11 Shadow, Part 1


DISCLAIMER – I do NOT own Power Rangers, S.P.D, or any character other than Austin.


(S.P.D theme plays)

It was getting late at S.P.D headquarters, and it seemed the day would not end quietly. Noah Ziktor, the Omega Ranger, grumbled angrily to no one in particular.

"I can't believe the nerve of that guy... " he muttered, "Nearly blasted my arm off twice now." His older brother, Austin, frowned. Already prepared for bed, he wore only his red, S.P.D tee and his new, round-the-clock padding: a white diaper with red tapes and sides and a Power Rangers design. All he wanted to do was snuggle up in comfort; to savor the feeling of his old diapers with the cool look of his training pants. Noah, however, made that impossible.

"You do realize Sky saved you in the process," he pointed out. Noah was not swayed.

"Maybe so, but did he apologize for wounding me? No!" he countered, "Asshole just wants me dead as vengeance for me joining the Rangers." Austin's expression sharpened into a glare.

"He does not! He took the shot because you were probably going to be kidnapped!" he argued. Noah remained stubborn.

"Well, he shouldn't have. Seems against regulations to take a shot when a teammate's in danger," he retorted, "I don't care about his reasoning, anyway. He's a prick." Austin was shocked by his little brother's foul language.

"Noah Thomas Ziktor, watch your language!" he barked, "You think words like that are going to patch up the relationship between you two?" Noah countered easily.

"It's like my shoulder: it won't get patched up if he keeps shooting it," he growled, "Besides, I bet he just wants me out of the picture." For a moment, Austin faltered.

"You don't know that..." he spoke quietly. Noah gladly took the upper hand.

"Then why does he only break regulation when I'm involved?" he questioned, "I bet my badge he wouldn't have taken that shot if it were you, Z, Bridge, or anyone else but me." That sent Austin over the edge. Sky had risked his own badge to get Austin back his. It was because of Sky that Noah, too, still had a badge to wager.

"That's enough, Noah!" he barked, "One more word and I will personally suspend you!" Noah arrogantly continued.

"Jeez. And I thought I had freedom of speech in America," he muttered. Austin eyed him crossly.

"That doesn't mean freedom to slander your teammates," he lectured. Noah rolled his eyes.

"He hasn't exactly earned my respect," he asserted. Finally, Austin had had enough.

"Maybe you haven't earned mine, either," he growled. Immediately, the Red Ranger left the room. Noah, still fueled by his anger, made a decision he would come to regret.

"Fine! I don't need you anyway! I can make it on my own!" he insisted. The words went unheard as he stormed out of Delta Base, accidentally leaving his morpher on his bed. Later, after a late night snack to help calm his nerves, Austin returned to the bedroom only to find it empty. Noticing his little brother's morpher, he realized the true seriousness of the situation. Grabbing the white and blue device and his uniform jacket, he hurried to Ops.


Commander Anubis Cruger was doing some late night paperwork when Hayley entered Ops with Tommy hot on her heels. Austin, sans pants, rushed in just moments after them; the small group gathering by the main computer.

"Someone want to tell me what's going on?" the sirian asked. Tommy looked away from the monitors for a moment.

"Noah's missing." This was all Cruger needed to hear; the rest of B Squad summoned at once. The five remaining Rangers gathered around as Hayley used cameras throughout the city to locate Noah. Worried sick, Austin sat in Sky's lap as he awaited any info on Noah's location. Trying to comfort the boy, Sky ruffled his hair.

"He'll show up." the Blue Ranger promised, "Probably still holding a grudge against me…" Austin sighed.

"He's a bit stubborn like that…" he admitted. Suddenly, Hayley made a breakthrough.

"Got him! He's down by an abandoned warehouse and… oh no…" she remarked. Austin's eyes widened.

"What is it, mom?" he asked. Hayley frowned.

"He's surrounded by krybots," she announced, "And he's losing." Sky was quick to respond.

"Let's go save him!" he exclaimed. Immediately, everyone but Cruger hurried out of the room and towards the garage. Austin, however, dropped back for a moment with Sky. The short, 19 year-old held out Noah's morpher.

"We're gonna rescue Noah, but he has to take his morpher from you, respectfully, if he wants to remain a Ranger," he explained. Sky nodded in acceptance.

"Alright, but I doubt it'll be easy," he replied. Austin sighed heavily; it certainly would not.


At the warehouse, Noah had managed to find a hiding spot that concealed him from the mob of krybots. By now his anger had faded, and the situation left him on the verge of tears. He now regretted all he had said about Sky, and greatly missed his family.

"Damnit, what was I thinking? I can't take these guys," he muttered, "I need my team. I need my brother…" As he began to doubt his own skill as a Ranger, and his usefulness to the team, Sky hurried into the room.

"You alright, Noah?" he asked, looking the boy over. Noah nodded.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine," he replied, "Look, Sky, I'm sorry for giving you crap; you really don't deserve that. Least of all from a newbie like me." Sky was quick to respond.

"It's okay, I used to be just as boneheaded; ask your brother," he admitted, "We cool now?" He held out Noah's morpher, which was quickly accepted.

"We're cool," Noah confirmed, "Now, are we gonna sit here, or are we gonna go help our team?" Sky grinned.

"We're going to help, and I have a plan…"


Outside the warehouse, the other Rangers were having a tough time holding off the krybots, because the sole blue-head kept interrupting their attacks with laser blasts. After one instance in which Austin's aim was thrown off by a blast, sparing a krybot, the Red Ranger clenched his hands into fists.

"Damnit! Not again!" he roared. Suddenly, the Omega Ranger slid in out of nowhere, clearly using his morpher's Muscle Mode to increase his strength. Said maneuver, which lasted all of a second, kicked the blue-head's feet out from below it.

"NOW!" Noah cried. Sky, also morphed, jumped in with perfect timing and curb stomped the bluehead's namesake head, cracking it open. He then blasted it the rest of the way apart with his Deltamax Striker.

"Target down," the Blue Ranger stated firmly. Noah stood up and high fived him.

"Nice job, Sky," he remarked. Sky returned the gesture.

"Thanks, you too," he replied. Austin's jaw dropped in shock.

"That's right, bro. I've made my peace with Sky," Noah explained, "As hard to believe as it is, it's true." The Blue Ranger cut in.

"Kid, this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," he spoke, "Maybe later, I'll show ya how to play Mortal Kombat. Simon smiled knowingly.

"Careful, Sky; Noah's actually a pro," he warned. Noah smirked.

"Heck yeah, I am!" he bragged, "I've had the high score on the MKII machine at the Reefside Arcade for over a year!" Sky backtracked immediately.

"Maybe something else, then," he responded, "I know a Scorpion user when I hear one." Austin chimed in with an idea.

"Perhaps some light ball, then," he suggested, blushing "Tomorrow, though; we all need some rest, and... I need a change." Noah wasn't so sure.

"Light ball? I dunno... I'm not really a sport player," he admitted. Austin put a hand on his brother's shoulder.

"Trust me, Noah; if you can be a Ranger, you can play light ball," he encouraged him, "It's not hard." Sky nodded in agreement.

"Especially since I'll be on your side," he added.

"Well… alright, then," Noah conceded, "But right now, I need some eats. Like a nice double cheeseburger..." Hayley walked up with a smile.

"I can handle both of those back at base," she promised. The redhead loaded her boys into the back seat of the Mustang, while the others returned to their vehicles. Soon, the Rangers were headed back to Delta Base for some much needed rest.


About a week later, Cruger woke with a start after the most horrid dream. This was a repeat occurrence that always shook him to his very core. Vivid scenes of the invasion that claimed and destroyed his homeworld played one after the other in his mind. Turning around in his chair, he gazed down at the sword lying unused within a special cut-out in the wall. He had not used the blade since that terrible day, but it continued to haunt him. Suddenly, Kat was by his side.

"You had the dream again," she surmised, placing a hand on his shoulder. Cruger sighed and nodded.

"Yes."


The next day, Austin and Noah teamed up to- with some difficulty- take down an orange-head krybot. Meanwhile, Simon and Sky led the rest of B Squad against another of Mora's giant monsters. Easily defeated, the gargantuan beast actually began to cry as it was locked into the shrink cuffs. Later, having gathered in the Ops center for mission debriefing, the squad had a nice laugh about its rather humorous display.

"Are you laughing at me?" Commander Cruger had just entered the room; Kat being the only other S.P.D official around. "Might I remind you that this is an official S.P.D control room, and I expect you to act accordingly!" Cruger roared. Sky tried to defend his team's actions.

"Sir, we mean no disrespect-!" he tried. Cruger was having none of it.

"If you cannot comply with my request, then I suggest you leave now," he barked. Not willing to deal with an irate Commander, B Squad hesitantly filed out Ops. They all made their way to a nearby common room, where even Sky agreed that Cruger was out of line. Before they could say more, however, Kat stepped in.

"Sorry you guys had to endure that," she remarked, "Cruger's been having nightmares. You see, the Troobian empire conquered his home planet, and… he lost everything. It doesn't excuse his actions, but I thought you should know."


Later on, the Rangers were sent to check the coordinates of some strange energy readings. As it turned out, they were coming from a disgusting restaurant owned by Piggy, who had won the lottery and ten million dollars. After inadvertently scaring off all the patrons, the seven Rangers confronted their unusual acquaintance. He was barely able to greet them, however, before a monster with a rather disturbing appearance rose from some garbage in a corner.

"Looks like Piggy's place has a little rat infestation," Sky remarked. Syd was quick to chime in.

"I hate rats!" she cried. The monster was not amused.

"I am Benaag, Prime General of the Troobian force!" he declared. Austin did not hesitate to respond.

"Let's suit up!" he ordered. Benaag raised a hand.

"Don't bother, just give this to Commander Cruger," he countered, tossing the Red Ranger a strange metallic ball. With that, he disappeared in a manner much like Mesogog's minions back in Reefside. Left without much other option, Austin led B Squad back to Delta Base.


Benaag's metallic ball, it turned out, was a single-use, holographic communication device. Set in the middle of the Ops Center's central consoles, it displayed the image of Benaag and his sadistic smile. Immediately, he addressed Cruger.

"I hope you enjoyed your last sunrise, Doggie Cruger!" he proclaimed, "I have navigated three galaxies to find you. We meet this afternoon for your final battle!" Cruger was not happy, nor accepting of Benaag's challenge.

"You have travelled in vain," he countered, "I do not fight anymore." Benaag merely laughed, not at all fazed by Cruger's denial.

"Oh, I will see to it that you do battle, I promise you that!" he retorted. The device shut off, ending the conversation. The Rangers were stunned, and quite curious. Simon spoke for the group as a whole.

"Commander, how do you know him?" he asked, "It was pretty clear that you two have met before." Cruger grew angry and began to growl, but Kat stepped in to mediate.

"They have a right to know," she spoke calmly. Cruger sighed, but reluctantly agreed. He explained that, before its conquering, Sirius had assembled the first S.P.D, and he was a member. Benaag had led the troops that attacked from behind, winning the battle. The last remaining Sirian, Anubis had sworn never to pick up his sword again.

Before more could be said, the alarm blared, and the Earth shook violently. Cruger made the same assumption as most of the Rangers.

"What is this, an Earthquake?" he questioned. Kat grasped a console for support as the short tremor subsided.

"No, energy tremors," she corrected. Cruger turned to B Squad.

"Rangers, suit up!" he barked. The seven Lieutenants morphed and headed for their zords. Meanwhile, Kat confronted her superior.

"They're up against an enemy they don't know, and you do," she remarked. Cruger was not amused.

"What is your point, Dr. Manx?" he questioned, annoyed. Kat looked him dead in the eye.

"You know Benaag, but you send a squad of heroic yet inexperienced kids up against him?" she pointed out, "You should be out there with them!" Cruger lashed out in anger.

"No!" He tried to calm himself. "It is not my place anymore." Kat persisted, trying to get through to him.

"Doggie, I know this brings up a lot of bad memories, but running from them won't-!" she started. Cruger cut her off.

"I am not running from them!"

"Then why didn't you tell the Rangers everything?" she questioned, "You withheld the most important part of your story." Cruger remained defiant.

"This is my business, not theirs!" Kat wasn't finished either.

"Well I think it is their business! You're a team, there should be no secrets!" Things fell calm for a moment before Kat extended a small, metal contained towards Cruger. "Here, I made you something." Cruger took the box and looked inside. After a second or two, he growled and shut it angrily.

"This is bordering on insubordination!" he spoke sternly, "I suggest you leave my sight while you can!" Kat refused to yield.

"You stubborn old dog!" she roared, "Resisting what you fear can only bring it into existence!"

"OUT!" Seizing the box, Kat stormed out and left Cruger feeling a conflicting mess of emotions.


Out in the city, the Rangers responded to a giant robot placing several, massive spikes in the ground at various landmarks. Each glowed upon their insertion, showing that they had been activated. The robot planted all six spikes and disappeared before the Rangers could stop it. Left without much other option, Sky started to use his zord to pull a spike out.

"Stop!" Cruger barked over comms, "Leave the spikes and return to base immediately!"


"Look, I could have pulled those spikes out of the ground," Sky argued. Cruger refused to take back his order.

"Yes, you could have, but you don't know what they are or what they might do," he pointed out. This time, at least, his decision was logical and out of caution. "We don't do anything until we find those things out. Kat! ...Kat? Where's Kat?" Just then, Boom rushed in.

"Sir, Kat's gone and she's not answering her communicator," he reported, "Something's not right." Before anyone else could say a word, R.I.C barked and shot off through the open doors of the Ops Center.


Walking in a rather empty part of the city, Kat was suddenly ambushed by a pair of hooded assailants. She fought them off with skill that would have surprised the Rangers, but was eventually overwhelmed and nearly captured. However, R.I.C appeared and took both of her captors out, revealing them to be Krybots. Then, however, Benaag appeared from the shadows; that same, evil grin plastered on his face.

"Here, doggie," he taunted. Kat could only watch, horrified, as R.I.C attacked the Troobian general.