Several months had passed since the appearance of the Ganglers. News of SPD apparent Corruption had spread across the the Galaxy, drawing more attention to the alienforce rangers. Alien force had been largely taken out of the public eye and doing covert investigations. Commander Cruger had spun this as an attempt to reduce the attention on the team and whilst this was true, there was a more pressing reason behind the Commander's actions.

A couple of weeks after the news broke, Alienforce had been attacked by a group of pordermen in retribution. Fortunately for the Rangers they were more than a match for the Gangler Minions but it highlighted how much danger they were in. There was still a potential traitor within SPD and only someone who had knowledge not only SPD's past but ranger history. Alienforce wasn't confined to the outpost but none of them had ventured too far away from headquarters since that day.

All of the danger of the situation were far from the minds of The rangers that morning though. The team were relaxing with a game of flag football, using the holo deck. The game was two a side with Jack acting as quarterback for both teams, Charlie and Faith were on one side with Spock and Gwen on the other. "Bring it in guys", the red ranger dragged the black and white ranger's into the huddle, "Spock is covering you too tight Faith but Gwen can't keep up with your speed Charlie".

"What's the call then coach", Charlie looked out of the huddle towards the defensive duo on the other side, "fly down the side?"

"Something a little more devious", Jack responded with a devilish smile.

"Clock's running Harkness", Gwen called out from her end of the field, "what's the matter, too scared to call a play?"

Jack rolled his eyes and glared at the black ranger, "You're a bad influence on her, you know that?" he said with an accusing tone.

"You love us really Jack but Gwen's right, let's get on with it", Charlie snorted.

The red ranger finished explaining his play before breaking them out the huddle. Charlie and Faith lined up as wide left and right receivers respectively and gave their leader a small nod of readiness, "Ready, set", he paused before grunting loudly, "hut!". He dropped back and watched as his two receivers set off down the field before cutting inwards, drawing their defenders with them.

It took Spock and Gwen a second to realise the receiving duo were running straight towards each other, almost certain to collide in the middle of the field. Gwen slowed up to avoid crashing into her own team, only to catch a smirk from Charlie. The black and white ranger's stuck out their arms before interlinking them and spinning around on the spot. The defenders were too stunned and confused by the little do-si-do, allowing Sky to pick his receiver with ease. Charlie caught the spiralling football and sprinted for the end zone, "Come on, that's not allowed surely", Gwen complained as the black ranger disappeared down the field.

"Learned that one from a Scottish guy I met ten years ago in Cornith", Jack chuckled, "he called it the Highland fling. Always wanted to use it but never had a chance". By end Charlie had high stepped her way into the end zone, spiking the ball violently against the turf.

"You're an evil genius", Jack grumbled.

"Hey no one calls him devious", Faith mock pouted, placing a kiss on the red ranger's cheek, "he thinks outside the box, that's why he's the leader".

"Urgh get a room you two", Charlie jogged up to the huddle with the ball tucked under her arm, "every time I turn around you two have got your hands all over each other". The black ranger tossed the ball into the air a few times, "Even Cruger doesn't slobber as much as you two and he's a freaking dog", she added with a grin. Charlie threw the ball up again but was surprised when it didn't come back down. There was a loud cough from behind her which could only belong to one person, "Commander Cruger", she began sheepishly, "fancy joining in, we've got room for one more?"

The football looked tiny between Cruger's hands and he gave it a gentle squeeze, "Never understood this sport", he snorted, "you call it football but you barely kick the ball". He turned away from the group, let go of the ball and punted it into the air. It hung for a long time before landing on the running track at the other end of the field with a heavy thud, "I need a quiet word with Captain Harkness, I trust that meets with your approval Collins".

"No complaints from me Sir", Charlie added with a cheeky grin, "race you guys", she called out and set off in a sprint towards the ball.

As Jack and Cruger watched the members of set off in pursuit, SPD's Commander let out a small chuckle, "If you had told me five months ago that Charlie Matthews i mean Collins would be joking around and a power ranger agin, I would've called them mad". Cruger's lips formed into a reluctant smile, "I'm not sure whether to be pleased or worried".

The pair began to slowly walk towards the other end of the field with Jack wondering what the Commander wished to talk to him about, "If this is about Charlie, she's fitting in really well with the team", he began. "Despite her spiky exterior she's actually really easy going".

"The cadets certainly seem to like her", Cruger added, "nothing but glowing praise from the feedback I've received". He snorted gently, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say someone paid them to say those things".

Jack frowned, he knew all about the allegations of bribery that surrounded Charlie. The daughter and sole heir of the Collins family fortune shouldn't have to work as a Police Officer. Jack never believed the rumours when he was in Torchwood, the few occasions he interacted with Charlie early in his career at SPD had been unremarkable. He found her a touch arrogant but then again most cadets could be accused of that. The one thing she seemed to have was a decent heart which was more than could be said of her peers. He was as surprised as anyone when she was revealed at A Squad's red ranger and that was before revealing herself as a traitor, "You don't believe she's involved with this corruption, do you?" he asked.

"No", Cruger replied with hesitancy in his voice, "as part of her release, she gets an allowance from her wages to spend and has no access to any other accounts". He placed his hands behind his back, a look of deep thought etched on his face, "We know that it's not her but that doesn't mean it isn't someone else".

"Her family?" Jack began, "I know her parents are TimeForce but surely they wouldn't get involved". When Cruger didn't response, the red ranger looked towards SPD Commander, "That's exactly what you think, isn't it Sir?" Jack knew that the Collins family were old money but rangers ran in their veins. Charlie no matter what she had done even she couldn't deny Power Rangers were in her blood.

The walk continued in silence as Cruger refused to answer Jack's question. The red ranger thought about asking it again but changed his mind, the Commander probably heard him but either couldn't or didn't want to answer. Instead he turned his attention towards his team, Gwen was running around with the football tucked between her arms. Charlie was chasing her across the grass with Faith and Spock looking on and laughing.

Eventually Charlie caught up with the blue ranger and wrapped her arm around her body. He heard Gwen laugh loudly, a broad smile plastered over her face. Charlie spun Gwen around until the pair tumbled to the ground with the black ranger's arms still wrapped around Gwen's waist. There was a lingering glance between the pair and even at a distance, Jack could see their eyes flicking down towards the other's lips. He fully suspected that if they didn't have an audience, the black and blue rangers would've kissed. The pair obviously realised this too and scrambled to their feet, separating as quickly as possible.

The tension between the roommates had been building almost since the Gangler encounter. Charlie wasn't subtle when flirting with Gwen and Jack had suspected for a long time that the blue ranger wasn't doing anything to dissuade her. At first Jzck wondered if it was just Charlie's way of having fun, he noticed the black ranger tended to be a little flirtatious with most people. Even Doctor Manx had been on the receiving end of the Collins charm in the last few weeks. After careful observation he noticed there was something deeper behind Charlie's eye, maybe she really did like the blue ranger in that way.

At first he was concerned, Charlie had been judged as a traitor in the past. Her good work since her dubious release was going someway to making up for that but it still didn't erase that stain from her personality. If the circumstances were right, could she turn evil again? Then there was Gwen to consider, the blue ranger wasn't overly open about her sexuality in fact no one knew too much about her life prior. The only exception to that was Jack but he wasn't about to betray his best friend's confidence. The team was finally on the same page and he didn't want anything to ruin it, "You're thinking exactly what I'm thinking", Cruger's voice suddenly pierced Jack's thoughts.

"Should I talk to them", he sighed, "get this all out in the open".

"It's your team Jack, I trust your judgement", came Cruger's rather unhelpful response. Jack admired Cruger's attempts to allow him to run the team his own way but sometimes he wished the Commander would give him some straight advice and not some cryptic advice from a fortune cookie. "There a rumours of Jark Matter uprising".

The red ranger nodded slowly, "What are your orders Sir?" he asked.

"Do your job Harkness", Cruger hesitated briefly before adding, "Im only here to guide you now". Jack was confused by that statement, the sad look behind the Commander's eyes only added to the mystery, "A floating head once said may the power peotect you". Cruger turned and marched away, leaving a confused Jack behind.