Author's notes: Hey, Kikos and rabid.squirrel, glad you're enjoying.

In which we get something that could pass for answers, frokm far away, in a bad light, and...not much else happens, now that I think about it...

C Squad, unsure of what to do, had ended up taking Joanne to an empty storeroom. They were gathered around the door, while she had settled herself on the floor at the very back and lowered her head onto her knees.

Kat dismissed the squad to stand guard outside and considered Joanne for a long moment. "Joanne." she said finally.

"That's me." Joanne lifted her head, watching Kat with too-bright eyes.

"Do you know who I am?"

"No."

"My name is Dr Kat Manx."

"The scientist." Joanne murmured. "I remember. We met before, I think."

"Yes." Kat agreed.

"How is Bridge?" Joanne asked, leaning back.

"Stable." Kat considered her for a moment. "You know Jack thinks you did this."

"Jack's just taking it out on me. If I wasn't here he and Sky would be at each other's throats by now."

"You're saying you had nothing to do with this?"

"That's what I'm saying." Joanne pressed her hands against the wall, levering herself up to stand.

"But you knew it would happen."

"Yeah. And I tried to warn him. Ask the Rangers, ask Jack. I tried so hard to warn him it was coming."

"How did you know?" Kat asked. Joanne shook her head, looking away, and Kat added, "You know what this looks like."

"I'm not working for Gruumm. Nor Broodwing. I don't expect you to believe it, but it's true."

"Then explain to me." Kat insisted.

"Bring Jack. And I'll explain what I can."

"Why?"

"Because Jack hates me. And he loves Bridge. So let him hear me explain, and then let him decide."

"It doesn't work that way." Kat pointed out. "Jack is a B level cadet, he doesn't get to make decisions like that."

"You know who I am." Joanne reminded her. "You were here ten years ago. Most of my story is Bridge's story and I can't tell you those parts."

Kat considered her for a long moment before abruptly turning to leave. Outside, she headed back to the infirmary, contacting Boom along the way.

Jack and Sky had been sitting in silence for some time when Kat and Boom arrived; Boom, unusually astute, just went quietly to check the readouts. Kat took Jack quietly to one side.

"She'll talk to me if you come." she explained.

"What?"

"Only then. Jack, I know who she is. But we need to find out how she knew about Bridge."

"You don't think she did it?"

"No."

Jack nodded slowly. "Tell Boom to stay with Sky, then, or get the girls back here."

"Already done." Kat promised.

"Ok then." To Sky, he added, "Sky, I gotta go do something. I won't be long."

Sky ignored him, and Jack shrugged faintly before turning to Kat. "Ok."

Joanne was sitting on the floor again when they arrived, and she didn't bother to rise. "Hi Jack."

"See they put you in the nicest room." he commented.

"Join SPD, see the world." she agreed.

"So. How'd you know?"

"Because I always know." she said, somewhat bitterly. "It…you guys have your powers because of the accident, right? The one here."

"Yeah." Jack said slowly, looking at Kat.

"I worked for Bridge's parents, Jack, I know about the accident. But you…there are other ways for people to have powers. You understand that?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know where I got mine. I've always had them, I guess, I don't remember not."

"And what are they, exactly?"

Joanne rose to her feet, eyes narrowing. "Ask me a question."

"What?"

"Something I can't possibly know. Ask me."

Jack glanced back at Kat, frowning. "A question."

"Sky's father was a Ranger." Kat said. "What color?"

"Red." Joanne answered promptly.

"What's Syd's stuffed toy called?" Jack asked.

"Peanuts."

"When's my birthday?" he added.

"You don't know. You're sharing Syd's. But you were born on August 11th."

"Huh." He took a step back, stopping beside Kat. "Right."

"I always know the truth. Always. Even if you don't know it."

"That's not even possible." Jack protested.

"Nor is phasing through things, making forcefields with your brain, duplicating yourself…want me to go on? The truth's tangible, Jack. People have fought, killed and died for it; it's brought down kings and raised beggars."

"You expect us to believe this?"

"I can't answer a question falsely. Ask me whatever you want…or use those judgment things. I know you have them." She tilted her head. "I saw Bridge for a couple of seconds three weeks ago. You know I've not seen him since. If I'd done something to him then why would I stick around?"

"That's what Sky said." Jack muttered. "All right, so who is doing it?"

"A guy Broodwing knows. It's mechanical output, it's not going to stop or ease off. Not unless you stop it."

"Where are they?" Kat asked.

Joanne shuddered. "Docks. East docks. Um…" She reeled off an address, which Kat quickly wrote down.

"Ok. You know everything?" Jack asked.

"I know what I'm asked. Or what I ask you, sometimes. Usually what I'm asked."

"Are we going to win?"

"But I can't tell the future." she added.

"Alright." Kat studied her. "You know we can't let you leave."

"Can you let me leave the storeroom? The chemical smell's giving me a headache."

"Yeah. That we can do." Jack agreed. Opening the door, he picked a C squad cadet at random and told him, "Take Joanne to guest quarters. Two of you on guard at all times and none of you talk about her, to anyone, understood?"

"Aye sir." the cadet agreed promptly, glancing at another member of the squad.

"Thank you." Joanne said gratefully, following him out. She paused in the corridor to look back, however, and asked quietly, "Can I see Bridge?"

"Not right now." Kat said. "Maybe later."

"Alright. Thank you." She followed the cadets down the hall.

"You believe her?" Jack asked, once she was out of view.

"You don't?"

"Sky was right. You do know who she is."

"Yes. We met, briefly. It was a long time ago."

Jack looked back down the corridor. "She didn't do it?"

"No. She didn't."

They'd reached the infirmary again before Kat's scans came back. Syd and Z had come back from the rec room; Z was lounging near the back of the room, and Sky and Syd sat one on each side of the bed. Boom was nowhere in sight.

"Jack." Kat said suddenly, and Jack glanced up, coming to join her at the door. "I'm getting some weird readings from the east docks."

"Weird like hiding a machine weird?"

"Maybe. Go check it out."

"Yes Ma'am. Z?" he added over his shoulder.

"You're not taking the team?" Kat asked as Z joined them.

"Taking us where?"

"Little mission. Just big enough for two." To Kat, he added, "Let them stay with Bridge. If we need backup, we'll call." Kat nodded, turning away, and Jack looked at Z. "You don't mind? I know you guys are friends, but they've known him so much longer. They're taking this pretty hard."

"It's fine." Z agreed. "What's the mission?"

Jack headed down the corridor as he answered. "There's something mechanical doing this. Kat's getting weird readings from the east docks, so we're going to check it out."

"What about Joanne?" Z asked. Jack glanced at her, and she added, "Sky told us where you went."

"Joanne didn't have anything to do with it, only that she knew it was coming." Jack said shortly.

"How did she know?"

"Beats me." Catching Z's look, he shrugged. "I don't know. She said a bunch of stuff about always knowing the truth. All that matters is Kat believed her. You Ok to drive?"

Z glanced at the Jeep, nodding. "Yeah. I'm Ok."

It was odd that Bridge was so restless, Sky thought. Usually he slept deeply and unmoving, and Sky often had to wake him in the morning. But now, even sedated, Bridge was restless, shifting and moving in his sleep.

It was almost a relief when Kat came to stand at the foot of the bed. "Rangers. Jack and Z need your help."

Sky rose to his feet, glancing back at Syd. "Syd?"

"Coming."

She didn't move, and he turned his attention back to Kat. "What's the situation?"

"They were investigating some strange readings at the docks. According to Jack, there are Krybots protecting some kind of machine. We want the machine destroyed."

"Destroyed." Sky repeated, glancing at Syd. The Pink Ranger still hadn't moved, though she was listening to them.

"We have reason to believe whatever they're protecting is what's affecting Bridge. Destroy it, and he should return to normal."

"Yes Ma'am." Sky saluted, turning to Syd again. "Syd…" he said gently.

"Coming." This time she rose, squeezing Bridge's hand once before joining Sky.

Kat headed for the guest quarters Joanne was sequestered in. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring vaguely at the nearest wall. Her current C Squad escort were sitting near the door, talking quietly and keeping an eye on her.

"Has there been any trouble?" Kat asked them. Joanne glanced up, smiling slightly, but she didn't say anything.

"No ma'am. She asked for extra blankets a while ago. We sent someone to find some for her. That's all."

"Thank you. Wait outside, please."

Joanne rose from the bed as her escort left. "Hi, Dr Manx."

"You cold?" Kat asked, frowning.

"A little. It's nothing. What brings you to my neck of the woods?"

"I thought you might like to see Bridge."

"Seriously?" Joanne said in surprise.

"The Rangers are gone to the docks. If you want to come and see him…"

"Yes please." Joanne interrupted. "Please."

"You know he's still not…"

"I know." she agreed, when Kat trailed off. "But he probably won't see me when he wakes up. I'd…yes please."

Kat smiled, turning to open the door. The cadets outside straightened to attention, and she told them, "We're going to the infirmary. Consider yourselves off duty until I notify you."

"Yes ma'am." the cadet agreed.

"Thank you." Joanne said quietly as she passed them.

"Thank them?" Kat repeated in mild surprise as they turned the corner.

"Of course. They were nice to me."

Kat halted her just outside the infirmary. "Bridge is sedated, but he's still very restless. And he looks ill. Are you ready?"

"Yes."

Joanne hissed as they entered, eyes locked on Bridge. As though forgetting Kat was there she drifted forward, leaning against the side of the bed. "Oh, Bridge." she murmured. "Look what you did."

One hand slipped up to brush against his cheek. Bridge stilled as though recognizing her, and she smiled faintly. "Bridge, can I help you?" Her head tilted to one side, and she sighed. "That's what I thought."

"No?" Kat asked, watching her.

"No. I can't help." Catching Kat's look, she added, "There's no one can do what Bridge does. No one can stop this but only him."

"But you still asked?"

"Yeah, well, hope springs eternal, and all that." She settled carefully on the side of the bed, brushing a hand through Bridge's hair. "Your hair's so short, Bridge. When did that happen? You never used to wear it short like this."

"He knows you." Kat noted.

"If he was awake he'd be ignoring me for all he was worth."

"He used to love you." Kat said softly.

"Yes, and then I betrayed him." Joanne agreed. "There's no blame on him, Kat, it's all mine. I betrayed him."

"You did the right thing."

"Try telling that to a nine year old. 'Yes, I broke my solemn promise to you, but it was the right thing to do, so it doesn't matter.'" She shook her head abruptly, pushing away from the bed. "Is there any chance I could get some food, Kat? I've not eaten in a while."

"Joanne…"

"Please." she interrupted. "If the Rangers do their job Bridge'll be waking up soon, and I shouldn't be what he sees first."

"Yeah." Kat agreed finally. "Let me call C Squad."

"Sure." Joanne settled herself beside the bed again as Kat turned to make the call.

When the C Squad leader came in, Joanne was talking quietly to Bridge, but she glanced up as soon as Kat called her name. Nodding, she squeezed his hand and rose to leave.

Bridge began moving restlessly again as soon as she was gone.