Bright Skies (Multi - Season Crossover/Power Rangers, prompt #58: Morph! (change), T)
I had to update Bridge's family tree to include his little sister. Here's the new version.
Also, before I forget for the umpteenth time, Nerina Cranston, Billy's half-Aquitian daughter.
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/: #58: Morph! (change)
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/: And once again, Danny is my scapegoat. I don't actually hate the poor guy, I swear. He just ... seems to end up in these situations with me. ^.^;;
Slight change from cannon here, but nothing serious. Well, more so then it's changed already, anyway. Partly to work in a plot, and because I'm trying to figure out how Jack and Z went from being in a cell at night to Z wandering around outside in bright daylight.
Wes sat down heavily in the officers' common room, letting out a sigh.
"Drink?" Rocky offered.
"Tea," he corrected. "Green, please."
He clutched the mug as it was pressed into his hands a moment later. Then he set it down with a sigh, burying his face in his hands. He was sure that somewhere under all the nausea he was proud, but mostly he just felt sick.
His son was a Power Ranger.
"We knew this was going to happen," Adam reminded them all gently.
"Well, yeah. But did it have to happen this soon?" Rocky argued. "I mean, Bridge was supposed to be a Ranger someday, not .... now."
Carter sighed. "I never thought thinking of Syd as a Ranger would be so ... "
"Terrifying?" Aisha offered.
"Disturbing?" Rocky added.
"Nauseating?" Wes put in.
"Troubling," he finished, staring at them all.
Ryan leaned on him, putting an arm around his shoulders. "I'm proud of her," he said simply. "I wasn't always sure she'd make it. But I know she'll do well."
Carter glanced at him. "You should tell Dana," he murmured, sounding uncomfortable. "I'm sure she'd want to know."
There was a sound of agreement, but he made no effort to move.
"Do you think Zordon ever felt like this?" Zack asked suddenly. "I mean, worrying about us like this? 'Cause if he did, I have an even greater level of respect for him then I thought I did."
Several others shuddered, and Wes winced slightly. "My dad probably felt like this ... " he mumbled.
"He did," Eric informed him as he joined them. The couch Wes was sitting on shifted as Eric sat beside him, and a hand lightly bopped him upside the head. "Just be glad Sky isn't going to do this your way," he continued.
"I don't know if it's better that we know, or not," Rocky grumbled. "I mean, we probably would have figured it out anyway, since we all know the signs. But now I can think of all the things that happened to us, and think about it happening to Bridge and the others."
Wes put a hand to his stomach for a moment, wishing it would stop rolling around.
"But isn't that a good thing?" Ryan asked.
Rocky looked at him. "What do you mean?"
"Now you know what to watch out for. We can help them with whatever happens."
"But things always seem to change for every team," Aisha murmured. "And Grumm is nothing like Zedd and Rita. And ... " She hesitated. "Would that be right?"
Everyone looked at her. "Would what be right?" Eric asked suspiciously.
"Would it be right for us to interfere?" she asked them all. "I mean, it's different if they ask us for advice. But should we help them every step of the way, or let them figure things out on their own? And what if something goes wrong? Should we morph to bail them out?"
"No," Adam said firmly. "None of us ever had our parents rescuing us, and we won't humiliate Bridge, Sky, and Syd like that. There's no need to help them unless they ask for it."
Rocky groaned, slouching back on his couch. "But that's even worse!" he complained.
"Daddy?"
Everyone looked up as Heart Carson hesitated in the doorway. At thirteen years old, she was still short, and Wes had been told she looked a great deal like her mother, but with Zack's smile. Standing the way she was, clutching what looked like her brother's stuffed animal, she looked much younger than she was.
Zack opened his arms. "Come here, girl."
She scurried over, flinging herself at him and burrowing against his shoulder. "Is Bridge gonna be okay?" she asked in a small voice.
"Of course he is," he assured her gently, stroking the top of her head. "Are you kidding me? Our Bridge is gonna be the best Ranger there ever was - besides your old dad, of course."
Heart peeked up at him. "But Sky says *he's* gonna be the best."
"Well, that's 'cause Bridge is too nice to tell him otherwise," Zack said easily, and smiled at his daughter when she giggled faintly.
"And I'm sure Bridge'll tell you all about what it's like to be a Ranger when he gets home, Kiddo," Rocky agreed, leaning in to grin at her.
She brightened. "You think so?"
"I'm sure of it."
Jason wandered into the room without warning, heading straight for the food synthesizer. He wandered back to one of the couches with something in his hand that smelled unpleasant, and sat down with a heavy sigh. He took a long swig of his drink, grimacing at the taste.
"Jason?" Aisha stared him worriedly. "You look green. What's wrong?"
He looked up after a moment, toasting them all with his drink. "Syd is Pink, Bridge is Green, and Sky is Blue," he informed them abruptly. "Sky's furious - Kat and Cruger never warned them what they'd be beforehand, and they morphed without knowing. He keeps trying to demand to know why he isn't red. I'm giving them drills tonight in hopes of wearing him out long enough that he'll stop asking."
Wes winced. He wasn't quite sure what the big deal was - Sky was still a Ranger, after all - but he knew his son had dreamed of wearing a Red uniform for years. They'd have to talk to him, try to help him work it out.
"Oh, stop looking so smug," Rocky grumbled, glaring at Adam.
"I wasn't," Adam denied, looking down for a moment and forcing a cough. "I'm just happy Bridge is a Ranger at all. It's what he's always wanted."
"And the fact that he's wearing your color has nothing to do with it, right?" Zack asked dryly.
"Of course it doesn't," Adam sniffed, but the pleased undertone to his voice still wasn't completely gone.
"So they're Rangers, and obviously they're okay, so why are you drinking?" Aisha asked suspiciously.
There was a long silence as they all waited, and at last Jason let out another long sigh. "I read Sky's report about the Parkington Market thieves - the ones we sent them to check up on, see if it was Danny's kids?"
"And?" Rocky prompted when he hesitated again. "Are they?"
Jason swallowed. "You remember those special abilities Dustin warned us about? Sky said the boy, Jack, walked straight through a wall."
Everyone in the room froze.
"And the girl, Z, can make clones of herself," he continued. He paused to take another long swig of his drink. "Cruger's got them in a cell downstairs. He's ... he wants them to join B Squad. He‘s gonna make them an offer to join S.P.D."
"I'll destroy him," Eric growled suddenly and fiercely. "How could Danny not know?! Did he even bother to read the descriptions we sent out?"
"Jason, you can't mean Jaz and Elizabeth have been with Danny and Max this whole time," Aisha protested. "That's ... "
"Her name is Elizabeth Delgado, but she goes by Z," Jason told her, meeting her gaze steadily. "She can *clone* herself, Aisha. Real, somewhat sentient clones. She almost took down Syd completely on her own. And Jack Landors *walks through walls*. How many people do you know that can do that?"
Wes stood abruptly, unable to listen any longer.
"Wes, where are you going?" Adam asked in concern.
"To meet them," he said firmly.
"Wes - "
He raised his hand, cutting off Aisha's soft protest. "I may not be able to see them, but I spent more time with Elizabeth than anyone other than Sky and her own parents. If that's her down there, I'll know. And I'm *going* to find out."
He left the room before anyone could try to stop him again.
****
"I see potential in you. You can serve your time in prison, or become part of something else. Something bigger."
"Can we think about this?"
"Of course. I shall return in the morning for your decision. Rest well."
Wes looked up at Cruger as the commander stopped abruptly in front of him. "Sergeant Collins; you startled me."
"Yeah, I get that a lot," he said wryly, trying to reign in his sudden burst of anger at Cruger. What was he thinking, trying to throw Sky's childhood friend into B Squad with no warning or preparation? Did he even think about how Sky - the kids might feel about it? "I heard about our new guests, and I was hoping to meet them myself. They sound pretty special."
"Of course. Perhaps you can show them that there is more to life than petty theft and helping those in need on a basic level." Cruger hesitated, and suddenly put his hand on Wes' shoulder. "I truly believe that S.P.D. is where these children belong, Sergeant Collins. I hope you can help them to see the what they might accomplish here."
Wes stared after Cruger as he walked away. Was that ... Did Cruger actually *care* about who these kids might be? He knew he wasn't a *cruel* man - dog - whatever, but Cruger had a tendency to forget things on a more emotional level, in favor of S.P.D. policy and protecting civilians on a grander scale. It was a bad habit Sky had picked up, and everyone was *still* trying to break them both of it.
"'I see potential in you,'" a male voice mocked. "How corny can you get. Does that guy actually believe what he says?"
Wes smiled faintly as he moved in front of the door where he could see them. "Usually. And believe me, he's said worse. You guys got off pretty lucky, actually."
"Who are you?" the girl asked suspiciously.
"Wes Collins," he returned easily, trying to ignore the flare of hope at the way her tone reminded him instantly of Rose. "I run H Squad. Thought you guys could use a meal after all the running around you did today," he added, holding up the overflowing tray he'd brought along with him as a peace offering. "Open."
They were on top of him the moment he stepped through the door, and he swung out of the way with ease. A quick grab and hip throw, and Jack was on the floor. Z moved in, and he heard movement at his back. He went for the spin kick, knocking them both back, and paused to rebalance the tray. "Are you two done yet?" he asked pleasantly. "Or should I put the tray down first?"
"You ... "
"Why don't you eat first, and then we'll see if you can beat me," he coaxed. "Come on, you guys must be hungry." He grinned. "And I promise there's no drugs or poisons in the food - I'll even taste test if you want."
"Why are you doing this?" Z asked warily.
He shrugged. "Because I know from experience that starving teenagers tend to be cranky when they haven't eaten, and they eat a lot. I have one of my own." He pointed to the tray. "Now eat."
"Sir, yes sir," Jack grumbled mockingly, even as he moved toward the tray anyway.
Wes made a face. "You're not in my Squad and you're not part of S.P.D. yet, so don't call me sir. It's just Wes."
"Wes," Z repeated almost thoughtfully. "Where'd you learn to fight like that? There aren't many people who can take Jack and me down."
He smiled at the pride in her voice. "There's always someone better," he reminded them. "And I had a special teacher who helped me with my problem."
"Problem?" she echoed uncertainly.
He felt faintly surprised that they hadn't noticed yet. "I'm blind," he told her, reaching up to touch his SightMap on his temple. "This helps me get around, but I can't actually see."
She sucked in a sharp breath. "Oh! I'm so sorry. You ... are you okay?"
He grinned. "I'm the one who should be asking you that. I beat you, remember?" he pointed out.
"Where did you get that thing?" Jack asked around a mouthful of food, sounding interested despite himself.
"A friend made it for me after I lost my sight."
"You mean you weren't always blind?"
"Jack!" Z hissed, elbowing him.
Wes shook his head. "It's all right. I don't mind talking about it." He did, but if talking about what had happened helped these kids, then he'd do it in a heartbeat. "I was blinded in battle. The alien I was fighting against used my attack to overpower me, and it permanently damaged my eyesight." He lifted his left wrist, showing them the morpher that he refused to take off, even now. "This morpher is the only reason I'm still alive."
They stared at him.
"Why'd you do it, then?" Jack asked at last, his voice low as he looked at the ground.
"Because there were people in danger. I'm - I was a Power Ranger. It was my job to protect the innocent. Even if I had died then, I wouldn't regret it, because my fight helped other people to live."
Z was gazing at him with a strange tilt to her head, but Jack humphed. "You'd give your life up for other people? That sounds stupid," he muttered, but Wes could tell he didn't really mean it.
"By the way, Danny's worried sick about you two," Wes added suddenly, feeling a need to change the subject before the memories overwhelmed him again.
They both stiffened. "You know Danny?" Z demanded.
"Of course," he returned cheerfully. "We've teamed up together before. He used to be a Power Ranger, too," he added, in case they hadn't known. "So was Max."
"Mama Danny was a *Power Ranger*?" Jack said skeptically.
Wes tried to keep his laughter in. "Mama Danny?" he repeated.
"Because of the way he mothers everyone," Z answered, watching him.
"And Papa Max, just because he hates it," Jack agreed, sounding smug.
"And Max can always stand to be teased more," he agreed with a grin. "Taylor will be thrilled to hear it."
"Taylor?" Z questioned.
"Taylor Earheart Scott. She's their former teammate - she works at S.P.D. too, in the DVD department." He paused, catching himself. "Sorry. That's the Department of Vehicle Design and Maintenance."
"DVD?" Jack sounded faintly amused.
"The head of DVD has a habit of nicknaming things, and they stuck," he told them with another grin. "You'd like him, I think. He's a real goofball, but he works hard."
"So what department are you?" Z asked, and he could hear the smile in her voice now.
"Drill Sergeants - the Training Department. My Squad is H, is the lowest squad. It's for basic training. I train all types of cadets to fight before they chose which department they want to be in. I also run a special class for anyone who wants to join, on learning to fight in situations where you can't see your enemy," he explained.
"So who's B Squad?"
"B Squad is the second-highest of all Squads, and the second-highest of the Ranger Track Squads. They were just promoted - today in fact - to Power Rangers." he added.
"So those guys who tried to arrest us after we helped them really are Power Rangers now?" Jack asked skeptically. "They're gonna get their butts kicked!"
Sky ... he thought with a weary sigh. "They're not our only Rangers; we have A Squad, too. And no one's said their training is done yet." He frowned. "In fact, I think Jason - B Squad's Sergeant - said something about more training drills tonight."
"So they're not top of the chain after all." Z sounded almost disappointed.
"Technically, the 'top of the chain' is S.P.D. Command Headquarters, which isn't even in this galaxy," he pointed out. "We've all got our superiors. But B Squad is one of the highest, and one of the best." He couldn't help the note of pride that slipped into his voice.
"Is S.P.D. really a part of something greater?" Z asked abruptly, her voice soft and somewhat small.
And suddenly he could see it. Her posture, her tone ... the way she ducked her head. It was all there.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Wes. I didn't *mean* to ... "
He swallowed. Oh, Elizabeth ...
He knelt down in front of her, waiting for her to look up at him. "S.P.D. has hundreds of bases, top-of-the-line weapons and technology, and some of the most brilliant minds that ever existed. We have teachers, technicians, scientists, and Power Rangers working here, because we all believe in protecting people," he said gently. "I believe S.P.D. is the greatest organization that has ever existed on Earth, and that it can only become greater. I think that someday, we won't just be protecting galaxies - we'll be protecting time itself."
Because there was absolutely no doubt in his mind that one day, S.P.D. would become Time Force.
Z looked at him for a long time. "I ... I'd like to talk to Commander Cruger, if he's still awake," she said almost shyly.
Wes smiled at her. "I'll go get him for you."
He made it out of the cell and most of the way down the hall before he had to stop. He leaned against the wall, shuddering as he pressed a hand over his eyes.
"Going somewhere?"
"Time! Duck!"
"Is *this* all S.P.D. Earth is capable of? I expected more of a challenge."
"I never lost to Lothor, and I'll never lose to a monster like you!"
"Time Strike!"
"Wes!"
He jumped, looking around wildly.
A hand eased its way onto his shoulder, squeezing gently. "It’s okay, Wes," Eric said softly. "It’s okay."
He swallowed, biting his lip and lowering his head as he tried to bury the memories again. "Thanks, Eric," he muttered finally.
Slowly, the hand slipped around his shoulders, tightening slightly. "Come on," Eric told him quietly. "Let’s go get Cruger so the kid doesn’t have to sleep in the cell tonight."
"You were listening?"
"No. But you were talking to her."