Episode 10: Emotions
Beings of power have walked the universe for millennia. From the moment it was created, the universe breed powerful beings, each serving a different side of the coin. Many served the brightness of good, while others loathed in the shadows. The ones that served the side of the light went down recorded in history as prophets, miracle workers, angels, saviors. A more recent incarnation of these servants of light, are Power Rangers.
However, no matter how bright, how pure the side of goodness is, there must be a balance.
There are times when the balance is disrupted. When this happens, wars between the two opposing sides commence. Although these occurrences happen periodically, Earth has been the center of these attacks ever since the early 1990's, when the evil witch Rita Repulsa, was released from her containment on Earth's moon. This started the chain reaction which brought attention back to the planet Earth. Almost every year since her release, a new threat has tried its best to take over the planet. However, as the times have changed, and as Earth's technology evolved, Earth's defenses became better equipped to handle interstellar threats, not only to Earth, but to all those that follow the path of goodness.
Most recently, due to the success of Space Patrol Delta, nearly all evil empires had been pushed to almost nonexistence. There are plenty of Troobian supporters out there, still supporting the creed of Omni, Gruumm's master and the true creator of the Troobian Empire. And then there is Master Vile, who had until recently, kept his Empire clean since his assistance to his daughter and son in-law. Vile had secretly began growing his empire's numbers over the past two decades until that it had grown larger than the once famed and feared Troobian Empire. His master plan had finally come to fruition with the aid of Mirloc in creating a chemical that would have wiped humanity off the face of the Planet Earth, allowing Vile to rape the planet of its most desired treasure, the Grail of Life, which is the key element of granting immortality or resurrecting the dead.
But things never go according to plan. An old prophecy told to Vile many millennia ago by a wizard from Earth, in the European region, that there would come a warrior, born from fire would bring the demise of his empire if he continued to pursue his goal of acquiring the ancient relic, the Grail of Life. Vile had never truly took the prophecy to heart, but after the most recent events, with the most destruction of a large portion of his space fleet as well as ground troops, and with the appearance of the Ranger bearing the fire symbol etched in his spell book, Vile had begun to accept the possibility that everything he was worked hard for could go up in flames.
Literally.
The first catalyst of the prophecy has come to pass. However, events do not always play out to the tee. Only time will tell what the future may bring.
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The morning suns rays creep through the small opening between the dark blue window curtains. Slowly the light moves across the floor and slithers toward the opposite side of the bedroom and climbs onto the bed. The light outlines the two figures lying between the dark purple bed-sheets.
Not stopping there, the light finally makes its way up to faces that belong to the beds two occupants. One is turned slightly toward the other, her shoulders blocking the light from entering underneath her eyelids. However, the male occupant is not lucky. He rapidly blinks his eyes, before forcing them shut. The light succeeded in awaking him.
Jack Landors sighs as he opens his eyes slightly and glares toward the object of his frustration. He could have sworn that he had closed his curtains last night. He makes an effort to sit up, but the weight upon his chest makes him stop. He glances downward and smiles lightly before deciding to lay back. If not moving will allow the angel lying upon him to continue to sleep, then he will deal with a little sunlight. Smiling, he draws the arm underneath her and pulls her closer to his chest.
Elizabeth Delgado draws closer to the warmth. Her loose hair slides across Jack's chest, causing his muscles to jump slightly, her hair ticking him slightly. Jack smiles, and lays his head back and closes his eyes. He slow begins rotating his hand in circles against her bare backside, relishing the feel of her soft skin against his.
"I could stay like this forever," he mumbles softly, drawing his free hand behind his head.
The two didn't mean for things to be taken as far as they had. But the tension and passion that they were holding in for the other finally caved after their romantic candlelight dinner the previous night. The two had barely made it back to the Mission without tearing the clothes off the other. Having the highest floor and room in the Mission for himself, the two had no worries in waking up the other residents of Jack's home. Luckily for them, because they did get noisy. Rather loud in fact.
Really loud in Z's case. Jack never imagined that Z was a screamer.
Jack chuckles lightly as the nights previous activities return to him in all their earnest. It was better than he had imagined. What he had shared with Z, felt right. Never did he feel this way with Sydney, Ally, or any other woman that he had been with over they years. But then again, ashamed as he is to admit, they were all replacements for what he couldn't have, and that was Z. But now she is his, and he is hers. After their lovemaking, the two had talked throughout the night, eventually falling asleep.
"Move in here with me…" Jack had told her as the two lay cuddling after their love making. "I know that there is probably another weeks work on the housing section of the Delta Base, but I want you to stay here… with me."
"I want to stay too," Z had answered, lying down upon his chest. "And after what we did tonight… I wouldn't ever want to leave…"
Jack gently pulls her closer to him, careful not to awaken her. He could marry her today, if she wanted. But with current events, that should be the last thing to do. Earth is still on high alert, considering the battle with Master Vile three days earlier. Just because his forces were defeated on his home planet, doesn't mean that the threat is far from over. Master Vile is still free, as well as Mirloc. With those two in cahoots together, there is no telling what may go down.
"And then there is that dream," Jack opens his eyes and frowns. He remembers that he has an appointment later today with Kat. He told her of his evolution and she immediately told him that she would do some tests to get to the bottom of things. He must know if that there is some connection with his powers evolving as well as the weird dreams he has been having. Feeling Z shift below him, Jack looks down and is greeted by her warm brown eyes.
"Hey sexy," Jack grins, temporary forgetting about his aliment. "What are you doing awake?"
Z shrugs lightly before stretching. "Dunno… just woke up…"
"Tired," Jacks asks as he shifts Z on top of him. Z wraps her arms around his neck and scoots herself upward. She lays her head in the crook of his neck, her breasts upon his chest.
"Defiantly," sighs with bliss. "A little sore too."
"Sorry," Jack tries not to grin, but fails miserably.
"Don't be," Z smiles as she places a small peck on his chin. "I'm not. I loved it. Thank you."
"Your very welcome," Jack kisses her forehead. "I wish we could lie here all day."
"Me too," Z yawns. "To bad that yesterday was the last of our break."
"Well… we still have a few hours left before having to report in at the Base for our shift…" Jack looks over at the display clock on his dresser. "It's only… seven. Don't we report in at… nine?"
Z tightens her arms around Jack's neck as she pulls herself up and kisses him deeply. She straddles his waist and sits up, the sheets being pushed aside, revealing their naked flesh to one another. When the two finally pull apart Z, Z responds breathlessly. "Plenty of time for another go-round."
"I heard that," Jack laughs as he shifts around and pulls Z underneath him, earning a gasp of surprise from her. Jack places his hands alongside her side as he leans down closer to her lips. "And since it is seven, all the kids should be off to school. Let me give you a proper good-morning."
Z leans back and closes her eyes as she wraps her arms around his neck. "Go for it papi."
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Later that morning, at the Delta Base…
Ever since the rebuilding began, the Delta Base has slowly made progress into working its way back to operating at one hundred percent capacity. Cadets have slowly been moved back into the Base and security has been placed all over the building, making sure that every entrance and exit is secured. Also every reflective surface in the entire Base was either covered or replaced with non-reflecting surfaces, such as computer monitors. Until Mirloc is apprehended, Commander Manx doesn't want to risk another ambush like before.
The Pink Ranger, Sydney Drew, walks toward the Command Center. When she arrives toward the two large electronic doors, she spots two SPD Cadets guarding the entrance, one an Asian male with short spiky hair with blond stands and the other a Black female with braids. The two salute her and step aside, allowing her entry into the Command Center.
Sydney stops before the two. "Hello Cadet Wong and Jordon. Is the Commander or the Supreme Commander in the Command Center at this time?"
"No ma'am," the male Cadet, Wong, answers. "Commander Manx is with Sergeant Landors undergoing some sort of tests in the labs. Supreme Commander Cruger has yet to return to Earth."
"He is scheduled to return within the hour according to his last transmission," the braided haired female, Cadet Jordon, replies.
Sydney nods and walks forward between the two, placing her hand on the palm reader. Ever since the attack on the Delta Base, new security measures have been taken. "Thank you Cadets. Return to your posts."
Upon entering the Command Center, the doors slide shut behind her. Surprisingly, the Command Center is empty. Now Sydney sees why guards were posted outside the door. She smirks, realizing that this is just the moment she has been waiting for. She removes her portable mini hard drive from her skirt pocket and walks up to the long-range communication system. She types in the coordinates that Mirloc had given her and prepares her light-mail message for him.
"All of SPD's latest weapon upgrades and mission plans all here," Sydney smirks as she inserts the USB port into the computer and begins downloading the information she gathered into the message. "Everything from the Omega-Striker Megaship schematics to the S.W.A.T. weaponry and the schematics on those other two special Morphers that Boom is working on."
Sydney's eyes glow slightly. Without being in the vicinity of the Sword of Darkness, the dark power which has a hold on her is not strong, but it is enough for her to do Mirloc's bidding. She removes the hard drive and pockets it once all the information has been uploaded into the document. She presses the send command and the message is sent to the safe-box address that Mirloc had given her to directly link her to Master Vile's ship.
"Mirloc will be pleased. With these files they will be one step ahead of everything SPD has planned for their investigation."
The doors to the Command Center swish open, startling Sydney. She quickly erases the data off of the screen and turns the monitor off. She turns around and comes face to face with Sky, as he enters the Command Center. "Oh… it's just you Sky."
"Well good morning to you too," Sky frowns, upset at Sydney's tone toward him. He had tried to talk with her the previous day as well, but she practically blew him off. Every chance he got to speak with her, she would either ignore him or begin to insult him. "What are you doing here alone in the Command Center?"
"What's it to you," Sydney sneers. "I am a high ranking Officer just as you. I can come and go as I please."
"I'm not…," Sky starts, but sighs heavily. "Wait, I'm not saying that you can't be here… I just… God Sydney! What is with you?"
Inwardly smirking, Sydney continues to goad the Red Ranger. She once had strong feelings for the man standing before her, but the negative energy from the Sword of Darkness is stronger. It brings forth every negative emotion and channels the emotion ten-fold.
"Nothing is wrong with me, I just have a new outlook on life," Sydney speaks. "That little experience on the Dark Planet merely opened my eyes."
"But what does that have to do with avoiding me the past few days? I want to know why."
Sydney's eyes narrow, the dark influence of the Sword of Darkness now taking root once again, fueling her thoughts with negative energy. "I don't have to answer to you. You are not my husband."
"But I am your fiancé," Sky's eyes harden. He cannot believe the shift in Sydney's attitude the past few days. Perhaps his mother was right; maybe something did happen to Sydney during her capture. "Why are you doing this? Ever since we returned from Vile's Dark planet, you have been ignoring me. Did I do something wrong? Did I upset you in any way?"
"You know Mister Red Ranger, the world doesn't revolve around you," Sydney places her hands on her hips. "Maybe I want something different with my life. Perhaps I have just grown tired of you. Did you ever think of that?"
"I don't believe you, Sky shakes his head. "That makes no sense. Especially considering everything that you and I have been through together."
"Believe what you want Officer Tate," Sydney sneers.
Sky cannot believe what he is hearing. Whatever happened to her on the Dark Planet must have been traumatic enough to cause the rather cheerful Pink Ranger to recoil from everyone. Sky swallows the lump in his throat.
"Syd… were you raped?"
"HA," Sydney laughs. She latches onto her side as she begins to laugh louder. "Oh, you are just looking for reasons to justify what is going on aren't you Sky?"
"This is not funny Syd," Sky snaps, clearly frustrated.
"Isn't it," Sydney asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Don't make me pull rank on you, Syd!" Sky threatens. He has never pulled his rank on any of the B-Squad before, but if he has to in order to get an answer from Sydney then he will.
"You would love that wouldn't you," Sydney glares at Sky. "You made such a big deal when you weren't given the Red Ranger rank at first and made everyone's life a living hell!"
"What does that have to do with anything," Sky yells fanatically. "That was five years ago! I have changed… grown a lot since then!"
"You know, I have been thinking," Sydney leans back onto the computer console that she was on minutes earlier. "I've been evaluating myself and what I want in life. I have fame, fortune, beauty. I am popular all throughout this planet! I have it all. But that is not enough."
"What are you talking about Syd," Sky walks forward and reaches out to her. The anger that he had moments ago becomes replaced with despair. Things are not going according to plan; he had planned to see what may have caused her dramatic attitude change toward him and see if he could help in any way. He cares too much for her to allow it to end between them like this.
"I'm going to resign from SPD," Syd crosses her arms. "I've already talked to my manager and told him how I want to spread my music off of Earth. I want to become an intergalactic star… more popular than Kira Ford! And I can't do that with SPD holding me back."
"Is that why you have been ignoring me lately," Sky asks. "Because you think that I may try to prevent you from following your dream? That I would persuade you to stay? I would never…"
"You keep going back to you Sky," Sky walks toward him. She presses a finger into his chest and pushes him back slightly. "I have been planning this for months now; wanting to expand my popularity outside this planet. I really couldn't care any less. This is not about you. Not entirely."
"Syd," Sky laughs, but this laugh is without humor. He runs a hand through his spiky hair. "You are really confusing me here… I don't understand…"
"I want to break up Sky," Sydney cuts him off. She raises her hand and pulls the ring that Sky had given her when he first proposed to her months ago off her finger. She grabs his right hand and raises it, placing the ring in his palm. "It's over."
Sky's throat tightens painfully as his worst fear comes to life as he looks down into hand. Sky has always carefully guarded his emotions. The only time he ever really slipped was when Mirloc had got him to share him most painful memory about his father, and then turning around to laugh at his pain. That was the last time Sky had cried.
His eyes burning, Sky looks back up at Sydney. He forces himself not to cry; he is stronger than that. But the hurt, the rejection is more than he can bear. Sky has always been an emotional person, though he never projected his feelings outward. He always kept them in. When Sky was given the Blue Ranger morpher instead of the Red one six years ago, his anger was released and his judgment became clouded. Even after growing closer to his teammates, he still kept himself guarded from them.
After all, if his best friend Dru could turn on him as easily as he had, then anyone could.
His sadness is soon swapped with anger. He clutches his fist, the one containing the ring; his eyes closed tightly, as if forcing himself to keep his forming tears in check. This is the last time he gives his heart out to anyone. "So… that's it then."
Sydney's eyes flash pink, as the influence grows stronger, as if the darkness nested within the depths of her mind sensed her doubts concerning breaking it off with Sky. Even though the venom laced words flew out of her mouth, a part of her mind was fighting against herself the entire time, but that part of her mind was not strong enough. The glow dissipates right before Sky reopens his eyes.
"Yes. That is it," Sydney retorts, her voice without emotion. "Heck, Jack was a better lay than you. In fact, the best I ever had. I should have stuck it out with him, but he's with Z now."
Sky's eyes narrow in rage. "What? You and Jack! When was this?"
"Back when he was Red Ranger," Sydney shrugs uncaring. "What's it to you?"
The two stare down on one another, not speaking a word. The doors to the Command Center slide open and Kat and Jack enter the room. Kat is wearing her standard white and blue regalia while Jack is clad in his new Red and White Fire Squad Uniform. Much like Sky's B-Squad uniform, it has red on the sleeves and chest, only the red on Jack's chest is in the shape of the number one. His hair is still tied down into cornrows on his head.
"Well Jack, your tests prove…" Kat stops in mid-sentence right when she senses the flaring tempers the moment the two enters the room. It has long been said that animals are sensitive to detecting ill feelings floating throughout the air, and from what Kat can sense at this moment, disturbs her.
"What is going on here," Kat asks looking back and forth between the two. Neither Sky nor Sydney answer. Kat places her hands on her hips and frowns. "Well?"
"Nothing," Sky shakes his head. He turns and heads toward the entrance to the Command Center, clearing giving Jack the evil eye. Jack moves out his way, and barely hears what Sky mutters next. "Nothing anymore…"
Jack looks back at Sydney who has a smug look on her face. Jack then glances over at Kat, who is looking toward the doors that Sky is headed. The Sky he just saw walk out, reminded him of a time when he could barely stand to be in the same room with him. "Syd," Jack begins. "Did… did you two just break up?"
Sydney brush's a stand of blond hair out of her eyes before she walks toward the doors herself. Sky stops as she walks past him, but comes to a stop directly before him. "No. I broke up with him."
"Bitch," Sky seethes.
"Call me sometime Jack," Sydney waves her hand in Jack's direction. "That is, when you get tired of Z. I'll rock your world like I use to."
"Ah man," Jack gulps as he realizes just what the evil look Sky had given him moments earlier was for. Sydney walks out of the Command Center, the doors shutting behind her.
"Sky, dude," Jack waves his hands in defense. "That was years ago…"
"Whatever," Sky sighs. His pride took a strong blow; Sydney's words cut deep. He could have dealt with the breakup, but learning that his fiancé use to share a bed with his old rival's bed, is too much. "You just seem to get whatever you want anyways Jack."
"Sky," Kat speaks with concern in her voice, she can sense his anger growing by the second. However Sky raises a hand, cutting her off from saying another word.
"No Kat," Sky shakes his head. "Just… no. Not now…"
Sky turns and walks out of the Command Center, leaving Jack and Kat watching his retreating backside. Once the doors to the Command Center close, Jack turns and looks toward Kat. "I… ugh… damn. I better avoid him for a bit …"
"Do that," Kat nods. Jack turns on his heel and heads toward the exit. "We'll go over your results later. I cannot afford to have this Squad be torn apart over personal differences. I will see to Sky."
"Yeah, okay then," Jack sighs as he follows Sky and Sydney's trail, out of the Command Center. Kat lays the files of Jack's test on the desk before her and sighs.
"See, this is why there should be no romantic pairings in Squads… Wait until Doggie gets a whiff of this…"
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Bridge rubs his temples, his eyes closed. Shortly after returning to the Delta Base earlier for his morning shift, he was sent out on patrol duty alongside Isaiah. Ever since the new Blue Ranger had been placed in the B-Squad, Isaiah and he had become good friends. It's not everyday that Bridge can come across someone whose genius rivals his own without the aid of psychic power.
Bridge had morphed to stop an armed bank robber named Malice. The large bat-like alien had already broken into the vault and managed to make it back outside only to come face to face with Bridge. Bridge had morphed and taken the alien down in minutes, but the moment that his body was covered in the familiar green energy from his Morpher, he felt that presence in his mind once more. Bridge was able to contain the monster, and de-morphed. He returned to the base, leaving the local police to handle the questioning. After placing the alien in a cell, Bridge went about to apply the necessary paperwork and then finally got a chance to sit down and ponder on what exactly happened.
"So tell me again, what exactly happened," Boom asks his fellow lab-rat and friend.
"I had morphed to engage in combat on the Dark Planet. The moment I morphed, I felt that presence in my mind again… the same presence that I felt while apprehending that criminal earlier."
"Maybe it's not a psychic attack like you thought," Boom scratches his chin. "Maybe Sophie had upgraded the Morpher to operate on a different frequency so her own mechanics wouldn't conflict with the operating systems."
"I never thought about that," Bridge admits. "Hand me that screwdriver Boom."
Boom reaches into his toolbox next to his desk. He grabs a Philips and tosses it to Bridge. Bridge quickly pops the back latch and opens the Morpher. He removes the protection device that was installed in it shortly after he was given the Green Morpher to protect its bearer of mortal harm to a degree. His eyes widen as he looks down at the circuitry.
"Oh yeah, Sophie had indeed done a number on this joker," Bridge smiles as he thinks back onto his friend. "This circuitry looks complex. There are components in here that I don't even recognize."
Boom peers into the device. "Wow, you weren't kidding. That looks like an artificial intelligence backup hard drive."
"Yeah it does," Bridge frowns. "Why would she keep a backup hard drive in her Morpher? Any files that she ever came in contact with, she would upload into her own systems."
"Maybe it was for if she ever ran out of RAM space or memory," Boom suggests.
"I doubt that," Bridge remarks. "Her internal systems could hold more memory that the majority of the computer systems here on the Base!"
Boom walks over to his desk and grabs a sandwich out of his brown paper lunch bag. He removes the clear plastic foil from off the sandwich and takes a huge bite into it. "I couldn't tell ya. The only thing we can do to find out would be to completely strip the Morpher down and remove the hard drive and plug it into another computer to pull up those files."
"That would leave me without a Morpher," Bridge stretches. "That is, unless there is a backup Green Morpher on hand?"
"We always keep back-up B-Squad Morphers with the power signatures already programmed into them," Boom replies after he swallows the lunchmeat and lettuce. "Ever since that incident where you got captured, we always have at least two or three on standby. Makes me wish that I went ahead and made a back-up of the Magma Morpher…"
"Speaking of which, has Galaxy Command sent in those new Morphers for the C-Squad?"
"The big dog informed me that they will be here soon," Boom replies. "From what Kat has told me, there is an off-planet assignment for the B-Squad. C-Squad will need to be activated to Ranger status before the mission however."
"What is the mission," Bridge asks. He is slightly confused; Commander Manx has not told him about any off-planet mission.
"Probably to track down Master Vile and the rest of his army," Boom takes another bite of his sandwich. "He is still a threat as long as he is out there. Since Mirloc, Benaag and Sinuku's attack on the Delta Base, he basically declared war on the entire planet."
"True, and I did read Mirloc's mind about Vile's plans… well, a watered down version of Vile's plans. All we now know is that Vile wants this planet… but what for… I don't know what exactly for."
"B-SQUAD, REPORT TO THE COMMAND CENTERAT ONCE, REPEAT, B-SQUAD REPORT TO THE COMMAND CENTERAT ONCE…"
Bridge and Boom jump at the suddenness of Kat's voice breaking over the intercoms. Boom begins hacking, as he is choking on a piece of lettuce. Bridge quickly stands and slaps Boom on the back, while allows Boom to swallow the lettuce.
"Man… I hate it when that happens…" Boom wipes his mouth with his overalls sleeve.
"I better get going," Bridge grabs his jacket off the back of the chair that he was seated in. "Listen, could you go ahead and start dismantling that morpher for me?"
"Yeah, I'll get right to it," Boom lays his sandwich back onto the plastic wrap. Bridge quickly puts his jacket on and races out the room. R.I.C. darts past the door, almost causing Bridge to loose his footing. Boom shakes his head as he laughs in amusement over Bridge's predicament.
"Never a dull day around here, I give you that," Boom grins as he turns around and prepares himself to dismantle the Green B-Squad morpher.
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After monitoring Sam's progress during his training seminar, Z had given a training seminar to D-Squad on better handling their weapons in combat. That seminar lasted close to an hour. She had just prepared to clock-out to eat her lunch, when Kat's announcement had blasted over the intercoms. Turning around she clocked back into the SPD computers and immediately hurried to the elevator to ride up to the floor where the Command Center sat.
The urgency in Kat's voice that showed that delay was not permitted. She leans against the back wall of the elevator as she waits for the lift to take her to the desired floor. She leans her head back and closes her eyes, as she allows the early morning events flow into her mind. She admits that she is pretty naïve when it comes to sex. Sydney would always have a story to tell her, back before she had gotten together with Sky, of her own exploits.
From a young age, and from living on the streets, Z had saw and met many teenaged mothers, who could barely support themselves, much less a child. She was bound and determined not to let the same happen to her, so she avoided male contact as much as possible. Jack was the only exception he had rescued her from several thugs who had managed to corner her one rainy night while she was trying to locate dry shelter.
Z crosses her arms. Jack had saved her from the two, beating them up effortlessly. She had always wondered how a teenager could beat two grown men and not really break a sweat. Jack seemed to naturally know how to fight, and he later taught her how to defend herself. Eventually, the two had come across one homeless man, an alien from the planet Onyx, who promised to teach Jack and Z several martial art styles if they kept him provided with food. Since stealing food was nothing for Jack, the two had accepted the deal and the old master taught them the martial arts that he had learned from Earth. From then on, Z never had to worry about being overpowered by anyone, much less a sex-craved maniac.
Jack had been her first lover. Her face grows hot as she recalls the word. He had been so gentle with her, so caring, so loving. She had caught herself thinking that if she knew that it would have felt that good, she would have made a move on Jack a long time ago; damn that brother/sister mentality that she had grown toward him back when they were teenagers.
The elevator beeps, alerting her that it has reached her desired floor. She opens her eyes and leans up off the back of the elevator wall. When the elevator doors open, she spots Bridge and Isaiah turning the corner, headed toward the Command Center.
"Hey guys," she calls out as she steps out of the lift. "Wait up!"
Bridge and Isaiah come to a stop and turn around. Bridge smiles once he picks up the glowing aura radiating off of the Yellow Ranger. He notices that there is an extra skip in her walk as well. Although he can easily read her mind, he doesn't have to. The look on her face says enough.
"Well someone sure is in a chipper mood today," Bridge chuckles as he picks up on her emotions. "I'm guessing the date went rather well last night?"
Z smirks and twirls a finger through a lock of loose hair dangling over her shoulder. She had taken her hair out of her braids, which left her hair rather curly. Her face is still slightly red, for she was only moments before thinking back on what she had done with Jack last night and earlier. "Yeah… you can say that."
Bridge and Isaiah glance at one another and laugh hard. The redness of her cheeks says enough. Once the two gather themselves, Isaiah wipes his eyes. He had laughed so hard that he had begun to cry. "Okay Z, we won't push for details."
"Besides, Jack will probably tell us all the juicy stuff later," Bridge adds, earning another snicker from Isaiah. Z rolls her eyes, but smiles nonetheless at their silliness. The three continue on their way toward the Command Center; other lower ranking Cadets move out their way as the three walk down the hallway.
"I wonder why the Commander wished to see us so urgently," Z remarks out the blue. "We were given our orders earlier, and if there was a monster attack, we would have gotten the normal alarm."
"The Supreme Commander left yesterday to the KO-35 Satellite prison. Kat had mentioned that he went to retrieve a prisoner that may hold valuable information regarding Master Vile and other possible threats," Bridge replies.
"I was checking the interstellar traffic logs earlier and noticed that the Supreme Commander's has already returned," Isaiah replies. "Perhaps he is ready to debrief us on what he may have learned."
The three turn another corner and the entrance to the Command Center comes into view. Standing before the doors is none other than Jack and Sky. The three acknowledge Jack's new uniform, but they also spot Sky's expression upon his face.
"Uh oh," Bridge gulps as he instantly begins to pick up some rather negative vibes radiating off his Squad Leader. "Something is wrong with Sky…"
"Yeah," Z instantly agrees with Bridge. The stoic expressionless look on his face reminds her of a time when Sky was not the best person to work alongside. Jack's face mimic's Sky's, but he doesn't appear to be anywhere as mad as Sky's.
"Hey, what's wrong," Z asks as she latches herself onto Jack's arm. She looks back and forth between the two; hoping that Jack and Sky are not fighting again. That was one experience that she is positive that the whole B-Squad and the Commanders would not like to relive.
"Syd is in the Command Center talking with Kat and Cruger," Jack explains, looking down onto Z. He would love nothing more than to capture her lips with his own, but the current atmosphere surrounding the Command Center would only ruin their special moment. "She is resigning from Space Patrol Delta."
"Say what," Bridge is visibly shocked; his eyes wide and his mouth gaped open. "You… you can't be serious!"
"He is," Sky mumbles as he raises a clutched fist and shows Bridge the ring that he had given Sydney almost a year earlier. He opens his mouth to say something, but the words do not flow. He lowers his hand and closes his fist tightly around the gold band.
Z raises a hand over her mouth. She had helped Sky pick out the ring for Sydney. "She… she gave you back the ring…"
"I don't know what is going through her mind," Sky closes his eyes. "All this is happening at once! Out the blue she decides that she wants to quit SPD and dump me! Especially in the middle of a crisis! And then she has the nerve to tell me that she slept with Jack, numerous times before she and I got together!"
"Man, I tried to tell you, that was over four years ago! Back when I was Red Ranger," Jack tries to reason with him. "That was way before you and she got together! What does what happened in the past got to do with now?"
"Just leave me alone Jack," Sky sighs loudly as he crosses his arms once again.
"You mentioned a crisis," Isaiah repeats, hoping to change the subject, although he is curious on the tale of Jack's relationship with Sydney. "Does that mean that the prisoner that Supreme Commander Cruger brought back gave up some information about Vile?"
"Of sort," Jack remarks. "We have yet to meet this mysterious source that he brought back from the KO-35 Satellite Prison."
Suddenly, the doors to the Command Center slide open and out steps Sydney, no longer wearing an SPD badge on her uniform. She looks up at the Squad before her and smiles lightly, however the smile doesn't really place any positive emotion behind it. "Oh, hello! I was just about to come looking for the rest of you, to let you know about my resignation."
"Syd, what is going on in that head of yours," Z asks, clearly upset over her former roommate's decision. The two women had grown close ever since the fall of Omni and Gruumm. Almost like sisters. "This is clearly not a good time to decide just to up and leave SPD!"
"I don't see why not," Syd retorts as she looks at Jack. "I seem to recall Jack doing the same."
"That was different," Jack finds himself defends himself again; a frown takes hold on his lips. "When I left SPD, the Troobian Army was defeated and Gruumm was in containment! There was no more immediate threat!"
Sydney shrugs. She then straightens the bottom of her skirt from flaring about. "I really don't care. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting with a friend, and then my manager and then I'm off to the spa! If I'm going to take my music universal, it's going to require all my time and energy! No more time for running around in spandex. Ta-ta my friends!"
As she walks away from the group of Rangers, she sways her hips, earning a frown from Sky. She pulls a cell-phone from her purse and dials a number. As she steps into the elevator she smirks back at her former team, waving goodbye to them, her eyes glowing lightly. Since she is a great deal of feet away from the group, they cannot see the change of color in her eyes. Part one of Mirloc's plan is now in motion.
"Hello," a sinister sounding voice speaks over the phone.
"It's done," she speaks into the receiver as the elevator doors begin to close. "Contact Mirloc and tell him phase one is complete…"
Once the elevator doors close completely, the Rangers stand the next few moments in silence. "What crawled up her butt," Isaiah shakes his head. He has only known the now former Pink Ranger for over a week now, but her change of attitude has clearly thrown him for a loop. She was a real sweet-heart to him when he was first promoted to B-Squad.
Bridge expands his senses, attempting to read her aura before she gets to far away to be detected. He is able to get a small reading, a tint of black mixed in with her normal aura signature. "There… there is something wrong…"
"Yeah, that she is being a grade-A bitch," Sky snorts as he turns around and presses his hand onto the palm reader to allow him and the others entry into the Command Center. "I'm starting to wonder what I ever saw in her, the stuck-up prissy, can't sing worth jack..."
Z and Bridge look at each other. They had a hand in getting Sydney and Sky together, especially after Z had decided to break things off with Sky years ago. The two would flirt and flaunt around the other, but neither making a move to ask the other out. Sky was too dedicated to his new position as Red Ranger, and Sydney, when not working on a case or was off the clock, was working on a new music album. After setting the two up on a blind date without worrying about being summoned by SPD, the two were able to hit it off. One thing led to another and eventually the two became serious. Four years later, Sky had proposed to her.
Perhaps it was a mistake overall in setting the two together. After all, they come from opposite sides of the bar; Sky a true soldier and Sydney, a high maintenance pop singer.
"Well, worry about that later," Jack replies as he turns and places his hand on the palm reader. The computer beeps acknowledging Jack's identity and allows him entry. "Let's find out what our esteemed Commanders want from us."
Sky, Z, Isaiah and Bridge follow Jack into the Command Center and the five gasp in surprise as they come face to face with a teenaged female that they instantly recognize as Mora, despite the five year gap that they had last seen her. The witch is dressed in a standard female dark gray and black SPD Cadet uniform, seated in a chair in the Command Center. Anubis and Kat rise to their feet to greet the Rangers. Her hair is pulled back into a tight ponytail.
"Rangers we have a dire situation before us. Cadet Drew has unexpectedly resigned from SPD. This couldn't have come at a worst time." Anubis remarks.
"You're telling me," Jack retorts, his eyes trained on Mora. His hand instantly goes to his side, close to his blaster if needed. Though it has been five years since he last saw the witch, even if she was in SPD custody, she is still dangerous. As an adult in her Morgana form, she had the strength to back her powers.
"What is she doing here," Z all but yells, pointing a finger at Mora. The dark makeup wearing teen raises a palm and blows on the tips of her fingers. Matching her eyeliner, her fingernails are colored a dark purple.
"Hello Z," Mora gives Z a sickening sweet smile. "Missed me?"
Sky walks in front of the rest of the Squad. "Don't tell me... you are the source that is supposed to provide information to SPD!"
"What's it to you Blueberry," Mora sneers. Mora then takes in the color of his uniform for the first time since his arrival. "Oh, I meant, Little Red Riding Hood!"
"Mora has cut a deal with SPD," Anubis begins to explain before a heated argument can begin. He can understand the Ranger's anxiety in having Mora before them in the Command Center. "In exchange of all information regarding her former Master as well as other alien contacts, she will be being placed into protective custody and be stationed here within SPD as a Cadet."
"A Cadet," Z looks over at the young witch with distrust. Her eyes then lower down to the creepy doll nestled in Mora's arms. A chill runs up Z's spine; she had never liked dolls. "Sir, are you sure that is wise?"
"I'm not going to blow up the base if that is what you are thinking," Mora rolls her eyes. In her arms, her doll, Cindy Sunshine is cradled as if it were a real child. "Believe me; being behind bars for five years has given me a lot to think about. I'm on the straight and narrow now."
Bridge quickly slides his glove off his hand and waves it, catching the energies being emitted off of Mora's aura. He is surprised, after reading the truth behind her words. "Guys, she's telling the truth. I'm not reading any negative energy radiating off of her aura... at least not any directed toward us… well… a little at Z but…"
"Could it be a trick," Jack asks, still not taking his eyes of Mora. Beside him, Isaiah follows Jack's lead, his hand next to his blaster as well. He may have not battled against Mora as the others have, but he has seen the video's of the B-Squad's battles against the Troobians, especially Jack's battle against her with the Battlizer. "After all, she was Gruumm's right hand."
"What does a girl have to say," Mora snaps, stomping her right foot as she stands to her feet. "Want me to say I'm sorry! Okay then, I'm sorry! Let me spell it out for you! S-O-R…"
"That's enough," Anubis barks as he slams his large paws onto the table before him, irritated at the scene before him. "My decision is final. Before Omega Ranger left to return to the future, he had told me some very important information concerning the future! Mora is critical to those plans if the time line is to stay true despite the changes that it went under from his alteration of the time stream."
"You will treat her as if she was one of your own," Kat orders. "She is an SPD Cadet now."
The B-Squad salute their Commanders, although not very enthusiastic. "Yes sir!"
"Cadet Delgado, will you show Mora to her new quarters as well as giving her a tour of the Base, to get her familiar with her new home," Kat hands Z a small pamphlet with all of Mora's files and information.
Z looks down at the pamphlet and then back up at Jack. "Err… okay then… Mora… umm, follow me… Later Jack," Z waves back at Jack. Jack returns the wave, still looking a little unnerved about Mora being allowed into the academy. But if the Commander and the Supreme Commander can vouch for her, then he will not question their judgment.
As Z and Mora exit out of the Command Center, Kat dismisses the other Rangers. "You all may return to your duties except for Jack. May we have a word with you?"
"Sure Commander," Jack watches the rest of the B-Squad leave the Command Center before turning back to the two. "Does this involve my test results?"
"That they do Jack," Kat pulls out another pamphlet from out of a folder as she and Anubis return to their seats. "After talking with Doctor Felix over these scans, we have discovered that your genetic code has changed. Actually, evolved is a better term to use."
"Into what," Jack walks over to the large table where Kat and Anubis have returned to their seats.
"That we do not know," Anubis answers as Kat hands him a printout of the results. "There have been many humans to have gained access to special powers, many of them being Rangers of the past. We all know how you gained your special abilities."
"My father's genes were altered when he aided in the development the Morphers of the original SPD Rangers. The same for Z and the others." Jack remarks.
"Precisely. However from Sky, Bridge and Sydney's doctors reports, they powers materialized when they were children. We know from your stories as well as Z's own accounts, that you both had acquired your powers as children as well. We have Bridge, Sydney and Sky's files from when they were children on file. Their genetic structure has never changed. Yours have, from the last information we had taken when you were an active Red Ranger five years ago." Kat explains.
"This is truly remarkable," Anubis sits back in his chair. "You are a natural human evolution."
Jack looks down at his hands. "I've been having these weird dreams lately. Well, almost close to over a year. In them, I'm either surrounded by fire, or generating it and it doesn't harm me. And in battle, I've found out that I seem to be… immune to fire or any kind of fire attack."
"How long have you been aware of this," Anubis asks as he rests his paws onto the table.
"A while now," Jack confirms. "I didn't know if this was… harmful to me or not, so I have kept quiet about this for a while now."
"Well, you don't have to worry about that," Kat remarks as she hands Jack several sheets. "From what we can tell, you are completely healthy. In fact, you're probably healthier than any person in this Academy. Probably even in the state!"
"How did we miss this… evolution of his DNA when he was Red Ranger," Anubis asks Kat. "After all, Doctor Felix as well as you had constant access to his medical records."
"It may have been a dormant gene Doggie," Kat remarks. "After all, Bridge's powers have evolved as well. He's a much stronger psychic now than he was five years ago. Z can also generate more duplicates than she could five years ago. Also, Sydney is able to transform her whole body into stone now. Sky can create larger and stronger shields, and Sam's teleportation powers are growing stronger by the day. What's to say that Jack, or the other Ranger's powers wouldn't naturally evolve?"
"That's a good theory and all, but what does it have to do with my ability to phase through solid objects? There is no connection to either of the two?"
"Perhaps you came in contact with some alien life form during the past few years and somehow contacted this ability. Or maybe it could be hereditary," Kat suggests.
"I couldn't tell you," Jack leans back in his seat. He unzips his jacket, revealing a red shirt underneath. "Omega Missions comes into contact with many homeless life forms, human or not. And I don't remember much of my parents. They died when I was… six, seven? Eight, maybe? I know nothing of my family history. Heck, I don't even know where to begin looking for my grandparents…"
"I will look into your family history and see what I can find," Kat remarks. "In the meantime, I want you to continue leading the B-Squad. Even though Sky is back he is not in the most stable condition right now to lead a Squad considering his breakup with Sydney and well... you again."
"What are we going to do about that," Jack sighs. "We're down another Ranger again. Are we going to promote another C-Squad Cadet to the B-Squad to replace Syd?"
"Kat and I are looking into that matter," Anubis speaks. "For the life of me, I cannot understand why Sydney would make this rash decision. In the meanwhile, we will make do with what we have."
"How can I lead B-Squad," Jack notes. "I destroyed my Morpher on Master Vile's planet to defeat the rest of his ground army."
"Boom is working in overdrive trying to rebuild the Magma Morpher," Kat begins to explain. "It was a technological wonder, but it took a while to develop. The temporary replacement Morpher for you is in his lab. You will once again take on the role of Red Ranger, but we have a new design for you."
"Back to Red huh," Jack smiles. "I can dig it. So I will be commanding my own Squad?"
"Once Sky is able to command the B-Squad again," Kat replies. "He is an emotional wreck right now."
"Yeah, I saw the ring," Jack nods. " Sydney broke it off with him. And I wonder why she even brought up the subject of herself and I. That was in the past. Now I got Sky pissed off at me… I wonder why she did what she did…"
"Ranger romances have always been… strained. Only a few have ever truly worked. Even so, I have noticed that you and Cadet Delgado have gotten rather… close," Anubis smiles lightly. "It seems that your powers aren't the only thing that has evolved."
Jack chuckles as he thinks back on the previous nights activities. "You can say that."
"I hope that this won't interfere with Cadet Delgado or your duties with SPD," Anubis remarks, still clearly unsure about how the situation is going to be handled by Sky. "The situation with Sky and Sydney has… spoken volumes about Ranger romances."
"You have nothing to worry about," Jack stands to his feet. "Z and I… we have an understanding. We know how to make things work for the greater good."
"That I am aware," a smile forms upon Anubis' muzzle. "You two have undergone a lot within your young life. I am extremely proud of the both of you. Of all my Rangers."
"One more thing Jack," Kat speaks, causing Jack to look at her. "We will be activating C-Squad to active Ranger status next week. I want you to train them, and prepare them for what to expect, for I am sending B-Squad off planet to pursue Master Vile."
"Do you think that is wise," Jack asks. "I mean, leaving an inexperienced Ranger team to defend the Earth?"
"C-Squad is not as inexperienced as you'd think Jack," Kat smiles. "Look at Isaiah. He comes from the C-Squad, and he has proven to be a formidable asset to B-Squad already."
"That he has," Jack agrees. "Okay then, I guess I will go start drilling C-Squad right now before my shift ends."
"See to it," Kat nods. As Kat and Anubis return to discussing the mission that the B-Squad will soon partake on, Jack leaves the Command Center, his mind circling around the possible connection between his new powers and the dreams that he has been having for the past few months. Uncontrollably, his eyes give off a slight orange glow.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Deep in space, a fleet of large ships orbit around a large off yellow colored planet. The planet is twice the size of Jupiter and is void of all life due to the high gas levels. A perfect hiding spot for space ships and legions of grunt soldiers that don't require oxygen to live; such as Putty Patrollers who are made of nothing more than hard clay and Tengu Warriors who can exist in the void of space.
The planet has been one of Vile's for many eons. Since even the planet was dubbed inhabitable by the Galactic Union millennia ago, many life forms completely avoid the planet, making it the perfect hiding spot for Vile's forces.
Aboard the scorpion-shaped vessel, which is dubbed as Vile's personal craft, Mirloc finished analyzing the data that Sydney had light-mailed to him. Within the week, Sydney will be arriving to help commence the second part of Vile's plan. If he had went along with the original plan of having Sky come under the influence of the Sword of Darkness, then their plan would have been ousted out by the B-Squad's psychic. With Sydney, being not only a singer, but an actor as well, she could have infiltrated the systems without any worry of being caught, which in fact, is what had happened.
Mirloc removes the flash-drive from the computer console and hurries down the hall, heading toward Master Vile's throne aboard the space vessel. He bursts through the doors, drawing attention upon himself from the rooms' occupants.
"My lord," Mirloc bows before Vile. "I have some information that you may find rewarding."
"It better be, considering how you simply barged in here without knocking," Vile glares down onto the warrior.
"Oh it is," Mirloc begins to explain. "My source within SPD light-mailed me this very important information regarding SPD. A portion of it involves the Magma Ranger."
"The Magma Ranger," Vile repeats, now fully interested. Any information regarding the so called warrior prophesied to be the one to bring down his empire in well worth listening to. "Tell me."
"Well for one, we finally have a name and a face to match the Ranger," Mirloc walks over to the large computer console within the bridge. He hands Psycho Blue his hard-drive that he saved the files onto that Sydney had sent him. Mirloc taps several keys and a large image of Jack and his stats appear on the viewing screen before them.
"His name is Jack Landors. Age 25, African humanoid. Former Red Ranger of the B-Squad. Lead the Rangers in battle against Gruumm and Omni five years ago. Adapt in several styles of martial arts. Currently runs a Mission, helping homeless children get off the streets." Mirloc reads off the projection.
"He doesn't appear so tough," Havok remarks, crossings his large gauntlet covered arms. "But he has to be deadly in order to defeat two-thousand soldiers. What is so special about him?"
Vile's hands clutch his armrests tightly as he takes in Jack's facial features. His eyes narrow as he realizes just where he has seen that face before. "So… I see. The prophecy is true. He is a descendant of that knight…"
Mirloc looks onto Vile with a questioning look in his eyes. "The same that aided the wizard in running you off Earth, my lord?"
Master Vile stands to his feet and walks toward the computer screen, just to make sure that Jack's face is an exact replicate of the one he had came in contact with one before. "Yes. Damn you Merlin…"
"Merlin," Mirloc looks back surprised. "Merlin the magician? As in the human legend of Camelot?"
"Yes. Merlin was in possession of the Grail. He is the one who gave the power to Arthur's knights to use against my forces. Arthur's lead knight is the one who wounded me. However, I was able to escape, but Merlin visited me in a dream and warned me of what my actions would represent. He told me, that the knight's offspring would forever be my enemy."
"A knight," Havok laughs. "A single knight? Even with the advance technology and magic in your disposal you lost to a stupid human in metal armor?"
"Remember to whom you are speaking to," Vile snaps his head in Havok's direction. "This was no ordinary knight. I was able to sneak back onto the planet and plant anger and hate into the hearts of some humans toward another race of their species. I had hoped that the racism would cause the knights offspring to suffer and eventually die out so when I returned to Earth, there would be no one there to stand in my way of retrieving the Grail."
"So let me get this straight," Mirloc digests the new information fed to him. He is quite familiar with Earth history and its strained race relations with other races on the planet. "You are responsible for all the racism on planet Earth? Because you fed false information to the most advance civilization that people of other races were inferior, just so you could wipe out any of this Knights race?"
"Yes," Vile pops his bony fingers. "Race does not have anything to do with it. It was the bloodline that I was hoping to destroy. Can I be blamed that humanity is a killer of its own race? I had decided to wait, centuries, millennia if I had to, just to make sure that the linage of the knight would be no more."
"Obviously that plan had a few flaws in it," Havok mutters.
"What was this knights name," Mirloc asks, genuine interested. If this Magma Ranger comes from a powerful bloodline, then that would explain just how or why he was able to fend himself against numerous odds.
Vile stands upright. He turns around and walks back to his throne. Before he sits, he mutters one simple name. "Lancelot."
Master Vile turns to Havok. "Havok, I don't care what it takes, I want this Jack Landors dead! And if he has any offspring, I want them eliminated as well! The only way to make sure that prophecy doesn't come to pass is to make sure that his bloodline ends one way or another!"
"I will take care of it my lordship," Havok bows. He stands upright and walks toward the exit of the bridge; Vile's eyes not leaving his backside.
"Do not fail me," Vile growls. "I don't want to see your face here if you do."
Upon entering the hallway Havok turns back around and laughs manically as the large metal doors begin to close; green fog begins rolling into the bridge from outside the hall. "Don't worry my lord; this Jack Landors will never know what hit him!"
The End
Uh-oh! Things are looking pretty bleak for the Rangers!