Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers. I'm just a typical, poor college student.
A/N: I am extremely sorry that I haven't updated in such a long time. Just know that I have no intention of canceling this fic nor is this fic complete.
Best Friends
Chapter VI: Uncertainty
Later that night, Sky was in his room studying S.P.D. regulations 101-200. He managed to get a perfect score on the first test, but the next test would be equally important. Sky needed to prove that his perfect score wasn't a fluke. After all, his father was a power ranger. His father was the best of the best, and those were some big shoes to fill.
"There you are Sky," Kim said from the doorway of Sky's room.
"Hey Kim, what's up?" Sky asked.
"Well, I was taking a break from studying. Now I feel like going out and partying or something fun. Do you want to tag along?" Kim asked.
Sky thought that was typical of Kim. Kim struck Sky as a bit of a wild child always wanting to do something spontaneous. One thing was for sure though. Kim certainly wasn't afraid to speak her mind. Her conversations with Dru over the past couple of days are proof of that.
"I really don't think you should Kim. You might get in trouble again, and Cruger isn't in a particularly great mood after we snuck out last time," Sky answered.
Kim sighed. That apparently wasn't the answer she was hoping for. "In that case, hold on. I'll be right back. I just have to get my handbook, and then we can study together," Kim said.
XXXXXXXXXX
In the command center of the Academy, Dru was discussing his living arrangements with Cruger. It was more of a one-sided discussion really.
"I can't stand Sky! Who does he think he is? What does he think he's better than me? He's always trying to show me up! I'm older than him, and if anyone deserves to be red ranger on our squad, it's me not him! The two of us being roommates isn't working anymore! Either he moves out or I move out!" Dru exclaimed.
Cruger growled in response. "First of all cadet, do not take that tone of voice when speaking to me! Do you understand? I am your commander! You don't talk like that to me or any of your superiors! Am I making myself clear? Secondly, the five of you are D-Squad, so none of you are going to be given morphers anytime soon. Thirdly, your grade on your test today was simply unacceptable! As you have no doubt found out by now, this Academy trains you both physically and academically. Your progress is constantly being observed by Kat and myself. So while you may be satisfying us when it comes to the physical part of your training, the academic part is a problem. Now for the matter of your living arrangements, I will tell Boom that he is to move in with Sky. You will take Boom's room," Cruger replied.
The blood in Dru's veins was boiling with rage. Up until this point, Dru had thought that he had been Cruger's favorite cadet in D-Squad. However, now he had every reason to believe that Sky was Cruger's favorite instead. Simply the thought of that made Dru sick to his stomach.
"I guess I better pack my things," Dru mumbled under his breath through clenched teeth.
XXXXXXXXXX
Lily was in her room studying the S.P.D. handbook when Kim returned to grab her copy off her nightstand.
"Hey Kim, I'm glad you're back. Listen, I just wanted to apologize for how I acted before. It was wrong of me to blame you for my test grade. I'm sorry," Lily said.
Kim didn't know whether or not to believe Lily. Lily hadn't given her any reason not to believe her, but Kim was still hesitant. Lily struck Kim as the type of girl who always wants to be on good terms with everyone around her. In fact, she and Lily were practically polar opposites. Lily was studious and a straight "A" student from what she said earlier. Kim on the other hand got good enough grades to get by, but no better and no worse. Lily seemed to want everyone to like her. Kim on the other hand didn't really care what people thought of her.
Kim decided to give Lily the benefit of the doubt. "Don't worry about it. I've forgiven you. You were probably just tired and stressed that's all," Kim replied.
Lily looked relieved to hear Kim say that she forgave her. "Say, where are you going?" Lily asked.
Kim dreaded Lily asking her that question. Kim was kind of hoping that she and Sky could study alone. "I was going to study with Sky. Why, did you want to come?" Kim asked hoping Lily's answer would be no.
Lily thought about it for a moment. "Sure, why not? Three heads are better than two," Lily answered.
Kim inwardly hated herself for having asked Lily to come along in the first place.
XXXXXXXXXX
At the S.P.D. lab, Boom was talking to Kat about quitting S.P.D.
"I just don't think I'm cut out for this. You've seen me. I can't handle the physical part of training. I certainly can't handle the academic part either. Maybe I don't even belong here," Boom said.
Kat felt for Boom. She had been trying so hard to convince Cruger not to flunk him out of the Academy. Maybe she had been trying to convince the wrong person this whole time. Kat saw something in Boom when she first met him. Maybe becoming a power ranger wasn't Boom's calling. Kat knew though that once Boom found out what his calling was, he'd be good at it.
"If that's how you really feel, then I can't stop you. I can give you some advice though. Before you make any rash decisions, sleep on it tonight. See how things go tomorrow and take it from there. Maybe all you need is a full night of sleep," Kat responded.
Boom had no idea why Kat refused to give up on him, but he was flattered by the gesture. Boom thought back to when he had first found out that he got accepted into the Academy. His parents were so thrilled for him. In fact, they were probably more thrilled than Boom himself. His parents. On second thought, Boom couldn't drop out of the Academy. What would his parents think?
"You're right Kat. I'll give it another day. Thanks for not giving up on me. It really means a lot to me Kat. More than you know," Boom said before leaving the S.P.D. lab.
XXXXXXXXXX
Dru was busy packing his things when Kim and Lily showed up ready to study with Sky. Dru and Kim glowered at one another as soon as they saw one another.
"Where are you going?" Kim asked.
Dru looked surprised that Kim had actually talked to him without yelling at or insulting him. "I-" Dru started to say.
"Oh, wait! That's right! I don't care! Hopefully though you brightened up and finally decided to leave the Academy!" Kim remarked.
'I should've known better! There's no way Kim would ever be nice to me! I despise her almost as much as Sky!' Dru thought to himself.
"Kim that was a little uncalled for don't you think?" Lily asked.
Sky chuckled to himself. Kim had spunk. That was for sure. Sky was glad that someone else besides him was more than willing to put Dru in his place.
"Sorry to burst your bubble Kimmy, but I'm not leaving the Academy. I'm just switching rooms with Boom. So it looks like you're still stuck with me. Deal with it," Dru retorted.
Kim was fighting an overwhelming desire to sock Dru right about now for calling her 'Kimmy'.
"Would somebody mind telling me what exactly is going on here?" Cruger yelled after passing by the room.
The four cadets looked at the ground or at least anywhere but at their angry, intimidating commander.
"I thought you were supposed to be packing Cadet Harrington?" Cruger asked.
Kim, Lily, and Sky noticed that Dru picked up the pace with his packing after Cruger posed that question.
"Cadet Tate, will you come with me?" Cruger asked.
Sky exchanged a nervous glance with Lily and Kim before getting up and leaving the room with Cruger.
"I have to inform Boom that he is now going to be rooming with you. After that though, Kat and I would very much like to start exploring your powers," Cruger said in a softer tone of voice.
Sky's heart skipped a beat. He had actually forgotten about his powers up until Cruger reminded him of them. He hated feeling like he was some type of guinea pig or lab rat. Sky felt a lump start to form in his throat.
"Yeah, um about that. No offense, but I haven't really had a chance to study all too much yet for the test tomorrow, so maybe some other time," Sky said.
Cruger stopped Sky just as Sky was about to turn around and head back to his room.
"You can't run from your powers forever Sky." Cruger said.
XXXXXXXXXX
Later that evening in the S.P.D. lab, Kat and Cruger were getting ready to run tests on Sky's powers. Sky was connected to various gadgets and gizmos that Kat had created on her own.
"Ok Sky, now make a force field just like you did before," Kat said.
Sky tried to remember how exactly he did it the first time. It had something to do with clenching his fist. There was more though. What though Sky couldn't remember.
"Yeah, um, how did I do that again?" Sky asked.
Cruger himself couldn't answer that question right away. He thought back to the simulation training when it happened. A light bulb went off in Cruger's head.
"Clench your fist, and wave your fist around in a circle," Cruger commanded.
Sky did as he asked and created a force field. He unclenched his fist and lowered his arm as soon as his force field was created.
"Doggie, I'm picking up massive amounts of activity in various regions of the brain. His force field isn't created with his hand, but his mind," Kat stated.
Cruger was fascinated by this finding. How could his mind be responsible for creating the force fields? How was this power of Sky's to be explained?
"Sky, can you create another force field, but this time hold it up? I want to find out how long you can hold up a force field for," Kat said.
Sky was uncomfortable about what Kat was asking him to do. 'What if something goes wrong? What does she mean by how long I can hold up a force field for? What am I supposed to hold it up until I collapse or something?' Sky thought to himself.
Cruger sensed Sky's uneasiness about the situation. "Don't worry Sky. The moment you begin to feel like you physically can't hold it up any longer, stop," Cruger said.
Sky reluctantly threw up another force field, and this time he held it up. Seconds passed by and Sky felt fine.
"He's held it for a minute now Doggie," Kat said.
Cruger had no idea whether or not that was a particularly impressive feat.
Sky continued to hold up the force field. He started to get bored, and had to stop himself from getting distracted.
"How long has it been now?" Cruger asked.
"5 minutes sir," Kat answered.
Another 5 minutes passed, and Sky still had his force field up. Sky started to wonder how much longer this was going to take.
"We're up to ten minutes now," Kat told Cruger.
Cruger wanted to make sure Sky was doing alright. The last thing he wanted was to push Sky so hard that he lost control.
"How you doing Sky? Are you feeling ok?" Cruger asked.
"Yeah. I'm fine. Do we really have to keep doing this though? I still have that test tomorrow that I need to study for," Sky said.
Cruger laughed as did Kat. Cruger saw that Sky had all the potential in the world to be just as great of a ranger as his father was.
Another twenty minutes passed and still nothing was different. At least that's what Kat and Cruger thought.
"It's been thirty minutes now," Kat informed Cruger.
Sky started to stagger on his feet. He appeared to be doubled over in pain. With his free hand, he was massaging his left temple.
This turn of events alarmed both Kat and Cruger.
"Sky, drop your force field! Drop it now!" Cruger commanded.
Sky must not have heard Cruger though as he now started to groan in pain.
"Sky! Can you hear me? If you can, lower your force field!" Kat shouted.
Sky didn't lower his force field. Cruger started to become very concerned. He hadn't intended the experiment to end up like this.
"I'm going in," Cruger said.
Cruger approached Sky. He went to grab his arm but was thrown backwards by Sky's force field.
"Doggie!" Kat shouted rushing to his side.
"I'm fine," Cruger replied reassuringly.
Just then, Sky released his force field and crumpled to the ground in a heap.
"Oh no! Sky!" Kat shouted rushing over to check on him.
Let me know what you think in a review. Those always make me happy. Constructively criticize me if you like. No flames please.