Ep. 03 - Stressed

CHAPTER 1

The thrill of space travel to a distant planet light years away wasn't there anymore. This was business. The danger was real. Sky Tate, morphed in his SPD SWAT uniform and with Delta Enforcer in hand, crept around the desolate ruins of the Manhattan-like building quietly searching for the team of cretins that plagued this once thriving metropolis. From the corner of his eye, he could see Sydney Drew, morphed as SWAT Pink, patrolling a rooftop. Her Enforcer was drawn and ready to fire at the drop of a pen.

SPD Blue, Bridge Carson, surveyed the breezeway of the town council courtyard via the gamma scanners within his helmet visor. Heat readings were close but had yet to identify the culprit. He moved forward and hid himself beside a busted fountain sitting center of the courtyard. The crumbled white rock from the fountain lay at his feet. Bridge could tell by the craftsmanship of what remained that the people who once inhabited this world were people of art and culture. He shook his head and moved forward.

SPD Yellow, Elizabeth Delgado, was not as comfortable here as she had previously thought. Her experience on other planets was severely limited. Even though the helmet covering her head made the air breathable (thanks to the filters wired within her mouth plate), the salmon red tint coloring the air made her desperate to leave in fear of becoming ill. Her Delta Enforcer was ready to fire at the first sight of the grunts that now were hiding like the cowards they are.

"Red, come in," a voice called over Sky's comm.

"Blue, report," Red answered.

"I have a clear visual, town center."

"Send coordinates."

"Sending n-"

An explosion fizzled in Sky's comm. piece. He could here Blue screaming.

"BRIDGE," Delta Red cried.

He followed the sounds of the rocking explosions and ran with everything in him. Syd stood perched at the rooftop directly behind watching Sky run on to the main avenue. She couldn't believe her eyes as the smoke pillared in the distance.

"BRIDGE. NO," Pink screamed.

A chorus of clicking sounds -- Syd turned her head but was too late to take action. Multiple rounds of fire power blasted her directly. The great impact demorphed her armor as she was flung off the building to meet the pavement below. The high-pitched scream caused Sky to turn around. What he saw made his heart, his world, just stop. He was too far away to save her.

"SYD!"

Sky felt ill, completely disassembled inside. He could hardly stand anymore on his own. He couldn't even cry.

She never knew...

A third blast forcefully took out all the first and second story windows to the left and right of Delta Red. A shower of glass rained like large icicles as they would in a Himalayan avalanche. Sky dove out the way, rolling beneath a canopy hovering above the entryway of a hotel.

"You monster!" a voice cried out.

There was SPD Yellow running into the town council vicinity firing away with her Delta Enforcer. Sky watched not sure what she was shooting at. Maybe he couldn't see it from where he was, but Z kept firing. Large tentacles flew up into the sky -- scaly brown tentacles. The long rope-like members were all too familiar as they swung at Delta Yellow. Sky, too paralyzed from shock to go help, identified the creature.

"It can't be," he silently cried.

"You'll pay for that!" Yellow said leaping up with her Enforcer on auto-shoot.

The constant rounds of yellow fire power beat down like hail on the scaly surface of the tentacles, but it was not enough. The dozen other tentacles easily took hold of Z and squeezed tight. Her Enforcer dropped from her hands and hit the ground. Sky couldn't take it anymore. He looked away as a high-pitched scream was quickly silenced.

I've failed them...

Delta Red gradually looked back to the destruction just yards from where he laid. Only if he looked a moment sooner. The stretching over-sized tentacles came racing in his direction. Down the street they came, faster than a cheetah. He couldn't get up. Sky wanted to, but he couldn't. Even if he did, what would be the use? Omni got his friends and he'd get him next.

"I will claim this planet as mine! Destruction to all who try and stop me!" was the last thing Delta Red heard before the tentacles wrapped around his body and lifted him up into the sky.

Everything went blank after that and Sky Tate woke up panting, sweating, and actually thankful this was another nightmare and not a reality. He sat up in his bed, the covers rolling off his torso as he rose. Sky looked to the clock beside his bed. The time read 5:02 A.M. It was nearly time to get up -- there was no use in trying to go back to sleep he figured. Throwing off the remainder of the sheets, Sky got out his bed and walked into the bathroom that he had direct access to from his room.

Since A-Squad's banishment, B-Squad had the luxury of attaining their living quarters. Each room was considerably spacious and each had its own private bathroom. Sky really enjoyed the privacy. Not that he didn't mind sharing a room with Bridge, but Sky was overall a private person. He never was one to open up easily, but with these reoccurring dreams he figured he'd have to talk to someone eventually. He couldn't let himself be consumed like this. Hopefully Bridge hadn't heard him through the wall. Sometimes Sky could hear himself scream in his sleep but was never able to wake in time to quiet himself.

Sky put his hands under the faucet and collected the cold water. He splashed it on his face and massaged the tired whiskered skin. He removed his hands from his face and looked in the mirror as water trickled down his forehead and cheeks. Big, tired sleep-filled eyes stared back. There was more than sleep in those blue pools -- fear, anxiety, doubt.

Maybe an early jog will help...

Sky finished up in the restroom with the usual hygienic routine he has and returned to his room to change into the appropriate jogging gear. Indeed the weather had grown colder, unusually so. Pastor Tim was certainly correct about that. He hadn't thought about the man since their last meeting. Maybe if he was at the church working early this morning, Sky would stop by. The thought interested the B-Squad sergeant. If it was anyone he could talk to, it would be someone not at SPD who he wouldn't have to see on a day to day basis. Sky wanted to keep his personal life seperate from his work.

Delta Red left his room and headed down the dim corridor. Small windows checkered the walls of the residential wing of the Academy, a recent addition by the requests of cadets to help make the school feel more homey. The weak rays of light shone sun-colored spots onto the floor, showing the new day was upon the cadets of Earth SPD. Sky put his index and thumb to his lips and blew. He waited a few moments, but no robotic sounds were heard in response.

Stupid dog...

Sky proceeded down the hall to Boom's lab. Perhaps the canine was shut down for maintenance. The doors of the lab slid open. Sky stuck his head in and pulled out. No luck. Maybe R.I.C. was in the Command Center with Kat. Sky headed to the control room of SPD and stuck his morpher into the scanner device mounted right of the doors. Last year taught many valuable lessons, and security was a measure not to be taken lightly.

The twin doors quietly slid open. No signs of R.I.C. here either, but an unusual sighting was found.

"Syd?"

The petite blonde, already in her SPD officer uniform, turned around from the computer console she was stationed at. Sky came over to her and found files and folders scattered about the tabletop.

"Did someone forget to study for mid-terms?" Sky jested with a sleepy-heavy voice.

"No. I'm doing the manual updates for security link-ups," Syd said forcing back a yawn.

"Doesn't Kat usually do that?"

"Yes, but she's on call for her project at SPD Headquarters. They could call her back any moment, so she's relived of her lesser duties for now."

"I see. What time did you get up this morning?" Sky asked taking the seat beside his co-officer.

"You mean yesterday morning?" Syd corrected.

"You haven't slept? Syd, you're insane."

"No, the workforce department is. Of all the people to do these updates at last moments notice, they picked me."

"You sure you didn't piss someone off in work force? And this is their petty revenge?" Sky asked resting his tired head against his fist.

"No. I won't be much longer. Just another half hour and I'll be done."

"Um, you do know you're scheduled for route nine today, right?"

"Taken care of. Don in workforce put a C-Squad cadet with Bridge since I'm doing this for Kat," Syd said tapping away again at the keyboard.

"You sure about that? Workforce is infamous for not doing things they said they'd 'take care of'," Sky reminded.

"If they pull that stunt with me, they'll be sorry. I haven't slept in 36 hours, I haven't showered, and I broke a nail with this repetitive nonsense!"

"Geez, Syd. Lighten up. You've pulled all-nighters before."

"I have more important things to do, Sky. One, I haven't gotten any of my Christmas shopping done. Two, I never got to the spa this week or the week before. And three, I never got a chance to stop by Neeman's and get those cute pink Stilettos I saw.

"Oh no. Not that," Sky said touching his cheek.

"Don't make fun. ... I'm not in a happy mood."

Sky looked at his fellow officer and friend and saw the sleep slowly stealing her concentration. She pushed the bangs out her face and looked at her squad captain.

"Where are you off to this early? Jogging?" Syd asked taking note of his apparel.

"Yes."

"But you always jog at night and you're never up this early. You feeling okay?"

"I'm fine."

Syd studied Sky's face for sincerity.

"Well ... if you want to talk about it. I'm here," Syd said turning back to the computer terminal.

"Really, there's nothing..."

Syd glanced back to Sky, evidently not convinced, but she wasn't going to push it.

"I'll leave you to finish," Sky said getting up from his seat. "And I'll see if I can pull some strings with Don and get you off of A.M. patrol if he did leave you scheduled."

Syd gently smiled.

"Thanks, Sky."

The sun continued to creep forward as the morning hour of 6 A.M. approached. The second-level interstate wrapped around the city like an intricate maze, allowing early commuters a quick ride to their places of business. A third-level interstate sat right above where only flying vehicles were permitted. There was no actual roadway to see for these motorists turned pilots -- these miniature crafts were kept within boundaries via an invisible grid only detected by the vehicles themselves. It was a sign of the times and few cities, New Tech being one, had such luxuries.

Prosperity of the metropolis had its ugly side like rivals Chicago and New York. Below the highways and byways, past the lavish hotels and business districts, were the slums -- the part of town no one wanted to be reminded of, the place when Thanksgiving and Christmas rolled around, only a handful of charity groups would come and hand out soup and blankets to the homeless. There was one particular group who gave a little more.

A white van slowly pulled around the corner and pulled into the parking lane. Killing the engine, the driver hopped out and looked around. He knew he came earlier than usual and wasn't surprised to see no one waiting yet for his weekly drop-off. After all, how could anyone sleep after being denied admission to the thing he loved most? Jack Landors leaned up against the Omega Missions van and crossed his arms. The weather was more chilly than he was used to. He could see his own breath leave his mouth every few seconds.

The lull gave Jack time to think over what he had planned since Doggie's refusal to readmit him. Being a man of the people, Jack had many connections and he planned on making use of one of them like he had done many times before.

"Alone today?"

Jack turned his head. He saw a man in a long coat walking across the street with a box in hand. The man came forward and set the box down.

"The name's David Price," he said extending a hand. "But everyone calls me Dave."

Jack, giving a somewhat distrusting look, extended his back.

"Jack Landors. I don't mean to sound rude, Dave, but can I help you with anything?"

"Well I--"

"I just find it odd you know where I would be and at what time."

"Heh. ... I should have known. You were with SPD, right?" Dave asked.

"So? Who are you with?"

"New Faith Tabernacle."

"Oh. A church. Great."

"Heh."

"Is something funny?" Jack asked, his patience with Dave quickly wearing thin.

"Hey, it's normal. You'll ask questions. It's natural for a cop ... or a former one."

It's official. Jack didn't like the guy, minister or not.

"We're a new church in the area. I oversee all outreach projects," Dave informed. "I see I'm not the only early bird around here."

"I guess not," Jack shrugged.

"I can tell you probably don't want me here, Jack."

"I didn't say that--"

"But that's okay. If you have this area taken, I understand. I will set up elsewhere."

"Okay..."

Dave knelt and took up his box.

"May God be with you," he said turning to leave.

Jack recrossed his arms and watched the man leave his sight. The last thing he needed was someone to make comments about something he couldn't possibly understand. Feeling the bite of the bitter winter, Jack climbed back into the van and put on the heat. He sat there unknowing the evil he longed to battle again was closer than he knew at the present time. Below the surface of the slum were the vile sewer ways. Down the corridors of the never ending drain system was a lair separate from the water and waste running to the nearest bay. The bricked-in surface was home to rats, roaches, and other hideous things -- everything nasty and unwanted in the glamorous city above. The lair was home to more than these diseased vermin.

Two lifeless alien forms lay slumped against the dimly lit wall. They were not dead but asleep rather. The battle with SPD two nights ago was a defeating blow, but it wasn't the last B-Squad has seen of these time-traveling menaces. Footsteps echoed in the corridor leading to the lair. One of the two monsters woke, alarmed at the sound.

"Relax. It's me," Sukira said stepping inside the lair.

Gainmede slouched back against the wall.

"What do you have?" he asked.

"He's harmless. It's just the four of them as we suspected," Sukira answered.

"And Tate?" Uniga asked now awake.

She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and rose up from the dirty ground.

"We'll have to keep our eyes on the Academy and wait for him. Our previous plan proved less than successful."

"Very well," Uniga said grabbing her shotgun weapon. "I'll be ready this time."

"As I," Gainmede said raising his lobster-like claws.

"As I," Sukira said brandishing his sword. "This time there will be no mistakes."