He didn't know what to think anymore. In some strange way, he shouldn't even be here. He shouldn't exist! It was against the law. Landon had broken that law the moment he got together with Helen Drake and had a son. But he was here. And everything he thought he knew, he was now starting to question, everything he had learned about being a Time Force Officer. Should I allow him to stay? Time Force isn't even really sure if he's alive. But it's my duty as an Officer to bring him in. What harm could it do in leaving him? He sighed heavily. It could destroy the timeline…But if he hadn't gotten involved with Helen then I wouldn't even be here. I might have never been born…
Alex wasn't sure what he should do. He was caught up between two places: duty and family. Landon was his family in some strange way. It could make someone go crazy just thinking about it. But it was very clear in his family history that Nick Drake grew up without his father. It was never really known as to who Nick's father was; it was as if that information had been wiped away, erased.
So maybe that was his answer right there. There's nothing to think about. Landon would go back to the future, but still Alex couldn't help but feel guilty for ripping apart the small family. They all had looked so happy together.
He was walking down the hall heading towards his bedroom, when he passed by Wes's and saw Jen moving around in Wes's room. He stopped and watched as she walked around the room, looking lost and so alone. He couldn't help but wonder if what Landon had and will go through, is the same thing Jen had been going through with Wes. He smiled faintly. Ironic isn't it, that my family tree seems to find themselves in love with people they'll never be able to have; Landon with Helen, and Wes with Jen.
He wanted to go in there and console her, but what could he say? Wes was gone. And even if Wes were here, he couldn't allow them to be together, no matter how much he hated seeing Jen suffer. It would only be worse in the end….But he had learned something today; you can't always help who you fall in love with, even when you know the law is against you, and that unfortunately sometimes love just isn't enough.
He wasn't sure how long he had been standing there since Eric had dropped him off. A few minutes, maybe longer, he wasn't sure. He should have gotten here a long time ago, but he had let his pride and anger get the best of him. Taking a deep breath, "You guys have room for one more?" asked Conner, standing in the doorway. He watched as the three turned around. At first the three didn't say a word to him, just stared at him, almost as if they were in disbelief that he had actually shown up.
"I think that's up to Trent," stated Kira.
Conner and Trent locked eyes. Conner gulped in heavily. If there was one thing he hated doing it was apologing and admitting he had been wrong. "Look I'm sorry, man, I should have understood and been there for you at the beginning." Conner walked up to him and put his hand out. "I'm just sorry it took me so long to realize that. Friends?"
Trent smiled and shook Conner's hand. "Always. And I'm sorry for lying to you." He turned and looked at all of them. "All of you."
"Hey, don't sweat it, man, you were only doing what you thought was right," said Ethan patting Trent on the back.
"Yeah we're always here for you, Trent," smiled Kira, taking his hand in her.
Trent looked at his three friends and smiled, perhaps there was hope after all. "Thanks guys."
"Jason, don't postpone the wedding just for my sake," said Tommy as he walked around his kitchen with the phone to his ear.
"No. I want you here. It's no big deal, bro. It's going to be a small wedding, and besides Emily wants you here for it. She says she hasn't seen you in years."
"But Jase, this is your wedding we're talking about. And God knows how long we'll be going at this. Mesogog may be out of the picture, but Janiaxaur and Hexasaur are still out there."
"Tommy, we've been over this, saving the world is far more important then my wedding, take your time, and don't worry about it."
"But-"
"No but's, you're not getting out of being my best man that easily."
"Alright, you win." Tommy heard someone pounding at the door. "Hey, I got to go Jase, I'll talk to you later." Tommy looked at his watch; it was almost midnight. Who could be here at this time in the night?
"Alright, take care, bro."
"You too, bye." He hung up the phone and started towards the door.
The knocking turned into a loud pounding, as if they were trying to break through the door. Tommy opened the door to the sound of pouring rain, but saw no one. He stepped outside and looked around, but didn't see anything. "Hello, anyone out there!" he called out, but no one answered his call. He looked around for a few more moments until turning around to head back inside, wanting to get out of the rain before his clothes got soaking wet. Lighting flashed and the next thing Tommy saw was a dark figure standing in front of his door.
His heart raced with fear as his eyes filled with terror. "What the-"
"Where is she!" the dark figure yelled as he punched Tommy hard in the face.
Tommy fell backwards crashing hard in the muddy ground. The lighting flashed again and he got a better look at his attacker. It was Zeltrax. "Zeltrax!" He pushed himself up and started backing away.
"Tell me where she is? What did you do to her!" he yelled out madly as he continued to approach Tommy in a violent manner.
"What are you talking about?" asked Tommy, not having a clue as to who Zeltrax was speaking about.
"Elsa! I know you did something to her. Where is she? What have you done to her?"
"Elsa? What are you talking about?" The closer Zeltrax got, the more Tommy backed up until he could go no further. He felt his hands back up into something, rough, a large tree. Tommy turned his head and sure enough he had put himself in a bad position. He felt his heart pound against his chest the closer Zeltrax got to him.
"Don't play games with me! I know you did something to her. You killed her, didn't you!" yelled Zeltrax, staring Tommy right into his face.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I haven't seen Elsa in weeks!"
"Liar!" Zeltrax threw a punch at Tommy, but Tommy dodged it quickly and heard a loud crack, as pieces of bark broke off the tree. Zeltrax went in for another punch; this time Tommy had no time to react.
He felt Zeltrax's fist collide with his face. He dropped to the ground face first spitting blood out of his mouth, as he struggled to get to his feet. Zeltrax then kicked Tommy over on his back and pressed his foot against Tommy's chest, crushing his ribs. He screamed out in pain.
"Tell me!" Zeltrax yelled, pulling out his sword and pointing it right at Tommy's neck. "I won't let you take her away from me again, not this time!"
This time? What the hell is he talking about? "I've told you. I don't know what you're talking about!" He gasped for air.
Zeltrax eyed Tommy in the eyes, seeing great fear behind them. He's telling the truth. He slowly backed off of Tommy, for a moment he just stood there and watched as Tommy took in a deep breath. He slowly began to back away into the dusk of night.
It took a few moments for Tommy to gather his bearings. He slowly stood up, getting ready for any more of Zeltrax's tricks. But he was gone. "What?" Tommy looked around, but Zeltrax was gone. "What was all that about?" He ran his hand over his face wiping away the mud mixed with his blood off of his face.
"Zeltrax, show yourself!" But no one answered. Tommy turned around and around screaming out, "Smitty!" But again there was no answer.
The rain poured down hard and thunder rolled as lighting flashed. He shivered from his now soaked and muddy clothes. He took one more look around before he headed towards his front door, dragging his feet and slightly limping as he held his hand against his broken ribs.
In the dark shadows of the night, Zeltrax watched as Tommy walked inside and closed the door behind him. His breathing was heavy and sounded weak. "Elsa? Why is she so important to me?" He gripped his hand around his sword. "Why can't I remember?"
The next morning Conner, Ethan, Kira and Trent walked into Dr. O's classroom followed by other students who headed towards their desks. The bell rang and everyone sat down. The room fell silent when Dr. O walked in very slowly. He appeared to be limping slightly and his face looked red and puffy. They watched as he set his briefcase down on his desk and then turned around to face the class.
"Um, today's going to be a free day, you can catch up on homework and talk quietly amongst yourselves." Without another word he walked around his desk and sat down.
A few minutes passed and everyone was off doing their own thing, doing homework or playing cards with each other. Conner and the others shared a concerned look. Dr. O looked pretty rough.
"No, you go," whispered the three to Conner.
"No. One of you go! I went the last time," protested Conner.
"Class, keep your voices down, please," they heard him say.
They turned their heads around and saw him working at his desk grading papers and doing a little reading. He eye looked a little puffy and there looked to be a large cut across his face.
"He looks like someone used him as a punching bag," commented Trent.
"Did he get in another fight with Alex or Eric?" asked Kira softly.
The guys shrugged their shoulders. "Not as far as I know, but knowing those three maybe it was a free for all," replied Ethan.
"Would Trent, Kira, Ethan and Conner please come up to my desk for a moment," announced Dr. O.
The four got up and headed towards his desk. "Is there a problem, guys?" he asked, staring at them.
"Why don't you tell us?" said Conner crossing his arms against his chest and made a gesture towards Tommy's outward appearance.
""It's nothing."
"It sure doesn't look like nothing to me," added Trent.
"Yeah, come on Dr. O," Kira looked around to make sure none of the other students were listening in. "Did you get attacked or something?" she asked.
"It's over with and I dealt with it. Nothing to worry about."
"Dr. O, don't mean to sound all mommy on you, but I saw the way you were walking in here and I think your ribs may be broken," stated Ethan.
Tommy sighed. Leave it to a bunch of teenagers to go all protective on him. "If it'll make you happy I'll have Hayley check them out after school. Now do you four think you can sit quietly now?"
The four nodded their heads and headed back to their seats. "And I thought Eric was the only tough guy around here," commented Conner as he took his seat.
Jen was working on the computer when she came across a file marked Hexasaur. She was getting ready to open the file, when Alex came up behind her and shut the computer off. "Hey what's the big idea!" she yelled.
"You've been on that thing all day Jen, nothing else to see."
"I haven't read the file on Hexasaur, yet."
"I've already gone through it twice. There's nothing there, only his attack tactics, nothing else to see."
"Well, maybe I'll find something you didn't," said Jen. She then leaned over to turn the computer back on.
But Alex moved in front of her. "You're working too much, Jen. You should go out, have some fun."
Jen eyed Alex carefully. Since when is he okay with anyone having fun? "Is there something in that file that you don't want me to see?" she asked, knowing that had to be the only reason as to why Alex was being very persistent in getting her away from it.
Alex looked at her blankly. He wouldn't let her get through him, not this time."No. Of course, not. I just thought you could use a break."
Jen shook her head. She wasn't buying this one bit. "No you're hiding something." She looked him right in the eyes. "What's on there that you don't want me to see?" she asked firmly.
Alex bit his lip. How could he tell her? He knew he couldn't, the moment she found out all hell would break loose. He crossed his arms against his chest. "I'm ordering you to not get back onto that computer, and Hexasaur's files is off limits, only I, your Commanding Officer can look at it. Is that clear!" he stated firmly.
"What's going on, Alex?" she demanded.
"It's for your own good, Jennifer. Trust me on this."
"Trust you? How can I trust you, if you won't even be honest with me as to why you don't want me looking into that file?"
He sighed heavily. "You're just going to have to."
Jen got right into his face, anger burning in her eyes. She looked like she was about to explode as she shook her head. "And to think I thought you actually had changed." She walked past him, brushing against his shoulder.
Alex turned and watched as she left, slamming the door behind her. He sighed heavily. He hated this, but what choice did he have. He knew the moment he told Jen what his theory was, she would go after Hexasaur on her own, fully intent on getting him back. "I'm sorry Jen."
He turned on the computer and went into the Hexasaur file. The screen split in two showing two video images, one of Hexasaur and one of the red time force ranger. Alex watched the way both of them fought. Their fighting skills, the similarities couldn't go unnoted.
"For her sake, let's hope I'm wrong about this."