Couple- Sky/Z friendship and eventually Sky/Z romance
Disclaimer- I do not own Power Rangers and do not profit from the use of it's content.
40 Moments to Where We Are
Test
The rec room was filled with cheers and whoops of celebrations before the rangers of B-squad quickly returned their attention to the blaring television screen. The five of them had crowded onto the sofa and were watching the football game with bated breath. It was just one of those games that couldn't be missed (commander Cruger, however, didn't share that sentiment, so the cadets were still 'on duty'). The Green Jaws vs. the Razors.
Blue and black shirts had been tugged on over gray SPD uniforms, with the Razor's logo stamped on the front. Bridge had his morpher clutched in his right hand and was holding it up to his mouth, giving a play by play commentary.
"After an extraordinary interception by Marcus Slack, the Razors have the ball at the Green Jaws' 15 yard line with only 12 seconds left in the fourth quarter! Will Dan Chase be able to sink the pass and pull off another big upset?"
Four pairs of eyes turned and glared daggers at him.
"What? It'd be an upset for the other team…"
They shook their heads and turned back around. Bridge resumed, "Two receivers on the right side and one on the left. The ball is snapped….Chase makes the throw towards Evans…and…hey!"
The screen went black.
"What the-"
"Rangers, at attention!"
Reluctantly, the rangers got to their feet and saluted Commander Cruger. His intimidating figure stood at ease in front of darkened TV screen, and he motioned for the rangers to stand down.
"You have worked under me for almost a year now, and I have challenged you physically and emotionally. You have completed your S.W.A.T. training where you learned to work as a team. But now," he paused and looked each one of them in the eye, "you will be tested more demandingly than ever before. It will take courage, wit, understanding, and mental endurance. It will be a very long and difficult journey."
B-squad shared uneasy looks. "What kind of test, Sir," Sky asked, ready to take on the challenge. Cruger nodded over his shoulder at Dr. Manx, and she stepped forward with five thick packets of paper and passed them down the line of teens.
"There is a chance that you may all fail," the commander said finally.
After reading the front page of the stapled papers, Bridge looked up in confusion. "Sir? A competence aptitude test?"
Cruger sighed. "I'm afraid so, Cadet. It's now regulation that all SPD employees take one every six months. I have the utmost," he coughed into his paw-like hand, "faith that you will all pass."
He was about to leave the rec room once again when he said as an afterthought, "Good luck."
Kat nodded and said, "They're do by the end of the week," before following the Commander out the door.
The five just stood there for several moments. "Was it just me, or did it sound like the Commander thinks we're all going to fail?" Z questioned sarcastically.
Bridge flipped though the first few pages and remarked, "Well, he's right. We're doomed."
"You might," Sky said, "but I plan on passing it with flying colors."
Syd nodded in agreement, "Me too. We're competent…right? Right?"
Each one of the rangers snagged a piece of furniture and settled down with their packet and a pencil. As if a simple aptitude test could get the better of them. Yeah right!
30 minutes later…
"Anyone know what a hycogragulatorphon is?"
No response.
1 hour later…
"So, if the crippled guy is on one side of the stream with the little girl, how does mom get back to the other side where the baby and the clown are?"
Silence.
Two hours later…
"That's it. I'll finish it tomorrow," Jack snapped and left.
Syd covered a yawn with her hand. "I think I'm gonna go to bed too. Night."
Bridge sighed, "And then there were three."
Thirty minutes later…
"And then there were two," Z murmured as Bride rose from the floor and left. She glanced over at Sky who was glancing at her. Ponderingly, she tapped a finger against her chin.
"So…do you have the answer to number 39?"
He shrugged suspiciously, "Maybe. Do you know number 45?"
"Possibly."
The two stared hard at one another.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"It depends. Are you thinking that we should work together to achieve a common goal of passing this stupid aptitude test?"
"Something along those lines, yes."
They stared at each other again in silence, guilt keeping them from sharing answers.
Finally Z said, "It wouldn't really be cheating. It's not like he told us we couldn't help each other."
"I agree. In fact, this may be one of those teamwork tests in disguise, where he actually wants us to work together," Sky commented thoughtfully.
"You're probably right. A competence aptitude test sounded awfully fishy to me."
"Very fishy."
They shook hands.
"I'm in."
"Me too."
Next week…
One again the five rangers stood lined up in front of their commanding officer, however, this time in the command center.
"Well, cadets, I've received your scores, and I have some good news and some bad news."
B-squad held their breath in anticipation.
"36 of the personnel here at SPD failed the test, but I must add that our station scored in the top 20 of all the SPD facilities in our galaxy."
Z bit her lip. That meant there was a 64 percent chance that she passed.
"The good news is that all of you passed."
High-fives were shared and everyone smiled brightly in relief.
"Yes, well done. Well done. Now you're dismissed. Oh, Delgado. Tate. Your scores were some of best at the academy. Excellent work."
The two shrugged. Sky asked slyly, "Even better than yours, Sir?"
Kat chuckled from her position by the monitor, and Cruger growled at the insinuation. "Don't be ridiculous, Cadet. Or perhaps you would like for Dr. Manx to look over surveillance footage from the rec room last week."
Z shook her head. "No, of course not. Sky was just joking, Sir. He's a funny guy. Bye!"
The yellow and blue rangers made a beeline for the door.
Once safe in the hallway, Z threw her arms around Sky's neck in a tight hug. "We did it!"
Sky froze at the close contact and then awkwardly patted her back. "Y-yeah, I guess we did."
"You guess?" she exclaimed. "We kicked but! I think we make a pretty good team, Blue." And with that, Z released him. Smiling, she left him to go find the others.
Sky watched her retreating form. After she disappeared around the corner, he murmured, "Yeah, we do."
To be continued