"So, how is everything?" Charlie asked, unable to contain her joy for seeing an old friend and comrade. She flipped her now short curly hair over her shoulder as she handed Meredith a glass of water. Both girls jumped slightly as Andrew Harpold worked on his project noisily nearby. "Harps, you mind keeping the sparks to a minimum?" Charlie asked loudly over the noise of his tools.
"Sorry!" he called back over the noise, returning to his work.
Meredith smiled at the pair's antics and returned her attention back to the conversation at hand. "Everything is good…really good. It's been so crazy going everywhere and anywhere, but I've learned a lot."
"The whole thing sounds amazing…planet hopping, meeting consulates and royalty…" Charlie said with a wistful twinkle in her eye.
"Fighting wars," Meredith finished for her somewhat less enthusiastically.
"But being a red ranger definitely has it's perks right?" she goaded with a smile and wink.
Meredith laughed, enjoying the antics that once annoyed her. "Of course, but I'm smart enough to know that just because I wear a different color than I used to doesn't mean I know everything. It's cool how each person brings their own knowledge to the team, I forget a lot that I'm supposed to be 'the leader' you know?'" Charlie nodded in understanding. "Plus it helps getting your ass handed to you every now and again, keeps you grounded," Meredith added jovially. Charlie giggled in response, unable to keep her own drink from sloshing onto her uniform. "What about you? Still enjoying the whole teaching gig?" Meredith asked in genuine interest.
Charlie's doe eyes sparkled at the mention of her students, "I completely love it! The younger cadets are such a blast to be around, and I feel like I really make an impact. I liked being a ranger but strong arming the scum of the earth all day isn't exactly my cup of tea," she explained. "Besides, I still have an occasional patrol shift now and again just to keep me on my toes."
"Harps over here seems to still be loving working in the tech development department," Meredith observed, motioning with her head toward their hard at work friend.
"Tell me about it. Sometimes I have to come down here and remind him to eat. He gets so engrossed with his projects I practically have to drag him to the dining commons myself," Charlie divulged affectionately.
Despite the noise Andrew had been listening to the conversation. He turned off his tools for a moment to respond. "I don't do that anymore. Passing out once was enough for me, I almost lost a hand," he said, shaking his hand in the air for emphasis before returning back to his work. Both girls laughed lightly before Meredith checked her watch and realized she had to report to the command center.
"Alright guys, I gotta head out. Somebody has to save the world while you're busy making it better," she announced, setting down her drink. Charlie jumped onto her former teammate, assaulting her with a cheery hug.
"Let me know the next time you're on earth," she insisted as she released her. Meredith nodded emphatically then went to Harps and imitated the exuberant hug Charlie had given her. Harps dropped what he was doing and tried to keep his balance, all laughing at the good hearted mockery.
"Later guys," she waved before exiting the doors and heading back toward the command center. She arrived a few minutes later, the last of both squads to get there. She quickly found her spot beside Aidan and saluted the Commander as he approached the two lines of rangers.
"At ease," he commanded with his hands tucked neatly behind his back. "We've acquired some new information regarding the use of the dimensional tear that requires our immediate action. An arms exchange between the dimensions and a transfer of soldier resources is taking place this evening. We're going to take them down when they move tonight and hopefully seal the tear so it can no longer be exploited or risk the stability of our dimension. Both Kat and Officer Harpold are working on a device to do this as we speak," he informed, going through several visual images on the 3-D projector. "As you can imagine the situation is much more delicate than a simple ambush. This means we will be breaking the squads down into small task groups according to specialty or necessity." Both squads stirred at the Commander's last comment though no one made any objection. "Dieter," Cruger began, motioning to the A-squad blue ranger. "You, Aidan, and Sydney will form Task Group 1. Your goal is to track the weapons and arms, securing them and intercepting their transfer. With any luck they will never make it to sector twelve." At this the blue rangers and the pink ranger nodded in understanding. "We have one of the drivers that was supposed to make the drop tonight. I need you to get all the information out of him that's possible and convince him to cooperate with us tonight in exchange for a shorter sentence." Cruger took a moment to collect his thoughts before continuing to address the group. "I need Josh, Laura, and Duke to be Task Group 2. Your mission is to follow the leads on the underground hideouts for the Troobian foot soldiers. I want them contained and neutralized before they get to sector twelve as well. Bridge and Berret, you are Task Group 3. Your objective is to track down the big players and follow their every move up until the exchange tonight. I want to know the names of these mutants and aliens who are still working for Troobian purposes here on earth. You'll report to Task Group 4, Tate and Oliver." Cruger turned to address the two red rangers specifically. "Once we know who these guys are and learn their channels we need to take them down. You'll be stationed in sector twelve, the last safeguard against anyone getting through or coming out of the dimensional tear." They both nodded in understanding, Meredith trying to swallow the lump that had developed in her throat. Her specialty was surveillance, why wasn't she in Task Group 3? Was he trying to punish her? Putting her specifically in sector twelve with none other than Sky? 'Face your fears my ass,' Meredith thought bitterly, 'he's trying to kill me.' "Alright, you have your assignments. Dismissed," Cruger commanded. The rangers dispersed into their assigned groups and began preparation or left to begin their assignments.