Disclaimer: I own nothing except Brandon Chase

Thanks for all the reviews, I love them! So there's some angst in this chapter but enough to kind of build the tension...but, hey, there's some background in this chapter. Bear with me, action is coming up!

Chapter 3

And There's the Rub

"Who're you calling 'scum', pal?"

At the sight of the hauntingly familiar pale orbs, Sky recoiled as if struck, and his face blanched. A gasp permeated through the air and a pair of cornflower eyes pooled with tears. Sky's mouth opened but no words came out, only sounds. He stood there, gaping in amazement at the man before him, and he exhaled a single name, his voice barely reaching an incredulous whisper.

"Brandon…"

xxx

Brandon Chase gazed into the disbelieving eyes of his best friend. His lips twitched before his mouth split into the dashing grin Sky hadn't seen in three years. Brandon shifted.

"Hey, Sky."

The blue ranger staggered backward, unable to register the man he believed was dead was standing before him. Sky took in Brandon's appearance. His hair, once short and arranged into spikes, had grown out and fell across his forehead in the familiar tousled mess they always did. His chin, once clean-shaven, was adorned with whiskery stubble, rough and ruddy. But perhaps the biggest change in Brandon was his eyes. No longer did they twinkle with the same mischievous glint they once had. Instead, the pale irises had dulled and hardened, winking with the shine of someone who had seen and experienced too much.

Sky allowed his gaze to drift to Sydney. The pink ranger hadn't spoken besides a gasp. Tears brimmed in her brilliant gaze as she struggled to comprehend the situation. Desperately, she willed herself to stay at attention and not to break composure. But her eyes gravitated to the familiar face of him. There he was, the man who had left her three years ago without an explanation, simply disappearing into the night, and he was alive.

Commander Cruger broke the stifling silence, the atmosphere within the command center heavy with disbelief and shot. Turning to his confused red ranger, who was glancing between their detainee, the blue ranger, and the pink ranger, Cruger gestured to Brandon.

"Cadet Landors, I believe it best we let our captive go."

Jack started, turning an astonished gaze to the commander, "But, sir-"

Cruger cut him off, a meaningful glare in his dark eyes, "That is an order, Cadet."

Begrudgingly, Jack unlocked the cuffs from Brandon's wrists, stepping back as the young man shot him a grateful nod. Rubbing his wrists, Brandon glanced hesitantly at Commander Cruger. Cruger turned to the red and yellow rangers, prominent expressions of confusion on each young face.

"It seems introductions are in order. Cadet Landors, Cadet Delgado, I'd like you to meet Lieutenant Brandon Chase, also our acting silver ranger. Lieutenant Chase, Jack Landors and Elizabeth 'Z' Delgado, our red and yellow rangers."

At the mention of Brandon's rank, Sky's gaze snapped to Syd. Only a pair of inquisitive eyes met his, and they stared in shock at their long-lost friend. Brandon's face softened to an affable light as he approached the two cadets, his hand offered in greeting.
"It's a pleasure to meet you both." A sheepish glint to his expression, Brandon grasped each hand firmly, "I would like to apologize for my behavior during our little confrontation. I had to divert suspicion that I was nothing more than a street hood. I'm honestly not a jackass." He chuckled awkwardly.

"Just ask Sky."

Sky jerked as if he just realized where he was. Turning a questioning gaze to his best friend, Sky could only whisper out a question, shock engulfing his ability to function.

"Where have you been?"

Brandon lowered his gaze, stiffening at the question. Gathering his composure, a rueful smile spread across his face, "Would you believe home?" Shifting, he stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Three years ago when Gruumm took Narovia, a group of Narovians, some of them former KO-35 rebels, organized an uprising, and my parents went to Narovia to help. Soon, Gruumm set his sights on somewhere else, and his second in command, General Falstaff, took control of the operations. When Falstaff's forces got too overwhelming, the Narovians appealed to SPD for reinforcements. I was one of the cadets chosen to help." Brandon's eyes swept over the rangers.

"That day at the dance, Kat met me outside of the command center. She told me what was happening on my home planet and that my parents were involved. I couldn't say no. Narovia needed me. She gave me my morpher and told me I was being deployed immediately. I've been there ever since."

His pale eyes traveled to lock onto a pair of light blue orbs, shining with remorse and pleading for pardon, "I wanted to contact you guys and tell you I was okay, but we couldn't take the risk. No one could know what was happening. If Gruumm caught wind of the rebellion, he would've sent more troops, and we were outnumbered as we were."

Sky took in a deep shuddering breath, still dumbstruck with amazement. He swallowed hard, "All these years, you were there." Sky's head shook back and forth, unable to register the being standing before him.

"We thought you were dead."

Brandon lowered his head, nodding guiltily, "I know. And I'm sorry, but no one could know where I was. We couldn't take the chance of risking so many lives."

Bridge spoke up, "So why are you here now? Don't you have to get back to Narovia?"

The light cobalt spheres flashed with an indiscernible emotion as they steeled suddenly. A helpless look crossed Brandon's face, and he averted his gaze from the green ranger's. Seeing the defeated expression and aware of the circumstances, Commander Cruger intervened.

"Lieutenant Chase has completed his mission on Narovia. For the rest of the duration of this war, he will remain here and assist us with Emperor Gruumm." Plucking Brandon's morpher from its place, the commander handed the device back to the silver ranger.

"Your morpher, Lieutenant. I have a feeling it will be put to good use here."

Brandon nodded his thanks. His stare diverting to the small disc, Brandon met the commander's eyes, "Sir, I trust that my original intentions will be taken care of?"

Cruger nodded, a meaningful look passed between the two beings, "Indeed they will, Lieutenant. I will see to them myself. Now, if you follow me, I will escort you to your quarters. We have taken the liberty to have one of our cadets retrieve your belongings."

Brandon chuckled, preceding the commander out. Hauled from his daze, Sky sub-consciously snapped to attention, calling out the command.

"Atten-hut!"

Turning at the summon, Brandon gazed in bewilderment at the five cadets positioned stiffly in a salute as customary when a superior officer entered or exited the building. A bemused smile across his face at the irony of the situation, Brandon inclined his head to the B-Squad cadets.

"Carry on, cadets."

Sky relaxed, his eyes following the broad back of his best friend. He just stood there for a moment while the inquiring stares of Jack and Z gazed warily in his direction. Once Brandon and Commander Cruger disappeared down the corridor, Syd broke from her daze, rushing out of the command center in a flurry of blonde curls. At her movement, Sky watched her depart before hurrying after, leaving their three teammates in their potent confusion. Bridge sighed, turning to Z and Jack.

"Meet me in the lounge in ten minutes. I'll explain the rest."

xxx

Brandon and Commander Cruger walked along the corridors in silence before the commander sent a sidelong glance to his lieutenant. Brandon stopped, turning to his superior.

"Sir, I should get going. General Falstaff surely knows that I'm here, and he wants want me destroyed. My presence here is endangering Earth even further."

Cruger shook his head in the negative, "No, Lieutenant. You will remain here. General Falstaff's arrival was inevitable. After all, Earth is the last free planet."

Brandon sighed, "Sir, I don't want to subject Earth to more danger than necessary."

Cruger lowered his head, a remorseful glint in his dark eyes, "I'm afraid that as well is inevitable. Earth is best place you can be right now, Lieutenant. We have the resources that will aid you against Falstaff." Cruger studied the young man.

"What happened on Narovia, Brandon?"

The silver ranger glanced down, "Just like the report said, Commander. I failed. I allowed myself to be captured, and I caused the death of over five thousand Narovians."

Cruger turned to his young lieutenant, "And your parents?"

Brandon swallowed hard, his eyes drifting shut as the pain of his failure flooded through his body, "I failed them too, sir. I was not able to stop their murderer."

Cruger placed a hand on Brandon's shoulder, "You cannot blame yourself for all this, Brandon. Those deaths were not your fault. You couldn't stop them any more than you could stop the Earth's orbit."

Brandon diverted his eyes, "Sir, those deaths were my fault. I was the only ranger out there. As a ranger, it was my duty to protect those people, to protect my parents. I shouldn't have allowed myself to be captured. I should been there to save them."

"You can't save everyone, Brandon."

Brandon raised a steady gaze to his commander, the pale irises shining with pain, remorse, regret, and shame, "No, I can't, Commander. But those deaths I should have been able to stop. Those deaths were my responsibility…"

Cruger sighed, "And what is to be done about them?"

Brandon lifted his chin, a determined set to his weary eyes, "Their killers will pay. I will make sure of that."

Cruger nodded, "Very well, Lieutenant. Just make sure you don't allow this mission to consume you. Always keep your mind clear for judgment and never strike out in anger without a purpose."

Brandon nodded, "Yes, Commander."

Cruger gestured to the closed door before them, "Lieutenant, these are your quarters. You will find that they are different than the cadet's quarters."

Brandon stepped into his lodgings. Standing in the middle of the living room, he surveyed his surroundings with a raised eyebrow, "I must say, Commander, I knew you were holding out on us at the academy…" Wandering around the apartment-sized residence, Brandon shook his head.

"If I would have known I'd be living here, I would have tried harder at the academy, Commander."

Cruger chuckled, "I wasn't aware you weren't, Lieutenant." Turning towards the door, Cruger paused.

"Welcome home, Brandon."

Brandon smiled tightly at the commander, rotating to study his quarters. Catching a glimpse of his raggedy appearance, he sighed.

"Well, first thing's first. I wonder if the barber is in the same place…"

xxx

Sky dashed through the academy halls in a search for Syd. Skidding to a halt outside of her room, his heart clenched as he spotted her huddled in a corner of her bed. Her arms clutched Peanuts to her chest as the silent tears flowed their path down her cheeks. Stepping over the threshold of her room, Sky closed the door, kneeling in front of the pink ranger. Abandoning Peanuts, Syd reached out, drawing Sky's muscular form to her as she sobbed into his chest. Closing his own eyes as they began to tear, Sky held her trembling body, stroking her hair.

"It's okay, Syd. Everything's gonna be okay."

Pulling away, Syd glanced down at her hands, a helpless look dancing across her face, "I don't get, Sky. How could he just appear like that? Three years of not hearing anything, of wondering all this time if he's alive, and he just…appears."

Cradling her cheek in the palm of his hand, Sky brushed away her tears with the pad of his thumb. Morosely, he shook his head.

"I wish I could understand it, too. But I just don't Syd. It's just so…unbelievable to me." Sky sat down beside Sydney, "I'm just as confused as you are."

Syd glanced up, gazing into Sky's clear blue eyes, "Sky, I still love him."

Swallowing hard, Sky pushed aside the agonizing dejection and allowed his head to bob up and down, "I know you do."

Syd reached out, entwining his fingers with hers, "But, I don't regret we almost kissed, it's just…"

Sky nodded, "I get it, and I understand." He gently stroked her cheek, "I'm always here for you, Syd, no matter what. Don't forget that."

Syd smiled between her tears, "I know you are. You always have been." Her face fell in desperation.

"Sky, what am I going to do?"

"I don't know, Syd." He cradled her against his side, one arm wrapped protectively around her petite frame, "I guess you have to talk to him…"

Syd sighed, "He was right, you know."

Sky frowned, "Right about what?"

Syd glanced up, her cornflower eyes pooling with a helpless vulnerability, "Knowing who he was turned our world upside down…"

xxx

Brandon exited the shower, absently rubbing his shortened locks. Catching a glimpse of himself in the mirror, he shook his head. The once long and disheveled strands were shortened to still tousled tufts lying haphazardly atop his head. One finger reached up to stroke the sideburns extending down to the middle of his earlobe, and he scratched his smooth chin devoid of hair except for the neat patch beneath his lower lip. Brandon sighed. For so long, he had sported the shaggy and unkempt look; war had left little time for personal grooming. His present appearance was different, almost a medium from the wild spikes and clean-shaven look of his academy days and the long mane and scruffy stubble from the midst of battle. But his appearance wasn't the only thing that had changed. Brandon wasn't the boy who had left the academy so long ago. He had hardened, changed, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to go back.

He reached into his duffle bag, pulling out the items stuffed arbitrarily within the depths. A disarray of clothes, battle plans, blueprints, and gear all fell onto his bed. Rummaging through the bag, Brandon withdrew his trusty utility belt, the heavy-duty D blaster attached to a holster. Tossing it out onto the soft blankets, Brandon's pale gaze caught a flash of silver from within the dark deepness of the back, and extracted a black hemp choker necklace, six small silver balls woven within the depths. Staring hard at the necklace, Brandon sank down on his bed as the memories flooded back.

"Are you an angel?"

Brandon glanced up. Standing before him, gazing inquiringly with wide eyes, was a small boy. His clothes were tattered and ragged and grime stained his round face. Brandon shifted, facing the boy directly.

"Why do you ask that?"

The boy shrugged, "My mama said that angels protect people from danger. You're the silver ranger, and you protect us. Doesn't that make you an angel?"

Brandon smiled at the little boy's logic, patting the empty space beside him. The small Narovian sat, gazing up at Brandon with big brown eyes. Brandon leaned in to whisper conspiratorially to the boy, "Well, I'm not angel, but I will protect you."

The boy grinned a radiant grin, "You promise?"

Brandon held out his hand for the little boy to shake, "Promise."

Mischa. The boy's name was Mischa. Every day, he would come by during a break in the battles to spend time with Brandon. He would ask questions about Brandon's job, what it was like to be a ranger, to be part of SPD. Mischa's dream was to become the silver ranger just like Brandon.

But in a war-torn world, dreams were often shattered like the lives inhabiting them, and Mischa was one of its many casualties. The little boy had died in a night raid the day before his village was supposed to be evacuated. He had fought against the Troobians the best an eight year-old could. Brandon stroked the roughly hewn material of the choker, a gift from Mischa, before securing the necklace around his neck and wiping away the tears heavy with the harsh pain of failure. One more death to avenge.

Brandon hefted himself off the mattress and pulled on a pair of black SPD workout pants and the silver workout jacket provided for him. In a flash of silver, he teleported to the entrance of the academy before setting off in a run towards downtown Newtech. There was one place he needed to go to, and that place would help him in his fight for vengeance against General Falstaff.

xxx

Bridge turned away from the window, seeing Brandon's pewter-clad back departing from the entrance of the academy. He turned back to Jack and Z, waiting anxiously for an explanation. The psychic settled down across from the red and yellow rangers.

"Okay…I don't know exactly what you want me to tell you, all your questions are coming at me all at once. So, I think it would be best if you just tell me what you want to know…"

Jack shifted in his seat, "Start from the beginning. Who is Brandon Chase?"

Bridge grinned, shaking his head, "Ask anyone that question and you'll get so many answers. There isn't a person here that doesn't know about Brandon. From the moment he stepped into SPD, he basically owned the place. It's actually not that surprising. Both of his parents are rangers. His father is Zhane, the silver ranger, and his mother is Karone, the former princess of evil, Astronema, and the pink Galaxy ranger."

Z glanced at Bridge, "So Brandon is the son Sky was talking about when he gave us that history?"

Bridge nodded, "Yeah. He was the best in our graduating class."

Jack sighed, "I don't know, Bridge. Something's off about this mission. I mean, it's so similar to Dru's story. How do we know he's not pulling the same thing?"

Bridge shook his head, "Faith, Jack. And the fact that his parents were both rangers. Plus his mother was evil at one time. I'm pretty sure he has a good sense of good and evil in the world…And…"

Jack waited for the green ranger to continue, "And what?"

"Love." Bridge stated the word plainly as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Z's brown eyes flicked to the green ranger in confusion, "Love?"

Bridge nodded, "Yeah. It's kind of hard to be truly evil when you have the capability to love…at least that's what I think."

Jack stood, making his way to the exit, "I don't know, Bridge. I still think there's something going on…"

As Jack departed, Z turned towards Bridge, "Interesting theory, Bridge."

The green ranger shrugged, "Maybe. But it's true. I gotta say, though, Brandon being here is going to put a strain on Sky and Syd."

Z frowned, "How so?"

"Because Sky likes her."

Z let out an incredulous laugh, "What?"

Bridge absently scratched his nose, "Sky likes Syd. He has for a long time, but he felt like he would betray Brandon if he went after Syd."

Z raised an eyebrow, "Anal retentive, stiff-as-a-board, SPD first, the world second Sky Tate likes Syd." Z withheld a laugh.

"And how do you know that?"

Bridge's face only split into a mysterious smile as he made his way to the doorway, tapping the side of his head with one gloved finger, "Because you don't have to be a psychic to see when two people have feelings for each other. Even if one is completely oblivious." Bridge winked, leveling the yellow ranger with an even stare.

"You just have to pay attention…"

Z's brow furrowed as his broad back disappeared down the hallway. Surely he didn't mean…Nah.

xxx

"Brandon! Help us! Please, Brandon! BRANDON!"

"Mom! Dad!"

"You see, silver ranger? You weren't strong enough to save them, and you aren't strong enough to save Earth…"

"NO!"

Brandon shot bolt upright in his bed, the sweat pouring down his bare torso. His chest heaving with fear, his pale eyes frantically searched the silver walls of the bedroom of his living quarters. As his surroundings registered in the silver ranger's frazzled mind, Brandon calmed, his breathing steadying to an even pace. Pulling a shirt over his head, Brandon threw off the covers. He ran a hand through his dampened hair, tottering to the door. Leaning his head on the doorway, Brandon drew in a deep breath. No matter how hard he tried, the past always seemed to be right on his tail, lurking in the back of his mind.

xxx

Sky wandered aimlessly down the halls of the academy. Pulling his morpher out from its holster, Sky groaned as the time twinkled out at him, the numbers illuminated on the black background. He had forty-five more minutes left in his night shift before he could enjoy a blissful sleep. A slight light filtered through the hallway, and as Sky passed the lounge area, he poked his head in.

"Brandon?"

The pale blue eyes shifted to his direction, and Sky frowned, "What are you doing here?"

Brandon's shoulders lifted in a lethargic shrug as he rubbed the top of his unkempt hair, "Couldn't sleep."

One corner of Sky's mouth lifted in a smile, "You never were a heavy sleeper."

Brandon chuckled. Glancing at his best friend, the silver ranger looked Sky up and down, "What are you doing up?"

Sky stiffened, his eyes drifting down in embarrassment, "Uh, I have night duty for a few more days."

Brandon nodded in understanding, "Ah, yes. I heard about the Dru debacle."

Sky sighed, unzipping his jacket as he sat down beside Brandon, "Where did we all go wrong? How did everything get so messed up?"

Brandon's brow furrowed in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Sky shrugged, "Well, I used to have this idea how our futures are going to be. You would be the A-Squad red ranger, I would be the B-Squad red ranger, and Dru would be the B-Squad blue ranger. Just like we dreamed."

Sky chuckled ruefully, "Now look at us. Dru's a criminal, you've been missing for three years, and I'm the blue ranger…So much for dreams."

Brandon shook his head, "I don't think we threw away our dreams, Sky. I think we just forged new ones."

Sky snorted, "Or had the new ones forced upon us…"

Brandon shot his best friend a look, "Hey, what happened to the kid who wanted to be a ranger no matter what?"

Sky shook his head, "I don't know, man. I mean, I wanted to be a red ranger like my father so bad. It seems like he'd be disappointed if it never happened."

Brandon quirked a wry grin, "But you didn't. You're a ranger aren't you?"

Sky shrugged, "I don't know, Brandon. I feel like I've failed."

Brandon sighed, "Sky, family legacies are great and all, but you've got to make a name for you. Break away from the majestic legacy that was Wes Collins and start building one for Sky Tate. Your dad isn't disappointed in you for failing to become a red ranger. He just wants you to be a ranger, you know, help people. Trust me, buddy, when I tell you what you're feeling now isn't even close to failure…" Brandon laughed.

"My dad didn't want me to be the silver ranger. He knew the connotations behind the color. But that's what I was given, and he didn't care as long as I was saving people…"

Sky's brow furrowed as he glanced inquisitively at his best friend, taking in the slumping posture and the dimmed eyes. It was as if Brandon was speaking from experience, and the silver ranger held the appearance that he had aged so many years since Sky had last seen him. The happy go-lucky teenaged cadet had been replaced by a seasoned, war-weary veteran soldier who had seen too much in the span of his twenty-odd years. Sky nudged the man at his side.

"What was the war like?"

Brandon scratched the faint patch of hair below his lower lip, "It's unlike anything we've seen here at the academy. All the tricks and knowledge they pound into your head doesn't help you out there. You barely have time to blink, let alone use a Corkscrew Shot that is supposed to be the most difficult maneuver to master. The flashy, exciting moves we mistake in training for skill are absolutely useless. The simulators here are nothing like the real thing. Everything happens in a microsecond. One instant you're chatting with your company; the next, you're scrambling, trying to find cover as a bomb rains down. In a war, the only thing that will save you is your wits. And when you're in charge, you're responsible for every single person under your command and under your protection."

Brandon swallowed hard, a solemn look crossing his features, "The worst thing is as hard as you try, as much as you hope, you can never save them all. And you're plagued with that residual guilt of not being able to save one more."

Sky diverted his gaze to Brandon, contemplating heavily, "That's nothing like the academy."

Brandon chortled contritely, "That's the same thing I thought when I first got into the fighting. They romanticize war in our textbooks, playing it off as a dramatic, glamorous event. It's so much different than that. War is grim, it's intense. It's not like anything we've ever seen."

Sky studied Brandon. His best friend had gone so far in the universe and done so many things Sky had dreamed of when he was younger. He wasn't the same.

"Have you talked to Syd?"

Brandon shook his head, "No. To be honest, Sky, I don't know how we are. I love her more than ever, but we've both changed… and even though I want things to be back the way they were, I don't if they can be."

Sky swallowed hard, avoiding Brandon's gaze, "Really?"

Brandon nodded, "Yeah. I mean it's been three years. I don't even know she feels the same."

Sky's brow furrowed with indecision, "What about you?"

Brandon sighed, leaning back against the window, "I will always love Sydney. Even if it doesn't work out, I'll be happy for her and whoever is lucky enough to have her." He smiled.

"Honestly, I just want her to be happy…" Brandon glanced at the clock on the door, "I'm gonna head up. I've got some things to handle tomorrow." He clapped a hand on his best friend's shoulder.

"I'll see you, Sky. This time I mean it."

Sky nodded absently, pondering Brandon's words. Maybe his friend was right. Maybe his father didn't care about what color he was, as long as he was helping others. Sky sighed, running his hands through his hair. Maybe it was time to break away from the bequest Wes Collins had left on the family name. Here, no one knew who his father was. He was going to make the name Sky Tate into a legend the way Brandon had made himself. Besides, his sister was aiming to become a ranger herself…maybe she could be burdened with the red ranger mantle.

xxx

"My mama said that angels protect people from danger. You're the silver ranger, and you protect us."

"Well, I'm not angel, but I will protect you."

"You promise?"

"Promise."

Red, so much red. The sheen of blood, and the high-pitched cackle broke through the air.

"Tsk, tsk, Lieutenant. Never make promises you can't keep…"

Brandon awoke with a start to the insistent pounding on his door. Pulling on a shirt, he stumbled to the entrance of his apartment, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. The door parted to reveal a young cadet, a box at her feet. The girl snapped into a salute as Brandon gazed down at her with bleary eyes.

"Lieutenant, Commander Cruger had me deliver this package to you, and he requests your presence in the command center once you are ready."

Brandon ran a hand through his hair, squinting down at the box, "What is it?"

"Three utility uniforms, one dress uniform, physical training uniforms, insignias, and patrol gear, sir." The cadet answered. Holding out a clipboard, the cadet gestured to the box. Brandon pressed his thumb to the screen, confirming the delivery. As the girl saluted before departing, Brandon grasped the package, carrying back up to his bedroom.

Brandon ripped open the packaging. Sifting though the contents, he sorted through his uniforms. Tossing aside the standard D-blaster and thigh holster after regarding the flimsy weapon with a slight air of amusement, Brandon glanced at the utility uniforms splayed out on his bed. The uniform was styled similarly to the B-Squad rangers, hints of silver in the same places, denoting his ranger color. The jacket and pants were black, the spots where the black would appear on a normal uniform, the primary grey, instead. Brandon ran a hand down the silver lining on the collars, brushing over the red bar that ran around the center of the collar. A dark grey band was on the shoulder with a scarlet strip down the center, marking Brandon's status as a higher-ranked officer. A scarlet strip down the side of his right sleeve sat between two silver stripes. Brandon ran a hand over the SPD badge on his right breast and the SPD insignia on his left. Above the insignia would be his lieutenant's badge. As he plucked the badge from the box, a note fluttered to his bed sheets.

Brandon,

Wear this badge with pride. Your parents would have been proud of you.

Doggie

Brandon sighed, his eyes drifting over to the framed photo of his mother and father resting on the table at his bedside, "I'll bet…"

xxx

Brandon strode into the command center, his boots thumping against the smooth stone of the floor. Self-consciously, he adjusted the thin silver turtleneck beneath his jacket that peeked through the space between his collar as the many stares and whispers piqued his senses. Stopping before Commander Cruger, Brandon saluted sharply.

"Commander, you wanted to see me?"

Doggie nodded, "That I did, Brandon. Ms. Manx has updated your schedule into your morpher and, as understood, you shall begin your duties here at the academy."

Brandon shifted, "Commander, I was wondering if I could begin tomorrow. I have personal business I have to attend to."

Cruger glanced at his lieutenant, "And where will your business occurring?"

Brandon's eyes shifted to the ground, "Angel Grove, sir."

The commander nodded in understanding, "Very well. I'm sure it will not be an inconvenience for you to begin tomorrow. You may carry on, Lieutenant."

Brandon saluted, "Thank you, sir."

"Brandon." Kat called out to the silver ranger before he exited and tossed him a set of keys. Brandon glanced down at the keys in the palm of his hand, frowning in confusion.

"What are these for?"

Kat smiled at the man she remembered fondly from the academy and developed a close companionship with. Brandon was always one to be haunting the command center, assisting her with computations, "Your bike. You weren't going to walk to Angel Grove, were you?" At Brandon's raised eyebrow, Kat laughed.

"Think of it as a welcome back present."

Brandon smirked slightly, "How big of a present?"

Kat smiled, "Think of it as three years' worth of Christmas presents."

Brandon laughed, "Hm, that awesome, huh? Thanks, Kat."

Cruger called to the lieutenant, "And Brandon?" As the silver ranger turned, Commander Cruger sent him an apologetic look, "Give my regards to the family."

Brandon diverted his eyes, a pained expression ghosting across his face before nodding, "Will do, sir."

As Brandon exited, Kat glanced at the commander, "Do you think he'll be okay, Commander?"

Cruger sighed, "It is always difficult to deal with loss at as great a scale as Brandon has seen. And I should know…" He fixed his dark eyes to Dr. Manx.

"He will, Kat, eventually. All he needs is time."

xxx

Brandon studied the key ring nestled in his palm, wondering what Kat could have possibly cooked up that would be worth three years' worth of Christmases when he brushed against another body.

"Oh, sorry…" Brandon tailed off as he gazed into the familiar eyes of Sydney Drew. Sub-consciously, his face split into his famed grin.

"Hey, Syd."

Sydney smiled shyly back, fighting the urge to go weak at the knees. Even after all those years, his damned grin still had an effect on her, "Hey, Brandon." Unabashedly, she looked him up and down with an appraising eye. Syd grinned with a blithe shake of her head.

"You always did look good in that uniform."

Brandon smiled, easing into the usual playful banter they always used to partake in, "Could say the same for you."

Laughing, Sydney gestured back in the direction Brandon came from, "You actually make it to the command center this time?"

Chuckling, Brandon nodded, "Yeah. Got my assignment and everything."

Sydney grinned "You off somewhere?"

"Yeah, just taking care of something up in Angel Grove." Brandon paused, shifting slightly as he played with the cuff around his wrist. Syd closed her eyes briefly, remembering his nervous habit.

"Look, Syd, I gotta take care of this, but when I get back, can we talk?"

Sydney managed a weak nod, forcing a cheerful look on her face, "Yeah. I'd like that."

Brandon nodded tentatively, "Okay, I'll meet you at our spot in an hour?"

Syd nodded, "Sure."

As Brandon strolled off, Syd's gaze stayed on his back long after he had disappeared. Burying her face in her hands, she sighed. Yep, the world was upside down.

xxx

Brandon whistled as he ran a hand over the machine that sat before him. Sleek and shiny, the black motorcycle screamed speed. Kat had really outdone herself. Slipping the helmet on his head, Brandon grinned as the engine roared to life with a twist of the keys. Revving the motor, he wheeled the bike around, speeding off into the brisk Newtech morning.

As Brandon zipped down the highway, each second bringing him closer and closer to his destination, a strange sense of foreboding crawled through his veins. He was tempted to turn around, but it was his duty. He had to go through with it, no matter how much it would kill him.

Brandon eased to a stop outside a house. Dismounting, he placed the helmet on the handlebars, locking the machine with a push of a button. Slowly, he ran a hand through his hair, gathering his wits. Taking a deep, steadying breath, Brandon reached out, pressing a button beside the door. As the entryway parted, he stared up into the dark, intense eyes and swallowed hard.

Coming Up:

Brandon deals with failure as the past makes an appearance

The rangers experience the wrath of a new antagonist

A leader is threatened

More romance!

Just a little teaser for what's to come, some Astro rangers may make an appearance. I'm going to try to follow the season…model chapters after actual events and all that. But one thing is certain: Sam will not be in this story. Personally, I didn't really like that character, but maybe that's me. And I'd rather not mess with a character that isn't needed. Also, there will be some sick tension between Jack and Brandon as the former might feel threatened by this higher-ranked, experienced, and obviously respected newcomer…Stay tuned

Roxie