Sky walked into the mess hall, and quickly spotted his sister sitting with Dru, and two new cadets who had joined last year; Bridge Carson and Sydney Drew.
Both Bridge and Syd had the feeling that they knew Sky and AJ from somewhere, but they couldn't put their finger on t… little did they know that the twins were the Meyers children they had met all those years ago in elementary school.
Ani looked over at her brother and motioned for him to join them. Dru moved over for Sky and Ani had to smile.
After what had happened with their father, Sky had been lucky enough to find a good friend in Dru. Ani on the other hand had thrown herself into her work.
Being in the science department had paid off for her in the long run. She had helped Kat design the morphers for the B-Squad team; running various tests and experiments on them… but she knew something was going on.
Cruger had mentioned that he already had his B-Squad rangers selected, but wouldn't tell anyone who they were. Ani's task had been to figure out how to create a way for beings, other than humans, to use them.
The technology they had for the A-Squad morphers were designed with the idea of only humans using them in mind.
Over the years, Ani had taken an interest in DNA structure, and was at the top of her advanced classes in the field.
It had taken her the better part of the last year to finally break the code, but she had done it with Kat, and was excited to find out who would be getting the new morphers she helped create.
Currently, Sky, Dru, Bridge, Sydney, and herself, were on the C-Squad, but everyone knew that with their altered DNA they would get the B-Squad morphers…
"So then I bought this new sweater, but I don't know if I like it," Sydney said to Ani as she came back to reality.
"Sweater? Syd, it's like 78 degrees ALL the time," Sky said, taking a bite of his lunch.
"But it's cute," she responded, smiling brightly at him. Ani saw the tinge of pink on her twin's cheek and grinned.
"What's so funny AJ?" Bridge asked her. Ani had decided that when she started at SPD, she would be known as AJ around the academy. A new name for a new beginning.
"Nothing," she said. "Just had a little thought is all."
"With you it's NEVER a little thought," Dru said. "It's always some experiment, or a new project."
"Yeah AJ," Bridge said. "I'm all for working in the lab, and going to meetings, and tutoring, and-"
"Bridge," they all said at once, causing him to stop talking.
Ani took a sip of her water. "What is this? Pick on AJ day?" she asked.
"Everyday for me is pick on AJ day," Sky said grinning like an idiot. Ani playfully slapped him.
'By the way,' Sky said to her in his head. 'Happy birthday.'
Ani smiled. 'You too, little bro,' she said back.
'By ten minutes.'
'I'm still older.'
Their conversation was cut short when Commander Cruger entered the mess hall and stood on a platform at the head of the room. Periodically during the week, he, or another officer would come in during lunch or dinner to deliver the daily announcements… new squads, etc.
"Cadets," he said. All the cadets rose and saluted before sitting down again. "I have received a list of students selected for the intergalactic exchange program. As you know, the exchanges will allow certain students to attend other SPD academies throughout the galaxy in order to receive more advanced training in their course of study."
Everyone sat still as Cruger listed the names.
"Harrington, Dru… Nebula Academy," Cruger said.
Dru received high fives from Sky and Bridge as Cruger listed off the final names.
'Smith, Linda… Nebula Academy… Tate, AJ… Kerova Academy."
Ani's eyes widened. "Congratulations!" Sydney said happily. Sky looked over to his twin and knew what was going through her head. "Aren't you happy?" Sydney asked again. Ani nodded her head and put on a fake smile for her friends.
'Mum's never going to let me go,' she said to Sky. Sky put his arm around her.
'Just act happy for now… we'll talk later,' he said back. Ani nodded and turned back to the others…
The rest of the day went by in a blur for Ani and Sky. Today was their eighteenth birthday… things were supposed to be great. They were adults now and ready to go off and live their lives… but all they could think about was their father.
Every holiday, birthday, achievement… they thought of Eric. Things were different now. Kat and Cruger were the only ones at the academy that knew today was their birthday, but they also knew to keep it low key for the twins' sake.
Sky walked into his room and sank into his bed. His classes were done for the day, and he knew Ani's had been over for almost an hour. His eyes fell on the picture of his father and him taken all those years ago.
Things had been so much simpler then. He wanted to be a ranger just like his Papa, and he wasn't going to stop until he achieved his goal.
"Sky?"
He looked up and saw his sister walk in. He placed the picture back in its drawer as she sat down.
"Happy Birthday," she said as she handed him a long blue box. Sky reached over to his side table and handed her a smaller box, wrapped in white paper.
"Happy Birthday," he repeated. They both eagerly opened their gifts. Sky opened his first and held up a blue and silver necktie. "Where am I going to wear this?" he asked.
"I don't know… maybe on a date?" she retorted. Sky gave her a glance. "Plus I KNOW you don't own any, and Uncle Wes has been bugging you for years to get one." Sky had to agree with that one.
Over the years, Wes had become like a father to them… not that he hadn't been before.
Ani lifted the cover of her gift and found a thumb ring, embedded with small pieces of flat, blue mother of pearl.
"Sky, it's beautiful," she said as she put it on.
"You don't have any jewelry, and I figured you needed to grow up," he said laughing.
"I guess we were thinking the same thing," she said softly. Unconsciously, they both reached to the chain around their necks and held the charm that sat there… their father's dog tags…
"Surprise!"
They turned to the door and were instantly on their feet.
Collin and Lucas ran over to them and they all hugged. "Happy birthday!" they said at once.
Taylor watched form the door and grinned. Today was so much more than a birthday for her twins… today her babies became adults, and that scared her.
She had been made aware of Ani's selection to attend the Kerova Academy on KO-35 some time ago, and had been thinking about it heavily. The last thing she wanted was to put her children in more danger…
Shaking her head, she walked in. "No hello for me?" she said smiling. Sky walked over and embraced her, kissing her cheek.
"Hi mum," he said. Ani soon joined them in the hug. Taylor smiled as she released them.
"You guys are all grown up," she said.
"Don't get all sappy mum," Collin said. Taylor grinned at him and decided to get to the task at hand.
"Well, we didn't come all the way here to stand around. There's something very special for you guys downstairs on the loading dock," she said.
"Race you guys there!" Sky said. His two younger brothers took off after him, while Taylor put her arm around her daughter as they walked.
"Mum? There's something I need to talk to you about," Ani said softly.
"If it's about you going to the Kerova academy, I already know."
"How?"
"Kat called me a few weeks ago… said you were the smartest human she's ever met, and to NOT let you go would be a crime," she said smiling a little.
"So… you're letting me go?" she asked.
Taylor sighed. She had been thinking about this long and hard. It was possibly the hardest thing she had had to do for a long time.
"You need to check in with Zhane and Karone EVERYDAY and be in contact with me."
Ani stopped and pulled her mother into a tight hug. Taylor could feel the faintest tears on her neck and she kissed her daughter head. They were growing up…. She had to face that… and she knew that this was what Eric would have wanted…
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Ani said happily. "You won't regret it I swear!"
Taylor smiled and continued walking until they reached the bay. Sky was standing there in total shock. Ani too, let her mouth drop slightly as she stood next to him.
In front of then were two motorcycles in white and blue.
"No way," Sky said as he turned to his mother. Ani looked at her and they saw her grin.
"It was Wes's idea, and Kat and Cruger agreed to let you have them, so long as you use them to patrol… Kat's equipped them with all the SPD bells and whistles too," Taylor replied.
The twins ran over to her again, and grabbed her in a tight hug. Quickly, they descended onto their bikes, with Lucky and Collin right behind them.
Carefully, Taylor slipped from the area and found Cruger in the command center alone. He stood at attention as Taylor stood next to him.
"I think it's a very good thing you're doing for Animaria," he said.
"I'm only letting her go so she can get a good education."
"And Schuyler is going to be promoted the B-Squad. You should be very proud."
"I am," she said softly. "But I need you to promise me something." The alien being turned to his superior officer. "Promise me you won't make Sky Red Ranger."
Cruger gave her a sort of confused look, but understood her reasons. "He'll be devastated," he said.
"I understand that, but I would rather he be upset than be put in the constant line of fire."
"But Taylor-"
"Promise me Anubis," she said sternly. "I will not have my son put in danger, is that clear?"
Cruger took a deep breath. "Yes Ma'am." They saluted and Taylor returned to her family.
The commander walked over to the window and looked out as Sky and Ani drove their bikes around. Things were changing quickly, and he hoped that they would be ready…
THE END
A/N: OKAY- THAT'S THE END OF PART 2! PART 3 WILL BE POSTED SOON…
BROKEN ROAD PART 3: YEARS HAVE GONE BY AND GRUMM HAS COME TO EARTH, SAVING HIS GREATEST WEAPON FOR AN ULTIMATE BATTLE. WILL SKY AND THE OTHER RANGERS BE ABLE TO STOP HIM WITH ANI'S HELP?
SKY/SYD, BRIDGE/Z, JACK/ANI