Eric and Alvin were staring at each other, stunned. Behind Alvin, Winnie and Grace were confused. What happened between Eric and Alvin, how did they know each other? But Alvin was the one filled with confusion, how the hell did the boy he saved earlier became Genoranger?

 

“What’s wrong with Alvin?” Winnie whispered to Grace.

 

“Apparently he is surprised and mad because Tyrannorot is someone he knows,” Grace replied.

 

Eric was nervous as he looked at Alvin’s blank, yet negative expression. His joy that Glyptodon was defeated was eclipsed by his disdain toward Eric, the one that Alvin blamed for revealing his identity as Genoranger in school. He walked toward Eric, his fist clenched. Before Eric realized, Alvin punched him so hard he hit the asphalt.

 

Eric, Winnie and Grace were taken aback. For Grace and Winnie, who knew Alvin for long, it was unbelievable that he would just randomly hit someone. He may be temperamental and hot-headed, but he would never hit someone that seemingly a good guy. For Eric, he could not believe the same person that saved him, the same person that inspired him to take the DNA Key, would attack him for no reasons.

 

“What did-”

 

“Fuck you,” Alvin said, “Because of you I have nowhere to go now.”

 

Eric became more confused. Alvin, ran out of words, turned his back and went away. Winnie and Grace followed him, although they were just as confused as Eric. Winnie looked at Eric as she followed her friends, she gazed at him sympathetically. Eric sat on the ground, nursing his cheek as he looked at them going away, trying to process everything.

 

“What did I do to deserve this?” he wondered.

 

He looked at his Genophone, it was quarter past twelve. He got up and went to return to his home. His eyes were heavily clouded by the fog and his own mind. Not even the streetlight of passing-by vehicles and chattering of people could distract him. He took a shortcut, a quiet alley. 

 

“Why did Senior Alvin hit me?” he thought, “Is it wrong for me to be a Genoranger? Am I wrong to be a hero?”

 

Alvin's hit did hurt, but no more than that. He rubbed his left cheek again.

 

“Is he worried I will get killed? Is being a Genoranger a bad thing?” he thought as he kicked a tin toward the garbage can, remembering his mother's words earlier. “Is this the power I desired for?”

 

He could not sleep well after that. He spent the rest of his night with his eyes opened, just lying restlessly in the bed. When his alarm clock rang, he turned it off grudgingly and opened his smartphone to read morning news. The headline was about him.

 

"Red Genoranger Appears! First HD Picture of Genoranger!"

 

Just earlier at midnight, our cameramen Christopher witnessed a youngster turned into a red Genoranger near town center. Unfortunately, Christopher was unable to capture the youngster before he transformed…

 

Eric jerked in surprise, his phone dropped on his face. 

 

“Ouch,” he blurted, he picked it up and scrolled again.

 

There was another news about Genoranger titled “Major of Natales’ Commentary on Genoranger.”

 

“Genoranger has long caused disturbance in our city,” he said, “If any of you know their identity, better report to the police.” 

 

“Now I can’t let anyone know I am the red Genoranger. If they know, it’s over for me,” Eric murmured.

 

He looked at his desk, where his Genophone and DNA key of Tyrannosaurus sat silently. Eric thought about his desire, the words of his mother, Alvin’s reactions, and the man that gave him those things. He thought long and hard, unaware that half an hour had passed.

 

“Eric! Breakfast is ready!”

 

His mother’s voice broke his concentration, he stammered, “I’m coming!”

 

But he still could not remove his thoughts. Not even his favorite shrimp tostada (toasted corn beard) could shift his attention. Eric only played with his shrimp, something that his mother noticed.

 

“What’s wrong, Ric? You don’t want to eat?” she asked.

 

“Ah, it’s alright,” Eric stammered, “I’m fine, mom. Alright, time to eat!”

 

He forced his laugh and ate quickly. His mother knew something was wrong, but she did not want to force her son. She instead sighed and smiled.

 

“I’m going!” Eric said as he took his bag and ran to his school.

 

He clearly was late, the clock had shown right when the first lesson started. He again thought as he walked, but at least he was smart enough to leave the device and DNA key at home. Those were hidden in his locked cabinet between adult magazines, he carried the key all the time.

 

When Eric arrived at the school, the teacher told him to wait as he filled the report.

 

“Sir, do you know someone named Alvin from third year?” Eric asked.

 

“Alvin Arden from Science 3-2?” the teacher said, “I am the homeroom teacher.”

 

Eric nodded, “Did he come today?”

 

“Unfortunately, he didn’t,” the teacher answered, he then said. “It’s ‘once in a blue moon’ thing. Did you know he is the secretary of Student Council? Today they have a meeting, and he always attends meetings,” the teacher then asked. “Do you have something to talk about him?”

 

“Ah, no, Sir,” Eric said, looking away from the teacher.

 

Meanwhile, far away from the only school in the city of Natales, Alvin was leaning against the wall of a dilapidated building, wearing an oversized bomber jacket, hat, and smoking for the first time. He coughed, unable to understand how people could enjoy this. He took the cigarette and tossed it away. He looked at the road, hoping that no one would recognize him. Sooner or later, his identity as a Genoranger will be known by the entire school and then the whole town. Before that happened, he needed to hide, or maybe skip the city by metro. He resented Eric, blaming him for what he himself did. His mind conflicted, he wandered the streets aimlessly.

 

“Alvin Arden?”

 

Alvin turned. Who knows me even in this get-up, he thought. He saw a hand waving from that alley. Alvin at first hesitated, but he decided to enter the alley. There was a man. He was Alvin’s biology teacher, Sir Owen.

 

“Sir Owen! Why are you-!”

 

Sir Owen put his index finger into his lips, “Not here. Follow me.”

 

Alvin was puzzled, but he obliged his teacher. They arrived in a house not far away from that alley.

 

“Sit down, Alvin,” Sir Owen said, he turned on the light. “Wait here, I will call the others.”

 

Alvin did so. Not long, Sir Owen came back followed by Grace, Winnie, and a tall, young man who was wearing a purple t-shirt underneath an unbuttoned khaki shirt.

 

“This is the first time we meet, right, Alvin?” says the young man.

 

“Right…,” Alvin said.

 

“Daniel Galilei. You can call me Dan,” he said as he offered a handshake.

 

“Alvin Arden,” Alvin said, but he did not accept the handshake. He then turned to Sir Owen. “Sir, why did you bring all of us here? What do you want?”

 

Sir Owen then took an envelope and took out the content. It was a collection of photos, all of them were Genoranger; black, yellow, pink, and even red.

 

“Black,” Sir Owen pointed to Alvin, “Yellow,” to Grace. “Pink,” to Winnie. “And purple,” finally to Dan.

 

All of them were startled, Winnie then said “Sir, how did you…”

 

“I have been researching Genoranger for a long time.”

 

“Why?” Alvin asked uncomfortably.

 

“Allow me to explain,” a new voice spoke.

 

Everyone turned to the speaker; a man with glasses and blue hoodie that carried a laptop.

 

“But first, I want to-”

 

“Wait,” Alvin interjected, he then pointed at Dan. “I’ve never met this guy, and you said he was a purple Genoranger, Sir? How did you know? We never even heard of purple Genoranger before!”

 

“Well, Alvin,” Winnie said, “He is a marketing student in the same club with me in the university.”

 

“I got Genophone and DNA Key of Parasaurolophus a few days ago,” Dan answered, showing his purple DNA Key.

 

“My name is Petra Sthozen,” the guy with glasses said, “Sir Owen tasked me to gather information of every person that was burdened with DNA Keys to make a team of Genorangers. I fly some drones in Natales that can detect a sudden outburst of energy, something that happens when someone transforms into a Genoranger. That’s how I am able to find Dan.”

 

As Petra explained, Dan then looked at Winnie and asked her in teasing tone, “Really serious, eh? Are you paying attention to the explanation or the one who did the explaining?”

 

Winnie looked at him with blushed face, “Your questions are too detailed, I can’t answer it.”

 

Alvin did not like the idea of forming a team beside him, Grace, and Winnie, but he would complain later.

 

“I want to unite all Genoranger so not only can you fight Androsaurs better, but also to push back the negative stigma of society against you,” Sir Owen said, who leant against the sofa. “Do you know that many people are restless about Natales’ situation? The government never tells us anything more than rhetorical statements. Where do these monsters named Androsaurs come from? What is the government hiding from us? I am as curious as those people, and I hope we as a team can find answers to those questions.”

 

“The more people we have, the better,” Petra said.

 

Grace crosses her arms as she leant on the sofa, “You sure all of them will just come willingly? I am here because Sir Owen asked me, you know? Not sure if others will just accept the invitation without their own motivation.”

 

“You are correct, Grace,” Sir Owen said after sipping his tea, “However, yesterday the three of you fought with this Androsaur, uhm…”

 

“Glyptodon, Sir,” Petra said.

 

“Ah yes. You fought Glyptodon and there was the red Genoranger helping you, right? Even if others might not willingly do so, I bet red will accept our offers. Which is why, our first task will be looking for this red Genoranger. Judging by his appearance, he is the first or second-year student in senior high school. You guys better go before the school is closed.”

 

Dan, Grace, and Winnie then went away, but Alvin stayed, looking broody.

 

“Alvin, what’s wrong? You don’t go with them?” Sir Owen asked as he got up from the sofa.

 

“No need,” Alvin replied hotly, “Better if we don’t find that kid. By the way, Sir, how do ya know who I am before?”

 

“I recognized your pants and your jacket. You used it when we went outing four months ago,” Sir Owen replied, he sat beside Alvin and said. “Alvin, I saw what happened in the parking lot yesterday. Judging by your hostility toward our person of interest, and what Winnie and Grace told me, then the red must be...”

 

Alvin was startled, he then stood up, “Yes, you are right! That kid is the red one! Thanks to him, I can’t live in this town anymore, let alone go to school!”

 

“So, you are worried about that?”

 

“Of course! Did you read news this morning!? I’ve nowhere else to go, thanks to him!”

 

“You don’t have to worry about that anymore, Alvin. Me and Petra have taken care of it.”

 

“I have hacked the school security database and deleted all CCTV records from yesterday,” Petra said, “Without any solid proof that you are Triceraschwarz, the black Genoranger, all those bullies have are their words. As long as you don’t bring your DNA Keys and your device to school, you don’t have to worry about anything even if they report you.”

 

“But still, that guy-!”

 

“Alvin, enough,” Sir Owen said sternly, “You can’t forever blame someone else for your rash actions. He is a Genoranger, like you, Winnie, Grace, Dan.”

 

Alvin said nothing, but inside he was still flaring.

 

“Alvin, listen to me,” Sir Owen said, placing his hand on Alvin’s shoulder. “A team needs a leader, and I see you the perfect candidate for it. A leader must place his trust in their comrades, as his or her comrades trust them. I hope you will let go of your misplaced anger.”

 

“Me, a leader of Genoranger?” Alvin asked, completely caught off-guard.

 

“Yes. Now go, go after them!” Sir Owen replied.

 

Meanwhile the red Eric had come back to his house. He was so distracted with what happened that he feigned sickness and asked for permission to go home early.

 

“Eric, you home already?” his mother asked.

 

“Yes mom, I’m a little dizzy,” Eric lied.

 

“Take medicine and sleep, then.”

 

Eric nodded, he then went to his room, locked the door and looked at where he put his DNA Key and his Genophone. Damnit, why did I take the things, he thought to himself. He then tried to ignore those two things by working his homework, but the guilt and the doubt he felt still nagged his head. The chemistry questions he usually quick to answer now felt as hard as olympic-level questions. Even after thirty minutes, not a question had been answered.

 

As Eric did his homework, Elasmotherium Androsaur and many lesser Androsaurs appeared near the town center in rush hour. Thundering footsteps erupted as citizens ran in panic, abandoning their vehicles to get away as far as possible from the Androsaurs. Dan, who was passing by, called Petra.

 

“Petra, call everyone to the town center! Androsaurs attacked!” he said.

 

“Got it,” Petra said, he then contacted Winnie, Grace, and Alvin. “Everyone, Androsaurs attacked the town center!”

 

“We are going there already!” Grace said.

 

“Every Genophone can detect Androsaurs’ presence by itself!” Winnie replied.

 

“Ya need more to learn, four-eyes,” Alvin said.

 

After a mere minute, the four of them had gathered. 

 

“This is my first time fighting them, pleased to be working with you,” Dan said as he pressed his DNA Key.

 

“PARALILA.”

 

“Just don’t get in my way,” Alvin gruntled.

 

“TRICERASCHWARZ.”

 

“VELOCIGELB.”

 

“PLESIOROSA.”

 

They transformed in unison. Triceraschwarz, Velocigelb, and Plesiorosa stood against the horde of Androsaurs led by Elasmotherium. Beside Alvin was the purple Genoranger bearing the characteristic of Parasaurolophus, Daniel Galilei as Paralila. 

 

“Let’s try this formation, guys,” Petra said over their Genophone, “I’ve run your combat data in simulation and determined the roles suitable for all of you.”

 

“Fine, we’ll see if you’re as smart as you sound, four-eyes,” Alvin said, “Let’s go!”

 

“OK!” they all replied.

 

Alvin dashed forward and bashed his shield to the nearest Androsaur, positioning himself in the middle of Androsaurs platoon. Behind him was Dan, brandishing his axe Parasha and attacking three Androsaurs at once. 

 

The Androsaurs roared and groaned as they went to attack Triceraschwarz and Paralila. Grace with immense speed dashed through, many Androsaurs fallen when they collided with streaks of yellow and white.

 

A beam passed through Alvin’s left side and it left a gaping hole in an Androsaur’s head. Winnie was shooting with her musket from higher ground.

 

“Slow breathe, Winnie. Slow breathe,” she mumbled to herself.

 

She shot another beam and it landed to another headshot.

 

Above them three drones owned by Petra flew, controlled with computers, calculating the battlefield and giving the feedback to Petra. He would use it for analyzing the situation real time and gathering data for another simulation.

 

With only few Androsaurs left, Alvin now dashed toward Elasmotherium. Elasmotherium’s fists bashed Alvin’s Tridwen, again, and again, and again, each blow that blocked by his shield sending out shockwaves. Alvin stood his ground firmly.

 

“Dan, assist him!” Petra said from the Genophones.

 

“Hey, I’m da leader here!” Alvin grumbled, although he agreed with the command.

 

Alvin bashed his shield weakly, taunting Elasmotherium so it kept its focus on him. Behind him, dodging all weaker Androsaurs, was Dan. He passed three, four, five weaker Androsaurs and took a leap, rotating Parasha and with immense power struck Elasmotherium’s back. It groaned in pain, fumbling backward and Alvin now dashed forward, running with Tridwen raised and struck Elasmotherium’s horn, the horn broke in two.

 

Behind all of them, unknown to anyone in vicinity, the young man in red, the one who gave Eric Tyrannosaurus DNA Key looked with interest, smiled and then vanished in a blink of an eye.

 

Meanwhile in his room Eric finally managed to finish the first question of his homework. When he was about to start to answer the second question, his smartphone vibrated. He looked, he received an SMS from unknown number.

 

“Go to the town center, bring your DNA Key and your Genophone, Erase your confusion. Don’t let your doubt drag you down.”

 

Eric furrowed. Who was the sender of this message, and how did that person know what is on his head? Eric ignored the SMS like he ignored the beeping of his Genophone at first, but after answering the third question, his curiosity got the best of him. And finally, after the fourth question, he unlocked his door and went to see for himself without bringing his DNA Key nor his Genophone.

 

“Eric?” his mother called, “Your headache is gone?”

 

“Oh, yeah, yes mom.”

 

“Where are you going?”

 

“Oh, that… Well, I have homework and I want to go to my friend’s house to do it together.”

 

“Oh, I see,” his mom then tilted her head slightly, “But where is your bag? You don’t want to carry anything?”

 

Eric then half-smiling and scratched his head, “Oh yeah, I forget… Hehehe, I’ll take it now, thanks mom.”

 

He went back to his room, took his homework and put it into his bag. He looked at the cabinet where he put his DNA Key and his device. He then shook his head and went away.

 

“Be careful!” his mom shouted from the kitchen.

 

“I’m going now!”

 

“Honestly,” Eric’s mom pondered, “What’s wrong with that kid lately?”

 

Eric just about to turn to the left when a man called, “Hello.”

 

Eric turned and saw the young man who gave him his DNA Key, “What are you doing here!?”

 

The young man smiled mysteriously, the same smile as before, “Pardon me, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Anka. Did you read my SMS?”

 

“Senior Anka, what do you want? I have homework to do!”

 

“Oh c’mon. You can't even finish it because you still feel upset about being rejected by Alvin, and because you think there is something wrong with being Tyrannorot.”

 

Eric was stunned, empty of words. How did Anka know about that?

 

Anka placed his hands on Eric’s shoulders, “Life is not fair, buddy. Sometimes other get punished for crimes they did not commit, some others rewarded for achievements that isn't theirs. Sometimes it do be like that. But you should not let others’ judgements ruin you, you should not let them make you feel guilty for who you are. You must thrive, you must evolve into something better, like what you wanted yourself to be.”

 

“What do you mean?” Eric asked.

 

“What I mean is that you should be honest to yourself.”

 

Anka placed something in Eric’s hand. Eric’s eyes widened, Anka placed his DNA Key and a Genophone!

 

Eric looked at his DNA Key, Anka’s words began to make sense in his mind, and then looked to Anka, “Just who the hell are you?”

 

“That will have to wait,” Anka said as he left, “Go and thrive, young blood.”

 

“Wait!” Eric yelled, but Anka vanished from his sight.

 

Eric thought of Anka’s words. He then nodded, firming himself and went to the town center. When he arrived, he looked at Alvin and his comrades, with a new purple Genoranger he had never seen before, they were still fighting Elasmotherium.

 

“Be honest to myself, huh?” Eric said, “Then, I want to be a hero!”

 

“TYRANNOROT.”

 

“Genochange!”

 

Eric transformed to Tyrannorot and then summoned his sword, Rexcalibur, and dashed to finish the remaining weaker Androsaurs. In his doubt, he forgot how powerful he had become, how healthy he felt his body was when he transformed. He only hoped he wouldn’t be addicted to this power. Eric leapt, he then slashed six Androsaurs at once in front of Winnie.

 

“Hello,” Eric said, before dashing away.

 

“Guys! He is here! Red is here!” Winnie shouted.

 

“There he is,” Grace said, looking at Eric butchered his way, his sword bathed in Androsaurs’ red blood.

 

“So, that’s the red Genoranger?” Dan mused.

 

“Yeah,” Alvin said.

 

“Then he really is on our side, just like Sir Owen said!” Winnie said in excitement.

 

Alvin then shouted, a little bit angry, but without the same hostility as before, “Hey, what’re ye doin here!?”

 

“Fighting the monsters, Senior Alvin.”

 

Elasmotherium howled, it attacked Alvin with greater strength and Alvin was pushed back. Dan moved to help, attacking with his axe again, but Elasmotherium fended off the attack with his arms and countered him. Dan was forced to go on the defensive.

 

“Reddie, a bit of help here!” Dan said.

 

“This little turd… I am the leader here!” Alvin muttered, he then turned to Eric. “I’ll help, go!”

 

Eric nodded, he then attacked Elasmotherium with Dan and Alvin. Elasmotherium punched Eric, bnt Alvin blocked the attack and Eric in one slash severed Elasmotherium’s hand. It groaned as blood splattered from its wound, and Eric finished the monster with another attack, splitting its body in half.

 

“Wow, you are really strong, aren’t you?” Dan praised Eric.

 

“Well, thanks to you guys,” Eric replied, Grace and Winnie nodded.

 

“Watch out! All of them become giants!” Alvin shouted.

 

“Oh right, I still remember last nighttttt!” Eric stammered as he ran away.

 

Elasmotherium then grew in size together with many lesser Androsaurs, each of their steps shook the very earth where they stood. 

 

“Everyone, call your Stahlsaurer now!” Alvin commanded before anyone else could suggest it.

 

“Got it!” everyone else said.

 

They called their Stahlsaurer. It remembered Eric the last night, but now there was Stahlsaurer Parasaurolophus, owned by Dan. Eric, inside his cockpit, was filled with excitement.

 

“There are five of us now! This feels good!” Eric said.

 

“Hey, newbie, stay focused!” Alvin ordered.

 

“Alright, let’s do this!” Dan said.

 

Eric, Dan, and Alvin ganged the giant Elasmotherium together, while Winnie and Grace picked the weaker Androsaurs. Stahlsaurer Plesiosaurus rained the enemies with its missile from the air, and Stahlsaurer Velociraptor moved with immense speed, its claws went snickering on the bodies of adversaries that could not follow its speed.

 

Tyrannosaurus, controlled by Eric bit the horn of Elasmotherium, who was flanked by Parasaurolophus and Triceratops. 

 

But Elasmotherium with its immense strength struck the maw of Tyrannosaurus with its horn, lifted Tyrannosaurus and with it bludgeoned both Triceratops and Parasaurolophus.

 

It then threw Tyrannosaurus away. Tyrannosaurus hit the nearest building, part of the building was destroyed.

 

Dan was the first to get up, he approached Eric.

 

“Red, are you alright?” Dan asked.

 

“It hurts a little, but I’m alright,” Eric answered.

 

Dan saw Tyrannosaurus’s maw bled heavily from the Elasmotherium’s hornstruck. He wondered about how robots could bleed.

 

Dan then questioned himself; What is this thing we control, actually? 

 

“Dan, a little bit of help here!” Alvin begged with commanding tone from his cockpit.

 

Dan turned to see Elasmotherium lift Triceratops, he then rushed Parasaurolophus to help Alvin.

 

Elasmotherium saw Parasaurolophus heading towards him. He then threw Triceratops towards Parasaurolophus. The two Stahlsaurers crashed, the sound of dented and broken steel echoed loudly, as if a plane had crashed to the ground. Both laid broken, Alvin and Dan felt that the strength of their robots was dwindling.

 

Eric saw it from his cockpit, Tyrannosaurus stood up and he then looked at Winnie and Grace, both against many Androsaurs. Fear gripped Eric’s heart; is this the end? 

 

Suddenly, his hologram monitor bleeped and Anka’s face appeared.

 

“Hello,” Anka said.

 

“Senior Anka!?” Eric shouted, “You can contact me from here too?”

 

Anka did not answer the question, instead he said, “Your Stahlsaurer is unlike common Stahlsaurers. In fact, it was the youngest, newest from its kind. Tyrannosaurus Rex can assume his own robot mode named Saurierjaeger. Go and give it a shot!”

 

Anka ended the transmission and on the screen now was written “Jaeger Modus”.

 

“Jeez, that dude, what’s up with him!?” Eric said as he pressed the writing.

 

Tyrannosaurus stood up, his body folding and unfolding in many places. His legs became arms and what was his head became his chestplate. A head appeared, his tail became feet and its tip turned into a giant Rexcalibur, and stood proudly on the battlefield as a warrior clad in red armor, the legendary Saurierjaeger!

 

“Awesome!” Winnie shouted.

 

“This is the first time I see Stahlsaurer like that!” Grace said.

 

“Oh, it’s awesome, alright,” Alvin said, “But focus, guys!”

 

With that Alvin stood his robot up and commanded it to make a dash toward Elasmotherium. Elasmotherium caught Triceratops’ horn, they were on a deadlock. Saurierjaeger made a run for it, slashed his gigantic sword and severed an arm of Elasmotherium. 

 

“Dan, go help Winnie and Grace!” Triceratops dashed again, Elasmotherium fumbled against the immense strength of Triceratops’ ramming power.

 

Saurierjaeger then slashed twice. Left, left, right, and left again. Elasmotherium defended with its remaining arm. Saurierjaeger with its free hand punched Elasmotherium.

 

Then with both of its hands held Elasmotherium, lifted it, and threw it into the weaker Androsaurs. Dan, Winnie, and Grace focused their attacks, all of them died but Elasmotherium remained. 

 

Saurierjaeger then attacked with finality, severing Elasmotherium in two. 

 

The remaining Androsaurs tried to retreat, but Triceratops blocked their route. Dan and Grace finished them off for good.

 

The Stahlsaurers then returned back into DNA Key. Eric stood in the ruins of the town center and the Androsaurs’ corpses. Alvin, followed by Dan, Winnie, and Grace approached him.

 

“Hey, newbie,” Alvin said, “We still’ve unfinished business.”

 

Meanwhile in the other side of the town, Anka just left a man in a business suit in front of the metro station. An orange DNA Key in his palm twinkled, reflecting the light from the drowning sun.