Hey there, Chapter 3 now. Wow, this is probably the most fun to type fic I've written.
emoprincess3587: Thank you! I think Bridge will definitely need to meet himself at some point. Can you imagine the confusion?
Iron-Mantis: Thanks. :D
Kat-Ranger: Thank you!I'm glad you like. I might have to bring Pirate Kat back. She's too cool to only be in one chapter.
This chapter is for snake screamer thanks to a PM. If anyone else wants to see a particular dimension, PM me with your idea or leave a comment with your idea!
Also, thanks to Iron-Mantis for helping me decide what to make the criminal look like!
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So, it was going horribly wrong. Bridge just tried to follow along with everyone else. The six of them walked onto the stage which turned out to be a large arena. The stalls were packed and there was a huge cheer as they walked onto the stage. Bridge stood still. He didn't think he'd ever seen so many people in one place at one time.
The others were not so bothered and, as Syd walked past, she elbowed him sharply.
"Come on, Bridge." He heard her hiss.
He snapped back to reality, quickly returning to his place in the line up. Okay, what was going to happen next? As if in answer, he heard the familiar metallic ringing noise of Krybots. Great.
Tensing, he shifted into a battle stance. The others moved at the same time before forming a circle, their backs to the inside. He was delayed by a few seconds with this, feeling extremely out of touch. Surely they wouldn't be fighting in an arena with the public so close? They might get hurt…
The Krybots appeared, at the edges of the arena, walking through various gates and making their way towards them. Bridge tensed and drew his sword. The others glanced at him, he could tell, as none of them had drawn any weaponry. With a word from Cruger, the others all rushed forwards in a display of really poor tactics. Bridge was late, again, and made the whole thing look like a shambles. The crowd cheered anyway.
Reaching a first Krybot, Bridge aimed to hit it square with the sword, in a slash across the chest. The Krybot moved back.
"Hey, watch it!" The Krybot said and dusted the front of it's outfit.
"Wait, what?" Bridge replied after a moment, stopping completely.
"What planet you on, stupid? It's only a mock up. Geez, you don't have to actually attack me." The Krybot gestured to the crowd. "Just make it look good!"
"Oh." These 'oh' moments seemed to be coming thick and fast recently. He looked towards the other rangers who were 'stuck in' to the fighting… and pulling every punch. Bridge looked back to the Krybot who's body language showed a withering expression would no doubt be on his face if he didn't' have a mask on.
And so that was it for the next 20 minutes. He lightly sparred with the Krybot who seemed to be alright with it after that and after all the Krybots went off stage, the rangers lined up to bow. Bridge didn't bow, he stood there very confused.
But suddenly, there was a crack sound and a flash of light and a criminal stood with his back to the rangers. He slowly turned towards them, a single amber eye glittering in a dragonic skull. He grinned slowly and all of the rangers except Bridge shrugged. Must be a surprise from the producer, right?
"No!" Bridge exclaimed as they rushed forwards and he could do nothing but follow. This was the guy, he could feel it. Bridge drew his laser and fired several bolts from where he was. Everyone froze to look at him, the rangers from this world shocked beyond all belief. Bridge fired again and the dragon stumbled backwards.
"Get away from him! He's the real deal." Bridge threw himself forwards, holstering the blaster and drawing his sabre. He hit the dragon square across the chest, avoiding a sweep of a clawed hand.
"A real ranger here? That's not right. Grrr… I'll see you later, green ranger." And the dragon vanished, quite simply.
The crowd roared in appreciation of the wonderful show but the acting rangers immediately turned on Bridge. The green ranger backed off and realised that they were going to end up backstage. Once there, they all started talking at once, asking him questions, pointing accusations.
"Hang on a sec." Bridge said and powered down, scratching the back of his head. After this, the other rangers all removed their helmets. All looked like Bridge expected except Cruger. Cruger was human. He had a fairly pointy face, long, canine eyes and Cruger's frown but he was most definitely not a dog. Bridge sighed.
"Look guys, it's hard to explain. But that dragon type guy is a criminal okay? And I guess he's the one I'm following and I'd better get going after him so. See you later, say hi to Bridge for me." Bridge nodded and pulled off his glove, putting his hand in his pocket and drawing out the crystal.
Just as Bridge left for the next dimension, this dimension's Bridge pushed open the door and poked his head into the backstage area.
"Hi guys, sorry I'm late—" He saw their expressions. "What?"
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No one here. No one here. No one of use here.
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Bridge opened his eyes, letting the tingly feeling go before he stood. The place around him was filthy. Trash was piled high on the pavements and on the road. It was night and only one or two street lamps flickered. Bridge did a 360 degree turn to take this all in. What a change from the last world…
He started off down the street, keeping an eye out for the criminal he'd seen in the arena in… Dimension 2? Nah, that sounded rubbish. He'd have to start naming these places. Or maybe start writing down a list. He was so preoccupied, he tripped over. Looking back at what it was, he found a small pile of newspapers, pages crinkling with age. He frowned at them for a moment before picking it up and taking it with him. Spotting a trash can a little way down the street, surrounded by junk, he walked over and dumped the paper inside.
Suddenly the air was full of sirens and he froze.
"You're coming with me, criminal." Someone said behind him and he looked over his shoulder to find Broodwing standing behind him.
"Broodwing?" Bridge asked, incredulous.
"Officer Broodwing, to you." Broodwing replied. "Now this way. The Lord High Ruler wants to see all trash-law breakers personally." He had a blaster and gestured with it. Bridge wandered down the street grinning like a loon. Broodwing enforcing the law? And better yet… Broodwing someone's lackey? Brilliant. As soon as he found out who this leader was, he would hop. Easy as. Broodwing loaded him into the back of a police van (but not S.P.D., Bridge noted) and drove them away.
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The Lord High Ruler lived at the top of the garbage heap. Literally. His palace was an array of thrown out junk, not a single bit of floor or wall visible through the general crap. Bridge had to concentrate a lot not to trip, even though he tripped a few times anyway, having been distracted by something in the rubbish piles.
The throne of the Lord High Ruler was at the top of a mountain of garbage and Bridge peered up at the top of it. Seated high above him and Broodwing sat Piggy, falsely checking his finger nails. He didn't look down as he spoke.
"What is it, Broodwing?"
"Master, this human thinks he is above the trash-law."
"Whaaaaat?" Piggy sat up and stared down at Bridge who looked like his eyes might pop out of his head. "Heeey, you used to be S.P.D. didn't you? I'd recognise that uniform anywhere. But throwing trash away? I can't stand wasteful people." He stood and skidded down the pile of dirt to reach Bridge.
"Chuck him in the cells for a day, Broodwing. It'll be good for him."
Bridge gaped at Piggy now, somewhat like a fish. "You're the Lord High Ruler?!" He asked after a minute. "Piggy? Lord Piggy? How did that happen? Did Gruumm suddenly get bored? Why is Broodwing your lackey? What's going on? Seriously?" Bridge shook his head to dispel all his questions.
Piggy looked at Broodwing. "Oh. It's a nut-job. Well. Take him to the home instead then."
Bridge was staring again. "Uh. I'm not mad. Honest."
"You look it to me, S.P.D guy. See you later." Piggy waved at him and went clambering back up his mountain with the occasional cry of 'ohh! That could be useful!'
Bridge was dragged by Broodwing around the twisting corridors of the palace of dirt until they came to a thick door. Broodwing put in a number code and it opened. The bat shoved Bridge inside and shut the door again.
Looking over his shoulder, the green ranger found himself in a room with many doors coming off of it. People milled around, some sat in corners, some on chairs. Others were reading or writing or playing chess. It was all very strange.
He must have been standing there and staring for a long time because eventually, a certain recognisable person came over.
"Commander!" Bridge snapped out of his daze.
"Cadet… Carson…?!" Cruger said after a moment, eyes wide with shock. "We thought we'd lost you." He sounded genuinely relieved. "I can't believe this, Bridge. You must come with me and see everyone else."
Cruger led the way with Bridge trailing behind. Surely this wasn't his own reality in the future? He really hoped not. Maybe there was another reality where Bridge disappears for a while? That would be best.
Cruger opened a door to a small room and sitting in a corner was Kat, a straight jacket pulled tight around her shoulders and a blindfold over her eyes.
"Kat! Bridge just turned up from now where… 7 years and what are the chances of—"
"He smells wrong…" Kat hissed quietly from the corner. "Smells strange. Like the old times. He doesn't fit here at all… Doesn't fit here."
Bridge stared at her. "Uhm.. Commander? What's wrong with her?"
Cruger looked at him, smiling inanely. "Nothing Bridge, nothing at all. Nothing is ever wrong. How about you run along now?" He turned away as if forgetting Bridge was even there. Bridge backed out of the room and back into the main corridor.
Okay, everyone was now in a mental home with apparent good reason. Not the nicest of realities. And Piggy was Lord High Ruler? He shuddered lightly. Probably what had sent them off the deep end. But he had to find the crook and here was as good a place to look as any…
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I don't' know what happened with this chapter. It ran away with me, seriously! XD I hope it's alright, I can't be bothered to proof read, please read and review.