Fractured Fates, by TsukinoAkume (Zhane/Sky Tate)
Title: Fractured Fates
Author: Tsukino Akume
Relationship: Zhane/Sky Tate, Jack Landors/Syd Drew
Rating: PG-13
Warning: Character with depression/health issues
Summary: When Andros put Zhane into cryogenic stasis, he didn't wake up until he was completely healed - twenty-four years later. Zhane finds a new team, and S.P.D. tries to deal with the aftermath.
List of 22: 6 ~ family
Author's Notes: In comparison to the Bright Skies version, I absolutely hate this chapter. In comparison to cannon, I still like it better. And for anyone who catches it, yes, there is a *very* random pairing hinted at here that you'll only see if you squint and look at it sideways. But it's there, I swear. Really.
The Krybots never seemed to end. He could hear the cries of the various S.P.D. personnel around him, saw Boom go down more than once, but he didn't have time to stop. He was running on too many hours without sleep, and the Power and adrenalin were the only things keeping him alive by this point. He'd lived that way once before, but it'd been a long time since the fight for KO-35.
He should have expected the attack that finally knocked him to the ground, but the fact that it came from a couple of Orangeheads was galling. He struggled to get up, staring at the blasters aimed in his direction, but there was no way he'd be able to move fast enough. Not again, he cried silently. Please, not again!
"Spiral Saber!"
He stared in shock at the Ranger standing in front of him, sword raised as the Orangeheads went down. "A - *Andros*?" he demanded incredulously.
The Red Astro Ranger glanced back at him, saluting with his sword. "The one and only. You didn't think I'd miss watching you get your butt kicked, did you Zhane?" he teased.
He took the offered hand up with a grin he knew Andros would see through his helmet. "I'm amazed you still fit into your spandex, old timer," he mocked back.
"Very funny. You ready to show these guys what we're made of, or what?"
"You know it!" They bumped wrists, turning to face the coming Krybots together. "Super Silverizer!"
Having his partner at his side again was like coming home all over again. He knew, distantly, that B Squad was still missing, that they were in danger and he couldn't get to them. But Andros was at his side, and they moved like they knew what each other would do next - because they did. It was a feeling of completeness he'd never found with any member of B Squad, because as much as he liked them all, they weren't Andros. They didn't know him.
They couldn't keep a mental count of wins while grabbing his wrist to swing him around at yet another Orangehead.
:: That's forty-two, :: Andros announced.
:: Are you kidding me? :: he shot back. :: I landed the last blow, it's *mine*. That's forty-six. ::
:: You can't count double-team wins! That's cheating! ::
:: Why not? You do. ::
A sudden rumble sent everyone in the area stumbling. He reached out to grab Red Astro, gripping his arm as they struggled to stay on their feet. He turned, horrified, to stare up at the giant ... whatever it was ... standing over them all.
"I will claim this planet as mine!" it bellowed. It surged forward, plunging the staff in its hand into the ground.
Noise pierced through Silver's mind, sending them both to their knees in agony. "What's ... happening ... ?" he groaned.
Red Astro looked up, pointing weakly at the giant spire standing in downtown Newtech. "Whatever that thing is ... we have to get rid of it!"
"Destruction to all that try and stop me!" the creature continued.
The noise stopped as suddenly as it had begun, and both Rangers lay panting weakly. "Hey, Andros?" Silver asked weakly.
"Yeah?"
"I *really* don't like that guy."
Which was of course, the exact moment that it started shooting at them.
****
They stood back to back, surrounded by Krybots that never seemed to stop and cadets that were too badly injured to help anymore. "Looks like this is it," Silver quipped. I'm sorry, Sky ...
"I'm not letting you get out of your promise that easy, Zhane!" Red Astro snapped at him. They glanced over their shoulders at each other. "We can take 'em - just you and me."
"And us!" shouted a new voice.
Silver stared in shock as not one, but *six* Rangers he had never seen before came toward them, cutting a path through the Krybots. Four were Astro Rangers, perched on Galaxy Gliders with their weapons in hand. Black Astro had another Pink Ranger in a uniform he couldn't place holding on behind him, clutching a saber. Following along behind them was a Ranger in black armor, blasting Krybots aside like they were nothing.
"What ... who .... ?" Silver sputtered.
"The cavalry has arrived!" Blue Astro whooped as he flipped off his Glider to join them. "You need backup, you get backup."
"You didn't honestly think we'd let you fight all by yourself, did you Zhane?" Yellow Astro teased, tilting her head at him.
"We may be a little out of practice, but when Andros said you needed us, we came running," Black Astro agreed.
Silver stared blankly at them all. "Who *are* you people?"
That got a laugh out of Pink Astro, who stopped to place a hand on his arm. "We're family, Zhane. That's all you need to know," she promised.
"And we're here to help," agreed the second Pink.
"I believe there is a battle we are supposed to be fighting," the armored Ranger cut in, sounding as annoyed as a cybernetic voice could.
For some reason, that made Pink Astro giggle and move to pat his hand. "Go for it, sweetie. Show them what you're made of."
Silver turned back to look at Andros, too stunned to think straight. "Andros ... "
Red Astro put a hand on his shoulder and nodded. "Let's go to work."
He smiled behind his helmet, nodding back. "Right. Let's show these guys who's boss!"
With six fresh Rangers, and him and Andros fighting back to back, the Krybots didn't stand a chance. He noticed distantly the way the four Astro Rangers seemed to pair off and work in teams, the way he and Andros did, which suggested that they'd worked together for a long time. The armored Ranger worked alone, blasting and tearing his way through anything that came into his path. Just opposite him, the other Pink Ranger was deadly with her saber, leaving nothing but Krybot pieces in her wake.
Eventually Silver found himself looking around in confusion. "Where'd they all go?" he demanded.
"Easy, Tiger," Yellow Astro chuckled from somewhere to his left. "They're gone. We got them all."
He frowned, turning around in a circle. "We what?" he repeated blankly. "That can't be right."
"What is it, Zhane?" Red Astro asked, moving to catch his arm. "What did we miss?"
He stopped when Andros caught him, shaking his head. "There's still ... something isn't right. We're not done yet."
"Is it here?" Red Astro asked urgently.
He paused, because the thought honestly hadn't occurred to him. He swallowed, feeling cold. "No. It's not us." He turned slowly to look up at where the S.W.A.T. Fliers were facing off against the giant ... thing. "It's up there. Something's wrong."
Red Astro's hand came up to grip his shoulder. "Then we'll have to trust them to take care of it," he reminded him softly. "They're Rangers. They'll be fine."
But his heart clenched, because he wasn't with them and he didn't even know if the MegaWinger had survived the attack on the base intact. Please be okay, he pleaded silently as he watched the S.W.A.T. MegaZord dodge another attack. :: Sky, you promised me. ::
But all he could do was watch, wait, and pray.
****
"Help each other up!" Kat called as she wandered through the destruction outside S.P.D. "Report anyone who is missing!"
Zhane winced as he glanced back at her. The people he wanted to report as missing were the Rangers, and that was more than slightly obvious.
The pretty blond girl who'd appeared in place of the Pink Ranger reached out to squeeze his hand. "It'll be okay," she told him softly. "Have faith in them."
He tried to smile at her and failed. "I just can't shake this feeling that - "
"Congratulations!" a familiar voice called.
Zhane spun, wide-eyed.
Cruger and B Squad walked toward them all calmly through the rubble, a strange Syrian woman he didn't know on Cruger's arm. They were all alive, whole, and in one piece. Better yet, no one seemed to be bleeding.
He sprinted toward them, not carrying who was watching or what they thought. They were alive, they were safe, and they were here. Nothing else mattered anymore.
He grabbed Syd first, swinging her around as she squealed and hugged him back. Then he was on to Z, yanking her against him and reaching for Jack. He reached mentally for Bridge, brushing his mind with wordless concern, anxiety, and relief. Jack patted his back as Z released him, and he and Bridge exchanged a tight hug. Overwhelmed by relief and gratitude, he even turned to hug Cruger and whoever the woman next to him was.
The look on Cruger's face was priceless.
At last he turned to Sky, and was caught up in a tight hug that should have surprised him but didn't. He let himself be pulled closer than should have been physically possible, and threw his arms around Sky's neck in return. The kiss was hot, passionate and demanding. A good minute passed before they separated, both breathless, and Zhane leaned his head against Sky's. "Kept my promise," he murmured.
Sky's answering smile was heart-stopping, and a hand reached up to touch his cheek. "Me, too," he said softly.
He let out a shaky breath, and finally managed a smile. "Stop scaring me."
Sky's thumb stroked his jawline. "Sorry."
"Rangers."
He turned, blinking, to find Andros and his group standing across from them. His old friend smiled. "Well done, guys."
Zhane grinned back, leaning into Sky's side as an arm slid around his waist. "Thanks for your help, old timer."
Andros rolled his eyes as the dark-haired guy behind him sputtered "Old timer?!"
The blond woman on his arm giggled.
"Thank you for your assistance, Astro Rangers," Cruger said solemnly. "It is thanks to you and our cadets that S.P.D. still stands."
Andros shook his head. "It's thanks to your Rangers Newtech City still stands," he returned. "Helping protect your base is the least we could do."
"Besides, we couldn't ignore one of our own," the man who'd been Blue Astro agreed, offering Zhane a warm smile.
Zhane found himself unexpectedly flushing, and he looked away as everyone laughed at his embarrassment.
"Cruger!" a voice snarled, and something leapt out of the rubble of the creature the S.W.A.T. Fliers had taken down. Everyone immediately jumped into defensive stances, staring warily at the man in front of them. "Forgive me, for being late to your celebration, Cruger," Grumm continued, inclining his head.
"Man, I *hate* it when I'm right," Zhane grumbled.
"Next time the big bad isn't dead, share with the rest of us, okay Zhane?" Ashley requested from behind him, eyeing Grumm.
"We're with you Commander," Jack spoke up, clenching his fists.
"No," Cruger ordered. "*I* will finish this."
Cruger was tired, but so was Grumm. It was still amazing to watch the old dog at work, something Zhane rarely got to see himself. For once, he might almost have admitted that Cruger could have given him a challenge. He sliced through Grumm's staff like it wasn't even there, knocking the villain to his knees, and Zhane could hear the gasps of people around him.
"Show me no mercy, Cruger," Grumm snarled as Cruger raised his sword high. "No mercy!"
One of Andros' friends moved forward in protest, but Zhane stopped him with an arm, shaking his head.
Cruger's sword came down, and one of Grumm's horns went flying. Grumm howled in fury.
"Now they match," Cruger said flatly, lifting his morpher. There was a burst of light, and Grumm was gone.
Silence reigned as Cruger slowly moved to pick up the card waiting for him in Grumm's place. "Justice is served!" Cruger shouted, holding the containment card up for them all to see.
The cheers were deafening.
Zhane let out a slow breath, feeling all the tension he'd been holding in go with it.
"Hey, Zhane." Jack put a hand on his arm, and he turned to look at him. "Is it over?" he asked with a grin.
Zhane closed his eyes for a moment, focused, and smiled at the feeling of absolutely *nothing*. "It's over," he confirmed.
Author: Tsukino Akume
Relationship: Zhane/Sky Tate, Jack Landors/Syd Drew
Rating: PG-13
Warning: Character with depression/health issues
Summary: When Andros put Zhane into cryogenic stasis, he didn't wake up until he was completely healed - twenty-four years later. Zhane finds a new team, and S.P.D. tries to deal with the aftermath.
List of 22: 6 ~ family
Author's Notes: In comparison to the Bright Skies version, I absolutely hate this chapter. In comparison to cannon, I still like it better. And for anyone who catches it, yes, there is a *very* random pairing hinted at here that you'll only see if you squint and look at it sideways. But it's there, I swear. Really.
The Krybots never seemed to end. He could hear the cries of the various S.P.D. personnel around him, saw Boom go down more than once, but he didn't have time to stop. He was running on too many hours without sleep, and the Power and adrenalin were the only things keeping him alive by this point. He'd lived that way once before, but it'd been a long time since the fight for KO-35.
He should have expected the attack that finally knocked him to the ground, but the fact that it came from a couple of Orangeheads was galling. He struggled to get up, staring at the blasters aimed in his direction, but there was no way he'd be able to move fast enough. Not again, he cried silently. Please, not again!
"Spiral Saber!"
He stared in shock at the Ranger standing in front of him, sword raised as the Orangeheads went down. "A - *Andros*?" he demanded incredulously.
The Red Astro Ranger glanced back at him, saluting with his sword. "The one and only. You didn't think I'd miss watching you get your butt kicked, did you Zhane?" he teased.
He took the offered hand up with a grin he knew Andros would see through his helmet. "I'm amazed you still fit into your spandex, old timer," he mocked back.
"Very funny. You ready to show these guys what we're made of, or what?"
"You know it!" They bumped wrists, turning to face the coming Krybots together. "Super Silverizer!"
Having his partner at his side again was like coming home all over again. He knew, distantly, that B Squad was still missing, that they were in danger and he couldn't get to them. But Andros was at his side, and they moved like they knew what each other would do next - because they did. It was a feeling of completeness he'd never found with any member of B Squad, because as much as he liked them all, they weren't Andros. They didn't know him.
They couldn't keep a mental count of wins while grabbing his wrist to swing him around at yet another Orangehead.
:: That's forty-two, :: Andros announced.
:: Are you kidding me? :: he shot back. :: I landed the last blow, it's *mine*. That's forty-six. ::
:: You can't count double-team wins! That's cheating! ::
:: Why not? You do. ::
A sudden rumble sent everyone in the area stumbling. He reached out to grab Red Astro, gripping his arm as they struggled to stay on their feet. He turned, horrified, to stare up at the giant ... whatever it was ... standing over them all.
"I will claim this planet as mine!" it bellowed. It surged forward, plunging the staff in its hand into the ground.
Noise pierced through Silver's mind, sending them both to their knees in agony. "What's ... happening ... ?" he groaned.
Red Astro looked up, pointing weakly at the giant spire standing in downtown Newtech. "Whatever that thing is ... we have to get rid of it!"
"Destruction to all that try and stop me!" the creature continued.
The noise stopped as suddenly as it had begun, and both Rangers lay panting weakly. "Hey, Andros?" Silver asked weakly.
"Yeah?"
"I *really* don't like that guy."
Which was of course, the exact moment that it started shooting at them.
****
They stood back to back, surrounded by Krybots that never seemed to stop and cadets that were too badly injured to help anymore. "Looks like this is it," Silver quipped. I'm sorry, Sky ...
"I'm not letting you get out of your promise that easy, Zhane!" Red Astro snapped at him. They glanced over their shoulders at each other. "We can take 'em - just you and me."
"And us!" shouted a new voice.
Silver stared in shock as not one, but *six* Rangers he had never seen before came toward them, cutting a path through the Krybots. Four were Astro Rangers, perched on Galaxy Gliders with their weapons in hand. Black Astro had another Pink Ranger in a uniform he couldn't place holding on behind him, clutching a saber. Following along behind them was a Ranger in black armor, blasting Krybots aside like they were nothing.
"What ... who .... ?" Silver sputtered.
"The cavalry has arrived!" Blue Astro whooped as he flipped off his Glider to join them. "You need backup, you get backup."
"You didn't honestly think we'd let you fight all by yourself, did you Zhane?" Yellow Astro teased, tilting her head at him.
"We may be a little out of practice, but when Andros said you needed us, we came running," Black Astro agreed.
Silver stared blankly at them all. "Who *are* you people?"
That got a laugh out of Pink Astro, who stopped to place a hand on his arm. "We're family, Zhane. That's all you need to know," she promised.
"And we're here to help," agreed the second Pink.
"I believe there is a battle we are supposed to be fighting," the armored Ranger cut in, sounding as annoyed as a cybernetic voice could.
For some reason, that made Pink Astro giggle and move to pat his hand. "Go for it, sweetie. Show them what you're made of."
Silver turned back to look at Andros, too stunned to think straight. "Andros ... "
Red Astro put a hand on his shoulder and nodded. "Let's go to work."
He smiled behind his helmet, nodding back. "Right. Let's show these guys who's boss!"
With six fresh Rangers, and him and Andros fighting back to back, the Krybots didn't stand a chance. He noticed distantly the way the four Astro Rangers seemed to pair off and work in teams, the way he and Andros did, which suggested that they'd worked together for a long time. The armored Ranger worked alone, blasting and tearing his way through anything that came into his path. Just opposite him, the other Pink Ranger was deadly with her saber, leaving nothing but Krybot pieces in her wake.
Eventually Silver found himself looking around in confusion. "Where'd they all go?" he demanded.
"Easy, Tiger," Yellow Astro chuckled from somewhere to his left. "They're gone. We got them all."
He frowned, turning around in a circle. "We what?" he repeated blankly. "That can't be right."
"What is it, Zhane?" Red Astro asked, moving to catch his arm. "What did we miss?"
He stopped when Andros caught him, shaking his head. "There's still ... something isn't right. We're not done yet."
"Is it here?" Red Astro asked urgently.
He paused, because the thought honestly hadn't occurred to him. He swallowed, feeling cold. "No. It's not us." He turned slowly to look up at where the S.W.A.T. Fliers were facing off against the giant ... thing. "It's up there. Something's wrong."
Red Astro's hand came up to grip his shoulder. "Then we'll have to trust them to take care of it," he reminded him softly. "They're Rangers. They'll be fine."
But his heart clenched, because he wasn't with them and he didn't even know if the MegaWinger had survived the attack on the base intact. Please be okay, he pleaded silently as he watched the S.W.A.T. MegaZord dodge another attack. :: Sky, you promised me. ::
But all he could do was watch, wait, and pray.
****
"Help each other up!" Kat called as she wandered through the destruction outside S.P.D. "Report anyone who is missing!"
Zhane winced as he glanced back at her. The people he wanted to report as missing were the Rangers, and that was more than slightly obvious.
The pretty blond girl who'd appeared in place of the Pink Ranger reached out to squeeze his hand. "It'll be okay," she told him softly. "Have faith in them."
He tried to smile at her and failed. "I just can't shake this feeling that - "
"Congratulations!" a familiar voice called.
Zhane spun, wide-eyed.
Cruger and B Squad walked toward them all calmly through the rubble, a strange Syrian woman he didn't know on Cruger's arm. They were all alive, whole, and in one piece. Better yet, no one seemed to be bleeding.
He sprinted toward them, not carrying who was watching or what they thought. They were alive, they were safe, and they were here. Nothing else mattered anymore.
He grabbed Syd first, swinging her around as she squealed and hugged him back. Then he was on to Z, yanking her against him and reaching for Jack. He reached mentally for Bridge, brushing his mind with wordless concern, anxiety, and relief. Jack patted his back as Z released him, and he and Bridge exchanged a tight hug. Overwhelmed by relief and gratitude, he even turned to hug Cruger and whoever the woman next to him was.
The look on Cruger's face was priceless.
At last he turned to Sky, and was caught up in a tight hug that should have surprised him but didn't. He let himself be pulled closer than should have been physically possible, and threw his arms around Sky's neck in return. The kiss was hot, passionate and demanding. A good minute passed before they separated, both breathless, and Zhane leaned his head against Sky's. "Kept my promise," he murmured.
Sky's answering smile was heart-stopping, and a hand reached up to touch his cheek. "Me, too," he said softly.
He let out a shaky breath, and finally managed a smile. "Stop scaring me."
Sky's thumb stroked his jawline. "Sorry."
"Rangers."
He turned, blinking, to find Andros and his group standing across from them. His old friend smiled. "Well done, guys."
Zhane grinned back, leaning into Sky's side as an arm slid around his waist. "Thanks for your help, old timer."
Andros rolled his eyes as the dark-haired guy behind him sputtered "Old timer?!"
The blond woman on his arm giggled.
"Thank you for your assistance, Astro Rangers," Cruger said solemnly. "It is thanks to you and our cadets that S.P.D. still stands."
Andros shook his head. "It's thanks to your Rangers Newtech City still stands," he returned. "Helping protect your base is the least we could do."
"Besides, we couldn't ignore one of our own," the man who'd been Blue Astro agreed, offering Zhane a warm smile.
Zhane found himself unexpectedly flushing, and he looked away as everyone laughed at his embarrassment.
"Cruger!" a voice snarled, and something leapt out of the rubble of the creature the S.W.A.T. Fliers had taken down. Everyone immediately jumped into defensive stances, staring warily at the man in front of them. "Forgive me, for being late to your celebration, Cruger," Grumm continued, inclining his head.
"Man, I *hate* it when I'm right," Zhane grumbled.
"Next time the big bad isn't dead, share with the rest of us, okay Zhane?" Ashley requested from behind him, eyeing Grumm.
"We're with you Commander," Jack spoke up, clenching his fists.
"No," Cruger ordered. "*I* will finish this."
Cruger was tired, but so was Grumm. It was still amazing to watch the old dog at work, something Zhane rarely got to see himself. For once, he might almost have admitted that Cruger could have given him a challenge. He sliced through Grumm's staff like it wasn't even there, knocking the villain to his knees, and Zhane could hear the gasps of people around him.
"Show me no mercy, Cruger," Grumm snarled as Cruger raised his sword high. "No mercy!"
One of Andros' friends moved forward in protest, but Zhane stopped him with an arm, shaking his head.
Cruger's sword came down, and one of Grumm's horns went flying. Grumm howled in fury.
"Now they match," Cruger said flatly, lifting his morpher. There was a burst of light, and Grumm was gone.
Silence reigned as Cruger slowly moved to pick up the card waiting for him in Grumm's place. "Justice is served!" Cruger shouted, holding the containment card up for them all to see.
The cheers were deafening.
Zhane let out a slow breath, feeling all the tension he'd been holding in go with it.
"Hey, Zhane." Jack put a hand on his arm, and he turned to look at him. "Is it over?" he asked with a grin.
Zhane closed his eyes for a moment, focused, and smiled at the feeling of absolutely *nothing*. "It's over," he confirmed.