Chapter 2: Who needs sleep anyways?

"Ahh…"

Sky sighed as he finally collapsed onto his bed. He never could figure out why days like this tired him out so much. He could run twenty miles, do 500 pushups, and pull an 18 hour shift but none of those ever seemed to tire him out like Syd's shopping trips. He supposed it was all the standing around doing nothing. As kid he has always been the impatient type and could never stand still for very long. He would get too fidgety and even now he would drive his friends crazy with his pacing. He couldn't help it though. It was one of the few habits he just couldn't kick.

"Hey Sky? You awake?"

Sky groaned inwardly as Bridge plopped down on the other bed. Bride and him had been room mates for the whole two years since Bridge had joined up and in that time Sky had learned just how chatty Bridge could get right before bed. Not that Sky completely minded. Despite what people might think, he enjoyed Bridge's company. Bridge's social and enthusiastic nature was the perfect compliment to Sky's sullen moods and seriousness. Bridge didn't need someone to respond to all his rambling, he just needed someone to listen, and since Sky was about as talkative as piece of lawn furniture, it worked out perfectly. There were days though that Sky seriously missed having his own room.

"Sky?" Bridge asked again curiously, unsure if his friend had heard.

"Yeah Bridge, I'm awake." Sky replied with a yawn.

"Oh, good." Bridge paused and was quiet for a moment, thinking over how to phrase his next question.

The silence got Sky's attention and curiosity at what Bridge was obviously contemplating over whether or not to ask. Bridge was never one think too much about what he said. He was more of the rambling type so this quietness had Sky concerned. He opened his eyes, propping himself up on his elbows looking over to where Bridge sat. "Is there something wrong Bridge?"

"No," Bridge replied quietly.

Sky wasn't convinced. "What going on Bridge? You're never this quiet."

"I was just thinking…"

"About?"

"Why everyone just gave up."

"What do you mean?"

"Well… I don't know. I was thinking about our conversation earlier today about how we all missed our lives before SPD fell. We know what it was like to have that… that freedom. But after the power rangers were defeated everyone else just gave up. I mean, remember back in the 90's, back when Astronama took over Angel Grove and rounded up all the citizens while looking for the power rangers? The people not only tried to hide them, they fought with them… and they won."

"And you're wondering why people don't fight back now?"

"Yeah, I mean, there's way more of us then there are them. They have slave laborers working in almost every facility. If everyone just rose up… I don't think they could stop us. I mean, I'd fight for that. Wouldn't you?"

Sky was silent for a moment, just staring a Bridge curiously. He'd never seen this side of Bridge before. Never so… serious, so…intense. And also never making this much sense before. Now that Sky thought about, he wondered the same thing. Why weren't more people fighting in the rebellion? Why wasn't he? Mirlock had murdered his father, one of the last few people to stand up to Grumm's forces. He died protecting earth and here Sky was, a body guard for some blond princess whose father was making the very weapons they used to enslave their planet. Suddenly Sky felt very ashamed because part of him knew why he and so many people hadn't fought back. Besides the fact that he was 8 at the time, he, like so many other people, was afraid, and that was why he followed the rules and let the injustices go. It's why everyone just let them go, because of fear.

"Sky?" Bridge asked curiously, interrupting Sky's train of thought.

"Hmm?"

"You didn't answer my question."

"Oh yeah, sorry. I think… yes." Sky answered, sounding slightly more resolute on that final word. It was more of a declaration than an answer to a random question. "I think my Dad would want me to. I would want to. I do want to."

"Hmm," Bridge replied thoughtfully. "I think my parents would fight too. Most people would. I mean, there would be a bunch that might run away, but I know a couple of people that follow through. Most people are just afraid that's all."

"They've certainly been given reason to be."

"Do you think your parents would have fought?"

"They did," Sky replied quietly, flopping back onto his back to avoid Bridge's gaze.

"Sky," Bridge said cautiously, "I know it's none of my business, but… how did it happen? I mean, you never talk about your family. Not once in the whole two years I've known you. All I know is that you've lived with Syd's family since the takeover."

"What do you want to know?" Sky replied flatly.

"Well… what did they do? What were they like?"

Sky thought carefully about what to say. He had actually thought about it before. It's not like Bridge was the first one to ask, but ever since his parents died the Drews had thought it be best Sky hid his lineage. It's not exactly a good idea in this day and age to go around telling people you're related to a power ranger. It wasn't that he didn't trust Bridge; he did, with his life. It was just that is was something would probably end up getting Bridge hurt one day, and he didn't want to ever to see that happen to his friend.

"It's okay," Bridge said, thinking Sky's silence was refusal to answer. "It's none of my business. I was just curious."

"No, it's alright. My dad was a silver guardian. My mom was a lab technician at BioLabs. It was how they met. My dad was the energetic type. He could be serious if he needed to be but I can't remember a time when we were together when he wasn't smiling. My mom was…" Sky chuckled. "…fierce. I mean, she was loving, kind, and could be very gentle, but… she was so brave. My dad too. He was just… fearless. He was a hero."

"What happened to them?"

"My parents were friends with Syd's family. I was just there for a play date."

"A date with Syd?" Bridge asked teasingly. "I knew you had a thing her for but I didn't realize it went back so far."

"Shut up Bridge," Skybarked sending Bridge an annoyed glare. "Do you want to hear this or not?"

"Sorry! Sorry. Continue."

"As I was saying, I was at Syd's house while my mom and dad were off at work. There was an attack on BioLabs and the Silver Guardians were called in. It was one of the first wave of attacks by Grumm. My dad was killed in the attack. After the rest of the Guardians were beaten back they went after the complex. Most of the people actually made it out but… my mom stayed behind. I don't know what they were working on but it was big and they couldn't let it fall into the wrong hands."

"Did they?"

"Did they what?"

"Get their hands on whatever they were working on."

Sky shook his head. "No. She managed to wipe all the computers but… she didn't make it out."

Bridge gazed at Sky sadly, but Sky refused to look his way, finding the ceiling a far more fascinating specimen. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I'm proud of them. At least they tried, which is more than any of us are doing."

"So you really have lived here since you were 8?" Bridge asked, looking surprised.

"Yep,"

"And they made you sleep in the officer dorms?"

Sky chuckled at Bridge'scomfused expression. "No, I had a different room from this before. I started sleeping here when I joined their security force. I didn't want the other officers to think I was getting special treatment."

"What room was it?"

"You know the guest room two doors down from Syd's room?"

"That room?"

"Yeah,"

"Wow!"

"What?"

"I've been in there once before. That's a big room!"

"Yeah, it is."

"And you traded it in of this one?"

"Yes."

"It's like a quarter of the size!" Bridge exclaimed, still in shock.

"I don't need a lot of space." Sky replied indifferently.

"Can I have it?"

"What?"

"The room,"

"My old one?"

"Yeah,"

"No."

"Why not?"

"It's not for security personnel. That wing is strictly for family members and special guests."

"Yeah, but Syd and I are friends and if no ones using it and since it was your room, not to mention you do have security clearance for like the whole base because you've lived here since you were 8-

"Bridge!"

"Yes?"

"You can't have the room."

"Darn," was Bridge's reply as he finally flopped down on his own bed. "Hey Sky."

"Yeah Bridge," Sky replied sleepily.

"I think I would have liked to meet them. Your parents, I mean. They sounded like really great people... really brave."

"They were the best."

"Good nightSky."

"Night Bridge," Sky replied, finally giving in to the soothing call of sleep.

To be continued...

Well there's the new chap. Hope you liked it. Please review. No review is a bad review even if it says I suck!

Thanks!