Discovery

Pacing. Sky, Bridge, Darian, and Syd were all pacing around the Command Center, with Cruger watching them from his desk. He knew what was going on through his rangers minds. Minutes ago, Kat had instructed them all to meet in the Command Center. The Rangers were all thinking if Kat had discovered a way to bring Z home. They were worried and Cruger understood their feelings. It was as if they had lost a member of their family.

The doors to the Command Center opened and Kat walked in, everyone's gazes turning to her. Kat noticed their stares and bit her lip.

"What's the news, Kat?" Cruger asked.

"Well, Sir, the scientists from KO-35 informed me that the interdimensional portals that were stolen by Daizer were prototypes. They, unfortunately, do not have anything on bringing someone back who was sucked into one of the orb's vortex." Kat looked down. "I'm sorry."

The room fell into a heavy silence. This was not the kind of news everyone wanted to hear, especially the Rangers.

"Isn't there anything they can do?" Syd asked as she approached Kat.

Kat looked up and shook her head. "I'm afraid not. As of right now, according to them, they had only been working on sending someone to another dimension. They weren't working on how to bring someone back."

"That is ridiculous!" Syd shouted. "What kind of scientists are they?! How can they work on a project like this and not think about what would happen if someone got sucked in?! They need to be prepared for events such as this!" Tears began to fall from Syd's eyes as she shouted. Darian walked up behind her and placed his arm around her. Syd turned and cried into Darian's chest. Kat could only frown.

"So, what now?" Sky asked.

Kat shrugged. "The scientists from KO-35 apologized for not having anything to help for an event such as this. All they said was that they would try to figure something out."

"That's not good enough," Sky complained.

"But it's the only thing we have so far," Darian remarked as he rubbed his hand across Syd's back as she still cried into his chest.

"So we're just expected to wait? How long? Days, weeks, months?" Sky said, his voice slightly cracking. He too felt like crying.

"Enough," Cruger said. "Like it or not, we're going to have to wait until the scientists on KO-35 contact us and figure out a way to help Z."

All the Rangers, plus Kat, nodded. Cruger sighed. The wait would be unbearable for everyone.

Z had wandered around S.P.D. after gaining permission from this world's Cruger to explore the building. Honestly, Z didn't need to explore, she wouldn't find anything much different in this world. She had only asked to explore so she could leave the Command Center after hearing the tragic event that had occurred in this world. Z still couldn't believe that her counterpart and Syd's were dead and that Bridge's counterpart was locked away in some special facility. Z wished she was just having a nightmare. She would hope that by pinching herself, she would wake up in bed, in her own world.

Too bad I'm not dreaming, Z thought to herself with a roll of her eyes. She had now made her way to the Ranger's dormitories. Looking around, and feeling curious, she stepped into this world's Sky's room first.

Z glanced around, noting the neat and orderly appearance of the room. No surprise here, Z thought as she walked further into the room. Sky's bed was in the center, with a desk and shelves to Z's left and a closet to her right. Z walked over to the shelves and saw that there were framed photos on it. One of the photos was of a young Sky and his dad, another one with Sky and his mom, and another photo of the entire team before Jack had left S.P.D. However, one of the photos on the shelf caught Z's interest.

Z picked up the framed photo and examined it. It was a photo of this world's Sky with his arms wrapped around this world's Bridge and kissing him on the cheek. Z put the photo back to where it belonged and saw another photo of this world's Sky and Bridge. This time, however, the two were kissing on the lips, and judging by the way the photo was taken, either this world's Sky or Bridge took the photo while kissing the other.

Were these two…

"Bridge and I were, or still are, a couple."

Z jumped and turned to see this world's Sky standing at the doorway. "Oh my goodness, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry," Z apologized, her face heating from embarrassment.

"Don't worry, no need to apologize," Sky said walking into his room. He walked up to Z and stood next to her, and grabbed the photo of himself and Bridge kissing. "In this world, Bridge and I became a couple," Sky said as he stared at the photo.

"When?" Z asked.

"Some time after we defeated Bork. Honestly, I've always felt something for Bridge after he and I were assigned as roommates when we first started out at S.P.D. But I didn't realize how much I truly loved him until he was captured by Bork." Sky put the photo back and looked at Z. "After we stopped Bork and saved Bridge, I told him how I felt. You want to know what he said?"

Z nodded.

"He said 'It's about time you said something.'" Sky gave a small smile.

"That's sweet," Z said. "But wait, aren't relationships between cadets forbidden here, like in my world?"

"Yes. Cruger was thinking about expelling Bridge and I from S.P.D., but instead, he told us to keep our relationship on the downlow," Sky replied.

"So...after what happened...with Bridge," Z began.

"He and I never officially broke up after that event. Even though he's been placed into some facility, and I never hear from him, I still consider us together," Sky interjected.

Z nodded. "You must really miss him."

"I do," Sky replied. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Z answered.

"Is my counterpart in a relationship with Bridge?"

Z turned away before answering. "No, they're not."

"Oh," was all Sky said.

However, that got Z wondering. If this world's Sky and Bridge had feelings for each other and had gotten together, was it possible for Sky and Bridge from her world to harbor the same romantic feelings?

"Hey."

Sky looked up from his handbook to see Bridge standing at his doorway smiling at him. Sky was currently laying down on his bed without his jacket, the article of clothing draped over his desk chair.

"Hey. Come on in," Sky invited as he closed his handbook and placed it on the nightstand next to his bed. He shifted into a seated position and patted an empty spot on his bed for Bridge to sit on. Bridge walked in and sat down next to Sky.

"You okay?" Bridge asked.

"Not really," Sky answered.

"Wanna hug?"

Sky raised a brow and looked at Bridge, who was still smiling at him. Sky chuckled before nodding his head. Soon enough, Bridge leaned over and wrapped his arms around Sky's torso and placed his head on Sky's shoulders. Sky, in return, wrapped his arms around Bridge's waist.

"Everything will be alright. Stop feeling guilty. We'll get Z back," Bridge said.

"How can you be so optimistic?" Sky asked.

Bridge shrugged. "I just can."

Sky smiled. This was one of the things he admired about Bridge since the day he'd gotten to know him. No matter how bad things had gotten, no matter what problems they would face, Bridge would always look on the bright side. He never let anything bring him down. Bridge would face almost everything with a smile. A smile that showed true inner strength and bravery, a smile Sky had come to love.

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I certainly hope you enjoyed the small Sky/Bridge moment at the end. But as you know from earlier on this chapter, Sky and Bridge from the original world have yet to embrace the feelings they have for each other. As for the alternate Sky and Bridge, I'm sorry I had those two separated due to Bridge's outburst. Rest assured, I have much planned for this story, so stay tuned and review!