The next morning, we woke up. While Bea, T.J., Lucas, Cheryl, Will and I got ready to leave, the other Rangers picked out their rooms. The two nights we had all stayed there, we all slept on the floor in the living room. The others were going to stay here, while Will and I went to stay with Bea.

“We’ll come back in a few days,” Lucas said, “Luckily, my dad and I always keep this place pretty well stocked with food and drinks.” While we were waiting for Lucas’s mom, our watches chirped. Lucas hit his communications button. “We read you, S-1. What’s up?”

“Cybersquad members, new and old,” Samurai-1 said, “With our new friends come new allies. They, and Will and Feril now, will be put on standby status. Tom, you will be Lightning Rod. Kat, CyberStrike. Shawn, MicroForce. Ashley, VirtualFire.”

“Cool,” Lucas said, “Let’s get them their wrist computers and stuff, so that they can go places when they want to.”

“Right,” Samurai-1 said, “Just digitize, and I’ll pull them in with you.”

“Right,” Lucas said, “Ready, Rangers?” Tom and the others nodded. We all hit our main keys. “Uplink: Servo.”

“Uplink: Spryte.”

“Uplink: Tinkerer.”

“Uplink: ‘Smith.”

“Uplink: Dataflood.”

“Uplink: Spider.” We digitized and Tom, Kat, Shawn, and Ashley digitized with us. Tom was in all white armor, while Kat’s was pink and white, Shawn’s was gold, Ashley was red and gold.

“And now, we go back,” Lucas said.

“Download.” We spiraled back to reality and ended up back in the cabin. Tom and the others eyed their wrist computers while we explained just about everything there was to know about the cyber powers.

“So, we’ll call you when we really need help,” Lucas said, “That way, you don’t really have to worry and relax. This is your vacation away from the world and constant war I set you up with. But, if we do need you, will you be ready to come into cyberspace at most times of the day, except for late at night?”

“You know it,” Tom said, “Any time you need us, we’ll be right here.”

“I’ll come over later, or in a day or two,” T.J. said, “I can draw you up some weapons and stuff.”

“Awesome,” Tom said, “We’ll do that. Thanks, T.J.” Lucas was smiling.

“What is it, Lucas?” I inquired, “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,” he said, “Never mind.” If ever there was a time I was the most sorely tempted to read someone’s mind, now was the time.

A horn honking suddenly cut into my train of thought. We all looked out the window to see miss Poole sitting in the car in the driveway.

“Shoot,” Lucas said, “I forgot that she said that she was going to have to be early, because she didn’t want to miss too much yard selling.”

Tom chuckled. “You are as bad as me, man,” he said teasingly, “Maybe even worse.”

“Hope you don’t mind my saying so,” Lucas said, “But I’m not nearly as bad as your grandfather. That’s the way the show portrayed him, at least.”

Tom laughed. “That’s probably true,” he said. He extended his hand. “Thanks for letting us stay here, Lucas.”

Lucas took it. “You’re very welcome,” he said, “It’s the least I could do, after all the hell I’ve put you guys through, from Kat’s stepfather and the shadow wight taking her over to what happened before you left your timeline and getting you marooned here in the first place.”

“We don’t blame you,” Tom said, “You’re just a good writer. You’d have to be, to make up all of the adventures we’ve been through.”

“Thanks, Tom,” Lucas said, “That means a lot to me, coming from you. More than you’ll probably ever know.”

“You’re welcome,” Tom said.

“Well,” Kat said, “Bye guys.”

“Bye Kat,” I said, giving her a hug. The next person Kat went over to was Lucas. She gave him a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. He turned a bright red. The rest of us quickly hugged and shook hands. When that was done, we went out, to find Lucas’s mom shouting for us.

“Sorry mom,” Lucas said, as we quickly put our bags in the car. It didn’t take too long to do so, and we were on our way off, waving to Tom and the others the whole way down the driveway.

“Hey Lucas,” I said, “You sure were embarrassed enough when Kat gave you that hug and kiss. In fact...” He was still blushing. “You still are."

He quickly tried to cover up that he was blushing. His cheeks finally turned to their normal color a few minutes later. His mom dropped us all off at Bea’s.

“That mother of mine,” Lucas said, “I think I’m going to go over to my house. Through cyberspace as usual. Anyone want to come with me?”

“I’ve got to get home myself,” T.J. said, “See you guys.” He hit his main button. “Uplink: ‘Smith.” He digitized.

“I think I’ll go,” Will said, “I’d like to read some more of those fanfics, and maybe get some insight on just how S-1 works. That is, if you don’t mind Lucas.”

“No problem,” Lucas said, “Feril? Bea?” We both shook our heads. Lucas and Will hit their main keys. “Uplink: Servo.”

“Uplink: Dataflood.” They digitized and went to Lucas’s house. I turned to Bea and we gabbed on into the day.

“Come on Lucas,” Will said, “Standby status? I mean, don’t Feril and I deserve active duty?”

“We’re just trying to make your stay here as enjoyable as possible,” Lucas said, “If you really want to, you will be put on active duty. I was just trying to give you a vacation here, until your other friends get here and you all find a way back to your own timeline.”

“Make that two.” Will and Lucas both jumped as Bea and I entered the room through the door. “I won’t be put on standby.

“All right,” Lucas said, “S-1, take Will and Feril from standby to active duty.”

“Done,” Samurai-1 said, “Though this is the limit on who you can send into cyberspace at one time. The others will have to stay on standby status.”

“Right,” I said, “As long as Feril and I are in on the action.”

All of a sudden, a yellow and black vortex appeared. Two people step out of it. "Tanya, Adam,” I exclaimed, running forward to hug them both.

“And now,” Lucas said, “There’s only one left that isn’t here. Nice to meet you, Adam Park, Tanya Campbell.” We launched into the complicated explanation, which Adam and Tanya didn’t have any problem believing.

“And now,” Samurai-1 said, “For our last standby members. Adam Park, you will be given the team designation Meteox. Tanya Campbell, you will be given the team designation CyberBurst.”

“Let’s go,” Lucas said, “Since T.J. and Cheryl aren’t here, we can go on into cyberspace, with you two in tow. Ready?” Adam and Tanya both nodded. “This isn’t exactly something you’ll get used to, even on active duty.” We hit the main keys on our wrist computers. “Uplink: Servo.”

“Uplink: Spryte.”

“Uplink: Dataflood.”

“Uplink: Spider.” We digitized and Tanya and Adam was pulled into cyberspace with us. Adam had pure black armor and Tanya had yellow one.

“Now, back to reality,” Lucas said, “Download.” We spiraled back to reality and found ourselves at Lucas’s house. We explained the wrist computer and everything to Tanya and Adam.

“Now,” Lucas said, “Tom, Kat, Shawn, and Ashley are staying at a cabin of mine. Do you want to go join them.” Tanya and Adam nodded. “S-1, open a tube to the line running into the cabin. Also, call T.J. We’ll need him to get the weapons drawn.”

“Done.” Samurai-1 said, “He said that he’ll go now, and meet you there.”

“Right. Now, anyone want to stay here?”

“I guess I will,” Bea said, “Or actually, I’ll cyber surf home and stay there.”

“Right,” Lucas said. He gave Bea a quick kiss and she hit her main key.

“Uplink: Spryte.” She digitized.

A few minutes passed. “Bea is at her house,” Samurai-1 said, “And T.J. is at the cabin with plenty of drawing paper.”

“Right,” Lucas said, “Ready?” Will, Tanya, Adam, and I all nodded. Lucas hit his main key, along with the rest of us. “Uplink: Servo.”

“Uplink: Dataflood.”

“Uplink: Spider.”

“Uplink: Meteox.”

“Uplink: Cyberburst.” We digitized.

“Download.” We spiraled back to reality and found ourselves at the cabin. T.J. was on the floor, hard at work, drawing weapons.

Tom and the other Rangers rushed forward to give Adam and Tanya hugs and handshakes.

“I take it this is Adam and Tanya,” T.J. said, “Well, tell me what kind of weapons would you like, and I’ll draw them.”

“Ax that can turn into a blaster,” Adam said.

“Sword,” Tanya said, “No, a blaster that can also be converted into a short sword. I was always more comfortable with the zone blaster than my weapon.”

“Right,” T.J. said. Within just a few minutes, he had the weapons drawn and was showing them off. “Tom has a whip. That was easy enough. Kat has a bow and arrow set. Shawn, a hammer with a blade on the end that can also absorb energy directed at him and then channel it back. Ashley chose a drawing I had already made, wrist mounted star guns.

“All right,” Lucas said, “I’ll get Bea and Cheryl to do their thing with your weapon, Ashley, though it will probably take a few days, and I’ll scan the others. I’m going to my house, but I’ll be right back, okay?”

“Go ahead,” Tom said. Lucas hit his main button.

“Uplink: Servo.” He digitized. Just when he was about to download, he was attacked by a bunch of gigamites.

Mineand Will’s watches chirped. “Active duty calls,” I said. I hit my communications button. “Go ahead, S-1.”

“Gigamites are attacking Servo,” Samurai-1 said, “They must be feeling particularly full of themselves, because it’s in the main cyberspace ‘room.’”

“Right,” I said, “We’re on it. Call the others and tell them to meet us there. See you later, guys.” Tom and the others waved and Will and I hit our main keys. “Uplink: Spider.”

“Uplink: Dataflood.” We digitized and flew into the main ‘room.’ There, we saw Servo get tossed away and land hard on his left leg. He cried out in pain.

Spryte, Tinkerer, and ‘Smith appeared a minute later. “Spryte,” I said, “You and I will get Servo out of here. Tinkerer, Dataflood, ‘Smith, you take care of the gigamites.” The others nodded, even though ‘Smith was the official second in command. They set to their tasks. Spryte and I ran over to Servo.”

“Are you okay?” I asked him, “Can you stand, Servo?”

“No,” he said, “I think I broke my leg.”

“All right,” I said, “I’ll get Servo out of here and take him home. You help the others, all right?” Spryte nodded reluctantly and threw herself at the gigamites. I picked Servo up as gently as I could, but he still groaned. “Get ready to say download, Servo.”

“Download.” We spiraled out and ended up in Lucas’s room.

“Come on,” I said, “We’ve got to get you where it’d look more convincing that you broke your leg somewhere here in reality.”

“There’s a ladder in the garage,” Lucas said weakly, “We could put it where it’s tipped over and I could lay right near the top of it. It would look like I had fallen and broken my leg from the impact. My mom will have an ambulance come immediately and I’ll go to the hospital.”

We set out to do just that. I went back into cyberspace to help clean up with the gigamites. “How is he?” Spryte asked when we were done.

“We found a way to convince his parents that it was an accident,” I said, “I made it look like he had broken his leg falling off a ladder.”

“Let’s get back,” Spryte said, sounding like she was worried to death.

“Download.” Will, Bea, and I spiraled to Bea’s, while T.J. and Cheryl went to their houses. Once there, the phone rang. It was Lucas’s mom, telling us about what happened. She came and picked each and every one of us up and took us to the hospital.

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