Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers.
Chapter 16 – History
Nearly a year had passed since that fateful day that Mesogog had been destroyed. Everyone had spent a pleasant summer relaxing, getting used to as normal a life as Rangers can get, and for some people, like Anton and Elsa, getting used to being themselves again. A week after prom the three high school graduates final exam results came and all three were pleased with their scores. For Ethan and Trent it cemented the entrance scholarships their respective schools had promised them should they keep their grades up, and for Connor it meant that he'd definitely qualify for any college he may apply to in the future. His soccer training for the Reefside Flames began the first week of July and although it was a gruelling schedule, there was no homework involved so his time off the field was his own. Trent and Ethan prepared for their move to college and Connor and Ethan finally worked up the courage to tell their parents that they were Rangers. It helped a lot that their parents didn't have to worry about their safety every day for there were no longer battles going on, and since Mesogog was destroyed by their hands, the argument that they couldn't possibly defeat such a powerful being went out the window. The McKnights and James' weren't happy that this was kept from them, to say the least, but they accepted it over the course of the summer and with a lot of help from Tommy and Kim's parents and Anton, who told them about his past as Mesogog when the group decided to be entirely truthful with the parents. While it was a relief for Ethan for his parents to know, it wasn't that big of a deal as he was going away to college, but for Connor it made all the difference for he was still going to be living with his parents and the big question on why he was spending so much time with his former teacher, especially his former teacher's daughter, could now be explained away as them being his teammates and having become his friends, allowing their bonding to remain a secret; there were some things you just didn't tell your parents, no matter how truthful you decided to be with them.
In August, a week before Trent and Ethan left for college, the gang celebrated Kira's eleventh birthday, a milestone in Connor's mind as it was her first birthday since they bonded. They'd had his eighteenth birthday back in April, the 14th to be exact, and she'd marked it with a cake, a new soccer ball as a present, and complete control of the remote for an entire week, meaning she ended up watching a lot of soccer games. But she was a kid. Mature or not she was still a kid and she'd needed her parents' help with the cake, and had taken his answer to her question on what he wanted for his birthday, 'something to do with soccer', at face value; though he conceded that even if it wasn't an official birthday present, she'd been working on his future when he'd basically given up and had forced him to the open tryouts. That was just one of the hard things in all this; she could be mature enough not to give up on his future, but enough of a kid to get him a gift at face value from a vague description of what he might want, instead of coming up with something on her own, like most mature people in a relationship did. Of course their relationship wasn't by any means one most people were in, but the premise was still the same. So he ended up overthinking her birthday until Kim dropped a huge hint that this would be the first birthday Kira spent without her extended family as Tommy and Kim had been 'far too busy' with their newborn son, and life in general, to organize anything. Connor took the hint, knowing it was a lie but thankful they were giving him an easy answer, and contacted everyone, planning a party at the Youth Centre, Ernie having won out against Bulk and Skull's wish to host at Bulkmeiers saying they'd held it there last year. She had a great time, and proved again the mix of her maturity and childishness by being so glad and excited to have a party, and being touched that Connor had planned the whole thing, saying it meant a lot to her that he'd done that for her.
The rest of the year was very calm after that. Trent and Ethan went off to college and Connor's talent gained him a starting position on the team, the first junior team member to gain a starting position in over ten years. Following the Ranger family tradition, which the McKnights, James', and Anton and Elsa, who were officially a couple, all happily bowed to, everyone separated for Thanksgiving and came together at Christmas, which was also held at the Youth Centre, though no one else even tried to host it either not being brave enough given all the people, or knowing public places like Bulkmeiers weren't conductive to their secret. The New Year of 2006 was celebrated at Anton's place with just the Dino Rangers and their families, one of whom was beginning to become a mobile menace. At seven months, Eric couldn't yet walk, but he was crawling enough to require constant supervision. His cousin Lily wasn't that far behind him and the two were proving to be fast friends like their mom and dad had been.
-C/K-
In March, during Spring Break, Trent and Ethan returned to Reefside after their gruelling midterms, which they made out to be far worse then they actually were in the hopes of getting pity from Connor and Kira, which didn't work for more then a day. The four of them were at the park playing volleyball, Kira, and surprisingly Connor, saying no to soccer, both getting enough of it on a daily basis, when they felt a power, not unlike teleportation, overwhelm them. Whatever it was it acted in the same manner as teleportation for not a second later they found themselves not in the park, but some kind of bunker, or warehouse.
"Welcome to the future." A voice said, and all four Rangers were on guard seeing two monsters. Looking around quickly they noticed their Dino Gems behind them, which confused them greatly for they were wearing their Gems on the bracelets around their wrists. "Now you will help me destroy the planet." One monster, obviously the one in charge, laughed as he approached them menacingly. Connor shoved Kira behind him as he launched a kick at the monster, while his teammates grabbed the Dino Gems behind them, not knowing what was going on but knowing if those were the real Gems they couldn't leave them in the hands of evil, and ran out the door. What they assumed to be foot soldiers followed them, eventually cornering them.
"Any idea what these things are?" Connor asked, accepting his Gem from Kira who had grabbed it when he kicked at the head monster.
"They're not Tyrannodrones." Trent said, ruling out of obvious.
"But they're definitely up there in the creepy department." Kira finished.
"Any idea how to get out of this?" Connor asked the next big question.
"I'm still trying to figure out how we got into this." Ethan muttered. Whatever the answer to these pressing questions, they had monsters to defeat. And defeat them they did, almost a year of no battles obviously not having dulled their fighting skills; Kira smirked when Connor made a mental comment about it being like riding a bike. The four called on the powers their Gems gave them, Kira knocking a group of them back with her Ptera Scream while Connor and Trent used their speed and camouflage to give them an advantage. Ethan's Armour Arms, he and Kira having long ago given names to their abilities, proving useful in bringing about more questions. When one of the foot soldiers hit his shield like arm dead on, it fractured its own arm revealing circuitry. Ethan knocked it down for good before he and the others picked up the arm which had detached.
"It's a robot." Ethan muttered.
"No really?" Quipped Connor. "Seen anything like it at MIT?"
"Nope. This is crazy circuitry…way advanced." Their moment was interrupted when a blast was sent their way knocking them to the ground. The monster that had clearly brought them here, or ordered them brought here, was approaching them once more.
"Fools! Did you really think you could get away from me the easily?"
"We've run away from a lot worse then you." Trent said, realizing seconds later what he'd actually just said. "That did not come out right…"
"Who are you? What do you want with us?" Kira asked, her no nonsense persona shining through.
"Your power is legendary throughout the universe." He said, calling on more of his robots. The Rangers shared a look, wondering if he could be referring to the prophecy, but hoping that as the Blue and White Dino Gems had been there too instead of just Connor and Kira's, that he was merely referring to the power of the Dino Gems. "Fight with me and we'll bring down this wretched planet." Sharing yet another look, this one clearly agreeing that this dude was crazy, Connor replied for them.
"Maybe you're suffering from a lack of oxygen from being in that punch bowl too long, but in case you haven't noticed, we're the good guys."
"Yeah we're not exactly about to destroy our own planet." Kira agreed with an eye roll, all of them wondering if he was going to try and turn them evil.
"Oh I think you'll come around to my way of thinking…with a little persuasion." The monster answered, proving them right. The four fell into fighting stances, by no means about to let him do what he planned, but it proved unnecessary for at the moment a group of five people in colour coded uniforms, riding in vehicles that said S.P.D. on the side, appeared and took the robots on for them, having an easier time defeating them then they had.
"Back off Broodwing!" The one in red yelled. Obviously these five knew this monster, Broodwing, who did not appear pleased with their appearance.
"S.P.D. always getting in my way!" He snarled before raising his arms, which turned out to be wings, and taking off. "I'm not through with any of you!" When he was gone the Dino Rangers got a good look at the newcomers. There were two girls, both Caucasian, one blonde and one brunette, who wore pink and yellow respectively, while the other three were guys, the two in blue and green also being Caucasian while the third in red was African-American, and clearly their leader.
"You guys ok?" the girl in yellow asked as the five approached the Rangers.
"Definitely confused, but we're ok." Connor replied.
"Broodwing's bad news, but attacking innocent civilians?" The guy in blue commented. "That's just low."
"You fought this freak before?" Trent asked.
"Oh yeah, all in a day's work." The guy in red responded, bringing out some rectangular device that opened and acted like an ID card with his picture and information inside. "We're Power Rangers, Space Patrol Delta."
"Wait…you guys are Power Rangers?" Ethan asked. None of them had heard of a Ranger team called Space Patrol Delta, and the three boys turned to Kira, knowing she knew the most teams out of them.
"They're not any Ranger team I've ever heard of." She answered their looks. "But a few of them look really familiar…" She added silently to Connor.
"And you would know a lot of Ranger teams?" The girl in yellow asked condescendingly, obviously thinking Kira nothing but a kid, something that made the guys chuckle inwardly.
"Actually I would." Kira replied, eyeing the girl with a narrowed gaze but keeping her annoyance and anger in check. For now anyways.
"How?"
"Because we're a team of Rangers." Connor responded for his mate as all four of them took a step forward and raised their Morphers. It was now the five supposed S.P.D. Rangers' turn to look confused, though it cleared up slightly after one guy in green, now obviously the Green Ranger, made a comment.
"That must be the blip in the Morphing Grid that Kat detected."
"So it wasn't the A-Squad…" the Blue Ranger muttered.
"Ok, can someone explain to us what's going on?" Connor asked.
"Yeah, but not here." the Red Ranger replied. "We'll take you back to headquarters. The Commander will want to speak with you anyways. I'm Jack, by the way, S.P.D. Red Ranger. These are my teammates Sky, Bridge, Z, and Syd."
"I'm Connor, Red Dino Ranger." He shook Jack's offered hand, hoping any animosity that was felt would disappear now. "These are my friends, Trent, Ethan and Kira."
"Nice to meet you all. Let's get going." The five had arrived in a jeep but with four additions Jack, Sky and Bridge each called on a motorcycle while Z and Syd got in the front seats of the jeep, leaving the four Dino Rangers to squeeze in the back, though Connor solved the problem of squeezing, and only having three seatbelts, by Kira sitting in his lap. They drove downtown, the Dino Rangers taking in the city, one that was obviously not Reefside, though they didn't need some signs saying 'Newtech City' to figure that out. Eventually they arrived downtown at the S.P.D. headquarters, or the Delta Base, as they were told it was called, that looked like a carrier Zord, or one that was folded up or something; the Dino Rangers had no idea how close that was to the truth.
"So let me get this straight." Ethan said as he and the others followed the S.P.D. Rangers into the Delta Base and through the many halls towards the Delta Command Centre. "We've somehow been transported to the year 2025."
"And this is a state of the art command centre that trains people to become Power Rangers?" Kira asked sceptically. Everything she knew, everything she'd been taught about The Power told her that you couldn't just train to become Rangers, it wasn't like working your way up to becoming a black belt or something, The Power chose you.
"And Earth is under attack by an army of aliens and giant robots." Trent finished before Kira could get started as they all knew she wanted to from the moment Z looked on her as nothing but a little kid who knew nothing.
"Yep, that's about it." Syd said.
"Good to know there'll still be beautiful girls in the future." Connor said trying to hide his smirk from his mate but not succeeding and instead earning a smack, though achieving his objective of diverting her attention.
"Ok, I'm not complaining, but our command centre was a cave." Ethan said as he took in all the technology upon arriving at the Delta Command Centre.
"Woah!" Connor said, motioning to two beings who clearly weren't human, and preparing for a fight.
"Hey, hey guys, it's ok." Jack said. "That's our Commander, Anubis Cruger, and our lovely technical expert, Dr. Kat Manx."
"Welcome to our base Rangers." Command Cruger greeted.
"But he's a dog…sort of." Trent murmured to Bridge.
"Pets as authority figures. You get used to it." Other aliens walked by drawing the Dino Rangers attention as well as a comment from Dr. Kat.
"Aliens and humans live in harmony here."
"Well…for the most part." Sky amended.
"That's an impressive accomplishment for only nineteen years into the future." Kira said, liking this future a little better.
"Yeah." Sky said pretty dismissively, being used to it he and the others didn't consider it a huge deal anymore. "Broodwing is after them." He told his Commander.
"I can see why." Said Kat as she brought up images and videos onto their main computer. "The archives show that the Dino Thunder team faced off against some of the most treacherous villains in all of history."
"Ah…memories." Said Connor, and Kira rolled her eyes.
"Only you…well and my dad…would look on a battle for Earth's survival with fondness."
"But that was years ago." Said Jack. "What I don't get is how you guys got here."
"No clue." Said Ethan. "We were just playing volleyball in the park, next thing we know that punch bowl head dude is after us."
"I'm sure Broodwing went to a lot of expense to bring you here." Said Cruger. "He won't give up so easily."
"We'll take him on and anyone else who gives us trouble." Connor said, the other three agreeing with him. His pronouncement, however, was met with more scoffing from Z, which set Kira on edge again.
"You haven't met Broodwing's boss. Gruumm, is as nasty as they get."
"No matter how much worse you think your arch-enemy is over ours…we're Rangers. We can deal with it." Kira snapped.
"Correction." Sky interrupted. "You were Rangers. We've been specially trained to take on Gruumm's army."
"Just like every team of Rangers has been specifically created to fight a specific enemy, but that doesn't mean that every other Ranger is helpless against them."
Kira was really starting to get fed up with these guys and their attitude, but Syd's next comment made Kira's teammates take a step back, Connor in the lead.
"And no offense, but fighting dinosaurs is so over."
"We don't want you guys to get into anymore trouble." Jack continued, making the Dino Rangers cringe as their eyes never left Kira who was looking more and more like a pissed Kimberly then ever. "We have enough problems to deal with."
"Fine. We'll deal with our own problems." Kira growled showing great restraint. "Let's go guys." She turned to lead the way out of the base but was stopped by Z.
"You have no idea what you're getting into. And we're not gonna let you leave just so we have to come rescue some bratty kid who thinks she knows better then everyone else."
"She shouldn't have said that." Connor muttered.
"No she shouldn't have." Ethan and Trent agreed. Kira's restraint snapped and she grabbed the hand that Z had placed on her shoulder, launching into a series of moves that landed Z on her back.
"Don't touch me." Kira hissed at Z, standing over her.
"That was right out of the S.P.D. Handbook." Said Sky, looking shocked. "How do you know a move right out of the S.P.D. Handbook?"
"My dad taught it to me." She said with a shrug.
"The great Tommy Oliver created that move." Sky said looking at her suspiciously. "It's in his book on being a Ranger which is mandatory reading for all S.P.D. Cadets and makes up the majority of the Handbook." A look of understanding crossed all the Dino Rangers features, three of whom laughed.
"Of course it is. Why doesn't it surprise me he wrote a book on being a Ranger?" Kira muttered.
"You know Tommy Oliver?" Commander Cruger asked, even he was now obviously confused. The Dino Rangers shared a look, wondering what they were playing at.
"You have archives of our lives, and you're trying to tell us that our last names aren't in there somewhere?" Ethan asked.
"My last name is Oliver. Tommy is my father." Kira said much to the shock of the S.P.D. crew.
"How could you not know that?" Trent asked. "You apparently know everything else."
"Kat…" Cruger asked.
"Way ahead of you Commander." She responded from the computers where she was already doing a search on Kira Oliver. The moment the Yellow Dino Ranger's name was entered in the computer it began beeping, a 'Restricted Access' reading coming up on screen.
"Commander, have you lowered my security clearance without telling me?" Kat asked, knowing this to be not true.
"Of course not." Cruger came over and entered his own security passcode only to get the same reading.
"How can you not have access, Commander?" Jack asked in pure shock.
"I think we know why." Kira muttered so only her fellow Dino Rangers could hear. But the rest of S.P.D. were in complete shock. Cruger was the Commander of all of S.P.D. Earth, he was the being with the highest security clearance on planet. Except that wasn't exactly true.
"Commander." A voice came from behind them. The big screen had lit up to reveal a very familiar face.
"Supreme Commander Grayson!" Cruger saluted, followed by all S.P.D. personnel who were in the room.
"Is there a reason you're searching that particular name?"
"We-"
"Carter?!" Kira cried stepping forward once the shock of seeing his face wore off. Except for signs of age, and a shorter haircut, Carter looked exactly as she remembered him from her time, though she supposed she looked quite different in 2025 if his own shocked expression was anything to go by.
"Kira…? But…you're a kid…"
"Long story."
"Ok everybody out except Cruger, Kat and the Rangers." Carter ordered earning another salute as they did as instructed. "Commander, this room is on lockdown until this discussion is over."
"Yes sir." Cruger replied hitting a few buttons and sending the room into lockdown.
"Give me a second, I'm heading to the conference room. The others will wanna hear this too." Carter cut out though they knew it wouldn't be long before he returned.
"You know Uncle-I mean Supreme Commander Grayson?" Bridge asked.
"I've been a Ranger since 2004 and my parents are two of the Original Rangers. I know every Ranger team in existence. At least those in existence up till 2006. And what do you mean by Uncle?"
"Oh, caught that did you…" The Dino Rangers nodded, it would have been hard to miss. "Well he's my uncle…by marriage, his wife Dana is my aunt."
"You're Kelsey and Ryan's son?" Bridge nodded.
"And Syd here is my cousin." Attention turned to the Pink Ranger and recognition dawned on all their faces.
"Dana. That's why I though you were familiar, you're Carter and Dana's daughter. Doesn't she look like Dana?" She asked the boys, who nodded in agreement.
"And the rest of you?" They looked to Cruger, as Bridge should have done, for permission to reveal the future to them, but wanting answers himself, Cruger gave it.
"I'm the son of Supreme Commanders Wesley and Jennifer Collins." Said Sky in his formal, by-the-book tone, which he obviously got from Jen.
"My parents are Danny and Kendall Delgado." Said Z.
"And mine are Max and Amy Cooper." Said Jack.
"The Black and Blue Wild Force Rangers." Said Kira, getting two nods. "I, we, should have clued in. At least for Syd and Sky, we've met you guys before…though granted as babies. Kelsey's pregnant right now, so you haven't quite been born yet," She directed to Bridge. "And I have to admit I don't know about you guys. I haven't actually met any of the Wild Force Rangers, and I definitely don't know your mothers."
"You wouldn't if you haven't met Danny and Max." Carter spoke as he appeared back on the screen, this time accompanied by the Lightspeed and Time Force Rangers, and Taylor, the Yellow Wild Force Ranger, interrupting anything else that may have been said, as well as any awkwardness at having someone who was physically younger then you, know you from when you were a baby. "And they're both civilians so you wouldn't know of them."
"You came from the past?" Jen asked. The Dino Rangers nodded.
"Broodwing is after them, Commander." Sky addressed his mother.
"Son, give it a rest." Said Wes with much amusement. His son reminded him a lot of Jen when they first met. "This is not a formal S.P.D. function, so we're mom and dad." Sky bowed his head in understanding.
"Ok, so how are you guys the heads of S.P.D.?" Kira asked with a smile.
"Sometime in your future, Lightspeed Rescue and The Silver Guardians join forces and form a planet wide police force, the name of which isn't important as it didn't last long." Dana explained. "In less then a year it was such a success that word spread through the Ranger grapevine to Mirinoi, Aquitar and Triforia, all whom wanted to implement similar forces, so in collaboration with them, we became Space Patrol Delta, an intergalactic police force."
"Over the next few hundred years, when time travel becomes common knowledge, and scientifically possible, S.P.D. will grow and change into Time Force." Added Katie. It was a rundown of how things would go but it was enough.
"And as Lightspeed Rescue and the Silver Guardians originally formed what became S.P.D., you guys as those particular Power Rangers became its Supreme Commanders." Ethan concluded. Although still called the Silver Guardians, the Time Force Rangers had been working with them since Wes' dad had opened their protection services to everyone, and since the four Rangers from the future returned to the past to stay.
"And I'm guessing you both finally pulled the sticks from your asses and got together, which is why a Wild Force Ranger is there." Kira directed to Eric and Taylor, earning a frown from the parents.
"Hey, you're ten years old. Watch your language." Ryan scolded. Kira rolled her eyes but said no more.
"Ok, now that that's taken care of, let's get back to my original question, though I'm sure I can now guess why you were searching for information on Kira." Carter said.
"They didn't know Tommy was my dad. Apparently he wrote your handbook, which doesn't really surprise me, and though they have footage of our battles against Mesogog they didn't know my last name was Oliver. Or that the Black Ranger and I were related."
"Anything concerning you and Connor is considered classified information of the highest order." Carter responded. "And no, Commander, you do not need to know why." Obviously at some point in the Dino Rangers future the knowledge of the prophecy extended to minimally the Lightspeed and Time Force Rangers, and Taylor, if nor more people. "A lot of information concerning Ethan, Trent and the Original Rangers is also classified information."
"Why us?" Trent asked.
"You know too much." Kira replied, which was true, Ethan and Trent, along with the Original Rangers, knew the exact wording of the prophecy. Kira noted that the Zeo, Turbo and Space Rangers, who knew of the prophecy but not it's exact content, weren't considered classified, and though more people would obviously know of the prophecy in the future, they were still trying to protect that information from becoming public, and so those who knew the most had to be protected as well.
"Now we have to find a way to send-" Carter was cut off as the alarms blared throughout the base. The S.P.D. Rangers, Kat and Cruger jumped into action
"The quarry is under attack." Said Kat.
"My guess is that Broodwing is trying to draw you out." Cruger guessed, though it wasn't really a guess.
"Then let's give him what he wants." Said Connor, the other Dino Rangers nodded.
"Ok, you guys chill until we get back." Said Jack as the S.P.D. Rangers fell into line behind him.
"Ready?"
"Ready!"
"S.P.D. Emergency!" The five morphed and ran out of the base, ending the lockdown, though there was obviously another place to monitor the city from as none of the personnel who Carter had dismissed returned. Kira's jaw set and she turned to look at the newest Rangers' parents. She wasn't gonna mention anything about their self-important bratty attitudes, but since they'd witnessed it…
"We know." Said Dana. "They've been a bit full of themselves since they became Rangers on their own merits."
"They entered the academy under false last names not wanting to be treated any different just cause they were the children of the Supreme Commanders." Kelsey elaborated. "As far as we know they're still using those names and will until Gruumm's defeated."
"Is Gruumm as bad as they say?" Connor asked. "They made it out like we wouldn't stand a chance against him or any of his monsters."
"He's the Emperor of the Troobian Empire." Said Eric. "Much like the Machine Empire your parents fought, Kira, they've conquered many galaxies."
"But I wouldn't say he's tougher then any other arch-enemy." Added Chad. "We've fought him a few times and he certainly doesn't feel that much tougher then Queen Bansheera was."
"So then why are we sitting here?" said Trent. "This is our battle too, let's get going!"
"Agreed."
"Hold it!" Called Jen. "You sure you have powers in this time period?"
"Why wouldn't we?" Ethan asked as he and the others raised their Dino Gems and searched for power, only to find none. "Ok, well our Gems had power two hours ago…"
"There's two Dino Gems in your possession." Said Trip. "The ones on your bracelets are from your time,"
"2006." Kira supplied.
"Right, are from 2006, and the ones in your hands are from 2025."
"How did this Broodwing even get his hands on our Gems?" Connor asked.
"Obviously they're going to be lost sometime in the next nineteen years." Kira responded.
"Right…obviously." Connor grumbled.
"We can't tell you too much, but they'll be lost after a battle some tenish years from your time." Said Lucas.
"You told us all that about our future and now you say you can't tell us too much?" asked Trent.
"Everything about the kids, S.P.D. and Time Force is innocuous information." Said Taylor. "You can't really do anything with it, and we know you wouldn't want to if you could, but knowing too much of your own future could be dangerous."
"So why don't our Gems have power?" Kira asked, getting back on track.
"Two of the same thing aren't meant to exist at the same time." Trip picked up where he left off. "There are two sets of Dino Gems from two time periods here when there's only supposed to be one set of Gems. They're the same thing that draws on the same power, but they're never meant to cross paths. Having both sets of Gems in existence is cancelling them out, and if we don't get you and your Gems back to the past soon, the future Gems will start to disappear. It's confusing, I know. Suffice it to say you don't have your powers and we need to get you back to 2006."
"Could that theory apply to us as well?" asked Ethan, not entirely sure he wanted to know the answer.
"Yes it could." Said Jen. "But we checked into your future selves whereabouts when Carter informed us you were here, and luckily your family is on an extended vacation off planet at the moment. The thousands of light years of distance will give us time to get you back."
"If distance helps can't we teleport the future Gems to our future selves and then use our Gems again?"
"Distance helps in terms of existing, you won't disappear as fast, but you still won't be able to use the Gems' powers. Playing with time is both confusing and dangerous. It's why when time travel became possible Time Force was formed to monitor it." Said Katie. "Playing with the past or the future can have dire consequences."
"Commander, we could use some help here!" Jack cried through the comm and Kat put the battle up on the main screen next to video feed of the senior Rangers, allowing them to see their childrens' battle as well.
"We've never encountered this many Troobians at once before." Cruger muttered. "Not here on Earth anyways."
"You've gotta let us in on this." Connor said to no one in particular. Cruger looked to his bosses who shrugged saying it was his call.
"No. I won't put your lives in danger." Cruger said immediately, thus the reason the Supreme Commanders gave the choice to him; they knew he'd say no. "Like the Supreme Commander said, if anything happened to you in this time the results could be catastrophic."
"Yeah but if your cadets lose, none of that matters anyways!" Trent argued. Suddenly the screen lit up again revealing a monster of gigantic proportions.
"I see some things never change." Ethan muttered.
"Kat, dispatch the Omega Ranger to the scene." Cruger said. She nodded, punching in a few buttons and mere seconds later a Megazord appeared to fight the giant monster. "I'm going to help the others. You are to stay here." He directed to the Dino Rangers. "That's an order! S.P.D. Emergency!"
"An order…" Kira hissed as the Shadow Ranger left the base. "I hate orders."
"Don't I know it." Connor murmured, earning a glare. Kira stewed in silence for a few minutes as they watched the Troobians give it to the Rangers.
"Ok that's it." She said when a monster who could only be Gruumm appeared, his henchmen falling in line behind him. "Ranger powers or not, we're still Rangers right?"
"Right!" The others agreed, liking her thinking.
"I say we go prehistoric on those goons." Connor added, once again being met with complete agreement.
"Then let's go."
"You have no powers!"
"Don't!"
"It's too dangerous!"
"Your parents will kills us!" various cries were heard through the communications channel as Lightspeed, Time Force and Taylor all protested vehemently.
"So you want us to just stay and let them get their asses kicked?!" Trent demanded. "They're your kids!"
"And you should know by now we can't do that." Said Ethan.
"I hate to play this card, actually, in this case I don't, but there's a reason information on me is classified and-"Kira cut off as a thought entered her mind. She knew, as did the Dino Rangers and those on the screen, that she had some infinite power, but as an eleven year old, she had yet to discover exactly what it was; maybe now was the time to figure it out.
"No!" Carter snapped. "We know what you're thinking, Kira and don't you dare!" Kira and the others turned to look at them, Kira searching their faces for answers the future held.
"You know I have the power to do this. To give our Dino Gems their power, even if they shouldn't work with two sets here." She said, it wasn't a question.
"Whether or not we have that knowledge isn't important. What's important is that you don't use that power!" Dana said. "We'll come back to Earth right now and help them ourselves."
"You're not even on Earth?" Connor asked.
"No. S.P.D. in the Markarian Galaxy needed our help." Wes admitted.
"Just how far away is the Markarian Galaxy?" asked Ethan.
"209 Megaparsecs." Kat answered. "Or slightly under a billion light years."
"Yeah, they need help now, not in a billion light years." Said Ethan.
"Look, I respect you guys as Rangers, friends of my parents, and hopefully in the future, friends of myself. But you have no right to tell me not to do this if I can help them." Kira turned away from them and closed her eyes. The Cheetah came to the forefront of her mind and helped her find The Great Power. Unbeknownst to her, she slowly began to glow a golden colour as The Great Power surged through her. When the light became so bright that the others had to cover their eyes the three Dino Rangers who weren't lost in the power felt something coming from their Dino Gems, both past and future. Lifting their wrists with their bracelets and the other Gems up they saw as Kira's power actually entered the Gems belonging to their future selves before turning the Gems themselves into energy, which merged with their own Dino Gems.
"Connor." Dana spoke quietly, bringing Connor's attention back to them. "We need you to trust us right now. Kira's not supposed to use this power for a very good reason, we'll explain more after but right now I need you to be prepared to order her, yes order her, not to die-"
"What?!" Connor hissed hearing those words.
"Just trust us right now!" Dana hissed back. "When her power goes back inside her, order her not to die." As she said those words, the light began to disappear and Connor's head snapped frantically towards his mate.
"Kira don't die!" He shouted the second the last of the light had disappeared. "That's an order!" In a case like this he didn't want to leave any room for interpretation. Even though he'd done as Dana told him too, Kira still collapsed and Connor feared the worst.
"Kira!" He screamed rushing towards her with his super speed and catching her before she could hit the ground. Inside him, the Lion was just as frantic.
"No…" He whispered taking in Kira's still form. It was a long forty-five seconds before Kira opened her eyes, and the Cheetah could be heard in their shared consciousness, allowing for both Connor and the Lion to marginally calm down.
"Thank god!" He murmured, pulling her close and unashamedly sobbing upon seeing she wasn't actually dead. "What the hell?" He directly to those in the Markarian Galaxy when Kira was strong enough to stand again, though Connor still kept an arm around her, more for his peace of mind then needing to support her.
"Well since history's been changed now, you weren't supposed to discover your power just yet, I guess we'll have to tell cause no one in your time will be able to." Said Joel, not looking very happy at the eleven year old.
"We all know Kira's power has no equal. But using that amount of power comes at a cost: her life." Ryan continued.
"But the power binding you two together is her saving grace." Said Jen. "It trumps everything else, why it does in this case we're not exactly sure."
"Basically her power and your bond are both parts of The Great power, but the bond trumps her ultimate power, so one part of The Great Power trumps another part of The Great Power." Imputed Lucas.
"By ordering her not to die she physically can't. It's not like other orders with repercussions if she disobeys because death is absolute. She physically can't die if you order her not to." Jen finished to the shock of most of the people in the room.
"I figured something like that would happen." Kira muttered.
"WHAT?!" Connor roared. "You knew you'd die and you still went ahead with it?!"
"Come on, we all know great power comes at a price, hell even just our Ranger powers come at a price. But an ultimate power like mine…what other price could there be besides death? My grandpa…Zordon…was an extremely powerful being. If anyone's power could come close to matching mine it would be his. When he released all his power during The Countdown it cost him his life. What else could mom, dad or I believe would happen if I released all my power? Mom and dad figured that's what the cost would be early on and they told me about it when they told me about my power." Although the explanation made complete sense, it did nothing to improve Connor's mood.
"I don't care if you knew or not, you are never to-" Kira reached up as far as she could and just managed to clasp a hand over Connor's mouth.
"Don't finish that sentence. Not right now. We can talk about it when we get back to our time, but right now they need us." While all this had been going on, Gruumm and his minions had been launching a full out assault on the Rangers, who were barely holding on. Although Connor wished to continue this conversation right this second, seeing monsters attacking, people getting hurt, and knowing if they didn't help them more people would get hurt, the Ranger in him forced him to grasp on to the fact that Kira was alive and not about to die, and push any other feelings down until later.
"Fine." He growled. "Let's go." The Dino Rangers ran out of there, following an S.P.D. cadet who Kat had quietly called to the exit where they were given vehicles to get to the quarry.
"Dr. Manx." Eric called. Although designated the Quantum Ranger, he was technically a Red Ranger and as such he, Wes and Carter were officially at the top of the food chain, even if they normally considered all the Rangers to be on equal footing. Kat turned towards her bosses, already having an idea of what they were going to say. "You are now privy to some classified information of the highest order. As Kira said, there is a reason that information is classified, as such you are hereby under strict orders to keep what you've seen and heard a secret." Kat nodded, having fully expected that, though she didn't expect what he said next. "Should you ignore that order, meaning should anyone, Commander Cruger included, find out about any of this, you will be brought up on charges of treason against the universe and will spend the rest of your days in a containment card in the maximum security vault at the Aquabase."
"T-treason?" She stammered.
"Yes." Wes continued. Normally he let Eric be the hard ball, but this was too important to completely sit back. "Let me put it this way Dr., should this information get out, the consequences for the entire universe would be far worse then anything that could happen from simply meddling with time."
"Letting this information get out could see the destruction of the entire universe." Carter finished. "Should you not keep your silence, you will be deemed to be working against us, and betraying the entire universe. So think real hard before uttering one word of what you've seen or heard here today."
-C/K-
The Dino Rangers arrived at the quarry just in time to hear Gruumm's gleeful, or as gleeful as he could get, exclamation of "At last, no more Power Rangers!"
"Think again bone head!" Connor cried as he and the others jumped out of their borrowed jeep and ran to stand in front of the fallen and de-morphed Rangers.
"This is not a good idea."
"Get out of here!" Jack and Z cried as the S.P.D. Rangers forced themselves up.
"I thought I ordered you to stay at the base!" Cruger snapped. It was the wrong thing to say, for while Cruger snapped at them, Kira, who'd been prepared to let bygones be bygones, just plain snapped.
"Listen here, Cruger, there are exactly three people in this universe that can give me orders, two of which will technically no longer be able to come my eighteenth birthday." The boys tried not to snigger at that, knowing that as well beloved parents, Tommy and Kim would be giving Kira orders, probably phrased like 'suggestions' until the day they died. "And you aren't one of them! So back off!" She growled out, pretending not to hear the boys' sniggers, as she glared at Cruger one more time before stepping forward.
"You guys ready?" She called activating her Morpher. The S.P.D. Rangers looked on in surprise never having known anyone but the Red Ranger to call the morph, unless it was a superior officer like Cruger, so to see a Yellow Ranger lead the morph when the Red Ranger was there never happened within S.P.D.
"Ready!"
"Dino Thunder, Power Up!"
"White Ranger, Dino Power!" The four of them morphed for the first time in almost a year and actually relished the surge of power that went through them. The S.P.D. Rangers had to admit their suits were kinda cool, and so was how the Yellow Ranger was no longer the size of a child. Once their morph was complete, Kira merely cocked her head at the S.P.D. Rangers as if to ask if they would be joining in this battle.
"Uh…right." Said Jack. "Ready?"
"Ready!"
"S.P.D. Emergency!"
"Super Dino Mode!" The Dino Rangers headed directly for the power up, knowing their suits made to fight Mesogog would be less effective against Gruumm.
"S.W.A.T. Mode!" The S.P.D. Rangers powered up as well, which was probably a good thing given they'd just at their asses handed to them. The battle then began, the four Dino Rangers pairing off slightly unevenly with the six S.P.D. Rangers. Connor and Ethan paired off by colour while Trent paired with Bridge, leaving Kira to pair up with her S.P.D. counterpart as well as the Pink Ranger. Although Kira was still kinda pissed, especially at Z, she knew letting it get in the way and showing off wouldn't do any good and so she fell in line with the girls and they worked as a team, Syd and Z obviously thinking along the same lines. While everyone else handled the arch-enemy, minions and monsters, the Shadow Ranger dealt with the legion of foot soldiers before joining the two Red Rangers in their fight against Gruumm. Eventually, all of Gruumm's forces fled, leaving only him behind.
"Cruger, using Rangers of the past may have won you this battle, but I have a surprise of my own in store!"
"Yeah yeah." Said Connor. "Let's put it together guys! Z-Rex Blaster!"
"Canine Cannon!"
"Fire!" Whatever Gruumm's surprise was he never got to say for the two blasts from the powerful blasters hit him hard, forcing him to retreat.
"Yes, he's gone!" Said Cruger. "Good job Rangers. Let's get back to the base." When they returned it was to fine the Delta Command Centre had been re-opened and was once again bustling with people.
"Power down!" The Rangers all cried once safely back at the base, only for the Dino Rangers and B-Squad to stare each other down awkwardly, waiting to see who would make the first move.
"Thank you, Rangers." Cruger said, making the first move for them. "You've helped deal a severe blow to Gruumm. He won't return for awhile."
"Our pleasure." Said Connor, mentally nudging Kira to say something.
"You guys are good fighters. Earth is in good hands." She admitted, trying not to sound like she was in too much pain when she said it. These Rangers, the children of family friends, certainly rubbed her the wrong way and in Syd and Sky's case she couldn't help but wonder what happened to the sweet toddlers she knew to give them such egos.
"You too." Z said back, not looking Kira in the eyes.
"I'm sure we don't need to tell you to be careful." Said Trent. "You know when Gruumm returns he'll be madder then ever."
"And that punch bowl Broodwing dude is still flapping around out there." Ethan added.
"We'll be careful, don't worry." Jack assured them.
"Oh here." Kira said, holding out her Dino Gem belonging to her future self, the others following suit. When they'd de-morphed, the Gems, which had merged to become one, negating the problem of having two Gems in one time period, had separated once more. "I'm sure you guys can keep them safe until our future selves return to claim them."
"Of course we will." Cruger promised.
"And hey, there's still a Black Dino Gem out there, if you happen to come across it." Said Ethan. "Unless future Dr. O has it, and only us four lost them…but don't sweat it! Once we have these back we can use them to locate the other if it is lost."
"Right." Said Bridge.
"Now…I think we're ready to go home." Said Connor.
"Hell yes." The other three muttered.
"Your courage and strength will live on in Ranger legend for future generations…even if we don't know your last names." Cruger joked, earning a surprised look from the S.P.D. Rangers, who rarely heard him joke. "When you return, your memory of us will be erased to protect the future."
"Commander-" Kat began to interrupt but Kira beat her to it.
"Just try it. I dare you." She growled, not exactly pissed, but still not going to let them erase their memories. Under normal circumstances she might agree about erasing people's memory to protect the future, but this wasn't a normal circumstance, and they weren't normal people, and no one was going to play around with any of their heads; bad things could happen in their line of work if any part of their brain was tampered with, or if something malfunctioned.
"It's standard procedure-"
"Commander." Kat interrupted, this time gaining his attention.
"What is it Kat?"
"The Supreme Commanders left word that we were not to erase their memories, and quote," She picked up a piece of paper to read off of. " 'Kira would probably flay them alive for trying to mess with her head.' Though I don't think we were supposed to hear that part as Supreme Commander Collins, Wesley Collins," She specified. "Muttered it under his breath."
"You know I've always said Wes was the smart one." Kira quipped with a smug smile.
"Alright." Cruger sighed. "If the Supreme Commanders ordered it then we shall, of course, follow orders. But I cannot impress upon you the seriousness of revealing information about the future."
"Dude we're Power Rangers." Said Connor with an eye roll. "We know all about secrecy and the dangers of revealing certain information."
"We promise no one outside the Power Ranger Family will find out anything-dammit!" Trent cried. "Mrs. O's got me doing it now." He referred, of course, to the Power Ranger Family, which Kim had been on about more and more lately as her son and goddaughter grew, and her soft side wanting them all to be one big happy family.
"There's no need to tell them." Cruger insisted, to which Ethan snorted.
"You try keeping something like this from Dr. and Mrs. O, two Original Power Rangers." He said. "It can't be done. And once they know the other Originals will know, which, since no Ranger would ever breathe a word to any non-Ranger, or wish to do something with the knowledge, will inevitably grow to include the other Rangers. But like we said, no one outside the Ranger family will know, and the information is pretty damn innocuous, as your Supreme Commander already said."
"Alright." Cruger sighed again. "Just…go home…" The Dino Rangers laughed good-naturedly at the obvious disruption they'd made in his otherwise orderly and strict life, before waving goodbye as Kat sent them home. They arrived back at the park, and though they knew hours had passes in the future, they didn't know how much time had passed here, but either way, they called their game of volleyball quits and headed back to Kira's place, ready to start in on the long story of their adventure in 2025.
A/N - Here we are, the first of the S.P.D. team-ups. If you've seen the episode, you'll notice quite a few differences, the biggest ones being Kira's reaction to the S.P.D. Rangers' attitudes, S.P.D. being formed from Lightspeed and the Silver Guardians, and in turn becoming Time Force, and the S.P.D. Rangers being the Lightspeed, Time Force, and Wild Force Rangers' kids. In response to those three things...
I hated the S.P.D. Rangers' attitudes and Cruger ordering the Dino Rangers around. That was never going to happen in this fic, both because I hated that bit, and also because of Kira, she would never stand for it.
Regarding S.P.D.'s formation, and subsequently becoming Time Force, there's not much else really to say. That's how it happens in this story. I like interconnecting everything.
And finally the kids: you briefly met Syd, and heard of Sky in 'Fighting Spirit', though both remained unnamed, and none of the others were born at that point in time. Sky's the oldest being born in January of 2004, then Syd born March 2005. Z was born in April 2006, Bridge in August 2006 and Jack's the youngest born December 2006. I don't know if any of their birthdays were actually given in the show, I know there was an episode around Syd's birthday but I don't know if they actually gave a date. Either way, these are their birth months/years in my fic, you can input whatever day you want, I didn't think beyond month to get their ages right for being Rangers in 2025.
Wormhole is next!
Review please!