Chase managed to get Lisa and young Sky to safety behind a large semi truck; his heart was racing fast, fearing the worst of having to leave his teammate, his friend, to battle Mirloc alone. While he knew Sky was a great fighter and could hold his own, he knew that Mirloc was different from all the criminals combined that his young friend had faced. It was personal. And in the time he had gotten to know Sky, he had learned that the young Red Rangers could lose focus when something became a personal matter, especially when it concerned Mirloc.
He powered down and turned to Lisa and the young boy. "We should be fine, for now…" He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down; knowing that if Sky failed it would be up to him to protect them and defeat Mirloc.
"I don't understand. What's going on? Who are you guys? Why's he after Sky?" Lisa held her young stepson close to her, wanting to keep him safe. "Did my husband send you?" She wanted answers and she wanted them now. Why was the creature known as Mirloc so intent on wanting to harm her husband's young son?
"It's complicated…."
"I don't care how complicated it is! That monster came after us and he knew who we were." She eyed Chase closely, not backing down. "So you better start talking!"
"….It's okay, Lisa." Little Sky looked up at his stepmother. "I saw Chase and his friend at the house, they're fine. They're SPD, just like Dad…."
"….And that's another thing. My husband and his partner Eric are the only SPD Rangers here on Earth. And the cadets that are in training to become Rangers, you aren't one of them…." While her stepson might be inclined to trust the man before her, she wasn't so sure if she should. "Where did you and your friend come from? Another planet? How did you know we would be in trouble?" So many questions were rolling around in her mind; she wanted to know what the hell was going on here. "What could that thing possibly want with a little boy?"
Chase sighed heavily, knowing he was going to have to say something that would at least satisfy her, but at the same time knowing it could do more harm than good. He put his hand to his side and felt the small gun that Kat had given him, just before he was going to leave. …Maybe he could tell her just a little, not everything, and as soon as he knew they were going to be safe for good he would just use the gun to erase their memories, so anything he would say would be forgotten. He licked his lips and looked her right in the eyes. "….How familiar are you with your husband's past as a Ranger?"
Lisa's eyes widened. "So you're with…."
"No. We are SPD…." He licked his lips. He ran his hand over his face, knowing he needed to choose his next few words carefully. One thing was for sure, he could not tell her the identity of just who the other Ranger was. "We were sent on a mission to recapture Mirloc and ended up here…."
"How far….."
"….Not that far…." He couldn't tell her exactly, it would draw too many more questions, ones he didn't want to answer and ones he knew Sky would never forgive him for.
"What are you guys talking about?" asked the little boy, not quite sure what the two were discussing.
Back in the present….
Slowly he walked into the room, making sure to look over his shoulder and to all sides to make sure no one else was around. He had never thought the day would come; he had gone through a number of years believing that she was dead ….and yet there she was but, for some reason that he could not explain he remembered her being dead. He remembered going to her grave, he remembered Gruumm telling him his mother was dead …and now here she was lying in a bed, asleep as she had been since the day Gruumm had attacked the home world of his former Commander. She had been in a coma ever since….
Cliff sat down in a chair, taking her hand into his, gently rubbing his thumb over her hand as he stared at her face. Though she was much older than he remembered, she still looked just as he remembered, beautiful. He licked his lips, as he cleared his throat feeling a lump and a great amount of guilt taking over, knowing that she had always believed he had died the same day his father had, and how much it must have hurt her. "…I'm sorry, I didn't do what I was told. I know it must have been very hard for you, all those years thinking I was dead, when I wasn't." Tears began to form in his eyes. He had been through so much over the years, he had been hurt, he had caused so much hurt to others, including the ones he never ever wanted to hurt. "…..I just couldn't leave him. I had to go back, I had to try… I didn't know they were after me, what they wanted from me." He took a deep breath, trying to regain control. "….I just want you to know that I'm sorry, for everything… I never meant for this to happen." He bowed his head down, sighing heavily. "…I never meant for any of it to happen." He buried his head on top of his mother, crying heavily, letting his tears fall out, wishing for her to hold him as she had when he had been a small boy.
….And for the first time in years Cassie opened her eyes; ever so slowly she began to move around a little. Feeling the sudden movements, Cliff lifted himself up slightly and looked into his mother's face, making eye contact with her. His heart skipped a beat and then it started pounding against his chest; he hadn't expected this to happen. In fact a part of him wished that it hadn't.
"…Alistair…" she weakly whispered, as she locked eyes with the young man staring back at her who looked so much like the man who she had loved more than anything, but had lost to a deadly battle.
"….No, I'm not him," he answered softly. It had been so long since he had heard the name Alistair, his father's name, his true identity. His mother believed he was his father, but maybe it would be better for her to believe that it was and that this was just some dream; she didn't need to know the hell her son had been through, what he had done, all the horrible things he had done, all his sins, all the death by his hands. "…Go back to sleep now, this is just a dream…" He knelt down and kissed her lightly on the forehead, watching as her eyes closed shut.
"….Who-…Who are you!" shouted a frantic voice.
Cliff stood up and turned around to find an older woman who resembled his mother standing in the doorway. Right away he knew who she was: his grandmother. The grandmother he had never known. "…I'm no one, I was just leaving." But he wouldn't get too far, because not a second later Michael Colbertt, leader of the Mirinoi SPD base, entered the room, his eyes locked on the young man before him. Cliff sighed heavily as his eyes met with the man he was afraid to face, but knew it was time for him to face him; it was time for him to pay for what he had done.
"….We should talk," announced Mike, his voice was firm, but not threatening.
"Yes, we should…" answered Cliff. As hard as it would be, he owed the man before him that much.
"…Don't worry, Mrs. Chan, I have everything under control." Mike gripped the older woman's shoulder, knowing she was greatly concerned for the wellbeing of her daughter, who had been in a coma for so many years. It had been a hard time for her and her husband, having to leave behind their home to come here in hopes that one day their daughter would wake up. "…He means no harm to Cassie, I can assure you."
"…All right." She nodded her head steadily. "…Thank you, Commander." She slowly walked past Cliff. As he passed by her, making his way over to Mike Colbertt, for a brief moment their eyes meant. She didn't know what it was but there was something about him, something sad, something lost ….and yet something so familiar about him, as if she felt a connection with him, but she had no idea why. This was the first time she had ever seen the young man. Why would she feel drawn to him?
"Come on, Cliff, let's go somewhere private…." Mike grabbed him by the shoulder and led him away, down the hall towards another room.
….2007
"….Oh, I know a lot more than you think I do. A lot more." Mirloc's eyes widened as he began to laugh. It might well be time for him to let the cat out of the bag and let Sky know who he was, where he came from and why he wanted to rid the world of his whole existence. After all, he did owe Sky a favor for helping him escape his prison. "…Demorph and I'll tell you everything."
"What do you take me for, a fool?" shouted Sky. He was not about to fall for any of Mirloc's tricks. He had allowed that to happen once before, letting his guard down; he would not make the same mistake twice. "Whatever you have to tell me, you can tell me while I'm morphed."
"…Call it a gesture of good faith, so I know you won't pull anything." A wide grin came over Mirloc's face. "….Besides, I want to see the look on your face when you hear the whole story."
"That's a bunch of bull! How do I know you won't try to pull anything, and why should I believe a word you say?" Sky kept his stance and guard up, he wasn't about to listen to a damn thing the murderous creature had to say.
"….Fine, have it your way." Mirloc started walking circles around the red Ranger, keeping a fair distance, not wanting to get any sudden movements out of Sky. "…It won't matter; it's only a matter of time until I have completed my mission, after which you in that red Ranger suit will just fade into nothingness…."
Sky kept his eyes closed in on Mirloc, moving around with him, not wanting to let his guard down. But while his Ranger senses wanted to keep his guard up, another part of him wondered just what Mirloc knew. He knew he shouldn't believe a word he said, but then again Mirloc knew who his mother was. He had tried to kill her, to prevent him from ever being born; just perhaps his father's killer was being truthful after all. "….What do you know about me?" He kept his blaster pointed at Mirloc, not letting it down.
"…Ah, eh…." Mirloc shook his head. "….If you want me to tell you anything, you have to sweeten the deal, demorph or you'll never know what I know…."
Sky hesitated, his mind going back and forth, contemplating what to do. He knew it would be a dumb and careless move on his part to demorph in front of Mirloc, but Mirloc might hold information about his past that he wanted answers to.
"…Well?" Mirloc's voiced hissed through his mind. "What will it be?" The purple creature knew very well what the young red Ranger would do, it was very easy for him to toy with the young man's mind, twist and turn things, because he knew what Sky wanted, answers….
Sky stiffened up, knowing he might come to regret this decision, but right now he wanted to hear what his father's killer had to say. "….All right, but once your story is finished I'm rangering back up and I will finish this!"
"I wouldn't want it any other way." Mirloc put his arms to his side. "You see, I always like my victims to know why I'm putting an end to their lives…." He laughed with amusement.
….From a distance away Chase was watching, his eyes widened. "….What the hell are you doing…" He watched as his partner demorphed.
"Why'd your friend demorph?" Lisa demanded. "I thought he was supposed to stop that thing."
"I don't know…." Chase gulped under his breath, fearing that Mirloc had some type of trick up his sleeve. "The two have a long history together…"
"I would never demorph, that's just dumb," exclaimed the little boy. "Dad would never demorph in the middle of a fight."
…The kid's got more sense than you…. Damnit Sky, why can't you keep your head on straight when it comes to this freak? Chase sighed heavily, keeping his eyes locked on his teammate. "….I hope you know what you're doing," he muttered under his breath, knowing that Sky tended to lose focus of what's important when Mirloc was involved….
"….You and I have a lot in common, Sky…." Mirloc taunted, knowing that given the history between the two, it was going to be easy for him to twist his words in ways that he knew would be troubling to the young leader of the Power Rangers. He knew his situation with Sky was a personal matter to the red Ranger, which gave him the advantage. While Sky might be an excellent fighter, his strong will however could be easily tampered with if someone said the right words.
"I doubt that," he answered back, knowing that Mirloc would try to twist and turn his thoughts around to try to get a rise out of him, to get him to put his guard down. He couldn't let that happen. "….I'm not a murderer…."
"…..Not yet," he answered all too confidently.
"What's that supposed to mean…?" Sky barked back, not liking Mirloc's confident and so assured stance.
"Let's just say I know your future…."
"I'll bet." He wasn't about to buy any of it. His eyes widened and his face became stern. "….Nobody knows the future."
"Oh, but that's where you're wrong…." Mirloc took a few steps forward, so he was right smack in Sky's face. "….And you know it." His eyes glowed a dark yellow and a sly grin crept over his face. "….Because you see, my dear Ranger, you and I came from the same exact place!"
"What?" Sky exclaimed in disbelief. "….What are you talking about?"
"I think you know." Mirloc knew he had Sky right where he wanted to have him, in his place, it would only be a matter of time until he would make his move and strike him down. "…Though we only missed each other by mere years, your legacy still reigns on."
"….You're from the future?"
"….Yes. A future you helped create, and ironically, a future years later would be born too," exclaimed Mirloc.
Sky felt his heart skipped a beat, he had never imagined that Mirloc would be from that far in the future.
"…You see I know you better than you know yourself." He hissed his hot breath into Sky's face. "….The future you helped create, your SPD, will one day become Time Force and an even more powerful force than SPD ever dreamed of being. The Earth base would become the most powerful and most feared throughout the galaxy." Mirloc could feel his fury burning; his eyes glowed brightly as he continued his story. "….But like all things," a sly grin came over his face, "….mistakes, accidents do happen, one of which created me, or more so ….my predecessor…"
"….What?" was all Sky could get out.
"…You see, Ranger, the future you helped create …created an even greater threat, the very one that would threaten a future a thousand years before it…."
While a group of scientists worked in a lab, unbeknown to them a spill, combined with discarded material, had begun to combine together in a far off corner, leaking into the basement, creating a green sludge… ….During the night the green sludge moved to a far off corner near the electrical box. A storm above could be hear raging outside, thunder banged loudly echoing throughout the room. …Then there was a loud BANG, BOOM, lightning had struck, taking out the power of the building, small electric sparks rolled off the box and then united with the green sludge…. For a moment all was silent and calm, the storm seemed to be passing by and drifting elsewhere… The green sludge was still and calm …until an arm blasted upwards, a gruesome creature emerged pulling itself out of the sludge. The creature hissed and grumbled, taking in its surroundings, its eyes a darkened yellow, glowing in the dark. "…Where am I? What is this place…?"
"….That night, the first mutant was born… The next day, your future scientists would discover him…."
"….That's an interesting story, but what the hell does it have to do with me?" He saw no connection whatsoever between himself and this so-called creature that scientists in the future would one day create.
"A lot more than you think it does…." Mirloc taunted. "…..Because you see that creature, that monster they created, was the being you knew as Omni…"
Sky's eyes widened and his heart skipped a beat. "Wh-What…. You're lying, that's impossible…."
"More impossible than a young boy who was born a thousand years in the future, but grew up a thousand years before?" Mirloc laughed at the shocked and dumbfounded look on the red Ranger's face. "…The story is very much true…." A sly grin came over his face and his taunting eyes locked right onto Sky's. "I should know, I was there…."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"….We are the same. Before Omni escaped into time, he created me….." He gloated. "…Although some years later, he would live to regret that decision…."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"….That's nothing you need to concern yourself with."
"All right, fine. You're from the future, I get that…." He kept his face stern and his eyes hard on Mirloc. "…But what does that have to do with me and my father? If you came from a thousand years in the future to the past, to come after us, you must have a damn good reason…."
"….The reason is very simple." Mirloc cocked his neck. "….For Omni, he wanted revenge on Time Force. They had underestimated him, treated him like some lab rat, when all along he was far more intelligent and powerful than they would ever be… But he didn't know where to start…. Until one day, on another planet, he came face to face with a Ranger wearing a uniform that resembled Time Force's…" He could see Sky struggle to remain calm, knowing it wouldn't be long now. "….A Wes Collins. He wanted to kill your father right then and there, but he was blinded with his rage and anger, that he underestimated and lost the battle and nearly his life…."
Sky clenched his fists tightly together, but he knew he needed to remain calm and keep his guard up, not wanting to allow Mirloc any chances.
"….. I would then be called in." Mirloc grinned. "….I think you know what happens next."
"I want to know why? Why was he so important…Why'd you kill my father?" after all these years he wanted to know why his father had to die, and the only person would could answer that was standing right in front of him.
Mirloc began to laugh. "….Haven't you figured it out…." He was slowly seeing Sky begin to lose his composure. "….Your father wasn't the main issue, he was just in the way ….it was you." Mirloc's eyes began to glow brightly. "…Why do you think Omni wanted to use you and your gift to power up his shield all those months ago? He wanted to use the very person who started it all, to destroy it from ever existing." Mirloc's laugh continued to echo around them. He put his hands behind his back. "…..You see, my dear boy, you will grow up to become a very powerful leader, and start something that will continue throughout history long after you died; you'll be known throughout the galaxy as the one who did it all…" Behind his back Mirloc had been powering up an electric beam, getting ready to strike the young man in front of him, knowing in a few short seconds he would have his chance. "….But that won't happen, as I will be rewriting history. Once you're out of the way," he crooked a smile, "….I will be sure to go after that pretty girl you care so much about…"
"…You aren't going to lay a finger on her!" he exclaimed, feeling his anger and fury burn and making the one mistake he had been trying so hard to avoid: he had let his guard down.
"Oh, but you won't be able to stop me…." Mirloc moved quicker than light, getting ready to blast the powerful beam he had been preparing. "….In fact, in a few short moments, you…will never have existed, to even have met her…." Before Sky could react Mirloc let the blast loose, sending him crashing into cars all the way over to where Chase had sought cover for Lisa and young Sky.
Sky's body fell hard to the ground, his body was all cut up from hitting the cars and the fall; a large cut was on the side of his head, his shirt was torn and his body lay limp. "….Damnit!" Chase knelt down towards him. "..Sk,,,," he stopped himself, knowing he couldn't let Lisa or the young boy who she held tightly in her arms know the name of the man lying before them. "Come on pal, stay with me…."
Car alarms were going off, smoke and fire could be seen from the cars Sky's body has collided with along with Mirloc's powerful blast. It wouldn't be long before calls would be going in for the police to arrive at the scene, bringing with them fire trucks, ambulances and Silver Guardians, pre-SPD officers, which would only draw more problems, ones that Chase did not want to deal with on his own.
"…Is...is he okay?" asked Lisa shakily, very concerned now not only for the young man who had tried to stop Mirloc from harming them, but also knowing that at any moment Mirloc would find them.
"….I…I don't know." Chase could feel his heart racing, not knowing what to do. He knew Mirloc would be here any second and there would be no possible way for him to fight Mirloc while trying to protect them. He didn't know what to do."Come on! Wake up, I know you're a whole lot stronger than this, you're not going to let him beat you. Do you hear me, don't let him win!" Chase began trying to get Sky to regain consciousness by slapping his face.
"…He's here!" young Sky's voice broke in.
Chase looked up to find Mirloc staring down at him, an evil devious grin on his face. He immediately jumped to his feet, knowing that in order to protect Sky he was going to have to protect the young boy, even if that would mean…. "….I won't let you get him!"
"If he couldn't stop me, what makes you think you can?"
"….Because I made a promise to him, that I wouldn't let anything happen to them." Chase made sure to keep himself in front of Lisa and the young boy, wanting to keep Mirloc as far from them as he could.
"You should know better than to make promises to a man who's about to be dead!"
"He isn't dead yet, not as long as I'm around to stop you…." Chase got into a fighting stance, keeping his eyes on Mirloc, watching him closely for any sudden movements the creature would make.
"….I suppose we have a little time." Mirloc grinned. "Besides, I always like to add to the list of Rangers I've defeated…"
"Don't count your chickens until they're hatched….." He briefly eyed Sky, who was on the ground moaning softly; that was a good sign, Sky was waking up. He just needed to give his friend some time to regain his strength.
"I don't need to count. I know I can defeat you, just like so many before you!"
"We'll see about that!" exclaimed Chase as he jumped over Sky's body and tackled Mirloc to the ground, rolling their bodies a few feet away.
In which time Lisa dragged Sky's limp body towards her and laid his head in her lap, as young Sky stuck close behind her back. "….Please wake up, your friend needs you!" She trembled; her heart was racing fast, wishing that her husband was here; he would know what to do.
"…..He's going to be okay, right, Lisa?" asked the young boy. "….Nothing can stop a Power Ranger, right?"
Lisa's eyes roamed over the young boy, not knowing what to say to him. It had always been a question that would cross her mind every time her husband would go into work, get called in or Ranger up, because she knew that one day he might not come back and that scared her more than anything. "I…."
"…Have to stop him…." Sky moaned, as he slowly began to open his eyes. Everything was blurry; he could see quick flashes in front of him of blue and purple battling it out; he couldn't tell who was winning, only that both were not letting up. "…Need to stop…Mirloc…. Have to…." He started to push himself up, but felt a sharp pain in his side. "….Ahhhh….Shit!"
"….You're hurt." Lisa glanced at his torn shirt and could see heavy bruising, along with a few cut's, bleeding slightly.
"…Lisa?" he muttered under his breath, as he slowly took a few breaths in, trying to push the pain away, coming to terms with what was going on around him and who he was with.
"How'd you….."
"-….There's no time, just help me up," he exclaimed.
"But..."
"…..Just do it!" he ordered, as he placed his hand on the ground in order to help push himself to his feet.
"All right…." she agreed as she carefully helped him to his feet.
Sky cried out from the intense pain that rushed through his body as he dropped to his knees, clutching his chest. He was angry with himself that he had let Mirloc once again get the best of him, and now he could do nothing but watch as Mirloc grabbed Chase by the neck and threw him across the parking lot. Sky could feel his heart racing, as he watched as Mirloc start approaching them. This would be it, this would be how it all would end.
"…You leave him alone, you big creep!" shouted the young boy.
"…Sky, no!" yelled Lisa, as she tried to grab a hold of the young boy who ran out of her grip and in front of the young man.
"No, don't!" yelled Sky, trying to grab his younger self, but it was too late. Mirloc's blast was heading right for them. He squeezed his eyes shut, thinking this was the end, but seconds passed and he was still here. He opened his eyes and to his surprise, not only had he created a shield, but his younger self had as well. Mirloc lay on the ground, stunned by his own blast; they must have somehow been deflected back onto him by the shield.
Mirloc gasped, pushing himself to his knees, his eyes locking onto both Skys'. "….This is far from being over." He reached for his wrist and pressed a button and disappeared into a bright light.
Both Skys let their shields down. The young boy turned to the older man next to him, with questioning eyes. "….You can do what I can do. I thought I was the only one…."
"Oh my God!" Lisa exclaimed as she walked in front of them, now having a very good idea as who the young man was. Why she hadn't seen it before, she didn't know. She started to open her mouth….
"….Don't," Sky exclaimed softly, but keeping his eyes very firm as he gripped a hold of the boy's shoulder, pushing himself to his feet, limping slightly, as he stood. He locked his eyes with her briefly before turning them towards Chase, who was walking over to them, appearing to be unharmed by his scuffle with Mirloc. "…We've got to get out of here before the police arrive," hearing the sirens in the background.
"Probably would be a good idea, considering…." He glanced around, seeing the parking lot that looked like a bomb had gone off; not exactly what they had wanted to have happen, but nothing they could do about it now.
"But wait, what's going on here!" Lisa exclaimed. "….You two can't just leave without an explanation…." She turned to the older Sky, pleading with him as if she felt that he owed her one. "….Please, tell me what's going on."
Sky and Chase glanced at each other, knowing time was running out before someone else would spot them. Chase turned to her, sighing heavily, knowing this was very difficult. "….I'm afraid, Mrs. Collins, we can't do that."
"And why not?" she demanded.
"…Because you won't remember this ever happening," Sky answered, and he nodded to Chase, letting him know now would be the time. As much as he didn't like his memory being erased, he knew this would be one event his young self and Lisa must not recall.
Lisa turned to Chase and watched him pull out a sort of gun, her eyes widened, not knowing what to expect. "…We were given orders that if we come into contact with anyone, that we must erase their memories of ever meeting us. I'm sorry…."she heard him tell her.
"But…." She sighed heavily, knowing very well that SPD had certain protocols that needed to be followed, whether she liked it or not. She turned back to older Sky. "….At least tell me that everything is going to be okay?" Even if she wouldn't remember him or his answer, she wanted to know. "Please….."
Sky bit his lip, sighing. This was hard for him, seeing her again after all these years. He hadn't realized until this very moment how much he has missed her. "…Everything will be as it should be."
"….You're leaving? Where are you going? ….You can't leave, I just met you and you're like me!" The young boy tugged at Sky's shirt, not wanting him to leave him.
The older version of the boy sighed heavily, staring down at himself and knowing what he was going through. He had gone through it his whole life, people leaving him. He gripped the boy's shoulder. "…I promise you that someday you will meet others just like you. ….but I got to go get Mirloc." He licked his lips as he looked into those small blue eyes. "Lives depend on it. You understand that, don't you?'
"Yes…. A Ranger never stops…" young Sky answered with a heavy sigh, though he didn't want him to go, a part of him knew he had to, as if everything depended upon it.
Sky smiled faintly and patted the boy on the shoulder before stepping back and slowly making his way over to Chase, who was pointing the memory gun at the two. Lisa wrapped her arms around the little boy, staring back at them, keeping her eyes locked on the older Sky, wondering to herself what had caused him to become so distant. Why did it feel like the two were complete strangers, but the moment she saw the flash all was forgotten including her looming questions…..
Present day…..
Hayley and Tommy walked upstairs into Erin's bedroom to check up on the kids and make sure that Megan was handling everything all right, but when they opened the door all they found was the girls, Erin and Jenny, playing video games with little Wesley. Megan was nowhere in sight.
"….Erin, where's your sister?"
"….Don't tell her, Erin, remember what Megan said," exclaimed Wesley.
"Wesley!" shouted Erin, giving her brother a hard stern look, knowing now there was no way out of this no matter how good a story she could come up with. "You and your big mouth!"
"Well…?" Hayley crossed her arms against her chest, staring down at the children and wanting answers. "We're waiting…." although in the back of her mind she had a pretty good idea just where her daughter was.
"Girls, I think you should tell us…." Tommy announced, watching as Erin and Jenny exchanged looks with one another.
"….She called up Sam about an hour ago and the two of them left together."
"Did they say anything?"
"Ah…." Jenny and Erin continued to glance at one another and then back to the adults, knowing they weren't going to like their answers.
"….They may have mentioned something about a time ship…" answered Jenny. "Whatever that is."
"WHAT!..."