Silver Hills, California 2004 AD

"I don't get it. Why does Mr. Collins want me to sit in on this meeting? I'm a soldier, not a businessman," Eric scoffed as the two of them made their way down the hall on their way to the main conference room.

In the past, Mr. Collins asked him to attend meetings, but they were usually in regards to the Silver Guardians, but lately, he'd been requesting Eric sit in on other staff meetings. Most times, they were routine personnel transfers, or budget cuts, but even so, he didn't understand why it was important for him to be there.

"He just respects your opinion, that's all," Wes replied.

"If you say so," he groaned.

"I do say so," he paused. "After the meeting, you wanna go grab something to eat? They just opened a new restaurant downtown that I've been meaning to try out," he suggested.

"Can't. I've got plans."

"Plans?" he smiled. "You're going out with Taylor again, aren't you?" he asked him.

"Not that it's any of your business, Collins, but yes. Taylor and I are going to a monster truck rally, then…" he was quickly interrupted.

"Monster trucks? That isn't exactly the most romantic place you could take her," Wes pointed out.

"It was her idea," Eric told him.

"Whoa, really? You two are perfect for each other. Pretty soon you'll be down on one knee poppin' the big question," he said.

"Whatever, Collins," he sighed. "She wanted me to invite you. You could even bring that girl you've been seeing. What's her name again?"

"Cassie."

"Yeah, Cassie," he paused. "What is it with you and pink rangers anyway?"

"Very funny," Wes scoffed.

"So, you interested?"

"I'll have to pass. I don't think Cassie's idea of a good time is a monster truck rally, but thanks," he said.

"I'm tellin' ya Collins, you don't know what you're missing."

The two of them walked into the conference room, where Mr. Collins was sitting at the head of the table. There was another man at the table, but because his back was turned, he wasn't able to determine who it was.

"Ah, I'm glad you two made it," Mr. Collins stood up, walking over to them. He quickly extended his hand to Eric, and Eric nodded as the two of them shook firmly. "Mr. Myers." He turned to Wes, wrapping his arms around him. "Good to see you, son," he said.

"You too, Dad," he answered.

Mr. Collins returned to his seat, while Wes and Eric took seats on opposite sides of the table. Once he sat down, Eric was able to get a look at the man Mr. Collins was sitting across from. He was an older gentleman, as far as Eric could guess, about in his mid thirties.

"Wesley, it's been a long time," the man said.

Wes glanced over at him, doing his best to appear courteous. "Yeah, it has, Uncle Andrew," he said.

Eric paused, taking a better look at him. It surprised him that he didn't see the family resemblance sooner. With the exception of being a little younger, and his hair was a bit darker, Andrew looked exactly like Mr. Collins.

"Andrew, this is Eric Myers, co-commander of the Silver Guardians," Mr. Collins introduced. "Eric, this is my brother, Andrew Collins."

Eric politely nodded. "Nice to meet you sir."

"The pleasure is mine. Its not everyday you meet the legendary Quantum ranger," he said eagerly.

"Now, we should really get down to business. The second quarter figures came in, and I have to say I'm a little disappointed in them. It shows another 12% drop in profits, and a dramatic overspending in the budget," he brought up.

"In which departments?" Wes asked.

"Mostly research and development. Maybe we should think about a few lay offs in non-essential departments," he suggested.

"Bad idea," Andrew mumbled under his breath.

"If you have something to say Andrew, just say it," Mr. Collins said.

"Lay offs is a short term solution to a long time problem. It may help the figures for next quarter, but the fourth quarter numbers will be down again, and this time by more than 12%. What you need is a drastic rethinking on how you do business here, which is where I come in," he stood up. "In 2001, you stopped charging a fee for the Silver Guardian's protection, offering free service for the entire city. At that moment, profits for this company went down over 40%. Factor in the cost for new vehicles, weapons and personnel, and Bio-Lab was losing millions a year in that department alone. When you had the chance to research the trixyruim crystal, which could have been an almost limitless source of energy, you decided not to pursue it, losing what had the potential to make this company billions of dollars. Later on in the year, Bio-Lab manufactured a serum that we could have potentially charged for, but distributed it for free. The serum cost this company a little over a million dollars to synthesize, not to mention the funding needed to pay off the lab techs. And Lord only knows why you dedicated so much money to the restoration of that old clock tower downtown. If that isn't enough, you donated ten million dollars to pay a ransom for a group of kids, a ransom that insurance refused to cover and for legal reasons couldn't be used as a tax write off. Its time for Bio-Lab to move back into the fore-front of business in this city again, to reestablish ourselves as a dominant force." He turned to his briefcase, pulling out several folders, sliding one to each of them. "I propose that Bio-Lab begin research on Bio-Chemical agents. Our initial tests show promising results, and if we focus more on…" he was interrupted as Mr. Collins threw the folder across the table.

"Bio-Lab will not research Bio-Chemical agents. If it were to fall into the wrong hands, it could be turned into a chemical weapon," he told him.

"Think of it Alan. In the right hands, it would be able to cure cancer, or H.I.V., or even the common cold. Think of the billions we could make if…" Again, he was interrupted.

"Dad's right, it's too dangerous," Wes noted, sliding the folder back to his uncle.

"Why are you so concerned about whose hands it would fall into? This place is a fortress, protected by not only the Silver Guardians, who are regarded as the best line of defense this city has, but by the red ranger and the Quantum ranger. There is no way the agent could fall into anyone's hands other than ours," he mentioned.

"We can't ignore the possibility of what this agent could mean to humanity, but it could also be a disaster if something were to go wrong," Mr. Collins brought up.

"Damn it Alan, don't you see what this could mean to Bio-Lab? In a few years time, if profits continue to decline the way they have, Bio-Lab will be bankrupt. Look at the figures; just to break even for the third quarter, you'll have to lay off three hundred people. That's over half your staff, Alan, and by this time next year, profits will be down over 73%. We'll all be out of a job soon if this keeps up. Bio-Chemical applications is just what this company needs right now. The revenue from that department alone will generate billions," he explained.

"I understand what this could mean for our company, but I won't risk it. The possibility of someone using the application for something other than cancer research is far too great. It's a great idea, Andrew, but we can't…" He was cut short.

"Aren't you listening to me Alan? In two years time, you'll be out of a job. You'll have to sell your house, all your cars, you'll exhaust your trust fund, your stocks will be gone, and we'll all be out on the streets unless something happens now!" he snapped.

Eric stood up. "I believe Mr. Collins made it perfectly clear we don't intend to work on your chemical agents, so drop it," he said, finally speaking his mind.

"What he said." Wes smiled.

Andrew turned to his brother. "You don't know what you're doing, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. You can't let this opportunity pass you by," he told them.

One by one, Wes, Eric and Mr. Collins stood up, heading towards the door. "I think we just did," Eric sighed.

Andrew quickly grabbed Eric's arm, turning him around. "This isn't over Quantum ranger, not by a long shot," he snarled.

Eric pulled away from him, making his way out of the room.

"I can't believe the nerve of that guy," Eric groaned as he paced back and forth in his apartment.

He'd known Mr. Collins for years, and respected him. After all, it was Mr. Collins who gave him the opportunity to become a Silver Guardian a few years ago, then to command the unit when their C.O. was injured. Eventually, he and Wes were named co-commanders of the entire Silver Guardian unit, and though the fact that he was the Quantum Ranger played a factor in that decision, the fact remained that Mr. Collins saw potential in him and gave him the opportunity to prove himself.

"Did any of you ever stop to consider that maybe he was right? If this chemical agent can potentially cure cancer or HIV, isn't it worth researching?" Taylor asked him.

"If that chemical agent was to fall into the wrong hands, it could be used as a biological weapon. The Guardians have their hands full with protecting the city, the last thing we need is a biological weapon spreading through the city," he said.

"You're being melodramatic. The Silver Hills Police Department can handle the city. The Silver Guardians only focus on terrorist attacks and mutants, and there hasn't been much of either in the last few years. As a matter of fact, the last time there was a mutant attack, the other rangers and I were there to clean up the mess," she mentioned.

"I seem to remember the Time Force rangers defeating the mutorgs, not the Wild Force rangers," he pointed out.

"Whatever."

"Look, we should get going if we're going to get to the truck races on time," Eric said, quickly changing the subject.

Taylor glanced down at her watch. "You're right. I'll go start the car," she told him as she made her way out of the room.

Eric couldn't help but crack a smile as she walked away. 'Who would have thought?' he wondered to himself. It was hard for him to believe that it had been nearly three years since the two of them met. He had been convinced that she was trouble; a lawbreaker. 'That's why I pulled her ass over in the first place,' he thought.

Even then, there was something about her, something he couldn't quite put his finger on. But, after she and the Wild Force rangers helped them defeat the motorgs and defend the city, his opinion of her changed. Shortly afterwards, the two of them became friends, but it didn't take long for their feelings to develop. They'd been together ever since, and he couldn't have been happier.

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small box. He opened it, admiring the ring inside, smirking slightly. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the car horn blow. He quickly slid the box back into his pocket, and then headed out of the room.

Wes sat behind his desk, reviewing the preliminary reports his uncle had given him earlier. As much as he hated to admit it, a lot of the research seemed promising. If done correctly, the chemical agents would eventually lead to cures for even the most deadly diseases, but it was what could happen if they were used improperly that bothered him.

When Venomark attacked the city, over half the population was infected. If it hadn't been for the antidote he found, the infection would have eventually killed them all. The Bio-Chemical agent his uncle wanted to manufacture, if it was to be used incorrectly and spread, it would have taken years for them to find a cure. And by then, everyone infected would be dead. The rewards were great, but if something were to go wrong, the consequences were too high.

His thoughts were interrupted when the phone rang. He put the folder in his drawer, and then reached for the speakerphone button.

"Wesley Collins," he answered.

"How'd I know you were still at work?" a voice asked.

He quickly recognized the voice as his girlfriend, Cassie. It had taken him a while to deal with the fact that he would never be able to be with Jen. After all, she was a thousand years in the future, and though she came back a few years ago to assist them with the mutorgs, he'd come to realize that he would never see her again. For a while, he decided not to fall for anyone else, just be a bachelor for a while. Needless to say, it didn't work out for him…

… and that's when he met Cassie.

Shortly after he assisted the other red rangers to defeat the Machine Empire, Andros, the red space ranger, introduced him to Cassie. At first, he was reluctant to date another former ranger. He was sure she'd be called to action again, and when she went off on a mission, she wouldn't come back. 'It's the risk you take as a ranger,' he thought to himself, briefly glancing over at the morpher on his wrist.

It didn't take long for him to get over his fears, and the two of them began spending more and more time together. Before he knew it, he had fallen for her completely, and though he still thought of Jen from time to time, he didn't let that interfere with his relationship with Cassie.

For the first time since Jen left him, he was happy again.

"Yeah, I'm still here," he sighed.

"I was hoping you'd stop by tonight. I'm going to make spaghetti and meatballs. I thought after we ate, we could rent a movie or something."

Wes smiled. "Sounds like a good idea, I'll just…" he paused as, in the distance, he heard an explosion. Judging by the distance, it came from the parking lot. "Cas, I'll call you back," he said, neglecting to hit the speakerphone button as he stood up, rushing out of his office and into the hallway.

He rushed out of the building, where there was a car gone up in flames. Wes headed back in the building, grabbing a fire extinguisher, then made his way back to the car in an attempt to put the fire out. Once the fire was under control, he was able to get a good look at the car. 'Oh no, its Dad's car,' he sighed.

Wes grabbed the door, but it was so hot that it burned his hands. He quickly took off his shirt, wrapping it around his hands and snatched what was left of the door open. As the door hit the ground, a lifeless body fell out the car, collapsing to the ground. "Oh God no! Dad, can you hear me?" he screamed.

His father didn't respond.

Wes quickly checked for a pulse, but there was nothing. "Come on, Dad, I'm going to get you to the hospital," he cried, trying to help his father off the ground. As Wes tried to get him up, he heard someone behind him. He turned around, only to be hit over the head with…

…with something, and he fell to the ground, collapsing onto his father's body.

"In other news, a tragic accident leaves two dead in Silver Hills, California last night. Forty-three year old Alan Collins, CEO and co-founder of Bio-Lab, and his son, twenty-six year old Wesley Collins, most noted as the red ranger and co-commander of the Silver Guardians, were killed in an explosion. Police report that faulty wiring may have been the cause for the car's explosion, but an official investigation is underway. There were no witnesses to the incident, but several Bio-Lab workers discovered the car and quickly called the fire department. Both Alan and Wesley Collins were rushed to Silver Hills Hospital, but were pronounced dead on arrival. We'll keep you posted as more…"

She reached for her remote, turning off the television. "Oh no, Welsey," she sighed.

She knew it was no accident, that someone had purposely set out to kill them, but who? And why? Her thoughts shifted to Kyle. 'Car explosions are his MO, its probably him,' she thought, but she still wasn't convinced it was him. 'Well, there's only one way to find out for sure,' she thought to herself, but didn't want to risk returning to Silver Hills. If she did, her secret would be discovered, and she wasn't prepared to explain where she'd been for the last seventeen years. Still, she had to know the truth. She had to know why someone wanted to kill Wes and Alan. 'It's my fault,' she thought to herself. 'If I had just gone back, they would be after him. All of this is my fault, and I owe it to him to find out the truth,' she thought as a tear rolled down her face.

the next day...

Eric pulled up in his truck, leaving Taylor inside, quickly getting out and making his way over to the crime scene. 'Crime scene,' he sighed inwardly. Though the police and reporters were saying the car exploding was an accident, he knew better. 'It was that damn Andrew, and I intend to prove it,' he thought to himself.

He lifted up the yellow tape blocking his way to what was left of the car, but was stopped by a policeman. "Sorry sir, we're going to have to ask you to step back behind the…"

Eric pulled out his badge, quickly flashing it. "Silver Guardians. Now, tell me what you know about the incident," he said calmly.

The officer nodded. "At approximately 10 pm last night, Alan Collins and his son got into this vehicle, but there was a malfunction and the car exploded," he said.

"Approximately 10, huh? Have you checked with the receptionist here yet? All staff are required to sign in and out after business hours," he mentioned.

"No sir, I haven't."

"Mr. Collins is notorious for staying at the office pretty late, but Wes is usually gone by eight or nine," he pointed out.

"I'll look into that sir."

"Can you open the hood of the car?" Eric inquired.

"We have sir, but as we said, it appears to be a malfunction of some kind," he reminded him.

"Let me take a look," he said, walking over to the car. He opened the hood, examining what was left of the engine. Next, he slid under the car, taking a look around. When he slid back out, he handed the officer a small wad of putty. "Do you know what that is?"

"No sir."

"Its putty, typically used to hold an explosive in place. I found this near the gas tank," he said.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that Wes and his father were murdered, and I'm going to find the bastard who did it," Eric snapped.