Disclaimer: So the actor that plays Hunter is a twin. Thanks to Adri for teaching me something about motocross, and to rainy stars for letting me "stalk" her. Buena Vista owns the Power Rangers.

Let In
by Starhawk

His arm twinged, and he paused just outside the door to rotate his shoulder. He couldn't fail to appreciate Ranger healing ability, especially after watching the others take advantage of it for so long. It meant that his shoulder was only stiff this morning, and would probably be back to normal by tonight. In the meantime, there was no reason to let the others think there was anything wrong with him.

As his lifted his arm and dropped it again, wincing as he tried to pull it across his chest, he heard Dustin complaining from inside the room. "But dude, what if we forget our morphers? I mean, I once got all the way up here before I remembered I'd taken it off at the track, and if I'd had to go back..."

He heard his own voice interrupt Dustin, with a good deal less sarcasm than he would have used. "You won't have to, Dustin. The portal has always recognized students of the academy--no matter how dubious."

Cam snorted softly. Maybe not so much less, after all. He settled his arm back into place and rolled his head, hoping he looked as though he had just come strolling down the hallway. As he walked through the door, he was treated to the not uncommon sight of Hunter acting affronted.

"So you're saying that all of you--" Hunter gestured to the rest of the Rangers, gathered around CyberCam at the computer. "You can just walk in any time, but if Blake and I don't have our morphers we're out of luck?"

"Is everyone planning to trash their morphers at the first possible opportunity?" Cam demanded, folding his arms before he thought. His shoulder protested immediately, but he forced himself to keep a neutral expression. "Since when do you go anywhere without them anyway?"

Everyone turned to look at him, varying degrees of surprise and confusion on their faces. CyberCam swiveled around, too, and suddenly Cam realized why his shirt had looked so familiar when he put it on this morning. He'd have to be more careful about that.

Glancing from one to the other, Blake was the first to speak. "Wait a minute--"

"Dude, that's just disturbing," Dustin interrupted. "You should wear a sign or something."

Taking pity on them, he let his arms fall with a condescending smile. "I'm Cam," he told them.

"I'm Cam too," his double said with a smirk. "I'm flattered that you can tell the real thing from a computer program."

"Dude, that's not funny," Shane warned.

It was Dustin who laughed, oblivious to the dark looks Shane and Hunter were shooting him. "Yeah, actually it is," he chuckled. "He's Cam Two, get it? The second Cam!"

When the others just looked at him, he subsided a little, shrugging. "Uh... or not. I'm just saying."

"Of course we can tell you apart," Tori told his double quickly. Then, shooting a nervous look in his direction, she added, "You just surprised us, that's all."

Cam just looked at them, wondering if he should help them out. Were they really confused? Tori and Dustin seemed to get it... Shane still looked annoyed, which meant he probably had no idea who was telling the truth. Blake was neutral, but Hunter was glowering in the way he only did when he thought someone was making a fool of him.

Well, if they weren't going to ask, Cam didn't see any reason to tell them again. He joined the others at the computer terminal and, for once, let the virtual replicant stay while he looked over his shoulder. "Is there a problem with the holograpic entryway? I just recalibrated it last night."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hunter give him a sharp look. He tried to ignore it, but he could feel that gaze on him while CyberCam explained, "I put the student lock back on the portal. It won't keep out anyone who's really determined, but it's a good backup for the masking project."

Cam finally gave in and shot Hunter an exasperated look, but the Crimson Ranger's gaze had dropped to his elbow. He had his right arm braced against the back of his chair, and the bruises from yesterday were just barely visible beneath his short-sleeved shirt. When he glanced up again, their eyes met and he saw the corner of Hunter's mouth quirk in acknowledgement.

"What's the point of the masking thing anyway?" Shane demanded. "It's not like anyone comes up here, and the student lock won't keep out anyone except Hunter and Blake."

"The student lock keeps out casual trespassers," Cam said firmly. "That's why it was designed in the first place, so that only students of the Wind Ninja Academy would be able to use it."

"Didn't work so well on Lothor," Dustin commented.

"Lothor didn't use the portal," CyberCam told him. "Besides, it's not like the lock can't be broken. It just keeps people from stumbling through by accident."

"Blake and I got in, no problem," Hunter pointed out. He was clearly addressing Cam, although the virtual replicant had been the last to speak. "That 'cause we had morphers?"

Cam nodded, careful not to look at him. "The portal will admit anyone with a morpher, no matter which academy they attend."

"Or don't attend?" Blake suggested. The Navy Ranger followed his brother's lead, talking to Cam instead of his double. "Will it let you in without your morpher?"

"I live here," Cam said, rolling his eyes. "Of course it will let me in."

"Aha!" Shane pointed at him, apparently just realizing which of them was which. He dropped his hand and shrugged uncomfortably when everyone else turned to look at him. "Well, I wasn't totally sure," he muttered.

Dustin looked baffled, which wasn't an unusual expression for him. "Sure about what?"

"Which one was the replicant," Tori supplied, coming to his rescue. "Shane's just feeling a little slow today," she teased.

"Oh, like you knew," Shane scoffed.

Dustin didn't look any less confused. "But dude, he told us! Where were you?"

"I wouldn't put it past Cam to tell us something true but still... misleading," Blake said with a grin. "And no offense, man, but I can't tell you apart."

Cam sighed. "Can we get back to the point, here? As long as you have your morphers, you won't have any trouble getting through the holographic entryway. You won't even notice the difference."

"And if we don't have our morphers?" Hunter wanted to know.

"Dustin will be able to get in anyway," Cam answered.

"Hey..." Dustin frowned, as though he knew that was an insult but couldn't quite figure out why. Hunter just smirked.

"If the fact that you arrived early at Ninja Ops is supposed to offset the fact that you are late to practice," Sensei's voice broke in calmly, "then perhaps next time you will forgo the extra effort and simply be on time."

Almost no one had noticed his entrance. Shane and Blake both started, and Hunter shot a sharp look over his shoulder. Tori shifted uncomfortably, though that could just as easily have been due to the gentle reprimand. Dustin didn't so much as blink, but it was hard to tell whether he had actually seen something the others hadn't or if the sudden voice of someone he hadn't expected just didn't faze him.

Cam, feeling a little smug, didn't move. "We're just debating the merits of the student lock, Dad. Can you authorize Hunter and Blake for guest access in case something happens to their morphers?"

"Of course, Cam. I will discuss the matter with CyberCam while you and the others begin your practice."

Cam suppressed a sigh as he straightened up. There was only so much one could get away with as the sensei's son after all. As he and the others turned away from the computer and headed for the practice rooms, he tried to ignore the fact that Hunter somehow ended up beside him. That was one thing he didn't want his father in any way involved in.

"Nice trick," Hunter muttered, keeping his voice low as the others got ahead of him. His gesture at Cam's outfit left no doubt about what he meant.

"It was an accident," Cam said wryly. "Believe me, I have no desire for a twin."

"Why not?" Hunter wanted to know. "Double the sarcasm, double the fun."

Cam saw no reason to reply to that.

Blake let the door go in front of them, apparently not waiting for anyone who wasn't Tori, and Hunter caught it before it could slam. "How's your arm?" he asked, motioning for Cam to go ahead.

He did, but only because refusing would make more of a scene than accepting what could easily have been an idle gesture. "It's fine," he said shortly. The last thing he wanted to talk about before practice was an injury, especially one obtained doing something he shouldn't have let Hunter talk him into in the first place.

"Hunter!" Shane caught their attention with an offer that sounded more like a challenge. "Want to be my sparring partner?"

Hunter's face lit up with a fierce grin. Their rivalry might be muted to the point of insignificance in battle, but on the practice mats it was still going strong. "Bring it on, Hawk Boy," the Crimson Ranger taunted.

Cam watched him stride away with something like disappointment. Shaking the feeling off, he changed automatically and accepted Tori's invitation to spar without a thought. Then he caught Hunter's look from across the room. It wasn't a casual frown.

Smiling to himself, he followed Tori out onto the mats.