The Storybook Dimension

See disclaimer.

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The Weakest Color

Chapter 5: A Secret and a Lie

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He saw his opponent come into existence, in a flash of color and coalescing lines.

“Okay.” Said the girl, looking up from the sketchbook to examine her creation. “Not quite the one I want, but you’ll do for now.”

She turned to the view-screen, where images of a certain group of humans flickered by. The pictures seemed to center around one in particular, a young man with ruffled dark hair and gloved hands. Caught up in the monster’s perspective, it took Bridge a moment to realize that he was looking at himself.

“Yes,” she said, in response to his gaze. “I have great plans for this one.”

‘Great plans?’ Bridge thought, shocked. ‘What does she mean?’ But before he could see any more he was whisked away, and then there was only swirling darkness and whispered voices.

Just as suddenly, he was back in his own body, but now he was standing before Gruumm and Broodwing. And the bat was speaking to him, but he couldn’t understand the words. Then they were leading him inside a pillar-like machine, in which a bright green light fluctuated and glowed. And Bridge cried out in agony as the light cut through him, changing him…

–

A muffled sound drew Invisor’s attention away from the incapacitated green ranger.

At the very periphery of his vision, the red ranger was fumbling with some kind of glass container, obviously intended as some sort of weapon. Distracted, Jack seemed to not have noticed his teammate’s predicament – or Invisor’s gaze.

‘Primitive but effective.’ Invisor concluded, realizing the rangers’ plan. ‘But it will not be enough.’ Sensing an opportunity, the monster snatched Bridge’s gun from its holster – the very instant that Jack threw the jar of chemicals. Shoving the green ranger away from him, Invisor took aim and fired, disabling Jack in a single shot.

–

Unprepared for the attack, the red ranger was thrown backwards, the projectile shattering on the ground. His last thought before losing consciousness was, strangely enough, about Sky. ‘I hope they don’t promote him.’ Jack thought bleakly. ‘Red is definitely not his color.’

–

When he opened his eyes, the world around him was blurred, as if passing at great speed. Disoriented, Bridge didn’t realize that he was flying through the air until he struck the ground. Demorphing almost immediately, he lay on the floor, unable to muster enough strength to get up, or even defend himself.

The pain of his vision-self lanced through his body in agonizing waves. ‘How can something not real hurt so much?’ He thought, struggling to regain control of his body and senses. ‘I have to get up. I have to help Jack!’ But his muscles wouldn’t obey him, and Bridge could only watch, horrified, knowing that they were completely at the monster’s mercy.

Training had prepared him for the contingency of his own death, or the death of one of his teammates. He had a dangerous job, in which they fought deadly criminals on a daily basis. He knew that there were casualties – but it had always happened to someone else, some other team.

Somehow, their deaths had always seemed distant and far removed, and in his three years at SPD, Bridge had never truly considered the possibility that it might happen to him. Suddenly faced with the very real prospect of dying, Bridge discovered that he was terrified – for Jack’s sake, and his own. ‘No!’ He thought, panicked, ‘This can’t be the end!’

But then something strange happened. Instead of dealing the killing blow, Invisor took a step backwards, and looked straight at Bridge with its reptilian eyes. “Until next time, Ranger!” he declared, and then teleported away. “Wait!” Bridge cried out, finally regaining his voice. ‘I need answers!’ But it was too late, and the two rangers were left alone in the abandoned building.

–

Cruger knew a secret.

It was the first, and most important lesson every cadet was taught. It was so obvious, it was easy to forget.

It was the secret to his success, the tiny bit of knowledge that allowed him to succeed where so many others had failed.

But Cruger had learned his lessons. They were hard, and painful, but he valued them, and they had saved his life many times over. There were mistakes, yes, but even should he have the opportunity, he wouldn’t have done anything differently.

One such hard lesson was that his best wasn’t good enough, that the lone wolf was exactly that – alone. He liked to think it was such a realization that had led to the foundation of SPD, by some other dog, all those years ago.

From humble beginnings, SPD had grown to span the universe, protecting countless planets and beings under its jurisdiction. Earth was only the newest, and thus the most vulnerable of these worlds.

Some thought that it shamed Doggie to be here, to be sent to a planet so far removed from the center of …well, everything. Nothing could be further from the truth. He was honored to have a second chance to protect a world he cared about, and this time, he promised, this time he would succeed.

And thus he devoted his time to bettering SPD Earth, recruiting the finest people the planet had to offer, obtaining the latest technologies. Some whispered that he didn’t do much, that he was simply a figurehead, some sort of glorified mascot. Doggie had long since learned to ignore such lies, because he knew that he had the most important job of all; he watched over the command center, and the Power Rangers.

And even as the command center was the heart of SPD, the heart of the command center was the Rangers.

–

But now, those same cadets were standing before him, looking angry, dejected, and apprehensive by turns. “Report!” Cruger barked.

“The krybots at the warehouses were a diversion, sir!”

“Commander,” Jack stepped forward, his hands clasped behind his back. A short stint in the infirmary had greatly improved both his and Bridge’s health. They would undoubtedly be sore in the morning, but Jack had been surprised to note (and incredibly thankful) that they had escaped with only minor injuries. “We failed to apprehend the monster at the factory. He got away.” The red ranger decided to dispense with the pleasantries. “We got our butts kicked. Sir.”

“It was my fault, sir.” Bridge interceded. “When I touched him, something strange happened. I …I can’t explain it, but I felt really weird and just …froze.” Bridge held his breath, hoping that Cruger wouldn’t question him further. Bridge was a terrible liar, and had therefore settled for a half-truth when questioned. It had been hard enough trying to convince Jack of his sequence of events, but Cruger seemed to have a second sense that told him when one of his cadets was lying. ‘Maybe he can smell it.’ Bridge considered, studying the commander’s face. Cruger frowned pensively, but much to his relief, said nothing.

“They appear to have stolen an experimental super-lens,” Kat began, turning away from her keyboard. “Wait,” Z interrupted, recalling a snippet of an elementary school science lesson. “Aren’t those usually used for microscopes?”

“Yes, but they also can be used in beam weapons to concentrate energy.” Bridge replied, pleased that he was finally able to give an honest answer to someone’s questions. Across the room, Kat nodded in agreement, completely oblivious to Bridge’s internal conflict. “We believe that Gruumm may be in the final stages of building such a weapon. If that is the case, then the Earth is in very great danger.”

“And we may have just handed him the final piece!” Jack said angrily. All the rangers hung their heads morosely.

“It’s only going to get harder, Rangers. Now that Gruumm has that lens, you must be doubly on your guard. Dismissed!” Cruger turned towards Bridge. “Oh, and Cadet Carson?”

“Yes, sir?”

“Can I have a word with you?”

Bridge nodded, painfully aware of Cruger’s searching gaze.

“Is there anything you wish to tell me, Cadet?”

For a moment, he was tempted to confide in the commander. But then he thought of what the consequences might be, and hesitated. ‘No!’ he resolved. ‘I can handle this on my own.’

There was only one possible answer.

Bridge shook his head. “No, sir.”

—

To Be Continued

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