Disclaimer: Power Rangers does not belong to me.

Chapter 3: The Guys on Z

"Woah, woah woah," whistled Jack when Syd emerged from her room wearing a glittery, hot pink mini-dress that hugged her body in all the right places.

"I doubt that's SPD regulation," scoffed Sky.

"Oh stop it," pouted Syd playfully, though clearly pleased at the attention she was getting.

"Woah, woah, woah!" repeated Jack, although this time in a tone of alarm when his so-to-speak sister, Z, came out wearing skin-tight leather pants and a low-cut yellow tank top.

"Hey, why does Syd get all the compliments?" complained Z.

"You look really nice, Z," offered Bridge blushing.

"Oh no, she doesn't!" disagreed Jack as he grabbed a blanket and tried to cover-up Z's showing midriff. "I know you're going to a club and all Z, but couldn't you put on something a little more? Like how about a sweatshirt and cargo pants? I mean, it's going to be really cold out there tonight and…"

"Jack!" said Z, cutting him off. "I'll be so…"

"Fine," murmured Bridge dreamily as he stared dopey-eyed at Z. He quickly cleared his throat when he realized everyone suddenly starting at him. "I mean, Z will be fine. She's old enough to decide what to wear, and personally, I think she looks fantastic."

"Thanks, Bridge!" said Z, appreciative of the support.

"But the guys will be all over you," moaned Jack like an overprotective parent.

"On second thought, maybe you should go change!" reversed Bridge quickly.

"That's it!" exclaimed Z. "Syd, come with me back to our room and let me borrow one of your purses."

"Oh, I've always waited for the day you'd ask me for fashion advice," squealed Syd in delight as they left the Common Room.

"Can you believe what Z is wearing tonight?" asked Jack in horror, turning to the other guys.

"It's awful," concurred Sky.

"Thank you!" sighed Jack, throwing his hands up in the air.

"Now wait a minute…" Bridge started to disagree, but was quickly cut off.

"It's atrocious," continued Sky.

"I completely agree," said Jack affirmatively.

"Those clothes are completely inappropriate," added Sky.

"You're practically reading my mind!" said Jack appreciatively.

"She looks like a complete slut," continued Sky.

"Ok, now wait a minute, that's gone to far!" exclaimed Jack, quickly changing his tune.

Bridge laughed hard. "So Jack," he began, trying to sound casual. "You and Z have known each other for a really long time. Have you two really never been anything more than… just friends?"

Under his friends' intensely interrogative gaze, Jack after a long silence finally cracked. "Ok!" she cried. "We kissed once after this really deep conversation between us, but it was, like, SOOO gross! I'd never want to do it again!"

"That's great!" perked up Bridge happily before realizing his companions staring at him oddly. "I mean, I'm sorry things did not work out between you."

"Don't be," reassured Jack. "What would make me happiest is seeing Z with someone who made her happy."

"Jack," pried Bridge slowly. "What would you think if I asked Z…"

"Out!" called Z from her bedroom.

"Huh?" replied Bridge, praying that Z hadn't heard him.

"Out," repeated Z obliviously as she remerged with Syd into the Common Room. "Syd and I are going out to the club now."

"Good call," agreed Sky. "You're setting a bad example for the cadets being dressed out of uniform inside the Academy."

"Thanks Sky for once again confirming for us that you are hormonally challenged," said Z sarcastically.

"Right on," laughed Syd as Sky's face turned into a scowl.

"Particularly in the testosterone area," chided Z as well.

"I have no problem getting it up!" shouted Sky indignantly, causing everyone around to stop and stare at him peculiarly.

"Now who's setting a bad example for the cadets?" smirked Z as she and Syd grabbed their jackets to leave.

"I hope some guy does steal you away at club tonight!" yelled Sky enraged as the girls exited the Common Room. "For Pete's sake," he groaned before turning to the other guys. "I don't know how you put up with her!"

"She's cute, clever, cunning, considerate," listed off Bridge eagerly. "Are there any other adjectives that begin with 'c'? Oh quick! Wait, quick doesn't start with 'c'."

"Seriously, you are just as annoying as Z is," said Sky rolling his eyes. "No wonder you have a crush on her."

"No way!" exclaimed Jack in excitement. "Bridge, is this true?"

"Well, my heart always races whenever I'm around her," started Bridge. "And my palms get all sweaty and when my palms get all sweaty then my hands start to shake and when my hands start to shake my nose twitches and when my nose twitches my feet start to smell funny and when…"

"Bridge!" shouted Sky and Jack in unison.

"Sorry," said Bridge sheepishly. "I mean, I make even more long, drawn out ramblings when Z is around. She just has that effect on me. Z's such an awesome girl that I really just want to impress her or make her laugh or just make her plain happy."

"Awww," cooed Sky sarcastically, before turning sober. "Can it Bridge before I loose my lunch."

"Now, that's something Z would say!" grinned Jack. "Maybe you and her have more in common than you care to admit, Sky?"

"Never," replied the blue ranger curtly.

"Well Bridge, as Z's honorary big brother, I give you approval to like her," said Jack satisfactorily. "Z's gone out with plenty of worse guys."

"What do you mean?" asked Bridge intrigued.

"That's another story for another day," dismissed Jack. "Right now, I want to know who Sky would hook up with if his SPD license depended upon it: Elizabeth or Sydney?"

"I'd rather make-out with you," smirked Sky.

"Gross," groaned Jack. "And completely unnecessary. Come on, Sky! Z or Syd? Who do you really think is hotter?"

"Well I don't think I can really make that assessment right now?" said Sky matter-of-factly.

"Now why?" asked Jack tiredly.

"Because there's still one girl at SPD we haven't talked about yet," said Sky as a sly smile spread across his face.

"Who?" asked Jack and Bridge together.

"Dr. Manx," answered Sky jokingly.