A/N: Again, quotes are from memory, so sorry for any mistakes.
***
Alex stood silently and watched as the guards took Ransik out of his cell, shackled and handcuffed; his blue eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the mutant struggled against his captors angrily. He whirled around and faced Alex, only a foot or so away from him, but the officer didn't budge; they glared at one another, the hate in Ransik's eyes equaling the hate in Alex's.
"This isn't over, Red Ranger," Ransik said, in a low tone.
Alex didn't reply as the guards yanked Ransik away, but an uneasy feeling sunk into the pit of his stomach as he watched the wide back become smaller, disappearing down the dark hall. He shook it off and turned back, heading for the waiting area where a barely-awake Trip sat, with Lucas, Katie, and Jen.
"Everything's set," he said, "the drive should take about an hour."
"We'll be back before midnight," Jen said, standing.
"Be careful out there," Alex spoke to Lucas, knowing he would drive. "Ransik's daughter, Nadira, is still on the loose . . . she might attempt a breakout."
"I don't think she'll try, sir," Lucas said, "and we're capable."
"I know," Alex said, "just keep your eyes open."
"Alex . . . don't worry," Jen said, putting her hands up on his shoulders. "We'll be fine. I'll be back soon and we can stare at my ring a little bit more."
Alex chuckled. "All right," he said, "I'll see you soon."
He kissed her, putting his own hands on her shoulders as their lips met; the kiss didn't last long, as Jen needed to go, she was in charge of the small convoy that was to transport Ransik. Alex watched her go, pride swelling up within him as he looked at the now confident young woman that had come from a shy, uncertain farm girl.
"Lieutenant!"
He turned.
"You've been assigned to street duty till twenty-two-hundred hours," the ensign said.
"Thank you," Alex sighed.
'Street duty without Jen,' he thought to himself. Usually that would be dangerous, but with Ransik locked up Time Force expected the streets to be reasonably safe; they didn't take into account the many mutants Ransik had commanded, but Alex did. He suited up and got into his car just as the convoy left, Katie and Trip of the vectorcycles in front, and Jen no doubt in the back . . . with Ransik.
'Be careful, baby,' he said silently.
He sat in his car for a few more minutes as the red lights disappeared and the people gathered outside HQ went back in; finally, he started up the vehicle and drove off. The night would undoubtedly be a busy one, since it was the night of Ransik's conviction; criminals all over Silver City would be rioting in their small groups. Nothing Time Force couldn't handle, of course, but just enough to make for one tired officer by ten o'clock.
His hand went to the control panel and turned on the sound station, he smiled as music flooded the car and calmed him while he drove around the dark city; of course, the song ended, and the announcer spoke:
"As I speak, the infamous mutant leader Ransik is being transported to the prison, where he will be placed in cryogenic containment for life."
Alex rolled his eyes as the talking continued, and the announcer briefly interviewed some no-name Time Force ensign who happened to be on the scene the previous night when Ransik was captured. He half-listened as the young man explained the situation, and how Alex himself had brought Ransik out of the flaming building.
'I didn't even think I'd survive the blast,' Alex thought with amusement. It would've been a worthy sacrifice, one he would gladly make to get Ransik off the streets; but still, he knew Jen would be hurt terribly, and he hated that thought.
'No need to think about it now,' he told himself, 'Ransik is gone. I can concentrate on Jen completely now . . . our marriage.' He smiled. Marriage. There was something he never thought about before, even as a child he just imagined that he'd remain single all his life; and then there was never any thought of having children.
'Now that I don't have to worry about Ransik anymore,' he realized, 'perhaps that's a possibility.' He had always dreaded leaving his own children in the position he was left in as a young boy, his parents dead, all alone in the world . . . but the greatest threat was no longer a threat.
His smile widened, he liked the vision he saw for his life now---a beautiful wife, maybe even a few kids to keep them busy when things on the job slowed down. Suddenly, the tension he felt disappeared and for the first time in his life he felt no worries and was able to relax completely.
'I could get used to this.'
The hour dragged by with only a few minor incidents, to his surprise; a routine pull-over for speeding, a small investigation into something someone "thought" they saw crouching outside their window. It turned out to be nothing and he went on his way, glancing at the time as he crossed the street:
9:45 p.m.
Only fifteen minutes left. Jen would be returning soon as well. He sat down in the driver's seat and rode off, the woman he left behind staring after him through her window; he shook his head, slightly amused by the event.
"Attention all units," came a voice over his communicator, "word has just come that Ransik has escaped en route to the prison."
He lifted the device and demanded: "What is the status of the convoy?"
A pause. "Unknown."
Horror filled him as the word sunk in: Unknown. Ransik had escaped while in the custody of his closest friends, and the woman he loved. That could only mean one thing . . .
"Jen," he whispered.
Without a second thought, he decided not to quit at ten o'clock . . . but to go on through the night in search of his enemy. On the loose again.
*****
The sun had finally risen over Silver City, but Alex hardly noticed as he continued driving down the empty streets of the outskirts; he blinked, trying to keep his eyes open after a long night. He gripped the wheel firmly, his knuckles turning white as he fought off the tears that had been threatening to overwhelm him for hours . . . Jen was gone . . . there was no other explanation for Ransik's escape. He never took prisoners and he never let his enemies live . . . so Lucas, Katie, Trip . . . and Jen were all dead.
He took a long, shaky breath just as his communicator chirped and a voice came over:
"All units to the prison."
He snatched it and held it up, his heart beginning to race: "I'm on my way." He did a U-Turn and raced off in the direction of the prison, he knew he would be the first to arrive, he was only a half an hour away.
But the thirty minutes seemed to last forever as he got nearer to the prison, located on a bed of water to keep others out. He flipped a switch just before reaching the water, and his groundcar transformed into it's aircar form, flying over the water safely; the prison got larger as he got closer, and soon he found himself on it's surface.
"Time for . . . Time Force!"
He transformed into the Red Ranger and drew his Chrono Saber, anxious for the battle that awaited him upstairs; he began the long run up the stairs that led to the highest level, where Ransik was no doubt stealing the prison ship.
Finally, he reached the top and whirled around . . . scanning the area for mutants, not knowing who Ransik had to back him up.
"Red Ranger!"
The voice sent a chill down his spine, he turned sharply and found Ransik standing in the center, staring at him coldly; continuing to speak: "You're either very foolish, or very stubborn!"
"Neither!" Alex snapped, "I brought you in once and I'll do it again!"
"Oh how wrong you are," Ransik replied.
'Come on,' Alex told himself, 'for Jen. For Mom and Dad. Just . . . one . . . last . . . time.' He ran forward and lunged at Ransik with his Saber, hardly even feeling it as the mutant's knife slashed across his stomach, he turned slowly---painfully---to the weapon portruding from Ransik's arm.
"Ransik!" he said, "it'll take more than that to slow me down!"
With nothing to lose, he threw himself at Ransik completely, without fear or caution; for a few minutes, he matched the mutant in the fight, but soon Ransik gained the upperhand. He slammed his sword down on Alex's Saber, keeping it in place as he reached back and grabbed a sword coming out of his backbone; Alex watched as the sword came down and struck him across the chest, spinning him around as waves of pain engulfed him.
Just as he fell, Ransik's arm went around his neck and pulled him back onto his feet; the realization slowly began to sink in, that he was not going to win the fight.
"You may defeat me," he said, struggling, "but you'll never escape the Time Force."
"Ha!" Ransik spat, "where I'm going---there is no Time Force!"
And then . . .
"Alex!!!"
Ransik yanked Alex around to see his fiancee and the three others appearing at the top of the steps: Alive and well. Alex gasped quickly in shock, calling out her name: "Jen!!!"
He vaguely heard the low chuckle from behind as Ransik threw him forward and he nearly fell, then a searing pain down his back, unlike anything he had ever felt before; he cried out in agony, slowly sinking to his knees as his Saber slipped from his grip and clattered, hitting the floor. He felt his body begin to demorph even as he hit the ground, hearing Jen's heartbroken cry:
"NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
He moaned softly as he demorphed completely, struggling to speak even as she ran toward him and Ransik turned away, laughing wickedly: "Jennifer . . . "
"Alex!" Jen cried, finally reaching him and kneeling, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as she rolled him onto her lap. "Alex . . . "
Alex's vision cleared, and he could see the face of his fiancee gazing down at him, tears streaming down her cheeks; he raised his wrist and with a trembling hand removed the morpher. "Take . . . " he coughed painfully, "my morpher . . . there're four more in the timeship . . . it's the only way . . . you'll ever stop Ransik."
"No, I can't!" Jen cried.
"You can," Alex whispered, "you have to . . . promise me, you won't stop . . . no matter what . . . " he grimaced, squeezing his eyes shut " . . . until you capture him." His eyes opened and rested on her. "Promise me."
Jen sniffled. "I promise," she said, "I'll catch him."
Alex blinked, the world was getting dark . . . he lifted his hand and brushed away a single tear as it rolled down Jen's cheek. He always hated seeing her in pain . . .
"You and me," he said, softly.
Jen gasped, nodding a little and whispering back: "Forever . . . "
TBC
***
Alex stood silently and watched as the guards took Ransik out of his cell, shackled and handcuffed; his blue eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the mutant struggled against his captors angrily. He whirled around and faced Alex, only a foot or so away from him, but the officer didn't budge; they glared at one another, the hate in Ransik's eyes equaling the hate in Alex's.
"This isn't over, Red Ranger," Ransik said, in a low tone.
Alex didn't reply as the guards yanked Ransik away, but an uneasy feeling sunk into the pit of his stomach as he watched the wide back become smaller, disappearing down the dark hall. He shook it off and turned back, heading for the waiting area where a barely-awake Trip sat, with Lucas, Katie, and Jen.
"Everything's set," he said, "the drive should take about an hour."
"We'll be back before midnight," Jen said, standing.
"Be careful out there," Alex spoke to Lucas, knowing he would drive. "Ransik's daughter, Nadira, is still on the loose . . . she might attempt a breakout."
"I don't think she'll try, sir," Lucas said, "and we're capable."
"I know," Alex said, "just keep your eyes open."
"Alex . . . don't worry," Jen said, putting her hands up on his shoulders. "We'll be fine. I'll be back soon and we can stare at my ring a little bit more."
Alex chuckled. "All right," he said, "I'll see you soon."
He kissed her, putting his own hands on her shoulders as their lips met; the kiss didn't last long, as Jen needed to go, she was in charge of the small convoy that was to transport Ransik. Alex watched her go, pride swelling up within him as he looked at the now confident young woman that had come from a shy, uncertain farm girl.
"Lieutenant!"
He turned.
"You've been assigned to street duty till twenty-two-hundred hours," the ensign said.
"Thank you," Alex sighed.
'Street duty without Jen,' he thought to himself. Usually that would be dangerous, but with Ransik locked up Time Force expected the streets to be reasonably safe; they didn't take into account the many mutants Ransik had commanded, but Alex did. He suited up and got into his car just as the convoy left, Katie and Trip of the vectorcycles in front, and Jen no doubt in the back . . . with Ransik.
'Be careful, baby,' he said silently.
He sat in his car for a few more minutes as the red lights disappeared and the people gathered outside HQ went back in; finally, he started up the vehicle and drove off. The night would undoubtedly be a busy one, since it was the night of Ransik's conviction; criminals all over Silver City would be rioting in their small groups. Nothing Time Force couldn't handle, of course, but just enough to make for one tired officer by ten o'clock.
His hand went to the control panel and turned on the sound station, he smiled as music flooded the car and calmed him while he drove around the dark city; of course, the song ended, and the announcer spoke:
"As I speak, the infamous mutant leader Ransik is being transported to the prison, where he will be placed in cryogenic containment for life."
Alex rolled his eyes as the talking continued, and the announcer briefly interviewed some no-name Time Force ensign who happened to be on the scene the previous night when Ransik was captured. He half-listened as the young man explained the situation, and how Alex himself had brought Ransik out of the flaming building.
'I didn't even think I'd survive the blast,' Alex thought with amusement. It would've been a worthy sacrifice, one he would gladly make to get Ransik off the streets; but still, he knew Jen would be hurt terribly, and he hated that thought.
'No need to think about it now,' he told himself, 'Ransik is gone. I can concentrate on Jen completely now . . . our marriage.' He smiled. Marriage. There was something he never thought about before, even as a child he just imagined that he'd remain single all his life; and then there was never any thought of having children.
'Now that I don't have to worry about Ransik anymore,' he realized, 'perhaps that's a possibility.' He had always dreaded leaving his own children in the position he was left in as a young boy, his parents dead, all alone in the world . . . but the greatest threat was no longer a threat.
His smile widened, he liked the vision he saw for his life now---a beautiful wife, maybe even a few kids to keep them busy when things on the job slowed down. Suddenly, the tension he felt disappeared and for the first time in his life he felt no worries and was able to relax completely.
'I could get used to this.'
The hour dragged by with only a few minor incidents, to his surprise; a routine pull-over for speeding, a small investigation into something someone "thought" they saw crouching outside their window. It turned out to be nothing and he went on his way, glancing at the time as he crossed the street:
9:45 p.m.
Only fifteen minutes left. Jen would be returning soon as well. He sat down in the driver's seat and rode off, the woman he left behind staring after him through her window; he shook his head, slightly amused by the event.
"Attention all units," came a voice over his communicator, "word has just come that Ransik has escaped en route to the prison."
He lifted the device and demanded: "What is the status of the convoy?"
A pause. "Unknown."
Horror filled him as the word sunk in: Unknown. Ransik had escaped while in the custody of his closest friends, and the woman he loved. That could only mean one thing . . .
"Jen," he whispered.
Without a second thought, he decided not to quit at ten o'clock . . . but to go on through the night in search of his enemy. On the loose again.
*****
The sun had finally risen over Silver City, but Alex hardly noticed as he continued driving down the empty streets of the outskirts; he blinked, trying to keep his eyes open after a long night. He gripped the wheel firmly, his knuckles turning white as he fought off the tears that had been threatening to overwhelm him for hours . . . Jen was gone . . . there was no other explanation for Ransik's escape. He never took prisoners and he never let his enemies live . . . so Lucas, Katie, Trip . . . and Jen were all dead.
He took a long, shaky breath just as his communicator chirped and a voice came over:
"All units to the prison."
He snatched it and held it up, his heart beginning to race: "I'm on my way." He did a U-Turn and raced off in the direction of the prison, he knew he would be the first to arrive, he was only a half an hour away.
But the thirty minutes seemed to last forever as he got nearer to the prison, located on a bed of water to keep others out. He flipped a switch just before reaching the water, and his groundcar transformed into it's aircar form, flying over the water safely; the prison got larger as he got closer, and soon he found himself on it's surface.
"Time for . . . Time Force!"
He transformed into the Red Ranger and drew his Chrono Saber, anxious for the battle that awaited him upstairs; he began the long run up the stairs that led to the highest level, where Ransik was no doubt stealing the prison ship.
Finally, he reached the top and whirled around . . . scanning the area for mutants, not knowing who Ransik had to back him up.
"Red Ranger!"
The voice sent a chill down his spine, he turned sharply and found Ransik standing in the center, staring at him coldly; continuing to speak: "You're either very foolish, or very stubborn!"
"Neither!" Alex snapped, "I brought you in once and I'll do it again!"
"Oh how wrong you are," Ransik replied.
'Come on,' Alex told himself, 'for Jen. For Mom and Dad. Just . . . one . . . last . . . time.' He ran forward and lunged at Ransik with his Saber, hardly even feeling it as the mutant's knife slashed across his stomach, he turned slowly---painfully---to the weapon portruding from Ransik's arm.
"Ransik!" he said, "it'll take more than that to slow me down!"
With nothing to lose, he threw himself at Ransik completely, without fear or caution; for a few minutes, he matched the mutant in the fight, but soon Ransik gained the upperhand. He slammed his sword down on Alex's Saber, keeping it in place as he reached back and grabbed a sword coming out of his backbone; Alex watched as the sword came down and struck him across the chest, spinning him around as waves of pain engulfed him.
Just as he fell, Ransik's arm went around his neck and pulled him back onto his feet; the realization slowly began to sink in, that he was not going to win the fight.
"You may defeat me," he said, struggling, "but you'll never escape the Time Force."
"Ha!" Ransik spat, "where I'm going---there is no Time Force!"
And then . . .
"Alex!!!"
Ransik yanked Alex around to see his fiancee and the three others appearing at the top of the steps: Alive and well. Alex gasped quickly in shock, calling out her name: "Jen!!!"
He vaguely heard the low chuckle from behind as Ransik threw him forward and he nearly fell, then a searing pain down his back, unlike anything he had ever felt before; he cried out in agony, slowly sinking to his knees as his Saber slipped from his grip and clattered, hitting the floor. He felt his body begin to demorph even as he hit the ground, hearing Jen's heartbroken cry:
"NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
He moaned softly as he demorphed completely, struggling to speak even as she ran toward him and Ransik turned away, laughing wickedly: "Jennifer . . . "
"Alex!" Jen cried, finally reaching him and kneeling, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as she rolled him onto her lap. "Alex . . . "
Alex's vision cleared, and he could see the face of his fiancee gazing down at him, tears streaming down her cheeks; he raised his wrist and with a trembling hand removed the morpher. "Take . . . " he coughed painfully, "my morpher . . . there're four more in the timeship . . . it's the only way . . . you'll ever stop Ransik."
"No, I can't!" Jen cried.
"You can," Alex whispered, "you have to . . . promise me, you won't stop . . . no matter what . . . " he grimaced, squeezing his eyes shut " . . . until you capture him." His eyes opened and rested on her. "Promise me."
Jen sniffled. "I promise," she said, "I'll catch him."
Alex blinked, the world was getting dark . . . he lifted his hand and brushed away a single tear as it rolled down Jen's cheek. He always hated seeing her in pain . . .
"You and me," he said, softly.
Jen gasped, nodding a little and whispering back: "Forever . . . "
TBC