(POV Z)

The Commander's words "Bad news" struck me like a bolt of lightning.

"What kind of bad news, Sir?" I asked

"Your stepfather has returned to New Tech City"

At those words I suddenly felt lightheaded.

"I need to sit down" I said and took one of the chairs we used if we were going to spend a lot of time on the computer. "Do you think I'm in danger?"

"Yes, there is always a chance that you'll run into him, but as long as you have contact with us you'll be safe"

"I hope so"

"I know so" he was trying to reassure me, I could tell, but it wasn't helping any. I was scared that my stepfather would try to hurt me, and I felt as if I was going to faint, and I think, no, I know, he could tell

"Are you okay, cadet?" he seemed to notice that I wasn't doing very good.

"I'll be fine, sir" I started to leave

"Now, I don't think you should try to leave this room yet"

"Okay sir" I remained in my chair, I knew that the commander only wanted to help me, and I was very thankful for what he was doing for me, but it really didn't help that much.

Kat entered the command center at a hurried pace with Boom at her heels.

"Kat is something wrong?" Cruger asked

At that point I decided it was best that I left in the command center.

I got halfway down the hall to the rec. room before I ran into Bridge.

"Whoa, Z are you okay?" he asked

"Yeah, I'm okay"

"Are you sure, Z?"

"Yes, I'm fine" I lied and I think he could tell

"Z, come on, I know there is something going on, what is it?"

"My stepfather is back!" I said quickly tears building as the truth began to settle in on me. Then before I completely realized what was going on, I was being held by Bridge. He was stronger than I'd given him credit for. I hugged him and began to cry. I heard nothing from him and I knew he had realized how upset I really was

(Third Person)

Kat looked down the hallway and smiled as she saw Bridge trying his best to comfort Z. She was relieved slightly as she watched the way Bridge took care of Z.

'At least she doesn't have to face this alone' Kat thought

That evening Kat left the base to pick something up personally, when she came across Z's stepfather

"Ah, Dr. Manx" he said offensively

"What do you want?" Kat demanded

"I want Elizabeth Delgado"

"Well, Mark, you are not going to get her!"

"Big words from a scientist!"

"I may work in a lab, but that doesn't mean I can't defend myself"

Cruger watched through the satellite feed as Mark went after Dr. Manx and injured her severely.

Cruger left and stopped Mark a few feet from where Kat lay injured.

Mark took a few steps backward; knowing perfectly well that he was in trouble.

"Commander Cruger!" Mark started to run, but Jack Landers was behind him, he looked to the left and there was Bridge Carson, and to the right was Sky Tate.

"You can't mess with a ranger and actually expect to get away with it!" Jack said

"She isn't a ranger!" Mark said, referring to Kat

"Maybe not but she is still a member of the SPD family and when you mess with one of us you mess with us all!" Bridge said

"And you made the mistake of messing with two of us!" Sky added

"So prepare to go down," Jack said

"Four against one is hardly a fair fight!" Mark said

"Funny you should bring up fighting fair, when you didn't give Dr. Manx that luxury," Cruger said

"How do you know what happened in that fight?"

"I watched this fight through a satellite transmission, but I didn't need to because I know Kat, and in a fair fight Kat would have won!"

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, really… only a weak fighter resorts to cheating in order to win" Sky said

They started to arrest Mark when he attacked Bridge and used that distraction to make his escape.

To Be Continued…

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