Bright Skies (Multi - Season Crossover/Power Rangers, prompt #71: Heart, T)
I watched W.I.R.E.D. to see how to fit it into the Bright Skies universe. I've come to the conclusion that it makes B Squad look like a bunch of arrogant assholes. And why does Sky spend most of that episode in charge, anyway? Jack almost fades into the background half the time.
And when the Delta Command Megazord came online? I could almost *hear* Dustin in the background, jumping up and down chanting 'It works! It works!'
So, I rewrote it a bit. And this is what came out.
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/: #71: Heart
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/: The original plan for this prompt was something else. Instead, 'Heart' takes on a new meaning, under a different spelling. -Shrugs- I'm not sure if I'm happy with it, but at least everyone gets to see FireyKimberly at her finest.
"You *what*?!"
Wes flinched, glancing over at where Kimberly was glaring up at Sky, who looked like he was trying not to backpedal. "What happened?" he asked softly, glancing over at Shane.
The other man shrugged. "I don't know. But whatever it is, it doesn't sound good."
"What could have *possibly* given you the idea that you even had the *authority* to do something like that?!" Kimberly shrieked, and now most of B Squad seemed to be cowering behind a flustered Sky. "I don't care *what* level you are, Squad members don't get to expel other cadets! *Especially* when that cadet happens to be a transfer from S.P.D. Japan!"
"Uh, oh," Wes muttered. He glanced at Shane. "You don't think they - "
Sky seemed to be trying to argue his point, and Wes resisted the urge to tell him to stop. If Kim was angry, it was best to just let her rant. Fighting back was the *worst* possible thing he could do at this point.
"Skylar Ericson Tate, you take that back right now!" Kimberly shouted. Her hand raised as though she was going to slap the cadet in front of her, and Sky flinched back instinctively.
"Should we intervene before she takes his head off?" Shane asked warily. "Whatever Sky did must have been pretty stupid."
Wes nodded, already moving forward. "Sky ... " he sighed under his breath.
"First of all," Kimberly snarled as they came closer, stabbing Sky in the chest with her finger. "Sophie is a *she*, not an it. Second, she is *not* a cyborg, she has cybernetic implants because of a health condition. Or did you and your pig-headed prejudices ever stop to ask why before you decided to kick her out of the academy, which, again, you had absolutely no authority to do?!"
"Sophie?" Wes stiffened, looking at Kimberly in alarm. "Wait, *our* Sophie? Sophie Hartford?"
"Did something happen to her?" Shane asked urgently.
"Wait ... did you say Sophie *Hartford*?" Bridge asked slowly.
Wes gave him an odd look. "Yeah, Cadet Sophie Hartford. She just transferred here from S.P.D. Japan a few weeks ago for D Squad."
The glare Bridge shot Sky was unmistakable, as was the way Sky shifted uncomfortably in a very unSky-like way.
Wes took a deep breath, looking at his son. "Sky? What did you do?"
Sky flinched. "We - " Then he swallowed, seeming to brace himself. "I, learned earlier today that Cadet Sophie is a cyborg. We - I, suggested she be expelled from S.P.D. on the grounds that she admitted to trying to hack the D.B.D.S. system last night, and was a security risk."
"And the rest of us agreed," Jack put in, glancing at Sky.
"Okay, putting aside the fact that you didn't even have the right to do that," Shane said slowly. "Why didn't you report her to someone else?"
"I ... it didn't ... occur to me. Sir," Sky muttered, staring at the ground.
Kimberly took a deep breath, taking the time to let it out before she spoke. "We'll deal with punishments later," she said at last. "But let me get one thing clear to you - all five of you. Sophie Hartford is a Ranger Kid, just like all of you. She's also half-Mercurian. One of her parents is part of the S.P.D. Japan Rescue Team looking for A Squad; the other is running Japan's Ambassador program alone. She came here because she wanted a chance to earn her way into S.P.D. without anyone else's influence. Cybernetic implants or not, she's still a person - just like you." She glared at the teens. "I can't put into words how absolutely furious I am. With *all* of you. Sky may have made the suggestion, but no one else stopped him." She stopped again, shaking her head and turning to look away. "Go find Sophie, and bring her home. That's an order. I'll deal with you when I can stand to look at you again."
"Sir," they all muttered, sliding into a salute.
Wes saw Sky glance at him for a moment, and just shook his head.
Sky seemed to sag, his eyes on the ground as he hurried off with the rest of his squad.
****
"It works! It works! It works!" Dustin cheered, bounding into the Command Center.
Wes grinned at the other man as he followed him. "So Dustin, does it work?" he couldn't resist teasing.
"All right already, we get it," Taylor grumbled, but there was a definite lack of hostility to her tone as she shot Dustin an exasperated look.
"Congratulations Captain Brooks, Lieutenant Earhart," Cruger rumbled as he finally detransformed with a flash of light. "Your program was the key to the success of today's battle."
"With Sophie's help," Bridge put in, flashing a smile at the younger girl. She grinned and ducked her head shyly in response.
"Not our program," Dustin corrected, his enthusiasm fading somewhat. "Ethan's."
"Yes," Cruger agreed solemnly. "Let us all have a moment of silence in gratitude for Lieutenant James. Without his contributions to S.P.D., we would not be where we stand today."
Everyone present in Command bowed their heads and quietly remembered Ethan, and all that he had done for them.
~"Dude, this is the coolest thing I have ever *seen*! Can you imagine playing Ultimate Space Blaster on that screen?"~
~"You know, it's sorta freaky how well you understand each other for two people who swear they're not dating."
"I could say the same thing about you and Conner."
"We're *not* dating."
"Neither are we. But at least I can say that Vanessa doesn't stay in my room every time she visits S.P.D. and spends half her time following me around until she finally gets bored."
"We're still not dating."
"But you're something."
"No, we're not! Why does everyone have to label everything? Why can't Conner and I just be friends?"
"With benefits?"~
~"Kat, can you hand me - no, not you Kat, the other Kat. No, *you*."~
~"It goes *this* way!"
"No, it'll work better if you do *this*!"
"Am I interrupting something here? And while I'm at it, James what is your arm doing around my girlfriend?"
"It's not like that, I swear!"~
"Thank you everyone, for your hard work today," Cruger told them solemnly at last. He glanced at Kimberly, his eyes flickering to Rocky and Adam after a moment. "Lieutenants Hart and Park, Sergeant DeSantos, may I speak to you privately for a moment?"
"Of course, Commander," Kimberly returned easily. "I'll be there in just a moment." She turned to Sophie before Cruger could even voice a protest, sweeping the teen up into a tight hug. "Are you okay, Sophie? You've been to see Aisha already, right? And Vanessa?"
"I'm fine, Aunt Kim," Sophie told her sweetly. "Really."
"Are you sure?" she demanded, taking a step back to look the girl over. "Do you need anything? How's your arm? I heard you hurt it earlier."
"I'm fine. Really," Sophie insisted.
Kimberly gave her a skeptical look. "You're not pulling your dad on me, are you?"
Sophie giggled softly. "No, I'm not. I'm really okay."
Kimberly sighed, kissing Sophie's temple before taking a step back to smile at her. "Good. Because your dad would destroy me if anything happened to you."
Sophie shook her head, giggling again. "No, he wouldn't. *Father* would kill you. Daddy would give you the puppy eyes."
"Which is practically the worst punishment ever already," Kimberly returned wryly. "I'll catch up with you later, okay?"
Sophie turned to smile awkwardly at B Squad. "So, um ... Does this mean I'm still expelled?"
Wes coughed, reaching out to pat her shoulder with a smile. "No, Sophie. It was all a misunderstanding. You were never expelled."
"I'm sorry for that," Sky said quietly. "I was out of line." He looked up, meeting her eyes directly. "I'm sorry I misjudged you."
"It's okay," Sophie assured him, instantly sounding cheerful. "I mean, it's not like we really knew each other very well."
"Well, that's about to change," Bridge promised, patting her arm.
"After all, you're a Ranger Kid," Syd agreed brightly. "And we Ranger Kids stick together."
"For better or worse," Z murmured, sounding amused as she glanced at her Pink teammate.
"Whether we like it or not," Jack sighed, and Wes fought the urge to stare at him. Did that mean Jack was starting to accept knowing how he really was?
Sophie laughed, openly and clearly, and it was so much like Mack it was almost disturbing. "That's true," she giggled. She paused, her eyes widening. "Oh! Um, I hate to do this, but I have to make a phone call," she confessed, fidgeting.
Wes smiled at her. "Mack?"
"Huh? Oh, I should probably call Daddy, too," she returned thoughtfully. "But that wasn't who I meant. I forgot to call someone earlier today, and he's probably worried now."
"Who's that?" Syd asked, tilting her head curiously.
Sophie ducked her head again, but the happiness in her voice was audible. "My boyfriend."
The rest of B Squad regarded her in surprise. "You mean you and Bridge aren't ... " Z trailed off.
The pair in question stared at her. "Sorry ... " Sophie said slowly. "But ... I have a boyfriend back home."
"And I'm not interested in Sophie," Bridge put in, looking at Z funny.
"Oh. I'm sorry," Z said quickly. "Syd thought - "
"*I* thought?!" Syd burst in, glaring at her. "You thought so too!"
"You thought it first," Z retorted.
"Why, you - "
"Ladies! Ladies, please!" Jack said loudly, waving his hands to get their attention. "Can we please keep the lover's spats out of Command?"
Both girls turned their scowls on him. "Oh, like you're one to talk," Syd scoffed. "You and Sky have lover's quarrels mid-*battle*."
"Hey! Leave me out of this," Sky protested.
Wes stared at them all as Sophie glanced at Bridge. "So ... everyone on B Squad is dating each other?" she asked, sounding confused.
"Well, not everyone," Bridge told her. "I'm still single. But Sky and Jack sort of have a thing, and Z and Syd have been together for almost three months now."
"Really? Are all Squads like that?"
Bridge shrugged. "Strange things sorta happen around B Squad. We're just lucky that way. Yours might not be like that."
"Oh, I dunno about that," Rocky piped up, sounding way too happy. "I think Sophie's new Squad has it's own issues."
"New Squad?" Sophie echoed hesitantly.
"We're promoting you to C Squad, Sophie," Kimberly told her gently. "You've earned it, and we think you'll fit in there."
"Isn't C Squad full of Ranger Kids, too?" Z asked warily.
Bridge laughed, turning to look at Sophie. "You'll fit right in. Just don't let Sora and Casey scare you away; they're not as mean as they sound."
"Like the Commander?" Sophie giggled again.
Wes just stared as they all debated what the C Squad cadets were really like, if the Commander was really as mean as he pretended, and if Sora Bradley-Watanabe and Casey Earhart Scott were as terrible as they sounded.
His son was dating Jack? Syd was with Z?
When did *this* happen?!
And when the Delta Command Megazord came online? I could almost *hear* Dustin in the background, jumping up and down chanting 'It works! It works!'
So, I rewrote it a bit. And this is what came out.
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/: #71: Heart
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/: The original plan for this prompt was something else. Instead, 'Heart' takes on a new meaning, under a different spelling. -Shrugs- I'm not sure if I'm happy with it, but at least everyone gets to see FireyKimberly at her finest.
"You *what*?!"
Wes flinched, glancing over at where Kimberly was glaring up at Sky, who looked like he was trying not to backpedal. "What happened?" he asked softly, glancing over at Shane.
The other man shrugged. "I don't know. But whatever it is, it doesn't sound good."
"What could have *possibly* given you the idea that you even had the *authority* to do something like that?!" Kimberly shrieked, and now most of B Squad seemed to be cowering behind a flustered Sky. "I don't care *what* level you are, Squad members don't get to expel other cadets! *Especially* when that cadet happens to be a transfer from S.P.D. Japan!"
"Uh, oh," Wes muttered. He glanced at Shane. "You don't think they - "
Sky seemed to be trying to argue his point, and Wes resisted the urge to tell him to stop. If Kim was angry, it was best to just let her rant. Fighting back was the *worst* possible thing he could do at this point.
"Skylar Ericson Tate, you take that back right now!" Kimberly shouted. Her hand raised as though she was going to slap the cadet in front of her, and Sky flinched back instinctively.
"Should we intervene before she takes his head off?" Shane asked warily. "Whatever Sky did must have been pretty stupid."
Wes nodded, already moving forward. "Sky ... " he sighed under his breath.
"First of all," Kimberly snarled as they came closer, stabbing Sky in the chest with her finger. "Sophie is a *she*, not an it. Second, she is *not* a cyborg, she has cybernetic implants because of a health condition. Or did you and your pig-headed prejudices ever stop to ask why before you decided to kick her out of the academy, which, again, you had absolutely no authority to do?!"
"Sophie?" Wes stiffened, looking at Kimberly in alarm. "Wait, *our* Sophie? Sophie Hartford?"
"Did something happen to her?" Shane asked urgently.
"Wait ... did you say Sophie *Hartford*?" Bridge asked slowly.
Wes gave him an odd look. "Yeah, Cadet Sophie Hartford. She just transferred here from S.P.D. Japan a few weeks ago for D Squad."
The glare Bridge shot Sky was unmistakable, as was the way Sky shifted uncomfortably in a very unSky-like way.
Wes took a deep breath, looking at his son. "Sky? What did you do?"
Sky flinched. "We - " Then he swallowed, seeming to brace himself. "I, learned earlier today that Cadet Sophie is a cyborg. We - I, suggested she be expelled from S.P.D. on the grounds that she admitted to trying to hack the D.B.D.S. system last night, and was a security risk."
"And the rest of us agreed," Jack put in, glancing at Sky.
"Okay, putting aside the fact that you didn't even have the right to do that," Shane said slowly. "Why didn't you report her to someone else?"
"I ... it didn't ... occur to me. Sir," Sky muttered, staring at the ground.
Kimberly took a deep breath, taking the time to let it out before she spoke. "We'll deal with punishments later," she said at last. "But let me get one thing clear to you - all five of you. Sophie Hartford is a Ranger Kid, just like all of you. She's also half-Mercurian. One of her parents is part of the S.P.D. Japan Rescue Team looking for A Squad; the other is running Japan's Ambassador program alone. She came here because she wanted a chance to earn her way into S.P.D. without anyone else's influence. Cybernetic implants or not, she's still a person - just like you." She glared at the teens. "I can't put into words how absolutely furious I am. With *all* of you. Sky may have made the suggestion, but no one else stopped him." She stopped again, shaking her head and turning to look away. "Go find Sophie, and bring her home. That's an order. I'll deal with you when I can stand to look at you again."
"Sir," they all muttered, sliding into a salute.
Wes saw Sky glance at him for a moment, and just shook his head.
Sky seemed to sag, his eyes on the ground as he hurried off with the rest of his squad.
****
"It works! It works! It works!" Dustin cheered, bounding into the Command Center.
Wes grinned at the other man as he followed him. "So Dustin, does it work?" he couldn't resist teasing.
"All right already, we get it," Taylor grumbled, but there was a definite lack of hostility to her tone as she shot Dustin an exasperated look.
"Congratulations Captain Brooks, Lieutenant Earhart," Cruger rumbled as he finally detransformed with a flash of light. "Your program was the key to the success of today's battle."
"With Sophie's help," Bridge put in, flashing a smile at the younger girl. She grinned and ducked her head shyly in response.
"Not our program," Dustin corrected, his enthusiasm fading somewhat. "Ethan's."
"Yes," Cruger agreed solemnly. "Let us all have a moment of silence in gratitude for Lieutenant James. Without his contributions to S.P.D., we would not be where we stand today."
Everyone present in Command bowed their heads and quietly remembered Ethan, and all that he had done for them.
~"Dude, this is the coolest thing I have ever *seen*! Can you imagine playing Ultimate Space Blaster on that screen?"~
~"You know, it's sorta freaky how well you understand each other for two people who swear they're not dating."
"I could say the same thing about you and Conner."
"We're *not* dating."
"Neither are we. But at least I can say that Vanessa doesn't stay in my room every time she visits S.P.D. and spends half her time following me around until she finally gets bored."
"We're still not dating."
"But you're something."
"No, we're not! Why does everyone have to label everything? Why can't Conner and I just be friends?"
"With benefits?"~
~"Kat, can you hand me - no, not you Kat, the other Kat. No, *you*."~
~"It goes *this* way!"
"No, it'll work better if you do *this*!"
"Am I interrupting something here? And while I'm at it, James what is your arm doing around my girlfriend?"
"It's not like that, I swear!"~
"Thank you everyone, for your hard work today," Cruger told them solemnly at last. He glanced at Kimberly, his eyes flickering to Rocky and Adam after a moment. "Lieutenants Hart and Park, Sergeant DeSantos, may I speak to you privately for a moment?"
"Of course, Commander," Kimberly returned easily. "I'll be there in just a moment." She turned to Sophie before Cruger could even voice a protest, sweeping the teen up into a tight hug. "Are you okay, Sophie? You've been to see Aisha already, right? And Vanessa?"
"I'm fine, Aunt Kim," Sophie told her sweetly. "Really."
"Are you sure?" she demanded, taking a step back to look the girl over. "Do you need anything? How's your arm? I heard you hurt it earlier."
"I'm fine. Really," Sophie insisted.
Kimberly gave her a skeptical look. "You're not pulling your dad on me, are you?"
Sophie giggled softly. "No, I'm not. I'm really okay."
Kimberly sighed, kissing Sophie's temple before taking a step back to smile at her. "Good. Because your dad would destroy me if anything happened to you."
Sophie shook her head, giggling again. "No, he wouldn't. *Father* would kill you. Daddy would give you the puppy eyes."
"Which is practically the worst punishment ever already," Kimberly returned wryly. "I'll catch up with you later, okay?"
Sophie turned to smile awkwardly at B Squad. "So, um ... Does this mean I'm still expelled?"
Wes coughed, reaching out to pat her shoulder with a smile. "No, Sophie. It was all a misunderstanding. You were never expelled."
"I'm sorry for that," Sky said quietly. "I was out of line." He looked up, meeting her eyes directly. "I'm sorry I misjudged you."
"It's okay," Sophie assured him, instantly sounding cheerful. "I mean, it's not like we really knew each other very well."
"Well, that's about to change," Bridge promised, patting her arm.
"After all, you're a Ranger Kid," Syd agreed brightly. "And we Ranger Kids stick together."
"For better or worse," Z murmured, sounding amused as she glanced at her Pink teammate.
"Whether we like it or not," Jack sighed, and Wes fought the urge to stare at him. Did that mean Jack was starting to accept knowing how he really was?
Sophie laughed, openly and clearly, and it was so much like Mack it was almost disturbing. "That's true," she giggled. She paused, her eyes widening. "Oh! Um, I hate to do this, but I have to make a phone call," she confessed, fidgeting.
Wes smiled at her. "Mack?"
"Huh? Oh, I should probably call Daddy, too," she returned thoughtfully. "But that wasn't who I meant. I forgot to call someone earlier today, and he's probably worried now."
"Who's that?" Syd asked, tilting her head curiously.
Sophie ducked her head again, but the happiness in her voice was audible. "My boyfriend."
The rest of B Squad regarded her in surprise. "You mean you and Bridge aren't ... " Z trailed off.
The pair in question stared at her. "Sorry ... " Sophie said slowly. "But ... I have a boyfriend back home."
"And I'm not interested in Sophie," Bridge put in, looking at Z funny.
"Oh. I'm sorry," Z said quickly. "Syd thought - "
"*I* thought?!" Syd burst in, glaring at her. "You thought so too!"
"You thought it first," Z retorted.
"Why, you - "
"Ladies! Ladies, please!" Jack said loudly, waving his hands to get their attention. "Can we please keep the lover's spats out of Command?"
Both girls turned their scowls on him. "Oh, like you're one to talk," Syd scoffed. "You and Sky have lover's quarrels mid-*battle*."
"Hey! Leave me out of this," Sky protested.
Wes stared at them all as Sophie glanced at Bridge. "So ... everyone on B Squad is dating each other?" she asked, sounding confused.
"Well, not everyone," Bridge told her. "I'm still single. But Sky and Jack sort of have a thing, and Z and Syd have been together for almost three months now."
"Really? Are all Squads like that?"
Bridge shrugged. "Strange things sorta happen around B Squad. We're just lucky that way. Yours might not be like that."
"Oh, I dunno about that," Rocky piped up, sounding way too happy. "I think Sophie's new Squad has it's own issues."
"New Squad?" Sophie echoed hesitantly.
"We're promoting you to C Squad, Sophie," Kimberly told her gently. "You've earned it, and we think you'll fit in there."
"Isn't C Squad full of Ranger Kids, too?" Z asked warily.
Bridge laughed, turning to look at Sophie. "You'll fit right in. Just don't let Sora and Casey scare you away; they're not as mean as they sound."
"Like the Commander?" Sophie giggled again.
Wes just stared as they all debated what the C Squad cadets were really like, if the Commander was really as mean as he pretended, and if Sora Bradley-Watanabe and Casey Earhart Scott were as terrible as they sounded.
His son was dating Jack? Syd was with Z?
When did *this* happen?!