Title: The Shadows of New York
Chapter: (1) A New Case
Summary: After Jen returns from the year 2001 to the year 3000, she and Alex have broken up because of the fact that Jen's still in love with Wes. However, what happens when Alex snaps and decides it's either 'his way, or the highway'?
Parings:Alex/Jen, Wes/Jen, Eric/Taylor
Timeline: Continues a few months after 'Reinforcements from the Future'
Disclaimer:None of it is mine, so don't bother trying to sue a kid who's already heavily in debt with her siblings
Note: Ranger information was gathered from Writer's Guide to the PR Universe, Power Ranger Central, and Wikipedia
The Future; Year 3001, November
It had been two months since the event had occurred. After the Mutorgs incident, Time Force had increased its security and only the officers near the top would have the power to conduct time travel. However, Lucas was more then shocked when he heard of the news that had been kept secret, about his two friends, for so long.
"He kidnapped her?"
"Yes, he did," Captain Logan confirmed with utter distaste.
"Wait a minute here," Lucas said as he tried to gather his thoughts, "so he kidnapped her, and put her through the memory acclimation machine?"
"Yes," Captain Logan nodded his head slowly, as if explaining to a child why the sky was blue.
"She's lost all her memory then?" Lucas asked in shock.
"Not all, cadet, not all. According to the monitors Commander Drake was only capable of erasing Scotts' memories up until Ransik's capture before security stepped in." The Captain began to pace around the room, making Lucas nervous.
"That wasn't that long ago though, why would he—"
"The first capture," Logan cut in, answering Lucas' question.
"She doesn't remember the past then," Lucas whispered, before taking a step back and falling into a chair behind him. "She doesn't remember Wes."
"We believe that is the reason why Commander Drake kidnapped her."
"We, sir?"
"Time Force," Captain Logan elaborated.
"I see, but sir, why is this information being revealed now? To me of all people?"
"Because cadet, you are associates with Commander Drake and cadet Scotts."
'But the last time Jen went missing Trip was the one notified first.' Lucas thought to himself before he plastered a mask onto his face. 'Something must be wrong.'
"I still don't understand why you're telling me all of this. Why hasn't Time Force hasn't arrest Alex already?"
"Because Lucas," the racer's attention suddenly reverted, Captain Logan rarely called cadets by their first name, "Commander Drake and cadet Scotts, are in the year 2002."
"Shit."
"My thoughts exactly."
The Past; Year 2002, January
It was winter, the season that would bring upon cold weather. The season that Wesley Collins had been anticipating for weeks. While many Silver Guardian officers had been calling in for time off to spend with their families, their leader Wesley Collins had been running around picking up extra shifts. To be blunt, Wesley had become a monster.
Lurking the streets of Silver Hills and waiting for trouble to arise, the young Collins had developed a sense of insomnia. Ever since the departure of one Jennifer Scotts, it seems Wesley Collins was no longer himself. Those who didn't know him personally wouldn't be able to notice the difference, as Wesley would always have his usual smile on his face. However, those who did know him noticed the spark in his eyes dimming, more and more with each passing day.
However, the one person who had noticed the biggest change in Wesley was not his father, nor was it the family butler. It was his partner, Eric Myers, the Quantum Ranger. While seeing Jen and losing her again during the Mutorgs incident had torn Wes to pieces, it had done quite the opposite for Eric.
For the last few months, the Quantum Ranger had been seeing the Yellow Wild Force Ranger, Taylor Earhardt. At first, he claimed the meet ups were all business related, since Taylor had once been in the Air Force, and he had worked for the Silver Guardians. However, as time had passed, he was more open with the fact that he was dating someone, and was even found letting people off without tickets ever so often.
Although in some situations, time was supposed to help the heart heal, Eric found Wes' situation quite different. After trying several tactics to help his friend out, going to clubs, strip bars, etc; Eric was coming close to giving up. Unfortunately for him however, fate had another idea.
He was on his way to the Animarium with Taylor by his side when the beeping began. Pulling his car to the side of the road and turning the engine off, he and his girlfriend stepped out of the car and headed towards the back with looks of confusion on their faces.
"What's going on?" Taylor asked as Eric opens the trunk.
"I have no idea," Eric answered before opening the briefcase with the Time Force equipment. "Someone's trying to send a message."
Grabbing the two telecommunication objects out of the briefcase, he handed one to Taylor. Together, they extended the transmitter and took a step back in sync, waiting for something to happen. Almost immediately, a hologram appeared.
"Lucas!" Eric said in shock before smiling wildly. "What a surprise."
"As happy as I am to see you again Eric, I don't think we have time to exchange hellos. However, I do have to say hi to Taylor. I see you've been busy Eric." Lucas smirked, giving the Quantum Ranger a wink.
Taylor pulled her hand away from Eric's quickly, as if she had just been burned, and blushed. Eric on the other hand, bent down to Lucas' level, and stared him in the eye.
"What's with the call?"
Lucas stared at him for a few seconds before sighing. As he tried to find the words to explain to Eric what was going on, the silence ate away at the Quantum Ranger.
"Lucas, either you explain to me what's going on, or I'm hanging up." Eric threatened, giving the Blue Time Force Ranger one of his looks.
"Alright. I'm sorry." Lucas apologized, before taking a deep breath and speaking once again.
"There's no easy way to say this, but we need your help. Alex has kidnapped Jen."
"What?" Taylor cried out as a frown appeared onto Eric's face.
"Is this a joke?" He asked the Blue Ranger.
"I'm afraid not. However, that isn't the worse part."
"Do I even want to know?" Eric questioned, before looking over at Taylor.
"She doesn't remember anything about you, or Wes. Alex erased her memory."
"What?"
"And to top things off, they're in the year 2002. For the last month they've been in your time. Katie and Trip have both gone after them, but we lost contact with them four days ago. I was just told of what happened yesterday, and was asked to join the search."
"They're here?" Eric whispered, wondering to himself what Wes' reaction would be. "In Silver Hills?"
"Not precisely," Lucas added. "They're in New York City."
"The city, city? Or New York?" Eric asked.
"NYC Eric, the big apple." Lucas confirmed.
"Shit."
"Funny, that's what I said."
There was a moment of silence as Eric gathered his thoughts.
"Do you have anymore information regarding this?"
"Unfortunately, no; however there's one thing you won't have to worry about."
"And what may that be?"
"I'm scheduled to arrive in your time at eight this evening by the bay. Coming along with me are some of the new technology from the year 3001. It'll assist us with our capture of Alex." Lucas explained.
"Wait, assist us?" Eric looked up at Taylor, who had one eyebrow raised at Lucas.
"I can't, I have Ranger duties. Just because the mutants have all been returned to the future, doesn't mean all the Orgs have been destroyed." Taylor stated, giving Eric a small smile. "Leaving you on your own."
Eric gave Taylor a look of disbelief before he rose to his original height, and looked down at his girlfriend in an intimidating way. Before the Quantum Ranger could say anything though, Lucas spoke up.
"Actually, according to the history charts, there won't be any attacks for the next two to three months. Apparently they're planning big," Lucas revealed, not caring about the consequences, "but that just means you can participate in this."
"Great, another big battle." Taylor groaned, looking up towards the sky. "Will it ever stop?"
"Be careful what you wish for, it may just come true," Lucas smiled, giving Taylor another hint to the future.
Meanwhile, as the Blue and Yellow Ranger interacted amongst one another, the Quantum Ranger stood there with a frown on his face.
"Eric, you alright?" Lucas said, cutting into Eric's thoughts.
"Yeah, just thinking."
"Well, don't hurt yourself." Lucas teased, before sizing up and switching back to professional mode. "I have to go get ready to leave, but I'll see you soon."
"Yeah," Eric muttered, looking down at his watch, "in four hours, give or take."
"Drive carefully," Lucas summed up, before looking over at Taylor. "And um, don't do anything I wouldn't do."
With a quick wink, Lucas disappeared as the connection broke off.
"Eric, what are you thinking?" Taylor asked, almost scared to find out the answer.
"What's Wes gonna say when he finds out."
"Well... you can always tell him it's just a new case." Taylor suggested.
"In New York City?"
"Now that, I can't help you with."
"Wonderful. More work for Wes to throw himself at."
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