When their day officially started, Jack noticed things were off. First, someone had jammed the showers' temp regulators and now the entire academy was somewhat suffering on hypothermia due to the ice water that came out. Then, during the standard breifings he noticed both Cruger and Syd avoiding each other's eyes and acting completely professional. It took everything the Red Ranger had not to smile at that, he realized Operation: Pink Shadow was making progress...sort of. He didn't know what happened between them, but something did. Nevermind, he'd have to ask Z when Syd told her what. Other than that, the day went by normally for the Rangers. At least, it did unitl the afternoon when he got called into the Command center by Cruger. When Jack answered the summons, he noticed the big blue dog looking quite annoyed.

"Uh...something wrong sir?" Jack asked. By then, he started to dread what was coming next.

"Jack..." Cruger started. "I saw something interesting in the lab today."

"Oh? Did Kat have a new gizmo?"

"Not today. I actually saw Bridge in there, on his own time, fixing what used to be an alarm clock. He told me it was Syd's, but I noticed something about it. Turns out the time was all wrong, it was ahead by two hours." Jack gulped but maintained his posture. "You wouldn't by chance know anything about that, would you?"

"No sir."

"I see." By then, Cruger had narrowed his eyes towards Jack. "Stay out of this, Landors. It does not concern you."

"Sir..."

"I mean it, Jack. It's none of your business."

"With all due respect, you're making a big mistake, sir. I mean, so you like Syd in a romantic kind of way, big deal. I doubt anyone would hold it against you."

"You didn't look too impressed when you found out."

"I was shocked. I mean, how was I supposed to know you went for the bubbly princess-types? The ones who like material things and worry about looks?" Cruger gave a sigh.

"She's so much more than that, Jack. She likes looking pretty, but it's not her top priority and she is already beautiful from within. She's a caring, compassionate, strong young woman who is willful, intelligent and confident. Sure she likes attention, especially from males, but it's not the end all-be all for her. She knows she's wonderful and she doesn't need anyone to bolster her self-esteem. Yes, she does play the part of the little princess, but she's not the one who waits for a knight in shining armor to rescue her; she rescues herself and those who think otherwise clearly underestimate her at their own risk."

"And that's why you love her." Cruger nodded. "Sir, do you have any idea what this means?"

"Yes...it means she can do a lot better than an old space mutt like me." Jack's face fell at that as Cruger quickly left. He had been so close, so close...he was leaning towards the fact that Cruger loved Sydney for herself and not for the princess-image she projected like most males tend to do. Then this bomb falls on him...the fact that Cruger doesn't believe Syd would ever return his affections and could do "better". Jack groaned.

"You okay, Jack?" Z asked when she came in. "What did Cruger say?"

"Oh not much." Jack replied. "Just that he doesn't deem himself worthy of Syd's heart, basically." Z's eyes widened at that.

"You're kidding!"

"I wish I was. This is going to be a lot harder than I thought it would. I'll be at the range."

Something about shooting targets at the firing range relaxed a person. Maybe it was the feeling of making maximum damage at such a distance, or the thrill of hitting every target and the adrenline pumping. Whatever it was, Jack wasn't feeling relaxed at all. This whole thing between Cruger and Syd had him more stressed out that anything right now which was probably why he had several SPD badges pasted on the targets.

"Damn!" he snapped when he missed the last target. He grunted and growled as he deactivated the simulation and almost plowed into Kat on the way out. "What the hell is his deal!" he cried.

"Don't tell me." Kat replied. "Whatever you were planning to get Cruger to talk to Syd is going down the tubes." Jack sighed.

"Kat, I have to be straight with you. The Commander has issues, big time. Something had to be done and if it means Syd being woken up earlier than usual to run into him during his calesthetics, then so be it. It was either that or lock them in a broom closet."

"Tell me something I don't know. So...you told Z, didn't you?"

"Uh..."

"Relax, Jack. I don't hold it against you; your team is a part of you after all and unless you went into their room without permission, then I'm guessing someone had to help you."

"Yea..." Jack smiled a bit when he realized Kat understood. "You're cool and all, but I know you have to keep Cruger's confidence and I needed someone else to talk to. I obviously couldn't tell Syd, Sky would rant and rave about protocol and Bridge...I tell Bridge, I may as well tell the whole academy."

"Good point. So it was Z who rigged Syd's alarm clock and thus led to...well, everything that followed. The showers, the uneasiness of each other's presence..."

"So something did happen."

"You're asking Syd about it." Jack raised his hands in surrender.

"Fair enough." He then frowned. "I don't get it, Kat. He's been through so much, why can't he take a chance?"

"Jack..."

"Do you know what he said to me? He loves Syd, for real and for herself and he thinks she can do better than him. I can't understand that, is there some Sirusian rule that says you can't love again?"

"Sirusians mate for life, Jack." Kat replied in a somber tone. "Cruger sometimes forgets that there's a difference between life and eternity."

"Then why bottle himself up like this?"

"Do you know the saying about loving and losing?" Jack nodded.

"'It's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all'." Jack recited. "Well, he's certainly loved, and lost...big time."

"Yea. He doesn't want to take a chance of losing love...again. You saw how he was when we found out about Aisynia."

"Hell yea...he was...Kat, I had never seen anyone hurt so bad before."

"Speak for yourself." Jack knew she had a point, but then he realized something.

"He's afraid of losing Syd like that, isn't he?"

"I can't say, but as Rangers you do take risks. It...concerns him more than it probably should professionally."

"Then why keep up the act?"

"He has to. When he sends you guys out, and I include Syd in that, all he can do is have faith that you'll make it home. It doesn't matter how he feels personally, you're all Rangers and the fate of the galaxy tends to be in your hands."

"If he would only work up the nerve to tell her, she would probably return his affections. I mean, if he would just give it a chance..."

"I know, Jack. I know. The worst that could happen is that she wouldn't be interested, but he'd have it off his chest."

"Well, at least this can't get any more complicated." At that moment, a summons for all A-Squad Rangers to the Command Center. "I just had to open my big mouth." Jack and Kat then raced towards the Command Center where all the Rangers were assembled and Cruger was looking grim.

"Rangers," Cruger started. "I've just received word from Antari Penal Colony. There's been a breakout last night and the escapee is headed towards Earth."

"Sir." Sky said. "Isn't Antari where most of the Troobians are being held?"

"Yes. I want you five to intercept the convict and return him alive. In the event that he somehow reaches Earth, contact the base at once, then I'll handle it."

"Sir?" The Rangers noticed that the tone of their commander's voice clearly indicated that he was tense about this. Even though Cruger said that the convict was to be returned alive, it was clear that he wanted otherwise. That was reserved for quite a few of the Troobians. "Sir, just who is the convict?" Something told Jack that he was going to dread the answer, and sure enough...

"It's Benag."