The Chronic Storm team flew ever closer to modern-day Mirinoi, the planet that Kendrix and many other humans from Terra Venture started to call home way back in the year 1999. And over the next few centuries, Mirinoi developed into a proud society for all that resided there while mostly maintaining their vibrant vegetation; a staple of their planet. While not without its hurdles, striking that careful balance between progress and nature led to 200 years of peace.

Inside the bridge of the Astro4, Carter, Alex, Taylor, and Ethan monitored their approach to Mirinoi. All the while, Taylor wore a look of great concern as she pondered over the recent royal arrest. She tried distracting herself by sifting through more Megaship information on her console computer. Then, she abruptly stood up. "The people we dealt with back there didn't seem especially convincing. I don't know that we can trust them."

"I wouldn't worry about it," Carter replied. "Diane's power came from her influence over other people. She won't have much of that in there. For now, we're safe."

Alex nodded in agreement, feeling slightly more comfortable with the situation. But he still couldn't help but think through what awaited them after their detour came to an end. Most systems would fair well enough once Diane's crimes became public. But some systems depended on the kingdom to survive. What was to become of them?

"We're closing in on Mirinoi," Ethan said. "Exiting warp speed now."

The Astro4 slowed down as the bright green surface of Mirinoi shone through the windows, as if graced by the light of Eden itself.

"Guys, I actually have some good news for a change," Ethan added. "I was able to find, re-program, and upload DECA, the automated computer system that helped run the original Astro Megaship."

Ethan then pressed a button on the console and a female voice sounded, "Good evening, Rangers. I am DECA. How may I be of service today?"

"Whoa." Carter looked all around the bridge trying to figure out where the voice came from. "Okay. DECA, how about securing the ship while we're out. Is that part of your programming?"

"Certainly, Carter. I will keep the Astro Megaship Mark IV on lock down until you return."

A few moments later, Jason and Kendrix arrived on the bridge. Kendrix returned to her usual console wearing a giant smile while Jason wore a matching grin.

Taylor walked over to him, quickly glanced at Kendrix and then back at him. Jason understood the subtle gesture and slowly shook his head. She gently punched Jason's arm and now wore a faint smile as well.

The Astro4 entered the Mirinoian atmosphere and began its landing sequence underneath a cloudless sky. The ship gently touched upon the surface, signaling their arrival.

"Alright guys, no real mission here," Carter said. "Let's just try to have some fun."

...

Back on Triforia, the people continued partying in the streets; singing songs, dancing gigs, and consuming all manner of mood-altering beverages. General Axis received a hero's welcome in the aftermath of helping dismantle Queen Diane's weapon. However, with unstable circumstances looming, he needed to quickly return to his work. Axis made his way up to the top floor of the capitol building where Salva eagerly awaited him.

"Welcome back, My General. Your return is truly a blessing."

Axis nodded. "Given all that has happened as of late, I do feel blessed, Lieutenant. However, my own celebrations must be short-lived. The Queen has been exposed for what she truly is. The balance of power in the universe will experience a rather dramatic shift once the news becomes public intel."

"Queen Diane...?" Salva asked, puzzled. "What do you mean, My General?"

"All will be made clear in time. But right now, I must make contact what the allies we have left."

Axis entered a large meeting room and contacted all of the remaining star systems and planets of the Resistance. Most responded with a full-body holographic projection manifesting inside the meeting room. Three nations did not. Axis could sense the burning gazes of the seven representatives that remained, despite their opaque nature.

"The invasion of Earth was a bitter failure!" exclaimed the Tangarian leader. "I wasted some of my best soldiers on your promise for results!"

Another chimed in, a lizard-humanoid hybrid female commander from the planet of Horath. "Almost half of my damn fleet was spent in that invasion and those that survived began to question what the hell even brought us to Earth! Get to talking!"

A calmer leader spoke next, an older male from the planet Inquirus, "We all want the same thing here. We're all fighting for our freedom. However, are we certain that we can achieve these ambitions with our current hierarchy intact?"

Complaint after complaint reigned down, quickly devolving into unrest among the ranks of Resistance leaders. The continual adding of layers to the inaudible disagreements began to weigh on the General's patience. "That's enough!!!"

The bickering leaders quickly silenced their quarreling.

"Allies, we have experienced a setback and your frustrations are understandable. But, if this internal squabbling continues, we will never achieve our goals. We must always remember why we fight as one, why we resist."

"Such words mean little now, General," replied the Inquirus leader. "Do you have a more substantive plan than 'stay the course'?"

Axis smirked in response. "Don't I always? Leaders, allies, comrades, what I tell you next is very delicate information that we must act on before it spreads. Queen Diane is not the all-righteous benevolent ruler that she claims. Heh, obviously. You were told that Admiral Axl, who had been hardly heard from for years, was responsible for the attack on Triforia and Zordina before that. However, it was actually the Queen herself in a mad attempt to wipe out any and all opposition to her rule."

"Impossible!" cried the Frenovian General.

"Oh, I assure you it's a little more than possible. To shroud himself inside rumors, and then to suddenly reappear to grandstand the universe? Even for as far afield as Axl became in his later years, something didn't add up. During my multiple imprisonments and breakouts, it all started to become clear. The Queen used my brother's legacy and likeness as a means to her darker ends. What's more... she's likely responsible for his death."

The allied leaders traded looks of amazement back at each other while they processed the intelligence.

"Where is the Queen now?" inquired the Inquirus leader.

"She is currently in custody on Verinox 12. Captured, by her own Power Rangers, ironically enough."

"It won't be long until those damn Rangers return to Earth," replied the Horath leader. "What's gonna go down when the kingdom learns the truth?"

"According to the ship I have tailing them, the Rangers are en route to Mirinoi, a world loyal to the kingdom. Our discovery of the Queen's truth will do little on such planets. She has enough people in her pocket to make it all disappear."

Trian sighed. "So much manipulation, lies, cover-ups... But I have no room to speak. Our covert mission was a success, General. But I am afraid of the type of legacy we'll leave behind, should we win. I do not want the next generation of Xybrians to have to play these 'games' just to get by. And all of this, all to be right back where we started from?"

"I understand your concerns, but we need not fret, allies. The Queen will likely find a way to escape Verinoxian imprisonment. When she does, she'll come for the Rangers. That's exactly what we want, because while their focus is on each other, I will personally see to the termination of the Queen and her rainbow warriors all in one fell swoop. No more lies, no more masks, no more. By the rise of the next day's sun, this longstanding war will finally, and mercifully, end."

The allied leaders all seemed more confident and steadfast at this point.

The Inquirus leader spoke once more, "It would seem that once more, our future is in your hands, General."

"Try not to screw it all up, again," added the Horath leader.

"But of course." Axis bowed to his allies before turning around and leaving the room.

As Axis departed his meeting, Salva rushed towards him while gasping for air. "My... General...!"

Axis glared sharply at him. "Present yourself properly when delivering a report, Lieutenant."

The lieutenant caught his breath and stood up straight. "Apologies, My General. The device we collected from Earth. The science division has made a major breakthrough!"

Axis' eyes widened. "I shall head over immediately. Have a ship ready for departure the second my meeting with them concludes."

"Consider it done, My General."

...

The Chronic Storm team, and Alex, disembarked the Astro4 after touching ground on modern-day Mirinoi. Much to the shock of everyone aboard, a swell of locals started gathering around the ship, applauding, cheering, and yelling with each step forward the team took.

"This is amazing," said Kendrix, looking around at the hordes of people.

"All of these people came out just to see us?" asked Taylor.

An older looking man with a scruffy white beard and a few patches of white hair on his head stepped up to approach the team. "Tis a blessed day indeed. It's been almost one thousand years. But we won't soon forget."

Jason looked to Kendrix. "Looks like you're still famous here."

"This all feels so surreal," replied Kendrix while turning her head all around to take in more of the scenery. "I wonder how Terra Venture has changed."

"You can find out for yourself when I personally escort you there," the older man said. "My name is Commander Edison Scott. I run Terra Venture, the capital city and centerpiece of a truly magnificent planet."

"Thank you, sir," replied Carter.

Commander Scott then led the group towards modern-day Terra Venture. Within minutes, the tall, central towers hit the horizon. The evening sun basked the highest reaching windows in its rays, shining on like a lighthouse on the shore. What also became immediately clear was how much the city expanded since the early 2000s.

The group then partook in a tour all around Terra Venture. Kendrix found herself wearing a large smile, sensing how much of the original colony aesthetics and tiny visual nuances had been preserved. Near the front gate, they saw a statue of what looked to be Commander Stanton, one of the original crew leaders of the colony, side by side with the Galaxy Rangers. The group mainly toured through an area known as East Terra Venture; a bustling location during the day and night with people of all kinds walking through the stone streets. The location also featured a plethora of shopping outlets, attractions, and restaurants.

While passing through the gate, Jason noticed how sharp-eyed and vigilant the multiple security guards seemed in this version of Terra Venture. He gently sighed and mumbled to himself, "Some things did change..."

Even still, he put on as strong an act as he could while Kendrix continued to point things out right beside him. She stared back at him every now and again with a concerned, pensive look, but said nothing. His guise seemed to be holding.

...

After the tour, Commander Scott had the best chefs in Terra Venture prepare a special feast. Plenty of leafy greens dominated the sizable plates, unsurprisingly, but plenty of meat and fish for the more carnivorous among the group. The fantastical dinner proved to be a morose affair, however; the clacking of kitchenware providing the only consistent echoes throughout the room.

After the feast, Carter, Ethan, Taylor, and Alex went off to do their own things while Jason invited Kendrix to a spot with a special memory of his own. His head swung back and forth in noticeable distress while trying to orient himself around this familiar, but heavily altered, city. And then, he sighed in relief before pointing to the spot. "You got to spend the whole day talking about your favorite memories on Terra Venture. So, I thought I'd add my own. Remember this place?"

Kendrix thought about it for a few moments, then the memory came back. "Wait, is this where you helped out that kid? The time I first noticed you?"

Jason nodded. "That's the time. Our first memory together, and of course, it's you stalking me."

The pair shared a light laugh.

Kendrix' eyes sharpened ever so slightly, noticing something just a hair off about Jason's chuckle. "Jason, you don't have to put on a front for me." She squeezed both his hands and gently caressed his knuckles with her thumbs. "If we're going to be each other's pillars, we need to be honest with each other. So, when you're ready, we can talk through this."

Jason's mouth opened ever so slightly, quivering as a few barely audible sounds snuck their way past. He forced half a smile on his face before he spoke, "Thanks, Kendrix. I'll be okay, honest."

Kendrix shook her head, clearly wary of his facade. "You don't always have to be okay. That's still my biggest problem."

"Yeah... I guess we have that in common."

"And until you are, I'm not going anywhere, okay?"

Jason's eyes widened. "Wait, are you saying you want to stay here? In the future?"

"Everything you confessed to me was all I thought about today. I couldn't help but think about the logistics, too. I don't know if I'll be very useful for dealing with this complicated future of yours. But, if it's alright with you, I'll be here, right by your side, so you won't have to face it alone."

Jason stood frozen for a few moments as his watering eyes began to claw their way through his emotional barriers. He tightly embraced Kendrix, who returned the favor. "Kendrix, thank you. I promise I'll make this crazy universe of mine one you can proudly call home. I'll even get around to listening to the White Album, or any album you want, just name it."

She giggled. "You've already won me over. Now you're just showing off."

Jason released his hug and stared once more inside those radiant eyes with a gentle smile. "You sure you won't miss the simple life back in the past too much?"

"Hmm, maybe just a little bit."

"Only a little bit?"

"The 'simple life,' doesn't have you in it."

"Heh, I guess," Jason then smirked confidently. "To be fair though, there's a ton of letters it doesn't have. It's pretty good on e's though. L's too."

Kendrix sarcastically laughed while shaking her head. "Wow, so we're doing dad jokes now?"

"And there's a lot more where that came from!"

"I'm ecstatic—"

Suddenly, a strange noise rang out from inside a nearby alley. Without a moment's hesitation, Jason pushed a button on his Morpher, phasing his Chronic Blaster into his hand, and shot at the source of the sound, leaving a charred hole through a blue trash receptacle.

From out of the hole emerged an unscathed reddish-orange feline-like animal that quickly scurried away.

Kendrix held on to her chest and breathed a sigh of relief. "Hehe, it was just a cat. Or something that looks like one anyway."

Jason's entire right arm shivered while still holding his blaster in place. His breathing started getting heavier until he could barely intake air. The white, late evening street lights seemed to vanish, replaced with flashes of red that seemed to twist, turn, and dance all around his body while his eyes twitched. He could barely make out the sound of his name being called out before his blaster suddenly fell to the floor.

Without him even realizing it, Kendrix' embrace found him once more; her gentle hand caressing his backside as reality returned. "It'll be okay... I promise."