A/N: The plan is right now, to complete the Time Force Series in this story, and leave it there . . . for now. So I'll go till "The End of Time", and then maybe another chapter looking at the return of the Rangers, etc. When I get home, in December, I will begin writing again and pick up where I left off, showing how Alex recovers from his losses, and so on. I figured that was a good place to start.
Thanks again for all the reviews!
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Alex jumped quickly at the sound of the computer's voice, it took a moment for his head to clear from the nap he had taken, and for the words to sink in:"The timeship has docked."
His eyes widened slightly beneath the dark glasses he wore, and thoughts raced through his mind: Had they sent the frozen mutants back? Had they returned themselves? Perhaps his talk with Jen the previous night had done something to change her mind about staying in the past and fighting for a lost cause; either way, he was anxious to find out.
Captain Logan was waiting for him at the docking bay, his hands behind his back and his face stern as he watched Alex walk up quickly. "Is it them?" Alex asked, "are they back?"
"Yes," Logan replied, "they're inside---" he gestured to a door "--- probably still asleep, they had a rough trip."
Alex nodded, but walked by him anyway and typed in the password, the doors swished open . . . the Rangers were crowded around the window, but they turned abruptly upon his entrance. "Welcome back, Rangers," he said, "I'm glad to see you finally came to your senses, and returned to where you belong."
'What kind of a thing was that to say?' he wondered to himself, as Jen began to approach him. She wobbled a bit, unsteady on her legs; her eyes never left his, right up until she stood in front of him and collapsed . . . he reached out and grabbed her arms, holding her up till she found her feet.
"Whoa . . . easy, Jen," he said, softly, "you've traveled a thousand years, it can be a little disorienting." He smiled warmly. "Now that you're back, you can relax . . . enjoy the life you left behind."
She was stiff beneath his fingertips, so he loosened his grip and rubbed her arms; but the look she gave him forced him to drop his arms immediately, standing awkwardly and staring at her. A few more moments passed, before Katie stepped forward, demanding:
"What happened to the future?"
"Did Wes save the city?" Trip jumped in.
Jen came alive at the mention of Wes' name and grabbed Alex's shoulders, the urgency in her face clear: "Alex, tell us---what happened to Wes?"
Alex closed his eyes briefly, then looked up again and shook his head slowly; Jen's eyes were already tear-filled, and he hadn't even told her yet. "He didn't make it . . . " there was no way he could have---his fate had already been sealed, and with no one there to help him . . . "But," he added, "he fought bravely, and his efforts helped save the future."
'Might make them feel better,' he thought to himself. But he knew instantly that he was wrong, Jen's eyes overflowed with tears, and when he reached for her she pulled back. "Jen, I know this must hurt," he said, unsure how to continue as she continued to resist him. "But after you go through memory adaptation---" he had to tell them eventually "---you'll feel a whole lot better."
"'Memory adaptation'!?" Jen cried.
"It's standard procedure," Alex explained, "whenever someone travels back in time, we have to erase their memories to acclimate them back to the present." He watched their reactions, none of them good. "When it's done, you won't remember a thing about the year two thousand one."
For a moment, no one moved---then Jen turned to her friends, for once looking to them, asking them what to do next. Alex set his jaw and averted his eyes as he felt Lucas' stony glare, he wondered how Jen was feeling at the moment---he knew if someone tried to force him to have his memories of her erased, he would fight back.
'And she will, too,' he told himself.
"Do we have a choice?" Katie asked, "I mean, what if we refuse? We don't need to have our memories erased just to settle back here---!"
"Katie, you don't have a choice," Alex cut her off, "Time Force usually briefs their officers on this before they go on a time travel mission, but you didn't have that, obviously."
"So . . . we have to," Lucas said, "even if we don't want to."
"I'm afraid so," Alex said.
"You can't do this to us!" Jen said, her voice breaking. "We spent almost a year in the past---we made friends! You can't just expect us to have that all erased!"
"I have to expect that of you, Jennifer," Alex said, trying to reach out to her again---she hit his arm away, more fiercely than before.
"Don't touch me right now, Alex," she said, her voice low. "Just . . . leave me alone."
Alex hesitated, then stepped back and took a deep breath. "I'll show you to your temporary quarters," he said, "it will take a few hours for you to be processed, then we can go on with the procedure." He gestured to the door, then walked away, hoping they would follow him.
Logan stood outside and smiled at the Rangers when they emerged. "Welcome home," he said, "I'm happy to see you're all in good health."
"Yes, sir," Lucas spoke up.
"We'll be with you in a little while," Logan said, "in the meantime, get some more rest. I know you all must be worn out, after such a long and stressful mission."
"I guess so," Jen said.
Alex watched her cautiously, the short walk to their quarters was silent, and no words were exchanged when he tapped in the passwords to let them through. Jen kept her eyes on the floor, while Lucas shot him another glare; only Trip dared to look up and give him a weak smile, he only lowered his head in acknowledgment.
The doors slid shut all at once, and Alex stood alone in the hallway, finding himself staring at the room Jen had just disappeared into. He couldn't hear what was going on inside, although his imagination was beginning to run away with him---there was a computer in there, she could look up Wes if she wanted to. Or maybe she was just lying in bed, staring up at the dark ceiling and thinking about him . . .
He leaned against the wall and folded his hands, wondering if eventually Jen would come out to see if he was still there . . . 'why would she be doing that?' he asked himself. He knew she was still angry at him for the way he had acted months before, understandably so, too; but another side of him continued to be defensive. She was the one who was sneaking around behind his back, flirting with some guy she hadn't known half as long as him.
'She thought you were dead.' He slammed his fist against the wall, stinging his hand as he continued to argue with himself. 'Well, I'm not! She's known that for months now, and she still hasn't told me.'
Finally, he decided it was time to go, he still had work to do, regardless of the Rangers having just returned; he didn't have a partner now, but he could go out anyway. He grimaced, Abigail's dying face flashing before his eyes again . . . he had the spent the better half of the night thinking about her, and how many different ways he could have prevented her death. If only he had moved quicker . . . had shouted a warning to her before that knife stuck into her stomach . . . than a young, and promising, ensign would still be alive.
He had let her down . . . Alex gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white; not living up to expectations seemed to be a habit he was forming, Abigail wasn't the only person he had let down. But that would soon be cleared up, and things would be back to normal; Jen would forget about Wes, and her love for him.
'But she still loves someone else,' the voice inside of his head told him, 'you can't erase that. How strong could your love possibly be?'
What would happen if Jen met another man, someone from the present? If she could fall in love once . . . it could happen again, and he couldn't just erase it every time.
'Damn it, Jennifer . . . I'm sorry . . . '
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"Alex!"He turned to see Jen hurrying after him, tying up her hair as she walked; he stopped and waited for her, making no movement. Jen smiled a little, but he could tell she was nervous as she opened her mouth and tried to speak:
"I-I need to talk to you."
"I agree," Alex said, "but you go ahead."
"Okay---" she took a breath "---I don't want to forget, Alex. I know it's 'standard procedure' and all, but it's really important to me . . . I made friends back there, and some really good memories."
Alex frowned down at her and watched as her face fell with disappointment; did she really think he didn't know the real reason why? "Jennifer," he said, "I don't have a choice, it's not my decision to make. If you have a problem with it, you need to take it up with higher officials."
"They won't listen!" Jen insisted, "I came to you because I thought you would understand, and try to help." She bit her lip, chewing on it uncomfortably while Alex stared at her through icy blue eyes. "I need your help, Alex," she said, softly.
'Don't do it . . . this is your only chance of saving your relationship! If you do this, there's no hope of a future with Jennifer.' Alex shook off the voice ringing in his ears, it could be right, but then again, perhaps his intervention would bring Jen back to him in the end . . .
"I'll do my best," he said, "but I can't promise anything."
"Thank you so much," Jen said, a smile finally lighting her face in earnest. "I'm going back, but I'll be in my quarters all day. When do you think we'll know something?"
"Soon," Alex said, "Time Force won't take long." 'To decide that they're going to go through with it anyway,' he added, silently. "I'll contact you as soon as they make a decision."
She nodded, then walked back down the hallway, leaving him to go on his way; he straightened his jacket, heading for Logan's office. He might as well try, if Logan agreed, Jen would retain all her memories of Wes . . . but they could work things out, and their relationship would be stronger for it. He stood outside and knocked, waiting only a moment before Logan allowed him in.
"What is it, Alex?" there was a tone of impatience in his voice.
"The Rangers have requested that they be exempted from memory adaptation," Alex said, "it makes sense, sir, considering they were never briefed on it. I didn't exactly have a chance."
"No," Logan said, "they weren't. But if we started doing this . . . well, why do they want that anyway?"
"They befriended people back there," Alex said, "and they say they 'made a lot of good memories'. Honestly, sir, I can't see any harm in letting them keep their memories."
"It's standard---" Logan cut himself off, not giving Alex the chance. "No, Alex. It's not going to happen. This is why we tell our officers to stay away from the people of the past, so they don't form friendships and want to remember them."
"They needed Wes," Alex said, "they had no choice."
"They could've let him unlock the morpher," Logan pointed out, "and then taken it back. There was no need to become attached." He sighed. "You'd best advise them not to resist, Alex, you know what the punishment would be for that.'
"Yes, sir." He snapped to attention, then left the office, unsure how to react; shouldn't he be relieved? He wasn't. Instead he was disappointed, disappointed in himself for not being able to help Jen; she had asked something of him, and had genuinely wanted to do it for her, whether he realized it or not.
He didn't even ask for permission to enter when he came to Jen's room, just typed in the word and came in, finding her sitting at her desk and staring at the computer screen with wide, tear-filled eyes. The Red Ranger was fighting off Cyclobots in front of her, crying out in pain with every blow as they slowly wore him down . . .
"I'm sorry, Jennifer," Alex said, "Logan denied your request."
"I figured he would," Jen said, "I shouldn't have bothered you." She hit a button and the screen disappeared, Wes with it; Alex winced as she choked back a sob. "Y-You should go now, Alex."
"Jennifer . . . I really think we should talk."
"Maybe later," Jen said, then rolled her eyes. "We can't later, can we? I won't remember anything to talk about." She looked down at her ring and touched it gently, twisting it around her finger. "I never meant for any of this to happen, Alex."
'Don't do it, Jennifer . . . please.'
"I know we had some difficulties," Jen continued, "but I really care for you, Alex . . . that will never change." She looked up at him, her eyes wet and her cheeks stained with tears.
'But some things do change . . . you don't love me anymore, do you?'
"It's almost time," Alex said, "I'll go, see if everything is ready." He wanted to reach out to her, but it was too late now. "I'll see you soon."TWO HOURS LATERAlex pushed the button and the doors slowly opened, the Rangers gathered in the room turned quickly and stared at him, but his eyes never left Jen's:
"It's time."
Jen nodded, taking the first steps toward Alex, who waited in front of the door with his hands clasped together solemnly. "How long will it take?" she asked, rubbing her hands together the way she always had when nervous.
"Only a few minutes," Alex told her, "and it's completely painless--- although you might have a bit of a headache afterward."
He took her arm and led her away, the others fell in line behind them; the walk took about ten minutes, no one spoke, no one even looked at one another. Jen had her eyes fixed on the floor, watching her feet as they carried her; Alex stared straight ahead, his hand resting on the small of Jen's back as a small gesture of comfort.
"You'll be okay," he said, quietly. "I'll take you back to your place when it's over and let you rest . . . you'll probably have at least a week of leave, too."
"Will you make up some sort of story about what really happened?" Jen asked, "or just not mention it at all?"
"No, you won't be lied to," Alex said as they entered the room, "eventually the memories will return, little by little. But not as clearly, so you can adjust."
"I see . . . "
Alex shuddered inwardly, the room was lit by a dull, blue light and the white lights from the cubicles cast an eerie glow on their uniforms; despite his heavy uniform the cold of the room seemed to sink through to his skin. He opened the door to one of the cubicles and Jen stepped inside reluctantly, but without any resistance; he smiled at her encouragingly, but she looked down at him with a blank expression in her eyes.
"Ready to begin, Commander," one of the medics spoke.
Alex moved to the computer and put his hand to the button, looking at Jen, who appeared to be reminiscing; her eyes were closed, her chin raised slightly. Finally, she opened her eyes and looked back at him, chewing on her bottom lip; again, he smiled a little to calm her.
"Ready to begin memory adaptation," the computer announced.
Alex turned his eyes to the computer, his heart pounding in his chest and his mouth going dry, with one touch of a button, he could have everything back . . . just like before. 'This is the right thing to do,' he tried to convince himself as he felt the tip of his finger brush the button---
"No!!!"
Alex froze as he heard her voice and Jen pushed the door open, tearing off the headset she wore as she walked off briskly, still speaking: "I don't want to forget, in fact I'm going back to help him!"
"Jen!" Alex called, catching up with her and grabbing her arm, yanking her to a stop. "Just . . . wait."
"I'm with you, Jen!" Katie said, stepping out.
"We all are," Trip put in.
"Don't try to stop us," Lucas warned, standing behind his three comrades.
Alex looked at them, shocked by their defiance, then turned to Jen; he lessened his grip on her arm, his voice softening as he pleaded with her. "I don't want you to go," he said, "you could be killed."
"We have to," Jen insisted, "don't you see? How can we live our lives knowing it cost Wes his?"
And there it was. The name was finally mentioned, the emotion behind it clear in Jen's shining eyes and trembling hands; she lowered her head, her right hand moving to her left and reaching for the ring he had slid on what seemed like an eternity ago. Slowly, it slid down her finger and off completely, then she held it out to him . . .
. . . he took it without hesitation, feeling the burn behind his eyes as he watched it glisten in the low light; he looked up, searching his now former fiancee's face for answers. She only looked back at him, just as pained, just as sorry that everything had turned out so wrong, after all they'd been through.
Alex stepped back, giving them room to pass by; he took deep breaths, trying to calm himself so he could speak just before they disappeared: "Take the Megazord, use jet mode . . . " he looked at them, tears forming and beginning to fall " . . . it's got the best chance of making it through a vortex."
"Thank you," Jen said, a small smile forming and warming her face.
Alex nodded, then watched them turn and hurry away before anyone could change their mind; he choked quietly, dropping his head and looking at the ring again. It felt so tiny in his rough hands, so delicate . . . and now so pointless; it was supposed to be a reminder of their love, a circle that would never end. He shook his head, closing his fist around the ring as he left the room, unable to think or speak.
"Alex?" Logan said, curiously as he walked by. "What the hell is going on?"
"I-I'll tell you in a minute, sir," Alex stammered, "excuse me, please."
He didn't wait for permission, just went on to his office and locked the door behind him; he pressed his back against it, closing his eyes. He couldn't do it anymore . . . tears began to stream down his face as he slowly slid to the floor, pulling his knees up to his chest and wrapping his arms around his legs, burying his face in them. He sobbed quietly, squeezing his eyes shut and gripping the ring so hard it cut into the palm of his hand; it hurt, but he never felt it.
"I love you!" he shouted to the air, looking up through his tears. "Damn you, Jennifer . . . I need you . . . "
TBC