Variations Of Pink
Chapter 3: Rising Problems
By: Pink-Green-White-4ever
Last Revised: August 10, 2005
Summary: During a talk with Kat, something goes wrong for Syd, and it seems Sky's the only one who can help her. Added onto it, the Rangers finally learn that they've got a new bad guy to contend with, and two former Rangers make an appearance at SPD Headquarters.
Rated: T for now, but it may change
Disclaimer: I don't own PR, Disney does.
The loneliness of nights alone
The search for strength to carry on
My ever hope has seemed to die
My eyes had no more tears to cry
Then like the sun shined from up above
You surrounded me with your endless love
You are my everything
Nothing your heart won't bring
My life is yours alone
The only love I've ever known
Your spirit pulls me through
When nothing else will do
Every night I pray
On bended knee
That you will always be
My everything
-- My Everything by 98 Degrees --
"Welcome Cadets," Kat called to the group of twenty or so young people between the ages of twelve and sixteen who were standing at attention on the track just behind SPD Headquarters. "My name is Dr. Katherine Manx. I work with the SPD Rangers. I'd like to take a moment and introduce you to your new teachers."
Standing just behind Kat in their color-coded, SPD issued uniforms, were the former B Squad Rangers. "These five young people behind me are the former B Squad Power Rangers, the very same who defeated Grumm."
Kat stepped back a little and gestured to Jack. "This is Jack Landors, Red Ranger and Leader of the Squad. He's a martial arts expert and will be handling some of your physical training."
Jack stepped forward and nodded once to the cadets, who stood in awe of the legends before them.
"This is Sky Tate, Blue Ranger, and second in command. He's a criminal profiler, which means you'll be spending plenty of time in a classroom with him. He holds the record for the obstacle and mud courses, so you'll be training under him in those areas as well."
Sky smirked at the cadets and nodded, stepping forward to join Jack.
"Next is Bridge Carson, Green Ranger. He's a master mechanic; I don't think there's anything he can't fix. You'll be spending most of your time with him inside the Zord bays, learning about the Delta Runners and the other zords we're working on."
Bridge grinned, stepped forward and waved at the cadets, who smiled back. Most of the female cadets sighed, thinking how incredibly cute their instructors were.
"Allow me to introduce Elizabeth Delgado, otherwise known as Z," Kat started when Z made to protest. Z smiled her thanks and stepped forward. "She's the Yellow Ranger, and a police negotiator. You'll be spending a lot of time in a classroom and in the simulation room with her."
Z waved to the students, chuckling as the male cadets whistled softly.
"Last but not least, allow me to introduce to you Sydney Drew, Pink Ranger, and computer genius." Syd rolled her eyes and stepped forward. "Your training with Syd will include time spent in the Command Center learning the SPD Computer system."
The wolf whistles got a little louder for Syd, causing Z, Bridge, Jack and Kat to chuckle. Sky merely glared at the male cadets, who, seeing his stern expression, backed off and cringed.
"Cadets, please break off into you groups and join your instructor," Kat ordered before turning fully to the Rangers. "They're all yours. Commander Cruger wants you to work with each group for an hour, lunch is at noon. Good luck, and Sydney , I'd like to see you after you finish your lunch."
"Alright, let's rock and roll!" Jack laughed, slapping his hands together as the team broke apart.
Their first order of business was to run the dry obstacle course. The Green, Red, and Yellow Rangers was stationed along the course, to encourage the cadets on, while the Pink and Blue Ranges remained at the finish line, to record finishing times and names.
"This is boring!" Syd whined and stamped her foot as she stood next to Sky. In her hand was a data pad, to record the cadets' times, while Sky held the stop watch Kat had given him before they'd set out.
"You said the exact opposite the first time you ran this course," Sky told her, rolling his eyes.
"There were other reasons I thought this course was exciting the first time, and every time after," Sydney smirked at him, her mind wandering back to that first day, when she'd been paired with Sky and Bridge.
"Oh, and what would that be?"
Sydney debated a whole two seconds whether or not she should tell him, and chose to just blurt it out and let him deal. "Because I thought you and Bridge had cute tushes."
The Pink Ranger giggled as her teammate started coughing and nearly dropped the stop watch. "Excuse me?"
"Remember, I was behind you guys by a couple of seconds? There was a reason; I happened to be checking out the view."
Sky blushed, shaking his head at Syd's revelation. He could remember scoping her out back then too, only he'd pushed the thoughts out of his head because becoming the Red Ranger had been his primary goal; it was nice to know he hadn't been alone in thinking slightly sexual thoughts of his teammate.
"We're done!" Jack called as he, Z, and Bridge neared the two.
Bridge cocked his head, discreetly slipping his glove off and waving his hand at Sky when he saw the look on his roommates face. Z saw him and looked to his face for conformation. 'Embarrassment. Excitement. Discomfort. Pleasure.' Turning, Bridge looked at Z and smiled widely, telling her silently that he had something to discuss with her out of earshot of their friends.
"Later, common room," Z muttered, eyebrow raised in question, as Bridge grinned goofily at her and nodded before they both turned to face the others.
"Alright, you guys," Jack laughed. "Z, Sky, you guys take four cadets each up to the classrooms. Syd, Bridge, you'll each take four to your respective areas. I'll keep four with me down here. We'll meet back here in say an hour and exchange cadets. Dismissed!"
Each Ranger grabbed a data pad from Sydney, who had picked them off a small table that had been set up not far from her, and looked down at the list of names on it. In orderly fashion, each Ranger called their cadets and left, until only Jack's squad was left on the field.
"Well?" Syd snapped as she strode through the doors to Kat's office.
"Sydney , have a seat on the exam table there," Kat called, motioning toward the hospital like bed in the middle of the room. Rolling her eyes, Sydney moved over and then climbed up to sit down. "I've been running scans of you Rangers for the last couple days, comparing before your defeat of Grumm and after. You energy readings, in particular, seem off, and I don't think it's because of what's going on with your parents."
One slim eyebrow rose in question. Before the Pink Ranger could open her mouth to speak, she slammed her eyes shut and felt the world tilt.
Darkness.
Rain.
Rough hands.
Sharp pain in the chest.
Cold steel.
Crying.
Dizziness.
Fear.
Calling for help.
The images flashed before Sydney 's eyes, but they made no sense. It was only belatedly that Syd realized Kat was practically screaming her name and shaking her. She didn't feel safe, even though she knew she was. Not knowing what else to do, Syd began to scream.
"SKY!"
"CADET TATE REPORT TO DR. MANX'S OFFICE!"
Sky was standing with Jack and their cadets when he heard the summons. Turning, Sky shot a look at Jack, who nodded, before he took off toward the base.
Before he reached Kat's office, he heard the screams.
"SKY! HELP! NO!"
Fear choking him, Sky sprinted as fast as he could down the hallway and into Kat's office. What he found inside broke his heart.
"Sky, try to calm her down. We were talking and all of a sudden she shut her eyes, her energy levels dropped and she started screaming for you. Before I knew it, she was curled in a ball in the corner and she won't let me near her."
Sky heard Kat's explanation but it didn't register, as his only thought was calming Sydney down. Carefully, he crept over and crouched down in front of his friend and teammate. " Sydney ," he whispered softly, not wanting to startle her.
"SKY!" she sobbed loudly, throwing herself from her curled position into his arms, nearly knocking him off his feet and onto his back.
Once he'd steadied them, Sky sat on the ground, cross legged, and cuddled her in his lap like he had just the day before when they'd talked about her parents. "I'm right here, Syd, you're safe. Nothing's going to hurt you," he spoke, hoping to soothe. "Syd, will you let Kat take a look at you?"
"NO! NO MORE! IT HURTS!"
Sky was a loss for words as he continued to hold her, rocking back and forth while he smoothed her hair down her back. He heard Kat gasp in shock, but the reason for it didn't register until he realized he was stroking Sydney 's BLONDE, not brown, hair. Gasping, Sky pulled back and cupped Syd's face, bringing it up so he could look into her eyes. That's when he noticed they were filled with tears, and BLUE, not brown.
"Syd, you eyes and hair," he murmured in shock, rubbing his thumbs over her cheeks. "Please, let Kat scan you. I promise, she won't hurt you, and I'll be right here."
He saw the stark fear in her eyes, right along with the confusion, and it broke his heart right in two. A small nod from her let him know she was okay with Kat scanning her.
"My God, her readings are off the charts," Kat muttered as she scanned Sydney with a hand held health scanner. "Sky, take her to her room while I go talk to Commander Cruger, and stay with her. I'll call the others to meet you in there."
Sky nodded and nudged Sydney so that she was sitting on her own, on the floor. Hurriedly, he got to his knees, slid one arm under her knees and the other across her back, hoisted her up princess-style, and began to carry her to her room.
"Can I help you sir?" the receptionist asked as two figures strode up to the front desk of SPD Headquarters.
"Yes, I'd like to speak to Commander Cruger."
"May I ask who you are?"
"Tell him Jason and Katherine Scott are here to see him."
The receptionist's eyes grew round with shock. "Of course, Mr. Scott. Let me page him for you."
Anubis looked at the data pad Kat had handed him and shook his head. Sydney 's energy readings were off the charts, and he didn't think and neither did Kat, that Sky had anything to do with that.
"Commander Cruger, you have visitors," the receptionist's voice came over the loud speaker in Cruger's office.
"I'm busy; please tell whoever it is to come back later."
"Commander, its Mr. and Mrs. Scott."
Anubis and Kat's eyes met, both widening with shock. "Send them up."
"It's been a long time, old friend," Jason called as he and Katherine entered the room.
"Too long," Anubis spoke, standing from his seat, Kat following his lead. "Welcome back to SPD, both of you."
"Anubis, Kat," Katherine greeted, a warm smile on her lips and her eyes sparkling. It had been a very long time since she'd seen them. In fact, it had been at the funeral of Sydney 's biological parents when she'd seen them last.
"Katherine," Kat greeted, smiling. She stood up and hugged her friends then turned to Anubis. "I'm going to go check on our patient, and I'll report back to you later."
Cruger nodded, knowing now was not the time to alarm the Pink Ranger's parents. "Have a seat," he spoke as Kat left the three in the office.
"Where is she Doggie?" Jason asked bluntly.
Anubis sighed. "At the moment, Kat's on her way to see her. We had an incident a half hour ago, something happened to Syd."
"Is she alright?" Katherine cried out in shock and fear.
"She's fine. Cadet Tate is with her at the moment, and has been with her since she called to him for help. Something's wrong with her energy levels, Kat's still trying to uncover what." Anubis' eyes stared straight into Jason's deep brown gaze. "She knows, part of it, but I refused to speak with her about them until she'd spoken to you. Now probably isn't the best time for your talk."
Jason nodded. "We'll head down and see her, let her know we're here, and then head to the hotel. We'll be in touch."
Anubis nodded. "The Rangers' quarters are on level eight."
Both Jason and Katherine shook Cruger's hand before turning and striding out of the office and toward their daughter's room.
Slight Cliffhanger, I know. Let me know what you think!