Chapter 7: A tragic loss
Bridge woke up only to find Sky in his bed. He was surprised. Sky was an early bird. The only ones who woke before Sky was Cruger and Kat. He almost every night had the night duty and on these days he would only sleep half an hour and was ready to patrol and talk off small goons or working in the command center.
Bridge went to Sky and placed his glove hand on top of his forehead. Bridge felt like his glove was melting away. Sky was having a very high temperature. He couldn't understand. Sky was never so ill. He thought the best to tell was now Kat and Cruger.
Z, Syd and Jack were amused. Sky hadn't woke up yet. They thought he was practically reading or having a talk with Bridge.
Bridge hurried to the command center. Cruger and Kat were talking to Jessica who had recovered shortly and they were getting information about the other rangers. She said that her father Rocky Santos and the other rangers were kept in other cells.
Commander Cruger and Kat were surprised to hear Commander Rocky was alive.
Bridge came in. Cruger sensed something was wrong so he dismissed Jessica and told Bridge to talk freely. Bridge couldn't talk. The only thing he said was to follow him and something was wrong with Sky.
Kat and Cruger looked at each other. The three people went towards the room Sky and Bridge shared.
Sky condition was worse from before. He was on the ground sweating like anything. Cruger and Kat were shocked to see the thermometer. It showed 105 degree Fahrenheit. Sky's medical record was absolutely clear. He was a healthy young man except for his food-consuming problem.
Kat from her newly made communicator contacted the infirmary. The infirmary team was busy so only one person could come with the stretcher. Doggie asked two cadets to help Bridge and the nurse to rush Sky to the infirmary.
Soon the rangers knew what happened to Sky and were outside the infirmary. Wes and Jen were also there.
His condition was getting worse than ever before. He was sweating like anything. The bed was getting soaked every two minutes. Bridge was the most worried with Sky's condition.
Soon the doctor's noticed a faint blue color surrounding him. He started to shout Help, I can't stand it anymore, help.
Nobody could. Sky was still unconscious but created a force field as he created force fields with his mind. Jack said he could try by using his own genetic power.
But something else happened. The force field vanished. Everyone was surprised. Sky had even stop shouting. Felix and Kat looked at each other. They knew what it meant. Kat took the stethoscopes to check for a heartbeat she found one. Then Felix checked and was left with the same result.
They understood what happened. Sky finished his last strength making the force field and shouting for help, but they had one information. Sky had an unbearable headache.
Dr. Felix told Kat that some doctor or nurse has to stay in the infirmary to keep an eye on him and control him when he started to shout again. Kat said that she would stay as Sophie had already come to earth and she and Kat's brother can handle the department for a few days.
She requested Felix to stay with Sky until she comes back from the command center.
Commander Cruger was upset. This was a battle Sky ad to fight alone and nobody could help him. He saw the rangers. The rangers were looking in the infirmary where Sky was kept.
Commander Cruger told the four rangers to go for he five miles mud course so that they can stop worrying about their friend. The rangers didn't want to leave but an order was an order.
The rangers completed the mud swamp fast and came back to the infirmary.
On the other side, Sky's condition was getting worse but after some time. He stopped sweating. He didn't show any movements at all. Both the doctors were there and tried to look for a heartbeat. They found none. They asked Bridge to come inside and look for an aura of Sky. When Bridge waved his and he found none. He said nothing and went away. Sky had passed away.
Kat came out of the infirmary. When Cruger asked what happened, Kat didn't say anything. She hung her head and tears started to fall from her green eyes.
Everybody knew what that meant. Sky was gone, gone forever.
Commander Cruger said he will return in a moment and went away from the infirmary. He just couldn't believe what they heard. Sky had died of unnatural causes.
Wes, Jen and Emily had to be given sedate to calm them down. The other tried to stop crying but just couldn't stop. Though they tried to stop crying but tears rolled down his cheek. Finally Bridge couldn't control his emotion and ran towards his apartment. Z wanted to follow him but Jack stopped her. He told her to let him have some time of his own.
Bridge was crying like a small boy had lost its favorite person in the whole world. Sky was now died. He died in front of his own eyes. The person who comforted him when he had nightmares, had problems to sleep and when he had problem with anything Sky was there to comfort him and now he was gone.
After Wes, Jen and Emily woke from the sedative Kat gave them Commander Cruger and Kat took permission from Sky's family to announce it to everyone. They simply nodded.
Half an hour later the academy turned into a haunted house. Every one was silence. Some couldn't believe Officer Tate Collins was gone forever. Now it was Bridge's turn to get a sedate. He couldn't be controlled.
Emily was devastated. She thought she might have been cursed. The curse of the orange ranger. She was first separated from her family at birth and now after she found everyone she was now separated from her brother. She thought what was the point of living such a life. She decided to commit suicide.
She went to the rooftop. She found Rheas on the rooftop. Rheas asked what was she doing here. Emily said nothing. Rheas was physic and read her mind. She was horrified. Emily was attempting suicide. She quickly contacted the command center. Cruger asked her to stop Emily.
Rheas went in the nick of time. Emily tried to push her off but Rheas was expert handling suicide cases. Soon Kat went there and Emily was taken to her apartment.
Wes and Jen were allowed to see their daughter and Kat with Rheas went away. Wes and Jen said that they already had lost one of children and don't want to lose the other one too. Emily started crying. Jen tried to comfort her daughter but she cried and couldn't stop.
Sky's body was taken to their home in the dawn. Philips started crying but soon he controlled himself.
Later that day Sky's body was in the church. The priest ended the rituals.
Commander Cruger and Kat went first-Sky you were like a son to me. We'll all miss you Sky.
Jack and Bridge were next. Man why'd you die so young, you had a perfect life to lead Jack said. Bridge couldn't say anything. Crocodile tears were running down his cheek.
Syd and Z just gazed over his dead body and went away.
Wes, Jen and Emily paid off their respects.
Soon the body was six feet below. The whole academy was present there. No body talked only the fond memories of Sky.
Schuyler Tate Collins
12.06.2005-24.04.2026
Loving friend, husband and father and a great ranger.
May the power protect you.
Nobody could understand the husband and father part but chose to remain silent.
Commander Riglo had already said to Cruger that they were needed in Domino and went away from the grave. Soon everybody started to went away.