In the mess hall of Grid Battleforce, Roxy was eating some oatmeal, and the whole situation could only be described as painful. It was painful because the oatmeal was not particularly good that day, it was painful because after Jason's gauntlet, which she was only minutes away from winning, earning her a hard-fought second place pretty much every inch of her was bruised, swollen and felt like it was falling apart, but most of all, it was painful because she could feel Zoey's pained gaze on her as she ate.
"You know, normally when someone stares at me this much I expect them to buy me dinner or at least a cinema ticket." Roxy commented in an off-hand way.
"Sorry." Zoey said, sucking her teeth. "For the first time I feel like I might have just dodged a bullet getting cut. Yikes!"
"Tell you what? How about I lie on the floor so you can start kicking me?" She joked casually, gesturing to the floor.
"No, I don't mean it like that, it's just...you're saying that one of the Rangers made you all fight like that?" She asked, noting the number of people around about them sporting notable injuries. The infirmary had been incredibly busy since the gauntlet, as cadets who had managed to make the cut tried to make sure they hadn't managed to survive being cut based on score, only to end up having to pull out due to injury. As unfair as it sounded on paper, they had a time-frame they were planning on keeping to and that meant if anyone wasn't fit to complete the assessment they were going to be cut. It was brutal but at least part of what they were testing was people's ability to get back up and into the fight again. "He isn't one of the ones that was evil was he?"
"I haven't checked...I don't think so." She replied, shortly before her phone buzzed. She checked it and a bright grin split her face.
"Let me guess, Ravi?" Zoey asked her.
"He says he wants to take me to the park." Roxy said excitedly. It didn't sound like much, but since the park was where they first 'met', at least as far as Ravi was aware since he was blissfully ignorant of the fact Roxy had been pursuing him for a while and had set up the whole chance meeting there, it was a special place to them. It was somewhere they always loved going, even spending St Valentine's Day there. She put her phone away. "So, what were you doing while I was getting introduced to several sets of knuckles?"
"Oh, nothing special." Zoey told her. "Just working away and..."
She saw the way Roxy was looking at her with a feigned innocence, resting her chin on her hand.
"...And you already know don't you?" Zoey asked. Roxy just nodded. "Yeah, so Nate came to the laundry and asked me to go to the woods with him."
"Mhmmmmm?" Roxy asked as Zoey thought back, smiling a little.
"It was amazing; it was just an absolutely great day!" Zoey told her. "We were out there in the woods, with all the animals, they're really wonderful, we really have a beautiful city thanks to the green-zone legislations. I think I'll probably vote for Mayor Daniels again..."
"So, you were out in the woods." Roxy interrupted her, trying to get back to the good stuff.
"Oh, we had the best time! It was amazing! He had the best food and everything!" Zoey told her. "It was just the absolute best and..."
"So, what did you get up to?" Roxy asked, cocking an eyebrow, hoping for something juicy.
"We set up his...I mean OUR devices!" Zoey replied. "I still can't believe he's given me partial credit for the invention. My name is officially on the patent for a Nate Silva creation! Isn't it great?"
"Wait...what?" Roxy asked.
"The devices. You know, the invisible fences?" Zoey asked as she saw Roxy just staring at her. "The devices that emit a sonic signal that encourages animals to keep away from the road. You don't remember me talking about it?"
"Uh...yeah, sure." Roxy answered, looking completely blank. "So, you went out with Nate for the whole day to set up some machines in the woods?"
"Yeah, and it was amazing!" Zoey squealed as she pulled up some pictures on her phone. "Thanks to these devices, there should be a lot less animals running onto the road and getting knocked down. I can't believe I got to work with Nate Silva on one of his creations!"
Just then, Zoey's phone bleeped. She'd set a reminder on it to tell her when her break was finished. She just sighed.
"Alright, I need to go. Some idiot put a pair of red boxer shorts in the morning load and unless we want a whole base full of pink uniforms, I have a lot of work to do."
As Zoey skipped away, still buoyed by her day working with her idol to head back to the laundry to ensure the entire base wasn't walking around wearing clothes that made them look like cotton candy, Roxy just blinked, before looking up at the ceiling.
"Seriously?" She asked.
In his dorm, Ravi was sitting with his books, trying to study, but he just couldn't concentrate. He'd texted Roxy to tell her that he wanted to take her to the park that night, but that was as far as his plan had progressed. He knew he had to talk to her, to make sure they discussed rule 34C and what it meant for them, but after that...he really didn't know what to say. He hadn't even figured out his own decision on the subject.
So far, he had figured out that there were four main options he could foresee out of the whole deal. The first was that he resign from the Ranger program.
He'd not only been in the military, but he'd been a fan of the Rangers since he was a little boy, and the thought of becoming a Ranger, one of the super heroes from the stories he'd loved growing up was as much something he loved as the fact it was going to be the most elite and exclusive branch of the military in the world. It was something he had wanted so badly he could taste it from the moment he'd heard about it, but he'd never factored in one thing, the fact there could be anything in his life he might want even more.
Roxy was a revelation to him; it was like waking up having been asleep for his whole life. Although they'd only been together for months, he already felt like she completed him, made him more of the kind of man he never knew he could be, never mind wanted to be his whole life. He could see a real future for them. It was difficult for him to imagine a future she wasn't a part of in some manner. He already could see himself introducing Roxy to his mother properly; he could see them getting somewhere to live together. He could even see them having a family if fate was so kind. It was a big future, and one that made his heart swell just thinking about it.
He'd already reasoned it out; he didn't NEED to be a Ranger to have a career in the military. He could always get another job on the base. Perhaps lead a squad or become a drill sergeant or something. With his credentials, he didn't have to worry about finding another job to apply for, he was pretty confident that he could walk into virtually any position on the base. Perhaps even his mother's or General Burke's job when the day came, but if he left, he could be with Roxy, even if she did become a Ranger. He'd get to guarantee he'd keep the woman he loved, and he'd serve his country. The only thing he didn't know was if Roxy would want to be a Ranger if he wasn't. Would she feel like she was rubbing his face in what could have been every time she strapped on her morpher?
Another option was that they both walked away. If they both left, then it was a complete non-issue. Ravi could still get another job to help Grid Battleforce in another way. Roxy could too if she wanted, or if she decided she was done with it, he was sure she could do pretty much anything she set her mind to. It would avoid the whole situation where she would feel like she was rubbing his face in it by being a Ranger, but it would also mean neither of them would get the position. He also had to worry about how he would feel sending others into danger.
Although he'd passed numerous exams on strategy and tactics, the one thing he could never figure out was how his mother, or General Burke or any of the other officers could send others out knowing they might not make it back. If any of the Rangers that did get sent out because he walked away paid the ultimate price would he be able to live with himself? If someone died because one of the Rangers wasn't in position or wasn't fast or strong enough to be where they needed to be would he blame himself and question if they could have been saved if he had been there?
He had, he was ashamed to admit, also considered Roxy resigning as an option, but just the thought crossing his mind made him want to retch. She'd never given him any reason to believe being a Ranger was as important to her as it was to him, but she'd gone through all the same trials he had. Hell, she had lasted in the gauntlet longer than he had. She wouldn't have gone through all that if she didn't have the passion that he had for the position would she? He also knew she would make a brilliant Ranger, and that any team would be lucky to have her. He couldn't possibly ask her to step aside so he could get the job, that was...even putting it that way sounded far too selfish to even consider. Then there was the final option...if they both became Rangers, they would have to call it off.
It killed him inside to think of asking her to break things off with him. It was literally the last thing he wanted. He did know that even if they both did join the team they'd not be Rangers forever. How long would it really last? An average tour of duty in the military lasted typically a few months. Most, unless they re-enlisted or extended their service, only signed onto the military for a couple of years at a time. If they both became Rangers, they likely wouldn't be Rangers for more than that before Grid Battleforce was looking to replace them surely right? They could both serve, do their duty to the best of their abilities and then re-visit their relationship when that was over couldn't they?
He couldn't believe he was even asking that. How did someone go up to the love of their life and ask them 'hey, do you mind if we break up for a couple of years?' Would she be able to forgive him? A lot could happen in those couple of years. Roxy was an incredible person, would she meet someone else? Someone that could give her what she needed and didn't have to wonder about choosing between duty and her?
He got onto the phone and started to book their favourite restaurant for that night. He still had no idea what he was going to say, what they could choose; he just knew that whatever decision was made they had to make it together. He owed Roxy at least the right to be involved in the decision whatever that was, and if he was going to ask her to help him make one of the most impossibly loaded decisions he had ever had to make, then at very least he would ensure he would give her the perfect night before hand.
In another part of the base, Blaze was strutting around like the cock of the walk. He'd always known that unarmed combat was his strongest area, and he was glad that he had won Jason's gauntlet and put in a good showing for himself with the review board.
The candidates were being whittled down thick and fast now, and he knew it wouldn't be long until they were making their final decision on who would be their three Rangers. There were rumours of more to come later, but like many similar projects, Grid Battleforce wanted to see what the results of its investment were before they started cranking out more Rangers. He had absolutely no idea how much all of the technology that went into creating a Ranger cost, but he'd heard rumours of everything from six to nine figures for even a single Ranger, so it was understandable they wanted to see how three worked out before they started cranking out more. For all he knew or cared they were going to end up recruiting Rangers by the dozen in years to come, but for now it was only three and he was damned if he was going to come this far only to go home now.
His parents had always taught him that failure, that coming in second, was not an option. The family had been brought up to go for the throat for so many generations, that there were rumours they'd been the ones that led the charge at Bunker Hill. Whether or not that was true, frankly even they didn't know but since the Winchesters were so rich and powerful it wasn't as though too many people dared to question them on their family history.
He came around a corner, seeing Jason and Carter discussing something while standing by the ice-cream machine in the hall. Jason just seemed to be staring at it in bemusement while Carter talked to him.
"So, I think that could be a really good assessment...oh, Hi there!" Carter greeted Blaze, quickly changing the topic when he saw him. "Um...sorry, we're just kind of surprised to see an ice-cream machine here so it's taking a while to choose. You go ahead if you want."
"Thanks." Blaze replied, stepping in. He had no interest in ice-cream, but getting close to the assessment panel was never going to be a bad thing. He'd learned from his dad long ago that it never hurt to be around the right people whenever possible. "I like a lemon sorbet after a tough workout."
"You in the gym after yesterday?" Jason asked, sounding impressed. "Big ups for the commitment."
"You know, always give it your all." Blaze agreed. "I have a karate class down at Riptide later but I guess I should have enough time for this to settle."
"Hey, when I was your age I practically lived at my local juice bar." Jason told him.
"Yeah, I like to give back when I can." Blaze told them, holding up the sorbet. "I'll catch you around."
As he walked away, Jason leaned in towards Carter.
"So, what do you think about that guy?" Jason asked him. Carter just shrugged.
"It's a little early to tell." Carter replied. "He was impressive yesterday but that doesn't mean he's got the right stuff."
"You have your doubts?" Jason asked.
"No, I'm just reserving judgement." Carter corrected him as he finally decided on a mint ice cream.
"I don't know, I kind of like the vibe I'm getting from him." Jason replied. "Confident, strong, good in a fight, guts..."
"In other words you see him as a mini-me." Carter chuckled.
"Hey, it's nothing like that!" Jason stated. "But since you ask, what would be so bad with replicating what's worked before?"
"I just think we should see how things pan out a little first before we're making a judgement call." Carter told him. "But yes, I see some of the confidence you're talking about. I just hope it doesn't make him sloppy."
"Do you think I was sloppy?" Jason asked him. Carter just sighed.
"Need I remind you that when we went on that moon mission I was the only one with the foresight to bring a blaster?" Carter asked him. Jason just laughed as he selected a plain vanilla.
"You know, some people would say bringing a weapon just showed you weren't the strongest fighter and weren't confident you could take those cogs by yourself." Jason teased him.
"You call it a lack of confidence if you like." Carter replied as he walked away. "I call it smart."
Back in her dorm room, Roxy was getting ready for her night out with Ravi. He'd texted her to tell her he was taking her to the park. He hadn't said anything else, but it didn't really matter to her. To Roxy, it was enough to be spending time with him. She did understand his reluctance to be too forthcoming about their relationship in the early days. However, she did wonder when the day would come they'd get to do normal things other couples did. She wanted to take Ravi home to meet her parents, to introduce him to the people that mattered to him, to let her dad take him golfing while he talked about what his intentions were towards her. To have her mom no doubt embarrass her by showing Ravi a books upon books of her childhood photographs while singing her praises. She wanted all of it, and as time went by she was starting to wonder if there was something more troubling him.
He'd been quiet since the assessment. With the exception of the text he'd all but avoided her, but now that he had asked her out, she was hoping that she might get to talk to him about her concerns. She wondered if maybe that was what he had in mind too. He was always full of surprises, and it felt like something he'd do to just casually bring up the idea of going public with their relationship while they were spending time in their favourite spot in the park.
She heard the door open and a weary Zoey wandered in.
"So, are we having a whole base of Pink Rangers?" She asked.
"Not anymore." Zoey groaned. "Please tell me there are toaster pockets."
"In the cupboard." Roxy told her. "Ravi should be along shortly."
"Oh, right...thanks for the warning." Zoey replied. "I'll get the earplugs for when you get back."
"That...might not be the worst idea." Roxy said with a little smirk as Zoey put some toaster pockets into the toaster. Just then, there was a knock on the door. Roxy looked to Zoey, who just rolled her eyes.
"Fine." She groaned, heading into her room. Roxy went to the door, finding Ravi standing outside. He was wearing suit pants and a dark blue shirt.
"Wow, you look great!" Roxy complimented him.
"Yeah, you do too." Ravi replied. "So, are you ready?"
"Sure I am." She replied. As they left, the toaster popped up. Zoey checked the coast was clear, before heading out and grabbing her dinner. As she was about to head to her room, she paused, before going to the cabinet and getting out a pack of earplugs.
"Don't want to forget these." She sighed. "I'm not making THAT mistake again."