Variations Of SPD
Chapter 16: The Return Of The Ninjetti
By: Pink-Green-White-4ever
Last Revised: August 2, 2006
Summary: The return home sets up some interesting events to take place.
Rating: M, for adult-themed situations.
Disclaimer: I don't own PR, Disney does
AN: I know, I know, it's been almost a month since I updated. I do apologize, since this chapter has been sitting in my notebook, finished, for nearly 2 weeks. Life's been a little hectic, especially this past weekend...don't you just love it when it's your birthday? --grins-- by the way, does anyone realize it's been a year on the 30 since I started writing SPD? How freaky is that? BV! ONE YEAR! Girl, time flies, doesn't it? This chapter is dedicated to Ms. Angela, she knows who she is...see, I told you I'd update soon.
"The white light streams down to be broken up by those human prisms into all the colors of the rainbow. Take your own color in the pattern and be just that." – Charles R Brown –
"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved." – Helen Keller –
--
"POWER RANGERS TO THE COMMAND CENTER!" Kat's voice announced over the P.A. System, sending the base into alert.
The five Rangers rushed from their rooms where they'd been resting and headed for the Command Center at breakneck speed. When they arrived, the five found Kat and Anubis arguing while Anna watched in smug satisfaction.
"She is not a Ranger! She is not to go on the battlefield, Dr. Manx! Do I make myself clear?" the great blue dog barked.
"Crystal, Commander," Kat hissed at him. She wanted Anna where she could monitor her, and having the girl in the Command Center wasn't an option. The feline scientist had her suspicions that not everything was as it appeared with the brunette cadet.
"Rangers, suit up!" Anubis ordered them. The five moved quickly, joining him in a line before his desk.
"Ready?" Aaron called.
"READY!" the others answered.
"SPD EMERGENCY!"
Instantly the six were morphed and heading out. Anubis took one of the Jeeps while the Rangers hit the access tubes to their Delta Runners.
Anna stood back and carefully monitored the situation, or tried to. Kat had already told her to stay back. 'Better watch yourself, Dr. Manx. No one's going to stand in my way, not even you!' Anna wickedly thought while glaring at Kat's back.
--
"Welcome back," Ninjor announced when the seven of them reappeared in the main room of the Temple Of Power.
"Ninjor, Dulcea said the others were in trouble," Jack started, his body tense and ready for battle.
"Vampra's sent more Tenga warriors, a new monster, and the only general he has on Earth to destroy New Tech City."
"Then we have to get home," Brian responded. The other five smiled at the White Ninja's words, knowing he seemed more at home in New Tech now than ever before.
"What about Zords?" Z asked. "The others are using the Delta Runners, and I don't think our powers are compatible with the SWAT Fliers."
Ninjor held up his hand to silence the ensuing agreements from the other Rangers. "Your Ninja Zords have already been activated, all you need to do is call them," he assured them, before continuing with a new piece of information. "You also now have the ability, morphed, to teleport anywhere you like. All you have to do is touch your morphers and think of a destination."
The six Ranges looked down at their belts, where their morphers were, in quiet shock. "What about these crystals?" Sydney wanted to know, even as she removed hers from her morpher.
"They are your link to the Great Power, and the Morphin' Grid. Never let them out of your sights."
"They're like the Power Coins?" Brian murmured his question, referring to the story he had heard from Ninjor about how the original Rangers of Earth had first become Rangers.
"Yes, but much more powerful. Should they fall into evil hands, it would spell certain death for you all," Ninjor warned them, his voice a deadly whisper. "The Crystals are far stronger than the Power Coins, but they are also far more fragile."
The six couldn't help but to nod, not one of them brave enough to say a word. "Ninjor," Syd started, reaching out to hug the blue warrior. Time was short and their friends were in trouble, they needed to get home.
"Take care, all of you; do not forget the lessons learned. If you should need me, don't be afraid to call," he told them, taking Syd's hands into his when he stepped back from their embrace.
"Just call? And you'll hear?" Z wanted to know.
"Yes. We are connected, forever, through the Power of Ninja. Good luck, Rangers, for the coming battles will not be easy, nor kind."
They nodded before grouping together. "You guys read?" Jack grinned.
"Ready!"
"BACK TO ACTION!"
--
"ALLY!" Brett called out in horror as Delta Runner Five was kicked like a soccer ball by the monster they were facing.
"Allison, come in!" Anubis called over the communications line directly into Delta Runner Five.
For several tense seconds, no response came from the Pink Ranger. When the reply came, albeit filled with static, the team sighed in minor relief. "I'm alive...pinned under...controls."
"Kat, Delta Runner Five is out of commission! We need help!" Aaron radioed back to base.
"I'm afraid we have none to send," Kat told him, hit the console beside her with her palm. "The Delta Base MegaZord is still offline and your morphers haven't been upgraded with the SWAT technology yet, so we can't access the Fliers."
"So basically we're sitting ducks?" Travis demanded to know, his voice filled with barely contained anger. "How about getting Ally out of Delta Five?"
There was some mild cursing coming from the base's communications line. The Rangers would have chuckled at Kat's colorful words as she yelled at someone but they were engaged in battle and worried about their teammate. "It's not safe for the rescue squads to go in just yet. I'm sorry."
Alana slammed her hand against the console in front of her. "Where the hell are the others? WE NEED THEM!"
"Guys! Look!" Ally's voice was stronger over the communications line she shared with the others. When the Rangers looked up, six figures were standing on the roof of a building not far away.
"No way!" Travis grinned.
The six figures stood together long enough to get the attention of the monster that was fifty stories high as well as that of the General controlling him.
"WE NEED NINJA ZORD POWER NOW!"
"NINJA TIGER ZORD!"
"NINJA PANDA ZORD!"
"NINJA PEGASUS ZORD!"
"NINJA SPHINX ZORD!"
"NINJA PHOENIX ZORD!"
"NINJA DRAGON ZORD!"
Once the call had been made, a great rumbling was heard in the distance. Look to the left of the figures, everyone saw six machines headed their way. Nodding to each other, the six figures made the super leap from the building to the zords.
Z slid into her cockpit first, marveling at the advanced technology of her zord. "Holy cow!" she grinned, reaching out to grab the controls. "Ninja Tiger Zord, online and ready to roar!"
Bridge chuckled when he heard his girlfriend and then felt his jaw go slack when he got a good look at his cockpit. It seemed to the Green Ranger as if Zord had been molded to him. "Ninja Panda Zord, systems ready to rock!"
Jack shook his head at his friends even as he slid into the cockpit of his zord. Who'd have ever thought he'd end up with a flying horse? Grinning, he hit the communications button. "Ninja Pegasus Zord is all a go, can we get this over with?" he called when he finally caught sight of Delta Runner Five.
"Ninja Sphinx Zord, online, systems are a go," Sky responded, feeling at ease as he grabbed the controls of his zord.
"Ninja Phoenix Zord, geared up to fly," Syd grinned, her Zord slicing through the afternoon sky.
"Ninja Dragon Zord chilled and ready!" Brian called, his Zord towering over everyone else's.
All six of them hit a series of buttons, allowing the computers to chime together, "MegaZord sequence activated!"
The Panda zord folded up, all four appendages slipping into place in the torso. The Tiger and Sphinx zords folded down on top of their legs, with the front legs fusing together and the back legs fusing together. The two zords attached themselves on either side of the Panda zord, forming arms. The Pegasus zord followed suit, his legs fusing together. Jack's zord locked in under the Panda, creating the waist legs of the MegaZord. The wings came off and with a burning of the propulsion thrusters, the wings attached to the back of the Panda, giving the MegaZord wings. Finally, the Phoenix folded her wings together and the belly shifted up, revealing a face, before locking down on top of the Panda zord.
"Ninja MegaZord!"
The junior A Squad watched on in shock as the sequence was finished before turning their attention to the White Dragon, which was currently folding in on itself and making minor transitions of it's forelegs and back legs, the dragons' head folding down to reveal a more human looking head. In an instant, Brian's Zord had transformed itself into its own MegaZord. "Ninja Dragon MegaZord ready for battle!"
Once the MegaZords were formed, Jack called over to Brian. "Take the Dragon Zord and see if you can help Ally while the rest of us take out this pain in the ass!" Jack commanded the younger Ranger.
"You got it!"
Within ten minutes, the Rangers had contained the Monster, now shrunk down to normal size, and Ally was being rushed back to the Academy's infirmary, thanks to Brian righting her zord, allowing the rescue squad to get in and help her.
"Welcome back, guys," Aaron greeted, his team staring at the senior A Squad in quiet shock when the two teams arrived back at the Command Center.
"Sorry we didn't get back sooner," Z told them. "Things got a little hairy for a while for us."
The four nodded. "Jack, go ahead and head to the infirmary," Anubis told the Red Ranger. Jack nodded his thanks and headed out, still morphed. "Congratulations on your successful trip."
Sky, Bridge, Z, Syd and Brian nodded their thanks and smiled. "Power down!" Sky commanded. The five did so, leaving them to face their teammates and their commanding officer.
"So?" Travis asked, curios as to what had happened to them.
"I'm the Tiger," Z proudly announced.
Bridge grinned. "The Panda."
"You already know I'm the Dragon," Brian laughed.
Syd smiled. "And you know I'm the Phoenix."
All eyes turned to Sky, who stood there staring at them, one eyebrow arched, before he let loose a smile. "The Sphinx, and Jack ended up the Pegasus."
Alana looked thoughtful for a moment. "That's weird, you all ended up with creates from mythological stories."
"The Panda and Tiger are mythological?" Aaron questioned his girlfriend, who nodded.
"In Chinese culture, yes. The Sphinx is Egyptian, the Pegasus Greek, and I believe the Dragon and Phoenix have been featured in most cultures."
"Welcome home, Rangers," Kat announced upon entering the Command Center, a smile on her face and relief in her eyes and heart at seeing her friends.
"Kat!" the newly arrived home Rangers called in greeting.
Sydney stepped forward, her hand going to Kat's forearm. "How's Ally?"
The feline scientist smiled serenely. "She's stable. She suffered a concussion, a broken wrist, and some burns. Jack and Dr. Felix are with her now. She's going to be laid up for a few days, until the bone regenerator has a chance to fix her wrist. She's also going to have to spend a few hours under the laser for the burns."
"Were the as bad as Sky's?" Syd wanted to know, remembering with startling clarity the burns Sky had suffered some months before.
"No. Her skin around her broken wrist and the area at the back of her head are tender, but her suit kept out most of the damage."
Sky reached over and took Syd's hand when a small shudder moved down his spine. "She's lucky then," he quietly commented.
"She is. Now, you all need some rest, doctor's orders."
"Dr. Manx is right. Dismissed!" Anubis barked.
The team saluted and then moved to leave the Command Center, only to be stopped at the doors. "Welcome back," a new voice sounded.
Z growled, while Bridge restrained her and Brian stepped in front of her. Syd squeezed Sky's hand a little tighter, while Sky sighed in frustration.
"Anna."
"You looked good out there," she grinned seductively at Sky, stepping toward the Blue Ranger with an obvious sway to her hips. "The Sphinx suits you, Blue Boy," she told him, running a finger down the middle of his chest before walking past him to speak with Commander Cruger.
Sky shook his head and rolled his eyes before he brought Syd's hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles before letting her tug him out of the room. "That one's cruising for a bruising, isn't she?" Alana muttered as the team exited.
--
"Jack," Ally's soft voice called when she opened her eyes and saw him sitting next to her bed, holding her hand.
"Hey," he whispered, rubbing his lips lightly against the knuckles of her uninjured hand.
"You're safe," she murmured, her eyes closing briefly with a stab of pain from her injuries.
Jack looked pained. "I am. I am so sorry I didn't get him in time to keep you from getting hurt."
Carefully, she disentangled her hand from his and cupped his cheek. "Jack, it's all part of the job description, remember?"
The Red Ranger nodded but remained silent. After only a few seconds, Jack closed his eyes and simple relished the feeling of her hand touching his face. He hadn't realized until he'd had that dream on his journey just how much she meant to him, what she meant to his sanity and his willingness to keep going.
"Jack?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you going to tell me or not?" There was amusement in her voice that warmed him.
"Pegasus."
The Red Ranger opened his eyes and found his girlfriend grinning up at him. "And the others?"
"Z's the Tiger, Bridge is the Panda, you know Syd and Brian's, and Sky ended up the Sphinx."
The Pink Ranger laughed softly. "Guess we should start calling you Fly Boy now, huh?" Jack just rolled his eyes at her.
"Visiting hours are over," Dr. Felix announced. The pair were startled but nodded.
"I'll sneak in to see you later," Jack murmured, kissing her softly on the forehead before he left the infirmary.
--
"Home sweet home," Syd sighed when she and Z plopped down on the couches in the Common Room. Bridge and Sky were over at the food synthesizer getting all of them something to eat.
"All I want is my bed, and a hot shower," Z moaned, stretching sore muscles.
"I want Sky's bed and a shared shower," Syd giggled, causing Z to wrinkle her nose.
The Yellow Ranger made a gagging sound. "Gross! Do you mind, I don't need to hear about your sexual adventures!" Z dodged the throw pillow that Syd lobbed at her. "Anyway, where's Brian?"
Sydney titled her head up and kissed Sky on the cheek when the Blue Ranger sat beside her and handed her a bowl of chicken salad. "Bed. I tucked him in about twenty minutes ago. He was too pooped to stay awake."
Z nodded and smiled her thanks at Bridge who handed her a hamburger and a basket of fries. "I can't wait to get down to the Zord bay and check out those new zords in greater detail!" Bridge gushed around a mouthful of his sandwich. Z shook her head at him, taking a bite of her dinner, while Syd arched an eyebrow and Sky just rolled his eyes. "What?"
"Bridge, how about we get some sleep first? Tomorrow, you and I'll drag Boom to the Zord bay and look at them, ok?" Sky suggested, trying to calm the Green Ranger down.
Bridge nodded enthusiastically. "I have one question," Syd started, her tone thoughtful.
"What's that?" Z wanted to know.
"If we're active Rangers again, how are we going to keep teaching?"
The others looked surprised and thoughtful at her question. After pondering that question, none of them could come up with a suitable answer.
--
The Command Center
"Well?" Viper asked over the communication channel that was open in the darkened room.
"They've returned. I believe the best time will be to strike during the next battle."
"No. Let them wait, let them get comfortable. Then we strike when they least expect it."
"Of course. Give the Master my regards. Anna out."
As Anna moved from her place at the console, a slim figure moved from the shadows, watching her with narrowed green eyes. "I knew we couldn't trust you," the figure hissed in anger. Stepping up to the console, the figure typed furiously, trying to get a trace on the line Anna had used.
"Hey Kat! There you are!" Boom called out, bounding into the room.
"What do you need, Boom?" Kat grumbled at him while she continued to type at a furious pace.
"What's wrong?" Boom asked suddenly, instantly catching on to Kat's bad mood.
"We've got a traitor in our midst and I'm trying to prove it."
Boom looked startled and sputtered, "Who'd betray SPD?"
Kat snapped her eyes to his face. "I don't have enough hard evidence to tell you that, only suspicion." Turning her gaze back to the computer, she cursed when the computer froze. "DAMN!"
"Kat?"
"Anna."
Boom nodded, realizing that Kat's naming the possible suspect didn't surprise him all that much. "So we'll start keeping our eyes on her."
"It's not just that. She worries me, in other ways."
"Syd?"
For a moment, Kat felt surprise blossom bright in her. She hadn't expected Boom to follow her line of thinking that clearly. "And Sky."
Again, the blonde haired gadget tester nodded. "So we keep our eyes on her. Carefully."
A surge of pride shot through the feline scientist. Boom had certainly grown up in the last few years, just like the Rangers. "Boom, do you feel like going undercover for a while?"
Boom grinned. "Absolutely. You know I'd do anything for the gang."
"Good. Meet me in my office in the morning. And don't tell anyone."
The blonde haired man nodded, watching a million emotions flat across Kat's face. He swallowed hard, knowing he was possibly in over his head now.
--
Sky's eyes shot open, a searing panic filling his chest. He'd dreamt Sydney had gone head to head with Anna, who'd been wielding great power. And all he'd been able to do was watch on, helpless to stop it.
"Sky?" Sydney murmured, shifting her body closer to his. Her head was on his chest, one hand curled over his heart. Her body was fit close to his, one of her legs intertwined with his.
Sky sighed in relief and kissed the top of her head, his arm tightening around her waist. A surge of desire filled him, causing his body to tighten in places, painfully reminding him that his beautiful girlfriend was sleeping with him, the thin silk of her nightgown and the cotton of his boxers the only things separating them.
"What's wrong?" Sydney's sleepy voice asked. Sky grinned when her lips began pecking kisses to his chest.
"Bad dream," Sky murmured, wondering absently if Syd had read his mind.
"No, you're projecting, and you flinched in your sleep."
Sky suddenly felt guilty for not trusting her to keep the promise she made on Phadoes. He rationalized that no damage had been done, but he still had issues.
"You know, you should be able to read my mind too," Syd whispered.
"Huh?"
"It's a Ninjetti thing, or at least that's what Brian told me. You should be able to read my mind too."
"Really?" Sky asked, surprised.
"Go ahead," Sydney smiled lazily, closing her eyes and snuggling close.
Sky was quiet for a few seconds, thinking over her words. "How?"
"It's easy," Syd told him. "Clear everything else out of your mind, and then focus on me."
The Blue Ranger did as he was told, his mind grasping onto the power that now filled him, the same power that linked him to her, his attention focusing solely on her.
I love you, Schuyler, and I will do everything I can to earn back your trust.
Sky felt tears well in his eyes before he blinked them back. He trusted her more than any other, he'd just been disappointed and hurt that she hadn't told him about this new part of her when she'd first discovered it.
I'm so sorry.
I love you.
"Sky," Syd whispered.
Gently, Sky rolled them over so that he was hovering over her. "Yes?" he prodded softly.
"Make love to me," she whispered back, arching up so she could kiss him.
Sky's sole focus was her. I love you his mind relayed to her. Her response was a wave of love that brought tears to his eyes.
--
"Bridge?" Z murmured, waking up in her boyfriend's bed, alone.
"I'm right here, Z," Bridge called from where he sat at his desk.
The Yellow Ranger sat up, pushing the green and yellow checkered comforter off. Sleepily, Z crawled to the end of the bed and stared at him. Bridge had his feet propped up on the bed while he played with a slinky. Seeing the look on Z's face, Bridge set down his toy and opened his arms to her. Scrambling off the edge, Z climbed into his lap. The Green Ranger wrapped his arms around her, holding her to him while she lay her head on his shoulder.
"What's wrong?" Z yawned.
"Can't sleep."
"I keep having weird dreams."
"I know," Bridge murmured, kissing her forehead. "You were projecting."
"Sorry."
Bridge watched on as Z slid into a deep sleep. He felt protective and protected, in love and loved, all at once. Carefully, the Green Ranger got to his feet, carried Z back to bed, and then crawled in with her. Once he had her pulled close to him, he began to drift off. "I love you, Z," he whispered into the quiet darkness.
--
The incessant ringing of the phone woke Sydney. An irritated groan was emitted by Sky, who buried his face in her hair. Heaving a sigh, Syd stretched and grabbed Sky's cordless phone from it's cradle on the nightstand.
"Hello?" Syd growled into the receiver. She happened to spot the numbers on the clock – it read seven o'clock.
"Sydney?" Jen's voice floated over the line, making the Pink Ranger rethink her morning attitude.
"Good morning, Aunt Jen," Syd yawned.
"Honey, is everything ok? Rocky and Aisha called us and told us that you'd gone on a mission. Is everything alright? Are you both ok? How about that others?"
Sydney took a deep breath to calm herself before she set out to calm Sky's mother. "Everything's fine. We got in late last night. Can we call you back later this morning? It's a little early and Sky's still asleep."
"Oh lord," Jen muttered. "I'm so sorry. I forgot you don't get up until seven thirty most mornings. Call us when you get up, and don't forget to call your parents too."
"Of course, Aunt Jen. Goodbye."
"Get some more sleep, Sweetheart."
Sydney punched the off button on the phone and sank back into the covers and Sky's arms. "What did my mom want?"
"To see what's been going on. Uncle Rocky and Aunt Aisha called them but didn't give them details. I told her we'd call back later. Go back to sleep," Syd yawned.
Sky didn't answer; he merely nuzzled the back of her neck and drifted off.
--
Z couldn't help but to grin. She was practically sleeping on top of Bridge, so she felt every muscle, every plane of his body, including the throbbing of his erection against her stomach. Even though they were separated by the cotton of his pants and her shorts, it made her fell loved and desired.
"Good morning," Bridge yawned, his hands stroking up her back, underneath her night shirt. He tried not to let her know he was embarrassed about his erection pressing against her, but he was too content to do anything about it beyond that.
"Good morning. Sleep ok?"
"Better after you got up and fell asleep against me in the chair," Bridge teased.
"Sorry," Z mumbled.
"Don't be, I didn't mind. Hungry?"
"Yeah. You?"
"My stomach's grumbling."
The two chuckled then crawled out of bed. "Bridge?"
"Yeah?"
"You might want to get a handle on yourself before you go downstairs," Z teased, leaning forward to kiss him softly even as she nudged the growing bulge in his sweats with her knee.
Bridge groaned and pulled away from her, looking down into the eyes he loved so much. "I'm gonna go take a shower, meet you at the stairs in five?"
"You got it," she murmured, kissing him again before she headed through the bathroom to her room.
--
When Bridge and Z entered the kitchen, they stopped short, their eyes on a sleeping Jack, who was sitting at a chair at the kitchen table, his arms folded on it, head resting on them. "What time do you think he got in?" Bridge asked.
Z shrugged and quietly crept the last few feet to kneel next to Jack's chair. "Jack?" she whispered, nudging the Red Ranger softly.
"Hmm...wha?" Jack mumbled sleepily.
"Go to bed," Z ordered.
"Can't. Got go work."
Z grinned. "No you don't. It's Saturday, we can handle work. How's Ally?"
The Red Ranger sat up and yawned. "Stable. Dr. Felix is letting her go to her room later tonight."
"Let Bridge help you upstairs. Collapse, sleep, call us when you get up."
Jack nodded half heartedly. Bridge shook his head and helped Jack up the stairs. Once the boys were out of the room, Z moved to the stove to start on breakfast.
--
"Commander you wanted to speak with us," Sky announced when five of the junior members and four of the senior members entered, all dressed in their uniforms, raring to get on with their duties.
"Yes. Because of this new threat, I'd like to step up the training of lower level cadets. The training everyone is receiving now will not be enough. Ninjor has sent a list of suggestions for you to use in the training of the cadets."
The nine of them nodded. "When do we start?" Aaron asked.
"Today. Everyone is meeting you out on the mud course. Here's what I expect, make sure you get the point across." Anubis had Kat had over data pads with Ninjor's suggestions and his own wants in the changing of the training techniques. The Rangers all looked down, eyebrows raising in silent shock.
"Sir?"
"Those are your orders. Dismissed!"
"Yes sir!"
--
The cadets seemed to cringe when the nine A Squad Rangers walked onto the training field. The junior members looked ready for a fight while the seniors looked ready to train them to exhaustion.
"Atten-hut!" Sky barked. As the senior most member of the team, he was to lead in Jack's absence. Once the cadets were quiet and paying attention, Sky stepped back and let Alana and Z run the role call. Once everyone was accounted for, Sky stepped forward again.
"Due to recent events, Commander Cruger would like to step up your training. Due to the intensity of this new training, some of you may be demoted to a lower squad until you catch on. Cadet Drew's going to explain the new training."
Sky nodded to Syd who moved forward from her spot next to Z and Aaron.
"We have a new threat to Earth, one that required the senior members of A Squad to retrieve new powers on a distant planet. To that end, Commander Cruger wants all cadets, Ranger track or not, to intensify their training," Sydney filled them in. "If you can't handle it, you'll be switching squads until you catch up. You'll be spending more time in the simulators with A Squad, you'll be expected to run the obstacle course faster – you need to shave at least a minute and half off your best times. Weapons training will also be touched upon. Dr. Manx and Boom are developing new weapons as we speak. You're going to learn how to use these weapons. Understood?"
"Yes ma'am!" the group answered.
"Good. Cadets Landors and Parker will be rejoining us over the next few days, they are to be shown the same respect, understood?"
"Yes ma'am!"
Nodding, Syd stepped back in line. "Alright, first task is mud course. Your times are on a clipboard, you need to shave at least fifteen seconds off today," Sky announced as the group moved toward the start of the course.
"Junior A Squad will be stationed throughout the course, and Cadet Oliver and I will be running with you. If you need any medical assistance, do not hesitate to ask. Cadets Drew and Delgado will be at the end to record your times. Go ahead and stretch, Cadet Carson will let you know when you can start."
That said, Sky quietly said something to the others before he and Brian stretched out.
--
"Hey," Ally greeted with a smile when Jack entered the infirmary.
Jack grinned at her and leaned down to peck a kiss to her lips. "Hi. Feel any better?"
"Loads. My concussion wasn't as bad as they thought. One run under Kat's laser and the burns are gone, and another day or two and my wrist will be back to normal."
Jack nodded and leaned in to kiss her again. "Our next day off, you and I are going away somewhere, ok?"
Ally smiled at him. "Sounds like a plan. Where are the others?"
"Out on the mud course with half of Delta Base. Cruger ordered intensified training for all of us."
"Fun, Jack, can I tell you something?"
The Red Ranger looked confused. They were dating, of course she could tell him anything, didn't she know that, he thought. "Of course, what's wrong?"
"While you guys were gone, something happened."
"What?"
"I don't have proof," Ally told him, making sure he understood what she was about to say was just speculation. "But Anna said something odd the other day. I was half asleep after a battle, so maybe I was dreaming, but I could have sworn she knows something about Vampra."
Jack's eyes narrowed as he looked down at his girlfriend. "Have you told anyone else?"
"No. Without solid proof, I didn't want to accuse her of anything."
The Red Ranger nodded. "Don't say anything, to anyone. I'll check into it."
Allison's reply was a yawn and her eyes closing as a new round of pain meds kicked in.
--
"How come they don't have to run the course like the rest of us?" a female cadet complained, jerking her shoulder in Syd and Z's direction. Brian and Sam weren't too far from them, shaking their heads.
"How long did it take you to run the mud course, Marissa?" Sam asked her, amusement evident.
"Fifteen minutes."
"Considering the course is two miles long that gives you two, seven and a half minute miles. Syd and Z have trained enough to run this in ten flat. That's two five minute miles," Sam told her, ticking off his points with his fingers. "You can't get much faster than that. The record for the course, so far, is eight and a half minutes, total."
Brian grinned. "And Sky's the one who holds that record. As Rangers, they're training is already fifty times more intense than yours. Running the mud course a minute and a half faster isn't going to do them any good. Even the Commander thought so, which is why they aren't running with us."
Marissa glared at them then brightened when Sky approached the group. The two boys rolled their eyes. "Yes sir?" Sam asked as they saluted. Marissa joined the salute belatedly, making Sky arch an eyebrow.
"Brian, Sam, head in, wash up. You're going with us to meet with the Commander."
The two boys saluted again before running back toward the base. Marissa was left standing with Sky, grinning shyly. "Cadet Reed?"
"Yes sir?"
Sky smirked at her. "Good job on the mud course. Cadet Drew said you shaved thirty five seconds off your time. That's the best so far. Keep up the good work."
"Thank you, sir. Striving to match Cadets Drew and Delgado's times, sir."
"Admirable, just be careful. They've been training for over a year, intensely, you won't catch them that quickly."
"Understood sir."
"Good. Dismissed."