A Darker Shade of Red (Time Force/Power Rangers, T, Chapter 34: Exemptions)
Would be funny, but brain is dying.
New chapters! YAY!
-Kicks Alex to get more-
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/: Alex is incredibly OOC in this chapter, but I think it's acceptable in this situation. Despite that, I actually like this chapter. Or at least I don't hate it enough to want it to die a swift and painful death. So, progress.
"Dax! Tori! *No*!"
Hands grabbed his shirt, pulling up and yanking him close. "I've got you," a voice murmured in his ear. "Easy, Alex. I've got you. I'm here."
He sobbed, clinging tightly to the back of the other man's shirt. His mind spun, trying to absorb the sudden flow of twenty-six years worth of memories. Dax and Tori ... the Dino Thunder Rangers ... Joel, Chad, and Kelsey ... Sky and Eric nearly with them, so many times.
*Him* too many times.
-- "They're beautiful," he breathed, tracing the tip of his finger down the nose of the baby in his arms. His son wrinkled his nose, and dark eyes peeked open to glare up at him.
He grinned back, feeling like he was walking on a cloud. "He has your eyes, Eric. They both do."
"Let's hope they don't act like me," Eric retorted as he beamed down at the other twin he held.
He laughed. "I'm quoting you on that, just so you know. Years down the road, I'm going to remember this moment, and remind you that you *didn't* want our boys to be just like you."
"Sure you will, Wes. Sure you will." --
Wes was his father.
Wes and Eric were his *parents*. He wasn't made - at least, not in the way he thought he'd been. He had people who wanted him, who loved him, who'd grieved when they lost him and thought about how he was doing. Grieved for Ben before he was even gone, because they didn't - couldn't - know, that he was okay.
He had two little brothers. More on the way. He had a *family* he'd never even met.
It was terrible, frightening, and wonderful, all at once.
But all he cared about at that moment was that Wes - he was still Alex, right? - his *father*, was holding onto him. Holding him like he'd never let go.
Like no one had *ever* held on to him.
Like no one but Jen, and Trip.
He buried his face against Wes' shoulder and failed to keep in another sob. He didn't know if he was still crying for the friends he'd - *Wes* - had lost, the family he never knew, or something else. He wasn't sure that it even mattered.
A hand ran over his hair, an arm squeezing him again. "Shh ... " Wes murmured in his ear. "It's all right, Alex. I've got you. I'm here."
He laughed a little through his tears, because he was twenty-three years old, and his father - his *father*, and that would never get old - was comforting him like he was a child. Even more amusing, he actually felt better for hearing it. Was that another one of those things that was unique to Wes being ... Wes? Or was it because it was his father saying it?
His father.
He smiled, resting his forehead against Wes' shoulder. Should he call him 'Dad' now? Would it be weird? Did it even matter?
It did, he decided. It made all the difference in the world.
Because he had a father.
Wes seemed to notice the flood of tears had finally stopped, as he had settled for rubbing his back soothingly. His head turned slightly from where it rested on Alex's shoulder, and Alex felt something touch his temple.
Was he just ... Did Wes just *kiss* him?
He wasn't sure if he should be disgusted, pleased, or just confused.
He settled with confused for now.
He pulled back a little, just enough to finally look Wes in the face. Now that they were close enough to one another again, he could see the light wrinkles lining Wes' eyes and mouth, and the gray peppering his hair. Wes was ... He searched his new memories. Forty-eight now? He looked it.
Wes frowned at him. "You'd better not be thinking what I think you're thinking," he warned.
The corner of Alex's mouth twitched. "What's that?"
"I've *earned* every one of these gray hairs you know," Wes informed him irritably, but his eyes sparkled as much as they had when he was only twenty-two. He frowned in thought. "And now that I think about it, your brother gave me most of them."
Alex couldn't help it. He threw back his head and laughed.
He brushed at his eyes when the chuckles finally died down, glancing up to find Wes watching him with open affection. He flushed slightly at the attention and frowned. "What is it?"
Wes shook his head. "Nothing," he promised, but his smile said otherwise.
"Are you with us now, Mr. Collins?" one of the judges asked dryly.
Alex blinked, abruptly remembering where he was. He flushed again, and silently hoped it didn't show. Instinctively he slid into parade rest. "I apologize, your honor."
"I *told* you this was a bad idea," Wes snapped, glaring up at the three holojudges. "The last time this happened, we were the same age. It's been months for Alex since he last saw me. I have twenty-six *years* of memories for him to catch up on!"
"So you *have* exchanged memories then?" the left judge asked, looking curious.
Wes glared. "If you mean did I just find out that my sons have been having secret comm calls in the middle of the night, then yes. And Sky is *so* grounded again," he muttered.
Alex frowned. "Isn't Sky eighteen years old?"
Wes glanced back at him. "Yeah. And?"
He shook his head, trying not to smile. "Nevermind."
"And you, Mr. Collins?" the center judge persisted. "You now have memories of Sergeant Commander Collin's life of which you were previously unaware?"
Alex blinked for a moment, his eyes glazing slightly as he tried to sort through the new overload of information in his head. "Yes," he said finally. "Wesley Collins ... is my father." He blinked for a moment. "I was born April 20th, 2008. My brother was born four hours later, on April 21st." He frowned deeper as more memories came to his attention. The significance of a Christmas where he couldn't even see the light strings he was untangling suddenly became clear, and Alex's eyes went wide. "You were - " He turned to stare at Wes in horror. "You were in a coma for four years. Mirloc nearly destroyed you. If it wasn't for your morpher, you would have ... And when you woke up .... "
For some reason, he couldn't make himself say it. Silently, he finished You were blind. Wes ...
Wes visibly swallowed and forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I got better," he offered.
Alex hit him.
For some reason, the move made Wes laugh and throw an arm around Alex's shoulders, squeezing gently. His smile was warm. "You are definitely Eric's son," he informed him quietly.
Alex blinked, and a slow smile spread across his face. For the first time, the comparison felt like a compliment.
At last the center judge cleared his throat. "Thank you for your assistance in this case, Sergeant Commander Collins. Your testimony will be taken into consideration for our final decision. In the meantime, the bailiff will escort you for memory adaptation, so that you may be returned to your proper point in the timeline without - "
"Oh, no," Wes cut in, eyes narrowing. "I'm not going anywhere until I see this man brought to justice," he insisted, pointing at Blakemore. "He ruined my life. He *tortured* my children. I'm not leaving until I see him sentenced."
The judge's eyes narrowed. "I'm afraid that would be quite impossible. We cannot allow someone from the past to possess knowledge of the future."
"Your honor."
Alex turned to look at Jen when she spoke, and felt Wes tense beside him. "Jen ... " Wes murmured.
"Sergeant Commander Collins is a Time Force Ranger, sir," Jen reminded them, standing at attention. "He has always possessed knowledge of the future. As set down by the guidelines within the new Time Force, he is exempt from the normal Time Force judgment." She paused. "As such, if he were to remain in the present for the duration of the trial, he would be placed under the protection of myself and the other Rangers."
It was a struggle for Alex to fight a smile. Jennifer, you're brilliant. "Your honor, I would also like to point out that Sergeant Commander Collins would be able to provide much information on the past. As civilian consultant for Newtech City Library, there is a great deal I could input to the archives pending time to interview him."
Wes raised his eyebrows at him as the judges seemed to confer again. He didn't say anything, but his expression clearly read 'Are you kidding me?'
Alex kept his eyes on the holojudges. He could explain later. Later, when they had a chance to *really* talk.
This court had already seen too much.
At last, the center judge nodded, looking annoyed. "As Captain Scotts is correct in her assessment of the laws within Time Force regarding Power Rangers, it is the decision of this court to release Sergeant Commander Collins to the Time Force Rangers for the duration of this trial."
Alex could see Wes fighting a grin. Silently he prayed that this wouldn't blow up in their -
Ben, he realized in growing horror. Wes will finally meet Ben.
Ben, who hated everything in his life except his brother and his brother's friends. Ben, who was only a member of Time Force through the morpher he wore. A morpher which *could* be given away.
Ben, who would finally have a chance to know the family he'd never had.
Gripping his wrist behind his back to keep from visibly trembling, Alex swallowed hard as a cold feeling settled over him.
New chapters! YAY!
-Kicks Alex to get more-
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/: Alex is incredibly OOC in this chapter, but I think it's acceptable in this situation. Despite that, I actually like this chapter. Or at least I don't hate it enough to want it to die a swift and painful death. So, progress.
"Dax! Tori! *No*!"
Hands grabbed his shirt, pulling up and yanking him close. "I've got you," a voice murmured in his ear. "Easy, Alex. I've got you. I'm here."
He sobbed, clinging tightly to the back of the other man's shirt. His mind spun, trying to absorb the sudden flow of twenty-six years worth of memories. Dax and Tori ... the Dino Thunder Rangers ... Joel, Chad, and Kelsey ... Sky and Eric nearly with them, so many times.
*Him* too many times.
-- "They're beautiful," he breathed, tracing the tip of his finger down the nose of the baby in his arms. His son wrinkled his nose, and dark eyes peeked open to glare up at him.
He grinned back, feeling like he was walking on a cloud. "He has your eyes, Eric. They both do."
"Let's hope they don't act like me," Eric retorted as he beamed down at the other twin he held.
He laughed. "I'm quoting you on that, just so you know. Years down the road, I'm going to remember this moment, and remind you that you *didn't* want our boys to be just like you."
"Sure you will, Wes. Sure you will." --
Wes was his father.
Wes and Eric were his *parents*. He wasn't made - at least, not in the way he thought he'd been. He had people who wanted him, who loved him, who'd grieved when they lost him and thought about how he was doing. Grieved for Ben before he was even gone, because they didn't - couldn't - know, that he was okay.
He had two little brothers. More on the way. He had a *family* he'd never even met.
It was terrible, frightening, and wonderful, all at once.
But all he cared about at that moment was that Wes - he was still Alex, right? - his *father*, was holding onto him. Holding him like he'd never let go.
Like no one had *ever* held on to him.
Like no one but Jen, and Trip.
He buried his face against Wes' shoulder and failed to keep in another sob. He didn't know if he was still crying for the friends he'd - *Wes* - had lost, the family he never knew, or something else. He wasn't sure that it even mattered.
A hand ran over his hair, an arm squeezing him again. "Shh ... " Wes murmured in his ear. "It's all right, Alex. I've got you. I'm here."
He laughed a little through his tears, because he was twenty-three years old, and his father - his *father*, and that would never get old - was comforting him like he was a child. Even more amusing, he actually felt better for hearing it. Was that another one of those things that was unique to Wes being ... Wes? Or was it because it was his father saying it?
His father.
He smiled, resting his forehead against Wes' shoulder. Should he call him 'Dad' now? Would it be weird? Did it even matter?
It did, he decided. It made all the difference in the world.
Because he had a father.
Wes seemed to notice the flood of tears had finally stopped, as he had settled for rubbing his back soothingly. His head turned slightly from where it rested on Alex's shoulder, and Alex felt something touch his temple.
Was he just ... Did Wes just *kiss* him?
He wasn't sure if he should be disgusted, pleased, or just confused.
He settled with confused for now.
He pulled back a little, just enough to finally look Wes in the face. Now that they were close enough to one another again, he could see the light wrinkles lining Wes' eyes and mouth, and the gray peppering his hair. Wes was ... He searched his new memories. Forty-eight now? He looked it.
Wes frowned at him. "You'd better not be thinking what I think you're thinking," he warned.
The corner of Alex's mouth twitched. "What's that?"
"I've *earned* every one of these gray hairs you know," Wes informed him irritably, but his eyes sparkled as much as they had when he was only twenty-two. He frowned in thought. "And now that I think about it, your brother gave me most of them."
Alex couldn't help it. He threw back his head and laughed.
He brushed at his eyes when the chuckles finally died down, glancing up to find Wes watching him with open affection. He flushed slightly at the attention and frowned. "What is it?"
Wes shook his head. "Nothing," he promised, but his smile said otherwise.
"Are you with us now, Mr. Collins?" one of the judges asked dryly.
Alex blinked, abruptly remembering where he was. He flushed again, and silently hoped it didn't show. Instinctively he slid into parade rest. "I apologize, your honor."
"I *told* you this was a bad idea," Wes snapped, glaring up at the three holojudges. "The last time this happened, we were the same age. It's been months for Alex since he last saw me. I have twenty-six *years* of memories for him to catch up on!"
"So you *have* exchanged memories then?" the left judge asked, looking curious.
Wes glared. "If you mean did I just find out that my sons have been having secret comm calls in the middle of the night, then yes. And Sky is *so* grounded again," he muttered.
Alex frowned. "Isn't Sky eighteen years old?"
Wes glanced back at him. "Yeah. And?"
He shook his head, trying not to smile. "Nevermind."
"And you, Mr. Collins?" the center judge persisted. "You now have memories of Sergeant Commander Collin's life of which you were previously unaware?"
Alex blinked for a moment, his eyes glazing slightly as he tried to sort through the new overload of information in his head. "Yes," he said finally. "Wesley Collins ... is my father." He blinked for a moment. "I was born April 20th, 2008. My brother was born four hours later, on April 21st." He frowned deeper as more memories came to his attention. The significance of a Christmas where he couldn't even see the light strings he was untangling suddenly became clear, and Alex's eyes went wide. "You were - " He turned to stare at Wes in horror. "You were in a coma for four years. Mirloc nearly destroyed you. If it wasn't for your morpher, you would have ... And when you woke up .... "
For some reason, he couldn't make himself say it. Silently, he finished You were blind. Wes ...
Wes visibly swallowed and forced a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I got better," he offered.
Alex hit him.
For some reason, the move made Wes laugh and throw an arm around Alex's shoulders, squeezing gently. His smile was warm. "You are definitely Eric's son," he informed him quietly.
Alex blinked, and a slow smile spread across his face. For the first time, the comparison felt like a compliment.
At last the center judge cleared his throat. "Thank you for your assistance in this case, Sergeant Commander Collins. Your testimony will be taken into consideration for our final decision. In the meantime, the bailiff will escort you for memory adaptation, so that you may be returned to your proper point in the timeline without - "
"Oh, no," Wes cut in, eyes narrowing. "I'm not going anywhere until I see this man brought to justice," he insisted, pointing at Blakemore. "He ruined my life. He *tortured* my children. I'm not leaving until I see him sentenced."
The judge's eyes narrowed. "I'm afraid that would be quite impossible. We cannot allow someone from the past to possess knowledge of the future."
"Your honor."
Alex turned to look at Jen when she spoke, and felt Wes tense beside him. "Jen ... " Wes murmured.
"Sergeant Commander Collins is a Time Force Ranger, sir," Jen reminded them, standing at attention. "He has always possessed knowledge of the future. As set down by the guidelines within the new Time Force, he is exempt from the normal Time Force judgment." She paused. "As such, if he were to remain in the present for the duration of the trial, he would be placed under the protection of myself and the other Rangers."
It was a struggle for Alex to fight a smile. Jennifer, you're brilliant. "Your honor, I would also like to point out that Sergeant Commander Collins would be able to provide much information on the past. As civilian consultant for Newtech City Library, there is a great deal I could input to the archives pending time to interview him."
Wes raised his eyebrows at him as the judges seemed to confer again. He didn't say anything, but his expression clearly read 'Are you kidding me?'
Alex kept his eyes on the holojudges. He could explain later. Later, when they had a chance to *really* talk.
This court had already seen too much.
At last, the center judge nodded, looking annoyed. "As Captain Scotts is correct in her assessment of the laws within Time Force regarding Power Rangers, it is the decision of this court to release Sergeant Commander Collins to the Time Force Rangers for the duration of this trial."
Alex could see Wes fighting a grin. Silently he prayed that this wouldn't blow up in their -
Ben, he realized in growing horror. Wes will finally meet Ben.
Ben, who hated everything in his life except his brother and his brother's friends. Ben, who was only a member of Time Force through the morpher he wore. A morpher which *could* be given away.
Ben, who would finally have a chance to know the family he'd never had.
Gripping his wrist behind his back to keep from visibly trembling, Alex swallowed hard as a cold feeling settled over him.