Chapter Two: All That's Left
Oliver Residence…
"You're telling us that she's still alive and that some how ten rangers missed her entirely? How is this possible that none of us would notice her? We've been searching for her since the day she vanished" Jason exclaimed, he couldn't believe what Tommy was telling him. He'd been out of his mind with grief when his cousin has disappeared and now it seemed he couldn't even notice her when she was right under his nose.
"The good news is that we know she was on the moon the same time we were; which means that she hasn't forgotten any of us" T.J. commented, trying to reassure Jason that it was a good sign that she'd been there at all.
"But why hide? I mean, doesn't she want to come home?" Rocky asked, a familiar pang in his heart that had yet to fade away even after all these years. From the corner of his eye he could discern the smiling face on the photo sitting on the mantle of all of them together as being hers.
"Maybe something's preventing her from coming back. I mean, look how things were left between all of us. Between her and Adam most of all" Aisha replied, mentioning the one person who wasn't there yet to discuss things. Having been one of his oldest friends, the look they saw when she had vanished nearly broke her heart.
"Actually, she had a reason to leave the way she did and I think it's time you guys knew about it" Andros said, breaking the silence that had fallen after Aisha had spoken. He'd been hoping he would never have had to do this, but with things the way they were, he knew he had to.
"You know her? But how?" Tommy asked, as far as anyone knew, Andros had never met Keri at all.
"We met one day on Nyamous when she was looking for Adam's cure. At that time, I had been searching for a way to help Zhane. We've been friends ever since, but that's not what I had to tell you. She left because something happened that day of the eclipse that she hadn't been planning on. You see, Keri was going to leave with Zhane and me but not in the way she had. She was going to tell you guys hoping you wouldn't try to stop her but that day changed everything" Andros began, carefully beginning to form the next sentence in his mind just as another person entered the room.
"By all means Andros, enlighten us" Adam said, staring the former Red Astro Ranger down with slightly angry eyes. Someone had known all along what had happened to his love and he was not amused at all by the secrecy they had shown.
"She ended up getting pregnant that day Adam and she knew she no longer had the luxury of being able to wait. It only lasted that one day but when the child was born, it took all of Keri's power to form and it placed her into a state of dormancy. She was encased in an ever-burning wall of fire with only two ways of possibly awakening; either Adam found her or the universe would be doomed without her and she would awaken. Initially, we had placed her in a locked room inside the Astro Megaship but as time went on, we placed her instead on Mirinoi. This was many years ago though, I'm not sure what has happened since" Andros explained, knowing that it would be a while before Adam forgave him for keeping his love's whereabouts a secret from him.
"So when Serpentera had been located again and the Machine Empire had been plotting to destroy Earth and take over the universe, she came back in a heartbeat" Billy deducted based on what Andros had told him and what he knew had occurred many years back.
"What about the child?" Kimberly asked, keeping silent about the fact that she too had known Keri had been planning on leaving the group to help develop her rapidly growing powers.
"Gone, she was kidnapped many years ago and brought up as Nadrid, Ransik's daughter and is currently 3,000 years in the future with the rest of the Time Force Rangers" Zhane replied, remembering the day Valkyria had been injured and taken in battle by people working for Ransik.
"Wait, Valkyria was Keri's child? Why didn't you guys say anything?" Cassie demanded, the four of them had been led to believe that Valkyria was Andros' younger sister and Karone never disputed it. Yet, she'd been taken before Karone had come back to the side of good.
"She swore us to secrecy, it was her choice whether or not she wanted to tell you" Zhane answered, recalling the fateful day Keri had given birth to a child already six years old with the ability to change into her true form of a sixteen year old at will.
"So, what do we want to do? We know Keri showed up on the Moon almost two years ago, we don't know where she could be now" Tommy said, presenting the idea of possibly finding her for Adam and Jason's sakes.
"What if she went after Valkyria; can she time travel?" Ashley asked, thinking that if she had a daughter that had gone missing after coming out of a coma like that, she would search for her.
"There's no way to tell what she's capable of anymore, it was hard to tell in the first place" Jason replied, remembering all the things his cousin had been able to do without even trying.
"As powerful as I am, time travel is not something I'm capable of. However, teleportation is" a calm, confident voice sounded behind them and they turned to a woman in a garbed in a flowing lavender and pale green robe and silver satin slippers. A green gem shined from the middle of her cleavage, the same gem she'd worn for many years close to her heart.
For six years no one had seen this person and now after so long, she was standing in front of them, looking as though she had never aged for those six years but she had in wisdom and in strength.
"Keri" Adam dared to breathe her name from his lips afraid that this was a dream and he'd wake up and she would still be gone from his life. Six years he'd prayed for her return to him, for he could never love another girl; it could only be her.
"I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt any of you; it wasn't supposed to be like this. I swear all I wanted was to train my powers but instead my life had been taken from me and I was taken from all of you. My world had gone dark and when I awoke, no one was there. I felt a need to be somewhere and so I ended up on the Moon but only a few off you I knew and I didn't know what was going on except that Serpentera was released and threatening the Earth. All I knew was that if you were to fail, I would have to finish what was started, but you didn't need my help and then Illyana came and told me that her time was up and that I would soon have to take her place. But then something didn't feel right here and I knew I had to come back, that I had something that I needed to do but I don't know what that is" she explained all in one breath, her cheeks tinged with red as she tried to remember that she did need to breathe.
"You really are here, I've been waiting for the day you'd come back" Adam said as he stepped forward and embraced her tightly to his chest.
"Adam I'm so sorry, I never meant to be gone so long" she whispered as tears fell from her eyes. She felt another embrace the two of them and knew it was her cousin Jason whom had also missed her dearly.
Later…
Hazel orbs stared up towards the night sky as their owner sorted through the days' events in her mind. Everyone had forgiven her for what had transpired six years ago but now, she needed to find the one person who had taken her away from everyone – her daughter. She somehow needed to find a way to travel 3,000 years into the future to find her and bring her home. There was only one sure way to do that aside from her alternative and that was to find Wes Collins.
Next Day…
Adam awoke to the strange feeling that he was not alone in the room. Sitting upright, he found his love standing at the window and he had to remind himself that Keri had finally come home.
"I need to find Valkyria, Adam" Keri said as she turned away from the window to face him.
"You just got back! I don't think I could bare it if you left again" he replied, scared that this time she might not come back at all.
"I'm telling you Adam because I want you to come with me to find her" she stated calmly, she'd been expecting his outburst.
"What about the others Keri? Jason and I have spent all this time searching, what do you intend to tell everyone?" he asked, wondering how she'd break the news to them as well.
"I intend to bring Jason, Kim, Tommy, Zhane and Andros along with us. Anything else you want to know?" she answered, waiting to see if he had anymore questions to barrage her with.
"Yeah tow things actually. How do you intend to travel 3,000 years into the future?" he began, knowing she, herself, couldn't time travel.
"Time Force Ranger Wes Collins; and the second question" she replied, waiting for his next big worry of a question.
"Will you marry me?" he finished, digging the ring he'd bought six years ago out of his pant pocket and presenting it to her.
"I thought my life ended six years ago but now, I know why I needed to return here. My heart could never give you up and I would love nothing more than to marry you Adam" she replied after the shock subsided enough for her to speak and Adam slipped the ring onto her finger.
Later…
"How do you know that this guy will just help you find a person 3,000 years in the future that tried to take over earth?" Kim asked as they road the train to Silver Heights where Wes lived.
"I don't; but I'm hoping since every ranger – current and formal – has taken an oath to protect me, mainly from myself, that he will help me" Keri answered, trying to get used to the feel of jeans again after having spent six years stuck in a robe.
"I've been meaning to ask you though, how can you marry Adam if you're immortal?" Kim revealed, she knew Adam loved their friend but if she was going to surpass his life, what happiness could there possibly be.
"There's always a way Kim, you just have to find it" she smiled knowingly, but inside, she was trying to answer the same question.
Elsewhere…
"Lt. Myers sir, there's a visitor for Commander Collins. Someone by the name of Keri Lee, sir" Petty Officer Turner said as he entered the office of his CO. Eric Myers, at the mention of the visitor's name, was immediately attentive and ordered she'd be brought in at once.
"I see you're doing well Eric; I hope you've learned the efficiency of teamwork" Keri commented as she was lead into the room, Turner sent off to find Wes.
"How do you know so much? Last I heard, you've been MIA for the past six years. Anything you'd like to share?" Eric replied, Tommy, T.J. and Jason had briefly mentioned her in their own discussions. He didn't see anything special about her though.
"Contrary to what you may believe, I was there for your team-up to fight Serpentera. Never again are ten men allowed to fight without women; my god, all you did was bicker about who's ego was bigger" she remarked just as Turner arrived with Wes, who was still in his full OPs training gear.
"Wes, we have a visitor for you; Keri Lee, Jason's cousin" Eric announced as Wes stripped off some of his unnecessary gear.
"I'll tell you right now, you made a better Red Ranger than Alex. He almost fucked it up – again" Keri said before Wes could begin to form words of his own.
"Not that I mind, but does Jason know you're on earth? He's and the others have been looking searching for you for quite some time" Wes told her as he wondered why she wanted to see him of all people.
"They're waiting for me outside; I thought it best not to see you with a group of people larger than five. I've come on business actually, but feel free to talk with Tommy and Jason. Wes, do you have any way of contacting Jen and the others?" she replied, her tone having gone from joking to serious in seconds.
"Only if there's an emergency, they left Circuit with us. Jen normally calls every week or so; why?" Wes asked, curious as to why this girl cared if he could contact Jen.
"We need to go to the future and we need to go now" she answered, her daughter didn't belong there and she'd prove it.
Later…
Jason sighed as he thought over what Wes had told he and Tommy earlier after Keri had finished talking to him. Apparently two years back Jen had contacted him and told him that the prison had been destroyed, along with its occupants, in a major fight against some new enemy or something. All bodies had been accounted for, including Nadrid's. However, in the days leading up to the destruction of the prison they found that Nadrid had been acting strange; Lucas reported that it was almost as though she knew what was coming. The day before it happened, she'd asked if Jen could deliver a note to a woman that would appear to them in two years' time. Wes was now certain that Nadrid had known that Keri would appear in the year 3,000 to find her.
"Does she know?" Tommy asked as they glanced over at Keri who was sitting happily with Adam and the others. They were telling her stories of things that had happened after she'd left their world.
"No, I know that she'll go to the year 3,000; that's when she'll learn what happened and Jen will give her the letter. Eric has already spoken to her, they're sending Lucas and Trip with a ship so that Keri can travel to the future" Wes replied, he knew it would soon be a sad day for the woman who'd finally come home to her loved ones.
"Don't worry cuz, we're here for yah" Jason swore as he glanced over at his cousin who was patiently waiting for the Time Force ship that would take her to another time and another heartache.
Meanwhile…
Keri laughed as Zhane told her about what had happened when he'd been caught with Karone shortly after she'd been returned to the side of good. It was good be home and with the company of her friends again. Although she'd been asleep, her mind was still functional within her subconscious thoughts and she'd been extremely lonely during those years she was caste into space. She was happy now for the first time in six long years; she had her friends, her family, and her love and soon she'd be reunited with her daughter.
Suddenly the sky grew dark and a wind picked up, blowing the girl's long hair madly around their faces as lightning cracked the sky. Everyone stared up at the swirling green and blue vortex that seemed amassed with cosmic energy. In a heartbeat, the storm ended and there sat a silver ship on the lawn of the Silver Guardians training grounds.
"Big enough entrance?" Kim rhetoricalized as she attempted to smooth out the unruly mass that was her hair.
"Lucas, Trip, it's so good to see you guys" Wes said as two people descended the platform from the ship onto the planet's surface.
"Dude, if only we could have you and Alex trade spots, I am going to wring his neck soon if he doesn't shut up and stop trying to win Jen back" Trip grinned as he and Lucas removed their shades that they used in time travel.
"Jen told us to pick up someone from this timeline. Apparently it's someone who can't be refused by rangers or something. Anyways, she said only her and two others can come to our timeline, and only for three hours or else everything will get fucked up" Lucas informed him, as he gazed over Wes' shoulder to the group of people standing further away from the ship.
"So, just who is this all-power being Jen didn't even hesitate to send a ship for?" Trip asked as he too looked over the people behind Wes.
"The one wearing the purple halter-top; she's the original red ranger's cousin, Keri Lee" he replied, not even daring to look behind him as he grinned at his friend's faces as their faces dropped. Although it wasn't for the same reason that everyone else who had only heard of her did, it was for another reason entirely.
Later…
Keri stood in awe of her surroundings as she climbed out of the ship as fast as she could; Jason and Adam behind her. The year 3,000 wasn't like anything she imagined it would be – it was more. The technological advances were evident as she tried to take in everything around her. This was the place her daughter had grown up in, would she be able to live in her world?
"Keri, try not to get lost while we're here. We've only got a few hours remember?" Jason said as he joined his cousin outside the ship which sat atop the Time Force building.
"Look at it all though, it's like the entire city was built using Billy's brain or something. I mean, this is stuff we can barely comprehend. Billboards that float above buildings, transversal space flight, hover-cars…this time period is amazing!" she exclaimed as her eyes jumped from one thing to the next.
"This way everyone, there are people waiting for us" Trip interrupted as he and Lucas managed their way over to the hyperactive woman and led her away from the sights. They walked through a door that took them to an elevator which moved down towards the middle of the building and opened. Stepping out, they were greeted by three people and surprisingly since the floor was so big, that was all.
"Welcome rangers of the 20th century. This is Katie and Alex, I'm Jen" the middle figure said, introducing herself and the other two that flanked her.
"Thank you for you immediate response to my request. I came here looking for someone who was kidnapped into this timeline many years back. Her name is Valkyria, but you know her more commonly as Nadrid" Keri said, getting right down to business; there time was short and she intended to take her child with her no matter how she had to do it.
"We are aware of the reason why you've come here Purple Ranger; however, I'm afraid it is in vain. Nadrid is no longer here" Alex interjected, glaring at her and despite the familiarity of his and Wes' faces; she knew they were nothing alike.
"A few years ago during a battle with what had been a new enemy, the prison was destroyed and those inside with it. Before you ask, yes, all bodies were accounted for" Jen explained, she felt a slight twinge of sympathy for the woman before her.
"Then why…why did you bring me here if you knew why I wanted to come? Why didn't you just tell me before?" Keri stuttered in disbelief, it couldn't be true, her daughter couldn't be dead.
"She somehow knew you would come here looking for her. She gave me this the day before it all happened" Jen replied, handing the smaller woman the letter Nadrid had written the day before her death.
"We have a cemetery for prisoners who pass on while serving their time. She was buried there along with everyone else. We'll take you there" Katie reported, hoping this would bring their guest a little comfort in her grief.
She nodded, despite not having truly heard her words. The folded letter lay in her hands as she stared at what was written on the outside of it. Mother. That one word alone brought tears to her eyes as Adam helped steer her towards the elevator doors and down towards the city below.
Cemetery…
Keri sat on her knees at the foot of her daughter's grave. Although it was Valkyria who'd been responsible for her disappearance all those years ago, she had also ensured her survival. She'd been looking forward to being with her daughter, to share her life with her; but now it had all been taken away. All that was left was a memory.
Mother,
If you are reading this than you know that I am no longer of this world. I've done things that I'm not proud of, but I did them out of love and respect towards the man who raised me as his own. I awoke in this world with no memory of who or what I was; it was only later on that I remembered. Mother, I was born from you six years ago in the form of a six year old child, a form that hid my true age of sixteen from you. Andros and Zhane accepted me and I grew up with them to guide me for those first few years. They wondered why I was born and how I came to be. Mother, unlike you I am not immortal. Only Goddesses are immortal and I am not one. I am a Celestial being that was sent to help you find your way, but I fear that I no longer will have that opportunity. I knew you would awaken someday, but since I was no longer within the correct timeline, it was not when it was supposed to be. I'm sorry for having taken you away from those you hold dear to you. Mother, please forgive my sin.
Love your daughter,
Valkyria
Adam sighed as he glanced at the tombstone that adorned the name of Keri's daughter. He'd come to find her, but she wasn't there. Instead, all he found where the flowers that'd been placed at the foot of her child's grave. He felt someone stand next to him, and saw that it was Jason; the others standing a bit further back out of respect to a grieving mother. What they saw though, was not what had been placed on the tombstone they'd laid there two years ago.
Valkyria Lee-Park
1997-3004
What she did, she did out of love