Days After Grace
Summary:
Life goes on after the end of a war. But when a new threat arises, a new set of morphers are created and the old Rangers are called back once more. But can they survive being led by Ziggy?
Life after the fall of Venjix could not be better.
Scott Truman, the former leader and Red Ranger of the Power Rangers could be found in the new Corinth City Command Center (4C), bustling around as he made plans for the new Eagle Squadron. Recovery formations had to be formed, de-virusing had to be done, and there was the possiblity that surviors were somewhere in the unrehabilitized pieces of the Wastelands. As the new Squad leader, Scott had a lot of work on his hands. Despite the pressure of a new job and the late nights, he did fairly well at his work, proving himself able to take over his father's position as Colonel in the future.
Dillon, Summer, and Tenaya had set out shortly after victory, hoping to help rebuild the world, to make it into something free for all life. The trio had settled down in a village not too far from Kenmore, where the first hints of a past emerged for the former Black Ranger. The fake lead turned out to have a few elements of truth in it. After they stopped to restock on supplies, Dillon and Tenaya found a time capsule sticking out of the ground in the slowly regrowing park. After busting the thing open, a picture of a young man and woman had been found in a school year book. That young man happened to be Dillon, who was actually named Dillan, which was a varient form of Dillon. After finding out the names only differed by one letter, he decided to go with his self-assigned name. Tenaya turned out to be named Otthild, which Dillon teased her about mercilessly. Tenaya, deciding to keep her name, threatened to disown Dillon if he didn't stop. Summer merely watched these events with amusement.
Unfortunetly for the former Venjix general, Doctor K's predictions about her eyes came true. Three weeks after leaving Corinth, Tenaya's sight had deteriorated to blurs. Another week took her sight completely. Fortunetly, Tenaya's senses magnified, making her able as any human with all their senses in tact.
Flynn took his time slowly after the virus's fall. He took several weeks to move out of the lab, much to K's annoyance. True to his word, the Scotsman opened a shop with his father, selling comuters and systems to the people of Corinth. As first, they were wary of the technology, but quickly snatched it up when their need for being updated came into play. The Blue Ranger was very content in his easy life, having his family, a steady supply of money, and a new girlfriend in Gemma Silverstein, as she was named. Apparently, she and Gem had flipped a coin to see who's Ranger color would be added to their names. As much as the former Gold Ranger was disappointed at his loss, he quickly found an occupation of his time. Obsessing over the dates Gemma and Flynn went on were his main priority while the other, surprisingly, was writing long and detailed letters to Tenaya via sound disk. Everytime Flynn or Gemma would question their relationship, Gem would get very quiet and refuse to answer any questions made.
As for the final ranger, he was happy with his life. After his best friend left, Ziggy threw himself into making plans for the school he and K were founding. Despite all of his enthusiasm, there were a few setbacks with their project. After finding out Ziggy had not completed high school and the fact that K had never even stepped foot in a classroom, the two were enrolled in a private academy. Ziggy strongly suspected it was the fact they had helped save the world, but no one confirmed his ideas. After accepting the fact their ideas would be put on hold, Ziggy decided to help K adjust to normal life. Which began with taking her shopping. . .
"Go try this on!" Ziggy Grover, age seventeen, ordered. His companion, sixteen year old Quinn Krystal, formerly known as Doctor K, glared at the uniform he held in front of her.
"Ear piercing, I can deal with. Jeans, they're very confortable. You burning all my lab coats and clothes excepting my pyjamas, I can get over in time. But there is no possible way you're getting me into that strange article of fashion." she said icily, turning cold eyes on the unflinching brunette.
"Mr. Marshmellow," he said, holding up the box of treats. Quinn glared at him, dealing with an internal conflict.
"I officially hate you," she said flatly, taking the dress. Ziggy grinned triumphantly, opening the box and beginning to pop a marshmellow in his mouth. "If I find a single one missing, you'll know the meaning of fear." Ziggy quickly wiped the marchmellow clean and stuck it in the box, bits of white fluff clinging to his long fingers.
Quinn finally emerged, grumbling about not getting bribed enough to do these things.
"I'm a genius!" Ziggy sang, rocking back and forth as he smirked at the raven haired girl in front of him, who glowered at everything in her sight. "Now for the finishing touches!" He added, pulling out a dark green comb. Despite her protests, he managed to change her bowl cut into a cut and spiky hairstyle, her now chin-length bangs falling over her right eye.
"You didn't even pick out the uniform!" she snapped, making Ziggy snort.
"Hah, you're cute when you're mad." he told her, making her blush slightly. "I'm afraid I can't take you seriously. And, actually, I designed this year's uniforms." He grinned like the Cheshire cat. "You may grovel now." Quinn rolled her eyes and moved towards the changing room.
"Idiot," she grumbled, scowling.
"Where are you going?" Ziggy asked.
"To change," she snapped.
Ziggy had been getting on her nerves lately. After the defeat, they had gotten along like semi-normal people. But then Ziggy found a straightening iron in Summer's old room. After that, he developed a new style and attitude. Girls, and /boys/, began flocking to him, not that he minded. In fact, the teen enjoyed it, much to her annoyance.
Quinn couldn't honestly say she was surprised when Ziggy announced that he was bisexual to her and Gemma. She had always thought his relationship with Dillon was a bit, well, closer than the average best friends'. Despite that, she still got the feeling that it was a one-sided crush on Ziggy's behalf.
However, Ziggy's new character did not give him the right to boss her around.
Quinn quickly walked out of the dressing room, hair and clothes back to her usual, during-the-war attire. She shoved the uniform into his arms and marched by, not turning to see the angry expression on the boy's face.
The door to the Garage slammed with a Bang!, accompanied by the rapid clicking of shoes against concrete. Quinn angrily walked into the kitchen and jerked the refrigerator door open, grabbing a bow of Mr. Marshmellow's triumphantly.
"Quinn?" a voice asked. The girl in question jumped, turning quickly. She huffed and nodded at the boy irritably.
"Hello, Nicholas." she said, rummaging through the fridge once more, this time pulling out two cans of soda. "Please don't do that again." Nicholas grinned sheepishly.
"Sorry," he mumbled, accepting the offered drink. His feathery black hair brushed against his cheeks, framing his pale face. Quinn blinked at him, looking at his green eyes blankly.
"What happened to your glasses?" she asked, inquiring about the rimless spectacles.
"Oh," he said, reaching up as if to touch his eyes. "I got new contacts!" Quinn smiled softly.
Nicholas had arrived in the city three months ago, a week after the end of the war. Homeless and hungry, Ziggy hurriedly dragged him inside and forced a meal down his throat. The boy now lived with them, rooming where Summer once had. Both teens were very fond of him. When school started next week, he would be in class with Quinn, being the same age as her.
"You look very nice," she told him, wanting to be kind to him in her angry state. Nicholas looked at her with wide eyes.
"Uh-oh," he said. "What happened with Ziggy?" Quinn sighed. The boy read her like a book.
"He did it again," Nicholas patted her on the back sympathetically.
"It's a rebellious phase," he assured her, smiling gently. "He'll get over it."
"I hope so," she grumbled, walking towards the stairs with him. She missed the old Ziggy. Now that there was no reason to be solitary and cold any more, she wanted someone her own age to spend time with. Nicholas fit the bill, but she would like someone who had fought alongside her as well.
"It'll be fine," Nicholas said, grinning as he opened his door.
"Mmmmmph!" both black haired teens jumped, staring at Ziggy's door, where the sound was coming from.
"Should we-"
"I'm afraid of what we might find," Quinn said, looking at the door oddly. Nicholas looked at her hesitantly, opening the door with apprehension.
Ziggy fell out, landing face first on the floor. He squirmed, dressed only in a black T-shirt and a pair of green boxers. Nicholas gasped and helped him sit up, removing the duct tape from his wrists and ankles. Before he could pull the tape off his mouth, Ziggy ripped it off with a loud yelp.
"Thank heavens," he sighed, looking at them with grateful eyes. "I've been locked up in there for two weeks."
A/N: Tenaya needed something embarrassing. The name Otthild is Old German, and means 'prospers in battle' so it sorta fit. Quinn is also used as a girl's name, meaning 'intelligence'. Krystal is just used for its reference to ice. And yes, there will be bits of Shounen-Ai/Yaoi (boyXboy) in this fic. Because in real life, there will be people who swing that way.