Disclaimer: Power Rangers S.P.D. belongs to Disney, and X2: X-Men United belongs to Marvel and 20th Century Fox.
Heroes No Longer
Chapter 3: Rescue Me
"Okay, well you four should be getting to bed now. You have school in the morning," Xavier said to the former power rangers.
"School?" the four former power rangers whined.
Just as Sky, Bridge, Syd, and Z were about to head upstairs, Scott grabbed a hold of Sky's arm to stop him.
"Could I talk to you for a moment?" Scott asked.
Sky exchanged confused glances with Bridge, Z, and Syd. None of them had any idea what this little discussion would be about.
"Uh, sure," Sky answered.
Bridge, Z, and Syd headed upstairs to their rooms as did Bobby and Rogue. Storm and Xavier went off in another direction, which left Scott and Sky alone by the staircase.
"I noticed that your friends turned down Magneto's offer to join the Brotherhood, but you didn't. You're not seriously thinking of joining the Brotherhood, are you?" Scott asked.
Sky shifted uncomfortably. He refused to look the older man face to face when he was talking to him.
"What if I am?" Sky asked.
Scott looked as though he was taken aback by Sky's question. Had he not been wearing a visor, Sky would have noticed that Scott's eyes were widened.
"You can't be serious. The Brotherhood is bad news. They don't believe that humans and mutants can peacefully coexist because they want to rule over humans," Scott explained.
"What's your point? I'm not a human anymore, so why should I care? Besides, you have no idea how betrayed I feel right now. Imagine that Professor X turned his back on you. How would that make you feel?" Sky countered.
The expression on Scott's face softened once Sky had said what he said. Instead of concern being etched on Scott's face, there was a look of understanding.
"You're right. If that were to happen, I'd probably feel just as betrayed as you feel right now. Still though, joining the Brotherhood isn't the solution. Magneto doesn't even care about his fellow Brotherhood members. They are just pawns to him, and if you join the Brotherhood, you will be a pawn to Magneto as well," Scott said.
Sky had heard all that he cared to hear and headed upstairs effectively ending the conversation with Scott. Scott sighed. That conversation didn't go as he anticipated it would.
3-3-3
Xavier was in one of the classrooms which also served as his office. Storm , having noticed that something was troubling Professor X, had followed him to his office.
"What's the matter Charles?" Storm asked.
"I'm worried about Sky. I was reading his thoughts earlier once I observed that he didn't turn down Magneto's offer to join the Brotherhood. Sky didn't turn down Magneto's offer because he wants to join the Brotherhood," Xavier stated.
Storm gasped at that morsel of information. It was too much of a déjà vu to Storm. After all, they had already lost an X-Man to Magneto and the Brotherhood in Pyro.
"I sensed so much hatred when I was reading Sky's thoughts. Hatred and betrayal. The one thing that he seemed to be infatuated with was getting revenge on his former Commander, Cruger," Professor X said.
Storm's heart went out to the kid. There had to be some way that she, Professor X, or somebody could get through to Sky before it was too late and he joined the Brotherhood.
"Cruger's betrayal also seemed to resurface old wounds with Sky. When I had my telepathic connection with him, I saw that he had been betrayed by Dru, a person who he thought was his best friend," Xavier explained.
Storm saw that something else seemed to be troubling Professor X. Being as powerful of a telepath as he was, that didn't surprise her one bit.
"There's something else bothering you, isn't there?" Storm inquired.
"Yes, earlier when I was using Cerebro, I picked up two other mutant energies in and around the same area. One of them was very sporadic, so I reckon that one is some sort of teleporter much like Nightcrawler," Xavier answered.
Storm was intrigued by that information. There were beginning to be more and more mutants on Earth, so Charles finding two mutant energies isn't what was fascinating. What had Storm so curious was that they were in and around the same area that the four former power rangers were at. Storm wondered if these two other mutants were linked to the former power rangers in any sort of way.
"When I get more definite coordinates of their whereabouts, I'll have you, Scott, and Nightcrawler go on a rescue mission and bring them back here," Professor X said.
3-3-3
Meanwhile, upstairs, Syd, Z, and Bridge came out of another room after they had barged in and woke its occupants up.
"I take it this isn't our room either," Syd commented.
"Okay, well we've checked every room in this hallway now. It has to be down the other hallway. Man, why does there have to be so many rooms?" Z remarked.
"Well because then where would all the students sleep? I mean after all, the dormitories are located on this floor. 'Why does there have to be so many rooms?' is quite an interesting question. Even if there were no dormitories, I am sure that there would be ample space for-" Bridge started to say.
"Bridge!" Syd and Z shouted simultaneously.
Just then, the three of them saw Sky head down the hallway they hadn't checked. They hurried to catch up to him.
"Sky!" Syd called out.
Sky turned around and saw Bridge, Z, and Syd. He allowed them to catch up to him.
"What's the matter? Are you three lost?" Sky asked.
"You think!" Z replied.
Sky rolled his eyes at Z. He led the way to their rooms. Even though Syd and Z were in a different room than he and Bridge, they were still across from each other.
"So Sky, what did Cyclops want to talk to you about?" Syd asked.
"It was nothing. He was just asking me about ranger stuff. Here you are," Sky said coming to a stop outside the door to Z and Syd's room.
"Thanks Sky! Good night," Syd said to Bridge and Sky.
"We would have found it eventually," Z commented.
Z and Syd went into their room and Sky and Bridge headed into theirs across the hall. When Sky's back was turned to Bridge, Bridge had taken off one of his gloves and scanned Sky's aura. There was something about his aura that seemed off.
3-3-3
The next morning, the Samuels' Clothing truck was parked in downtown New Tech City. Jack and his girlfriend, Ally Samuels, were distributing clothes to the poor. A boy wasn't watching where he was going, crashed into Jack, and fell to the ground.
"Are you ok?" Jack asked immediately.
Upon closer inspection, Jack realized that he knew this young boy. He looked to be about 12 years old. He had red hair and was wearing a familiar uniform.
"Sam? Is that you? What are you doing here? Why are you in such a hurry?" Jack asked.
Jack helped Sam up to his feet. Sam brushed the dirt off his S.P.D. uniform before answering Jack.
"I'm so glad that I found you Jack. I didn't know who else to go to. Sky, Bridge, Z, and Syd, they're all gone. I have no idea where, but I'm afraid they might have been captured already," Sam answered.
Jack noticed that Ally looked just as confused and concerned as he was. Jack also cringed when he heard that his friends and former teammates were in danger.
"Wait. Captured by whom? Who's after you?" Jack asked as he crouched down so that he was at Sam's level.
"Cruger. S.P.D. Haven't you seen the news? The Mutant Registration Act has been passed, so all mutants are to be taken into custody," Sam said.
Jack and Ally both gasped, but for two different reasons. Ally gasped because she thought it was horrible that S.P.D. would be in pursuit of Sam. Jack gasped because he knew that his former Commander would be coming after him too. Just then, a bunch of S.P.D. cadets encircled the Samuels' clothing truck and had their civilian blasters aimed at Jack, Sam, and Ally.
"This is S.P.D. We order you to halt!" a cadet said.
3-3-3
Back at the Xavier Institute, Professor X had summoned Storm, Cyclops, and Nightcrawler to his office.
"I have located those two mutants. They are in downtown New Tech City. You three are to go and rescue them before any harm is done to them. Get in and get out, but use your powers sparingly. The last thing I want to see is a dead human on the six o'clock news," Xavier said.
Cyclops, Storm, and Nightcrawler nodded their heads and left the office. A bunch of students including Sky, Bridge, Z, Syd, Bobby, and Rogue were gathered around the door with their ears pressed up against it, trying to pick up on what was being said in the office.
"I'm coming too!" Z said to them.
"No, you are to stay here. We'll take care of this," Cyclops said.
Z clenched her fists. Though it wasn't mentioned, she knew exactly who those two mutants were in downtown New Tech City, Jack and Sam.
"It'll be better for Jack and Sam to see a familiar face though," Z replied.
Cyclops looked at Storm, who nodded her head yes.
"Ok, fine. The rest of you are to stay here though," Cyclops said.
After Cyclops, Storm, Nightcrawler, and Z had left, Bobby and Rogue were talking to Sky, Bridge, and Syd.
"Don't take it personally. We never really get to go with them on missions either," Rogue said.
Bridge arched his eyebrows in confusion. "Aren't you X-Men too though?" he asked.
"Yeah. Rogue and I have the uniforms. I guess they just feel that since we're kids, we're a liability to them," Bobby replied.
The doors to Xavier's office opened once again as Professor X himself wheeled out in his wheelchair.
"Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?" he asked.
Sky, Bridge, Syd, Bobby, Rogue, and the other students traded guilty looks with one another.
"No matter, you three come with me. Before you start class today, you'll be needing textbooks," Xavier said to Sky, Bridge, and Syd.
3-3-3
Meanwhile, at downtown New Tech City, several cadets still had their civilian blasters pointed at Jack, Sam, and Ally. Sam used his powers to teleport the cadets' civilian blasters to the rooftop of a nearby building.
"Get in the truck," Jack commanded.
Jack, Sam, and Ally got into the truck and shut the door before any of the S.P.D. cadets could follow them in. Jack phased through the truck and got into the driver's seat. He fastened his seat belt, turned the keys, and took off.
"Hold on," Jack called out to Ally and Sam who were in the back of the truck.
Some cadets had thrown themselves on the windshield of the truck to try to prevent them from escaping. Jack made a few sharp turns that threw them off the windshield.
"Commander Cruger, they're getting away," one of the cadets said through his communicator.
"I'm on my way," Cruger answered.
Soon, Jack had left the cadets that were after them in the dust. He thought that it was clear sailing from here when a familiar ATV appeared before him. Its driver was none other than his former Commander as the Shadow Ranger.
"S.P.D. You're under arrest," Cruger stated flashing his badge at Jack.
Jack pushed down the accelerator pedal and the truck headed straight toward Cruger and his ATV. Cruger fired his ATV's lasers at the Samuels' Clothing truck and successfully deflated the front two tires. The truck came to a screeching halt. To make sure that the truck was truly grounded, Cruger took his Shadow Saber and deflated the truck's tires with it. Jack phased through the truck until he was in the back of the truck with Ally and Sam.
"Are you two okay?" Jack asked.
He noticed that the top of Sam's head was bleeding. For that matter, both Ally and Sam looked to be shaken up.
"We've been better, but why are we not moving?" Ally replied.
"Cruger took out our tires," Jack answered.
"So then, this is it for us," Sam stated.
3-3-3
Meanwhile, Cyclops, Storm, Nightcrawler, and Z had found a large enough opening in downtown New Tech City to park the X-Jet.
"Okay, here's the plan. Storm and I will take on the Shadow Ranger. Nightcrawler, I want you to teleport Z and yourself into the back of that Samuels' Clothing truck. I am pretty sure that is where they are. Once you are inside, teleport them and yourselves back into the X-Jet," Cyclops said.
Nightcrawler wrapped his arms around Z and chanted something. In a puff of black smoke, he and Z were gone. Storm and Cyclops lowered the stairs to the X-Jet and exited.
"Who are you?" Jack asked frightened when a blue skinned mutant in a black leather outfit with an "X" on the chest appeared suddenly in the back of the truck.
"Jack! Are you okay?" Z asked embracing Jack in a hug.
Jack was so relieved to see Z. After Sam had told him that Sky, Bridge, she, and Syd might have been captured, his heart sank.
"I'm okay all things considered. This is all very overwhelming. Who is this guy by the way?" Jack asked pointing to Nightcrawler.
"I am Kurt Wagner, but in the Munich circus, I was known as the incredible Nightcrawler," replied Nightcrawler.
"He's an X-Man. Look, there's no time to explain, we have to get you out of here," Z said.
Jack, Sam, and Ally all looked to be confused as to what was going on.
"An X-Man? What's an X-Man?" Sam asked.
"Z's right. Let's get you out of here first. We can talk later," Nightcrawler said.
Nightcrawler held Sam in his arms and chanted something. Then in a puff of black smoke, he and Sam were teleported to the X-Jet. He reappeared in the back of the truck and grabbed a hold of Jack.
"Wait! I'm coming with you Jack. You're not leaving me behind," Ally said.
"Okay, but I can only teleport one person at a time," Nightcrawler said.
Another puff of black smoke appeared and Jack was teleported to the X-Jet. Within a few seconds, Nightcrawler was back in the back of the truck. He held onto Ally, and chanted a few words, and soon she too was aboard the X-Jet. Nightcrawler reappeared in the back of the truck grabbed onto Z. He started to chant something when the door to the back of the truck was smashed in.
"There you are! Huh? Who are you? Z? It's nice of you to turn yourself in," Cruger said.
"Not so fast," Cyclops said.
He nailed Cruger square in the chest with an optic blast. Cruger flew through the air and crashed through a wall of a nearby building as a result of the impact. Nightcrawler teleported Z to the X-Jet. Storm and Cyclops headed towards the X-Jet themselves once they saw that Nightcrawler had teleported everyone to the X-Jet already. Soon, the X-Jet was airborne and headed back to the Xavier Institute. Cruger crawled out through the hole in the side of the building. The impact caused him to demorph.
"You may have gotten away this time, but you can't hide forever. I'll find you, and when I do, we'll just see if you are fortunate enough to get away then," Cruger said.
There you have it. I finished another chapter. I have no idea how long this fic is going to end up being because there are so many ideas that I have for it. I have been completely floored by the response that this has been getting. Thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to read it. An even bigger thanks goes out to those of you who have put this fic on your favorite stories list. Let me know what you think in a review. Constructive criticism is always welcome, but please don't just flame me. Thanks.