Power Rangers Time Force and all related logos and characters are property of Saban and/or Disney. I am using them without permission, but promise to pay royalties when I make my first million. Camille Summers, Lt. James Emery, Leo Claw, Carmen Oliver, KJ Sheldon and the Sphere of Omara belong to me.
A/N: This is the final chapter in the Future Shock II series. After this, I'll be taking some much needed time off, but when I come back, I'll begin work on Parallels II. I hope you've enjoyed reading this as I've enjoyed writing.
Please take a minute to review, I live for reviews.
~~~
Camille pulled the metal panel off the side of the service crawlway, quietly peeking around the corner. Once she realized the entire deck was deserted, she climbed out of the crawlway, dusting herself off.
"It's clear, guys," she said. Next to climb out of the crawlway was Katie, followed by Trip. Finally, KJ climbed out, and Camille put the metal panel back against the way. "This way, guys," she whispered.
The three of them followed her down the hallway, then around the corner. Camille stopped at a door, entering an access code in the panel next to the wall.
… but nothing happened.
"Damn it. Main power is offline and I can't use my access code to get in," she said.
"Here, let me try my code," Katie said, walking over to the door, putting her hands into the small slots dividing the doors and pulling them open. "See, my code always works."
Camille and Trip headed in, and once KJ was inside, Katie followed them in, closing the doors behind them.
"Computer, bring all computer systems on line. Authorization Summers beta 64," Camille said.
'All systems on line,' the computer answered.
"We have to make this quick. Secondary power isn't enough to sustain all the systems for very long," Trip mentioned.
"Computer, DNA sampler on line," she said.
'DNA sampler is on line,' the computer announced.
"You have a DNA sampler?" Katie asked.
"I dabbled in a lot of genetic experiments during my first stint in Time Force, it was one of the reasons I was fired in the first place. One of the terms of my being re-hired was discontinuing a lot of my experiments," Camille explained. "Katie, I'll need a blood sample."
Without question, Katie rolled up her sleeve, allowing Camille to use a needle to take a sample of blood. When she was finished, Camille put a few drops of blood on a small glass sheet, and then placed it under a microscope.
"I do not understand. Why would you willingly give a sample of your blood to someone who has openly disregarded Time Force's regulations and experimented with DNA?" KJ asked her.
"Because Camille is my friend, I trust her."
"But why?"
"She's saved my life more times than I care to count. We're a team here, we're a family," she told her.
"There is no room for emotional attachments in Chryo Tech, there is only a…" she was cut short.
"I know, a chain of command. That chain of command isn't always enough. We follow orders not because we have to, but because we respect our commanding officers. Everyone I work with has earned my respect, and I would give my life for any of them."
"Hey, I did give my life," Trip brought up.
"I do not understand," KJ admitted.
"I can see why it might be hard for someone like you, you've been in a completely different type of command structure."
"But this method is incorrect."
"If it's so incorrect, why did you follow your orders so blindly? You knew what you were trying to do with the Harvengers were wrong, so why didn't you stop? Why did you take orders that you knew would have that kind of consequence?" Katie asked her.
"Orders aren't to be questioned, simply carried out. I was doing what was required of me," she said.
"Sometimes that isn't enough. I can't tell you how many times we've staged mutinies around here."
"Twice," Trip said.
"Thank you, Trip. The point is, our methods may not be by the book, but they work. I'm not saying everyone in Time Force thinks the way we do, but our methods have worked with our unit for years now," Katie explained.
"It will take time for me to understand fully."
"I'm sure it will."
"Guys, I think I have something here," Camille said, getting everyone's attention. The rest of them hurried over to her. "The rate of regeneration in Katie's blood is nothing short of incredible. The immune system alone is unlike anything I've ever seen before, and there are no traces of the Harvenger DNA in her blood at all," she said.
"How can we use that?"
"Even if we come up with an anti-toxin, how would we be able to get it to everyone at once?" Katie asked her.
"When main power goes offline, there are very few systems that remain untouched, but one of them is environmental controls. If we can make the anti-toxin in a gaseous form and filter it through the environmental controls, it would cure everyone within minutes," she said.
"But based on this readout, it would be deadly to anyone who hasn't been infected," Trip brought up.
"Deadly?" KJ inquired.
"It would melt the human brain," Camille said bluntly.
"Is there any way to find out how many humans are in the building and not affected, then teleport them to safety?" Katie asked.
"That would require every bit of power we have, and we need the power in reserves to filter the anti-toxin through the environmental controls," she said.
"Wait a sec." Trip hurried over to a second set of controls. "We could construct a chamber of some kind, something to shield us from the anti-toxins. It wouldn't take much to come up with a pod of some type to protect us, maybe a dozen of them," he said.
Camille nodded. "Yes, that would do it."
Katie looked at KJ, then back at Trip and Camille. "I think it would be a much better idea to make a chamber, but make it big enough to hold more than a dozen people, then try to lure the Harvengers inside," she said.
"Why? It would take longer to…" He was cut short.
"I think it's a good idea. Reroute the environmental controls to fill the chamber with the anti-toxin. Since we know the Harvengers want to get to the slipstream, we can set it up in the lab. Once we do, we'll have Lucas bring the main systems back online and drop the force fields around the building," she said.
"But why?"
"That way all the Harvengers in the city will come in, and all of them will go after the slipstream. Once they get in, we lure them into the chamber and give them the anti-toxin," Katie said.
"But we would cover much more…"
"No, Trip, she's right. That's a good idea," Camille paused, noticing the strange look on Katie's face. "Actually, it's a perfect idea. We can make the chamber, and it'll only take a few minutes to reroute the controls," she said.
"Alright, if you guys say so."
"Can we use the site to site teleportation systems in our morphers to get to the lab?" Katie asked.
"Yes, but even with secondary power, the Harvengers may be able to track you, and if they've already changed Time Force personnel, they may be waiting for us to try," he said.
"Its okay if they track us. In fact, we want them to know where we are. KJ, can you get back to Jen and the others? Do you remember the way we came?"
"Yes."
"Go let them know what we're doing. Tell them to have Lucas meet us in the science lab so he can bring all the systems back on line. Trip, you need to stay here and finish the anti-toxin, then filter it directly into the environmental controls. Katie and I are going to the lab to start work on the chamber," she explained.
"You are giving me an assignment?" KJ asked.
"Yes."
"But I work for Chryo Tech, how do you know you can trust me?" she inquired.
"I don't think you want the entire human race destroyed any more than the rest of us. Like it or not, we're in this together, and we have to work together to get out of it. Are you with us?" Camille replied.
KJ nodded. "Yes, but I hope I don't have to stare at your ass," she said eagerly.
*
Nadira and Admiral Logan stood in the counsel's chambers, staring down at an entire legion of Harvengers.
"Our time is nearly at hand, children. We will use the humans' technology to travel not only to different worlds, but different time periods. Soon, our race will be the superior race not only in this universe, but other universes as well. Our day is at hand!" Logan told them.
The group of Harvengers cheered in support of their leader as Nadira took a step forward. "As we speak, the rangers are devising a plan to stop us, but little do they know their plan will be their own undoing. Our informant has already given us the details of the ranger's plan, and very soon, we will use it against them and eliminate them. With the rangers destroyed, nothing will stand in the way of our complete domination," she proclaimed.
*
He opened his eyes slowly, but disorientation got the best of him. His vision was a bit blurry, and his head was pounding. "What the…" he was cut short.
"Conserve your strength, Lucas, death really takes it out of you," a voice said.
He couldn't see, but he recognized the voice. "Alex?"
"Yeah, it's me. Just take it easy."
Lucas sat up. "The Harvengers, did they get into the computers? I tried to…"
"No, you locked them out just in time. Main power is still off line."
"Good," he sighed with relief. "Are the others okay? Where is Nadira?" he asked.
"The others are fine, but Nadira was… changed."
"Oh God..."
"Sir, it's that girl from Chryo Tech, she's back," Adam announced from the control room of the zord.
"Send her to me," he said.
A few moments later, KJ carefully walked into the cargo hold. "Lt. Summers and the others are ready to implement their plan. They have devised an anti-toxin to the Harvenger virus, but they need Lucas to bring the main systems back online so they can deactivate the force fields," she told him.
"Why would we want to drop the force fields?"
"Their plan is to lure all the Harvengers into a chamber that will reverse the virus, but it can only be administered in a gas form so that it can reach the Harvengers through the environmental control systems," she said.
"Brilliant," Alex admitted.
"I should get to the lab then," Lucas said, sitting up.
"I'll have Ensign Claw go with you just in case. Adam and I will get down there and try to lure the Harvengers towards the lab when you give us the signal," he said.
"Sounds good. Let's do it,"
~~
Both Lucas and Ensign Claw materialized in the science lab, where Camille and Katie were constructing the chamber. The chamber itself was at least eight feet tall, but from the looks of it, was only able to hold a few people.
Katie turned around, getting a look at Lucas. "Lucas, you're alive," she squealed, rushing over to him and wrapping her arms around him.
"It's good to see you too," he sighed.
"Quite an impressive chamber you've got there, but have you compensated for the strain on the plating when the environmental systems are rerouted through it? If not, the entire chamber could collapse," Ensign Claw pointed out, walking over to the chamber.
"I wouldn't worry about that, I've got…" Camille paused. "Oh my God, Leo?" she inquired.
"Cam?" he replied.
Camille walked over to him, wrapping her arms around him. Both Lucas and Katie watched on in confusion as Leo and Camille held one another for a moment, finally backing away.
"You look good," she said.
"You too."
"You wouldn't even know I just came back from the dead, huh?"
"You were dead?"
"Yeah, it's a long story," she said.
"You'll have to tell me all about it over dinner sometime."
"Sounds great!"
Finally, Lucas cleared his throat, getting their attention. "How about some attention for the dead guy who just came back," he said.
"Of course Lucas, I'm sorry," Camille walked over to him, kissing him warmly on the cheek. "I'm glad you're okay."
"You and Leo know each other?" Katie inquired.
"Oh yeah, me and Cam go way back. We worked on a lot of projects together in the academy, but she got fired and I had to carry on without her. Then when she did get rehired, she didn't come back to our department, she came here to be a ranger," he said.
"It's not like that, I've been busy," she said.
"Too busy to even let me know you were okay?"
"I'm fine, really," she paused. "Well, except for whole dying thing. But other than that, I'm good," she insisted.
"Glad to hear it."
"Is the chamber complete?" Katie asked.
"Yeah, but we can't bring it online until main power is restored," she mentioned.
"That's where I come in," he paused. "Computer, unlock all command functions and bring main power back on line. Authorization Kendal 65," he said.
'Authorization accepted. Main power restored,' the computer answered.
"That's my cue," Camille said, activating the chamber.
Katie reached for her Morpher. "Katie to Tommy, we're ready in the lab. You guys ready to do this?" she asked.
'As ready as we'll ever be. Stand by.'~~
Tommy turned to Jen. "Are you sure you're up to this? Once those force fields come down, every Harvenger in the city is going to come flooding in here," he mentioned.
"I know the risks, and I'm ready," she assured him.
"Here, you may need this," he said, handing her a Morpher.
She put the Morpher on her wrist, but it was obvious that it wasn't the one she'd given up. "What is this?"
"It was Carmen's Morpher, it's similar to Adam's, it even has a phased cloak installed. I'm sure she'd want you to have it. Since she was your daughter, it's safe to assume your DNA will active it," he said.
"Thank you."
Tommy turned to Adam. "You ready?" he inquired.
"Oh yeah," Adam said eagerly.
"You don't even have to ask me," Alex said, walking over to him.
Tommy reached for his Morpher. "Tommy to Katie, we're ready over here. Do it."
~~
"Acknowledged, Tommy. Good luck." Katie turned to Lucas, nodding. "It's time."
"Computer, drop all force fields surrounding the building," he said.
'Warning, unknown species detected outside the building,' the computer warned.
"Drop the force fields," he repeated.
'Force fields deactivated,' the computer told him.
~~
The four of them stood in the main lobby of Time Force headquarters, watching as the force fields around the building disappeared, and dozens of Harvengers began to storm the building. "Alright guys, lets do it," Alex said.
"TIME FOR, TIME FORCE," Tommy called out, transforming into the red ranger.
"BLACK RANGER CHRONO ARMOR," Adam called out as his Time Force uniform was replaced by his ranger armor.
"PINK RANGER CHRONO ARMOR," Jen called out, and within seconds, was transformed into the pink ranger.
Alex let the charge, rushing in with a double spin kick, taking down two of the Harvengers. A third one grabbed him from behind, but he ducked down, allowing Tommy to give the Harvenger a tornado kick. As it fell to the ground, more Harvengers ran after Tommy, grabbing him. He managed to break free, giving all of them a sweep, knocking them over.
Adam and Jen stood back to back, preventing the Harvengers from making it to the elevators. Finally, the two of them were overwhelmed, and the Harvengers made it past them.
"Stop!" a voice yelled. At that moment, every Harvenger stopped in their tracks, turning their attention to Admiral Logan as he stepped off the elevator along with Nadira. "You've done well rangers, but your efforts to stop our race from conquering this universe and every other have failed. Admit defeat now, and I promise you merciful deaths," he announced.
"We'll never give up," Tommy screamed, rushing towards the Admiral, but a group of Harvengers grabbed him, holding him in place.
"Something tells me you'll be willing to reconsider," he said as another elevator door opened. Another group of Harvengers stepped out, holding Lt. Emery's arms behind his back.
"Tommy, don't do it," he screamed.
"Let him go!" Jen screamed.
"You were always so full of spunk, Jennifer, that's why I liked you so much," he sighed. "You will surrender or Lt. Emery will suffer a fate worse than death. Quite frankly, all of you will… eventually," he told them.
"We won't negotiate with you, Logan. Instead, I have a deal for you," Tommy said.
"Oh really, this should be interesting."
"Let us go and leave our reality, and you and your Harvengers will be allowed to live," he snarled.
"I doubt you're in a position to make such a threat," he said.
"You sure about that?"
"Fairly sure."
"Right now I have Katie and the others strapping a mesotronic bomb not only to the slipstream itself, but all over the building. If you and your Harvengers don't clear out in the next five minutes, the entire building will go up and everyone inside will be destroyed," he said.
Logan laughed at him. "You expect me to believe you'd sacrifice everyone in this building just to stop me? Come now, Thomas, I know you better than that. Besides, I already know what your real plan is," he said.
"You think so?"
"I know about the chamber, I know that you plan on tricking us inside so you can cure us. The truth is, Thomas, this isn't an illness, it is the cure. Think of it; no more disease, no pain, no death. The Harvengers have achieved immortality. Did you really think you could trick us into falling into your pathetic little trap?" he snapped.
"But how did you…"
"You can thank Sub-Commander Sheldon for telling me everything I needed to know," he said.
"I knew we couldn't trust that bitch," Alex snapped.
"Don't be so judgmental, Alexander, it wasn't her fault. Model A6 is equipped with surveillance technology, she had no idea she was leaking information to me."
"Model A6? You mean she's a…"
"Android. Yes, quite a lifelike one at that. She will be all that's left to represent the human race after I've destroyed you all."
"You can't, we won't…" she was cut short as Logan walked over to Jen, snatching the Morpher off her wrist, forcing her to power down.
"Put a sock in it, Jen, you never did know when to shut up," he groaned, snatching Adam's Morpher off as well.
Next, Nadira walked over to Tommy, snatching the Morpher off his wrist, watching him fall to the ground as he powered down.
"Pathetic," she sighed.
"You shouldn't be upset, you're all going to bear witness to the end of the human race and the beginning of a new race, a superior race; The Harvengers," Logan proclaimed.
~~
The doors to the science lab opened, allowing Logan and Nadira to lead the Harvengers inside.
Katie, Trip and Camille stood in-between the Harvengers and the slipstream. "TIME FOR, TIME…" they stopped when The Harvengers dragged Tommy, Jen, Adam and Alex's bodies into the lab, throwing them to the floor.
"What were you saying?" Nadira asked.
"What happened?"
"It was an excellent effort, but it's over," Logan said, walking over to the chamber, getting a good look at it. "This is very impressive, nice design too. How did you expect to fit every Harvenger inside this little thing? It's a shame none of you thought ahead," he said.
"We won't let you get away with this, Logan!" Leo yelled, taking a step forward.
Logan grabbed him by the throat, lifted him up and snapped his neck, then laughed as Leo's body hit the ground. "I never liked that kid, he was annoying," he sighed.
"You're a monster," Camille snapped.
"I know what you're thinking, you'll just use the sphere of Omara to bring your friend back, but I assure you, that won't be an option," he told them. At that moment, the Harvengers parted allowing KJ to walk into the lab with the sphere in hand. "This is the end, rangers."
"I can't believe you would turn on us, KJ, I thought we were friends," Katie said.
"I told you, there is no room for emotional attachments. There is only the chain of command," she told her.
"KJ, destroy the sphere," Logan said.
KJ stared at the sphere, at Logan, then at Katie, who had an emotionless expression on her face. "I cannot," she said.
"Model A6, I gave you a direct order. I expect you to carry it out," he said.
"I cannot. I will not participate in the destruction of one species for another. It is… wrong," she said.
"An android with a conscience." He grabbed her head, snatching it off its shoulders, watching as her body fell to the floor. "What a shame," he sighed. As sparks shot out of the android's body, Logan stomped down on the sphere, destroying it.
"Put all the humans inside the chamber," Nadira ordered.
The Harvengers opened the door of the chamber, throwing the humans inside. Logan shoved Jen and the others inside, shutting the door and locking it from the outside. Logan walked over to the control panel, ready to activate the chamber.
"Any famous last words, rangers?" he asked.
It was Katie who walked over to the door of the chamber, staring at Logan with a look of contempt in her eyes as she held up a small detonator. "Yeah, your time is up," she snapped, pushing the button.
Just then, force fields went up over the entrances and exits to the lab, and a greenish smoke began to fill the room.
"What have you done?" he groaned.
"I thought ahead," Katie smiled.
The smoke got thicker, eventually making it almost impossible to see through. Logan fell to his knees as he coughed, inching his way towards the chamber. He tried to punch a hole through it, but there was a force field in place.
"You tricked me," he whispered, finally falling to the floor.
For a few moments, there was nothing but silence. Katie waited as long as she could, then pushed the button again, and the smoke began to dissipate. When it was clear, the Harvengers were motionless on the floor.
"Did it work?" Camille asked.
Katie nodded. "Yep. It's over," she sighed.
*
Tommy opened his eyes slowly, only to find himself in the infirmary. He tried to sit up, but his head began to pound and forced him to lie back down. He tried to recall the incidents that led up to that moment, but was drawing a complete blank.
"You're awake," a voice said.
"Katie?" he mumbled. "What happened?"
"I suspected that KJ was a spy, so I gave her false information just in case she was leaking information to Logan and the Harvengers. The fact that she was an android threw me for a loop though," she admitted.
"How did you know?"
"There were little things, but the one that convinced me was when she called me the yellow ranger. I was wearing my Time Force uniform, and even though she could have spotted my morpher and figured it out, there was no way that someone from Chryo Tech could have known I was the yellow ranger," she explained.
"The Harvengers, are they…"
"They're gone, all of them. I let them think that the chamber would have the cure inside, but it was actually to shield us from the anti-toxin. When they locked us in, we filtered the anti-toxin though the entire building. I've got Trip, Lt. Emery and Adam patrolling the streets now with anti-toxin just to make sure we got them all," she said.
"You're brilliant, Katie," he sighed.
"I know."
Just then, Jen walked over to Tommy, staring down at him. "How're ya feeling?" she asked.
"Dr. Katie has been taking good care of me. I'll be okay," he said.
"I'll leave the two of you alone," Katie said with a smile, walking away.
"For a minute there I didn't think you were going to wake up," she sighed.
"You know me, I like to sleep in late."
"Tommy, there's something I want to tell you," Jen said.
"No wait, there's something I want to tell you." It took every ounce of his strength, but he sat up, leaning up against the wall. "We've both had a rocky past, and our past relationships stopped us from telling one another how we felt for a long time. If I didn't learn anything else from this experience, I learned that the future isn't promised to us, so we should enjoy each day as if it was our last. I love you, Jennifer, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?" he asked.
Jen smiled as tears rolled down her face. "Will you still love me when I get fat?" she sighed.
"Of course."
She grabbed his hand, putting it on her stomach. "Good, because I'm going to blow up like a balloon over the next seven months," she cried.
"Are you…"
She nodded. "I am. I wanted to tell you, but I thought…" he cut her short as he leaned in, kissing her gently.
"You didn't answer my question. Will you marry me?" he repeated.
"Yes," she cried, wrapping her arms around him.
~~
"I always knew those two would get together. I had a feeling about them," Camille said as she and Alex stood in the doorway of the infirmary, simply watching as Tommy and Jen held one another.
"As much as I hate to admit it, so did I. Part of me always thought that once Jen came back from the 21st century, we'd get back together, but some things just aren't meant to be," he sighed.
"I wouldn't worry about it, Alex, you never know what the future has in store for you," she told him.