Disclaimer: own nothing except Ink and Alice.
Ranger References: Contains scenes from 'Time for Lightspeed'. It also contains references to events that happened during the Lightspeed Rescue Series. The weapons Alice uses are from Ninja Storm and Wild Force. Things are about to get interesting! Hope u like. Thanks for the amazing reviews, author shout-outs at the end. Enjoy!
TITANIUM PROTECTOR
With a nod, Ryan and Eric both got out of the van and slammed the doors shut behind them. Immediately they had the attention of everyone. Ryan's focus was on Vypra, scowling at him from behind her Warriors.
"You mean twelve Rangers," corrected Ryan, pointing a triumphant finger at the demon.
Vypra bared her teeth at him as he and Eric joined the long line of Rangers. Eric noticed the delighted smile on the blonde Lightspeed Rescue Ranger's face. From her pink shirt, she had to be Dana. He briefly wondered how long Ryan had been away. Then he focused on the task at hand.
Working as part of a team, Eric?
Desperate situation calls for desperate measures. Silver Hills needs to be saved. It's my job.
Or perhaps, meeting people who know your pain is actually self-healing.
Eric grimaced, choosing not to answer and clenched his fists at his side. Vypra backed up, pointing her sword at the two teams menacingly.
"I've been waiting for this for a long long time," she hissed.
"Let's do it!" Wes exclaimed.
"Ready?" a blonde man Eric guessed had to be Carter from his red undershirt lifted his left arm up.
"Ready," the four other Lightspeed Rescue Rangers answered, falling into a v-formation behind him and mimicking his gesture.
"Lightspeed Rescue!"
Eric watched fascinated as the ordinary people before him transformed into colour-coded Rangers, their uniforms so different to the Time Force ones. He'd never seen another team's morph up close and seeing and feeling the Power surge through the Rangers was a unique experience.
"Titanium Power!"
Ryan raised his arms straight up after finishing his morphing movements and power poured down on him, wrapping him in a burnished gold and silver metallic uniform, a strange Y-design fashioning his helmet. It was unlike any other Ranger uniform Eric had ever seen on news reports and he watched as Ryan nodded his way before falling in line with the other Lightspeed Rescue Rangers. Wes's voice broke through Eric's thoughts.
"Ready?"
The Time Force Rangers morphed beside Eric. He was the only one unmorphed. It made him feel out of place and annoyingly vulnerable.
Time you waste will give the enemy an advantage, Quantum Ranger. It was the closest Eric had ever heard Ink to impatience and it made him grin.
I thought I'd take in the view.
Now is the time you choose to show you have a sense of humour? Please do not delay your morph!
With a nod, Eric activated his Morpher finally and transformed into the Quantum Ranger. He found himself beside Wes in the middle of the group.
Alright very funny! What am I doing here?
Nothing to do with me, Quantum Ranger. The Powers have placed you in the centre of your team for this battle for a reason.
Eric scowled; there was never a logical reason. Being in the middle of the group, he noted there was a strong sense of fellowship and strength of number. The Power he was part of was immense and it buoyed his normally high confidence even higher than usual.
"Show them what demon power can do!" screamed Vypra, causing the strange Warriors before her to pull out samurai swords with aggressive grunts.
"Let's do it!" called Wes.
Eric found himself moving at the same time as the other assorted Rangers. He was tempted to ask Ink what was happening but knew instinctively she'd refuse to answer him as he entered a battle. There were five demon Warriors to take care of as well as Vypra and the strange monster stood beside her. As Eric began mentally mapping out where he'd be most effective, Ryan appeared beside him and solved the problem for him.
"Want to team up?" the Titanium Ranger asked, indicating the Red Warrior racing towards them.
"Let's go for it," Eric replied briskly, realising he didn't have much choice since the Warrior had targeted them both.
The Warrior began wildly attacking them but Eric found that he and Ryan worked well as a team. Maybe it was something to do with them being the later additions to their own teams. Soon the Warrior was sprawled smoking on the ground and Ryan and Eric leapt into the air to finish it off. With equally strong blasts from the Quantum Defender and the Titanium Laser, the monster exploded and melted away into nothingness. Eric landed safely beside Ryan.
"Good work," said Ryan approvingly.
"Got the job done," agreed Eric, looking around rapidly. "Where now?"
The other Rangers had paired off and were furiously fighting the other Warriors. Carter and Wes were fighting the monster which left Vypra unattended to. The demon princess was stood at the edge of the battle, watching it all approvingly. Then she spotted them and Eric barely had time to warn Ryan before she flung a seething blast of fiery energy at them. He and Ryan hit the ground just in time to see a navy-clad figure run past them.
"Hawk Blaster!" a familiar voice yelled.
Red energy sliced through the air into Vypra, gaining a baneful shriek. Eric and Ryan got to their feet to see Alice stood in front of them, a compact red blaster gun held in one hand. As she turned to look at them, it dissolved away in silver light.
"Like old times?" asked Ryan, a smile coating his words.
"Never could let you have all the fun," Alice retorted. She thrust her hands forward, causing silver energy to collect in her clasped hands and then pulled them back into her chest crying. "Navy Titanium Protector Power!"
In a brilliant burst of navy silver energy, Alice's appearance transformed. She still wore the navy baby tee and matching shorts but her abundant jewellery had disappeared. Silver gauntlets appeared on her forearms nearly reaching her elbows and lethal looking silver spikes protruded from her black combat boots. A silver Romanesque helmet had formed around her head leaving her face clear and her hair poured out of the top at the back. A long navy and silver cloak shimmered down her back to her feet and seemed to attach itself to her shoulders with solid silver clasps. Eric found his jaw unable to work.
"You can morph?" he managed, mind reeling from the unexpected sight in front of him.
"It's similar, it's my battle gear," she replied absently. "Part of the Protector's job to help her charge in battle."
Vypra was on feet and looked absolutely furious as Alice began running towards her.
"We have unfinished business," the demon yelled vengefully.
"And I plan to finish it!" retorted Alice.
A short navy and crimson staff topped and tailed with thick silver pieces formed in her hands which she swung hard at Vypra as the demon aimed her sword at Alice. There was a shattering of sparks as the two met in the middle.
"Thunder Staff, full power!" yelled Alice, causing it to double in length and zing with energy as she pulled it away from Vypra and aimed for her feet.
Can you do that, Ink?
Only if pushed and necessary. Alice is a warrior protector while I am a spirit guide. Our duties to our charges are very different. She enjoys being involved in battles while I do not. It burns my energy but fuels Alice's.
"I think Alice's got this one," pointed out Ryan humourlessly. "The others'll need our help."
Eric nodded, taking one last look at Alice as she swung her cloak around to block one of Vypra's punches. It acted like a solid steel shield and the demon's fist crunched painfully against it. With a cry of "Crystal Sabres!", a pair of clear silver short swords appeared in Alice's hands replacing the staff in time to fend off more of Vypra's sword slashes. What else could Ink and Alice do that he didn't know about?
"I'll help Carter and Wes," voiced Ryan, not waiting for a reply as he ran off.
Watching Ryan's retreating back, Eric scanned the area. The Lightspeed Rescue Rangers were closing in on one Warrior while the Time Force Rangers were taking care of another. They were all meshing as a single united team in order to beat the demons. Then the Blue Warrior the Lightspeed Rescue Rangers were closing in on managed to struggle free and was running away across the concrete. Eric grinned and pressed a button on his Morpher. He was in the mood to slice and dice.
"Mega Battle, activate!"
A wave of gold flowed over his uniform and the Mega Battle armour formed over the top of it. A boost of power soared through him as he set off on his skates to catch up with the Warrior. He easily raced past it, slashing it with his purple arm blades. As he came to a stop several feet before the smoking helpless creature, he saw the Blue and Green Lightspeed Rescue Rangers power up their own Mega Battle armour. They had the situation under control. Then a sharp pain twinged in his mind, paired with worry and urgency.
Alice has fallen.
He turned in time to see the Titanium Protector land hard on the concrete. Vypra was storming towards her, sword raised to strike.
Do not leave her to be destroyed. A demon's power is more than enough to crush my sister's spirit for eternity.
And you can't do it because…..?
My own Battle Armour must be saved for when it is most needed. Alice's body is a literal weapon and it does not drain her at all to be in battle. I lose a lot of life energy from transforming. If I were to emerge to help, I would be destroyed and a very dark path would follow. Please Eric, she is my sister.
Eric sighed heavily. Sometimes he did wish that Alice would disappear far away so that he could get on with his life without the insults and annoyance. Ink wouldn't be entirely pleased if that happened and since her pain was his pain, it would hurt a lot.
Fine, I'm on it.
Eric zoomed towards the fallen figure, the urgency that Ink felt propelling him forward faster. He fired one of his blaster guns at Vypra, making her stumble shrieking backwards and scooped Alice up out of harm's way.
"I'll take care of Vyra!" Wes called as Eric passed him.
Eric didn't bother answering as he reached Ink in her hiding place. She was kneeling down, preparing to receive her sister. Silently Eric laid the dazed Protector into Ink's arms and watched as Ink placed a hand on her sister's forehead. Almost immediately Alice opened her eyes with a pained groan. She saw Eric first.
"Can't stop caring can you?" she croaked.
"I'm trying. I needed to save a damsel in distress."
"Ha! I needed no help, Quantum," Alice's eyes were full of life as she struggled to sit up with Ink's help but Eric could see her gratitude plainly written on her face. "I saw you helping Ryan; you're becoming a team player."
Eric opened his mouth to deny it but he knew she was right. He was becoming part of the team and, as much as he hated to admit it, it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. Maybe it was working with Ryan, despite appearances they did have a lot in common. They'd both had vastly different shit early lives and had both ended up making the best of it.
A comrade in arms? Maybe a friend.
Ink smiled at him when he looked at her to reply. She wasn't going to say a word more.
Maybe.
"They need you, Quantum Ranger. Vypra and Quargagon are determined to finish this battle their way. Combine your powers with the others and the blast will be enough to end their demonic existence forever," Ink said out-loud. "Alice will recover in a moment, we can protect each other."
Sure enough the two Red Rangers were powering up their own Battler Armour and the Blue and Green Lightspeed Rangers flanked them on either side. The other Rangers were running to add their own fire power. There was no way he was missing out on the party when he could add his own power to it. With a few fast strides of his wheeled boots, Eric was in position. Wes gave him a quick affirming nod.
"Let's finish this!" proclaimed Carter.
"Ready? Fire!" ordered Wes.
As one, all the Rangers fired their weapons. A humungous strength of intense multicoloured energy blasted from the group, it was so immensely bright Eric was glad of his visor, and exploded into the charging villains. When the smoke cleared, flaming remains were all that could be seen.
Can she return again, Ink?
Not by herself. Only if someone else attempts to summon her and even if they do, it will take a great strength of black magic to achieve her second resurrection.
Reassured, Eric powered-down at the same time the other Rangers did. They stood in a loose chunkily coloured group, exhilaration glowing from each of their faces. Carter and Wes enthusiastically clasped hands and briefly hugged, which acted as the ok for the others to begin celebrating as well. Even Ryan was joining in, the Lightspeed Rescue Rangers surrounding him excitedly after his long absence. Eric smiled. He had worked as part of the team and it had worked but unlike Ryan who had his sister to tie him to the team, he had nothing. This was something he wasn't part of. He began walking unnoticed away but then Ink and Alice stopped him.
"Do not leave yet, Quantum Ranger," asked Ink quickly. "We wish to speak to the Rangers. The Lightspeed Rangers have not seen Alice in a long time. They will want to know you as well."
"I don't do gatherings, Ink," retorted Eric, venom dripping from his words as he glared hard at her.
"I am not asking you to have a party with them, Eric. Just for your presence, for a few minutes. I do not expect you to come back to the Clock Tower with us."
He hated being social. It made him feel inadequate when people talked about all the things they had and had done even though he knew his own story could more than match anyone's. But Ink was looking at him wordlessly and all he felt from her was pleading and hope. She did want him to meet the other Rangers and it couldn't hurt to know other people who had the Power. They could be useful contacts if needed.
"Fine, just for a few minutes," sighed Eric grouchily.
He walked by the sisters' side, who he noticed with some surprise were linking arms. Alice looked a little pale still but the expression on her face was strong. The noise from the Ranger group was loud and joyful and Eric found himself wincing as they got close to them. Katie was the first to notice them.
"Alice! I saw you battling out there! I had no idea you could do that!" she gasped loudly, gaining the other Rangers' attention.
"There was never any need to show you before now," shrugged Alice.
"She's my Protector," added Ryan, emerging from the crowd to stand beside Alice. "Like Ink is Eric's Guardian."
Alice crossed her arms so that her hands touched her shoulders and with one movement brought them down by her sides. In a cascade of glittering navy-silver pieces, her battle gear shattered from her body to her feet where the shards dissolved. Alice, in her normal clothes and her black jacket which Eric could now see had the Lightspeed Rescue symbol and the Ranger team name printed on the back, stood smiling before them.
"If you want my full title I'm the Navy Titanium Protector. You can still call me Alice though," she joked.
Immediately the Lightspeed Rescue Rangers rushed to her in greeting. Eric could make out a bit of what they said but mostly it was incoherent babbling at her return. From Ink, he felt a great deal of warmth, pride and happiness and when he turned to look at her, she was looking at the Lightspeed group with increasing fondness.
"Were you around with Alice when she was Ryan's Protector?" he asked curiously.
"No. I have been asleep for many years. Alice's time with the Lightspeed Rescue team was a journey she needed to complete alone. Through that journey, she made some very close friends."
Eric nodded, remembering Alice and Ryan's easy banter in the SUV as he drove them to the battle.
"Ryan needed her protection when he left the Rangers questing for cures and more information on the demons from their tomb. She became his travelling companion. The weapons her power provides her with has proved most useful in their partnered endeavour."
Alice broke from the group and jogged over to where Ink and Eric stood. There was a light in her eyes that made her appear a lot younger than Eric knew she was.
"They want to meet you, sister," she said, catching hold of Ink's hand. "You can come too if you want, Quantum."
It was the closest Eric was going to get to an invitation. His visceral reaction was to refuse and go home to his birds but he thought about how well he'd gotten on with Ryan and saw the Titanium Ranger nodding encouragingly at him. The Time Force Rangers were becoming part of the Lightspeed group now and were chattering together. Eric felt a strange tug at his heart.
You do not want to be alone.
But I don't want insincere friendship. I don't want people thinking they're better than me.
Do you really think that little of fellow Rangers? They will understand you better than you can possibly imagine and will welcome someone who has travelled from darkness to light just as Ryan did. You and Ryan bonded together. Why not give the others a chance? How can you expect people to not judge you if you judge them yourself?
Ink offered him a small inviting smile. Eric glared at her. He and Ryan had gotten on well together despite his initial misgivings. She was irritatingly right.
I don't like this team work..
Yet it benefits you on the battlefield and allows you to feel less lonely. They are not expecting you to move into the Clock Tower, Eric. Just that you will accept the possibility of friendship. It is not much to ask.
I've asked for the same thing before and I haven't got shit back.
The past shall not dictate the future. Open yourself up to the possibilities the Quantum Powers offer you and you will receive more than you dreamed you would when you first stole that Morpher.
Before Eric could form a reply, out-loud or otherwise, Alice pulled them into the centre of the group of Rangers. There was no escape now.
"These are two of the most important people in my life," Alice stated. "Ink, my sister and the Quantum Keeper and Eric Myers, the Quantum Ranger. Ink's his Guardian and I'm her Protector."
Eric found people shaking his hand and patting his shoulder. He was still reeling from Alice's statement. He was one of the most important people in her life? It was confusing considering how much they argued and disagreed but if they truly were some kind of family, it did make a weird sort of sense. He then realised Ryan was beside him and talking.
"Overwhelming?" the Titanium Ranger asked quietly.
"Give me a silent day training and patrolling the city any day," Eric replied.
"Now you know why I spent all my time away," laughed Ryan. "Some of us are talking about heading back to the Clock Tower the Time Rangers use as their base, you gonna come with us?"
"I don't go to the Clock Tower," answered Eric seriously. "It's their base, not mine."
Ryan shrugged seeming to understand as they watched everyone else talk.
"I think everyone's going to stay around here first anyway, in case anything else rises from the Shadow World. I'm guessing you don't want to talk to people," Eric shook his head. "How about I tell you about my team in case you need them as contacts or meet up with them or something?"
Eric couldn't argue against that logic and didn't reply which Ryan took as consent and walked off a little way from the group. Eric followed him and stood, hands in his pockets, as Ryan gave short concise descriptions of his team mates which Eric filed away for future use. He'd been right; the blonde girl in the pink shirt was Dana Mitchell and he learnt from Ryan that she was a doctor now. The bright smile and friendly manner she addressed everyone with cemented this fact. From Ryan he also learnt that Carter Grayson, quiet and strong looking, had gone back to being a fireman which didn't surprise Eric at all though he had trouble placing the polite man he now saw hovering near Dana and talking to Wes in the Red Ranger's uniform. He learnt that Joel Rawlings, chatting animatedly to Jen, had spent his entire Ranger tenure trying to persuade the Lightspeed Project's Head of Technology Miss Angela Fairweather to go on a date with him and had ended up marrying her. There was something in the wide cocky grin on the Green Ranger's face that irked Eric a lot and he had the distinct feeling that he wouldn't get along with Joel. He learnt that Kelsey Winslow rollerbladed at championship level and climbed the hardest cliffs she could find for fun and that her best friend Chad Lee had fallen in love with a mermaid called Marina whom they'd helped when they were full-time Rangers and now worked as a lifeguard so that he could see her whenever he wanted.
"Are you kidding me!" he exclaimed incredulously.
"I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried," laughed Ryan. "Try telling people you grew up with demons. Being a Ranger means you don't have a normal life, even if you want one."
"That's the truth," muttered Eric, watching Ink and Alice converse with Wes and Carter.
"You don't wish you hadn't gotten the Quantum Morpher do you?" asked Ryan surprised at Eric's expression. "A lot of crap's happened to me since being a Ranger and I hate what I did when I first put on the Morpher but honestly, I've never regretted becoming the Titanium Ranger."
Did he regret it? It had given him a lot more power, secured him his job position as the Commander of the Silver Guardians and gave him a great deal of authority in the city. It meant working with Wesley Collins, someone he thought he'd never see again after prep school and an assortment of people he deemed undisciplined and unruly. It meant making a difference to the world around him. It meant Ink and Alice. His gaze lingered briefly on the sisters and Ink, as always aware of his feelings, turned to smile encouraging at him.
The Quantum Powers chose right.
"I guess at the moment I don't regret it either," Eric said at last somewhat grudgingly as he and Ryan stayed on the outside and watched the others talk.
AUTHOR SHOUT-OUTS
PRTFLO: Thanks for your kind review! I always figured that Eric and Ryan would have a lot in common – their characters do share similarities. Hope you enjoy this chapter as well:- )
White Time Ranger:hugs back: that's ok babe! I wanted to reward you for your fantastic loyalty to me and my work, us Time Force authors have to stick together! I'm thrilled that the idea of Alice as Ryan's guardian works as well as Ryan as Eric's friend, they are so alike and I figured it would make a lot of sense. I'm very proud of this story arc! Hope you enjoyed this chapter and thanks again for being such a wonderful reliable reviewer!
Silver Rider: Your review was short and to the point, I'm glad you loved the last chapter and hope you continue to enjoy this story. Thanks for continually reading and reviewing!
Blooming Violets: I'm glad you enjoyed it; hope you like this one just as much:- )
Etcetera Kit: Its sooo cool to have you reviewing this, what I call my 'Time Force epic'. I have worked so hard at this and it's wonderful to have you, whose work I adore, read and review it. I'm glad you think I characterised Eric right – he is really tough to write and also the main muse for the story. I never like OCs myself either but these two popped into my head and I really like how they turned out – don't worry, there's no romantic entanglements between them and the Rangers. I refuse to do that, I prefer writing romance within the show's characters so it'll all be strictly cannon! I hope you like this story but don't be afraid to leave me constructive criticism if it'll help me write better. :- )
TF Princess: Thanks so much for your review; it really lifted my spirits when I was in a bad place today. I'm glad u got the humour of the Eric/Ink/Ryan/Alice conversation and yeah, to me Eric and Ryan share many similarities and would, in my mind, be very good friends. I hope you liked this chapter too!
Mag Cat: Thanks for the wonderful compliments! This story arc won't differ from the Time Force/Lightspeed Rescue teamup shown on TV; it'll just fill in the unseen gaps and add Alice and Ink to it. At least that's the plan, it could all change! As for Ryan/Kelsey, I don't think that pairing will be included. I've seen minimal Lightspeed Rescue and would hate not to do it justice. I do like that pairing from what I've seen though. Hope you like this chapter!