Chapter 8: Taking a chance

Aly opened her eyes again, and smiled as the universe of constellations appeared again in front of her. She couldn't believe it when VIKI told her an observatory existed on the Ace – why incorporate something like this in a battleship, she had no idea – but she was glad she came. The sheer majesty of the galaxies was enthralling, and it served to calm her down after the tense discussions of the day.

They all knew that they did not have the luxury of time. Yet only Cody and Shawn were near enough to full recovery. Both Aly and Xadrin shared the same frustration that they would need another few days, during which Metigor could build up his army more and more, and more prisoners could be wasted away at the torture of maintaining control over other prisoners.

And there was also the knowledge that the foot soldiers they would see from now on are fellow humans – Eltareans or Earthlings or even Jen, it did not matter. They would have to do what it takes to prevent Metigor from advancing his plans further. Killing the foot soldiers would not be a viable option, and they had settled for disarming and disabling the foot soldiers. But Aly had her doubts, and she suspected that some of the others had them as well. How do you hold back in battles where you knew the other side was going for the kill? What would they do with the disarmed and knocked out prisoners, who would remain under Metigor's control when they wake up?

Nobody wanted that to happen. Their alternative was to strike first – to wait until Xadrin and Aly were ready, and infiltrate Metigor's ship, again, to evacuate the prisoners to the transport due from Eltare soon, and destroy the ship from the inside. Nobody, not even Aly, brought up the inconvenient fact that if they met Metigor, they would hardly stand a chance. Ky would certainly help, but his small fighter could only do so much.

It was a long, frustrating and exhausting afternoon. They agreed to stop the discussion when it became clear that they were going nowhere. Shawn and Aly had been close to yelling at each other again. Ky was arguing with Xadrin. Cody spent most of the time trying to keep tempers from boiling over. Aly thought that he could be the most exhausted of them all, to be honest.

Thus, she was really, really glad that VIKI told her about this place when she asked for a window with a nice view. This observatory was much, much more than that – it was a room with a rounded dome ceiling, which could be retracted to reveal a see-through dome that laid bare the universe in all its glory.

She took a deep breath, hardly believing that she was lying down among the stars. It reminded her that despite the frustrations and danger of being a Ranger, she was incredibly privileged to have a chance at something most people on Earth do not. She was so, so lucky.

The door slid open a few meters away. She did not feel the need to check who it was. It had to be one of her teammates, anyway.

Someone whistled. "Well, well, I see you've found a nice spot."

She turned her head slightly, blinking at Ky in surprise. "Ky! Are you looking for me? Do I owe you something?" She asked with a grin, wondering if she knew him well enough to tease now.

Ky raised an eyebrow. "I think you do. You owe me an apology."

Surprised by his serious face, she got up a little, bracing herself on her elbows. "For what?"

Ky plopped down to the ground next to her, crossing his legs. "For assuming that we can only talk when we owe each other something." He turned to her, and winked.

Damn, he had such a poker face. Aly chuckled after a beat, shaking her head. Her side complained just a little, and she laid back down, holding her side carefully.

Ky did not miss that. "Shouldn't you get proper rest? Especially after this afternoon."

"This," She gestured at the stars above. "Is way more relaxing. I think I'll get much better rest here."

"You like open spaces, too, don't you?"

Aly snuck a glance at him, noting his appreciative look as he looked up at the stars above. She wanted to say yes because he obviously did. But that would be untrue. "Not exactly. I like functional spaces. I like my dorm – the room I have at the university. I like the guest rooms here. Very purposeful. No wastage. No baggage."

She could feel his curious gaze on her as she continued, "But I like to be reminded of how big the universe is. To be reminded of how small and insignificant I am in the grand scheme of things. Makes it easier to push my own insecurities out of the way and focus on getting the job done."

He didn't say anything in reply. When Aly turned to him, he caught her in a gaze so intense that she could not look away. His green eyes were hard to read in the gentle light of the stars.

At last, he looked away, lying down himself so that they were now side by side. "I'm not very good at that, am I?"

If Aly were younger, she would have said yes. But she had learned the hard way that sometimes being kind was more important than being right.

"You had very bad things happen to you. My life had been pretty uneventful before this whole crazy business. You don't compare things like that."

He was silent after that, and Aly felt a little guilty that she must have reminded him of Jen and all the hard choices waiting for them. She came here to escape all that for the night, after all.

"Will you come back to Earth again, after all this is over?"

He turned to regard her. "You're assuming that everything will end well."

She shrugged. "The alternative is to assume that they won't. And why would you want to do that anyway?"

He seemed satisfied with that answer, and he turned back to regard the stars above them. "I don't know."

Her easy smile faltered. Suddenly, there was a sharp feeling of dread or disappointment or both that she could not explain. Or did not want to.

"Well," she said, perhaps a little too loudly, "That's understandable. There's nothing much on Earth for someone like you anyway. I suppose only someone who hasn't seen the rest of the universe like me—"

"That's not what I meant." He cut in quietly. "You have a beautiful planet. But it might be one where I have to fight my own sister. I don't know if this will be somewhere that I want to come back to, no matter how things turn out."

Aly hoped that her disappointment did not show. "I understand."

"But there are certainly reasons to come back."

Aly stayed very still. "Such as?"

"People I want to know better." Ky said simply. Aly made the mistake of turning to look at him, and his green eyes were open, almost eager. "People I want to spend more time with."

Her heartbeat was quickening with such embarrassing abandonment that she really hoped that Ky could not hear it, being as close as he was. "I hope that is good enough a reason."

"Would you miss me, if I didn't come back?"

Taken aback by his directness, she was speechless for a moment. Ky seemed perfectly willing to wait for her answer.

It was true that neither of them knew each other very well, and that it was not the best time to talk about these things. But she knew she felt something, and Ky was the one who reminded her that whatever feelings she had, they were valid and important.

Besides, a direct question deserved a direct answer.

"Yes." She finally said, meeting his eyes again. "I will miss you."

She saw his hand move. Slowly, as if giving her ample time to object, his hand reached out and touched her cheek tenderly.

"Then that is good enough a reason for me." He whispered, smiling tentatively.

She leaned towards his touch, mirroring his smile. Warmth had crowded out all the disappointment and dread that she had felt, and she was suddenly looking forward to whatever might come next. After, of course, the battle that awaited them.

"I wish…" she said impulsively, "I wish we had met under different circumstances. That we would have more time. I don't think this is the best time to talk about things like this." She felt his hand hesitate, so she quickly added, "Even though I want to."

"And so do I." he said, sighing. He let go and turned to see the stars again, and Aly almost regretted bringing this up. But there was no use in avoiding something inevitable.

"Would you –" she hesitated, and continued anyway as she reminded herself that she would not run away from this, "Promise me that you will find me again, after all this is over?"

He stared at her for a moment, and his hand scrambled for hers. She closed her hand around his, and felt a reassuring squeeze.

"I promise." He whispered.

The alarms stopped blaring when Xadrin was just about to reach the door of the Bridge. She grimaced, knowing that this meant Cody and Shawn had started engaging the group of foot soldiers that were detected in the park of Crystal Falls moments ago.

As the door slide open, she looked up to find Aly and Ky waiting, their grim expressions mirroring her own. Why did they even spend hours discussing next steps when the choice to act was never theirs to begin with, she could not recall now.

As she dropped down to her seat between Aly and Ky, she tried not to wince at the throbbing on her leg. VIKI had not yet cleared her for combat, even though she knew she could do it if she was morphed. Blasted timing.

"VIKI, play the battle on the main screen." She ordered, and noticed Ky glancing her way as the screen blinked to life. He looked concerned, though he kept silent.

The park appeared on screen, showing about thirty foot soldiers in the armor Aly had stolen almost four days ago from Metigor's ship. But these soldiers wore silver masks, and carried what looked like electrically charged blades.

These prisoners, she reminded herself silently. Even as the soldiers charged at the outnumbered Red and Black Rangers, each of their blows aiming for serious damage, she and the rest of the team had to keep in mind the terrible truth that lied behind those masks. These soldiers were humans. They were acting against their will.

"What do you think they want?" Aly suddenly asked. "Metigor is not among them. They abandoned their previous tactic of showing up at nighttime and trying not to get too much attention. Not that they have to keep themselves hidden, but why now?"

"Their weapons are not meant to poison more humans," Xadrin muttered, suddenly realizing why this seemed different.

"It could be a test." Ky said, and they both turned to him. He had crossed his arms, and was frowning at the screen. "My fighter's attack must have taken Metigor by surprise. Maybe he wants to find out who else is here. He must have finished repairs to his ship."

A flash on the screen caught her eye. "Cody!"

The Red Ranger rolled out from the smoke of the small explosion, seemingly unharmed as he went on to attack another soldier. Xadrin let out a breath she did not know she was holding, her fist unclenching a little. She realized suddenly that she had been paying closer attention to Cody than Shawn, who was struggling just as badly against the onslaught of attacks. Frowning, she pushed the thought aside and tried to see the battle impartially as she ought to.

Next to her, Aly stood up. "I'm going to help."

"No." Ky rejected loudly even as Xadrin opened her mouth to, "You're not. You haven't recovered enough."

"I will go," Xadrin declared, standing up.

Aly turned to her sharply. "You're in a worse shape – you are disadvantaged in hand-to-hand combat."

"And you are not at full strength with your injury." Xadrin retorted.

"At least my mobility is not affected."

Xadrin slammed her fist on the console, "This is ridiculous. We don't have time—"

"I'll go," Ky suddenly said. Both Xadrin and Aly snapped to him, shocked. "I can help — don't look at me like that. I trained with you for years, Xadrin."

Xadrin shut up. Why didn't she think of this before?

"But you're not a Ranger," Aly protested, she had gone around her seat to stand in front of Ky, as if blocking his exit. "Even if you have training, you won't last long fighting them-"

"She's right," Xadrin said slowly, "You're not a Ranger."

Ky rolled his eyes impatiently. "I don't care. I'm not going to just sit here and watch the two of you risk your lives –"

"Would you take a morpher?" Xadrin asked, "There are two more on this ship."

Ky's eyes were wide. Xadrin thought she could see the struggle in his eyes. He had, after all, spent the past few years rejecting everything that had any links to Rangers. But that was before.

"I don't –" Ky started, paused, and tried again, "I don't know if I deserve it."

Xadrin got around her seat and made her way to the secret compartment at the back of the bridge. "It doesn't matter. The Power will decide if you are deserving."

She grabbed the box that held the two remaining morphers, and walked back to Ky, opening it in front of him. "I think you do. If you insist on going into battle, then please do me a favor and give it a try."

Ky's eyes were a little too bright as he stared at her. "I will."

He took one and fastened it around his wrist. With one last look at the Xadrin and Aly, he activated it.

There was a white flash much like her own morph, and Xadrin widened her eyes as the flash disappeared, leaving a fully morphed Silver Ranger in its wake.

Aly gasped beside her. Xadrin only smiled, knowing that Ky could do it. The color was the only surprising thing – he had been in line for the Green morpher back in Eltare. But that was years ago now.

Ky stared at his own gloved hands for a second, and looked up at them. Xadrin wondered what his expression was behind that visor.

He nodded at them. "I will be back soon."

"Ky!" Aly called when he was almost at the door. He turned back. "Be careful."

He nodded once, and was gone.

Xadrin sighed, both happy for Ky and yet frustrated that she was stuck here. She turned back to the screen to watch for Ky's entrance, yet Aly's worried look caught her eye.

"Are you all right?"

Aly avoided her gaze as she went back to her seat. "I'm not the one in the battlefield."

Xadrin settled back down in her seat, noting that the Silver Ranger had charged into the battle, taking down several soldiers at once as they were caught by surprise. It seemed like the tide of the battle has turned.

She focused on Aly again, noting her stiff posture and the clenched fists against the console in front of her.

"Ky will be all right." Xadrin told her, wondering if her hunch was correct. "He was always meant to be a Ranger."

Aly met her gaze, her eyes cold. "That does not make anyone invincible. If anything, it only exposed him to more danger and risk."

Xadrin wondered if Aly realized that she was treating Ky differently than Cody and Shawn and even herself for the choice that they had all made.

"You know he stands a better chance now than before."

Aly nodded curtly. "How can I not? It's —" She suddenly gasped at the screen. "It's not a test."

Xadrin snapped back to the screen, and noticed at once the soldier Ky was facing now was not wearing a mask. The soldier had short brown hair and very familiar green eyes.

Ky froze before his sister.

Cody sent another soldier flying with his kick, and noted with grim satisfaction that as it landed, it disappeared into a grey teleportation stream. Metigor would teleport back all soldiers who were disabled in battle – no doubt so that he could reuse them again when they recover. Still, at least it solved the problem of what they would do with the soldiers when they were knocked unconscious.

He blocked another punch from his left, and swung around to avoid the swipe of another blade. He had yet to know what those electrically charged blades do exactly, but from the way it caused a small explosion when he knocked two of them together just now, he would much rather not find out.

A muted chime was the only warning he had before Xadrin's worried voice appeared in his head. "Cody, Shawn, Ky needs help – he's not fighting Jen."

He threw the soldier back, knocking a few more that had come rushing. There were less than ten of them now, and Cody had a second to scan the battlefield. Shawn was already heading towards the Silver Ranger, who was half crouching on the ground, his hand holding his left arm. Frowning, he dealt quickly with the soldier in front, and ran towards them. The few remaining soldiers would surely converge on them in moments, but that was a smaller problem at the moment.

He came in time to see Ky pulled Shawn back as he tried to kick Jen, and the two of them had to roll out of the way as Jen brought down her deadly blade.

"Damn it, stop pulling me back!" Shawn snapped.

"She's my sister!"

Cody fired his blaster at the two soldiers who had snuck up on them, and went over to help both of them up. Jen charged at them, and they jumped out of the way – and Cody twisted to change his momentum just in time as another blade missed him by inches.

He cursed, and fired again, throwing in another kick to make sure the soldier disappear. From the corner of his eye, he saw that both Shawn and Ky were hesitating around Jen, being pushed back by her continuous charge.

They cannot keep this up.

"Shawn, aim for her blade!" he shouted, knowing that Shawn had better aim. He dealt with the final remaining soldier, and turned just in time to see the Jen's blade flying out of her grip from a blaster shot. Still, she charged, and Shawn had to pull Ky out of the way again.

"Don't disable her!" Ky was shouting, "She'll be sent back—"

"She's not gonna stop until she defeats us!"

"Hold her!" Ky suddenly said as they duck out of another attack. Cody realized with a start what they could do. "Get her back to our ship—"

Cody ran forward, and grabbed Jen from behind. She struggled and almost threw him off, but Shawn was there, catching her arms and holding them in place.

"VIKI, teleport us to the simulation room!" He ordered, knowing that they would need the space to restrain her.

The world was washed in red, and when it reappeared, they were at the empty simulation room on the Ace. Jen stopped struggling for a moment, shocked by the transition.

"Jen." Ky said hoarsely, already unmorphed as he stepped closer.

Cody could not see Jen's face, but he saw Shawn release her arms. Tentatively, Cody loosened his grip. Jen did not move.

Cody took a step back as he heard her gasp.

"Ky…?"

Right before Ky could touch her, a red beam hit Jen – she shivered, and fell as the beam released her.

"Jen!"

Cody turned to see wall-mounted blaster returned to its place by the wall.

"Blasted!" Ky barked as he cradled his unconscious sister on the ground, "VIKI, we had her!"

"No you didn't." Xadrin's voice snapped, and Cody turned to see her strode into the room, followed by Aly. "I ordered VIKI to stun her."

"She recognized me!" Ky's voice almost broke, and Cody tried to suppress his pity for him as he unmorphed quietly. Shawn did the same a few feet away.

"For now, maybe." Xadrin's voice softened as she came to a stop in front of the group. "You saw how she was during the battle. We need to contain her before we do anything else."

Ky did not reply. He held Jen closely and tightly, showing no intention of letting go. Cody exchanged glances with Shawn, and saw his own helplessness reflected in his eyes. Xadrin clenched her fists, but she, too, said nothing.

Finally, Aly stepped forward, and crouched down next to Ky. "Come on, Ky. She is unharmed, and she is here. Now, we need to work on the next steps to make sure she is really back with us." Tentatively, she gave his shoulder a squeeze. "Do it for her."

Ky took a deep breath, and nodded. He adjusted his arms, and stood up, carrying Jen in his arms. "Where do we go?"

The brief silence that greeted his question was a reminder that none of them had planned for this to happen at all.

"There are a few containment cells." Xadrin said quietly, and Cody realized that she had been silent not because of not knowing what to say, but because of reluctance.

Ky nodded curtly, and started forward without a backward glance.