Variations of SPD Part Six
 

Chapter 26: Grieving and Preparing

I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge -- myth is more potent than history -- dreams are more powerful than facts -- hope always triumphs over experience -- laughter is the cure for grief -- love is stronger than death. -- Robert Fulghum --

- -

Lying on his bed, Sky stared up at the ceiling. The house was silent, but that didn’t bother him. No, what bothered him was that Sydney wasn’t asleep next to him, lightly snoring. Her body wasn’t curled against his; her hand wasn’t fisted over his heart. Without her, his life seemed incredibly empty. It was worse now, knowing there was a possibility, however slim, that they might be able to save her. Closing his eyes, Sky tried to let his mind wander back to happier times.

“Make love to me, Sky,” she whispered softly.

Sky stared down into her beautiful blue eyes. She was laying beneath him, her hands in his hair and her lips so close to his. He could feel the heat of her body, could feel her soft breath on his face.

Leaning down, Sky rubbed his lips over hers, his tongue peeking out to trace the seam of her mouth. He smiled when he heard her whimper and felt her body arching against his own. Her hips cradled his, her heat causing his body to react. Anna had tried but failed; only Syd could bring out these kinds of feelings in him.

Carefully, he reached in between them and cupped his hand against her lower body. She arched and cried out at the suddenness of his move. Smiling, Sky made her tremble and moan. “Quit teasing,” she gasped.

“I love you,” Sky murmured against her mouth, and then moved his hand and glided into her with one long, swift thrust.

Quietly, the two lost themselves in the maelstrom of sensations. Before long, Sky’s body began an unmistakable irregular rhythm, telling them both he was close. Smiling against his lips, Sydney moved her fingers to the base of his spine and caressed lightly. Sky’s thrusting became more forceful until Syd whispered in his ear, “Come for me, Sky.”

Her words and the softly erotic way she said them had him coming inside of her in one strong thrust. Without warning, Sydney’s body tightened again and she cried out. Energy spent, Sky collapsed against her. Syd let out a contented sigh, her hands coming up to stroke his back. “As soon as I can, I’ll move,” he mumbled.

“No need, you’re okay,” she whispered.

Sighing, Sky nuzzled her breasts, his lips seeking out the taunt tips. “I love you, Syd.”

“I love you too. You’ll be okay, Sky, and we’ll be together again, I promise.”

Sky sat up in bed, looking confused and alarmed, drenched in sweat and body fluids, Sydney’s pillow clutched to his chest. “Damn it!” Sky grumbled, setting Syd’s pillow aside before getting up. He quickly stripped off his soaked sweats and the soiled bed sheets. Feeling emotionally drained, he trudged into the bathroom and climbed into the scalding hot spray. He was upset with himself for imaging she was still alive, when she wasn’t. Unconsciously he reached through their link and almost fell in the shower when he felt the tug back from the other end. He cried out in shock and wonder when Sydney’s presence suddenly filled him. “Syd!” he gasped.

Taking several long, deep breaths, Sky concentrated on her and could almost see her smile in his mind’s eye. “Sky.”

Turning, the startled Blue Ranger saw the pink cloud materializing in the shower with him before it coalesced into a solid form. “Sydney.”

She smiled. “Hi baby.”

“Oh my God, Sydney,” he whispered, reaching out to touch her face.

“I know, Sky, I know. I’ll be home soon, just keep positive.”

His eyes welled with tears. “I miss you,” he brokenly whispered.

“I know, baby, I miss you too,” she responded, leaning into his touch. “I love you.”

Sky’s eyes closed and his face scrunched up in pain. “Don’t leave me, Syd. I need you.”

Sydney smiled sadly and leaned close to him. “I’m always with you, Sky.” So saying, she kissed him softly on the lips and then disappeared.

“Sydney, don’t go,” he choked out, dropping his forehead against the cold bathroom tiles.

- -

“How long until we arrive on Earth?” Vampra asked Viper. The once Vampirus-looking monster had taken the power given him and transformed into his formed humanoid self – he looked every inch the typical thirty-something male with a short shock of hair, a goatee, and a body that said he worked out on a daily basis. His eyes were a deep blue and his hair dirty blonde.

“Approximately two hours, your eminence,” Viper told him.

Vampra smiled and petted a hand over Anna’s head. Since the explosion, she’d been like a pet to first Viper and now Vampra. All traces of her former self were gone; in the place of her personality was now an obedient dog.

“Good. Leave me, I wish to play with my new pet.”

“Yes sire.”

- -

Z eyed Sky as he trudged into the kitchen for breakfast. It had been just over three days since they’d lost Sydney, and this was the first time since Tommy and Kim’s visit that the Blue Ranger had left his room. He didn’t look as bad as he had that first morning after, but he was still looking tired and angry at the world.

The former Yellow Ranger busied herself with making breakfast until she stopped in the middle of what she was doing, blinking back tears. “Z, what’s wrong?” Sky asked, quickly striding to her side. She looked up at him and in an instant he knew why she looked so stricken.

“She always made breakfast after we went through something big.”

Sky nodded and pulled Z to him for a hug. Syd had always believed after a battle or event that drained them to the point of exhaustion, the best thing for them was to eat together. Choking back his own grief, Sky leaned back away from Z, reached up to wipe her tears, and smiled. “Can you handle the pancakes while I set the table or do you want to trade?”

Z smiled through a fresh set of tears, understanding what he was saying without him saying it. “I can handle the pancakes.”

“Okay.” Sky moved past her to the cabinet and pulled five plates out before heading to the silverware drawer. With the dishes in hand, he moved to the table and set it while Z flipped pancakes and started on the eggs and Bridge’s habitual morning toast. Just as the last slice of toast was being buttered and Sky was pouring glasses of orange juice, Jack, Bridge and Brian came downstairs.

“What’s going on?” Brian asked, alarmed that things looked so normal even though he knew nothing would ever be the same.

Z and Sky shared a look before Sky spoke up. “Its past due and she would have wanted it like this.”

Jack and Bridge nodded while Brian fought back tears. Sky moved over and squeezed his shoulder before sitting down. The others followed suit, each quietly lost in memories of the young woman whose chair sat empty between Jack and Sky.

- -

Katherine woke alone for the third consecutive morning. Her heart cracked all over again when she realized her husband wasn’t with her. Ever since they’d been informed of Sydney’s death while trying to save Sky, she’d felt her and Jason had been grieving in their own ways, and it was slowly pulling them apart. Even as tears welled in her eyes, she sighed and threw back the covers before making her way to the bathroom to shower and dress.

A half hour later, she was coming down the stairs when she heard the resounding crack coming from the deck. They bought the house not long after Sydney’s last major crisis, and now it was getting put to good use as they and their teammates stayed in it for the time being. Hurrying to the back door, Kat found Rocky, Adam and Zack attacking Jason. Normally, the former Pink Ranger wouldn’t’ have been worried, but there was a lethargic quality to her husband’s movements she’d not seen since he’d begun losing the Gold Ranger powers a couple decades before.

She felt tears pool in her eyes before they streaked down her face when Jason uttered a heart rending cry and sank to his knees. Part of her wanted to go to him, but she knew right now he didn’t need her grief on top of his own, let alone he didn’t want to be comforted by her. All three of the guys knelt with him, Zack reaching out to draw him into a hug.

Kat jumped when a pair of arms wrapped around her waist and shoulders. Tanya was on one side of her while Aisha was on the other, with Trini just to the other side of the former Yellow Ninjetti. Billy and Justin quietly slipped out the door, the former Blue Morphin’ Ranger joining Zack and Jason’s hug.

“We failed them,” Kat whispered. “I know that’s what he’s thinking, and he’s right,” she swallowed hard.

“No, you didn’t,” Aisha told her fiercely. “Because if you two failed them, so did we. You raised her as your own, Kat; you let her decide her own life. We were all charged with watching over her, we all share blame if there is any.”

“But...”

“No buts,” Tanya responded. “She was a Ranger, Kat, she knew the risks, understood them, and still she put the others of her team above her own safety. Like Kim said, don’t demean the choice she made; she loved them, she gave her life for them.”

Katherine opened her mouth to say something but Trini took her hand and squeezed it gently. “She’s not completely gone, Katherine, remember that. She’s merely resting. Tommy and Kim wouldn’t have given us any hope the other night if it wasn’t going to be okay, if this entire situation wasn’t going to work out.”

The former Pink Ranger nodded. “Besides,” Aisha grinned. “She’s an Oliver-Scott; she’s stubborn as a mule, thanks to her genetics and osmosis.”

At that, the four former Rangers began to laugh, easing the tension.

- -

Aaron, Alana, Travis, Brett and Allison stood at attention while Bridge, Z, Brian, Jack and Sky stood in front of Anubis, each slightly lethargic and wanting to be anywhere but where they were. “I know the five of you have suffered a blow of immense proportions,” Anubis spoke. “We all loved her, and her presence here will be sorely missed. She was an outstanding Ranger, and a most wonderful woman.” Jack, Bridge and Z were the only ones with their eyes on him. Sky and Brian were staring at the floor, both fighting back their emotions. “Kat?” Anubis asked.

At the sound of his voice, Kat held out four black and silver objects to Jack, Bridge, Z and Brian. The four were confused but accepted the devices. “Commander?” Jack asked.

“I believe these are yours,” Anubis told them, trying to fight back a smile.

“Sir, we resigned.”

“And I’m reinstating you, Cadet Landors. Besides,” Anubis spoke, pacing in front of them. “You didn’t submit your letters of resignation, therefore I cannot but more importantly, will not, accept.”

The four nodded. “Sir, what’s our game plan?” Z questioned.

“I’ve spoke to Ninjor this morning,” Kat told them. “Vampra’s broken the seal on his prison, and he’s headed here as we speak.”

The junior members of the team tensed when their senior counterparts gasped. “You’ve got to be kidding!” Z argued. “Sky’s barely had time to heal, not to mention none of us are in the right state of mind to fend off an attack, not yet.”

“I know,” Anubis spoke, silencing any further protests. “Kat’s working on a plan with Ninjor. They think they might be able to exploit Vampra’s weaknesses so that the rest of A Squad can help you.”

“Kat? Need help?” Bridge asked.

The feline scientist smiled. “I’d love some.” Bridge moved to a computer while the others stood before Anubis.

“What do you want the rest of us to do?” Sky spoke up.

“Train. After three days, your minds aren’t as sharp as they should be,” Anubis announced. “Not to mention, you haven’t been training for longer than that. Junior A Squad will work with you. Dismissed.”

“Yes sir!” Jack called. The group saluted before they took off for the simulator.

- -

“You know, we could have been hurt a lot worse,” Jack spoke as the nine stretched.

“Was it just me, or did it seem like we weren’t using our full potential during that fight?” Z posed.

Brian looked thoughtful. “You’ve got a point,” he started. “Remember what happened on Phadoes? Syd turned her whole body to stone.”

Aaron, Brett and Travis crossed their arms over their chests while Alana and Ally looked confused. “What are you talking about?” Ally asked.

Sky stepped forward then. “We faced this huge skeletal dinosaur on Phadoes. It had Syd pinned to a tree. One minute she’s screaming for help, the next she’s summoning her genetic powers, only instead of just her hand turning to stone, her whole body did,” Sky related the story to them.

The junior Rangers looked surprised. “So, you think all of your powers are super charged?” Aaron asked.

“It’s possible,” Jack commented. “If what happened to Syd is any indication, we all should be able to make our powers do something new. It’ll be a real plus if we have stuff in our arsenal other than what they’ve seen, because they won’t be expecting it of us.”

“I wonder how this is going to manifest with the rest of us,” Brian murmured.

“There’s only one way to find out,” Jack shot at him. “Ready?”

“Ready!” Z, Sky and Brian called, moving to stand in a line with Jack.

“NINJETII! THE PEGASUS!”

“THE SPHINX!”

“THE TIGER!”

“THE DRAGON!”

The five other Rangers watched on as their four counterparts called their animal spirits and then turned into walking energy columns of their specific color.

Aaron jerked back in shock when Jack’s body stopped glowing and the Senior Red Ranger moved to the wall and hit it, causing the room to shake.

“Damn!” Z laughed. “That explains Jack’s power change. Not only can he phase through stuff, now his body is rock solid!”

“Z!” Alana chirped out when the older Yellow Ranger split in half, literally, before each half of her turned to yellow energy.

The Yellow Tiger Ninjetti looked down at her body, both halves of it, and blinked. “Freaky.”

Sky grinned and raised his arm, creating one of his shields. He closed his eyes and concentrated. Seconds later, his shield shrunk around him, fitting to his body. “Hey Travis, do me a favor,” Sky smiled. The Green Ranger raised an eyebrow in silent question. “Use your blaster.”

“Are you nuts?” Brett called out.

“No.”

Travis just shrugged, knowing Sky could be as eccentric as Bridge when he wanted to be, and took his blaster off his leg. Carefully, he took aim at the Senior Blue Ranger. The team gasped when the laser fire bounced off Sky’s shield and the shield of blue burst into blue flames.

“That’s just weird,” Aaron broke the silence.

“Yeah. Not to mention Sky can shoot fire from his fingertips now,” Brian teased.

The Blue Ranger rolled his eyes then held out his hand. The others smiled when silver blue flames danced in his palm. “Neat trick,” Alana grinned.

“That’ll come in handy when you and Syd have kids,” Jack joked, then winced.

Sky looked pained but smiled. “Scare off the boyfriends.”

Allison opened her mouth before Z held up a hand. “Allow me to explain. Syd’s not really dead,” she started, watching the others stare at her with wide eyes. “She’s just stuck in the Morphin’ Grid, resting. If we can beat Vampra...”

“Not if, WHEN,” Sky and Brian corrected her.

“Excuse me, WHEN, we defeat Vampra, that should be enough to give her solid form again.”

Aaron stepped forward then, his eyes narrowed on his senior teammates. “Cruger doesn’t know, does he?”

“We haven’t told him,” Brian told him. “But he’s bound to know. Uncle Jason and Aunt Kat had to have told him by now.”

Ally grinned at Brian. “And what your new abilities?” she asked, changing the subject.

“Let’s see,” he said, closing his eyes and digging deep down. He smiled and reopened them a few minutes later before stepping over to Sky. “I think I’ve got better control of my invisibility. Watch,” Brian grinned, leaning over to touch Sky’s arm, causing them both to disappear.

“Wicked!”

- -

Sydney sighed. She and Zordon had been steadily working to reconnect her with her teammates. Brian had been the easiest, as they shared blood and a connection, power wise, to their parents. Sky hadn’t been an easy link to re-forge, but Sydney had slipped into his dreams and by making love to him there had reignited the spark between them. Bridge had been next, but his psychic abilities had proven harder to get around than they’d expected. Surprisingly, Jack and Z were proving the hardest.

“Take a break and rest,” Zordon told her.

“I want to finish.”

“You will,” he assured her. “But if you expend all your energy, you’ll have to rest longer, and the others don’t have a lot of time left. Vampra’s on his way to Earth as we speak.”

Sydney’s eyes flashed pink as she stared at her parents’ mentor. ‘Hang on, guys, just hang on.’

Chapter 27: Vampra’s Arrival
 
“Courage, it would seem, is nothing less than the power to overcome danger, misfortune, fear, injustice, while continuing to affirm inwardly that life with all its sorrows is good; that everything is meaningful even if in a sense beyond our understanding; and that there is always tomorrow.” -- Dorothy Thompson --

- -

“Your eminence, welcome to Earth,” Viper grinned proudly as the mechanical covering on Vampra’s windows opened and revealed the large, shiny marble-like object that Earth looked like from space.

“Excellent. Send down the Tengas first, I want to observe the Rangers before I destroy them.”

“Of course,” Viper agreed before striding from the room.

Vampra grinned down at the Earth before turning toward his bed where Anna lay, naked and unmoving. “Come now, my Pet, you can’t be tired yet,” he told her, dropping his robe at the foot of the bed before he climbed under the covers.

- -

Sky walked into the classroom and frowned. The cadets were sitting on desks, chatting away. The room was in complete chaos. “TAKE A SEAT!” Sky hollered over the noise, scaring everyone present. Cadets scrambled into their seats. Some of them snickered while others whispered behind their hands, but they were all staring at Sky’s back as he stepped up to the front of the room.

“And if you don’t stop whispering about me behind those hands and snickering behind my back, you can join Cadets Delgado and Landors on the obstacle course,” Sky threatened. He set his materials down on the desk at the head of the room before perching on the front edge of it. “Yes Kelly?” he asked the young redhead at the front, who had her hand raised.

“Sky, is Sydney really…?” she started. The emotion in her voice and the tears in her eyes had everyone quieting down.

“Yes,” Sky answered, swallowing hard. “Sydney was killed during a rescue attempt.”

One of the boys made a noise and then sneered at Sky. “So it’s your fault she’s dead, because we all know she was rescuing you.”

Biting back his own grief and clamping down his anger, Sky crossed his arms over his chest. “Partially, yes, it is my fault. But it’s mostly Vampra’s. We’re all hurting; Sydney was a big part of all our lives and she will be missed more than I can tell you.”

“You only fucked her, why do you care?” the cadet mocked.

The room was silent except for the gasps of the cadets. Sky stared at the young man, who was about seventeen, and fought for control. He knew beating the younger boy to a bloody pulp was out of the question, however much it would make him feel better. “Not that it’s any of your business, but what was between Cadet Drew and I, was between us. I loved her, and she loved me, no one except for the other members of my team is hurting anywhere near as much as I am at her loss, end of story. Now, pack your stuff up Cadet Marshall, and report to Cadet Landors. If you don’t show up on the training course in the next ten minutes, I’ll hunt you down myself, because I’m about to radio to him you’re coming.”

The young cadet stared at Sky like the Blue Ranger had lost his mind. “Excuse me? You can’t be serious!” he complained.

“I’m dead serious,” Sky told him. “This is my classroom; Commander Cruger has put me in charge of this part of your training. What I say goes.”

“But we have a test on the material in a week. If I don’t pass, I don’t advance to the next squad level.”

“I’m well aware of that,” Sky told him. “However, shooting your mouth off just ensured you’ve got to find out what’s going to be on that test on your own. Now get going.”

- -

“Well, Sky sounds like he’s back to normal,” Z commented. “From the sound of it he was a hard ass in class this morning.”

Jack shook his head. “He’s reverting to his pre getting-laid-by-Syd self,” the Red Ranger countered. “He hasn’t been like this since just after we took out Gruumm.”

The Yellow Ranger looked thoughtful. “True. What are we going to do about it?”

Jack shook his head. “Once more, Cadet Marshall!” he called to the staggering cadet before turning to Z. He was going to work the mouthy cadet until he learned to have respect for the senior officers and Rangers. “The kid brought it on himself. He’s lucky Sky didn’t turn him to a crispy cadet strip with the fire power he’s been carrying around in the palm of his hand. Other than that, what can we do? Sky’s got to handle his business his way. There’s bound to be lots of talk and snide comments about what happened until Syd’s back with us.”

Z stared at her brother. “You really think we can do this? That we’re capable of bringing Syd back?”

The Red Ranger turned his eyes toward hers, a questioning look passing between them. “Don’t you?”

“I don’t want to get my hopes up,” she murmured. Closing her eyes, Z pushed back the grief she felt at Syd’s absence. It was hard to believe but in two years, the perky pink princess and feisty yellow former street thief had become more than friends; they’d become sisters. Z ached not having her “sister” around. Allison and Alana had become fast friends with her, but Z knew no one would take Syd’s place; she and the Pink Ranger had been through too much together for anyone to ever compare to Syd in her eyes.

“Z, we are going to get her back, of that I have no doubt,” Jack sincerely told her.

“I hope you’re right,” Z smiled sadly.

“RANGERS TO THE COMMAND CENTER!” Kat’s voice blared through the PA System.

“Hey Jeff! Take over!” Jack called to one of the senior officers who was standing nearby before he and Z rushed off toward the base.

- -

“We’ve got a problem!” Bridge called when the nine Rangers rushed into the Command Center.

“What kind of problem?” Jack wanted to know.

“Tengas!” Bridge responded. “And now Viper.”

Jack, Aaron, and Sky shared looks before nodding. “We’ll take care of the giant crows,” Aaron announced.

“Good,” Jack grinned evilly. “Viper’s ours.”

The two teams stood facing each other. “Ready?” Aaron asked his team.

“Ready!”

“SPD EMERGENCY!”

Jack’s thoughts filtered to the group, making them smile. Bridge and Z had mentioned the comment the priest at the Morphin’ Masters Council had made before they’d returned home. He figured there was no better time than now to use it.

“IT’S MOPRHIN TIME!” he yelled.

- -

Syd felt herself tremble and instantly knew what was wrong. “Sydney?” Tommy called, materializing next to his daughter.

“Vampra’s on Earth.”

The legendary former Ranger nodded. He’d felt Syd’s teammates morph, just as Kim and Sydney had, before a shadow had fallen across their link with the Earth and their former teammates. “Are you alright?”

“They’re scared, nervous. They don’t know they’re going to face him,” she spoke, almost as if she were in a trance.

Tommy turned his eyes to his wife, a look passing between them. Both could only hope Sky remembered what Kimberly had given him a few days prior. They were going to need it.

- -

When the ten arrived on scene, there were no Tengas anywhere, and Viper wasn’t in sight. “Okay, the last time this happened, we got ambushed,” Brett muttered.

“Don’t invite trouble,” Alana scolded, receiving a glare from the Blue Ranger.

“Would you two zip your lips?” Jack growled, his body tense and on alert. Brett was right, the last time this had happened, it had been an ambush they almost hadn’t recovered from.

“Too late!” Z called out as they scattered, laser fire heading their way from a central direction.

“So they send cowards to face me,” a voice announced. “I see my assessment of Earth was correct – their powerful Ranger protectors are nothing but a bunch of pitiful, youthful cowards who cannot defend their own planet.”

“That’s not Viper,” Travis managed, eyes wide and stuck on the figure ahead of them.

“Quite right, Green Ranger. Allow me to introduce myself; I’m Vampra, King of the Known Universe.”

Several of the Rangers snickered at his introduction. “Excuse me if we don’t acknowledge the title, Majesty, but Earth doesn’t bow before tyrants!” Jack shot back.

“You must be the Pegasus,” Vampra grinned wickedly. He looked like a man possessed as his eyes drilled holes in the Rangers. “Viper said you were cocky and brash, but an excellent field leader. Maybe I’ll turn you to my side, to serve in my army, when I take over Earth.”

“Fat chance!” Jack growled. “I’ll die before I join the likes of you!”

“THAT CAN BE ARRANGED!”

“Dude, he’s psycho,” Brian muttered.

“Oh, contraire, White Dragon!” he grinned. “I’m sane enough.”

“SCATTER!” Sky hollered. Once again, Vampra released a burst of energy, causing the Rangers to move from their grouped position to safer places.

Jack and Ally skidded to the left, with Aaron and Alana landing not far behind them. Bridge, Z, Travis and Brett scattered to the right, each landing on their backsides before bouncing back to their feet and hiding behind some cars. That left Sky and Brian, who were still front and center, behind an over turned car. “DAMN!” Sky hissed, rubbing his palm across his arm. When he pulled his gloved hand away, it was red instead of white.

“You okay?” Brian managed between gulping breaths.

“Shallow scratch, I’ll be fine,” Sky breathed, and then grabbed his communicator. “Kat, this is Sky. Vampra’s on Earth. Repeat, Vampra’s on Earth.”

“We read you, Sky. The Commander says to be careful!”

The Blue Ranger rolled his eyes. “Yeah, Kat, we know to be careful! Sky out!”

“REGROUP!” Jack commanded.

Brian and Sky nodded and moved under the fire and energy Vampra was still releasing toward the others. When all ten Rangers were to the left of the scene, they managed to catch their breaths and start formulating a plan. “Please tell me we have a plan,” Aaron groaned.

Jack, Bridge, Z, Sky and Brian shared a look and a thought. “You five up to playing bait?” Jack grinned.

Aaron looked to each member of his team and then back to Jack. “What did you have in mind?”

“We need to find his weaknesses, and we need to find out what’s going to hurt him.”

The Junior Red Ranger seemed to understand what Jack was saying. “You attack, we’ll divert his attention,” Aaron murmured.

Jack nodded. “Just be careful! No one is dying today, got it!”

“Aren’t we always careful,” Ally teased and squeezed his hand before the five junior Rangers got into place. Sky squeezed Jack’s shoulder, the two sharing a knowing look. It was taking everything inside the Senior Red Ranger to let his girlfriend put herself in the line of fire.

“BREAK!”

Like mice, the junior squad scattered, drawing Vampra’s fire away from their senior counterparts. “Ready?” Z asked.

“It’s now or never!” Bridge announced.

“ALLY!” Aaron’s voice ripped through the air, causing five heads to pop up.

Vampra had the Pink Ranger in a choke hold, her morph having dissipated at the mere touch of his hand. Jack jerked in Z’s grasp. “We’ve got to be careful not to hit Ally.”

“I’ll go first,” Bridge suggested. Stepping away from their cover, the Green Ranger called his powers to him. “PANDA QUAKE!” he summoned his power, slamming his hands to the ground, causing the dirt beneath Vampra to vibrate and shake like it would if a real earth quake had been happening.

“PEGASUS WINDS!” Jack beckoned his own powers, forcing what could only be described as gail-force winds at their opponent.

At the same instant, Z let lose with a blast of her own from the opposite side. “TIGER’S ROAR!”

Most of the junior Rangers hit their knees at the ear splitting sound Z released from her hands. Vampra didn’t even flinch. “Pathetic,” he smiled at them while he brought Ally closer to him. “Such a pretty little redhead. I sure do hope your energy is as tasty as another Pink Ranger’s that I had not long ago. After all, it’s said Pinks are the heart and soul of a team, and I’ve always found that kind of energy pure and delicious!”

“ALLY!” Jack’s voice cried out when she struggled against Vampra, who was getting close to sinking his teeth into her neck.

“SPHINX FLARES!”

Vampra’s howl of rage made the Rangers gasp, even as Jack sprinted forward to catch Ally after Vampra had thrown her away from him. All eyes turned toward the Blue Ranger who stood before them, his chest heaving and his hand out stretched, and an air about him that said he was pissed off more than they’d ever seen him.

Sky shook his head, trying to get the haze of anger to clear. Vampra’s words had killed a small piece of his heart; the monster had no business, in Sky’s opinion, to even talk about Sydney like that, let alone to think he could take another member of their team from them. “Eat fire, asshole!” Sky grunted.

“YOU WILL PAY!” Vampra hissed.

“DRAGON’S ICE!”

A wall of thick, frigid ice went up around Vampra, surrounding him in a column. The Rangers managed to get a good breather in before the ice exploded outward with a wave of pure power following it, which knocked them all off their feet.

Jack cushioned Ally as they flew backwards, while the others, who were grouped together, tried to minimize their own falls. Once the dust and smoke had cleared, Vampra stood before them, his chest smoking a sick black color. “You win this round, Rangers, but once my powers are at full, I will destroy you!”

In an instant, Vampra was gone, leaving a scorch mark on the pavement where he’d been. Aaron heaved a sigh even as Z and Alana ran to Jack and Ally. Brett and Travis were helping Bridge to his feet while Brian jogged over to Sky, who was on his hands and knees, his arm bleeding harder than before. “Well gee, no one got killed, that’s something to be happy about,” he muttered before he slowly made his way to his friends.

- -

“DAMN THOSE RANGERS!” Vampra hissed as Viper and one of the medical staff looked at the scorch mark on his chest.

“Sire, you should have known better than to engage them!” Viper reprimanded, only to receive a hiss and glare for his comment. “You aren’t at full strength yet, and they’re still running off the emotions they have from the death of the Pink Ranger.”

Vampra sighed. He hated to admit it, but Viper was right. “I shall rest for a while, my powers are almost back at full, but I want to strike again before they’re once again at full strength. I believe I may have dented their spirit again by damaging their remaining Pink Ranger.”

“Very well sir.”

- -

“How is she, Kat?” Z asked, the Rangers looking on as Jack sat with Ally in the infirmary.

“She’s going to be fine. She’s got some bruising we’re going to watch, and her wind pipe isn’t broken, so that’s a plus,” their feline advisor spoke. Her eyes were on Sky, remembering when it had been him and Syd in that situation. She knew what he was thinking and could only shake her head at it. “She needs rest, and she’ll be back to good in no time.”

The others watched in despair as Sky turned and fled from the room. “I’ll go after him,” Brian suggested, moving from the room as well.

“I want the rest of you to go and rest, we have no clue when he might attack again,” Commander Cruger ordered, noting they reluctantly left the room.

- -

“Want to talk about it?” Brian asked. Sky was in the gym, beating up on a punching bag.

“Not really.”

The younger Ranger let out a deep breath and watched his older teammate carefully. “I know what’s wrong, and I know how you felt out there, because I felt it too,” he told the Blue Ranger.

Sky shook his head and leaned against the bag, his eyes closing and his breathing coming out in harsh gasps. “I…it was…”

“Just like Syd all over again, I know,” Brian spoke. Sky turned around and the two of them shared a look. Brian smirked and chuckled. “You know, I expected you to be the last person I’d be standing here having this conversation with.”

The Blue Ranger nodded. “It feels right though, doesn’t it?”

Brian sighed. “Yeah. You know what, no matter what, I’d like to think we’re going to be friends when this is all over.”

Sky grinned and moved to ruffle Brian’s hair. “Kid, you’re stuck with me. Come on, we should go get some rest, and food, cause I’m starving.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Chapter 28: Interlude
Dedication: Finally, for all you Bridge and Z fans...ENJOY THIS ONE!

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds." -- Albert Einstein --

- -

“Okay, I’m thoroughly pissed off now,” Jack growled. “Not only did we have him out numbered, we carry more fire power than he does, and he still managed to kick our asses. Why is that?”

The Rangers were standing or sitting around the center console in the Command Center. “At least with Gruumm, Commander Cruger was able to match him skill for skill,” Z commented. “And Syd kicked the shit out of Visvajita with help from the other Rangers. With Vampra, we’re grasping at straws.”

“Which is exactly the problem,” Sky started. “We don’t know anything about him. We’ve barely figured out he’s afraid of fire, but there’s no way in hell I’m strong enough on my own to go against him one on one.”

Someone cleared their throat and the Rangers turned toward the sound. Standing at the door were two figures. “Maybe I can help,” Ninjor suggested.

“Ninjor? What are you doing here?” Brian asked, alarmed.

“Ninjor and I came up with an idea,” Kat grinned. “Your fight with Vampra yesterday only reinforced our theory on how to weaken him for you to destroy him.”

The Rangers looked confused. “Someone want to explain in simple terms, please?” Travis grumbled.

“Vampra doesn’t like fire,” Ninjor started. “Sky proved that yesterday, but he can’t keep up a defensive all on his own. We can, however, alter some of your weapons to help him out, and give the Ninja Rangers enough time to take him down.”

The group of Rangers looked surprised and relieved. “When do we start?” Brett wanted to know.

“Boom’s already on it. He’s modifying the Delta Enforcers in the SWAT gear to shoot fire instead of energy. We’ll have to upgrade you five junior squad members to SWAT, despite your not having the training.”

“What about the four of us?” Z asked. “We’ll be good as dead if we try rushing him the way we did again.”

“While the others are shooting at him with the Delta Enforcers, you five will need to be in position to strike the final blow,” Kat told her.

“Don’t forget, we’ve got a secret weapon,” Sky murmured, opening his hand to reveal the pink glowing crystal that bore an image of Sydney’s Phoenix.

- -

He couldn’t help but to smile at her. She’d managed to learn how to hold herself in energy form during her meditation exercises with very little help from him or her parents. It meant she was progressing faster than he’d thought she would, which would help in the battle that was coming. Her eyes were closed, he noted, her mind obviously focused on something only she could see.

“How’s she doing?” Kim asked softly.

“Beautifully. Your daughter is very gifted, Kimberly.”

The former Pink Ranger smiled. “She gets that from Kat.”

He turned his eyes to his first Pink Power holder and narrowed his gaze on her face. “I seem to recall you being talented as well.”

“I didn’t spend enough time with her to make a difference. I died when she was four, that’s not enough time to spend with her to influence her life.”

Zordon looked at her, much as he had over the years she’d been a Ranger under his care, and knew she understood his silent words, but he spoke them anyway. “Your memory, through Jason and Katherine, shaped her life far more than you realized. And through Ninjor, your son has been influenced as well.”

The former Pink Ranger leaned against his side like she hadn’t been able to in life and let out a tiny sigh. “I never got the chance to be there while my babies grew up. I never realized how unfair life and fate were until that was ripped from me. I guess even as a Ranger, there were some lessons I never fully grasped.”

“That’s what made you uniquely you, Kimberly. Your time as a Ranger left scars that never healed, but that became a part of who you were in life, and the woman you are now. Just as her experiences will do to her,” he murmured, pointing to Sydney, who was still in her meditative position.

“She and Sky deserve their happy ending,” Kimberly sniffed. “If I could ask for nothing more, it would be that fate saw my children had the happy ending they want.”

The wise sage smiled. “Do not worry, Kimberly. I have a feeling this is one time where that wish will come true.”

- -

Katherine stood by herself, away from her teammates, away from her husband, and as far away from the current Rangers and Ninjor as possible without drawing attention to herself. She wanted to feel carefree and happy like her teammates as they spoke with Ninjor, but she couldn’t. Not for the first time in her life did Katherine feel incredibly guilty for what was happening.

“Katherine,” Ninjor’s lilting voice pulled her from her silence.

“It’s good to see you, Ninjor,” she murmured. She was surprised when he approached her and took her hands gently.

“Beautiful crane,” he whispered, watching tears well in her eyes as she struggled for freedom.

“Don’t call me that!” she choked out, her eyes closing even as she stopped trying to pull away. “Please don’t call me that.”

The tone of her voice as well as her words had the others watching in confusion. “Katherine,” Ninjor started.

“I failed her. She trusted me with everything she held dear to her and I failed. I let her down!”

“No, you didn’t,” Jason spoke up, approaching Katherine cautiously. “Kath, its taken me nearly a week to come to terms with it, but she’s not gone, and none of us failed,” he told her softly.

“Kim gave up so much, and...”

“She made the only choice she could, given the circumstances,” Brian pointed out. “Aunt Kat, if anything, you’ve put Mom’s soul at ease. She knows Syd and I are cared for, and that while we miss her and Dad, we’re happy and healthy. She couldn’t have wanted it any other way, given what’s happened.”

The former Pink Ranger choked back the sob that wanted to escape; it was the first time since his arrival that Brian had called her any sort of endearment. “The squirt’s right,” Rocky spoke up then. “You knew Kim, as well if not better than most. What do you think she’d say to you right now?”

Before Katherine could open her mouth, someone else did. “Don’t make me come back and kick your ass Katherine.”

Laughter ensued when Kimberly suddenly appeared next to Ninjor, arms crossed over her chest and a look narrowed at Katherine that said she wasn’t playing. “Told ya!” Brian laughed.

Shaking her head at her son, Kim moved to take Kat’s hands from Ninjor. “Stop talking like this, or you’re going to piss both Tommy and I off.”

The two stared at one another before Katherine spoke up. “Is she...?”

“Training with Zordon,” Kim grinned. “She’ll be able to kick everyone’s ass when this is over.”

“Thanks Aunt Kim!” Sky muttered and then grinned playfully. “I could barely take her down before as it was.” Kimberly and Katherine shot him looks that he’d only seen before from his mother and Syd. “Is it a Pink Ranger thing or what?” he asked, gesturing to the looks. They continued staring at him, making him wince. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Satisfied, Kim turned her attention back to one of her best friends. “There isn’t anyone else I could think of beyond the group of people here that I would trust my children to more. You are as much her mother as I am, if not more. I got four years with her; you helped make her who she is. It’s not the first time you’ve preserved the legacy of Pink Rangers.”

“I miss her Kim!” Kat finally cried.

“She misses you too, but she’ll be home soon,” Kim assured her friend. Smiling, she turned to the others. “Don’t worry; Vampra’s never going to know what hit him. Just be careful.”

The group was quiet as Kim disappeared. Katherine turned and sought shelter in Jason’s arms. The two stood together, holding onto one another, their thoughts on their daughter.

- -

“Damn them!” Vampra yelled. “DAMN THOSE RANGERS!”

“Sire, they’ve found your weakness...”

“I HAVE NO WEAKNESSES!” the blonde man hissed. “I AM INVINCIBLE!”

Viper bit back his comment. “Of course, Sire. I meant they’ve merely discovered your aversion to fire.”

The blonde haired man stared at his head general and sneered. “Yes, I have an aversion to fire, don’t most living beings?”

Viper nodded. “Yes.”

“As soon as my powers are at full, I’m going to destroy those miserable Rangers.”

“Of course, Sire.”

- -

Z watched Bridge shift in his sleep and knew he wasn’t having an easy night. His powers had been growing in leaps and bounds, just like all of theirs, and it had been throwing his normal balance off as he tried to expand his awareness of them as well as keep the ones he had been born with under check.

“Z?” Bridge’s sleepy voice called.

“I’m right here,” she whispered, stroking his hair away from his face.

Bridge sat up slowly, rubbing sleep from his eyes. Before Z could say anything, he had reached out, cupped her cheeks and pulled her lips to his. The Yellow Ranger sighed and leaned into the kiss. Z was only momentarily startled when Bridge angled his head and swiped his tongue across her lips. Her mouth opened, instantly allowing him access. Bringing her hands up, Z grabbed his biceps for an anchor and sank herself into the sensations the kiss was causing. She had little time to register what was happening before Bridge’s kisses moved to her neck.

“Bridge,” Z moaned, arching her neck closer to him.

“Am I hurting you?” he asked in a whispery voice.

“No. It feels wonderful.”

Bridge grinned and watched her through sleepy eyes. “Do you want me to continue?”

Z glared at him. “Carson, you’re a psychic, do you really need to ask that?”

The Green Ranger just smiled and leaned closer to her, his lips finding the pulse point on her neck. Z moaned at the feel of his lips on her skin. The Yellow Ranger felt giddy and dizzy all at once, and then she felt like she was falling until she realized Bridge had laid her back on the bed and was towering over her. When she managed to get her bearings straight, Z found Bridge’s body being cradled by her own.

The Green Ranger continued to kiss her skin, carefully moving to her shoulders which were only covered by the thin straps of her tank top. He quietly and methodically kissed down each arm, taking care to linger at each wrist and the center of each of her palms. While Bridge’s lips were busy tasting her skin, his hands were lingering at her waist before slipping up and under the thin cotton of her top to caress her stomach.

Bridge could sense the hesitancy in her, but wasn’t sure if it was because it was her first time or because she hadn’t had sex in a while; they’d never discussed much about her life before the academy. His senses were so clouded with what he was feeling that he couldn’t read her thoughts. “Z,” he murmured.

“Please, Bridge,” she moaned in frustration. “Don’t stop.”

Carefully, Bridge blocked out his logical thinking and went with his feelings. Leaning down, he tugged the hem of Z’s tank top down, baring her breasts. Quickly, he seized a tip between his lips, causing Z’s hands to fly to either side of his head and her body to arch toward him.

“Bridge?” Z asked through the haze.

Leaving her breast with a smacking sound, the Green Ranger looked into her eyes. “What’s wrong Z?”

“Your gloves,” she murmured.

Blinking in surprise, Bridge looked down at his hands. He’d fallen asleep with his gloves on in an attempt to block out anything his new powers hadn’t prepared him for. “Sorry,” he sheepishly grinned.

“They scratch, but if it’s too much, leave them on.”

“I think I’ll be okay,” he responded, tugging the gloves off while Z sat up and almost tore her shirt off. “Want me to help you with your shorts?” he breathed out.

“Please,” she pleaded, arching her hips off the bed. Bridge took the waist band of her shorts and slipped them off her hips, and nearly came when he looked down at her naked body; Z wasn’t wearing underwear. “Bridge.”

“Oh wow,” he swallowed hard. Z chuckled and sat up, her fingers reaching up to touch the waistband of his sweats.

“Hey now,” she laughed when his stomach muscles quivered. “You’re wearing far too many clothes.”

Scrambling back off the bed, Bridge yanked his own sweats off, revealing his erection to his girlfriend. Z smirked. “Nervous?”

Bridge had difficulty swallowing. “A little.”

Slowly, Z reached out and wrapped her hand around his cock. Bridge gasped even as his hips involuntarily snapped forward. “Bridge,” she murmured.

“Y-y-yeah?” he stuttered, his eyes closed even as his body moved every time she stoked him.

“Make love to me.”

His eyes snapped open at that. Z was smiling up at him. “Z, are you sure?” he asked, reaching out to touch her face.

“Very.”

“I’ve...” Bridge tried to tell her. “What I mean is I’ve never...”

“I know. It’s okay, we’ll learn together.”

Bridge wasn’t sure how to take that comment but nodded anyways. “Z, I don’t have any protection.”

The Yellow Ranger grinned and leaned over to her nightstand. She opened the top drawer and pulled out a small foil package. “I got some, just in case. I hope they fit.”

Taking a deep breath, Bridge nudged Z back onto her bed and settled over her. Their lips met in a gentle, sweet kiss that quickly turned hungry and passionate. They’d both put off the more serious subjects of their relationship because it either hadn’t felt right talking about them or they’d had a million other things to deal with and hadn’t wanted the complications of it until now.

As the kiss continued, their bodies began rubbing together, causing them both to shiver, shudder, and moan. Bridge stiffened in shock when through the sexual haze, he realized his cock was rubbing against the lips of Z’s womanhood.

“Oh wow,” he uttered against her lips.

“Yeah,” Z sighed happily.

“Z, do you need to...or are you ready for...”

“I’m ready Bridge, I promise.”

Gulping, Bridge levered himself off her and reached for the package she’d set on the pillow. He was surprised when Z took the condom from him, opened it, and began rolling it over his thick hardness. The Green Ranger groaned and then sucked in a breath when his girlfriend’s hands brushed his stomach.

“All set,” Z smiled, laying back on her bed and opening her legs wider. Praying for some stamina, Bridge took hold of himself and inched into her entrance. When Z uttered a tiny cry, he froze in place, only managing to get the tip inside.

“Z, are you okay?” he asked, panicked. He wasn’t able to clearly tell what her feelings were because he was so caught up in what he was feeling to decipher anything else.

The Yellow Ranger smiled up at him before reaching through their link to let him into her mind and heart. When her feelings blared at him, loud and clear, Bridge smiled. With as much care as possible, Bridge thrust into her, causing them both to gasp.

“Bridge,” Z moaned, feeling him sink into her.

“Z,” he uttered, his mind shutting down. “I’ve always wondered what...”

The Yellow Ranger grinned. “I know, but if anything else is going to happen, we need to move.”

Swallowing, Bridge pulled back and then gently thrust back in. Z choked down a giggle and reached up to cup his face. “Bridge, while I appreciate you being gentle, I’m not glass; I won’t break.”

The Green Ranger nodded. “I know...I just thought...”

“I love you, you’re not going to hurt me, promise.”

Smiling, Bridge snapped his hips forward and caused Z to gasp, her own arching to meet him. After several attempts, they finally got their rhythm going, and soon were moaning and gasping as bolts of pleasure struck them. It wasn’t to be a long dance of bodies grinding, as they were both already stretched to the limit. When Z’s body clamped down on Bridge’s, both cried out. Even as Z shuddered with the aftershocks, Bridge continued to thrust into her before he hit his own release.

Drained, Bridge rolled to the side, maintain contact with her. The Yellow Ranger struggled to get her breathing back but smiled none the less. Smiling himself, Bridge leaned close to her and kissed her lips, cheeks, nose, forehead, and eyelids. “Thank you,” he whispered lovingly.

“Thank you,” she sighed, kissing him softly.

Once she was nearly asleep, Bridge crawled out of bed and took care of what he needed to before he crawled back in and pulled her to his chest, dropping off as quickly as she had.

- -

Brian watched Sky and Jack snicker while making breakfast. They hadn’t shared what was so funny with him and he had to wonder if it was him. “Are you guys going to tell me what you’re laughing at?” he asked.

“You’ll see. Wait till Bridge comes down,” Jack grinned.

“All I can say is at least some good came out of this whole weird situation,” Sky commented.

Brian shook his head at them and stared at his math book. He still had classes even though they were on high alert, and he had a math test coming up. Five minutes later, Bridge bounded down the stairs, a spring in his step and a bright smile on his face.

“Is he humming?” Brian uttered as Sky sat down at the table with his breakfast.

“Yes he is,” Sky chuckled, digging into a bowl of oatmeal. ‘Not that I blame him, I was the same way after my first time with Syd.’ Sky felt a pang at the thought his and Syd’s first time, just as he did when he thought of every time they’d made love. He often really, truly wondered if they’d get another chance to with the way things were going.

Brian lifted an eyebrow. “Why? Bridge usually looks like a zombie in the morning.”

Sky stuck a spoonful of his oatmeal in his mouth while he debated how to explain the situation to the younger boy. “Bridge and Z did the nasty!” Jack teased, making Bridge blush and Brian look at him in confusion.

“Huh?”

Bridge shot Jack a look when the Red Ranger started laughing. “Bridge and Z had sex,” Sky explained. “And now you two can tell Syd why her kid brother knows about sex, because I’m not doing it. I’d like to keep my head in tact.”

The Green and Red Rangers started to roll their eyes while Brian looked around in confusion. “HUH?”

The three older Rangers chuckled. “Ninjor explained how babies are made, right?” Jack asked him.

“Uh, no.”

Sky shook his head. “I’m not having the birds and the bees talk with him. My dad tried with me, and it really embarrassed the hell out of both of us. I’m not going there again.”

“Chicken,” Jack grinned. “Brian, you and I will make a trip to the Academy’s library when we go to work.”

The White Ranger nodded, while Bridge shook his head and Sky paid attention to his breakfast so he wouldn’t laugh.

- -

“Viper!” Vampra hissed angrily.

“Yes sir?”

“It’s time.”

“Of course Sire.”

- -

“RANGERS! AN ATTACK IS IN PROGRESS DOWNTOWN NEAR THE TRAIN STATION!” Kat’s voice blared out of the communicators.

The Rangers were spread out over the city – Alan and Brett were doing the obstacle course with C Squad; Jack was in the infirmary with Ally; Aaron and Travis were on patrol in the city center; Sky was teaching a class; Z and Brian were closed in the shooting range and Bridge was with Boom in the lab.

“SPD EMERGENCY!”

“IT’S MORPHIN’ TIME!”

Chapter 29: The Fight Of Their Lives

“We don't accomplish anything in this world alone ... and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that creates something.” -- Sandra Day O’Connor --

- -

“This is Aaron, we’re nearly on scene,” Aaron said into his in-helmet communicator.

“We’ve got you on visual,” Kat told him. “Everything’s set on this end.”

Aaron took a deep breath when the jeep screeched to a stop. “Kat?”

“Just yell SPD SWAT MODE.”

“Thanks. See you soon.”

- -

Kat took a step away from the command console and bit back the ‘I hope’ that wanted to come out. “Are you alright?” Boom asked, rubbing a hand down her back in hopes of calming her down.

“I’m nervous for them,” she told him, laying her head on his shoulder.

“I’ve never known them to lose when it counts.”

Kat smiled. “Me either.”

“Dr. Manx?” Anubis called as he entered the room. Kat stood straight and turned to him.

“They’ve arrived, sir.”

Anubis nodded. “Boom, have you finished the modifications to Shadow Ranger’s equipment.”

“Yes Commander.”

“Good. I’m going to join the Rangers.”

Kat and Boom looked surprised. “Commander, I thought you were only going as a last resort?” the feline asked softly.

The great blue dog looked decidedly hard. “This is our last chance to rid Earth of this menace. I’ve let them fight on their own, but I won’t stand by and lose another of my Rangers. He needs to pay for taking Sydney.” With that, Cruger held up his morpher. “SPD EMERGENCY!”

- -

The four gathered together, but knew they were surrounded by those who had passed before and after them. “He’s on Earth,” Sydney finally spoke up. Her chest was tight with tension and apprehension. Her friends and family were facing him, and after having been stuck in the Morphin Grid for over a week, she wondered if she could physically do this.

“Yes, he is, and only the power of the Ninjetti can defeat him,” Zordon told her. “The others will be there, have faith.”

“I do,” she grinned. “I’m ready.”

Kimberly and Tommy hugged her tightly. “No matter what, we’re always with you.”

“Mama,” Syd sniffled, throwing her arms around her mother.

“Be happy, baby girl,” Kim whispered, kissing her daughter’s cheek before she let her go for what she knew would be the last time.

Seconds later, the blonde haired Pink Ranger found herself facing her father. “Daddy,” she gasped softly.

“Be strong, be fearless, love freely,” he softly told her. “Don’t forget to remind Sky that while I may be dead, I can still kick his ass.”

Sydney laughed even as tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. “I love you both.” Turning, she faced Zordon.

“May The Power Protect You.”

“I’ll make you proud,” she told him before she disappeared in a shimmer of pink power.

“You already have.”

- -

“We’ve got visual,” Brett called over the communications link the Rangers shared. He and Travis had gone one way while Alana and Aaron had gone another. Ally was with Jack, Bridge with Z, and Brian with Sky as they all advanced on the epicenter of where the battle would take place.

“We do too. We’re just north of your position,” Alana called back.

“All of us have him in sight,” Jack answered for the others. “We’re getting into position now.”

“Affirmative. Junior Blue out.”

“Ready to rumble?” Travis’ grin could be heard in his voice.

Brett just smirked. “Always!”

- -

Sky felt the crystal he’d tucked into his sleeve pulsating warmth against his skin. ‘I can feel you, Syd’ he thought to himself.

“We meet again, Blue Ranger,” Viper announced.

“Yeah, only this time, I’m not going to be protecting your pathetic ass,” Sky shot at him. “And I don’t see Anna either, guess she finally got what was coming to her in that explosion, huh?”

“Think again, Schuyler,” a new voice called out. Sky winced at the sound and watched in shock as Anna stepped into the clearing, her face distorted with fresh scars. She wore a dark blue leather cat suit, her hair was a riot of auburn bunched into a ponytail, and her eyes were red. Just when they thought she couldn’t get worse, her nails suddenly extended into long claws.

“Talk about looking like a cat,” Z smirked.

“Careful, Elizabeth, or I just may sink my stiletto into that pretty alabaster neck of yours and end it before you have a chance to get your ass kicked by me.”

The Yellow Ranger let out a stream of laughter. “Right. The day you kill me is the day I forget to bring my game. Think again.”

“Z,” Jack warned.

“Oh no, I will not shut up, Jack. She’s the one who hurt Sydney, and since Syd isn’t here to kick her ass for it, I will.”

Anna grinned wickedly. “Come and get me, Yellow Ranger,” she beckoned, crooking a finger.

“Z,” Sky spoke up, his tone a warning. The Blue and Yellow Rangers shared a look before Sky turned to Anna. “You do realize we can’t, and more importantly won’t, stop her from kicking your ass, right?” he asked Anna.

“If Sydney couldn’t take me on, what makes you think Z can?”

“Look, why don’t you just hold still while we lock you in a containment card and we’ll call it even,” Jack sarcastically suggested.

“Let me think about that,” Anna chirped, taping a nail against her chin. “Uh…NO.”

“Your choice,” Jack grinned at her.

“SCATTER!” Bridge announced when a blast of energy flew from both Viper and Anna. Before it hit the Rangers, it dissipated and revealed Vampra standing before them.

“Hello Rangers.”

The group tensed. “Wonderful,” Sky muttered.

“Prepare to die, Rangers.”

“I THINK NOT!” another voice sent shock waves through the Rangers. Turning, the team saw a figure in a gray Ranger suit heading for them.

“Who’s that?” Vampra asked Viper angrily, watching his minion shrug.

Brian sent a silent question to Sky, who responded with a chuckle. “And here we thought you’d retired Shadow Ranger,” Sky teased the new arrival.

“Not on your life,” Anubis announced. “So, Vampra, we finally meet. Ninjor’s told me so much about you.”

Vampra’s eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”

“Shadow Ranger,” Anubis replied, brandishing his Shadow Saber.

Vampra stared, then yawned. “Oh really?”

“And the commanding officer of Space Patrol Delta.”

“Cruger, we finally meet.”

- -

Jason stood on the deck and heard the sirens in the distance. They weren’t the normal sirens of rescue vehicles, they were evacuation sirens, announcing an attack was in progress in the city.

“Jason,” Zack called, coming to stand with him.

“Hmm?”

“Kat called SPD. The Rangers have been dispatched.”

The original Red Ranger nodded, knowing the battle had begun. “Has anyone called Wes and Jen?”

“Trini just got off the phone with them. They’re on their way over with Eric and Taylor.”

Jason heard the footsteps before the rest of their team stood with him and Zack. The ten moved to stand in a circle, facing each other, their thoughts on the younger Rangers who were fighting an evil so strong it had been encased for hundreds of years in a faraway prison.

- -

Viper, Anna and Vampra stood together facing the eleven member Ranger team. The Rangers were tense and unsure of what was going to happen, but they were ready.

“Are we going to fight or stand here?” Anna impatiently asked. Vampra had released his hold on her mind, allowing her to return to herself. Viper had managed to control her from the time of the explosion until he’d handed her over to Vampra, who had kept her as subservient as a snail.

“We’re going to fight, no doubt about that,” Jack shot back at her verbally. He gave a silent cue to his teammates and a flick of his hand to the others.

“Don’t think your pathetic powers are going to beat me,” Vampra laughed.

“We’ll see about that,” Anubis growled.

“ENOUGH TALK!”

“Let’s play, Elizabeth,” Anna called, flying toward Z.

“You’re mine,” Viper hissed at Brian.

Vampra flew forward to take on Sky, Jack, Cruger and Aaron.

Brett, Travis and Bridge rushed to help Brian while Alana and Allison moved to help Z. The fight raged on for a good half hour before everyone regrouped.

“This isn’t working,” Brett gasped.

“We’ve got to try something new,” Z muttered. “What if you guys go SWAT?”

Aaron nodded. “It’s worth a shot. Ready?”

“Ready.”

The five stood together and held out their morphers. “SPD SWAT MODE!”

“So that’s how it looks from this perspective,” Bridge grinned.

Vampra, Anna and Viper watched on in amusement and confusion. “Do they think a change in uniform is going to help?” Viper rhetorically asked, laughing as the Rangers were set down from their upgrade in gear.

“Apparently, but we’ll show them differently. Anna, take out that meddlesome Yellow Tiger. Viper, get the Dragon alone, I want his power.”

“And you, my Lord?” Anna asked. “Will you be alright taking the others on?”

“They can’t hurt me,” Vampra grinned.

Anna moved off, her eyes glued to Z’s. “Ready to rumble little girl?”

“Ready to have your ass kicked slut?” Z responded in kind.

“You can’t kick my ass.”

Z just raised an eyebrow and smiled. She and Anna flew at each other, both swinging out and ducking at the same time. They were pretty evenly matched, if only in hand to hand combat. As far as powers were concerned, they’d never truly tested their powers against one another. “We’re about to find out, aren’t we?”

“DIE!” Anna screamed, charging toward the Yellow Ranger.

Z let her powers build inside of her, causing her eyes to turn yellow, the pupils disappearing, and her skin to light up, making her look like a Roman candle on the Fourth of July.

Anna’s blast of power raced toward Z, and then bounced off the Yellow Ranger as if it were nothing. “Impossible!”

Z smirked. “Lesson number one, Anna; nothing’s impossible for a Power Ranger.” Taking a deep breath, Z extended her hands in front of her, palms pointed toward her opponent. “TIGER’S ROAR!”

Anna’s eyes widened as Z’s gloves suddenly disappeared and the blast of yellow energy flew from its source and hit her full force. The last time Z had tried the attack against her, it had been pitifully weak. Now it was strong, and deadly.

- -

Brian gulped, his eyes on Viper. He’d only had partial participation in the battles, never a one on one fight. “Scared, little boy?” Viper taunted as they circled each other.

“In your dreams,” the White Ranger growled, suddenly finding a fountain of courage inside of himself.

“We shall see, won’t we,” Viper laughed and launched himself at Brian. The White Ranger quickly calculated the incoming attack and countered before Viper had a chance to block. “You’re a child!” the evil general roared.

“Yeah, well, deal with it!” Brian smirked, brushing off the insult. At fifteen, he knew he wasn’t a child any longer, but also knew he had a ways to go before he was an adult. Shaking his head, he raised his hands. “DRAGON’S ICE!”

Viper let out a scream as the blast of ice slammed into him. “How dare you?”

Brian just shook his head a second time. “I’m a Power Ranger, and a second generation one at that, that’s how. Now, GET OFF MY PLANET!”

- -

Vampra sent out blast after blast of energy, only to have the Rangers roll away, duck, or simply not even be near where he was aiming. “Do you honestly think you’re going to tire me? All you’re doing is pissing me off!” Vampra announced, smirking.

Aaron and Anubis stood with their weapons at the ready while Jack and Sky knelt behind them, trying to catch their breaths. “He’s got a point,” Jack muttered crossly.

Sky nodded. “We can’t do anything until the others are done with the side fights.”

The Blue Ranger had barely gotten the words out of his mouth when a high pitched scream sounded. Turning, they saw Anna collapsing to the ground. “JUDGEMENT MODE!” Z cried out. “You are charged with treason against SPD, kidnapping, attempted sexual assault, and the death of Pink Ranger Sydney Drew!” Both Jack and Sky grinned when they hear the next part shoot out of Z’s mouth. “GUILTY!”

Alana and Allison stood behind Z, their Delta Enforcers at the ready, as Anna was captured in a containment card. “About flipping time,” Jack muttered, though he was smiling at his little sister.

“One less thing to worry about,” Sky responded, then smiled when the girls joined them. Alana and Ally pointed their Delta Enforcers at Vampra while Z bent down with her two teammates.

“Nice job, Sis,” Jack congratulated her.

“Why thank you, but that was all for Syd,” Z told him. “So, we take his ass?” she asked.

“We try. Let’s go,” Sky huffed, pushing to his feet.

“ATTACK!” Jack ordered.

- -

Sydney felt herself being pulled through the Morphin’ Grid. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it didn’t feel all that great either. ‘Hold on guys, I’m coming!’ she thought as images of her teammates and friends flashed before her eyes.

- -

“REGROUP!” Anubis ordered.

Aaron, Alana and Ally joined together to give the three senior Rangers another moment to catch their breaths. The three Ninja Rangers had been trying with all their might to get close to Vampra and it wasn’t working as planned.

“It’s going to take all five of us to get him,” Z huffed out.

“GUILTY!” Brian called out, seconds before Viper was encased in a containment card.

The others grinned as the final four of their team joined them against Vampra. Brian handed Jack the containment card before they turned. “A job well done, White Ranger, but your puny powers aren’t enough to defeat me!”

Grinning, Vampra summoned a large ball of energy between his hands, causing the Rangers to gasp and start backing up. When the ball of light and energy was nearly as big as Vampra himself, he released it. “DIE!”

The five Ninja Rangers sprinted forward at the last second and attempted to shield their junior counterparts and their commander. Without thinking, Sky threw up the arm containing Syd’s crystal and the energy Vampra shot at them bounced off the five of them turning into sparkling pink light.

“Impossible!” Vampra screamed in rage, his eyes burning white.

“Lesson number one,” a new, sultry voice announced as the pink light died down. “Every opponent, of every Ranger team in history has learned it, allow me to school you, Vampra.”

“YOU!”

She grinned. As much as she’d enjoyed learning what she had in the Morphin’ Grid, she was happy to have a physical body again. “Yes me.”

“And just what do you think I need to learn, little pink whore?”

The Rangers stared in shock at the figure before them. Both Brian and Sky had to push back the urge to run to her, knowing they’d only distract her. “For a Power Ranger, anything’s possible.”

Chapter 30: Anything’s Possible
 
“Naw...that’s impossible.”
“Hey...anything’s possible.”
“You really think so?”
“...I know so.”
Tommy and Fred, MMPR:TM

- -

“THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE!” Vampra raged. “Viper gave me your energy! You shouldn’t exist!”

Shaking her head, Sydney cocked it to the side and stared at him. “Oh, I know he did,” she grinned sardonically. “But I hate to tell you, it won’t be enough for you to rule the universe with. Good always beats evil, always restores the balance.”

Vampra stared at her before a thought crossed his mind. ‘I need all six of them dead.’ “Your deaths will give me the power to rule all!” he laughed, announcing his intentions.

“We won’t die quietly!” Jack shot back, the team moving to stand with Sydney.

Sky quickly held out her crystal to her, smiling when she plucked it from his hand and tucked it back into her morpher before curling her now empty hand against his. As soon as they touched, a bright light exploded. The team and Vampra covered their eyes. Inside the light, Syd and Sky drew together. “What the hell happened?” Sky muttered.

Sydney grinned when Jack, Brian, Z and Bridge appeared next to them. “What’s going on?” Jack asked, confused.

“Your link has been reestablished,” a voice announced.

“Guys,” Syd grinned. “Meet Zordon of Eltar.”

Brian’s mouth dropped open while the others looked slightly confused. “The legendary mentor,” Brian murmured, sinking to a knee.

“White Dragon,” Zordon spoke, smiling. “You look very much like your parents, young one.”

The White Ranger swallowed convulsively. “Thank you.”

“Zordon, why are you here?” Jack breathed.

“To give you the keys to defeating Vampra.” The Rangers looked anxious. “Combine your weapons, both physical and spiritual.”

“Thank you,” Sky told him before the light started to die down, and the Rangers started to disappear.

“May the power protect you, Rangers.”

- -

“Commander! Look!” Aaron called out, pointing to the Rangers as they reappeared.

Anubis turned and saw the six Rangers standing before him and the others, unharmed. “Let’s do it!” Jack called.

“SPHINX FLAME THROWER!” Sky called, tossing his weapon into the air where it began to float.

“TIGER’S ROAR SONIC BLASTER!” Z went next, her blaster attaching to the top of Sky’s weapon.

“PHOENIX FIRE SWORDS!” Sydney’s voice rang out as she attached her swords to the front of Sky and Z’s weapons, creating a crossbow like base.

“PANDA QUAKE PAWS!” Bridge announced. The talon tipped gloves that usually appeared on his hands attached to the ends of Syd’s swords.

“DRAGON’S ICE SAIS!” Brian cried out, grinning. His sais attached to Syd’s swords, closer to Sky and Z’s weapons than Bridge’s.

“PEGASUS WIND NINJA STARS!” Jack went last, tossing his weapons up and watching the six stars attach at various points on the others’ weapons.

The six came together with Jack and Sky holding the main portion of the weapon. Syd and Brain were on Sky’s side, while Z and Bridge were on Jack’s. “FIRE!”

A burst of fire, energy, ice and wind flew from the weapon, heading for Vampra.

“You think your puny weapon can defeat me? Think again!” Vampra laughed. Using his own powers, he dodged the attack and caught the team off guard with one of his own.

Their weapon broke apart and they were flung back away from each other. “I don’t think that was supposed to happen!” Aaron gulped as the other Junior Rangers and Anubis surged forward.

“I’m so over his dumb ass!” Jack growled as he struggled to his feet with Aaron’s help.

Ally helped Syd up, the Senior Pink Ranger emitting a pissed off aura. “Time to stop playing,” Syd hissed. “Ally, get the others and get them back.” The Junior Ranger nodded and backed off, signaling for her teammates to follow.

“Syd?” Sky called, sensing her anger.

“I’m done being played with!” she told him. “This ends now.”

The Blue Ranger swallowed hard and moved to her, the other four members of their team following. “What’s the plan?” Z wanted to know.

“We give it all we’ve got,” Sydney grimly announced. “We’re the only ones who can stop him. This has to end, or he’s going to hurt more people.”

“We need to use our ninja powers,” Brian murmured.

Bridge cleared his throat. “If we drop our Ranger powers, a blast like he’s capable of could kill us.”

“That’s a chance we’re going to have to take,” Jack spoke up. “Are we in agreement?” The others nodded.

“POWER DOWN!” Syd ordered.

“POWER DOWN!” the others called a beat later, their Ranger suits dissolving and revealing them in street clothes.

“Commander, what are they doing?” Alana asked, panic rising in her voice.

Anubis shook his head. In his heart, he knew, but he didn’t want to accept he may lose his children. “Commander?” Aaron called.

Taking a deep breath, Anubis moved to Ally, knowing she was going to react to what he was about to say. “They’re going to sacrifice themselves, if need be, to stop him.”

The Pink Ranger lowered her head, not wanting to see the man she loved die. The other Junior Rangers watched on in shock.

“NINJETTI!”

“THE PEGASUS!”

“THE TIGER!”

“THE PANDA!”

“THE DRAGON!”

“THE SPHINX!”

“THE PHOENIX!”

Each Ranger began to glow with their color as they called upon their animal spirits.

- -

Across town, the former Rangers gathered together. Wes and Jen had joined them ten minutes before, leaving the current Rangers’ family to wait together, helplessly. “That’s some light show,” Zack remarked when an array of colors shot into the sky.

Five gasps were let out, followed by Rocky, Adam, Aisha, Billy and Katherine falling to their knees. “GUYS!” Wes called to them. Tanya jumped forward to steady Adam, while Justin moved to Rocky, Zack to Aisha, Trini to Billy and Jason cradled Katherine against him.

“What’s happening?” Jen wanted to know. In all her years since her first morph, she had never felt so helpless.

“Sydney’s rejoined them,” Kat gasped. “They’re going after Vampra.” Wes and Jen’s eyes locked, worry building between them for their son and his team.

“I am the Ape, mighty and strong,” Rocky whispered, seconds before he began to glow red. His thoughts settled on Jack, and the connection they shared as Red Rangers.

“I am the Bear, cunning and fierce,” Aisha gasped, closing her eyes and concentrating her thoughts on Z.

“I am the Wolf, silent and sure!” Billy announced. An image of Sky danced before his eyes, unseen by the others, and he silently prayed the current Blue Ranger found the guidance he needed.

“I am the Crane, agile and graceful!” Kat’s thoughts centered on her daughter, hope and worry soaring together.

“I am the Frog, courageous in spirit!” Adam grinned, thinking of Bridge. Despite their difference in color as Ninjas, they had a connection through another color, Adam having been green twice before.

“May the Falcon, just and able, watch over him,” Jason, Trini, Zack, Tanya and Justin spoke, centering their own thoughts on Brian.

- -

Vampra began to feel uneasy when the six Ninja Rangers lit up with their Ranger colors. Syd and Sky stood in the circle made by the other four. Between each of the others, familiar spirits began to appear; a red ape between Jack and Bridge, a black frog between Bridge and Z, a yellow bear between Z and Brian, a blue wolf between Brian and Jack, and in the circle with Syd and Sky, a pink crane and a white falcon appeared.

Syd and Sky joined hands, staring into each other’s eyes. “Well, at least we’re all together if its got to end like this,” she grinned even as she blinked back tears.

Sky shook his head at her and brought one of her hands to his lips. “True. Syd?”

“Yeah?”

“Whatever happens, remember I love you, and I wouldn’t change anything that’s happened with us.”

Sydney’s tears spilled over her cheeks. “Sky, promise me something.”

“What?”

“If we make it through this, that we can get married before next year starts.”

Sky grinned. “Deal.”

“I love you,” Sydney whispered. “All of you. Let’s do this!”

“POWER RANGERS!” the six called, releasing the power they’d been building between them.

“YOU WILL NOT WIN!” Vampra screamed as the power flew toward him.

“NOW AARON!” Syd ordered the Junior Red Ranger.

Aaron, Alana, Travis, Brett, Ally and Anubis fired their weapons at Vampra, causing a massive explosion on impact.

- -

“They made it, right?” Jen asked. The other former Rangers didn’t answer her, their gazes on the plume of black smoke in the distance.

“I sure hope so,” Wes muttered, pulling his wife against him.

Kat groped for Jason’s hand, their fingers meshing together as they held on tight. “Please, God, let them have survived,” the former Pink Ranger whispered.

Epilogue: Variations Of SPD

"God only makes happy endings. If it's not happy, then it's not the end!" -- Unknown --

- -

“Well?”

He couldn’t help but to grin at his friends. “She’s fine. Katherine and Jason are with her,” he told them, catching the streak of yellow before it barreled him over.

“So?” she asked, looking up at him with a smile and big brown eyes full of questions.

“A girl,” he grinned. “Six pounds three ounces, with her mom’s heart shaped face and my hair.”

“Congratulations Sky,” Anubis announced from where he stood next to Kat and Boom.

“Thank you, Commander,” Sky responded, hugging Z close before Jack, Brian, and Bridge joined them for a group hug.

- -

“She’s so small,” Katherine murmured, cradling her granddaughter in her arms. “God, it seems like so long ago, but I remember when you were this small.”

Syd laughed and leaned against Jason, who was perched on the bed with her. “I don’t even believe I was ever that small,” the tired blonde laughed at her mother.

“Are you kidding? Tommy and I were both terrified to hold you for fear of breaking you because you were so tiny,” Jason teased.

Katherine smiled at her husband and daughter before looking back at the baby and then back at Syd. “Where’s Sky?”

“He went to tell the others,” Syd yawned. “And to find his parents; they were supposed to be here an hour ago.” Jason leaned over and kissed Sydney on the temple, closing his eyes as he did, thankful that she’d lived through the last couple of crazy years. “Daddy?” she softly asked. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” he grinned, sliding his arms around her, holding her close. “Absolutely nothing.”

“Can we come in?” Wes called out, poking his head in the door.

Syd’s face lit up. “Of course!” she chirped. Wes and Jen entered, followed by Sky, who immediately made a b-line for Sydney.

“Oh!” Jen gasped when she saw the baby. “She’s gorgeous!”

Katherine smiled and stood before handing the baby over to Jen. “Have you picked out a name yet?” Wes prodded, peering down at his granddaughter, who was sound asleep.

The proud parents shook their heads. “We really haven’t thought about it,” Sky murmured, his hand taking Syd’s and squeezing gently. “We’ve been so overly excited to have her, that I think we just put it off till the last minute.”

Syd grinned. “I’ve had an idea for a few days now.”

Sky looked at his wife and raised an eyebrow, softening the look with a smile. “Oh?”

“Mackenzie Ann Collins, or Mac for short.”

The former Blue and Red Ranger chuckled. “It’s perfect.”

“Mackenzie Ann,” Jen repeated, looking down at the baby and smiling at the serene face. “Hello Mackenzie.”

- -

“What are you looking at?” Sky questioned, plopping down on the couch next to Syd. He’d just finished putting the baby to bed and was more than ready to spend a few quiet moments alone with his beloved wife.

“Believe it or not, our wedding album,” Syd grinned, placing the album on his lap. It was opened to a picture of the two of them sharing their first dance as husband and wife.

Sky chuckled. “Hard to believe we’ve been married almost a year isn’t it?” he posed.

“I know. A lot has changed in the last three years,” she reminded him. “I seriously never thought we’d get to this point; first Gruumm, then Visvajita, then Vampra.”

“Not to mention finding your real parents, our getting together, both of your pregnancies, our powers, finding Brian, us getting married, Jack and Ally leaving SPD.”

“Bridge and Z getting engaged,” Syd smiled.

Leaning back against the couch, Sky pulled her close to his side and stared down into her face. “It’s been a crazy few years,” he murmured, reaching up with his free hand to touch her face.

“Do you remember what you said to me that night before we took on Vampra?” she softly asked, looking up into his beloved blue eyes.

He nodded and swallowed the lump. They’d had too close a call that night, nearly losing each other and their friends. “I was serious when I said it; I wouldn’t change any of what’s happened to us, especially not now. Everything we went through led us to this, and having Mackenzie.”

“God, remember the night we took him out?” Syd shakily asked.

Sky let out a breath he wasn’t aware he’d been holding even as he drifted back into his memories of that fateful night.

- -

“They’re dead.”

Shadow Ranger held tightly to the sobbing Pink Ranger. Ally wanted to run to Jack, but she couldn’t stop clinging to Anubis for anything.

Aaron shook his head and slowly moved toward the fallen bodies of the six Senior Rangers. With a sense of dread and trembling fingers, he reached down and touched Jack’s neck. The six had lost their Ninja uniforms somewhere during the light show they’d caused. Now they were just in their burnt and dirty street clothes. Closing his eyes, Aaron felt for a pulse. When he felt the weak and barely perceptible beat against his fingers, he let out a breath. One by one, he moved to each of the others, finding their just as weak pulses.

“THEY’RE ALIVE!” he cried out in relief. He let out a relieved laugh when Ally flew to Jack’s side and the others came behind her, each dropping to their knees by their counter part, Anubis stopping next to Brian.

Anubis pulled out his morpher and radioed the base. “Kat, prepare the infirmary,” he said.

“Sir?”

“Senior A Squad is going to need medical assistance upon return to base.”

“Affirmative. Delta Base out.”

- -

Wes opened his phone and with a liberal amount of apprehension answered the device. “Hello?”

“They’re alive. We need you, Jen, Jason and Kat to come to the academy.”

“We’re on our way Kat!” Wes all but shouted, turning to see the tears and fear from the others as they anticipated the worst. “They’re alive! We need to get to the academy, now!”

- -

“Congratulations A Squad, on your successful mission,” Anubis announced.

The nine Rangers stood before him. “As you know, Cadets Landors and Parker have decided to leave SPD. This leaves Senior A Squad with an opening. It also leaves Junior A Squad with an opening. For now, those openings shall remain. Cadet Tate, step forward.”

“Sir?”

“I asked you once, if I were to make Sydney Red Ranger, would you follow her into battle. I ask again, if I made Syd Red Ranger, would you follow her command?”

Sky grinned. “Commander, I’d follow whoever you deemed worthy of leading this team, especially Syd.”

The Senior Pink Ranger grinned and Anubis nodded. “Take this, Sky, you’ve earned it.” So saying, Anubis held out the morpher in his hand.

Sky took the device handed to him. “Sir?”

“Congratulations Sky, you’re the new A Squad Red Ranger.”

Bridge, Brian, Z and Syd all grinned. “You’re Ninja Morphers are yours, but these are your new and improved SPD Morphers. Bridge, you’re being elevated to blue. Sydney, Z and Brian, you will remain as is. When, and if, Sam is ready, we may put him on A Squad with you.”

“Congratulations guys,” Kat smiled at them as the others clapped.

- -

“It’s ugly,” Z muttered at her brother.

Jack grinned back at her, slipping his arm around her. “No, it has potential.”

“Are you two sure this is what you want?” Aaron asked, staring at the building again.

“Positive,” Ally smiled, staring at the building that was about to become New Tech City’s newest homeless shelter. She and Jack had been working for nearly six months to get it together, raising the cost for running it for a year, which had been matched by both Syd and Sky’s parents; they had enough finances to run for the next three years without a problem.

“As long as you’re happy,” Syd grinned, leaning against Sky. They’d been married two weeks, and neither could be happier. Christmas had just past and New Years was only days away. Everything around her seemed to be filled with shininess and hope. Syd’s thoughts were disrupted when a familiar beeping went off. Sky sent Jack a look while the others gathered around him.

“Good luck,” Jack told them, smiling sadly.

Sky returned the smile before looking at the others. “Ready?” he asked, bringing his morpher up.

“READY!”

“SPD EMERGENCY!”

- -

Syd held Mackenzie close as the baby fed quietly. Sky had gone downstairs to get them some water after he’d brought her their crying daughter. “I’m so glad you have your daddy’s eyes,” she whispered to the baby. “I love his eyes.”

A soft chuckle came from the doorway. “She’s only a week old; you can’t tell what color her eyes will be for a while yet.”

The former Pink Ranger rolled her eyes at her husband before looking back down at Mac. “Mommies just know these things, don’t they Mac?” Syd asked her daughter.

The blonde looked up when Sky’s fingers caressed Mackenzie’s cheek before sliding off and caressing the skin of Sydney’s breast just next to where the baby’s mouth was. Sky wasn’t touching her to arouse, even though it was doing just that. He only did so because of the wonder he felt at watching Sydney nurse the tiny life they’d made between them.

“She’s so small,” he spoke, his voice whispery.

“She won’t be for long if she keeps eating the way she does,” Syd snickered.

“I didn’t think after I realized how much I loved you, that I could love anyone as much if not more.”

“I know,” Syd whispered, shifting the baby to her shoulder so she could burp her. Once that was done, Sky took Mac and sat back against the headboard, trying to rock the baby to sleep. “I love you, Sky.”

“I love you too Syd.”

- -

“Seems so much more different around here these days,” Brian grinned as he and Sam sat down to eat lunch with Bridge and Z.

“Tell me about it,” Z laughed. “In the last three years, I’ve seen more variations to SPD then I thought possible.”

The three boys chuckled. “When’s Syd coming back?” Sam asked before chomping down on his sandwich.

“She’s taking another month or so off,” Bridge told him. “She wanted to spend a little time with Mac before jumping back into the swing of things. It’s going to seem weird to not see her in the pink trimmed uniform, or to see her in her Ranger suit.”

“So she really stepped down?” Brian asked.

Z nodded. “With Sky staying on as Red Ranger, she wanted at least one of them not in the crossfire just in case.”

Brian nodded, understanding exactly why and how his sister had come to that decision. “Are Jack and Ally coming to dinner tonight?” he wanted to know before he finished his Jell-o.

“I think so,” Z told him. “Last I checked in with them, Jack mentioned not wanting to miss it.”

“Cool.”

“RANGERS TO THE COMMAND CENTER!”

The four looked forlornly at their lunches before racing out of the room. Z had been right about one thing, there had been several variations of SPD since she had joined, and most of them had started with one variation of pink.

The End.

Feedback for Variations of SPD (Chapters 26-Epilogue)

Back to Fics

Back to Main