SPD: Mystic Fate
Chapter I
Tempus Fuigit - Part I
(Opening Narration)
In the three months since Gruumm's defeat, SPD Earth and its Rangers had undergone many changes. With Jack Landors's departure from SPD to work with Ally Samuels, Sky Tate had been promoted to Red Ranger to fill the void left behind. In turn Bridge Carson became the Blue Ranger, Elizabeth 'Z' Delgado became the Green Ranger and Sydney Drew became the Yellow Ranger, although the latter was initially hesitant, her new colour eventually grew on her.
With these promotions the Pink Ranger position was vacant, and it had been decided it would remain that way until a suitable candidate was found. The SPD Base had been seriously damaged in the final battle, leading to a much needed re-design, ditching the monotone grey in favour of white.
Boom, Kat Manx's chief gadget tester, had been reaccepted back into the Cadet Stream for his bravery and valour in the final battle. He had since risen to the rank of C-Squad Leader, taking over from Kyle Reynolds. The rumour mill had recently gone into overdrive, claiming that Boom was soon to be promoted to B-Squad as a Power Ranger. This, however, was something that Cadet Reynolds wasn't happy about and he was determined to reveal the favouritism.
-Mystic Fate-
(SPD Command Center, 2026)
The doors to the Command Center slid open and Cadet Kyle Reynolds entered, the doors closing behind him. Glancing around, he saw Commander Cruger stood at the main control panel on the centre console with Kat Manx. Cadet Reynolds made his way over to Cruger and saluted, getting Cruger's attention.
"What can I do for you, Cadet Reynolds?" asked Cruger, his voice betraying the fact that he had already guessed why Kyle was there.
"Sir, I feel it is my duty to report a serious case of favouritism," spoke Kyle in a clipped tone.
"Yes, and who is involved?" sighed Cruger.
"Cadet Boom, sir," answered Kyle, "He has risen from fresh recruit to C-Squad Leader in only three months, which is three times shorter than it took Officer Tate, sir."
"Boom, as it happens, is not fresh to the Academy," countered Cruger, "He entered as a Cadet three years ago, but dropped out as he couldn't handle the pressure. However, he has returned, already fully knowing and all rules and regulations, and has beaten a few records set by Officer Tate himself."
"But, sir!" protested Kyle.
"No buts, Reynolds," growled Cruger, "Was it you who inspired the entirety of SPD's Cadets and Staff to fight and then lead them into battle, alongside Dr. Manx and the Omega Ranger, against Gruumm's forces?"
"No, sir," replied Kyle, "Bu-"
"If I remember correctly," interrupted Cruger, "Weren't you one of the most vocal in abandoning SPD in its hour of need?"
Kyle's shoulders slumped and spoke, "I apologise, I should have never have brought this up, it won't happen again."
"See to it that it doesn't," replied Cruger, "Now, shouldn't you be relieving Officer Carson from Guard Duty at Card Storage?"
"Yes, sir!" affirmed Kyle, "I'll head there now."
"Good," muttered Cruger, watching as Cadet Reynolds saluted and left, heading for the Card Storage Facility.
"Don't you think you were a little harsh on him?" asked Kat.
"Sometimes that's the only way," replied Cruger, "Besides, I'm going to see Jack. I promised I go and visit him and his new venture when things were quiet."
"Sure, I can keep things under control here for a few hours," assured Kat, with a small smile.
"Thanks, Kat," spoke Cruger, turning and leaving the Command Center, heading in the direction of the Transport Bay.
-Mystic Fate-
(Card Storage Facility)
Kyle stormed down the corridor to Card Storage, he was angry. He had raised a genuine concern but Cruger had batted it away and belittled him in front of the entire Command Center. As Kyle reached the entrance to Card Storage he found Officer Bridge Carson, the Blue Ranger, locking up the main door with his authorisation code.
"Oh, hi Kyle!" greeted Bridge.
"Hey, Bridge," replied Kyle darkly.
"What's wrong?" asked Bridge, "I mean, I think you don't look happy, not that I think you look grumpy all the time, like Sky did."
"Bridge, you're rambling," spoke Kyle, Bridge's antics getting a small chuckle out of him, "Nah, Cruger again, I swear he hates me."
"He used to hate me," reminded Bridge.
"Yeah, but you did help save the world from Gruumm," reminded Kyle, "He did promote you to Officer as well as Blue Ranger."
"You helped as well," replied Bridge, "I know there's all sorts of rumours that you deserted SPD, but I saw you leading C-Squad into battle."
"Thanks, Bridge," spoke Kyle, opening the door to Card Storage with his code, "I'll have to say goodbye, I've gotta take inventory of the cards. If I don't start soon I'll be doing it until midnight."
"Sure, see ya!" replied Bridge, heading towards the Rec Room, Kyle entering Card Storage and shutting the door behind.
Kyle sighed and grabbed the inventory list of the desk, walking over to the filing cabinet the cards were stored in. He opened the high-security draw and found the first card. Kyle checked the first card, LS-001, was there and then checked the prisoner was still there, in this case it was Gruumm.
Kyle then moved on to the second card, LS-002, checking Broodwing was still inside and moved onto LS-003. However, he found his hand was moving by itself. His left hand began pull LS-003 out, to try and stop this from happening he grabbed his hand with his other, but it was in vain.
Kyle pulled the card out and tossed it into the air. The card shattered and released its occupant. Morgana laughed as she landed on her feet, she quickly blasted Kyle in the chest before he could react.
"Ooh, it feels good to be grown up again, it certainly has its advantages," smirked Morgana, rubbing herself happily as she admiring herself.
Kyle grunted and pulled himself on the desk, he knew he was going to die, but he wasn't going to go down without a fight. He pulled his blaster out and shot Morgana in the back, injuring her.
"You bastard!" swore Morgana, turning to face the dying Kyle, clutching a burn on her side.
"I've been told that a few times before," replied Kyle, entering his code into the door lock, sealing it shut with him inside, "Suck it, bitch!"
"You'll perish all the same," replied Morgana, blasting Kyle again, however this time he wasn't breathing afterwards.
Morgana laughed and shouted, "SPD's final hour is at hand!"
-Mystic Fate-
(Rec Room)
Bridge walked to the entrance of the Rec Room, waiting for the doors to open, he could hear music on the other side. After a few seconds he realised the door wasn't going to open and instead forced his gloved hand into the small gap between the doors. With a great heave Bridge pushed the heavy doors apart will little effort, glad for the super-strength that had developed as a side-effect of his genetic powers, first manifesting when he lifted a car.
"Door broken again?" asked Sky Tate, not looking up from his video game, having learned to relax a lot in the last three months.
"Sky's playing his retro games again," complained Sydney Drew jokingly as she and Z Delgado danced to a Kira Ford album.
"She didn't mean it," spoke Sky, patting his Sega Genesis.
Bridge smiled and launched himself onto the sofa beside Sky, "I hate guard duty!"
"Tell me about it!" agreed Z, "I guess it okay, I mean at least Gruumm or anyone won't escape."
"I'm done with Gruumm," spoke Sky, "I'm glad all we have to deal with are more pedestrian crimes, I'm not sure I could take the full blown ranger deal again."
"Why worry?" asked Syd, "It's not like Gruumm or any of his cronies have broken out. Besides, was everthing fine when you left, Bridge?"
"Yeah, totally, completely," replied Bridge, taking off his jacket and taking a second controller, "All good! All fine! Pe-"
"We get the idea, Bridge," interrupted Sky, with a small smile, "I'm sure everything is alright!"
-Mystic Fate-