Inside a office in the SPD headquarters, Jj sat at a desk and gazed idly out the window. The view wasn't spectacular, all he could see was part of the car park and one of the other building's in the complex but the red ranger wasn't too focused on the scenery.
It had been a long and uncomfortable night for Jj. All of the infected rangers had woken up at some point during the night. Some of them had been more lucid than others, Lina had managed a full conversation but Bridge only spluttered incoherently before lapsing back into unconsciousness. Around 4am everything was silent again inside the SPD base but that worried Jj more than the intermittent chatter. Every half an hour he nervously checked on everyone just in case something was catastrophically wrong.
The green ranger was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear the door to the office open. Dr Kat Manx stepped inside and instantly spotted the look of apprehension on the green ranger's face. Dr Manx walked quietly up to her desk and placed a large takeaway coffee on the surface. The noise snapped Jj's attention back to the present and he nearly fell out of the chair, "Dr Manx, you startled me", the green ranger gasped.
"My apologies Jj", she replied, "I thought you could do with this", she tapped the coffee, "it doesn't look like you've had much sleep".
"That's an understatement", Jj replied and took a long drag from the cup, "you remembered my favourite".
"Give me some credit", Kat smiled before pausing for a moment, her face turned a little more serious, "the lab has come back with their analysis".
Jj frowned as he sensed the change in the cat scientist tone, "Is it serious?"
"The truth is that we don't know", Dr Manx turned on the large television screen that was mounted on the wall and some of the data from the tests was displayed.
Before the conversation could continue, the intercom in the office buzzed, "I thought I told you not to disturb me Boom", Dr Manx said to her assistant.
"I'm sorry Dr Manx but I thought you'd want to see the latest news broadcast", Kirsten replied.
The SPD head scientist grabbed a remote control and switched the television to a national news station, "You join us live in Newtech City at the scene of some kind of biological attack on the citizens of the city", the news reporter began. "All of the victims have been rendered unconscious and are suffering from some kind of fever. The other symptoms of this disease include profuse sweating and a blotchy red mark on the neck".
"A alien?" Jj asked.
"I guess so", Dr Manx replied, p
"SPD attended the scene but they were too late to prevent the infection", the news reporter continued. "A spokesman for the SPD stated that the disease is not airborne and you can only be infected through direct contact with the primary carrier. They do advise that all citizens remain indoors until the crisis has passed. We will update you once we have more information but until then this is Caitlin Cornell for NBC News".
Dr Max buzzed Boom back on the intercom, "Boom, get whoever this spoke person is here right meow". The office door burst open and the aforementioned spokesman aka the Shadow Ranger strode into the room, "Nevermind he's here now".
"And he doesn't know how to knock either", Jj snarked.
Doggie gave Dr Manx a nod, "Dr Manx ", he said and looked over at the green ranger, "Officer Oliver"
"Of course", Dr Manx began, "I assume you have something to do with this".
"Yes Sir", the Shadow Ranger began, "all of the infected citizens have been attacked by a mutant called Venomark. Unfortunately myself and the other SPD officers couldn't prevent a widespread infection but they were able to repel the threat".
"Any casualties?" Dr. manx asked.
"Ten have been infected by Venomark, they've been transported straight to Newtech General", Doggie stated.
"Wait a sec", Jj held up his hands, "aren't you like the head of all SPD?"
"I am" Doggie smirked, "I was already on Earth on SPD business and when i heard the call I stepped in ".
" Thanks Doggie", Dr Manx cut in front of the inevitable argument, "anything else to report".
Doggie nodded, "I was about to engage Venomark when Ransik showed up. I couldn't believe it but he then started fighting the mutant".
"Ransik fought his own guy?" Jj asked, "any idea why?"
"Not a clue but Ransik suffered some kind of medical seizure that was cured by this", Doggie reached into his uniform and pulled out a small phial with a blue liquid in the bottom. "If I was to hazard a guess, I think that Ransik and this Venomark character have some kind of history".
Dr Manx took hold of the phial and gave it a visual once over. There was nothing remarkable about the substance, in fact it looked like ordinary water that had been dyed blue, "I'll have the boys in the lab look at this, perhaps they can come up with something".
The SPD head scientist moved towards the door but she was stopped by Jj, "Thank you Dr Manx", Dr Manx was hesitant but she nodded in agreement. She stepped through the door and closed it behind her.
"Did I interrupt something?" Doggie asked.
"I asked my Dad to help me with the others, but he said no", he tried to ignore the triumphant smirk on Doggie's face, "go on say it, I told you so".
"Oh no, I've got my entire life to throw this one back at you", Doggie chuckled.
"Yeah yeah", Jj groaned,
" Jj all that matters is B Squad gets cured from this aliens infection"
The sun was getting low in the sky but none of the scientists and researchers had left. They were under pressure to find a cure for Venomark's virus and they probably wouldn't be leaving for the rest of the night. Early analysis showed that the liquid was some kind of all purpose antidote but it was too early to tell if it would be effective. Things were so busy that Dr Manx stayed behind. Whilst the rest of her team worked on the serum, Dr Manx was in a private room working on the ranger's blood results.
She had their healthy blood results so he could differentiate between the virus and their normal DNA. She had a theory that the serum her team were working on could also be used to help the rangers but it would take a while before she would be able to confirm that.
She was about to take a break when someone walked into her room. The man was in his late forties or early fifties with greying brown hair. He was tall, skinny and dressed in a grey suit with an open collar. He wore a pair of thick framed glasses and gave Dr Manx a firm nod as a greeting, "I don't believe we've been introduced", Dr Manx stated.
"Anton Mercer", the man said stiffly, "Head of the Directors at Project Hexagon".
Dr Manx immediately got to her feet, "How did you get past security?"
"That's not important", Mercer answered, "rumour has it that you're working on the cure for this virus that infected the city".
"What of it?" Dr Manx snapped.
"Come now, no need to be so tense", Mercer smiled, "I've come to offer our assistance, I'm sure if we pool our resources we can reduce the time needed to create the antidote".
Dr Manx took a few moments to appraise this newcomer. Clearly Anton Mercer was a confident man but his voice and mannerisms reminded him of a car sales man or a lawyer. Dr Manx knew all about Hexagon, "I'm sure that you're not offering your services out of the kindness of your heart".
"Please call me Anton", the man replied smoothly, "and you insult us Dr Manx, we're here purely as humanitarians". He crossed the room and placed an arm around Dr Manx shoulder, "Although rumour has it that some of your employees is part of the latest team of rangers".
"The press is well aware of Doggie Kruger's role as the Shadow Ranger", she answered, shaking off the man's grasp in the process.
Anton Mercer smiled, "Perhaps there is a way you can help us". Dr Manx suddenly felt very uneasy, like she was about to sell her soul and the rangers, to Project Hexagon.
