Chapter Ten

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The explosion died away and the smoke cleared, a deathly silence filled the park as the Rangers—and Sordna's small army—anxiously waited for any sign of life. Jen stood, frozen in place on the sidewalk, watching and waiting . . .

"Alex!" Jen's cry split the silence.

The young man lay on the ground, perfectly still; Jen remained frozen, too scared to move, but Eric went by her and to Alex's side. The Quantum Ranger had never been so gentle as when he carefully rolled Alex over and held his wrist.

As her vision became clearer, Jen realized that Sordna was gone; she should've been taken out by the blast with Alex, but she had disappeared.

"E—Eric?" Katie stammered.

Jason had joined them and now walked up to Eric, keeping his eyes on the limp Alex; the former Red Ranger easily lifted him and carried him away. Then he turned to Jen, his face grim; she stood still, too scared to move toward him.

"He's gone, isn't he?" she whispered.

Jason could only nod, seeing the pain in Jen's eyes, all the hope that she had carried for a happy ending suddenly crushed. But she incredibly held her composure, her eyes were dry, her walk steady as she finally managed; then they were all brought back to the present by the sneer of one of Sordna's mutants.

"That was easy."

--

Wes met Jen in the living room an hour later, finding her sitting by a window silently, obviously thinking hard; in her hand she clutched a picture, and Wes didn't have to look closely to guess who it was. He painfully knelt down and met her eyes, finding them tear-filled; her voice trembled as she tried to speak. "He tried to save us."

"I know, Eric told me."

"We couldn't help him . . . he needed us."

"No, Jen." Wes shook his head and reached over to take her hand. "No, don't think like that. We did everything we could. Alex knew that."

Jen shuddered slightly, Alex's last words echoing over and over again in her mind: "I love you . . . " After all that time, he still loved her; a part of her wished she could have returned that love to him, knowing how much he wanted it.

"I know he loved you," Wes said quietly. "But, Jen, you can't choose who fall in love with. You know that. Please, don't start feeling guilty because you didn't love him back."

"I—I can't help it," Jen said. "That's all Alex ever wanted . . . I'll bet no one else knew that, but, he did. He told me once, right before we—we got engaged. He wanted a wife, and a few kids . . . a happy home."

"Something you just couldn't give him," Wes said. "Yyou couldn't help it. And I'm sure he knew that."

"He's really gone this time," Jen whispered. "Gone . . . "

Wes stood up and wrapped his arms around her, Jen buried her face in his shoulder, but shed no tears; she was silent as Wes held her. He was brought back many years ago to when he and Jen had first met, and she was still so devastated over Alex's death; but she was right, this time there was no coming back.

"I better tell Admiral Fuller," she said.

"Anyone else can do that."

"But I—"

"Jen." Wes looked at her, his eyes directly staring into hers. "I'll do it. You stay here."

Wes passed Jason as he went through the hallway, and the two Red Rangers faced each other for a moment; neither could really comprehend Jen's pain, the loss of a former lover, the guilt over not being able to return his love.

"How is she?" Jason asked.

"Not good," Wes sighed. "But I know Jen, she'll pull through. Have you gotten a hold of the other Rangers?"

"Only a few," Jason replied. "They're all anxious to help."

"Good . . . " Wes ran his fingers through his hair. "I wish I knew what happened to Sordna. She couldn't have just . . . disappeared!"

Jason's eyebrows shot up quickly, he said as he placed a strong hand on Wes' shoulder: "Wes, if there's one thing I've learned from being a Ranger—it's that nothing is impossible. Keep that in mind." He slapped Wes' shoulder. "I'm gonna try and get a hold of the Rangers on Mirinoi."

"All right."

Wes made his way to the room where they kept the communications link with Time Force, he sat and contacted Admiral Fuller, informing him of Alex's death, and asking him to tell his family. Fuller paused, running over Wes' words in his mind:

"It's a shame. Collins was a valued officer."

"And friend," Wes added.

Fuller nodded, then cut the link; Wes sat still for a moment, hearing someone approaching, he looked up to see Katie in the doorway, a sorrowful expression on her usually smiling face.

"Alex had no family," she whispered. "Or friends. Besides Jen."

Wes silently wondered about Alex's life, but it seemed that was all Katie knew . . . Katie could see his confusion, and that he wanted to hear more, but she knew very little. Alex's parents were strictly military and had raised him that way, but had died when he was still a boy; after that, it was said Alex was sent to a military school, then went on to Time Force Academy, where he became an instructor and met Jen. Alex was never a very friendly person, and therefore never made any friends; Jen was the one person who ever got close to him.

'And he lost her.' Katie looked back as Eric entered from behind, looking grave.  "Um . . . did Alex want to be returned . . . to the future?"

Lucas and Wisnosky had both asked shortly before their deaths to be buried in Silver Hills in the 21st Century, but no one knew what Alex would've wanted. "He has no family in the future," Katie pointed out. "No one would really . . . care if his grave was nearby. I think he'd prefer to be with Lucas and Cara."

"I agree," Wes said. "Alex was nothing if he wasn't loyal, and his loyalty would demand he stay with his comrades."

Eric nodded, he was joined by Taylor as he left the room and headed outside; the pretty blonde had a troubled look on her face. "Eric?"

"Yeah?"

"I—I have to go."

Eric glanced at her, confusion in his eyes. "Why? Where?"

"My squad and I," Taylor explained. "We've been called up. I've already told the others."

"What'd you mean 'called up'?" Eric asked. "You're going overseas? Now?"

"I know," Taylor said. "We're needed during peacetime, too."

Eric sighed, leaning against his jeep and frowning deeply. "How long?"

"Nine months at best. Maybe even a year."

The Quantum and Yellow Ranger locked gazes, and suddenly Eric's strong arms were around her, his lips pressing to hers; her hands went to the back of his neck and pulled him down to her, her eyes slid closed. In one smooth motion, Eric lifted her and held her close.

In one instant, their eyes met, and those three little words every person longs to hear were clearly spoken in each others gazes . . .

--

" . . . though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I shall fear no evil, for Thou are with me. Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me . . . "

Jen stood with her hands clasped in front of her, her head bowed, wearing the traditional Time Force uniform; the others around her dressed the same, except for Wes and Eric—Wes in a suit, and Eric in the SG uniform.

" . . . mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of the Lord, forever. Amen."

"Amen," the small gathering echoed.

"The eulogy for Commander Collins," Alan spoke. "Will be delivered by Lieutenant Jennifer Scotts."

Jen took a deep breath and stepped up to the dark coffin that held the body of the man she had once loved more than life itself; placing one hand on it and remembered the dark-haired officer who had taken her under his wing what felt like an eternity ago . . .

"Alex was misunderstood by most people, I think," Jen began. "Everyone I talked to seemed to believe he was cold-hearted, not caring for anyone—not even himself—and unwilling to open up. Well, they got one part of that right—Alex never did care about himself. It was always others first in his mind, his crew's safety before his own, the preservation of a city before his own life . . . my life . . . over his. He demonstrated that a few days ago . . . and a few years ago.

"I first met Alex at the Academy when I was still just a young—and very naive—girl. He was the experienced instructor who seemed to know everything, but was willing to teach me it all. He was assigned to me, and that's how I got to know him . . . perhaps better than anyone. At first, I despised him because he did seem the way everyone else thinks he was, but very slowly, he began to open up, and I saw him for the man he truly was.

"He was still young, but had grown up too fast. His father was a Time Force general, his mother was a commander of her own ship, and he was their only child. Alex was raised by his father to be a soldier, his father taught him the drills and prepared him for the harsh realities of life in the military; while his mother was usually away.

"By the time he was ten, Alex knew everything there was to know about Time Force, and was well-acquainted with the higher-ranking officials. At that age, his mother was killed; and only months later, his father died. Alex was sent to military school. While he was there, the life of being a soldier became reality to Alex, and he seemed to push his emotions completely aside in order to fulfill his duties."

Jen took another deep breath to steady herself, then she saw the people gathering behind them to watch; she recognized some from pictures she had seen of former Rangers at the Academy . . . there was Tommy Oliver and his wife, Katherine. Adam and Tanya Park, Rocky DeSantos, Kimberly Hart, Billy Cranston . . . all early Rangers. Then another group of people emerged from a car, led by the former Red Turbo Ranger—Theodore Johnson, followed by Cassie, Ashley, Carlos, Justin. Andros, Karone and Zhane walked up, shortly followed by all the Galaxy Rangers.

Jen swallowed hard as Carter Grayson and his wife Dana came to stand by Wes, along with Kelsey, Chad and Joel. All the former Rangers had gathered to pay tribute.

"However," Jen continued with an unsteady voice. "I've rarely met anyone that was as good of a friend as Alex was to me. Five years ago, Alex gave his life trying to capture an escaped fugitive, but Time Force was able to revive him . . . after that, Alex was never the same for a number of reasons I can’t explain. But he would never let that interfere . . . and not long ago, he led a team of officers—myself included—to protect the past and the future. Only three days ago, he gave his life in place of mine.

"And so, we're here to remember Commander Alexander Patrick Collins. We honor the memory of a loyal commander, a fierce warrior, an honorable soldier . . . but don't forget to honor and remember another Alex, very few of us ever saw . . . a faithful friend, ever-present companion, a young man struggling to make his way in a cruel universe with only himself to rely on. We will never forget this man, or the sacrifice he made for us—and mankind."

She looked back at the coffin and her hand over its smooth top. "Good-bye, Alex . . . " she whispered. As she made her way back to Wes and the others, one-by-one the other Rangers went up to pay their respects.

"That was beautiful, Jen," Wes murmured.

"Alex deserved it," Jen replied. "He should be honored."

"He will be," We assured her. "Just look."

Jen followed his gaze to the Rangers standing by Alex's coffin, and her face softened slightly with a sad smile.

"He would be amazed," she said quietly. "At how many people came."

"He was one of their own."

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