Hayley directed him to the forest, where he found the others standing in a huddle, all demorphed after being defeated in their zords. His eyes went first to Conner, and the rush of relief he felt at seeing the other boy unhurt cleaned out any remaining anger he might have felt. Ethan saw him first, spinning to face him. “Look!”

The others stepped forwards as well, faces showing a mixture of fear and hope. Kira muttered something to the others he didn’t hear, then called, “Trent?”

He couldn’t see any monsters about that would require him to stay in morph, so he pressed his morpher and said, “Power down.” And, at the open relief on their faces, couldn’t resist adding, “Who were you guys expecting?”

And when Conner ran forwards, stretching out a hand for Trent to grasp, he couldn’t have preventing himself smiling. Conner met his eyes for a moment, and Trent tried to convey, ‘I’m sorry’. But the others crowded round, and he couldn’t say anything out loud.

“Good timing, Trent,” said Dr. O, as Trent regretfully released Conner’s fingers. “You guys ready to do this?” He didn’t need to explain what he meant.

“Ready?” called Conner.

And this time, Trent didn’t wait to morph separately. When the others called out, “Dino Thunder, power up!” he yelled it with them.

----

The monster hit the ground, but Trent could see it wasn’t seriously hurt. What was it going to take to beat this thing? If they didn’t think of something, they’d all end up demorphed and staring up at it once more.

He remembered Conner complaining that at the hospital, the rest of them had just stood and waited for Conner to think of something. Well, Trent hoped he had an idea this time—because Trent was racking his brains and didn’t have a clue.

Like thinking of Conner made it happen, his communicator bleeped. “Trent,” came Conner’s voice. “Listen. The only way we’re going to be able to defeat this guy is if we use all the Dino Zords together. Including the Drago Zord.”

Trent didn’t know if that was even possible, but . . . “Sounds like a plan.”

“The Mesodon’s online. Think you can control a Dino Stegazord?”

Like he was going to say ‘no’ when Conner asked like that. “All over it.”

“Alright! Dr. O?”

Trent heard Dr. O’s voice, relayed through Conner’s communicator. “I’m on my way!”

As Trent watched, Dr. O took control of the Stegazord, preparing it for whatever Conner had in mind. And when he heard Conner call, “Combining now,” he suddenly knew what to do.

He flew the Drago zord into the back of the Megazord, the two machines docking together like they’d done this a thousand times before. The Megazord leapt into the air, coming to land on the Stegazord. As it did, Trent’s cockpit shimmered, and he found himself moving.

At the same time, he was aware of the Mesodon approaching, somehow joining with the Megazord to create something new and powerful. When the confusion ended, he found himself in a new cockpit, standing behind Ethan, Conner and Kira, Dr. O to his right.

“Thundersaurus Megazord!”

“Hey,” said Kira, looking round. “I didn’t think we could fit so many people in here.”

“Yeah,” said Dr. O. “Pretty cozy.”

One word for it. ‘Cramped’ would be another. But Trent didn’t care. “Now let’s give him everything we’ve got.”

“Right!”

----

There weren’t enough customers that Hayley needed his help, Kira and Ethan were busy elsewhere, no monsters were looming on the horizon, and Conner was slumped next to him. In Trent’s book, that meant things were pretty good.

“It was a good call, you know,” he said. “I’d never have thought of combining all the zords.”

“We’re just lucky it worked,” said Conner, giving him a smile. “And, hey, it shows that we need you, right?”

For a moment, Trent didn’t get what he was talking about.

And then he remembered his ‘confession’ to Dr. O. He turned away, trying not to wince. Conner still felt concerned over that? “I know you guys need me. Really.” He gave Conner a nudge, trying to lighten the situation. “You’d have been so dead back there if it wasn’t for me.”

“Whatever, dude. But, seriously—you do know that what you said was rubbish, right? I mean, you defeated your clone, and we wouldn’t have been able to destroy that monster without you.”

Trent tried to smile, but the guilt he was feeling made it hard. Why did Conner have to care so much? Why couldn’t he just forget what Trent had said, instead of worrying about it?

Trent supposed that if he’d really felt how he’d said, he’d have found Conner comforting. As it had all been lies . . .

“Conner, really. I’m fine. And thank you for being so forgiving, after how I acted.”

“I figure I owe you some for the amount of times you’ve forgiven me for being a jerk.” His grin turned teasing. “But if you really want to make it up to me, you can go and get me a smoothie.”

Normally, Trent would have told Conner exactly what he thought of that idea. Now, he felt like he’d use any excuse to escape. “One smoothie, coming up,” he promised. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

Maybe he should tell Conner, he thought, walking towards the bar. Conner might understand. Even if he insisted on telling Dr. O . . . would it really be so bad? They might find a way to beat Mesogog, or at least drive in out of his dad’s body.

Sure, it would mean breaking a promise to his dad, but . . . maybe it would be for the best?

He almost stopped dead when he saw his dad just walking through the doors of the cyberspace. “Dad! You’re here?” The last time his dad had shown up at the cyberspace, it had not been good.

But this time, his dad didn’t look like trying to do any take-overs. “Hey, Trent. Yeah, look, um . . . I just wanted to stop by and see how you’re doing.”

He leaned against the bar, and Trent saw that in one hand he was holding his Greenleaf award. “And,” his dad continued. “I wanted to, um,” he placed the award on the bar. “To give you this.”

Trent didn’t get it. His dad wanted to give it to him? Why? “Your Greenleaf award? But you earned this!”

His dad smiled slightly, before looking away. “I know. I know. Look, it would mean a lot to me if you would take it. I mean, heaven knows, you do a lot more to help people than I do.”

The expression on his face made Trent forget any thought he had of breaking his promise. He couldn’t betray his dad. Just couldn’t. “Look, dad, I know you’re going to find a way to beat this.” He had to. “You just hang in there.”

His dad smiled, and walked away. Kira approached as Trent watched him go. “Hey,” she said. “Your dad looked kind of stressed.”

It took less effort to lie to Kira than it did to Conner. “Yeah. He’s just working on this special project.”

She smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. “He’s a smart guy. He’ll work it out.”

“Yeah,” he said. “I hope so.”

Hayley finished with a customer she’d been serving, approaching him with a smile. “I should just tell you to get it yourself,” she said. “What do you want? And . . . isn’t that your dad’s Greenleaf award?”

“Yeah. He wanted me to have it. Um, could I get a smoothie?” He paused, looking at the award. “And a muffin as well.”

Baked goods didn’t exactly make up for lying to someone, but Trent figured he needed to do everything he could if this was ever going to be okay.

----

Conner leaned back against his pillow, studying the boy lying next to him while playing with the controller in his hands. He’d now won five games of Tekken in a row, which was a fairly clear sign Trent wasn’t paying much attention. “Trent?”

Trent looked up, the distracted look he’d been wearing so often recently disappearing. “Yeah?”

“Are you alright?” When Trent frowned, Conner added, “’Cause recently you just seem kind of . . . I don’t know. Distracted. Worried. Is it about the whole ranger thing?”

Trent shook his head, looking away again. “No. Really, Conner, just forget about it. I’m fine now.”

He didn’t look fine. He wasn’t acting fine. And if he wouldn’t talk to Conner . . . well, maybe Conner could still distract him. “Hey,” he said, reaching out to touch Trent’s shoulder. “You want to make out?”

Trent snorted with laughter, which was at least better than him looking depressed. “You are so romantic, you know that?”

“Well, recently we’ve been mad at each other, and it’s all been—”

“Shut up.” And just to make certain he did, Trent kissed him. Conner responded happily, because maybe this would finally break Trent out of whatever mood he’d been in. He curled one hand around the back of Trent’s neck, feeling soft hair brush his fingers. The sensation made him shiver; and made Trent slip his arms around Conner’s waist, pulling him closer.

Which was fine, except that they’d been playing Play station whilst sitting on the bed. And that hadn’t been a big deal before, and neither had being this close to Trent been a big deal before, but for some reason combining the two . . .

Stop it, he told himself. He was cheering Trent up. There was no reason for him to start freaking out.

And it did feel good. He let himself slump into the pillows, dragging Trent down with him till they lay beside each other. He twisted his legs up, curling his feet around Trent’s calves till they lay entwined. The little voice in his mind was still freaking out, but it became harder to hear when Trent ran his hand over Conner’s chest.

Except then Trent arched slightly, bringing his hips into contact with Conner’s. Conner pulled away instinctively from the hardness he felt there. Trent tensed, his eyes opening as he ducked back.

Conner counted to ten to avoid yelling at himself. Then realized that Trent was starting to look worried, and that he better say something.

Trent got there first. “Sorry,” he muttered, untangling his legs from Conner’s, and generally looking embarrassed. He hesitated, as if about to say something else, but bit his lip instead.

It made Conner want to kiss him again.

So he did. Or tried to, anyway, because first Trent tried to pull away, but changed his mind half-way through by which time Conner had started to apologize, and as kisses went it wasn’t the most successful Conner had ever experienced. But Trent just laughed, tongue flicking out over his lower lip, and Conner was starting to realize that he spent too much time watching Trent’s mouth.

Never mind. It was a good thing to watch.

“Conner?” Trent looked embarrassed, but the amusement caused by their almost-kiss still colored his voice. “Are we still making out, or . . .”

They were lying a few inches apart, on a bed, Trent was obviously turned on and Conner had been too, except at some point that had disappeared. Probably around the time a little voice in his head had started screaming ‘gay! gay! gay!’, ruining something Conner would have been quite happy to see continue.

Except he knew that trying to explain to Trent would likely lead to Trent misunderstanding him completely, thus starting a huge argument in which Trent would end up hurt and offended, because Conner just didn’t have the words to explain things like that.

Conner shoved Trent, knocking him off the bed onto the floor.

“Ow!”

Possibly, thought Conner, it hadn’t been the most reasoned response. But at least he hadn’t had to try talking about it.

--