(A.N. Chapter 24 of It's Time For Time Force! Team up episodes are cool and both these teams are amazing! I'm struggling to figure out whether Nadira or Vypra annoys me more in this episode and what is with these villains and throwing rangers into crates? Also it's really cute that Wes moves out of his way to make sure he catches Jen but I kinda feel bad for Carter for having to catch the other three rangers. Anyway as always, I really hope you enjoy the chapter and please feel free to let me know what you think of it and the story :))
Time for Lightspeed
Every attack so far seemed to have thrown a curveball at the rangers but they never would've anticipated another ranger villain teaming up with Ransik. They were only glad that they had Carter on their side – after all, the best way to take down another team's enemy is with the help of that team. They brought him back to the clock tower and started talking around the table as they always did when they discussed their strategy. Jen paced as she asked the Lightspeed ranger. "Ransik never cared about the solar amulet, so why does Vypra want it so badly."
"The amulet holds powers from the shadow world. Now that she has it, Vypra will use her black magic to raise a super demon."
"A demon?" She looked back at her team – her eyes wide in concern – before she asked Carter. "How are we supposed to fight that?"
"It won't be easy but I have some friends who can help us out."
"Friends?" Trip asked. "You mean like other rangers?"
"Exactly, my team handed back our morphers when we sealed away Queen Bansheera and her demons." He nodded before he went to go call the rangers.
Jen sat herself at the computer and pressed a few buttons before the Lightspeed rangers appeared on the screen and she read. "The Lightspeed Rescue rangers defended Mariner Bay in the year 2001 against Queen Bansheera and her demons. The team – recruited by Captain William Mitchell and using the technology created by Angela Fairweather – comprised of six rangers: Carter Grayson (red), Chad Lee (blue), Joel Rawlings (green), Kelsey Winslow (yellow), Dana Mitchell (pink) and Ryan Mitchell (silver)." She turned back to her teammates. "They've faced these demons before, they're going to be our best bet for taking down whatever demon Vypra is trying to release."
The confrontation with Ransik and Vypra hadn't been simple, nor had they expected it to be. But they had the amulet so it should've been simple enough for Carter to smash it, right? Of course not. Nadira's wicked laugh made the two red rangers look up and dread filled their stomachs. "You might want to wait a second, red ranger."
They'd captured the Time Force rangers and Wes's heart sank to his stomach as he saw his teammates struggling against the grip of the Demon 5 warriors. The rangers' determination was clear though as Jen ordered. "Smash it, Carter!"
He tried once more, but he couldn't do it, not when the lives of the Time Force rangers were at stake. Though he was unsure whether the villains would stick to their end of the deal if he handed over the amulet, he couldn't risk it. He just had to hope that they would spare the Time Force rangers.
Ransik and Nadira laughed evilly as Vypra stalked towards the red rangers, snatching the amulet from his hand. "I'll take that." Returning to her place beside the villains, she held the amulet up to the sun. "There's still time." It began to hover as she chanted. "From the deepest shadows far below, where no mortal will dare to go. Only demons toss and burn, now mighty Quarganon, it's your time to return." The demon appeared in front of them and it truly was unlike any other creature they'd faced. He would be a tough opponent, there would be no doubt about it, but they were determined.
Thankfully and much to the relief of both red rangers, the demon warriors released the four rangers, throwing them towards Wes and Carter. The Lightspeed ranger managed to catch and stabilise Lucas, Trip and Katie, stopping them from colliding with the crate while Wes caught Jen around the waist. He held her tightly against him as he leaned down to whisper. "Are you ok?"
She nodded, holding him just as tightly as Vypra instructed the demon. "Destroy them Quarganon."
"It will be my pleasure." He replied and each of the rangers took a step back. Wes's hand went out in front of Trip as the other circled around Jen's waist, holding her close. The demon had only taken a few steps before blasts were fired at him and everyone turned to see the four Lightspeed Rescue rangers: Dana, Joel, Chad and Kelsey.
"Who are they?" Lucas asked and Carter put a hand on both his and Katie's shoulder as he responded proudly.
"Those are my friends."
"The Lightspeed rangers!" Trip exclaimed as the four ran over to join them.
They quickly got introduced and reunited as Ransik sneered. "Ten rangers? No problem."
The rangers moved into their lines, knowing they'd have to morph quickly but Ransik's attention was caught by the Silver Guardians' SUV pulling up. Ryan and Eric got out and the former rebutted. "You mean twelve."
The rangers morphed and when Vypra ordered the demons to attack, Wes instructed the rangers. "Let's do it." And that's exactly what they did.
After the battle, the Time Force rangers – minus Eric – brought the six Lightspeed rangers back to the clock tower. While the other rangers were showing around their respective colour, Dana pulled Jen aside, out of the view of the others. "Not to pry because I know we've only just met each other, but what's going on between you and Wes?"
The Time Force ranger's eyes widened. "Well, aren't you observant?" The Lightspeed ranger only shrugged before Jen looked at her expectantly. "But I could ask the same thing about you and Carter." When Dana blushed, she couldn't help but laugh. "I knew it."
"I'll answer yours if you answer mine?" She offered weakly.
Jen rolled her eyes playfully but relented. "Ok, between you and me, Wes and I are together but only Katie knows. With everything going on and the whole ranger duty, it's just easier to keep it quiet, we don't want to complicate anything." It was quiet between them before the pink Time Force ranger encouraged the girl. "Ok, so what about you and Carter?"
"Me and Carter... Honestly? I don't know. I mean I like Carter but I'm just not sure if-" Jen looked at her sternly and Dana quickly changed the course of her sentence. "Ok, so I guess you think he does. I'm just not sure."
"Do you want there to be something between you?" The girl nodded. "Then go for it. You're retired from your ranger duties so you don't have that side of things to worry about and there's nothing wrong with you pursuing a relationship."
"Then why wouldn't he have asked already?" Dana asked quietly.
"He's a guy, they're clueless sometimes." She placed her hand on the blonde's shoulder as she told her. "They may be the red rangers but they wouldn't get very far without us." She nodded her head towards Carter as she instructed the girl. "Go for it."
Dana exhaled slowly before she nodded and walked over to the two red rangers. "Sorry Wes, Carter, could I talk to you for a minute?" Both red rangers nodded before Wes walked over to talk to Jen and Dana brought Carter towards the tiled clock so there was a bit of distance between them and the others.
She bit her lip with thinly veiled nerves as Carter looked at her casually. "So what's up?"
"I don't really know why I'm telling you this now but I'm just going to come out and say it." She inhaled softly before she revealed. "I like you, Carter."
To her shock, his response was kissing her. His hands held the sides of her face as he brought her closer and their embrace caught the attention of all the other rangers in the room. The yellow rangers cheered and Joel whistled, making the surrounding rangers laugh. Jen felt Wes's arm snake around her and he leaned down to her ear, whispering. "Doing a little matchmaking, are we Jennifer?"
She only looked up at him, shrugging with a smile before her attention turned back to the new ranger couple. Now broken from their kiss, Carter stood behind Dana with his arms around her waist as they spoke to the other rangers. The pink Lightspeed ranger glanced over at Jen, mouthing 'thank you' to which Jen responded with a smile as she shook her head.
Despite the demon, it had been nice to fight alongside and get to know another ranger team. Though each ranger was very different to their counterpart, they all got on really well with their counterpart and found some common ground on top of being the same ranger colour. The Lightspeed rangers had been really interested in hearing all about Time Force and enjoyed spending time with them in the clock tower. The team later escorted them back to Mariner Bay and it had been a quiet afternoon after that. No threats from Ransik to worry about and no odd jobs for them to complete so they had the afternoon and evening to themselves.
Later that night, Wes woke up and knew that it couldn't be much later than 12. He went to turn over but noticed the weight of a hand on his. His momentary confusion gave way to tender affection at the source. Curled up next to his makeshift bed, holding onto his hand was his sleeping girlfriend. Gently prying his hand free, he managed to lift her onto the mattress beside him without waking her. His fingers moved the stray strands out of her face before his thumb traced over her cheek. What he had done to deserve her, he didn't know but he was grateful to fate, the stars or whatever higher power that brought her to him.
This was a rare opportunity, a moment of stillness where Wes could simply study his girl - and she was beautiful. Her smooth skin showed no signs of worry or pain as she slept peacefully and he noticed the slight pink flush in her cheeks from the coolness of the clock tower. His eyes traced over freckles speckled over her cheeks and nose and light remnants remained of the mostly healed scars she had from fighting the mutants. His girl was strong – the strongest he'd met – and she was a fighter. Though they had a bit of a rocky start, he knew from that first moment that she was special and that he wanted to do everything he could for her to be his.
And she was, for now, and for whatever time they had left. He knew that was the case but he didn't like thinking about it. He just wanted to enjoy having her with him while he could. She'd summed it up so perfectly. He'd rather be with her, even if they only got to spend a few days or weeks or months together. He wanted to be with her. Because being with her, for however long, no matter how little, was better than never being with her at all.
And in this moment, he got to have her all to himself. No worrying about Ransik or Frax attacking. No worry about hiding from the others. No worry about their duty. And even no worry of Jen saying that he was staring too much. He simply had her all to himself and he wished that he could freeze that moment. He wanted to freeze that moment so he'd never have to let her go. Because how do you voluntarily lose the person you love?
Love. His eyes widened and for another time that night, he was glad that she was asleep. This wasn't the first time that word had popped into his head. He'd never deny that. It had first come as a passing feeling or a fleeting thought, until he'd admitted it to Katie when Alex came into the picture. And since then it had always been there whenever he was around Jen but never had it come so quickly, so abruptly, so overpowering and all-consuming that he almost couldn't breathe. It washed over him like a tidal wave, covering him completely and there was no way he could deny it.
"I love her." He quietly admitted to himself, saying the words aloud for the first time in her presence. His eyes drifted back down to her face, his thumb stroking over her cheek as he whispered. "I love you, Jennifer, I'll love you a thousand years into the future."
Knowing he'd regret it if he didn't attempt to go back to sleep now, he placed a soft kiss on her forehead. He gently manoeuvred her so she was lying on her stomach in the position he'd seen her asleep in many times and he held her hand in his, resting their joint hands between them. He kissed the back of her hand, whispering. "Good night Sweetheart."