Strife on Earth

Strife on Earth is the 12th episode of Power Rangers Take Flight.

Transcript
DR. BERING (voice-over): Previously on Power Rangers Take Flight: [ Fade in to INT. MAGGIE'S APARTMENT (NIGHT) - The scene continues from the previous episode, with the addition of a casually dressed LUKE joining PETE and MAGGIE on the couch. CHRIS remains on a stool at the counter, while CASEY sits alone on the love seat. ]
 * space station attack (1)
 * Sasha telling Trask their objectives are compatible (9)
 * Magda falling and vanishing (10)
 * Luke considering that maybe the space station didn't get destroyed (11)
 * Maggie suggesting he not do anything rash until they can talk about it (11)
 * Phoenix Cannon destroying Ramenator (11)
 * Dillik chuckling about the mistake of giving the Rangers the Phoenix Cannon but then finding Trask upon him (11)
 * Barry (with his camera) asking Luke on the rooftop about Casey (11)
 * Casey tearfully telling the others her parents don't want her living in Spring Valley anymore (11)

CHRIS: They want you to leave? Why?

[ CASEY is still somewhat distraught, her eyes still pink and teary. She has a tissue already wadded up in her hand. ]

CASEY: They say it's too dangerous. That forcefield on Saturday was all over the news, and now they've got all these reports on the latest monster sightings, and... (sniffles)  They want me to move back to Fairplain by the end of the week.

CHRIS: Ummm... okay. Well, not to be harsh, but... who cares what they think?

CASEY: (sniffles)  Well, they're kind of paying for most of my rent...

[ CHRIS looks to the others, then back at CASEY. ]

CHRIS: ... Really?

[ CASEY looks down bashfully. In the background, LUKE slinks back in the couch, apparently trying to escape attention. ]

[ CHRIS shrugs and returns his attention to CASEY. ]

CHRIS (cont'd): All right, so what'd you tell them you were gonna do?

CASEY: I told them I'd think about it.

PETE: You're joking.

[ CASEY is silent. ]

[ PETE looks to the others searchingly, but they offer no assistance. ]

[ CASEY rises. ]

CASEY: I'm sorry, guys. (wearily heads to the door)  I just need to... sleep on it, okay?

MAGGIE (at a loss for words): Um... okay....

[ As the door opens and then closes (off-screen), the four HEROES look at one another. ]

[ INT. SPACE STATION, DILLIK'S QUARTERS - In Dillik's bedroom (see episode 6), DILLIK lies flat on his back in his web-bed, dressed in his normal night attire (also see episode 6). He stares straight up at the ceiling as the lighting in the room slowly changes hues. ]

[ Soon, DILLIK tosses and turns vigorously. He quickly grows aggravated with his fluffy bedding and struggles with it out of frustration. He finally throws the top layer to the floor and lies exhausted in a heap, somewhat out of breath. He continues to stare off into the distance, lost in thought. ]

[ Flash to INT. SPACE STATION COMMAND, from the previous episode: ]

SASHA (in Dillik's direction): Who is this worm?

TRASK: Dillik, my queen. He is insignificant.

[ DILLIK sulks, looking down at the floor. ]

[ We cut to SASHA being led away by TRASK; as she passes DILLIK, she catches his eye and smiles slightly before looking away. ]

[ INT. SPACE STATION, DILLIK'S QUARTERS - DILLIK furrows his brow in protest. ]

DILLIK (pouting): I am not insignificant.

[ INT. SPACE STATION CORRIDOR - We cut to a shot of the closed door to Dillik's lab. As DILLIK, now clad in his normal exo-suit, enters the frame, the door slides open, revealing his lab within (if seen from this angle, STRIFE remains in his previous position in the corner, covered with a white sheet, while DR. BERING's cryogenic container stands in another corner). Looking back furtively down the hallway, DILLIK then slips into his lab, and the door seals behind him. ]

[ INT. CASEY'S BEDROOM (NIGHT) - In a darkened room of similar decor to her living room (see previous episode), CASEY crawls under her blanket wearing a pink pajama outfit. Pulling the blanket up to her chin, she continues to lie on her back and stare at the ceiling, lost in thought. She eventually turns onto her side and reluctantly closes her eyes. ]

[ Dissolve to EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING (MORNING) - The apartment building is lit in soft morning light. ]

[ INT. LUKE'S APARTMENT (MORNING) - LUKE is speaking on the phone, wearing non-work clothes. He is dressed for a moderately warm day. ]

LUKE: ... I know. I'm really sorry, Ms. Gillespie. It's a... serious personal emergency. (listens)  Yes, ma'am. (nods)  Okay. (listens)  Okay. Thank you.

[ LUKE hangs up the phone and ponders a moment. ]

[ EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING (MORNING) - At street level, we see LUKE emerge from the apartment entrance, descend the steps, and look down the street to his right. He then begins walking off briskly in that direction, his hands in his pockets. ]

[ Behind him, coming from the opposite direction in workout clothes, a gym bag in her hand, is CASEY. She is sweaty and slightly disheveled from a workout. Noticing Luke (off-screen by this point), she curiously peers in his direction before entering the building. ]

[ INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY - Entering from the stairwell, CASEY approaches her door (5C), her keys in her free hand. As she prepares to unlock her door, she hears a commotion from further down the hall. She sets down her gym bag and follows the noise to Barry's door (5G), where BARRY's indistinct yelping can be heard amidst the clatter inside. ]

[ CASEY curiously knocks on the door. ]

CASEY: Barry...? Is that you?

[ In a moment, the door opens long enough for BARRY to stagger into the hallway and quickly close it behind him, panting exhaustedly. He has a new bandage over his nose (see previous episode) and a few more on his fingertips and knuckles. ]

BARRY (acting casual as he catches his breath): Oh, hey, Casey...

CASEY (concerned, taking his hand to examine it): Barry! My gosh, are you okay?

[ BARRY shrugs and reclaims his hand, awkwardly using it to brush his hair back. ]

BARRY: What...? Oh, yeah, I'm fine. (shaking his head dismissively)  It's just... you know...

CASEY: What is it?

BARRY: Mr. Whiskers just hasn't been himself lately.

CASEY: Is he sick...?

BARRY: No, I think he's just... "grown-up" now, you know?

CASEY: Oh...

BARRY (absently): The past week, he's just... (troubled, to Casey)  I think he'd be happier somewhere else.

[ CASEY makes a thoughtful expression. ]

CASEY (delicately): Have you... thought about taking him to, like, the wildlife center downtown...?

BARRY (dejectedly, with a sigh): I know... I should've taken him there when I found him, but I got attached to him, and now I don't know if it's too late...

CASEY: Well, no... I mean, that's what they do... help animals get ready to go back into the wild. (optimistically)  Plus it sounds like Mr. Whiskers still has enough of his wild instincts...

BARRY: Yeah... But won't I get in trouble though? I've been keeping him all this time without a license...

CASEY: I dunno. They're probably more interested in finding what's best for Mr. Whiskers, you know?

BARRY: Yeah...

[ As BARRY mopes, CASEY sympathetically touches his arm. He briefly glances at her touch but ultimately listens to what she has to say. ]

CASEY: Hey, you did a good job taking care of him while his leg healed. You did all your research, you gave him everything he needed... But now what he needs is to get out there on his own, run around, climb trees, bark at other squirrels... (taken aback)  Oh, wow, I'm totally going nuts, because that's starting to sound like good advice for me too.

[ BARRY furrows his brow. ]

BARRY: You want to climb trees and bark at squirrels?

[ CASEY grins. ]

CASEY (teasingly): ... Maybe!

[ Briefly smiling, BARRY grows solemn again. ]

BARRY: I do need to take him to the wildlife center though. I've kept putting it off and putting it off...

[ From inside, we hear the sound of a lamp breaking. BARRY rolls his eyes before continuing: ]

BARRY (cont'd): ... I guess I just didn't want to think about it.

[ CASEY nods sympathetically. ]

BARRY (cont'd, bashfully): Um, do you... think you might be able to give me a ride?

CASEY (earnestly): Well, of course. (pointing her thumb toward her apartment)  Do you mind if I just take a quick shower...?

BARRY: Yeah, no problem.

[ BARRY turns to re-enter his apartment, then pauses, reconsidering. ]

BARRY (cont'd, graciously): Thanks, Casey.

[ CASEY smiles wordlessly, and BARRY slips into his apartment, closing the door behind him. ]

[ INT. LIBRARY - At the front desk of a public library, LUKE is speaking with a LIBRARIAN (no audio is heard from this distance). The LIBRARIAN appears to be explaining something, after which LUKE eventually nods and appears to thank the LIBRARIAN. ]

[ INT. LIBRARY LOBBY - We pan through the library's front lobby and ultimately see LUKE speaking to someone on a payphone (again no audio heard from this distance). ]

[ INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY - Wearing a casual outfit with her hair pulled back, CASEY opens her apartment door and finds BARRY standing outside, as if having previously knocked. He is holding a pet carrier in which a gray squirrel (or stand-in) with an orange collar may or may not be visible to the camera. ]

BARRY (puzzled): ... Hey.

CASEY: What is it?

[ BARRY absently strokes the bandage on his nose and looks down the hallway fruitlessly. ]

BARRY: Well, I can't find my camera anywhere. I wanted to take one last picture of Mr. Whiskers, but I swear it's like it disappeared. I thought I had it when I came in last night... (to himself) ... didn't I...?

CASEY (helpfully): Do you want to use mine?

BARRY (shaking his head): That's okay. It's probably better this way.

[ CASEY watches wistfully as BARRY speaks gently to the pet carrier. ]

BARRY (cont'd, to the pet carrier): It's okay, buddy. We're gonna get you some fresh air, and you can... (raises a skeptical eyebrow in Casey's direction) ... "bark at other squirrels..."

[ CASEY flashes a weak smile. ]

CASEY: Ready?

[ BARRY nods, and CASEY closes her door behind her. ]

[ EXT. SPACE STATION - Establishment shot. ]

[ INT. SPACE STATION CORRIDOR - TRASK and SASHA are strolling down a corridor, SASHA not carrying her STAR HANDLE. SASHA watches curiously as a NOBODY passes them on patrol; she appears to give it just a little more room than necessary. In the background, the door to Dillik's lab is nearby. ]

[ SASHA stops and watches the NOBODY continue down the corridor. ]

SASHA: So what are these things, anyway?

TRASK: Nobodies, my queen. Made from... recycled lifeforms.

[ SASHA raises an eyebrow and glances back at TRASK. ]

SASHA (more curious than horrified): What do you mean, "recycled?"

[ SASHA continues to watch the receding NOBODY as TRASK responds. ]

TRASK: After a lifeform is... converted to liquid form, we can reshape it into a more useful form. (turns to Dillik's door)  The refiner is in here.

[ As SASHA joins TRASK at the door, he notices the door is shut. He examines a small sensor eye above the door frame, then instructs SASHA: ]

TRASK (cont'd): Perhaps if you waved your hand, my queen.

[ We see through the sensor eye as it looks down on SASHA with a monochromatic red tint; an empty space remains where TRASK would otherwise be standing. Wryly amused by the frivolity of Trask's suggestion, SASHA waves her hand toward the sensor in a sarcastic manner, almost condescending toward Trask's idea. ]

[ We cut to our original perspective behind TRASK and SASHA. The door doesn't budge. TRASK approaches and raps on the door. ]

TRASK: Dillik, open this door.

DILLIK (from within): Go away!

[ TRASK chuckles to SASHA with growing malice toward Dillik's behavior. ]

TRASK: Dillik, I said open the door!

DILLIK (from within, enunciating crisply): And I said, go away! I already sent an extra Jinnsect to Earth, and now I'm busy.

TRASK (gritting his teeth): Dillik, so help me... If I have to teleport in there...

DILLIK (from within): Go ahead and try!

[ TRASK scowls furiously. SASHA's eyes cautiously alternate between Trask and the door. ]

[ TRASK takes a step back from the door and plants both feet firmly in place. He then shimmers with a brief ripple effect but staggers back slightly, not having teleported. ]

[ TRASK is initially startled speechless. His face then twists into an expression of rage, and he slams his fist against the door in a violent outburst. ]

TRASK (roaring in outrage): You have a HUMAN in there!!

DILLIK (from within): That's right! Frozen scientist is right at home in here. And at this rate, I have to say, neither one of us is very inclined to invite you in.

[ An amused smirk forms on SASHA's face. ]

[ TRASK, meanwhile, is so furious he doesn't appear to know what to do. ]

[ INT. SPACE STATION, DILLIK'S LAB - At his work table, DILLIK sits with various control terminals and feedback displays laid out across the table. In DILLIK's hands is his VR helmet (see episode 5), which he places over his head, covering his eyes. He then feels his way into the hand terminals in front of him, completing some sort of electronic link. ]

[ Over DILLIK's shoulder, we zoom in on the white sheet left behind where STRIFE was previously standing; it is now crumpled haphazardly on the floor, with STRIFE nowhere in sight. ]

[ INT. PROFESSOR'S OFFICE - We pan through the cluttered office of Professor Levins, whose paraphernalia befits an astronomy professor. PROFESSOR LEVINS, a slightly unkempt man in his mid forties, is busying himself arranging some papers on his desk (though the end result seems to be just as cluttered as before), while LUKE stands in the center of the room. ]

PROFESSOR LEVINS: A satellite? (chuckles)  Well, take your pick. There are thousands of them.

LUKE (hesitant): Well, actually, I was thinking of something more along the lines of a space station.

[ PROFESSOR LEVINS pauses and turns to listen attentively. ]

LUKE (cont'd, watching the professor's reaction): ... in a... geosynchronous orbit...?

[ A slow grin forms on PROFESSOR LEVINS' face. ]

PROFESSOR LEVINS: Kid, you know there aren't any geosynchronous space stations, right?

[ LUKE begins to speak but is interrupted. ]

PROFESSOR LEVINS (cont'd): ... according to NASA and Roskosmos, that is.

[ PROFESSOR LEVINS digs through heaps of documents on his desk, ultimately producing a crude grayscale print-out of a bright, round object (potentially the space station) over a black background (no stars are visible due to the contrast of the brightly-lit object). LUKE takes the print-out and examines it as PROFESSOR LEVINS speaks. ]

PROFESSOR LEVINS: It was first sighted in the mid-eighties. It's quite large... and apparently man-made. But nobody's admitted to owning it.

[ PROFESSOR LEVINS shuffles more papers on his desk. ]

PROFESSOR LEVINS (cont'd): If it IS a space station, it's anybody's guess as to what they've been using to service it. ... That's assuming it needs servicing. But one thing's for sure - the space shuttle doesn't fly NEARLY that high.

[ As LUKE thinks for a moment, we briefly flash to HAWK ONE flying from Earth into space at high speed. ]

[ While PROFESSOR LEVINS takes a seat behind his desk, LUKE speaks again, approaching the desk. ]

LUKE: Professor Levins... Is there anyone up there?

PROFESSOR LEVINS: Well, we don't exactly know. It's certainly possible given the size of the object, but... it's remarkably quiet, aside from the X-ray bursts.

LUKE (puzzled): X-ray bursts?

PROFESSOR LEVINS: Yes, two brief high-energy events observed recently.

LUKE (enrapt): ... How recently?

PROFESSOR LEVINS: Well, the most recent event occurred this past Saturday...

[ LUKE sets the print-out on the professor's desk, clearly in a hurry to leave. ]

LUKE: Thank you very much, Professor!

[ PROFESSOR LEVINS remains speechless as LUKE quickly darts out of the office. After a moment, he makes a sound: ]

PROFESSOR LEVINS (curiously): ... Hmm.

[ EXT. INDUSTRIAL SITE (Jetman #5) - From an overhead shot, we see a shadow walking into frame. The shape is that of STRIFE. ]

[ In a side close-up, we see STRIFE's armored black feet walking. ]

[ In profile, we see STRIFE emerge from behind a foreground object. He is an armored black robot with narrow red eye slits, no discernible nose or mouth, and a hook shape extending over the top of his head. He also seems to have a third, vertical eye slit in his forehead. A silver laser cannon is attached to his back. ]

[ With the relatively low sun shining behind him, STRIFE walks by the camera, which is positioned at a low angle. ]

[ From a distance, we zoom in on STRIFE as he walks into frame and comes to a halt. ]

[ STRIFE looks around slowly (Jetman #34). ]

[ US footage - We see through STRIFE's eyes as he slowly surveys the industrial area. His vision is in the form of an electronic display with various readouts along the sides of the screen. While he sees in the visual spectrum, various items of interest in his periphery are briefly analyzed with digital outlines and numeric labels. Also, along the right edge of the screen are five stacked picture-in-picture windows, each showing a different Hoverbird camera flying over or through the city. ]

[ INT. SPACE STATION, DILLIK'S LAB - Wearing his VR helmet, DILLIK moves his head in a similar manner. ]

DILLIK: All right, motor systems check out. Sensors, looking good...

[ EXT. INDUSTRIAL SITE (Jetman #34) - Continuing to look around, STRIFE proceeds again. ]

[ We see STRIFE from a side corridor as he walks by in the distance. ]

[ STRIFE walks between two industrial buildings, looking around. ]

[ INT. SPACE STATION, DILLIK'S LAB - Helmeted DILLIK continues to look around. ]

DILLIK (approvingly): Yeah... This isn't bad at all. (uses his finger controls)  Now, how about a strength test...

[ INT. WAREHOUSE (Jetman #5) - STRIFE effortlessly bursts in through a metal warehouse wall. He is now holding his silver cannon on his right shoulder. ]

[ INT. SPACE STATION, DILLIK'S LAB - DILLIK nods modestly. ]

DILLIK: Yep, strength's okay. Oh, and of course the weapons...

[ EXT. WAREHOUSE (US footage) - Through the warehouse windows somewhere on the building's exterior, though we can't see Strife, we hear laser blasts and see flashes of reddish-orange light. Immediately, intense explosions within the warehouse cause the windows to blow out in a burst of flames. ]

[ EXT. AEROSPACE MUSEUM, PARKING LOT - We cut to an unshaded parking lot as panicked people run from a broad yellow beam (compare with sentai) which seems to be striking random people from above; as each person is struck, he or she falters or stumbles but appears unharmed and is able to flee the area. In the background is a small hangar-shaped building with a sign reading, "Hawkins Aerospace Museum." ]

[ Eventually we see Barry's camera (see previous episode) hovering through the air. It turns to various people below and fires its broad yellow beam at one victim after another. Each, however, manages to run away after being stunned briefly. ]

[ The camera speaks with a sinister, ghostly, echoing voice. ]

CAMERA (giddily): (laughs)  Your souls are mine!

[ Several photographs of victims fall to the ground. Each photograph is a reproduction of each victim's location at the time he or she was struck. ]

[ In close-up, however, we see that the victims' images are actually moving, reacting as though trapped within the borders of the photo. ]

[ INT. SPACE STATION COMMAND - TRASK storms in in a huff, SASHA trailing behind. Her amusement at the situation is only thinly hidden. ]

TRASK (grumbling to himself): The nerve of that toad! Why did I ever bring him along?!

SASHA (sardonically): It's all right... We all need a little alone time.

TRASK (continuing to grumble to himself): Yeah, I'll give him some alone time... in the Jinnsect habitat, perhaps.

SASHA (off-screen, somewhat playfully): Say, Trask... What's that?

[ TRASK looks. We see SASHA standing at the central console, in which the monitor (then shown in close-up) displays a Hoverbird's view of the floating camera shining its beam on people in the parking lot. ]

[ TRASK approaches, initially unimpressed. ]

TRASK: That would be a flying Earthen imaging device.

SASHA: Is it supposed to be doing that?

TRASK (speaking Dillik's name sharply): No. That would be Dillik's doing.

SASHA (eagerly): Well, come on! Don't just stand there! We're missing all the fun!

[ SASHA glances at TRASK and smirks disparagingly. ]

SASHA (cont'd): Oh, right. The sunlight.

[ SASHA casually summons her STAR HANDLE into her right hand with a small white gleam. ]

SASHA (cont'd, with a shrug): Well, back in a while!

[ With a white flash of light from her STAR HANDLE, SASHA vanishes. TRASK narrows his eyes in displeasure. ]

[ The following few scenes are linked by the same musical score underneath, which takes the place of any audio in the scenes: ]

[ EXT. CITY PLAZA - LUKE is slinking around the edges of a plaza downtown, apparently looking for a hidden spot, when his MORPHER blinks (no audio). He pauses, presses the upper left button, and glances at the display (not seen) before hurrying off. ]

[ INT. BIKE SHOP - Working on a bicycle behind the counter, CHRIS is interrupted by his MORPHER (no audio). As he puts down his tool, we can briefly see an old photo of his parents (see episode 10) taped to a shelf not visible to customers. ]

[ INT. MAGGIE'S APARTMENT - MAGGIE is casually draped on her couch as she speaks on the phone with someone (no audio). She is then interrupted by her MORPHER and quickly ends the call as she rises from the couch. ]

[ INT. FRANCO'S KITCHEN - In uniform, PETE is deftly assembling two dishes when his MORPHER catches his attention (no audio). He looks around anxiously before turning to SAM (see episode 10), behind him. He whispers or says something to her, at which point she nods agreeably. PETE then adds a finishing touch to his dishes and leaves them on the counter nearby before wiping his hands on his apron and hurrying off. ]

[ EXT. CITY STREET - As CASEY is driving through the city with BARRY and his pet carrier in the passenger seat and the convertible top up, her MORPHER chimes (the audio having returned). ]

[ Having been whispering into the pet carrier, BARRY looks at CASEY's watch as she glances back at him. ]

CASEY: My alarm. Just... reminding me of an appointment.

[ CASEY worriedly looks out her window toward the sky above. ]

[ INT. AEROSPACE MUSEUM - Inside one room of the aerospace museum, we see a MUSEUM PATRON stumble backward in a panic to get away from something (off-camera), but he is ultimately backed against a display. ]

[ From the patron's perspective, we see SASHA advancing with Barry's camera in her hands. (Her STAR HANDLE isn't present.) ]

SASHA: There there, human. Haven't you ever seen an imaging device before?

[ SASHA presses the button, firing the camera's yellow beam with unseen results. ]

[ In midair, a photograph of the MUSEUM PATRON appears from yellow energy and flies to SASHA's waiting hand. She examines the photo. In it, the MUSEUM PATRON remains stuck in his previous position and quickly becomes aware of the border around him. At the same time, SASHA lowers the photo, allowing us to focus on the MUSEUM PATRON as he scrambles to his feet, apparently unharmed, and makes a hasty escape. ]

[ Watching the man leave (off-camera), SASHA once again examines the photo, then looks admiringly at the camera in her other hand. ]

SASHA: Interesting.

[ EXT. AEROSPACE MUSEUM, REAR - In a plaza of some sort behind the museum (compare with sentai), we see SASHA's boots enter the foreground in close-up as the RED, BLACK, YELLOW, and BLUE RANGERS come running onto the scene. SASHA is standing atop a small flight of concrete steps above the RANGERS' location below (compare with sentai). She is now holding her STAR HANDLE. ]

PETE (Yellow Ranger): Look who's back!

CHRIS (Black Ranger, loudly, to Sasha): Why don't you give it a rest, Princess?

[ As SASHA is shown in close-up, a large plane (compare with sentai) may be partially visible behind her through a barbed chain-link fence. ]

SASHA (contemptuously): I'm the queen now. You Rangers saw to that.

[ Below, YELLOW RANGER advances a step as he replies in protest. BLACK RANGER, meanwhile, seems to have reconsidered his own antagonism and backed down slightly. ]

PETE (Yellow Ranger): Hey, we're not the ones who --

[ RED RANGER gestures for YELLOW to ease off. ]

LUKE (Red Ranger, to Sasha): Sasha, we're sorry it came to that. We don't want to have to fight you.

SASHA: Well, you're in luck, because today you'll be fighting my friend Snapshot.

[ As we quickly pan to the left, we transition into sentai footage. SNAPSHOT, a black camera monster, pulses his flash bulb several times as he speaks animatedly. ]

SNAPSHOT: Hello, Rangers!

[ In US footage once more, SASHA speaks with sinister pleasure to the Rangers below (off-screen). ]

SASHA: Snapshot here has an interesting power. He captures human souls.

[ BLACK RANGER retorts: ]

CHRIS (Black Ranger): Souls...? Yeah, right!

[ RED briefly glances at BLACK. ]

SASHA (smiling wickedly): Oh, you'll see soon enough. (nods to Snapshot, off-screen)

[ Switch to sentai - SNAPSHOT speaks before trotting forward and firing an incendiary blast from his left arm. ]

SNAPSHOT: Look at the birdie, Rangers! (fires)

[ As seen from behind SNAPSHOT's legs, the RANGERS erupt in a barrage of spark blasts and fall back. ]

[ SNAPSHOT continues firing. ]

[ The RANGERS fall back amidst the spark explosions in slow motion. ]

[ US footage - SASHA laughs wickedly. ]

[ SNAPSHOT raises a large trigger button in his right hand. ]

SNAPSHOT: Now it's time for your close-up, Rangers!

[ The RANGERS, rising to their feet, are seen coming into focus through Snapshot's lens. ]

CHRIS (Black Ranger): Look out!

[ SNAPSHOT mashes the trigger button. In close-up, the iris within his lens quickly opens. We then see SNAPSHOT fire his yellow beam from his lens. ]

[ In close-up, RED RANGER quickly grabs his SKY BLASTER from its holster. ]

LUKE (Red Ranger): Blasters!

[ From a distance, we see the RANGERS return fire with their yellow SKY BLASTER lasers just as SNAPSHOT's beam closes in on them. The beams meet in a stalemate. Behind SNAPSHOT stands SASHA. ]

[ US footage - In close-up, SASHA watches anxiously. ]

[ EXT. MOUNTAINS (Jetman #42) - In close-up, we see STRIFE's feet treading quickly across the ground of a rocky, open wilderness. ]

[ Advancing at a hurried pace, STRIFE shoots numerous red laser blasts (US addition) from a dual-barreled blaster mounted to his right wrist. ]

[ US footage - The red lasers strike a cluster of boulders, blowing them into small fragments with large smoke explosions. ]

[ US footage - Through STRIFE's eyes, we see the smoking remnants of the boulders. The side Hoverbird cameras, however, show the RANGERS in their struggle with SNAPSHOT: two Hoverbirds show the two beams in stalemate (though the beam appears to be fluctuating closer to the monster), another shows SNAPSHOT shooting a constant beam (frames looped from sentai), and the remaining two show different angles of SASHA watching anxiously. ]

[ Lowering his arm, STRIFE steps forward with a startled reaction. ]

[ US footage - Again through STRIFE's eyes, we see the same video as the previous shot, but one of the videos of the beam stalemate (this time the beam fluctuating back toward the RANGERS) expands to cover part of the screen. ]

[ INT. SPACE STATION, DILLIK'S LAB - Helmeted DILLIK reacts. ]

DILLIK: Oh no! Sasha's in trouble!

[ DILLIK works his controls with hurried determination. ]

[ EXT. AEROSPACE MUSEUM, REAR - In US footage, we see the RANGERS continuing to fire their steady yellow lasers. ]

[ Switch to sentai - Again the beams fluctuate, but this time they advance rapidly toward SNAPSHOT. ]

[ STRIFE appears in midair from greenish-silver vertical streaks (US addition). ]

[ STRIFE leaps down and takes the brunt of the Rangers' lasers in his forearms, ultimately dispelling the energy into the ground around him. ]

[ US footage - SASHA is startled. ]

SASHA: What...?

[ The four RANGERS are startled as well. ]

MAGGIE (Blue Ranger): Who's that?

[ STRIFE quickly positions his silver cannon on his shoulder and shoots a series of fiery red energy blasts by extending the cannon's barrel. ]

[ The RANGERS are flung back in an explosion of sparks. ]

[ US footage - The RANGERS land on the pavement nearby, their bodies smoking and somewhat stunned. ]

[ Beginning with a close-up of a bewildered SASHA (composite US actress over sentai actress), we zoom out to STRIFE, who stands motionless. SASHA is clutching her STAR HANDLE. ]

SASHA: Who are you?

[ Shown in profile, STRIFE remains silent. ]

[ INT. SPACE STATION, DILLIK'S LAB - We see helmeted DILLIK from the same direction. He appears to want to say something, but he doesn't speak. ]

[ EXT. AEROSPACE MUSEUM, REAR (sentai) - STRIFE looks over his shoulder at SASHA (again with the US actress composited into the shot). STRIFE speaks with a deep, electronically modified version of DILLIK's voice. ]

STRIFE: A friend.

[ US footage - SASHA shakes her head. Her demeanor is one of stunned gratitude. ]

SASHA: But I've never met you.

[ Again shown in profile, STRIFE vanishes with greenish-silver vertical streaks (US addition, followed by airbrushed background). ]

[ Switch to US footage - SASHA looks around, startled once again. ]

[ The groaning RANGERS, still smoking slightly, begin to rise. ]

[ SASHA glares in the Rangers' direction (off-camera) and points with her STAR HANDLE. ]

SASHA: Finish them off!

[ Sentai - In close-up, SNAPSHOT mashes his trigger button. We then see him firing his yellow beam again. ]

[ BLACK RANGER shoves the others aside but is struck with the beam in the process. ]

CHRIS (Black Ranger): Watch out! (struck with beam)

[ The three RANGERS react. ]

PETE (Yellow Ranger): Chris!

[ Briefly stunned, BLACK RANGER staggers slightly once the beam ends, but he appears to be unharmed. The other three RANGERS rush to help him. ]

MAGGIE (Blue Ranger): Are you all right?

CHRIS (Black Ranger): Yeah, I'm fine.

[ YELLOW RANGER addresses Sasha and the monster above (off-screen). ]

PETE (Yellow Ranger): Your blast didn't have any effect, Snapshot!

[ Above, SASHA holds a photograph in her hand (though we don't yet see its contents). She smiles boastfully. ]

SASHA: That's what you think. (trivially)  But there's nothing inside him anymore.

[ RED RANGER looks to BLACK. ]

LUKE (Red Ranger): Chris...?

CHRIS (Black Ranger): I said I'm fine! Don't listen to her!

[ SASHA smirks. ]

SASHA: Pretty convincing replica, isn't it? The only person who would know otherwise is your dear friend Chris, and I'm afraid he can't be with you at the moment.

[ In close-up, we see the photo in SASHA's hand. In it, an unmorphed CHRIS hammers his hands against the frame of the photo, having been trapped where he was struck by Snapshot's beam. ]

[ The three RANGERS apprehensively look back and forth between Sasha (off-screen) and BLACK RANGER, whose gaze is fixed intently on their foes above. ]

[ RED RANGER reluctantly leads the RANGERS into retreat, putting his arm around BLACK RANGER. ]

LUKE (Red Ranger): Come on, guys.

[ The RANGERS follow RED RANGER and depart. ]

[ SASHA grins wickedly. ]

[ Break. ]

[ EXT. WALLED AREA - Ducking behind a concrete wall of some sort, the RANGERS confer. ]

PETE (Yellow Ranger): Dude, why'd we have to run away like that?

LUKE (Red Ranger): Just to be on the safe side. I wanna make sure everyone's okay. Power down.

[ LUKE demorphs with a red gleam. ]

PETE / MAGGIE (Yellow/Blue Rangers, in unison): Power down!

[ PETE and MAGGIE demorph with a yellow and blue gleam, respectively. LUKE, PETE, and MAGGIE then look warily to BLACK RANGER, who stands alone. ]

CHRIS (Black Ranger): Power down.

[ With a purple gleam, CHRIS demorphs. He stands in his original civilian clothes, seemingly no worse for wear. He looks at the others. ]

CHRIS: What?

[ LUKE approaches. ]

LUKE: Are you sure you're okay?

[ CHRIS turns disinterestedly. ]

CHRIS: Man, this is stupid. We need to go stop those guys.

PETE (to the others): Hey, what do you think Sasha was holding in her hand? It looked like a photo or something.

CHRIS (sarcastically, glancing back before leaving): Yeah, you guys let me know when you wanna save the planet. I'll just be out fighting bad guys. (runs off)

LUKE: Chris!

PETE: Well, he's SORTA acting like himself... I guess.

MAGGIE: Umm... have you guys ever heard of philosophical zombies?

PETE (startled by the idea): "Zombies?!" What the heck...?

MAGGIE: Philosophical zombies. It's like a thought experiment in philosophy where you try to imagine a person who talks and acts just like a human being, but he doesn't actually have any subjective feeling. There's no... ability to introspect, no consciousness, no...

LUKE: ... soul?

MAGGIE (reluctantly): I guess.

PETE: So the lights are on but nobody's home?

MAGGIE: Pretty much.

PETE: Wait... but how could we tell?

MAGGIE: That's just it - you couldn't tell. (somewhat teasingly)  We might ALL be zombies, for all YOU know.

[ PETE eyes LUKE and MAGGIE suspiciously. ]

MAGGIE (cont'd): Pete, we're not zombies.

PETE (suspiciously): Yeah, but how would I know?!

MAGGIE (pondering, to herself): Of course, most of us spend a lot of our time on auto-pilot without much introspection anyway...

LUKE (changing the subject): Guys, we've gotta come up with a plan. (to himself)  And why hasn't Casey shown up yet?

[ INT. WILDLIFE OFFICE, WAITING ROOM - On long bench-style seating in an office resembling a veterinarian's office, BARRY sits with a melancholy expression on his face. On one side is his pet carrier (contents not seen) while CASEY sits on his other side. ]

[ CASEY looks to BARRY. ]

CASEY: You okay?

BARRY (with a sober nod): I think so. I really do think he'll be a lot happier this way.

[ CASEY nods in return. She glances at her MORPHER, which continues to blink in the upper left corner. ]

BARRY (cont'd): What about you?

CASEY (chuckling innocently): What? Me...?

BARRY: Yeah, you seem like you've been kinda lost in thought.

CASEY: Oh... Well, I'm in kind of a parental crisis, but I think I already know the answer.

BARRY: Do you... like, wanna talk about it...?

CASEY (distractedly): Umm... sure. (holds up her finger)  Do you mind if I go... check on something first?

BARRY (slightly confused): Yeah, okay...

CASEY (rising, apologetically): I'm sorry. I'll be right back, I promise.

[ CASEY exits the office. ]

[ Now alone with his pet carrier, BARRY looks around and makes a bored (or slightly apprehensive) face. Moments later, a RECEPTIONIST opens the door from an interior hallway. ]

RECEPTIONIST: Mr. West?

[ BARRY looks toward the exit where Casey departed. ]

BARRY (caught off-guard): ... Oh --

[ Left with little other recourse, BARRY stands and lifts his pet carrier. As he proceeds past the RECEPTIONIST into the hallway, he continues to look for Casey, but the exit door doesn't open. ]

[ EXT. INDUSTRIAL SITE (Jetman #34) - STRIFE is walking in an industrial area. ]

[ Switch to Jetman #22 - BLACK RANGER flies down striking with his TALON SWORD. ]

CHRIS (Black Ranger): Hey, ugly!

[ BLACK lands in front of STRIFE and slashes his chest twice with his TALON SWORD, but the robot remains utterly unfazed by the encounter. ]

[ BLACK swings for a third strike, but STRIFE grabs the blade in his hand before reaching forward with his other hand and grappling BLACK. He throws him into the air. ]

[ BLACK RANGER flies through the air. ]

[ Landing, BLACK rolls briefly before rising and reaching for his SKY BLASTER. ]

CHRIS (Black Ranger): Sky Blaster!

[ In close-up, we see BLACK drawing his SKY BLASTER. ]

[ BLACK fires a quick burst of golden lasers, but STRIFE harmlessly deflects them to the ground with his hand. ]

[ STRIFE then returns fire with red lasers (US addition) from his wrist. ]

[ US footage - Struck with the lasers, BLACK RANGER flies flat onto his back. ]

[ STRIFE fires more red lasers (US addition). ]

[ US footage - Flying from a significant spark explosion, BLACK RANGER crashes through a stack of boxes. ]

[ EXT. QUARRY - The RED, YELLOW, and BLUE RANGERS land and survey the seemingly tranquil quarry. RED RANGER is particularly wary. ]

LUKE (Red Ranger): All right, I swear I saw somebody here.

PETE (Yellow Ranger): Did he look like a philosophical zombie?

[ RED RANGER turns and points. ]

LUKE (Red Ranger): No, he looked a little like that!

[ A NOBODY fires incendiary blasts from his fingertips. ]

[ The three RANGERS roll aside as small spark blasts strike in front of them. ]

PETE (Yellow Ranger): Just one Nobody? You've gotta be kidding.

[ The RANGERS look around as several groups of NOBODIES appear around them with black ripples. ]

MAGGIE (Blue Ranger): Well, it does make a heck of a decoy!

[ Switch to sentai - SNAPSHOT and SASHA materialize in mid-stride (SNAPSHOT from yellow energy, SASHA from a white gleam centered around her STAR HANDLE, both effects US additions). SASHA is composited with a US actress if necessary. ]

[ US footage - Shown in close-up while walking, SASHA laughs. ]

SASHA: (laughs)  Your ranks are thinning by the minute, Rangers! Maybe we should take a picture to remember you by!

[ SNAPSHOT speaks as NOBODIES move around behind him. He then fires his hand blast. ]

SNAPSHOT: How about a sitting pose? (fires)

[ US footage - The three RANGERS are knocked down by spark explosions. ]

[ EXT. INDUSTRIAL SITE (US footage) - BLACK RANGER hobbles along through the back corners of the industrial site, watching his back carefully. He slinks around a corner and is startled to collide with the PINK RANGER, who was previously distracted with her visor display, having had two fingers to the left side of her helmet. ]

[ PINK RANGER startles slightly from the collision as well but is relieved to see BLACK, touching his arm. ]

CASEY (Pink Ranger): Oh! Chris! There you are! What are you doing here?

[ BLACK RANGER shushes her while looking over his shoulder. ]

CHRIS (Black Ranger, quietly): Shh... There's a killer robot running around in here.

[ PINK RANGER looks around briefly. ]

CASEY (Pink Ranger, somewhat quietly): A what? Where are the others?

[ BLACK RANGER furtively checks around the corner. ]

CHRIS (Black Ranger): I dunno.

CASEY (Pink Ranger): You don't --! Well, don't you think we'd have better luck sticking together?

[ BLACK RANGER doesn't respond, being preoccupied with his surveillance. ]

[ Slightly miffed, PINK RANGER takes a step back and speaks into her left wrist. ]

CASEY (Pink Ranger): Guys, are you there?

[ EXT. QUARRY (US footage) - The RED, YELLOW, and BLUE RANGERS fly back from another spark explosion. Recovering, RED RANGER speaks into his wrist. ]

LUKE (Red Ranger): Casey! We're in the quarry! We could use a little help! (toward the sky, still into his wrist)  Phoenix Cannon!

[ Switch to sentai - The PHOENIX CANNON transforms over a black background. ]

[ In the quarry, the PHOENIX CANNON descends to the waiting RED, YELLOW, and BLUE RANGERS (Jetman #31). ]

[ US footage - With NOBODIES moving around behind her, SASHA strolls out and produces a blue and white photo album (compare with sentai) from a gleam of white light. She holds it up in front of her right side and leafs through the pages within. Each page contains several photos of victims, still moving and trapped in their original locations (none give any impression of being able to see the outside world). ]

SASHA: Not so fast, Rangers. Snapshot's collected a lot of souls, and they're all in this album. It sure would be a shame if something happened to it, don't you think?

[ US footage - In close-up, we see one page containing CHRIS's photo as he remains trapped where he was struck. SASHA then closes the book and holds it in front of her. ]

[ His fist initially clenched, RED RANGER slowly looks down at the PHOENIX CANNON's monitor with an exasperated grunt. ]

[ In the monitor's "Target Lock" screen, we zoom in on SASHA holding the album as SNAPSHOT jumps in front of her protectively. ]

SNAPSHOT: Don't even think about it!

[ US footage - Still holding the album, SASHA is smiling in self-satisfaction when suddenly sparks strike all around her, causing her to toss the album aside. ]

[ The album flies through the air and lands on the rocky ground nearby, where it then gleams with white light (partial US addition). ]

[ US footage - Various victims' photos are seen flying through the air. In mid-flight, each photo turns into yellow energy and dissipates into the air. ]

[ EXT. VARIOUS LOCATIONS - We see various victims engaged in various activities - some driving, one walking around, one speaking to a police officer outside the museum - when each appears to be struck with a sudden clarity. ]

[ EXT. QUARRY (US footage) - SASHA looks up at the sky and glares angrily. ]

[ EXT. QUARRY LEDGE - On a ledge above, PINK RANGER holsters her SKY BLASTER and calls down: ]

CASEY (Pink Ranger): Go for it, guys!

[ EXT. QUARRY (Jetman #31) - RED RANGER pumps his fist before pressing the trigger button. ]

LUKE (Red Ranger): Phoenix Cannon, fire! (presses button)

[ Switch to Jetman #14 - In close-up, SNAPSHOT presses his own trigger button. In close-up, the iris within his lens quickly opens. ]

[ The PHOENIX CANNON fires a large red blast. ]

[ The Phoenix Cannon's fireball blast strikes Snapshot's yellow beam and pushes it backward toward SNAPSHOT and SASHA. As the beam grows close, SNAPSHOT staggers back a few steps, unable to resist much longer. ]

[ Nearby, in front of a cluster of junked automobiles, STRIFE appears from greenish-silver vertical streaks (US addition) in the middle of a sprint. ]

[ STRIFE then throws himself in front of SNAPSHOT, trying to contain the blast in his arms. ]

[ We see STRIFE's feet sliding back as he struggles to fight the force of the fireball (off-camera). ]

[ Finally overwhelmed, STRIFE is struck with a bright explosion. In the background, NOBODIES are flung back. ]

[ US footage - In close-up, SASHA slams against the rocky ground, apparently knocked unconscious. Her STAR HANDLE lies beside her. ]

[ STRIFE's smoking, severed right arm bounces onto the ground. ]

[ SNAPSHOT and the now one-armed STRIFE fly through the air amidst a massive, fiery explosion. ]

[ INT. SPACE STATION, DILLIK'S LAB - DILLIK yelps frightfully and tears the VR helmet off his head, tossing it onto his work bench as he clutches his right arm. Finding it still intact, he pants in relief. ]

DILLIK (with a weary sigh): It's just a robot... It's just a robot...

[ He reaches to reclaim his VR helmet. ]

[ EXT. QUARRY (US footage) - PINK RANGER runs up to the other three RANGERS (with no Phoenix Cannon in sight). ]

CASEY (Pink Ranger): Way to go, guys! Hey, what was that book I shot? We didn't want her to have that, right...?

MAGGIE (Blue Ranger): No, we did not.

[ EXT. QUARRY LEDGE - Above, BLACK RANGER waves and calls down: ]

CHRIS (Black Ranger, perplexed): Hey, you guys, what are you doing down there?

[ EXT. QUARRY - The four RANGERS look up, then (with the exception of PINK) at each other. ]

PETE (Yellow Ranger): Is he back?

MAGGIE (Blue Ranger): Uhh...

[ EXT. QUARRY LEDGE - BLACK RANGER leaps off the edge. ]

[ EXT. QUARRY - BLACK lands in front of the RANGERS and joins them. ]

LUKE (Red Ranger): Hey, Chris... Uhh, how do you feel?

CHRIS (Black Ranger): Well, fine, I guess... What, did Snapshot teleport me to the industrial park or something?

PETE (Yellow Ranger): He doesn't remember anything!

CASEY (Pink Ranger): What are you guys talking about?

PETE (Yellow Ranger, to Black): Hey, man, you've got your consciousness back inside you, right?

CHRIS (Black Ranger): What...? Quit messing around! We've still got a monster to deal with!

[ YELLOW and BLUE look at each other, and YELLOW shrugs. ]

[ BLACK RANGER takes a running leap into the air. ]

[ Switch to sentai - BLACK unsheathes his TALON SWORD. ]

CHRIS (Black Ranger): Talon Sword!

[ BLACK RANGER flies down with a TALON SWORD strike. He delivers a strike to SNAPSHOT, causing him to reel backward in slow-motion. ]

[ Elsewhere, RED RANGER clutches his BATTLIZER close to his body; as he does so, two red wings flip out from the sides of the device. ]

LUKE (Red Ranger): Battlizer, striker mode!

[ RED RANGER leaps and prepares to strike with his BATTLIZER. ]

[ RED RANGER lands and strikes two NOBODIES, the BATTLIZER gleaming with red light (US addition) with each strike. He then turns and blocks two NOBODIES' swords, knocks them downward, and sends a NOBODY spinning aside with a final punch; red gleams (US addition) accompany each impact. ]

[ US footage - The PINK and BLUE RANGERS pummel several NOBODIES as well. When each NOBODY falls, it vanishes with a black ripple effect (compare with episode 1). ]

[ YELLOW RANGER flies through the air with a boulder in his arms. He leaps off BLACK RANGER's shoulders. Then, in midair, he hurls the boulder (shown twice). ]

[ Struck with the boulder, SNAPSHOT flies back and lands with a crash on his back. ]

[ YELLOW RANGER lands, and the other RANGERS gather around him. ]

LUKE (Red Ranger): Nice job, Pete! Now let's finish him off!

[ US footage - RED RANGER calls into his wrist. ]

LUKE (Red Ranger): Phoenix Cannon!

[ The PHOENIX CANNON descends to the five RANGERS. We see the RANGERS from two additional angles before their energy charges the cannon. ]

[ RED RANGER looks down at the monitor. ]

LUKE (Red Ranger): Target lock!

[ The target lock screen zooms in on the lone SNAPSHOT. ]

[ RED RANGER presses the trigger button. ]

LUKE (Red Ranger): Now!

[ The cannon fires. ]

RANGERS (in unison): Fire!

[ The cannon's phoenix flies down. ]

[ A spiraling fireball then strikes SNAPSHOT with a white gleam, engulfing him in a fiery explosion. ]

[ US footage - A smoking JINNSECT lands on the rocky ground before expanding in yellowish-white energy. ]

[ Above, SNAPSHOT materializes in giant size from insectoid energy. He roars. ]

[ As the RANGERS scatter below, RED RANGER calls into his wrist: ]

LUKE (Red Ranger): Sky Flyers, we need you!

[ EXT. SKY - The SKY FLYERS are seen flying overhead. ]

[ EXT. QUARRY (US footage) - RED RANGER turns to the others. ]

LUKE (Red Ranger): Let's go for speed, guys! We can't risk another beam attack.

CASEY (Pink Ranger): Ohh, does that mean what I think it does...?

PETE (Yellow Ranger): Flaming jet of doom, baby.

LUKE (Red Ranger): Let's do it!

[ Switch to sentai - As the RANGERS simultaneously brace themselves, a green beam from above whisks them up as Ranger-colored energy. ]

[ EXT. SKY - The RANGERS beam up into the SKY FLYERS. ]

[ The five FLYERS fly up into the sky with colored trails. ]

[ The FLYERS rotate around each other in circular formation, crackling with blue electricity. ]

[ In its gridline void, the SKYFORCE CRUISER assembles. ]

[ The CRUISER flies by the camera. ]

[ EXT. MOUNTAINS - We zoom in on SNAPSHOT as he reacts. ]

SNAPSHOT: Hey, hold still!

[ INT. CRUISER COCKPIT - RED RANGER makes a straight-fingered hand gesture. ]

LUKE (Red Ranger): Skyforce Cruiser!

[ RED RANGER presses a button. The monitor changes from a red hawk display to a flaming bird display, which pulsates with DR. BERING's synthesized voice. ]

LUKE (Red Ranger): Firebird attack!

COMPUTER VOICE: Engaging firebird attack.

[ Two gray joysticks flip up from within RED RANGER's control panel. ]

[ RED RANGER grips the joysticks. The cockpit is now illuminated from the front with red light as a thundering roar in the background intensifies. ]

LUKE (Red Ranger): Full throttle!

[ EXT. SKY - In a black background, the FIREBIRD is enveloped with flames and grows fiery wings. ]

[ EXT. MOUNTAINS - SNAPSHOT fires green energy bolts from his flash bulb. ]

[ The flaming firebird swoops down, the energy bolts missing their target. ]

[ We zoom in on SNAPSHOT as he panics. ]

SNAPSHOT: That's too close!

[ The firebird flies through SNAPSHOT's midsection. He groans in pain. The firebird flies away, and SNAPSHOT crackles with blue electricity as he falls, ultimately exploding. ]

[ EXT. SKY - The CRUISER flies off, shedding its flames. ]

[ EXT. QUARRY (sentai) - SASHA lies unconscious on the quarry ground, her STAR HANDLE beside her (US actress's face composited). We pan right to see STRIFE's detached arm still smoking not far from her. STRIFE approaches and picks up the arm with his remaining hand. ]

[ STRIFE holds his detached arm in its original position, at which point the sound of slithering wires and electrical connections is heard. ]

[ US footage - We see an internal view of the workings of STRIFE's shoulder reclaiming its arm and rewiring itself. ]

[ US footage - We zoom down on the unconscious SASHA from Strife's perspective. ]

[ STRIFE approaches SASHA, bends down, and begins to scoop her up. ]

[ US footage - Following SASHA's unconscious face in close-up, we watch as Strife (off-camera) lifts her up into his arms. ]

[ Now cradling SASHA, STRIFE turns and begins to walk away through the quarry. In the background is an unseen source of smoke. We slowly zoom out and fade to black. ]

[ Break. ]

[ INT. WILDLIFE OFFICE, WAITING ROOM - BARRY sits despondently alone in the waiting room, his pet carrier now clearly empty. ]

[ CASEY approaches tentatively. ]

CASEY: Barry...?

[ BARRY slowly looks up at CASEY with a blank expression. He then picks up his carrier and rises, walking past her without a word. As he begins to exit, she follows. ]

CASEY (gently): Barry...

BARRY: Could we just go?

[ As BARRY leaves, CASEY sheepishly looks down and follows him out. ]

[ INT. QUEEN'S CHAMBER - Slouched in her mother's former throne (see episode 10), SASHA weakly regains consciousness. We slowly zoom out as she regains her bearings. She stands and looks around. ]

[ We cut to a wide shot of the dark, empty chamber, revealing SASHA to be completely alone. ]

[ INT. CASEY'S APARTMENT - CASEY unlocks her door and trudges in, flipping on the lights with minimal effort. ]

[ In the living room, CASEY flops onto her couch, sprawling out across her many pillows. ]

[ Soon, there is a knock at the door. CASEY rises with a grunt and returns to the door. ]

[ CASEY opens the door, revealing an inquisitive MAGGIE. ]

MAGGIE: Hey!

[ CASEY nods toward the living room and shuts the door behind MAGGIE once she enters. ]

CASEY (flatly): Hey, Maggie.

MAGGIE: Are you okay?

[ CASEY sits on the couch once more. ]

CASEY (gesturing): Oh, yeah... I --  (brushes the idea away)  It's nothing.

MAGGIE: Did you... figure out what to do about your parents?

CASEY (more upbeat): Oh. Yeah... I mean, there's not really any choice about it. I'm here with you guys, and that's that. I'll just... I dunno, sell some stuff, get a roommate... (shrugs)  There's stuff I can do.

MAGGIE: (smiles softly)  What made you decide?

CASEY: Well, I mean... I love my parents. ... but I'm a grown-up. I need to get out there and be my own person, you know...? Climb trees, bark at other squirrels, and all that.

[ MAGGIE furrows her brow. ]

MAGGIE (puzzled): That's an... interesting metaphor...

[ CASEY smiles softly. ]

MAGGIE (cont'd): Well, anyway, I'm glad you're staying. We'd all miss you, like, way too much.

[ CASEY smiles more broadly. ]

CASEY: What, you think I'm just gonna leave you guys?

[ Dissolve to EXT. APARTMENT ROOFTOP as CASEY's line concludes (below). RED RANGER stands at the edge of the rooftop looking skyward with determination. A green beam from above shines on him, and he vanishes as a red streak. ]

CASEY (voice-over): What kind of friend would I be?

[ EXT. SPACE (US footage) - Above the Earth, we see HAWK ONE flying away from the planet. It recedes into the starry distance and vanishes into a point. Freezeframe. ]

DR. BERING (voice-over): Next time on Power Rangers Take Flight:

[ EXT. SPACE - In a nondescript region of space, HAWK ONE travels by the camera at cruising speed. ]

[ The angular, gunmetal craft (see episode 1) departs from the space station and advances toward the Earth. ]

TRASK (voice-over): You're far from home, Red Ranger.

[ INT. SPACE STATION, OBSERVATION BOOTH - DILLIK and SASHA look out at the Jinnsect habitat below. ]

SASHA: And how do you decide what host object to use?

DILLIK: (chuckles)  Well, the last couple were things right out of the Rangers' headquarters. Though, to be fair, that was frozen scientist's idea...

[ SASHA quickly turns to DILLIK. ]

SASHA: You know the location of the Rangers' headquarters?

[ Cut to black. ]

DR. BERING (voice-over): Next time, on Power Rangers Take Flight.