A Darker Shade of Red (Time Force/Power Rangers, T, Chapter 17: Ransik)
Still writing. Hah!
Fandom/: Power Rangers Time Force, slight crossover with S.P.D. (In Bright Skies universe)
Characters/: Alex
Pairings/: Alex/Jen, Lucas/Trip, Katie/OC, Wes/Eric
Rating/: T
Disclaimer/: Saban/Disney/Whoever sure didn't write *this* into the series. The plot comes purely from my own warped little mind, and the characters are merely borrowed from them for my own amusement. Lucky you.
Summary/: The legacy of Wesley Collins and Eric Myers didn't just affect the past - it affected the future. One thousand years after they became Rangers, one person is still struggling against the corruption of Time Force and the heritage he never wanted.
Warnings/: People used for scientific experimentation, corrupted Time Force, character with self-image issues
Author's Notes/: I am not a doctor in any remote sense of the word. I have no idea what the medications used here would actually do when combined, I just chose several that seemed appropriate for the effect I was going for. Medications listed are all taken from MedicineNet.com.
One of the nice things about being a Power Ranger was the ability to make anything look like an important mission simply by morphing. No one contested the four Rangers taking a time ship, even with Ransik and Nadira with them, simply because they had their weapons trained on Ransik to contain him, and all the necessary paperwork. Time Force saw its Rangers doing what seemed to be their job, and they asked no questions.
Which was especially convenient when Alex was giving the other three last-minute instructions over their helmet comms.
"Neutralizing the Mutorgs is your first priority," he lectured. "After you've joined with the other Rangers, go after them - even if Jen isn't with them yet. When you do find Jen, don't tell her why Ransik is with you until you're alone. I don't want the truth about this getting to anyone outside of the five of us."
"Not even Wes and Eric?" Green spoke up hesitantly.
"*Especially* not Wes and Eric," he stated firmly. "They don't need to know how big of a role their lives played in Time Force."
Yellow's helmet turned towards him, and he could almost see her frown. "Alex, they have a right to know about - "
"No, Katie," he said again, shaking his head slightly. "Wes and Eric need to live their lives the way they were meant to. Even *I* know they wouldn't leave Time Force alone if they knew what was really going on."
"I guess you have a point ... " Green mumbled.
"We still don't have like it," Yellow muttered rebelliously.
"What are you going to do here, Alex?" Blue spoke up.
He sighed quietly. "I'm going to investigate Vanera Prison. Ransik's blood work should provide at least a reason to open the case, but without any evidence connecting it to the people performing the experiments, all that's going to happen is the prison being shut down and the prisoners moved elsewhere. Time Force will just get their hands on them again."
Green looked at him, and he could see him try not to fidget. "Alex ... *you* sent most of those prisoners there."
"I know. That's why I owe it to them to put a stop to this."
He looked back as he noted the last of the supplies had been loaded onto the time ship. It was hard to say how long the Rangers would be gone, which is why he'd insisted on giving them clothing, food, equipment, and replicated currency for 2002. Reading reports of how little they'd arrived with during their first trip to the past had appalled him, and he was determined to make sure it didn't happen again.
The three Rangers demorphed in flashes of light as soon as Ransik and Nadira were on the ship, and he followed after a moment's pause.
"Alex ... " Lucas trailed off for a moment. At last he stepped forward, frowning worriedly as he reached for his hand. "Be careful."
He managed a faint smile as he nodded in acknowledgement. "You, too."
Katie launched herself at him, and he winced as he could have sworn he felt his ribs crack. "Don't get hurt," she demanded, sounding tearful. "We'll never forgive you."
Hesitantly, he moved to put his arms around her. "I'll try," he murmured, feeling uncomfortable.
She squeezed again and backed away quickly as she released him, reaching up to brush a hand across her eyes as she smiled shakily. "I mean it, Alex. We'd better come back to find you in one piece."
He raised his eyebrows. "I'm not promising anything," he retorted.
Trip stepped forward, and this time the hug came more easily. "Be careful, Alex," he whispered. "Saya lias den ii."
Lose brother no I. Alex closed his eyes, squeezing a little tighter. "Same to you," he murmured back.
Trip blinked hard when he finally pulled back, and like Katie his smile was slightly watery.
Alex blinked once, breathed deeply, and felt his nerves calm. "Good luck."
"You, too," Lucas said solemnly.
He felt their gazes linger on him as he moved away from the ship, but he refused to look back. He wouldn't have been able to look away if he did.
"Initiating Time Flyer Launch Algorithm 4697," he heard the computer state as he headed back to Ranger Tower. He could have stayed to watch the rest of the launch, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He needed to get to some place safe, somewhere where Time Force couldn't touch him.
Somewhere he could finally give in to the urge to start screaming.
****
He retched, bracing his hands on either side of the toilet.
Computer analysis complete. Results: blood sample contains traces of lorazepam, clonazepam, fluoxetine, ciprofloxacin, metoprolol, prednisone, phentermine, and codeine. Patient is strongly advised to seek immediate medical attention.
Alex had more medical knowledge than he cared to admit to, namely due to reading his own lab reports. He would never be able to equal the knowledge of a real doctor, but he knew more than the average person. Enough to work his way through a lab result.
Three anti-depressants, a medication that stops the multiplacation of bacteria and their DNA, two that slow the heart and nervous system, an appetite suppresant, and almost like an afterthought, a pain reliever. Ransik was lucky to still be alive. Who knew how much longer he'd *stay* that way if Time Force got their hands on him again.
He coughed harshly, leaning his head against the wall in front of him in an effort to cool it.
It was the ciprofloxacin that worried him. It *should* have been a fairly harmless medication, used to treat infections. But Ransik didn't have an infection - he was *born* as a mutant. The 'infection' the drug would be used for was part of what he was. Add enough anti-depressants to sedate an elephant, two medications that would slow his immune system from healing him ...
He didn't even want to know what the appetite suppresant was for.
He retched one last time before at last flushing the remains of his breakfast away and turning to wash his face in the sink. At best, he had evidence that Vanera was trying DNA experimentation on at least one mutant, which was illegal in any sense, and would cause an outcry of moral and mutant rights among the community - not that he would blame anyone for protesting. But he still needed a way to link Vanera to Time Force, proof that Time Force was at the very least aware of the experiments if not directly involved, and data for all those involved in the project.
He found himself wishing revently for proof that Blakemore was involved.
The question now was how to find that evidence. He could go to Vanera himself, but who'd be stupid enough to let him in, let alone near any of their records? It wasn't as if he could walk up to Blakemore and told him he'd changed his mind, that he wanted to work for Time Force alone. He'd gone too far in the last six months for anyone to believe that - even himself.
Could he claim to be touring the prison, to make sure everything was secure? Sneaking in would be too complicated, but that *might* work ... Maybe if he pulled Ranger Rank on them ...
But then, he realized, he didn't exactly have much of a choice, did he?
Fandom/: Power Rangers Time Force, slight crossover with S.P.D. (In Bright Skies universe)
Characters/: Alex
Pairings/: Alex/Jen, Lucas/Trip, Katie/OC, Wes/Eric
Rating/: T
Disclaimer/: Saban/Disney/Whoever sure didn't write *this* into the series. The plot comes purely from my own warped little mind, and the characters are merely borrowed from them for my own amusement. Lucky you.
Summary/: The legacy of Wesley Collins and Eric Myers didn't just affect the past - it affected the future. One thousand years after they became Rangers, one person is still struggling against the corruption of Time Force and the heritage he never wanted.
Warnings/: People used for scientific experimentation, corrupted Time Force, character with self-image issues
Author's Notes/: I am not a doctor in any remote sense of the word. I have no idea what the medications used here would actually do when combined, I just chose several that seemed appropriate for the effect I was going for. Medications listed are all taken from MedicineNet.com.
One of the nice things about being a Power Ranger was the ability to make anything look like an important mission simply by morphing. No one contested the four Rangers taking a time ship, even with Ransik and Nadira with them, simply because they had their weapons trained on Ransik to contain him, and all the necessary paperwork. Time Force saw its Rangers doing what seemed to be their job, and they asked no questions.
Which was especially convenient when Alex was giving the other three last-minute instructions over their helmet comms.
"Neutralizing the Mutorgs is your first priority," he lectured. "After you've joined with the other Rangers, go after them - even if Jen isn't with them yet. When you do find Jen, don't tell her why Ransik is with you until you're alone. I don't want the truth about this getting to anyone outside of the five of us."
"Not even Wes and Eric?" Green spoke up hesitantly.
"*Especially* not Wes and Eric," he stated firmly. "They don't need to know how big of a role their lives played in Time Force."
Yellow's helmet turned towards him, and he could almost see her frown. "Alex, they have a right to know about - "
"No, Katie," he said again, shaking his head slightly. "Wes and Eric need to live their lives the way they were meant to. Even *I* know they wouldn't leave Time Force alone if they knew what was really going on."
"I guess you have a point ... " Green mumbled.
"We still don't have like it," Yellow muttered rebelliously.
"What are you going to do here, Alex?" Blue spoke up.
He sighed quietly. "I'm going to investigate Vanera Prison. Ransik's blood work should provide at least a reason to open the case, but without any evidence connecting it to the people performing the experiments, all that's going to happen is the prison being shut down and the prisoners moved elsewhere. Time Force will just get their hands on them again."
Green looked at him, and he could see him try not to fidget. "Alex ... *you* sent most of those prisoners there."
"I know. That's why I owe it to them to put a stop to this."
He looked back as he noted the last of the supplies had been loaded onto the time ship. It was hard to say how long the Rangers would be gone, which is why he'd insisted on giving them clothing, food, equipment, and replicated currency for 2002. Reading reports of how little they'd arrived with during their first trip to the past had appalled him, and he was determined to make sure it didn't happen again.
The three Rangers demorphed in flashes of light as soon as Ransik and Nadira were on the ship, and he followed after a moment's pause.
"Alex ... " Lucas trailed off for a moment. At last he stepped forward, frowning worriedly as he reached for his hand. "Be careful."
He managed a faint smile as he nodded in acknowledgement. "You, too."
Katie launched herself at him, and he winced as he could have sworn he felt his ribs crack. "Don't get hurt," she demanded, sounding tearful. "We'll never forgive you."
Hesitantly, he moved to put his arms around her. "I'll try," he murmured, feeling uncomfortable.
She squeezed again and backed away quickly as she released him, reaching up to brush a hand across her eyes as she smiled shakily. "I mean it, Alex. We'd better come back to find you in one piece."
He raised his eyebrows. "I'm not promising anything," he retorted.
Trip stepped forward, and this time the hug came more easily. "Be careful, Alex," he whispered. "Saya lias den ii."
Lose brother no I. Alex closed his eyes, squeezing a little tighter. "Same to you," he murmured back.
Trip blinked hard when he finally pulled back, and like Katie his smile was slightly watery.
Alex blinked once, breathed deeply, and felt his nerves calm. "Good luck."
"You, too," Lucas said solemnly.
He felt their gazes linger on him as he moved away from the ship, but he refused to look back. He wouldn't have been able to look away if he did.
"Initiating Time Flyer Launch Algorithm 4697," he heard the computer state as he headed back to Ranger Tower. He could have stayed to watch the rest of the launch, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He needed to get to some place safe, somewhere where Time Force couldn't touch him.
Somewhere he could finally give in to the urge to start screaming.
****
He retched, bracing his hands on either side of the toilet.
Computer analysis complete. Results: blood sample contains traces of lorazepam, clonazepam, fluoxetine, ciprofloxacin, metoprolol, prednisone, phentermine, and codeine. Patient is strongly advised to seek immediate medical attention.
Alex had more medical knowledge than he cared to admit to, namely due to reading his own lab reports. He would never be able to equal the knowledge of a real doctor, but he knew more than the average person. Enough to work his way through a lab result.
Three anti-depressants, a medication that stops the multiplacation of bacteria and their DNA, two that slow the heart and nervous system, an appetite suppresant, and almost like an afterthought, a pain reliever. Ransik was lucky to still be alive. Who knew how much longer he'd *stay* that way if Time Force got their hands on him again.
He coughed harshly, leaning his head against the wall in front of him in an effort to cool it.
It was the ciprofloxacin that worried him. It *should* have been a fairly harmless medication, used to treat infections. But Ransik didn't have an infection - he was *born* as a mutant. The 'infection' the drug would be used for was part of what he was. Add enough anti-depressants to sedate an elephant, two medications that would slow his immune system from healing him ...
He didn't even want to know what the appetite suppresant was for.
He retched one last time before at last flushing the remains of his breakfast away and turning to wash his face in the sink. At best, he had evidence that Vanera was trying DNA experimentation on at least one mutant, which was illegal in any sense, and would cause an outcry of moral and mutant rights among the community - not that he would blame anyone for protesting. But he still needed a way to link Vanera to Time Force, proof that Time Force was at the very least aware of the experiments if not directly involved, and data for all those involved in the project.
He found himself wishing revently for proof that Blakemore was involved.
The question now was how to find that evidence. He could go to Vanera himself, but who'd be stupid enough to let him in, let alone near any of their records? It wasn't as if he could walk up to Blakemore and told him he'd changed his mind, that he wanted to work for Time Force alone. He'd gone too far in the last six months for anyone to believe that - even himself.
Could he claim to be touring the prison, to make sure everything was secure? Sneaking in would be too complicated, but that *might* work ... Maybe if he pulled Ranger Rank on them ...
But then, he realized, he didn't exactly have much of a choice, did he?