Norman, Silver, Purple, Gaby, and any others you don't recognize are mine.
Rated PG-13 : Harsh language; violence; strong sexual references.
Reviews are appreciated, please take a moment to leave one.
A/N: This story and 'Connections' take place at the same time, and I am posting them at the same time. They are separate but related stories, and can be read together or separately.
This takes place in my mild AU of Time Force. In my stories, Wes and Jen said they loved each other before the scene on the beach, and Jen did not break up with Alex until after she returned to the future.
This is a sequel to 'The Time Tunnel', and takes place after the events of 'Time Over' and 'Sins of the Fathers'. You don't have to have read those, but it might help.
"That's the one I like."
"Doesn't look like an engagement ring somehow."
"Wes, they don't all look alike." Jen Scotts laughed at him as he made a face. She turned back to admire the ring through the glass of the jewelry store case. It was perfect. Not too big, not too small. Not too fancy, but beautiful.
"It's kind of plain, and small, isn't it?" Wes Collins asked.
"No. I don't want a big, flashy ring. This is exactly what I had in mind."
"I can afford something bigger."
"I know. That's not the point. I like this ring." A minute later the salesman had been summoned and was watching her try it on. She held out her hand, letting the light sparkle from the facets. "There's something about a diamond," she said. "I love them. People say they're cold, but I think they're... full of life."
"How come it doesn't look like those others?"
"This is an emerald cut," the salesman supplied. "The brilliant cut is the most popular. But many people prefer the emerald. It's very elegant."
"That's right, Wes. Don't you want me to be elegant?" Jen smiled again as he grinned at her.
"Is this really the one you want?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
"It is pretty. And elegant."
In another twenty minutes they were standing on the sidewalk in front of the store, the newly resized ring in Wes's hand. He took Jen's hand and slid it on her finger. "Not the most romantic place, I guess. But…"
"But I can't wait. It's beautiful. Thank you, Wes."
"Anything for my Jen."
He smiled and pulled her close, gently kissing her, then hugging her tight as she leaned against him, hardly noticing the people who glanced at them, some disapproving, some smiling. For a moment she simply lost herself in the warm solidity of his body and the strength of his arms.
They started for his car, his arm circling her shoulders. Jen sighed with pure contentment. They might not be able to agree on a date, or on where to live, or on a dozen other things, but at least she had the ring now. She was surprised at how much it meant to her. Suddenly, their engagement seemed more real, it seemed like they were really going to be married soon. She smiled.
"I'm starting to think you like that ring more than me."
Jen looked up at Wes's smiling face and laughed. "I can't stop looking at it."
"Well, better look at your menu. We both have to get back to work."
"Okay." She barely had enough time to decide before the waiter was standing over them. She ordered a tuna salad; he got a hamburger with fries. She gave Wes a disapproving glance but waited until they were alone again.
"You really should eat healthier, Wes. All that fat. No vegetables."
"Potatoes are vegetables."
"There's more grease in fries than potato. In my time we don't eat like this."
"What do you eat, squidburgers with a side of seaweed?" He shuddered.
"Well, seaweed is popular..." She laughed at his expression.
"Besides, I thought this is your time now."
"I know. It is." She watched him butter a piece of bread. This was her time now, and it was largely because of Wes. Maybe all because of him. She had come to 2001 on a mission, and stayed long enough for them to fall in love, then over a year later she had again left her own time of 2202 to be with him, to save him when he was in danger.
"Have I said lately how happy I am that you were able to stay?" Wes reached across the table to clasp her hand.
"Not lately. But it's okay." She made a face at him.
He grinned. "Would you really have gone back if Time Force hadn't let you stay?"
She answered seriously. "If all those shifts in history hadn't absorbed me into this time? If I would have endangered the timeline by staying? I would have had to go back. Just like I had to the first time."
He leaned closer, his thumb caressing the back of her hand. "You wouldn't have stayed anyway? For me?"
"I had no choice, Wes." There might have been a trace of disappointment in his face. Suddenly uncomfortable, Jen frowned. "To tell the truth, I was tempted, most of all the first time, back in 2001. Very tempted. To break all the rules, just go after what I wanted, no matter what the consequences... But that's exactly the kind of thing I'm sworn to prevent, as a Time Force officer. It would have made me no better than Ransik or any other criminal like him."
The memory came back, the torment she had gone through, the night before she and her teammates had left. How impossible it had seemed to leave Wes, how she had dreaded having to face Alex, and tell him she was breaking their engagement. She had come close, very close, to deciding the other way. Closer than she wanted to admit, even to herself.
"Ever wonder what would have happened if you had gone the other way? If you had stayed then?"
She shrugged. "I can imagine. We would have had to run away. Time Force would have tracked us down eventually, and I'd be locked up in a temporal prison with Ransik right now."
"That doesn't sound very tempting."
"Even if I could have gotten away with it, I would never have risked damaging the timeline."
"Yeah, you were always the responsible one."
"So are you. You're very responsible."
"Well..." He chuckled. "You wouldn't have said that when we first met. You thought I was just a spoiled brat who didn't care about anything but having a good time."
"I never thought that."
"I believe your exact words were, 'You've never had to fight for anything in your life.'"
"Um." Embarrassed, she smiled ruefully. "I changed my mind pretty quickly." Jen studied his face. It struck her again how much he had changed from the spoiled, lazy, rich young man she had met about two and a half years ago. He had done a lot of growing up, had taken on a lot of responsibility. He had always been good-natured and generous, always been protective of others, but now he had a strength and maturity that had been lacking before.
"What?" He was watching her, a smile playing around his mouth.
"Just thinking. Sometimes you don't seem like the same Wes Collins I met when I came to this time. You've gotten a lot more serious."
"Thanks. But I hope that doesn't translate to 'boring'."
"Not at all. You've become a better person."
"It had a lot to do with you." He held her eyes for a long, warming moment.
"Do you really think so?" She smiled, unexpectedly touched and gratified.
"I know it." He paused, looking thoughtful. "I hate to think of what I'd be like now, if you hadn't accepted me as a Ranger. If I hadn't spent that year with you, and Trip, Lucas, and Katie. Learning how to fight, how to work hard for a good cause, how to be part of a team."
"Oh, come on. You weren't that bad before."
"Just irresponsible. No drive, no ambition. Dad used to say that, when he got mad at me. Which was pretty often." Wes frowned. "It's taken him a long time to think I've grown up. But he's started to trust me with more of the company business."
"Not to mention command of the Silver Guardians."
"Yeah, well, he's got Eric to keep an eye on me. Make sure I don't screw up."
"Wes..."
"Kidding." He let go of her hand and they both leaned back as the waiter set their food down. Wes looked his burger and fries over and gave her an expression of exaggerated guilt, provoking a giggle.
"Just wait till we're married," she murmured. "No more burgers. Just tofu and raw veggies."
"Oh, God." He rolled his eyes.
They ate in silence for a few minutes. Jen found her mind returning to other concerns, the problem that had occupied much of their time lately. Norman Ryder. She frowned at the thought.
"Anything wrong?" Wes asked.
"That robbery the other night. Are you really sure it was Norman?"
"Yeah." His face reflected her own feelings. "The night watchman at our warehouse saw a man with silvery hair and strange-looking skin. Just a glimpse, before he was knocked out, but who else could it be?"
"I was starting to hope he wouldn't show up again. Does Eric know?"
"Of course. And Gaby."
Until two days ago there had been no sign of Norman since he had disappeared in the fire that had destroyed the factory where he had built his own version of the cyclobots. They had spent a lot of time searching, done a lot of worrying and waiting. And now the wait might be over.
"Again."
Eric Myers frowned at his sparring partner, noting the beads of sweat on her face, the flush of heat in her cheeks, and her grimly determined expression. "We've been at this for two hours. You're tired."
"No. I want to keep going." Gabriella Butler moved into a defensive position again, her hands coming up, the way he had taught her. "You're not tired, are you?"
"Look, you can't become a martial arts expert overnight. Give it time."
"I may not have time."
He straightened, sighed, and moved back a step. "Face it; you're not going to be able to defend yourself against Norman anyway. He's a mutant now, stronger than a normal man. I don't know if I could beat him, without the Ranger suit."
"And I'm just a woman. So I wouldn't stand a chance." There was anger in her voice.
"You're a woman who's been taking a few martial arts lessons off and on for a few months. Damn right, you wouldn't stand a chance."
"Just one more throw."
"Gaby..."
She moved forward, springing at him almost quickly enough to catch him off guard. A kick jabbed at his hip; when he slid aside, a hand thrust at his face. He caught her arm, pulled, tripped her over his leg and held on, easing her fall to the practice mat in the Silver Guardians' workout room they were using. Dropping on top of her, he pinned her wrists and smiled down at her frustrated, angry face.
"Don't laugh at me!" she cried, struggling in vain.
"I'm not laughing." Realizing the smile was a mistake, he blanked his face. "This isn't the answer, Gaby. You can't fight him yourself."
"So I have to depend on a big, strong man to protect me?" The bitterness in her voice shook him. So did the way her face crumpled, tears squeezing out as her eyes closed.
"Gaby, don't... I'm sorry." He let go of her wrists and did the only thing he could think of, kissed her gently, then raised his head to watch her, bringing a hand up to wipe away her tears with his thumb.
"Not your fault," she choked. "I just hate this. Hate being scared all the time. Feeling helpless. Hate having to depend on someone else. Even when it's you." Her face was calmer as she looked up into his eyes. "I've always been proud of taking care of myself. Ever since I got out of college. Haven't needed anyone. And now..."
"Now a silver and purple mutant nutcase wants to make you his bride of Frankenstein..."
She smiled, even laughed for a breath. He grinned in relief. "Anyway," she said after a moment, "maybe he's lost interest in me. Supercriminals tend to be fickle."
"Let's hope so." But Eric's smile faded. Even if he no longer desired Gaby, Norman would probably be out for revenge. Against both of them.
Wes negotiated the downtown lunchtime traffic and soon was pulling over in front of the main Silver Hills Police Department stationhouse, where Jen worked as a detective. He turned off the ignition and turned in the seat, leaning over to her. She met him halfway, and they exchanged a kiss that grew passionate, Wes reaching to stroke her hair and cheek.
"Can't you play hooky? Just for once?" he asked. "We could go back to the house. Celebrate."
"Being irresponsible again, huh? I wish…" She moved closer and kissed his ear, slipping her fingers inside his Silver Guardian jacket, between the buttons. He kissed her again, their tongues lightly touching, a hand gliding over her arm and down to her waist. She shivered and smiled. "But you know I have to get back to work. I haven't been in the PD long enough to get away with just taking off."
"And I have to get back, too. Board meeting, paperwork to catch up on, and a couple of cases to check out."
"Still trying to take the load off Eric?"
His face became serious. "Yeah. He's got a lot on his mind, with Gaby and everything."
"And you don't?" She leaned over to kiss him quickly again, and then smiled. "Try to stay awake in that board meeting."
"Thanks. I think. See you soon." He grinned, arms still around her, his tongue darting out to lick the tip of her nose. She shivered at the startlingly erotic sensation, and grinned back. He let go, reached for her hand, squeezing it briefly, then started his car again as she slid out and closed the door.
Jen ran across the street, then turned to watch him pull out and drive off. Her mind was already returning to Norman, what he was after, what he was likely to do next, how they could stop him. But she found another moment to smile at the way her ring flashed in the sun.
It was silent, and dark, cold and gloomy. But he hardly noticed anymore. Norman looked upon his creations, and found them good. He smiled. They were beautiful. Strong. And smart. Worthy of him, worthy of serving him. He watched them, as they worked, moving around the large room, cut out of rock and earth, deep under the surface, safe from prying Rangers.
They would be more help than the cyclobots had been. With them, he would defeat the red and pink Rangers, and most of all the Quantum Ranger, and recapture the woman he wanted. This time, he'd make her see that they were meant to be together. Gaby would forget all about Eric. She'd fall in love with him. Sooner or later. She'd have no choice.
And there would be more. Revenge against Bio-Lab, the company that had ignored his abilities. Power. Respect. The whole city would fear him. He could have anything he wanted, and no one could stop him. Not this time. He had his new helpers. His soldiers. And another weapon, too. Something even more dangerous. A weapon they wouldn't be expecting, and had no defense against. A weapon that did not damage the body, but did something even more destructive. The time was coming. Soon.
TBC...
