A/N: Just a quick shout

Michelle - Yay! I'm glad you're loving the story. I can tell by your review. lol. I'm not sure if this story will be longer or shorter than the other one, but we'll see! As far as your questions, hopefully they will be answered in this next and following chapters.
Jnr Cpl Scarlett - Thanks for the review. You'll see how Sky is doing in this chapter.
Step2stepgirl - Ha. Who knows? Maybe throughout their struggle, Sky and Z are meant to be after all. I don't know...hmmm...lol.
CamFan4Ever - I was actually thinking of doing a follow up of the triangle between Tori/Hunter/Kira. In the future, you'll see the SPD rangers and NS rangers interact in their time of 2020..when NS rangers are older. I promise you'll get your answer.
Islandgurlie12- Thanks and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
garnetred - You'll see what Jack and Bridge finds out about Sky.

Chapter 11

"A New Life"

The following morning, Syd and Z got up bright and early to head off for training as the guys exited the Control Center after a talk with Commander Cruger. As soon as he granted them his consent to visit New Tech Military Academy, Jack and Bridge made sure they sneaked out of the building without any of the girls spotting them from afar. Once they made it out safely, the guys took the next bus to visit Sky.

"I wonder where Jack and Bridge could be." Z wonders as she and Syd jogs side by side around the track outside SPD Headquarters.

Syd rolls her eyes at the thought of his name. "Who cares?"

Z shot her a look, "Everything alright between you and Jack?"

"Does it even look like it?" The blonde retorts irritably.

"I take that as a yes."

Syd looks at her as they continue to run a few more laps. "How are you feeling?"

"Alright I guess." Z answers with a weak shrug.

"Do you still miss him?"

"Can we not talk about him, Syd?" Cadet Delgado groans resentfully. "I feel fine not talking or thinking about him."

She bit her lip. "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it." Z reassures her as they begin to run out of breath and slowly get tired. "Eventually I'll get over it. Right now, I just want to move on and forget about him."

"You know he'll always be a part of your life right?"

"I'm not saying that I'm going to remove him from my life completely. No, because he'll always be a part of me—a part of my life. He made me feel what I've never felt before and I'm thankful for that." Z sincerely explains. "But things changed. Sky is just my past—my memory. That's it."

"You ever thought about what would happen if he'd ever come back?" Syd questions.

There was brief silence between them as they finally reached the end of their run. The two stopped and bent over to catch their breaths.

"Let's just say," Z pauses in mid-sentenced, breathing heavily. "I hope he doesn't ever come back."

Syd's lips parted in surprise. "Why?"

"Because I don't think I can stand ever looking at him again. I mean he left, Syd without saying goodbye. Why would he even come back? Why did he even leave the first place? And if he ever comes back, what would he be coming back for?"

The blonde looks up, "You. He'd be coming back for you."

"That's such a lie." Z averted from her gaze and scoffs. "He left because of what happened. I'm the fool. I fell for something that I thought is real and this whole time I was being naïve and unaware of what's really happening."

"What you and Sky have is real."

"No," Z nods her head in dismay, "What you and Sky had was real."

Syd furrows her eyebrows. "What are you saying?"

"If Sky were to come back," Cadet Delgado stares at her intently, "it would be because of you."

"But that doesn't make sense. Where are you getting all this, Z?"

"I saw one of your sketches in the room while cleaning up. It's on top of the dresser. You'll see why." Z turned away and began running towards the field, leaving a perplexed Syd behind.

Jack and Bridge arrived after an hour trip and stood in front of a huge metal gate that led to the New Tech Military Academy. As they revealed their identification to the main security, the man opened the gates for them. They walked inside and observed the place. There were men dressed in matching sweats and shirts, training at one end of the field and another group marching with rifles. Shouts and commands filled the air when suddenly a young, blonde, blue-eyed and beautiful woman in uniform of high rank came walking towards their direction with a clipboard in hand.

"You two must be the cadets of SPD Headquarters." She says in a deep, serious voice.

Jack nods his head. "Yeah, we're here to see Sky Tate."

"Wait here." She turns around and went off to fetch him.

"Well…" Jack shifts his gaze over to Bridge, "This is definitely a place for Sky."

"He always wanted to be here." He replies.

'Yeah, well he'd be anywhere unless Z isn't around."

"Jack."

"What?"

Bridge places his hand on his stomach. "I'm hungry."

Jack rolls his eyes. "Why didn't you get anything at the stop?"

"Well…I wasn't hungry then but I'm hungry now."

He groans. "Wait a little longer. We'll go out and get something to eat as soon Sky is here."

"Did I hear something about food?" A familiar voice ring through their ears as Jack and Bridge turn around to meet with Sky's gaze. They raised their eyebrows in surprise for Sky Tate looked like a new man.

"Dude, what happened to your hair?" Bridge thought.

"And what happened to your body?" Jack questions in disbelief. "The last time I saw you, you were looking a bit scrawny, but now…"

"I've been working out." He answers with a wide grin.

"And the hair?"

"Every man had to get their haircuts. You like?"

"Yeah, it looks good on you man." Bridge replies.

"Thanks." Sky places his arm around the two guys. "I'm hungry. What do you say we get out of here and grab a bite to eat?"

Bridge raises a finger in mid-air. "I'm in!"

"Alright," he turns his gaze over to Jack. "What about you?"

Cadet Landors stares at him suspiciously as though he was looking at a complete stranger. "Yeah…" he responds half-heartedly, "let's go."

Syd walks into the room she shares with Z after training and finds herself alone. Z was working out with the D-Squad cadets helping them shape up and train hard. While stepping inside, Syd makes her way to her side of the room and was taken by surprise of how neat the room has looked. She stops and finds one of her sketches placed on her dresser just like Z has said earlier. Syd picks it up and examines it.

It was a portrait of her and Sky together, holding hands in front of a park. Syd slightly smiles as she traces the wordings on the paper with her finger. It was dated a year ago and says, "Finally Together" inside a heart. A tear came streaming down her cheeks as she crumpled the paper and tosses it in the trash. Syd jumps on her bed and buried her face in the pillow. She was upset with Z for finding the picture for it wasn't meant to be found. She didn't want Z to give up on Sky but now that she has looked at it, the picture would have given her the wrong impression. Syd was completely over Sky, but looking at the picture made her yearn to be closer to Jack.

Syd fears that it is over between them for she allowed herself to be away from Jack. She didn't want history to repeat itself the way her relationship ended with Sky, but now…everything was already falling apart.

On the other side of New Tech City, known as West New Tech City, Sky showed Jack and Bridge around as soon as they finished their meals. The place wasn't much different from the East accept the weather was slightly warmer and much nicer outside. After spending some time visiting places that appear to be new to Jack and Bridge, they arrived back at the Military Academy where Sky begins showing them around. But before he could even begin their tour, Jack interrupts him.

"Hey, it's been bugging me for awhile now and I wanted to know…" he pauses in mid-sentence, "how have you been doing lately? Are you happy here?"

Sky plasters a small smile. "Yeah, I'm doing great."

Jack raises an eyebrow. "You know, it surprises me." He folds his arms and nods in dismay. "All this time and you didn't even ask about Z."

"Jack, don't."

"No. It's okay, Bridge." Cadet Landors stares closely at Sky as he drew in a deep breath. "Do you even care?"

"Of course I do." He scoffs. "I was just waiting for the perfect time. We were having fun and I didn't want to ruin the moment." Sky explains to him.

"Right. Well, let me tell you. Z is a wreck. I can't believe you would even do this to her when you swore to me that you'll never hurt her!"

"It's complicated, Jack."

"Everything is complicated!" He argues. "Life is complicated. Since when is it ever easy?"

Sky looks down. 'You don't understand."

"You're right. I don't." Jack stares directly into his eyes. "And I don't think I'll ever will."

Tension mounts between them as silence filled the air. Bridge, hoping to get away from it all and just leave, was suddenly amazed at the beautiful brunette in uniform walking towards them. Sky and Jack also look his way as Cadet Landors raises his eyebrows.

"Hey, Sky." She locks arms with him. Jack and Bridge exchange looks. "Who are you friends?"

"Well—"

"Wait a minute," the mysterious brunette studies them carefully, "You guys must be from SPD. It's finally nice to meet you." She shakes their hand as Jack and Bridge accepted hers awkwardly. "My name is Serenity." She smiles and faces Sky. "I gotta go, so we're still up for tonight?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Cool." Serenity turns to the others. "It was nice meeting you guys."

Jack nods his head in dismay and chuckles as she runs off across the field. "Now it all makes sense why you left. Man, I'm such an idiot."

Sky stares at him in bewilderment. "Huh?"

"Whatever," he averts from his gaze and turns to Bridge, "let's go. There's no point in being here. At least now we know why."

"Jack. Bridge, was it something I said?" He asks perplexedly.

"You think we're stupid!" Jack burst out in anger as he stares at him in utter confusion. "You left Z for that woman!"

Sky's mouth fell open and scoffs ridiculously. "What! You guys actually think—" He pauses in mid-sentence and groans. "No, it's not what it looks."

"Yeah? Well, have fun tonight." He stated out of sarcasm. "Come on, Bridge."

"You guys—"

Jack turns back around. "You know, I was beginning to like you until now."

"Can you just let me explain?"

"You don't have to, Sky." Bridge's expression was filled with disapproval. "We get it."

"But she's my—" Sky Tate pauses, knowing they wouldn't listen to a word he says as he watches them exit the front gate, "sister." He looks down and sighs.

A/N: Dun. Dun. Dun. Don't forget to review...