Got pretty sick so didn't go into work, so figured I'd update now!

I hope you like it!

Chapter 10: Shadow Part 1

"I'm not telling you how I do it," Annie laughed as she and Bridge walked into the Command Centre. The others already there glanced up.

"Still trying to find out how to do the disappearing in a smoke screen trick?" Spencer guessed.

"She won't even give me a hint! I just gotta know how it's possible," Bridge complained, taking a seat. Annie smiled sweetly at him.

"Enroll at the Academy, and you'll find out," she told him.

"Maybe it wasn't the best idea to blab about Ninjas being real," Spencer mused as he went back to his book.

"You kidding? Ninjas are awesome!" Bridge stared at him incredulously. "I still can't believe Cam Watanabe is a Samurai as well...that's so cool," he breathed.

"Maybe we should have at least kept quiet about the Ranger files," Spencer murmured as he turned the page.

"Yeah, I think Syd nearly had a heart attack when she found out about Kira Ford being a Yellow Ranger," Z snorted in amusement.

"Yeah? Cause I heard you were pretty hyped about being her successor," Spencer's words made Z go bright red as the others snickered in amusement.

"That's not..." Z tried to argue weakly, but Spencer didn't look up, becoming engrossed in his book. Z watched him for a moment longer before turning away, unaware that Annie had been watching her. She shook her head with a barely audible sigh.

"He's still completely oblivious, isn't he?" Bridge glanced to Annie, his words almost as quiet. Annie couldn't help but grin as she nodded. Seemed she wasn't the only one who had noticed.

"Probably for the best. Unless it's a way to get stronger, or be a better hero, Spencer has no time for it. His last girlfriend found that out the hard way," Annie laughed, thinking back to the poor girl. "Where are Jack and Syd anyway?" the Silver Ranger asked, glancing around.

"Dealing with an Orange-Head in town. Jack said they had it handled," Sky told them.

"Does he not remember Spence getting his butt handed to him by one of those guys a few weeks ago?" Annie raised an eyebrow.

"Rude," Spencer finally looked up, looking insulted. Annie just smirked back at him. "I still have the bruises from that fight," the Sun Ninja muttered.

The alarm suddenly blared, and they all got to their feet to gather around the screen in front of Sky. A massive alien towered over the city.

"Better see if they're done with that Orange-Head," Z sighed. However, before they could contact Jack and Syd, the communication line opened.

'Rangers, we could use a little help here,' Syd requested.

"No can do Syd, we have our hands full," Sky replied. "As a matter-of-fact, we were going to ask for Syd's help," he continued.

'No problem,' Jack replied confidently. When the line ended, the Rangers stood together.

"Ready?" Sky called.

"Ready!"

"SPD, EMERGENCY!" they Morphed and leapt down the chutes to their Runners, heading into town to face the monster. The monster laughed, holding a bus over its head. They were quickly joined by Syd, surrounding the monster and restraining him. He cried out, dropping the bus.

"I'll get it!" Sky flew in, catching the bus easily with his Runner. He and Spencer then flew over the monster, dropping cuffs on him and a building, keeping him in place.

"Got him!" Spencer grinned. To their surprise, the monster then began to cry. "That's new," he commented as the monster sobbed.

The Rangers laughed as they sat in the command centre, discussing their latest victory.

"I've never seen anything like that," Z giggled. "That big ol' monster crying?" she and Syd laughed even harder.

"Maybe it was his birthday, and no-one remembered?" Bridge suggested, earning more laughter.

"Could be! Nobody remembered his birthday, so he throws a tantrum in the city," Annie's agreement made them laugh louder.

"You're as bad as him," Sky couldn't help but laugh.

"Am not!" Annie protested.

"Are too!" the others agreed. She glanced to Bridge, who just smiled back.

"Are you laughing at me?!" they jumped and looked around at Kruger's loud voice. He scowled at them.

"No Sir, we were just-"

"May I remind you that you're in an SPD control room?" Kruger didn't let Syd explain. "And I expect you to act accordingly," he snarled.

"Sir, we meant no disrespect," Sky told him with a frown. "We were just-"

"If you cannot comply with my request, then I suggest you take your childish behaviour elsewhere!"

"Wait a minute!" Jack's voice was loud as he stood up. "I don't care who you are, you can't talk to us like that," the rest of the team was silent, shocked that Kruger was being so harsh, and that Jack had spoken to him in such a way.

"Standing up for your Squad, Jack?" Kruger approached them.

"Yeah," Jack didn't back down.

"It's about time you took on your leadership role," Jack's eyes widened very slightly. Annie made to move, but Spencer caught her arm before she could. He shook his head very slightly. For Annie to step in with her temper, it would just make things worse. "Now why don't you lead your team out of my sight?!" Kruger roared. "Out!" the Rangers left without a word.

"Alright, what the hell was his problem?" Annie demanded as the Rangers reached the rec room, all of them annoyed.

"He's been cranky all week," Syd commented. "Maybe it's too much stress," she mused.

"Look, I'm not agreeing with the way he handled it, but technically the control room is..." Sky trailed off as he saw the expressions of the others. "You're right. It was a little uncalled for," he agreed.

"It was more than a little uncalled for," Annie growled. "Yeah I get he's our boss and all, but he had no right to speak to us like that," thunder boomed outside, making Syd jump, edging closer to Sky as he looked outside, not seeing a cloud anywhere.

"Breathe Annie," Spencer spoke, completely unfazed by it. Annie huffed, but took a breath anyway. The rumbling stopped abruptly.

"It could be fleas," they looked at Bridge as he spoke up. "I remember my bulldog had fleas. He was grumpy for weeks," he pulled a face.

"Don't bulldogs always look like that?" Spencer asked.

"You're awfully calm about what just happened," Z raised an eyebrow at him.

"Spence internalises," Annie grumbled. "You'll see it in his next fight. He'll use his powers one too many times, or he'll summon his cow-"

"Bull!" Spencer frowned at her. "And by that, I mean it's not a cow," he cleared his throat, and the others, despite their feelings over being treated the way they had been, couldn't help but relax a little.

"Sorry guys," they glanced around at Kat as she walked in.

"Kat, what's going on?" Sky asked her curiously.

"Years ago, the Troobian forces invaded Sirius," Kat explained, folding her arms. "Commander Kruger...he lost everything. That's not an excuse for his behaviour, I just want to let you all know," they were all quiet as they considered this.

The control room was silent as the Rangers worked, making sure not to draw attention to themselves and risk the wrath of Kruger.

When Bridge suddenly sneezed, they all jumped.

"Sorry...sorry..." Bridge apologised. "Sorry sir," he said to Kruger, who didn't seem to hear him.

"Commander," Kat suddenly spoke up. Kruger growled to let her know he was listening. "I think you'll wanna see this," her tone was worried, and Kruger walked over slowly as the Rangers pretended not to be listening. "I was doing a scan of the energy levels of the city over the last twelve hours, all look normal. Then, I took off the gamma filters which register any energy-cloaking activity," the Rangers crept up behind them, watching silently. "I found one," the computer beeped loudly.

"Perhaps it's a malfunction," Kruger suggested.

"Not a chance," Kat looked mildly insulted. "I designed that program myself. I even had Kayden take a second look, just to be safe. Whatever is out there...it's big, and it's dangerous," she warned him.

"Rangers," they jumped as Kruger suddenly turned to them. "Investigate those co-ordinates," he ordered.

"Yessir!" they shouted, rushing off. In their hurry, they nearly bumped into Kayden, who grinned at them as he passed.

"They're acting oddly," Kruger was saying as the Water Ninja entered the command centre. "I wonder what it is," he mused. Kat rolled her eyes.

"You are," she told him. "The...it," she explained. Kruger let out a growl and stormed off.

"Whoa, things aren't looking too warm in here today," Kat sighed as she turned to Kayden as he stood on her other side.

"No kidding," she muttered.

Music was blaring as a large crowd of aliens chattered away, eating and drinking what looked like things that had been lifted from the dump. They suddenly shrieked and scattered, and Piggy rushed out of his van.

"Where's everybody going?!" he called, but there was no reply. "Come back!" he cried, before grimacing as he spotted the problem. "It's SPD," the one remaining alien who had been snoozing at a table cried out and ran off.

"What up big man, we heard about your new fortune," Jack smiled at him.

"Yes and eh," Piggy made a shooing motion. "Thanks for dropping by," he smiled mockingly.

"What's the rush Piggy?" Sky raised an eyebrow.

"The rush?" he repeated. "If you didn't notice, you're SPD. Not exactly who my patrons want to dine with," he complained loudly.

"Maybe stop accommodating criminals, and you won't have a problem," Annie commented.

"Listen, just tell us what we wanna know, and we'll get out of this dump," Z offered him.

"Flattery won't work on me," Piggy scoffed. Spencer shivered suddenly.

"Guys, we have-"

"Looking for me?" they looked around as a cloaked figure suddenly emerged from his hiding place. He laughed, yanking his cloak off to reveal green skin, with red wires coming from his head. He flipped a table, clearing the space between him and the Rangers.

"Looks like Piggy's place has a little rat infestation," Jack commented.

"I hate rats!" Annie, Z and Syd spoke together, and Bridge lowered his fighting stance to look at them with a raised eyebrow.

"I am Benag, Prime General of the Troobian force," he announced.

"Let's suit up!"

"Don't bother," they frowned at the General's words. "Just give this to Commander Kruger," he tossed a ball to them that Spencer caught with a frown. When they looked up, he was gone.

Hooking the ball up to their systems, the Rangers watched as Benag showed up in a hologram, facing Kruger.

'I hope you enjoyed your last sunrise, Doggie Kruger. I have navigated three galaxies to find you,' Kruger was on his feet, glaring at the hologram. 'We meet this afternoon in your final battle,' he announced.

"You have travelled in vain. I do not battle any more," Kruger replied firmly.

'Oh?' Benag laughed. 'I will see to it that you do battle. I can promise you that,' the hologram then ended.

"What do you mean, you won't fight, sir?" Sky demanded incredulously.

"Don't you get it Sky? It's deception, it's gotta be," Jack shook his head, unable to believe that Kruger would refuse to fight.

"Who is he Commander?" Z asked.

"And how do you know him?" Syd spoke up.

"And why does he want to fight you so badly that he'd travel across three galaxies to do it?" Spencer asked.

"Yeah, you've gotta tell us something sir," Bridge nodded. Kruger didn't speak, growling quietly.

"They have a right to know the truth Commander," Kat told him softly as she approached him. Kruger scowled, and she nodded, watching him sadly. He then sighed heavily.

"My home of Sirius was invaded by Grumm. Sirius had assembled an elite squad of galactic defenders. Space Patrol Delta. The first SPD," everyone was quiet as Kruger told his story. "We battled for months without sleep. Though our men fought valiantly, we were no match for the endless army of Troobians. While we fought their soldiers, Grumm turned his giant robots loose on the defenceless cities. General Benag led those troops against us," Kruger closed his eyes and took a breath. "We were overrun. We were defeated. When I awoke, I was alone. My people were gone. I was the last of my Squad. The last of my kind. I failed my planet, my Squad, my..." he trailed off and looked away. "I vowed never to pick up my sword again. That is my story," Kruger said quietly when nobody spoke, staring at him.

The ground suddenly began to shake violently, knocking most off their feet. Sky caught Syd as she almost fell, and both Z and Bridge caught themselves on the console in front of them as Kat did the same. "What is this? Earthquake?" Kruger looked to Kat as the alarms began to blare.

"No," she shook her head as she managed to take a look at the screen. "Energy tremors," she reported as the ground stopped shaking.

"Rangers, suit up!" Kruger yelled to the team, who stumbled over to each other.

"Ready?"

"Ready!"

"SPD, EMERGENCY!"

"Space Patrol Delta!" they Morphed and headed out into the city as Kayden monitored the energy levels.

"They're up against an enemy they don't know. You do," Kat turned to Kruger.

"What's your point, Doctor Manx?" Kruger's voice was testy.

"You know Benag, yet you send a group of heroic yet inexperienced kids up against him?" she demanded, and Kayden looked around in surprise. "You should be out there with them," Kat growled.

"No!" Kruger snapped at her. "It is not my place anymore," he turned his gaze back on the screen in front of him.

"Doggie, I know this brings up a lot of memories for you," Kayden tried to focus on finding out what had caused the tremors and not listen in on the conversation right in front of him. "But running from them won't-"

"I am not running from them!" Kruger interrupted angrily.

"Then why didn't you tell the Rangers everything?!" Kat demanded. "You withheld the most important part of your story," she pointed out.

"This is my business. Not theirs," Kruger aruged.

"Well I think it is their business," Kat told him firmly. "You're a team. There shouldn't be any secrets," Kruger sighed, looking away at her words. She was right. "Here," she pulled a case from her lab coat. "I made you something," frowning, the Sirian took the case from her and opened it. His eyes went wide, before he took a breath and closed them.

"This is bordering on insubordination!" he slammed the case closed. "I suggest you leave my sight while you can," Kruger snarled at her.

"You stubborn old dog!" Kat snapped. "Resisting what you fear will only bring it into existence," she warned him.

"Out!" Kruger roared at her. Kat snatched the case back and stormed off. Kayden watched her worriedly, before turning back to the Commander.

"Sir-"

"I am not one of the Rangers needing a pep-talk, Cadet. Either stay quiet, or get out of my sight," Kruger snarled at the Water Ninja. Kayden sighed, and turned his attention to the screen in front of him.

"The city is mine," the Blue-Head in the robot tunnelled back out from under the city, laughing loudly. He approached the spike nearby, and slammed it into the ground. It began to glow, and he drove it deeper into the ground. The Rangers reached him, and Z was knocked aside by the robot.

"I'll get him Z!" Bridge fired blasts at the robot, who blocked them and knocked Jack into Annie. Both cried out as their Zords spun out of control, while Sky and Spencer flew in the air above, blasting the robot. When the smoke cleared, they found that the robot had vanished.

"Where'd he go?" Spencer called.

"Never mind that, what is that thing?" Sky asked as he flew towards the spike in the ground.

'Whoa, Sky, don't!' Sky stopped before going to pull the spike out when Kayden's voice crackled over the communication lines. 'Don't touch it!' Sky veered away from the spike.

'Leave the spikes and return to base immediately,' Kruger ordered.

"Look, I could have pulled those spikes out of the ground," Sky argued. Kruger didn't turn around to face them.

"Yes you could have," Kruger nodded, turning around after a moment. "But you don't know what they are, or what they might do. We don't do anything until we find those things out. Kat? Where's Kat?" he asked when she didn't come in.

"I haven't seen her since..." Kayden trailed off when Kruger growled at him. "I'll go find her," he tossed his tablet down in front of Spencer, who frowned and looked around at the Water Ninja. He'd never seen the older Ninja so annoyed.

"We should be out in the city patrolling," Jack shook his head. "Not sitting in here waiting for something to happen," he said.

"You do not know this enemy," Kruger growled at him. "You have not come up against anything like him before. I have. We wait," he instructed.

"Don't you mean, we wait?" Z asked, her voice challenging. Kruger growled at her.

"She's right. You know this enemy, yet you refuse to fight him," Spencer spoke up. "Instead you give cryptic orders that leave us with more questions than answers. How do you expect us to fight him if we don't know anything?" he demanded.

"Cadet Bly, I suggest you stand down before you say something you regret," Kruger warned him. The others were staring at Spencer for his outburst.

"No, Sir, I won't. Because at this rate, we're going to get ourselves killed by running head-first into danger without thinking," Spencer shook his head.

"Like mother, like son," Spencer's eyes widened at Kruger's growl. He knew that his mother had been headstrong and reckless as a Ranger. He knew he could be the same. But he didn't expect the Commander to throw it in his face. "Bly, I will not put up with your disrespect simply because she is a hero," he warned. Spencer gave a small laugh, looking down.

"Fine then, sir. You won't have to," he stood up, taking the tablet with him as he stormed out.

"Whoa..." Syd breathed.

"Anyone else care to speak their mind on the matter?" Kruger challenged. Her fists clenched, Annie went to speak, but Bridge caught her arm, shaking his head with a worried expression. Thunder boomed again, louder than before.

"Breathe, remember?" the Green Ranger whispered. She huffed, but did as he suggested.

"There you are," Kat looked around to see Kayden approach her with a grin. "I've been looking everywhere for you," he said as he fell into pace beside her.

"You know, I left the base to get away from everyone," the genius grumbled.

"I know," Kayden replied cheerfully. "Unfortunately for you, you aren't getting your way now," Kat rolled her eyes.

"I could order you back, you know," she commented. Kayden laughed.

"Yeah, you could. But the question is whether I'd follow that order or not," he shrugged. Kat frowned at him.

"You're as bad as Spencer and Annie, you know that right?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. Kayden laughed again, not looking the least bit offended by her words.

"I know. But see, you're the only one who can keep the Commander in check. He listens to you," Kayden said as Kat huffed, continuing to walk as she folded her arms. "By now, he's probably chased Spencer out of the control room, at least," Kat raised an eyebrow.

"Not Annie?" she asked, thinking of the more temperamental of the two. Spencer had always been the controlled one, able to help Annie keep her temper.

"Nah. See, Spencer internalises his anger up to a certain point. Then, he's just like his mum. He'll have an emotional outburst and storm off. The perfect blend of his dad's confidence and his mum's attitude to everything else, so my parents always tell me," Kayden mused. "But, once that happens, nobody will be able to stop Annie's temper tantrum," he shivered.

"What about you? Can't you calm her down?" Kat asked.

"I'm with you," Kayden looked at her, as if surprised by her words. "And I'm not going back till you do," he smiled.

"You're as stubborn as he is," Kat growled.

"Doubt that. But I hear I inherited my mum's hard head," Kayden shrugged, before holding his arm out, stopping Kat from walking.

"What's wrong?" she asked, before her ears twitched. They looked around, but nobody was there. Frowning, they turned back around, just as two hooded figures rushed at them. Kayden yanked off his clothes to reveal his Ninja Gear, and kicked them back. He and Kat fought them off, and shoved them back. Kayden took a breath and held out his arms, moving them as water began to appear.

"Wave goodbye now," he grinned, thrusting his hands out. A jettison of water slammed into the two and they collided with the wall behind them, sparking as torn material revealed circuitry.

"Krybots!" Kayden hissed. "Doc, we should probably-" before he could speak, he was blasted off his feet.

"Kayden!" Kat gasped as the Water Ninja groaned, an arm around his ribs. He pushed himself up as a figure came into view, laughing low at them.

"Still got some fight in you?" Benag challenged. With another wave of his hands, Kayden fired another blast of water at him, but the General easily cut through it and blasted Kayden. The Ninja cried out, hitting the ground hard as Benag just laughed.

"No!" Kat went to fight him, but Benag grabbed her wrist.

"You're coming with me," he laughed, pulling her away as Kayden groaned, unable to move.

Hope you enjoyed!

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