The main gates to the base opened and the car rolled towards the glass building near the hangars. Waiting outside was a man similarly dressed in his SPD uniform, the stripes on his arm indicated that he also held the rank of Major. He removed his sunglasses, revealing a piercing pair of blue eyes. The car stopped and the woman stepped out, Sargent Hammond," the man greeted with a warm smile.
"Knock it off Demi," the brunette began, "no need for formalities," she added whilst adjusting a yellow pin shaped like the SPD logo on her shirt.
"Come on Kenzie, is that anyway to greet an old friend?" Demi replied.
Mckenzie Hammond snorted, "I'd be in a better mood if I hadn't been dragged to the Base on a hundred degree day." She removed her cap and glasses, "Please tell me this building has decent air conditioning at least," she added with a little smirk.
The two moved through the complex, quietly acknowledging the salutes of the junior officers. Finally they stopped by the entrance to the central hangar, ""I mean, you do have experience in that area after all."
Mckenzie frowned at her fellow Major, "I have no idea what you're talking about," she lied.
"Really? Your mysterious year of absence," Demi stated, "it's kinda obvious now that every time the SPD Astro Rangers appeared, Mckenzie Hammond would mysteriously disappear. Not to mention that we rarely see you not wearing something yellow." Instinctively, Mckenzie covered her yellow badge, "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me," he added.
"How did you find out?" Mckenzie asked defensively, "that information should be restricted to NATO OF-5's and above."
"I told him," a booming voice grabbed the attention of the two officers.
Mckenzie's immediately recognised the stern expression belonging to their superior officer, "Supreme Commander Andros," she saluted the grey haired man, "Daddy."
"At ease Kenzie," Andros nodded at Mckenzie, "Johnson," he added towards Demj.
"Permission to speak freely Sir," Mckenzie asked, Andros sighed and nodded towards the former yellow ranger, "Why?" she asked simply.
Andros offered a low chuckle in response, "I was expecting much more of your outspoken from you." Mckenzie blushed slightly, adverting her gaze from her father, ".Nothing gets past you, does it?" He faced the two.
"Where do I come in then Sir?" Mckenzie asked, "I get a last minute call to come down here without any further orders or instructions."
"Colonel Johnson has spoken highly of you during our briefings."
Mckenzie opened her mouth, a retort on the tip of her tongue but she managed to hold herself back. She was mulling over the offer when it dawned on her what Commander Andros said, "Sorry, did you say Colonel Johnson?" she asked coldly.
"I've been meaning to tell you," Demi replied sheepishly, "my promotion to Lieutenant Colonel only came through a few days ago."
The former yellow Ranger turned away, slowly shaking her head. She willed her legs to walk away but a small voice in the back of her head told her to stay put. "This is nothing personal Mckenzie" Andros stated, the use of her first name deflated her anger slightly, "if it was my decision alone you'd be a full Colonel by now.."
Mckenzie slowly turned around, "The decision is yours, your one of the Supreme Commanders, your the top, what else could it be?" She snapped. The guilty expressions on Demi and Commander Andros answered her question, "Stick it up your ass," she added with a firm point of her finger.
"Mckenzie!" Andros said out raged. Suddenly Mckenzie's SPD morpher ranger, she turned away and answered it. Andros and Demi watched her nod a few times before she hung it up, she turned to them, she threw her SPD jacket at Demi.
" Supreme Commander Doggie Kruger wants me at the SPD M51 outpost" Mckenzie said.
" Kenzie" Andros said, " There's no coming back from this "
Mckenzie nodded slowly, " Like i said dad stick it up your ass " she then turned and walked towards the waiting shuttle. She couldn't shake the feeling deep in her stomach that something was about to go horribly wrong.