DISCLAIMER

Sorry this took so long. Hard to transition and finals are approaching. Inspired by a PSA and the Mutant X episode "She's Come Undone". Some concepts inspired by the Lois And Clark ep "Target: Jimmy Olsen". Power Rangers belongs to Haim Saban, Fox Kids, and Disney. Beginning scene is similar to "A Different Shade Of Pink Pt 2".

Several minutes later, after finding a payphone and calling an ambulance, Curtis and Jason ran alongside of a gurney as doctors and nurses wheeled her in.

"What have we got?" a doctor asked.

"Stabbing victim named Ruby Chandler. These are her friends who were with her,"

"The guy came out of nowhere! We couldn't stop him!" Curtis responded.

"It's a good thing you two were able to call for help right away. She's very lucky," the doctor told them.

"Actually, it's all my fault. Is she going to be okay?" Jason asked softly.

"We'll let you know," the nurse said as they continued on. Jason sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

"She's going to be okay," Curtis comforted.

"Maybe you should get checked out too. I mean, I did kick you in the head," Jason stated.

"I'm fine," he responded. "You know how thick my skull is," he continued jokingly.

"Curtis."

"Jase, I swear. I'm fine." Before Jason could say anymore, an officer walked up to them.

"Boys, I'm officer Stone. Could I have a word with you?" he requested.

"Sure," they agreed and followed him to a corner in the waiting room.

"Now, I'm not sure I'm understanding this. According to the paramedics, you said the three of you were hanging out in the park when a guy came up and stabbed your friend after a short scuffle with the two you," Officer Stone told them.

"Yeah, that's correct," Curtis confirmed.

"And yet you couldn't give them an accurate description of him," Officer Stone continued.

"It happened really fast," Curtis protested.

"Who are you protecting?" Officer Stone prodded.

"No one," Curtis insisted.

"Come on, Curtis. This guy's not stupid," Jason said. "We both know that this was all my fault," he continued.

"Jase," Curtis said, turning to him. I can't believe he's doing this to himself, he thought in irritation.

"I was the one stupid enough to pick up the phone when I knew we were being controlled," Jason shot back, forgetting that the officer was there.

"What?" the man asked. "Okay, I think you boys better tell me what's going on right now," he insisted. Shocked, Jason turned to Curtis. How could I have been so stupid? he wondered.

"I think we better, man," Curtis said. The officer looked at the m expectantly. Jason sighed.

"It was called Project X9. It---it was an experimental study on mind control. Each subject was implanted with a chip that allowed the tester to control them," he said, running his fingers through his hair. "It---it wasn't supposed to get so out of hand."

"What do you mean?" Officer Stone asked.

"They started forcing us---to---to do things…things I'm not proud of," Jason answered.

"They're not your fault if you're mind-warped," Curtis pointed out.

"What did your parents have to say about all of this?" Officer Stone questioned.

"They just thought it was it was a study on socialization. They didn't know about the mind control," Curtis responded.

"How'd it end?" Officer Stone asked gently.

"We fought back. Made them deactivate us," Curtis told him.

"We thought it was over," Jason added.

"When did you realize it wasn't?" Officer Stone queried.

"A few days ago," Jason answered. "They made me deface the youth center."

"And I attacked Jason."
"Another one of the people in our group was sent to deface some public property and apparently gotten caught in the middle of a monster attack...and now---I---I've hurt Ruby." Officer Stone blew out a breath

"Do you know if you can get deactivated?"

"No. The guy who's controlling will never let us go. He owns us." Officer Stone sighed at Jason's despairing tone.

"Son, if you give me a name---"

"NO! That'll just make everything worse!" Curtis watched as Jason spun around and then punched the wall. Oooooh. That's gonna hurt, he thought to himself as he winced. Two security guards began to approach, but Officer Stone put out a hand to stop them.

"Don't you get it!? We can't stop them! We never could! It'll never be over! They won't stop until they kill us all!" With that, he stomped out of the hospital, leaving Curtis and Officer Stone looking at each other in concern.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

In case you haven't figured it out, Officer Stone is the future Lt. Stone.