The Connors were still taking care of Derek. "Is he, uh, gonna stay here or what?" John asked, fiddling with his fingers and uncertain about the answer even as he asked the question."

"Let's see if he lives first," Sarah offered as the front door opened and Cameron walked in wearing an oversized uniform that bunched and folded in awkward places. "And somewhere in the city, a naked cop bleeds in an alley." John turned back to his cereal, poorly hiding a grin.

"The hand," Cameron said, holding out a sheet of paper to Sarah who took it and read it over. "I couldn't acquire it."

"Why not?" Sarah asked, looking to her for the answer as she still held the page.

"The FBI has it," Cameron answered and Sarah turned to the two of them before she could finish speaking.

"You two are playing hooky today," she said, gesturing between them.

"Today?" John asked, as if horrified by the idea. "No, I can't miss class today, mom."

"Neither can I." Bella said

"Well, we have to find the hand," Sarah countered, touching her own to the surface of the island and spreading her fingers. "Destroy it. No loose ends. Cyberdyne builds Skynet ..."

"With the chip, remember?" John finished for her with his own answer, his hair falling into his eyes and barely hiding the roll in them.

"And the hand," Sarah said, trying to smile at his stubbornness and coming off more than hard.

"Look, the feds have it now, mom," John said, standing up to gather his bag and books while leaving his empty bowl unattended. "I can't help. Besides, absent gets us on their radar." The spoon clinked as he passed it before going around her, slinging his bag over his shoulder as his feet continued their angry step to and out the door.

"I can play hooky," Cameron told her.

"Find Dmitri," she advised, leaning back on the edge and curling her fingers around it. "Derek says he has a sister that teaches ballet. Start with her. Low profile, no guns."

Cameron nodded, taking the order and starting to walk away with her police issued boots echoing in the hall.

"You might want to change first," Sarah called after her.

~Later~

John, Bella and Derek were talking about Cameron. "Yeah, Cameron. What a joke. Walking around like a person. It's not a person," he angrily whispered. "You don't know her. I can hear her thoughts you know." Bella said.

"How?" John asked.

"When I got upgraded into a hybrid, it gave me special abilities." Bella said.

"Cool." John said.

"What's going on?" Sarah asked.

"You're making a mistake, the machine has to go."

"This morning you had me sending her out to do our dirty work," Sarah reminded him, standing close so despite the difference in size she seemed to tower over him.
"Dirty work is all they're good for," he burst out, his skin now almost sallow and sweat dotting the base of his neck. "Don't let yourself think that you can train them like a pet, because it'll be the last thing you ever think."

"You should be resting." Sarah said as they left.

Bella was dreaming, no, more like having a nightmare that night.

~Dream~

Where am I? She asked herself. She spun and saw two Dillons and realized she was in his dream when she heard something click on the metal floor.

'A walking stick? Someone was probably blind in Dillon's past.' Reaching out to the girl, she failed. "Ah, ah, ah," the girl grunted.

"Tenaya?" Bella asked, recognizing her as she saw Dillon fighting through the Grinders, trying to reach Tenaya, shouting out "No! Stop!"

He reached her, grabbing onto one of her hands, trying to pull her up but... Tenaya fell.

He grunted as Grinders apprehended him, "Master shall I initiate the upload on subject D44?" An antenna like bot asked.

"Of course, take his memories." Venjix said.

"No!" He shouted. "No!"

~Dream End~

She jolted up in code sweat.

Walking out and down towards the garage, Dr. K was talking. She stopped in front of Dillon who seemed to be in the same situation as her.

His eyes asked 'you too?' She nodded and both walked down to join the others.

"Rangers, I am picking up a transmission from within the city that is designed to momentarily cause shield energy disruptions," Dr. K explained quickly as the Rangers prepared themselves for battle. "But there's another signal heading south by southwest through the sewer corridor."

"The sewer?" Flynn repeated. "Of course. What fun."

"Its target must be the city central dam. If we cut across the aqueduct, we can beat it there." Scott deducted.

"And I'll try to track the source of the energy disruption," said Dr.K

While the others climbed into the respective vehicles, Ziggy claiming the passenger side of Dillon's car as his own, Summer caught the black Ranger by the arm as he passed her. She couldn't help but notice his disheveled look.

"Hey, sleep well?" Summer asked.

"Like a baby," Dillon replied sarcastically, not thinking twice.

Bella was mounting her new motorcycle while listening to their conversation.

"Any dreams?" She asked

"You know, start a rock-'n'-roll band..." He started, getting into the car, and Summer walked away from him. "...tour the world."

Dillon caught Bella looking at him, and lifted an eyebrow. "What?"

"Are you okay?" She asked, unable to hide the concern in her voice. "You can trust me, you know?"

"I know." Was all he said in return.

Tires screeched as the three cars, two Bikes peeled out of the garage, leaving Dr. K alone to monitor the Rangers from the lab.

~Battle~

"RPM, Get in gear!" They called morphing.

Racing straight into battle, the Rangers each paired off to deal with the new threat. This attack Bot was no freakier than usual and was equipped with the usual army of Grinders.

Bella ducked under an attack and rolled over as a Grinder slashed down at her while she was on the floor; using her arms to protect herself, then kicked the foot soldier in the stomach, sending it flying behind her.

"come one is that all you got?" Scott asked, tauntingly.

"They never give up, do they?" Summer asked continuing fighting.

"Time out, time out, a little stuck here," Ziggy said. Unsurprisingly, the Grinders did give him a time out, "ok, let's go."

"Take a load off," commented Dillon, throwing the Grinder over a car.

Ranger Red engaged in a fight with the Attack Bot.

"I'm going in!" Scott announced.

"Right with ya!" Flynn agreed. Bella would also agree and join them if possible, but right now she was dealing with the excess Grinders along with Dillon and Ziggy.

Once the three rangers that were dealing with the Grinders were done, they joined together preparing for the Bot. Both men had their Nitro Saber's while the female had the Nitro Blaster out.

"Shall we?" Ziggy asked, holding his Nitro Sword over his shoulders.

"No us but," Bella trailed off so Dillon could catch up.

"Ziggy, you could sure use a bath," Bella and Dillon charged.

"Huh?" Ziggy sounded mildly offended.

Bella was mostly throwing kicks and punches, but when the Bot held onto Dillon's sword, she blasted him sending him stumbling back. Dillon swung Ziggy in a circle twice hitting the Bot. Bella shot her blaster in the same place as Ziggy slashed would cause more damage, and that was what she did. Once she blasted she joined her teammates.

Bad idea.

The Bot shot out water knocking the three of them onto the floor.

Rolling in Summer said "Zip charger," rolling her secondary weapon up her arm and then letting it zoom along the floor at the attack Bot. The attack Bot growled and fired at Summer, knocking her off of her feet.

Scott stood and stepped in front of them summoning his Saber, "Street Saber strike!" he rushed at the attack Bot, but before he could land a direct hit, he was blasted backward onto the ground.

They were all joined together so the Bot opened fire and knocked all six of them down. The Rangers groaned as they recovered from the third attack.

"OK. Now, this is getting kind of humiliating," Ziggy said, pushing himself to his hands and knees.

"Y'think?" Bella asked sarcastically.

"Rangers, make an offensive maneuver," Dr. K called over the comms links in each Ranger helmet. "Wishbone alpha."

Flynn stood up and shouted, "ah, the wishbone!" Flynn grinned, cracking his knuckles. "One of my favorites." Jumping over his friends, Flynn rushed at the monster and activated his time freeze attack. The monster froze while Flynn attacked him, and when time resumed its normal course, the attack Bot exploded.

"RPM, ENFORCER!" Flynn shouted.

Together the five rangers combined their weapons to create the enforcer.

"Engine cell, activate," said Flynn, inserting his engine cell into the side of the giant weapon. "Fire!"

A beam of light hit the Attack Bot and he exploded.

Then there was another Bot. Groaning in annoyance, she turned around and headed off to the location Dr. K sent her.

Diking into the woods, she stopped her bike and ran towards her teammates. Fly kicking the Bot's back.

"Why can't there be only one Bot for one day?!" She yells annoyed, "FUCK YOU VENJIX!"

"Bella," the ranger's deadpan, the usual quiet was gone for a few seconds/minutes.

Continuously kicking the Bot, letting out her frustration, it zapped electricity around it, sending the rangers to the ground.

"Alright come on," Ziggy says as he stands up and punches the Bot. "Ow, ow, ow, it's biting me it's biting me." Flynn and Summer try to release Ziggy from the monster's mouth.

Once the Bot let go, they were standing opposite each other. The Bot forgot about the pink/cyan ranger, "Nitro Sword," they all say. The Bot turned around to face the grey ranger, "surprise," she said, slashing him with her Sword, the others joining in the attack.

"Rangers I have pinpointed the transmission disrupting the shields, are you done with that Attack Bot and ready to deploy?" Dr. K asks.

The rangers then summon their rightful weapons and attack one after the other.

Scott was first to attack using his Street Saber stabbing the Bot. "Take this," Summer slides her car on Scott's Sword aiming at the Bot.

Dillon jumps in firing using his Rocket blaster while shouting out its name. Flynn was next but ran in shouting "Turbo Cannon!"

Then Bella was slashing with her Plasma Naginata, Ziggy came up behind her slashing with his Turbo Axe twice sending the Bot to the ground, "RPM Enforcer!" He announced. The five rangers combined their weapons.

For the second time that day, the Rangers supported the super cannon between them, while Ziggy inserted her engine cell into the side. "Engine Cell, activate! FIRE!" Ziggy said as a green shark exploded from the end of the blaster, and trampled the attack Bot, causing him to explode.

"Doc, we're on our way to find that pulse signal," Scott said as he led the others de-morphed, away from the woods.

They made it back to their vehicles, which were still stationed in the car park parallel to the first attack. "Rangers," Dr. K said, causing them to stop their tracks. "I'm detecting another breach at the docks."

"Doc, we're not going to be able to keep this up," said Scott.

"You guys do your best with the alarms." Dillon said. "Ava, Ziggy, and I will go after that signal."

The three of them got into the car; Ava sat next to Dillon, and Ziggy accommodated himself on the backseat.

"200 meters dead ahead, Ranger Series Black." Dr. K informed. "It will be looking for a high vantage point to broadcast – trees, electric towers."

When they got out of the car, Ziggy pointed at one of the tall buildings. "Rooftops, there."

The attack bot was running around the roof, waiting for them.

"You cover the back." Dillon told Ziggy. "Bella and I will flush him to you."

"Right." The Green Ranger responded. "Got it."

Bella was about to question Dillon on his decision, but there was no time. The Pink/Cyan Ranger and the Black Ranger made it to where the attack bot was, and Bella winced in disgust at the ugly thing. 'They're all ugly, Bella. Get over it.'

"Hope you've enjoyed this broadcast, 'cause you're off the air!" Dillon threatened, going after it.

"And I thought I was dramatic." Bella teased, following him.

They beat up the attack bot together, hoping to stop him as soon as possible. But things became tense when the thing and Dillon seemed to recognize each other.

"Familiar." The attack bot said.

"You!" Dillon exclaimed.

"Ah, yes." The robot recalled, raising its arms. "Subject D44. I still have your memories."

The attack bot proceeded to show a hologram that showed Dillon and a girl in hospital gowns. Bella couldn't see the girl's face, but she had black hair and was holding a white cane. She could hear screams of pain, but couldn't distinguish what exactly was happening. "I was right." she said. The Pink/Cyan Ranger was brought back to reality when the attack bot threw Dillon across the roof, and the boy's body hit against the metal bars.

Bella ran towards him, and grabbed him by the shoulders. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine!" Dillon insisted, getting up in a flash. He morphed immediately.

Bella couldn't let him fight by himself, so she morphed and joined the fight. The attack bot was about to blast Dillon, but she put herself in front of him to protect him.

"Ugh!" She ended up on the floor, numbed by the attack.

"Bella!" Dillon shouted. He was about to reach out for her, when the attack bot spoke.

"Subject D44, your modifications are incomplete, but we can fix that."

"Don't call him that." Bella mumbled.

"I'll fix you!" Dillon pointed at the robot with his Nitro Blaster.

"Blast me, and you blast your memories." The attack bot said, making the Black Ranger hesitate. The thing began blasting at the sky, causing some sort of electrical storm that made Dillon fall from the roof.

"Hold my hand." Ziggy ordered, and Ava did as he asked. There was no time to question her friend's idea, because Dillon was in danger. Dillon is in danger. Panic took over Pamela, to the point where she didn't notice Ziggy had already morphed, and they were both jumping off the building.

The Pink/Cyan Ranger and the Green Ranger grabbed Dillon, and the three of them embraced each other.

At last, Ziggy was able to teleport them to the floor. They let go of each other, and took a deep breath.

"Not sure how you did that." Dillon said.

"I know." Ziggy agreed. "Me neither."

"Does that thing seriously have your memories?" Bella asked.

Dillon nodded. "It does."

Thanks to Dr. K, they managed to find the antenna-themed attack bot easily. Scott, Summer, and Flynn were attempting to fight it, but Dillon had gotten in their way.

"Dillon!" Scott protested, facing him. "Have you lost it?"

"Hey, what's going on?" Summer asked.

"You can't!" Dillon insisted. "That thing has my memories!"

"Did I miss something?" Flynn wondered.

The Sat Bot took advantage of the confusion to make its escape, frustrating Dr. K. "Ranger Series Black, you cannot allow personal agendas and emotion to interfere with the protection of this city."

"Could you at least try to have a bit of compassion?" Bella snapped. "This is really hard for him."

"Ranger Series Pink/Cyan, there's no time for compassion at this particular time."

Bella rolled her eyes."Please." Dillon pleaded to Scott. "They're all I have."

Summer approached the Black Ranger. "All right, Dillon." She then looked at their leader. "Scott?"

The Red Ranger seemed torn for a moment. "We have no choice." He turned around to look at the Green Ranger. "Get him, Ziggy."

"Right." The boy said, teleporting to stop the Sat Bot. He hit it with his Turbo Axe, and the robot fell on its feet.

"NO!" Dillon ran after the attack bot, hoping to stop the fight. Bella and the others had no choice than to go after him.

The Sat Bot didn't hesitate to use its powers to electrocute them all at once, and the six Rangers fell to the floor in agony.

"Dillon, you are the only one who can destroy the Sat Bot." Dr. K told the Black Ranger.

"I can't!"

"You can't let your emotions get in the way! We need you!"

"They're my memories!"

"Then I'll have to shut you down."

Dillon stood up, struggling to get to the attack bot. "Unfortunately, doc, I don't shut down so easily."

Bella watched him from the ground, admiring how strong he was. Dillon demanded his memories back, but the thing wasn't listening. The Black Ranger kept on attacking the Sat Bot with his Nitro Sword, while the Pink/Cyan Ranger and her teammates got back on their feet and joined him in the battlefield.

"Come on. Let's put this thing out of my misery."

The Rangers combined their weapons to form the RPM Enforcer.

"You won't do it." The Sat Bot said. "You said it yourself. These old memories are all you have."

"I have something else." Dillon said, now with confidence in his voice. "New ones."

Summer, Scott, Flynn, and Ziggy chuckled. Bella blushed and was flattered by his sentiment, but remained silent.

Dillon activated the engine cell, and their weapon fired against the attack bot.

"You'll never know the truth!" Were the Sat Bot's last words.

"We'll see about that." Dillon retorted.

The Rangers demorphed, and went back to their vehicles.

"Hey, any nice dreams?" Bella flirted looking at Dillon after Summer scanned him.

"I'm having one right now," Dillon flirted back.

"Ranger operator series Black, the sat bots signal that was transmitted into your arm, contains an incepted initiation code."

"Initiation?" Dillon said in confusion.

"Initiation of what?" Summer clarified.

"initiation of the virus that was laying dormant in your implanted robotics."

"Doc, maybe you zapped us a little too hard with your joy buzzer or whatever, but I'm not," Dillon was cut off by Summer.

"What exactly are you saying?" Summer asked.

"The machinery in Ranger Series Black has restarted a self generation process. It is growing. And it will keep growing until it has taken over them entirely. There is no cure." Bella's jaw dropped, and her body went numb with cold. Everything, including her mind, went black.