Chapter 3 – I Can't Sleep At Night
August 10 2001 – BioLab, Silver Hills
Inside a large office on the top floor of BioLab's headquarters, Wes sat behind his father's desk and gazed idly out the window. The view wasn't spectacular, all he could see was part of the car park and one of the other building's in the complex but the red ranger wasn't too focused on the scenery. Wes had reluctantly followed Eric's advice and sought out assistance from his father's company. The previous evening he had taken blood samples from his friends and rushed them down to the lab. Even though it was late, he knew that his father would still be in his office. To his surprise his father didn't gloat that Wes had turned to him for assistance, instead he took the samples off Wes's hands and asked him to return the following morning to allow his scientists time to run some tests.
It had been a long and uncomfortable night for Wes. All of the infected rangers had woken up at some point during the night. Some of them had been more lucid than others, Lucas had managed a full conversation but Trip only spluttered incoherently before lapsing back into unconsciousness. Around 4am everything was silent again inside the Clock Tower but that worried Wes more than the intermittent chatter. Every half an hour he nervously checked on everyone just in case something was catastrophically wrong. Eventually Circuit had to practically push Wes out the door so he could meet with his father.
The red ranger was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't hear the door to the office open. Albert Collins stepped inside and instantly spotted the look of apprehension on his son's face. Contrary to what his son thought, he genuinely had his best interests at heart. Initially he had dismissed Wes's actions as an action of rebellion. Unlike others during their teenage years, Wes had been pretty well behaved. Perhaps he had saved his rebellious phase to his early twenties.
As the weeks drifted past, Mr Collins began to respect his son more and more. His time with the rangers had seen him grow into a fine man. Sadly the pair were afflicted with something Albert called 'The Collins Pride', a flat out refusal to back down even when they knew they were wrong. It was a shame that it had taken a serious illness to the other rangers to bring them back together. Mr Collins walked quietly up to his desk and placed a large takeaway coffee on the surface. The noise snapped Wes's attention back to the present and he nearly fell out of the chair, "Dad, you startled me", the red ranger gasped.
"My apologies Wesley", he replied, "I thought you could do with this", he tapped the coffee, "it doesn't look like you've had much sleep".
"That's an understatement", Wes replied and took a long drag from the cup, "you remembered my favourite".
"Give your old man some credit", Albert smiled before pausing for a moment, his face turned a little more serious, "the lab has come back with their analysis".
Wes frowned as he sensed the change in his father's tone, "Is it serious?"
"The truth is that we don't even know where to begin", Mr Collins turned on the large television screen that was mounted on the wall and some of the data from the tests was displayed.
"Dad you know that I flunked Biology", the red ranger sighed.
"I'm well aware of that fact", Mr Collins began, "all four samples show significant differences from a healthy set of results". He took a step back from the screen and continued, "initially the boys in the lab thought they were fake but after looking again they confirm the source of the blood from three of them as human but it's nothing they've ever seen before. It's almost like they've been altered at DNA level but that's impossible".
Something in the back of Wes's mind suddenly clicked. He didn't even hear his father move onto the fourth sample, Trip's, the most difficult one for them to analyse. He vaguely recalled a previous conversation with the others about the widespread genetic engineering in the future. He knew they might struggle with Katie's sample, on account of her enhanced strength and Trip's Xybrian DNA but even Lucas and Jen's DNA was almost beyond recognition to twenty first century scientists. He couldn't believe that humanity would strive to change their basic genetic coding to this extent.
This gave Wes a dilemma, if he wanted to find a cure for the other then he would need to tell his father about their true origins. But could he trust his father with the knowledge that Jen and the others were from the future, "Wes are you listening to me?" Mr Collins said.
"Sorry I zoned out for a minute", Wes shook his head. The red ranger sighed, he had reached a decision. The others would probably be angry with him but at least they would be alive, "Dad what I'm about to tell you can't leave this room". Mr Collins was about to say something but Wes stopped him, "I'm serious about this Dad, if you share this with anyone then the future could be in jeopardy".
"That sounds a little dramatic but alright Wes, you have my word", Mr Collins replied.
The red ranger took a deep breath, "The reason you're having trouble with the sample is probably due my friend's origins. They're not from around here, they're from the future, the year 3000 to be precise".
Mr Collins looked at his son and chuckled slightly but his expression changed when Wes frowned at him, "You're not joking?" he asked.
"This sample", he pointed at the one on screen, "came from Trip, he's really an alien. All the rest have experienced some kind of genetic engineering. Apparently that's as normal as a first trimester scan in the future".
"The future", Mr Collins gasped and stumbled back towards his desk. He fumbled for the edge of the desk and leaned on it in shock, "That explains why we couldn't analyse the Quantum Morpher then?"
Wes nodded, "Dad you need to promise me that you won't use this information for yours or BioLab's personal gain. Too many changes have been made to the future already, any more and my friend's might not have a home to return to".
Mr Collins was still too dumb struck to do anything other than nod slowly. It took him a few moments to regain his composure, "Does Eric know about this?" he asked.
The red ranger nodded, "Jen made him promise as well, I'm shocked that he actually kept his word if I'm honest".
Before the conversation could continue, the intercom in the office buzzed, "I thought I told you not to disturb me Kirsten", Mr Collins said to his secretary.
"I'm sorry Mr Collins but I thought you'd want to see the latest news broadcast", Kirsten replied.
The CEO of BioLab grabbed a remote control and switched the television to a national news station, "You join us live in Silver Hills at the scene of some kind of biological attack on the citizens of the city", the news reporter began. "All of the victims have been rendered unconscious and are suffering from some kind of fever. The other symptoms of this disease include profuse sweating and a blotchy red mark on the neck".
"A mutant?" Mr Collins asked his son.
"I guess so", Wes replied, "but I didn't get a call from Circuit".
"The Silver Guardians attended the scene but they were too late to prevent the infection", the news reporter continued. "A spokesman for the Silver Guardians stated that the disease is not airborne and you can only be infected through direct contact with the primary carrier. They do advise that all citizens remain indoors until the crisis has passed. We will update you once we have more information but until then this is Caitlin Cornell for NBC News".
Mr Collins buzzed his secretary back on the intercom, "Kirsten, tell Captain Myers to report to me immediately". The office door burst open and the aforementioned Quantum Ranger strode into the room, "Nevermind he's here now".
"And he doesn't know how to knock either", Wes snarked.
Eric gave Mr Collins a salute, "Mr Collins", he said and looked over at the red ranger, "Wes".
"At ease Captain", Mr Collins began, "I assume you have something to report".
"Yes Sir", the Quantum Ranger began, "all of the infected citizens have been attacked by a mutant called Venomark. Unfortunately myself and the other Guardians couldn't prevent a widespread infection but they were able to repel the threat".
"Any casualties in your squad?" Mr Collins asked.
"Ten have been infected by Venomark, they've been transported straight to Silver Hills General", Eric stated.
"Wait a sec", Wes held up his hands, "how come you got the call and I didn't?"
"Jealous?" Eric smirked, "That oversized turkey of yours called me directly. Apparently he was worried that you didn't get enough beauty sleep ".
"Gentleman that's enough", Mr Collins cut in front of the inevitable argument, "anything else to report".
Eric nodded, "I was about to engage Venomark when Ransik showed up. I couldn't believe it but he then started fighting the mutant".
"Ransik fought his own guy?" Wes asked, "any idea why?"
"Not a clue but Ransik suffered some kind of medical seizure that was cured by this", Eric reached into his overalls and pulled out a small phial with a blue liquid in the bottom. "If I was to hazard a guess, I think that Ransik and this Venomark character have some kind of history".
Mr Collins took hold of the phial and gave it a visual once over. There was nothing remarkable about the substance, in fact it looked like ordinary water that had been dyed blue, "I'll have the boys in the lab look at this, perhaps they can come up with something".
The CEO of BioLab moved towards the door but he was stopped by Wes, "Dad, remember what we talked about", his father was hesitant but he nodded in agreement. He stepped through the door and closed it behind him.
"Did I interrupt something?" Eric asked.
"I asked my Dad to help me with the others", he tried to ignore the triumphant smirk on Eric's face, "go on say it, I told you so".
"Oh no, I've got my entire life to throw this one back at you", Eric chuckled.
"Yeah yeah", Wes groaned, "I told him about the others, that they're from the future".
Eric stopped immediately and glared in the direction of the red ranger, "I thought that information was on a need to know basis".
"The lab analysed the blood work but apparently DNA will look a lot different in a thousand years". Wes looked at his watch, "I probably should get back and check on the others", he crossed the floor of the office, "thanks for helping with Venomark and getting a sample of that liquid". Eric nodded slowly before Wes left the office, leaving the Quantum Ranger alone.
BioLab Research Block
The sun was getting low in the sky but none of the scientists and researchers had left. They were under pressure to find a cure for Venomark's virus and they probably wouldn't be leaving for the rest of the night. Early analysis showed that the liquid was some kind of all purpose antidote but it was too early to tell if it would be effective. Things were so busy that even Mr Collins stayed behind to help. It was a little known fact that he graduated from college with a degree in Microbiology. He was one of the scientists that founded BioLab over twenty years ago but he soon turned his attention to the business side of the company. Eventually he took over as CEO but he still liked to visit the lab periodically, just to keep his eye in.
Whilst the rest of his team worked on the serum, Mr Collins was in a private room working on the ranger's blood results. Wes had sent him data with their healthy blood results so he could differentiate between the virus and their normal DNA. He had a theory that the serum his team were working on could also be used to help the rangers but it would take a while before he would be able to confirm that.
He was about to take a break when someone walked into his room. The man was in his late thirties or early forties with greying brown hair. He was tall, skinny and dressed in a grey suit with an open collar. He wore a pair of thick framed glasses and gave Mr Collins a firm nod as a greeting, "I don't believe we've been introduced", Mr Collins stated.
"Phillip Spader", the man said stiffly, "Head of the Directors at Project Hexagon".
Mr Collins immediately got to his feet, "How did you get past security?"
"That's not important", Spader answered, "rumour has it that you're working on the cure for this virus that infected the city".
"What of it?" Mr Collins snapped.
"Come now Albert, no need to be so tense", Spader smiled, "I've come to offer our assistance, I'm sure if we pool our resources we can reduce the time needed to create the antidote".
Mr Collins took a few moments to appraise this newcomer. Clearly Phillip Spader was a confident man but his voice and mannerisms reminded him of a car sales man or a lawyer. Mr Collins knew that Hexagon were financed in part by INET. The two companies had been big rivals for the last decade, mostly in the engineering sector. Accepting help from them would be a blow to the ego but right now he didn't have much choice, "I'm sure that you're not offering your services out of the kindness of your heart".
"Please call me Phil", the man replied smoothly, "and you insult us Albert, we're here purely as humanitarians". He crossed the room and placed an arm around Mr Collins' shoulder, "Although rumour has it that your son and one of your employees is part of the latest team of rangers".
"The press is well aware of Captain Myers role as the Quantum Ranger", he answered, shaking off the man's grasp in the process. He chose not to respond to the rumoured about Wes.
Phillip Spader smiled, "Perhaps there is a way you can help us". Mr Collins suddenly felt very uneasy, like he was about to sell his soul and the rangers, to INET and Project Hexagon.
A/N - In the future I think that the main scientific advances we make will be to ourselves in the form of genetic engineering. In my interpretation of the Time Force future, this leads to a three tier society. There's those who can afford engineering (to join Time Force, you would have to fit into this category), those that can't and the mutants. In the future they don't get judged by wealth, gender or skin colour but how genetically perfect they are.
I thought it was time to give the Hexagon Directors a public face and it comes in the slippery form of Phillip Spader. You'll be seeing a lot more of him in the future...