Inside a large office, Kite sat behind Wes's desk and gazed idly out the window. The view wasn't spectacular, all he could see was part of the car park and one of the other building's in the complex but the black ranger wasn't too focused on the scenery. Kite had let Wes and Biolabs help the rnagers. The previous evening he had taken blood samples from his friends and rushed them down to the lab.
The black ranger was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear the door to the office open. Wes Collins stepped inside and instantly spotted the look of apprehension on his friend's face. After learning that the rangers were Animus and were connected to Wildforce, Wes graciously and Gladly offered assistance. It was a shame that it had taken a serious illness to the other rangers to bring them back together. Wes walked quietly up to his desk and placed a large takeaway coffee on the surface. The noise snapped Kite's attention back to the present and he nearly fell out of the chair, "Wes you startled me", the black ranger gasped.
"My apologies Kite", he replied, "I thought you could do with this", he tapped the coffee, "it doesn't look like you've had much sleep".
"That's an understatement", Kite replied and took a long drag from the cup, "you know my favourite".
"I asked Cole", Wes smiled before pausing for a moment, his face turned a little more serious, "the lab has come back with their analysis".
Kite frowned as he sensed the change in Wes's tone, "Is it serious?"
"The truth is that we don't even know where to begin", Wes turned on the large television screen that was mounted on the wall and some of the data from the tests was displayed.
"Ok talk to me like i have no idea what any of this means", the black ranger sighed.
"I'm well aware of that", Wes began, "all four samples show significant differences from a healthy set of results". Wes took a step back from the screen and continued, "initially the boys in the lab thought they were fake but after looking again they can't confirm the source of the blood from them as human but it's nothing they've ever seen before. It's almost like they've been altered at DNA level but that's impossible".
Something in the back of Kite's mind suddenly clicked. He didn't even hear Wes continue, "Kite Are you listening to me?" Wes said.
"Sorry I zoned out for a minute", Kite shook his head. The black ranger sighed, he had reached a decision. "The reason you're having trouble with the sample is probably due my friend's origins. They're not from around here, i think theyre like me a wildzord".
Wes looked at Kite and chuckled slightly but his expression changed when Kite frowned at him, "You're not joking?" He asked.
"Animus was made from five sentient wild zords".
"Wild zords", Wes gasped and stumbled back towards his desk. He fumbled for the edge of the desk and leaned on it in shock, "That explains why we couldn't analyse them then?"
Kite nodded, Wes was still too dumb struck to do anything other than nod slowly. It took him a few moments to regain his composure. Before the conversation could continue, the intercom in the office buzzed, "I thought I told you not to disturb me Kirsten", Wes said to his secretary.
"I'm sorry Mr Collins but I thought you'd want to see the latest news broadcast", Kirsten replied.
Wes grabbed a remote control and switched the television to a national news station, "You join us live in Silver Hills at the scene of some kind of biological attack on the citizens of the city", the news reporter began. "All of the victims have been rendered unconscious and are suffering from some kind of fever. The other symptoms of this disease include profuse sweating and a blotchy red mark on the neck".
"A mutant?" Kite asked
"Yeah" Wes replied, "one we know all too well".
"The Silver Guardians attended the scene but they were too late to prevent the infection", the news reporter continued. "A spokesman for the Silver Guardians stated that the disease is not airborne and you can only be infected through direct contact with the primary carrier. They do advise that all citizens remain indoors until the crisis has passed. We will update you once we have more information but until then this is Caitlin Cornell for NBC News".
Some time later
The sun was getting low in the sky but none of the scientists and researchers had left. They were under pressure to find a cure for Venomark's virus and they probably wouldn't be leaving for the rest of the night. Early analysis showed that the liquid was some kind of all purpose antidote but it was too early to tell if it would be effective. Things were so busy that even Ms Morgan stayed behind to help. It was a little known fact that she graduated from college with a degree in Microbiology.
Whilst the rest of his team worked on the serum, Wes Collins was in a private room working on the ranger's blood results. Kite had sent him data with his healthy blood results so he could differentiate between the virus and their normal DNA. He had a theory that the serum her team were working on could also be used to help the rangers but it would take a while before he would be able to confirm that.
He was about to take a break when someone walked into his room. The man was in his late thirties or early forties with greying brown hair. He was tall, skinny and dressed in a grey suit with an open collar. He wore a pair of thick framed glasses and gave Wes a firm nod as a greeting, "I don't believe we've been introduced", Wes stated.
"Anton Mercer", the man said stiffly, "Head of the Directors at Project Hexagon".
Wes immediately got to her feet, "How did you get past security?"
"That's not important", Anton answered, "rumour has it that you're working on the cure for this virus that infected the city".
"What of it?" Wes snapped.
"Come now Wes, no need to be so tense", Anton smiled, "I've come to offer our assistance, I'm sure if we pool our resources we can reduce the time needed to create the antidote".
Wes took a few moments to appraise this newcomer. Clearly Anton Mercer was a confident man but his voice and mannerisms reminded him of a car sales man or a lawyer. Wes knew that Hexagon had been part of SPD. Accepting help from them would be a blow to the ego but right now she didn't have much choice, "I'm sure that you're not offering your services out of the kindness of your heart".
"Please call me Anton", the man replied smoothly, "and you insult us Mr Collins, we're here purely as humanitarians". He crossed the room and placed an arm around Wes's shoulder, "Although rumour has it that your helping these so called Animus Rangers".
Wes chose not to respond to the rumours. Anton smiled, "Perhaps there is a way you can help us". Wes suddenly felt very uneasy, like he was about to sell his soul and the rangers, to Project Hexagon.