Chapter Eleven

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Wes returned to the living room, popping open a can of beer and sitting on the couch between Katie and Trip. "Jen's asleep," he said quietly. "As soon as her head hit the pillow she was out."

"Good," Jason said from where he sat across the room. "You'd think she's a Red Ranger—the way she runs herself ragged like that." He smirked. "Not that the others don't . . . "

" . . . but you leaders are always worse," Katie spoke up. "Well, Jen was the leader. When Alex . . . when we first came here, she really took over."

"She had to," Trip said.

Kimberly Hart entered the room with three other Pink Rangers, and the Time Force officers recognized them all from their databanks—during their Pink Ranger days, they were known as Katherine Hillard, Kendrix Morgan, and Dana Mitchell. Of course, now they were married—Katherine Oliver, Kendrix Corbett, and Dana Grayson.

Tommy pulled Kat into his lap and placed a kiss on her smooth cheek, bringing a small smile to her face; Jason watched them, his eyes softening slightly, pleased to see his best friend so happy. He could feel someone's eyes on him and guessed whose they were before he saw her . . . Kimberly stood behind Tommy, watching the original Red Ranger carefully.

'I'm okay,' Jason mouthed to her.

"I think," Eric said, "we need to concentrate on taking Sordna out. I doubt her little army could go on without it's leader."

"She's seems invincible," Wes sighed. "I mean, she escaped that explosion—that should've been impossible."

"Not if they have some sort of viewing globe," Zack Taylor spoke up. "Like in the old days. She could've have had some of her mutants watching, and ready to get her out if trouble came."

"That seems likely," Billy added. "Or perhaps she carries some sort of teleportation device with her at all times."

"Either way," Wes said. "In order to destroy her, we have to surprise her. She can't know we're coming."

"But she'll be on alert whenever we're around," Katie said.

"Ready to teleport out on a moment's notice," Trip said.

"Not if she doesn't recognize us."

They all looked up to the speaker, the young Red Galaxy Ranger, Leo Corbett. "Why don't we go?" he suggested."Sordna won't recognize us."

"That's right," Mike said. "She won't recognize anyone outside of Time Force."

"You'd be willing?"

"Of course!" Maya said quickly.

Wes leaned back and rubbed his eyes for a moment, fighting off the fatigue that threatened to overwhelm him; he felt Katie's hand on his shoulder and appreciated the gesture, smiling softly at the Yellow Ranger who never failed to be there when her friends needed her.

"All right," Tommy said as Kat got up. He leaned forward and looked around the room at each Ranger in turn, settling back into his old role. "It's late, and we're never going to think of something when we're all half-asleep. I vote we go to bed, and start up again in the morning."

"Sounds good to me," T.J. said.

They all rose slowly and made their way to the rooms they were temporarily staying in, each in awe of the large Collins estate; Kimberly stood still for a moment as she watched the man she would always view as leader disappear down the hallway. Without a word, she began to follow him, somehow knowing he wasn't heading for bed like the others; her suspicions were confirmed when he stepped onto the back porch and leaned against the railing, staring out into the dark night.

"Jase?" Kimberly said softly, leaning against the doorway.

He turned and forced a smile onto his face, his voice had a slight tremor to it when he spoke. "Hey, Kim. Thought you'd gone to bed."

"Thought you had to." Kimberly stepped onto the porch and stood beside him, looking up at her old friend tenderly, seeing the pain in his eyes. "You still miss her a lot, I know. So do I."

Jason winced. "Yeah . . . I still expect her to be there sometimes."

It was always strange for Kimberly to see Jason distressed about something, in the old days he always kept his emotions in check for the sake of the team, while the others worried aloud about a desperate situation, he was there to keep them on the right track and be confident at all times. Now he looked so alone . . . almost scared, standing in the dark and avoiding her gaze.

"Come here, Jason," she said.

When he was in her arms and not facing her, he felt the hot tears sting his eyes, and one ran down his cheek; suddenly, he was taken back to that day . . . the day they were driving home from a picnic in the park and some idiot came flying through a red light, slamming into the passenger's side. She had been killed on impact, but he had lived . . . a severely broken leg, concussion, and a few other minor injuries. A few weeks later he was out of the hospital, and faced with living a life without her.

Kimberly spotted the ring tied to a string that he wore around his neck and knew instantly it was her engagement ring, a plain gold band, which she preferred to a sparkling diamond. Trini Kwan. The original Yellow Ranger, the only girl ever to grab a hold of Jason's heart, and she never let go . . .

"It'll be all right," Kimberly assured him. "It will."

--

Eric burst into the house, breathless, he ran into the kitchen and looked around quickly, but no one was there; he raced up the stairs and Wes met him halfway there, still in his nightclothes.

"What's wrong?" he demanded.

"Sordna's attacking the city," Eric gasped. "Communicator's down, damn thing."

"Leo!" Wes called. "Time for action!"

Leo hurried out of his room, fully-clothed and prepared, he followed Eric outside and hopped onto Wes' bike, then drove off. Mike was right behind him with Eric, Wes, Jen, and Lucas in the SG vehicle; they went to the scene of the attack, carefully remaining hidden.

"Careful, Leo . . . " Mike barely breathed.

"I've got Sordna," Jen said, aiming her blaster.

"Good," Eric said quietly. "Now just wait."

Leo posed as a civilian as Sordna led her soldiers in the attack on the innocent people of Silver Hills; the Red Galaxy Ranger fought back his emotions as a little boy fell and his mother dropped to shield him with her own body. He delivered a sharp sidekick to a cyclobot and knocked it to the ground, giving them enough time to get away; then he saw Sordna.

"Very brave, Human," she sneered. "But also very foolish."

"Why are you doing this?" Leo asked.

"Aww . . . so innocent, aren't you?" Sordna said. "You just don't understand. Ah well, some people just don't get it I suppose."

Leo's eyes widened as she raised her staff and fired, he leapt out of the way and rolled onto the road; she was fast. Sordna laughed indulgently as she fiddled with her staff, keeping her glowing eyes on the young man now getting to his feet and staring at her with wide, green eyes.

"I regret destroying you, Human," Sordna said. "You show a surprising amount of courage."

"Runs in the family. Go Galactic!" A flash of red, and Leo had morphed, his Quasar Saber in hand; he saw her reach for a little black box she kept at her hip and raised his blaster, firing. It exploded, knocking her onto her back, she landed with a gasp and a thud as the other Rangers rushed forward.

"Get them!" Sordna shouted, her face twisted with rage.

Leo's legs were knocked out from beneath him and he fell to the pavement, but Mike was beside him in a second and fighting off the cyclobots as his little brother got up.

"Thanks, Bro," Leo said.

"You okay?"

"Fine."

As they spoke, Wes and Eric ran onto the scene and three mutants materialized around Sordna. The Red Time Force Ranger grabbed his blaster and shot, sending the mutant to the ground as the blast of energy hit its chest. Eric swung his leg around, his foot hitting a mutant in the side of its head; Jen kicked forward, striking Sordna in the jaw.

Wes saw out of the corner his eye Jen engage Sordna, and he knew without being able to see her that every action was made with a dangerous amount of rage.

Sordna lie flat on her back as Jen came up to her, the Pink Ranger dug her heel into her enemy's chest, pleased when she saw Sordna grimace in pain. Jen glared down at her, reliving Alex's death over-and-over again in her mind . . . the pain in his eyes, those last few words he spoke to her . . .

Her concentration was gone, and Sordna could see that, she took advantage of the moment and leapt to her feet, shooting as she did so. Jen fell, letting out a small cry that brought Wes to her side immediately; he knelt next to her only to be kicked aside by Sordna. Her hard boot cracked a rib or two and he lie still for a moment, just long enough for Sordna to grab Jen and pull her up, shaking her mercilessly above the ground.

"I shall enjoy destroying you, Pink Ranger," Sordna laughed.

"Don't count on it!"

Wes kicked Sordna in the stomach and caught Jen as she fell, relieved that she seemed relatively unharmed; then he went forward and began to fight with Sordna as Jen recovered. They matched each other move-for-move, both impressed by the other's fighting, Sordna most especially, she wasn't expecting a spoiled rich boy like Wes to be such a formidable opponent. But then, she had expected Alex to be more of one.

Wes kept his eyes locked on Sordna, studying her every movement, trying to anticipate her next one; she lunged with her staff, just barely missing him as he dodged it.

"Very impressive, Red Ranger," Sordna admitted. "But it will do you no good in the end."

"We'll see about that, Sordna."

Whirling around, Wes elbowed her in the throat and wrestled her to the ground; she hit her head on the concrete when she reached the ground. Wes watched her eyes close for a moment, then fly open again and stare into his; her hands grabbed his neck, her thumbs pressed into his throat and he choked, gasping for air.

Sordna felt a flash of pain as he dug his knee into her stomach, the sound and feel of ribs snapping sent chills up Wes' spine, but he kept it up. Sordna grunted painfully as she raised her legs and managed to press her boots to Wes' chest, pushing him onto his back; she heard a crack and watched as Wes' body went limp and he lay perfectly still.

A Ranger hitting his head and passing out . . . with his helmet on? It didn't make any sense. Sordna was wary as she approached Wes, but still hadn't even twitched; she kicked him fiercely in the side, rolling him onto his stomach. He made no noise. He couldn't possibly be faking it.

Sordna laughed slightly as she raised her staff and pressed it to the Red Ranger's chest, the electricity crackled and shot into him briefly. Wes finally showed signs of life by moving painfully, moaning loudly and letting out a cry.

"Say good-bye, Red Ranger."

"Wes!"

Sordna looked up to see Jen turning away from her fight with a cyclobot and running at her, desperation behind every step; Sordna smiled wickedly and fired at the Pink Ranger.

To no effect.

Jen dodged the blast and continued running at Sordna, mindless of all else but Wes lying on the ground, struggling to get up. Sordna kept firing at her, each blast just barely missing; Jen finally reached her and leapt into the air, striking out with one leg to kick Sordna in her face.

"Wes?" Jen shook him gently, keeping her eyes on Sordna.

"Jen . . . watch out . . . " Wes looked over his shoulder to Sordna, who was getting to her feet and facing them, anger flashing through her eyes.

"I'll handle her."

Jen took out her blaster and held it with both hands at Sordna, her eyes steely as she spoke with a voice as cold as ice: "Freeze, Sordna—you're under arrest."

Once again, images of Alex flashed through her mind . . .

. . . laughing as he held her hand, guiding her through the park on old- fashioned roller skates . . .

. . . tenderly running his strong hands over her body, his eyes soft with love . . .

. . . the determined expression on his face as he chased Ransik down the alleyway, mindless of his own safety . . .

. . . his cold, precise way of doing everything after his apparent death . . .

. . . the hurt look in his eyes as she handed him her ring and told him she loved Wes . . .

. . . those words . . .

. . . I love you, Jen . . .

"This is for you, Alex," Jen muttered.

As Sordna got her staff ready again, Jen pulled the trigger and a blast shot forward and into her; the Pink Time Force Ranger stood still as she watched her opponent slam against the wall and slowly slide to the ground.

Katie and Trip ran up on either side of Jen as Leo and Mike helped Wes up, who was slowly recovering from the shock of Sordna's upclose shot.

"We got her," Jen said.

--

Jen placed the flowers at Alex's grave and with a trembling hand ran her fingers over the name on the headstone: ALEXANDER P. COLLINS. She envisioned the young man who lost his life doing what he loved most, being a Time Force officer, and a small smile crept to her lips.

"I won't let you down, Alex," she whispered.

"He knew that."

She turned as Wes walked over, his face grim as he looked down at the grave; he never got to know Alex very well, but they were family—no matter how distant. And Alex loved Jen and lost her. That was something Wes could understand, something that connected the two men—despite the fact that Wes was the reason Alex lost her.

Jen came to stand by him and wrapped her arm around his lean waist, resting her head on his shoulder; they stood in silence for a moment, then Wes murmured, "Jen?"

"Yes?"

"This . . . um, isn't exactly the most romantic place." Wes sighed. "But I just want to get it out."

Jen turned and looked up at him, her stomach suddenly full of butterflies as she looked into his blue eyes and asked quietly: "What is it?"

"Jen . . . will you marry me?"

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