A/N: Hey, guys. Sorry it's been awhile since I last updated but I've been real busy with school lately. Thanks again for the reviews. Enjoy!

Chapter 8

"Drawing The Line"

"What the heck is wrong with you!" Sky confronts Jack as soon as Z left the room. The others stood still without having the audacity to get up and leave due to the tension building up inside. It was as though one move can get the other extremely angry. "Are you out of your mind!" Sky yells out. Syd bit her lip as she sneakily leaves the room to find Z and comfort her. Tori, then, follows her behind not wanting to be the only female left in the room. The other guys stayed close in case a fight breaks loose, and so far, it was getting there.

"Do not raise your voice at me, Sky." Jack retorts demandingly. "I'm doing what's best for the group."

"No. You're just driving all of us insane with your stupid rules!" He snaps.

"Enough!" Shane shouts out. "Both of you!" Bridge and Dustin exchange worried looks. 'Uh oh' They thought when suddenly Doctor Katherine Manx walks in the room after overhearing their argument on her way to the control room.

"What is going on here?" She asks sharply as they all fell silent. When she wasn't getting an answer, she folds her arms and snarls at them. "Do I have to repeat myself?"

"Dr. Manx." Sky starts off while keeping a steady gaze on his rival. "Jack here has made up a few rules of his own within academy regulations. He said no one was to leave the headquarters without his consent and has restrict us from where and when we can go."

"Which is totally unfair...Ma'am." Bridge added.

Dr. Manx turns to Jack in bewilderment. "Cadet Landors, is this true?"

"Yes, Ma'am." He nods his head confidently. "It is true."

"You know you can't do that, Jack. It's against Commander Cruger's rules."

"Why not?" He scoffs as he defends himself. "I am the red ranger."

"And you think given the red suit gives you the right to change the rules? Haven't you gone over this with Commander Cruger by now?" She questions as Jack looks down shamefully. "I guess you still don't understand." Katherine Manx retorts. "I don't think you're reading the rule book just like you're told to, Jack. You're job is the lead the team, not to torture them."

"Well, no disrespect or anything but there should be new rules laid down." She listens intently. "No cadet should be wandering around New Tech City or anywhere for that matter when on duty. When on duty, they need to be strictly in the academy and be doing some work and training."

"Z and I were left after completing our orders." Sky argues back. "Commander Cruger simply told us to show the former ninja rangers around the headquarters. That was it. I mean, I don't see why you're making a big deal about it, Jack. We just went out to the record store, got something to eat, and went bowling. If there was something that needed to be done, you should have contacted us. We do have communicators in our morphers so that we can get a hold of each other yah know."

"I didn't know where you two of you were. I was worried. The first thing that came in my mind was that you and Z were in trouble."

"Then why didn't you contact us through our morphers or something? That's what they are for right?" Jack averts from his gaze and sighs. "You know what? I don't think this has to do with me and Z being out on duty. This has to do with you, Jack."

He furrowed his eyebrows. "What are you talking about?"

"You just want to change the rules because you're scared."

"Scared?" Jack laughs ridiculously. "Of what?"

"Of me and Z growing closer."

Cadet Landors chuckles in return. "As far as I know, Sky...Z isn't even attracted to you."

"You're just jealous because she decides to hang out with me, and not you."

Jack roughly pushes Sky out of nowhere. "What did you say!"

"You heard me!" Sky retaliated.

"Hey! That's enough!" Shane separates the both of them as he forces Sky to let go of his uniform. "Dude, come on."

"This immaturity is getting out of hand and it has gone on to a personal level." Dr. Katherine Manx slightly nudges Shane out of the way as she looks right at Cadet Tate and Landors. "I'm taking the both of you to Commander Cruger and we'll find a way to settle this."

"But--"

She interrupts. "Come with me. Now."

In the meantime, Syd and Tori were able to catch up to Z as she came to a complete stop in their room. Syd and Tori looked at each other for a brief moment before following her inside. "Jack didn't have the right to do that." They stood still in front of the door and watched Z tossing some clothes onto her bed.

"Yeah, I know." Her voice indicated anger and sweet bitterness as she continue to stuff some clothes onto her yellow SPD bag.

Syd wrinkled her eyebrows. "What are you doing, Z?"

"I'm leaving, that's what." She responds vaguely.

"Leaving? You can't just leave."

"Watch me."

Syd turns to Tori as the blonde ninja shrugged her shoulders.

"Why are you leaving?"

"My work here is done, Syd."

Her roommate crosses her arms. "You can't let Jack push you around like this."

"Exactly." Z points out. "I wouldn't have to deal with his stupid rules and his change in personality, which is why I'm leaving. I was getting sick of being a part of something big anyway. It just causes a lot of drama."

"This is not the Z I know. She doesn't run away from her problems. She faces them."

"Oh please, Syd." She scoffs ridiculously. "You don't know me at all."

"Yes, I do!"

Z said no more as she remain concentrated on her packing. "Me leaving should be a good thing for you. At least now you would have your very own room once again."

"I don't care about the room. We're a team. You can't just drop the position."

"Well give her my spot." She says, referring to Tori.

"Me? Oh no." Tori chuckles while nodding her head in refusal. "I'm done being a ranger."

Z smirks. "So am I."

"Okay, what about Sky?" Syd asks.

"What about him?"

"Aside from all of us, do you have any idea how hurt he will be?" She questioned. "From the looks of it, he really likes you."

Z sighs deeply in response. "I don't see him in that way, Syd. He's a good guy and all, but we're just friends."

"Uh yeah. Really good friends." She adds.

Cadet Delgado stops and glares at her. "Don't push it."

"Oh my God." Syd gasps as her lips slightly parted and eyes turning wide. Tori and Z exchange bewildered looks.

"What?"

"I know why you're leaving." She places her hands on her hips. "Or at least one reason why."

"I already told you why I'm leaving."

"But you left something out and I know you're hesitating to say it." Syd says reassuringly.

Z smirks. "Alright. Humor me."

"You're afraid you'll get too attached to Sky."

"Ha!" Z chuckles. "Wrong!"

"Oh come on. It sounds reasonable, doesn't it?" Syd turns to Tori for answers. "Well?"

She shrugs. "Don't look at me. I don't know anything."

Syd groans as she stomps her way over to Z. "Please, don't go. I don't want you to go. It would be weird being the only girl in the team..."

"I thought you wouldn't mind that."

"Shh!" She hisses silently to Tori. "You're not helping here."

"Look, I appreciate you having me around but I made up my mind."

Syd pouts her lips. "Can you just think about what you're doing for a sec? Why don't you take a walk and clear your head? I think you need that before making a final decision."

Z thought about it for a brief moment and sighs in defeat. "Alright. I'll do it for your sake."

"Yes!"

"But once I make my decision, you have to promise you'll stop bugging me to stay."

She nods her head in agreement. "Thank you. Thank you!" Syd squeals excitedly as she threw her arms around Z for a hug.

"Whoa! Not too close, Syd."

They parted. "Sorry."

In the control room, Sky and Jack waited till Dr. Manx and Commander Cruger finished their discussion on the other room. The two stood still, feeling the tension mounting between them as though the urge of knocking each other out was unbearable to hold. Sky stole a quick glance of Jack from the corner of his narrowed eyes and groans out of frustration. "You're only getting yourself in so much trouble, Jack."

Cadet Landors turns to him. "Why did you have to take it to a personal level?"

"Me? You're the one who has a fit with me and Z going out all the time."

Jack looks down and deeply sighs. He knew he has gone too far. "That's because I'm afraid I'm losing my best friend." His voice softens.

Sky furrowed his eyebrows. "What?"

He grunted. "You heard me."

"What made you think I would take away your best friend?"

Jack pursed his lips. "I don't know. I mean...it's always been me and Z. We're more than best friends. We're family." He explains. Sky listens intently. "Just the thought of you and Z hanging out made me..." Jack pauses in mid-sentenced. "Well...jealous."

Cadet Tate chuckles at the thought. "Look, if it makes you feel better, I'll just back off."

"No. Don't. That would make Z really upset, and that's the last thing I want from her. Besides, I can't stop you from feeling the way you do. I can see how much she means to you."

Sky smiles. "Yeah. She's really amazing."

"Well, it looks like we have a serious situation in our hands." In the middle of their conversation, Commander Cruger and Dr. Manx suddenly entered the room. "Care to explain, Cadet Landors?"

Sky looks over to Jack. "Actually, sir. We got it under control."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, it's all a misunderstanding." He explains as Dr. Manx raises an eyebrow.

Commander Cruger nods. "Very well. That was easy. You're both dismissed."

"Thanks, man." Jack graciously thanks Sky on their way out. "You had my back there."

He slightly smiles. "No problem."

"And I'm sorry about the whole--"

"Don't worry about it." Sky cuts him off and reassured his teammate with a chuckle. "I understand."

"Now the hard part." Cadet Landors groans reluctantly. "Apologizing to Z."

"Well, you're too late for that now." A familiar voice ring through their ears as they turned around and followed it. "What a liar." The blonde looked away and muttered to herself. Jack and Sky furrowed their eyebrows.

"Syd, is there something you want to share?"

She folds her arms and beams coldly at Jack. "Yeah, thanks to you. Z left." Jack and Sky exchange confused stares.

"What do you mean she left?"

"She no longer wants to be part of SPD."

"What! She can't just do that." Sky retorts.

Jack looks down and sighs. "This is all my fault."

Syd shot him a dirty look. "You got that right."

"I have to go after her."

"No way." She scoffs. "You're the last person she wants to see." Syd tells him truthfully. "Besides, there's no point in going after her. That girl can clone herself."

"But she can't just leave." Sky argues back. "We have to tell Commander Cruger about this."

"And what if he doesn't have the power to bring her back?"

"Then I will."

A/N: Don't forget to review. More coming soon...