Jordan was still propping up the bridge by the time the authorities came. Even with his strength augmented by the Robo Knight armour, he had been crouched in the same position for almost an hour as the authorities came to check out the area. His muscles were cramping up, and he wasn't sure how much longer he would be able to hold it. He was running mostly on his own stubborn nature and his will to keep the bridge from collapsing. Jordan had convinced Cat, Allison and Quinn that it was probably for the best they weren't around to answer any questions when the cops got there.
"Well, well, look what we have here." Jordan heard a disturbingly familiar voice saying. He looked up, and sighed deeply as he saw Detective Barnes heading towards him, putting her gun away. She approached him slowly. "It's not often one of you sticks around after a battle."
"Yeah, I thought you'd appreciate me not...you know...dropping a section of the Red Line while trains are still due." He responded.
"Sarcasm?" She asked as she looked to him with interest. "I didn't know robots were programmed with sarcasm."
"You'd be amazed what I'm programmed with." Jordan answered. "Now, unless you and your team want a few hundred tons of steel and concrete dumped on your heads, can you get to work securing this? I'd kind of like to get out of here at some point."
"Well, this is the first time I've managed to catch one of you in a position where you can't just run off." She answered. "And something tells me if you were going to dump all of this on my head, you'd have done it by now."
"Leave it much longer and I won't have a choice." Jordan stated as some fire crew started bringing equipment closer. "The other blast..."
"The rest of your friends managed to contain it." She informed him. "They held up the track with their robot things. There's another team working on securing the track over there."
"Great, I knew they'd do it." Jordan responded. She came closer.
"Now that we've got that out the way, you'd better believe I've got questions." She stated firmly.
"Don't you have a case already?" Jordan groaned. Barnes was the detective in charge of investigating General Edwards' murder. He'd already had one run-in with her as Jordan Edwards, leaving him with the distinct impression that like a fair portion of the city, she probably already believed that he had done it. She was right about one thing, with the strain of holding up the bridge, especially now there were people under it, he couldn't leave. He was stuck at least until the bridge was secure...or until he couldn't hold it up any longer.
"I have a lot of cases, and this is probably the best chance I've had to solve one of the biggest cases on the board." She informed him. "Now, how about we start with the obvious question..."
"Look, I don't know how much longer I can hold this all up!" Jordan told her honestly, looking to the emergency crew unpacking their gear. "How long's all this going to take?"
"It's hard to say." One of the fire crew answered, looking to Detective Barnes. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"What? Are you serious?" She asked as they started to get to work. "I have a job to do..."
"So do we, and our job is to keep people alive, including you!" The fireman replied. "Now you're going to have to wait behind the cordon until we've secured the bridge."
"But he'll just..."
"I'll not be sticking around for an interview detective." Jordan said, smiling under his mask as he realised the predicament she was in. She couldn't question him until the bridge was secure, and as soon as it was, he would no longer be trapped. He would just teleport, leaving her once again one step behind. "Sorry."
"You can't let him..."
"I'm sorry Detective Barnes, but you're going to have to leave!" The fireman reiterated. "If you want, take it up with the mayor."
She just threw her hands up in frustration as she walked away, escorted by another member of the emergency team. She knew it was pointless, in a situation like this, preserving life was far more important than satisfying her curiosity. Jordan just gave her a little wave as she was taken away.
"Missing you already detective!" He taunted her as she was removed from the scene, before looking to the team beginning to work on bracing the pillar. "OK, seriously, how long is this going to take, I really need to go."
"We'll try to get you out as quickly as we can." He replied. "Detective Barnes will have to talk to you another time."
"Thanks." Jordan stated. The fireman moved a little closer.
"I should be thanking you. My in-laws were on one of those trains." He informed Jordan. "I owe you one."
As they got to work, all Jordan could think about was that for now at least, his issues with Detective Barnes had been kept at bay. Once he was released from the pillar, he could concentrate on something that had been a long time coming. He would get his answers; he would finally know what this was all about. He was done playing games, especially with Gosei.
In another part of the city, the Rangers arrived at the Brainfreeze. Cat had sent word to them about her involvement in saving Jordan, and also that it had come at a price.
The Brainfreeze was technically closed, but as had happened many times before, Ernie was happy to let them stay a little longer. As they got to the door, knocking on it to let them know they had arrived, Cat unlocked the door, letting them in. She could already see that Jake and Noah clearly weren't happy with her. She hadn't expected anything less. She had spoken to Gia, and knew that the guys had all been struggling individually with the decision whether or not to tell their loved ones about their identities. So far, Ernie, herself, Mr Goodall, Mrs Moran, and the Burrows all knew. She did know that Noah and Jake had elected not to tell anyone, and by telling Allison and Quinn she had taken that decision away from them.
"Allison's in the corner." She informed Jake. "Quinn's in the bathroom."
Jake and Noah went in their respective directions as the others gathered around her.
"I'll just start up the coffee machine." She told them as she headed behind the counter. "Ernie told us just to lock up when we're done."
"I'll give you a hand." Gia said as she followed Cat around behind the counter. Emma, and Troy went to another table to wait. As Cat was about to start up the machine, Gia put a hand on hers.
"Cat..."
"I'm sorry, I couldn't think of any other way." Cat told her. "After everything Jordan's been through, I wanted to be there, to see if he needed help so I could call you..."
"But you told Allison and Quinn." Gia interrupted her.
"I...I needed a ride." Cat tried to explain. "I knew no cabs would be going out there..."
"So you told Allison and Quinn?" Gia asked.
"I'm sorry; I couldn't think what else to do!" Cat protested tearfully.
"Cat...I know you meant well, but this is one of the reasons I don't want you staying here." Gia reminded her. "You put yourself in harms' way for us. We've trained for this, we have powers, you don't!"
"I know..."
"What's worse, you put Allison and Quinn in danger!" Gia reminded her. "What if Jordan hadn't been able to handle her? What if she had come after you? Do you really think I want to lose you like that?"
She drew Cat in, hugging her tightly.
"Please, please promise me you won't do anything like that again." She begged her. "You're one of the best things that's ever happened to me. I'd completely lose it if I lost you."
"I'm sorry." Cat whispered to her. "So...I guess Jake and Noah are pissed at me."
"Don't worry about them, I'll talk to them." Gia assured her. "And if anyone messes with you, they'll have me to answer to."
Cat just nodded as she turned her attention back to the coffee machine. Gia knew that the guys weren't happy with her actions, and to be honest, she couldn't blame them. While everyone Gia really loved now knew the dangers she faced and was there to support her through all the trials, Noah and Jake had opted not to tell their loved ones. She knew their situations were different to hers, and she respected their privacy enough not to ask too many questions. Each of them had been given the choice, but for them, that choice had now been taken away. She only hoped that this issue wouldn't divide them.
As Jake sat with Allison, he could see her trying to comprehend what she had learned. He held her hand gently.
"I...I still can't believe it." She told him. "When Cat asked for a ride, when she told me why she wanted to go to the haulage yard, I didn't believe her."
"I guess it all is kind of..."
"I couldn't believe you tried to hide this from me." She told him. "I just thought this was another of Cat's wild fantasies, that it was just one of those things she says because...because she got dropped on her head as a baby, or...whatever. I thought we were completely honest with each other."
"We are." Jake responded. "Allison, I know how difficult all this is..."
"Do you? Do you really?" She snapped at him. She slammed her hands onto the arm rests of her wheelchair. "Jake, it's hard enough watching you play soccer. I was having kittens when the Stone Canyon players were kicking lumps out of you. Now you're telling me that when every sane person in the city is running for cover, you've been running in to fight those monsters?"
"Yes, I have." Jake sighed.
"So that day you got caught in the stampede away from the warehouse district?" She asked. He just nodded.
"It was Rotox." He told her. "For what it's worth, there was no plan to build a Thanksgiving float either. We just...had to tell you something to explain why we were leaving in such a hurry."
"What is it Jake, is there no one else to do this? Can one of the hundred or so other Power Rangers there have been not go and risk themselves every day?" She asked him, gesturing to her chair. "Will you not be happy until you've got one of these to match? Or will you only be happy when I have to see you buried?"
"Allison, it isn't like that. I know how hard this has to be for you to understand." Jake told her, stroking her hand gently. "I didn't mean to lie to you, but I know how terrified I am every time I go out there. I've met former Rangers, talked to them. Do you think this is a game for me? I know the risks, but if it wasn't for us, do you have any idea how many people wouldn't be here today?"
"I know that Jake, it's just..." She found her words tailing off as she tried to compose her thoughts. "I know all too well how fragile life is. All it takes is one thing to go the wrong way. I'm nervous enough as it is watching you play soccer and take a hard tackle. I love you, and...knowing what you do, I don't know how I'll be able to watch you go, knowing I might not get you back in one piece."
"Now you know why I didn't want to tell you." He assured her. "It's for the best that people don't know about us. You've seen what mom and dad are like when I come home from practice with a few boo boos. Dad pretty much had a heart attack when I got into that fight with Dean. If they knew about this..."
"I get it." Allison sighed. "Just don't expect me to like it."
"I really don't. I hate keeping it from people." Jake assured her. "But at times, I think it would be just selfish if I burdened others with this. Its part of the responsibility I took on when I accepted the morpher in the first place."
"Wow...what's happened to us?" She asked him as she chuckled a little, looking to him. "I never thought I'd hear you talking about responsibility."
"It kind of surprised me too." He admitted. "I'm sorry I didn't say anything, but I thought it was easier when you didn't know."
"I guess it was." She admitted. "I'm not going to like keeping this from mom and dad either, but I know if they knew, they'd make me stop seeing you."
"You...you still want to go out with me?" He asked her. She just smiled.
"Did you just completely miss the part where I said I love you?" She asked him. Jake smiled in response, pulling in closely and kissing her softly.
"Well, I guess it looks like Jake's made things right with Allison." Troy commented as Cat came over with the coffees.
"I'm glad for him." Gia replied as Cat sat down. "I mean, he is kind of a goof, but he's a good guy. He deserves to be happy."
"Now all we have to worry about is Quinn." Troy stated.
"Somehow...I think Noah's got that covered." Emma giggled, pointing to the bathroom door as Noah and Quinn came out, straightening out their clothes, their hair out of place and looking more than a little flustered. Gia just laughed.
"Well, that's one approach I guess." She said as she took a sip of her cappuccino.
"Well, I have to admit, the Spandex is kind of a turn on." Cat said with a smile.
Meanwhile, on the Warstar ship, Vrak was working in his lab when the ship rocked violently. He heard an alert sounding, and immediately scrambled to hide what he was doing. A guard came in, just as he finished putting away the last of his equipment.
"You are to come to the Throne room." He stated.
"I'll be there in..."
"This is not a request." The guard reiterated. Vrak felt his anger burning, but he suspected what was coming. He activated a communicator behind his back, sending a signal to the underwater base to alert Metal Alice to the development.
"Of course." Vrak answered, taking a respectful bow. "I was merely intending to clean myself up for Admiral Malkor..."
"Given what some of us look like when we hatch, I doubt he's going to care much." The guard replied gruffly. Vrak just nodded in response, following the guard to the Throne Room.
He stood on the bridge for the first time since Malkor had entered his cocoon. Malkor's guards all had strict instructions that no one was to enter until he was ready. The guard gestured to Vrak to step forward.
Vrak felt the awesome power in the room, even through the cocoon. A low, rolling mist was spilling out over the floor, giving him an eerie feeling.
As he approached, slowly getting down onto one knee, he bowed respectfully. He didn't need to hear the cocoon crack to know that he was out of time. Malkor was back, and he could only hope that his preparations were enough. With a huge crash, a fist burst through the cocoon.