Syd flipped off the TV and turned her head towards Sky, who was fast asleep on the couch. They had been watching a movie and sometime during it he had fallen asleep. She smiled faintly as she stood up and covered him with a blanket and gently kissed the side of his head, before heading over to the back balcony where Z sat reading a book.
"So what really happened?" asked Syd as she closed the door behind her and sat across from her friend, knowing very well she knew the real reason behind Sky's present appearance. "I may be a blonde, but I'm not stupid."
"Didn't think you were." Z set her book down and glanced over at her friend. She had hoped that Syd wouldn't be blind, that she would see through Sky's lies. "But if you knew he was lying, why didn't you call him on it?" The moment she had heard Sky lie to her she wanted to scream and throw the phone at him, but had decided not to, knowing that nothing good would come out of it.
Syd smiled faintly; she very easily could have called him on it. She knew very well that he hadn't tripped coming up the stairs. He had lied to her often enough about things that she had come to recognize that look in his eyes when he wasn't being truthful with her. "….I just…I didn't feel like arguing with him. It seems to be a regular thing in our relationship and I just didn't want to tonight." She sighed heavily. "I'm tired of arguing. Just once I like to go one week without a single argument…."
Z could sense that something else other than Sky not being truthful was bothering her. Syd had been acting strange all day, as if something else was on her mind. "…Is something else wrong, Syd?" Z knew that she and Bridge had agreed they weren't going to get involved with Sky and Syd's personal life, but if Syd was willing to talk to her about it she would listen; she always had been a good listener. "We are friends and if something is wrong, you know you can come to me, right?"
"I know." Syd smiled faintly. "Thanks…. But for right now, I'd just really like you to tell me what really happened to him today." At that moment that was all that mattered to her, everything else she would deal with at another time, knowing that right now it could just add more drama to her already dramatic life.
Z sighed heavily, knowing very well that Syd wasn't going to like it one bit and that Sky would have her ass if he found out that she had told Syd. But she knew that Syd deserved to know the truth, so Sky could raise hell for all she cared. It wasn't like she couldn't hold her own against him. She'd been up against far worse during her days of living on the streets. "….He got into an accident with his bike and when the medics arrived on the scene, ….well I'm sure you can guess what happened then." She didn't even have to say it, she knew that Syd had known Sky a lot longer than any of them and would know very well what Sky would have done.
"That stubborn, pigheaded…." Her voice was rising with each word.
"Bastard…" Z finished.
"I can't believe…." Syd sighed heavily, trying to calm down her anger at her boyfriend's boldfaced stunt, not giving a damn about his own well-being or being considerate of others that try to help or care about him. "….Wait, I can believe it." She stood up from her chair and was marching towards the door. "….When I get through with him he's going to need a hospital!"
"Syd, wait… there's something else." Z stopped her halfway.
"What?"
"Something else happened out there with him on the bike, but he wouldn't tell me."
"What are you talking about?" asked Syd, suddenly overwhelmed with concern. Just the look in Z's eyes told her that something was wrong. Z was never one to overdo things or say things unless she was positively sure about them.
"I don't know, but…..he ….he looked scared, like something spooked him." That was all she could say to explain what she had witnessed when Sky had told her what had happened. The look he had in his eyes seemed terrified, which was unusual for Sky, who would always hold back his emotions and act as if nothing ever got to him, but this time she had seen something had gotten to him. Something so bad that he didn't want to share it with her, or anyone for that matter.
"Sky, scared?" Syd looked through the windows, looking over at Sky who was sprawled out on the couch sound asleep. "….What could have scared him so bad that he crashed his bike?"
"I don't know." Z sighed heavily, turning her head in the same direction as Syd. Where they could see Sky fast asleep. "And knowing Sky, he isn't going to come out and tell us."
The next day….
In just a few hours he and Megan would be heading to Reefside to spend the weekend. It would be the first time he would meet his father, though he had seen him from a distance years ago when he had been just a child. ….And then there was his mother Hayley, who he had already met months prior when she and Wesley dropped off some groceries for him and Sky. He was a bit nervous, but Megan had already assured him there was nothing to worry about.
"Hey….." Z announced as she saw Chase walking down the academy hall. "I heard you got back last night." She had just recently bumped into Sam when she went to grab some breakfast and he had filled her in on everything that had happened. "….Sam said that you and Megan are brother and sister."
"Yeah. Pretty wild, huh…." He himself still couldn't believe it, that it had been so easy to find out his past. He would have thought it would take him a lot longer to find his birth family. "….So how have things been here? Anything happen while I was gone?" Though Cruger had told him a few things, he was just curious if Z had noticed anything. She was a pretty sharp girl.
"No more than the usual. Training the cadets, patrolling, Sky being an ass." She smiled.
"Speaking of Sky…."
"He ended up at the apartment last night. He was still there with Syd when I left this morning."
"Really?" Chase was more than just a little surprised. It was very rare, next to never, for Sky to sleep in. "He hardly ever sleeps in. Did something happen?"
Z's smile turned to a frown; she had already broken her promise to Sky not to tell Syd about what had happened, and while she had never said she wouldn't tell the others, she knew Sky expected that what he had told her would stay between the two of them.
Chase could easily read her frown; he knew something had happened and knowing Sky, he didn't want it to go any further. "You don't have to tell me." He was beginning to wonder if this was what Cruger had been talking about. Perhaps Mirloc or something else was after Sky and might have attacked him. "…But he's okay, right?"
"It's Sky," she stated flatly. "He's always okay…"
"Yeah. I know, he'd say he's okay if he had two broken legs and a bloody nose." He smiled faintly at her; in some ways she reminded him of Callie. Tough as nails, could handle her own and never be afraid to say what needed to be said. "…Well, I should get going. There are a few things I need to take care of here before Megan and I head to Reefside."
Z thought back to what Jack had told her about Chase, about what had happened to him, to his team, his friends, Callie. She didn't know what to say to him. What could she say? But she felt like she should say something, just to let him know that she was here for him, if he ever needed a friend, someone to talk to. "…..I'm sorry."
Chase stopped and turned around to face her; he was a little confused by her words. She hadn't done anything wrong, nothing to be sorry for. "For what?" He searched her eyes, but she never said anything and then in the pit of his stomach he knew. He knew what she was talking about. He sighed heavily. "Jack told you, didn't he?"
"Yeah…" She nodded her head. "I get it, you know." She licked her lips. "You have every reason to want to hate them; they took everything from you…."
"Yeah, they did." He crossed his arms against his chest. He couldn't blame her for talking to him about this, that was the kind of girl she was, but it was a sore subject with him. He hated Cliff and the others with a passion. "Why are you telling me this, Z?"
"For a long time, I hated the guy that killed my parents. I thought I would hate him forever." She bit her lips. "….But forever is a long time." She looked into his eyes, recognizing that look; she had seen it before and knew that the more time that went by, the worse it could get.
"You're telling me you forgave the guy that took your parents from you," he exclaimed. "That you just forgot what he did…."
"For as long as I live I won't forget, but I can't live my life hating him." She gently gripped his shoulder. "Sometimes it's best to just let go."
He wanted to believe her words, the more he looked into her eyes, the more he felt drawn into believing her, but the pain in his heart was still so very deep inside that he just couldn't. He couldn't let go of his hatred, his anger towards Cliff, he knew that if their paths ever crossed one of them wouldn't be leaving alive. "…Not everyone feels that way." He gently brushed her hand off his shoulder. "You may have been able to stop hating the man that killed your parents, but that's just not me." He turned away and started back towards the hall.
"You know, you and Sky have a lot more in common than the two of you think. The only difference is: you know the longer you hold onto that hatred the more it will rip you apart."
"It's not so easy, when you had to watch it happen with your own eyes." He glared at her hard. "Did you watch your parents die by his hands?" He watched as Z turned her face away, maybe for the first time not being able to come back with an answer. "I watched as they killed my friends, my team, one by one, and the woman I loved more than anything died in my arms." He sighed heavily. He knew she meant well, but right now he just couldn't let go of his hatred. "I can never forgive that, maybe you can, but I can't…."
And that's when it hit her, the very thing that was preventing him from being able to forgive Cliff and the others. Chase hated himself and hadn't been able to forgive himself for what had happened. How could anyone forgive anyone, if they can't even forgive themselves? "You haven't forgiven yourself for what happened, have you?"
"…I got to go." He sighed heavily. "If you happen to see Sky, tell him I'm looking for him."
"Chase, wait.…" Z started after him, but he brushed her off and went on his way, leaving her behind. He hadn't answered her question, but he didn't have to, his eyes said it all. He hadn't forgiven himself and she wasn't sure if he ever would. She didn't know all the exact details about what had happened, only what Jack had been able to tell her, but she could understand Chase's reasons for feeling responsible. He had been the leader, the one in charge, it was his job to protect the team, and every last one of them had died on his watch. Anyone in his place would feel the same way.
"Hey, sleepy-head," announced Syd as she sat down on Sky's lap. It was close to ten in the morning and he was still on the couch where she had left him last night. She leaned down and kissed him briefly on the lips, still a little upset with him that he had lied to her about his injured appearance.
"Wh-what time is it?" asked Sky, as he let out a big yawn. The last thing he remembered was watching a movie with Syd before he had gotten tired and fallen asleep on the couch.
"Almost ten." She glared him in the eyes. "You must have been really tired to have slept that long, considering you fell asleep before ten last night." She was trying to get him to tell her himself, giving him the benefit of the doubt, knowing that the reason he slept in later than normal was because his body was recovering from his accident and needed rest to heal.
"…Yeah. Guess I was," he answered as he got himself up into a sitting position. In the process of doing so he accidentally bumped his shoulder against Syd. And winced slightly, feeling a sharp pain, more than likely the results of a bruise and popping his arm back into place.
"You okay?" she asked.
Sky took a few soft breaths, pushing the pain from out of sight and mind. "Yeah. ….I must have hit it on something yesterday when I fell."
"On the stairs, right?" she questioned him. This was his chance for once to actually be honest with her and not tell her some lie, some made-up story that just downplayed the truth.
"Yeah. The stairs, like I told you last night."
Hurt that he lied to her once agian, she immediately got up from his lap and turned away from him. She had hoped that he would be truthful with her, just this once, but now she was beginning to wonder if Sky could ever be truthful to her about anything. She was so hurt and angry with him that she couldn't even say anything or look him in the eyes. She started to clean up the living room, straightening things out, but in such a way that anyone would have to be right out blind not to see that she was upset.
Which was very clear to Sky as he watched Syd move around the apartment, stomping at times, as she put things away and made a point not to look at him as she passed by him. "Did I miss something?" he asked as Syd passed by him as she picked up an empty pizza box from the coffee table and tossed it into the garbage. "Sydney?" But still she wouldn't answer. Seeing he wasn't getting anywhere with her, Sky got up from the couch and went to face her, grabbing her by the shoulders. "Okay, it's obvious that you're pissed at me about something, so why don't you just tell me what I did?"
"…Wow, nice detective work, Sherlock!" she remarked as she shoved him away from her and went about her way.
"Syd!" Sky turned around towards her, having no clue why she would be mad at him. He hadn't done anything and they had already apologized about what had happened between them yesterday at the academy. "What is it?"
"Why don't you tell me!" she exclaimed, staring at his clueless face. She just shook her head, not believing that he wouldn't just tell her himself; she thought she knew him ….but maybe she didn't. A few tears leaked from her eyes as she stared at the man she loved more than anything, who had been lying to her face.
"Sydney, what's wrong?" Sky started to approach her, but she shoved him away. "Just tell me what I did and I'll fix it…."
"Stop it! Just stop it!" she stammered. "Stop lying to me!"
"What?" Sky stared at her questioningly. "What are you talking about?"
"You didn't fall down on the damn stairs, Sky." She looked him hard in the eyes. "Did you?"
Damnit Z, I told you not to tell her. He knew he was in for it now, just the way she was staring at him told him how pissed off she was with him, but he figured that all he would have to do is say a few words to calm her down, just as he always had, and things would be okay between them. "Syd…. Let me…"
"No. You had your chance, Sky; you don't get to explain yourself." She walked towards her apartment door and opened it. "Just go, just please go…" She had taken all she could from him today. She didn't want to argue with him or destroy the little that was still left of their relationship; she just needed some time alone to herself to think.
"Sydney…." Sky stared. "You're being irrational. What happened wasn't a big deal."
"It is to me!" she cried. Syd took a deep breath, knowing now she needed to stand her ground and not allow him to talk his way out of this one. "If you won't talk to me about what is going with you, then you need to talk to someone that you will." She had tears in her eyes and her words were muffled. "Because I've tried, Sky ….but you won't let me help you." She bit her lip. "And I don't know if you ever will…"
"Syd." He said her name, hoping to get through to her, hoping that the sound of his voice would somehow make a difference. They had always been able to work things out before, but this time - this time was different. Even the way she was looking at him was different. It was like she didn't even recognize him anymore. He sighed heavily, knowing that at least for now there was nothing he could do or say; even saying he was sorry probably wouldn't be enough. The only thing he could do was do as she asked. He walked out the door and smiled faintly at her. "I'll call you later." He stood still as she closed the door in front of him.
Syd leaned her back against the door and slid down to the floor as she sobbed. She didn't know what she was going to do now. Sky was going through so many issues, not letting anyone in far enough to help him. She had hoped that he would at least let her in, but apparently Sky didn't seem to trust her enough to let her in all the way.
"Entering command base Varanox 12, wait for base personnel to respond," announced the computer as Cruger remained seated, waiting for response from the command leader that was in charge of the prison. Varanox 12 was one of the top containment facilities for holding and containing some of the most mysterious criminals this galaxy had ever seen.
"Commander Cruger of the galactic SPD Earth base, you may lower your docking bay door and I shall meet you on the grounds."
"Thank you. I will meet you momentarily," responded Cruger, as he lowered the bay doors and exited the ship. Outside the ship he was met by several alien and human officers alike. His eyes met with the one wearing the uniform with several badges and a special blaster given only to those of high ranking on his harness. He started to approach him. "You must be Lt. Jess Logan."
"Yes sir, that would be me." He saluted the higher ranking officer and then signaled for his crew to do the rest.
"I have heard a lot of good things about you. I've been told you are the best."
That got a small chuckle out of the middle aged lieutenant. "Would that be from my young nephew?" It had been a good two years since he had seen his nephew; his job here running the prison had become very demanding and he had been unable to make any visits to Earth to see him. And what made it all the harder was that he was his nephew's only living relative; his brother had died in combat over three years ago and the boy's mother had abandoned him when he was just a baby. "How is Willie? He must be about nine now."
"He's doing very well. Has become a remarkable leader; I foresee him doing great things when he's older."
"Good. You be sure to tell him his old uncle says hello." He would have gladly taken the boy and raised him as his own, but this place was no place to raise a child. He was better off at the academy, a place where he could be with kids his own age, make friends, a place where he could run around in the sun, having fun, being a kid. Perhaps one day when his work was done here, he would return to Earth and be reunited with his nephew.
"I will make sure he gets the message."
"Good." He nodded his head, getting things back onto a more professional level. "Now, I understand you came here to question one of our containments…"
"Yes. Mirloc. It is believed he may be some kind of link to what may have attacked my Earth Rangers."
"Well, I can assure you that Mirloc is still here and we haven't had any problems with him," assured Lt. Logan. "But I can arrange it so you may speak with him."
"Yes. I would like that."
"All right." He waved Cruger over. "Follow me."
"….You have a visitor!" announced Lt. Logan firmly as he approached the darkened prison that Mirloc was being held in. Mirloc was being held far away from any of the other prisoners. Logan stepped to the side and nodded to Cruger. "He's all yours, sir."
"Thank you, Lt. Logan," exclaimed Cruger, watching as Logan left the room so thet he might have time alone with Mirloc.
"Commander Cruger, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" sneered the devious murderous criminal.
"…Something or someone attacked my Rangers…"
"….And what do you think I would know about that?" Watching Cruger, a cunning grin was on his face. "After all, I have been locked up here, far away from being anywhere near Earth atmosphere."
Cruger wasn't going to let any of Mirloc's cunning or smart remarks slide by, he was going to get to the bottom of this. While Mirloc might have not been the one to attack the Rangers, he was very sure that he knew who had. "….Don't think for a minute that I won't find out." He eyed him closely. "I know that you and Omni were brothers, so I know what you really are capable of."
"Do you?" Mirloc grinned and got up from his bench to face Cruger. "….I have more power than you've ever dreamed of, Doggie Cruger. I could kill you right here and right now if I wanted to."
"I like to see you try," challenged Cruger.
Mirloc eyed the camera watching them off to the side, and then looked back at Cruger. "Perhaps another time." His eyes grew more and more cunning with each passing minute. "So why don't we move onto other things, like that stubborn, arrogant, rude young man….I believe his name was Sky, the young son of the Ranger I murdered."
"He is of no concern to you," growled Cruger.
"Come, Doggie, do you really think you can protect him?" he mocked. "You couldn't protect his father, what makes you think you can protect him from me or anyone else?" He always had known which buttons to push with people and the moment he found it, he would continue to press onto the issue as much as he could. "Face it, you know the boy is weak; he isn't strong enough, that is why you never told him that it was I that killed his father when you sent him to question me about Slate, it is also why you didn't tell him that you came here to see me."
Cruger knew what Mirloc was trying to do, but he would not let himself be outsmarted by the purplish creature, otherwise he would never learn what had attacked the Rangers and who was behind it. "Sky is a fine Ranger, one I am proud to have on my squad." He pressed his hand against the bars. "And let's not forget that he did recapture you, or had you forgotten?"
"Yes. You've got me there. I do have to give him credit for that, but the day will come when he won't be so lucky."
"Is that a threat?" Cruger exclaimed.
"More of a warning. I've seen his destructive nature; one day someone will upper-hand him, it's just a matter of time." Mirloc eyed him closely, knowing that even behind the dark glasses Cruger could still see his deep yellow eyes. "And you know I am right."
The old dog clenched his fists tightly together, needing to control his emotions. He would not let Mirloc use any of his tricks or smart remarks on him. He needed to show him that he was the one in control. "…I will ask you again, Mirloc. Tell me who it is that's after the Rangers or….."
"Or what, Commander, you're going to sic that boy on me?" He laughed. "….I don't know who is attacking your precious Rangers; I've been here the whole time. I wish I knew who it was so that I could congratulate them…"
Cruger could see he would not be getting any further with Mirloc; he was not the type that would give information away, not unless there was something in it for him. They had learned firsthand that he was one that could not be trusted. "I will be back, and for your sake no harm better come to my Rangers until then."
"I look forward to your visit. I do get rather lonely here; it is a rather gloomy and dark place after all…."
Lt. Logan accompanied Cruger back to his ship. "I am sorry that your trip here didn't give you the answers you were seeking, Commander."
"I will get to the bottom of this." Cruger turned to face Lt. Logan. "There's something he's hiding." He didn't know what it was but there was just something about Mirloc, something that just didn't fit and he needed to find out what that something was. "I want to know if he has any visitors at all. Contact me the moment someone comes to see him."
"I will be sure to do that, sir." Lt. Logan put out his hand. "You have my word. My team and I will help you figure out what attacked your Rangers." He firmly shook the Commander's hand and then saluted him.
"You have a lot of nerve!" exclaimed Sky as he approached Z in the mess hall where she was having lunch with Bridge. He was more than just upset with Z, he was pissed off at her. And he was going to make sure she knew it.
"Excuse me?" Z raised her eyebrows; if there was one thing about her that she was going to point out and make clear to everyone, it was that she didn't take anyone's crap.
"Maybe I should go," said Bridge, sensing tension coming from the two and not wanting to get caught in the middle.
"No. You should stay for this, Bridge!" Z pushed Bridge back down onto his chair and firmly locked her eyes with Sky's. She knew why Sky was upset with her, but she could care less, she was glad that she had told Syd. She'd do it again. It needed to be said. "….Look, you may be the leader, Sky, but outside the academy you're just like the rest of us."
"You shouldn't have told her. You know how she gets…."
She didn't like his tone one bit. "First off…." Z threw her napkin down on the table and got up. "She asked me to tell her." She got right into his face. "She knew you were lying…"
"That doesn't mean you had to tell her!" He pointed his finger in her face.
Z slapped it away. "Yes I did, Sky!" She looked him hard in the eyes. "You've got a problem and you can deny it all you want, but not talking about it isn't helping matters. I had to tell Syd; she cares about you. We all do…."
"I don't have any problems…." He stared her hard in the face; he could feel his fists clenched together. "I'm fine. And I would be a hell of a lot better if you would just keep your big fat mouth shut!"
"You are not fine, Sky!" Z exclaimed. "Who are you trying to fool?" It was now or never, it was time that someone put Sky in his place and she knew she might be the only one out of the team that could do it, especially with Jack gone. "….Cruger knows it, Megan knows it, the whole team knows it."
"The whole team?" he questioned her. His eyes moved past her and looked to Bridge, one of his oldest friends, who for a couple of years had shared a room with him at the academy. In a way Bridge was like his little brother. "Bridge, do you think I have a problem?"
"I…." Bridge started to say as Sky looked towards him needing him to side with him. He could feel Z's ice cold stare beat right at him. Bridge didn't want to have to say it, but he could see that his friend was in trouble, he needed help, someone to talk to about whatever was going on with him. "…Well, you have been…." Already he could see Sky's eyes change in a way he'd never thought possible, a way he never wanted his friend to look at him, hurt, angry, even betrayed. "….Bad-tempered more, not that you weren't before ….not that I'm saying that you have a temper." Bridge sighed heavily. "…It's just we're worried about you."
"….Well, you shouldn't be." He frowned. "I can take care of myself just fine, I've been doing it for a long time now…"
"Really?" Z crossed her arms against her chest, staring him down. "….Guess that depends on your definition of fine." The two stared each other down, the whole room was so silent that a pin dropping could be heard. It was very rare that any of the cadets would ever see anyone stand up to the great Sky Tate.
"….Is there a problem going on here?" announced Chase as he joined the confrontation. He had been trying to locate Sky, trying to see if he could persuade him to join him and Megan on their trip to Reefside, when he had passed by the mess hall and heard the commotion going on between Sky and Z.
"You would have to ask our esteemed leader….."
Sky got right into Z's face, his eyes darting right at her. "Just stay out of my way, Z."
Chase could see if he didn't step in, a repeat of what had happened between him and Sky could happen between Sky and Z if the two kept at it the way they were. "Okay, Sky." He pulled him away from Z. " Come on, we're going to go for a ride." He eyed Z, giving her a nod, that he had things under control.
"Fine…" Sky gave a cold glance to Z before turning away from her and Bridge and following Chase out the door.
"Well, that went well…." Z glared around the room; all eyes were on her. "….Hey, this isn't a movie, get your eyes off of me and mind your own business!" she snapped. She took a deep breath, sighing heavily as she sat back down next to Bridge. She hadn't meant to snap, but this thing with Sky just frustrated her so much that it was draining. Bridge put his arm around her, patting her on the shoulder, letting her know that it was okay and that he was there for her. He just wished that Sky could see they were trying to be there for him too; that he could count on them even when they weren't out on the job.