A/N: If you haven't read my previous story, Back in Space, you're about to be really confused.
Chapter 9: Attack from the Future, Part 1
Kira stared at the door, unwilling to believe what had just happened. Z had sacrificed herself so they could escape.
She sat down heavily, removing her helmet. They had lost someone. One of their own. That had never happened to her before. In all the years she had been a ranger, no ally had ever fallen in battle. She knew that it had happened before, but she had never experienced it.
She shivered, holding back her tears.
"Hey." She looked up as Summer removed her helmet, revealing eyes full of sympathy.
Kira didn't say anything, managing only a look of gratitude.
The R.P.M. ranger sat down beside her. "During the final battle against Venjix in my universe, two of my teammates were killed. We managed to bring them back in the end, but during that time." Summer shook her head. "It's extremely painful."
"Yeah," Kira replied quietly.
"There were a lot of people killed during the war on my world. We have to make sure that as few people as possible are killed this time around. If Z hadn't done what she did, we wouldn't have a chance at that."
Kira nodded. She envied Summer's ability to reflect in such a way so quickly, but she certainly didn't envy the experiences in the R.P.M. ranger's past that enabled her to do that.
"She's right." They both looked up at Maya, who had unmorphed, but was still holding her quasar saber. "This is the second time a friend has sacrificed herself to save me and many others. The only thing we can do is make sure her sacrifice isn't in vain."
Kira studied the face of the older ranger, knowing that Z's sacrifice wasn't the only thing weighing her down. "We'll find a way to free Zhane from that thing's control. Andros too."
Maya nodded wearily. Before she said anything, however, there was a loud blast and the ship rocked violently.
"What was that?"
Maya looked towards the sealed door. "The city's defenses. They're firing at us."
Summer stood, running towards the bridge. Kira didn't feel like she could move on her own, and was grateful when Maya extended a hand to help her up.
On the bridge, Tykwa stood in the eye of a hurricane of noise. The women of KO-35 stood at the various consoles and screens around the room, many of them visibly panicked as the ship rocked again.
"We're going to have to destroy the turrets, or they'll destroy us," said one.
"That would risk hurting our men down there," another replied.
"We have to be very careful with the targeting," said Tykwa. "And the timing. D.E.C.A., divert maximum power to the shields while we sort this out."
At the rear of the bridge, Ashley crouched with an arm around each of her children. She was still morphed, but had removed her helmet, and had a fierce look as she eyed the screens that showed the planet below. Amelia was putting on a brave face, but her brother was hiding his face in their mother's uniform, grasping tighter each time the ship rocked.
"What about the cargo vessel?" Summer asked. "They don't have shields."
Tykwa pointed towards another of the screens, which showed the locations of each of the ships that had fled the planet. "Your pilot is keeping us between the vessel and the planet. Our shields are protecting them, too."
"Great thinking, Taylor," Kira muttered. She had seen Taylor and Katie run to the cargo vessel, and guessed that the Air Force pilot was the one at the controls.
Katie... A sudden anger filled Kira's gut. Did the Time Force Agent know? Had she known what would happen to Z?
"D.E.C.A., teleport me over to the cargo ship."
Katie stared at her time jumper, contemplating the possibilities. Was there anything that she could do? If she went back, was there any way that she could stop the computer from taking over?
It frustrated her how little she knew. How could Time Force not know about any of this? There must have been records somewhere. Why wouldn't she have access to them?
She blocked out the noise of frightened children around her. She and Taylor had acted quickly, getting as many of the children aboard as they could before taking off. Now, while Taylor piloted the ship, she was left with a bunch of terrified children that she had no idea how to handle.
She wished Jen were here.
She didn't register Kira's presence until the dino ranger was right beside her. "Did you know?"
"What?"
"Did you know what would happen to Z?" There was a heavy undertone of anger in Kira's voice.
"What do you mean? What happened to her?"
Kira's face contorted. "Did you not even notice? She sacrificed herself so we could all take off."
What? That couldn't be correct. She had read the file of her predecessor yellow ranger. Elizabeth Delgado had lived well into her 80's. She couldn't be dead.
But they were in a new timeline now, weren't they? That was why she didn't know anything about Project Venjix.
She was completely blind now, and Z had paid the price.
The grief slammed into her with the force of a truck. She was the one who had brought Z into the mission.
Shuddering, she knelt on the floor. Her shock answered Kira's question, and the dino ranger's anger was replaced by sympathy as she dropped down beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I have no idea what is happening," Katie said quietly. "Everything is changed." This was exactly the thing that she was supposed to prevent, and she couldn't figure out how she had failed so horrifically.
The ship rocked, and the children screamed.
"What's happening out there?"
"This city's guns are firing at us," Kira explained. "The megaship is trying to target them without hurting any of the men, but it could take some time."
"I don't suppose the ship has electromagnetic weaponry? It could fry the machinery without hurting the people."
"That sounds like something from one of Ethan's futuristic sci-fi fantasies, so I doubt it."
Grimacing, Katie stood and ran over to the bridge, where Taylor was doing her best to keep the cargo vessel protected by the megaship. "Is there anything I can do?"
"Not from here," the pilot responded, "other than let me concentrate."
"We should be getting out of range," said Kira. "There are so many kids aboard."
"The moment those guns can see us, we're sitting ducks," Taylor replied. "We'll never make it out of their range."
Ashley looked up as Tykwa approached her. "We have to get the children and civilians out of here."
Ashley nodded, her thoughts racing.
"No," Amelia protested. "I want to help save Daddy."
Ashley tightened her grasp on her daughter. "I'm going to save Daddy, sweetheart, but I need to know that you're safe while I do it."
Amelia crossed her arms. "I can help."
"Commander, we've got a clear shot," said a woman at one of the consoles.
"Take it!" Tykwa ordered. All eyes turned to the screen as a bolt of green energy fired from their ship towards the planet below, causing an explosion on the surface.
"Direct hit."
"Confirm no casualties," said Tykwa.
"No casualties, confirmed."
A collective sigh of relief was heard around the room, but those were abbreviated by retaliatory blasts from the planet slamming into the shield.
Getting an idea, Ashley looked at Maya. "Maya, can you create a portal to Mirinoi?"
Maya grimaced. "It will be difficult to create a stable portal while we're moving like this. And I would need a large space."
"Would the storage rooms be large enough?"
"I don't think so."
"What about the hold on the cargo vessel?" Summer offered.
Maya looked at the screen that showed the cargo vessel staying protected by the Megaship. "That could work."
"We can't teleport everyone over there at once," said Ashley. "There isn't room. We'll have to do it in shifts."
"Clear shot," said the woman at the weapons console.
"Fire!"
"Direct hit, no casualties."
"Good." Tykwa turned to Maya. "Many children were brought onto the cargo vessel. Get them out first."
Maya nodded. "D.E.C.A., teleport me aboard the cargo ship."
Kira looked up as Maya entered the bridge. "Katie, I need you to move the time jumper. I'm going to create a portal to Mirinoi to get the kids out."
"You can do that on a moving ship?" Katie asked.
"As long as its kept steady enough."
Taylor grunted. "No pressure."
Kira placed a hand on the pilot's shoulder. "You can do this."
"How much time do you need?" Katie asked Maya.
"It could take several portals to get everyone out. Give me twenty minutes."
Katie nodded, and Maya and Kira went with her to the cargo hold. "See you in twenty minutes." Katie climbed into her jumper, and the yellow energy crackled around the ship as it disappeared.
"Everyone, come over here!" Maya called. The kids did as they were told, clearing most of the area. Maya raised her quasar saber, and energy shot out of it. The energy coalesced in the center of the hold, and then a portal opened, revealing a forest on the other side.
"Go," she told the children. "You'll be safe there. There will be a village and a man named Leo who can help you."
Most of the children were very hesitant, but Kira helped Maya coax them all into the portal.
"We should send adults through with the next group," said Maya as the portal faded. "They'll help keep things organized on the other side. Panicked children will catch Leo completely off-guard."
They went back to the bridge. "D.E.C.A., send a transmission to the Megaship," said Kira. "Tell them to send over the next group to evacuate to Mirinoi. With some adults, this time." This was her first time giving a command to a D.E.C.A. unit. It felt empowering, but she didn't have time to focus on it.
Sure enough, there were several women in the next group, along with the two Ostavenians. "Gor'ko will go with the children to Mirinoi," said Jun'ga. "He will help them feel safe."
Maya nodded. "That will be helpful." Gor'ko himself didn't look entirely happy about it, but he nonetheless led the group through the next portal.
Kira turned to the remaining Ostavenian. "Thanks for that."
Jun'ga glanced at her. "I am also worried that the Venjix signal would have begun to affect him as well. He helped Andros and Zhane at the laboratory."
Kira nodded. She didn't know how different the Ostavenian brains were from human ones, so she couldn't speak to how plausible it was that Venjix could also take over Gor'ko.
Honestly, she was more concerned about Venjix figuring out how to adapt the signal to affect women as well. But that was not a thought she could afford to entertain.
Summer watched with a mix of amusement and frustration as Amelia argued with her mother about travelling to Mirinoi. The little girl was very obviously a child of two power rangers, and was determined to help her dad.
With the other civilians already transported off the Megaship, Tykwa was directing each of the other ships in turn to transport their evacuees to the cargo vessel. Kira was letting them know each time Maya was ready for a new group.
In the meantime, the Megaship had taken out almost all of the guns that were firing upwards from the planet. The shield was holding against all of the attacks.
"I am never having kids." Summer looked up as Ronny and Lily arrived beside her, watching the argument. "I mean, I already knew that, but this just reinforces it," Ronny went on.
"You can go and play with Zerry," Ashley said softly. "He's waiting for you on Mirinoi."
"I want to go see Zerry," Alexis said in no more than a whisper.
"No!" Amelia protested. "Alexis can go to Mirinoi, I want to help Daddy!"
"Amelia, listen to me." Ashley's sternest response yet was cut off by a noise from D.E.C.A.
"An unknown ship has just entered orbit."
Everyone looked up at the screen, which showed a yellow ship with a large, round cockpit flanked by thrusters.
"Who are they?" Lily asked.
"Hail them," said Tykwa.
No image appeared on the screen, but a voice sounded through the bridge. "This is Officer Jen Scotts of Time Force. Stand down and prepare to be boarded. We are authorized to open fire if you do not comply."
"Time Force? Like Katie?" Ronny asked.
"D.E.C.A., teleport Katie Walker from the cargo ship," said Summer.
There was no response for a few seconds. Then, "Katie Walker is not aboard the cargo ship."
"What? Where is she?"
A few seconds later, another screen shifted to show Taylor and Kira on the bridge of the cargo ship. "Katie's taken the time jumper twenty minutes ahead to get out of the way of Maya's portals," said Taylor. "She should arrive in a few. What's going on?"
"We're about to be attacked by her friends from Time Force," Summer replied. "Do you know this Jen Scotts?"
"Jen? Of course. But she's back on Earth."
"Not anymore."
"D.E.C.A., try hailing that ship again," Tykwa ordered. "Loop in the cargo ship."
Finally, an image appeared, showing a woman in a white uniform. To her right was a man with bright green hair, and to her left was a tall man with dark hair and a sharp gaze.
"Jen?" Taylor asked. "What's going on?"
"Captain Earhardt, you are ordered to stand down."
"Captain Earhardt? Jen, what is this? Where's Wes?"
"Wes?" The woman's eyebrows knit together, and her gaze dropped for a second. "Captain Collins's whereabouts are neither my concern nor yours. Stand down, Taylor."
"Captain Collins? First, he's not a captain anymore. Second, he's your husband, so where he is is certainly your concern."
The woman pursed her lips, but the looks of confusion on the faces of the two men who flanked her told Summer that this was perhaps not the same Jen Scotts that Taylor was familiar with.
She began to worry that perhaps the reason Eric Myers hadn't made it back from the future was because the future had changed while he was there. If so, what did that mean for where he was now?
"Listen, Jen, Katie will be back in a few. Maybe then we can get this sorted out."
"We have clear orders, Captain. Stand down. We are authorized to fire."
"Authorized by who? That's certainly not an order that Captain Logan would give."
The man with green hair looked at the others in surprise. The woman turned, and the three of them conferred. Then the woman turned back to the screen. "Hail us when Officer Walker returns. You have three minutes." The screen went black.
"D.E.C.A., teleport Katie Walker to the Megaship as soon as she arrives," said Tykwa.
Katie had barely emerged from the jumper when she was suddenly teleported onto the bridge of the Megaship. "What?"
"Officer Jen Scotts is here," said Summer. "But I think she's from a different future."
"Jen?" Katie frowned. "Jen's not in the future. She's back on Earth, in the present." She looked at the yellow ship visible on the screen. "That's the time ship."
"We're ordered to stand down, or they'll fire at us."
"Time ships don't have weapons."
"She seems to think otherwise."
"Hail her."
D.E.C.A. did so, and the trio of Time Force Agents reappeared on the screen.
"Jen, Lucas, Trip, what's going on?"
"Katie, tell your friends to stand down. We're instructed to board and commandeer your fleet back to the planet. We are authorized to open fire if you don't comply."
"Open fire with what? You're on an unarmed ship."
Again, the two men exchanged looks of confusion, and Summer had a feeling the time ship from this alternate future was not the same that Katie knew.
Katie studied her three teammates. They all looked uncharacteristically stern. "Look, let me go over there and we can talk about this."
Jen pursed her lips. "Fine. Teleport in, Officer." She dropped the communication.
"D.E.C.A., send me over." Katie was much more prepared for the sensation of teleportation this time.
When she arrived, she immediately noticed several differences on the time ship interface. "They updated the time ship?"
"Not since you left," Trip replied, looking confused by the question.
"Katie, what's going on?" Jen's voice was stern. "You were instructed to arrest Summer Landsdown, not join her."
"Summer isn't behind all this. She's trying to stop it." Katie studied her former team leader. "Why are you here? Why aren't you back on Earth with Wes?"
Jen's eyebrows knit together. "With Wes? Why would I be..." Jen trailed off and looked out the window towards the Megaship. "Captain Earhardt asked something similar."
"Taylor? I'm pretty sure you're on a first name basis with her by now, especially considering your husbands are best friends." Katie was answered with three looks of confusion, and her heart sank. "You didn't marry Wes in this timeline, did you?"
"No." Jen fidgeted with her left hand, and Katie recognized the silver ring that Alex had given her.
"And since when do time ships have weapons?"
"They've always had weapons," said Lucas.
Katie sighed. "The timeline changed. I'm sure it was caused by Project Venjix, not Summer Landsdown."
"What is Project Venjix?" asked Trip.
"A computer program that has taken control of all the men on the planet down there. It sounds like you've been ordered to turn us over to them. And I have a feeling that command came from the computer, not from Captain Logan."
Lucas and Trip exchanged a glance. "Captain Logan was arrested six years ago. All our orders come from the computer now."
"What? What did he do?"
"It's classified," said Lucas. "We were never told, but it must have been something really bad."
Katie stared at him. That couldn't be right.
"So you're from a timeline where that didn't happen?" asked Trip.
"And where I married Wes?" Jen added, her voice uncharacteristically soft.
"Yes," Katie replied. "And where time ships aren't armed." She looked out the window towards the planet. "I think you're from a future where Project Venjix has taken over. And I have a feeling Captain Logan was arrested because he learned the truth." Recalling the other problem in the present, she looked around at them. "Do you know where Eric is?"
"Eric?"
"He went to the future several days ago to speak with Captain Logan. Obviously, that didn't happen."
"We haven't seen him," said Trip.
"If he went to the future before the timeline changed, he's trapped there until the timeline is restored," said Lucas.
Katie grimaced. She was having trouble pinpointing exactly when the change had occurred. After all, the computer had been insistent that she arrest Summer. Had Venjix already been in control then? But then why would the timeline change again?
"Hey, guys?" Trip touched his gem. "I'm picking up a weird signal."
It was only a moment of warning before Lucas suddenly attacked, but it was enough. Katie quickly knocked him out.
"What?" Jen stared.
"It's the Venjix signal. It's taking control of the men."
"Yeah." Trip held his temples in both hands. "I think you might need to knock me out too in a second."
Katie looked at Jen. "Take them back to the future."
"But I can help."
"There are two of you in the present. The Jen from my timeline is currently back on Earth with Wes. You know the problems that can cause."
Jen winced and fiddled with her ring again. "Okay. Fix this, Katie."
"I will."
"Guys." Trip's hands had balled into fists, the knuckles going white.
Jen turned to the controls. "Just give me a second to send you back to your..."
The sentence died on her lips as a new ship appeared in high orbit around the planet.
"I recognize that ship," Jen said quietly. Katie did, too. "That's the Dark Fortress. The second one."
The black battle station rotated, its edges shrouded by its protective forcefield. Katie had read that the station was more powerful than its predecessor, and designed so that its master could operate it entirely on her own while she sent her forces to attack a planet.
"It's Astronema."