I'm sorry for the confusion, everybody. I slipped the wrong chapter into the wrong spot. Read this, then continue onwards. Sorry for the inconvenience.
It had been three days since Bridge and Corona had silently slipped into their comas; silent, wounded, and alone. The routine patrolling that B Squad was used to doing had been left to C Squad these days, and Syd, Jack and Z were confined to the Common Room until there was a real problem that required Ranger work. The team was slowly being whittled down to nothing, it seemed. Sky hadn't shown up in days, and Bridge…nobody wanted to talk about Bridge's condition.
"I wonder if Corona and Bridge will ever wake up…" Z said with a sigh. She had managed to jump start Corona's heart after she went into cardiac arrest, and her duplicate managed to hold Bridge down and prevented him from causing any more damage to himself for the remainder of his seizure. Z was fearful and scared; Sky was gone, her friends almost died…was there nothing Mordom wouldn't do?
"I'm just happy that they're alive, even if…well…yeah…" Jack frowned. He knew something was wrong with Sky's story from the start, and he wasn't sure why he hadn't interrogated Sky further after the debriefing. He could have easily figured out that Sky wasn't being himself. Besides, the fact that Sky shot at the Delta Cruiser while he was unarmed and unmorphed should have been a dead giveaway.
"It's been three days, guys…" Syd said as she began to dive into a bowl of popcorn. "what if they never come to?"
Syd missed watching Sky sit where she was on the couch and read for endless hours, snacking on popcorn and occasionally looking up and flashing an evil eye at whoever had gotten close enough to catch his attention. She had opened up a book called Survivor out of his collection only minutes after she returned from the ER wing of the Academy, and as disturbing as it was, she couldn't stop reading until she was done. She felt as if Sky was reading her the book, and it was the feeling she wanted badly. To know that he was okay, to know he was still on her side, to know that Sky was still a Ranger at heart. She had seen the video clip; she saw Sky sitting on top of Corona, preparing to drive the sword through her heart. She wanted desperately to believe it wasn't true.
"We just have to wait and see what happens." Z said with a sigh.
"Yeah…" Syd said, popping a kernel of popcorn in her mouth. It was way too quiet now. The only thing that would make their day was to have Bridge run into the room screaming and shouting about a butter shortage in the cafeteria.
Up on the Terror Spacecraft, Sky slowly awoke. He tried to move his left hand, only to receive a sudden shockwave of pain and burning. He moved his hand in front of his face; it was wrapped up similar to that of a boxer's hand underneath a glove. Dried blood resonated across the surface, coloring the off-white cloth wrapped up around his hand. He was tired, cold, and void of any thoughts. He wasn't all that familiar with his surroundings; he lied in a hammock, covered in a black blanket that had the qualities of a spiderweb. A dollhouse sat in the corner of the giant room, the misshapen dolls lying around and about the room. A small vanity dresser, painted black, sat next to the hammock Sky was lying in. A large black book was sitting on the top of it, next to a brush and a black ribbon. A white marble chair that seemed like it could've been an art deco piece sat in front of the vanity dresser, waiting for its owner to enjoy the soft layer of padding that had been grafted into the seat.
In the center of the room sat a small table and chair set, with a full tea set sitting in the middle of the table. A lopsided bunny that was missing its left ear and a bear that was missing both its legs sat in two of the six chairs. Sky got an eerie feeling about the room
The door opened, revealing a young girl carrying around a dilapidated doll, followed by Mordom.
"Why did you put him in my room?" The girl griped. "He's probably put Ranger cooties all over my bed!" Sky was shocked to see his former teacher alive.
"Where…where am I…?" Sky asked, clutching his head. The mere presence of Mordom was giving him a migraine. He tried to get out of the hammock, but he felt like he was being pressed into it, like the sheets were tightening against his struggles.
"Welcome to the Terror Spacecraft. This is Mora, and you are in her bed. I found that is was the most comfortable of beds…we aim to be hospitable here."
"Well, as long as Grumm doesn't get upset." Mora replied.
"Grumm? I'm on Grumm's ship?"
"You are safe here, Nova. Do not worry."
"Grumm is my enemy!" Sky once again struggled to break free, but it was obvious Mora's mental ties on the blanket and hammock were holding him down like a wayward insect in a spider's gossamer threads.
"He is a good person, Nova…" Mordom replied, forcing his thoughts on Sky.
"No, he's not…" Sky struggled to get out, to escape the madness, but it was useless.
"Oh Nova-"
"That's not my name!" Sky shouted.
"It is the name your friends gave you, my child…"
"And what a lovely name it is." Mora added. She wanted to help Mordom out in his skill; she admired it.
"I suppose…" Sky was buying into it.
"It is the only name I know of yours, my child."
"Than I'll make it easy for you…you can call me Nova." Mora allowed Sky to sit up now that Mordom's hypnotic suggestions were kicking in.
"What a regular klutz. I bet he meant to do it, too." Mora said.
"I think he meant to as well…he knew he shouldn't have gone poking around without his gloves on…" Mordom added. Sky wasn't sure what was true, but if Bridge knew not to do something and he did it anyways, then it was obviously his fault. "That reminds me. Mora, tend to our guest. All my students, former and current, are to get the upmost treatment while under my watchful eye."
"Of course, Mordom." Mora walked out, sounding like she was in a trance. As she left, the blanket and hammock loosened its death grip on Sky.
"Forgive Mora. I haven't quite taught her manners yet." Mordom said as he helped Sky to the art deco chair.
"It's fine…" Sky was beginning to get comfortable, despite the fact that he was terrified about whatever Bridge had done to Corona.
At the Academy's infirmary, Kat had become worried as she went over the charts related to Bridge and Corona. Bridge's seizure had been triggered by abnormal and sporadic brain activity, and Corona's cardiac arrest had been caused by a lack of it. Over the last three days, they had evened out, but they were both in deep slumbers. Given the extensive damage they both took, Kat was surprised that they were in the conditions they were in. Kat's ears perked up as she picked up a slight movement from Bridge's bed. She looked up and saw Bridge looking at her from his resting spot.
"Kat…?" Bridge called out weakly. He looked upwards, noticing that he was hooked up to a brain wave monitor.
"You're awake. That's great." Kat smiled as she walked to his side. Bridge began to sit up, but she gently placed her hand on his chest and pushed him gently back against the bed. "Lie down." Bridge¸ however, was interested to see Corona, who was lying next to him and hooked up to an EKG machine as well as a brain wave monitor.
"What did I do…?" A flood of thoughts came rushing forward, giving himself a headache. He pulled the brainwave monitor nodes off and got up. He ignored the pain in his hands and side and jumped out of bed.
"Bridge…" Kat began to plead. Bridge pushed her back, irritating the cauterized wound and sending a shockwave up his arm.
"Just get out of my way!" Bridge shouted, grabbing a long sleeved coat while walking out. He trounced back into the Commons Room, startling Syd, Z and Jack.
"Bridge!" They shouted. Z went to hug Bridge, but he quickly evaded her and wandered into his room, locking the door behind him.
"Oh no…"
Bridge dropped on his bed. He couldn't remember most of last night, but as soon as he started remembering things he never did, he realized what he had done. He had used his abilities against Corona, the deadly ones. She was hooked up to the EKG because of him. Her strongest memories were permanently embedded in his head, and Corona…he didn't want to think about her now. He wanted to ride the memories out, to let them fade into non-existence.
The cemetery was hushed on such a beautiful summer night. Dozens of SPD cadets and officers, including Cruger and Kat, stood along the sides of the torch-lit mausoleum as the beautiful oak coffin was carried inside. A woman wearing a long black and red dress and a long black veil was crying, holding both the boy and Corona close. Corona couldn't help but cry, while the boy stood emotionless, staring up at the stars.
"Death…" One cadet said in front of Corona started to say, "it's so final…I couldn't live like that…I don't plan to go above D Squad…be a security guard at the mall or something…"
"Death…it's final…you leave everybody behind…" Corona said.
"But to die being a hero…there's no greater death…" The boy mindlessly replied.
"Death means you're never coming back…he's never coming back…" Corona cried out. There was nothing but darkness and the sound of tears, then nothing at all…
"Death really is final…" Bridge muttered as he curled up in a ball, gripping his pillow.
Up in space, Mora walked into her room and found Sky and Mordom sitting cross-legged on the floor. Sky had since removed his coat and shoes in an attempt to get comfortable in Mora's room.
"SPD's become so corrupted over the years, Nova…Corona's been roped into it…you were, too. They will all fight to the death to defend it, and I can help you make sure they do. But for now, we must heal your wounds. We can't have you going into battle like this." Mordom turned around and spotted Mora. "Ah, here she is now…I shall leave you two be. I need to give Emperor Grumm a report right now, but I shall return." Mordom got up, leaving Mora and Sky in the room together.
Mora walked over to Sky and smiled. "I see that Mister Mordom has opened up your eyes. I'm glad."
"So am I." Sky said, looking up at the top of the doorframe. She sat still and relaxed his body, opened up the medikit and began spraying a blue liquid onto Sky's hand. The liquid heated up and hardened on contact, creating an instant bandage and antiseptic barrier all in one.
"You know what?" Sky said, breaking the silence as Mora took out some black cloth to wrap his hand up in.
"What?"
"You're a nice little girl." Sky smiled strangely.
"Of course I'm evil." Mora took his delusion as a sign that he was still under Mordom's control.
"Yeah, you're a 'bad person', but you're not mean-spirited."
"Did you happen to hit your head really hard?" She asked as she wrapped up his shelled-up hand, ensuring that it wouldn't move an inch while healing.
"I mean like…like…you don't have to do this for me…but you are."
"Well, if Mordom is going to utilize you, I'd hate for him to use something broken. I know I hate playing with broken dollies."
"What about that one then?" Sky asked, pointing to Cindy Sunshine.
"She's not broken. She's loved." Mora had grown attached to the doll ever since she had found it in an abandoned building years before meeting Grumm. It reminded her of how lucky she was to be alive and to have something to lean back on when times got rough.
"…She's loved…" Sky repeated as he began to avert his eyes upwards towards the ceiling. Mora gazed at Sky's watchful eyes for a while, trying to find out what he was thinking of, but gave up. Sky suddenly grabbed Mora with his good hand.
"Are you loved?"
Mora stared at him, unsure of what he meant. Of course she was loved! She got to live, and to play with dolls and be evil, to stay up all night and never have to go to school. She could wear what she wanted and draw monsters and…there was nothing else she could think of.
"What do you mean, 'are you loved'? Of course I am! Grumm loves to have me around…that's why he hasn't vaporized me yet!"
"Does anybody play with you or spend time with you?"
"I'm fine with Cindy Sunshine, Mr. Floppy and Pimsy..."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes…" She was becoming scared. "Are you okay?"
"I'm just wondering out loud…I'm sorry."
"Then be quiet about it." Mora pulled away from Sky. She turned her back on him as she began to leave. She then looked back, feeling a bit sorry for him in his current state. He had obviously flown far off his rocker, and worried her. Why would she want somebody so emotionally unstable to be a friend, anyways? Then again, she worked for Grumm, so it wasn't like it was anything new. Mora sighed.
"Do you want to play house with me?"
Sky silently nodded, and Mora smiled. "then come over here."
Back on Earth, Bridge was now sitting upright, but he was still curled up in a ball.
It was evening, and the holding cell was cold. Bridge knew this place; he could have sworn that Jack and Z would occupy this pen years later. Cruger was standing in the doorway, looking quite healthy and well-rested. Things must have been easy back then.
"Good evening, Miss…what was the name you gave your arresting officer?"
"Miss Corona, sir."
"Miss Corona, I am sorely disappointed in you. I'm sure your father would be as well. He was not in SPD to have his daughter become a criminal."
"I'm not a criminal! I'm a musician!"
"That's not what Cadet Tate was telling me earlier. He's been telling me all day about how the entire ship you served on was infested with criminals who have committed crimes all over the galaxy."
"Then arrest him too!"
"Miss Corona, I'd like for you to calm down. I can have these allegations dropped if you are willing to do unpaid labor for SPD for a period of time."
"What kind of labor?"
"I want you to train to become my B Squad Red Ranger."
There was an overwhelming mix of anger and sorrow felt for several moments, but the sorrow quickly melted away. "No. That's for Schuyler, not me."
"He won't be a red ranger for a very long time, Miss Corona. You, however, showed great potential on the battlefield. I want you to lead my B Squad."
"I can't. I won't put my life on the line for slave wages. I won't hurt those around me like what my father did to me. I won't have my mother crying over my body after I get fragged too! I just can't commit to that…"
"Our job is pretty dangerous, isn't it…?" Bridge muttered to himself. He sighed, staring at his morpher, which had been placed on his nightstand ever since he had been placed in intensive care. He then walked into the bathroom and began to take a shower. He needed to think this all over.
Sky stared at the dolls in front of him with a frown on his face.
"I know there aren't many, Nova. Grumm won't let me collect any more…" Mora griped.
"It's a shame. Your collection's lacking…" Sky noted. "No boy dolls, and no blondes."
"I know!"
"I have a better game to play if you want."
"What is it called?"
"War."
"How do you play?"
"You fight."
"Fight you?"
"Is there anybody else?"
"But I can't fight you!"
"Well, can't you make somebody to fight?"
Mora looked at her book, then back at Sky. "Okay." She quickly drew up a giant punching bag monster and the three left for the sparring room.
Bridge quickly dressed himself in civilian clothes, not worried about regulations. Everybody had been slacking off since Sky left, so why shouldn't he? He tossed on a black long sleeve shirt, long and baggy camoflage-dyed pants, and the green jacket for the mall. He made a mental note of the location of his morpher as he began to scribble a note down on a piece of paper, quickly putting both in his coat pocket. He tightened his gloves until they began to cut off the circulation to his fingertips, then walked out towards the Command Center.
He stopped suddenly about a third of the way there. He had begun to hear voices calling out his last name. He turned around to see what was going on, and what he saw was something strange.
A tall man wearing a red uniform of a non-SPD origin was flagging down a man in a lab coat. It wouldn't have been an awkward sight if both of them weren't in ethereal states of being. It seemed to be another strange instance in Bridge's life where he was hearing and seeing past events, though what that skill was called was evading him at the moment.
"Hey Carson!" The man in red was calling out as he ran towards the lab coat-wearing man.
"Greg, you know my name. Just because we're in a business place doesn't mean you can't call me by name." The voice of the man in the lab coat seemed familiar.
"Okay, Johnny." Greg replied. Bridge began to follow them down the hallway as they headed towards the lab.
"So Greg, what is it?" Johnny asked.
"Well, same old. You? How's the little one doing?"
Johnny began to frown. "Well, we've gotten worried lately, Candice and I."
"Oh…?"
"…Have you noticed anything…strange?"
"Not really. Perfectly healthy."
"Well…I want you to watch everything for the next year. I know Bridge's a year older…"
Bridge realized where he knew the voice from now. "Dad…?" Bridge followed faster, making sure to be close to them both as they talked.
"What's wrong with Bridge?"
"Physical contact is becoming difficult…I think it has something to do with the experiments we did years ago."
"Experiments…?" Bridge thought aloud. Since when did his father, who was a family physician, ever do anything scientific?
"Do you think…?"
"I want to run tests on all of us."
"Tests…?" Did his father really know what was wrong with him?
"I understand."
"Will you let me?"
"This weekend. I don't wanna take all the kids out of school-"
"We're thinking that public school might not be an option for Bridge if this current trend keeps up…" Bridge knew the outcome of that.
"I see. Do you think that maybe…"
"All of us. I'm going to run tests and have Kat analyze them all. This could be serious…especially of all the kids start ending up like Bridge…" Suddenly, Greg's head bolted upwards.
"Duty calls."
"Is it Mirloc again?" Johnny asked.
"Of course! Damn punk can't stay still!" Greg joked.
"Be careful!"
"You know it!"
"No, I mean, be careful by the books." Johnny replied with a sour look on his face.
"I don't need to be safe! I've taken him in twice before!" Greg shouted as he began to run down towards the Command Center. The sounds and sights began to fade out, and soon Bridge was left alone again.
He sighed, not giving much thought to what he saw. He had other things to worry about.
"It's now or never." Bridge muttered to himself as he walked towards the Command Center. He walked in softly, sighed, wrapped the note around his morpher, and set it on Cruger's desk, then walked out to the parking garage.
Cruger arrived several minutes later and spotted the morpher on his desk. He had been fearing this for the last three days. He was only how badly Bridge had berated himself in the note. Kat came in to report that Bridge was missing, but Cruger already knew.
"Call the remaining members of B Squad to the Command Center," He told her. "because I have a feeling that they have no clue what Bridge's done."
"Yessir." Kat said before summoning the Rangers.
They walked in silently. Z had went to check on Bridge this morning and found that he was gone, so they knew that this meeting, at the very least, had something to do with him.
"I'm sure that you already know what I called you in for." Cruger said.
"Yessir." Z answered of behalf of the group.
"Commander sir, where is Bridge?" A voice called out from the back. Corona stood behind them.
"Miss Corona, it is good to see that you are well enough to join us. It seems that you came to at the best time; this letter from Officer Carson is addressed to you as well."
"…Letter…?" She saw his morpher on the desk and began to whimper. "I…oh no…"
"Miss Corona…?"
"Let me hear it." She said, burying her face in her collar.
"As I said, Officer Carson left a letter for me to read to B Squad, Miss Corona, and myself. I shall abide his wishes, as much as it pains me to do so." He held the letter up to eye level and cleared his throat.
"Dear Commander Cruger, Miss Corona, Z, Jack and Syd,
It is with a heavy heart that I am writing this letter. I have decided that perhaps this is the best time for me to take an extended leave of absence after all the damage I've caused as of late. I feel as if I have little control over myself and that I may become a pawn in the enemy's game, used to hurt those whom I have come to call my close comrades once more. I can only pray that Corona comes to in a state not much different from the previous. I'm deeply sorry for all the destruction I've caused and all of the trouble I'm causing for taking this sudden leave of absence, leaving Earth open one Ranger short again. I'm sure that Jack, Syd and Z can take care of themselves; I have a feeling that Mordom won't come back for a while anyways, considering the damage done to Sky's body between smashing up RIC and whatever I may have done to him. I'm not always right, but I think I may be this time.
But back to the matter at hand. I am not resigning, but this is not a vacation for me, either. I'm unsure as to when and if I may ever come back. I've been struggling for years to keep a calm composure and to keep my abilities in check, and to suddenly have them short circuit on me like this means that I'm slowly losing control again. It would be mentally and physically devastating to me and the rest of B Squad (and whomever happens to be the unfortunate soul who triggers the reaction) if it were to happen in SPD Headquarters again. Therefore, until I'm sure that I'm no longer a threat, I am taking this extended leave of absence. There are many cadets whom I believe are as good as or even better than me, and I can't see why Cruger would not promote one of them to take place in my stead.
If Miss Corona happens to be conscious and able by the time this letter is read, please let her know that I am deeply sorry and that, if needed, I'll be willing to pay for any damages."
"What a fucking idiot!" Corona shouted, walking out. Cruger stopped for a moment.
"Kat, could you go fetch her? I'm not done."
"She doesn't want to hear any more, sir."
"This was Officer Carson's last request. She should at least stay for the rest of it."
Kat nodded and brought Corona back and and consoled her during the rest of the letter. Cruger began to read on as soon as Corona was breathing normally. Kat's shoulder was understandably soaked at this point.
"I'd just like to say what an honor it was to work with everybody at SPD, and I hope that, in time, I'll be able to come back and work with you all once more.
-Sincerely, Officer Bridge Carson, SPD B Squad Green Ranger."
Cruger folded the letter up and looked at his cadets. Corona began to cry again, Z was biting her lip and looking down, Jack had a frown on his face, and Syd was giving herself a comforting hug in an attempt to make herself feel better about the situation.
"I know that none of this is good news, and it has come at the worst possible time, but we must all stick together. Bridge would not want us to fall apart over this, I'm sure if one of you were leaving, he'd be giving us the same speech right now."
"Yeah, and none of us would understand it." Z joked. Syd snorted.
"He'd want us to be laughing about how lame that letter was if it were somebody else. If it were Sky's, he'd be running to Sky's house and dragging him out of bed and then dragging him back here." Jack replied.
"He would, wouldn't he?" Corona asked. She smiled when the groups collectively nodded and sounded out in the positive. "You guys are awesome friends. It reminds me of my old friends…"
"Well, we try hard." Syd said, pulling a tissue out of her pocket and handing it to Corona.
"Thanks." Corona said as she quickly blew her nose. She smiled and walked out with Kat leading her back to the lab in a hug.
"What are we going to do, Commander?" Z asked.
"Lay low for now. Bridge may not always be right, but he usually isn't this sure about something unless it is highly probable. You three are to regroup and prepare for an assault. Remember, Mordom has used Sky has a weapon, so don't hesitate to attack him if provoked."
"Yessir!" The trio saluted Cruger.
"You are dismissed." The B Squad Trio left to go train. They were mentally prepared for a fight. Their next fight would be for Corona and Bridge.
Kat Smiled as she sat Corona down at her station. ACTER's shell was still not perfect, and RIC was severely damaged. Sky had bashed the robotic canine's skull in, and the CPU was trashed. Corona wished that Bridge was there to help fix up RIC, since she knew that he had worked on him several times. Boom was working as hard as he could to fix RIC, but he was definitely unsure of what he was doing. She walked over and started looking at what he was doing. She stared at the circuitry and started noticing certain things she was only somewhat sure she had seen before. She supposed that she had seen the schematics Bridge had used on the last upgrade. She grabbed a pair of tweezers and a Phillips Head screwdriver.
"I got this, Boom." She removed the skull casing and began to go to work. She worked like a well-oiled machine, her hands and brain going on for hours on their own like a separated automaton. ACTER was watching onwards, grinning with its new neutral lips.
"Interesting…" ACTER muttered to itself, deciding to send a little signal out to Z.
Z was plugged into her wireless pocket laptop playing metal as she took rounds at the punching bag when her headphones began to give off a signal.
"New message for Officer Delgado waiting in her mailbox." The signal buzzed, cutting out her music and disrupting her thoughts. "Oh boy, messages. Who mailed me now?" Z griped as she pulled off her boxing gloves and turned off her music.
She walked into the Commons Room and logged in on a computer. A DOS window popped up.
Good evening, Officer Delgado. This is ACTER.
Hello ACTER. What's up?
The sky, the clouds, the stars…
I meant what's going on.
Oh. Pardon my literal translations. I just felt like chatting with somebody. Miss Corona's working on RIC right now. She almost seems possessed. It's creepy.
Possessed?
I don't recall her working on RIC before…but she seems to know what she's doing. Now if only I could work like that…
Strange. Z had a feeling that she knew what was up.
I know! Do you think she'll be okay?
Of course she will.
Oh, I'm receiving a message. Please hold…
Z sat back and waited a minute. She turned on her headphones once more and rocked out in the chair during the wait.
Sorry for that. Miss Corona was wanted by Commander Cruger.
I don't need to know that.
Oh, but I merely relay all information with all of my friends.
You're a gossiping AI program!
No, I'm a gossiping cyborg. P
…Cyborg?
You'll see me in action soon. I promise.
You now have a body?
Well, a shell. I have Mr. Carson and Miss Corona to thank for that. I'm still getting used to my optic sensors and my vocal implant.
Z almost had to ask who Mr. Carson was. She had gotten so used to seeing "Cadet" or "Officer" attached to Bridge's last name that any other title before it made it almost unrecognizable. However, Z was shocked to know that ACTER had already got the news of Bridge's letter.
That's good. I'm glad to hear about your new form of existence.
A long pause, then a short response. You heard of Mr. Carson's leave of absence?
I heard the letter.
I wish there was something we could do to help him out.
Me too.
Oh, the alarm is going to start sounding off. Talk to you soon.
The alarm then screeched, making the red warning lights flash in a panicking fashion. Z closed the DOS box and ran to the Command Center. Syd and Jack were already there, standing at attention. Corona was in the corner, waiting patiently.
"There is an energy disturbance at the Tantalus crash site. I want you three on high alert in this area, do you understand?"
"Yessir!" They saluted Cruger, then morphed and ran to the garage.
Cruger turned to face Corona and dismissed Kat before beginning to speak to her.
"I know what this's about, Commander, and you know my answer." Corona said before the old dog could speak.
"You listen to me, Stella-" Corona flashed him a dirty look. It was practically a slap in the face to disrespect her wishes. "you are wasting your time in Kat's lab. You are a better fighter than you are a mechanic."
"Bridge said in the letter-"
"I did not read the entire letter out loud." He had the letter in hand, and he looked prepared to finish reading it. "P.S. I'm requesting that this letter be read aloud to the B Squad and Corona. However, I wish for only Corona to know that I nominate her to be the first pick for who should replace me. She is a much better fighter than I will ever be, and I feel as if she would be better protected if she were to be a Ranger." He folded the letter. "He wants you to be safe without him, Stella. He only wishes for your safety."
"Doesn't anybody care about how I feel?" Corona asked. "I don't want to be a ranger, regardless of if I'm red, green, purple, orange, whatever! You know that I can't commit to a life of danger like that! I lost my family because of SPD, and I'm not going to let myself become roped into this idea that I have a lineage to uphold like Sky has! I could care less about saving the Earth and living on a tiny wage! I'm doing a job I enjoy! Isn't that enough for you? You gave me a choice, and I made it! I'm not going to go back on my choice! I'm not Sky, and I'd appreciate it if you realized that!" She felt relieved to finally let out her emotions.
"You are wasting your life in Kat's department, and you are letting Bridge and the others down with your selfish, ego-driven decisions! I'll stop thinking you're Sky when you stop acting like him!" Corona was taken aback. Was she really that much like him? She had tried so hard for the last fourteen years to distance herself from him in her own mannerisms, but had she only succeeded in becoming even more like him? "The bottom line is that I am not going to dismiss the wishes of one of my rangers. You are taking this morpher with you, whether you like it or not. What you do with it is your choice. I am done with you. You're dismissed. Go back to working on RIC if that's what you want. I've lost my patience with you."
Corona felt like she had just killed somebody as she walked up and took the B Squad Green morpher. It felt so wrong to be holding it. She had to do something about the feeling.
As soon as she arrived in the lab, she stood in front of ACTER.
"Tell me Mr. Carson's home address."
"I'm accessing it as we speak." ACTER replied.
The remaining Rangers arrived at the Tantalus crash site. As soon as their vehicles were parked, they drew their weapons and walked slowly towards the ship. They heard noises coming from inside the ship. Jack quickly and stealthily eased up to the ladder leading to the back door and checked the status of the surrounding area. He waved them over, and they softly sprinted over.
"Very good, Mora! Now, hold that stance!" The voice was Sky's, but an element of sadism was clearly present.
"My legs are sore!"
"You're going to get this roundhouse kick right while you're here or I'll let Grumm know that you left the ship!"
"Yes, Nova…" Mora replied, defeated.
Jack gave the signal to round the corner with their long range weapons drawn. They unloaded round after round as they ran towards Sky and Mora. Syd nailed Mora twice out of six shots fired, Z would've hit Sky twice if they hadn't bounced off his shield, with the end result being that all seven shots failed to cause damage, and all of Jack's fourteen shots bounced right off Sky's shield. On any other occasion, their charge would've been enough to take out even the toughest monsters, but it had been rendered harmless by Sky's shield.
"They hit me!" Mora cried out, holding her injured right arm. Sky ran to her side and helped her up. His B Squad uniform had been discarded for a full body suit similar to Cruger's, except the red stripes had been replaced with metal plating, and his hair had been twisted upwards and molded into tiny spikes, similar to the ones adorning Mordom's head. His face was pale and his eyes were surrounded in a black cloud and outlined in red. Long red surface-deep slashes ran across his cheeks in an arc, three on each side. His face looked remarkably like Mordom's now.
"Go back. I'll take care of them."
"Will you play with me then?"
"Of course, and I'll wrap up your arm, too. Go relax." Sky smiled sweetly and patted Mora on top of her head. She pulled out a small stick and pressed the rounded end of it, instantly transporting her in a flash of a blinding white light.
"You hurt my charge. Now I'm going to hurt you!" He thrust out his right hand, palm straight outwards. A beam of black energy flew outwards, landing less than an inch away from their feet. The explosion and debris tossed them backwards. They screamed in pain as they landed on their backs, demorphing as soon as they hit the ground. Syd slowly pushed herself up as she tried to recover.
"Sky…why?" She asked.
"Because I can." He sneered. "Now, how about another one?" He fired off another blast, nearly burying the rangers in a tidal wave of debris. He cackled softly, then grinned. "Oh, here's a good answer…I know why now! It's such a trip, that's why! When you get inside this body, you just wanna do bad things. You wanna see this body inflict as much damage as possible…it's such a rush!" He fired off another blast, tossing more debris their way. He wasn't looking for a kill, but merely just a long, drawn out maiming.
"KAT!" Cruger shouted. Kat looked up. "Where is Corona?"
"She left earlier with RIC, and I called her, but she said that she was going to do something. She's driving around a residential area…I don't understand."
"Nothing is more important than protecting her fellow rangers!" Cruger said, slamming his fist on his desk.
"I'm sure she'll get to the others in time. Although, she seems to be driving away from the scene…I'm worried."