Disclaimer: I own nothing sobs
Ranger References: There is much mention of Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue in this chapter. Surely I cannot be the only fan whose noticed the parallels between the Titanium Ranger and the Quantum Ranger? So sorry this has taken so long. Thanks for patience with me. Author shout-outs at the end. Enjoy!!
HE HAS A PURPOSE
"Another job well paid," announced Lucas as he walked into the upper room.
He handed Jen a small wad of banknotes which she took without a smile and locked in their cash tin. Since the whole visit of Ink and Alice well over a week ago, the Rangers had been trying to go about business as usual. They'd done more work, gained a bit more money and generally tried to keep busy. Eric had seemed to steer out of their way. There had been no mutant attacks since the week before which was also disconcerting. Ransik never seemed to rest for long.
"Do you think we'll see Ink again?" asked Trip as he adjusted Lucas's broken Chrono Blaster.
"I don't know," replied Wes with a sigh. "I sure hope so; it sounds like she needs our help."
"Yeah and its definitely cool meeting someone who knows so much about the Power Rangers," added Katie.
"Not just knowing them; seen them all. She was there at their creation," corrected Trip giddily. "I wonder if she knows what the Rangers who come after us are like."
That made all of the Rangers think. They often forgot that one day their mission would finish and they would become another name on a long list of Ranger teams. It made them feel very mortal.
"I'm sure she does," said Jen at last after a lengthy thoughtful silence. "But she won't tell us about them, I'm sure Captain Logan has them all in the history banks too but it's wrong for us to know about them and besides we may meet up with them someday."
"Oh yeah! That would be sooo cool," grinned Trip.
"It would be interesting to see what they'd be like, how different they'd be to us," admitted Lucas.
Suddenly in the empty space at the head of the table, purple and silver smoke filled the air. Katie leapt away with a startled yell.
"What is that stuff? Another mutant attacker from Ransik?" she asked, reaching for her Morpher.
"That's impossible, Ransick has no idea where we live," insisted Jen.
"Do not be alarmed Rangers," a voice sounded. "Alice and I are merely heralding our arrival for you this time."
Before the Rangers could say anything, Ink and Alice appeared and the smoke melted away. Ink smiled widely at the sight of the Rangers again.
"I am sorry for the shock but I felt we at least owed you a little warning of our presence rather than suddenly appearing as we did at our first introduction," she apologised, arms folded together.
Alice nodded at the assembled Ranger team. It seemed she wasn't going to be as welcoming for a long time to come. Wes smiled at Ink; glad of the chance for further explanation.
"The others have told me about the two types of power and how the teams before us were split in two," he told her. "Is there more you have to tell us? About Eric?"
"Ah yes my Quantum Ranger," sighed Ink. "Yes there is much you need to know."
She stepped forward taking a seat as the other Rangers followed suit. Alice took up her position a few feet behind Ink, refusing to relinquish her role as Protector even in the presence of Rangers.
"Eric is different to all the Rangers who came before him," Ink began slowly. "And this is what has caused the problems. Tell me Green Ranger, what reasons do Rangers usually have for accepting their power?"
Trip looked startled for a moment and then frowned as he tried to dredge up memories from Time Force training.
"Because the powers have chosen them sometimes," he tried. "Or because something evil is destroying their home planet and they want to stop it."
Ink nodded and smiled at him. Trip smiled back relieved, happy he had been able to answer her correctly.
"Those who become Rangers have selfless reasons for taking on the power - to protect or save the place they live is the most common one," she clarified. "However Eric did not put on his Morpher for this reason; he did so because he wanted to be better than you Red Ranger," she directed her gaze at Wes. "he wanted the most power he could get so that he could become Commander of the Silver Guardians and have all the power he could achieve on his own without anyone else's help."
Wes looked uncomfortable; he still wasn't quite able to deal with his former friend's arrogant attitude. Jen nudged him comfortingly.
"This attitude is in direct conflict with the power he wields and as a result, the power is becoming warped," continued Ink, her voice taking on a grave tone. "All the other teams before you worked as complete teams and so the powers they were given were contained by individuals but spread throughout the teams. They could support and aid each other. Eric however has decided to isolate himself from you and since he has no one to share the burden of his phenomenal powers, they are too much for his body and soul to handle. This problem adds to their already warped condition due to his unique attitude to his Ranger duties."
"What will this do to him?" asked Trip worriedly.
"If left unchecked Green Ranger, it could kill the man you know as Eric Myers," Ink did not mince her words. "The power he holds must not be allowed to continue warping. As he chooses to stand alone, it is draining me unknowingly through our Morpher connection and I will be destroyed. My power is slowly transferring to him and drawing us closer together. Soon it will all transfer into him and increase the destruction inside of him."
The Rangers looked astonished and horrified at the same time. Although they did not care much for Eric, the thought of him being killed was jarringly awful.
"Without Eric, I fear that your mission cannot be completed," said Ink softly, gaining all of their attention. "The paths I see before me all have Eric in them. He is important in helping you recapture all of the mutants and without him, I doubt you will have enough power to subdue Ransik and take him back to where he belongs."
"Look, are you sure?" said Wes finally "I mean I know the Quantum Powers are strong; we've all seen what they can do but are they really destructive enough to kill Eric?"
"The Quantum Powers alone are not the same as yours Red Ranger. They are also what make him different to the rest of you," declared Ink.
"It's his Zord," spoke up Lucas.
"Yeah Lucas said earlier that even though the Quantum Powers are technological, the Zord for the Quantum Ranger is a spirit animal," continued Trip.
Ink smiled widely at this and looked very animated.
"You Blue Ranger, have come to the heart of the matter," she said. "You are half right Green Ranger; Eric does not possess one power as you and the rest of the Rangers do. He possess two; both technological and spiritual. They are melded together into one in his Morpher."
"That can't be right; the Quantum Powers were created in a completely technological age," insisted Katie. "In our time there are no spirit animals left."
"That is what you are taught Yellow Ranger, but you would be surprised at the secrets your time holds. Or the secrets the guardians of the past buried to be found in your time and recreated. The person who constructed the Morpher made sure that both powers were put together in it. His Zord is a Q-Rex; a harking back to the original Red Ranger's powers and completely unlike your own. After the Quantum Morpher was complete and sent back with the Q-Rex, your technological powers were made to compliment it. I do not claim to know how it was all done but it has happened."
"So Eric has both types of power in him," began Trip slowly filtering the information through in his mind. "So he has twice as much power and that's too much for one person to handle unless he begins to work with us as the powers were meant to be shared among a team."
"Yes Green Ranger, you have surmised correctly," Ink turned her gaze to the other Rangers. "This situation appears hopeless and with little way of redeeming your Quantum Ranger due to his attitude towards you. But there is hope. This has happened once before in Ranger history and thanks to the teamwork of the Rangers involved, the power was shared and their mission completed."
There was a moment of silence as the Rangers tried to remember who Ink was talking about. Wes gave a helpless shrug. He had no access to the detailed lives of the past Rangers as his friends had in Time Force Training. An unexpected voice broke the silence.
"The Titanium Ranger Ryan Mitchell," spoke up Alice. "From the Lightspeed Rescue Rangers."
The others all looked at her but she merely turned her stony expression to Ink who nodded once, directing a kind look at her sister.
"Correct sister, he too had the melding of two powers within his Morpher. More than any man should handle alone and he too chose to fight for an entirely different reason," Ink continued. "Circuit, please display all the visual files on this subject."
"Sure Ink," said Circuit eagerly, landing near the holoscreen. "Accessing history banks."
Images quietly fluttered on the screen as Ink continued the story.
"He was raised by demons, believing that his family abandoned him and so took the Titanium Morpher in order to destroy them. His sister was the Pink Ranger and his father their Commander. The Titanium Powers had been tested on the Red Ranger but they nearly destroyed him as his body could not handle them. The Titanium Ranger's unusual upbringing equipped him with strength beyond any normal human's and so he was able to handle the Power. This was made even easier when he joined the Ranger team and allowed them to support him."
"But Eric hasn't got that," realised Wes. "And because he doesn't work with us in a team, it's gonna kill him!"
Ink nodded sadly as the other Rangers took this in. Jen reacted angrily.
"But you said you know the future! How come you couldn't change Eric finding the Morpher? You could have hidden it somewhere where no one could find it?" Jen asked. "Then none of this, even your own pain, wouldn't be happening. You could tell us what you see happening in the future and we could make sure that happens."
"Yes and then hundreds of future events would have been affected Pink Ranger," Ink replied sternly. "Telling you what I see will change things from the natural paths ahead and will have ramifications which could be felt for centuries afterwards and I am not willing to take that risk. I did not say that Eric was the wrong person to be a Ranger; I said that his handling of the Powers is wrong. Once he learns to use them correctly he will have his part to play. Eric's time as a Ranger may be the making of him."
"You don't know Eric," sighed Wes. "It's making him worse."
"But I know the future," Ink reminded him gently. "My primary concern is Eric and secondarily you as his team. As Eric's guardian, I do not wish to see him destroyed and as a part of your team I do not wish to see his demise mean your mission is not completed."
She smiled wearily at them and pulled her posture straighter.
"Although I may be Eric's guardian, I will be your guide. I will be with you whenever I feel I am needed. I cannot offer you the concrete solutions you desire," her gaze flickered to Jen. "But I can offer you choices and I will watch over you as you choose. If I feel you stray to the darkest path which will destroy so much, as Eric is now, then I will intervene but you are truly on your own. Eric needs your help."
The Rangers looked at each other in comprehending horror. Eric's destruction could jeopardise their whole mission; all they were working for. Ink sighed deeply and tucked her arms under her cloak in an almost restless manner, causing Alice to frown concerned at her.
"I realise that Eric is extremely unwelcoming of your help and your offers of friendship but he needs you. You must tell him of the effect he is having on his powers, that he must change his attitude towards you all and his powers soon," Ink said earnestly. "You must make him listen! I will not interfere in whatever altercation you have with him. If he fails to listen to you, then I will try to get through to him."
"Where will you go?" asked Katie concerned.
"Somewhere above the surface unless I need to replenish again," Ink smiled wearily. "I will not pretend I am from this time as Alice is able to do. It is futile since my powers are waning; the façade would crumble and disappear occasionally and would certainly alert Ransick to my existence. I am unsure as to whether he knows who or what I am but I do not want to chance it."
"But how can you be sure of what affect this will all have on Eric?" persisted Jen seeming unconvinced of the danger. "The history banks on Ryan Mitchell showed that once he finished being a Ranger he went on to live a perfectly normal human life with no side effects."
"I am not sure of anything Pink Ranger," replied Ink sadly. "All I know is this; I am the Quantum Keeper, it is my job to guide and protect Eric as best I can. The powers he possesses as the Quantum Ranger are unique in every way, patterned after the Titanium Powers which demonstrated how unstable and powerful combining the two types of power could be. The effect on Eric could be devastating given the ferocity he is feeding his powers by being filled with hate and resentment towards his fellow Rangers and using the Powers for the wrong motives. He is warping them beyond his own control."
There was silence as the other Rangers took in this brief powerful summary of Ink's mission. Ink leaned forward more, an even more pleading look on her face.
"I am only one sorceress; I cannot subdue Eric alone especially since the connection between us grows stronger every time he morphs or pulls especially far from your team. I am in need of your help, without Eric you may not be able to complete your mission at all."
Jen looked at her fellow Rangers; by the looks on their face she could see that they were prepared to help.
"We will help you Ink," said Jen. "It's our duty as Rangers to and to prevent our mission from failing."
She looked at Ink, millions of questions bubbling up in her mind which were nothing to do with Eric and his Quantum Powers. The questions inside Jen had something to do with something else entirely. Ink seemed to sense this and turned to look at the Pink Ranger.
"You want to know about Alex?" Ink asked gently.
Jen nodded, her hands shaking slightly as she leaned forward. She barely dared to ask herself since the pain she felt at her fiancé's demise was always fresh. Even after all this time and the start of something (she wasn't sure what) with Wes it still hurt. She wasn't even sure how to word her confusion.
"Why did he come to find you?" Jen asked at last.
"The future," replied Ink simply. "In the future, in your time the year 3000, I am still asleep beneath the Earth, awaiting my next awakening so Alex travelled back to a time when I was awake many years ago."
"When did he do that?" Jen asked, leaning forward more in her eagerness to piece the story together.
"A few months before you and the other Rangers came to this year," Ink replied her eyes never leaving Jen's paling face, seeming interested to see the Pink Ranger's reaction.
"What?" gasped Jen. "That's......that's not possible! He would have said something to me about it, something this huge! About going back in time to-to-to find a cosmic sorceress to know about the future, I mean you; I don't know what I mean."
Jen sank back into her chair, this latest fact revealed about her fiancé taking her completely by surprise. Wes leant forward tentatively and rested a comforting hand on her shoulder. It seemed to help pull Jen together as she refocused her gaze on the calm patient Ink and sat forward in her seat again.
"Is there anyway you could be wrong?" tried Wes. "I mean you've been a sleep for a while, it could have been a dream or something, or it could not have been Alex or........"
"Are you saying the Keeper is wrong? That she is not aware of her surroundings despite all the power at her disposal?" demanded Alice threateningly.
"I understand your concerns Red Ranger," said Ink with a smile on her lips. "But I was perfectly aware of who I was addressing. He told me his name himself, his mission, his time though naturally I was already aware of it all. I am certain of who I spoke to."
"The point is that if this is all true, Alex would have told me about it," Jen said firmly.
"Captain Collins was your superior officer Pink Ranger and the Red Ranger at a time when you and the rest of your team were merely Time Force Officers," Ink replied. "He would have had to embark on classified missions he was unable to talk to you about. There is a debriefing technique implemented after returning from time travel in the year 3000 which would also make it difficult for him to tell you."
Jen's eyes went wide and Trip and Katie looked at each other confused.
"Why did you call him that? Captain Collins? Alex was my superior officer but he never made Captain" Jen asked confused.
Ink blinked once and a pale hand went to the cross on a silver chain round her neck.
"A slip of the tongue Pink Ranger, I apologise," she replied.
Trip and Katie looked at each other. The warning glance Alice had fired at Ink at the last speech seemed to mean more than just a slip of the tongue. Jen had picked up on it too and was slowly getting to her feet. Ink lowered her gaze to the table, seeming completely unafraid of the increasingly intimidating shape of Jen Scotts and the way she drew a Chrono Blaster from within her jacket.
"Jen, what are you doing? Put down the Blaster!" urged Katie, getting to her feet too.
"Come on Jen, there's no need for this. They're here to help us," added Wes from behind her.
Alice was completely aware of the threat. Her staff disappeared in a flash of silver light and was replaced with an identical Chrono Blaster to Jen's which she clutched at her side but did not raise. Her gaze was unwavering and unremorseful as she eyed Jen.
"Alice, put that Blaster down," Ink said, her gaze still on the table.
"Not until she does sister," replied Alice.
"How can he be a Captain, Ink?" demanded Jen, her Blaster now at her side. "How can he be a Captain if he never made it that far?"
"Jen, maybe you should put down the blaster," said Wes calmly. "I think Alice means business."
"So do I; I want answers," snapped back Jen.
"I am bound to protect the Quantum Keeper no matter the human cost," said Alice her eyes cold and fierce.
"And you just blindly follow her orders even if her motives don't match up?"
"As she is my sister in light and I was present when the great space sages imbued her with power, I believe her motives to be somewhat pure."
"Alice, retract your weapon," Ink said, her voice strong and stern. "With Rangers, you threaten one you threaten them all."
It was true. Lucas, Katie and Trip all had hands on their Morphers, just waiting for the moment to morph while Wes stood behind Jen trying to work out how to best disarm her without getting fried. Alice smirked and another Blaster appeared in her other hand which she pointed in the general direction of the other Rangers.
"They do not know my powers sister, they do not know what I can do if I must," she replied.
"You would undo my entire calling sister? Without these Rangers I doubt Eric can be saved" Ink said urgently "the Pink Ranger has every right to feel this way. She has been through much and my small mistake has merely accelerated her feelings."
Jen's shaking arm lifted so that she was almost aiming directly at Ink's forehead. Instantly Alice's arm snapped up and she aimed her first Blaster so that it pointed straight at Jen's head. Inside Jen was a whirl of emotions. Ink had spoken as though Alex was still alive and had progressed further in the Time Force ranks. But that was impossible. She had cradled his beaten body in her arms and felt his faltering heartbeat slow. It just wasn't possible.
"Is Alex still alive?" she said through clenched teeth.
Ink's eyes snapped up from the table to Jen's face and she released her grip on the heavy silver cross. Jen saw anger swirling in her wide violet eyes.
"I cannot tell the future Pink Ranger, which you well know," Ink replied in measured tones, a hand reaching for Jen. "He is part of many paths I see. I know nothing for certain. I am the one to contend with the future in this manner, not you."
"The future's what brought me here!" exclaimed Jen, slapping away Ink's hand causing Alice to take a testy step forward. "Saving the future by stopping Ransik controlling the past."
"It is not your place to know these things Pink Ranger. Do not press me to reveal something which will affect future events," Ink pleaded. "Otherwise your future may be very different to the one intended for you and your mission will have failed. Alex told me once that he was proud of you, of how far you had come in the Time Force ranks and how far he hoped that you would go. Do not disappoint him now."
The two locked eyes as Ink's words sunk in. Jen lowered her arm breathing heavily. Her eyes teared a little at what her fiancé had said about her. Alice eyed her closely until the Time Force Ranger leader returned her Blaster to its concealed hiding place. Trip breathed a huge sigh of relief and collapsed against Katie who wrapped her arms comfortingly around him. The threat it seemed had subsided. Lucas watched everything unblinkingly his arms folded.
"Alice, disarm," commanded Ink.
Her blonde protector gave a sharp nod and drew her arms back swiftly to her chest. As the Blasters crossed they disappeared in a smattering of bright silver light. Alice herself folded her arms and stared back at Lucas, daring him to challenge her as she took a step back to regain her respectful distance behind Ink. Ink waited as Jen sat down and Wes also took his place, scooting closer so as not to be left out.
"Your fiancé came searching for answers about Ransik's place in the future, how much of a threat he would continue to be," Ink said quietly. "I told him what I told you; that I could not tell him anything but before you protest that I could have divulged information which could aid in Ransik's destruction, remember even someone as seemingly vile as Ransik has his place in our future."
"Sorry Ink, but I don't believe that," said Lucas firmly. "I've seen what he's done to people."
"Rangers! There are Cyclobots out by the one of the warehouses nearby," chirped Circuit suddenly with a fluttering of plastic wings. "And Eric's there fighting them alone. I've locked onto his Morpher. Maybe you should go help him."
"After the way he's treated us? No way, he's made it clear he doesn't want or need us," Katie exclaimed.
"He doesn't mean to be that way Katie, he's just angry and lonely," corrected Trip earnestly. "I sensed it."
"You are correct Green Ranger. Eric does not act this way in spite or purposefully. He merely acts on self-survival instincts deeply ingrained in him," said Ink. "And you should go and see Eric. Maybe you can convince him of my origins and true self and to accept my help rather than try and drain me for additional power."
She gave a sudden pained grimace, causing Alice to step forward to her. Ink gave her Protector a rueful smile.
"He has already morphed," she managed to pant out.
"Rangers, try and get the Quantum Ranger to power down," said Alice sharply.
"Ok we're on it right Jen?" said Wes, turning to look at his friend
Jen was staring at Ink, torn between wanting to demand answers about Alex from the sorceress and doing her duty as a Ranger in helping Eric become part of the team.
"Jen?" pressed Wes.
Jen quickly snapped out of her thoughts and gave Wes a quick affirmative smile.
"Sure, we've got it in hand, ready guys?" she addressed the rest of the Rangers
The others nodded and followed Wes and Jen down the stairs. Ink stared after them, trying desperately to force the pain away from her. She stayed for some time in the empty Clock Tower, struggling for breath and victory over her inner torture. Alice, knowing there was nothing she could do but wait, allowed her silence and leant against a beam as she stared out the window at the beautiful view of the city.
"I don't know why you don't simply destroy him," she said at last. "He's insolent and worthless as far as I can see."
"But I see more than you, my sister," said Ink gently, beginning to feel the pain subside somewhat. "He may not have a perfect life as some of those who came before him have but there is a desire to do good inside of him. Remember the Titanium Ranger and how he turned out in the end, despite the many obstacles in the way including his own heart?"
"I remember," nodded Alice. "But the Titanium Ranger never increased his powers in the same way the Quantum Ranger is or put any ethereal being in as much danger as you are in."
"Things have evolved Alice," replied Ink simply. "Eric is a Ranger filled with great darkness. The Quantum Powers bonded with him for a reason and we must honour that. The paths ahead will be dark and I am forced to interfere for Eric's and his team's sake. We must try to help him or much will be lost, including myself."
"How is the pain, sister?"
"Fading now, the bonds I have formed with the other Rangers have helped greatly to balance me out," said Ink. "Their power sustains me without their conscious knowledge. Unlike my more organic bond with Eric which will suck both of us dry if this path continues, my bonds with the Rangers will help strengthen us all and will only be hurtful if I choose to break them and imbalance myself."
Alice nodded. The bonding of Ranger to spirit guide was a standard happening among the former Ranger teams which none of the Rangers were ever aware of. A guide was so interlinked with the Rangers in their charge, helping to balance the power out held in the team and help to sustain their own power. Satisfied her sister was recovering; her brooding thoughts went back to Eric.
"The future cannot be saved without him," sighed Alice aggravated. "Ransik cannot be beaten without him. The only way I see of making Eric see sense would be to beat it into him."
Ink gave a ghost of a smile at her sister's forthright approach to solving their problem.
"It may not be a question of beating," she replied.
They watched the sunset in silence.
AUTHOR SHOUT OUTS
White Time Ranger: Thanks for your impatience with me. I have finally managed to post a chapter, yay!! I am so thankful that u continue to read this story. Its one I am proud of and love writing. Please keep on reading this and writing your own wicked stuff which helps inspire me. Thanks again!
Cmar: Thanks so much for reviewing. I am muchly pleased that my punctuation is finally up to scratch. Now it comes naturally to me. I am enjoying ur own TF work. I hope u continue to enjoy my own.
TF Princess: Wow thanks for the compliments, I am so glad u like my OCs. They are close to my heart, I didn't want them to be run of the mill and I think I achieved my aim. I'm also thrilled that my characterisation is working out well too. Please keep reading!!