Power Rangers SPD: Burning Bright
Chapter Four: Last Hope (Burning Bright)
Note: Sorry for the wait, but this is the last chapter. I hope you enjoy it
Timeline: SPD After Chapter Three
Rating: PG13 to R (For mild language and violence)
Genre: Science Fiction and Horror
I feel there is no need for conversation
Some questions are better left without a reason
I would rather reveal myself in my situation
Now and then I consider my hestitations
The more the light shines through me
I pretend to close my eyes
The more the dark consumes me
I pretend I'm burning bright
It had been hours and Jack was still sitting at Z's side, his eyes never leaving hers. She lay strapped down to a table; she'd been moved to the solitary confinement wing of the Sick Bay where a straight jacket kept her from harming herself. The only thing keeping her from screaming was the heavy drug that kept her paralyzed. Behind him, Sky and Bridge watched and waited for him, waiting for instructions that never came. Clarisse entered with Kat at her side, Clarisse's upper body was wrapped in freshly applied gauze, and Kat glanced at the three men.
"All of you out, I have to examine Z," she ordered and the men promptly left. Jack, feeling utterly hopeless walked away from the group and into his room. Bridge then realized he could pick up on every thought that was passing through Jack's mind and had been able to since he learned that Z was the Hound's most recent victim. Then it hit him, Jack had been blocking his thoughts from Bridge, and he stopped doubting that Bridge's powers were faked and knew that they were stronger than he knew. It didn't scare him, it had left Jack unsettled, knowing that at any moment Bridge could know every thought, every unsaid word, every memory, every everything. Bridge signaled to Sky to stay with Clarisse who had been kicked out of the room after Kat hadn't needed her any more.
Bridge walked towards Jack room and wasn't surprised when he could walk right in without announcing his presence. Jack was lying on his bed, his eyes staring straight ahead as tears coursed down his face.
"Jack?" Bridge asked softly, seeking to snap Jack out of his trance, when he succeeded he knelt down in front of the Red Ranger.
"What?" he snapped, sniffling, no longer caring who saw his grief.
"I think I know how to help Z," At this Jack perked up and sat up, his eyes snapped back to life and met Bridge's.
"How? Are you sure this will work? I know you never say anything without knowing all the rationing before hand," Jack asked immediately, Bridge held up his gloved hand.
"You've come to realize my powers are more than what I've been demonstrating, haven't you? That's why you claim to doubt but have begun to block your thoughts from me," Bridge said, Jack nodded and waited for him to continue. "Well, I can try to get into Z's mind and find her, once I have I bring her with me out of the chaos that I know is raging within and make her destroy it, that should break it and we should have her back," Jack pondered for a moment as Bridge whispered, "You should have her back."
"Would it work? What about you? Will you be ok?" Jack asked, Bridge shrugged, a sigh billowing from his chest.
"This was a combination of a ray that Grumm created and a specially formulated drug, it could effect me but we won't know until we've tried. I may have my powers but Z's are stronger than mine, she could aide so much more than I could. If something happens to me, I won't mind because I know I've freed one of the more deserving members of our team. That's what we do when we're a team, we make sacrifices for each other," Bridge said, Jack stared down at him, closing off his mind from Bridge again.
"You're in love with Z aren't you? That's why you're willing to sacrifice your safety for her," Bridge smiled softly and looked away with a shy grin on his lips.
"I do, I guess, I believe it is love, but not in the way you're thinking. I do love her but the attraction is emotionally, not physically. When we all first met, when you two were the bandits, I saw something within her; she needed a home, a warm environment where she didn't have to worry about if her next meal was going to come. I felt her need, her loneliness, and her passion, love and devotion to you. She was the most interesting person I've come across in a long while. She is beautiful inside and out but she's yours, she's always been. I do not impose where I'm not wanted and besides, I've only been attracted to Clarisse," he added with a grin, trying to get Jack to smile.
"But Bridge, you do realize the danger you are facing, you know that this could harm you. Why are you willing to risk your life?" Jack asked again, Bridge sighed at him.
"We're a team Jack, as I've said, we make sacrifices for one another, its what we do. If you don't mind, I have to talk to Clarisse, she's been working this out with me," he said, and walked away before Jack could say another word. Jack sighed and watched the other man go, his eyes focused on the empty doorway as his ragged, cracked voice filled the empty room.
"Thank you."
Clarisse was in the sickbay when Bridge found her, she was standing over Sydney, their eyes were met and he knew that they were talking telepathically, he knew Clarisse possessed the gift and could hear their conversation, though it was a mere whisper.
"Whats going to happen to Z?" Syd asked, her eyes darting towards Z's confined room. A sigh billowed from Clarisse.
"I don't know, Bridge and I are working on a plan to bring her back but if it fails we'll not only lose Z but Bridge as well, the team cannot take many more losses if it does Gruumm can effortlessly defeat this place. The other squads cannot handle the battles you have and could be killed a hell of a lot easier than you guys. Look at you Syd, you walked away with a broken jaw when Z is completely destroyed, that could have been you, it could have been Sky or Jack or Bridge. This is just the beginning think of how SPD will end," Clarisse said, her voice was holding no emotions.
"Syd, don't worry, we won't let that happen," Bridge effortlessly broke into the conversation, startled both girls looked over to him and Clarisse lowered her eyes. Syd opened her arms suddenly and held them out of Bridge. Bridge was moved by her gesture, she knew as well as Sky that the Green Ranger didn't make contact with anyone unless it was absolutely necessary.
"Thank you," Syd told him as they shared a light hug. Just then the alarms rang through out the Command Center and Bridge looked apologetically to her then ran off with Clarisse on his heels. When they got in the control room Jack and Sky were waiting.
"Let me guess, the Hound?" Bridge asked, Cruger nodded. The three male Rangers left the Command Center to find the Hound corning an innocent civilian.
The more the dark consumes me
I pretend I'm burning…
There's nothing ever wrong
But nothing's ever right
What a cruel contradiction
Instantly morphing, the remaining rangers rushed to the aide of the civilian. The woman looked to the Rangers, her arms were bloody, having been hurt from the Hound. The Hound turned from her to the Rangers and without warning, opened its jaws, becoming a flamethrower.
The next thing Jack and Sky knew they were thrown away from the flames and Bridge's screams filled the air. His body was writhing in agony; the scent of burning flesh stung their nostrils as they tried to get closer.
"BRIDGE!" Sky screamed as Bridge fell to his knees, skin turning black and blisters were forming and popping. Sky reached for Bridge, burning his skin, Bridge threw him away once more.
"Sky, hang onto me! I'll make you reach past the flames, once I do you can shield him from the fire!" Jack commanded, Sky blindly groped for Jack's hand and then reached for Bridge, this time successfully reaching through the flames, and once he had locked onto Bridge's skin he made a shield around Bridge's body, the flames dancing atop of it. As Sky felt the rage build inside of him as he listened to Bridge's screaming cries, he expanded the shield, exploding it, extinguishing the flames as the shield vanished. Soon the only sounds were from Bridge's sobs and Sky's panting breath.
As soon as they returned, gingerly carrying Bridge between them, Kat gagged on the sight and smell.
"The burns are third degree, he can't feel them anymore." She stated, once she composed herself. "Peel off what flesh you can and make sure he is in the sterile room. NOW!" She yelled, as Bridge was passed off to the medical technicians. She looked to Sky who turned from her with tears running down his face.
"Bridge, will he be ok?" he asked, voice choked.
"No." was the only answer Kat could think to say, tears burned her eyes as well, a mix from the scent that assaulted her senses and the fact that her favorite ranger was never going to be ok. "Just go you two," her tone was harsh and choked with tears. "Monitor the city, there is nothing that can be done for Bridge. With what he has to live through now, you should have just let him die." Letting out a sob Kat turned away and followed the technicians to where they were working on Bridge.
As Sky and Jack headed to the control room, just as they were going to enter it, Sky placed a hand on Jack's shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.
"Jack, you do realize that we are the only two left, don't you. The Hound will not give up and he will destroy us. I'm sick of being optimistic about this." Sky stated, Jack sighed heavy and looked at him.
"I know. I have a feeling by the end no one will be left." Jack muttered, Sky nodded and with their heads hung low, they walked into Control Room to speak to Cruger.
To Be Continued: Burning Bright (The Last Chapter)