He couldn’t tell if the tyrannodrones were holding back for fear of angering him, or just pathetic. Either way, the result was the same. He found it no challenge to defeat them.

So he used them to let his anger out, waiting till they attacked then knocking them away with short, brutal kicks. As he did, he imagined it was the Red Ranger falling backwards, the Red Ranger grunting in pain.

Conner hurt, lying on the ground. Conner, having to yield.

He didn’t care about the injuries from the fight. They were nothing; with his Dino Gem, they’d already healed. He cared about losing. He’d considered going back on his word, continuing to torment Conner at all opportunities . . . but he didn’t think it would be so effective now. And there was always the nagging fear at the back of his mind that Conner could defeat him again.

He defeated the last of the tyrannodrones, turning to see his father watching. He gestured at the bodies around him. “I need more competition. This is too easy, I wipe the floor with them every time.”

His father nodded, looking down at them. He looked preoccupied; thinking up some new experiment, most likely. “Yeah, I see that.”

Trent wandered across to the table, leaning back in his chair and putting his feet up. From here, he had an excellent view of the grounds; the lake behind him, and gardens in front of him, rising up to the mansion. He felt a small thrill of pleasure when comparing it to Conner’s house.

The thought made him frown. He looked down at his Dino Gem to distract himself. Mesogog had told him, just a few days ago, that his obsession with the Red Ranger could become a weakness. Trent still failed to see how a burning desire to hurt and kill one of the rangers was anything but a strength, but Mesogog had been right before.

“Look, son . . .” He looked up as his father spoke, watching as he moved over to sit across the table from Trent. “This change that’s happened in you. I don’t like it.”

Didn’t like it? If Trent had changed, it was for the better! “The White Dino Gem’s making me stronger every day. Soon no-one’s going to be able to stop me, Dad. Isn’t that what you wanted?” It was what Trent wanted.

“No, it’s not what I wanted. That’s what Mesogog wants.”

Trent frowned. His father wasn’t an emotional man, but at the moment . . . he looked almost near tears. All because Trent was getting stronger? And what did he mean, that was what Mesogog wanted?

“Look, we share the same mind, but . . . I hate what he’s done to you.” His voice sounded rough and choked.

Trent shook his head in confusion. “But you are Mesogog.”

“Not by choice.” He got up and started to pace. “You know, my research on dinosaur DNA was bold. Was ground-breaking. I was sure I was on the verge of a whole new technology. One that would serve the betterment of mankind. But it was experimental. It was too risky to try on anyone but myself. I had no idea the effects would be so monstrous.”

Mesogog had been created in an accident? Trent could hardly believe it. “But our plan to bring back the era of the dinosaurs. It’s all within our reach!”

“It’s not my plan. That’s what I’m trying to tell you.”

How could his father be saying this?

“This creature Mesogog has poisoned my mind. I never wanted this for you. Do you understand that?”

He’d never wanted this for Trent. Never wanted Trent to have this power, to be the best, to achieve the one thing he would always be remembered for: the destruction of the Power Rangers.

Somewhere, in the back of his mind, a voice told him that wasn’t what his father meant. He blocked it out. “Well, it’s too late for that now, isn’t it?”

His father slumped back, looking defeated. Trent walked away.

--

Trent fiddled with his newly-good Dino Gem, trying not to look too nervous. He was aware of Dr. Oliver sitting on the other side of the Power Ranger’s headquarters, working at some computer screens, but probably still completely aware of every move Trent made.

His dad’s words echoed in his mind: “use your powers for something good. Go and help the other rangers.” Easy to say, but Trent doubted they’d want his help. How could he ever feel comfortable around them again, after all he’d done? How could they ever trust him?

It hadn’t been his fault. Maybe he could have fought it harder, but . . . how could he have known? Bracelets with white gems did not just go around wrapping themselves around peoples’ wrists and turning them evil!

That’s what he told himself, anyway.

“Trent?”

Trent jumped at Dr. Oliver’s voice, spinning round to face him. “Yes?”

“The others are just arriving. I thought you’d want to know. They’ll be down in a few minutes.”

Trent nodded, trying to look composed.

“Trent . . . are you alright?”

“Dr. Oliver, it wasn’t my fault, was it? What happened?”

“Of course not!” To his relief, Dr. Oliver sounded surprised at the idea. “What makes you think that?”

“I just feel like I should have fought it harder. Or told someone. But I didn’t know who.”

Dr. O shook his head. “Trent, from the moment the Dino Gem bonded to you, its evil started to influence you. Anything you did after that point was tainted by it. You tried, yes, but what happened was inevitable.”

“But if I’d told . . .”

“Who? Your father? Mesogog would have captured you before you know what had happened. And you didn’t know who we were— not until it was too late.”

Dr. Oliver sounded sure. Trent looked away, back to his Dino Gem.

The others would arrive soon. Conner would.

--

“I still don’t get what Trent was doing,” Conner repeated.

Ethan practically groaned. “Conner, we get it. You don’t trust Trent, you think it’s another trap. But do you have to keep telling us?”

“I just . . . think it’s important, that’s all. It might be a sign that he and Mesogog are fighting.”

“That’d be good,” said Kira. “We can just sit back and watch.”

They approached the skeleton, and the doorway into the lab. “We should be freaked he’s got Super Dino Mode,” Conner said. “He could beat us in Super Dino Mode without it, so imagine what he’ll be able to do with it?”

“No thanks,” muttered Kira.

Ethan just rolled his eyes and reached out to pull down the dinosaur jaw. “Anyone know why Dr. Oliver wanted us to meet him here?”

“He said something about a big surprise,” said Kira.

The doors rumbled open. Conner wasn’t paying much attention, not expecting anything special.

Then he saw Trent.

“Hey, guys.”

Conner fell into a fighting stance automatically, Kira and Ethan doing the same. Trent, here? In the Dino Lab? He searched for signs of struggle, signs Trent had forced his way in, but found none.

Of course, it wasn’t like the lab was exactly difficult to get into. Through the unlocked door, down the unguarded hidden staircase . . .

“Hold on!” Trent held up his hands, backing away slightly.

“How did you get in here?” Conner demanded.

Movement in the corner made him look, to see Dr. O sitting calmly in his chair, as if one of their main enemies wasn’t just standing in the middle of the lab.

“I let him in,” said Dr. O.

“What?” Had Dr. O gone evil too? No, that was ridiculous. And neither of them were attacking.

Ethan and Kira had already started to walk over to Dr. O. Conner followed them, watching closely as Dr. O stood up to meet them. He didn’t seem to be moving any differently, but through the helmet Conner couldn’t see his face.

Another thing to blame Trent for.

“But he’s—”

Dr. O cut him off. “On our side now.”

Kira wandered away, circling round to stand behind Trent. Conner approved. Good to have him surrounded.

“Yeah, right,” said Ethan. “Every time we hear that he burns us. Why should we believe him now?”

“Because he saved my life.”

Okay. That was possibly a good reason. Why would Trent save a Power Ranger? There was no way that would please Mesogog—especially if the Power Ranger in question was Dr. O.

“Is that true?” he asked Trent.

“Yeah. I’m in control of the Dino Gem now. I want to use it to fight with you.”

Well, wasn’t that nice.

From behind him, Dr. O said, “I wouldn’t have brought him here if I didn’t think he was telling the truth. But only you can decide whether or not you trust him.”

Except Dr. O would be disappointed if he didn’t.

“Well, if Dr. O’s down with it, then I guess I’m on board too.” Worryingly, Ethan sounded like he meant it. Wasn’t enthusiastic about it, but meant it.

All eyes turned to Conner. He could practically feel Dr. O’s gaze boring into the back of his neck, visor or no visor. He didn’t trust Trent. But Dr. O wanted him to say he did, and . . .

Well, having Trent kill the monsters would be nicer than having Trent kill them. “Yeah, I guess we got no choice. Considering I’m kind of tired of fighting you.”

From Trent’s expression, he knew that Conner didn’t like him, didn’t trust him, didn’t even want to know him. But he just turned away, looking at Kira. She stared at the ground, hair hiding her face. She wouldn’t say she trusted Trent just because Dr. O wanted her too. Conner held onto a shred of hope that she would still say no.

Trent seemed to guess she was the one to convince. He walked towards her, and said, “Look, I know I got a lot to make up for. But I promise, this time I won’t let you down.”

She looked up, and to Conner’s dismay, she was smiling. Figured. “Well,” she said. “I guess everyone deserves one last chance.”

Her smile changed, becoming teasing. “But isn’t there a rule that says newbie rangers have to wash all the zords?”

Conner grinned, not wanting to, but unable to help it. Making Trent was all the zords would be good punishment . . . completely impossible, but good punishment.

“Hey, I forgot about that rule!” said Ethan.

“The zords?” From Trent’s tone, he wasn’t entirely sure if they were teasing. “But they’re gigantic!”

Ethan grabbed one of the buckets they’d been using earlier that day to clean the Raptor Cycles and handed it to Trent. Conner stuck some more cleaning equipment on top. “Yeah, they are,” he said, knowing he sounded a little more serious about it than Ethan and Kira. “So, uh . . . better get started.”

--

“It’s just . . . do you think he’ll ever trust me again?”

Kira sighed, wondering when she’d become the official relationship counsellor for Conner and Trent. Conner had already left, unwilling to pretend he was friendly to Trent. Ethan had gone with him, needing a lift home.

Before he had gone, Conner had taken a good few minutes to hiss at her about saying she trusted Trent. Why it was her fault, she had no idea—he could have said he didn’t want Trent on the team, and Dr. O would have listened. But Conner-logic wasn’t always her strongest point, especially when the logic involved Trent.

“Look, I don’t know,” she said. “I really don’t. I mean, my advice? Find somebody better. Because Conner is . . . well, I don’t know.” Which made no sense, but that suited her life at the minute.

Trent looked frustrated. “He trusted me before,” he said sadly. “When I tricked him.”

Leading to days of Conner snapping at anyone who breathed at him wrong. “Yeah. I wouldn’t really remind him of that.”

“I’m not going to.”

“Probably best.”

Trent sighed. Kira waited patiently for the next question. “Do you think he still likes me?” he asked eventually.

Kira paused, trying to figure out how to define ‘like’. She was fairly sure Conner would be quite happy if he never saw Trent again and could forget about him completely. So in that sense, no.

But he did tend to be a bit obsessed with Trent. Sure, he’d calmed down recently, but . . . Conner wasn’t the type to get angry. And he was furious over Trent.

“I don’t know.”

Trent’s face suggested she wasn’t being helpful. “How do you think I should act? I mean . . . should I apologise?”

“It couldn’t hurt.” Unless Conner punched him. Although, that might make Conner feel better . . .  “Just treat him like normal. Ignore him when he’s being a jerk.”

“Do you think that’ll work?”

“Look, Trent, I know this is really hard for you, but . . . you’ve only just turned good again. Give Conner a bit of time.” She smiled, trying to joke. Somebody needed to lighten the atmosphere. “He sometimes takes a while to get things.”