A/N: I updated sooner than I expected! An hour a day and it's finished!!!
This was an incredibly challenging chapter for me to write (and not just because I wasn't online as often as I would've liked). I have no idea how to design a Megazord, lol, but Alex obviously did so I've done my best trying to show you what his life was like in the future while the Rangers were fighting.
It won't be too long before Alex will join the other Rangers, but I'm still trying to concentrate on what went on before that to get a better understanding of his attitude. I hope you enjoy it!
DISCLAIMER: I've taken some quotes from the PRTF episode: "The Time Shadow", but I do not claim ownership to them. The episode was written by Judd Lynn.
***
Logan looked up as the doors swished open and Alex stepped inside, hiding the agonizing pain across his back by a mask of impassiveness; the captain shot him a glare immediately and walked forward quickly, taking long strides.
"What the hell are you doing here, Commander?" he demanded.
"I came to work, Captain," Alex answered, "I'm recovering more quickly than the doctor expected anyway."
"You won't recover at all if you don't give yourself time," Logan scolded, "I spoke to that doctor a few days ago, he told me you shouldn't return to work for another couple weeks. And don't even think about going back on the road!"
"I won't," Alex said, "I need to start work on the Time Shadow now."
Logan sighed, relenting as Alex went to his office, still speaking: "I'll need a place to work, Captain. To construct the zord, I don't have the proper equipment here."
"All right," Logan said, "you can work where we constructed the others, but be careful."
Alex nodded slowly, daring to reach back and rub his shoulder carefully, wincing a bit despite Logan's eyes bearing into him. "Thank you, sir," he said, quietly, "I'll get to work on it immediately. And sitting around all day is hardly stressful, Captain, I'll be fine."
"You can make anything stressful," Logan said.
Alex smirked. "All right," he said, "but I'll take some breaks during the day, and I honestly feel fine, Captain."
"I don't care how you feel, Alex," Logan said, "that can be deceiving. Come on, I'll show you to your new office."
Alex walked behind the captain so he wouldn't be watched and the captain wouldn't notice his stiffness as he kept up with the long-legged Logan; the building he would work in was identical to the building where Ransik was tried and convicted, and Alex felt a chill run up his spine as he remembered.
The room was dark and cold, the console against the wall was in a long, U- shape, a viewing screen above it; Alex nodded with satisfaction: "This ought to work fine, Captain."
"Good," Logan said, "I'll leave you to it then. Alex---"
"I know, Rob," Alex said, quietly.
He went and sat down as Logan left the room, his fingers flying across the computer, the screen flickered and Jen appeared----morphed and in battle with one of Ransik's mutants. He leaned forward and squinted a bit, watching her movements, he had never seen her fight with so much determination . . . or brutality. She called and her Chrono Saber appeared, she gripped it firmly and brought it down across the mutant's chest; sparks flew into the air as she spun around, not watching her enemy fall in defeat.
Alex smiled, then grimaced and leaned back in his seat, suddenly feeling drowsy . . . 'From those damn painkillers,' he thought to himself. 'Well, no more of those then . . . I need to be alert for this.'
Rubbing his eyes, he blinked rapidly a couple times and shook his head vigorously, despite the throbbing that began behind his eyes even as he did so; there was no time to waste, Jen and the others needed him. He pressed a few more buttons and a image of the Time Shadow appeared on the screen, or rather what it would look like when it was complete.
He remained seated for hours without realizing how much time had passed, but soon he felt his body start to give in and he slumped over on the console, his eyes slowly closing. Jen's face appeared in his mind, smiling at him, her eyes bright and merry . . . then tears formed in her brown eyes and streamed down her cheeks, he stirred in his sleep as he heard his own voice . . .
"Take my morpher . . . it's the only way you'll ever . . . stop Ransik."
"No, I can't!"
"You can . . . "
Alex moaned softly as she continued to cry, then she faded away slowly, disappearing into the darkness, her sobs echoing in his ears . . .
"You and me . . . "
" . . . forever."
Someone's hand fell on his shoulder and gently shook him awake:
"Alex? Come on, get up."
"Huh?" Alex opened his eyes hesitantly, recognizing the voice; he waited for his vision to clear before he spoke: "I fell asleep?"
"I told you," Logan said, "I thought you were going to take a break sometime?"
"Must've forgotten," Alex muttered, "how late is it?"
"Twenty-two hundred hours."
Alex cursed, sitting up quickly as Logan removed his hand, still speaking: "I'm taking you home now, Alex. You've got to get some sleep, you can't help Jen or the others in your condition."
"I---"
"No arguing, Commander."
"Yes, sir," he sighed, standing up---stiff and sore.
Logan reached out to pat his back, but stopped himself in time and decided just to smile at him; Alex, however, only frowned as he walked out of the office. "I can drive myself," he said, "I won't fall asleep behind the wheel."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"All right," Logan said, "you be careful out there, and get to sleep as soon as you get home! No more working."
Alex nodded, but ignored the captain and went on his way, out into the night and to the car parked outside; he managed to drive home without dozing off, but as he walked in and saw the long, old-fashioned staircase that led to his room, he realized the hardest part was yet to come. He took a breath and began going up, gribbing the railing till his knuckles turned white; a half an hour later, he stumbled to his room and stood by the door, waiting for the computer to scan him and unlock it.
He heard the click and entered the dark room, reaching back to turn on the dim lights, but he hit the wrong button and the room lit up, the light shining into his eyes . . . he swore loudly and hit the wall again, the lights dimmed down immediately. He blinked, his eyes sensitive to the bright lights; he sunk down onto the couch, resting his head on the back.
He longed to contact Jen and talk to her, but Logan had advised him not to since she was undoubtedly very busy with her work; he frowned, wishing he could be with her. She was still so young, just an ensign, unexperienced and far from capable of leading a team into battle . . . but there was no way to send human help until they built another timeship.
He looked to his side at the picture of Jen he kept by his bed, graduation day years ago, her arms around his neck and her cheek pressed to his . . . he never realized how much he would miss her if she was gone . . . and now she was.
"I'll see you again soon, Jennifer," he whispered.
*****
"I had heard about you."
Alex stiffened as he raised his drink and took a small sip, he recognized the feminine voice immediately and sighed: "What is it, Sienna?"
Sienna Jacobson shook her head as she sat down next to him, smiling a bit. "No alterior motive, Alex," she said, "just checking up on you. I know you were hurt badly by Ransik, and not that long ago."
"Well," Alex said, "I'm fine now."
"You don't look---"
"Sienna, please." Alex shook his head, rubbing his eyes. "I don't need you here right now, I've got a lot on my mind . . . my fiancee is in the past fighting the same mutant that nearly killed me."
Sienna was obviously surprised, she set her jaw and blinked a couple times at him. "Your . . . fiancee???" she said, folding her arms slowly.
Alex looked back at her. "Yes," he said, "Jen and I got engaged the evening of Ransik's trial, she went back in time after him the next day."
"Not very much time to celebrate . . . "
"It couldn't be helped."
"She went after him alone?"
"No . . . there were three others, too," Alex said, "they took the timeship and the other morphers---Logan told me they arrived at the right time and had Wesley Collins, my ancestor, morph as the Red Ranger. That unlocked the other morphers and allowed them to morph."
"Good," Sienna said, "now they at least stand a fighting chance."
"Ransik brought every mutant cryogenically frozen in the prison ship with him," Alex added, "I wouldn't call it a 'fighting chance'."
"How are they doing?"
"They're all alive," Alex said, "I know that much."
"Well then . . . "
"Sienna, I really have to get to work," Alex said, "there's no time to waste."
Sienna crinkled her brow slightly, and Alex couldn't help but smile at her confusion. "What kind of work are you doing exactly?" she asked.
"I'm working on a new zord," Alex answered, "the Rangers need help."
"You're building a new zord???"
"Yes."
"Didn't know you were an expert in the field of engineering, Alex," her voice was dry.
Alex shrugged, standing up. "I am now," he said, "Logan told me they needed help, and I'd been designing the zord for over a year. I just have to hurry up a bit."
"I hope you're taking care of yourself," Sienna said, sounding concerned.
"Of course," Alex said, "and I don't need you to lecture me about it too much, Sienna, Logan does that enough as it is."
"I'm sure he does," she smiled.
"I have to go now . . . " he gestured to the door.
"All right," Sienna said, "see you around, I suppose. And be careful."
"I will . . . good-bye."
He left the mess hall anxiously and headed up to his office, placing his sunglasses on his eyes to shield them---still sensitive to the light---as he walked down the hallway; he nodded to an officer as he stepped into the lift, leaning against it as it started up to the right floor. The Time Shadow was nearly complete, only a few more tests needed to be done before he would feel confident enough to send it to the Rangers.
"All right," he talked to himself as he went into the office and to the computer. He typed quickly and the Time Shadow appeared, he smiled . . . three weeks and two days after he discharged himself from the hospital, and his greatest mission was almost finished.
He looked up as the screen flickered to show Logan in the command room, walking in with two other officers and looking greatly disturbed. He held up his notepad and read: "Damage to the Time Flyers is extensive, the Megazord will be down for a while."
Alex clenched his fist and swallowed, realizing what Logan was talking about as the captain spoke again: "I want every man available repairing the Time Force Megazord. Until that Megazord is fixed, the Rangers don't have a chance."
The officers saluted sharply: "Yes, sir!"
'There's no more time,' Alex thought to himself, 'I have to send it now.' He ran his hands over the computer quickly, and a moment later heard the computer voice:
"Beginning initial startup testing . . . testing complete . . . awaiting final commands."
Alex took a deep breath and raised his right hand, tightening the glove before pushing a few more buttons; the computer voice spoke again:
"Test run . . . begin."
The megazord appeared before Alex, upside-down, the test nearing its end . . . he rose, walking up to the giant head and placing his hands behind his back.
"Simulation complete. All components test at one hundred percent."
"It's time," Alex whispered.
TBC
This was an incredibly challenging chapter for me to write (and not just because I wasn't online as often as I would've liked). I have no idea how to design a Megazord, lol, but Alex obviously did so I've done my best trying to show you what his life was like in the future while the Rangers were fighting.
It won't be too long before Alex will join the other Rangers, but I'm still trying to concentrate on what went on before that to get a better understanding of his attitude. I hope you enjoy it!
DISCLAIMER: I've taken some quotes from the PRTF episode: "The Time Shadow", but I do not claim ownership to them. The episode was written by Judd Lynn.
***
Logan looked up as the doors swished open and Alex stepped inside, hiding the agonizing pain across his back by a mask of impassiveness; the captain shot him a glare immediately and walked forward quickly, taking long strides.
"What the hell are you doing here, Commander?" he demanded.
"I came to work, Captain," Alex answered, "I'm recovering more quickly than the doctor expected anyway."
"You won't recover at all if you don't give yourself time," Logan scolded, "I spoke to that doctor a few days ago, he told me you shouldn't return to work for another couple weeks. And don't even think about going back on the road!"
"I won't," Alex said, "I need to start work on the Time Shadow now."
Logan sighed, relenting as Alex went to his office, still speaking: "I'll need a place to work, Captain. To construct the zord, I don't have the proper equipment here."
"All right," Logan said, "you can work where we constructed the others, but be careful."
Alex nodded slowly, daring to reach back and rub his shoulder carefully, wincing a bit despite Logan's eyes bearing into him. "Thank you, sir," he said, quietly, "I'll get to work on it immediately. And sitting around all day is hardly stressful, Captain, I'll be fine."
"You can make anything stressful," Logan said.
Alex smirked. "All right," he said, "but I'll take some breaks during the day, and I honestly feel fine, Captain."
"I don't care how you feel, Alex," Logan said, "that can be deceiving. Come on, I'll show you to your new office."
Alex walked behind the captain so he wouldn't be watched and the captain wouldn't notice his stiffness as he kept up with the long-legged Logan; the building he would work in was identical to the building where Ransik was tried and convicted, and Alex felt a chill run up his spine as he remembered.
The room was dark and cold, the console against the wall was in a long, U- shape, a viewing screen above it; Alex nodded with satisfaction: "This ought to work fine, Captain."
"Good," Logan said, "I'll leave you to it then. Alex---"
"I know, Rob," Alex said, quietly.
He went and sat down as Logan left the room, his fingers flying across the computer, the screen flickered and Jen appeared----morphed and in battle with one of Ransik's mutants. He leaned forward and squinted a bit, watching her movements, he had never seen her fight with so much determination . . . or brutality. She called and her Chrono Saber appeared, she gripped it firmly and brought it down across the mutant's chest; sparks flew into the air as she spun around, not watching her enemy fall in defeat.
Alex smiled, then grimaced and leaned back in his seat, suddenly feeling drowsy . . . 'From those damn painkillers,' he thought to himself. 'Well, no more of those then . . . I need to be alert for this.'
Rubbing his eyes, he blinked rapidly a couple times and shook his head vigorously, despite the throbbing that began behind his eyes even as he did so; there was no time to waste, Jen and the others needed him. He pressed a few more buttons and a image of the Time Shadow appeared on the screen, or rather what it would look like when it was complete.
He remained seated for hours without realizing how much time had passed, but soon he felt his body start to give in and he slumped over on the console, his eyes slowly closing. Jen's face appeared in his mind, smiling at him, her eyes bright and merry . . . then tears formed in her brown eyes and streamed down her cheeks, he stirred in his sleep as he heard his own voice . . .
"Take my morpher . . . it's the only way you'll ever . . . stop Ransik."
"No, I can't!"
"You can . . . "
Alex moaned softly as she continued to cry, then she faded away slowly, disappearing into the darkness, her sobs echoing in his ears . . .
"You and me . . . "
" . . . forever."
Someone's hand fell on his shoulder and gently shook him awake:
"Alex? Come on, get up."
"Huh?" Alex opened his eyes hesitantly, recognizing the voice; he waited for his vision to clear before he spoke: "I fell asleep?"
"I told you," Logan said, "I thought you were going to take a break sometime?"
"Must've forgotten," Alex muttered, "how late is it?"
"Twenty-two hundred hours."
Alex cursed, sitting up quickly as Logan removed his hand, still speaking: "I'm taking you home now, Alex. You've got to get some sleep, you can't help Jen or the others in your condition."
"I---"
"No arguing, Commander."
"Yes, sir," he sighed, standing up---stiff and sore.
Logan reached out to pat his back, but stopped himself in time and decided just to smile at him; Alex, however, only frowned as he walked out of the office. "I can drive myself," he said, "I won't fall asleep behind the wheel."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"All right," Logan said, "you be careful out there, and get to sleep as soon as you get home! No more working."
Alex nodded, but ignored the captain and went on his way, out into the night and to the car parked outside; he managed to drive home without dozing off, but as he walked in and saw the long, old-fashioned staircase that led to his room, he realized the hardest part was yet to come. He took a breath and began going up, gribbing the railing till his knuckles turned white; a half an hour later, he stumbled to his room and stood by the door, waiting for the computer to scan him and unlock it.
He heard the click and entered the dark room, reaching back to turn on the dim lights, but he hit the wrong button and the room lit up, the light shining into his eyes . . . he swore loudly and hit the wall again, the lights dimmed down immediately. He blinked, his eyes sensitive to the bright lights; he sunk down onto the couch, resting his head on the back.
He longed to contact Jen and talk to her, but Logan had advised him not to since she was undoubtedly very busy with her work; he frowned, wishing he could be with her. She was still so young, just an ensign, unexperienced and far from capable of leading a team into battle . . . but there was no way to send human help until they built another timeship.
He looked to his side at the picture of Jen he kept by his bed, graduation day years ago, her arms around his neck and her cheek pressed to his . . . he never realized how much he would miss her if she was gone . . . and now she was.
"I'll see you again soon, Jennifer," he whispered.
*****
"I had heard about you."
Alex stiffened as he raised his drink and took a small sip, he recognized the feminine voice immediately and sighed: "What is it, Sienna?"
Sienna Jacobson shook her head as she sat down next to him, smiling a bit. "No alterior motive, Alex," she said, "just checking up on you. I know you were hurt badly by Ransik, and not that long ago."
"Well," Alex said, "I'm fine now."
"You don't look---"
"Sienna, please." Alex shook his head, rubbing his eyes. "I don't need you here right now, I've got a lot on my mind . . . my fiancee is in the past fighting the same mutant that nearly killed me."
Sienna was obviously surprised, she set her jaw and blinked a couple times at him. "Your . . . fiancee???" she said, folding her arms slowly.
Alex looked back at her. "Yes," he said, "Jen and I got engaged the evening of Ransik's trial, she went back in time after him the next day."
"Not very much time to celebrate . . . "
"It couldn't be helped."
"She went after him alone?"
"No . . . there were three others, too," Alex said, "they took the timeship and the other morphers---Logan told me they arrived at the right time and had Wesley Collins, my ancestor, morph as the Red Ranger. That unlocked the other morphers and allowed them to morph."
"Good," Sienna said, "now they at least stand a fighting chance."
"Ransik brought every mutant cryogenically frozen in the prison ship with him," Alex added, "I wouldn't call it a 'fighting chance'."
"How are they doing?"
"They're all alive," Alex said, "I know that much."
"Well then . . . "
"Sienna, I really have to get to work," Alex said, "there's no time to waste."
Sienna crinkled her brow slightly, and Alex couldn't help but smile at her confusion. "What kind of work are you doing exactly?" she asked.
"I'm working on a new zord," Alex answered, "the Rangers need help."
"You're building a new zord???"
"Yes."
"Didn't know you were an expert in the field of engineering, Alex," her voice was dry.
Alex shrugged, standing up. "I am now," he said, "Logan told me they needed help, and I'd been designing the zord for over a year. I just have to hurry up a bit."
"I hope you're taking care of yourself," Sienna said, sounding concerned.
"Of course," Alex said, "and I don't need you to lecture me about it too much, Sienna, Logan does that enough as it is."
"I'm sure he does," she smiled.
"I have to go now . . . " he gestured to the door.
"All right," Sienna said, "see you around, I suppose. And be careful."
"I will . . . good-bye."
He left the mess hall anxiously and headed up to his office, placing his sunglasses on his eyes to shield them---still sensitive to the light---as he walked down the hallway; he nodded to an officer as he stepped into the lift, leaning against it as it started up to the right floor. The Time Shadow was nearly complete, only a few more tests needed to be done before he would feel confident enough to send it to the Rangers.
"All right," he talked to himself as he went into the office and to the computer. He typed quickly and the Time Shadow appeared, he smiled . . . three weeks and two days after he discharged himself from the hospital, and his greatest mission was almost finished.
He looked up as the screen flickered to show Logan in the command room, walking in with two other officers and looking greatly disturbed. He held up his notepad and read: "Damage to the Time Flyers is extensive, the Megazord will be down for a while."
Alex clenched his fist and swallowed, realizing what Logan was talking about as the captain spoke again: "I want every man available repairing the Time Force Megazord. Until that Megazord is fixed, the Rangers don't have a chance."
The officers saluted sharply: "Yes, sir!"
'There's no more time,' Alex thought to himself, 'I have to send it now.' He ran his hands over the computer quickly, and a moment later heard the computer voice:
"Beginning initial startup testing . . . testing complete . . . awaiting final commands."
Alex took a deep breath and raised his right hand, tightening the glove before pushing a few more buttons; the computer voice spoke again:
"Test run . . . begin."
The megazord appeared before Alex, upside-down, the test nearing its end . . . he rose, walking up to the giant head and placing his hands behind his back.
"Simulation complete. All components test at one hundred percent."
"It's time," Alex whispered.
TBC