The growing hum from the computer did not distract Samara, nor did its sudden silence. This location was not powered by some of the greatest technology on the planet, but it was going to have to be enough. They had never summoned four people at one time before, so some slack had to be cut on the system itself. Her expression didn’t shift at the silence, instead her eyes kept focused on the platform this group would appear. The faith in their system—and her own abilities—was promptly rewarded with the materialization of the four targets. As the Mentor began to explain to them the situation they now found themselves in, Samara was watching their individual reactions from a distance. 

Tommy was by far more enthusiastic than she expected. He looked around erratically to examine his surroundings, smart of him, but she couldn’t tell if he was actually listening to her colleague about why he was here. He began to go on a tangent and speak of what he noticed. It pained her to even think it, so she dare not say it: Tommy actually caught on quicker than she expected him to. Typically she associated excessive cheer for lack of interest in the technological, but a living, breathing contradiction to that theory was right in front of her. The RDS did convert their physical mass into light. He wasn’t wrong, but he was closer than she believed anyone could get within a minute of getting here. Samara found herself smiling. Maybe he’d be a bigger boon than she once thought.

He introduced himself to his peers and agreed to take on this new responsibility, almost too quickly. When he complained about food, Samara glanced to the corner beside her own little workstation. Just beside it was a small cache of purified water, completely absent of Galatec’s chemical meddling, and a collection of protein bars as an easily disposable snack. Standing up and moving over to it, she knelt down and pulled out a bottle of water from the dust-covered duffle bag they were stored in, as well as two protein bars. It wouldn’t be much, but for a guy as slim as him it would be enough nourishment and energy to carry him through the next couple of hours minimum. 

She stood up just as Clementine had begun to have a breakdown. There had to be at least one of them that believed this was some sort of elaborate trap to test their loyalty to Galatec, and as expected it was Clementine after all. As she wrapped it up, Samara had spoken for the first time since they arrived.

[color=fdc68a][b]“Not quite, Clem,”[/b][/color] she started before her eyes rested on Tommy. [color=fdc68a][b]“Head’s up Blue,”[/b][/color] Samara tossed the bottle of water to him first, followed by one of the protein bars she carried in the opposite hand. [color=fdc68a][b]“Protein bar and water—before you think it’s got any of that poison Galatec feeds you, it doesn’t.” [/b][/color]

Whether or not he chose to believe her would be up to him. Moving the free hand to her hip, Samara’s attention returned to Clementine. [color=fdc68a][b]“You’re half-right; everyone standing beside you is about to become your new teammates against Galatec, so I guess you could consider this an introduction that will lead into team-building. Galatec is not our friend, and they aren’t yours either.”[/b][/color]

This was all assuming Clementine would not refuse this offer. As John said, they were free to return to a life of willing slavery, but Samara wanted to believe that Clementine, like all of them, could become a vital part of the team and help free New Earth. 

Despite her ragged appearance—a sheen of sweat across her exposed forearms, neck and face, and an untidy length of hair tied back in a ponytail—Samara still stood with confidence.

[color=fdc68a][b]“I know it’s sudden. If I’m being honest, I’d have kept a couple of you out of this,”[/b][/color] Samara was careful not to let her eyes linger on any of them for too long, fearing that they would be offended that she might think little of them. [color=fdc68a][b]“We recognize your potential as individuals, but the things you could accomplish together far exceed anything you could hope to do on your own. Power Rangers in the distant past were able to come together when a world, or a space colony, or even an entire sector of space needed them the most. Now we hope you four can do the same.”[/b][/color]

Digging into her back pocket, Samara removed an ID card showing a neater, cleaner appearance with a brilliant smile, and her name on clear display. [color=fdc68a][b]“I’m Samara, and I’m asking you to trust us. You may be this world’s last hope.”  [/b][/color]