Authors note: Just to be clear a few things up, just in case theres any question. This is an AU of SPD of what could have happened, if Dru had a more evil plot in wanting to take down SPD, for the most part his character is the same as it was in the show. He did come back to SPD the same way he did on the show, that's pretty much is where the AU starts. Gruumm was still defeated, but without the help of the other rangers, so that is one of the biggest differences of this AU, as is how Sky got the red morpher.

After a long hard run, exhausted and out of breath, Sky and Sam retreated to one of the park benches to take a few minutes of rest before they would head back to the academy. They had been training for months now, with each time Sam's skills improving. Sky was watching the Omega Ranger, the Sam who had fought by his side just those few years ago, be born right before his eyes. There was no doubt in his mind now that Sam would become a Power Ranger.

Sam seemed to sense that the older man had a lot on his mind, like he was somewhere else, which was something that had happened more than once. "Do you ever think about them?" This would be the first time since the day Sky had told him the others had been killed, that he had ever brought them up. Though he hadn't known them as long, he stilled missed them and thought about them. And at times he wished he had someone to talk to about the friends he had lost long ago.

Sky didn't respond, whether he had heard the question or was just ignoring it the young teen couldn't be sure. Though he was sure that Sky did think about them, for the last four years he had practically witnessed Sky punishing himself on a daily basis, he just didn't know why. He had only been just a kid, just barely thirteen when the others had passed, left out of the loop as to what had gone on and what events took place that led to their untimely deaths. Sam watched as his friend and mentor took a deep breath before taking a swig of his water, paying no mind to a group of three girls that walked past, also appearing to be out for a jog; they had all smiled at Sky as if trying to get his attention.

The teen took a sip of his water and smiled briefly at the girls before they jogged on by, seeing that Sky was not interested, which was almost surprising considering it was no secret around the academy that Sky had had a number of women in his dorm room, usually starting with a stop at the bar first. "Not your type?" In the months they had been training together Sam was becoming more and more comfortable with Sky, to the point he wasn't afraid to ask him something, as long as it didn't go against the set of rules that Sky had set up.

"What?" Sky turned to his young friend and then half glanced over at the three women who were jogging off in the distance. "…Oh." He sighed heavily as he took another sip of his water and ran his hand around his neck. "Don't have time for a relationship in my line of work. Something you will learn one day."

"You still seem to get around though," announced Sam, knowing he might be out of line for saying that and Sky would be well within his right to whack him for it, but he wasn't some little kid. He was almost adult now. He knew about girls, sex and everything else that comes along with an adult relationship. Sky turned to him, giving an annoyed glance. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that." He bit his lips. "….It's just a lot of things are said around the academy." On many occasions Sam had heard several cadets call Sky every name in the book, which was partly the reason he was keeping his training sessions with Sky on the down low, only a very few knew about that.

It would be a lie if Sky said he hadn't heard the things the cadets and officers said at the academy when they didn't think he was listening or that he was out of range of hearing what they were saying. He knew all too well what many of them thought of him, but he really couldn't care less. He just set it aside like it was nothing, much like everything else he had done over these past few years.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Depends on what you're asking," said Sky as he was hunched forward staring down at the ground.

Sam knew that perhaps he should keep his mouth shut on this one, but he had been wondering this for a number of years. Since his and Sky's time together for his training would be ending in a matter of months, as the time would come in the near future when he would be tested to see if he made the cut; he might as well, it's not like he was expecting that once his training was over that he and Sky would become close friends. Sky had already made it clear numerous times he wasn't looking to get anything out of this. "Were you and Syd ever together?"

"Excuse me?" Sky turned to Sam, almost frowning. He couldn't believe what he had just heard, that was the furthest thing from his mind that he thought he'd ever hear come out of Sam's mouth. "Where the hell do you get off asking that?"

"A simple yes or no would have been fine," answered Sam as he stood up, knowing that it might be a good idea for him to hightail it out of there, seeing as Sky was not at all happy about the question.

"You don't get the grace of a simple yes or no for that question," Sky exclaimed harshly. "Especially to a superior."

"You're right." Sam nodded his head. "I shouldn't have said anything," he exclaimed. "I'm just a guy who wanted to know if you felt anything towards her. It's not like it will change anything for me; once my training is complete we'll both go our separate ways."

"Why?" Sky waved his hands in frustrated anger; it didn't seem to him that Sam cared either way, so why ask the question. "Why ask then, Sam, if it doesn't matter to you, if it doesn't change anything ….Why ask?"

Sam sighed heavily; he had to wonder in that moment if he should say what he was going to say next. Could it do more harm than good? He couldn't be sure, these days Sky was a hard guy to read. But it was clear that Sky wasn't about to let him get away without an explanation; even if he teleported away sooner or later Sky would catch up to him, wanting answers. "Because," he sighed heavily as he licked his lips, "….because I think she cared about you." His face saddened. "Maybe even loved you." He bit his lip. "I don't know."

"And where would you get a crazy idea like that?" barked Sky, not liking where this was going.

"Because I overhead Syd and Z talking one night."

Sam was headed towards the mess hall to meet up with his new friends to have ice cream, when he passed by Syd and Z's room.

"I saw the way you were looking at him," Z playfully gloated. "You like him, don't you?"

Being the curious little kid he was, Sam stuck around to see if he could find out just who the guy was that Z was so sure that Syd liked. Having just been at the academy for a few weeks, he was starting to feel like he belonged there and just loved to hear what his older friends were up to. He hadn't been able to spend much time with them, because they'd been so busy protecting the city. So, every once in a while he would eavesdrop like a little brother and listen in on their conversations.

"No!" Syd shrieked. "I don't like him, not like that."

"Right, and Bridge doesn't like taking apart his computer." Z crossed her arms against her chest, staring Syd down. "Come on Syd, admit it, you've got a thing for our stonewalled blue Ranger."

"All right, fine," admitted Syd. "Maybe I do like him, a little."

"A little?"

Syd sighed, knowing there was no way around Z. "Okay, maybe a lot." She gave her friend a dirty look. "Happy?"

Z just smiled, satisfied that she was right. "How long?"

"Oh, I don't know, a couple years."

"And you haven't done anything about it?"

"Have you met Sky?" Syd said sarcastically. "He's not exactly the dating type; we can barely get him to go out on group events. So I highly doubt he'll go out on a date with me."

Sam watched for a reaction from Sky's face, but he couldn't really find one, just a blank empty look. There was no anger, no sadness, no surprise, just this big empty look, almost as if he was trying not to react to it.

"I didn't like Sydney like that. She was just a friend, nothing more." Sky rubbed the back of his neck, as he turned to meet Sam's eyes. "Look. I think I've taught you everything I can. The rest is up to you."

Sam watched as Sky got up and walked away from him, he tried calling out to him, but Sky never answered him back.

Cruger was in the Command Center going over galactic reports when Supreme Commander Fowler Birdie appeared on the screen. "Commander Cruger, I hope I'm not interrupting anything important," announced Birdie.

"No sir, I was just going over a few minor reports," answered Cruger. "Is there something I can do for you?" Birdie wasn't the type to make transmission calls from the head base just to talk small talk, there usually was a reason.

"I was just curious how the B-squad's training has been going and how close they are to testing for the Ranger program."

"We should be able to begin testing in another month or so, after which the cadets who made the cut will go through an intense month's worth of training to see if they have the skills to become a Power Ranger."

"I see." Birdie didn't seem pleased by the answer that the process was taking longer then expected. He would have liked the Earth base to have a new team of Rangers two years ago, but none of the cadets were prepared. "How about the boy who has the ability to teleport, Sam Gates? Will he make the cut into the program?"

"I have looked over some of Sam's scores and they have improved in the last couple of months. He has been training with Lieutenant Tate these past few months, is my understanding."

"Lt. Tate?" he questioned, almost tilting his head. "…As in Sky Tate, your lone red Ranger."

"Yes, sir."

"Has he gotten any better? Have we learned more about what happened that day the other Rangers were killed?"

"No sir. Sky doesn't talk about the incident."

"Has Dr. Keen said anything about his condition?"

"She says he won't talk to her about it."

"I see. Have you tried talking to him? You did know his father fairly well."

That was part of the reason it made things so difficult for him and Sky, because he had known Sky's father. He had been a great man, one he'd always highly respected and owed a great amount of gratitude for his work at the academy. After he had been killed Cruger had promised himself that he would look after Sky when he joined the academy, but things don't always work out the way you plan on them to. "Sky and I were never that close, our relationship is only on a professional level."

"I see."

Cruger could tell that his superior was not at all pleased by this. "Is there a problem, sir?" he announced almost harshly.

"I'm beginning to become concerned about the stability of Lt. Tate, that his behavior is reckless at times, when he loses all control. I have even heard that he's been erotic within the academy's doors." Birdie crossed his arms against his chest. "Care to elaborate, Commander?"

"Lt. Tate is old enough to engage in such things; perhaps having it happen in the academy is unprofessional on his part."

"Quite. But I am more concerned with it happening between him and another cadet."

"I can assure you that none of the girls have been associated with the academy."

"Good. Keep it that way. The last thing the academy and SPD needs is any trouble, giving future prospects a bad idea." And he was being very serious; he did not want any trouble from Lt. Tate. He didn't care how good he was at his job or what accomplishments he had made for the academy. "He may be his father's son, but that does not mean he'll be given any special treatment. If I continue to see any more concerns or complaints regarding Lt. Tate, I may be left with no choice but to ask him to leave SPD." He eyed Cruger through the monitor. "I do not need another reoccurrence of what happened to Mirloc and Wootox on my hands again. I had the Intergalactic Alien Alliance on my back for six months after Lt. Tate's so called actions!" His voice was harsh. "Is that understood, Commander?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. I will leave you to your work then." With those final words Birdie ended the connection and Cruger was left with a blank screen.

"He's right, you know," announced Kat, as she stepped towards Cruger. She didn't like the fact that Birdie was right, but deep down she knew he had made some very good points. "One day something could happen and it won't be with some random girl." Kat knew she had done every possible thing that she could do, but nothing worked. She couldn't get through to him. "He won't listen to me, Doggie."

"And what makes you think he'll listen to me?" he questioned her. "You've said it yourself, he's reckless; his mood changes from one moment to the next."

"So, what, you've given up on him?" she exclaimed.

"If you'll excuse me, I have an important meeting to attend with the C-Squad." Cruger didn't even respond when Kat called out his name. He had nothing more to say to her on the Sky subject, he just no longer knew how to deal with that subject.

Kat could do nothing but watch as Doggie left the Command Center. For years she had tried getting both Doggie and Sky to talk to each other, fought with all her might, but now she was fearing that she might have fought all she could. They were two of the most stubborn people she had ever met and neither one liked admitting they needed help.

"Kat, are you okay?" asked Boom as he walked into the room. He had seen with his own eyes what this had done to Kat, to everyone. And it broke his heart, because it no longer felt like home anymore. To this day he could still see the look in Sky's eyes when he told him about Dru.

"Sky, are you okay?" he asked, seeing Sky's uniform covered in blood. "Kat and I saw the planet explode on the monitor, we saw your ship just barely escaping."

Sky was frantic. "I have to find him. I need to find Dru…."

"Dru?" Boom's eyes widened.

"I need to make sure he got out okay. I saw his ship…" Sky clutched his chest, which was badly bruised. "The others… I have to make sure, he's-"

"Sky…" Boom licked his lips. "Kat and I watched the whole thing; Dru's the one responsible for the planet's destruction. We even have surveillance of him freeing Mirloc and Wootox hours before you even left for the planet, we think that…."

"WHAT!" Sky's voice roared. He shook his head, not wanting to believe it. "No. No, I don't believe you. Dru…. He would never..." Sky angrily pushed past Boom and ran down the halls.

"Oh no." Painfully Boom turned to watch as Sky flew down the halls, on the hunt to find Dru. "He didn't know."

It would be a moment in his life that he would never be able to shake off, never be able to forget. It would be the moment when he had crushed whatever belief Sky ever held about Dru.

"I've tried everything I could think of, but nothing works." She sighed heavily, as she turned to meet Boom's eyes, her faithful friend. "And Birdie breathing down Cruger's neck about Sky's behavior doesn't help matters." She continued to ramble on. "I just don't know how Birdie knew about Sky and the girls he brings to his room."

Boom sighed heavily. "Gossip travels fast; it's not like it's a secret or anything." Even Boom himself knew: a guy who doesn't really get out much, he knew for the most part about what Sky had been doing. "And then there are those here that probably would love just to get Sky kicked out of the academy."

"Yeah." Kat sighed heavily, knowing Boom was right, there was a large age range here, teens mixed with young adults, gossip was just part of the culture, people loved to spread it and make it more than what it was. And it wasn't like Sky was trying to make friends, most people were intimidated by him.

Sam lay on his bed listening to music, alone in his dorm room that he shared with Matt, who was off visiting with his parents. It was parent's day at the academy, when the cadet's families would come and visit. The young cadets would show the parents around the academy, show them how they had improved on their scores and how close they were to graduating and reaching the level of becoming an officer, after which they would go and have dinner in the mess hall.

It had always been a day when Sam would for the most part stay in his room. He had no parents, when the Rangers had found him he was an orphan going from one foster family to the next. He didn't really remember his parents, all he knew was his mother had died when he was three and his father was no good, an abusive drunk, for all he knew his dad was either dead or some bum on the street. Matt had asked him if he wanted to hang out with him and his parents, but just as the years before Sam declined the offer, not wanting to intrude. He knew he could go and find Sky, but after what had happened between them a couple of days ago and what Sky had said, he knew he needed to give Sky some space.

"Hey Sammy, how 'bout you get off your ass and the two of us hit the waves?" Luc leaned against the wall, smirking slightly. "Maybe find a couple of girls to hang out with us."

Sam pulled off his headphone and sat up on his bed. "Shouldn't you be hanging out with your mother? You haven't seen her in a couple of years."

"She couldn't make it; something came up at the base."

"Sorry. I know you were looking forward to showing her how've you improved."

"Hey don't worry about it," answered Luc, brushing it off like it didn't matter. "It's part of the life of having a parent in the military. I practically spent my whole life growing up on military bases."

"Right. I forgot."

"So about those jet skis?"

"Sure, sounds like fun."

"All right then. Gear up and I'll meet you back here in a half hour."

He had woken in the middle of the night with his heart racing, pounding hard against his chest to the point where it was almost painful. Hoping that a small stroll through the academy halls would relieve some of his tension, Sky decided to head towards the men's restroom. He splashed water on his face and stared into the mirror, looking back at himself, but not himself. The image in the mirror was the same man he had seen for the last four years. Only the man was a monster, one he had not been able to rid himself of. "It's your fault they're dead. You're the one who killed them, Sky," it taunted back at him. It was almost as if he was living his nightmare while he was awake. No matter what he did or where he might go, he could not escape his nightmare.

"Shut up!" Sky clenched his fists together. "Just shut up!"

"You're really pathetic, you know. You don't even deserve to be called a Ranger." It laughed back at him, mocking Sky.

"Shut the hell up!" Sky roared into the mirror. "I didn't kill them… I didn't kill my friends!"

"Oh, but you did." The mirror image of him smirked right back at him, in an almost haunting way. "Can't you hear their screams, begging you to stop?"

A look of terror crossed Sky's face; he felt a shiver go down his back as he heard his friends screaming his name, but only it wasn't to call for help, it was for him to stop. Quick images flashed through his mind….

Sky started approaching an injured Bridge who was backed up against a tree; blood covered the green Ranger's face and through his blood drenched uniform, bones could be seen sticking out. "Somebody help!" cried out Bridge. "….Sky! Nooo!" He coughed out blood, as he waved his hand in front of Sky.

Sky drew out his blaster and pointed it at Bridge. "It's game over, greenie."

"No!" Sky shouted, as he grabbed a hold of his head trying to force the deadly image out of his mind, but more images continued to flash before him.

"Please don't do this," exclaimed Z, her voice almost a whimper. "This isn't you, Sky."

"It's the new and improved me." He stood over her limp and battered body. "It's lights out for you, sweetie." He fired three shots in a row, each one louder then the next. Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Please make it stop!" Sky begged, as he continued to struggle with the flashing images.

"I'm not the one who's doing this," hissed the mirror image of himself. "You are."

"Look out!" yelled Jack, shoving Sky and himself to the ground as a tree limb was about to fall on top of them.

"Thanks." But then something more sinister flashed inside Sky's eyes, a look that could send chills down your spine. "But you're going to wish that limb had hit me."

"What?" But before Jack had a chance to react, Sky had grabbed a hold of his throat, choking him to death. He could hear the others calling out his name, asking Sky to stop. "Wh-what's gotten into you," Jack gasped. "You're not yourself."

"Nothing that you'll have to worry your pretty little face about." Sky bent down and whispered something into Jack's ear. He watched as Jack's face lit up in fear, as the red Ranger struggled to get himself free.

"Guys-" but before Jack could say anything else, Sky covered up his mouth, preventing Jack from saying another word.

"I'll be sure to take good care of them, Jack." Sky grabbed the red morpher from Jack's belt. "Now, any last words before I blow your brains out?

Jack struggled to get free, trying to do anything, but Sky was just too powerful for him to handle.

But the images didn't end there. There was still one more to go, this one just as horrific as the others, but maybe even more heartbreaking, a stab through the heart. Sky was now on the floor, hands to his head. He cried out painfully, not wanting to watch.

"No, this can't be happening," cried Sydney. "Please Sky, we need you…"

"Shut up, you bitch!" Sky slapped her across the face, so hard her body dropped to the ground like a rag doll, her head smacking onto a rock. She screamed out painfully as tears ran down her cheeks, as she stared at the man hovering over her.

Then there was total darkness. Nothingness. Just a big empty blank. Sky lay on the ground alone, no one around him. His hands and tattered uniform were covered in blood, a large cut on his head. He felt something nudging at him, trying to wake him up….

Sky lay on the restroom floor unconscious with RIC at his side, nudging the red Ranger with its nose, trying to wake him up. The faithful robotic K9 whimpered slightly, trying to wake his human companion up, and even squirted him a bit with water from his mouth.

"Huh…" Sky slowly opened his eyes to find RIC staring right back at his face, tilting his head slightly, as if he were showing concern. "RIC?" Sky pushed himself into a sitting position and remained like that for a few moments longer. "What are you doing here?" RIC moved closer to Sky and rested his head on the red Ranger's knee, whimpering. "'Cause I'm fine, you know. It's not like I need you or anything." He watched as RIC continued to look up at him, all puppy faced. "I'm not Bridge." Sky pushed himself up from the ground and for a moment he briefly looked in the mirror, as if he were checking to see if the dark shadow that had been following him everywhere was still there, but all he found was a man full of emptiness who no longer cared about anything. "See you around, RIC."

RIC watched as Sky opened the restroom door and left. The K9 robotic dog hung his head and tail low as he too exited the restroom, only to wander the SPD halls alone.