Disclaimer: Disney owns the Power Rangers now. I'm not trying to make any money, just playing around.
Future Red
Chapter 2: The Journey
Tyler Forge had never been off Earth before. He had never been in a faster-than-light capable starship before. He should have been excited, however, the attitudes he was getting from the people he shared the ship with were putting a damper on the situation.
When Sky Tate, former B Squad Blue Ranger and current SPD Terran Division Commander, had explained the situation to Tyler, that there was a threat from new version of Omni, he had been more than willing to agree to help. However, his introduction to the assembled Red Rangers did not go very well.
"This has to be some kind of joke! There is no way Forge's little brother is Geo Red," exclaimed Dramlin Zell, SPD Alpha Red-1 Ranger.
Sky Tate cowed Dramlin with a glare of his icy blue eyes, "I assure you Ranger Zell, Tyler is a Red Ranger."
Dramlin sat back down, his face the same shade as the red accents on his uniform. Now, the Red Astro Ranger, Alanya Tian, spoke up, "I don't disbelieve you Commander, but, isn't he a little young to be going on such an important mission?"
Haylun, the Aquitarian Red Ranger added, "I too have this concern. Human adolescents are known to be highly . . . unstable."
"Nice to be talked about like I'm not in the room," Tyler muttered.
Jack put his hand on Tyler's shoulder and looked around the table, "Personally, I have every confidence in Tyler's abilities. I've fought along side him. I've seen what he's capable of, and am honored to have him at my side."
Jack's comments seemed to mollify the other Rangers. After all, this was the Jack Landors, the man Anubis Cruger handpicked to be his Red Ranger in the fight with the Troobians. The man who led his cadet team in bringing the traitorous A Squad to justice.
Sky picked up, "And irregardless, I have chosen to make him a part of this team, and he's going. You four will deal with that reality. Yes, he's young, but he is a Red Ranger, and you will give him the respect that mantel deserves." He then fixed Dramlin, Alanya, Haylun, and Falon each in turn, with what the old B Squad members called the "Doggie Stare." The name actually came from Kat Manx, and referred to the look Anubis gave the cadets when they were being obnoxious. All five of them had picked it up to one extent or another, but Sky had mastered it. "Am I understood?"
The other four, even Falon, who was technically a noble, stood, saluted, and said, "Yes sir!"
However once the unmarked ship, a Karovian-made SPD Cruiser disguised as a somewhat seedy "merchant" vessel, got underway, the tension level aboard the ship skyrocketed. Hence, the reason Tyler was standing in the observation lounge watching the stars, rather than hanging out on the bridge. He had been there for the launch, and had made sure to stay well clear of any buttons or control panels . . . despite what the others may have thought, Tyler was not an idiot, if he didn't know what a machine did, he did not touch it. Nevertheless, once they made orbit, he kept catching the others, with the exception of Jack, of course, constantly checking on him out of the corners of their eyes.
The door behind Tyler opened and he turned, expecting that it would be Jack coming to check on him, so he was surprised to find that it was the Aquitarian, Haylun. He had actually left the bridge before Tyler, indicating he needed to immerse himself in water before he became ill. He had apparently done so, as his skin was glistening and his color was far more vibrant. Tyler knew he was staring, but the artist in him found the lines of Haylun's features and the striking distinction between his deep indigo skin and bright yellow markings fascinating.
Haylun was quiet for a moment, but then quietly broached, "Tyler?"
Tyler snapped out of it, "Oh, sorry, didn't mean to stare."
"You have not seen many Aquitarians?"
"Well, no. But, I also have a tendency to study people."
"To what end?"
"It's an artist thing. Well, a wanna-be artist thing. I'm hoping to go to art school someday."
"Ah. I understand. Even on Aquitar I am often stared at, as my coloration is rare." Haylun paused for a moment, appearing to collect his thoughts, and then said, "Tyler, I must beg your forgiveness for how I reacted to you earlier."
"Okay. Um, thanks. But, it's okay, I mean, meeting a 15 year old Power Ranger is a little odd in this day and age."
Haylun seemed to smile, "Ah, this day and age is exactly it. You see, I must ask forgiveness because my reaction to you represents a failure on my part as a Doron-Sena."
"Okay, you lost me."
"It is tradition among the Doron-Sena to keep a chronicle, as well as to review the chronicles of those who have come before us. I have been somewhat remiss in that regard. However, when I was refreshing myself, I sought guidance from the chronicle of the first Doron-Sena Red to have contact with Terrans, Aurico. I did not before understand how truly young Zordon's chosen were. Moreover, how much younger Master Vile's spell made them, and yet they continued to struggle as Rangers for the good of all. This is why I must ask your forgiveness."
"Okay, is there something special I need to do?"
"If you were Aquitarian, yes, there is a ritual. However, since you can't breathe underwater, it is enough to say it, if you do forgive me."
"I do forgive you, Haylun. Now, if I could get the others to be so accepting, this would be much easier."
Haylun stood with Tyler, looking out the window for a moment, "I do not believe that will be much of an issue. By Triforian standards, Falon is not much older than you are, and appears to be somewhat overwhelmed by the entire situation. I feel that Alanya accepts Commander Tate and Lt. Commander Landors' endorsement of you, although she will likely show this more by deed than word."
Tyler laughed. When Haylun looked at him with what was probably an expression of confusion, Tyler explained, "It's so weird to hear Jack called Lt. Commander. He usually doesn't even like being called Mr. Landors."
Since they couldn't risk detection, the trip to Omni's hidden outpost was going to take a few days. On the upside, it gave the group a chance to get to know each other. On the downside, if you didn't know anything about space travel that would allow you to help, it was incredibly boring. This is why Tyler found himself spending a lot of time in the ship's training simulator, working out. He was just finishing a program involving attacks by several waves of Orange-type Krybots when the computer announced that someone was requesting entry. Tyler ended the program.
The door to the simulator opened and Alanya Tian, the Red Astro Ranger, entered. She was causally dressed in loose workout pants and a short, red, skintight tank top. "Oh, Tyler," she said, "I didn't realize you were the one in here." She looked at him appraisingly for a moment, "You were running the Orange Krybot program?"
"Yeah, it was the closest the computer had to what I'm used to," Tyler replied. "I was just finished when you wanted in."
"Closest to what you're used to?"
"Yeah. Biodrones are a little stronger and can take a bit more damage, but the fact that the Orange-heads have blasters made things more interesting."
Alanya raised an eyebrow at him, "Okay, show me what you've got. Computer, sparring arena."
The room shimmered and a sparing mat and a room with padded walls appeared.
"You sure about this?" Tyler asked.
"Sure, I want to see what you're capable of, and I always prefer a live sparring partner over a simulation."
"Okay, then I should warn you, some of my Ranger powers cross over even when I'm not morphed, so I'm stronger than a regular human." Tyler said all of this in a very matter-of-fact way.
"Okay, I consider myself duly warned," replied Alanya with a smirk, taking up a ready stance on one side of the center of the mat. Tyler joined her and took a stance of his own.
Alanya decided to start out by testing Tyler's reactions and defenses. She threw a light punch at his torso. The block Tyler used was basic SPD style, but executed way faster than Alanya had ever seen it done. A few more exploratory strikes got similar reactions; very utilitarian blocks, but with astounding speed.
Tyler's eyes met hers and he asked, "So, I thought you said you wanted to spar?"
Alanya cracked half a grin at the taunt; she was starting to like this kid. Now she started sparring in earnest, throwing herself into a series of punches and kicks. Not only did Tyler effectively block the majority of them, he retaliated with some impressive strikes of his own, and the couple that got through Alanya's defenses were powerful. She decided that Tyler had not been boasting about enhanced strength. So Alanya decided to take things up a notch, and started backing up her strikes with her telekinesis. This seemed to surprise Tyler for a moment, and she landed some good blows on the young man. However, Tyler adjusted quickly and Alanya found herself just barely evading a blow from a flaming fist.
She somersaulted backwards and asked, "What in the Great Darkness was that?!"
Tyler stopped a stood there, the flames around his hands dying out. "My powers are drawn from Elemental Fire and have given me a certain amount of pyrokinetic ability. When I realized you were using your TK, I figured using my PK was only fair."
Alanya smiled, "Okay. Well, I see what Commander Tate was saying about you. You definitely have some skill."
"Well, it's kind of an automatic thing when your Dad's a Tactics instructor at the academy."
"And your brother is the Green Ranger on Dramlin's squad. Kris, right?" Tyler nodded and Alanya continued, "Yeah, Dram's mentioned him."
"Dram?"
"We're cousins." Alanya wiped herself down with a towel. "So, any idea what his problem is with you, because it's more than just the age thing."
"Well, um, my team saved his team's lives our first day on the job."
"Oh, guy ego stuff. I get it." Alanya looked at Tyler appraisingly for a moment. "Hmmm, you know, I bet there's been lots of things Dram hasn't been writing home about." She suddenly crossed to Tyler and grabbed his wrist, "Let's find someplace to talk . . ."
By the time they reached the outer edge of the sector Omni was hiding in, Tyler had managed to allay the concerns of Falon, Alanya, and Haylun. Dramlin, on the other hand, continued to treat him like at tag-along. Tyler had the feeling that his chat with Alanya may not have helped the situation much, apparently family gossip was well-honed and time honored Karovian tradition. He finally decided he had had enough, and cornered Dramlin as he ate alone in the mess hall, so few people on the ship meant they had to eat in shifts.
Leaning on the table Dramlin was sitting at Tyler looked the Karovian dead in the eyes, "What in Hades is your problem with me?"
Dramlin glared back, "You have to ask?"
"Yes, because you seemed perfectly fine with Geo Red until you found out it was me. So what is it, my age? That I'm Kris' brother? That I'm not SPD?"
"I don't time for this, I have real work to do," Dramlin stood and headed for the door, but stopped when a small fireball exploded on the door. He spun and glared at Tyler, "What the hell was that?!"
"We're not done. You have some kind of issue with me. And given that we may very well be going into a fight for our lives, that does not fly!"
"Your daddy teach you that?" Dramlin said derisively.
"You damn well better believe it. And he taught you that too, if you were paying attention!"
That stopped Dramlin dead. He hadn't meant anything against Lieutenant Forge. In actuality, he had a deep respect for the man. He had just been trying to get Tyler to back off. But Tyler was right, this fight was too important for Dramlin to go in with this attitude about him. It could possibly get them killed. Dramlin sighed, "Fine. Yeah, realizing that a group of fifteen year olds saved my team bugged me."
"Bugged you? Think how Kris feels. Not only did his little brother and friends save his butt, but I'm a Red while he's only a Green. I can pull Ranger rank on him."
Dramlin actually laughed now, "Oh, I didn't even think about that! That's great!"
"Look, Dramlin, you, and your team are great Rangers. It's just that my team's powers are better equipped to deal with the Biorgs. That's it. And even though the creatures I go up against are stronger, I get off easier in not having to worry about stuff like excessive force and making arrests, since Biorgs aren't really alive. No paperwork, either."
"Okay Tyler, I get it. Look, as one Red to another, let's start over."
"Right," Tyler said and shook hands with Dramlin. They looked at each other for a moment and then Tyler asked, "So, did you know that Kris is in love with Torres?"
"Did I know? Please, there isn't anybody who doesn't! And it's completely mutual, but neither of them will make the first move. It's driving me, Carson, and Lopez crazy."
Both Rangers laughed . . . until the ship suddenly went to red alert.
