Eric Myers was not a partier. He would be the first one to tell you that, right after Wes. So when Wes and Mr. Collins insisted that he join them at the annual Silver Guardians Christmas party his answer was a resounding no. But here he was at a fancy bar at the top of some fancy building sipping on an Old Fashion half heartedly listening to Mr. Collins and some other guy in a nice suit. He was working up an excuse to leave and almost praying that Mutants would decide to attack the city again just so he could get out of the tie and blazer Wes forced him into. Just as he was about to make up that he was going to the bathroom he caught a glimpse of bright blonde hair rolled into a neat, Air Force regulation bun across the room before it disappeared out of his sight again. He shook his head and took another sip of his drink thinking it must be a new recruit he hadn't met yet, he had heard there were a few from the base in Turtle Cove joining their ranks. At that same moment Wes walked up to the trio causing the older two gentlemen to pause and look over at him.
"Sorry dad, Mr. Roberts but I need to steal Commander Myers away for a moment. He'll be back in a jiffy," Wes said clapping Eric on the shoulder while smiling at the other two.
"Oh it's not a problem. After all, a Silver Guardian is never truly off duty. It was a pleasure to meet you Commander," the greying man to his right said while extending his hand towards the quantum ranger.
"Pleasure was all mine Mr. Roberts," Eric said shaking his hand before being dragged back towards the bar by Wes. Before he could ask what was going on he heard a laugh making him stop in his tracks, a laugh he hadn't heard since the picnic after the Mut-Orgs were destroyed almost 2 years ago. After looking around again and not being able to find the blonde bun he found before he turned back to look at Wes, who had the biggest shit eating grin on his face but was trying to hide it. That's when Eric knew he wasn't going crazy after all and he really had seen her. He truly had seen the Yellow Eagle Wildforce Ranger. He had really heard Taylor Earnhardt laugh again. But it wasn't the same laugh at the picnic. It was different. It was more low and not as bright. It was more forced.
"What is she doing here Collins?" Eric asked before he could walk away. He leveled Wes with his best 'tell me now or i will kill you slowly' glare.
"You know the newbies from the base in Turtle Cove," when Eric nodded Wes continued, " She is their old commander so dad thought it would be a good idea to invite her to make the rookies feel more comfortable. And then he found out she was the yellow Wildforce ranger. Then he thought about inviting her whole team. But I told him not many people know who they really are and that it would be hard for them to explain to people why they were here. And then dad tried to recruit her."
"And he still is trying," a voice from behind Eric spoke. With a quick glare at Wes, Eric turned around to face the voice. "Hello Myers."
"Earnhardt," was Eric's reply with a curt nod at the blonde. He could almost hear the smile on Wes's face behind him.