Disclaimer: PR SPD belongs to Disney.

Dissension within the Ranks

Chapter 23

"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Kat asked.

"Yes I'm sure. Now are you going to do this or not? If you aren't, I'll find someone else to do it instead," Syd answered.

Kat sighed. She wished that Syd hadn't asked her what she had asked her. Sure Kat may be a doctor, but she usually didn't handle stuff like this.

"Did you discuss this with Jack? I think he has a right to know Syd," Kat said.

Syd glared at Kat. "I can't talk to Jack because he's still unconscious. Besides, it's not even his decision to make. It's my decision and mine alone. I've already made up my mind," Syd stated.

Kat feared this was how Syd would react. "I'm sorry Syd, but even though you may be willing to go through with this, I can't. You'll have to find someone else to do this. I'd never be able to live with myself if I went through with this," Kat said.

Syd didn't answer Kat. She just stormed out of the S.P.D. lab. 'I'm sorry Sky,' Syd thought to herself.

XXXXXXXXXX

In the command center, Birdy had come to his senses not too long ago, and already he and Cruger were arguing with one another.

"Sky is a power ranger! We need him here on Earth!" Cruger yelled.

"Don't take that tone with me Cruger! Do I need to remind you that I am your superior?" Birdy replied.

Cruger pounded his fist on a computer console in frustration. "How dare you pull rank on me! Sky's mind was being controlled! It wasn't his fault! Besides, no harm was done to any civilians!" Cruger hollered.

"That still doesn't change the fact that he endangered the lives of innocent civilians! If I have anything to say about it, I'll see to it that that doesn't go unpunished!" Birdy retorted.

"Why are you so adamant about him leaving?" Cruger asked.

"Why are you so adamant about him staying?" Birdy responded.

"I asked you first!" Cruger remarked.

"I'm your superior!" Birdy commented.

Cruger and Birdy were at a bypass. Each was too stubborn to surrender to the other. Neither was willing to compromise either. It was either their way or no way at all.

XXXXXXXXXX

In the recreation room, Sky was talking to Bridge and Z about what was going to happen now. They weren't aware of the fact that Birdy was conscious and arguing with Cruger at this very moment.

"Maybe this means that you'll be able to stay after all," Z said hopefully.

"I don't know Z. I'd like to believe that's what will happen, but Birdy seemed dead set on me being escorted from Earth, so I don't think he'll be changing his mind anytime soon," Sky commented.

"Do you guys know where Syd went? I haven't seen her since Birdy got shot," Bridge remarked.

Kat entered the recreation room. "She went to have an abortion," Kat stated.

Shock was evident on the faces of the yellow, blue, and green rangers. They knew this had been a difficult time for Syd, but they never in a million years expected this to happen.

"I told her she should talk this over with Jack before she made any rash decisions, but she refused to discuss it with him. She said that it was her decision to make," Kat said.

Sky was in complete disbelief. He and Syd even had a talk about his ex-wife getting an abortion without discussing it with him. Sky thought he made his stance on the matter quite apparent to Syd, but it must not have mattered to her. Syd's getting an abortion resurfaced some old wounds of his.

"I can't believe she would do something like this!" Z said to no one in particular.

Nothing more was said. The four of them were in mutual agreement on how they felt about the matter.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Back in the command center, Cruger and Birdy were still going at it. Things weren't going any better than before though.

"Birdy, Gruumm is still at large. There's strength in numbers, and if you take Sky away from us, that would give Gruumm an advantage. Furthermore, Gruumm might be able to take over Earth, so do you really want to put the future of Earth at stake over a stupid rule?" Cruger asked.

"Oh please Cruger! What do you take me as some kind of fool? Supposedly, these cadets are the best cadets you've ever had, so what difference does it make if I take one away? I hate Gruumm just as much as you do-" Birdy started to say.

"You will never be able to comprehend how much I hate Gruumm! Nobody hates Gruumm more than me!" Cruger shouted.

"You're just begging for me to fire you aren't you Cruger?" Birdy asked.

"These are the best cadets I've ever had. I am disgusted that the supreme commander of S.P.D. is willing to put the well being of Earth and for that matter the well being of S.P.D. in jeopardy!" Cruger remarked.

"What are you saying Cruger? Are you saying that you could do a better job than me?" Birdy questioned.

"I could do a better job than you with two hands tied behind my back and a blindfold covering my eyes! Unlike you, I have my priorities straight! I know that the safety of Earth is far more important than debating whether a rule was or wasn't broken," Cruger said.

"That's the thing Cruger. Rules are meant to be followed not broken," Birdy stated.

Cruger growled. This had been going on for far too long now. He had had it with Birdy's stubbornness. He could barely even tolerate Birdy to begin with, and this wasn't making him like Birdy any better.

"What the heck is your problem? Earth is in danger of being taken over by Gruumm and you are far more concerned with rules!" Cruger exclaimed.

A weird smile appeared on Birdy's face. "Congratulations Cruger. You just got yourself fired. Now, not only will I be escorting Sky from Earth, but you are now unemployed," Birdy said harshly.

Cruger couldn't believe his ears. This wasn't the way he had envisioned this turning out at all.

"I suggest you pack your things. You have one hour to leave the Academy. If by that time, you have not left, I'll call security and have you escorted out," Birdy said.

XXXXXXXXXX

Syd had just got back into the Academy. She headed to her room to lie down, but to her surprise there was someone standing by the entrance to her room, Sky.

"Sky, what are you doing here?" Syd asked.

"I know about your abortion Syd," Sky stated.

Syd's heart skipped a beat. Sky was the last person she wanted to find out about her abortion. She couldn't even fathom how he was feeling right now.

"Look Sky, I know you are probably upset with me, but I had no choice. I'm not ready to be a mother. I'm not ready to go through the pains of labor. I can't have a baby, not this way," Syd said.

Sky's eyes were fixated on Syd's in an icy gaze.

"You know how I feel about abortion Syd. You also know why I feel that way, yet you still went out and had an abortion anyways?" Sky asked his voice getting louder with each and every word.

"Jack raped me Sky! I wouldn't be caught dead giving birth to a child that was a product of rape!" Syd exclaimed.

Anger and sadness fought for control within Sky. This was way too similar of a situation for him to not be perturbed by it.

"Jack made a mistake-"

"A mistake? Jack made a mistake? He didn't make a mistake Sky! He completely destroyed any and all trust I had in him!" Syd retorted.

"But he loves you," Sky finished.

Syd rolled her eyes in response. "You've got to be kidding me! When a guy loves a girl, he doesn't go and rape her just so he could father her child! I don't care if Jack loves me or not! I doubt he even does in the first place! The point is that I don't love him, nor could I ever love him after he did what he did to me!" Syd replied.

"You want me to stay on Earth right?" Sky asked.

Syd had a confused look on her face. "Of course I do Sky. I love you," Syd answered.

"So what you are saying is that you want me to get a second chance even though I made the mistake of endangering the lives of innocent civilians, but you aren't willing to give Jack a second chance?" Sky asked.

"Sky, those are two entirely different things," Syd commented.

Sky leaned back against the wall waiting for Syd to elaborate.

"Your mind was being controlled. Jack has no such excuse. He made a conscious decision to rape me, and now he has to deal with the consequences which are me having an abortion and me never giving the thought of him and me becoming a couple the slightest bit of consideration," Syd said.

"Okay Syd, what makes you think that I should give you a second chance?" Sky asked.

Syd looked puzzled by what Sky was saying.

"You say you love me, yet you went out and had an abortion just like my ex-wife did. Even though it wasn't my child, it still brought up old wounds. Furthermore, you talk about Jack destroying your trust in him, well you destroyed my trust in you. I used to see you as a person who would never do to me what my ex-wife did to me. Now, I see that isn't the case. I can't be with someone who has the capacity to go off and have an abortion behind my back," Sky explained.

Syd's eyes started to well up with tears. "Sky, you can't mean that. I'd never do that to you. I love you," Syd said with her voice cracking on the last three words.

Sky and Syd heard someone clear their throat. They looked to see who it was and saw that it was Birdy.

"Come on Sky, it's time to go," Birdy said.

XXXXXXXXXX

All the cadets and staff of S.P.D. Earth came to see Sky off. They hated to see him go, but they were powerless to do anything about it given that it was their Supreme Commander's decision.

"Are you sure you left your S.P.D. morpher and uniforms here? After all, you'll no longer need those," Birdy said.

"I did," Sky answered.

Chris and Simone were clinging to Sky's arms wondering what was going on. Birdy had allowed them to go with Sky even though they hadn't done anything wrong. It was obvious that the two children wanted to be with nobody but Sky.

"I'm really going to miss you Sky. Things won't be the same here without you. I'm never going to find another best friend like you. Who's going to be my roommate now? I don't want another roommate. I liked having you as a roommate," Bridge said.

Sky pulled Bridge in for a hug. The two best friends embraced each other uncertain about when they would be able to see each other again. As they parted, Sky noticed that Bridge's eyes had started to water.

"I'll miss you too Bridge," Sky said.

Z approached Sky next. "If someone were to ask me back when I first joined S.P.D. if I would miss having you around, I'd tell them no without a moment's hesitation. Now though, I can't imagine my life without you. I know you never thought you'd live to see the day that I said this, but I love you Sky," Z said giving Sky a goodbye kiss.

Kat stepped forward next. "It's been an honor and a privilege working with you Sky. You've grown into quite a remarkable young man. I have no doubt that your father would be proud of you. Take care of yourself," Kat said giving Sky a hug.

Boom was next to go. "I know you and I aren't exactly the best of friends Sky, but I'm going to miss having you around too. It sucks that Birdy is making you leave. I hope you won't forget us," Boom said shaking Sky's hand.

"I could never forget you guys," Sky replied.

Syd cautiously took a step towards Sky. "Sky, I know you are probably still mad at me, but I meant everything I said. I do love you. I would never have an abortion if you were the father of my child. Here you are leaving, and I just don't want this to be how things are left between us. You, Bridge, and I have been through so much together that I'd hate to see it end. I will miss you more than you will ever know Sky," Syd said embracing Sky in a hug.

"I'm not mad at you Syd. I'm not happy with your decision to have an abortion, but I'm not mad at you," Sky responded.

Just then, there was a sound of scurrying feet approaching. The rangers looked to see that it was Cruger running towards them.

"Sky, I'm glad I caught you. I'm so sorry that you still have to leave. I tried Sky. I really did. I even got fired in the process," Cruger said.

"You got fired?" Z, Bridge, Syd, and Sky asked in unison.

"Yes, but look I don't have time to talk much longer because Birdy's going to call security on me soon if I don't leave the Academy, just know that I am proud of you Sky. You'd visit the Academy back when your father was the red ranger, and because of that, I was able to watch you grow into a great ranger just like your father was. Take care of yourself," Cruger said.

"Alright, well we really must be going now, so come on Sky," Birdy said.

Sky noticed the sad looks on the faces of his former teammates. "Come on you guys, this isn't a funeral. It's not like I've died or anything. Just because I can't set foot on Earth anymore doesn't mean that you can't visit me. It's not the last time we'll see each other. I promise. When Jack wakes up, tell him bye for me," Sky said before entering the S.P.D. ship along with Birdy, Chris, and Simone.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Even without Sky, the rangers were able to defeat Gruumm. Chris and Simone started school and Sky raised them as a single parent. The rest of B-Squad came to see Sky whenever they had a vacation.

Jack left S.P.D. to work alongside a girl that he had met named Ally who was quickly becoming more than just a friend to him. Jack had given up on pursuing a relationship with Syd after she had continued to make it clear that nothing could ever happen between the two of them after what he had done to her.

Z and Syd both wanted to start a romantic relationship with Sky, but Sky insisted that their life was on Earth, and since he could no longer step foot in Earth, it wouldn't work out between them.

Kat assumed command of S.P.D. Earth station with Cruger being removed from command. She made a great commander. S.P.D. was in good hands under Kat's leadership.

Bridge, Z, and Syd all got promoted being the three remaining members of B-Squad. Kat had brought up the fact that they could be promoted to A-Squad, but they turned that offer down. B-Squad was who they were. Bridge became the red ranger. Z became the blue ranger. Syd was the new green ranger. The yellow and pink ranger spots were vacant on B-Squad. Life went on as normal, or at least as normal as things got at S.P.D.

The End

I finally finished this. I hate writing the last chapter. It's by far the worst. You always wonder if you ended it appropriately or if you've accomplished everything you wanted to. I think it's even more difficult than the first chapter, but I digressed. I hope this chapter wasn't too bad. I now only have 3 "In-Progress" fics left. Thank you for reading this chapter and for that matter for reading this fic. Have comments? Tell me what they are in a review. This is the 4th fic I've finished, but it was the first fic I started. No flames please.