Voices tell me I should carry on
But I am swimming in an ocean all alone

From a distance, Alex watched Jen and the others talking over the table during dinner, her face was lit and her eyes sparkled, she seemed at peace, while the other Rangers seemed to delight in relaxing her; she was hardly the girl he had fallen in love with, she was so much more, now a woman . . . a soldier . . . Alex smiled softly at the thought, but the smile quickly vanished as another thought crept in: And she's not yours.

Jen turned slightly, catching a glimpse of the former Red Ranger standing in the doorway, her face hardened as she stood and reported coolly: "We're on autopilot, should arrive in Mar's orbit in about an hour."

"Good," Alex said, "you and I will go down. I want you three---" he directed his attention to them "---to get some rest, we could very busy soon." He looked back at Jen. "You might as well get as much sleep as you can."

"I'm fine," Jen snapped, brushing by him to dispose of her dish and head out into the corridor.

Alex bit back a sharp reply, feeling his own hurt and anger beginning to rise, he kept his back turned to her till he heard the doors slide shut; hour by hour, it was becoming more difficult to remain in each other's presence, he wondered why she had bothered to contact him in the first place. She wants to complete this mission, and she thinks I can help . . . she's matured enough to know that.

Capturing this mysterious robot would mean a lot to Jen and her superiors, it wasn't easy to get into the Special Ops, but it was even harder to rise in rank once you were there, if she could successfully complete this mission . . . she could say goodbye to her Captain's rank, and probably surpass Alex in no time. Something she undoubtedly wanted, to walk by Alex on the street one day and have him salute her; ironically, he realized, he wanted that, too, after all, he had helped form her as an officer. From that shy, insecure cadet five years ago . . . to the most-respected female in the Force, the Pink Ranger; of course, not all of it had been him, she had grown up on her own a lot while he was recovering from his last fight with Ransik.

As a painful reminder of that, he felt the ache in his back increasing and knew it was time for the medication his doctor had put him on, he hated taking it for so long, but he couldn't see living in such pain; with a sigh he retreated back to his quarters, grabbed the bottle from his counter, and popped two pills into his mouth. He glanced at the clock, still half an hour before they were due on Mars, so he went over and sat on his bed, contemplating the route to take once face-to-face with this robot's victims. He needed to be direct, but gentle as well, they had gone through a terrible experience, one was dead . . . hopefully, they could identify the robot better than the Earth victims had, that would give them at least some advantage.

A robot with interspacial travel capabilities. Certainly he'd never heard of before, much less dealt with, all the robots he had encountered in the past were simple servants---all except one, Frax broke away from his master and turned on him. Of course, Frax wasn't a real robot either, a mere human being who had somehow "rebuilt" himself into a robot form after a terrible fire at his lab; Alex was a young child then, but he remembered the reports, and his parents discussing Dr. Louis Ferricks.

Robots, in many ways, were far more dangerous than Ransik's mutants had been, though it took more than thirty years to finally defeat them; but robots felt no pain, knew no fear, were simply machines determined to do whatever they were programmed to do, in this case, apparently: To kill humans. But who could have programmed them? They must have a leader . . . in the pit of his stomach, he had the suspicion---and fear---that their leader was none other than their former opponent himself, Frax.

But Frax was destroyed a millennia ago, he reminded himself, Ransik and Nadira both testified to that, seeing his remains broken into pieces. However, Time Force was never able to discover those remains and dispose of them as they wished, they had searched Silver Hills, but couldn't find him; it was assumed he was gathered as evidence, or simply thrown out with the rest of the debris.

No one ever suspected he could be alive, and for good reason, how could something survive being torn apart? Even a robot? It was impossible.

He looked back at the clock: 1830. Time to go.

--------------------------

Jen and Alex remained silent as they made their way across the harsh land and into the small colony, only settled there two months before, with a mere three hundred people from Earth, Xybria, and Mirinoi; all adventurers as the founding fathers of their own home worlds had been, never dreaming they'd have to face something so dangerous. Alex cast a sideways glance at Jen, but she didn't notice him, she was too set on her recorder, watching their steps closely to make sure they didn't get off-course; her brow was knitted with concentration, as she often did when working hard . . . he had always found it so endearing.

Alex forced himself to look away, he had no right to look upon her that way anymore, she had ended their relationship, and certainly showed no signs of feeling any differently than she did that day; for a year or so, he had actually convinced himself it didn't matter if she loved someone else, that he could move on, too. And there had been girlfriends, few and far apart, some more than a couple dates and others meaningless flings, nothing that compared to what he had shared with Jen.

"We're almost there," Jen told him, "only about three kilometers left."

She leveled him with a calm yet intimidating stare, one he still wasn't used to seeing on her face, he returned her gaze easily: "All right . . . lead the way, Captain."

She raised an eyebrow quickly, seemingly in surprise, but continued on her way in front of Alex, still glancing down at her recorder; they reached the colony shortly thereafter, to find the civilians cowering in their homes in fear, unwilling to emerge.

"I guess we'll have to go door-to-door," Jen said, "till we find who we're looking for."

"They sure don't look willing to talk," Alex commented.

"Well . . . " Jen walked briskly up to the first door she saw. "If they want this robot captured, they'll just have to talk." She knocked loudly: "Time Force, open the door!"

Alex watched closely, he heard the sounds coming from within the building, muffled voices and scurrying feet, undoubtedly trying to decide whether or not they should open the door to her; his patience was growing thin, he had none of it for cowardness, and Time Force or not, he expected some courage out of everyone. Still, no one came to the door.

Jen bit her lip, then drew her weapon and banged on the door with the grip: "I said this is Time Force, open your door! We need to ask you a few questions about this robot that attacked you."

A moment later, they heard a voice: "Go away! Everything's under control . . . we don't need your help!"

Jen looked back at Alex as he pulled out his blaster and checked the settings, his anxiety growing over the situation, he nodded to her quietly. "We can't leave until we've questioned you," Jen spoke again, "it's our mission to bring this robot in. But it would be easier if you'd talk to us." I'm about to bust open your door if you don't open it.

"No!"

"That does it," Jen muttered, "let's get in there."

"Jen, wait---" Alex reached out and grabbed her arm. "We don't know what's going on in there."

"They're either in trouble," Jen said, "or just don't want to talk. Either way---"

"You want to burst in there without knowing anything?" Alex shook his head. "Let's take a look around first, radio back to the ship. All right?"

Jen sighed, staring into the door for a few moments before whispering: "You're right. I just don't feel comfortable leaving them in there."

"Neither do I," Alex admitted, "but we can't help them. Not now."

He grasped her arm firmly and dragged her away from the site, heart pounding in his chest, his throat going dry with anticipation, there was definitely something wrong inside that house; they crouched in the cover of the rocks a few meters away, taking in the situation.

"I'm thinking there's someone---or something---in there," Jen said, "keeping them from trying to get help."

"I agree," Alex said, "we have to find a way to sneak in there---a back door or something. Surprise whatever's keeping them hostage so we can overpower it, and fast, before any civilians are hurt." He tapped his communicator, quickly explaining the situation to Lucas, the remaining three Rangers came to the surface, joining up with Jen and Alex as soon as they could.

"All right," Katie said, "did we find a way yet?"

"No," Jen answered, "but I was thinking . . . we could make an entrance. Katie, you could burst through that wall easy enough, and we'll be right behind you." She saw Trip open his mouth and raised her hand quickly: "Never mind the damage to the building, we've got bigger problems than that now."

"Can you do that?" Alex asked, incredulously, still unfamiliar with Katie's powers.

She flashed a confident smile. "No problem."

Jen stood up slowly, looking around cautiously before nodding to the others, silently, they went through the motions and morphed into their Ranger forms as Alex watched; he sat still, a chill creeping up his back as it often did when he recalled earlier times, when he had worn the Ranger suit as they now did. Jen looked down at him: "You should stay here, it could be dangerous for you---"

"No," Alex said, sharply, "I'm going." He stood by her, his blue eyes icy with determination. "Just because I'm not a Ranger anymore, doesn't mean I can't do my job."

Jen hesitated. "Fine. Let's go."

As quickly as possible, they snuck around the back of the town and to the house they had been at earlier, Katie braced herself, preparing her mind and body for the task; she stepped next to the wall, clenching her fist and closing her eyes, with a yell, she thrust her fist into the wall---it splintered around them and the Rangers dashed in, their weapons raised.

"Freeze!" Jen shouted.

"Put your hands in the air!" Alex yelled, coming in right behind her. "I said hands up!"

A group of civilians, appearing to be unarmed, stood in the midst of the debris left from their wall, shaking, eyes wide with fear, hands above their heads; Jen and Alex exchanged confused glances, there was no one else in there . . .

"Wait," Trip spoke up, "did you hear that?"

"Nooo . . . " Lucas murmured.

Click. Click.

"It's coming from that hallway," Alex said, then shot a sharp look at one of the civilians: "What is that noise?"

"I-I-I don't know . . . " the man stammered, sweat beads forming and running down his face.

Alex swore softly. "I'll check it out." He kept his weapon ready, both hands firmly gripping it, his eyes scanned the area carefully as he quietly went through the dark hallway, following the strange clicking noises coming from the other end; he paused just short of the door leading out, listening: Clickclickclickclickclick . . . pause . . . clickclickclickclick . . . Taking in a breath, he leapt out and aimed his weapon directly at the stranger, announcing his presence clearly:

"Time Force, put your hands up!"

­

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­---------------------

Jen watched Alex going down the hallway for a moment, then turned her attention back to the frightened civilians, her patience already growing thin and her nerves on edge. "Why wouldn't you open the door?" she demanded, "we're Time Force, we won't hurt you."

"We're here to help," Katie added.

"But we need you to cooperate," Jen stated, "now, tell me what's going on."

They remained silent, till one---a younger civilian, probably in his early teens---whispered: "They said, if we let you in . . . th-they'd blow us up."

Jen's eyebrow shot up quickly. "Who said?" she asked, anxiously, "are they still here?"

"He, or it, or whatever . . . " the teen continued, "ran off before you got in."

Jen and Katie looked at each other quickly, worriedly, the Pink Ranger grabbed the boy's shoulders: "Which way?"

With a trembling finger, he pointed down the hall Alex had just disappeared into---Jen pushed him aside, yelling after him with more fear in her voice then she'd intended, her voice was simultaneous with his coming from the other end: "Alex:

"Time Force, put your hands up!"

Gunfire ensued, blaster shots ringing out and a few curses from a familiar voice, reacting on instinct, Jen dashed down the hall, her Chrono Saber outstretched, ready to battle; just as she reached the door, a figure jumped out still firing it's laser, momentum drove Jen forward and before she could stop herself she had struck out at it: Her saber slashed a deep gash into Alex's shoulder.

"Alex!" she gasped.

"Shit," he muttered, clasping a hand over the bleeding wound quickly, "we need to get out of here . . . now." He looked at her, his face deadly serious. "Get those people out of here, Jennifer!"

Jen peered around the corner: A thin, gray robot lay on the floor . . . Cyclobot . . . and next to it a tiny, black box, clicking mysteriously; she changed directions and ran back to the other Rangers, shouting with every step: "Go! Get out of here!"

Alex followed Jen closely, the pain in his shoulder unnoticeable as opposed to the danger they were now facing, they ran as hard as they could, every second counting; Jen burst through the door, and the explosion engulfed the building in flames.

Jen ran on a few more meters before stopping and looking back, relieved to see Alex catching up, having been knocked over by the blast but unhurt; he nodded: "Keep going!" She turned, racing after the Rangers and the civilians as the building continued to burn, the flames gathering strength; vaguely, she heard another explosion and the screams from the other townspeople.

At last, they reached a safe distance and collapsed onto the ground, exhausted from the uphill run; Lucas demorphed, kneeling by a girl of only about ten and reaching up to care for the cut she suffered on her forehead; Katie looked over Trip, who was bruised but appeared to be all right, then Jen turned to Alex, her stomach tightening when she saw him gripping his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered.

"No, it's all right," he said, "I'll be fine, not a deep cut." He shrugged with his good shoulder. "Besides, you reacted well, I jumped out too quick."

Jen rolled her eyes from behind her helmet, then raised her morpher and demorphed in a flash of pink light, she walked up to Alex as he sat down: "Here. At least let me look at it."

He consented as she unzipped his jacket and slid it off, revealing his gold undershirt stretched tight over thick muscles, her heart jumped to her throat as memories from a different life assaulted her mind; they were so close, her face inches from his, his hot breath on her cheek. She pulled out her knife and cut away a piece of the shirt, wincing as she peeled the blood-soaked sleeve away from the wound, then she examined it expertly; at least he hadn't lied, it certainly wasn't a life-threatening injury, probably only an inch deep.

"Well," she said, "that went well, didn't it?"

Alex snorted. "That cyclobot set a bomb for us," he muttered, "damn . . . if Trip hadn't heard it programming it." He shook his head. "I'd have bigger things to worry about than a scrape on my shoulder."

"But we don't," Jen said, "injury-wise, anyway. But what about these civilians? Should we take them back to the ship with us?"

Alex looked over her to the civilians huddled together. "They're not hurt bad," he said, "let them stay here and gather their senses, we'll come back in the morning and ask some more questions."

"You think they'll be any more willing to talk now?"

"Probably not," Alex admitted, "but we have to try, we just won't waste too much time here. Who knows where'll we'll get hit next."

------------

Jen removed her sweaty uniform and tossed it aside gratefully, showering quickly so she could get to bed as early as possible, she wrapped her nude form in a soft robe, curling up on the uncomfortable cot and sipping her replicated hot cocoa; something she had retained from the past . . . from Wes.

Immediately, she cursed herself for silently saying his name, something she had forbidden herself to do since their tearful goodbye a year ago . . . a thousand years ago . . . but lately he had been constantly invading her thoughts, every time she saw Alex's face she saw Wes', an ironic turn of events, as she had once had the same experience in reverse. How Wes used to remind her of Alex . . . how much she had wanted him to be Alex . . . and now all she wanted was a man who had lived and died in a different millennium; one who had lived, married, raised five children and seen six grandchildren grow, then died in a different millennium.

A part of her had been thrilled that he had found a new love four years after they'd defeated Ransik, he was happy, they married in the year 2007 and stayed together till her death thirty-four years later; from what the databanks showed, they were the ideal couple, beautiful . . . rich in love and money . . . both had good careers . . . they're children became successful in their prospects as well. Sure, Jen had been happy at first, but then the jealousy had crept in, even a little irrational anger---hadn't he promised her he'd love her forever? What about what they had shared? Could love just die when you couldn't see that person anymore?

And, at last, she had realized what Alex must have felt when he had gone to the past and found that picture of Wes kissing her . . . had seen how they looked at each other . . . how she called Wes' name and not his; love was a fleeting emotion, one moment it was there stronger than ever, and in the next it was gone, with her Alex. Because her Alex truly was gone, the one who had held her hand and guided her through the Academy . . . the one who so nervously asked her that life-changing question, and went up to face Ransik alone that fateful day . . .

Wait a second, she was thinking of Wes not Alex . . . how did he creep into her mind? She didn't love him anymore, she couldn't stand to be around him---he was arrogant, he was rude, he had treated her like shit and gone back on everything he always promised. Why should she think of him now?

And then she thought of her fear when she thought she would lose him that day, when they heard the bomb clicking away . . . and when her own saber and cut into his flesh, his blood had spurted onto her uniform . . . the tension she felt in her entire body when she touched him, gently running over his muscular shoulder and arm, her breath quickening. The attraction was certainly still there, if not the love . . .

And even if the love were still there, there was more to it than just that, you needed something else, not just love to bond two people together; you needed to let go of past hurts and look to the future, something neither one of them had been able to do for a year, they had hurt each other, and didn't want to forgive.

Downing the rest of her hot drink, she set the cup on her nightstand and lay down, stretching out her stiff muscles, pulling the wool blanket to her chin; before her eyes, she saw Wes' smiling face, his blond hair and sparkling blue eyes, his gentle voice:

"I love you, too. I wish I could live another thousand years so we could be together again."

But, as she drifted off to sleep, his image was replaced by another face, with darker hair and a firmer jaw . . . the same blue eyes that had once sparkled so cheerfully, now dull with some emotion he could never understood, some sort of darkness he had seen or done had changed him. Then she heard his voice, and felt his touch . . .

"It's you and me, Jennifer, no matter what happens . . .what we become in the future, because time changes everyone, doesn't matter, it will always be you and me."

"Forever . . . "

TBC