Disclaimer: Power Rangers Time Force and all related logos are property of Disney and/or Saban Entertainment. I am using them without permission. KJ Sheldon, Lt. James Emery, Trinity Oliver, Camille Summers, Ambassador KaMen, Ensign Anthony Clark, Leo Claw and the "Omega Project" are property of yours truly.
A/N: This fic takes place about a week after the end of Future Shock II.
Please take a moment to review. I live for reviews!!
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She knew it was for the best, but she couldn't stand sitting on the sidelines while the others were off on their mission. 'Going out there would endanger the baby, I have to stay here,' she told herself, and it was true, but boredom alone was getting the best of her.
'I don't see how Logan did this all the time,' she sighed, sitting at the controls in the science lab, waiting for Tommy and the others to open a channel and ask for information. Though it was critical to every mission to have someone going through the logs and relay information, she still felt useless. 'I should be out there, in the thick of things,' she grumbled inwardly.
"Captain Jennifer Scott," a voice said, breaking her concentration.
She turned around as KJ walked into the science lab, making her way towards her. "How did you get in here?" she asked.
"Have I entered a restricted area? I apologize. I will leave at once," she said, turning to walk away.
"Wait," Jen called out, realizing that, with the exception of Lt. Emery, who she had working on another project for the moment, KJ was the only other person she'd seen in the last three hours. 'I could use the company,' she thought. "Come back, its okay,"
"Are you certain? I do not wish to violate any regulations,"
"No, its fine. Have a seat," Jen told her.
"You wish for me to take a seat with me?" she asked, picking up a chair from one of the workstations.
Jen couldn't help but giggle. "No KJ, I mean sit down. You are welcome to stay and talk to me," she assured her.
KJ put the chair down, carefully sitting down. "As the female Katie instructed me, I have reviewed all personnel files and logs for Time Force employees, and downloaded the rules and regulations for all Time Force officers. Your designation is Captain Jennifer Scott, correct?" she inquired.
"Yes, but you don't have to call me by my whole name and rank,"
"But that is your designation. It would be impolite to call you anything other than…" she was cut short.
"Jen will be just fine, but in formal situations, you should call me Captain," she told her.
"I understand," she paused. "Should I call you Jen now, or is this a formal situation?"
"Jen is fine,"
"Very well Jen. What do you wish to converse about?"
Jen's mind drew a complete blank. "Um, it doesn't matter. I've been cooped up in here for three hours now, I just wanted some company," she said. "Tell me about your day,"
"I see. I began the day with a self-diagnostic of all operating systems, and discovered a 1.6 percent increase in my synaptic pathways. As instructed, a reviewed all personnel files and logs for Time Force officers, downloaded the regulations of each officer, and read star charts for this sector of the galaxy and approximately 37 others. At the request of Ensign Anthony Clark, I became familiar with the entire building. Ensign Clark referred to it as the grand tour. From there, I attended a briefing with Counsel member Alexander Collins at 1100 hours, who informed me that I will be given a duty roster upon my completion of an evaluation from Dr. Hamilton in the infirmary," she explained.
"Have you seen Dr. Hamilton yet?"
"Affirmative,"
"What did you think of him?"
"I do not understand,"
"Did you like the guy?"
"I neither liked him or disliked him. He merely performed his task for me. However, I did notice that he was quite efficient," KJ told her.
Jen shook her head. "You've got a long way to go KJ," she sighed.
"I do not understand,"
"Its just that…" they were cut short when an alert went off. Jen quickly turned to the control panel. "There's an incoming transmission… from Xybria," she said.
"Xybria…" she paused for a moment. "Xybria is in the Orion nebula, approximately 27 lights years from our current position. It is also the home world of Lt. Trip, who is at present time the green Time Force ranger," KJ mentioned.
"You've done your research, I'm impressed," she opened a channel. 'Time Force, please respond,' a voice said.
"This is Captain Jennifer Scott from Time Force. With whom am I speaking?" she asked.
'I am Ambassador KaMen from Xybria. I wish to speak to your Xybrian officer, Trip,' he told her.
"Trip is currently on a mission, but is scheduled to return shortly. Would you like me to relay a message to him?"
'Only that it is imperative for him to return to Xybria at once. Our traditions dictate that me must return at once for the ceremony,' he told her.
"I assure you Ambassador, when he returns I will inform him,"
'Thank you Captain,'"That man was… rude," KJ pointed out.
"Keen observation, I wonder what all that was about," Jen sighed.
'Trip to Lt. Emery, come in,' a voice said.
James stood up, dusting himself off and made his way towards the controls, but Jen motioned him to stop. "I can take care of it James, you go ahead and finish up what you're doing," she said.
"Yes ma'am," he said, going back to his work.
Jen turned her attention back to the control panel, opening a channel. "Trip, this is Jen. What's up?" she asked.
'We're ready to get outta here. Can you help us out?'"Sure. Standby," she said.
She hurried over to the Slipstream, entering a sequence of commands. Only moments later, the slipstream activated, and moments later, the swirling vortex appeared. Jen turned around and watched as Katie and Trip helped Tommy through the portal. The last one through was Camille, but when she was through, the vortex began to shrink, until it eventually disappeared altogether.
"Oh God, what happened?" Jen inquired, walking over to the group.
"I'll be fine. I just need to get down to the infirmary," Tommy groaned.
"I'll take him," Lt. Emery said, helping Tommy out of the lab.
"Looks like you guys had an interesting time," Jen mentioned.
"You could say that. What about you? How'd you occupy your time?"
"I watched some paint dry, then I counted the tiles on the ceiling. That's about it. KJ kept me company," she said.
"That must have been an interesting conversation," Katie brought up.
"I thought so,"
"I found my conversation with Jen very… informative," KJ said cheerfully.
Jen turned to Trip. "Trip, you just got a transmission from Ambassador KaMen, he said it was urgent for you to come home," she told him.
Even before she mentioned what it was about, Trip realized it. "Oh God, the ceremony," he sighed.
"What's the ceremony? He really wouldn't get into detail, other than tradition demanded you come home for it,"
"The ceremony of The Joining. In Earth terms, it's a wedding," he said.
"Oh goody. Who's getting married?" Camille asked.
"I am," he sighed.
~~
The four of them headed into the conference room, each taking a seat at the table. "Okay Trip, start explaining," Camille snapped. "What the hell do you mean you're getting married?"
"On Xybria, once a male turns a certain age, you are entered into the Joining. Your parents pre-select the female you're to be Joined with, and the ceremony is performed. On the Xybrian calendar, I have come of age and its time for my Joining," he explained.
"You mean like a pre-arranged marriage?" Jen inquired.
"Yes,"
"So who is she Trip? When were you going to tell me about her?" Camille snapped.
"I don't know who she is, I've never met her. Tradition states that we cannot meet until the time of the Joining. And I wasn't going to tell you, I have no intention of marrying anyone…" he paused when he noticed the look on Camille's face. "Yet,"
"What kind of ass backwards planet sets up blind marriages and expects their kids to go along with it? Its sick,"
"It's the way our people have survived for thousands of years. Two people are selected for one another based on their knowledge and experience, each of them with a specific function in the Joining. No doubt the woman my parents have selected is a farmer of some kind," he told them.
"It makes sense, people are put together based on their weaknesses. The other has what the first one lacks, and vice versa," she said.
"Okay, it makes sense, but we're not making Trip go through with this are we? I mean, he's been with Cammy for as long as I can remember. We can't bust them up so he can run off to Xybria to marry Farmer Jane. I know its tradition, but we have traditions of Earth too, and Trip should have the right to pick," Katie brought up.
"I have to go, our traditions demand it," Trip said.
Jen was about to say something, but Camille cut her short. "Then I'm going with you," she said.
"What?"
"I'm going to Xybria with you to talk some sense into your parents. It may be the way you've done things on Xybria for years, but we do things differently here on Earth. On Earth, you're mine!" Camille snapped.
"I don't think that's such a…"
Camille turned to Jen. "Captain, permission to prep a shuttle for launch?" she asked.
"Granted,"
"I'll meet you in the launch bay in ten minutes honey," Camille said, walking out the room.
Trip sighed.
*
"You sure you're ready to come home?" Jen asked him as they walked down the hallway towards their quarters.
"Dr. Young stitched me up and I'm ready to get home. I'll stay off my feet for a few days, but I'll be fine," he insisted.
"With Camille and Trip gone for a few days, they'll be plenty of time to rest,"
"I couldn't imagine being in a society where I wasn't allowed to pick who I would spend the rest of my life with," Tommy said as the two of them walked into their quarters.
Jen quickly tossed her Time Force jacket on the couch, sitting down and putting her feet up on the table. "Honestly, the world may have been better off it we'd done things like that. How many times, especially in the 21st century, did people marry someone they weren't compatible with? It would lead to a messy divorce, and if there were children involved, there was a nasty custody hearing. Children were forced to pick which parent they wanted to live with, or worse, forced to live with a parent they didn't want to be with," she said.
"To me, the ends don't justify the means. It's our right as humans to be allowed to decide who we're going to be with the rest of our lives. I can't imagine my parents coming to me on my 21st birthday and saying 'Here son, we found you a wife,'" he told her.
"I know what you mean, but just because the way they do things on Xybria aren't the way we do things here, it doesn't make it wrong,"
"It doesn't make it right either. Trip has been on Earth for years now, and he should be given the choice of whether or not to join with this female," Tommy said.
"I agree, but we can't interfere with the customs of other worlds. That's a decision that Trip will have to make on his own. Either way, we'll support him,"
"When the time comes, Trip will do what's best… for him," he said.
Jen paused. "Ya know, this incident got me to thinking… maybe you should come to meet my parents," she said.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I mean, we're having a baby, and we're engaged. I know my parents would want to meet you," she said.
"I don't know if I'm ready for that," he sighed.
"It won't be so bad. My father is a little protective of me, but my mom will love you. With Camille and Trip gone, and Katie with her hands full with KJ, this is the perfect time to take a trip to my parent's house," she said.
"Where do they stay?"
"In Stone Canyon. They still stay in the house my family grew up in. It'll only take us about an hour to drive there, it'll be great," she said.
"This means a lot to you, doesn't it?"
"Yes, it does. My mother never approved of me dating Alex, she said he had a stick up his ass and was too stuffy, but I know they'll love you," she said.
"Did you ever tell them about Wes?" he asked, unsure if he even wanted to know the answer.
She shook her head. "No, I didn't feel the need to tell them. It was never going to work out. Besides, they're civilians, we're not permitted to discuss our missions with them. All they knew was that I was out on assignment," Jen told him.
"So do you plan on telling them about me? About where I'm from and how we met?"
"Sometime tells me I won't have to," she smiled.
*
"Computer, initiate launching procedures," Camille said.
'Launch procedures initiated. Do you wish to disembark?' the computer asked.
"Yes,"
'Launce sequence in progress,'The shuttle lifted off, and once they were far enough away from Time Force headquarters, Camille engaged the hyper drive engines. "Set a course for Xybria," she said.
'Course set,' the computer told her.
Trip sat next to her in complete silence, unsure of what to say to her. 'If there's anything I can say to her,' he thought. It was simply the way things were on Xybria. Growing up, no one questioned traditions, they were simply accepted. When a Xybrian came of age, they were introduced to their life mate, and they were Joined. It was as simple as that. There were a few occasions where it was challenged, but ultimately, it was useless.
He loved Camille with every ounce of his being, and he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He had every intention of being with her, completely forgetting about his obligations back home. In the back of his mind, he always knew the day would come, but he always put it off, telling himself he'd deal with it when the time came.
'Well, here it is Trip. What are you going to do now?' he asked himself.
"So what are you going to do now?" Camille asked him, breaking his train of thought.
"I don't know," he sighed.
"Do you love me?"
"Of course I do,"
"Do you want to be with me?"
"You know I do,"
"So why are we even going to Xybria? Why not just call that Ambassador guy and tell him you've already found someone else? He'd understand, wouldn't he?" she asked.
He paused. "Are you a religious person Camille?" he replied.
"I went to church every Sunday with my mother and father. After my dad died, we kinda stopped. Why?"
"What if someone came to you and told you everything you knew about religion was stupid, and that they knew a better way for you to live your life? What would you tell them?"
"I'd tell them to mind their own damn business. I've had my beliefs all my life, and there isn't anyone that could come along and tell me…" she paused. "I get your point,"
"This is the way it's been on my world for thousands of years, its what my people believe in. For me to tell them that its wrong, and the way do things isn't the way it should be would be a slap in the face not only to my parents and my people, but to the religion they've put their faith in for countless generations," he explained.
"You're not going to go through with this, are you? Are you going to marry this girl?" Camille asked him.
"I don't know what I can do. I can't turn my back on my traditions, but I can't turn my back on you either," he sighed.
"How do you think this is going to make me feel? How am I suppose to…" he cut her short.
"This entire conversation has been about how you feel about it. What about me? How do you think I feel about it? You think this is want I want to do? You think I want to turn my back on the most wonderful woman I've ever met to go home and marry a stranger? I know this bothers you, but it bothers me too. Stop making it sound like I'm doing this to you. It isn't me. This isn't what I want. I want to stay on Earth, to be a ranger, to be with you," he cried, making no effort to stop the tears as they rolled down his face.
"I'm sorry," she sighed.
Without a word, he pushed a button on the control panel, and then got out his seat, wrapping his arms around Camille.
'Autopilot engaged. Estimated time to arrival, 13 minutes,' the computer said.
"If this is going to be the last time I get to hold you, let's just enjoy it," Trip said.
She shook her head. "No, I won't accept that. We're in a shuttle, we could just leave. We've got enough fuel to take us to the next star system, we could just run away. We'll settle down on an M class planet in some far out galaxy and be together," she cried.
"We can't,"
"Trip please?! I need you. I can't lose you to a complete stranger. I need to be with you," she paused. "What if we stay on Xybria and I marry you? We could live the rest of our lives on your planet if we have to," she suggested.
"They would never allow it. This is how it has to be Camille," he looked at her, wiping the tears away from her eyes. "I'll never love her Camille, not the way I love you. I may be married to her, but I will always belong to you," he said.
"I love you too,"
It was at that moment that something in his mind clicked. Suddenly, a decision was made, and it was perfectly clear to him. It all made total sense to him. Trip backed away from Camille, turning back to the controls. "Computer, how long until we reach Xybria?" he asked.
'Nine minutes,' the computer said.
"Increase speed by 50%," he said.
'Speed increased by 50%. Estimated time to arrival, 3 minutes,' the computer announced.
"Trip? What are you doing?" Camille asked, wiping her face.
"Ending this once and for all," he said with a monotone look on her face.
TBC
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Preview: Traditions pt. 2Next time on Parallels II: Trip comes face to face with his father. Meanwhile, Jen takes Tommy home to "meet the folks"
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