Disclaimer: Power Ranger is owned by various people, none of which are me.

Author's Note: This story is set near the beginning of the episode "Reflections" but then goes into my own AU. This story was also begun before we knew anything about A-Squad. The only couple I'm sure it's going to have is Jack/Z.

SPD: Elite Defenders

Chapter 03: Two Steps Back

"Sir . . . she's a girl," in the wake of these words was a stunned silence that was soon broken by a sound of a loud slap.

"You Jerk! How could you?" Syd seethed in anger, "Because I'm a girl? Because I'm a girl! After all the time of us being teamed together that's what you really think of me?"

As she exclaimed this she cocked her fist back to punch him only to have her wrist caught by Jack.

"That's enough, Syd," Jack ordered, "He may have deserved the first slap but you've made your point. Now stand down."

"But Jack," Syd protested.

"Do as he said Cadet," Commander Cruger voiced.

"Fine!" Syd complied with a hiss, pulling her arm away from Jack and stomping a few feet away and glaring at Sky.

"Thanks you . . ." Sky began as he rubbed his sore face.

Commander Cruger held up a hand and cut Sky off with a firm shake of the head, "Sky, I think at the moment it'd be best if you kept silent for a little while."

Looking around the room, Sky could see that none of the female occupants seemed pleased with him and Bridge seemed to be stressed from all of the negative feedback he was feeling from them.

Jack closed his eyes and held his head as he muttered, "We so didn't need this right now."

"I'm sorry guys," Boom apologized looking down.

"Boom, this wasn't your fault," Jack stated firmly, giving the tech a steady look before turning eyes on Sky and sighing, "Our teamwork has never been the best and A-Squad, robotic or not, is famous for their teamwork. The last thing we needed now was something to divide us more. We don't have the time to work out all of our issues but with the Commander's permission I think it's necessary to address one of yours now Sky."

-----

Outside of Newtech City's city limits a group of five different colored beams of light appeared. After the lights fade away, A-Squad could be seen left in its wake.

"That red runt is cleverer than I thought," growled the evil red A-Squad member.

"What did he do? And where are we?" the blue –Squad ranger asked.

"He teleported us out, as for where we are," the cybertronic squad-leader began taking a look around, "If I had to hazard a guess it looks like we were set down just outside of Newtech City's limits."

"Well then let head back and cause some more mayhem!" the green ranger exclaimed.

"No, I recognized that blue ranger of theirs, and I just remembered a piece of news Gruumm told us. Lets head back to the Emperor and see what he thinks of a plan I just thought up." The red ranger said all this and then gave a dark chuckle as they teleported back to Gruumm's ship.

-----

Back in the SPD Command Room, Jack is waiting on Commander Crugers permission.

"Go on Cadet Landors, I am interested to see how you handle this, but I reserve right to interfere if I think you are going out of line," the Commander acquiesced with a warning growl.

"Understood sir," Jack replied with a nod before continuing, "Sky, I'm going to say something that may surprise you and probably a few people in this room, but I respect many things about you."

"What?" Sky asked astonished

Jack raised a hand to cut off any questions or comments from anybody, "Let me finish, I respect your fighting ability, I respect your knowledge of SPD, I even respect your drive even though it gets in the way at times, but your attitude still needs work."

Sky face grew a bit red but Jack cut him off again, "Sky, I think most everybody here would say that the Sky in that video is not the one before us now. You've grown, but while I can't speak for exactly why Commander Cruger didn't make you red ranger, I can tell you why I wouldn't have, but first I have a question."

"Ok," Sky replied a bit puzzled about what he was going to be asked.

"On one of our first missions I ordered Syd and you to stay behind and guard a pile of diamonds, my question is if you were leader who would you have ordered to stay behind?" Jack asked with a neutral expression.

"I would have ordered Z and you to stay behind because you were the newest members and it would have been safer for the two of you," Sky answered after a brief second of thought.

Jack raised a hand to cut Z off before she could open her mouth, "And that illustrates why I wouldn't make you red ranger."

"Huh?" everybody except Doggy chorused in bewilderment.

"I think I have an idea of where he's going with this, continue on Cadet," Cruger replied thoughtfully.

"Thank you sir," Jack began, "Sky there's an old saying about someone not seeing the forest for the trees, you are the very opposite. You have a problem seeing little details. Of the five of us only three would be the best people for a guard job: Z but not for the reason you gave, Syd, and you."

"Explain, Jack," Ms. Manx requested curiously.

"As with any team, different jobs should be given to those best suited for it, that's even more so for us with our powers, on a job to guard something, a psychic and a guy who can demolecularized are just not the ones best suited. When Sky brought up the subject that someone needed to stay behind I was glad as I wasn't sure how to broach it," Jack explained in a serious voice.

"Why?" Syd asked still glaring at Sky, albeit not with as much heat now.

"Because Sky was going to stay behind regardless of if it was alone or not," Jack answered before explaining further, "Sky can create force fields and if you're going to guarding something his power would be the best for it."

"Makes sense tactically," Bridge interjected, "but why did you let Syd stay behind?"

"Simple, she had already shown earlier in that fight that by changing her hand into a diamond she could use it to fire a fairly good laser. Z could have also been a good choice because of her ability to duplicate and guard more area, but Syd had more experience working with Sky in a team," Jack answered easily.

"I'm glad someone can recognize my skills," Syd replied still a bit hurt by Sky's remarks.

"Syd, please," Jack voiced in a tone telling her to give it a rest for the moment.

"Ok," Syd relented with a huff.

"As I was saying," Jack continued, "I don't pretend to know why Sky wasn't chosen, I'm just addressing one of his flaws. Each one of us has them, heck I could go into a whole long list just on me."

Everybody chuckled a bit at this breaking some of the tension.

"Unfortunately, Cadet Landors as you said," Commander Cruger broke in taking control of the conversation as he address everyone, "as much as it would be beneficial to work out some of your issues we simply do not have the time. Rangers go see how repairs are going elsewhere and if you can offer a hand. Right now I think a little time separated from each other is needed. Everyone meet back here in three hours unless you're called back sooner. Dismissed!"

"Yes, sir!" the rangers all chorused with a salute before leaving the Command Room.

"Sir?" Kat got Doggy's attention after the rangers had left and making sure Boom was out of earshot. "You never did say if Jack's reasoning was also your own."

"Kat," Doggy began, addressing her in this moment not as an officer but as a friend, "You're right I didn't and in the long run it doesn't matter. I could tell you one of many reasons but it wouldn't be fair to Sky to tell you and not tell him. And I don't plan on giving Sky any of my reason until either A) He comes and directly requests to know or B) A situation arises where I feel he needs to be told for the betterment of the team. Now lets get back to work Ms. Manx."

"Of course Sir," Kat replied as both of them went their separate ways to continue repairs on the Command Room.

Next time in SPD: Elite Defenders: Chapter 04: Plans: Now that one issue had been brought to light and the rangers have been given some time to cool down, plans need to made about what to do about the rangers' lack of power. Also just what does the A-Squad have planned for their next attack? Stay tuned and find out.

Wow, been way too long. Sorry about that real life unfortunately got in the way but hopefully it won't interfere for a while. I've already got much of the next chapter done as well, so hopefully it should be out soon. Much sooner than this one was at the very least. I'm fair happy with this chapter. The point Jack brought up is something I noticed early on about Sky. On the show we saw a lot of Sky being able to see or figure out the big picture, but specifics seemed to elude him a bit I think. I think he would be good at taking general orders Commander Cruger gave and breaking down a large group, like say the SPD Academy students into groups to better be able to follow them. But Jack I think is better at taking the individual members of a small team and figuring how best they can achieve their orders. In short I think as Sky learned to curb his super-elitism he'd be better suited for the higher ranking positions with command over larger groups. While Jack I see in a just as high a ranking position, but more geared toward specialization; such as, I could easily see Jack in a position like Sergeant Silverback's. Anyway, Read and Review. Peace.