A/N: I appreciate all the reviews. I've been thinking of adding another twist to the story just to spice it up some more...and so you'll find it by the end of this chapter. Hehe. Enjoy!
Chapter 12
"Why When How"
Jack stood at the corner, staring at Z who was sleeping peacefully on the single bed. That night he couldn't get enough sleep on the floor not only was it uncomfortable and cold for he was use to it (considering the fact that his family weren't exactly well off financially and lived poorly) but because he was worried about Z. He heard her cry silently to sleep (pretending she was really asleep) as sobs continued to echo the room. It surprised Jack that a guy had so much impact in her. He knew Z too well but didn't think anyone would allow her to open up and let them in.
Jack remembered clearly that Z wasn't exactly a people person. It was difficult for her to trust anyone accept for Jack himself after her experience during freshmen year when a guy she really liked turn out to be a complete jerk and the departure of her parents finding new jobs. But when he learned that she found someone else that she thought she could trust and confide in lied to her all this time, Jack finds himself not so angry at Z for not believing him, but more so at the cadet who crushed her heart. Z is no longer the strong and resentful girl he use to remember, but now vulnerable and completely hopeless. He knew that she's still a strong woman, but after being used up, it's difficult for him to watch her so heartbroken and depressed, knowing she was falling for the guy.
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the cell bars open automatically with the sound of a deep and weakened voice. Jack slowly looks up and there stood before him a very tall, blue-eyed cadet looking mellow and miserable. While staring at him carefully, Jack realized that he fits the description Piggy was giving him of the guy that Z was spending time with. When he knew certainly that it was him, Jack makes a fist to his side and glares evilly at his direction. But before he could start something, Z got up and stopped him. "Don't do it, Jack." She places a hand on his shoulder with seriousness expressed on her face. Jack eases up as she darted her eyes between the two that only created tension in the room. Looking at the guy who betrayed her suddenly made her feel weak in the knees as she was forced to look away and hold back the pain that's still haunting her in the inside.
Meanwhile, Sky looks at her with genuine concern. He wanted to tell her everything—how much he wanted her, how much he was sorry. There are so many things he wanted to tell her about himself and the academy, but he just couldn't do it for the dirty looks he was getting from the both of them was just unbearable. "Commander Cruger wants to see the both of you." He finally says after a long awkward silence.
Jack scoffs reluctantly. "Why?"
"Jack," Z groans out of annoyance as she turns her gaze back at Sky. "The dog wants to talk, let him." She folds her arms across her chest as the cadet furrowed his eyebrows. "Well? What are you waiting for?"
Sky felt the blow tingling throughout his body. "Uh…I meant the other dog…"
Z gives him a fake, sarcastic smile. "Oh gee…this place is full of it isn't it?"
"Z, don't do this." He sighs. "Not now." She averts from his gaze. "Commander Cruger wants to see the both of you." Sky steps aside and allows the big blue dog to enter the cell. Jack and Z both look up; exchanging questioning stares as silence fell upon them.
"Welcome to Space Patrol Delta. I am Commander Doggie Cruger." There was a small pause. "We fight against crime and--"
"Since when is helping the poor a crime and a threat to the planet?" Questions Jack rudely without letting him finish as Z places a hand on his chest for her friend to stop.
Commander Cruger groans and continues. "We have the best of the best fighters in this academy willing to protect Earth."
"Get to the point." Jack already has lost his patience as he folds his arms across his chest and tapped his foot incessantly.
"He's the commander, show some respect." Sky retorts, forcing Jack to send him a glare at his way. His eyes then followed Z as she tries to avoid him.
"That's enough." After sending his cadet a sharp look, he turns back at the two. "As I was saying," the big blue dog continues, "We have the best cadets and crime fighters in the world. And this is where you two come along." Jack and Z exchange puzzled looks as Sky furrowed his eyebrows in bewilderment as well. "I give you two options. You can serve your time in prison or be a part of something bigger. The decision is yours."
Jack's face suddenly lit up as a smile crept over his face. "Who would want to stay in prison?" He thought in disgust. "I'm up for something bigger."
"Jack," Z shot him a look as though he was turning against her. "Are you serious?"
"Come on, Z. I thought you wanted to be a part of something bigger." She looks down and sighs. It was such a big decision for her that she couldn't even decide what she really wanted. "Besides, you don't want to stay in here for a long time now do you?"
He had a point. It was obvious to Z that he has already made up his mind although he didn't exactly confirm it just yet. "Can we think this first?" She turns to Commander Cruger for more time.
"Sure," after a few seconds Comander Cruger grunted and says, "times up." His eyes darted between the two. "What's your decision?"
A couple of hours have passed as Sky Tate barged inside the common room where he found the two people he wanted to see: Bridge and Syd. They broke off in laughter and turn their gazes over to him.
"Did you hear!" There was frustration in his voice as Cadet Carson and Drew exchange questioning looks. "Jack Landors and Z Delgado are part of B-Squad now! They're now SPD!" He exclaims angrily. "I can't believe it!"
"Yeah, isn't that great!"
He furrowed his eyebrows at the both of them. "What do you mean this is great? I hope you're being sarcastic."
"We're not."
"You do realize that we've been training for years and it took hard work and dedication to get to where we are right now?"
"Yeah so?"
"So!" Sky couldn't believe they were taking it so well. "It took us years, but Cruger just let them in. I mean literally let them in!"
"They're really good, Sky!" Syd retorts as he turned his head over to the blonde. "They fight like they've been trained for years!"
"So what? Command Cruger shouldn't just let them in without proper training in the academy."
"Well he's the boss so we can't do anything about it." Bridge informs him. "Besides, that gives you a chance to spend time with Z."
"That doesn't matter." Bridge and Syd exchange looks, surprise with their friend's response.
"I think having Z around is a good thing." Syd thought. "I mean…whenever she's around you're obviously not the arrogant, pigheaded, selfish Sky we used to know." He shot his female friend a deadly look. It appears obvious to him that Syd is acting rather bitter after their previous conversation. "No offense or anything, Sky."
"Thanks," he muttered bitterly when suddenly the emergency alarm went off. Sky, Bridge, and Syd all looked at each other as they began running towards the control center. Once they got there, Jack and Z were already in there taking orders from the Commander.
"Great, you're all here." Kat Manx begins walking over to the computers. "There are Krybots attacking the city."
Their eyes were fixed on the monitor as horror crossed their faces.
"Go, rangers." There was urgency in Commander Cruger's voice. "We can't waste anymore time. We have to make sure the people stay out of harms way."
They all nodded. "Yes, sir." But before they reached the door, Commander Cruger stops them.
"Not so fast, Cadet Tate." They all turned around and faced the guy who tried to get away and join them in battle. "You're still suspended."
"But--"
"Don't question my order, Sky! You don't make the choices around here, I do!" Cadet Tate looks down and sighs. "Go on." Z bit her lip looking at Sky as she reluctantly follows the other cadets out the door.
Meanwhile Commander Cruger, Kat Manx, and Sky stayed inside the control center watching the action from the monitor. Jack, Bridge, Z, and Syd still in their civilian form had the upper hand as they continue fighting the Krybots with no problems. Sky watches Jack and Z carefully observing their fighting skills and the way they worked together. It amazed him how their skills almost exceeded theirs—it was as though they've been training as much as they have.
"Oh no, Z!" Sky watches on in horror as Z went flying in the air and towards the ground. They were now being outnumbered as more Krybots appeared out of nowhere.
"They're tough, bro." Z grunted in pain as Jack helps his friend rise to her their feet. Bridge and Syd joins them.
"Hey, you're alright?" Syd asks worriedly.
"Yeah, I think so." Z shook her head from the fall. "Thanks."
"I think it's time to morph." Bridge suggested as they get into their fighting stance.
Jack, Z, and Syd exchange looks and nodded in agreement. "I'm with yah." Z takes out her morpher. "Time for plan B. Ready, rangers?"
"Ready!"
"SPD, Emergency!" They chorused as they suited up in their ranger suits. Sky watches on as his eyes slowly widen. He couldn't believe what he was seeing as Jack and Z observed their ranger suits.
"Whoa, this is so awesome!" Jack exclaims as Bridge and Syd looked at each other in disbelief.
"Totally!" Z added. "I can so get use to this."
"No way!" The SPD green ranger retorts. "You can't be the red ranger…"
"And why not?"
Sky's mouth fell open as he watches on in disbelief. "No way," he breathed heavily, "that can't be." He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't just seeing things. But as he opens them once again, Sky couldn't believe it was real.What he wanted more than anything was taken by someone else. "This can't be happening..." he turns his gaze over to Commander Cruger, "Z is the new red ranger?"
A/N: Don't forget to review please! Hopefully it's getting really interesting...
