Thanks to my reviewers. Here goes some more...
SPD: Return of the Machines
Chapter 2
The coordinates referred to as the edge of N9 had a colorful haze to it, a gassy cloud serving as a travel marker of sorts to the space traveler looking to navigate to and away from the 13-planet galaxy. Stationed within naked eye view of the gas cloud were two large crafts each baring the S.P.D. badge insignia. Hundreds of docking ports dotted the exterior of the larger craft, each cranny lit like icy dots to help cadets navigate safely back on board. Each jet glided into their assigned bay to dock like bees returning to their hive, the name given by its Earthly occupants, largely due to its complex, nest-like exterior.
The ship neighboring close by was smaller in comparison, having only six docking bays. These bays were located instead near the bottom of the ship and illuminated six specific colors – red, blue, green, yellow, pink, and white. The S.W.A.T. Mega Ship prepared to receive its inhabitants as B-Squad came into close proximity. Each door slid open allowing the S.W.A.T. Flyers to dock with ease into their respective chambers.
Above the flyer bay at the hull was one man and one woman seated at the controls. Both were suited in identical S.P.D. uniforms. The drab gray and silver nylon suits were standard for non-Ranger cadets, but the two filled significant roles that a particular color could never really dignify.
"The Flyers are docked and the Rangers are on their way up," Sophie gaily reported.
"And Lieutenant Gonzalez from the Hive reports Delta Cadets are continuing to dock and not one causality is among them," Boom reported giving his partner a pleased smile.
Sophie returned the expression as the doors behind them slid open.
"Welcome back, guys," Boom said standing with Sophie to greet the B-Squad.
Four young adults entered the control room with an enervated disposition. Despite their victory, their silence made their safe return less than celebratory knowing what happened on Fernovia. The soberness they brought inside carried onto Boom and Sophie, whose smiles disappeared. And who could blame them? It was just four years ago when the Troobians made the Earth academy their personal playhouse. The process to rebuild was a time they were eager to put behind them. Now it was back at the forefronts of their minds and eyes.
Sky took a seat in the commander chair encompassed by the other four and slouched back. Bridge did the same in his, then the girls.
"Glad you guys made it back safely," was all Sophie could offer.
"Thanks," Bridge answered for the team, his eyes lowered.
Boom surveyed the officers and presented a logical question. "Where is Cadet Worthen?"
Sky's forehead creased. "Yeah. Where is he?"
Incidentally, the door slid open and in came the subject of Boom's inquiry, still fully suited in the Green Ranger costume.
"What do you think you're doing?" Sky asked growing angry as he came to face the cadet.
"Whoa, boss. I was just checking over the Flyer for any damage worth reporting to Specialist Boom. I apologize for my tardiness," Green answered.
"Let Boom worry about the Flyers. I'm talking about you still being morphed. You know the protocol, cadet!"
"Sky—" Syd began, but then was shut down by the piercing look he shot her.
"Okay! I'm sorry!" Green said crossing his left hand over the crux of the opposite wrist. "Power down."
Green power hummed its soft haze and retracted back into the Grid, revealing the civilian form within. There stood a younger male with a hard face to his captain. Sky stared harder into the hazel eyes of the cadet, a stare only the cold blue eyes of the B-Squad Red Ranger could give to make newer and older cadets alike quiver internally with fear. To add to that fear, Sky was huge. The past several years gave the 6'2 combat specialist the time to train extensively to where even his peers felt he had overdone it. Even the wardrobe department at base had to keep up, having assembled three new cadet uniforms in the past three years to accommodate his building stature.
"It's on my highest recommendation you stay out of my sight until we reach base. Is that understood?"
The slightly shorter cadet stayed mum for a moment longer before giving his response.
"Yes, sir," Cadet Worthen said crossing a bowed forearm across his chest, the standard motion one must make to acknowledge superior-ranking officers.
"Dismissed," Sky seethed.
Cadet Worthen turned and left through the same door in which he came. Z then got up from her chair and confronted the ill-tempered squad leader.
"Sky, what was that about?" the third-ranking officer asked apparently addled from his reaction.
"What do you mean, Z?" the Red officer asked anticipating the confrontation.
"Ben didn't do anything wrong. He was just being nice."
Sky shook his head disapprovingly, even grinning at the audacious statement. "Everyone here knows Ben's full of it. He was just looking for an excuse to parade around in his suit as long as he could get away with it."
"No. That's what you want to believe. You're bagging on him just because you're in a piss-ass mood. Don't go getting on someone just because you want to feel better," Z pointed in his face.
"Pardon me? And what is it that I so desperately need to feel better about?"
"Here we go again," Syd said flipping through the gossip magazine that featured her face on the cover.
"For starters," Z began. "You can't apprehend a single vessel when you're supposed to be our academy's top pilot."
"This is coming from someone who had her flyer shot down and her Delta Enforcer bent like a spoon," Sky cooed.
Boom and Sophie turned around and returned to their seats, having found the hostile exchange too uncomfortable to stand witness.
"Well go on, Z," Sky beckoned with crossing arms. "Enlighten us with what else you feel I can't do right."
"Gladly!"
"Guys!" Bridge hollered over them. "Cool it. That's enough."
"Yes, that is enough," Sky concurred with the Blue Ranger. "I'm your commanding officer, Delgado. If you're going to me address me like an E-Squad rookie, you have another thing coming, you got that?"
"Don't you dare pull rank on me! I don't care who you are. You can't just go off because you're mad at yourself!"
"I'm sure Commander Cruger will beg to differ over your objections about my leadership when we see him tomorrow in our debriefing."
"Typical – running to Doggie whenever someone won't bend your way. Do whatever makes your dick hard, Sky."
"Oh snap," Bridge muffled into his glove.
Z turned and left out the same door Ben had. Sky looked over his shoulder, feeling the eyes of the ship's other four occupants on his back.
"Do any of you have anything else to add?"
Their silence answered his question as the sullen squad captain left out the door. Syd exchanged glances with Bridge, who appeared to be struggling behind his glove.
"What?" Sydney asked.
"Did you hear what she said?" Bridge blurted. "She said—"
"I heard, Bridge," the Pink Ranger said going back to her magazine. "Grow up."
Sophie, though with her back turned from them, also rolled her eyes. Boom appeared equally amused, thus the pursed smile on his lips.
"It was kind of funny," he said sheepishly, hoping in vain to convince Sophie.
The cyborg scowled her brows at the gadget engineer and turned her focus back to the black frontier.
Further into the S.W.A.T. Mega Ship were the sleeping quarters residing on the base floor of the vessel. Much like the docking bays, each door had a color-specific luminescence denoting its Ranger assignment. Behind the green-lit door lay Cadet Benjamin Worthen with his eyes to the ceiling and his arms folded behind his head. The twenty-one year old was silent in his anger; now sans the green and silver S.P.D. jacket he previously bore. He freed one hand and ran it through his cropped brown hair trying not to let Sky's words eat at him. The attempt was futile as Ben picked up the pillow to chuck. In the same motion, the door of the quarters slid open as the pillow went flying.
"There are other ways to tell me to go away you know," Z said catching the white-sheeted object.
Ben shrugged as he sat up. "Try knocking first and then I can tell you."
"Kid, I just stood up for your dumb behind. The least you can do is let me in."
Z tossed the pillow back at Ben, which he caught and placed back behind his head. The Yellow officer came and sat at the foot of the bed and glared at her younger peer.
"Sorry," Ben grumbled rolling his eyes back up to the ceiling.
"It's fine. I'm burning just as hot," Z said managing a half-smile to help dilute her angry feelings.
"Yeah, I could hear you and Sky going at it all the way from here. What'd you say to him?"
"Not even close to what I really wanted to say. I can't wait until we get back to Earth so he and I won't have to cross paths for an entire week."
"Where are you going?" Ben asked.
"I have a week of vacation I need to use or I'm going to lose it," Z said playing with the zipper of the green S.P.D. jacket that lay beside her. "Let me ask you something."
"Alright?"
"Do you feel you're really ready for this?" Z asked changing roles from friend to C-Squad advisor.
"For B-Squad?" Ben asked uncrossing his arms, his attention now fully Z's. "Most definitely. It's been almost a solid two months standing in with you guys, the longest anyone in C-Squad has lasted as a stand-in as Green. I've done everything asked of me. I even put up with Sky's kiss my ass attitude as of late."
Z laughed. "Haven't we all? Let me ask you something else."
"Shoot."
"Did you stay morphed earlier just to keep wearing the costume or were you really checking on your Flyer?"
Ben dreaded the question, especially since it came from Z. He could play bull with Bridge, Syd and sometimes Sky, but never with Z. The Yellow officer waited for his response.
"Well," Ben began. "I—"
"Ben, oh my God. I just stood up to Sky for you, doofus."
"Green's my color and I like the costume! I wasn't bothering anyone!"
Z stood with Ben's jacket in hand. "See this? This means something, hon. I have to be able to trust you on and off the field, you understand?"
"Yeah, but—"
"No, Ben. No buts. It can't be like this. You're my boy but I'm still your advisor and it's things like this that'll cost you when the decision's finally made."
"Z, you can't! You know out of anyone on C-Squad I'm the most qualified. You've seen my scores and you saw me kicking some heavy metal ass out there today. I'm your guy."
"Yeah, but your group assessment scores still haven't been brought up to where we discussed in your last evaluation."
Ben rolled his eyes and sat back again. "Whatever. You'll be making a mistake if you go with someone else. … When are you guys deciding anyhow?"
"I don't know –- soon I'm told. That's why it's important to really watch how you handle yourself in everything. I would love to have someone like you on B-Squad, Ben. I really would. You're quick to help, you're a good shot, and yeah you kicked some heavy metal ass today, but you have to bring as much honor to the team as this jacket and badge represents," Z said tossing the article back at Ben.
The younger adult caught the jacket and looked it over, his eyes studying the dog head insignia on the right breast. Everything he worked for, everything he trained at was represented by the simple silhouette of a Syrian.
"Okay, Z … I mean Officer Delgado," Ben said pushing a wry grin onto his lips.
"Good. The sooner we get a full-time Green, the sooner we can breathe easier," Z said sitting back down on the bed, her sober resolve suddenly deflated into a shallow frown.
"What do you mean?"
Z smiled at the flood of memories involving past missions and battles. It wasn't necessarily a happy smile.
"We're tired, Ben," she said looking up at the youth with doleful brown eyes. "Five seemed to be the magic formula. Even at times we needed seven to get the job done, but as long as we had the core group together we would always turn out alright."
"But you're alright now," Ben said trying to offer some type of support, but still not understanding. "And there are field cadets – you have an entire army at your disposal."
"Hardly," Z chortled pushing back the intrusive locks of hair dangling in front of her face. "They can't always go where we go. They hardly ever do for the matter."
"Oh…"
"After we're up to full strength again, it'll only be a matter of weeks until Commander gets G.C. to get C-Squad active with morphers of their own."
"C-Squad as active Rangers? So the rumors are true then," Ben said feeling subtly elated from the news.
"Yes. Even if you don't make the final cut, I have no doubt you'll go active in C-Squad."
"Don't say that. I am going to make the final cut."
"Ben—" Z started.
"No. Hear me out," Ben interrupted. "You remember that Wednesday afternoon? It was May 7, 2025."
"2025, my first year? Oh wow. So much happened then."
"Well I remember that day fine. It was when D-Squad started to train under the guise of B-Squad. It was the day before the Delta Command Megazord first went online. Is it starting to click?"
"Oh right," Z said remembering now. "You were one cocky son of a gun. Still are."
Ben smiled.
"Mr. If Any Krybots Try to Mess with Me I'll be Ready. Please!" Z laughed heartedly. "You got your butt handed to ya! All of you did, well except for Sophie. … Those were some good times."
Z's eyes fell to the reminiscent fog clouding her mind. Her first year at S.P.D. turned her life around in the most unimaginable way. The road to something bigger ended and a new start had begun, for both her and long time friend Jack Landors. It was also the year she fell in love for the first time in her life.
"Z?" Ben asked, his volume louder than usual to gain her attention.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Ben. You were saying?" Z asked him.
"I said I've paid my dues. It's time I get to step up and become a B-Squad Power Ranger."
Z grimaced and got up from the bed. "I remember when Jack and I first came to the Earth academy. Jack and Sky were at each other's throats. I didn't realize it at first, but Sky was jealous. Bridge and Syd took to him, and the other cadets at the academy. It took a while for Sky to realize there's room for everyone. Ben, there's other people in C-Squad who are as capable of being a B-Squad Power Ranger."
Ben stayed quiet with his eyes away from the Yellow Ranger's.
"But we could use the help by having more Rangers. That's for sure," Z said heading to the door. "One moment we're on the beat for petty crooks, and then it's off to save some colony from a gang of ten-legged, ten-story tall beetles with a serious overbite. We can't continue to keep up like this."
Ben nodded in agreement. "Then I trust you'll make the right decision about the next Green Ranger."
"We will –- in time. I have to get some rest before I fall asleep standing here."
"Take it easy, boss lady."
The room sat dark, quiet as normal. That was until the sound of grinding gears filled the void and lit what was revealed to be a gigantic hangar. The steel walls were laden with purple lights coursing through the crevices in a grid-like fashion, indicating the large doors at the nose of the room were to part at any given second. Marching feet echoed throughout the hangar as the twin steel doors began to part as expected, their echoing steps soon met by the sound of whirling engines.
A large cargo vessel slowly engaged itself into the hangar, the vessel that had given the B-Squad Red Ranger the slip only hours ago. There to greet it were a small army of the robotic foot soldiers whose comrades fought to their end earlier on Fernovia. The doors of the hangar began to shut when the vessel's hatch opened and produced a flight of stairs. Four of the silver bots marched in a perfect quad-formation up the steps and entered the cargo ship. They reappeared within moments with a casket-like chamber hoisted over each of their shoulders.
"Set it down there," came an echoing voice.
The bots obeyed, and then simultaneously turned their hallow eyes whence the voice came. In the shadows of the catwalk above stood a figure, his being hidden from the minions below.
"You have done well, Cogs," the voice spoke again.
His, or rather its eyes studied the long, solid-gray case. He could hear the faint muffle come from the box and it pleased him. His cold metal shell grew hot at the thought of his long-planned conquest and activated the soft yellow lights that were his eyes. They narrowed with evil.
"It has begun."
"Yes I know. … I know. … I know! I'm sorry, Jonathan! I just don't have the time to do a taping for Good Morning, Mars! I'm very busy for the next –- forever," Syd pouted, her eyes looking up at the rec. room's wall clock and then back down at her P.D.A.'s calendar. "I have to go. I have a meeting with my commander in five. Bye."
Syd clicked the silver tab on her comm. piece and removed the tiny black device from her ear. Cupping her hands over her forehead and slouching over the P.D.A.'s screen, she silently wished she could be back on route with her tour schedule. It was foolish she thought that she could return to her other desires like music and modeling without her S.P.D. duties standing in the way again.
"Good Morning, Mars? I hate that show," Z said walking around the couch with a yellow Jell-O cup in hand. "Their on-air talent is as dry and dusty as their planet's surface."
"We're barely back on Earth for six hours and already Cruger wants to see us in the Command Center," Syd said scrolling through the appointments to never be completed.
"We're lucky we got that much time to ourselves. I got to shower and catch a nap with just enough time to enjoy this hearty nutritious lunch here," Z winked at her B-Squad partner.
"Wait a second. Shouldn't you be gone now? You have vacation scheduled."
"I had vacation scheduled. It's been canned, thanks to Cruger."
"What? He can't do that. You're entitled to it, Z."
"Not according to S.P.D. Handbook page 233 of chapter eight, section B, line four," came a familiar, grating voice in Z's ear.
Sky continued as he entered the rec. room's kitchen area. "Any cadet with scheduled vacation may have his or her time off revoked until further notice when a level five alert status is in affect."
"Thanks for sharing information no one asked for, Sky," Z said keeping her back to the B-Squad captain.
"You're welcome," Sky contemptuously answered peeling back the skin of the banana in hand.
B-Squad Power Rangers report to the Commander Center. All B-Squad Power Rangers report to the Command Center immediately, the intercom's voice called over the speaker.
"Good. Now I'm spared your's and Sky's squabbling," Syd said pocketing her P.D.A. as she hurried out the door.
Sky and Z tossed each other a look from the Pink Ranger's comment and followed out next. Sky worked on his banana on the way there, purposely allowing a good distance between himself and the Yellow officer. Syd entered the blue-lit control room first, followed by the squabblers. Bridge was already present with Ben standing beside him. The B-Squad stood in straight formation, all with hands neatly placed behind their backs. Around them worked a small crew of analysts, some alien and some human, all hurriedly assessing information concerning the fiasco on Fernovia. It was the most occupants the Command Center has seen in a long while. At the command post, a tall black-leathered chair moved steadily in clockwise rotation, revealing the 7'2 Syrian known as Anubis Doggie Cruger.
"Power Rangers," the black-cloaked figure spoke with the authoritative tone the alien's reputation was mantled on. "First and foremost, I must commend you for your tenacious performance on Fernovia. Though the carnage was grave and unfortunate, you managed to terminate all vessels in the enemy's fleet. The good news is not one fatality was reported amongst us."
"That's a relief," Sydney said relaxing her posture slightly at the news.
"The bad news is our fellow Fernovian officers and cadets are now homeless until extensive repairs can be made to their academy. I've conference-called earlier this morning with Supreme Commander Birdie and Commander Sage concerning this issue. It is S.P.D.'s commitment to those who serve the organization to provide immediate assistance if and when disaster strikes. To that end, we are assessing how to temporarily relocate Fernovian employees to our other facilities – Earth being one of them."
"I can see where this is going," Ben internally griped.
"Sir, we're more than willing to assist in the relocation efforts of the Fernovian cadets." Officer Tate said stepping forward from their formation.
"Good. We must commandeer our cargo ships to aide them in the transport of supplies and personal belongings. We will need volunteers."
"Here it comes," Ben anticipated.
"Cadet Worthen," Doggie began.
"Bingo…"
"I want you to inform your fellow C-Squad cadets to report to Delta Launch by ten o' clock tomorrow morning. You five will assist Earth-bound Fernovian cadets with the shipping of their items. You are dismissed."
"Yes, sir," Ben said shooting off a salute.
The cadet left the control room, leaving the B-Squad with Commander Cruger who waited for the doors to close shut.
"I have something to show you. Please come with me."
B-Squad exchanged looks with each other and quietly obeyed, filing out the Command Center behind Cruger. Within moments, the five found themselves in a smaller room with controls and lab tables frequently used by Dr. Manx and other personnel for projects. A being seated at the main console turned and stood. The only other remaining Syrian Isinia Cruger bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement of her husband and the B-Squad.
"I have the display module cued, Doggie," Isinia said coming together with her taller partner.
"Thank you, dear," Cruger said touching paws with his mate.
Isinia looked past the base commander to B-Squad. "It's good to see you back, Rangers. I trust all is alright?"
"Considering recent events, we're doing fine. Thank you," Sky responded for the team.
Isinia politely smiled and stepped back to let her husband do what he came to do.
"With Kat away at Galaxy Command, she left Boom and lab employees to the finishing details of Project Night S.W.A.T."
"Night S.W.A.T.?" Bridge cut in, a sense of excitement tingling over his skin.
"Yes. The project was kept under wraps for the last two years until we were certain and familiar with this developing technology. Once it was approved, Galaxy Command was handed the project under the guise of Dr. Jameson Knalk and his team of experts. Around the same time, S.P.D. bought out StarVoxx's Blue Centurion police unit and began work to reform the program as you are aware," Doggie said walking across the room to where a wall panel was slowly rotating. "With your squad's pending tour to tout the Blue Centurion Reform Program to its subscribers, S.P.D. wants to show customers it means business when it comes to the safety of their colonies. Galaxy Command wants Earth station to beta test Night S.W.A.T. technology first, meaning the four of you."
Bridge's mouth hung open on cue. Sky, Z and Syd had more sublime reactions to the news not at all visible on their faces.
"So we're getting new S.W.A.T. gear is what you're saying?" Z asked expressing a confused disposition.
"Not quite, Officer Delgado. You are getting new powers," Doggie announced having stepped aside from the now still wall panel.
Identical expressions of awe and amazement spread across the face of B-Squad. Revealed in a single glass case were five black suits, each garb with a Ranger-specific colored light spilling down the mid-section of the armored exterior. The B-Squad stepped in closer for a better look. Short tipped collars bore the S.P.D. emblem on one end and the organizational letters on the other. Directly beneath were the pectoral plates on three of the five suits. The plates were contoured and slightly elevated from the rest of the suit. The other two suits were contoured specifically for the shape of a woman's breasts. The armored gloves, like the plates, were created in the same likeness and went up to the crux of the elbow. At that crux from the back were three shallow channels guarded by a transparent cover extending from the forearm down to the hand. The channels contained three clear bands connecting vertically in one accord. Intermittently, the triad of bands would fill with a solid Ranger color, indicating its officer assignment. Bridge found the hazy hues particularly fascinating.
"What do those lights do?" the Blue officer asked pressing his finger against the glass casing.
"Those are essential to your new powers," Cruger said coming to stand beside the officer. "They contain the nerve system so to speak, each band containing microscopic computers to perform various tasks and functions. Mastering these new powers will not take long. They were carefully designed to be intuitive and better capable of enduring hits during battle."
"Less forced de-morphs I would hope," Z said, her eyes transfixed on the suit illuminating yellow power from its bands.
"Let us hope so," Doggie grinned knowing the common gripe was shared by all. "However … there is one stipulation."
B-Squad looked away from the suit display and refocused their eyes to their commander.
"Sir?" Officer Tate asked on behalf of B-Squad.
In a low growl Doggie sighed, indicating his unease with the stipulation was to share. ""These suits and powers have been given special capabilities unlike anything your current S.W.A.T. armor is capable of. Specifically, you have a special mission at hand for each tour stop."
"From the order of Supreme Commander Birdie I presume?" Sky asked with an arched eyebrow.
"As a direct and classified order from the entire Universal Delta Council," Cruger added.
"The U.D.C.? They're involved?" Bridge asked rubbing the uncertainty spiking up on the back of his neck.
"This must be huge," Z added, having also expressed her incertitude from hearing Cruger's news.
"That was my insertion as well, officers. There are a select number of S.P.D.'s clients who the council feels needs to be further – researched.
"You mean spied on?" Sydney asked.
"In looser terms, yes."
"Oh joy," Z said looking back to her power-to-be. "So we're really given these things as a cover up for some espionage gig. What a waste of time."
"And money," Syd added, equally unpleased.
"On the contrary, Rangers," Doggie said raising a paw. "These powers were created with B-Squad in mind. After our victory over the Troobian military, the U.D.C. found your squad worthy of first utilizing these unprecedented powers. This was before the fact of the buyout of the Centurion police service."
"Still," Sky interjected, apparently agreeing with Syd and Z, "This seems a little shady for S.P.D. What's going on, Commander? This isn't the Space Patrol Delta way to go behind civilians' backs."
A disillusioned growl escaped Cruger's mouth.
"I understand, Rangers, but these are your orders and I cannot change them. You will report to Delta Launch in one week, 7 A.M. sharp. Are we understood?"
The B-Squad officers exchanged reluctant nods before saluting their commander.
"Yes, sir," they answered.
Unexpectedly to Cruger and B-Squad, the doors of the lab slid open to the sound of robotic barking. In came S.P.D.'s gear-grinding pet R.I.C., the robotic interactive canine. The atamatronic animal pointed his paw to Cruger as Boom came hurrying into the room with his arms full of long-pointed cases.
"Hey, guys! Glad I found you."
"Here comes the boom," Syd snickered anticipating his fall over R.I.C. whom he did not see with the items in hand blinding his vision.
Luckily, the gadget engineer stopped short of the mechanical mutt and invited B-Squad to each take one of the black objects in his grasp.
"Wicked sweet! Scabbards!" Bridge said gladly accepting the empty case, being the fact he noticed immediately after. "With no sword?"
"Those are still be prepped by Sophie, but I wanted to find you guys and show you now the rest of your arsenal," Boom explained handing the last scabbard to Sky.
The squad captain examined the sword case and appeared pleased with its craftsmanship.
"Not that I'm complaining – these are great – but wouldn't these be a tad intrusive to carry along wherever we go? Bridge asked running a hand over the smooth sold-black exterior.
"On contraire, Blue Ran-jair. These babies effortlessly hook on to the backs of your suits. When needed, just grab and pull. You'll be able to cut into robot hyney with virtually no delay!"
"Sweetness. We'll be like the Storm Rangers!"
"Then we better trade colors, sweetie," Z said hoping Bridge wouldn't get the joke right away – which he didn't.
"I see the U.D.C. forgot one of the most important essentials to human life support," Sky commented looking back to the suit display.
"Uh… what is that?"
"BREATHING. Where are the helmets, Boom?"
"OH, right. There are no helmets."
"No helmets?" Bridge asked completely mystified by the idea.
"These suits are way beyond their time, guys," Boom said coming to stand beside the glass display. "Thanks to Omega Ranger, we were able to further our present day weaponry years ahead of their previous availability – from the future to be exact."
"So how does it work?" Syd queried.
"It's complex to explain, but just think of an invisible energy wave consuming your head whole," Boom said waving his hands randomly about his head, sending an amused look between Syd and Z over the awkward demonstration. ""This wave acts like a vent of sorts and takes in oxygen that your thermo suits store for oxygen-free space – like … like space!"
"And we're the first to test these things? This doesn't sound reassuring, Commander," Sky said expressing the collective doubt of his squad.
"I assure you, the preliminary tests from U.D.C. show all items are functional, including the oxygen agitator," Cruger explained to the officer. "Boom, please escort B-Squad to the training room I reserved in 4B. They must become familiar with the other items in their arsenal."
"Yes, sir," Boom saluted the Syrian. "Let's go guys."
B-Squad filed out the laboratory behind Boom, with R.I.C. bringing up the rear. Once the door shut, Doggie turned to his wife Isinia already knowing she had his thoughts read.
"I suppose you're already thinking of someway to intervene with U.D.C.'s mission for your Rangers?" Isinia asked, her voice filled with uneasy feelings that her husband could possibly dawn the Shadow Ranger costume once again.
"Not a plan per say. However, I will keep a close watch on the situation. I only see grave trouble ahead for Space Patrol Delta and I won't have my Rangers put their necks on the line where it's not necessary."
Isinia put her paw on Doggie's and between them shared the identical look of worry that a war was brewing. With change comes fear, and with fear – chaos. Chaos was coming.