Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers.
Dissension within the Ranks
Chapter 2
The next morning, the five core rangers were eating breakfast in complete silence. The silence was beginning to get uncomfortable for Bridge, so he decided he'd be the first one to break it.
"Mmm. This toast sure is good. Anybody want some? It's buttery," Bridge said wiggling his fingers when he said the word 'buttery'.
He didn't receive an answer from the other rangers, just glares.
"So anyways, I had this dream last night. I was running away from something. I'm not quite sure what though because I didn't really get a good look. Perhaps I wasn't running away from something but rather towards something although I couldn't really tell because it was too dark for me to see anything. The next thing I knew, I was falling. I kept falling and falling and falling. I looked below me to see if I could see how much further I had left to fall, but I couldn't see anything because you know how I said it was so dark and everything. But yeah that sure was a strange dream. Do you have any idea what it could mean?" Bridge asked.
Once again he received no answers. As a matter of fact, it looked like the other rangers tuned out long before he even finished his story. To Bridge's surprise, Jack spoke up.
"Ok, this can't wait any longer! Sky, I need to have a word with you!" Jack exclaimed grabbing Sky's arm and pulling him out of the room.
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Jack led Sky to his room and closed the door.
"Stay the hell away from Z!" Jack ordered.
"What?" Sky asked.
"Don't make me repeat myself!" Jack warned.
"Geez, what's your problem?" Sky asked.
"Simple, you!" Jack responded.
"Hey look, if this is about last night," Sky started.
"You damn right it's about last night!" Jack snapped.
"I didn't ruin your relationship with Z! If you really want to know who did, why don't you look in the mirror!" Sky fired back.
"What did you just say?" Jack asked angrily.
"What are you deaf? I said…" Sky started to say.
Before Sky could finish, Jack's fist connected with Sky's nose.
"What the hell was that for?" Sky asked checking his nose for blood and discovering that it in fact was bleeding.
"You're not Z's type, so if you know what's good for you, you'll leave her alone!" Jack replied.
"Hold on a sec. Who ever said I was going to come onto her?" Sky asked.
"Because of you, Z won't even talk to me anymore!" Jack shouted.
"I'm not the one who yelled at her!" Sky countered.
"I wouldn't have had to yell at her if she wasn't longing to be with you!" Jack yelled.
"I have no control over who she wants to be with!" Sky explained.
"It's bad enough that you have Z brainwashed. You also have Syd brainwashed!" Jack exclaimed.
"Brainwashed? What are you insane?" Sky replied.
"Oh, so now I'm crazy huh?" Jack asked.
"Whatever. I don't have to put up with this," Sky said turning to leave Jack's room.
"Don't you dare walk away from me when I'm talking to you!" Jack yelled.
Sky ignored Jack and kept on walking. Jack ran up to him, spun him around and landed a punch on the bridge of Sky's nose making it bleed even worse. Jack then punched Sky in the gut doubling him over and dropping him to his knees. Jack pulled his right leg back and connected with a kick to Sky's left temple knocking him unconscious.
"Damn, I've waited a long time to do that!" Jack exclaimed staring at the unconscious blue ranger lying on the ground face down in front of him.
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Meanwhile, the other three rangers were left sitting in the cafeteria in silence.
"I wonder what that was about?" Bridge asked referring to Jack dragging Sky out of the cafeteria.
Syd and Z remained silent.
"Ok, does anyone want to tell me what exactly happened last night?" Bridge asked.
"I'll tell you what happened," Z began. "The spoiled brat over there asked me if I was interested in dating anyone at the Academy, so I gave her an honest answer after she wouldn't quit yapping. Then she has the nerve to call me street trash!"
"That's because street trash provoked me by calling me a spoiled brat!" Syd exclaimed.
"You just couldn't handle the thought of you having any competition," Z remarked.
"Oh please. Give me a break. Like Sky would stoop so low to date street trash like you!" Syd shouted.
"Syd, Z, stop it! Let's discuss this calmly," Bridge said trying to be the mediator.
"Yeah, well Sky would go bald after losing his hair putting up with a spoiled brat like you!" Z yelled.
Jack had reentered the room after standing in the doorway unnoticed listening to the conversation or rather argument.
"Oh, so I suppose if Z is street trash, then I am too?" Jack bitterly asked Syd.
"I didn't say that did I?" Syd replied.
"You didn't have to! That's low Syd especially for you," Jack commented.
"I can't believe this! You're defending me now? Ha! Nice try Jack but buttering me up isn't going to get you my forgiveness!" Z exclaimed.
"By the way Jack, where's Sky?" Bridge asked noticing that Sky didn't enter the room with Jack.
"Oh, Commander Cruger wanted to talk to him about something," Jack lied.
"Oh ok," Bridge replied.
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Cruger was walking around the Academy when he passed by Jack's room. Something in Jack's room caught his eye.
"Sky? Oh my God! What happened to you?" Cruger asked running to Sky's side.
Cruger didn't get a response. Cruger rolled Sky over on his back and that's when he saw the bloody nose and what looked to be a bruise forming on the left side of Sky's head.
"Who could've done this to you?" Cruger asked wondering if perhaps an intruder had infiltrated the Academy.
Realization just dawned on Cruger. It was rather obvious. Here Sky was unconscious with a bloody nose and a bruised head in Jack's room. It had to be Jack. Letting out a growl, Cruger set out to find the red ranger.
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It had been nonstop bickering between Syd, Jack, and Z for the last several minutes and it was starting to give Bridge a serious headache. He finally decided that enough was enough and left them to bicker as he headed to his room. On his way, he saw Cruger walking fiercely. "Man, he looks pissed!" Bridge thought to himself.
On the way to his room, he passed Jack's room when he saw someone familiar lying on the floor.
"Sky? What the hell happened to you?" Bridge asked seeing his unconscious best friend and roommate. Bridge checked to make sure that Sky wasn't dead or anything. Then dragged Sky down to the infirmary.
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Back in the cafeteria, Cruger approached the cafeteria picking up on this part of the argument between Z, Syd, and Jack.
"I told you Jack, I called Z 'street trash' and not you! How could you think that I would call you such a thing?" Syd shouted.
"One word. Association!" Jack retorted.
"Huh?" Syd asked confused.
"It's simple you spoiled brat. Jack and I used to play the role of Robin Hood remember? So calling me 'street trash' is calling him 'street trash' as well!" Z exclaimed.
"Ahem!" Cruger cleared his throat.
"Cruger? Uh…how much of that did you hear?" Jack asked nervously.
"More than I wanted to," Cruger remarked. "What may I ask is going on here?"
"God, how many times do we have to explain it?" Z said annoyed.
"Nevermind then." Cruger said. "Jack, do you have any idea why Sky is lying in your room unconscious?"
"He's what?" Jack asked pretending that was news to him.
"Is he ok?" Syd asked worriedly.
"Yes, we should probably get him to the infirmary though so Kat can examine him," Cruger said.
With that being said, the four of them headed to Jack's room.
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Meanwhile in the infirmary, Bridge had finally succeeded in dragging Sky's unconscious body all the way to the infirmary which was an obstacle in its own right considering that Sky was taller and heavier than he was. Bridge had received a bunch of confused looks from cadets that he passed along the way. "God, they must think I did this to Sky" Bridge thought to himself.
"Bridge what are you-Oh my God! What happened?" Kat shouted seeing Sky's unconscious body.
Bridge was breathing heavily as sweat was pouring down his face. "Never again, ever!" Bridge thought to himself.
"Hello, Bridge? Did you hear what I said?" Kat asked waving her hand in front of Bridge's face.
"Oh, sorry Kat. No, could you repeat that?" Bridge answered.
Kat growled. "I said what happened?"
"How am I supposed to know? I found him like this while I was on my way to our room," Bridge replied.
"Where did you find him exactly?" Kat asked.
"Jack's room," Bridge answered.
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Cruger led Jack, Z, and Syd to Jack's room.
"See? Here's your proof. There's Sky lying on the…"Cruger said stopping when he noticed that Sky wasn't there anymore.
Jack, Z, and Syd burst out laughing.
"Good one commander!" Jack snickered.
"Yeah, you really had us fooled there for a second!" Syd added.
"Yet you came across as so serious," Z commented.
"What? He was here when I left the room!" Cruger remarked.
"Sure he was DC, sure he was," Jack said sarcastically.
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Back at the infirmary, Kat had finished running some tests on Sky.
"Everything appears to be fine," Kat said to Bridge.
"Whew, what a relief!" Bridge remarked.
Just then, Sky began to stir.
"Where am I?" Sky asked.
"You're in the infirmary," Kat told Sky.
"What happened?" Sky asked.
"We were hoping you could tell us," Kat answered.
"I don't really remember," Sky answered.
"Oh no," Kat remarked.
"What?" Bridge asked.
"I think he has a concussion!" Kat replied.
"You think?" Bridge commented.
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Back in Jack's room, Jack, Z, and Syd were giving Cruger a hard time about his story of Sky supposedly being unconscious in Jack's bedroom when clearly there was nobody there.
"Maybe he's in the infirmary," Cruger said.
"Right, first he's unconscious on the floor of Jack's bedroom, and now he's in the infirmary. Whatever you say Commander," Syd remarked.
Just then they heard someone scurrying down the hallways towards them. It was Boom
"Sir, I just received word that some cadets have seen Bridge dragging an unconscious Sky down the hallways," Boom stated.
"Bridge?" Syd asked not wanting to believe him.
"When I get my hands on him, I'm gonna wring his neck!" Z remarked before storming off to find Bridge though admittedly, she had no idea where he was.
Jack silently breathed a sigh of relief seeing how the blame has shifted off of him and onto Bridge.
"Do you know where Sky or Bridge are now?" Cruger asked.
"In the infirmary I think sir," was Boom's answer.
"Infirmary? Wait a second. Why would Bridge be in the infirmary with Sky unless…oh my God! What did you do to them Jack?" Syd said punching Jack in the shoulder.
"Ow! What was that for? I didn't do anything!" Jack answered.
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Z made her way to the room that Sky and Bridge shared hoping to find Bridge there. To her dismay, she found the room empty.
"So, little green boy thought he could pull a fast one on us did he?" Z thought to herself. She left Bridge's room and headed to the recreation room.
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Back in the infirmary, Kat was questioning Sky trying to see what he did remember about what happened.
"So you're telling me that you don't remember anything?" Kat asked.
"Yeah, I don't remember anything," Sky answered.
Just then, Cruger, Boom, Jack, and Syd entered the infirmary.
"Cadet Carson, what exactly were you doing dragging an unconscious Sky down the hallways?" Cruger asked.
"I was taking him to the infirmary so Kat could run some tests," Bridge answered.
"Word's going around that you are the one who knocked him unconscious," Jack said to Bridge smirking.
"What? Me? That's absurd! When I found him in Jack's room, he was already unconscious!" Bridge retorted.
"So it was you!" Syd said turning to face Jack.
"Me? No way!" Jack answered nervously.
"It makes sense. Sky was found unconscious in Jack's room. The pieces seem to fit that Jack was the one who knocked Sky unconscious," Bridge concluded.
"But I didn't know Sky was unconscious until Cruger told me, so maybe it was Cruger," Jack remarked resorting to anything to shift the blame off of him.
"Why would I knock one of my own cadets unconscious?" Cruger asked in shock about what Jack seemed to be insinuating.
"Well, you do have quite a temper," Syd responded. Bridge, Boom, Kat, and Jack nodded their heads at that.
"Uh…hello? Why are you guys talking about me like I'm not in the room or something?" Sky asked.
"You're awake?" Cruger asked. "When did that happen?"
"More like I thought I knocked you out," Jack whispered to Syd.
"I heard that!" Cruger yelled.
Syd giggled.
"I've been awake since before the four of you entered the infirmary," Sky answered.
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Z entered the recreation room and saw no sign of Bridge. She was getting extremely annoyed with this cat and mouse game so she asked another cadet who was in the room.
"Do you know where Bridge is?" Z asked.
"Yeah, word's going around that he was dragging an unconscious Sky down the hallways," the cadet answered.
"Ha! I knew it was Bridge!" Z exclaimed. "Do you have any idea where Bridge is now?"
"I think in the infirmary," the cadet replied.
"But why would he…oh I get it. I see the games you're playing green boy. Go to the infirmary and make people believe that you are concerned for him when in actuality you're the one who knocked him unconscious," Z thought to herself.
"Thank you cadet," Z said. She made her way to the infirmary.
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Back at the infirmary, Bridge was still trying to figure out who was responsible for knocking Sky unconscious while subconsciously wondering why he was being blamed for it.
"Let's review the facts. Fact: Sky was found unconscious in Jack's room. Speculation: Jack did it. Fact: Cruger found Sky unconscious in Jack's room and told Jack, Z, and Syd. Speculation: Cruger did it. Fact: I dragged an unconscious Sky down to the infirmary. Speculation: I repeat speculation is I did it," Bridge concluded.
"Well, a lot of people would have a motive to knock Sky unconscious," Jack commented.
That received laughs from Kat and Boom and glares from Sky and Syd.
Just then, Z entered the infirmary.
"Come here you little twerp!" Z said as she made her way over to Bridge.
"Hey, what the heck? What are you doing Z?" Bridge asked.
"I know it was you who knocked Sky unconscious," Z replied.
"No it wasn't," Bridge responded.
Z chased Bridge out of the infirmary.
"Look guys, does it matter who did it? I'm awake now. It's no big deal!" Sky commented.
Jack breathed another sigh of relief glad that Sky didn't remember it was he who knocked him unconscious.
"Yeah, Sky's right. Sky's awake now and that's all that matters," Jack said.
"Now let's find Z and Bridge before she knocks him unconscious," Cruger said.
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Bridge had retreated to his room, but Z had found him there and had a hold of Bridge's ear pulling on it.
"Ow Z! That hurts!" Bridge whined.
"Ok green boy, why did you do it?" Z asked twisting his ear.
"I told you. It wasn't me!" Bridge screamed.
"Then how come cadets saw you dragging Sky through the hallways?" Z asked.
"Because I wanted to get him to the infirmary because I found him unconscious," Bridge answered.
"Enough Z!" Cruger ordered.
Z reluctantly let go of Bridge's ear.
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Kat and Sky had stayed in the infirmary.
"So, I am going to be ok aren't I?" Sky asked.
"Yes, you will. It seems that the only memory you've lost is the memory of the incident," Kat responded.
"I'm glad," Sky commented.
"You should be careful though from now on Sky," Kat said.
"Why?" Sky asked.
"Because whomever attacked you may do so again," Kat explained.
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Back in Bridge's room, Bridge dawned a smirk on his face.
"You know Z, some people would consider your chasing after me and yanking on my ear flirting," Bridge said wagging his eyebrows.
"Eww. Don't push your luck green boy!" Z said disgustingly.
"They're so cute together," Syd commented.
"I heard that!" Z shouted.
"Come on Bridge, Cruger, Boom, let's let the two girls have their little spat," Jack said.
"But it's my room," Bridge complained.
They left the room leaving Syd and Z alone.
"Oh that was real cute Syd," Z remarked sarcastically.
"What?" Syd asked.
"You wish I would go after Bridge so that way you can have Sky all to yourself," Z answered.
"Oh please, like he's going to pick you!" Syd remarked.
"Oh, and you know what Syd? Some people would call the little whispering and giggling between you and Jack flirting as well," Z stated.
"Me and Jack? No way! We're just friends!" Syd replied.
"I bet you he doesn't think so!" Z responded.
"What?" Syd asked.
"I saw the way he looks at you. After I turned him down, he realized he couldn't have the best, so he decided to settle for you," Z stated.
Syd slapped Z across the face. "How dare you think that you're better than me!"
"And I just wanted you to know" Z started to say. She slapped Syd across the face. "Jack's not your type!"
"You did not just slap me!" Syd said putting a hand to her cheek.
"You slapped me first!" Z shouted.
"That does it!" Syd said. She tackled Z to the ground. They rolled on the ground pulling each other's hair, slamming each other's head into the floor, kicking, and scratching each other.
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Jack and Bridge had made their way to Jack's room.
"Hey Bridge, are you alright?" Jack asked.
"Yeah I'm fine," Bridge answered.
"Bridge come here, I want to tell you something," Jack said.
Bridge walked over to where Jack was sitting on the foot of his bed.
"Well, what did you want to tell me?" Bridge asked.
"Bend down. I'll whisper it to you!" Jack replied.
Bridge did as Jack had asked.
"You know what happened to Sky? Well I did it!" Jack said karate chopping Bridge in the back of the neck.
Bridge fell to the ground in a heap.
"I'll tell you the same thing I told Sky" Jack said to the unconscious green ranger "Stay the hell away from Z!"
Jack dragged Bridge's body into his closet and shut the door and left the room with a huge grin on his face.
Note: This is my first fanfic, so please show mercy! I had originally intended for this to be Drama/Action/Adventure, but after typing up a few rough drafts of various ideas I had, I realized that I suck at the Action/Adventure aspect, so I just dropped it. I'll admit. I was disappointed when I discovered that I only have two reviews so far. It sure would be nice if you review my fanfic. At least it lets me know that people are in fact reading it. By the way, this isn't the end of the story. There'll be more chapters. How many? I'm not sure. I guess however many until I run out of ideas.