Power Rangers Timeforce began with the capture of the mutant leader Ransik by the Timeforce squad. As the quote above relates, the capture of this villain finally gave Alex the security he needed to propose to Jen, his adoring girlfriend. However, just when everything seemed rosy for this young couple, Ransik escaped captivity... and dealt a lethal blow to the Red Ranger. Shrieking, Jen ran to the battered Alex, who entrusted his morpher, and his mission, to the woman he loved. Devestated by this loss, Jen leads her friends to take the other morphers and follow Ransik back in time. However, much to everyone's surprise, Alex wasn't killed after all! He'd survived the injuries, and was restored to active duty. However, the mission to defeat Ransik truly changed both Jen and Alex. After living in the year 2001, Jen got an entirely new outlook on life, mostly thanks to the grounding influence of Wes, Alex's ancestor and successor to the Red Ranger powers. Alex, on the other hand, seems to have been hardened by his loss to Ransik. Whereas he was always a bit of a stick in the mud, Alex became so focused on his mission, he completely neglected to nurture the friendship of the Rangers, and even Jen's love. As a consequence, Jen made a choice... and gave him back the engagement ring. Even though this relationship had minimal screentime (given Alex's "death" and the fact that he was always stationed in the year 3000), this truly is one of the cornerstones of the Timeforce series. It's Jen's grief for Alex that draws her to 2001, and that motivation drives the Pink Ranger through much of the series.