Planet Sirius

"Ah Andros, how good to see you again, old friend," said Cruger as he welcomed Andros into his office, giving the young man a hug and patting him on the back.

"It is good to see you again too, Commander Cruger. It's been almost five years."

"Yes, it has been that long, hasn't it? Come, I'll show you around while your friends get settled in." Cruger led Andros out of the office and the two started walking around the base. "Safe journey, I presume?"

"Yes. We had no problems getting here at all."

"Good. Good. Over the past few months we have had trouble with an alien known as Gruumm, and his General, General Benaag," he said as he turned to Andros. "Have you heard of them?"

Andros shook his head. "No, I haven't."

"That's good. I hope you never have to cross paths with either one of them. They're the worst of their kind, destroyed many planets." He turned to Andros. "One of them being the home world of Dr. Kat Manx, Tygrigia. How is she by the way?" It had been a while since he had seen his old friend who had taken sanctuary on earth.

"She's fine, fitting in quite well over the past four years." He sighed, though Kat has been doing well it hasn't been all perfect. "Although it sometimes is hard for her not to show her true form, but hopefully within the next five years that will all change."

"She's still working at Bio-Lab, correct?"

"Yes. As a matter of fact I saw her the other day. She told me to tell you hello."

"Be sure to send her my regards."

"I will."

"How are the negotiations going with your home world and Earth?"

"Going well, and even as we speak negotiations are being made between Earth and Mirinoi; once that is finished we'll be ready to partake in setting up alliances with Sirius, assuming you still want to…"

The old dog nodded his head. "Yes of course. The more the alliances, the better.," Cruger answered knowing that the more planets on board the better. They all had a duty to protect universe from evil beings like Gruumm. "And with setting up the academy in all locations, the better the communications."

"Yes," replied Andros agreeing with the commander.

"Now this Alec Collins man you speak of. He wants to fund the academy on Earth by expanding his Silver Guardians to become Space Patrol Delta?"

"Yes. He has already signed most of the papers. He just needs to go over it with his son, Wesley Collins, who will one day take over."

"Ah yes, Wesley Collins. I've heard a lot of good things about him, good man, good ranger, fought beside some of the best of the best rangers." Cruger turned to Andros. "Now, he was your second choice in recruiting for one of our earth squads."

Andros nodded his head. "Yes, my first choice turned down the offer. And actually he himself suggested Wesley Collins," Andros began to tell the commander wanting to assure him that Wes Collins fit the bill for what they were needing. "A year ago he had fought alongside Wes, saying he's a great ranger and man. I had only teamed up with Wes once a couple of years ago, knowing very little about him."

"Have you talked to Wes Collins about this offer yet?"

"No. I have a meeting with him next week; his father is already aware of the offer. Right now Wes knows very little of what is going on, all he knows is the Silver Guardians are expanding."

"I find it difficult to understand why a father would leave his son, heir to his company, on the sidelines." It felt very odd to Commander Cruger.

"He has his reasons," stated Andros softly. It had only been close to a month since Andros learned of the dark secret that Mr. Collins had been keeping top secret over at Bio-Lab for a little over four years, a secret that even Dr. Kat Manx was part of.

"Hmm?"

Andros stopped and faced Cruger. "Which brings me to one of the main reasons for my visit. Dr. Manx is already aware of the situation and I need to bring it to your attention. It's also the reason Mr. Collins has not told his son of what will be happening."

"I see." Cruger made a quick decision, feeling this was very sesintive information. "I believe we can find a secure location to talk in private about this."

"Thank you, sir," Andros replied as he followed Cruger to one of the unused rooms.

Mr. Collins sat at his desk going through four packets of papers, each of a different client. He looked tired and concerned as he read through the packets. He had read over them a hundred times and every time it was the same. Nothing had changed. It seemed to have gotten worse with each passing year, first in 2001, then in 2002 and soon after, two instances in 2003.

Collins set the packets aside and grabbed a hold of a smaller packet with the name Samantha on it. Unlike the other packets, little information was on the paper, just an out-dated photo ID of a young red-headed girl, her date of birth October 7th, 1983. The only information the piece provided said she was a student visitor. Back in 2001 she had come to Bio-Lab as a school graduation project, to look over some research. She had been lucky enough to be there that day, that horrible day when Silver Hills was in danger. She had been in the lab when the serum had been created, although unknown by her, that wasn't all that was done that day. She had witnessed the top secret research RM104.

He reached for his telephone. "Hello Dian."

"Yes, Mr. Collins?"

"Were you able to find anything about her?"

"No, without a last name it's nearly impossible. And the school is refusing to release any records."

"Did you tell them it was important, a matter of life and death?"

"Yes, but it didn't matter. I am sorry, sir."

He sighed heavily and stared down at the photo of the young woman, having no clue what her future could bring her. And he had no way of telling her. "So am I."

"Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"No, that will be all for today. Thank you." He hung up his phone.

He was getting too old for this. It shouldn't have come to this. This should have never happened, but it had and there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn't even warn this young woman and try to stop her. It just wasn't fair, like Gunther had said. He had no idea what it was like for him or the other families.

He heard a knock on his door. "Come in."

The door opened. "Hey, Dad." Wes stepped in.

Caught off guard, Collins jumped to his feet, grabbing the packets of papers in a hurry. "Wesley!" He hurried quickly over to his safe that was on the wall and put the papers inside.

Wes looked at his father suspiciously. First the strange phone call and now this. What was going on? His eyes then fell onto a disk on his father's desk. "Hey, what this?" He started to reach for the disc.

"It's nothing." Collins got to the disk before Wes even had a chance to touch it. Wes looked at his father oddly, this wasn't like his Dad at all. "I'm sorry. I know I've been acting strange lately." He made his way back over to the safe and placed the disk inside with the packets of paper. "But it's just with everything that's been going on. You know how it is."

"No I don't, not really." Wes was starting to get annoyed with being left out of the loop. He'd even called Eric the other day asking him if he knew anything, but he was just as, maybe even more clueless than Wes was. "What's going on, Dad? I know you're hiding something from me. Just tell me what it is?"

Collins sighed and turned to face his son. "You're right, I have been keeping something from you." He paused for a moment. "I was just wondering how you felt about possibly moving our main location to NewTech City. We would still have this location in Silver Hills, but our top offices and mainframe would run from NewTech City,"

That was it? This was what his father had been keeping from him? "I think it's fine." He eyed his father closely. "Is that it?"

"Yes of course." It really wasn't a lie. That was one of the things he needed to discuss with Wes. It just wasn't the main thing, maybe even the most important thing, but he knew he had to tell Wes something. At least this would provide him with a little time to figure things out, to prepare for when he did come out and tell Wes what was really going on. "Come on, I'll take you out to dinner." Collins then led his son out of his office. Wes looked over his shoulder, looking over at the safe, and he exited his father's office wondering what was in those packets and what was on the disk.

"I understand, and as their parents' wish I will make sure this is kept top secret until the time is right," announced Cruger, understanding the concerns the family's and Alec Collins had. "When they're old enough."

"Thank you, sir."

"You know for sure there are four, and possibly could be a fifth in the near future? What about Wesley Collins, does he have any?"

Andros shook his head. "No, as far as I know, no he doesn't."

Cruger nodded his head. "I see. Well, very good, thank you for bringing this to my attention. Perhaps in due time, we can make some light out of this tragedy."

"That's what I'm hoping for," Andros sighed. "But still, those poor parents. It's not going to be easy."

"I feel sorrier for Mr. Collins, such a burden he must carry." Cruger sighed heavily. He couldn't imagine what the man most be going through. He hoped thst he could lift some of the burden he has been carrying. "You be sure to tell Mr. Collins not to worry about a thing any longer, from here on out I'll handle this situation."

"I'll be sure to do that, sir."

"Well, I should be letting you head back and join your friends, even leaders need to rest too." He patted Andros on the back.

"Yes, sir." Andros started to head towards the room where the others were staying, but looked back to Commander Cruger. "Oh, I almost forgot. Commander Cruger, please give my regards to your wife, Aisynia."

"I will do so, and the same to yours. I'll see you in the morning, my friend."

"Jen." Wes ran into her arms. "I thought I'd never see you again," cried Wes wrapping his arms tightly around her. "Please don't leave me, not again."

Jen pulled away slightly, looking into his eyes, tears running down her face. "Wes..."

"What? What's wrong?" A great and utmost feeling of fear came over him.

She started pulling away from him. "Promise me…Promise me…."

"Jen, don't go!"

"Promise me….."

She was drifting further and further away from him. "Promise you what? Jen! Jen!"

"Jen!" Wes jumped up in a cold sweat, his heart racing. He ran his hand over his face. "A dream," he sighed. It had only been a dream. Jen wasn't here. She had never even been in this room. No, their room, their special place, had been back at the cabin, but that was a year ago. She was gone, back with Alex. He hated the thought of her being with Alex.

He had done all he could to try to forget her, but he couldn't. He loved her too much, but it hadn't been enough. It would never be enough. He looked at the clock on his night stand, it was only two in the morning; he still had five hours until he had to go into work. Even as he sat there in bed he slowly could feel the dream drift away from his mind and out of his thoughts; feeling tired he sank back down into the bed and let sleep take over once more.