A/N: Short, again, cringes it just seems to work that way. Decided to do each story for two. Name of the story is a mix of Quantum and Titanium, chosen for the fun of the moment.
Disclaimer: I own NOTHING: but the bear that is, 'cause I wanted a bear.
The bear says that if you don't review, it will eat you, HA!
Ryan wondered if his bad luck was his karma finally coming to take revenge for his years of evil, or if the universe just didn't like him. He'd gone hiking in the forests surrounding Silver Hills, and had had a horrible time. First, he'd gotten lost for two days; dumped into a river while fleeing a bear; been rained on, and when he finally found his truck back, it wouldn't start. The rain hadn't stopped all day, his cell phone didn't have signal and he didn't know exactly how far he'd have to walk to call a mechanic, not that he really wanted to after all that had happened. He was sitting in his truck, trying to gather up enthusiasm for the walk, when a black SUV pulled into the parking lot. He practically flew out of the truck and started waving his arms.
The SUV parked near his truck and a very familiar face appeared in the open window. "Are you all right?" Eric Myers called.
Ryan trotted over, "Man, am I glad to see a familiar face," he said, "Don't know if you remember me?"
"Ryan Mitchell," Eric replied, with a nod of acknowledgement, "Dana just called HQ asking if I'd seen you."
Ryan sighed, "I've had the worst two days since I retired. My truck won't start, but it's not the battery. Can you give me a lift?"
Eric eyed the soaked, mud splattered man, and then nodded, "Fine. Get in; we can call a tow truck later."
Ryan grinned, "Let me lock up my truck," he ran over, locked up the truck and hurried back to jump into the front of Eric's SUV. "I can't tell you how happy I am. I was trying to figure out if I had it in me to walk down to the gas station to call for a tow truck or not. Getting lost for two days is not my idea of a fun time."
"Lost?" Eric asked.
"Yeah," Ryan leaned back, "It was one of the worst vacations to date." He let his eyes close, having made up for his word deficit. He was ready to grab a quick nap in the warm, dry SUV.
Eric snorted suddenly, and Ryan jumped, "Sorry, just trying to figure out how you got lost on those trails. They're distinctly marked."
"There was this bear," Ryan muttered, defensively, "I was trying to back away calmly and it charged, so I ran and I fell into a river and when I climbed out there were no pretty signs saying 'Parking lot this way'."
Eric was quiet for a moment, and then a muffled laugh escaped, "A bear?"
"It's not funny," Ryan retorted angrily.
"It is funny to those who do not experience it." A voice commented.
Eric slammed on the brakes, throwing Ryan against his seatbelt. "What the fuck?" Eric demanded, spinning in his seat, "Whose there?"
"I have many names, Red Quantum Ranger; as many names as the Stars in the Sky. You may think of me as the Star Master. Titanium Ranger may remember me later. After all, even the demons respected me. It is written in the Stars, Children of the Night that we shall meet. When the Team has held the Power of the Rangers, then we shall meet. As I have written, so it will be."
Ryan had become very pale, and at first Eric thought it was because of this mysterious voice, before he could say anything though, Ryan threw off his harness, yanked open the door and heaved. Eric had a sudden flash of intuition, the former Titanium Ranger was sick, probably from swimming in the spring-fed Silver River, and then hiking through nearly two days of rain. When the door shut, he spoke, "Let's get you down to the hospital, and then we can worry about spooky voices in the middle of nowhere." He threw the SUV into drive and started down the mountain once more.
A/N 2: After consuming a few too many Smerinoff Raw Teas (Rasberry) and then pigging out on a couple of giant chocolate bars, I finally sucomb to insanity. There is no bear, please review
A/N 3: Urgh, formatting problems, sorry about that. I think I got it fixed now, if not, well, I'll keep trying.
