Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Power Rangers…this is for entertainment only…
Wes and Jen have finally gotten together…but how long will their happiness last, and what will Wes's trainings be like? We'll see an insight and the rest of his training will be exactly like it, with a few surprises here and there…
Enjoy! Leave a review as always!
The Academy, part 1: Sound Off
"Good morning Silver Hills! It's a beautiful Monday morning!" the radio announced.
Monday. It was finally Monday. Monday meant the start to a new life he had. It also meant it was the day that he's see Jen again.
He still couldn't figure out how to turn off the alarm clock so he grabbed the power cord and yanked it out of the wall, then plugged it back in. That normally shut it off.
Wes threw his feet over the bed and sighed. It was 7:30am, and his classes began at 9am and ran until 3. At three, he was off. At five is when he had his training.
Wes got up and went into his bathroom, anticipating his time at the Academy.
9:00am
Wes stood outside the doors, waiting for it to open. Finally, they did. He walked in and inside was three tables, labeled with the letters A-J, K-T, and S-Z.
"Find your last name and get your schedule, please!" Wes recognized the voice to be Ensign Lombardis.
Wes stood in line, and waited to receive his schedule. But he wasn't interested in his schedule; rather he was scanning to find only one person.
Jen…
That's when he spotted her. She stood by one of the doors, dressedin her uniform, like she always was.
"Next!" called an eager voice. Wes was called out of his trance and stepped forward. "Name please?" the officer said.
"Collins, Wes." He said. The officer whom Wes didn't recognize handed him a card.
To his surprise, there were only a few things listed.
HOMEROOM: 9:30am: room 7
Class A (9:40-10:35): room 15, History.
Class B (10:45-11:50): room 28, Tech
Class C (12:00-1:30) Lunch
Class D (1:40-2:55) Target room
"Hey, Wes!" someone called. Wes turned around to see his three friends coming over. "What's your schedule?" Josh asked.
"Uhh…" Wes began. Mitch snatched it out of his hand.
"Awesome, we've got the same classes!" he stated.
"We can get here later, too. Look, homeroom is at 9:30am." Josh stated. "Extra half hour sleep for me!"
Wes shook his head. "Don't get enough beauty sleep?"
Mitch and Josh laughed, while Jason gave Wes a sour look. "Oh, you're funny, Wes."
A bell rang and they looked at the clock. 9:25. "Let's go guys." Wes said. The four friends made their way there.
"Ah, Cadet Collins. Long time no see!" Wes saw Ensign Anders greet him. "How've you been?"
Wes shrugged. "Not bad. It's easier to get around."
Anders laughed. "It just takes time, that's all." The bell soon rang again.
"All right, settle down, guys." Anders said. The room grew quiet. "This will be extended by twenty minutes, as to I have some key information you will need. First, I'd like to welcome you to the Academy and say congratulations for making the cut. You are all probably wondering why there's a homeroom. This will be much like school, only fewer classes. There are a few things that you should know. First off, that in order to graduate and receive your badges, you need a number of credits. To stay in the Academy, you need to attend a certain number of classes and get an average grade of a C plus or higher." He paused.
"Ensign, how many credits do we need?" one cadet asked.
"It will differ between each course. Now, as you may notice, there are only three courses. And lunch isn't one of them." He chuckled. "I'd like to explain the classes first, though."
Wes took out his card, and then looked at his hand. Ink, no doubt fresh, covered his hand. He looked at the back of the card and there was a note written on a sheet that was safely secured behind the card.
Wes-
I hope you don't find the Academy too hard. But if you need any help, not that I think you will, send me a message and I'll help you with anything. I'll see you soon, and good luck!
With all my love,
Jen
Wes smiled as he read this. He didn't hear a word Anders said. Then, finally the bell rang as he made his way to his first class.
12:00PM
"Wow, this is going to be an interesting semester." Jason stated.
"History is going to be a dumb class. Why do we need to know the history of time?" Josh groaned.
"Tech is common sense. Management of a blaster and the weapons TF has to offer…come on!" Mitch said. "Hell, why do we have to have the Ensigns teach us anyway?"
Jason and Josh laughed. "Yea, just have Lieutenant Scotts teach us…hell, I bet she'd be a better teacher." Josh said as he looked at Wes. "Wes, anyone there?"
"Huh?" Wes asked dazed. His mind still lingered upon Jen's little note to him. "Sorry guys."
Mitch slapped him on the back. "So, where did you run off to the other day? After Lieutenant Scotts showed us around, you vanished."
"I had some things to do." Wes said, but a smile came to his face as he thought of the events Saturday night.
"Come on, let's get a table." Wes said. The four cadets wondered over to a table in the cafeteria.
"I doubt the grub is better here then at HQ. They make the best calzones I've ever had!" Mitch stated.
After the four got their food, they sat down and began to eat.
An hour and a half later they found themselves on the way to the target room. It was dark, and gloomy.
"What the hell is this?" one cadet asked.
"This sure is creepy." Wes muttered.
Just then, a mutant came running at them and each cadet yelled.
"This is the end of you, cadets!" it yelled. Just then five shots rang out and the mutant stopped dead in its tracks. Wes saw one of the lasers were pink, and a smirk came to his face.
"A blaster will be your lifeline between life and death." A figure stepped out of the shadows. "So this is my time to teach all of you how to use one properly."
"Lieutenant." Wes shook his head.
Jen smiled smugly. "Who else would be here, Cadet?" She holstered her blaster. "Fall into line." The ten people in the room did as they were told. "Now that I have your attention…this is a course that I require. Over my years here," she passed Wes and looked at him. "And my time in the year 2001, I have seem some poor shots in my life. I have also seen good officers shot down because of poor accuracy. So now, this is your shot to become a sharp shooter…" another mutant popped up and the cadets ducked, while Jen dropped to one knee and fired an expert shot, hitting the hologram between the eyes. "And save not only your life, but someone else's."
She holstered her blaster yet again. "Everyone grab a pair of glasses and a blaster then take a station. Now."
As Wes took his position, he felt Jen's hand up against his lower back and 'helped' him with his aim; her voice reached his ears, and his ears only. "I'd expect you to pass this with flying colors, Wes."
"What makes you think I won't?" Wes asked.
Jen chuckled. "Does the words chronomorpher and red ranger ring a bell?"
From another station, Jason watched the Lieutenant and Wes in a quiet conversation and he had a feeling it wasn't about his aim. He squinted suspiciously.
"Oh don't worry, Jen. At least I can hit cardboard targets with a toy gun, without your help." Wes chuckled and looked her in the eye.
She playfully squeezed his side. "Smart ass." She muttered.
Wes smiled to himself as Jen moved on to the next person.
He knew he would definitely enjoy this class.
2:55PM
"Blasters down." Jen commanded. A few final shots were fired as each cadet lowered his or her weapon. "That was certainly an interesting period." Jen laughed. She pressed a button and each of the diagrams came forward. "As you can see, there are many of you who don't know how to aim. You will learn that over the course of the semester."
"Yea, like I need any help." Jason muttered smartly. He twirled the blaster around his finger, but the blaster stopped as his finger fell upon the trigger, and it fired. Jen ducked and Wes saw her hand snap to her wrist, as if she were to morph.
She saw him standing there. "Cadet Vincelli!" She yelled. "You owe me ten laps around the gym later."
"Yes, Lieutenant." He muttered.
"Nice job, Jase." Mitch muttered. Jason gave him a glare.
"Until five, you are dismissed." Jen said. The cadets filed out and left.
Jen shook her head as she turned on the lights and sank down into a chair.
"I can't do this anymore." She muttered. "I hate training cadets."
"Aww, that breaks my heart." A voice said. Jen looked up to see Wes standing there in the doorway.
Jen just sat there. "And what exactly are you doing here?"
Wes took a step towards her. "What do you think I'm doing here?" he said smugly as he advanced to where she was sitting.
She sat there and crossed her legs. "Trying to get me fired?"
Wes bent down and gave her a kiss. "Of course." He pulled her out of the chair and held her close. "That's my motive. Fire Jen and take her position."
She placed her arms around his neck. "And take over as pink ranger? I don't think so." She laughed as she gave him a kiss.
Wes placed his head on her shoulder and nibbled on her ear. "I thought this was going to be a discrete relationship…" Jen giggled.
"At the moment, negative, Lieutenant." Wes laughed. He was just about to kiss her again, when Jen placed two fingers over his lips.
"Wait…if I'm correct you have a training in two hours. Shouldn't you be preparing for it, Wes?" Jen asked.
"Aww, Jen. Come on, just five more minutes." Wes groaned and tried again, but she stopped him again.
"I have to get ready, and so do you." She said. But she did give him a quick kiss. "I'll see you later, Wes."
She left him and walked out the door. Wes sighed. "Always gotta do things the hard way, don't you?" He caught up with her as the two walked towards Time Force.
5:00PM
Wes walked into the gym promptly at five. He walked to where his three friends were and the four began to talk. From the corner of his eye, Wes saw her.
"Whoa, is that Lieutenant Scotts?" Mitch asked. The three turned their heads around to see Jen walk out of the girl's locker room in a pair of workout pants and a sports bra. "Ouch!"
"Fall into line." Jen said. The group of ten men fell into a neat line. "Welcome to your first night of training. Tonight will be basics and general information." She paused. "Now, there's a basic command that you will follow. As you know, your group is Bravo-Delta. When we are out in the field, or out on a call, when I need your attention, I will call out 'Bravo-Delta ten hut.' You will respond with a loud huh and snap to attention, eyes foreword, limbs frozen. Understood?"
"Yes, Lieutenant!" the men responded.
"Good. Now, I have few more things to take care of. Explore around here, and get familiar with this place." She stopped in front of Jason. "Cadet Vincelli, I believe you owe me ten laps."
Jason bowed his head. "Yes, Lieutenant."
"Now, please." Jen said sternly.
"Yes, Lieutenant!" He yelled as he ran to the perimeter.
"Dismissed!" Jen said.
She walked back into the locker room.
Wes, Josh and Mitch were chatting when Jason came back, flushed. "God, I hate…laps." He said between breaths.
"Well, if you were not to act all high and mighty, you wouldn't have to do that." Josh stated. "Come on, let's go look around."
Wes began to walk, but out of the corner of his eye he saw Jen immerge as she began to move forward. From the look upon her face, Wes dropped the weights he had been using and waited.
"Bravo-Delta ten HUT!" Jen yelled. Four men, including Wes snapped to attention with a loud huh. A few people continued to talk. "Bravo-Delta ten HUT!" Jen called again. Two people remained to talk.
"Yea, so there's this…" Jason began as he saw the Lieutenant walk towards them. That's when Jason and Josh heard the amount of noise in the gym. It was silent.
"You're not off to a very good start are you Cadet Vincelli?" Jen asked.
Wes began to smile as Jen scolded them again. 'I was lucky, I got off with a lecture.'
"Now that everyone is at attention, here's the next command. When you are at rest position, I will call out 'Bravo-Delta parade rest.' No sound, just do it. Feet shoulder width apart, hands in the small of your back." She paused. "Bravo-Delta parade rest!" With a slick move, the ten cadets did exactly what they were told.
"Excellent. Fall out and circle around here." Jen said. Wes followed his friends and they stood on a perimeter around their Lieutenant. "There was one thing I forgot to mention. Each group will have a team leader whom myself and the other officers will choose. Tonight will be the night you are chosen. I am looking for leadership qualities, ability to stay focused, and you are able to get the job done." She stepped outside of the circle. "I do hope everyone has sneakers on." A confused look came to the cadets' faces. "We're going for a run around the city!"
She ran for the door. "Come on, girls, let's MOVE OUT!"
"I hate running." Wes muttered. The group followed Jen out of the gym and down onto the sidewalks of the city.
"Keep up, guys! Come on!" Jen said. Wes looked at her and gave an extra sprint. "Challenging me, Wes?" Jen asked.
"What would give you that idea?" he asked. She slowed down a bit.
"When I say something, you repeat it! Understood?" Jen yelled.
"Yes, Lieutenant!" they called as they ran through Times Square.
"I don't know what I've been told…" Jen yelled.
"I don't know what I've been told…" they shouted back.
"It's October and it's cold…" Jen said.
"It's October and it's cold…" the echo came.
"We are here to fight all right…" she continued.
"We are here to fight all right…""And training way into the night…" Jen said. Wes laughed as the echo came again.
"And training way into the night…""Bravo-Delta sound off!" Jen called.
"Bravo-Delta sound off!" they repeated.
"Bravo-Delta one!" Wes called.
"Bravo-Delta two!" Jason followed.
"Bravo-Delta three!" came another voice. Wes heard each cadet call off until they reached ten.
"Here's the next verse as you see…" Jen said.
"Here's the next verse as you see…""Lieutenant Scotts is gonna make a man outta me!" Jen smiled.
"Lieutenant Scotts is gonna make a man outta me…" the echo said, with an occasional laugh here and there.
The people around the square watched as Bravo-Delta was circling around the square.
"Now it's time for us to leave…" Jen called.
"Now it's time for us to leave…""Our next stop is our badge we wanna receive…" Jen yelled.
"Our next stop is our badge, we wanna recieve." The echo said.
"Our last line, it end's with a huh…" Jen said.
"Our last line, it ends with a huh…""Who are we?" Jen called.
"Who are we?" the echo said.
"BRAVO-DELTA!" the group called.
They ran around the city until it was time for dinner, at seven. At eight, each member of Bravo-Delta made their way back to the gym for their last two hours of training.
"Whoa, my legs are killing me!" Mitch wined. "This better be an easy two hours."
Wes laughed. "I don't think so, knowing Lieutenant Scotts, it'll only get harder."
"Bravo-Delta ten HUT!" A loud huh was heard as Jen called her group to attention. "Fast learners, good. During combat, you may be required to fight, hands on. Find a sparring partner and stand by them."
Jason and Wes paired up as Josh and Mitch got together. Satisfied, Jen gave the next command. "Well, it seems like I'm short a partner." She walked around. "Any volunteers?"
All of the cadets heard of her journey back in time, and how she fought Ransik hands on. And they all knew she was an excellent one-on-one fighter.
"No takers?" Jen asked. "I'm disappointed."
Jason stepped forward. "I'll take you, Lieutenant."
Jen nodded. "Excellent. Stand right there, Vincelli." He did. But Jen just stood there. "Well, you aren't going to attack me?"
"I don't want to hurt you too badly." Jason said sarcastically.
Wes chuckled to himself. 'Ha. He doesn't know what he's in for.'
"Don't worry, Cadet. Just attack me." Jen pushed. Jason shrugged and threw out a right hook as hard as he could. But Jen grabbed his wrist and flipped him over, the next thing Jason knew, he was flat on his back, gasping for a breath. "Rule one. Never, ever, EVER attack first. Wait for your opponent to come in, that way you have the element of surprise. And the first and last hit." She nodded to Jason. "Thank you for volunteering. Stand down."
He got up and coughed while Josh, Mitch and Wes were laughing.
"Anyone else?" Jen asked.
"Lieutenant." Wes said. Jen turned his way and smirked. "I'll go next."
Jen nodded. "Very well." Wes went out in the middle of the ring to face her. "Let's see what you have, Cadet."
"I'm waiting on you." Wes said.
"Cadet Berkley, you are a sparring teacher, are you not?" Jen said as the young cadet nodded. "Come here." The cadet, knowing what to do, set forth.
"Ready position." He said. Jen and Wes stood there, eyes fierce. "Shake." They did. "Fight!" the cadet called as he stepped out of the ring.
"This will hurt me more then it'll hurt you, Lieutenant." Wes said.
"Oh, I don't think so, Wes. I highly doubt that." Jen smiled. They danced around the ring for a few moments, and then Wes went to strike.
Jen easily dodged as Wes flew by her, but he swept at her leg. Jen jumped back and stormed in at him. Both threw out punches and kicks while a cheer came from the surrounding group.
Wes found an opening and threw Jen to the floor. "Yea Wes!" one called. Wes walked around, hands held up high. "What are you going to do now, Lieutenant Scotts?" he asked cockily.
Jen only smiled. "Nothing." But the next thing Wes knew, he was on the floor, and was on top of him, his legs pinned down, one arm behind him and Jen was shoving his face into the floor. "Rule two. Expect the unexpected. Rule three. I always win. Rule four, when in doubt, see rule three."
The surrounding cadets laughed as Jen helped him up. "That was fun." Jen joked as she slapped Wes on the back. "Willing to accept defeat?"
Wes threw his hands up. "If it keeps me from eating plastic, I surrender."
Jen laughed. "All right, get with your sparring partner. I don't want any bloody noses. No contact. If there is, you'll be out here…" Jen trailed off as someone walked into the gym. "Get to it."
Wes saw the expression on her face. A man with gray hair and a black uniform walked in. Two other people walked in. One Wes recognized as Captain Logan.
Wes saw Jen walk up to this man and give him a sharp salute, and then stood at rest. He couldn't hear their words, but the look on Jen's face was worry. With another sharp salute, she headed towards the locker room in haste.
Then this man began to walk towards them.
"Bravo-Delta ten HUT!" Logan called. Each cadet, with a loud huh, snapped to attention. Logan then called them to rest. "Cadets, I'd like to introduce you to a very important man in Time Force. This is Senior Commander Steven Datas. Sir, this is Lieutenant Scotts' group, Bravo-Delta."
Datas nodded. "Welcome to Time Force. But unfortunately, I am not here on a chat. I am here to observe you all, for one purpose." He took out an oval-shaped object out of his pocket.
'The Red Chronomorpher.' Wes thought.
"This is the Red Chronomorpher, the powers of the Red Ranger. I am here to seek out whom I think are reasonable candidates for this." He paused and scanned through them. "When you are officers, you will have a chance to take a class in which the Lieutenant will be teaching. Then, a test will be given. Whoever comes out with the best scores will have this morpher bestowed upon them, and given the greatest honor of all. Fighting along side Lieutenant Scotts to help keep our fair city safe."
His eyes then fell upon Wes, who stood at attention ever so stiffly. "Now, you are probably wondering where the Lieutenant has gone. There was an attack and she has been called in."
Just then, Jen was seen running out of the locker room, fully dressed and sprinting out the door. "Captain Logan will continue until she returns."
Logan stepped forward. "Now, where exactly did you leave off?" One cadet answered him, but Wes didn't hear.
He walked over to a punching bag while everyone began to goof off, and began to beat it. He looked at his watch. 8:53PM. He was lost in time, wondering when Jen would come back.
If she would come back at all.
One hour later"Bring it in, please." Logan said. Wes came walking up, eyes watching the door.
Then, a sigh of relief came over him. Jen walked into the door, not a scratch on her.
'Thank God.' Wes thought.
"Captain!" she called. Logan turned around.
"Jen, good to see you back safely." He nodded. "I see you are ready to take over."
Jen nodded in thanks as he left. "Now. I am guessing you all had a round or two?" They nodded. "I do, however, have one small announcement before you leave. The leader for your team."
There was dead silence. Wes's heart beat faster. "I have decided that Cadet Collins will be the leader of this group." She looked at him and nodded approvingly. "In my absence, he didn't goof off, while the rest of you did. He was at that punching bag over there, continuing the exercise I gave. The rest of you worked for ten minutes then stopped. He followed my directions and got the job done."
"Lieutenant, how do you know that?" Jason protested.
"It wasn't a call I was on, but behind that two-way mirror over they're, observing with Commander Datas. We both agreed that Wes will be the leader, in case of a real emergency." Jen nodded. "Congratulations, Cadet."
"Thank you." Wes said.
"Now, you've all worked hard today, go home and relax. I will see everyone tomorrow. Dismissed!"
With that, they left. Jen began to walk to her apartment, determined to get some sleep.
"Jen." Wes said. Jen turned around to see Wes walking up to her. "What was the real reason that you made me the leader?"
She began to walk with him to the apartment complex. "Exactly what I said before. Datas and I agreed that you should be made the leader. Everyone was goofing around and you were beating the shit out of that bag." She giggled.
"I was worried about you. I did think that you were on a call." Wes said.
"If I were on a call, do you think I'd take ten minutes to change?" she asked.
Wes cocked his head. "No…But I was still worried."
Jen nodded at the receptionist as they walked into the elevator. Once the doors closed, a mischievous smile came to Wes's face. "Are there cameras in these elevators?"
"No, why?" Jen gave him a lopsided look. "Level 22." She said. They began to move up.
"We have a few minutes…" Wes said mischievously. He pressed Jen up against the wall and gave her a kiss. "I don't think I can wait until tomorrow afternoon."
A ding was heard. "You're going to have to, Wes. This is my floor." Jen said. "I'll see you tomorrow." She gave him a smile and walked out.
Jen walked down the hall to her room, number 18.
Once inside she went to her bedroom she changed and lay down on her bed. The past events with Wes made her smile. Their time spent together, although short, had made her happier then ever.
But what would be happening within the next few months would change everything she's worked for.
Even Wes…
ch 5 up soon…
So, now we some insight of what to come...i have big plans for upcoming chapters....hehe!