Eyes of Tomorrow
Part Two

Note: I do not own Power Rangers Time Force nor do I make a profit from writing this story. I do not own the lullaby. I came by it from an amazing television series, if you know it, you get a cookie.
Timeline: One year after Reinforcement from the Future Part Two
Rating: T-M (Language, Violence, Adult Themes)
Genre: Angst, Drama, Mystery, Horror

Lucas Kendall was looking at Alexander Drake with a look of pure horror. Jennifer Scott, his leader, his best friend who was strong as any man and as determined as Alex had just suffered a complete melt down in the hallway before his eyes. Alex seemed to be expecting it, which pissed Lucas off. If something was going on with Jen, he shouldn't be the last to know.

"What the fuck just happened?" He asked, Alex sighed and rubbed his eyes as the medication finally kicked in and Jen was unconscious.

"Jennifer has been experiencing what I attributed to echoes from her recent trips. It could still be the cause but given her lack of sleep lately it could have brought on the attack," Lucas sighed.

"I knew she was having trouble sleeping but how bad has it been?" he asked, Alex shrugged.

"I am unsure since I do not monitor Jen around the clock but from this kind of reaction I'm thinking since her return she's probably slept less than 24 hours," Alex estimated, Lucas wanted to hit him.

"She returned a week ago!"

"I am aware Lucas. Can you please bring Trip, I need him here," Lucas was too angry to stay in the room anymore. He didn't want to be written up for striking Alex so he stomped out of the room, looking for their green haired companion.

-EYES OF TOMORROW-

Alex watched Lucas go and rolled his eyes. He acted like such a child sometimes, his reaction was understandable but outbursts would lead no where. He learned the hard way; it was partially why he contained himself constantly. Grabbing a chair, Alex sat beside the flat bed as Jen slept, concern washing through him. Even drugged her nightmares were breaking through as she thrashed in the confined bed. He looked to the Doctor who was nearby and back to Jen.

"Was she examined after her return?" he asked, the Doctor jumped at the sound of Alex's voice and the tone given.

"Of course, Sir. She had no physical damage and if there were anything else, Officer Scott would have told us. She always has in the past. I heard you say this may be echoes?" Alex nodded.

"I have…" he said slowly, the Doctor shook her head.

"It can't be. Echoes also affect physically, she would have developed that by now. She seems to be hallucinating," Alex sighed, he didn't want to hear that, as much as he had been saying echoes, deep down he knew it wasn't. This sounded like a mental health issue…something that had been eradicated from the human race over 100 years ago. They had made sure of that when they began to genetically engineer children.

"What are we going to do?"

"First I'm going to give her a fully body scan. Given her mental health is deteriorating so badly, I need to know is that all that's failing," she said, Alex nodded.

"I do not have the right to give you permission to continue," he said and as he was about to leave to find what was keeping Lucas, the Doctor's words stopped him cold.

"Actually you do, Officer Drake."

"How? I'm sure she would have taken me off as her proxy," he said, brows scrunched in confusion.

"She was asked when your engagement was broken but she told us that if anything happened, she'd still trust you to make the right call," Alex nodded and looked down at her.

"Then continue," and he sat at the desk as the Doctor grabbed her handheld wand that would scan each bone and muscle within Jen's body, transfer to her computer and give full results.

As she began, Alex kept his eyes on the screen as the first information appeared. And what he saw, he couldn't believe it.

-EYES OF TOMORROW-

As Lucas arrived with Trip and Katie in tow, they paused in the doorway as they saw Jen was now propped up on a table. As soon as she looked up at them, her screams shattered the quiet. Alex immediately shot up and crossed to her.

"What is it?" Jen was shaking and trying to move away.

"She's burning. She's burning. I can smell her flesh burning!" she screamed, Alex looked over to see Lucas was ushering Katie out of sight and Trip had bolted to the nearest trashcan and was throwing up. He had never seen Trip sick before, he had no idea he could even vomit.

Jen calmed down and Lucas walked in and began to rub Trip's back. It was a rare but touching moment between them. Alex looked at them then back to Jen.

"Trip, what did you see?" he asked.

"I saw Katie through Jen's eyes. To her she saw Katie walking in and her skin-" Trip sobbed and started to dry heave then slowly composed himself. "her skin began to fall away and then from the inside her body lit on fire and she was reaching for Jen. She told her 'You failed us. This is your fault. Join me in hell,' This isn't Jen. This isn't Jen!" Trip's voice grew to a scream.

"I know, Trip, this isn't Jen."

Alex left Jen's side and reached for Trip, wrapping his arms around his shoulder. He took both men out of the medical room and the door slid shut behind them. They walked in silence into the conference room and Trip inhaled shakily as he inhaled. Katie held him close and stroked his face.

"Guys, tell me what just happened," she demanded.

"The Jen that is here isn't our Jennifer. I do not know where or how this one came back. The damage internally to her body is horrific. She's been tortured for the period of at least one year. There are bones that have not healed properly and.." Alex paused, the others waited for him to continue and they were surprised to hear his voice waver, "She...she…has extensive trauma to her pelvic region…"

"Oh my God, the poor thing!" Katie said, it may not be her Jen but no woman should have to endure that. "But why did she freak out when she saw me?"

"You must have triggered something…" Lucas said, Trip nodded.

"I need to get back in there with her. If she's medicated, I can get into her mind."

"Trip, are you sure you want to, given what you just saw?" Alex asked, Trip nodded.

"I need to. We need answers," the alien replied and the others nodded.

"Go and report back," Alex said and hung his head. This wasn't going to be good…

-EYES OF TOMORROW-

Trip cautiously entered the medical room where Jen now lay awake. Her eyes were darting back and forth, evidence of a horror only she could hear. For now. He reached for her face and as his flesh touched hers, he saw into her mind.

It was a jumble of images and phrases, a lullaby and tortured screams. Of fire and pain, metal and flesh.

Cree craw, Toad's foot, Geese walk barefoot…she was singing softly, it was her only thought. The rest of it was still jumbled voices and he sought to reach her…

Jen, its me Trip, answer me.

You're not Trip. You're still green. Trip isn't green anymore. He's black and empty.

No, Jen, it's me, focus. He begged.

I am focused. Her voice was hard.

No, you're not. Your mind is a mess! All these hallucinations? These are what dominate your thoughts? This horror?
What horror?…cree craw, toad's foot…she began to sing again.

Image after image. Body after body fell and Trip couldn't stop screaming.

Why did you come here? What have you done? STOP THIS! His screams were turning into sobs and he felt pity through her.

I'm honestly trying. This IS my mind now. You can see that. Can't you? You can see there's evil in my lines. I lost my mind long ago, do you see it? I gave it for Queen and country!

God she wasn't making any sense. Not at all, and she sensed his dismay and confusion and returned to singing. That stream of thought soon became the only thing he heard. Everything began to quiet, the images began to fade and her soft voice sweetly crooned.

Jen, I'm sorry.

Bring the others before they spoil then let the lamp affix its beam.

Suddenly there was a great light and he saw a great tower before him. A light at the top circled like a lighthouse before it finally took focus on him. He felt like his skin had been set on fireTrip pulled out of her mind and when he looked into her face. A chilling smile waited on her lips. Her eyes were locked on his and that smile scared him to death.

"Cree craw, toads foot, geese walk barefoot…" she sang softly and struggled against her restraints, to reach him. "The only emperor is fixing his beam. We don't want to be late," she told him and with that, he turned on his heels and ran for the others.

Throwing himself back into the small room, everyone looked at him in surprise.

"Trip, what is it?" Katie asked, Trip stared at them and inhaled shakily.

"She's completely insane. Driven insane."

"Why? By how? Where did she come from?"

"I…I…God this is so hard…" Trip whispered and Katie's hand locked on his.

"Tell us Trip," she urged gently.

"Ransik won…"

-EYES OF TOMORROW-

Even through time and space Jen heard a small voice in her mind. As she let out a blood curdling scream, the Rangers came back in. She smiled at them all and she saw the fear in their faces.

"He's waiting…the longer we wait…the more time he has with her." She warned. Alex stepped toe to toe and his eyes bore into hers.

"What is he going to do to her?" he demanded and she continued to smile.

"The same thing he did to me."

-TO BE CONTINUED-