Disclaimer: Power Rangers does not belong to me.

Chapter 7: Nova's Name

A/N: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed this story so far. Your comments really mean a lot, especially on this particular story. If parts of this chapter are a little vague, it's 'cause I didn't want to make this story heavier than it already was. As always if you read, please review!

Standing at the doorway, Nova found herself greeted with a smile from Sam and a scowl from Z. "I need to talk to her for a minute, Omega," stated Nova, gesturing to Z. "Besides, Cruger wanted to see you in Kat's lab for weapon upgrades."

"Thanks for reminding me, my Nova-noodle," said Sam, winking at Z as Nova flushed in embarrassment. Z hid her face her in hands, trying to hold back her laughter. From the spaces between her fingers, Z saw Omega playfully pinch Nova's behind before exiting the room.

"I really need to talk with that boy about how he addresses me in public," muttered Nova crossly, even though a grin graced her lips.

"And I really need to talk with you about the way YOU'RE addresses in public," stressed Z. "You and Omega keep refusing to tell me why you both hate everyone except each other using your real names."

Nova had really wanted to spare younger self the vocational burdens that her future life at SPD would hold. However looking at the desperate need to know in Z's eyes, Nova knew she could avoid the subject of her name no longer. Sighing weightily, Nova began her story:

"If I could have made the choice again, I still would have taken on the responsibilities of the Nova ranger. However, at the time I couldn't have anticipated all the heinous atrocities and depraved criminals I would come across over the next fifteen years. It made my battle against Grumm feel like child's play. Planets that have nearly been destroyed, so much death, so destruction…" Nova's voice trailed off.

Z look at her older self with concern, beginning to feel how different the duties of the Nova ranger were from the ones of the B-Squad yellow SPD ranger. Nodding encouragingly to Nova, Z urged her to continue which she did so hesitantly:

"The horrible, horrible cases I had to investigate and soulless scoundrels rapidly took a toll on me until I was a shell of the person I used to be. Worst of all, I had nobody I could talk to about all these terrible crimes I had witnessed. Not only because discussing cases was against SPD regulations, but because there was no one who understood how hard it was to be the Nova ranger."

"Nobody until Sam?" asked Z softly.

"Nobody till Sam," repeated Nova affirmatively. "He's the only one who understood me."

"And that's the real reason behind why you only like Sam calling you by your actual name?" finished Z questioningly. "Because he's the only one who knows the real you?"

"Exactly," confirmed Nova. "You get me really well."

"Well, I am you!" cheered Z. The ladies shared a good laugh together. Z felt herself beginning to warm up to Nova.

"If the missions you're assigned at the Nova ranger are so draining," Z began to ask, "Why do you continue in this role at SPD?"

"For Omega and I, the good we do outweighs the emotional hardships," answered Nova. "When I think of the murders we've foiled, the robberies we stopped before they started, even the numerous wars we've prevented, it makes being an investigative ranger that much more rewarding. Besides, Sam is always by my side and that makes everything better," finished Nova softly.

Z smiled at Nova, who lit up just at the mention of her boyfriend's name. Given the difficult position of the Nova ranger, Z was happy her older self had found someone to go through the hard times with. More so, Z genuinely respected the work Nova did to make the universe safer. In fact, she was beginning to greatly admire the Nova ranger.

"I guess you and Omega really are apart of something bigger than just Earth's SPD," mused Z.

"Not just for me," replied Nova. "It's a whole new kind of SPD in the future. There are detective rangers like myself and Omega, diplomatic rangers, time force rangers, S.W.AT. rangers like B-Squad. The list goes on and on."

"So tell me more about the current B-Squad here in the future," cut in Z, changing the subject. "I know Bridge is still the blue ranger and Sky continues to lead the team, but aren't they both retiring from active status soon?"

"Yes," verified Nova. "Syd tells Sky now that she's pregnant with their third child that at least one of their kids deserves to have their father around growing up. And Bridge can't stand the thought of being on a team without Sky so he's retiring from ranger duties and is actually going to be working on my personal staff helping with my investigative cases."

"Who will take the places of Sky and Bridge once they retire?" asked Z. "Who's going to be the new red ranger?"

"Zack Landors," replied Nova, grinning knowingly as she watched Z mentally put two and two together in her head.

"You mean Jack has a kid?" cried Z excitedly, her eyes widening with surprise. She couldn't believe her old goofball of a best friend would actually ever be responsible enough to be a parent.

"Zack is the son of Jack and Ally Landors," explained Nova.

"I always knew Ally would make an honest man out of Jack," laughed Z.

"Zack named after his Auntie Z," continued Nova.

"Jack named his son after me?" squealed Z with both disbelief and delight.

"Yeah, I couldn't believe it at the time either," chuckled Nova. "Anyway, Zack couldn't have been more excited when he became the B-Squad yellow ranger just like his namesake."

"How cute," cooed Z, happy by the idea that Jack's son following in her footsteps.

"Jack couldn't be prouder that his son's a ranger," continued Nova. "Let alone soon to be the new red ranger."

"What about Sophie though?" asked Z. "As the current green ranger, isn't she next in the chain of command?"

"Sophie wasn't interested position," responded Nova. "Besides, she's looking forward to being a blue ranger just her boyfriend Bridge has been."

"So Zack becomes the red ranger and Sophie changes her color to blue," began Z, "Who will be the new green and yellow rangers?"

"Rumor going around has it that C-Squad's Mindi Manx, the niece of Kat Manx, will be the new yellow ranger," replied Nova. "And Cruger's thinking about Crash, Boom's younger brother, for green. While Boom was never much a fighter, his little sibling has turned out to have a lot of potential."

Z giggled at the thought, until she realized she had forgotten a ranger color. "What about pink?" she inquired.

"There have been many pink rangers since Syd retired almost ten years ago after marrying Sky," answered Nova. "These days, it's Doggie's daughter Alanna. I've never seen Cruger so uptight when his little puppy's out in battle."

"Figures that bitch Syd was replaced by a dog," thought Z grumpily to herself.

"Speak of the devil," chuckled Nova.

"Huh?" snapped Z to attention, wondering if Nova was reading her thoughts. Z spun around to see Syd Tate walk into the room.