A/N: I appreciate all the reviews. Thanks again. Enjoy the next chapter. The story is sorta almost over, so hang in there.

Chapter 10

"Still Hanging On"

Troobians were sighted in New Tech City as Katherine Manx immediately alerts the rangers. Syd and Z jumped inside the jeep as Jack and Bridge rode on their cycles. As soon as they arrived in the given location, the four began their attack against the Krybots that suddenly came their way. While fighting them, Z was moments later confronted by the evil Morgana as she attacked her from the back. Z slightly stumbled foreword as she turned around and faced her.

"Well if it isn't the yellow SPD ranger." Morgana's voice was dreadful. "I should have finished you when I got the chance."

Z glares at her. "Yeah, for once we agree." She pauses briefly and smirks,"Because I'm going to make you pay for what you've done."

"Ha! You could barely stand the last time we met." Morgana laughs rather pathetically. "What makes you think you can defeat me now?"

Z's eyes narrowed as she slowly gets into a fighting stance. Her fists tightly clenches together in preparation, "Well let's see. I'm extremely angry, bitter, and most of all I'm driven to kick your butt this time. Hiya!" Z attempts a round kick as Morgana ducks down and blocks one of her shots. Morgana tries to leg sweep her to the ground, but Z retaliated with a back flip. The cadet comes from behind and took hold of Morgana's arms as she struggles to break loose. Morgana loosens her grip and abruptly pushes Z out of the way. Z was able to sustain balance as she gets into a stance and multiplies herself. "Come on, girls!"

Morgana gasps, "Three against one?" Her eyes widen, "That's not fair!"

Z and her duplicates began going at it as they throw punches and kicks in midair, sending Morgana flying towards a wall. Just when she has put Morgana in her place, Z continued with the punches and kicks as Morgana desperately blocks her shots and struggles to keep going. As soon as there was no more adrenaline left in Morgana, she fell on her knees in defeat, all out of breath. Z grabbed her by the collar with a balled fist in mid air, ready to take her out, "Time to finish you off, Morgana!" She looks on in horror. "This one is for Sky."

"No!" Jack stops Z as he quickly grabs her wrist. "Don't do it."

Z looks at him perplexedly and scoffs. "Why not?"

"You've done enough, Z. Just be thankful she didn't finish you off first." Jack says while taking out the handcuffs. "We need her around for questioning."

She pulls her arm away from his grasp and glares at him. "Seeing that witch behind bars isn't good enough, Jack."

He sighs. "Maybe not, but I admit, she did some pretty wicked things. But finishing her off is not the answer."

Z rolls her eyes and faintly chuckles. "You want to take her in?" She returns the handcuffs back to him. "Then go for it." Z roughly pushes Morgana out of her way. "I'm done with this job."

"What?"

She looks over her shoulder. "You heard me." Z places her morpher on his hand. "I'm done being SPD."

As soon as the Krybots retreated, Bridge and Syd joined with Jack as they watch Z walk off in bewilderment.

"Z!" He yells out, unaware that Morgana has sneakily escaped from his sight. Jack finally took notice as he turns around and gasps. "Oh no! Morgana!"

She laughs evilly and waves. "See you later, suckers!"

Morgana then disappeared.

"Damn it! She got away!"

Syd folded her arms. "Good going, Jack." She states out of sarcasm.

"How can you let her get away!" Bridge questions in outrage. "That was our only chance!"

Jack looks down in disappointment. "Sorry! My mind was set on Z. She just said she quit."

"What?" Syd's lips parted surprisingly at the news. "She can't just leave!"

"Oh yeah, she can." Jack meets her eyes, "Because she just did."

Bridge and Syd headed back to the academy to break the news to Commander Cruger as Jack goes after Z. Once he caught up to her at the corner of the city bank, Jack pulls her shoulder to face him. "We need to talk."

She grunts resentfully. "Why? I said what I needed to say."

"You're serious about quitting?" Jack begins walking next to her.

"That's what I said right?" She stated in a mocking tone.

He scoffs in responds, "But why? I thought you like what you do."

"It's more personal, Jack."

The cadet rolls his eyes. "This has to do with Sky doesn't it?"

"That is none of your business!"

"Z!" He stops her from walking. "You can't let one guy do this to you. He's not worth it!"

Her eyes were beginning to fill up in tears as she looks down to hold it in. "But I want him to come back, Jack." Z's voice trembles through streaming tears. "I need him to be here."

"I know." He embraces her for comfort. "And I need you here." Jack sincerely adds, "The team needs you here, Z. And if Sky were here, he would need you too." Z begins crying uncontrollably as she buries her face on his chest. "Please don't leave. Not like this." She makes a small nod as Jack continues to console her. "Everything is going to be okay."

A week later…

"Jack?" Cadet Landor's thoughts were later interrupted by Bridge who just walked inside the common room. He shook his head and left room for Bridge to sit, "You alright?"

Jack deeply sighs in response. "Not really."

"Yeah, it's been crazy this past week." Bridge looks down, "I know what you mean."

"Sky is seriously gone and he's not coming back, Z is going through a meltdown right now, and Syd is not even talking to me." Jack speaks rather angrily. "What else could go wrong here, Bridge?"

"Well, there's Grumm trying to take over the world."

Jack groans. "Yeah, and that too.

"Not to mention A-Squad missing for nearly a year now." Bridge added.

"Okay, you don't need to list everything." Cadet Landors groans out of frustration.

Carson bit his lip and apologizes, "Sorry."

"Any word from Sky?"

"I'm afraid not."

He pursed his lips. "Hmmm, I was thinking…maybe we should go over there and visit Sky." Jack suggested to Bridge. "But it would only be between us two."

"You serious about this?"

"Yeah, I don't see why not. We'll just go over there and see what's up." He smiles at the thought. "Aren't you even a little curious to see what he has been up to? Besides, it's been months now, don't you miss him?"

"Sky is like my best friend, Jack. Of course I do," he replies. "But I don't think he would want to see me after what happened."

"Regardless of the history that evolved between the both of you, I'm sure he'd like to see you." Jack reassures him. "So what do you say huh? You're in?"

Bridge looks up and weakly smiles. "I guess. Sure."

"Alright, but remember no telling the others especially Z."

He nods, "Got it."

"Tell Z about what?" A feminine voice filled the room as Jack's eyes widens. The guys turn around and were taken by surprise of Syd's appearance. Jack and Bridge exchange worried looks as she stood in front of them with her arms crossed. "What were you guys talking about?" Syd demands an answer. "Is there something I should I know?"

"Well…" Bridge gulps nervously, "Not really."

Jack rolls his eyes at him. "It's nothing, Syd. We're just talking about Sky and how we shouldn't mention him whenever Z is around."

She studies him carefully while slowly nodding her head. "Okay." The blonde stares at her male teammates suspiciously. "Well, just checking."

"How is Z doing?" Bridge questions out of curiosity.

"Well she's working out at the gym right now, but I'm a bit worried about her." Syd's expression was filled with mere concern. "She's been pushing herself hard lately. Z hasn't been getting enough sleep. She's definitely working herself out."

"Have you talked to her?" Jack wonders as Syd looked away and avoided his question. After asking again, there was no response. He nods his head in dismay. "Okay, I get it. You're still mad at me."

"Well duh." Syd rolls her eyes as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

He groans. "How many times do I have to say sorry? What will it take for you to forgive me, Syd?"

She plasters a fake, mocking smile at his way. "I'll let you know."

"And when will that be?"

Syd gradually makes her exit and responds, "Long enough."

Jack groans as soon as she left the room. "Is she ever like this with Sky?" He questions agitatedly.

"Why do you think they broke up?"

Jack nods his head, "Good point."

"Look, there's nothing you should worry about." Bridge reassures him. "From what I've seen, Syd is crazy about you. She's just playing hard to get and testing you."

"Testing me?"

"After her break up with Sky, it's been quite emotional and heart wrenching for the both of them. Now that you entered her life, she's afraid it will happen again." Bridge thoroughly explains to him. "So you got to watch out about what you say and what you do."

Jack looks down on the floor and sighs, unaware of Syd's past. "Wow…I'm such an insensitive jerk."

"Why you say that?"

Cadet Landors rubs his eyes uneasily. "I just am. I say things without thinking first." He groans."I need to find someway to have her forgive me."

Bridge frowns on his behave. "So when do you plan to see Sky?" He asks to change the subject.

Jack looks up and replies, "First thing in the morning."

A/N: Hope you guys like that. Don't forget to leave a review. I know the story seems kind of slow right now...but I want it to look as if Sky has been gone for a long time because he has. The next chapter is when we'll get to hear from him, and also you'll see some changes during the time he was away so yeah! Just a little info for you readers out there before my next update.