Disclaimer: The basic concept belongs to whoever Disney assigned it to but the characters belong to us. Like our previous fic series Viva La Resistance this series requires a lot of work due to differences in Time Zone and Hemispheres.

Power Rangers: To The Tenth Power
Leadership Woes
by Robert and Mistri, Cho's Observer

I can see now what Etcock meant by his telling me how I need to put my leadership skills to good practice. If anything that decision to order the rangers to disassociate themselves with Sita was a very hard decision to make. Thankfully things ended up working out well. Let's see what else do I need to deal with. Well I have to meet with Adria and get the scoop on her wedding. Make sure my uniform is properly clean for the State Dinner at the Presidential Palace. I bet Simpner, Etcock, Belman, and the others with the Junior Legislature would be jealous that I get to attend state dinners.

"Hey Space Case, you awake down there?" a twelve year old girl asked as she stood over him due to his being stretched out on his bed.

"Yeah Yeah Hilestra. What are you after?"

"Cynthea is here. Should I send her up?"

"Yes and if her overbearing ogre of a brother should show up you've never heard of me," Valdi told her since Cynthea's brother didn't care for Valdi.

His sister stuck her tongue out before heading downstairs. Not too long after that an older girl walked into his room. She quickly plopped down on his bed.

"So what is filling up your schedule these days. I know it isn't me."

"My duties as far as Silvino goes keep me pretty busy. As it is there is a State Dinner tomorrow night I have to be at in proper uniform."

"Valdi, I was hoping we could do something together. You haven't even been at the dojo since school broke out for the summer. Oh well it pleases my brother who I might add is not an overbearing ogre like you told your sweet little sister he was."

"Yet he tries to be a little too protective of you. How many potential boyfriends has he frightened off?"

"I have no clue. Valdi, I have an idea. Why don't you not go to that State Dinner and instead we go to that new Europan Restaurant for dinner tomorrow night then come back here and get dangerous."

"Maybe because I have to be there. Cynthea just because I have that dinner doesn't mean we can't get together tomorrow night."

"Bull Valdi. I'm tired to playing second fiddle to your task as special representative to the youth of Unaka. How if you have a state dinner can we get together?"

"Easy Cynthea, Special Representatives to the Youth of Unaka for his excellency Marticulus Silvino the President of Unaka are highly encouraged to bring escorts to all State Affairs including and especially dinners."

"Let me see if I get this straight. I a mere commoner on the social ladder have a chance to attend some big Political Bruhaha simply because you are a high enough political butterfly to be required to be there. As it is my brother is worried you will do something stupid and get me stuck with a child."

"Do you want children?" Valdi wondered.

"Of course. I'd prefer waiting until after high school at least though I wouldn't complain if it happened earlier."

"I might be willing to help you out at some point."

"Not tonight though. Your boss might not like it," Cynthea commented.

"I know. Luckily the press stays on the sidelines just in case something happens. After all one of the representatives is getting married later this month."

"Will you have to be there the wedding that is?"

"Most likely I will. I doubt they would care if you accompanied me to it. Will it be a big state affair I doubt it."

"How old is the bride?"

"Same age as me. The whole group was surprised she is getting married already."

"Why is she?"

"I don't know. None of the others in the group are even ready to think about it."

"Glad to hear that. I don't plan that right away After all I'm only fifteen. I hope to be twenty or so before I walk down the aisle. What about you?"

"I'm not sure Cynthea," Valdi responded as he heard a scream.

"Hilestra!" Valdi exclaimed.

"You sure it was her screaming?"

"Mom and dad are at work and Vince is at a friend's house," Valdi responded as he headed outside and looked over the bannister into the Great Room. He then grabbed his secure wrist phone.

"Isidore, come in."

"Yeah Valdi," Isidore responded.

"Ramble and Scramble."

"Right Valdi. Direct R&S or coordinated R&S?"

"Your call Isidore," Valdi said as he prepared to jump the railing.

"Valdi, what's going on?" Cynthea wondered as he jumped the railing.

"Ranger Astro Morph. Power of the Red Dwarf."

Valdi is a ranger. Then what's that whole line of garbage about Silvino?

By the time Valdi landed suitably morphed Jolik who was leading that band of Tylai had his whip out. Valdi could see why Hilestra had screamed as he looked on at her knocked out form laying on one side on the floor. Cynthea jumped off the seventh step from the top and vaulted the railing from a safer height. She could see that Valdi had his hands full.

"Valdi, anything you need me to do?"

"Stay back for now. When the others show up your job will be to get my sister to safety."

"What others?"

"The other rangers I already called for back-up."

Just then Isidore, Xelia, Sita, Landre, and Radha teleported in.

"The other's will be along shortly."

"Sita, glad to see you°re here. My sister is injured. Possibly seriously I can't tell," Valdi said.

"I was prepared the minute the alarm went off to Port here directly but Alpha and E-Berg were monitoring Communications and realized it might not be the best move. Especially since Isidore showed up at the base. Kylara, Charda, Adria, and Wildrik are enroute," Sita responded as the other Ranger's showed up. Cynthea then fought her way through the battlefield to get to Valdi's sister. She arrived safely and was glad to see that the Black and Purple Ranger's were keeping the area clear around her. Her first move was to check for a pulse. She was glad to see one was present although it was a little weak.

OK before porting a victim always make sure there is no spinal damage. Not the easiest thing to check in a war zone especially since you have no way of knowing where to port her to. I just hope she is all right. She is a nice kid and doesn't deserve this.If my knees weren't so bad I'd try and carry her out of here.

Right then things started to quiet down and Sita kneeled down next to her.

"Something wrong?"

"Twelve year old girl could have spinal damage which would prevent us from porting her to a hospital."

"You wearing a Port Belt?"

"Of course."

"OK set the coordinates for 85.142 alpha bravo. I'll signal ahead," Sita said. "You seem trustworthy. If the guy there complains tell him to stick it up his a***."

"Gotcha," Cynthea said as she set the coordinates on her port belt and then attempted to set them on Hilestra's which wasn't easy due to the security lock on the port belts.

"Type in code 439867 first on the victims belt. It's the manufacturer's service code."

Cynthea did so and once she was done she activated Hilestra's belt first before she ported herself. Articula glanced up as Cynthea ported in.

"Who are you and why are you here?"

"My name is Cynthea Minyajko. The Black Ranger told me to bring an injured civilian to these coordinates. The Civilian is Hilestra Egan."

"Did you check for spinal injury?"

"We were in a battle zone. AS it is the Black and Purple Ranger's were making sure I could work uninterrupted."

"Can you safely carry her?"

"Sir, I have bad knees and can't lift a lot. Otherwise I would have moved her to a safer area. Where can we move her to?"

"Medical is down the corridor outside. I'll get us some help," Articula responded. "Alpha 238 to the War Room."

"Right away Articula," Alpha said. He soon walked in as E-Berg floated in his usual tray on hand.

"Hot Chocolate Miss?" E-Berg inquired.

"Sure," Cynthea replied.

"We have to get our patient to Medical," Articula said. "Though neither civilian should even be here."

Alpha grabbed Hilestra's feet while Articula grabbed one shoulder and Cynthea the other. E-Berg decided to support her head on his tray. They soon had her in a bed in the medical bay. Alpha then hooked her up to monitors. Shortly after that Sita walked in helmet in one hand. "We finally got things under control there but not without Valdi's little brother walking in on things. He ended up with minor bruising."

Valdi walked in right then.

"How is she Alpha?" Valdi wondered.

"She is near comatose but not quite. Apparently Jolik hit her pretty hard. I'll try to help her Valdi but I can't make any promises."

A short time later Valdi and Cynthea ported out. Valdi wasn't looking forward to the next few hours.

By the time he got there his parents were home from work.

"Valdi, what happened here?"

"The Nameless one sent one of his goons. First thing they did was knock Hilestra out. She is currently in the Medical Bay at Fortress Articia."

"What is Fortress Articia?"

"It's the base of the rangers of which I'm one of them."

"Valdi, how much of your Silvino related activities are legit and how much is due to rangering?" Cynthea wondered.

"Probably half of the Silvino related stuff is in fact rangering. Writing it off to governmental affairs related to my being a special representative to Silvino makes for a good cover for rangering since the rangers are the special representative to the young people of Unaka."

"How is Hilestra doing do you know?" Mrs. Egan wondered.

"She isn't doing good. There is a chance her injuries could be fatal. I hope not."

"You still going to the State Dinner tomorrow night?" Mr. Egan wondered.

"I really should make an appearance," Valdi said as the phone chirped.

"Egan residence," Mr. Egan responded as President Silvino's image was projected.

"Mr. Egan, I'm Marticulus Silvino the President of Unaka. I heard about your daughter's injuries."

"It will be a hard time for us Mr. President as we wait for news on our daughter's condition. From what our son Valdi told us she could end up dying."

"Valdi, if you want to skip tomorrow night's dinner I'll understand."

"I'm sure Alpha will alert me if her condition changes during the dinner. Besides I think my girlfriend is looking forward to it."

"I hope you do make it Valdi but as I said I'll understand if you aren't there."

Cynthea spent the night in a guest room at the Egans. The next morning she went with Valdi to the dojo so they could spar. Cynthea's knees made it difficult for her to do a lot of kicks but she did what she could. That evening she was decked out in a real fancy dress as she arrived with Valdi at the Presidential Palace. They waited in a small parlor with the other rangers and their escorts. Xelia's sister Melalia and her date Ericon were also in there.

"Adria, I think everyone would love to know why you are getting married at such a young age?" Melalia inquired.

"Trust me Melalia if I had a choice I wouldn't be getting married this young but it's an arranged marriage for one thing also in my village sixteen is the traditional age for marriage," Adria said.

"We are going to wait to have children until after her commitment to President Silvino is over," Bereto informed the group.

"Miss Silvino they are ready," a staffer interrupted to announce.

"OK thanks Fredero," Xelia said.

"First Daughter of Unaka Xelia Silvino and her escort Dek Luiton."

They walked out.

"Co-First daughter Melalia Silvino and her escort Ericon Malovich."

"Sitarna Lynch of New Seoul Tiarea and her Escort Isidore Cantrell of Pekjing Chinea."

Sita was a little steamed as she walked out and tried to find the idiot who had announced them.

"Landre Basto of Unaria Afrinebul and his escort Radha Xenta of New Reagan City Amernada."

"Kylara Kalina of New Ecuador Hispania and her escort Charda Pepe of New Cairo Eqyphad."

"Valdi Egan of New Hondura Latinaamero and his escort Cynthea Minyajko."

"Adria Tenwa of Nigeria City South Nigeriala and her Escort Bereto Ninjao."

"Wildrik Maire of New France United Europa and his escort Thalania Nuehousner."

The group as usual had their own table.

"Somehow I have a feeling I will have trouble getting used to the protocol at these affairs," Bereto pointed out. "It just seems so foreign compared to things in our village."

"Your village Bereto is just one small piece of the planet. Even back on Earth different countries had different ways of looking at things. A lot of countries were democratic like Unaka is and others based their entire way of life including politics on a religious text known as the Koran. For those countries democracy was very slow in catching on," Sita commented.

"I didn't even know until yesterday that I was welcome at these affairs. I was complaining about how his responsibilities were interfering with us and he indicated that Escorts were highly encouraged. Thalania how long have you and Will been going out?" Cynthea wondered.

"We just started going out last week. Our first date was a three day two night camping trip. His hobby of rock collecting and my hobbies of hiking and fossil collecting kind of go together nicely."

"Boy Will I'd hate to think where you'll take her for your next date," Kylara joked.

"Give it time Lara. At least the state dinners allow me to take her out to eat instead of just camping out with her."

"Yeah on the taxpayers," Cynthea joked. "Adria, How are the wedding customs handled in your village?"

"Well for one thing the marriage is arranged at a very young age. Everything is decided on by the parents of the intended bride and groom, the wedding date, the spouse, even the people allowed to participate. The only things that Athea, Bereto, her intended Terebo and I have any control over is who we want as guests at the wedding. Bereto and I already know we want the rest of the Representatives to the young people of Unaka at the wedding in Full Uniform. I admit I won't be in uniform since I have to wear special ceremonial garb but I can't see any reason the Representatives can't be in Full uniform."

"Not only that but where like here a person might wait until they are in their twenties to marry in our village and most of South Nigeriala the majority of couples get married when both parties are sixteen. It can be a burden since the parties are so young but it works out well."

"What about us non reps?" Thalania wondered. "Are we not important enough to be there."

"Personally Thala I hope you will be there," Adria said.

"Who is Athea?" Cynthea wondered.

"My twin sister. Far as I know Athea and I along with our intendeds are the only people getting married that day. There is no set day on which weddings take place our parents simple decided my sister and I should get married on the Longest Day of the Year."

Right then they heard a cough coming from one side. Everyone looked up to find Articula on hand.

"Something up sir?" Thalania wondered.

"Not at all Miss Nuehousner. I just have some news for Valdi."

"That being?" Valdi wondered.

"Your sister has regained consciousness."

"That's good. Is dhe moving around much?"

"No Valdi, she isn't well enough to really move around. In ten days she can safely get out of bed. At that time she should be able to move around. She is to remain in bed until that time."

"Thanks for the report."

"No problem Valdi. You can safely inform your parents."

"Ok I'll do that," Valdi said.

After the dinner was over Valdi ported home.

"Valdi, how was your dinner?"

"It was good. Articula made an appearance at the dinner. How he pulls off these sudden appearances I have no clue."

"Any idea about your sister?"

"She is alive and it appears she will remain that way. She is simply stuck in bed for the next ten days. Probably at Articia which means I'm the only one who can get in among the family. After Cynthea ported there with Hilestra to begin with Articula went ape and had Sita program the system to only let certain Port Signatures in. In other words only the other rangers and I can port in. I can't even port you in with me since it measures the mass of the person being ported."

"Well it should probably be expected. For some reason the barn door is always closed after the horse has already flown the coop."

The next morning Valdi ported into the base Sita was working at a terminal in the War Room. He glanced at her before walking down to Medical.

"Hey sis, how are you feeling?"

"Better then I was. You know it really bites that I can't leave my bed for another nine days. Mom and Dad are probably worried sick about me."

"They were after you were first injured but they are aware you're going to live. A fact I'm glad about. As it is I'm just glad you only had a small amount of spinal damage but not enough to cause immediate impairment. Down the road impairment is possible but we aren't sure how much. I'll try and see if something can be done to keep you from getting completely bored and help the time fly by."

"That would be great Valdi."

Valdi then went back toward the War Room. As he walked past E-Berg he snagged a cup of hot chocolate.

"Thanks E-Berg," he said.

"That's why I'm here Valdi," E-Berg said.

Articula looked up as he entered.

"What brings you in today Valdi?"

"I came to see my sister. Any chance you all could find a way to keep her from getting bored you know since she is going to be bedridden for a while."

"I'll see what I can come up with."

Sita slipped a note in Valdi's pocket as she walked past. He then ported out.

Valdi,

When Articula wasn't looking I secretly programmed in Cynthea and Hilestra's port belt signatures. Once I identify them I'll include Thala and Dek's signatures just in case.

Sita.

End