The day was clear as Mr. Collins walked toward the main lab bay of Bio-Synth Labs, several members of the press behind him. "Yes, I will answer the questions I can, but one at a time."

"Is it true that this project has been under wraps because of military contract?"

"Yes and no. We were originally contracted by NASA two decades ago for a exploration craft to be used in a future Mars mission. However, that fell through with the...events of two-thousand, so we decided to keep working and see if someone else would be interested. However, recent events have proven to give it a use, so it was refitted to combat these invaders to our city."

"Mister Collins, are you telling us an exploration vehicle has been transformed intro a mobile battle platform?"

"Exactly," Collins replied. "And you, my friends, are the first public eyes to see this construction." He tapped in a code on a keypad next to the entrance to the main lab, the doors sliding open and Collins leading the press inside. "Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, Devastator."

Indeed, the machine looked as if its design alone warranted the name. Huge and bulky, the vehicle had racks of weaponry jury-rigged to its surface, a large drill point on the front. The tank appeared as if it could take out an entire army. The cameramen began taking quick pictures of the massive battle platform as the reporters quickly began asking questions again.

"Please," Collins stated as he put on a smile. "If you have questions dealing with the technicals of the Devastator, you're better off asking Doctor Raimi. Simply put though, the Devastator has been in development for the last twenty years, with many years of research and development before it reached its current state."

"Those weapons looked like they've been recently added," one of the reporters stated. "I'm almost tempted to say they were jury rigged."

"Yes, well, shortage of time at the moment required a quick addition of weapons, so the weaponry is rather crudely installed at the moment. Tests have show that there should be no problems in an actual situation requiring its action though. Doctor Raimi can explain it better than I can."

The aforementioned scientist nodded as the attention was shifted to him. "Well, as stated, it took us twenty years of research and development, heavy titanium and xarium armoring, and a lot of coffee."

The last comment got a light chuckle from the reporters as the doctor continued. "And this isn't the end result of our work either. The technologies research is continuing to make leaps and bounds in development."

Outside, the peace was broken as a mutant from Ransik's army and several Reavers approached the entrance to Bio-Synth. "Alright," the mutant ordered. "Let's go!" He pulled a rifle weapon from his back and kicked down the doors, firing his gun at two of the guards. "Reavers, go and handle their security!" he ordered as he continued, blowing down the doors of the main lab and shocking everyone. "Alright, humans! Be nice and cooperative, and no one will die...maybe!"

He turned to a Reaver and chuckled. "Find the powder, and don't spill a speck, or I melt you into a combinator!"

The Reaver nodded as it went to work, soon finding a waste bucket filled with a goldish dust, gesturing to the mutant that he had found what they were looking for.

"Good! Pack it up, and then we're out of here!"

Mr. Collins growled as he walked toward the mutant. "What the hell do you..."

"Move, and you die!" the mutant snapped, aiming his rifle at Collins. "This won't take long, human, so just shut up and be good!"

"Alert! Temporal shift forming!"

A shadowed figure turned as the computers announced the problem, the man frowning as he flexed his arm, a low whine coming from it as the soft sound of motors was let out. "Details."

"Unable to determine! Information indicates that-"

"It's all I need to know," he stated, picking up something from a table and hooking it to his mechanical arm. "Time is shifting again. Looks like it's all going to start over again...except I wasn't there last time. Keep me updated."

Shadow of Time

The mutant laughed as a Reaver transferred the goldish powder into a container, keeping his rifle trained on Mr. Collins. "Not the way you expected your day to go, did you?"

Collins was about to snap back when the sound of laser fire was heard in the hallways, an explosion flaring through the doors and scattering Reaver pieces onto the floor. The source was soon revealed as TimeRed and TimeBlue burst in through the smoke, blasters at the ready.

"Time Force! You're under arrest!" Lucas called, training his aim on the mutant. "Drop the gun now, and we can avoid any unneeded problems!"

"Oh, don't make me laugh!" the mutant replied, quickly reaiming and firing at the two Time Rangers, Wes and Lucas dropping to avoid the blast. The mutant grabbed the filled container from the Reaver and ran, Lucas growling as he tapped the com on his Changer.

"Lieutenant, he's trying to escape!"

"We're on it!"

The mutant laughed as he raced down the hall, stopping as TimePink and TimeGreen came around the corner. "Lovely!"

"Nowhere to run, mutant!" Yuuri exclaimed, readying her blaster, Syon following suit as they approach their target.

"Think again!" he snapped, the mutant slamming through the wall and sailing down to the ground outside, running off as Yuuri and Syon ran to the hole he had made.

"Kuso!" Yuuri swore, tapping her Changer's com. "Domon-san, he's outside and on the run! Meet us at the main entrance as soon as possible!"

"Acknowledged!"

"Lu..."

"Not the best time for names, Lieutenant!" Lucas' voice replied. "We have civilians here!"

"Right," Yuuri replied, remembering to avoid names. "TimeBlue, I want you and TimeRed to meet us as soon as the civilians are safe."

"We're on it, TimeBlue out!"

Yuuri nodded to Syon and leapt down out the hole, TimeGreen following as they ran to chase after the mutant.

The mutant laughed as he ran, having lost the Time Rangers easily. "Too easy!" he quipped as he slowed down. "Too bad for them..."

"Indeed," came Frax's voice, the robot walking out to meet the mutant. "Excellent work, Izout. Ransik will be delighted. Best let me handle the Zirium though."

The mutant nodded and handed Frax the container. "No prob...anything else?"

"Yes...since you did so well, I'll let you have the honor of killing the Time Rangers."

Izout chuckled as he pulled his rifle out again. "My pleasure!" he stated, running off to find the Rangers.

"Stupid mutant," Frax muttered as he tapped his teleporter. "Such an enigma to solve how they even comprehend anything!"

"Everyone, clear out!" Lucas ordered as he and Wes continued to handle the remaining Reavers, firing at the robots while keeping clear of the human civilians. "Move it, move it!"

Wes shot a Reaver that was going after Doctor Raimi, running over and helping the scientist up. "You alright?"

"I'm fine, Raimi replied. "Thank you."

Wes nodded as the man ran, turning to see his father making his way to the exit, then saw a Reaver aiming toward him. "Look out!" he yelled, racing over in a blur and slamming his father to the ground, turning his arm back and firing at the Reaver. "Are you alright?"

Collins nodded with a grunt as they got up, Wes noticing that he was staring at him, then realized that while his voice was distorted by his helmet, it was possible for someone to recognize it from this close. He quickly ran, rejoining Lucas, while Collins made his way to the exit, unable to shake the feeling he had gotten about the Time Ranger.

The mutant laughed as he ran through the park area near Bio-Synth, looking for the Rangers. "Never here when you want to find them..."

"Teiryuu, Time Force!"

The mutant turned in time to see Yuuri and Syon arrive, the two aiming their V-Cannons at him. "Hey, I was wondering where you were!"

"You're under arrest!" Syon stated, powering his weapon. The mutant turn and stopped as Domon come over as well, V-Cannon charged and ready to fire. "And you've got nowhere to run."

The mutant chuckled as he swung up his gun, firing at Yuuri and Syon, then ducking as Domon fired and shot off a round at TimeYellow, running as fast as he could while the three were down. "Just gott'a find the other two!"

"Halt!"

As a pair of blasts slammed down, the mutant smiled as he saw Wes and Lucas run over, aiming their V-Cannons. "And there they are!"

"You're out-numbered and surrounded!" Domon's voice stated as he, Syon and Yuuri ran over, aiming their cannons.

The mutant laughed as he press an injector to his arm, pressing the switch and injecting grow serum into his blood stream, growing into a giant. "Who has who surrounded now?!"

"Kuso!" Yuuri swore. "Circuit, we needs the TimeMega!"

"Sending beacon to Provider Base now!"

Within seconds, the five Time Jets shot out of a temporal gate, the Rangers jumping up and boarding as the set of vehicles flew down low enough. Yuuri frowned when the mutant swung at them, the five jets scattering to avoid damage. "Assemble TimeMega Mode Beta!"

"Initiating systems!" Domon replied. "Let's lock it up!"

As the five shot up into the clouds, Time Jet 1 transformed to the torso section of the TimeMega, Jets 2 and 3 converting to arm configuration while Jets 4 and 5 transformed into the legs, the four jets locking onto Jet 1. Wes tapped his controls and brought down the cover plate, revealing the Mode Beta face of the TimeMega.

"TimeMega Beta, ready to lock and load!"

"Bringing in the Time Flyer," Syon stated, the jet board like craft flying down and transforming into the gestalt's blaster.

"Bring it on!" the mutant bellowed, slamming into the TimeMega and throwing it back. The act was answered with a burst from the machine's blaster that came close to hitting the explosives mounted by a strap to Izout's chest. "Hey, watch it!"

"Careful with aim," Yuuri chided. "One of those goes off, it'll kill him and possibly take us with him."

"I think our concern should be just surviving!" Domon replied as he gripped his controls tightly. "He gets one of those on us, it could take the TimeMega down for a long time, if not for good."

The battle raged through the rubble that Izout had caused, the Rangers trying to contain the damage as much as they could while avoiding causing anymore. The mutant merely took the chance and managed to knocking the Time Flyer blaster from the TimeMega's hand, then pushed hard on the gestalt before moving away.

"What's he-"

"Alert! Volatile device detected on main hull!"

"He set one of those explosives on the TimeMega!" Syon gasped. "We've gott'a get it off before-"

The Xybrian was cut off as the device detonated, causing massive structural damage to the TimeMega and sending it crashing to the ground. The five Rangers were thrown about in the control room of the gestalt, all systems failing one by one from the blast.

"We've lost all main power, we're sitting ducks!" Domon exclaimed.

"Time to die!" Izout laughed, then yelled as a blast slammed into his shoulder. He looked up in time to see the remote piloted Time Flyer streak down, the craft firing again and striking on of the explosives on his chest. In a massive chain reaction, the devices detonated, destroying Izout and leaving nothing of him to be collected.

"Good god," Wes whispered as he helped his companions get out of the TimeMega. "Killed by his own weapons."

"I'm sorry Rangers," Circuit's voice stated over their coms. "But I didn't have a choice. The normal weapons of the Time Flyer aren't enough to cryo-inhibit something that size, so..."

"It's alright," Yuuri replied calmly. "You did what you had to, I'm sure the higher ups at HQ will understand. Right now, we've got to get the TimeMega back to Provider Base, the whole thing is highly damaged."

"Sending signal now for emergency retrieval."

Within seconds, the entire form of the TimeMega gestalt was engulfed in light before it vanished, pulled from the past back into its proper era by Provider Base. The Rangers sighed and assessed the damage, things not looking good at all.

3000.301

Logistics chaos filled Provider Base as Logan tried to gain control of the panic, directing repair operations for the Time Jets. "Get those back online as soon as possible!" he ordered as he walked around the control station. "We get anymore growers, the Rangers need the TimeMega to fight!"

"This recent incident did not conclude with a capture," a voice hidden by shadows in the back on the chamber remarked.

Logan frowned and nodded as he looked back toward the direction of the voice. "The TimeMega was damaged beyond operation, so their robot aid remote piloted their Time Flyer and managed to detonate one of the explosives the mutant was carrying, there seems to be little percent for alternate tactics."

"The end result is not so disapproved as expected," the voice continued. "However, make sure to minimize such events as much as possible."

"Every person we have available get to the repairs!"

The order echoed on a small monitor deep in an underground complex as several other screens displayed data and programs. The lone occupant of the complex tapped on a console, then turned to look into a huge chamber that looked like a massive city sprawling out before him. Glancing back at the computers, he took a deep breath.

"Computer, begin Shadow Winger auto-pilot test five alpha."

"Beginning test."

He looked into the huge chamber as a machine roughly the size of the combined TimeMega rose up into the cityscape, then lifted off the ground into the air. Glowing blue eye optics shined out in the dark of the testing facility as the machine moved about like a shadow, seeming to vanish and appear at will around the city.

In an instant, the city changed to a forest area in the middle of a storm, the machine pulling a pair of translucent blades from its legs that extending straight out from the wrist, and sliced with precision against the weather, its movement unhindered by the wind or rain.

Just as instantaneously, the environment rippled and vanished to reveal an elaborate holo-simulator. The machine locked its blades back in its legs and powered down as the man nodded with satisfaction at the test. "Looks like we did good with her."

2006.198

Back at Bio-Synth, Dr. Raimi and Mr. Collins were trying to get a hold on what the whole attack had been over. What Raimi found was quite a confusion.

"They took Zirium powder from on of the disposal filters," Raimi muttered in perplextion. "It's worthless, Zirium is just a chemical byproduct that does nothing as far as we can tell."

"Whoever stole it must know a way to make it useful then," Collins replied in conclusion. "Try and find out what can be done with the powder, and put the Devastator on stand by, just to be ready. Something tells me these, 'Time Rangers' aren't going to be much help next time."

In a darkened section of the prison ship, Frax chuckled to himself as he checked progress on a robot he had been building with the aid of several Reavers. Pleased with his progress, he continued his work on a pile of the Zirium powder, using a high density laser to cause a chemical reaction in the golden dust.

"Simple human fools of this year, if only they knew how 'useless' the Zirium is...alas, it shall be another two centuries before these idiots figure it out that this seemingly worthless powder is the key to a near infinite power source."

It wasn't long before the pile of dust began to fuse into a crystal, Frax laughing as he shut off the laser and picked up the crystal. "Excellent! A bit crude, but just as effective! With the Lambda crystal as power for Nova, I can induce his own giant growth, and destroy this city! Then let's see Ransik hesitate at using one of my constructs!"

"I don't get it," Wes stated as he looked over the image of what was taken. "Zirium? As far as I know, it's just a chemical byproduct, practically useless. Why would Ransik want that?"

"I'm not so sure it's Ransik who wants the powder," Circuit replied. "But contrary to what you know in this era, Zirium is far from a junk byproduct. It can be induced with high power lasers to fuse into a powerful crystal called Lambda, which is capable of high amounts of energy output."

"Lambda?" Lucas repeated. "But that won't be discovered until twenty-two fifty-seven. If one of Ransik's people make the crystal now..."

Domon nodded as he got the idea. "It could alter the timeline even more than things have been already. Just our simple presence changes the future in some way, but if someone of this ere were to gain future technologies and exploit them...the result could be ir-repairable."

"Maybe it's not so bad," Syon remarked from his seat. "I mean, as long as no one of this time figures out how to make the crystal, we should be fine. Then again, the fact that Ransik or one of his people do know how to make it doesn't help."

As the day reached on, Frax and the Reavers finally completed construction on the massive robot. Frax laughed as he placed the Lambda crystal in the robot's generator and closed the panel before activating the machine. "At last, my masterpiece is ready!"

He turned to the Reavers, then tapped a control on his arm, shutting them down and wiping their memory banks of their aiding him. "Must cover my tracks," he whispered, then held onto Nova and activated his teleporter, both of them vanishing and reappearing in the streets of the city.

"Time to bring some terror! Nova, activate growth system!"

The robot let out a whine as it was engulfed in lightning-like energy and phased into a giant machine. It looked around, then armed its weapons and started firing down on the city, explosions erupting everywhere.

Circuit's eyes lit up red as he let out a low tone. "Alert! Hostile activity!"

"Mutant or alien?!" Yuuri stated in question.

"Neither...I'm not picking up mutant or non-human life signs. It must be a machine or something."

"Guys!" Wes called from the window. "It's a huge robot!" He gestured out at the huge Nova in the distance, the other four Rangers running over to see. "We've gott'a get down there!"

Yuuri merely nodded as she and the others ran for the stairs. "Circuit, contact Provider Base and have them send the Time Jets, we need them for this!"

"On it!" the robot eagle replied.

The Rangers ran out of the clock tower and activated their Changers, transforming in a flash as they mounted the hovercycles and shot out onto the streets. The five raced toward the center of the destruction to find fires and casualties all over while Nova continued his rampage. "Shimatta!" Yuuri sword, then tapped her Changer com. "Circuit, where are the Time Jets?!"

"We've got a problem. The TimeMega was so damaged by that mutant, it'll be at least two weeks before it's back in operation!"

"What?! Wes exclaimed just before a blast slammed down before them, sending debris spraying. "Why can't they make note and send it to this point in time when it's repaired? This is time travel we're talking about!"

"Time doesn't work like that!" Syon explained. "This point in time we're at is parallel with our time of origin, not linear. Things are flowing at the same rate!"

"But we need the TimeMega!"

Wes shook his head and tapped his Changer to call out his V-Cannon. "Need it or not, we've got to fight this thing without the Time Jets!"

Meanwhile, at Bio-Synth, instead of panic, people rushed about trying to ready the Devastator for its first mission. Dr. Raimi was directing operations when Collins ran over. "Sir, we're moving as fast as we can, the tank should be out in action in less than ten minutes."

"We may not have ten minutes," Collins stated harshly. "Get it out there now, that thing is on a rampage!"

Blasts flying from their V-Cannons, the Time Rangers were slowly forced to back away as their weapons had little effect on Nova. The robot made little sound of its own before firing a missile down at the five, the explosion sending them flying back.

"How the hell do we stop this thing?!" Wes cried, then heard the sound of treads approaching. He and the others turned to see the massive Devastator roll into position and begin firing on Nova. "What is that thing?!"

Frax gave a chuckle as he watched the battle, having perched himself atop a building. "Interesting, the era natives have some bite after all. Nova, destroy that craft and be done with it!"

Nova returned fire as ordered, its shots erupting around the Devastator and the Rangers as massive fireballs. Wes growled as he got to his feet and aimed his V-Cannon, firing rapid shots at the massive robot. "We may have a chance with this thing! Everyone, keep firing!"

The others added their own weapons to the battle as the Devastator continued to fire. Nova backed away when a combined shot ripped open a gash on its side. A rotation of its left arm, and missiles came flying out to rain down upon the ground. The Devastator shook violently from the warheads, some of its own weapons torn off.

"Sir, we're taking heavy damage, I don't know how much this tank can handle!"

Collins frowned from his place in the main lab as he and Dr. Raimi watched the battle on a monitor. "Keep trying, but pull out if--"

"Shit! That shot penetrated to the engine! This thing's gonn'a blow!"

"Eject, get out of there!"

"Ejection system is fried, we can't--"

The Devastator exploded at that moment, the Time Rangers pulling back from the blast as they stared in horror at the deaths of its pilots. "God damnit!" Wes bellowed in anger. "We can't fight this thing!"

As night blanketed the city of New York in 3000, the machine that had been tested earlier now lay in a hanger bay in a jet configuration, a black armored form walking toward it, helmet in hand. "Prepare for full operation," he stated, slipping his helmet on. A face plate slid shut over his mouth, a sky blue crystal in the helmet's forehead flaring before a night black visor appeared over his eyes, completely hiding his face. "Tap into Providus command systems and ready time gate."

"Shadow Winger in full combat readiness. This is not a test, repeat, this is not a test! All weapons armed, ready for launch."

The man nodded as he climbed into a hatch on the side of the jet, shutting it behind him and taking his seat in the main cockpit. "Open launch bay doors. Shadow Winger, full power to engines."

"Acknowledged."

Its thrust ports flaring to life, the craft rose up into a launch tunnel, racing off down the long stretch of corridor and flying out into the night sky, racing toward Provider Base.

"All systems set for Time Shift, engage Time Gate."

"Providus Time Gate online. Ready for time shift."

As the jet shot down toward the base launch pad, its engines fired off its afterburners, tearing toward the Time Gate and vanishing in its portal, blasting through the time stream.

The Rangers ran as fast as they could while Nova fired down at them, the five returning fire from their V-Cannons when they had the chance. "This isn't getting us anywhere!" Domon yelled as they avoided an explosion from Nova's shots. They came to a dead end, turning back around to see Nova aim its weapons.

"This so sucks..."

Frax laughed from his vantage point, pointing to the team of five. "Nowhere to run now! Nova, finish them off!"

Suddenly, the sun went dark, Frax looking up as a huge distortion formed in the sky and blocked out the sunlight. The Rangers looked up as well to see the distortion, lightning crackling in the sky.

"What's going on?!"

Just as sudden as it began, the distortion let out a blast of lightning-like tendrils of energy, forming the black and silver jet that had entered the time gate in 3000. The craft shot down toward the city, firing rapid blasts from the cannons on its wingtips at Nova, the robot taking heavy damage.

"What the hell is that?!" Frax bellowed in rage. "Nova, destroy it!"

"Made it just in time," the jet's pilot stated as he tapped a control in the cockpit, the craft vanishing from site just as Nova got a lock on it. It reappeared for but a moment as it fired again, decloaking and racing up into the sky, halting as it blocked out the sun, then suddenly transformed into its humanoid mode, slowly landing on top of a building and raising its bladed hands.

"What is that thing?!"

Circuit shook his head, then gasped as his eyes lit up. "I'm getting a transmission from it! Patching to audio!"

"Rangers, forgive this sudden appearance, but you need my help in this," came the distorted voice, scrambled so heavily there was no way they could identify it. "I cannot tell you who I am, so you may call me TimeShadow. The Shadow Winger and I will handle Frax's machine, try and stay clear."

"Some new machine of Time Force's?" Frax mused as he looked at the machine. "No matter! Nova, destroy it!"

As the robot lifted its arm and fired, the Shadow Winger quickly lifted off its perch, soaring down and dodging shot after shot from Nova as it leaped about, missiles exploding all around it, but none hitting the machine. The Shadow Winger locked down its arms to reveal its own arsenal of hardpoints, firing its stock of missiles at Nova and blasting off several sections of plating.

By the time Nova could react, the Shadow Winger was already slashing it hard, sending the giant robot crashing down where Frax was watching.

"No, No!" the robot screamed as he fell back and through the skylight of the building, plummeting down and crashing to the floor. As he picked himself up, Frax snarled, looking up to see Nova vanish from view. "Damn you!"

Inside the Shadow Winger, its pilot, TimeShadow, tapped on his control console. "Winger, set autopilot, I'm going down to get Frax. Take this machine of his out."

"Acknowledged. Initiating automatic control."

The armored form jumped down from the main hatch of the battle machine and landed near the Rangers, letting them get their first look at their rescuer. Very much so was his armor not like their own. Large bulky boots clad his feet, his gauntlets equally large in proporation, and he wore a large chest piece which bore two large green crystals. His helmet also greatly differed when compared to that of the Rangers; black spires swept up from the sides, and the center area was silver. "Rangers, I'm TimeShadow. Frax is open, we have a chance to capture him!"

Not truly knowing if they could trust this new arrival, but not having much choice, the five followed TimeShadow into the building where Frax was, drawing their weapons and surrounding him. "It's over Frax, you can't win here!"

The robot chuckled as he shook off the glass that was still on him from the crash. "Oh, how wrong you are!"

"You're outnumbered!" Syon added. "There's no way you can escape us!"

"Wrong again!" Frax replied, throwing out a handful of nuts and bolts that formed into a large squad of Reavers. "Get them!"

TimeShadow growled and took hold of a handle that was attached to a pack on his back. Pulling it out, a massive green energy blade ignited from the handle, the man slashing hard into a pair of Reavers and cutting them in half. "You've not yet fought a foe like me, Frax! Give it up now!"

"I will never surrender!" the robot stated, dumping another group of Reavers out. Time Shadow turning back to help the Rangers with the Reavers they were fighting.

"Rangers, move!" he ordered, waiting till his allies were clear before readying his weapon. "Shadow...Strike!"

His saber flaring up before he struck, TimeShadow moved like a blur, cutting down the Reavers. For a moment, he paused and brought his saber back to its pack, locking it in to crackle with electrical energy. With a grunt, TimeShadow pulled his weapon back out from one final powered strike, the slice blazing through several Reavers and detonating them.

"Damn," Lucas remarked. "This guy has got serious fire power!"

"You think that will stop me?!"

TimeShadow raised his saber, blocking several shots from Frax's finger guns as a bright crackle and flash burst with each impact. "Dead or alive, Frax, you're coming with me!"

Yuuri's head snapped back as she heard TimeShadow's words, sure it was just coincidence that he chose that phrase. "It can't be," she whispered, but she had the most disturbing feeling regardless.

"I didn't know Robocop was gonn'a still be popular in the thirty first century," Wes mused, cutting down a Reaver. It was then that he noticed she wasn't moving. "Yuuri, something wrong?"

TimePink shook off her thought, knowing it was impossible. "Nothing, it's nothing."

TimeShadow continued his attack on Frax, dodging blasts from the robot and bringing down any Reavers that got in his way. "Give it up, Frax, you can't win this fight!"

"We'll continue this another time, Ranger!" the machine stated as he teleported away, TimeShadow snarling and slashing a Reaver in half.

"Damnit! So close!" he yelled in anger, then remembered the trouble of his allies and rejoined them in fighting the Reavers, soon clearing the robot footsoldiers out. "You five alright?"

"We'll be alright," Domon replied. "What about your machine?"

The armored man nodded as they ran outside to see the Shadow Winger still fighting with Nova. "Time to finish this...Shadow Winger, blades to full power and execute Temporal Smash!"

Nova was hit once more before the Shadow Winger backed away, locked its blade weapons together, then shot forward, its weapon glowing just before it slashed hard and cut through Nova, the robot exploding as its power core detonated.

"That was incredible!" Syon commented as the Shadow Winger transformed back to jet mode and landed near them. "Please, tell us who you are!"

"I can't do that, not right now," TimeShadow replied. "I'm sorry I have to hide my face from my allies, but it's needed. I promise, the day will come when I can reveal who I am." He tapped the control panel at the entry hatch and opened the door, climbing in and launching into the sky. The Shadow Winger crackled as it streaked off and vanished in a blast of temporal energies, twin trails of flame marking its departure.

Back at the Clock Tower, the Rangers crowded around the holoscreen as Logan's image hovered before them. "The Shadow Winger helped out immensely sir," Yuuri stated. "And TimeShadow is one hell of an operative, I just wish he didn't have to hide his face."

"Well, I wish we could take credit for that..."

"Hold on," Wes cut in. "You mean Time Force didn't send TimeShadow and the Shadow Winger?"

"We don't have any more idea of who he is than you do, mister Collins. I don't know how he managed to bypass our security protocols, but I intend to find out. Provider Base out."

Domon frowned as he stood up from his kneeling position. "If Time Force didn't send us TimeShadow and the Winger, then how did he get here, and why is he helping us? None of this is making any sense."

The Shadow Winger burst back into existence under the cover of night as it streaked through the skies of 3000, racing toward a hidden hanger bay and landing. As its pilot shut down the machine's engines, he sighed and retracted his helmet's face plate and visor, taking a deep breath.

"Sorry guys...but I can't let you know who I am yet...it's just the way it's got to be."