Infinite Sky
By: AsTheWheelWills
Disclaimer: Not Mine! I don't want to get sued!
Warning: Syd ooc-ness. Like seriously.
Note: Yes I think Sky thinks like this.
Universe 15
Is it wrong to wish a curse on your (dead) best friend? Well how about if that friend just hit you in the hand with a blaster, just before you reached the crystal that could save your planet from destruction? Because that's what Bridge had done in the previous world. I was so close...so close! For the first time it was in my grasp, for the first time I could have gotten it. It was being kept in the base, I found out and made it up to the holding room, and my hand was mere centimetres when a burst of energy hit my out stretched palm, and Bridge wheeled into the room, blaster pointed directly at my chest. If he hadn't stood there, staring at me in surprise, and to my mind asking himself why his trusted teammate was trying to steal the crystal he was guarding, I may well have not got out of there. Luckily the machine activated and saved my ass before he could arrest me. God, I'd hate to have had to explain that one to Cruger. In the back of my mind, I knew I had left that dirty little job to my copy.
As I materialize in fifteen, my hand hurts like hell. I look at it carefully, wincing as I finger the burned skin. This was going to be an annoyance, but I ignore it as best I can. World on the line I remind myself sourly. In the newspaper, the crystal was installed in the bloody hospital.Is it wrong to curse a hospital? I wonder to myself. I definitely am considering just sitting down somewhere , and waiting out my next fifty nine minutes. But I think of the slight, tiny chance that I could take Bridge home with me. And it's like the sirens call. You just can't resist it. When there's even that small chance that I could have him back... if you've ever had someone who was close to you die you know what I mean.
So I make my way into the base. I'm as careful as ever, checking each corridor long before I go down it, taking the long way round to go anywhere, which of course the me in this universe would never do. Then suddenly two figures clad in pink and green are rushing toward me. I make to turn back and avoid them, as where there's two rangers there is more than likely three others nearby, but Syd calls out to me before I can. "Schuyler Tate!" Crap. Me number fifteen must have done something pretty bad for her to use my full name. Great, I think sarcastically, I'm going to get the blame for whatever stupid thing he did.
Syd reaches me, but before I can protest innocence to ... whatever, she takes my face in her hands and brings her lips to mine. And she kisses me! And I'm not talking a peck between close friends. I'm talking full on, lip ravishing kisses me. Okay so I'm too close a friend with my Syd for this to ever happen back home but ... not all the universes are so bad I decide in that moment. I note Bridge looking at me over her shoulder, eyebrow quirked. I'm still in shock and don't think to push her off me, but thankfully (or not. The jury in my head is out) she pulls away.
"Oh Sky baby I am so glad we caught you before you left. What are you doing going through this corridor anyway, you're supposed to be going to send the invitations, and it puts you ten minutes out of your way. How can you be so absentminded a week before our wedding? I mean seriously Sky, I love you, but sometimes your so...eugh! Anyways the tailor called and he lost the measurements for your suit so Bridge is gonna redo them for you, okay? " I can't think of what to say, but luckily, she doesn't wait for an answer.
"And I'd do them, but the appointment for the cake decor is in half an hour, and I was not about to keep Chef Delacour waiting. I mean come on the man is a genius, but he does not like time wasters, so you know I have to be there on time. And before you say anything, I can see it on your face, the answer is no. We are not moving it back. I will get married before I start showing, understand Tate." She smiles, patting her stomach " Oh and I've decided. If it's a boy, we'll call it Wes, after your dad, if it's a girl Nova. 'Kay? Good. Seeya later Schuyly-Wooley" and with that, and another kiss, this time on the cheek, she's half way down the corridor away from me again.
Cake decor? I wonder to myself. Only Syd would need to decide on the design for a cake. And then it processes in my head. Married! Me and Syd, we're not just going out, we're getting married! I never even dreamed of myself getting married, let alone to Syd. And what did she mean about getting hitched before she started showing. She can't mean... my head starts to spin slightly. There have been other universes weirder than here, but they were all a bit less personal, and certainly none involved my future son or daughter. I look at Bridge. He still has an eyebrow raised, and is, strangely grimacing.
"Schuly-Wooley?" he asks, a grin slipping into the grimace's place. "I think I'm getting a headache." I say weakly. "Hey, you're getting married to it!" Bridge laughs. "Anyway we better go to your room so I can measure you up." He says starting to move back up the corridor, me following. At least the me here isn't still in the building, as according to Syd he was away sending invites "You know I don't think I've ever seen you in a tuxedo. " he says almost to himself. "Yeah. Cause I look like an idiot in them." I reply. Bridge smiles slightly. "Don't worry, everyone will be too busy mocking at my best mans speech to care what you look like. " he shook his head, almost sadly. "But I bet you'll look awesome anyway." He smiles again. "Yeah and your speech will be the highlight of the day." I smile right back. But he avoids meeting my eye.
We slip into silence until we reach our room. "Okay so I guess you need to strip down a bit." Bridge spoke sitting on his bed. I nearly unzip my jacket before I remember the machine lies under it. Crap, what should I do now? I wonder. Bridge is looking at me expectantly. I decide to go ahead and take it off, as the beeps will warn me in time to get it back on, coming up quickly with a lie to cover it. "What's that thing?" Bridge asked poking at the machine as I lay it on the bed gently. "Helps with stress and calms me down. Just something I picked up. You know cause of the nerves." Bridge nodded, but still looked at the small black box and it's straps curiously.
Once I was down to boxers and a vest, Bridge withdrew a set of measuring needles. I shudder slightly on sight. "You don't have a measuring tape?" I ask. Measuring needles are far more exact, but unfortunately they work by sticking them into the skin, at the two points you want to measure between, body heat working as their energy to record the data. The needles aren't put in deeply either, so there is only the faintest of stings as there put in, but I've still never warmed to them. Probably never will either. "Nope just this unfortunately." I nod but shudder again as he places the first one into my shoulder.
Ten minutes later, I was getting decidedly agitated by the tiny pricks to my skin. "Bridge are you certain you know what your doing?" I ask as he places one at either side of my neck. Who needs neck measurements? "Yes. But hold still, or I might drive one in too far." His grimace is back I notice. "Bridge are you okay?" I ask, curious. He looks me in the eyes for a second, then kneels, placing one gently into my ankle. He's actually not bad at this. Then again this was judging against my mother, who may as well have hammered them in. "I'm fine." he says, clearly trying to put an end to the conversation. I decide to pursue it though.
" Come on Bridge, I've known you long enough to know when something's wrong. You know you can talk to me about whatever it is. I mean I am your best-Ow!" I cry out as he practically drives the tiny needle into my thigh. "Crist Sky, what the hell do you think is wrong with me? The person I love is getting married tomorrow and I can't- Just forget it. I'm sorry I said anything. I didn't mean to hurt you." Damn. That's all I can think. My mind keeps flashing back to number Nine. He likes me here too. God damn it. "Bridge. I didn't..." I trail off, unsure what to say. He stands up looking straight at me. "You didn't what Sky? Didn't realise? Don't give me that, you've known forever that I've liked Syd." he says. I just stop an oh from escaping my lips. Well done Tate, maybe your not as irresistible as you think.
He looks ready to hit me, but then his eyes soften. "I'm sorry Sky. I don't mean to do this to you, a week before your wedding and all. And I'm happy for you, really. I mean your practically my brother, and since you make Syd as happy, as you do, I'm happy for you both but ... it's just hard. I mean I really did like her. And when you asked me to be your best man yesterday, it was just like you were trying to torture me." Maybe that makes it a little clearer why I'm trying to get him back. With a friend like that, someone who would let you take the person they love, if it made you happy, at their own expense, how could I not try. Maybe Bridge never did anything quite as obvious as this back home, but there were little things. Little things that meant so much to me. Little things do make all the difference I guess.
"I didn't want to torture you Bridge." I say, trying to think what I would say in this position. I can't think of anything more but that seems to be enough, as a smile comes to his lips. "I know you didn't Sky. I know you wouldn't. Forgive me for laying this on you just before your wedding?" He asks. Now he's blaming himself. If someone acted like this to you, tell me straight out that you wouldn't try and save them. "If you forgive me for being blind enough not to see it in the first place." I smirk. "Deal" Bridge was suddenly on me in a hug and for once I didn't push him off.
Then the machine started to beep. I gently let go of Bridge. "What does that mean?" he quizzes. "That I should be wearing it." I lie. "Oh. Will you let me have it after the wedding, I'd love to dissect it since I haven't seen one before." I start to dress, quickly. "Maybe Bridge." I start trying to get the machine attached to me. I struggle trying to get the two straps to meet behind my back, when a gentle hand takes them from mine and slips it together. "Thanks Bridge." I put on my jacket and zip it up quickly. It can be much longer, and I don't want to disintegrate in front of him, so I head for the door quickly. "Have fun sending the invitations." Bridge calls out after me.
As I head down the hall way, I feel like for the first time, I have really accomplished something in one of these universes. Maybe the Sky here will never find out Bridge liked Syd, but I've certainly improved things for Bridge. Keeping that in had made him unhappy, and in telling me he'd relieved himself from a weight of What If? he would have carried around for the rest of his life. And I felt a lot better having done it.
Yes that is one universe taking up an entire chapter. Well really there's another in the first paragraph .This is also the longest chapter so far. I don't know why I felt the need to write it so long but I did so I hoped you liked it. And as you can see, the Syd involvement I promised. Okay so it wasn't exactly Major but can you name one other character in the story who has had more than one line? Didn't think so.
Just thought I'd add that Chapter Six is more than likely the end of the story. Unless my muse strikes or I get another good suggestion (smiles at Chylea3784's reviews.)
