***
Alex opened his eyes slowly to the rays of sunshine that came through the stained-glass windows of the Clock Tower; looking around, he quickly remembered the events of the day before. He had arrived in the year 2001, retrieved his morpher and taken over as leader, and battled Dragontron all in one day . . . he was now lying on a hard cot, Jen sleeping beside him on her own.
His keen hearing picked up on the birds outside flapping their wings and chirping cheerfully, the quiet humming of the coffee machine; he sat up slowly, wincing a bit as he stretched out. Coffee sounded good.
He walked across the room and poured himself a cup, sitting down on the couch as Jen yawned, looking over at him through half-open eyes. "Why're you up so early?" she asked.
"It's not that early," Alex told her, "the sun's already up. Besides, I wanted to get a head-start on the work today."
"We'll do better," Jen said, "don't worry. We just needed to get used to this again . . . it's been a while since we've taken orders from Time Force."
"I guess so," Alex said, "what kind of computers do you use around here anyway? How do you locate the mutants?"
"Well, Circuit picks up on mutant DNA when they're attacking," Jen answered.
"But you don't go searching for them?"
"No," Jen said, "maybe we would if we had the manpower, but there are only five of us. We can't always count on Eric to be there when we're in battle, he's with the Silver Guardians most of the time."
"He is in command," Alex said, dryly, "that figures."
"Is Time Force going to take the Quantum Morpher from him?" Jen asked, "we couldn't . . . we tried at first, but eventually he became an ally so we left it alone."
"I can see why," Alex said, "and, no, I don't think so. Not yet anyway. Eric's too important to the mission now, the Quantum powers are much more powerful than the Chrono morphers."
Jen fell silent as she changed into her uniform, then joined Alex on the couch, putting one arm around his wide shoulders. "What's going to happen to us?" she questioned, "you've been in the future all this time, you know how things turn out."
"And you know I can't tell you," Alex scolded.
Jen frowned, running her finger up his neck and behind his ear to smooth back his dark hair, so soft early in the morning. "I can't believe you're alive," she murmured, "I had just gotten used to you being gone . . . and now you're here again."
Alex looked at her quickly. "You don't sound too happy about it," he said.
"Oh, Alex, don't think that." She smiled. "I'm so happy you're alive . . . now I have something to look forward to when I get home. You."
Alex lifted her left hand and fingered the diamond ring she wore, gazing down at it with a sudden softness in his blue eyes. "I had no idea," he said, quietly, "that you thought I was dead. And now, I can't believe you still wear this after so many months."
"I didn't think of ever taking it off," Jen said, "it was the only thing I had to remind me of you."
"I've been watching you," Alex said, changing the subject. "Captain Logan gave me an office where I could monitor your progress, and know when you needed . . . extra help."
Jen's eyes widened quickly. "It was you, wasn't it!?" she gasped, "you're the one who sent us the Time Shadow! We asked Captain Logan about it, but even he didn't know."
"That was me, yes." Alex smirked. "Got myself into a bit of trouble . . . " he let his voice trail off, seeing Trip walking up, already wearing his uniform. "Trip, you work most of the computers around here?"
"Yes," Trip said.
"He's the only one who knows anything about computers," Jen said, "we leave it up to him."
"I need to see it all," Alex said, "I want to find Frax, before he finds us. I'd rather be on the offensive, especially in a situation like this."
"I'll set it up," Trip said, hurrying off.
Alex downed the rest of his coffee and set it aside to paste back his hair, keeping it away from his eyes; when he returned, the screen was set up. It flickered for a few moments before finally settling on a blank image, Trip looked up:
"I'll start searching now."
"Good," Alex said, "we need to be quick about this."
Trip nodded sharply, narrowing his eyes as he continued to work . . . it seemed like hours had passed before he finally got up for some breakfast and Alex took over, frowning at the screen. Jen sat at his side on the bench:
"Nothing?" she assumed.
Alex shook his head. "This is the best scanning equipment you have?" he said, incredulously, standing up and leaving the computer. "We'll never find Frax and his robot with this! And your computer---" he gestured to Circuit "---is worthless."
"Alex," Jen said, "this is all we have. Most of our equipment was destroyed when the timeship crashed."
Alex sighed, folding his arms and turning his head slightly as Jen came up behind him; he brushed by her and headed back to the table. "Well, it's just not good enough!"
Lucas and Katie emerged from their make-shift dressing rooms, the glare on the Blue Ranger's face indicating that he had heard Alex's complaints. Alex glanced up as he sat down and folded his hands on the table; Jen hesitated briefly, standing next to him and staring in silence, then she spoke to the others:
"Why don't we go out for something to eat?" She looked at Alex. "Wes usually makes the food . . . "
"All right," Alex said, "go ahead. I'll call you if we have any trouble."
"Aren't you hungry?" Jen asked.
Alex just shook his head, once again fixing his eyes on the screen; he caught Jen gesturing to the others, and watched as they all walked away, finally hearing the door closing down below. He was alone. 'Well,' he thought, 'except for that bird . . . ' he glared at Circuit, perched on the counter and blinking at him.
"I don't suppose you eat," he said.
"No," Circuit laughed, "Trip didn't program me to need food!"
"I guess he wouldn't," Alex muttered, resting his head in the palm of his hand. "Still nothing . . . looks like we'll have to wait till he attacks again. Damn." He glanced at the clock, it was already nine in the morning, and nothing from Frax and Dragontron yet. "Jen said you pick up on mutant DNA."
"Yes," Circuit said.
"I don't suppose you could find Frax? Or Dragontron?"
"They are robots."
"I know," Alex said, "but could you scan for him? Dragontron is hidden somewhere beneath the ocean, check along the coast."
"I can try."
"Do it."
"Yes, sir!"
Alex stood and unzipped his heavy jacket, laying it on the table; his gold turtleneck stretched across his skin and stuck to any small amount of sweat. He scowled, moving his arms in an attempt to find a comfortable way to wear it, he could certainly understand why the others had chosen to wear civilian clothes.
'It even makes sense,' he admitted.
But without Time Force's permission, it could not be allowed. Suddenly, he heard Captain Logan's voice and looked down at the screen quickly:
"Collins, are you receiving?"
"Yes, Captain," Alex said.
"How are things going?" Logan asked, "have you encountered Dragontron yet?"
Alex sighed. "Yes," he said, "yesterday. It didn't go well. I expect him to attack again today, we'll do our best, sir."
"Do you need anything?"
"The scanning equipment here is virtually useless," Alex said, "it was all damaged when they arrived here, the time ship crashed. We can't find Frax or Dragontron with it."
"I'm afraid we can't send anything like that," Logan said, "that would require another time ship, and qualified personnel to fly it. You'll have to make do."
"Yes, sir."
"Logan out."
The screen flickered, then went blank again; Alex folded his arms, and lowered his head slowly, staring at the wood floor beneath his feet. People had told him long ago . . . 'especially Sienna,' he reminded himself . . . not to get involved with a fellow member of Time Force, that it would become difficult down the road. He hadn't believed them, no matter what, he was certain they could work it out.
'Not having second thoughts are you, Collins?' he asked himself. 'No, I love Jennifer. I want this to work.'
He looked to the door: But did she? Not once since he had come back had she said 'I love you'---granted, neither had he, but there were other hints as well. He had memorized the look in her eyes when they met his, and when they kissed . . . but that look was no longer there.
'It was there for someone else,' he reminded himself.
He imagined Wes in the hospital miles away, sitting with his father and waiting for him . . . to die; the anticipation would be awful, knowing, but unable to stop it. At once, Alex didn't envy Wes at all . . . he programmed the computer to continue scanning without him---and alert him if it found anything---then went and lied down on his cot again. The sounds of the computer, and the birds outside, faded away as he slowly drifted off . . .
. . . he opened his eyes when he heard footsteps on the stairs, and voices; sitting up quickly, he grabbed his jacket and tossed it on, blinking rapidly. Jen was the first to appear at the top of the stairs, smiling with the others, but their faces immediately grew somber when they saw Alex watching them.
"Rangers!" Circuit suddenly cried, "Dragontron's back!"
******
Alex was jerked back as Dragrontron let loose with another round of missiles that struck the Megazord and sent it staggering; the other Rangers cried out in pain, struggling to remain standing as sparks flew up from their controls.
Then, suddenly, the Megazord went completely limp; its arms fell and its head dropped, seemingly completely drained off power.
"What's happening?" Alex wondered aloud, silently cursing himself as soon as the words came out. "I can't believe it, we've lost most of our megazord power!"
"We're open to his attacks now," Lucas said, "we've got to find a way---"
"We've got to destroy that energy siphon," Alex interrupted him, "immediately!"
"Alex," Jen broke in, "I think it might be better if we first---"
Alex shot her a glare, his eyes piercing behind his shaded visor. "I do the thinking, got it?" he snapped, "now let's go!" He rushed out of the megazord, hearing complaints coming from behind, most noticeably, Katie's voice:
"Maybe he should think about this . . . !"
Alex jumped from the top of the Megazord, seeing that he would be surrounded by Cyclobots as soon as he landed, he called for his Chrono Saber; he whirled around as soon as he felt his feet hit the ground, striking at the Cyclobots. They fell aside quickly as he made his way to the siphon, but he was suddenly blocked by Frax---
"Stay right there, Red Ranger!" the robot ordered, "you aren't coming any closer!"
"I won't let you stop me, Frax!" Alex replied.
Frax raised his arm quickly and fired at him, but Alex jumped forward into a somersault, dodging it; he got to his knee and shot back at Frax, who stumbled back a few steps. Something struck Alex across the back before he could get to his feet, and he fell forward, slamming against the concrete.
"Alex!" he heard Jen call.
Quickly, he rolled onto his back and held up his saber just in time to block another blow from the Cyclobot; he kicked, hitting it in the back and sending it flying over him. Lucas ran forward and engaged another Cyclobot as it stepped up to Alex, who was just managing to get up.
"You okay?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah," Alex answered, breathing hard.
Lucas disposed of the Cyclobot, then went and joined Jen, who was holding up her V-5 weapon and aiming it at Frax; the robot was damaged, struggling to continue the fight.
"Give it up, Frax!" Jen shouted. She looked to Alex and smiled: "Let's take him in, Alex!"
"Not till I say so!" Alex said.
"What're you waiting for???" Trip demanded, finally sounding annoyed.
"Quiet!" Alex ordered, "we're going to disarm the energy siphon first!"
"I don't think so!" Frax chuckled, pressing the controls on the small piece he carried. "Fire!" The siphon shot at the Rangers, hitting each of them squarely; they demorphed and fell to the ground.
Alex landed on his stomach, his hands pressed against the cold cement ground; he heard Jen moaning in pain beside him and looked at her through vision blurred by pain. "Jen---" he began.
"Rangers, are you all right?" Circuit cried, flying over.
"Stupid bird," Frax muttered, shooting Circuit and sending it to the ground.
Alex groaned, biting his lip as he slowly got up and faced Frax again even as more Cyclobots surrounded him and the Rangers. He took a deep breath and charged into them while the others tried to follow his lead, he took a few blows, then regained his composure and fought them off. He shot out with his leg, striking three Cyclobots at once and knocking them out of the fight; he heard cries from behind him and turned to see the Rangers once again on the ground.
"Come on!" he shouted, the desperation in his voice growing thicker. "Get up and fight!"
They were just lying there . . . staring at him with wide eyes that begged for answers, Jen's tear-filled, her face smudged with bruises and dirt. "Don't you care that the future is depending on you?" Alex challenged.
He had to get them up! They were surrendering to death by lying there and waiting . . . Lucas . . . Katie . . . Tirp . . .
"I've had enough!" Lucas muttered, finally pulling himself up.
"Lucas!" Trip cried.
The Blue Ranger stalked up to Alex, who turned to him and met him with a cold, intimidating stare; his voice was low, masking the pain and worry: "What are you doing?"
Lucas clenched his fist, trembling with anger; for a moment, Alex wondered if he was going to punch him, then Lucas shouted: "You're the one who doesn't care about the future!"
Trip got up, trying to catch his breath. "If you did," he gasped, "you wouldn't have taken Wes' morpher!"
Alex pushed Lucas aside. "The team is strongest this way," he insisted, knowing it wasn't the truth even as he spoke.
"No!!!!" Katie shouted, clutching her arm. "We're strongest with Wes, if you were a real leader you'd see that!"
'What is this?' Alex wondered, silently. 'Mutiny???' He looked to Jen, did she have anything to add? But she only stared at him with her heartbroken eyes, pleading in silence. He suddenly looked to the ground, he had failed . . . the mission was a disaster, the outcome was the same.
Frax laughed as he walked up to the Rangers, who turned to look at him as he spoke: "What have we here? Discord amongst the ranks? Well, none fo you will have to worry about the future anyway---because it will be firmly in my grip!" He raised his arm again. "Say good-bye, Rangers!"
Alex stood next to Lucas, the others too exhausted to dodge the oncoming fire; they would face their fates together. Frax laughed again as he walked up, but was suddenly falling to the ground, a figure having flown through the air and hit him.
"Wes!" Jen cried, smiling broadly.
Alex looked back at her, meeting Lucas' gaze briefly---something flickered behind his dark eyes, as if he suddenly understood; then they both looked at Wes.
"Everyone chooses their own destiny," Wes told Alex, "and I choose to help my friends."
The former Red Ranger looked at the siphon, then took off at a surprisingly quick pace; Frax, however, had different plans. "Oh no, you don't!" he cried, shooting.
"Wes!!!" Jen cried out in fear, being held back by Cyclobots as she attempted to help the man she really loved.
Wes continued running, none of the shots hitting him; he leapt into the air, one leg striking out and hitting the siphon, smashing it. He landed on the his knee, grunting slightly in pain as he hit the hard ground; Alex watched him, secretly impressed. But he had no time for that, as another group of Cyclobots ran forward and engaged him in another fight; he punched one, then jumped to the side and kicked another in the back as Jen ran forward.
"Alex, please!" she begged, not needing to say more.
Alex looked away quickly, composing himself before he could meet her eyes . . . 'So this is how it's meant to be,' he thought, bitterly. 'I can save their lives . . . Lucas, Katie, Trip . . . they'll all survive.' He looked back. 'And the cost is Jennifer.'
Without a word, he took off the morpher, Jen grabbed it before he could held it out and turned away. "Wes, catch!" she yelled, her face noticeably brighter.
She tossed the morpher through the air and into the hand of Wes, who smiled at it, then looked at Alex; his smile disappeared and his expression suddenly became solemn as he nodded. Alex lifted his head slightly, holding it for a moment before lowering it again in acknowledgement.
"It doesn't matter who the Red Ranger is!" Frax said, "Dragontron will still destroy you!"
"Time for," Wes and the others shouted, "Time Force!"
They morphed together, and Alex finally turned away, leaving them alone to continue the fight . . . there was something he had to do, something he owed to Wes, something he just realized.
Almost without meaning to, he found his legs carrying him to the hospital only a mile or so away; he entered it through a back door, wondering if he was already too late. His heels clicked on the hallway floor as he continued to a storage room; surprisingly, it was unlocked and he went in without any trouble. After putting on one of the white coats, he went back out and began his search; it didn't last long, a nurse ran out of the one of the rooms, her voice panicked.
"Doctor!" she cried, "it's Mr. Collins!"
Alex walked into the room to find Mr. Collins lying perfectly still in his bed, the heart monitor flat-lined; he reached into his pocket and pulled out the crystal ball he had brought with him from the future, just in case. Placing it in the palm of the elderly man's hand, he watched the light seep into his veins and run through his body, revitalizing him; Mr. Collins took one, ragged breath, then opened his eyes . . .
'It is done,' Alex told himself.
TBC
Alex opened his eyes slowly to the rays of sunshine that came through the stained-glass windows of the Clock Tower; looking around, he quickly remembered the events of the day before. He had arrived in the year 2001, retrieved his morpher and taken over as leader, and battled Dragontron all in one day . . . he was now lying on a hard cot, Jen sleeping beside him on her own.
His keen hearing picked up on the birds outside flapping their wings and chirping cheerfully, the quiet humming of the coffee machine; he sat up slowly, wincing a bit as he stretched out. Coffee sounded good.
He walked across the room and poured himself a cup, sitting down on the couch as Jen yawned, looking over at him through half-open eyes. "Why're you up so early?" she asked.
"It's not that early," Alex told her, "the sun's already up. Besides, I wanted to get a head-start on the work today."
"We'll do better," Jen said, "don't worry. We just needed to get used to this again . . . it's been a while since we've taken orders from Time Force."
"I guess so," Alex said, "what kind of computers do you use around here anyway? How do you locate the mutants?"
"Well, Circuit picks up on mutant DNA when they're attacking," Jen answered.
"But you don't go searching for them?"
"No," Jen said, "maybe we would if we had the manpower, but there are only five of us. We can't always count on Eric to be there when we're in battle, he's with the Silver Guardians most of the time."
"He is in command," Alex said, dryly, "that figures."
"Is Time Force going to take the Quantum Morpher from him?" Jen asked, "we couldn't . . . we tried at first, but eventually he became an ally so we left it alone."
"I can see why," Alex said, "and, no, I don't think so. Not yet anyway. Eric's too important to the mission now, the Quantum powers are much more powerful than the Chrono morphers."
Jen fell silent as she changed into her uniform, then joined Alex on the couch, putting one arm around his wide shoulders. "What's going to happen to us?" she questioned, "you've been in the future all this time, you know how things turn out."
"And you know I can't tell you," Alex scolded.
Jen frowned, running her finger up his neck and behind his ear to smooth back his dark hair, so soft early in the morning. "I can't believe you're alive," she murmured, "I had just gotten used to you being gone . . . and now you're here again."
Alex looked at her quickly. "You don't sound too happy about it," he said.
"Oh, Alex, don't think that." She smiled. "I'm so happy you're alive . . . now I have something to look forward to when I get home. You."
Alex lifted her left hand and fingered the diamond ring she wore, gazing down at it with a sudden softness in his blue eyes. "I had no idea," he said, quietly, "that you thought I was dead. And now, I can't believe you still wear this after so many months."
"I didn't think of ever taking it off," Jen said, "it was the only thing I had to remind me of you."
"I've been watching you," Alex said, changing the subject. "Captain Logan gave me an office where I could monitor your progress, and know when you needed . . . extra help."
Jen's eyes widened quickly. "It was you, wasn't it!?" she gasped, "you're the one who sent us the Time Shadow! We asked Captain Logan about it, but even he didn't know."
"That was me, yes." Alex smirked. "Got myself into a bit of trouble . . . " he let his voice trail off, seeing Trip walking up, already wearing his uniform. "Trip, you work most of the computers around here?"
"Yes," Trip said.
"He's the only one who knows anything about computers," Jen said, "we leave it up to him."
"I need to see it all," Alex said, "I want to find Frax, before he finds us. I'd rather be on the offensive, especially in a situation like this."
"I'll set it up," Trip said, hurrying off.
Alex downed the rest of his coffee and set it aside to paste back his hair, keeping it away from his eyes; when he returned, the screen was set up. It flickered for a few moments before finally settling on a blank image, Trip looked up:
"I'll start searching now."
"Good," Alex said, "we need to be quick about this."
Trip nodded sharply, narrowing his eyes as he continued to work . . . it seemed like hours had passed before he finally got up for some breakfast and Alex took over, frowning at the screen. Jen sat at his side on the bench:
"Nothing?" she assumed.
Alex shook his head. "This is the best scanning equipment you have?" he said, incredulously, standing up and leaving the computer. "We'll never find Frax and his robot with this! And your computer---" he gestured to Circuit "---is worthless."
"Alex," Jen said, "this is all we have. Most of our equipment was destroyed when the timeship crashed."
Alex sighed, folding his arms and turning his head slightly as Jen came up behind him; he brushed by her and headed back to the table. "Well, it's just not good enough!"
Lucas and Katie emerged from their make-shift dressing rooms, the glare on the Blue Ranger's face indicating that he had heard Alex's complaints. Alex glanced up as he sat down and folded his hands on the table; Jen hesitated briefly, standing next to him and staring in silence, then she spoke to the others:
"Why don't we go out for something to eat?" She looked at Alex. "Wes usually makes the food . . . "
"All right," Alex said, "go ahead. I'll call you if we have any trouble."
"Aren't you hungry?" Jen asked.
Alex just shook his head, once again fixing his eyes on the screen; he caught Jen gesturing to the others, and watched as they all walked away, finally hearing the door closing down below. He was alone. 'Well,' he thought, 'except for that bird . . . ' he glared at Circuit, perched on the counter and blinking at him.
"I don't suppose you eat," he said.
"No," Circuit laughed, "Trip didn't program me to need food!"
"I guess he wouldn't," Alex muttered, resting his head in the palm of his hand. "Still nothing . . . looks like we'll have to wait till he attacks again. Damn." He glanced at the clock, it was already nine in the morning, and nothing from Frax and Dragontron yet. "Jen said you pick up on mutant DNA."
"Yes," Circuit said.
"I don't suppose you could find Frax? Or Dragontron?"
"They are robots."
"I know," Alex said, "but could you scan for him? Dragontron is hidden somewhere beneath the ocean, check along the coast."
"I can try."
"Do it."
"Yes, sir!"
Alex stood and unzipped his heavy jacket, laying it on the table; his gold turtleneck stretched across his skin and stuck to any small amount of sweat. He scowled, moving his arms in an attempt to find a comfortable way to wear it, he could certainly understand why the others had chosen to wear civilian clothes.
'It even makes sense,' he admitted.
But without Time Force's permission, it could not be allowed. Suddenly, he heard Captain Logan's voice and looked down at the screen quickly:
"Collins, are you receiving?"
"Yes, Captain," Alex said.
"How are things going?" Logan asked, "have you encountered Dragontron yet?"
Alex sighed. "Yes," he said, "yesterday. It didn't go well. I expect him to attack again today, we'll do our best, sir."
"Do you need anything?"
"The scanning equipment here is virtually useless," Alex said, "it was all damaged when they arrived here, the time ship crashed. We can't find Frax or Dragontron with it."
"I'm afraid we can't send anything like that," Logan said, "that would require another time ship, and qualified personnel to fly it. You'll have to make do."
"Yes, sir."
"Logan out."
The screen flickered, then went blank again; Alex folded his arms, and lowered his head slowly, staring at the wood floor beneath his feet. People had told him long ago . . . 'especially Sienna,' he reminded himself . . . not to get involved with a fellow member of Time Force, that it would become difficult down the road. He hadn't believed them, no matter what, he was certain they could work it out.
'Not having second thoughts are you, Collins?' he asked himself. 'No, I love Jennifer. I want this to work.'
He looked to the door: But did she? Not once since he had come back had she said 'I love you'---granted, neither had he, but there were other hints as well. He had memorized the look in her eyes when they met his, and when they kissed . . . but that look was no longer there.
'It was there for someone else,' he reminded himself.
He imagined Wes in the hospital miles away, sitting with his father and waiting for him . . . to die; the anticipation would be awful, knowing, but unable to stop it. At once, Alex didn't envy Wes at all . . . he programmed the computer to continue scanning without him---and alert him if it found anything---then went and lied down on his cot again. The sounds of the computer, and the birds outside, faded away as he slowly drifted off . . .
. . . he opened his eyes when he heard footsteps on the stairs, and voices; sitting up quickly, he grabbed his jacket and tossed it on, blinking rapidly. Jen was the first to appear at the top of the stairs, smiling with the others, but their faces immediately grew somber when they saw Alex watching them.
"Rangers!" Circuit suddenly cried, "Dragontron's back!"
******
Alex was jerked back as Dragrontron let loose with another round of missiles that struck the Megazord and sent it staggering; the other Rangers cried out in pain, struggling to remain standing as sparks flew up from their controls.
Then, suddenly, the Megazord went completely limp; its arms fell and its head dropped, seemingly completely drained off power.
"What's happening?" Alex wondered aloud, silently cursing himself as soon as the words came out. "I can't believe it, we've lost most of our megazord power!"
"We're open to his attacks now," Lucas said, "we've got to find a way---"
"We've got to destroy that energy siphon," Alex interrupted him, "immediately!"
"Alex," Jen broke in, "I think it might be better if we first---"
Alex shot her a glare, his eyes piercing behind his shaded visor. "I do the thinking, got it?" he snapped, "now let's go!" He rushed out of the megazord, hearing complaints coming from behind, most noticeably, Katie's voice:
"Maybe he should think about this . . . !"
Alex jumped from the top of the Megazord, seeing that he would be surrounded by Cyclobots as soon as he landed, he called for his Chrono Saber; he whirled around as soon as he felt his feet hit the ground, striking at the Cyclobots. They fell aside quickly as he made his way to the siphon, but he was suddenly blocked by Frax---
"Stay right there, Red Ranger!" the robot ordered, "you aren't coming any closer!"
"I won't let you stop me, Frax!" Alex replied.
Frax raised his arm quickly and fired at him, but Alex jumped forward into a somersault, dodging it; he got to his knee and shot back at Frax, who stumbled back a few steps. Something struck Alex across the back before he could get to his feet, and he fell forward, slamming against the concrete.
"Alex!" he heard Jen call.
Quickly, he rolled onto his back and held up his saber just in time to block another blow from the Cyclobot; he kicked, hitting it in the back and sending it flying over him. Lucas ran forward and engaged another Cyclobot as it stepped up to Alex, who was just managing to get up.
"You okay?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah," Alex answered, breathing hard.
Lucas disposed of the Cyclobot, then went and joined Jen, who was holding up her V-5 weapon and aiming it at Frax; the robot was damaged, struggling to continue the fight.
"Give it up, Frax!" Jen shouted. She looked to Alex and smiled: "Let's take him in, Alex!"
"Not till I say so!" Alex said.
"What're you waiting for???" Trip demanded, finally sounding annoyed.
"Quiet!" Alex ordered, "we're going to disarm the energy siphon first!"
"I don't think so!" Frax chuckled, pressing the controls on the small piece he carried. "Fire!" The siphon shot at the Rangers, hitting each of them squarely; they demorphed and fell to the ground.
Alex landed on his stomach, his hands pressed against the cold cement ground; he heard Jen moaning in pain beside him and looked at her through vision blurred by pain. "Jen---" he began.
"Rangers, are you all right?" Circuit cried, flying over.
"Stupid bird," Frax muttered, shooting Circuit and sending it to the ground.
Alex groaned, biting his lip as he slowly got up and faced Frax again even as more Cyclobots surrounded him and the Rangers. He took a deep breath and charged into them while the others tried to follow his lead, he took a few blows, then regained his composure and fought them off. He shot out with his leg, striking three Cyclobots at once and knocking them out of the fight; he heard cries from behind him and turned to see the Rangers once again on the ground.
"Come on!" he shouted, the desperation in his voice growing thicker. "Get up and fight!"
They were just lying there . . . staring at him with wide eyes that begged for answers, Jen's tear-filled, her face smudged with bruises and dirt. "Don't you care that the future is depending on you?" Alex challenged.
He had to get them up! They were surrendering to death by lying there and waiting . . . Lucas . . . Katie . . . Tirp . . .
"I've had enough!" Lucas muttered, finally pulling himself up.
"Lucas!" Trip cried.
The Blue Ranger stalked up to Alex, who turned to him and met him with a cold, intimidating stare; his voice was low, masking the pain and worry: "What are you doing?"
Lucas clenched his fist, trembling with anger; for a moment, Alex wondered if he was going to punch him, then Lucas shouted: "You're the one who doesn't care about the future!"
Trip got up, trying to catch his breath. "If you did," he gasped, "you wouldn't have taken Wes' morpher!"
Alex pushed Lucas aside. "The team is strongest this way," he insisted, knowing it wasn't the truth even as he spoke.
"No!!!!" Katie shouted, clutching her arm. "We're strongest with Wes, if you were a real leader you'd see that!"
'What is this?' Alex wondered, silently. 'Mutiny???' He looked to Jen, did she have anything to add? But she only stared at him with her heartbroken eyes, pleading in silence. He suddenly looked to the ground, he had failed . . . the mission was a disaster, the outcome was the same.
Frax laughed as he walked up to the Rangers, who turned to look at him as he spoke: "What have we here? Discord amongst the ranks? Well, none fo you will have to worry about the future anyway---because it will be firmly in my grip!" He raised his arm again. "Say good-bye, Rangers!"
Alex stood next to Lucas, the others too exhausted to dodge the oncoming fire; they would face their fates together. Frax laughed again as he walked up, but was suddenly falling to the ground, a figure having flown through the air and hit him.
"Wes!" Jen cried, smiling broadly.
Alex looked back at her, meeting Lucas' gaze briefly---something flickered behind his dark eyes, as if he suddenly understood; then they both looked at Wes.
"Everyone chooses their own destiny," Wes told Alex, "and I choose to help my friends."
The former Red Ranger looked at the siphon, then took off at a surprisingly quick pace; Frax, however, had different plans. "Oh no, you don't!" he cried, shooting.
"Wes!!!" Jen cried out in fear, being held back by Cyclobots as she attempted to help the man she really loved.
Wes continued running, none of the shots hitting him; he leapt into the air, one leg striking out and hitting the siphon, smashing it. He landed on the his knee, grunting slightly in pain as he hit the hard ground; Alex watched him, secretly impressed. But he had no time for that, as another group of Cyclobots ran forward and engaged him in another fight; he punched one, then jumped to the side and kicked another in the back as Jen ran forward.
"Alex, please!" she begged, not needing to say more.
Alex looked away quickly, composing himself before he could meet her eyes . . . 'So this is how it's meant to be,' he thought, bitterly. 'I can save their lives . . . Lucas, Katie, Trip . . . they'll all survive.' He looked back. 'And the cost is Jennifer.'
Without a word, he took off the morpher, Jen grabbed it before he could held it out and turned away. "Wes, catch!" she yelled, her face noticeably brighter.
She tossed the morpher through the air and into the hand of Wes, who smiled at it, then looked at Alex; his smile disappeared and his expression suddenly became solemn as he nodded. Alex lifted his head slightly, holding it for a moment before lowering it again in acknowledgement.
"It doesn't matter who the Red Ranger is!" Frax said, "Dragontron will still destroy you!"
"Time for," Wes and the others shouted, "Time Force!"
They morphed together, and Alex finally turned away, leaving them alone to continue the fight . . . there was something he had to do, something he owed to Wes, something he just realized.
Almost without meaning to, he found his legs carrying him to the hospital only a mile or so away; he entered it through a back door, wondering if he was already too late. His heels clicked on the hallway floor as he continued to a storage room; surprisingly, it was unlocked and he went in without any trouble. After putting on one of the white coats, he went back out and began his search; it didn't last long, a nurse ran out of the one of the rooms, her voice panicked.
"Doctor!" she cried, "it's Mr. Collins!"
Alex walked into the room to find Mr. Collins lying perfectly still in his bed, the heart monitor flat-lined; he reached into his pocket and pulled out the crystal ball he had brought with him from the future, just in case. Placing it in the palm of the elderly man's hand, he watched the light seep into his veins and run through his body, revitalizing him; Mr. Collins took one, ragged breath, then opened his eyes . . .
'It is done,' Alex told himself.
TBC