AN: I appreciate all the reviews. It's nice to see that some people are still interested in the story. R&R!

Chapter 8

"No More Looking Back"

The following day, Commander Cruger and Sky Tate share a one-on-one conversation alone in the Control Room when suddenly Dr. Kat Manx enters the room. She looks up and without paying close attention to them; she walks casually towards the computers.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Cruger carefully questions Sky. "You are one of my best cadets, Tate. You know I can't afford to replace you."

"I know, sir. But I never feel sure about anything in my life until now." He responds thoroughly as Kat looks on from the corner of her eyes, listening. "I've been waiting long and hard for this opportunity, Commander. I remember you once told me that if the time has come then I should take full advantage of it."

He nods his head. "I understand, Cadet. You work hard and you've become a big asset to SPD. But if this is what you want, I won't stop you." Sky smiles in relief. "However, this decision is up to your leader Jack not me."

"Yes, sir."

Moments later, Z Delgado enters the Control Center. Unaware of Sky's presence, she begins heading back. "Sorry, I was just looking for Jack."

"Z!" Sky calls out her name as he turns to Commander. "May I be excuse, Commander?"

"Very well."

"Thanks, sir." Z looks over her shoulder as Sky exits the room beside her. The two began walking side by side slowly down the hallway in awkward silence with mixed thoughts running through their heads. It's been awhile now since they were last left alone and to the both of them, it seems as though they are complete strangers to one another. Unsure of what to say, Sky clasps his hands together behind his back and timidly stares at Z from the corners of his eyes. His lips slightly parted in attempt to speak but it was Z who started it off.

"So…" Z stammers on the first word nervously to break the silence. "What is that all about?"

He shrugs his shoulders in response. "Back there? Nothing important really; just SPD stuff." Z nods her head and averts from his gaze. There was a small pause. "So, how are you doing?" He asks not only to keep the conversation going but because he wanted to know how she's feeling.

"I'm doing much better actually."

"That's good."

"Yeah." She looks down and sighs. "I guess."

Sky frowns on her behalf. "I know I haven't been much of a friend lately."

"Don't worry about it." Z reassures him. "Syd told me everything and what you're going through is understandable."

He bit his lip. "Oh? She told you everything huh?"

"Yeah. It's depressing just thinking about it." She chuckles. "I never thought I'd ever have feelings for y—"She trails off and looks up at him. "I mean no offense."

He rolls his eyes. "Whatever."

Z arches her eyebrows as he begins walking towards the opposite direction. "Sky, I'm sorry for what I did."

"Yeah," he looks over his shoulder. "Me too."

"Should I wear pink…or pink?" Z enters the room and overhears Syd talking to Jack about their upcoming date later on that night as they decide on an outfit.

"Why don't you wear what you always wear? Pink." Jack answers.

Syd turns to him with a smile. "You have great taste."

He raises an eyebrow and smirks. "Yeah…okay." Z snickers as she made her way next to Jack on her bed. "You shouldn't be here, Jack."

"Oh come on. Syd invited me in since you're not around to help her pick an outfit. Thanks a lot. It took like an hour!"

Z chuckles. "Sorry, I was looking for you when all of a sudden I bumped into Sky."

"Ooooh!" Syd turns around and faces her roommate with mere curiosity. "What happened?"

Cadet Delgado sighs. "Well, we talked for a little bit. Then he got mad at me."

"Why? What did you do?"

"I think I offended him somehow." She grimly frowns. "And he's still not over what happened between me and Bridge."

Syd pursed her lips. "Ouch."

"Man," Z heaves another sigh, "I wish I remembered everything. He looked really upset." She looks back on their conversation and frowns. "I never thought I could do anything so horrible like ruining a friendship." Z's gaze met with Jack and Syd. "That's low."

Jack places an arm around his long time friend. "He'll come around, Z. I just know it."

"Yeah, and until then you should come and hang out with us." Syd squeals excitedly at the thought. "There are many fishes in the sea and it's about time we find you one!"

Z stares at her weirdly. "No…I don't think so. You know I'm not the type of girl who wants to go out and meet strangers." She shook her head and refuses Syd's generous offer. "It's your night. You two should spend some time together. Besides, I have a lot of things to do here."

"Date with Syd?" Sky knocks on the door as he enters Jack's room. He looks over his shoulder and smiles.

"Yup. How does this shirt look on me?" Jack questions while showing off wearing a black button dress shirt with a red tank underneath. "You think she'll like it?"

"Yeah." Sky nods. "But you know, blue looks better." He adds with a smirk.

"Ha!" Jack lets out a laugh as he turns his gaze back to the mirror. "Yeah right."

Cadet Tate rubs the back of his neck uneasily and groans. "Jack, you got a minute? I need to talk to you."

He arches his brow. "Yeah, sure." Jack sits down on the bed. "What's up, Sky?"

"Well, where should I start?" He drew in a deep, nervous breath. "I admit I haven't been upfront with you and the others. But I think it's time you should know." Jack listens intently. "You remember the letter you found in my room?"

"Yeah."

"Well, it's a letter from the New Tech Military Academy." Sky pauses in mid-sentence.

"Okay…" Jack slightly chuckles. "And?"

He bit his lip. "And…they want me to be part of the team." Jack's eyes widen. "I got accepted." He smiles. "Isn't that great?" Jack was at a loss for words as his lips parted in mere surprise. "Well?" Sky waits for a response. "Are you going to say something or do I have to pound you to speak?"

Jack lets out a small chuckle. "Sky, that's great. But umm…" He trails off and scratches his head, "what about SPD? Don't you like it here?"

Sky pursed his lips. "Yeah, but I've been training real hard to move on to the next level. This is what I want. It's more than just being a ranger, Jack."

"So that's it. You're leaving, just like that?" His tone becomes bitter.

"With your consent of course," he replies.

Jack nods his head in dismay. "I don't believe this. There you go again, running from your problems. Grow up, Sky! You can't run forever!"

"I'm not running away from anything, Jack!" He retorts. "This is a once in a life time opportunity and there's no way I'm gonna let it go!"

"What about Z! Syd? Bridge? Heck, the entire squad!" Jack yells out in frustration. "You're just gonna leave us hanging over one stupid mistake!"

"This has nothing to do with that!"

"Yeah? Then what, Sky? What!"

He looks down upsettingly and sighs. "You wouldn't understand, Jack." He groans in response. "I mean why bother? You never will."

Jack scoffs and laughs in a mocking tone. "Whatever, man. You want to go. Then go. But think…" He studies Sky carefully. "What if Z suddenly gets her memory back and finds out you left? Then what?" Sky lowers his head down as silence filled the room. "There's no turning back, Sky." Jack slowly walks out the door. "No turning back."

"You're right," Sky looks back at him and stares at Jack seriously in the eye, "because I'm not planning to go back."

His lips parted. "What?" He looks at him disbelief. "Why are you doing this?"

"I just want to start all over, Jack. I don't want to have to look back. There's no point in dwelling in the past."

"Exactly, Sky. Just forget about the past!"

"I can't, Jack. The past is part of me and moving on to a different life will help me get over it. I have to do this."

"So you're giving up on Z and your friendship with Bridge?"

Sky looks down and sighs. "I don't know. All I know is that I have to do this. I'm so confused here. I can't just forget about what happened and pretend that everything is normal." He exclaims clearly. "No, Jack. I need to find myself and by doing that I need to figure things out on my own and see where I go from there."

"But I thought you really like Z?"

"I do." Sky retorts. "But I can't shake the vivid memory of her lying to me. I just can't. Yes, people make mistakes but lying about it? That's something different, Jack."

Cadet Landors avert from his gaze, unsure of what to say in return as silence filled the room. "Well…" he groans while nodding his head considerately, "I guess I'll leave you alone as you pack."

Sky nods with a weak smile. "Thanks, Jack."

'It's your loss." Jack turns away and leaves the room.