Over the chatter that was going on during the party, Bridge was standing alone by the presents table soaking up all the positive energy around him. Smiling to himself, he looked around the gazebo at all the happy faces of all the SPD personnel at Syd's surprise party that Jack had put together. He was glad that Jack had finally understood why birthdays were important occasions that should be celebrated. Both Z and Boom were happily stuffing their faces with food while trying to make Cruger join in on their overindulgence by handing him cupcakes. Even Sky was having a good time, with his uniform unzipped, pouring himself a cup of tea while chatting with another SPD cadet.
That was when their favorite tech genius Kat Manx walked up to Bridge with a smile. "Hey Bridge, are you enjoying the party?" Kat asked. "Hi Kat," Bridge greeted back. "Of course I'm enjoying the party! It's practically thrumming with positive energy. I can feel it even without taking off my gloves!" Bridge exclaimed as Kat laughed at Bridge's enthusiasm. "I mean look at Sky, it's been such a long time since I saw him have this much fun," Bridge pointed out to Kat as they both glanced at Sky laughing his head off at something the extra-terrestrial cadet he was talking to said. They both chuckled and shook their heads. Kat's eyes were drawn at the number of gifts Syd had received that were all littered around the table where they were standing around. "Wow, looks like Syd has a lot of admirers," Kat stated as Bridge smiled at her comment. "Syd's always had a lot of fans, ever since we started at the academy," Bridge replied. "She was a famous singer, model, and fencer," Bridge reminded Kat. "But I don't think that that is all she is anymore," Bridge said as Kat listened on. "With her strong sense to help people, she truly worked hard to become a valuable member of SPD," Bridge concluded. Kat agreed and nodded as they both stood in peaceful silence as they celebrated their friend.
Bridge's eyes wandered over to all the presents on the table and the cogs in his brain started turning. A lightbulb lit up above Bridge's head as his eyes sparkled with mischief. "Hey Kat, I have an idea," Bridge's wide eyes made Kat raise an eyebrow at him with intrigue but also suspicion. "I've never tried this before so I don't know if it's going to work, not that I have ever wanted to try it before, or have I but I just never had the chance to, or I have had the chance to but just never really thought abou-" "Bridge!" Kat yelled to stop Bridge's rambling. "What is it?" Kat asked patiently. Bridge smirked and started to take off his right glove. "I am going to guess what presents Syd got with my powers!" Bridge said excitedly. "Let's start with our favorite B-squad leader, well, only leader," Kat sighed dejectedly but still went along with Bridge's plan. She handed Bridge the gift that was from Jack. It looked oddly cylindrical, wrapped in silver wrapping paper with a pink ribbon on it. Bridge held the present and closed his eyes as his psychometric powers got into action.
"I've got it!" Bridge opened his eyes. "Phew, as much as he is clueless about birthdays, he is just as clueless about gift-giving," Bridge glanced at Jack just across from them talking to Syd. "What is it?" Kat asked with curiosity as Bridge leaned into Kat and whispered into her feline ear, "It's a bottle of shampoo," Kat crinkled her nose and frowned. "He thought it smelled good that's why he got it but do you think that it'll send a wrong message?" Bridge asked as Kat nodded and replied, "He's lucky he threw her this party," Kat glanced at Jack again. "If not, I wouldn't know what would happen to him," Kat finished as Bridge agreed while nodding his head.
"Next up, our blue boy that wishes he was red," Bridge proclaimed as Kat winced. Bridge saw it and smiled sheepishly, "Too soon?" he asked as Kat nodded. Bridge just shrugged as Kat handed him Sky's present. It came in a small bag with a gift box in it, also decorated with a pink bow. He took out the gift box and closed his eyes. Bridge's smiled turned into a grin and he reopened his eyes. Seeing his grin, Kat tilted her head sideways and asked, "What is it Bridge?". "It's a pink diamond necklace in the shape of an oval," Bridge replied with a big grin. "Who knew Sky was good at picking out birthday present", Kat hummed in acknowledgement. "Also seeing as working as a Ranger pays little to nothing at all," Bridge wondered as he glanced at Sky, "Sky must really like Syd," Bridge turned back to Kat. "Do you think Sky likes Syd? Because I thought guys only gifted jewelry to girls because they liked them, unless that's wrong? Actually, I don't really know where I heard that from like where did this analogy come from? Do you thin-" "Bridge!" Kat yelled to interrupt Bridge's thoughts again. "Regardless, I think it's a very lovely gift Sky got Syd," Kat told Bridge as he nodded in agreement with a smile.
"Alright, last but not least, the roommate. Now, those two are complete opposites so this should be good," Bridge said excitedly. Kat handed him the present from Z that looked rectangular and was wrapped in pink wrapping paper with a yellow ribbon this time, how fitting. Bridge closed his eyes and let his powers take over. His mind exploded with images of everyone: Jack flirting with a pretty SPD cadet in the rec room flashing his signature smile at her; Sky reading the SPD handbook for the millionth time while munching on his favorite popcorn with his brows furrowed in concentration; Syd humming to her own songs while painting, Bridge doing a handstand for his optimal thinking position; Z and Syd finally getting along painting each other nails; all of them playing lightball together; R.I.C. who peed on Commander Cruger's foot with everyone in the command center laughing at the hilarious scene; moments of all of them together flowed through Bridge's mind rapidly. Bridge took in a deep breath and let it out with a satisfied sigh while smiling to himself. "What it is Bridge? Are you alright?" Kat asked curiously. Bridge finally opened his eyes and looked at Kat dreamily. "Everything's more than alright," Bridge said to Kat who was still looking at Bridge quizzically. "It's a photo album," Bridge told Kat. "I saw all of the pictures and moments of us that Z took with her camera," Bridge said as him and Kat looked over to Z and Boom at their table exchanging words while happily indulging on cupcakes. "I never knew Z was so sentimental," Bridge told Kat as she nodded in agreement. "Ever since Jack and Z came into our lives it felt so... right, you know what I mean?" Kat looked over to Bridge's soft eyes and nodded. "The team is finally complete," Bridge concluded.
After the party, the B-squad rangers filed into to the rec room back at the base carrying piles of Syd's presents each. Setting them down gently on the floor, the rangers except Syd collapsed onto the couch in exhaustion. Syd sat on the floor excitedly surrounded by her presents as she opened them up one by one. Time passed by and then she was down to the presents she got from her teammates. She opened Bridge's first and squealed at the sight of a stuffed pink bear. "Oh my goodness, Bridge! It's adorable, thank you! Now Peanuts has a friend!" She exclaimed delightedly as she hugged the bear and Bridge tightly. "I'm gonna name it Strawberry," Everyone laughed as Bridge hugged her back. "You're welcome, Syd. Happy birthday."
Next was Jack's and well... I guess it did send the wrong message, Bridge thought as he could see the façade that Syd had put up in her disdain towards Jack's gift as she smiled painfully. "It does smell very yummy, Jack, thank you," Syd told Jack as they hugged. Phew, luckily Jack threw her the party, everyone thought.
Opening up Sky's present, Syd gasped loudly and whipped her head at Sky's direction. "Sky! You shouldn't have! This is beautiful!" Sky smirked as Syd tried to put it on but was struggling. "Here, let me," Sky said leaning down to help her with the clasp. "I saw it at the Newtech Mall and thought of the time when we were guarding those diamonds. And your favorite color is pink so..." "Thank you," Syd turned around and hugged Sky tightly which he returned. "Didn't know you liked shopping for jewelry, Schuyler," Jack said snarkily while everyone else snickered. Sky just glared back at him as Jack put his hands up in surrender.
Last but not least, Syd opened Z's gift and tears started to well up in her blue eyes as she flipped through the first few pages. "Did you make this yourself?" Syd asked, looking up at Z. "Yup," Z replied popping the P. "I hope you like it, cuz missy, it took a really long time to arrange everything," Z said sassily to Syd making her laugh as they embraced. "Thank you, Z, I know we don't get along sometimes but this is wonderful," Syd said into Z's ear. "You're welcome, girly," Z whispered back into Syd's ear.
Everyone gathered around Syd to see the pictures of the photo album as Syd flipped through it, smiling and laughing at some funny images. Jack had his arm around his sister but in blood, smiling while looking at the photos. Sky was also looming over Syd's shoulder and complimenting on Z's photography skills while praising pictures of himself smugly. Bridge hung back as he secretly already looked at the photos and just stared at his team with a sense of love and belonging swelling up in his chest. As he thought, everything's more than alright. Everything's perfect.