex stepped forward and presented his badge. “Time Force. You are under arrest Kane, for assault and battery of a police officer, three accounts of attempted murder and for escaping through an unauthorized time portal. Put your weapons down and come quietly.”

Kane stood up slowly from the hard blow. “I’ll take you all on!” He stepped forward but fell again as a red laser pegged him in the back.

“Eric,” Wes said as the morphed Quantum Ranger stood next to Trip.

“The one and only,” Eric responded. “Give it up, buddy; you’ve got four Rangers here. You can’t possibly defeat us.”

Kane grunted. “One ranger or four, I’ll destroy you all!”

The side door burst open as two more colored superheroes entered. Xander and Chip joined Katie’s side, their weapons trained on Kane. “You mean six Power Rangers,” Xander added.

“If it makes any difference, we’ve got at least six more Rangers outside who will be more than willing to help us kick your ass,” Eric glanced at the two new Rangers who join them.

The mutant groaned as he stood up. “We’ll continue this some other day. Until the next time we meet!” He hollered and jumped out the window. A large black cape formed over Kane as he flew away from the hospital and disappeared into the night.

A sigh of relief echoed through the various Rangers as they powered down, revealing their faces. Xander and Chip grinned at each other as they met the other Rangers. Katie and Trip carefully helped Wes to a chair as Eric walked over.

“Looks like someone’s a little out of shape, huh, Wes?” he teased, though even Wes could see the concern in his eyes.

Wes chuckled, then shook his head and looked at Trip, Katie and Lucas. “You guys saved my ass again, I can’t thank you enough.”

“Well, look at it this way, Wes, you can simply treat us to some pizza,” said Trip.

Xander and Chip laughed as they entered the conversation and were introduced to everyone else. However, one person was absent.

--

Alex slowly walked into Dave’s room, closing the door behind him just as another set of hearty laughs echoed from the waiting room and the group carefully exited the hospital. Alex quietly pulled up a chair next to Dave’s bed and rubbed a finger softly across his hand.

Dave drew in a slow and shallow breath as his fingers closed around Alex’s, bringing a small tear to the Commander’s face. “Dave,” he whispered and bowed his head.

“Alex? Is that you?” Dave muttered. Alex squeezed his hand and nodded.

“Yeah, Dave. I’m here, kiddo.”

“I want Mommy, Alex. I miss her. Can you bring her in here?”

“I can’t, Dave. Mommy isn’t here.” He held Dave’s hand as tears streamed down Alex’s face. How could he have let this happen?

Dave’s eyes closed again and he smiled slightly. “She’s right behind you, Alex. I can see her clear as day. She’s got the most beautiful white dress on, too.” Alex remained quiet as Dave spoke quietly again.

“Dave, son, you need to hang in there,” Alex let out a quivering breathe. “Your mom needs you to beat this. I— I need you to beat this.”

“Alex,” Dave whispered and let out a slow breathe as he slipped back into an unconscious state again. “Mommy says hi . . .”

--