Jason had been on an emotional roller coaster since touching down at the Command Center yesterday. He was excited about the new mission, scared of what he'd seen of the Draconic threat, elated to see his old friends, hurt by Billy's detachment, and what he was feeling toward the man who standing in front of him now bothered him a great deal. Jason had never thought of himself as the jealous type- especially not when it came to his friends- but for some reason, he found himself feeling very cold toward Commander Storm.

Maybe it was because Billy had opted to turn him over to the Commander for the tests that needed to be run while he worked with Tommy and Kat. It was a logical thing to do. After all, Billy was just one man, and according to everything he'd heard, Billy and the Commander were both working the project. Jason really couldn't complain about the level of care he was receiving- the winged caduceus spoke volumes about the man's competence. One does not become a Naval flight surgeon that easily. Still, he wondered if Billy was avoiding him. Not that he could blame the man, but it still hurt.

The tests themselves had been rather routine- heart rate; respiration; looking into the eyes and ears; a muscle density exam; and of course a blood and urine sample. Nothing he hadn't given to the Navy ten times or more since he joined the service right after giving up the Gold Powers. "You're in excellent health, Commander," Storm was saying.

"Thank you," Jason was unsure of what else to say to him. He got the distinct impression that the man was sizing him up for something, but was unsure as to what- competition maybe? Finally, he decided to simply ask, "How long have you known, Billy, uh…. Major Cranston?" The idea that Billy too was serving in the armed services had surprised Jason. Of all the former Power Rangers, Billy was the last any of them he would expect to enter the military. Shrugging, he thought to himself, Oh, well, at least he's not a Marine. I don't think I handle him being a jarhead, it just doesn't fit.

Jason watched as the man carefully put the datapad he was carrying into its network bay. Was there a slight tightening of the shoulders he detected there? There was a hardness to his voice when the Commander answered, "We met about three years ago, at an inter-service medical conference."

Jason shook his head, "I'm still trying to get over the fact that Billy's a Major in the Army."

The Commander spun around quickly and Jason saw something flash in his eyes- was it anger?- but the other man brought his face under quick control before asking, "Why is that? From everything I've heard Major Cranston is a highly competent officer who is well liked by his peers."

Momentarily taken aback by the fierce protectiveness he saw in the other man's face, Jason felt just a little ashamed of himself. Ashamed for making this man think that he didn't think Billy was good enough to make it in the military, and ashamed for the pang of jealousy that suddenly shot through his mind. There was a time when it was me, that was protective of Billy, not the one he was being protected from. Getting his own emotions under control he shrugged, and said, "I'm sure he is. Anything Billy set out to do, he always gave a hundred and ten percent to. We just all had assumed that he would be teaching at MIT or something by this time."

The other man smiled as he pulled the datapad out of the bay and began writing on it again. "Ah, I see. I for one am glad he chose to serve here than at some university. Here, his talents can be practically applied. On the university level his intelligence would probably be wasted in political infighting, and the best technology would be classified out of his reach."

Jason considered what the other man was saying. He was probably right. Universities were notoriously under funded, and Billy wasn't the type to be able to play the political games it would take to get his theories to the forefront of the scientific community. Working inside the Department of Defense gave him an inside track that most scientists wouldn't have. "So, his rank is honorary?" Jason asked carefully.

The man's deep green eyes narrowed, and fixed Jason in his gaze. "What ever gave you that idea? Major Cranston graduated with his Doctorate as well as a commission as a 1st Lieutenant within two years. Sixth months later he managed to finish Ranger school and has been slowly working his way up the ranks since then." Shaking his head, Commander Storm said, "The only reason he hasn't been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel is that he's not old enough." He gave the newly completed fourth stripe on Jason's lapel hanging over the chair a long look- his meaning left clear enough to Jason.

"So you guys have been friends for a while then?" Jason asked carefully.

The man shrugged, "About three years."

"Good friends?" Jason probed.

"Well, he and Mic are a lot better friends, but we're pretty close. Actually when those two get together, they're scary."

"Who's Mick?" Jason asked.

The mans smiled, "Relax Commander, Mic. It's short for McKenzie Elizabeth. She's a cute but annoying little red-head that happens to be my sister, and part of the financial backing for this operation."

"What do you mean relax?" Jason asked guiltily.

"Your heart rate just jumped through the roof." He raised an eyebrow at Jason, "And if you get any more tense, I'm going to have to give you muscle relaxant before your first treatment."

"That's okay. I don't think I want anything to make me too relaxed." Jason said.

"Good, because the muscle relaxant I had in mind is a suppository form." He grinned wickedly at Jason who was unsure whether he was joking or not. Storm reached out and put a hand on his shoulder, "Now get dressed, and head down the hall. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver are waiting."

"Thanks Doc," Jason said as he pulled his shirt back on, unsure of his feelings toward his fellow Naval officer. Shaking his head, he said, "There was a time when Billy and I were very close. We've just drifted apart since then I guess."

Commander Storm smiled, "Back during your Ranger days, huh?"

Jason shot him look that he knew would belie anything he might say to the contrary. Finally, he said, "You know about that huh?"

The Commander sighed, "I told you, Bill and I are good friends. He and Mic are too."

Jason left the room wondering what would have prompted Billy to reveal their secret to a stranger. Surely it would take a friendship closer than what the Doctor was letting on. Again Jason felt a green-eyed monster raise its ugly head in the back of his mind.



Kat watched as Jason entered to "treatment" bay, with a look of worry on his face. Without a word, Tommy walked over and put a hand on his shoulder and asked, "What's wrong Bro? You look like you've just been kicked in the stomach."

Jason grinned weakly up at Tommy and replied, "Just been talking to Commander Storm." Kat watched as he looked around to see if any one else was within hearing distance. Billy and Trini were across the room, their heads together going over some settings on a datapad. "Just how much do you trust Commander Storm, I mean, how much do you know about him."

Tommy sighed and over at his bud, "I know he's a friend of Billy's and that Billy trusts him. That's good enough for me."

"How good of friends?" Jason asked. "I mean they have to be pretty tight if Billy told him about us being Rangers."

"And your point is?" Tommy asked. "Did you expect him not to make friends once we all moved away? Did you make new friends in the Navy?"

"Of course not." Jason fought to find the words he was looking for. "I mean, I've made some pretty good friends, but nobody I would trust with the knowledge that I was a Power Ranger, much less everyone else's identity."

"Did you stop to think that he might have had to tell someone to get us here, so that we can do the job we need to do? Or even, I mean stop and think about it- Dr. Storm's a pretty bright guy. All he would have to look at the diagnostic scans to figure out what kind of radiation we've been exposed to. We're all from Angel Grove- home of the first Power Rangers- we're all about the right age- and we can all interface with equipment based on the 'Zord technology. Just put two and two together, and you get the right ten."

"Tommy, the frightening thing about that is that I understood you." Jason kidded.

"What are Bros' for?" Tommy smiled at him. Then gave him a serious look, "Now what's really eating you Jase?"

Jason shook his head, "I don't know. For some reason, some part of my brain keeps telling me that I shouldn't trust Commander Storm."

At this point Kat had had enough. She walked over and put an arm through her husband's best friend's arm. "Yeah that would be the jealous part."

Both men turned and looked at her incredulously. "What do you mean?" Jase asked.

"Jase, it really wasn't that much of a secret." Kat told him. "Billy was just a little too broken up when he came back from Aquitar and found out you'd joined the Navy."

"He stayed on Aquitar for three years," Jase protested. "What did he expect for me to do: wait around?"

"No, he was gone for just a little over two months. He got back, you'd given up the Gold and joined the Navy. He packed up all his stuff and disappeared without saying a word to anybody but Kim and Adam for three years. None of us saw him again until you came back after graduating from OCS. Then you both disappeared again, and we haven't been able to get you two in the same place at the same time since."

Jason blushed deeply as he was obviously remembering the night before he had "disappeared." He'd told Kat that he hadn't meant to leave like he did, but he'd gotten the call in the middle of the night, and had no choice but to leave immediately, without telling anyone where he was going. When he'd finally gotten back to Angel Grove, Billy was gone again. Tommy put a hand on his shoulder, "Look Bro, I don't know what went down between you and Billy, but maybe you two need to sit down and have a long talk. 'Cause I think both of you two are working from lots of misconceptions."

Jason looked over toward the other end of the room, and Kat followed his eyes. Billy and Trini were both on their way toward them, with very serious looks on their faces. Finally looking back to her and Tommy, Jase said, "I'll think about it."