Gaby, Gunn, Kane, Klezmi, and Silva are mine.
Rated PG-13 : sexuality; harsh language, strong violence.
There was shouting. People running. Jen felt sharp fear prod her to run faster, down endless corridors. She saw crowds of people in Time Force uniforms, gathered in the hallways, staring with frightened faces. Another, vaguely familiar face looked at her.
"Hurry! Stop them before it's too late!
She ran again, other people at her side, all of them afraid. Alex. Trip, Katie, Lucas. Together they dashed through a small park, then pounded into a timeship hangar, up to a waiting ship, through the door, and inside. They threw themselves into their seats, Jen taking the weapons control position in the back, separated from the others. Lucas looked back at them from the pilot's seat.
"Ready? Here we go!"
A roar. Flame, heat, something slamming into her. Pain. She screamed, endlessly, hearing their screams blend with hers...
"NOOooo!"
"Jen! Wake up!"
She gasped, bolting up, instinctively striking out at the hands grasping her shoulders. Then she stopped, realizing where she was and who she was with.
"Wes! Oh, Wes, I'm sorry."
"It's okay. You didn't hurt me."
He wrapped an arm around her. She leaned against him, still trembling, heart pounding, letting the solidity of his body soothe her. After a moment he reached to pull up the sheets she had kicked away.
"What happened? Another dream?"
"Not the same one... I've never had this one before." Her voice was shaking.
"What was it?"
"I was in Time Force headquarters... Something was wrong, people were running and shouting, and I was running, with Alex and Lucas and Trip and Katie... We got in a ship and started to take off. Then something happened... everything just... exploded."
He rubbed her shoulders. "You had a nightmare. Not too surprising, after what you've been through."
"I don't know. This seemed so real... like the other dreams." But it was already fading, the way dreams so often did. She shook her head, feeling calm seep back into her.
"Think you can get back to sleep?"
She lay down again, hoping exhaustion would overcome the lingering fear from the dream. "I think so."
He leaned over to kiss her gently. She put up an arm to pull him down, and turned the kiss into a passionate one, grateful for the weight and warmth of his body. She needed the comfort of closeness, of love. Sleep would have to wait a little while longer.
Eric stopped to yawn outside Gunn's office. It was early, and he was tired after two nights of little sleep. Resolving to get another cup of coffee as soon as he was done here, he knocked on the door.
Gunn's voice said, "Come in." He swung the door open, and stopped, just for a moment, as he saw William Kane sitting in Bio-Lab's internal security chief's office. Trying to ignore the uneasiness and instant dislike he felt every time he saw the new Administrative and Services Director, he walked in.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yes," Gunn answered. "I heard you encountered the kidnappers, and got some help from -- one of your former allies. I'd like some details."
"I understand." He glanced at Kane, who was staring at him with those intense black eyes, startling against fair skin and blond hair. "I think we should discuss it in private."
"Mr. Kane would like a report too." Gunn also glanced at Kane, his expression not entirely friendly.
"Excuse me, sir, but I'm sure you wouldn't be interested."
"I'm interested in whatever affects this company," Kane said.
"This is Guardian business. Confidential."
Kane smiled, a smile that made Eric even more uneasy. "Very good," he said softly, Eric hearing a hint of mockery in his voice. "You're a good soldier, you like to keep secrets. But Mr. Collins' kidnapping is company business, as well as... a private tragedy."
"This is an ongoing investigation. I don't think it's appropriate." Eric returned his stare, seeing contempt and something deeper in the other man's eyes.
"Eric, please," Gunn said. "Whatever your personal feelings, Mr. Kane is a board member. He's our superior. Just… report."
"All right." Eric straightened, and gave Kane a glance filled with as much anger as he dared to put in it. "Yes, sir. Wes -- Wesley Collins -- received a ransom note from one of the kidnappers. He went to meet him. The kidnappers attacked him from the air, with flyers. There were two of them. I had become concerned when I couldn't contact Wes. My morpher located him. I joined the battle. A few minutes later, Jen -- one of the other Rangers from a year ago -- showed up. She helped me drive them off."
"Three against two. Why didn't you capture them?" Kane's voice seemed to hold that barely mocking tone again.
"Sir, only two of us had flyers. We saw Wes on the ground and thought he was injured. While we were helping him they disappeared."
"Too bad. You lost the opportunity to save Mr. Collins." There was a glint of scorn in his eyes.
Eric shot him another angry look. "Yes, sir."
"Why did this… Jen show up now?"
"She... heard we were having trouble."
"What do you think these mutants are after?"
Eric hesitated but saw no rational reason not to answer. "They've been sent to kill Mr. Collins, Wes, and me."
Kane's face was cold with barely veiled disbelief. "Who would want to send a couple of mutants to kill you?"
Eric returned the frigid look. "Obviously someone did."
"And where is Jen now?"
Reluctant, Eric glanced at Gunn again. He nodded. And Kane could easily find out from any of the Guardians. "She's in the Guardians' barracks, sir."
"Really? Why?"
"For her protection. Sir. We're all staying there."
"You wouldn't think a Ranger needs protection."
"No one's safe from these mutants. They're very powerful."
"More powerful than a Ranger?"
"If they get the drop on us, yes."
"Hmm." Kane smiled again. "Thank you, Myers. That's enough."
"Very well, sir. May I go?"
"Don't bother. I'm leaving." Kane stood to go, and to Eric's fury patted him familiarly on the shoulder on his way out, his hand squeezing just a touch too tightly for comfort. Eric was silent for a moment, Gunn watching as he struggled to control his temper.
"Eric, you should try to be… more respectful."
"Respectful? To that bastard?"
"He's your superior. You won't do yourself any good by insulting him."
"You heard the way he talked to me. He deliberately provoked me."
"Did he? You were deliberately rude."
Eric paced, too agitated to stand still. "I don't like him, or trust him."
"You don't like a lot of people." Gunn's voice was sharp. "To tell the truth, I don't like him either. But our opinions aren't important now. We still have to work with him. I strongly suggest you try to get along with him."
Eric shot him a look only slightly less angry than the one he had used on Kane. "I'll consider it. Are we done here?"
Gunn sighed. "I guess we are."
Eric about-faced and marched to the door, yanking it open and stepping out into the hall, almost colliding with Gaby. She gave him a startled look and a quick smile. He turned to head for his office.
"Eric!" She hurried to catch up. Eric gave her another glance, then walked on as she joined him.
"What is it?" he asked, still too angry to be civil.
"I was just wondering if there's any news."
"No."
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing." He didn't look at her.
"Eric..." There was annoyance in her voice.
"That bastard."
"Who?"
"Who else? Kane."
"Why? What did he do?"
"He demanded a full report, as if he really cares about finding Mr. Collins. I'm just another flunky to him. He enjoyed treating me like dirt."
"Are you sure he was really..."
"Yes, goddamn it!" He glared at her. "You think I'm imagining it? I'm just being paranoid again?"
"I didn't say that."
"Maybe I wasn't exactly polite. But the tone of his voice, and the way he looked at me -- he's got something against me. And it's not my imagination. I'm not that crazy." He shot another glare at her.
"I know you're not crazy." She paused for a moment before going on. "It sounds like he's an authoritarian jerk. Just like a lot of people who have a little power and want to make sure everybody knows it. He probably just doesn't like your... attitude."
He stopped and faced her at his office door, his body still rigid with anger. "What's wrong with my attitude?"
"Well... sometimes you could be a little more -- diplomatic." When he started to respond angrily she went on quickly, "I know, you don't think he deserves it, and maybe he doesn't. But sometimes you just have to put up with that kind of thing."
"Jesus. This is one of the reasons I stayed in the Guardians, why I didn't want to be a businessman. Thought if I was good at my job I wouldn't have to suck up to anyone."
She frowned. "There is no job where you don't have to suck up to someone."
"Maybe. I don't have to like it."
"You should stop feeling sorry for yourself and be glad Mr. Collins is such a good boss."
He gave her a quick, hard look, tinged with both resentment and pain, and turned away. "Yeah."
There was guilt in her face as she said, "I'm sorry. Shouldn't have said that. Is there anything I can do?"
"No." He looked down at her for a moment longer, coldly, but feeling a stab of regret. Then he said only, "See ya," and stepped into his office, closing his door firmly behind him.
"Yes?"
Wes had had lunch with Jen and Eric hours ago, a quiet and depressing meal. Jen had been almost silent, undoubtedly still grieving the deaths of her teammates. Eric hadn't been much better, his mind obviously on something else. Wes had sunk almost completely into depression, kept going only by the obligation he had felt to cheer up the others. Unfortunately they had responded only with blank stares.
Now he answered the knock on his door, half-hoping for news, a clue, a rumor, anything to relieve the strain of waiting for something to happen, and imagining what his father might be going through. It had been a long day, filled with phone calls, leads that went nowhere, waiting, and worry. He was disappointed to see William Kane in his doorway.
"Hello, Wes. May I call you Wes?"
"Sure. Why not?" Wes smiled, reluctantly. For a moment he could see why Eric had taken an instant dislike to this man. But then he changed his mind as Kane smiled warmly.
Kane came in and took a chair in front of Wes's desk. "I think we need to talk. While I understand your main concern right now is finding your father, we also need to realize that the company business goes on. Decisions have to be made."
"I know. But it's only been two days. We don't need to do anything right away."
"This situation may go on for quite a while. I'd like to offer again to help in any way I can. Take the load off you."
"We'll find my father soon," Wes said with a twinge of annoyance.
"It's only good business to plan for any possibility."
"Including the possibility we won't find him?" Wes looked up, seeing Kane watching him intently. "I'm worried about my father. I really don't want to think about that now."
Kane smiled again, his face warm and sympathetic. "Of course you don't. As a Guardian, and a Ranger, you're busy with trying to find him. I'm sure you don't want to be worrying about the day-to-day running of the company, too."
"Right now, I'm not busy with anything. We've got no leads, nothing we can do."
"I'm sorry to hear that. I thought you'd be glad of the chance to have me help. As you said, you're worried about your father. You don't need additional stress. And from what I hear, you never cared much for corporate business."
"Well... that doesn't mean I'm not ready to make decisions."
Kane's voice was understanding. "Right now we have a situation. The proposed merger with Geneco. It would take you a lot of time and effort to understand all of the details. Since you've never had much interest in the business side -- I'm sure you don't want to be bothered with it now."
Wes stared at him. Unfortunately Kane was right; he knew about the merger plans but hadn't even listened to the discussions his father had made him sit in on. He would have to do some studying if he was going to make any kind of intelligent decision. "I can do it if I have to," he replied.
"I didn't mean it as a criticism. But I hope if you decide you don't have the time or attention to devote to it, you'll let me help."
"Well -- thanks. I'll let you know." Wes stood up. "If you'll excuse me, it's getting late, and I have an appointment. I was just about to leave."
"Certainly. I have other things to do too." With a last sympathetic look, Kane got up and walked to the door. He turned back for a moment. "Remember -- we both want what's best for this company."
It was the end of the day, and Eric was also preparing to leave his office and return to the small room he was using in the Silver Guardians' barracks. He shuffled the last piece of paper and resolved to get to bed as soon as possible, hoping he was tired enough to sleep through the night. The day had been long and disappointing, and he felt only discouragement and depression.
As soon as he stood up and started for the door, he knew he had another trial to get through. William Kane was standing in his doorway, staring at him, face cold and eyes holding a spark of what Eric could only interpret as disdain, or dislike, or something stronger.
"What do you want?" Belatedly he added, "Sir."
"I thought we should have a little private talk, Eric. You don't mind if I call you Eric, do you?"
"Actually, I do mind, sir." Eric indulged in a quick fantasy of driving a fist into that smug face.
"Too bad." Kane stepped a little closer. "But it doesn't matter whether you mind, does it, Eric?"
Eric glared at him. "I suppose it doesn't, sir. Is that what you wanted to tell me?"
"I think we've gotten off on the wrong foot. Wanted to clear things up between us. Make sure we understand each other." He smiled, an expression that only made Eric more uncomfortable.
"Go on. Sir."
Kane moved closer still, as Eric resisted the impulse to step back, and spoke in a low and intense voice. "I give the orders here. You take them. Without question, in the future. I'm a senior executive. You're nothing but a rent-a-cop." His eyes fell to Eric's left wrist. "Without that morpher, you'd be nothing at all."
Eric returned his gaze steadily, not answering.
"Do you understand?" Kane asked, very softly.
"Perfectly."
Kane stepped back, smiling again. "You forgot the 'sir'. But I'll let it go, this time." He turned and walked out.
Eric watched him go, feeling as if he had just been through another major battle. And the fight wasn't over, as he struggled to control his own fury, and the uneasy current of fear beneath it.
"That looks nice," Wes said.
Jen looked over at his face and smiled. He was so obviously impatient for her to make up her mind, so they could get out of the department store where he had brought her shopping after dinner. To tell the truth, she was tired and wanted to get back to Bio-Lab too, but she also wanted to get something decent to wear.
"It is nice. Let's get this." Wes smiled as she spoke, with a definite look of relief. "Sorry, but we're not done yet. I still have to get underwear and shoes." She smiled at his disappointed expression.
"Okay," he sighed. "Let's go."
"Thanks for doing this."
"No problem." He grinned suddenly. "You can't run around naked. Although I wouldn't mind."
"I bet you wouldn't."
Half an hour later they were on their way, shopping completed, driving through downtown. Jen sat quietly, looking out at the streets, until she saw a familiar sight.
"Wes, wait! Stop for a minute."
"What is it?" He looked around in alarm as he pulled over.
"Sorry. It's just... I'd like to take a look at it."
She opened the door and climbed out to stand on the sidewalk. Wes walked around the car to join her. It was night, and a light drizzle was falling. Jen shivered slightly and moved closer to him, as Wes put an arm around her. Together they looked across the street, at the ruins of the old clock tower which had been their home for almost a year. The site had been cleaned up, but the foundations of the building remained.
"Dad's having it rebuilt," he said softly. When Jen glanced up at him, his face was sorrowful. She was sure he was thinking of his father, wondering if he should have used the past tense.
"Wes..."
"I'm okay." He smiled at her. "Feels strange to see the old place again, doesn't it? I haven't been by here for months."
"We had a lot of good times there." She let herself sift through the memories. The day Wes had brought them here for the first time, the disappointment they had all felt, walking into that dusty, dirty room. The sense of accomplishment when they had succeeded in cleaning it up, finding furniture, making it a home. The day Wes had moved in, after a final argument with his father. The meals they had shared, the work they had done together, the times they had had fun. Lucas, Trip, Katie...
Tears had filled her eyes again. Impatiently she brushed them away. She was tired of crying. They would fix everything. They would get Mr. Collins back, defeat Conwing and Klezmi, bring back a reality in which Alex, Lucas, Trip, and Katie were alive. They had to. Uneasily she remembered the dream, the one that ended with flame, pain, and darkness, then pushed the thought away.