Welcome to Reefside

Dr. Mercer's Secret

Amber's POV

The next morning, my mom signs the release forms, but she can't take me home. Her boss called her a few minutes ago to remind her of the business meeting with Ambassadors from Japan. It was only 5 am, so I still have a few hours before school starts at 8. I start to get bored sitting in the waiting room while my mom and I wait for Trent and his dad to show up. An hour later, my mom and I get out of our chairs and walk over to them.

"Thank you, Dr. Mercer, for offering to take my daughter to school today," Mom says.

"You're welcome," Dr. Mercer says.

We leave the hospital and go out to Dr. Mercer's car. Trent lets me ride shotgun, and we make a quick stop at my house. I take the spare key out from underneath the welcome mat. I head upstairs to my room. I change into a white dress with small red flowers on it, a jean jacket and a pair of high tops. I see my mom put an EpiPen on the nightstand. After I place it into my purse, I grab my book bag and head back downstairs. I lock the front door before walking back over to the car. Ten minutes later, we pull into the driveway of Trent's house. We get out and head inside, Dr. Mercer says that I'm welcome to have anything I can find in the fridge to have for breakfast.

After Trent and I finished eating breakfast, we go into the living room. I remind him that we need to be at his dad's office now. We don't have a lot of time since we can't be late for school.

Tracy's POV

I groan and slowly open my eyes when I feel someone shaking me. When my vision becomes as clear as it can be without my glasses on, I make out Mike's face.

'Mike, why are you waking me up so early," I ask as I take my glasses out his hand before putting them back onto my face.

"Sorry, angel, but I thought we could head down to the lab to see Circuit figured out how to restore our Ranger powers," Mike says.

I slowly get out of bed, and Mike leaves my room so I can change for school. I come out carrying my backpack over the right shoulder. We head downstairs to the kitchen, and my mom greets us with a big smile as she sets two plates of waffles on the table.

"Mom, you didn't have to make breakfast for Mike," I say.

"Yes, Mrs. Burlew, I appreciate it," Mike says.

"You're welcome, Mike, now you two should eat up while it's still warm," mom says.

After Mike and I finish eating, we head out to my car then see two Silver Guardians Jeeps pull into the driveway. One parked next to my mom's car and the other parks in front of the mailbox. Wes and Eric get out and walk over to us.

"Wes, Eric, what are you doing here?" Mike asks.

"Yeah, I thought you two would carpool," I add.

"We do most days, but today is different," Eric replies.

"How?" Mike asks.

"Tracy needs to go to see Dr. Calhoun so he and his staff can make sure that she is ready for the surgery tomorrow," Wes says.

"I almost forgot that it was tomorrow with everything that happened yesterday," I say.

"So, I'm going to take Mike to the lab while Wes takes you to see Dr. Calhoun," Eric says.

"Can't we wait till after school to see Dr. Calhoun?" I ask.

"No, he thought it's best to see you now," Wes says.

I let out a shaky sigh. I feel Mike give my hand a comforting squeeze before he and Eric go over to the Jeep. I wait till the vehicle is out of sight before Wes and I head to see Dr. Calhoun.

Amber's POV

Trent and I head to Dr. Mercer's office. We stand in the doorway and wait for him to leave because he is sitting at the desk, filling out some forms. Dr. Mercer stands up and comes over to us. As he gets closer, I see his face suddenly go pale. Then he collapses and catches himself by placing his hand on the frame.

"Are you okay, Dr. Mercer?" I ask.

He doesn't answer, and he just quickly pushes himself away and then starts running out of the room.

"Trent, what's going on?" I ask.

"Amber, you have to promise not to tell the others about what you are about to see," Trent replies. "The rest of the team can't know my father's secret," Trent continues.

I nod, and we run after Dr. Mercer. Trent and I find him leaning up against one of the trees in the backyard. My heart thumps inside my chest when I see Dr. Mercer's eyes change color, and his skin and body suddenly gain a reptile-like appearance. I forget how to speak when I see him turn around to see Mesogog standing in front of me.

"So, Trent, you've brought the purple ranger here. How can you be sure that she won't tell the others?" Mesogog asks.

"She won't tell them, Dad. Amber promised not to say a word about what she just saw," Trent says.

Since I still can't speak, I take off the bracelet and hand it to Mesogog. The next thing I see is Elsa coming out of an Invisiportal with a new monster.

Tracy's POV

Wes and I leave Dr. Calhoun's office. I'm glad that the tests didn't take long. A few seconds after we get into the jeep and buckle up, our communicators go off.

"Eric. Mike, Jen and I will meet you at Trent's house. You and Wes need to get there as quickly as you can. Elsa and Mesogog are there along with one of Mesogog's newest experiments." Tommy says.

"You got it, Tommy," Wes says.

Wes and I speed off to Trent's house, Wes turns on the Jeep's siren, and we pull into the driveway and get out. We race around to the backyard to see Elsa toss Amber over her shoulder. She and the monster escape through an Invisiportal, then watch Dr. Mercer help Trent up off the ground.

"Are you okay?" I ask as Wes, and I run up to him.

"Yes, Mesogog sent that monster and Elisa here to ambush us," Trent says.

"Trent, you and Tracy need to get to school," Dr. Mercer says.

"We have to rescue Amber," I say, struggling to get any sound to come out of my mouth.

"I'll try to help any way I can. I know your parents wouldn't want you to be late," Dr. Mercer says. "But what's wrong with your voice?" Dr. Mercer asks slightly, changing the subject.

After Trent fills his father in about my upcoming surgery to remove my vocal nodules and Wes thanks him for his assistance, we walk over to the jeep and head to school.

Normal POV

Once they leave, Dr. Mercer goes back to his office and uses the Invisiportal to go to the fortress. After turning back into Mesogog, he heads to the lab to find Amber strapped to a chair with the life-force extractor pointed at the girl's face. Grant and Zoey are standing on either side of her, each trying to get her worked up so she'll turn against the other rangers.

"I'd never help Mesogog get the other dino gems. All I wanted to do is give him mine," Amber snaps.

Mesogog chuckles as he goes over to her and moves the life-force extractor away from the girl's face. He points his fingers at her.

"Pretty soon, my dear, you won't even remember who you were or what just happened five minutes ago," Mesogog says.