Thanks for the replies / views, guys. Drop me a comment some time and let me know what you think.
SPD: Return of the Machines
Chapter 3
What's paradise in the eyes of one man is an undesirable, unlivable ruin to another. Ruin would hardly be the word to describe his setting for the past ten months he thought; his mind still in a fuzzy haze from his slumber. It was heaven with many trees, rivers, and happy faces. The rush of a great water fall met his ears as his eyes became fully adjusted to the sunlight spilling into the bamboo-built boat cabin. The man sat up, naked head to toe save the white sheet covering his lower half. Moving the dreadlocks out his face, he gazed to his right to the now empty space previously occupied by the most gorgeous woman he's ever met. He smiled to himself, knowing where she was. The smile was enough to forget his sore arms and chest. Small scratches and a bruise was the result of another day of hard labor without a clean shirt. Nothing a few days can't heal he thought.
"What time is it?" the dark man asked himself, his eyes turning to the sun-soaked window.
Judging by the temperature and air, noon was rapidly approaching. The man tossed back the white sheet and located the black silk shorts at the foot of the bed. He put them on and made his way to the strings of large tan beads that was the door of the cabin. He passed through as the beads stroked his muscled black skin. There she was with her back turned and body wrapped in the plain beige comforter that earlier covered both their bodies. Her eyes overlooked the many miles of river ahead.
Astonishing his heart whispered. As if she heard the man, the Indian turned to face her admirer with an equally peaceful, subtle smile. Her long black hair, previously tied in an intricate knot, was free and gently blew in the warming breeze. Their eyes met as they drew closer; her big, dark brown eyes to his love and sleep filled eyes of the same color.
"Just another ten minutes and we'll be home," she said, her lips neigh to his.
"Sounds like enough time to me," the black twenty-something said before connecting his lips to hers.
The lock was sweet but temporary as she drew back.
"You're spoiling me you know, Jack."
"How can I resist the most beautiful woman in all of India? Nahi, you're a goddess," Jack said attempting to reconnect the broken kiss, which she denied again.
"What?" Jack asked hiding his peeve.
Nahi's eyes searched Jack's as she sought the words to ease into her confession.
"You know what we're doing could have me disowned from my family, right? My sister is starting to suspect something as well," she said, her words causing Jack's hands to fall away from her hips.
"We've had this talk let's saaaay – ten times now?"
"But we've never discussed what comes with you taking my virtue, Jack."
"Taking? I exactly didn't have to—"
"Focus here," Nahi warned. "Once in town, I'm going to see a doctor. I think there's a possibility I may be … you know."
Jack knew immediately from her tone and word choice what she referring to. His eyes responded accordingly as they enlarged and looked away to the choppy river off to the side.
"Whoa," Jack managed to get out, the silence following the one-word response lingering uncomfortably.
"Are you mad?" Nahi asked, her lowered eyes peering up to Jack's.
"No, don't be silly," Jack said looking again at the woman before him. His eyes sobered quickly. "I knew what I was doing and so did you. If it happens, it happens. I'm not going anywhere. I'm not like that."
"How can I be sure? You're only here until you choose to move on to the next mission field."
"I've been for a while now. It's safe to say I've made this my field … and my home."
Jack swallowed his words, hard. He said what he long pondered concerning his living situation, and his mission more over. Leaving New Tech to explore the world brought him to places he only dreamt of as a child. Along his side was then girlfriend Ally Samuels, who at one point he considered marriage with. The relationship dissolved as quickly as it blossomed, giving Jack an important lesson on love and the pitfall of rushing into things. All wasn't lost in the confusion. An acquaintance became the friend he never wanted and inspired him to take his vision to help the poor worldwide. That same acquaintance watched the melodrama unfold from his perch on the cabin rooftop. Jack took notice of the alien's presence from the corner of his eye.
"Good morning, Piggy," Jack greeted his cohort.
The scaled reptilian, whose choice of clothing these days consisted of a pair of red surfer shorts and a bare chest with a pooka-shell necklace, nodded in return as a tire covered in green algae came up on his fish hook.
"Mmm, the delicacies of this putrid planet," Piggy said gathering the glop into his man-hooves, a portion of the mess dripping down his scaly brown torso. "Don't mind me, lovebirds. I'm in my own little world here while you have it out."
"We're not having it out," Jack said, annoyed.
"So what you're saying is … you're staying? With me here and the children in our village?"
The children Jack sighed internally. He had fallen in love with their sincere, smiling faces. Even in this day and age, poverty still has its hold on rural areas of otherwise prosperous countries like India. Depending on the area, conditions were unlivable. Education was not a given, nor was food, clothing, or shelter. Following a string of natural disasters, a small village like Rafasha could endure anything, as long as there were good people willing to help, good people like former Power Ranger Jack Landors.
The once B-Squad captain also fell in love in the more practical sense of the word. There she was wrapped in a beige comforter, the only thing standing between Jack and her God-sculpted, nude body. There wasn't an inch Jack hasn't explored of the tone, brown frame. It was only a week after their initial meeting when they first became intimate. With the hours they spent together with the children during the day and enjoying each other's company at night, it was only a matter of time the new guy in town became better familiar with his hostess.
Nahi waited for Jack's response. Nothing came, save the faint chirping of birds off in the distance.
"Fine, Jack."
An angered Nahi returned to the cabin. Jack, remaining mum, turned his gaze to the river ahead. He leaned against the wooden railing, turning his attention next to the breaking water around the boat as Nahi's question replayed in his head. India was beautiful, it was pure, untouched, blessed by nature – the complete opposite of his previous place of residence. A mental picture of the smoggy, concrete metropolis called New Tech City formed in Jack's mind. The contrast between the two worlds was stark. Crowded sidewalks and grid-locked streets sandwiched by towering glass skyscrapers was all Jack knew. There was a whole other world to be discovered and missionary work was the way there. Jack's own parents were missionaries. He remembers the stories as a kid in his pre-homeless days how his mother and father were employed as mission directors for the local Red Cross chapter in town. The charitable mentality stuck with Jack, even through the days when he needed the help the most.
Having been with S.P.D. equipped Jack to be a more efficient servant of the needy. The icing on the cake was he got to share the experience with someone he deeply cared for. In the end, that relationship did not last. Jack's love for the mission, however, did. Everyday he would think of her and S.P.D. It's not easy to get over things one truly cares for, but Jack found himself thinking of S.P.D. more than anything else. What an experience Jack mused in silence. The things he was able to do, the power he wielded when morphed, the places he traveled to – there was nothing like it that gave him the completion he long sought. Even missions did not compare.
"But I made a choice," Jack whispered, his eyes still entranced in the bubbling white cauldron of the water's breaking surface.
"What choice would that be?"
Startled, Jack jumped to find Piggy at his side. The reptilian wiped his arm across his mouth from the green goop he earlier snacked on.
"Don't do that," Jack warned.
"Why so glum, chum? Trouble in paradise?"
"You can say that."
"I'll never understand you humans. At night, you'll make enough noise to wake the jungle with your mating rituals and then by morning you'll spat and bicker like a couple of Alzarian goat dogs! Will you two make up your minds?"
Jack shook his head, having to smile at the observation only one outside the species could make.
"Piggy, if you understood the complexity of the human female mind, you'd understand."
"Oh I know plenty about their kind, and your's," Piggy said leaning against the rail with Jack. "I know mankind is privy to abandon heir responsibility if the situation calls for more than they're willing to give."
"Then spare me, Piggy. What is it you're getting at?"
"Simple. That Indian princess you're shacking up with may be carrying Jack Jr. and you're not going to hang around."
"Hold on a second. She may be pregnant, meaning she may not be. Second, what'd I tell you about eavesdropping?"
"It's only eavesdropping if you get caught?"
"No, Piggy!"
"Cut me some slack, Dreads. We're traveling at snail's pace down a river for two days with no source of entertainment but licking the slop off of trash – sub-par slop at best!"
"But what makes you think I'm leaving?"
"The fact that you didn't say so. Geesh! It's typical Earth human behavior! Your parents' abandonment has led you to treat your own relationships the same."
"Piggy, unless you want to end up bacon for my next breakfast, I suggest you shut up now."
"What'd I say!"
"You know nothing about my parents, alright? Drop it."
"It's true, isn't it though? It's how you view your relationships, with as little commitment as possible. Just enjoy the ride and leave when it's over, right?"
Jack stayed quiet. Piggy continued.
"You gave up on the orphanage to go it alone on the streets, you joined S.P.D. only to leave only after a year, then you drop Ally in half that time – if half. Now you're ready to do the same with Pocahontas here."
"Piggy, I asked you to come on this trip as a companion, not to be my personal shrink."
"Well tough! I'm bored! All this fresh air and nature can really drive someone mad! But I'll finish, Mr. Crabby Shorts. Do yourself a favor and stick around if she is with child. If she isn't, then let's split and head back to the States. S.P.D. will be waiting for you."
Jack furrowed his brows. "S.P.D.? What makes you think I'm going back there?"
"Well you have been grumbling about it in your sleep lately."
"What the hell, Piggy? You're watching me sleep, too?" Jack asked balling a fist.
"Nahi told me! I swear!" Piggy said raising his hands in defense.
Jack offensive stance digressed; his eyes cast back again to the river.
"I have been thinking about S.P.D," he admitted, reluctantly.
"And?"
"I don't know! … I don't know."
Piggy reached over and placed his paw on Jack's shoulder. "Well if things go the way I think they will, you can go back where you belong, back to S.P.D."
Jack acknowledged Piggy's words with a subtle nod. The alien left the brooding ex-Ranger to himself to think.
The silent, starry vacuum called space became disrupted as the S.P.D. ship Hive blasted full speed ahead, its course set for the planet Fernovia. In the hull of the honeycombed vessel sat five young cadets, each one whose age was no greater than the one seated center of the cockpit ring. Cadet Benjamin Worthen grimaced mentally knowing how long the flight would be. He glanced to his left, then to his right. His fellow C-Squad cadets bore the identical drab gray uniform he was now wearing. Gone was the green B-Squad officer uniform he greatly boasted of over the past two months. Returning the outfit was not a pleasurable task after learning of B-Squad's pending departure.
If they did want me as their Green Ranger, they wouldn't have had me return the uniform. … This is so bogus…
Without C-Squad's knowing, Hive was being monitored. Light years away, in the depths of a dark, cold control room, a large display panel mantled on the end wall ran a live feed of the fast-moving S.P.D. ship. Smaller monitors encompassed it, these monitors also featuring Hive in its set course to Fernovia. A being seated center watched in silence, his body hidden in the shadows, save for his boots, which the light emitting from the monitors gave obscure visibility to. His cold metallic feet shuffled slightly as another evil thought ran through and lit the triad of crystal crowns pieces atop his head.
The doors behind the seated being slid open, temporarily allowing more light into the dark quarters. The standing being also was concealed by the surrounding darkness, but its outer-shell was distinctly female. The heart-shaped hips, the Jackie O hair-do, the harp-like bow clutched in her thin, steel fingers, and glowing, soulless eyes to match. The narrowed slits watched quietly, expecting a word from her still and patient—
"Husband?" the accented voice called, her voice echoing into the room.
A moment of silence passed before her male counterpart answered.
"Yes, dear?" came his reply of the same accent, English more specifically.
"What is it you are watching?"
"I am watching Space Patrol Delta attempting to repair itself after our grand assault on Fernovia."
The female figured proceeded and came to her husband's side. She rested her bow beside the chair and rested the freed hand atop of his.
"Is something troubling you, my love?" the seated one asked.
"Not at all. Our day of reckoning is upon us. I am anything but troubled."
"Good," the husband said, pleased. "S.P.D.'s Nebula cadets have arrived on Fernovia and cadets from Earth are headed in that same direction, undoubtedly to join the relief efforts."
"As expected."
"Yes," the male said now standing. " The chess pieces are going where I calculated them to go and the pawns are in place. Our victory is at hand and S.P.D. will be none the wiser to see it coming!"
A maniacal laughter broke free from his mouth breeched the quiet air, filling the entire room. The wife, too, joined in the insanity-inspired bellowing as she raised up linked hands with her husband and celebrated in what they believed to be the second coming of the Machine Empire.
The husband lowered their coupled hands and looked to his wife.
"This time there will be no more miscalculations. Victory is ours."
In major contrast to the brewing evil far away in space, the people of New Tech City carried on as the usual afternoon would predict. The streets were alive with traffic and pedestrians making their way downtown, some homebound. A bustling street corner was alive with hip hop as a group of dancers and a boom box drew a sizable crowd. The five Nike-geared lizard humanoids back flipped in a counter-clock wise dance and then into each other, forming one incredibly-sized lizard in an eye-blink metamorphosis. Zipping by the cheering spectators came four teenagers on skateboards. Leading the pack was a boy in a baggy white shirt and blue jeans, just shy of driving age. His short red curls and freckles singled him out amongst his company, the other three being identical to one another – triplets to be precise.
"You saw that, Ty? That lizard stole your bit!" Sam hollered, his mouth wide with a grin.
"Yeah I know! He doesn't know how we Triforians do!" came the three-time spoken response from the boys in black.
With a quick leap, each Ty railed atop an empty park bench and touched back down as one whole being. Sam and Ty screeched to a stop in front of the burger joint they became solid patrons of since meeting at the academy. Going inside, they were instantly and warmly greeted by the ethnic staff behind the counter and kitchen line. As ethnic as they come, a gray rodent-like creature waltzed up to the cash register in full Phat Burger attire, his demeanor less than receptive than his peers'.
"Can I help you?" the cashier asked, dully.
"Oh no, Sam. We can't eat here!" Ty said looking to his friend. "This place has rats!"
The rodent being, name-tagged as Gary, watched apathetically at the boys laughed their heads off. Gaining control of himself, Sam stepped forward to the counter and pointed to the menu board above.
"I'll take the usual – number two, no onion, extra pickles," Sam said still enjoying the smile from the routine gag.
"And would you like to upsize that for 39 cents more today?" Gary asked, uninspired.
"Hmm…. I have to think about that," Sam said turning around. "Ty? Should I upsize?"
"Gosh I don't know, Sam. Every time we come here you don't upsize. Maybe you should consider investing the nominal surcharge to enjoy a larger portion of their Phat Fries and Phat Cola."
"Well if I did that every time, then I'd really be fat!"
Gary, privy to this part of the ordering process, waited quietly for the wasteful exchange to end.
"Being first string on S.P.D.'s new football team and being in the gym five days a week, I really don't think you'll suffer if you splurge just this one time," Ty argued.
"I guess you're right," Sam said turning back to Gary. "But then again, I'm a creature of habit. I'll have to go with a no on the upsize."
"Fine. Is that all?" Gary asked ready to conclude the first of the two unwanted orders.
"Oh I see you have a new desert on the menu," Sam said rubbing his chin as if in deep thought. "What do you think of an M&M Double Fudge Milkshake, Ty?"
"Sounds more appetizing than Phat Cola!"
"Sure does!"
Gary's left eye began to twitch, unusually so. Perhaps the weekly routine was finally wearing on the rat Sam thought.
"That'll be it, Gary," he said.
"Yo, Sam! Ain't that your boy, Sky?"
The red head turned and looked out the window where a man and his robotic canine went jogging by. R.I.C. kept a foot ahead of his master as the two headed down the slopping sidewalk. Sky, decked in the active wear designated for a Red Ranger, pulled on the black leash to tell his companion they had arrived at their destination.
"Stay here, boy," Sky said taking the leash and tying it around the closest lamppost.
R.I.C. sat as he watched the Red Ranger enter the corner side coffee shop alone. The jingle at the door caught the attention of a young twenty-something female behind the counter, plus some patrons who also recognized the man in the red shirt and black track pants.
Sky scanned the small shop and saw the friendly wave of a brunette in a white collared blouse and black pants. The Ranger made his way to the table and took the opposite seat.
"Alisha, hey. Sorry I'm running behind. I ran to get here," Sky said apologetically.
The girl shrugged as the aging sun stroked her dark Hawaiian facial features through the adjacent window.
"It's okay. I'm used to it," Alisha said offering an assured smile. "But it comes off your time you know."
"Which is perfectly fine. You've been more than gracious to allow me in your schedule."
"Enough butt kissing, Tate. Let's get down to business here," Alisha said producing a file from the briefcase seated at her feet.
Sky watched as the woman, who appeared not much older than himself, looked over the collection of reports pronged inside the manila folder. He recalled from their first meetings how bold she was with her questioning and how it scared him to have to be so brutally honest with a complete stranger. The passing months allowed the Ranger to grow more comfortable with the woman who knew almost nothing about, despite his earlier attempts.
"I have to say, Sky, I like what I'm seeing with your progress," Alisha said looking up from the folder.
With a half-smile, Sky nodded. "And?"
"And … I feel we should begin another phase to aid in your recovery."
"What? Why?"
Alisha closed the folder with a stern look. "Because I don't do quick fixes, Sky. You have issues that could potentially lead me to recommend your dismissal from Space Patrol Delta."
Sky's face grew hot at the words. Alisha continued.
"Get mad if you want. I know it's not what you want to hear. The road to recovery can be treacherous – but it doesn't have to be if you just stick to the plan I give you."
Sky leaned in and lowered his voice. "What else is there? It's been four months and we've discussed everything possibly related to my addiction. Hell, I've passed two random drug tests. What more is there?"
"Anger, Sky. You have anger issues. And we both know from what," Alisha shot back, also in hushed tones.
The Red Ranger wanted to laugh at the ridiculousness he found her statement to be. He digressed instead as the waitress from the counter approached the table.
"Can I get you anything, officer?" she asked removing a pen from the pouch of her apron, her smile and eyes solely on Sky.
"No. Thank you."
"Are you sure? It's on the house."
Alisha looked at Sky, then the waitress who was twirling a lock of hair around her finger.
"Actually, he would like what I was having," she said raising her mug. "Tall double mocha latté, skim milk, skim whip topping."
The waitress, and her deflated grin, departed from the table. Sky shot Alisha a look.
"What? You declined," she said setting her mug down. "Let's focus here. Based on my evaluation, you're still wounded and need closure fast."
"Closure? What's there to get closure over? She broke up with me and I don't care. She didn't keep her promise and that makes her a damn liar."
"Sky, listen to me. She did the right thing. If she didn't really care for you, she wouldn't have said anything. But she did."
Silent in his anger, Sky averted his eyes from Alisha's. The "psychologist" continued.
"And now that you're going on an extended trip with her present, not beginning to resolve this issue could be hazardous to your recovery, even a catalyst for a relapse to your—"
"NO. No way. My last sample proved I'm clean."
"Yes, but that was a month ago today," Alisha said reaching into her briefcase.
Her hand produced a clear and corked vile. Sky shook his head in disbelief.
"Alisha, please," he began to protest.
"Do you have something to hide, Sky?" Alisha asked setting the vile on his side of the table. "Go in the bathroom and make."
"Isn't there a legal regulation prohibiting this practice outside a licensed medical office?"
"There sure is, but then again I'm not a licensed physician or psychologist. That's why people like yourself pay me the big bucks for my private services," Alisha winked.
Sky leaned in and lowered his voice again. "You know I have enough evidence on you to shut your so-called services down, right?"
"Yet you pay for it, as do the other high profile members of this corrupted crap hole of a city we live," Alisha said leaning in to Sky's face, her voice also lowered. "I'd rethink your attempt to threaten my business before you leave Earth. I've been more than gracious to shade down the reports I hand your commander just so you can keep your badge, in case you've forgotten."
Alisha pushed the vile next to Sky's hands. "Now be a good boy and make."
Hesitant, Sky took the vile and headed in the direction of the men's room. Alisha turned in her seat to make sure he entered. He had.
If she's not going to care about you and you're not going to care about you, then who will, Tate?