AUTHOR'S NOTES:
Since I was a child, I have been a big fan of the Power Rangers franchise. And of all its seasons, S.P.D. has a very special place in my heart for different reasons. And just now, the future has finally caught up with us; we are in 2025, the year in which the events of that season take place. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like Hasbro or anyone else intends to do anything special to celebrate the occasion, so I think it will be up to the Fandom to do so.
For my part, I spent some time thinking about what I could write to contribute my grain of sand to the celebration. Still, from the beginning, it was obvious to me that it had to be something dedicated to Cruger and Kat, two of my favorite characters in the entire franchise and my favorite couple.
I was recently re-watching the season, looking for inspiration. As the episodes went by, I made notes of different moments of both characters that I would have liked to see expanded on more, seen in a different way, or moments that I would have liked to see and weren't. And from all those ideas that were coming to me and I was writing down, this story came from.
The central idea is to retell the events of the season from Cruger and Kat's perspective, although, of course, not the ENTIRE season, just what is relevant. But although 85% or so of this will be about narrating moments of this couple so dear to me, I will also take the liberty of adding scenes and dialogues that not only help develop the relationship of the two protagonists, but also give more coherence to some moments of the season, or fill in some gaps that may have been left in its plot. To do so, not all the events will happen as we saw them, but we will see a "different" version. That is why this story could border a little on the "Alternate Universe" line, although without straying too far from what is known.
Likewise, although I will try to respect each character's personality and way of acting, some may have small "adjustments," but they will not fall into the Out of Character's field (or so I hope).
Additionally, I want to comment that I know that in recent years, several comics have come out that greatly expand the Power Rangers universe. And I know several of them have given more details about the S.P.D. and its history. However, I must confess that I am not up to date with that content and do not want to overcomplicate things. So, I will choose to base myself solely on what I have seen in the series, taking only perhaps one or another detail from the comics if I consider it relevant. But, of course, there will also be several (many) things that will come directly from my crazy imagination but that I feel (or hope) would be good.
As a final warning, while we will mostly stick to the same tone and themes of the original series, there will be times when we will subtly touch on some more mature themes, some implicitly, others more directly. But nothing that strays too far from the type of situations we already know from the franchise.
I will add any other pertinent notes or warnings at the beginning or end of the chapters.
Without further ado, I leave you with Chapter 01 of this story, which I hope you like.
— — — —
CHAPTER 01
That night, the S.P.D. headquarters on Earth were in full swing. The main hall was decorated with the organization's colors and emblems, and occupied by officers, cadets, support staff, and important guests from far away corners, even from off-planet. Some former Powers Rangers, the ever-present defenders of Earth, also made their appearance on such an important night.
All of this had a purpose: to say goodbye to Commander Collins after almost twenty years of service protecting the planet, since the times when the Silver Guard had not yet changed and officially joined the Space Patrol Delta. The Commander was still relatively young and could have remained in his position longer if he had wanted to. But the truth was that after ensuring the presence of the S.P.D. on Earth and leaving its future in good hands, it was time for him to seek to achieve other objectives in other borders beyond time, and to meet with a certain person who had been waiting for him.
That decision was received by the members of the S.P.D. on Earth with a mixture of sadness and excitement; sadness for their leader's departure but excitement for this new phase for both Commander Collins and the S.P.D. After all, a new Commander would also be presented that night, and everyone was there to meet him.
Everyone except Dr. Katherine Manx, the head of the Research and Development division.
While everyone in the great hall was partying, laughing, and drinking, Dr. Kat was holed up in her lab, working on her Judgement Scanner. She was the only one there at the time, sitting at her workstation, a visor covering her eyes as she carefully soldered the delicate, small components of the device on the table, following the detailed diagrams she had designed herself.
It was a complicated and delicate job, but one she was sure would pay off. If all went well, she expected to have the first prototype in a few months. And after some tests and revisions, this device would become an indispensable element of the S.P.D. officers' arsenal to determine a suspect's guilt. Many people still looked at the idea skeptically, but Kat was determined to show them the full scope of her project, and silence all those doubts. She had been doing it for quite a few years now, and this would be no exception.
And that was more important to her than any farewell party or even meeting her new boss.
She knew little about the new Commander yet, except for his name and that he apparently had a more than admirable record as an S.P.A. officer. His not-so-small file contained phrases such as "incredible warrior," "impeccable leader," and "the deadliest sword in the universe." Kat sensed that most of it was mere exaggerations.
No matter what she did, she would know him anyway, so there was no need to rush. On the other hand, her Judgment Scanner would never see the light of day if she didn't put in as much time and effort as possible. Putting both situations on the scales, it was obvious which one would win.
She was halfway through a delicate point in the assembly when the sound of the lab door opening behind her distracted her just slightly. Thankfully, it was not enough to draw her attention away from the device before her.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the room, heading toward her workstation.
"Working so late, Dr. Manx?" the newcomer commented seriously, perhaps trying to sound lively without much success.
"Welcome, Supreme Commander Birdy," Kat greeted him, while with perfect pulse she welded a piece, throwing off a few sparks in the process. Just by hearing his voice, she recognized him and could easily imagine the hard, disapproving expression on his birdlike face. "Sorry for the mess. I wasn't expecting visits tonight. I thought you would just give your speech, a toast, and leave to continue attending to your busy list of tasks."
"The speech and toast were extraordinary, if I may say so," Supreme Commander Fowler Birdy, again trying to sound more amused than his expression and voice actually allowed, "But I was rather surprised not to see you among the pleasant applauding spectators. I know firsthand that you and Commander Collins had your differences in the past, but I hoped to at least see you at his farewell party."
"Differences? Why do you say that?" Kat asked, somewhat confused. She finally lifted her visor to uncover her face and looked directly at the Supreme Commander. "We weren't friends if that's what you mean, but we always made a good team. We both said goodbye privately, and I assure you we are on good terms. I wished him luck on his new journey and gave him my best advice about traveling through time and altering the delicate structure of the universe."
Birdy nodded slowly, although he didn't seem wildly convinced at first glance.
"I'm sorry I missed your speech," Kat added, reaching for the device on her desk. "But as you can see, I'm focused on finishing this as quickly as possible."
"Don't you have an assistant to help you with that?"
"I have a couple of assistants who help me with other things. But I have to do this myself. Otherwise, I can't be sure it will work as I designed it, even less so in the time I need."
"Knowing how to delegate is essential for any leader, Dr. Manx."
"You see? That's why I turned down the Commander's position when you offered it to me," Kat said mockingly, followed by a small, amused giggle, which was not shared by her interlocutor.
"I still think you would have been a good choice," Birdy said. "You know this planet better than anyone, especially this entire base. And you don't do too bad in combat either."
"Leading in battle isn't my thing," Kat stressed, turning back to her device to continue working and, somewhat indirectly, end the conversation. "Research and Development is where I can be most useful to everyone. Besides, I heard the man you chose is more suited for that."
"I was also hoping to introduce each other tonight at the party. Starting tomorrow, you will both be working side by side. You must strengthen your ties as leaders in your respective areas."
At that moment, as if summoned by those words, the laboratory door opened again, and the footsteps of another person were present. However, for the moment, Dr. Manx has not noticed this.
"With all due respect, Supreme Commander," Kat said seriously without looking at him, "it's not necessary for the new commander and me to be friends to do a good job together."
"I agree with that, Dr. Manx," a new voice suddenly spoke from the lab, a voice Kat didn't recognize.
This made her jump in shock and rise from her chair. She turned, somewhat alarmed, towards the door, through which came an individual who, at first glance, seemed totally unknown to her. He was tall, stocky, and broad-shouldered, wearing the distinctive black and red uniform of the S.P.D. commander, with a head with an elongated snout, with a physiognomy similar to that of an earthling dog, but with bluish skin with a texture more similar to the scales of a reptile. He had long black hair in braids that fell back from his neck; large, pointed ears, and dark, penetrating and profound eyes.
That blue-skinned man advanced towards them until he stood in front of Kat and to one side of the Supreme Commander, with his hands together behind his back and a firm and impeccable martial posture.
A Sirian, Kat thought in surprise, immediately recognizing the race from which the individual came. It was well known that after the Troobian Empire's attack on the Sirius system, there were not many individuals of that species left—or none, others said.
"Commander Anubis Cruger at your service, Doctor," the newcomer introduced himself, with a confident and strong voice.
Kat found herself admiring him more than she should have and perhaps analyzing him in the process. She only managed to react when he spoke again, forcing herself out of her reverie as quickly as possible. She cleared her throat a little and tried to stand up straight. The man's presence was so penetrating that as soon as he entered, it was as if the entire room had been impregnated with him, so much so that Kat genuinely felt a little nervous at the moment, almost intimidated. But she did not allow that to be expressed in her countenance or posture.
"Nice to meet you, Commander Cruger," the scientist replied, her voice returning the same firmness. "Dr. Katherine Manx, head of the Research and Development Division."
"I have heard extraordinary things about you, Dr. Manx," the Commander declared solemnly. "Working alongside you to protect this beautiful planet will be an honor."
"Oh, thank you very much," Kat muttered with a subtle smile. "The pleasure will be all mine, Commander. I think I will actually enjoy it quite a bit…"
The moment she said that Kat felt a jolt of embarrassment. She wiped the smile from her lips and looked away. What was she saying? That was far beyond the level of cordiality she wanted to have with her new boss. Luckily, when she glanced at him again, she didn't think he had taken her comment badly.
"Well, I'll leave you two alone for a moment to get to know each other," Supreme Commander Birdy said. Kat had an immediate urge to tell him not to do that, but she restrained herself. "Doggie, I'll see you in the hall to discuss the final details before I retire. Doctor, it's a pleasure as always."
Birdy then strode out of the lab. Cruger sent him off with a quick martial salute, while Kat merely nodded. The two remained still and silent until he had left the room entirely and the door closed behind him.
"Doggie?" the Doctor asked suddenly, unable to resist.
"It's a nickname," the Commander clarified, "from my years as an officer in the S.P.A."
"It's cute," Kat said suddenly, and again, she felt a pang of shame at how loose her tongue was. And she hadn't even drunk a single glass. "Everyone calls me Kat… By Katherine, you know."
Cruger simply nodded in the affirmative in response to his comment.
"What do you work on?" he asked curiously, taking a few steps closer to the work table.
"Oh, it's my prototype of the Judgment Scanner," Kat clarified, sitting back in her chair. "Or at least it will be something resembling a prototype once I'm done with it."
"Judgment Scanner?" Cruger repeated, even more intrigued than before by the explanation. "What is it about?"
Kat sighed a little under her breath, unsure of how to respond. When she explained the idea behind her new device, she was often met with mixed reviews—negative and positive alike. And she had no idea which side the new Commander would be on.
"In simple terms, it would be a device capable of determining the guilt or innocence of a suspect when they are accused of a specific crime. Its main component is a very sensitive scanner, capable of reading the subject's body temperature, pulse, and electrical impulses and giving a completely objective and accurate judgment."
"Like a lie detector," Cruger said thoughtfully.
"Much more complicated than that," Kat replied, perhaps sounding more defensive than she intended.
"What would be its practical use in daily work?" Cruger asked, curious.
"The ultimate intention would be for every S.P.D. officer to have one of them and use it as a tool to quickly apprehend a criminal and, more importantly, make a safe apprehension. Although no one likes to admit it, a person's judgments, even those of the best officer or judge, can be biased by personal views, perceptions, or personal interests. It's not for nothing that the history of justice in the universe is littered with innocent people imprisoned and guilty people free."
"And you are sure that transferring these judgments to a machine will solve the problem?" the Commander asked, not as an accusation or recrimination as many others had done but as a question that sounded more than valid. "Surely you know better than anyone that a machine can fail and be manipulated just as well."
"Yes, I am aware of that, and it is one of the main difficulties I must overcome. That is why my ultimate intention is to design a totally closed system, inviolable and unalterable. Once it is finished and tested, not even I will be able to alter its programming. And no one will be exempt."
"I see," Cruger murmured, nodding. "It is certainly an interesting idea you propose, Dra Manx. But vulnerabilities aside, for it to work fairly and as you wish, the margin of error in judgments must be as low as possible."
"Zero," Kat stressed firmly. "The margin of error must be zero. Anything more than that would be unacceptable. The possibility of arresting an innocent should not even be on the table."
Cruger seemed impressed by such a fervent declaration.
"And do you really believe that achieving that margin of accuracy is possible?"
"That's the other difficulty that has me here working so hard tonight, instead of up there drinking and chatting."
"If I may say so, I feel that even if you didn't have work to do, you're not the sort of person who would much enjoy an evening like the one up there.
Kat watched him, somewhat perplexed by his comment, unsure whether he was trying to flatter her, insult her, or simply make a preliminary assessment of her personality based solely on their short conversation.
"Interesting conjecture," she replied thoughtfully. "But your margin of error in judging your subordinates must be adjusted slightly, Commander. Believe it or not, I am quite a social woman, but only with the right people."
Cruger nodded, apparently pleased with the answer.
"I think we're alike in that," he said eloquently, and Kat thought she even perceived a small smile appearing on those canine lips, which she couldn't help but imitate. "I'll leave you to continue working," he added, and immediately afterward, he turned towards the door. "I'm very interested in seeing the final result of your Judgement Scanner. First thing tomorrow morning, I'll ask you to update me on all the projects and operations in progress if that's okay with you."
"Of course, Commander," Kat said, offering him the same salute she had given Supreme Commander Birdy, and watching him as he disappeared behind the automatic door of the laboratory.
Kat stared at the closed door for a while longer, as if the new Commander was still standing there.
And I have a feeling you're a much more interesting person than you look, Doggie, Kat thought, though she could also be wrong—probably just barely.
However, over time, she would end up knowing how interesting or not Commander Anubis Cruger was, whether she wanted to or not. In the meantime, she had to refocus on her new baby and put any other distractions out of her mind. But over the next couple of hours of work, Kat would find that, to her chagrin, it wasn't easy to get the new Commander out of her mind.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
—The idea that Wes Collins might have been the previous Commander of the S.P.D. on Earth, or that the Silver Guard might have mutated and merged with this organization at some point, is based on… absolutely nothing specific. It's just an idea I've always had in my head and think would fit well (or not). In addition, it would explain a bit why Sky's father had a suit similar to Wes's, something that has always caused doubt in some people, and that in this story, it would be justified by alluding to the fact that he was a Ranger under Wes' command, either as a Silver Guardian or as an S.P.D. Officer.
I know there will surely be something in the official Lore that contradicts everything I just said, but oh well, no problem. For this kind of thing, I said that this story will touch a little on the "Alternate Universe" without falling too much into it. Besides, this topic will not be mentioned as much outside of this chapter, except for a couple more occasions.