Someone to Hold

Chapter 3

The sun was shining brightly in NewTech city, but despite that, the air was chilly. It was December first, and while NewTech was in a southern area, it could still get pretty damn cold in the winter months. The citizens of the city were already beginning to don lightweight coats and jackets, some preferring just to stay inside. There was hardly a cloud in the sky, and birds were singing full-force in the trees planted around the city.

Bridge Carson sat in an outdoor café, an open copy of Nietzche's 'Der Wille zur Macht' in front of him. Though he disagreed with most everything Nietzche held to be true, he recognized the man as a brilliant thinker, and worthy of the adoration he received, though not exactly approving of why he got the admiration. Many people believed Nietzche's philology. Bridge just couldn't accept that there wasn't a god. Bridge was by no means a religious person; he'd never picked up a 'Holy Book' of any kind, and had no intention of ever doing so. He didn't believe in any one particular god. For all he knew, there were many gods. But he just had to believe that there was a higher power, somewhere.

How else would I have met Sky? He thought to himself, and almost instantly wondered where the thought had come from. After all, why should Sky be a particular blessing in his life? Sure, they were friends, but he was friends with the others, too. Bridge closed his book - but not before marking his place - and stood, brushing the thought s aside. He was wearing a long charcoal-grey coat, made of wool. He pulled it closer around himself, adjusted his bright green scarf, and began to walk the twelve blocks to the SPD base.

Bridge had been spending a lot of time outside the base lately, since a month ago, when he'd felt such strong feelings from Sky. They'd scared him. It wasn't normal for one man to feel all those emotions, so strongly, at one time. He'd avoided Sky as much as possible. Either Sky hadn't noticed, or didn't care. Of course, it was hard to stay away from him completely, as they were working together on the Alluvian Crystal case. Every day, for five hours straight, they were in each other's company. And yet hardly a word was said between them. The silence was awkward, yet comforting at the same time.

Bridge looked up, and was surprised to see that he'd already traversed the twelve blocks to the base. He hadn't realized he'd been so deep in thought. He stood before the magnificent structure and just stare at it for a moment. Inside housed his hopes, his dreams, his work, his life... and his friends. A dark shadow passed over his soul. He'd just realized something. Sky was his friend, and obviously had emotional problems. And instead of trying to help him, Bridge had been ignoring the problem, turning his back on his friend. He suddenly felt very guilty, and ashamed of himself...

"So what's up with Bridge and Sky? They've been acting strange lately." Jack asked inquisitively, rubbing a bright red apple on his uniform before taking a large bite out of it. He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest. Syd and Z sat not too far away; the Rec Room was kinda small, after all. They both occupied a velvety purple mini-couch. The two girls exchanged worried looks, then looked back to Jack, who was regarding them with curiosity and suspicion. He didn't like them hiding things from them.

"Well... see... Sky asked me out on a date, and I said no. I think that's why he's upset." Syd confessed, biting her lower lip worriedly. Jack's eyes widened in both surprise and what might be called resentment. Though he wouldn't admit it, Jack had a slight crush on Syd. Z sighed heavily, slapping her knees gently.

"As for Bridge... well, we have no idea." She said simply. Jack remained quiet. He was thinking. Syd and Z just looked at each other again. Still thinking, Jack took another bite of his apple, staring at the wall. He had much to think about.

Commander Doggie Krueger stared at the myriad screens before him, like he had every day for over a month. If he wasn't giving orders to someone, he was looking at the screens. He still wasn't quite sure what he was looking for, though he had a pretty damn good idea. He was still bothered by what Banogg had said. Isinia was alive. She hadn't been killed. Was she looking for him? Was she alright? After all, 'alive' did not necessarily mean 'well'. A deep sigh rumbled through his chest, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. He hadn't seen anyone all day. He'd come right to the command center after waking up. He found it slightly odd that Kat hadn't reported to him yet. But then again, he figured, she may just be holed up in the lab with some new experimental gadget, testing it on poor Boom. The thought made the corners of his mouth twitch. But he didn't smile.

The alarm sounded. Krueger's head snapped to the side as he heard the sound. The large screen on the opposite side of the room showed a battalion of Krybots marching through the streets of NewTech City, attacking apparently random things and people. Something about this struck Krueger as odd. He turned to the console behind him and pressed a button.

"B-Squad, report to the Commander Chamber immediately!" He barked, though he assumed they were probably on their way already. His eyebrows furrowed. Why would the Krybots be marching right down the middle of the city, so obviously, and attacking things at random? It was almost as if they were trying to lure the Rangers out. Gruumm was up to something, Krueger was sure of that. He just wasn't sure of what.

Bridge blinked as the alarm sounded. He'd barely gotten out of his coat. He quickly pulled it and the scarf off, flinging them both onto his bed, and all but ran out of his room.

He hurried down the hall as fast as he could while still being able to maneuver around the scurrying workers and students. Most made way for him, however, recognizing him as a Ranger from his specially colored uniform. The only thought present in his mind was that Gruumm had finished the nerve gas and unleashed it on the city. He prayed that that wasn't the case.

He cleared his head as he entered the Command Center, slowing down. The other Rangers were already there. Nobody even looked his way as he came in, but he could plainly tell that the situation wasn't dire. He breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

"... What are they doing?" Syd asked nobody in particular. Bridge came to stand beside her, and followed her eyes to the large screen in front of them. A small group of Krybots, maybe fifteen of them, were marching through the city, attacking randomly, never breaking formation. One of Bridge's eyebrows quirked. It was an odd sight, indeed.

"... It's almost like they're trying to get our attention. Like a diversion." Jack said, crossing his arms over his chest. All five Rangers just stood there, staring at the screen. Krueger rolled his eyes and shook his head, his eyes narrowing a little.

"If you're all done standing around would you mind taking care of them!" He roared, snapping all of the Rangers from their thoughts. They all agreed sheepishly, and stood in their formation behind and to the sides of Jack. Each Ranger plucked their SPD Change Notebook from their sides and held them out.

"S.P.D.! Emergency!" All five called out in unison. In the blink of an eye, and the flash of a light, they'd been suited up.

"Stop right there!" Jack called, pointing his blaster at the group of Krybots. They immediately stopped, as if doing as they were told. This took the Rangers by surprise. That is, until the Krybots broke formation and attacked. Without missing a beat, Jack fell to one knee and took three Krybots out in a short time with carefully aimed shots.

"All right! I've been itchin' for a little fun!" Z laughed aloud, bring a foot up and around to crack a Krybot in the face. In almost the same movement, she ducked a punch and delivered one of her own to the stomach of an advancing Krybot. The Rangers were making short work of them; that was for sure.

"Ha! Well, I won't be so easily defeated!" Before anyone could even see who'd spoken, Jack caught the blade of a sword across the chest, sending him flying.

"An Orange Head!" Sky called, rushing the enemy. Sky was dodged, and struck across the back with the Orange Head's blade. Bridge was very agitated at this, though he didn't know why. He made for the Krybot, and dodged a swing of the sword by literally bending over backwards. He shot upright and delivered a kick to the thing's side, which prompter a solid smack in the side of the head from the Krybot. Bridge went reeling to the ground, a bit dazed. Syd, Z, Jack, and Sky were all attacking together, and landing a few good hits, but the Orange Head clearly had the upper hand. Probably because it had the element of surprise.

"Let's take this elsewhere!" The Orange Head announced. Even though they were fighting in a public area, the crowds had cleared out when the Krybots had showed up. The Orange head bound up onto the roof of a nearby building, and then to the one behind that.

"I hate how they do that." Bridge said, in a slightly annoyed tone. The Rangers all chased after, though it would take them a little longer, as they were on foot...

"This is better!" The Orange Head all but chortled. They were atop an abandoned warehouse - in the same area that Bridge and Sky had first started the investigation in. They all stood behind Jack, facing the Orange Head, waiting to see if he had a plan.

"Get 'im!" Jack yelled, and ran for him. Bridge had expected a more thought-out plan, but this one worked, too. All five Rangers advanced on the Orange Head, though the initial attack didn't go over very well. They were almost all knocked aside, though Syd did land a pretty good punch. Bridge saw that this obviously wasn't working. He knew that using his psychic abilities wouldn't work in his suit; the helmet messed with his perception. But he knew this Orange Head was different from the others in some way. They'd always been tough enemies, but this one was particularly tough to even hit. Bridge knew that the only way he'd land a hit was to use his abilities. So he powered down; the bright flash of light getting the others' attention.

"Bridgey! What're you doing!" Syd shouted. Bridge didn't pay any attention to her. The Orange Head knocked all the other Rangers back, and Bridge came to stand directly in front of him. Bridge's pupils dilated, clouding over. He saw a faint shadow of the sword being brought down from above. He turned to the left a split second before the blade would have sliced him right down the middle, punching the Orange Head in the face. He winced, his eyes watering. He'd forgotten the Orange Heads were made of metal. His eyes had unclouded the second they'd began to water; he'd lost concentration. And now he was vulnerable. A stab of cold fear pierced his body. He didn't even have time to react. The Orange Head's sword was swinging in an arch down towards him. Syd shrieked, too far away to do anything. Jack and Z just watched in horror.

Bridge closed his eyes tight, waiting for the impact. But in the half a second it took for the sword to complete its arch, Bridge was knocked forcefully to the side. A cry of pain rang out through the air, and sparks flew. Bridge opened his eyes; Sky had knocked him out of the way and took the hit. It was at such a close range, and so forceful, that it forced Sky to power down. He staggered back toward the edge of the building. The others all breathed a sigh of relief. But Bridge didn't. He had found his concentration again; he knew what was about to happen.

"Sky!" He called in alarm, but it was too late. The Orange head swung his sword in an underhanded arch, a wave of energy flying from the blade's edge. Sky's eyes widened as he saw the wave coming straight at him. He dodged, but too late. Though the energy wave didn't hit him directly, it barely missed, and the shock from it sent him flying - backwards. Over the edge of the four story building. Bridge stopped breathing. He saw the fear in Sky's face as he hurtled through the air a little ways, and then began to drop.

The Orange Head just laughed, and made his exit, teleporting away. The only sound ringing in Bridge's ears was the sickening crunch he heard a second or two after Sky had fallen. Z and Syd screamed, powering down, and running to the side of the building. Jack just stood there, dumbfounded, still suited up. Tears stung Bridge's eyes.

"Sky! Sky!" Syd yelled, almost hysterical. Bridge scrambled for the edge of the roof. He didn't want to look. He didn't want to see. But he had to. Sky lay motionless on the ground below, his eyes, those beautiful, clear eyes visible even from that height. His pupils had constricted. He didn't move. Bridge desperately opened his mind. He didn't even think, or care, about all the emotions and thoughts spilling in from Syd, Z, and even Jack. The only presence he felt for was Sky's. He began to cry with relief, and guilt, as he realized that Sky was still alive. He could feel Sky's mind working, still.

But what scared him was that it was blank. Sky was alive... but he wasn't thinking, Not even subconsciously.