Third Person POV
"It wasn't supposed to go this way, was it?" Ethan asked, his brows furrowed as he looked between the others. His voice was thick with disbelief and growing apprehension.
"An evil White Ranger?" Dr. Oliver murmured softly, the question hanging in the room like fog.
"No," continued Dr. Oliver grimly. Then, with dry sarcasm, he added, "Of course, it's been known to happen."
A grim beat of silence followed. After all, in his long career as a Power Ranger, evil rangers weren't unheard of. In fact, they were inevitable—like a twisted balance of the universe. For every good Ranger, it seemed, a corrupted counterpart would arise. Two sides of the same coin.
"So… what do we do now?" Kira asked, not really expecting a definite answer.
"How are we supposed to fight him if we can't even get near him?" Conner added, exasperation and bruised pride written plainly across his face. He glanced at the others, searching for answers that didn't exist yet.
"And let's not forget about the Violet Ranger," Ethan said, concern heavy in his voice—but also a strange hope. "Whoever she is, she stood her ground."
"Yeah," Kira agreed, nodding slightly. "And by the looks of it… she can go toe-to-toe with the White Ranger. No hesitation."
Dr. Oliver stood from his desk, the weight of leadership settling heavily on his shoulders. "Find out who they are… and what they want."
He turned his back to the team for a moment, lost in his own thoughts. But when he looked back, his expression softened at the sight of their battered appearances. "You all look like you've been through a meat grinder. Go and relax. Me and Hayley will try to figure it out."
The three Rangers hesitated, their instincts telling them to keep fighting—but Dr. Oliver's calm and commanding tone left little room for protest. With reluctant nods, they exited the room.
"This just sucks," Conner muttered under his breath once they were alone, his voice laced with irritation and the bitter sting of helplessness.
It was the first time they'd been this powerless in a fight and he hated it.
"Hate to admit it," Ethan said, kicking at a loose stone on the ground, "but with our current skills, we can't even leave a bruise on those two."
Kira was uncharacteristically quiet. Her thoughts swirled with confusion and an odd sense of familiarity. That Violet Ranger… something about her felt close. Too close.
"We shouldn't be relaxing," Conner suddenly said, fire flickering in his voice. "We need to train more."
Kira snapped out of her thoughts and nodded firmly. "Yeah. The only way we're going to stand a chance… is to get stronger."
Ethan followed suit with a nod, and without another word, the trio made their way toward their training grounds—each of them silently determined not to be powerless again.
==================================
Meanwhile, across town, Amaris and Trent were on their way to the Shin estate.
"I truly appreciate this, Amaris. And… I'm sorry," Trent said, guilt woven through his voice.
Amaris offered a small, composed smile—one that didn't quite reach her eyes. "It is truly not a burden. I would feel most regretful if I were to simply leave you as you are," she replied softly.
Yet behind her formal words, a quiet storm brewed in her chest. She knew the consequences. And though it was Trent who stepped into it, she couldn't help but feel responsible. She should have stopped him.
Trent glanced at her, puzzled by the sadness tucked behind her polite demeanor. 'She's… really kind,' he thought. 'More than she let on.'
As they arrived at the Shin estate, Trent's eyes widened in awe. The sheer size of the estate and the efficiency of the staff stunned even him—and his own family wasn't exactly modest in their wealth. But the Shins were something else. Their legacy dated back to the Edo period.
"Come, this way please," Amaris said gently.
Trent followed, surprised when two bicycles were handed to them by the waiting staff. Amaris accepted hers with a grateful nod. "Thank you kindly."
Still a bit confused, Trent took his as well and returned the polite gesture. "Uh… thanks."
They pedaled off toward the farthest edge of the property, the path winding through beautiful gardens and shaded stone corridors, until they reached a secluded building tucked away behind ancient trees.
Inside, they stepped into an elevator. Amaris tapped the number 2, and the elevator hummed upward.
When the doors opened, Trent found himself staring in awe.
The room ahead looked nothing like the elegant manor behind them—it was a sleek, futuristic lab. Walls of data screens, medical pods, and prototype tech devices filled the chamber. He blinked, taking it all in.
"This is where your regular checkups will be held," Amaris explained, stepping forward. "It is outfitted with Shin family technology and medical intelligence systems. You are safe here."
Trent slowly nodded, still trying to absorb the shift from classical mansion to high-tech lab. "So… what should I do first?"
Amaris walked gracefully toward a sleek medical scanning bed. She lightly rested her hand on its surface. "If you would, please lie down. This machine shall scan your DNA. With any luck, it may help us determine a way to neutralize the corruption in your Dino Gem."
Trent obeyed, lying back and exhaling as the machine activated.
Amaris moved to the monitor console and began typing. A soft pulse of light passed over Trent, the scan beginning. The silence was only broken by the quiet beeping of the device—until Amaris frowned deeply.
"Oh my…" she whispered, the words escaping her lips before she could stop them.
Trent's stomach tightened. He sat up quickly. "Is it… bad?" he asked, nerves evident in his voice.
Amaris sighed, her eyes flicking to the data again. "It is not critical… not yet. But if left unmonitored, the encoding may continue to spread. Soon, it could override your consciousness."
'Just like the evil White Ranger from the show…' Amaris left that part unsaid.
"I see," Trent murmured, absorbing the weight of that news. "Can we fix it? Or at least… hold it back?"
Amaris nodded, offering him the gentlest smile she could manage. "It is possible. We must monitor your condition routinely, and with time, perhaps… reverse it entirely."
Relief visibly washed over Trent's face. He gave her a sheepish grin and extended his hand. "Well then, I guess I'll be troubling you a lot, partner."
Amaris looked at his outstretched hand, then delicately shook it with her own. "It would be my honor, truly."
And in that handshake—between a girl who carried the burden of time and a boy struggling against darkness—the beginning of an unbreakable bond was forged.