Please enter your name.

You shake your head as the AI requests a standard identity check. It seems an unnecessary and overly secure precaution for a ship with biometric sensors and a sensitivity to Power. You choose a movie star at random and enter their name instead.

The cursor blinks at you for a moment. Then words appear with deliberate slowness on the little screen: Your real name, Smart Alec.

You smirk as you comply, and the airlock rolls open.

"Smart Alec yourself," you tell DECA as you step through. "What did you need my ID for anyway? You knew who it was."

"Standard procedure requires Rangers to declare themselves before boarding," DECA replies primly. "My scanners are not infallible."

"First I've heard of it," you retort. "Since when do you have a humility subroutine?"

The Megaship's AI does not deign to answer. "The others are waiting in the Ready Room," she informs you. "Although it is too late for punctuality, you might display some semblance of alacrity in joining them."

You roll your eyes but head for the Ready Room anyway. The rest of the Astro team has assembled on the Megaship Mark II at the insistence of its leader. Or at least, Andros was the one that contacted you, and you assume that he brought the others here for the same undisclosed reason.

The leader in question is lounging against the "mission status" panel at the back of the room when you wander in. He's watching TJ and Carlos play a somewhat disturbing version of "rock, paper, scissors," but he glances over at the door as soon as it opens. As soon as he looks away, TJ exclaims, "Bug queen crushes Galaxy Rangers!"

Catching Andros' eye, you grin. "I'm not sure Leo would appreciate that, Teej."

"They destroyed our ship," Carlos points out. "They can't think we're just going to let that go."

Ashley doesn't move, careful not to sabotage the intricate braid Zhane is putting in her hair, but she manages to convey her indignation nonetheless. "Like you never blew up a zord in your life!

"Hey, you," she adds, almost as an afterthought.

"Hi." You eye her for a moment. It's tempting to ask where Zhane learned how to do that, but you're afraid you already know. "I'd have been here sooner, but outbound traffic in the Sol system is a nightmare these days."

Cassie puts one foot on the table and rocks back in her chair, leaning precariously toward the console behind her. "Tell me about it," she agrees. "You think it's hard for you! I have dual citizenship and Ranger clearance, and I still get stuck waiting for the Pluto shuttle."

"DECA destroys the bug queen," Carlos tells TJ.

"Best three out of five?" TJ offers hopefully.

"As official as this looks," you remark, dropping into the chair across from Cassie, "are we here for a reason?"

"Actually, there are a few things you should know." Andros is frowning slightly, but his expression is otherwise neutral. "One, this wasn't my idea."

That should have been enough to tip you off right there, but he's so good at that worried look.

"Two," Andros continues, "it was going to be whoever got here last, so it's not like we singled you out."

"Three," Zhane adds, retrieving something from under the table. "Andros vetoed the water balloons."

It isn't quite enough warning for you to duck, though you manage to avoid the worst of the barrage. They have good enough aim that just getting out of the way means the last four missiles miss you. Under cover of the chair you dive after them, catching the little spheres of glitter before they can disintegrate.

By the time you stick your head up over the edge of the table the prank has degenerated into a free for all, and there's plenty of distraction while you identify the two that did actually peg you. The air is already full of glitter and protests as the others scramble to outmaneuver each other, and you have no trouble nailing Zhane in the melee. A glitter sphere bursts in your face while you pay Andros back for his aim, and your plan of attack dissolves into utter improvisation as the rainbow sparkles fly.