Episode 9: Remising
A ranging fire burns in the distance, a bright orange glow lights up the night sky surrounding the area. Jack clutches his fists together in anger as he watches NewtechCity burn. He hops down off the hill he was standing upon and takes off into a sprint, heading toward the city that he once called home. It seems like he had ran hours to reach the city. He leaps over cars and climbs upside empty buildings, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, hurrying over to where the Delta Base is stationed in the heart of the city.
He skids to a stop, shocked at what he saw before him. He is able to stop himself in time before he slide off the side of the four story building that he had leapt upon. His eyes burn from the smoke, being poured into the sky from the burning cars and other damaged objects. He leaps off the building, landing on top of an abandoned car. The force of his landing causes the windshield to shatter, sending glass slipping upon the group. Wasting no time, Jack back flips off the roof and continues running down the street. He does his best to ignore the lifeless bodies on the ground before him as he continues on his mission.
The mighty and powerful Delta Base, the symbol for freedom and justice lies in ruins. The S.W.A.T. Megazord lies in pieces, destroyed from the attack. Jack rushes over to the Yellow S.W.A.T. Flier and phases through the wreckage, looking for Z.
"Z," Jack screams. "Z! Are you here? Are you okay?"
Silence answers Jack. He pushes debris away, looking for his girlfriend. After constant searching Jack finally phases back outside the Flyer in despair. He glances over at the Red Flyer and notices that a glowing orange figure is standing on top of the Zord.
Jack's eyes narrow at the figure. He goes on the defensive and slowly makes his way over to the ruined Zord, where he yells at the figure. "You! Are you responsible for this!"
The orange glowing figure shakes his head negatively. The figure turns to the side and walks to the edge of the Zord and hops down. After standing back upright, the figure begins to walk toward Jack. Jack can begin to see some familiar distinguishing features on the figure, but the strong glow emitting from the man, keeps Jack from totally seeing his face. The figure has ropes of flames dangling from its head, as if they were dreadlocks themselves.
Jack shields his eyes, from the intense glow. "If you didn't do this, then who did?"
"The balance of power has been disrupted," the man speaks, ignoring Jack's question. There is a slight echo to his voice, and Jack finds the voice rather familiar. "It has been disrupted for a long time. Stolen energies, planets destroyed, the Space-Time continuum being breeched, the universe is one the verge of collapse. You must prevent this…"
"Me? What does this have to do with me," Jack asks.
"It is your destiny, to be the universe's savior. If Master Vile is successful in his goal, a terrible evil will be unleashed into the universe and all will be doomed. Vile believes that he is in control, but he does not suspect that his new ally plots against him."
"My destiny," Jack removes his hand from over his eyes, despite the intense glow from the man. He squints his eyes, still though. "What do I have to do with any of this? Does this have anything to do with… my ability to control fire?"
"All will be revealed in time," the figure turns around and begins to walk away. "You are the only hope for the universe following what is to come. Only you can defeat… the Other."
"The Other," Jack repeats. "What does that mean? Who is the Other?"
"Be prepared…"
The man seems to bursts into flames. The flames spread out quickly and overtake Jack. He raises his hand to shield himself from the deadly flames and…
Jack Landors gasps and jumps up, awaking from his troubled sleep. He is breathing heavily; his bare chest raising as he takes deep breaths. After a few moments he swings his around and off the side of the bed and sits up. He is clad in only a pair of black boxers. His shoulders are slumped over, and his palms are against his forehead, his dreads dangling down over his face.
For months now, he has been plagued with weird dreams. Only until he claimed the Magma Morpher earlier in the week did they become more explicit, more detailed. But this was the first time that he had actually seen or spoken to the fire-man in his dream.
"Geez… another dream," Jack rubs his eyes. He groans as he stands. He begins to stretch his arms and he then makes his way over to his dresser where a mirror lays. He looks into the mirror at his reflection, and for a split second, he could have sworn that his pupils were reddish-orange colored before turning back into the deep brown that they normally are. "What do they mean…? And what is… the Other?"
Jack stands upright and pops his back. His nights are not restless, not by a long shot, but the dreams are starting to get to him. For a while he simply dismissed them, thinking that they held no real importance. But then things begin to change. Around this time, his desire to return to SPD had returned tenfold, the more realistic and vivid the dreams had become. But it didn't stop there; Jack had begun to notice a change within his body, a change within his phasing powers.
It all started close to two years ago. It was during a business trip with Ally and Piggy to the city of Angel Grove. Leaving the business aspect up to Piggy and Ally, Jack had wandered into the city taking in the sights and scenery. Alarms had suddenly begun to wail through the city, indicating a monster attack. Angel Groves own defenses, the current incarnation of the Turbo Rangers, went into battle with their Zords. During the battle a building had caught fire and being the man of action that he is, Jack leapt into action, attempting to save whomever he could.
He was successful in rescuing a family from a burning building that were caught between the debris and the raging fires. But then something happened; a beam fell from the ceiling which the movement Jack had seen in the corner of his eye. He turned around and caught the beam, but what surprised him the most was, that despite the intense heat of the flame, and to add to the fact that his jacket sleeve had caught fire and his watched burned, he felt no pain. No burns scarred his skin at all.
After that he began experimenting with his new abilities. He would place his hand near a candle, only to remove it unharmed. There was even that once when he was cooking and he had accidentally laid his hand on the eye of the stove. Again, unharmed. And with enough concentration, he has surprised himself by igniting candles or creating a fire with a simple thought. He had thought back to the time when he was still with SPD as the Red Ranger. Kat had suggested that he take several tests, to see the extent of his powers. He had learned that he could phase through any and all solid object except for lead. She had then explained to him that he should never attempt to phase through any type of liquid or heat, especially fire. The end result would scatter his atoms through the wind. She never said anything about him actually being able to control fire.
But then again, that was five years ago. And five years ago, Jack Landors could not create fire out of thin air. Jack had allowed Z to believe that it was simply a new trick he picked up, but in actuality the fire had completely moved around them.
"Man, what is going on with me," Jack sighs as he turns around and begins to dress. He is to report to the Delta Base so that he can go over current events with B-Squad Leader as well as Commander Manx as to what his duties shall be since he had used the self-destruction device in his Magma Morpher to defeat the rest of the aliens that had surrounded Z and himself. With Sky back assuming his duties as Red Ranger, and without a Morpher of his own, what role does Jack now have to play in the affairs of SPD?
"Maybe I should have Kat examine me before things get any weirder. Just when I thought my life couldn't get any more complicated…"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Master Vile sits upon his throne and taps his fingers against the hallow bone arm-rest. Standing before him is Mirloc, Psycho Blue and one of his off-planet generals. The alien has a dark gray appearance and has red markings all over his body. His head comes to a point and a long maim of purple hair in a ponytail. He has huge gantlets on his arm with spikes alongside him. He is called Havok.
"My lordship," Havok bows to his emperor. "Our satellite feeds show that our base has been quarantined by Space Patrol Delta. The Dark Planet has fallen."
Vile's chest rises as he inhales. It had been two days since the Rangers had brought the fight to his home planet. Years of planning and hard work were destroyed within an hour. His entire fleet and all of the pilots that he had hired to fly the vessels to Earth were destroyed when the Magma Ranger self destructed his own morpher which leveled his ship hanger and vaporized his minions. Although many of his troops that were not near the hanger were able to get off the planet before SPD reinforcements arrived. They are now awaiting further orders from their hidden locations spread throughout the galaxy.
The Magma Ranger. He now has a name to place to the Ranger that was prophesied in his book of spells. The Ranger born from fire. The one that is prophesied to bring the downfall of his empire. Vile had never really took the prophesy seriously, but after what had happened yesterday he knows that if there was anything left to salvage from his empire, he would have to retreat immediately.
"I… am truly disappointed," Vile finally speaks after what seems like hours of silence. The warlock has kept to himself in his ship's throne room since they evacuated the planet. "Just how did those Rangers find my planet?"
"When the Psycho's apprehended the Pink Ranger, they neglected to destroy her morpher. When she was in our confines, when the Rangers had already attacked, she admitted that all powered SPD issued Ranger Morphers have a tracking device in them all." Mirloc explains, making sure that he keeps the knowledge that he had kept Sky's original Red Ranger morpher with him out of his explanation and that Sky was successful in sending out the coordinates from their communication room back in the now SPD occupied palace.
"Also it is possible that she has sent a transmission before Pink, Black and I abducted her." Blue responds with slight nervousness in its voice. Blue knows that Vile is not in a good mood, and with all that has happened, especially since his negligence may have aided in the result of Vile's palace and planet being overran by SPD forces does not look good on his behalf.
"Don't blow a gasket Blue; I am not going to destroy you. You have done well, providing assistance to me when I fled my planet," Vile stops tapping the bone structure that his throne's armrests are made out of. "Besides, I am low on powerful minions. Scorpina has been destroyed as well as Psycho Red, Yellow, Black and Pink. Prince Gasket and Archerina along with Lother were able to escape without being contained. And they are more than likely laying low for the time being."
"Thank you my lord," Blue bows gratefully. Once upon a time, the Psycho Rangers loved nothing better to do than to out do the other before their former leader Astronema two decades ago. When they were reprogrammed by Deviot to battle the Lost Galaxy Rangers, that competitive edge was removed from their programming toward each other to better work as a team. Now that he is the last remaining Psycho Ranger he will spend the rest of his time making sure that Vile does not regret letting him live. "I am forever in you debt."
"As you already were," Vile reminds him, his yellow eyes narrowing. "Now, back to the matter at hand… something must be done. Space Patrol Delta will be looking for us at full earnest now."
"My lord, we do have one thing working in our favor," Mirloc begins to explain. "We now have a contact within SPD that is monitoring their every moment. She will be light-mailing the information to my personal light-mail account that she has secured for myself as soon as she acquires all the information that will be beneficial to us."
"Excellent," Vile smirks lightly as he removes his glasses and inspects them for dust. "We will be one step ahead of them."
"How trusted can this contact be," Havok asks.
Mirloc pulls the Sword of Darkness out of its holster on his backside. He rotates the blade, admiring the detail that Porto had gone into restoring the blade. "Very reliable, especially since she is now under the influence of the Sword of Darkness."
Havok nods, content with Mirloc's answer. When one has been put under the spell that the Sword of Darkness brandishes on one's soul, that mark is there forever, until that person dies. Even if they are freed of its spell, its mark remains, forever tempting them with lull toward the dark side.
"Very well. In the meantime, what are we to do now my lord," Havok asks, turning back to his master.
Vile grows quiet as he goes over his options. The majority of his fleet and weapons were brought to the Dark planet and were being loaded onto ships planned for the invasion of Earth, but thanks to those meddling Rangers, a large portion of his space fleet is lost. It would take many more years of planning and gathering supplies to launch an invasion of his original planned magnitude. He will need to come up with a new strategy, and fast.
"I didn't want to have to do this," Vile finally speaks. "To even consider freeing that beast… I must be out of my mind…"
"Lord Vile," Mirloc speaks, quite confused at his new Master's outburst. "What are you talking about?"
Vile's eyes glow, an eerie green misty forming around his throne as he speaks. "Remember that horrible beast I told you about that is guarding the Grail of Life?"
"Yes," Mirloc nods.
"Over a millennia ago, I had attempted to acquire it, but I was forced off Earth by the forces of good. A wizard, a powerful one at that, was the one who sent the Grail into the lair of the beast, for no one would dare risk awakening it to retrieve the Grail. The wizard, he could see into the future and he told me that my Empire would fall if I ever continued to pursue my goal of attaining the Grail."
"I see," Mirloc takes in all the new information being fed to him. He had heard this tale, about Vile being forced off the planet by humans, but there is much of the story missing. "This wizard cursed you?"
"No," Vile slumps further down into his throne. "There was a Knight there as well. That Knight was a member of a warrior bloodline that was supposed created by the great creator after the fall from grace eons ago. This bloodline was created to defend the populace against the beast locked away within the Earth's core if ever released. That Knight wore the same symbol that the Magma Ranger bore on his chest plate, the same symbol that the wizard showed me that would bring forth my downfall."
"What are we to do then my lord," Havok walks forward slightly toward the throne. "What will you do?"
"I will not have my Empire decimated…" despite his old age, Vile quickly rises to his feet. He clutches his fist before Havok's face. "I will release that beast which was imprisoned within the Earth! I will release him and allow him to spread across the universe like a disease! He will kill the Magma Ranger and rape the planet beyond belief and I will take the Grail and become immortal so no one can defeat me!"
"I will… unleash…," Vile lowers himself back into his throne. "The Other…"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Mom, I don't know what is wrong," Sky speaks into his vid-phone. The Red Ranger is in his restored office. Whenever the Command Center was repaired so were all of the higher ranking Officers offices.
Normally Ranger leaders didn't get offices, but after the betrayal of A-Squad, those who run the Galactic Police organization wanted to have much more control over its high ranking Cadets and Officers. And since Red Ranger is the third highest ranking officer of Earth's SPD Base, the Red Ranger is required to fill out reports and notices as if he or she were a Commander. Other Rangers have similar duties and reports to hand in as the Red Ranger.
"Ever since we got back here on Earth, Sydney has been acting… weird. Back on the Dark Planet, she was all over me, saying how much she missed me and how much she loved me. Now she is… I dunno…" Sky runs a hand through his spiky locks. "Things are not the same."
"Did anything happen to her while she was captured," Melissa Tate asks her son. "Was she hurt? Abused?"
"Mom, being a Ranger calls for risks. Potential injuries during battle are not uncommon. Even death is a risk," Sky thinks back onto his fallen teammate Sophie. He sighs lightly before continuing. "But no… she wasn't abused. Not in the way you are thinking of at least."
"I was just asking," Melissa remarks. Over the transmission, Sky can hear the rumbling of a washing machine in the background; after returning back to Earth and finding his room needing repairs within the Delta Base, Sky moved back home to his mother's house for the time being. Since nearly all of his clothing's in the base got scorched, he had to buy new ones, thus why his mother is current washing his new laundry. "I am worried though. I already consider Syd a daughter; and you two look so good together."
"Sometimes I think that is all we got going for us," Sky sighs unhappily. "That we are only together because people expect us to be. That because we look good together we should…"
"Don't worry about what other people think Sky," his mother continues. "You never have before…"
"I know… it's just… I don't know what to do. Mom, I really do care for Syd. I truly do. But… I don't know… the spark is still there, but it's not as bright as it once was. And I think she is trying to use this as an excuse to break it off between us…"
"All relationships have bumps along the way," Melissa adds. "It won't be your first, and it defiantly won't be the last."
"But how can she and I ever truly be happy if we are not open to one another? She won't talk to me. Not about the mission or anything since we returned."
"I remember a time when you wouldn't open up to anyone," Sky's mother retorts, not in a scolding way, just simply reminding Sky of how he once was before he learned how to be a team player. "Sky? Is there something else wrong? Something else bothering you?"
"Yeah," Sky sits down in his chair. He rests his elbows on his knees as he leans forward. "Mom… I was captured. The man who killed dad, he escaped and captured me with ease. Even with the powerful upgrades that Boom has made for the Rangers to use in battle. I barely made it off that planet alive. If the other Rangers didn't arrive when they did… I don't know… And I feel incredibly guilty over Sophie's death, I am Red Ranger. I should have been better prepared for that attack on the Delta Base and…"
Sky closes his eyes. "I just don't feel like I deserve to be Red Ranger; not anymore. In fact, I never truly felt like I deserved this status, even after Cruger promoted me. And now with Jack back… he has already proven to be a better leader than me when he led the Rangers to the Dark Planet to rescue me. Maybe that is why Syd is avoiding me… because I was a terrible leader. I couldn't even…"
"Now Sky," his mother begins. "I know how upset you are over your teammate's death. But you have to understand, it was not your fault. Before they were able to locate your signal, Sydney told me that that Benaag character was just too strong of a monster, even for you."
Sky smiles lightly, but it is small. "Mom… Jack single handily defeated two-thousand warriors on his own two days ago. He was a better Red Ranger that one year than I have been in the past four years…"
"Sky, you are an excellent Ranger. You know it, I know it and Supreme Commander Cruger knows it. Quite comparing yourself to Jack."
"I don't think that I am cut out to lead a team anymore," Sky corrects his mother, unleashing his feelings. "I don't deserve to bear the color of the Red Ranger."
"Sky, the color of the uniform doesn't tell you how good of a Ranger you are. Everyone has their strengths and their weaknesses. Your father would be proud of everything you have accomplished. I know I am." Melissa tells her son.
Sky smiles lightly. He likes to think that his father would be proud of him. Mirloc's comments and constant insults toward his father during his captivity really got to him. "Mom… thanks. You are the best."
"I'm just telling you the truth son," Melissa can actually feel her son's mood uplifting. She knows that Sky has always had a confidence issue. He always felt that he had to fill his father's shoes after he had died. "You've needed to hear that for a while now, haven't you?"
"A little," Sky admits. "Talking to you always makes me feel better mom; I don't know how you do it."
"I'm your mother. It's my job," Melissa laughs over the receiver. "Now, I want you to get things right between you and Sydney."
"I will mom," Sky replies. "I got to go mom. I'm supposed to report down to training in a little bit and then I have a meeting with the Commanders later. I'll talk to you soon."
"Okay darling. Have fun,"
"I'll try," Sky replies before hanging up. He sits back in his chair and closes his eyes, thinking back on what his mother told him. He remains in his office, thinking, until he is summoned to the training grounds where he is supposed to supervise the C-Squad as they are working on their final psychical tests to prove that they are ready to become the next squad of Power Rangers.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After making sure that his plan was foolproof, a now fully healed Anubis Cruger left for the KO-35 Satellite Prison. He had run the idea past his wife several times, going over every possible detail and scenario that could be played out. He will offer Mora her freedom, a limited freedom that is; after all she is a criminal with a long list of charges against her, but if everything Omega Ranger had told him about the future concerning Mora is true then is would be beneficial to have her on SPD's payroll.
After all, if she does accept his arrangement, then she won't be the first criminal that he gave leeway to. After all, his current B-Squad Yellow Ranger and sixth Ranger, the Magma Ranger, were both street criminals before becoming Rangers.
Anubis smiles lightly, thinking about his two rouge Rangers. It took both Jack and Z months to open up to Sydney, Bridge and Sky after he had placed them on the B-Squad. Both of the two had lived hard lives on the streets, only having the other to turn two. If was pure luck on their behalf that they had met up with each other, both being outcasts from society; no one really understanding their powers. Prejudice can be a nasty thing. And despite the distrust toward them, the two still helped others, even those of their own kind, homeless, who still turned their nose up to them. Their dedication to helping others, the more unfortunate in life, made all their past crimes seem mute considering the greater good.
It still pains him that he couldn't get to them when he did. He had searched for the two for many years. He had come close to locating Z and bringing her to the Delta Base for early enrollment when she was 12. The final papers being filed would have made her a ward of the state, and Cruger was going to bring her into SPD for training, much like they had done for Sam when Z had convinced him to join SPD five years earlier. He had also rescued Z from some alien muggers, but she had taken off before he could get a chance to talk to her.
Now Jack was another story. For many years there were reports of the 'ghost boy' thief that no one could seem to get hands on. Anubis had his suspicions, but it wasn't until they finally got video footage of Jack and Z raiding a building for supplies was Anubis suspicious clarified. No social services worker or policeman could actually get their hands on the 'ghost' as he was called. Cruger had finally located the two of the last three remaining genetically altered children; his future Power Rangers.
After all the Rangers were born, and it was revealed that they all possessed special powers due to their mutation in their genetic makeup it was decided that they would one day become part of Space Patrol Delta Ranger program. Sky began his training for Rangerhood since he was twelve. Sydney was already a gold metal Olympics winner along as being a popular singer, so the physical endurance of being a Ranger was nothing for her. Bridge was the weak link in their group before finally coming into his own as a Cadet after moving up to B-Squad and being roomed with Sky. Sky more or less, toughened him up.
"Supreme Commander Sir," a voice from the cockpit of the ship that Anubis is aboard calls out over the intercom. "We are approaching the KO-35 system. We will be reaching the Satellite Prison within the hour."
Anubis walks over to a small control panel from his desk next to the door. The ship, although small, has quarters for the Supreme Commander. A bed, a small kitchen with refreshments and computer ports all for his usage. "Thank you Cadet Emerson. Carry on."
After ending the transmission, Anubis walks back over to his desk and flips open his laptop, to double check his proposal to the teen sorceress known as Mora.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Much later that afternoon…
Sam sits on the edge of Z's bed, watching his self claimed adopted sister model a skin tight yellow dress in front of a full body mirror. After he was released from the hospital he got a room in one of the motels in the nearby vicinity that was offering housing for SPD Cadets until the Delta Base was up and running. It had been a good three days since he had last seen his 'big sister' so after his classes he left to go visit her at her temporary residence until her room was restored at the Delta Base along with the rest of the Cadet rooms.
"What do you think Sam," Z smoothes the end of the dress against her legs. The dress is a cut low, just coming above her knees. "Think Jack would like this?"
"You kidding me," Sam exclaims. "He'd be stupid not to like it! That or blind!"
Z grins as she looks at Sam's reflection on the mirror. He is not sitting behind her, but from the angle that he is sitting she can see him perfectly without having to turn around. "I just want this to be perfect. This is Jack and my first date."
"I don't see why you are so nervous," Sam lies back on Z's bed. "It's just Jack. I'm sure he has seen you in less before."
"What makes you think that," Z asks her young friend.
"Well, you've told me the stories about when you and Jack lived on the streets together. Heck, I even went and found that little shake that you two use to live in. There was only one mattress in that shack, and one working shower? Come on now Z, you telling me that you two never seen each other in the bare before?"
"I see that group of friends that you are hanging with are corrupting your mind Sam," Z shakes her head in amusement. "But to answer your question, no. Jack and I always respected each other's space when we lived together on the streets. That shack may not have been big, but it was more than enough for us."
"Whatever," Sam rolls his eyes as he sits back up. He is still wearing his white and blue Cadet uniform. His uniform, much like the B-Squad and C-Squad Rangers are different from the standard SPD uniforms, showing their rank. "But I think that it is cool that you two are together now though."
"Why's that," Z asks, turning around and looking over at her adopted younger brother.
"Cause you are smiling again," Sam replies. "I haven't seen you smile this brightly in a long while."
Z lowers her head in thought. It is true, for a while she was down, depressed with life. She had finally found that something bigger that she had wanted in life, but it really did seem lonely without Jack at her side. He was there for everything, even how unimportant it may have seemed. When he left, things weren't the same. She was surrounded by people, but she was still alone. No one really understood her, none other than Jack, and possibly Sam, however Sam wasn't on the streets as long as Jack and her was. She looks back up at the young teen. She raises a hand and ruffles up his shaggy reddish brown hair. He will grow up to be a handsome young man, from what she had seen of Omega's human self right before he went back to the future with his partner the Nova Ranger.
"So, where are you going," Sam asks. "Where is Jack taking your for your first date tonight?"
"I don't know," Z turns around and looks at her exposed backside. "He said that it was a surprise. Question, do you think I should wear a black long-sleeved shirt underneath the dress? It would contrast greatly with the yellow."
"Dear God in heaven Z," Sam slaps a hand over his eyes as he falls back onto her bed, careful to avoid the bandage on the side of his scalp. "Who do you think I am? Sydney?"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Newtech City Mall. It is one of the largest malls in California. With such a tourist attraction such as being the city which the dreaded Emperor Gruumm and his master Omni were defeated at, it gets many visitors. Business began flourishing for many businesses, both large and small. In fact, Omega Missions gets a nice bulk of its finances from donations given by tourists that come through the city.
The Newtech Mall was rebuilt after the defeat of Omni. It was one of the many buildings that got damaged when Omni exploded. It was rebuilt larger than ever. The mall holds many shopping centers and draws in large crowds at all times of the day. With its food court on the highest level on the mall, it gives the shoppers an amazing view of the city. That is where we find Jack Landors, the Magma Ranger, and his friend Doctor Rachael Rheas.
"Oh, that's so great Jack," Rheas remarks from the opposite side of the table that Jack and she are sharing in the mall's diner. "When did you finally ask her out?"
"I technically didn't," Jack remarks as he takes a sip out of his Styrofoam cup. After his meeting with Sky and Kat concerning his role at SPD, he called up an old friend to get some advice. He chuckles lightly after lowering his cup. "We both kinda… admitted our feelings toward each other. And we just kind of worked from that. Not the most romantic thing in the world I admit…"
"It's still good though that you two are together," Rheas smiles as she cups her hands together. "I'm happy for you Jack."
"Thanks," Jack smiles up at his friend. Jack and Rheas had dated briefly when he was Red Ranger, but the two felt better off as friends. He had spoken to her about Ally, when he had first started dating the Blond, and Rheas told him to follow his heart. He didn't. He kept his feelings for Z hid, and in turn, Ally had gotten hurt.
Jack shakes his head, clearing his mind of the random thoughts that appeared concerning Ally. She, as well as Rheas will always be a dear friend to him, but he could never love her the way she wanted. "But yeah, anyways, I called you up for a reason. I'm at a loss. What's a good place to take Z on a first date?"
Rheas raises an eyebrow in surprise. "You telling me that you, Jack Landors, the Romeo of the B-Squad has no idea where to take a girl on a first date?"
"Z's different Rheas," Jack places his cup down onto the table. "With all the other women that I dated in the past, I didn't know them like I know Z. Z is special to me. Always has been, always will be."
"Then the answer is simple; do something that you know that she will like," Rheas replies, she interlaces her fingers. "Take her someplace that is special between you two."
"I think I know the perfect place," Jack crosses his arms; resting his elbows on the table. He raises his head and looks up at the glass dome above food court. "Hmm, but what should I take to make it more… romantic?"
Rheas shakes her head, laughing. "Hearing that word come out your mouth just sounds so weird. Romantic."
"Hey I can be romantic," Jack raises his hands in a defensive manner smirking as he does. "And it's for Z. I'll do anything to make this night perfect."
"Well tell me what she likes," Rheas asks. "Maybe I can throw some suggestions your way."
"Z likes a lot of things," Jack smiles. "I remember when we first got placed on B-Squad and started getting regular pay, she filled her side of her room that she shared with Syd with all kinds of trinkets and clothes and posters and CD's. Even though we stole some clothing and food, we rarely took anything for us besides the necessities. Seeing her happy with all the things she wanted made happy that she did convince me to stay."
"That's sweet. But remember Jack, it doesn't have to be a material object," Rheas remarks. "A favorite song? A particular place she enjoys, perhaps?"
Jack's right hand begins to unconsciously tap his fingers against the desk. After a few moments, he looks back up at Rheas, a large grin sporting his features. "You know what; you just gave me an idea."
"Well don't keep me in suspense," Rheas leans forward and rest her chin in her palm. "Tell me what you have planned for our favorite Yellow Ranger."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As the evening sun begins to set, the activity around the Delta Base slowly draws to a close. However, there are some that cannot afford the luxury of going home and resting. Several Cadets can be seen still running diagnostics and tests on new weapons while others are simply applying paint to the newly rebuilt walls that were destroyed during Gruumm's former three general's attack.
Carl Boomhoward sighs in frustration as he slams his hands on his desk, causing his tools to jump. He places the screw driver that he was using on the desk and rubs his eyes. It was difficult building the Magma Morpher the first time around, and that took nearly a year of production.
Kat who was walking by her old lab, which currently belongs to Boom, stopped. Normally she visits to tinker around with tools and projects. Although she may have been promoted to Commander of the Earth's Delta Base, her heart still burns to create. She enters the room and looks upon the deflated form of her friend, Boom. "Boom, what is the matter?"
Boom jumps; startled by Kat's voice. "Oh! Kat! I didn't hear you come in…"
"It goes with my cat-like grace," Kat smiles, her large green eyes shinning brightly from the glow of the computers illuminating the room. She takes in Boom's appearance, his hair more disarray than normal. "Boom, you look flustered."
"I'm still trying to rebuild the Magma Morpher from scratch again Kat," Boom turns back to the desk, showing the morpher components before him. "When I first developed it, it was a technological wonder! The first of it's kind! Even more powerful than all the Morphers in SPD's disposal!"
"I know," Kat nods in agreement. "It was your greatest achievement. Even more so than the other active Morphers that SPD other Ranger Squads are using off-planet."
"I think that I can recreate the morpher in less time than before," Boom admits. He wipes his hands on his coveralls. "The most that I can do at the moment would be to incorporate all the Ranger upgrades that went into the Magma Morpher into a regular morpher and give it back to Jack so he can have a working Morpher for the time being. But the closest morpher schematic's that are compatible with the Magma technology is the Red Ranger morpher and well… we have a Red Ranger, Sky."
Kat strokes her chin as she thinks back onto the meting she had earlier with Jack and Sky. "Well, Jack, Sky and I debated on this matter earlier. As to SPD protocol, all Squad Leaders must bear the color Red, but in the past, Ranger teams have been lead by other Rangers bearing other colors, but this is not a question of leadership. Sky will continue to be the Red Ranger of the B-Squad. My original plans were to have Jack is to become the Squad Leader of the Fire Squad once it was activated and up and running."
"Who were the other members of the Fire-Squad going to be," Boom asks.
"Marie Utahime, the Gold Ranger from the Planet Leslie. And also a Ranger instructor from Galaxy Command, Lisa Teagle. But they have been reassigned until further notice." Kat replies. "For the time being, Jack's role here is purely for instructional purposes and B-Squad aid."
"Well what should I do then Kat," Boom asks. "Continue rebuilding the Magma Morpher?"
"Yes, but for the time being, reprogram another Red Ranger morpher and just incorporate the Fire Squad schematic's into it and redesign the exterior design of the costume so there will be some difference between the two Red Rangers. Also make sure that it is also compatible with the R.I.C. Battlizer sequence as well. With all that is going on, we need all the Rangers that we can get."
Boom sighs in relief. "Now that I can do. It will take a few hours. Incorporating the technology will be easy as pie!"
"Easy as pie," Kat repeats with an amused look in her eyes.
Boom takes a moment to think over his use of words. He looks back at the very attractive feline-humanoid. "That really made no sense, did it Kat?"
"No. No it didn't." Kat smiles as she turns and heads back out of the lab. "Have fun Boom, and please try not to blow up the lab."
"I make no promises," Boom salutes the Commander as he watches her walk out the lab. After the electronic doors close behind her, Boom turns back and pops his knuckles grinning all the while. "Okay, let's get to work! Let's see if I can make this better than before!"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
It had been two days since the rescue of Sky and Sydney from Vile's clutches, and Bridge is still confused as to what had attacked his psyche down on the planet. He had gone through the criminal database, looking for anyone who may have any psychic powers strong enough to practically make himself immobile to fight in the battle.
So far, Bridge's research has come up zilch.
"There has to be something," Bridge bites into a piece of toast. He turns back to the keyboard and pulls back up the documents that he had previously went through. "Maybe I am overlooking it… but I don't see how I can. Ever record of every known criminal is here within the SPD databanks…"
Bridge picks up his toast and begins to munch away. He is so engrossed in his thoughts that he doesn't here his office doors slide open. Sydney looks in upon the Green Ranger, her eyes putting off an eerie pink glow. She smirks as she walks up behind him, observing his actions.
"What are you working on Bridge," Sydney places a hand on his shoulders.
Startled, Bridge sits up. He relaxes when he senses the familiar aura of Sydney. "Oh hey Syd. What's up?"
"I should be asking the same to you," Sydney walks around his desk and takes a seat opposite side of him. "You have been working nonstop since our return to Earth."
"Remember in my report about how my psyche was attacked while on the Dark planet? I have been researching all the files we have on all psychic powered criminals and so far, I have come across nothing. Any all possible threats are already in containment or are dead."
Although her mind is tainted by the dark influence of the Sword of Darkness, Bridge has been her best friend for many years. Bridge was the first person to befriend her when she first enrolled at the academy. Bridge saw her for her, not the pop star singer that the media exploits at every turn.
"Perhaps it was Vile himself or some new ally of his," Sydney suggests. "After we defeated the Troobians, we became well known as the top fleet of SPD. We were on constant programs and news broadcasts. The only one of us that really didn't get publicized that much was Jack; and all the attention that was placed on him were from his business with that Ally chick. Our powers are no secret, not even to our enemies now."
"True," Bridge nods in realization. "I never thought of that before…"
"There you go then," Sydney grins. "Now, how about you fill me in on everything that is going on. I've been too preoccupied with things to even remember any all important and relevant information the past few days."
"Sure, I'll get you up to speed," Bridge slides his computer chair over. Sydney stands and walks around the desk with her chair and sits besides Bridge. "We don't want our enemies to get an edge up on us, just because all of us didn't get all the most recent updates."
Sydney smirks as she looks down at Bridge's gloved hands. The reason that she doesn't know any of the current security updates is because she had been avoiding the rest of her Squad as much as possible, especially Sky and Bridge; Bridge being the team's psychic and all. As long as he doesn't scan her aura, her secret will remain safe. Bridge's psychic powers have evolved tremendously over the years and he has learnt better control. He no longer hears stray thoughts and he will never unintentionally scan someone's aura unless absolute necessary.
"Of course Bridge," Sydney's eyes glow slightly. "Of course."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Upon his ships arrival at the KO-35 Prison Satellite, Anubis Cruger wasted no time strapping his Shadow Ranger morpher to his belt and exited out of the vessel. Standing before him outside the ship were many of the guards, who are standing to attention.
"Supreme Commander on deck," an SPD Cadet stands before Anubis. The cadet has a light brown completion and a short cut hairstyle. He then raises his hand and salutes his superior. "Sir, on behalf of the entire station, it is an honor to have you here among us, sir!
"At ease Cadet Santiago," Anubis returns the salute. Underneath Anubis left arm, a small, but long white box rests. It has a purple ribbon wrapped around it. "Have all the necessary preparations been made?"
"Yes sir," the Cadet responds as he turns and leads the Commander away from the docking bay. "We have transported Mora to a holding cell where you can question her without any worries."
"Good," Anubis nods. "I hope that talk of the matter has been rather mute. I wouldn't want Gruumm to have any knowledge of this conversation that I am about to have with Mora."
"I gave strict orders that no one was to speak of your arrival," Cadet Santiago remarks as the two enter the elevator. "None of the prisoners, especially Gruumm, will know of your being here."
"Excellent," Anubis shifts the gift box from under his arm and brings it before him.
The two ride the elevator in comfortable silence, down to the floor which the holding cells are located. Upon the lift coming to a stop, Santiago steps out of the elevator first and beckons the Supreme Commander to follow him.
"She was a little apprehensive about us removing her from her cell," Santiago begins as the two come to a stop before a room. Standing before the only entrance into the room are two SPD Cadets decked out in normal S.W.A.T. attire. Not all S.W.A.T. upgrades are limited to active Rangers. "To her knowledge, she had no reason to be removed from her cell."
"Understandable," Anubis steps forward, the two guards stepping aside for their Supreme Commander to enter.
"Sir," Santiago speaks, causing Anubis to come to a stop. "I hope that I am not being to forward, but… is that a gift box?"
"That it is Cadet," the large canine-sapien smirks. The electronic doors slide open to give him entrée to the room, which is currently holding Mora. "I felt that if I offered a… peace offering of the sort, perhaps she will better take my proposition into consideration."
Once his body fully enters into the room, the electronic doors slide shut behind him. In the middle of the room sits Mora, brushing her hair. She was humming to herself, but stopped once the imposing figure of the Supreme Commander stopped before her. She stands and walks forward, still brushing her hair.
"Hello Doggie Cruger," Mora speaks in a low voice. "Never expected to see you again."
"Hello Mora," Anubis looks down onto the teenaged girl. He had often wondered just what it was that lead Mora or Morgana as she was formally known, down the path of evil. She has a very lovely appearance; one would never know that she led her life on the side of darkness. "You look well."
"Well I have to hand it to your SPD cronies," Mora shrugs as she turns around and returns back to her seat in the middle of the room. "They do treat enemies of the state very humane. Much better than Gruumm ever did to prisoners."
"Gruumm was a tyrant, the worst of his kind," Anubis growls lightly. "He will live the remainder of his days behind bars reminiscing on the pain he has caused others."
"Perhaps," Mora lowers her brush and looks up into the eyes of the man who contained her five years earlier. "But I am sure that you didn't come all the way here just to tell me that. What do you want Cruger?"
"First," Anubis hands the gift box to Mora. "A gift. From me to you."
Mora takes the box but looks at it warily. She lifts it and shakes it lightly, testing it. She looks back up at Anubis with a weird look on her face. "What is this? A trick?"
"No," Anubis raises his paws as he recoils slightly. "No trick. Open it."
Mora pulls the ribbon and allows it to dangle to the floor. She lifts the lid of the box and she gasps from shock and surprise. She quickly reaches into the box and removes its contents, standing up as she does so.
"Cindy Sunshine," Mora squeezes her old childhood dolly to her chest; her eyes clenched shut. "But how? I thought it was destroyed?"
"It was recovered during the cleanup after Omni was destroyed," Anubis explains as he begins to walk in a circle around the young dark haired brunette. "We kept it in evidence. My wife repaired it for you."
Mora is quiet for several minutes as she thinks over the current events. Despite the fact that she is trilled to be reunited with one of the objects that she has kept since her original childhood many years ago, she is still confused about the situation. Why would Cruger do something like this for her; that is, unless he wants something in return.
"There must be something you want from me Doggie Cruger," Mora releases her grip on the doll; it dangles from her right hand.
"That there is," Anubis places his arms behind him as he comes to a stop before the teen. "I have a proposition for you."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Nightfall. It's the only time of the day where the loud and bright city seems to slow down, if only slightly. The city lights puts off a glow surrounding the area. The city, which quickly grew into one of the largest on the planet, quickly outgrowing the numbers of New York, Los Angeles, can be seen from space clearly at night.
However, the beauty of the night sky is lost within the city. The bright lights from businesses, clubs and even from the military bases as well as SPD; block out the night sky from within the city. For anyone who wishes to see a clear night sky; the stars, the moon clearly, one would have to drive outside Newtech City to the countryside, which is precisely where we find Jack Landors taking Elizabeth Delgado… even if she doesn't know it.
Jack's red and black sports car zooms down the freeway. Jack had the car custom built; a gift to himself shortly after Omega Missions began blooming. Ally and Piggy had convinced him to spurge a little for himself. After all that he has done to help others, he needed to live a little. Jack looks over into the passenger seat, where Z sits, her eyes covered with a black cloth tied around her head.
"Jack, where are we going," she asks finally. When Jack returned to the Mission to pick her up, he was already dressed in his apparel, black leather jacket, black slacks and shoes and his silk shirt was crimson red. His neck length dreads were no longer in dreads, but rather braided tightly and neatly to his scalp in several rows. Jack doesn't normally dress up, but when he does, he goes all out.
"You'll find out soon enough," Jack chuckles. The two had pulled out of Newtech City nearly ten minutes ago but before Jack drove them out of the city he pulled over and placed the cloth over Z's eyes, not wanting her to know where he was driving her to. "We are almost there."
"I hate waiting," Z pouts.
"I know," Jack nods his head in agreement. "But trust me, it'll be worth it."
Jack lets his eyes linger on Z's appearance for several more seconds before he turns them back to the road ahead of him. Luckily the interstate is practically empty; especially for a Friday night. Other than the soft music playing low on the radio, it is a rather quiet drive.
Z raises a hand and twirls a finger around a loose stand of hair dangling alongside her ear. Nancy had unbraided her hair and used a heated comb to smooth her hair out. Twirling a finger or two in her hair was something that she picked up when she was younger, whenever she was nervous or anxious.
"Anxious," Jack asks, chuckling lightly. From the corner of his eye, he caught her movement.
"Very," Z sighs. "Come on Jack, tell me! This suspense is killing me!"
"If it is, I can take you back to the city and we can go to the hospital," Jack jokes. "I mean, I didn't know that suspense could kill a person."
"Don't be a dick," Z's lips curve into a smile. "Just hurry."
"I like to take my time," Jack remarks. "Get the whole affect. Enjoy ever last second of it and make sure that the person enjoys it as much, if not more! Why rush a good thing?"
"I am talking about driving," Z tries not to smile, but is failing miserably.
"So was I," Jack retorts. "Get your mind out of the gutter Z."
"HA! Your one to talk!" Z retaliates, trying to save face.
"Hush," Jack laughs. "Besides, we're here."
Z hadn't notice that the car had come to a stop. She raises her hands to remove the blindfold, but Jack stops her. "Wait, not yet."
"Jack," Z wines. "Come on!"
Jack gets out of the driver seat and walks around to the passenger side door. He opens the door and reaches for Z's hands. After helping her stand to her feet, Z sways lightly.
"Careful, I got you," Jack lowers his hands, while still holding onto hers. "We have a small flight of stairs to walk up."
"Stairs," Z questions. She begins racking her mind, trying to think of where possibly Jack may have brought her to. She allows Jack to lead her forward. She realizes that she could easily replicate herself and see the area, but since Jack has gone through so much in keeping it a surprise, she decides against it.
She can tell it is grass that they are currently walking on. Jack slides an arm around her waist, to help her keep her footing, since she cannot see before her. When they finally reach the brick staircase, Jack careful and slowly lead her up the bricked pathway.
"It would be easy if you'd just let me take off this blindfold," Z grins, pushing her attempt to get Jack to remove the cloth from over her eyes.
"And ruin my surprise? I don't think so." Jack replies, his voice light.
"I'm sure that I would love it either way," Z tries to plead to him, more than playful teasing than anything. If fact, she is rather intrigued at what Jack has planned. For him to be as secretive as he has been all evening, it must be something special.
As the two grow closer to the destination, soft music makes it way up to Z's ears earning a small gasp escaping from her lips. The song playing, although old, is one of her favorites. She can feel soft grass underneath her heels once again as Jack leads her closer to the playing song. He releases her hand, and from the slight motion that she can make out from underneath the blindfold, she can see him turn around and walk behind her. Jack raises his hands and slowly unties the cloth. After undoing the tie, he pulls the black cloth away from her eyes. She brings her hands to cover her mouth as she realizes just where it is where Jack had brought her.
Back when they were younger, living on the streets, every now and then they would hitch a ride out of the city and come out to the Newtech City Observatory, to look at the stars from the free publicly used telescope. The large telescope was donated to the city by NASDA. The Observatory sits on top of a grass hill and it is one of the few places within Newtech City limits where one could see a clear view of the night sky without worrying about light pollution. The two would come as often as they could, and sit under the stars and talk about their dreams of the future.
Z slowly turns around in Jacks arms. She slides her hands up his chest and up around his neck, pulling him into a kiss. After several minutes the two pull apart, and Z can finally take in the sights of all that Jack had prepared for the two of them. There is a small white table drape in a red table cloth with candles atop. Not to far off are several covered plates of food under heat trays. Several lanterns perched on top of metal rods in the ground light the area.
"How, how did you get all this prepared," Z turns and asks her boyfriend. "I mean, it took us a good twenty minutes to drive here!"
"Remember my friend Rheas," Jack asks as he grasps her hand and leads her over to the table. "I asked her if she could keep an eye on things while I went home to pick you up. She spotted us when we first arrived. She turned the music on and left a few moments before I removed the cloth over your eyes."
"This is beautiful Jack," Z replies. Jack pulls her seat out for her and once Z takes a seat, Jack pushes her chair forward. Jack then walks over to a bucket which is filled with ice, and several bottles of dark wine. The song is still playing in the background, finishing off the romantic display that Jack had set up for the two.
"You are beautiful," Jack leans over and kisses her collarbone gently. He then walks over to the bucket of ice and retrieves one of the bottles of wine. He makes his way back over to the table while pulling on the cork of the bottle. After finally feeling it give slightly, Jack turns and finishes popping the cork, sending it flying far away from the two.
Z laughs as Jack holds the bottle away from him as the foam begins pouring out of the bottle. Once it stops, Jack pours the wine into the two glasses on the table. After placing the bottle back on the table, Jack realizes that the candles haven't been lithe yet.
He places his hands over one of the candles and snaps his fingers. Suddenly all eight of the candles ignite, earning a gasp from Z. "Wow! How did you do that?"
Jack smiles, but doesn't say a word. He is still unsure what to say about his… new abilities. He grasped the molecules present in the air and generated the heat necessary to ignite the candles all at once. Hopefully Kat can tell him something from the scans of his body that she took earlier today. If there is no reason for him to worry, then telling everyone else about his evolution, if that is what it is, will be no problem. However, if there is something to cause alarm, he will keep it to himself and Kat for a while longer.
"It's magic Z," Jack grins. He picks up his wine glass and Z's, and dangles them between the index and middle fingers of his hands. "Will you dance with me?"
"I'd love to," Z pushes her seat back and stands. Jack offers her glass to her, which she accepts. The two take a swallow from their respected glass and then place them back onto the table. Z loops an arm around Jack's, as he leads the two of them away from the table.
The two begin dancing slowly, swaying to the soft music. Z rests her hands behind Jack's neck as Jack lays his on her hips. The two make eye contact and smile at the other. Ever since the two revealed their feelings to the other back aboard the Omega-Striker Megaship two days earlier, they have not left the others side, unless absolute necessary. Being back in others company for only a week is not enough time to catch up on nearly two years of absence from the other.
Z sighs happily as she lays her head upon Jack's chest. She closes her eyes, as the two continue to dance, the song
having already started over again. Rheas had thought ahead to put the
song on loop.
"I don't know how I survived without you not being with me Z," Jack
grasps her chin and directs her eyes up toward his face. "I'm never
letting you go. Never again."
"Good," Z kisses his chin before resting her head back in the crook of his neck. "Because I don't ever plan on letting
you go either."
In the sky, a large bright full moon glows down upon them and the rest of the world. It won't be until they finish their danceand begin their meal before they will notice the beautiful sight presented before them. As the two continue to dance to what they will later dub as 'their song', a single thought passes between the two; and that is how Space Patrol Delta is what drove them in separate paths but also what brought them back together. They will enjoy the time that they have together.
However, unknown to them, and to the rest of the world, dark days lie ahead.