Sky sat alone in his office, pondering the events of the previous day. He hadn't wanted to suspend Bridge, but he didn't have any choice. Did he? He sat, thinking hard about what Z had told him. She had been banging on about Bridge for a while now, ever since he had become Red Ranger. How could he not have seen it? Had he really become so detached? So oblivious to what was going on in his friend's mind?
He drew the Shadow Sabre, inspecting it thoughtfully. He could remember the pride he felt as Kruger handed it to him. That self same sword had protected countless thousands across more planets and more years than anyone could comprehend. Kruger had wielded it himself in defence of his people for decades. He had handed it to Sky just as it had been handed to him in good faith that it would be used to lead with wisdom, dignity and compassion. Tossing the sword limply onto his desk, he rested his forehead on the mahogany as his mind drifted away to Bridge and Z. Not only had he failed his best friend of many years, but it was possible that he had also driven two team members out of his squad within his first week.
"Sky." Kat greeted him weakly, causing him to lift his head. He had been so caught up in his thoughts he hadn't noticed her come into his office. "I did knock, but I got no reply."
"Sorry, just drifted off for a second." He replied, looking away. "What can I do for you?"
"I just wanted to tell you that we've recovered the missing items from Bridge's Kit locker," she answered handing him a clipboard, "minus what he's already used of course."
"Have you managed to redress the training records?" He asked.
"It wasn't easy." She sighed. "But between the amounts of supplies he's used, wear and tear on equipment…"
"Give me the five minute version." He interrupted holding up a hand. "Please."
"I'd estimate he's been spending almost twice the recommended safety limits on just about everything." She replied. "The simulators, firing range, combat training, everything. It's amazing he didn't kill himself. He should have burned out long ago."
"I think he probably did." Sky replied as a tear rolled down his cheek. "I was just too caught up in myself to notice."
"There's something else." She breathed, moving round to his side of the desk. "When we were in Bridge's dorm, we noticed that his bed hasn't been slept in. Is everything alright?"
"Of course they're not alright!" Sky snapped pounding his fist on the table. "I just suspended one of my best friends, and now two team members have left the compound and I have no idea where they are!" He breathed a heavy sigh. "The worst part is the only person I can blame is myself."
"Two of them are missing?" Kat asked.
"Z told me in no uncertain terms what's been happening with Bridge." He told her. "Once she had put me straight, she left the compound to find him. Neither of them has been seen since." He turned to face her. "Do you think Kruger made a mistake? Do you think I'm fit to lead?"
"What would you like me to say?" She asked. "Do you want me to say that you've been a bad leader? Then yes, I will. Do you want me to say you've been a lousy friend? Fine, you have!"
Sky looked away as he felt a lump rising in his throat.
"But you aren't the only one to blame. We all have a hand in this." She continued. "I should have noticed the stocks going missing. I should have been able to see what was going on…"
"The failure is mine Kat." Sky interrupted. "I was his Squad Leader, and now I'm the Commanding Officer. Responsibility for the team is mine."
"And responsibility for our friends is everyone's." Kat snapped back. "We all failed him."
Sky slumped back down onto his chair, leaning back and staring at the ceiling. "Since I became Red Ranger all I've done is put pressure on him." He recalled as he stared off into space. "At first I told him I needed him to help me till we could get a new Green Ranger. Once SOPHIE got promoted, I asked him to take her under his wing and take care of her."
"You were short-handed." Kat replied placing a hand on his shoulder. "Then you had an inexperienced officer. You did what any other officer would have done. You had no idea that he would take things so far."
"The day I became Commanding Officer, do you know what I said to him?" He asked. Kat shook her head. "Keep things ticking over until I get a new recruit." He groaned. "I didn't thank him for his help; I didn't ask if he was happy for me, I just told him to keep things ticking over. I didn't realise that that's exactly what he had been doing for the entire time."
"May I make a suggestion?" Kat asked. Sky gestured for her to continue. "You basically have two choices. You can sit here and feel so sorry for yourself you'll no doubt end up resigning, and don't try to tell me you haven't thought about it, I know you probably already have the letter in your desk." She pulled closer, placing an arm around his shoulders. "Or, you can find Bridge and make this right."
"Thanks Kat." He replied, rising from his seat and turning to leave the office.
"Sky, aren't you forgetting something?" She asked, pointing to the Shadow Sabre.
"Leave it for someone who deserves it." He stated, leaving the room.
Bridge woke up in unfamiliar surroundings. Looking at the gray, stone walls and thick, copper pipes he surmised he was somewhere in the industrial district. The room was strangely warm, as the pipes still appeared to be operational; pumping what he guessed must have been steam. Throwing back the blanket, he pulled himself painfully to his feet, cradling his right arm to his chest.
"Good Afternoon." Z greeted him from a short distance away. She had obviously been looking out for him. How are you feeling?"
"Not bad, considering." He replied. "Where are we?"
"The Rand Street Distillery." She answered him. "Michael the security guard here knows me from way back. Jack and I used to catch a warm nights sleep here quite a lot."
"Why are you here?" He asked.
"You don't remember?" She laughed. "I thought you enjoyed that kiss we shared last night."
"No, of course I remember that." He stammered, trying to gather his thoughts. "I mean why aren't you back at SPD?"
"Oh I'm probably fired by now." She commented as she came to his side. "Now, you've been out of it for the past 14 hours or so. You must be starving."
"I am quite hungry." He replied.
"Well Piggsy still owes me a few favours." She stated thoughtfully. "I bet I know what you'd like."
"Just don't make me say it." He chuckled, holding up his right hand. "My hand still hurts like hell."
"Well that's what you get for starting fights with glass tables." She laughed, pulling him close.
Kat returned to the lab, her concern for the entire situation reaching all new heights. Doggie had only been gone a couple of days and all hell had broken loose. Three cadets had been put on the injured list, two Rangers were missing and she wasn't even sure how much longer Sky would stick around. She immediately reached for a communicator.
"Boom, could you give me some privacy?" She asked, noting the lab assistant rushing around in the background, no doubt checking up on some basic systems checks.
"I'm nearly finished." He answered.
"Then you can do it later. I need to make a private call." She reiterated, holding up the communicator. As Boom left, she keyed in the frequency and awaited an answer.
"You have reached the office of Supreme Commander Anubis Kruger." She heard his voice.
"Doggie I…"
"Please leave a message."
Kat almost wanted to start crying as she realised that he was not there. Upon the beep, she recorded her message.
"Doggie, it's Kat. Something's going on here that you should check out. There's a whole situation going on with the Rangers that…" She tailed off as she tried to stifle a tear. "I'm scared Doggie. I'm really scared."
Sky strode purposefully through the streets in the direction of Piggsy's diner. Bridge and Z had left the compound in a hurry, so he knew they wouldn't have had a chance to collect their belonging or seek more permanent accommodations. If they weren't already there, then they would turn up eventually. One way or another, someone would know where they were. Dressed simply in a pair of jeans and a plain black T-shirt, he felt that the uniform would serve only to alienate any potential leads, and act as a painful reminder of what had happened between them at the Command Centre.
"Sky, I'm so glad to see you." Piggsy greeted him sarcastically. "At least now you're adhering to the dress code."
"Given the fact that three tables just left, I don't think it stopped people recognising me." He responded, pointing to the empty tables. "Have you seen some friends of mine?"
"Lose some Rangers? Bit careless isn't it?" He taunted him. "Keep this up and you'll have that promotion of yours taken away again."
"Piggsy! Have you seen them?" He asked again, a little more forcefully as his patience wore thin.
"No. I have no idea where they are." He replied, crossing his arms defensively. "You'll have to try somewhere else."
As he turned to leave, something caught his attention, a vaguely familiar smell. Snatching a take-away bag from the counter, he tore it open.
"Hey, that's not yours." Piggsy protested. "Someone's paid for that."
"Buttery toast." Sky commented, placing the bag on the counter. "Where are they?"
"That depends why you want to see us." Z responded coldly, arriving behind him. She grabbed the bag from the counter. "Thanks for the food Piggsy."
"I'll leave you to it." Piggsy stated with a fake sincerity as he pulled down the shutter.
"I came to apologise to you and Bridge." Sky began. "I've been thinking about it a lot, and I haven't been fair to either of you. I've been neglecting Bridge, and I ignored you when you were trying to tell me something important."
"Well, it's a start." She snorted, turning to leave. "Bridge and I are going to have breakfast. If you want to join us, I'm sure you could find an opportunity to say something to him."
Looking over at Bridge, sitting at a far table, he suddenly realised that what Kat had said was right. It wasn't great right now, but it sure was better than sitting in his office feeling sorry for himself.
Kat continued to work alone in the lab, trying hard to concentrate on her work. She had sent Boom on a pointless errand some time ago just to get some time to herself. She was interrupted as a long shadow blocked her light, stopping her seeing her work properly.
"Boom, could you stop blocking the light please?" She asked.
"I'm not Boom." Kruger announced, snapping her attention immediately to him.
"Doggie, you came here?" She gasped, forgetting herself in her excitement and hugging him, before pulling away and saluting him properly.
"The message you left me was quite concerning." Kruger told her. "Like Birdie, I take an interest in the stability of all SPD outposts." He pulled closer, whispering. "Unlike Birdie, I take an ACTIVE interest. If something's upsetting the stability of SPD earth, I need to know about it."
Kat gathered her thoughts for a second as she tried to explain. "It all began with Bridge…"
"Who's been pushing himself too hard, and trying to run the team single-handed." Kruger interrupted. Kat just looked at him with a dazed expression. "I would have thought that would have sorted itself by now."
"If anything things have gotten out of hand." Kat sighed. "Since you left and Bridge got promoted, he's been taking things even further."
"And no-one noticed?" He asked.
"You know how bright and resourceful he is." Kat replied. "He doctored the training records so no-one could keep track of how long he's been in training. He took some supplies so that no-one would notice how much equipment he was requisitioning." She swept away a tear as she spoke. "He also took some medical supplies so he wouldn't have to go to the sick bay."
"I see." Kruger thought aloud a look of concern on his face. "So what happened?"
"The pressure of everything he's been doing must have come to a head." She recalled. "He was involved in an incident in the gym. He somehow ended up in a conflict with some cadets which got physical. A couple of them ended up in the infirmary."
"Bridge?" He quizzed as he reeled from shock. "Are you serious?"
"So serious that Sky suspended him." Kat replied. "Shortly after that, He and Z walked out. Sky went to look for them."
"Those two figured it out at last eh!" Kruger chuckled to himself. Kat just looked at him confused. "What? I'm a romantic at heart."
"But Sky's worrying me too." Kat informed him. "He's taken the whole thing really hard. He doesn't think he's ready to lead. I think he might resign."
"That would be a very sad loss to SPD." Kruger stated. I should probably have a word with him when he gets back." He sat on the edge of her desk. "So how are you faring?"
"I'm just about coping." She replied. "I'm a little worried for the future though. You were such a stabilising element here. You kept the cadets in line, you kept the lab running smoothly, you always seemed to know what was happening with the Rangers. I sometimes don't know how we'll cope without you."
"You'll cope fine." Kruger told her. "Change always takes getting used to. Bridge will work out that he doesn't have to do everything himself. Sky will learn that part of being a good leader is being observant enough to know when you rely on someone too much, and you will learn that this place doesn't need me."
"But Doggie…"
"Do you know how long my first commission as an officer lasted?" He asked.
"No sir." She answered
"Two weeks." He began. "I tried to be everyone's friend, do their share of the work whenever I could, and it was a complete disaster. My unit ended up getting routed in their first battle. After that I learned what makes a truly great leader."
As he turned to leave, Kat suddenly became curious. "What does make a great leader?"
"The ability to build and train your unit to the point where they no longer need you." He replied.
