Gaby, Gunn, Kane, Klezmi, and Silva are mine.
Rated PG-13 : sexuality; harsh language, strong violence.
Running... fear on the faces she passed. They had to get there in time. Had to stop it...
Jen wandered slowly through the park, hardly noticing her surroundings. She had come back to this place that had once been so familiar, first to the ruined clock tower, where she had stood and stared for a while, she didn't even remember how long. Then she had started walking, automatically following the path she had taken so many times during her stay in 2001, up the slope, and into Hillside Park. This had been her favorite place for a morning workout, and for quiet thinking.
"Hurry! Stop them before it's too late!"
Sinking onto a bench, she looked out over the lawns and small plots of flowers, just starting to grow in the early spring. Through the trees she could see the buildings of the city. Silver Hills. Two hundred years from now it would be Silver City, her home. She could almost see the towers, soaring so gracefully, almost feel the heartbeat of the city, so strong and vigorous.
"Ready? Here we go!"
A group of joggers passed her. Voices shouting, the sound of running footsteps... She seemed to catch the faint smell of smoke. The dream came back, drifting into her mind like fog. But it was real now. The memories were coming, suddenly flooding into her consciousness, the way it had happened, the way the original, true reality had ended... She remembered...
There had been indications, small disturbances in the timestream. At first they thought it was the aftermath of their recent mission, effects of the timeline recovering after they had prevented Eric Myers' death and all its consequences. But it didn't quite fit. There were too many small, conflicting disruptions. Too many ripples in the timestream that seemed to vanish like smoke when they were analyzed.
Jen watched Captain Logan's face as he read their latest report. Alex sat next to her. She glanced at him, still feeling a little uncomfortable. Their relationship had been strained since she had broken up with him for the second time, had told him she could no longer think of him as more than a friend, that she was still in love with Wes. He had taken it well enough, after his initial anger, but there was still a distance between them.
"Strange. What do you make of this?" Her attention returned to Logan. He was looking up at them.
Alex shrugged. "I don't know, at this point. Something's going on. It needs more investigation."
"Theories?"
Jen hesitated before speaking up. "I've never seen anything like this before. We can measure the disruptions -- but then the computer analysis shows nothing, or contradictory results. I'm starting to think something's wrong in our computer systems."
Logan looked both alarmed and thoughtful. "The computer systems are self-correcting. It should be impossible for them to go wrong, at least without the diagnostics notifying the operators."
"Theoretically, yes. But..."
Unexpectedly, Alex backed her up. "Jen could be right. I think it's worth looking into."
"All right. Talk to the computer operations team. Ask them to check it out."
The computer center consisted of fifteen people in fifteen small offices, controlling all of Time Force's systems. Jen knew there was a surprisingly small room tucked away in the back containing the central computer. There was rarely any occasion for anyone to go there physically.
Lucas had come with her on this errand. They sat in the office of the head of computer operations, a small redheaded woman who obviously considered their questions a waste of time, if not insulting.
"What makes you think it's the computers that are the problem? Maybe it's your scientists, or your instruments."
"Maybe," Lucas said patiently. "But maybe not. We have to check everything."
"We don't have time for pointless diagnostics. We can barely keep up with our work as it is."
"Make time," Jen said, her own impatience in her voice.
She stared at them, then touched the communicator on her desk. A male voice answered. "We have visitors," she told the person on the other end. "Please come to my office right away." Turning to Jen and Lucas, she continued, "That was the technician who works on the temporal analysis systems. He'll tell you nothing's wrong."
It was only moments later when there was a tap on the door. A man walked in, tall, well built, and handsome, with short black hair. Jen thought for a moment there was something arrogant, and perhaps hostile, in his expression, until he smiled.
"Lucas, Jen, this is Klezmi. He's in charge of the systems you're questioning. Klezmi, please show them we do our jobs properly here."
"You can see it all checks out." Klezmi turned back to them from his screen with a smile. He had made a show of running exhaustive diagnostics on the temporal analysis systems he was responsible for.
Everything looked normal, but something about it bothered Jen. She exchanged a glance with Lucas, seeing that he was also not entirely satisfied. Unfortunately, there didn't seem to be anything else they could do.
"All right. Thanks, you've been very helpful." With a nod at Lucas, she got up.
"I'm always glad to help Time Force officers in any way I can." Klezmi gave them another warm smile. For a moment she wondered how she could have doubted him. With a mental shake, she refocused her mind on the problem at hand.
On their way out, they saw a familiar uniform. Another Time Force officer was approaching, a small, slender woman with silvery hair. Jen vaguely recognized her. They nodded at each other as they passed. Glancing back, Jen saw her knock on Klezmi's office door.
"Who was that?" she asked as soon as they were out of earshot.
"Silva. She's only been in the Force for a few months."
"How do you know her?"
"I always remember a pretty face."
"I'll have to tell Nadira you said that."
Lucas grinned. "She knows she's prettier than any of them. At least to me."
Jen smiled, and then frowned. "Did you think there was something… strange about Klezmi?"
"Nothing I can put my finger on. But yes."
"Me, too. I think I'll ask Trip to check out those computer systems. If anything's wrong, he'll find it."
"You were right, Jen. These systems have been tampered with." They were all in Trip's office, Jen, Lucas, Katie, and Alex. He had called them in, his voice holding an unmistakable note of fright, saying he had found something. Something big.
"The programs have been altered, so they won't show the effects of timestream disruption. All the alerts have been disabled. The correct information is still being produced, but it's only being sent to one user."
"Don't tell me. Klezmi," Jen said grimly.
"Right. He's the only one who knew the real situation. Until now."
"And what is the real situation?" Alex's voice was harsh, and Jen could hear the apprehension in it.
Trip turned back to his screen. "Events have been put in motion which will make a major alteration of history. The target is 2003 again, and Bio-Lab." He glanced at Jen. "I've found indications of another attack by mutants. There's one description. It sounds like Conwing."
"Conwing and Steelix escaped from custody a few weeks ago. With help from the outside," Alex said, also with a glance at Jen.
"From the evidence here…" Trip took a deep breath. "In the new timeline, Wes, Eric, and Mr. Collins were all murdered. Bio-Lab merged with another company, which took over management. Years later, the Silver Guardians became Time Force, just like in our reality, but they're different… Our instruments can pick up some of it, and I can sense more... I see mutants forced to live in camps, and signs of war, and discrimination, and Time Force taking over the government. And I see Klezmi, he's in control. That's why he's done this, somehow he knows how to put himself in power in the new timeline."
"But the effects of changes in history are unpredictable -- just look what happened when Ransik tried it. How can Klezmi know how reality will change?"
Trip shrugged, his eyes wide. "I don't know."
"How long do we have?" Alex's voice was surprisingly calm.
"A few hours, maybe. It's almost too late."
"Can you restore the correct programming?"
"I already have. Just have to activate it."
"Do it. We have to see Captain Logan, and take off for 2003 immediately."
With the computer programming restored, the alarm was already starting to spread. As they ran through the corridors, other people began to spill out of offices and laboratories, some also running, some standing, their frightened faces staring. Logan ran out of his office as they came in sight. He saw them and started for them.
"You know the situation?"
"Yes. We're ready to go."
"Your ship's being prepared. Hurry! Stop them before it's too late!"
"Let's go!"
They ran, faster now, more people in the hallways, running and shouting, panic all around them. Jen was breathing hard, her legs getting heavy, as they pounded out of the main building, across a small park, and into the timeship hangar.
They paused only for a moment, then headed for their usual ship. Technicians were finishing the preparations, looking up at them, hastily disconnecting their equipment and running away to a safe distance. Jen caught a flash of silver hair and had the momentary feeling that it might be important, but there was no time to think.
They dashed into the ship, throwing themselves into their seats, strapping in. Lucas was in the pilot's seat, Alex next to him, Trip and Katie behind them. Jen took the weapons control seat, at the back, separated from the others. She felt the engines come to life, even as Lucas glanced back to make sure everyone was safely in place.
"Ready? Here we go!" he shouted.
There was a roar, so loud it seemed to rip right through her. Flames shot around her, heat and impact crushing her, the smell of smoke, pain exploding as she screamed, drawing in air that burned her lungs, hearing other screams and screaming again…
"Jen! Are you there?"
Dazed, Jen raised her left arm and looked at her morpher. She was in Hillside Park, sitting on a bench, the early spring air cool and fresh around her. Slowly the memory of fire and pain receded.
"Wes?"
"Jen! You took so long to answer I was getting worried."
"I'm all right."
"Listen, I thought we could have dinner with Eric tonight. Is that okay?"
"That's fine."
"He wants to bring someone. Sort of a double date."
"Good."
A moment of hesitation. "Are you okay? You sound kind of strange."
"I'm fine, Wes. I'll start back now."
"Okay. See you soon."
She stood up, feeling a moment of disorientation. A thought came, uninvited and unwelcome. I'm not supposed to be here. Not supposed to be alive. The fear returned. With an effort, she drove it away. The dream had told her the truth about Klezmi and Silva, but the ending of it could mean anything, or nothing. She was alive. And she was determined to stay that way, and make sure the people she cared about did too. She started walking back to her parked vectorcycle.
"You two are very quiet tonight. I thought women love to talk." Wes grinned, expecting attack from both of them. To his disappointment, only Gaby scowled at him. Jen hardly seemed to notice.
"Pig," Gaby commented.
"Hey, you're speaking to a Ranger."
"Ranger pig."
That got a faint smile even from Jen. Wes watched her, concerned. She had been almost completely silent since she had gotten back from her day out. Now she sat quietly, her face blank, picking at her food.
Gaby wasn't too much better, she seemed to have lapsed into uncharacteristic shyness, smiling often but not saying much. Wes and Eric had made most of the conversation.
Eric spoke up now, with his usual bluntness. "Wes is right. What the hell is wrong with both of you?"
"Nothing's wrong with me," Gaby said. He stared at her, raising a brow. "Well," she went on, "I guess I just feel… a little intimidated."
"Why?"
"I'm having dinner with three Power Rangers. I'm just an ordinary person. It feels weird. I mean… you guys save the world all the time and stuff. I just run a few computers."
Wes started to laugh. Eric looked stern for a moment and then gave in and chuckled. To their surprise, it was Jen who answered.
"We're just ordinary people, too, who happen to have morphers. We're just the same as you. And your job is important, too."
"Yeah," Eric said. "Didn't I ask you to see if Conwing could have gotten the information he needed to ambush us from our computer systems? That's pretty important."
"Well -- I don't have an answer yet. And it may not be any help."
"It's a contribution. Besides," Wes put in, still with a grin on his face, "any woman who has the courage to date Eric Myers shouldn't be intimidated by anything."
Gaby had started to smile, too. "You're right about that," she said, looking at Eric.
"How did this get to be about me?" he grumbled.
Wes turned back to Jen, relieved to see she still had a tiny smile on her face. "Jen?" he asked. "Seriously, is something wrong?"
She looked up at him, warmth coming back into her eyes. "Besides the facts that I'm not in my right time, reality has been altered, and all of us are being threatened by killer mutants?"
"Well, yeah. Besides that."
She laughed and took his hand. "I'm fine, Wes. We're here, together. That's all that matters right now."
Wes raised her hand and kissed it, then slid a slightly embarrassed look at Eric and Gaby. They appeared to be engrossed with their dinners, but he saw them exchange a smile. Turning back to Jen, he lowered his voice. "Something must have happened. Did you have that dream again?"
Jen looked at him, and smiled again, her face softening. "Yes. Wes... I remembered it. A lot of it, anyway. The original reality. Why Time Force didn't stop this."
They were all staring at her now. She folded her hands on the table and looked down. "It all just came back. Still a little vague, in places. Klezmi was a computer technician at Time Force. Silva was there too, she was a Time Force officer."
When she was silent again Wes prompted her. "What did they do?"
"Klezmi altered the programming of our temporal detection systems to hide what was happening. What they were doing. They must have broken Conwing and Steelix out of prison and sent them back here. By the time we found out... it was too late." She dropped her eyes again, avoiding Wes's face.
"At least that explains it," Wes said. He studied Jen's face and decided to change the subject. He turned to Eric. "What are you guys doing after dinner? Want to see a movie or something?" he asked.
Eric and Gaby exchanged a look and another smile. "Do you want to..." Eric started, and was interrupted by his cell phone ringing. "Oh, crap," he muttered before pulling it out of his jacket pocket and answering.
After a second his voice rose, his face showing alarm. "What! Okay, Wes and Jen are with me. We'll be right there." He hung up and turned to them.
"That was Steve. Jen, your ship's being attacked. We've got to go."
"I was afraid of this." Jen spoke grimly, as the three of them surveyed the scene from a rise of land overlooking the spot where her ship had been. They had searched, in their Timeflyers, but the ship that had destroyed hers was gone. Her timeship had been thoroughly blown apart, bits and pieces scattered over the beach. "They used their own timeship to do this. Now we've lost the equipment in my ship."
"Sorry, sir. We couldn't stop them. All we could do was watch." Steve Miller had come up to them, his face grim.
"Not your fault. There was nothing you could do," Eric said, frowning.
"Nobody's fault," Wes said firmly. "I'm just glad no one was hurt."
"Now we have no scanner. And I have no ship. We've lost a valuable weapon, and I have no way to get home," Jen said.
"You've got a home here," Wes said gently, his arm encircling her.
"Only for awhile. We can't forget that." She leaned against him, her face still troubled. "They've won this round," she said softly.
"But they haven't won the war," Wes said. "Not while we're alive."
He landed just outside the building, moved the ship into concealment, and went inside. The long, darkened hallways seemed gloomier than usual, this place, this time, more foreign and unsettling than ever. Conwing walked to his room, then paced, too tense to sit. Even the prospect of visiting the captives and seeing their fear of him had lost its appeal.
Blowing up Jen's ship had been as much an expression of his own frustrated rage as a strategic move. It had felt good at the time, seeing a Time Force ship explode into burning fragments, and it had served some small purpose. But his anger had returned as soon as he flew away.
His confrontation with Eric Myers had been unsatisfying, to say the least. He had dreamed of that moment, had visualized it, seen himself holding Eric by the throat, watching his fear, hearing him beg, then crushing the life from him... But it hadn't happened that way. Eric was too proud, and his courage demanded respect.
Conwing sighed. He could have killed him, could have accomplished this part of his mission. Could have rid himself of the knowledge that the only human to beat him, the one who had shamed him by sparing his life, was still sharing the same universe. Somehow, when the time came and Eric lay helpless at his feet, he couldn't do it.
That led his thoughts to another troubling topic. Klezmi. Much as he hated Eric, he knew the Ranger was unlikely to have been lying. Klezmi had made this mission sound so logical, so reasonable, so inevitable. Now that they were here, away from him and his reassuring words, somehow things were different. He had begun to have his own doubts about whether Klezmi was truly dedicated to the mutant cause or only to his own.