Wes, Eric, Kat, and all other characters from Power Rangers belong to Disney/Saban. I am using them without permission, however I have not and don't expect to make money from this.
Nick Tate, while technically canon, is mine in the form he appears in here.

Rated T: Be warned, there is some strong language and talk about sex.

This story is slash, meaning sexual and romantic relationships between men. If that's not something you're okay with, don't read it. This is also a continuation of my 'Red Fire' Wes/Eric series; while you don't need to have read previous stories, it would help for background.

This is my own attempt to fuse Time Force (slash version) and SPD. Reviews are greatly appreciated.

The Secret of BioSynth

Reunion

- - -

"It's open," Wes called in answer to the tap on his office door. He focused on the reflection of that door long enough to greet the man who stepped inside with a nod, before returning his attention to his own image in the small mirror on his office wall.

Another face appeared beside his; darkly angular, part-Asian looks and serious expression contrasting with Wes's own dirty-blond hair, blue eyes, and ready smile. "I thought your father wanted you to wear a suit," Eric remarked after a critical glance.

"He did. But I reminded him I'm going to be there representing the Silver Guardians - along with you, of course..." he turned to face his partner, "not as a corporate VP."

"Can't say I'm sorry. You look better in uniform."

"You just hate suits. You were afraid Dad would ask you to wear one, too."

"I dunno why we have to show up at this thing anyway." Eric glanced at his own reflection and tugged impatiently at the collar of the navy blue uniform he wore.

"We have to be there because we're officers of the company." Wes smiled and reached up to make a slight adjustment to Eric's red beret and brush a stray strand of black hair back into place. "Just like we have to go to those board meetings you find so fascinating."

"Umm. Board meetings are useful, anyway."

"That's a matter of opinion." Wes gave his own reflection the final once-over. "Dad wants this merger to go well. The scientists we're bringing in from BioSynth are supposed to be really good, and he wants them to stay. Some of them weren't too crazy about having to relocate, so we're supposed to make sure they're happy here."

"Probably make a better impression if we let them get on with their work, instead of dragging them to a damn party..."

"It's a casual reception, not a party. Unfortunately."

"Well. If you're done admiring yourself, let's get this over with."

They walked down the hallway side by side, passing a few other Bio-Lab employees, and reached the elevators for the ride up to the top floor suite where a collection of BioSynth executives and scientists would be officially welcomed into the company. Wes watched in amusement as Eric stabbed at the button impatiently.

The car was empty when they got on. Wes waited for the doors to shut before asking, "Are we on for Friday?"

"Sure. Why not?"

"How about dinner out? Dad mentioned a new place across town. Indian. My treat."

"Great."

"Okay if I come over after?"

That got Eric's attention. His expression softened. "Of course. You know you don't need to ask."

"Well - sometimes I'm not so sure."

"What do you mean, you're not sure?"

"Just - sometimes it's hard to tell with you, you know? You didn't sound very enthusiastic."

"Sorry. Just habit, I guess." Eric smiled, a rare warm and affectionate note in his voice. "Of course I want you to come over. Wish it could be every night..." He stepped closer, a hand rising to lightly brush Wes's cheek with his fingertips, then closer still, their bodies touching and Eric's lips teasingly grazing his.

"Mmm, so romantic... Getting soft in your old age?" Wes murmured.

"I'll show you who's soft." They both leaned into a kiss, gentle but lingering. It lasted until the elevator began to slow to a stop. They were standing a pace apart, side by side, when the doors opened.

- - -

Alan Collins was in full host mode, circulating around the room, steering the people he wanted to meet together, making sure everyone had refreshments and someone to talk to. Wes watched him with a private smile and a certain amount of pride. He might have decided not to pursue a business career himself, but he could admire the necessary skills his father displayed - and he had to admit that the idea of eventually taking over Bio-Lab had come to seem not entirely unattractive.

Collins was talking to a very pretty brunette when he caught sight of them. With a smile, he took her arm and beckoned them over. "Wes, Eric, I want you to meet BioSynth's top scientist. Dr. Katherine Manx, this is my son, Wesley Collins, and Eric Myers. They're co-commanders of the Silver Guardians."

"It's a pleasure. I've heard a great deal about both of you," she said in a pleasant voice with a very slight lisp. Up close, Wes saw she had eyes of an unusual shade of deep green, which dropped momentarily to glance at his wrist and Eric's; at their morphers of course. "And I think calling me a 'top scientist' is a bit of an exaggeration..."

"Don't be so modest," Collins said. "From what I've been told you're making major contributions to the main research project there. Some kind of non-lethal energy weapons, I believe."

"That's right." She smiled at Eric. "There might be some points in common with the work Dr. Michael Zaskin did on the technology of your morpher."

"That never got anywhere," Eric said, betraying a flash of alarm that Wes was sure only he had noticed.

"So I've heard. Still, I'm looking forward to working with him. In fact, that's one of the reasons I pushed for this merger."

"Then I'll introduce you right now." Collins took her arm again and headed in the direction of Dr. Zaskin's tall, slender form across the room, in conversation with a young man whose back was turned to them.

Amused, Wes watched them as Zaskin shook hands with Dr. Manx, smiling and obviously impressed more with her physical than intellectual attributes, at least for the moment. That didn't last for long; the two were almost instantly deep in conversation, undoubtedly about what their research had in common. Collins stepped past them to say something to the young man, who now turned so his face was visible.

The first thing that struck Wes about him was a resemblance to himself. They both had almost the same shade of wavy dark-blond hair, somewhat similar features, similar builds, although the other man was slightly taller and appeared to be a few years younger. It was just enough of a likeness to be noticeable.

The next thing - at that moment the young man looked in their direction. His eyes widened. At first Wes thought he was staring at him... but no, it was Eric who was the object of that intense gaze. He must have recognized him as the Quantum Ranger... but when Wes glanced at his partner, Eric was staring back with an almost identically startled expression. Then in another second, the blond man was talking to Collins again as if nothing had happened, and Eric had turned to look the other way.

"Who's that?" Wes asked in a low voice.

"Who's who?" Eric didn't even look.

"The guy over there, talking to Dad. Do you know him?"

"Him?" A quick glance, too fast for Eric to actually see anything. "I - I dunno."

"He certainly seemed to recognize you."

"You want some coffee?"

"No, I-"

"I want some coffee. Be right back."

Eric threaded his way through the crowd in the general direction of the coffee urns, passing near Collins and the mysterious man. Wes thought they exchanged a glance, but couldn't be sure. As he frowned in puzzlement, wondering whether to go after his partner and lover, a familiar voice called his name.

"Wesley! I'd like you to meet Jake Walsh, one of our new chemists from BioSynth..."

One of Bio-Lab's executives, choosing the wrong moment for an interruption. Wes sighed, and hoisted a smile onto his face before turning around. He was introduced, shook hands, and made a couple of minutes of polite conversation. Just as he managed to find an opening to excuse himself and escaped, a hand dropped on his shoulder.

"Getting acquainted with everyone, Wes?" His father was beaming at him.

"Doing my best, Dad; but not everyone, yet." Wes looked around. There was no sign of Eric or the blond young man. "Who was that you were talking to before? Right after you introduced Mike Zaskin and Dr. Manx?"

"Um... Tate? Right, Nicolas Tate. One of their promising young biophysicists, still finishing up his PhD but doing some valuable work. I don't see him now."

"No. Neither do I," Wes said with a frown.

- - -

Eric led the way into a small office he had known would be empty, and turned. Nick stepped through the door and closed it behind him. They stood, looking at each other.

Nick Tate... Out of all the men he had known in the Army, it had to be Nicky who showed up at Bio-Lab. Out of all the men he had been with, had sex with, it had to be Nick. The others had mostly been just faces and bodies, just quick encounters, sometimes without even an exchange of names. Nick had been different, from the first time they met...

It had been the resemblance that caught his attention first, and kept him looking just a few seconds too long. The young man sitting with a small group at a table halfway across the room was far from identical to Wes, but had strongly reminded him of the schoolmate he had had such a hopeless crush on years ago.

The blond man looked up at him, obviously noticing the attention. Hastily Eric pulled his gaze away and turned on his stool to lean his elbows on the bar, head down. He was in a little place near the base where he was stationed, nothing fancy, but comfortable and popular with the soldiers. Definitely not a gay bar, and it might not be healthy to be caught scoping out men. Still - he couldn't resist another quick glance in the mirrored wall behind the bar. The guy was still looking at him, his expression curious and frankly interested. Eric held the gaze for a few seconds before devoting himself to studying the remaining beer in his glass.

He was draining the last of it when a form appeared beside him and leaned over the bar to give an order to the bartender. Dark-blond hair, a nice, friendly face - which turned in his direction. The young man propped himself on the next stool and smiled. Eric nodded, and again pretended to be interested in his drink.

"You from the base, too?"

"Yeah." Eric raised a brow; virtually every man who hung out in this place was a soldier. "What gave it away?"

"Stupid question, huh?" The man laughed and put out his hand. "I'm Nick."

"Eric." Their hands stayed in contact just a moment or two longer than necessary. "Haven't seen you around here before."

"I haven't been around all that long. Got transferred in a few weeks ago."

Eric nodded. The base was big enough that they might not have met before now. "First time in this part of town?" he asked.

"Yeah. Came with a few buddies." Nick nodded in the direction of the table he had come from. "Want to join us?"

"Nah," Eric said automatically. "Gonna head back."

"Too bad. It's not very late."

"No, but I've had enough for one night. Enough drinking, anyway." He gave Nick a longer look, from head to foot, seeing the other man return it with one that was equally appraising and appreciative, and decided to risk it. "I wouldn't mind some company on the way back, if you wanna get out of here," he said in a low voice.

Nick hesitated, his face turning to his friends. "I'd like to, but we just got here," he answered, his voice also lowered.

"Suit yourself." Eric dug in his pocket and dropped a couple of bills on the bar. He stood as Nick's drinks arrived.

"Hey..." Nick was looking up at him. "This'll sound stupid too, but - you come here often?"

Eric shrugged. "Once or twice a week, I guess."

"Then maybe some other time."

"Maybe. See ya."

Now, in a small room in Bio-Lab, Nick faced him again. He was no longer a kid barely old enough to drink, but an adult. Still attractive. Still with the same smile - at the moment a faint and tentative smile. "You haven't changed much," he said. "How long has it been? Five years, at least?"

"What the hell are you doing here?"

The smile faltered and died. "That's obvious, isn't it? I work for BioSynth. Actually, now I work for Bio-Lab, just like you."

"You knew I'd be here, didn't you?"

"Well, I knew you live in Silver Hills... Figured we might run into each other, but it was still kind of a surprise-"

"What do you want?"

Nick stared, either confused or doing a good imitation. "What do you mean, what do I want?"

What did he mean? Nick hadn't done anything but show up... and he had always intended to go into science, it made sense he worked for an outfit like BioSynth... but still... why here? Why now? "Nothing," Eric muttered. "I'm just - I'm just surprised, like you."

The smile reappeared. "So - how have you been?"

"Okay."

"Yeah, I guess so. You've gotten what you always wanted, haven't you? A good job with a big company, good money, important friends, and that morpher I've heard so much about..." He trailed off.

Eric was glaring at him with growing suspicion at the listing of what he had. What someone might want to take away. "If you've got any ideas of telling anyone about me - about us - just forget it," he growled, voice lowered.

But Nick surprised him by glaring right back. "Is that what this is about?" he retorted in a furious near-whisper. "Do you think I'm here to blackmail you or something?"

"You threatened me, remember?"

"I was upset! Just saying things... I said I didn't mean it!"

"And I'm supposed to believe that?"

"Yes you are!" They had come a few steps closer, facing off angrily. "Listen, pal, I have just as much to lose as you do if this gets out. I'm married now, with a baby-"

"Married? You?"

"I told you from the beginning I was bi! Yeah, I'm married, happily."

"And I guess you forgot to tell your wife you like to take it up the ass!"

"That's all over now! I met Lyn after I got out of the service, and I haven't been with anyone else since, male or female!"

"Yeah, always the faithful type, weren't you?" Eric growled sarcastically.

"And I guess you're back to picking up tricks in bars!"

Stung, Eric moved back a little. "No," he said more quietly. "No, I'm not into that anymore."

"Eric Myers? Settled down? Who's the lucky guy?" Nick smiled thinly, his eyes still cold.

"No one. None of your business."

"Fine. Look..." Nick shoved his hands in his pockets, his expression becoming more unhappy than angry. "Like it or not, we're going to have to work together. Can't we be civil, at least?"

"Just as long as we understand each other."

"I guess we do." Nick didn't move aside as Eric started to take a step for the door. "It's a shame," he said softly. "We meant something to each other once, didn't we? And now..."

Eric stopped, face to face with him. "I always told you all I wanted was a good time. No ties. Nothing permanent," he said. "Maybe you didn't like it, but that's the way I was back then. Now you're married, and I've moved on too. The best thing is to just forget about it."

"Forget about it. I guess so."

- - -

A minute later Eric found Wes again, talking to his father and a couple of BioSynth people. As he debated joining them, or just standing there, or maybe finding some excuse to leave; Wes caught his eye, said something to the others, and headed his way.

"Thought you were going to get coffee." The remark wasn't quite a question.

"I got sidetracked."

"By that guy?"

Eric frowned, and decided to tell at least part of the truth. "Yeah. I remembered where I know him from."

"Where?"

"The Army. A long time ago. We were stationed at the same base."

"Uh huh." Wes was looking at him curiously.

"It was kind of a shock to see him again, you know? Don't bump into too many guys from back then, and it's been years since we saw each other..." Eric realized he had said more than enough and shut his mouth firmly. Nick had appeared on the far side of the room and looked their way, his eyes on Eric for a moment, then on Wes, then back, before he half-smiled and turned as Katherine Manx said something to him.

Eric turned his back. "How soon can we get out of here?" he muttered.

TBC...