Bright Skies (Multi - Season Crossover/Power Rangers, prompt #96: Writer's Choice: Offended, T)
This prompt presented a few interesting challenges for me, but I kinda like it. And hey, maybe one of these days I'll stop making Cruger and Kat come across as the banes of S.P.D. ^_^V
Author/: Tsukino Akume
Fandom/: Power Rangers Time Force moving into S.P.D., multiple Rangers from each season
Characters/: Wes (Time Force), multiple Rangers from other teams (Literally too many to list)
Pairings/: Post - Wes/Eric, Rocky/Adam, Shane/Dustin, Hunter/Cam, Carter/Dana, Andros/Ashley, Zhane/Karone, Carlos/Ronny, Jason/Taylor, Conner/Ethan, Justin/Rose, Tommy/Kimberly, Tyzonn/Mack, Cassie/OC, Nick/Maddison, Zack/Aisha, Trent/Kira, Post - Billy/Cestria. Future Ryan/Carter and Billy/Hayley. More couples will most likely be mentioned, but not shown.
prompt/: #96: Writer's Choice: Offended
Rating/: T (For non - graphic mentions of people having babies and being violent with one another)
Disclaimer/: I don't own the Power Rangers, but if Disney's hiring any new writers I volunteer.
Summary/: When Wes' life starts to fall apart, an accident gives him a chance at a fresh start in New Tech City, with Space Patrol Delta. But even a new life has its ups and downs - and weird friends. Meanwhile, Eric tries to move on.
Warnings/: A mentally handicapped person living in a medical facility, angst, male and female slash, non-cemented couples (In otherwords, pairings that will be separated), children created by scientific means, character death
Author's Notes/: Hayley's 'anti-red' comment is credited to BlackCrimsonLight, and it's totally true.
"We all know why we're here," Tommy began solemnly. "We received a distress signal from the A Squad team in an unknown location at 1400 hours today."
Wes cursed silently, trying to convert the time in his head. He *hated* military time, and years of working at S.P.D. had *not* made it easier to deal with, despite what everyone had tried to reassure him. Why couldn't they just use Earth Pacific Standard Time, anyway?
"While we can't authorize a Squad to go after them, that doesn't mean that we're not sending a rescue team. I've been talking with Hunter, and we've agreed to send a rescue team from each branch of S.P.D. Earth to seach for A Squad. The two teams will spread out to cover more territory, but they will remain in constant contact with the Techs at S.P.D. Japan, and with each other. We are *not* losing anyone else."
Tommy paused to look at them all. "I'm not gonna lie about this, guys. I don't know where we're going, or what we'll find when we get there. I don't know what shape we might find A Squad in, or if we'll even find them at all. I can't even give a timeframe on how long we'll be gone. The only things I *can* promise, is that I'm not taking anyone we can't spare, and that we're not coming back without some sign of A Squad."
"I'm going," Andros stated quietly, his eyes dark and haunted. "It's my Squad out there - I'm going after them."
"And I'm going with you," Zhane informed him.
Neither response surprised Wes, even as he felt a pang at the thought of losing his last remaining S.P.D. teammate, even temporarily. Anyone who had ever met Andros and Zhane knew they were like brothers, and practically inseperable. Aquitar, while necessary, had been sheer torture for them both.
"Better make that three," Ashley said with a forced smile. She turned to look at Karone. "You'll keep an eye on Marinda for us?"
Karone nodded, squeezing the other woman's hand. "You didn't need to ask."
Andros looked up at them both, frowning. "Ash, I'm not sure - "
"It's Ran, Andros," Ashley interrupted, her voice gentle, but firm. "I'm going after my niece. Besides, you'll need a doctor with you. And Adam will keep Marinda busy." She took his hand, her expression softening. "You know Marinda would be the first person to tell us to go get her."
Andros sighed quietly. "I know," he muttered. "That doesn't mean I have to be happy about it."
"I'd like to volunteer," Billy spoke up. He gave a faint smile. "You'll need someone who actually has an idea of how to trace their signals, won't you?"
"And a mechanic," Hayley commented. "Because if there's a Red going, something's going to either break down or explode. Which means I'm going to have to fix it."
Zhane, Kimberly, Dustin, Ashley, and Aisha all burst out laughing. Taylor and Vanessa both smirked, while Adam, Billy, and Ryan fought smiles. Nerina shot a slightly confused glance to Tommy, who was scowling at Hayley.
"Thanks, Hayley. So glad to have you aboard," he grumbled.
She shrugged. "If you're going, someone has to keep you in one piece."
Everyone else in the room froze.
"Wait, Tommy's going?" Rocky demanded. "Then who's R.C.?"
"You're not ... you're not leaving Cruger as R.C. are you?" Shane asked warily. "I thought we had some excuse about him not needing the extra stress or something."
Tommy bowed his head, bracing his hands against the table for a moment. It was only when his shoulders started to shake that Wes actually realized he was laughing. "Doggie's not *that* bad, you know," he told them all, still chuckling. "He's inexperienced at dealing with Rangers, but that doesn't exactly mean he's incompetent - *or* completely heartless."
"That's not what Shane meant," Adam said quickly, silencing whatever Shane had been about to say in protest with a quick stare. "It's just ... we don't have a very good record of working well with Cruger."
"Which is why we make you deal with him," Rocky put in.
Tommy shook his head with a sigh. "If it makes you all feel better, I *have* decided to appoint a temporary Acting Ranger Commander while I'm gone."
"Thank you," Eric muttered feverently, ignoring the look Wes shot him.
"Kim."
She looked up from a notepad, blinking. "What?"
"I'm appointing you as Acting Ranger Commander," Tommy clarified.
"What?" she demanded, staring at him. "Are you insane?!"
The rest of the room on the other hand, had gone silent in contemplation.
She turned to stare at them all. "You guys can't seriously think - "
"You are one of the few people who isn't afraid to stand up to Cruger, Kim," Aisha pointed out.
"You have one of the longest running Ranger careers of everyone that's staying," Karone reminded her.
"Adam was a Ranger longer!" Kimberly objected.
"But if I go too, Adam would be the Acting Drill Sergeant Captain," Jason said quietly. "He'll have enough to deal with."
"Wait, you're going?" Zack asked Jason in alarm. "But if you go, who's going to be in charge of B Squad?"
"That'd be up to Adam. But it wouldn't be impossible to find a temporary Sergeant for B Squad." Jason sighed, looking down at the table. "I promoted every single one of those kids, Zack," he reminded him softly. "I told them they were the best, and made everyone else believe it."
"We *all* did that, Jase," Adam reminded him gently.
Jason dropped his head in his hand. "I know." He sighed. "I can't ... I can't really explain it. But I *need* to be out there looking for them."
Tommy nodded slowly. "If that's what you want, Jase. We're glad to have you aboard."
"Wait a minute," Kimberly protested. "I never agreed to be in charge yet!"
Tommy looked at her. "Kim, I said I was *appointing* you. That means you don't get a choice. It's already been decided. The only thing that would change my mind is if someone else had any objections." He glanced around the room.
Kimberly scowled at the silence, dropping her head into her arms on the table. "I hate you all," she muttered, voice muffled.
****
Wes looked up in alarm as Jason stormed into the officer's common room, throwing his datapad against a wall before flopping down into a chair. Even Wes could read the dark scowl on his face through the stiffness in his shoulders. "Jase ... ?" he asked cautiously. "What's wrong?"
"Cruger's taking over B Squad," Jason ground out.
"What - are you serious?" Shane demanded.
"I wish I wasn't," Jason muttered furiously. "We just had a big meeting about it. Kim and Adam are 'too busy' with their own departments on top of their usual duties to take on mentoring a Ranger team, and the rest of us are too 'emotionally involved' with B Squad, because they're Ranger Kids."
"Are you kidding me?" Taylor said incredulously. "That jerk's more 'emotionally involved' with Grumm's attack than any of us!"
Wes tried not to wince. He didn't want to say it, but ... he couldn't exactly blame Cruger. He was 'emotionally involved' with Grumm's attack too, after all - in a way that had *nothing* to do with Sky and the other kids.
~"Power protect us ... "
"They cracked the city dome. All those people - "
"We have to do something!"
"It's too late ... They're already gone."~
~"Oh no .... " Astro breathed.
He stared in horror at what had once been a beautiful ocean. Dead fish floated on the surface of the black water, seaweed stained a color that should not be found in nature at his feet. Somewhere in the distance, he saw what looked like the remains of a whale. A type Cestro had told them was very rare, and considered to be the pride of Aquitar.
There was blood in the water around the hole-filled corpse.
"Why ... why are we always too late?!" Mystic shouted, his voice filled with pain and guilt.
"I'm gonna be sick," Wind choked out.
He saw Turbo sit down hard out of the corner of his eye.
"Is there anything left to save?" Overdrive whispered.
"There has to be," he heard himself say. But even he didn't believe it.~
~"Fall back! Fall back!"
"No! We don't have Delphine! We have to - We have to - "
"Overdrive, she's *gone*! We've gotta get out of here!"
"No! I'm not leaving without her! I'm not! Lemme go!"~
"Sir?"
The hesitant sound of his son's voice snapped Wes's attention back to the room around him. He blinked rapidly for a moment, keeping his head down. It took several attempts at swallowing the lump in his throat before it was safe to look up.
Sky stood at attention, flanked by Bridge and Syd. Sky looked uneasy, while Bridge and Syd seemed downright upset. "Permission to speak, Sir?" Sky asked quietly.
Jason sighed, shaking his head. "At ease. Have a seat, guys. And forget the sir for now."
It was a silent understanding that whatever was said in this room was no longer under the restrictions of Drill Sergeant to his Squad.
Syd and Bridge were immediately on either side of him, looking anxious, while Sky remained where he was. "You're leaving?" Syd cried, sounding almost tearful. "Uncle Jason, you can't leave! We need you!"
"And why is the Commander taking over our Squad?" Bridge wanted to know. "Do we need a re-evaluation or did we do something wrong or - "
"Is this happening because we disappointed you?" Sky asked quietly.
"Whoa, *hold it*!" Jason snapped, holding up a hand. "Who told you you did something wrong?"
There was an awkward pause.
"That's why Cruger's been sending us out, isn't it?" Sky said at last, his eyes on the ground.
Jason pushed himself up, walking straight up the teen. "Sky, look at me," he commanded. He waited for a moment while Sky slowly looked up. "I'm *proud* of B Squad, and everything you're doing. You stepped up without question, and did what we needed you to do. You've done absolutely nothing wrong." He turned to include Bridge and Syd in his stare. "*Nothing*."
"Then ... why?" Syd asked softly. "Why are you turning us over to Cruger?"
He sighed. "Because we're going after A Squad."
That single statement seemed to make all three cadets light up in an instant. "You are?" Sky sounded somewhat hopeful.
Jason nodded. "We're sending a team from Newtech *and* a team from Japan. We're not going to leave them high and dry - you know better than that," he chided gently.
The tension in the room slowly began to relax. "Rangers protect their own," Bridge agreed cheerfully.
"That's right." The smile in Jason's voice was audible.
"But ... why Cruger?" Syd asked curiously.
Jason sighed. "I didn't get a choice. He made the order - not me. I was planning to put you under Adam, or have him appoint someone else, like Karone or maybe Carter."
"I like that plan," she said eagerly.
"Cruger wants to be involved."
Wes looked up as they all stared at him in surprise. He wasn't quite sure why he said it, but something about the way they were discussing Cruger's decision bothered him. Maybe he wasn't exactly thrilled with Cruger taking over B Squad, but that didn't mean he couldn't understand why.
Sky was looking at him oddly. "What do you mean, Dad?"
"He *needs* to be involved," he said again. He sighed, leaning forward to brace his chin against the tips of his fingers. "You're all forgetting something very important. Cruger's the last Sirian, remember? He's on Earth to make sure that doesn't happen again. He *needs* to work with you, to make sure Earth doesn't become a repeat of A - Sirius."
"Wes?" Taylor moved to touch his shoulder. He hadn't even seen her approaching him, and the concern in her voice was strange. "Are you okay?"
He looked up at her, blinking, and forced a smile. "When am I not okay, Taylor?"
"Don't make me call Eric," she retorted.
"Don't make me call Eric about what?" came from the doorway, and Wes scowled at her.
"Did you hear, Uncle Eric?" Bridge asked. "The commander's taking over B Squad."
"Oh, great." He could hear Eric rolling his eyes. "The most important time in building our defense, and our Ranger Squad is being directed by a non-Ranger? You guys are going to have to have your work cut out for you."
"What do we do if Cruger gives a command we don't approve of?" Sky asked hesitantly.
Eric leveled him with a look. "That would be considered insubordination, Cadet Tate." More quietly, he added "If you hadn't already cleared it with the Acting Ranger Commander, seeing as she *is* the Supreme Commander over Ranger activity."
Wes shook his head, amused. "Are you *trying* to get them in trouble?"
Eric looked over at him. "Actually, I was trying to find something you stashed somewhere, and now I can't remember where it is."
He raised his eyebrows. "And what would that be?"
"I need the 'special' phone."
Wes straightened, staring at him in shock. "What? What do you need that for?"
"To prove a point." Eric glanced at Sky. "Come on, Brat. We need to make a phone call."
"What?"