Disclaimer: I own nothing except Ink and Alice
Author Notes: This chapter contains scenes from the Time Force episodes 'Fight Against Fate' and 'Destiny Defeated'. The chapter title is the song title of a song by Lisa Loeb and the Nine Stories, for some reason it was in my head when I wrote this. Sorry its taken so long to update. Author shout outs at the end, enjoy!
STAY, I MISS YOU
"Trust me! With the kind of performance you gave out there today we don't stand a chance against Dragontron. Do you realise what could happen? Do you care about the future? Have you forgotten about it completely?" Alex screamed at the four Time Force Officers who stood motionlessly in a line before him, their faces passive.
"We haven't forgotten," protested Katie. Alex snapped around to glare at her, electing a grudgingly respectful. "Sir."
"I hope not. Because unless this mission succeeds, there won't be any future left to remember. Dismissed."
Lucas pounded the air furiously as Alex stomped off. The attack had been a disaster. Frax's enormous robot Dragontron had proven extremely hard to battle with only one weak spot to aim for which couldn't be missed even by a millimetre. Even with Eric's and the Q-Rex's help, they had missed. It hadn't been enough to defeat the robot which after inflecting mammoth damage on their Zords, had disappeared through the water back to his hanger. Alex had been furious with what he expressed as his team's ineptitude at fighting the threat.
"I'll dismiss you," growled Lucas under his breath at Alex's disappearing back.
"We care more about the future than anyone," exclaimed Katie as Trip sank depressed to sit on a bench.
"What did you ever see in that guy?" Lucas asked Jen, prejudice colouring his words.
Jen looked at Lucas as though she'd been shot as he walked off. Suddenly she didn't have an answer. She couldn't form words that would make this hurt alright. Their leader didn't believe in them at all and it had wounded the team.
"What did we do to make Alex so mad?" wondered Katie out-loud.
"We didn't do anything Katie," reassured Jen, finding her voice at last.
"I kinda miss Wes," muttered Trip quietly.
"We all do," agreed Jen, a wealth of memories unlocking at his name.
Wes with his carefree attitude, sending Trip out for pizza to boost the team morale and make Trip feel important in getting their meal back safely. His gentle pointers in working better as a team. Always listening to what the others had to say, knowing that their knowledge from the future would help them a lot in their fight against the mutants. The way his humour lightened the mood, even after a defeat. He even made her smile when she was mad at him. They balanced the team, she realised, he was at one end his people skills keeping the team upbeat and happy and she was at the other, driving them along. For a second, Jen would have given anything to see Wes walk through the door and do something to make her smile.
"Jen," Trip's gentle voice broke through her thoughts. "Jen, I miss Ink and Alice too."
"Me too," added Katie. "I miss them sitting here playing the cards and the way Alice was always so mad about the way Eric behaved."
"And the way they told us stories," continued Trip, his eyes suddenly alive again.
"But they're not here," cut in Jen ruthlessly, ignoring the cry of her own heart. "They chose to betray us and so they're not here."
"Don't say we're doing fine without them Jen, because we're not," said Katie abruptly. "Maybe we do need them here. They're part of the team."
"Not anymore," answered Jen stubbornly.
Inside, an inner voice wormed its way into her consciousness. She did miss Ink and Alice. The way Ink would stand with her on the balcony in the mornings sometimes and talk over the previous battle, helping her to make sense of the weaknesses they needed to work on. The way Alice would tell them stories from the past of the other Ranger teams and what they were really like. Jen had to admit that in the battle that afternoon, she'd looked for Ink and Alice staring up at the MegaZord, offering encouragement by their presence. Now there was no one left.
No one but Alex. The man she'd pledged to spend forever with. Had he always been this tough and regimented? Jen tried to remember. Yes he had been. He'd always demanded the best from everyone he counted as a colleague, whether they were friends or not. He'd always demanded the best from her too and it had made her a better soldier, a better officer because of it. But Wes was the one who'd made her a better person. Wes had opened up that side of herself she didn't even realise she'd lost. He'd made her smile and laugh, helped her to appreciate the fun light side of life. He'd taught her to enjoy each day and to properly enjoy life. Alex had helped her become the best Time Officer she could be but Wes; he'd helped her become the best person she could be. Why was it only now that she'd realised it?
The wind was unusually strong as Eric strode along the pavement, carrying his bird cage and a large black holdall. He wondered briefly if it was Ink in an attempt to make him stay but although he could feel her dulling pain, she'd remained silent even though he was sure she knew his intent. As he came to a stop and set his bag down, he was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't hear the girlish patter of sneakered feet.
"Where are you guys going?"
With a start he turned to see his neighbour Alice, a worried smile on her face and her blonde pigtails flapping in the breeze. He felt his heart sink a little; this was going to be hard. He carefully held the bird cage up for her so that she could hunch down and delightedly prod her fingers through the bars at the birds inside. Eric found himself smiling. This innocent gentle child had become a friend of his who he was actually regretting leaving. For once, he was the one leaving someone behind. It felt horrible. He crouched down to her level.
"We're going away for a while," he answered her.
"How long?"
"Maybe a long time,"
Alice frowned and lowered her head unhappily. Eric found a stone drop in his gut at the sight of her unhappiness. Why would this little girl's mood matter to him so much? Because she'd gotten past his defensive walls just by being herself and showing a child's love for his birds. That gave him an idea.
"Come here," he said, taking her hand.
He pulled her to her feet and handed her the birdcage.
"How bout you take care of them while I'm gone?"
"Sure!" Alice exclaimed happily.
She carefully set the cage down and before Eric could protest, flung her arms around his waist in a hug.
"I'll miss you," she said into his leather jacket.
Shock filtered through Eric as he gazed first down at the girl grasping him and then at the windy sky. No one had cared about him enough to wish him such a heartfelt goodbye before. Except for Ink and Alice. He frowned; forcing the thoughts away and instead wrapped his arms around Alice to return the hug. He couldn't express what her simple friendship meant to him so he hoped that his gift and returning the hug would express it enough. A taxi pulling up at the curb saved any further explanation.
Eric pulled away from his friend and nodded to the driver. After he'd thrown his bag in the back he paused as he turned back to look at Alice, the birdcage at her feet and a sad look on her young face. He settled for batting her head affectionately with his hand and a smile as he slid into the taxi. As the cab pulled away from the curb, he turned to wave at Alice through the back window as she waved enthusiastically back at him.
Where are you going Eric?
Now you decide to talk to me? When I'm leaving? Eric knew he sounded incredulous and bitter but he couldn't stop himself.
I have been…..indisposed. Only now am I able to walk around without aid.
Guilt washed over Eric briefly. She hadn't been able to walk? He scrambled to remember what had happened to her. She'd broken away from the other Time Force Rangers, despite her bonds with them because Alex, that guy from the future, had come back to claim the Red Chrono-Morpher. It'd been made worse because he'd refused to speak to her until she told him more about Mr Collins. Pain jabbed through Eric again. Someone else he'd left behind. He'd have to settle for the hope that Wes wouldn't let his father die.
Why are you leaving Eric?
There's nothing left for me here Ink. Mr Collins is going to die. Wes is in charge of a company I wanted to be part of, right at the top. Now it's his company. The Rangers have got Alex and I can't even help them defeat that Dragontron robot. I'm failing at everything here, I need to get away and make a fresh start somewhere new.
Again? You seem to do a lot of that.
If people didn't let me down then I wouldn't move.
If you gave people more of a chance then maybe they'd be able to help you.
I can't stay Ink. Not with Wes in charge of Bio-Lab. He's got everything I wanted.
Only you have a Morpher and he doesn't Quantum Ranger. The Rangers will need your help.
I thought you weren't guiding them now.
I am guiding you. I am going to visit a friend who needs me. Please stay Eric. Without you here, without our connection reforged, I will die and you will follow soon after.
I can make my own destiny Ink. I can't be in a place where I fail at everything. I can do this alone.
There was a pause as Ink withdrew slightly. Eric found himself wondering for a moment whether she was actually gone.
As you believe Quantum Ranger. Keep yourself safe.
Then Eric found himself completely and utterly alone.
It was a very different Wes that walked out from the Bio-Lab headquarters than the one who had listened attentively to Ink in the Clock Tower. He looked very different too. Gone was the casual pants, white vest and bright red button-down shirt, his unofficial Ranger uniform. He now wore a smart blue suit with a dark shirt beneath it and a red necktie. It signaled a time of great change in his life. Now Ink observed he looked more cowed and defeated; as though the very weight of the world was on his shoulders. She had been waiting for him to appear for some time.
"He's crushed sister," spoke up Alice, ever quick to notice people's moods.
"Are you surprised considering his situation?" replied Ink sadly. "He has seen more sadness and disappointment in the past few days than any one man should."
"So why are we here? He's no longer part of our Ranger team."
"No, but he should be. The paths I see have become clear. He needs the other Rangers just as much as I do and maybe if we work together, then we can aid each other."
"Meddling with the future? I thought Alex was their only path forward."
"I am not meddling sister! You see what is happening. Soon the Rangers will be destroyed unless we give them a helping hand. Our mission is to keep them alive and away from the darkest paths. I did not know that Alex would bring such discontent with him."
Alice nodded and watched as Wes crossed the courtyard, his eyes glazed over. He didn't notice the world around him anymore.
"Something on your mind Wes?"
Wes stopped abruptly at the voice and span on his heel. There were a million things on his mind, all of which were bubbling up inside of him trying to take first place. He felt like he was about to explode. Ink stood a little way off with Alice stood beside her. Wes smiled tiredly at them, hoping that his pleasure at seeing them both showed through his weariness. He hadn't seen them since this whole horrible business had begun (with no offered explanation) and he was more grateful than ever that they were here now, to see a friendly Ranger-related face. He walked over to them quickly
"Ink, Alice, man am I glad to see you two," he said gratefully, closing in on Ink for a hug before she could protest.
Ink accepted the enthusiastic hug with grace before gently disentangling herself. Wes knew better than to hug Alice so settled for a respectful head nod to her. Ink looked different he realized. She was wearing her cloak for the first time since she'd unmasked herself to them just after they'd met. Her skirt was unusual too, looking like it was made of thousands of soft purple leaves and the same design was picked out in the pattern of her long sleeved top.
"How are you Wes?" asked Ink concern etched in her voice.
His happy expression faded as he thought about her pointed question. Even though she hadn't been around for all the problems, she still knew what was going on. He knew she would want an honest answer.
"Can't you guess? Everything's gone Ink, everything I worked for, fought for, it's all gone," Wes replied, his expression serious and sombre. "My father's going to die today."
There was a moment of silence as Wes gazed at the ground, trying to find the words to explain his inner feelings.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Ink looked at him with eyes full of sorrow.
"You know why Wes. You know I cannot tell you of your future no matter what it holds," she replied softly.
"You told Eric his future," Wes tried not to sound bitter and angry.
"I am Eric's guardian. I am bound to protect him and his future Wes," answered Ink. "The intricacies of your own life and the problems that cross it I cannot affect unless they cross Eric's path or affect the whole team's mission. Do not doubt that I care for all of the Time Force Rangers. I simply cannot be a factor in future events unless they stray upon the most dangerous paths."
Wes contemplated the lady stood before him. She was still a mystery to him. Sometimes she appeared human as she sat with the Rangers in the Clock Tower laughing at something with them all but other times when she stared wistfully out of the window down onto the city, when he could see the future weighing heavily on her shoulders, she seemed more distant and ethereal than ever. He would definitely call her a friend though he couldn't say that he knew her.
"Wait, you just called me Wes," Wes realised slowly. "You never call me that; you always call me Red Ranger."
"I can no longer call you that because you no longer hold the Morpher," Ink replied quietly.
The hurt in Wes' eyes was painful to see. Hearing it so bluntly made him feel as though he'd been slapped.
"The only Ranger I call by their true name is Eric as we are so interlinked, the rest of you are your Ranger colours my friend," Ink explained. "Now that someone else holds your Morpher, they are Red Ranger to me."
Wes nodded and shifted the briefcase in his hand. So much had changed since he'd last seen Ink. He thought she'd disappeared since Eric seemed to be improving. His moods weren't much better and he still spent no time with the Ranger team out of uniform but when Morphed, he was beginning to grudgingly work as part of a team. Ink was rarely crippled with pain anymore either whenever he saw her. It had seemed that everything was going right. Well it had seemed that way.
"Did you know?" Wes asked tentatively.
"That the Red Ranger would return and reclaim his Morpher? That your father would supposedly die today? Yes I did Wes," Ink supplied, no remorse in her voice. "If I had told you, so many things would turn out differently and I am not willing to let that happen."
Wes sighed. He understood Ink's point of view and line of reasoning, it just hurt that someone he had come to trust wouldn't tell him about something so big. Without his Morpher, he felt useless.
"Do you think I can do anything now?" he asked. "Do you think I can actually achieve anything? The others don't need me anymore……"
"They need you more than you know Wes," interrupted Ink sharply. "You were not just their Red Ranger; you are their friend. You have contributed a great deal to their lives and if you disappear completely you will hurt them so much. You are more than just a uniform."
In the silence between them, Wes felt something of himself inside rebuild as Ink's words sank in.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
Ink reached for one of Wes' hands, a butterfly light contact on his skin with a strangely strong grip.
"I am sorry about your father Wes; it was something I could not stop," she said regretfully as she looked into his crystal green eyes.
Wes' face darkened as he thought about his father. He'd been struck down by Ransik and was in hospital. The reason Alex had taken back the Red Time Force Morpher was to realign the future; in the future history banks Mr Collins died and Wes took over the company. Alex was determined not to mess with what was apparently predestined .
"Its ok, I know you can't do anything about fate and according to Alex, this is the lifestyle I'm locked into," his tone was miserable. "Dad's doing ok but I went to see him and it was so hopeless……"
Ink said nothing. She just held his hand. The contact was what Wes needed. He felt like he hadn't seen any of his friends for such a long time. They'd basically disappeared since Alex had taken the lead. He didn't blame them; he knew that Alex wouldn't want him at the Clock Tower and the others would be in trouble if they persisted in seeing him. Especially Jen. He tried not to think about her. She was the one who's absence hurt him the most. Swallowing hard, Wes managed to contain his tears.
He'd been swamped with board meetings and paperwork since taking his father's place at the company. All the sort of things which he detested most in the world. The world his father had wanted him to be part of. The world he would be part of for his father's sake. The very fact that Ink was here with him when she was Eric's guardian meant a lot to Wes. He looked up suddenly.
"Ink, how's Eric doing?" he asked quietly. "I know he's mad since I'm head of the company because of my dad and he's stuck as the Silver Guardian Commander after all his hard work."
"He is…..discontented," replied Ink with a rueful smile. "In fact, I believe he is leaving town."
"Leaving town? Can't you stop him? The Rangers need his help, I know they do!" spluttered Wes.
"Once Eric's mind is on something, it will not leave it. He has requested to be left alone and I honour that," Ink replied. "He believes he is a total failure having failed to take your father's place at Bio-Lab and failing to save the day when fighting as the Quantum Ranger. His is a battle he faces alone."
"But you could die," whispered Wes, horror dawning on him.
"Yes Wesley, I could. But there are many other paths ahead Eric could choose, no matter how much it hurts now," replied Ink with sadness coating her words. "Just because he has left me now does not mean he will never return."
Alice reached for her sister's nearest shoulder. The look on her face was one of compassion
"It's like a hole inside of you where your connection is," she commented. "I know it well."
"I know sister," Ink smiled at her before she turned back to Wes. "The reason we have waited for you is to tell you this; go to the hospital to see your father."
"I've been there all night and nothing's happened," protested Wes. "I came back to shower and change and grab some papers. He just lies there and Alex says he's gonna die today and I don't think I can handle……"
"Hush child, go to your father's side," interrupted Ink briskly. "There you will find some encouragement and maybe even some peace."
Wes looked at her. She seemed convinced that this was something he should do and he knew she was a person to listen to.
"Ok," he nodded. "I'll do it, but only because you say so."
She squeezed Wes' hand once before pulling her hand away, smiling at him.
"I am going to watch the Rangers battle. I have felt much pain in their absence and only now can I walk alone. They will need my presence," she atoned softly. "Farewell Wes, do not give up yet. We will see you again."
She gave a sort of sweeping curtsey and began walking away before Wes could speak. Alice paused beside the lonely torn-apart young man.
"I don't like Alex," she said finally. "He's a dictator, not a leader. He won't do any good as the Time Force Red Ranger."
Wes grinned, absurdly pleased at the words from the contemptuous young woman.
"Well it's his destiny," he replied. "Not mine anymore."
"We'll see," was all Alice said.
Then she walked away, leaving Wes to think over their words as he made his way back to the hospital.
AUTHOR SHOUT-OUTS
White Time Ranger: Your reviews always make me smile! Thanks for your encouraging words. I'm glad that Eric's emotional development is believable as it's the hardest thing to write! Hope u enjoyed this chapter!
Silver Rider: Thanks for takin time to read again and thanks for the compliments, makes me think I'm doing something right! Hopefully we'll see Eric's wall beginning to crumble (depends where the muses take me I suppose!). Hope u enjoyed this chapter too.
TF Princess: Having many names must be confusing but muchly fun lol! I'm glad that my blending of the episodes is working out well and Eric's thoughts too, I find them hard to get just right. Hope u liked this chapter :- )