"Soul's Bonds", Chapter 7
I was on a frickin' roll yesterday and got 24 and half of 25 written, and am still feeling the creative bug nibbling at me, so Chapter 8 may go live as soon as tomorrow. Yuh-huh! Sky's gonna take over narrating for a while, so enjoy.
I'm thinking this is going to top out at 26 or 27 chapters, and I'm already planning a sequel...
Chapter 7 (Sky)
Five days later...
Extract from the journal of Sky Tate
There's been serious talk around the Delta Base of possibly giving in to the kidnapper's ransom demands, which Cruger has declined to name so far. The search for Bridge is exhausting our time, resources, and sanity, and right now, our only goal is to have him back, safe and sound. Now, I don't like negotiating with kidnappers. They're some of the lowest kind of scum, those who would capture a defenseless man, hurt and threaten him, then make demands of his comrades for his safe return... but I guess in this case, giving up is unavoidable. Whoever- or whatever- grabbed Bridge is unbelievably cunning, and after the first time we found Bridge, has left no discernable trail, no way to trace him, and still no clue as to who or what he even is. None of our contacts and undercover cadets have found anything. It's like there's no way to win. The last communication we'd had from the kidnapper was an audio file of what sounded like Bridge being tortured, with the promise that worse was to come if we didn't agree to the demands.
Normally, I'd be the first to say we should never give up, never give in to threats... but I'm tired of all of this. Physically and mentally. Keeping up with normal crime while searching for our comrade is starting to take its toll on all of us. I also have barely slept in days, because whenever I fall asleep I start having nightmares involving Bridge getting killed in various gruesome ways, or hear his tortured screams. It makes me sick to think of him, always so nice and gentle, being held captive and getting hurt like this.
I feel like I'm coming undone...
I lay in my bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling thoroughly exhausted... but rest would not come to my weary mind and body. I looked over at Bridge's empty bed before I finally gave up on sleep and started prowling the hallways in my pyjamas, as I tended to do often nowadays. It had been close to a week since Bridge had vanished, and I couldn't stop thinking about him, much less stand staying in the room we shared for too long. Everything seemed to remind me of him. All I wanted now was to see his smile again... hear his voice... even listen to him ramble on and on about nothing, just as long as he was where he belonged. A few days ago, since we were at a complete dead end, I'd been given the painful task of letting his mother know some of what had happened to him, and I don't think I have ever done anything more difficult in my entire life. Bridge and his mom were pretty close, and I didn't like having to tell her that her son had been kidnapped and we could very well never see him again. That was all I was allowed to tell her, though; I couldn't mention any of the communications from the kidnapper, which was good, because I didn't even want to think about them myself, much less talk about them. Stop dwelling on those pictures and that damn audio file, I told myself. Remember what Cruger said, that there's no way we could've known this would happen, and that blaming yourself isn't healthy for you or your teammates. Yeah. Don't think about the fact that you were a total jerk to Bridge the last time you saw him, either. Or that you're a jerk to him quite often, actually, even when he doesn't deserve it. Or that he probably was thinking we hated him the whole time he was wandering around before getting captured. Don't think, don't think, don't think.
I finally wandered into the rec room to get something to drink, finding it empty (as was expected at around 3 in the morning) except for Tessie. She appeared to be meditating, sitting cross-legged on top of a table in a corner of the room, her eyes closed and her glasses in her lap. I noticed that she was in her green pyjamas with a very well-loved stuffed toy of Spider-Man by her side and smiled bitterly, guessing that she wasn't able to find rest, either. I got some coffee and was about to leave when she spoke up,
"So... you can't sleep either, sir?"
"Don't call me sir," I said, much more angrily than I had intended to, then sighed and walked over to her. "Sorry, Tess. I'm... I'm just tired."
"I understand why you snapped, but we're all tired, too," she said placidly, not shifting from her position. I sat down beside her with another heavy sigh, sipping my drink, staring blankly into space. Finally, Tessie opened her eyes, slipped her glasses back on, and stretched her arms before resting her chin on her fist. "I still can't quite believe this is happening. I've never been so exhausted in my life or this stressed."
"Tell me about it," I said, looking down and noticing that my hands were shaking. "The rest of us can't believe it, either. Even the Commander is starting to look tired and hopeless. You know, Tessie, you could have backed out of this mission from the beginning. I know you never expected to become a full-fledged Ranger, and none of us would have thought any less of you." She shrugged, then got up and made herself her own mug of coffee in the synthesizer.
"It was my duty," she said, sitting next to me again and pulling the Spider-Man doll into her lap. "I didn't agree to take the rank of Power Ranger just to sit back, never leave my comfort zone, and never take on difficult tasks. I would have thought less of myself if I didn't do what was expected of me. Becomin' the Green Ranger was the proudest moment of my life, a chance I never thought I'd have, so I take my responsibilities very seriously. I woulda been letting y'all down- both as my seniors AND and as my friends- if I'd have backed out. I've only just begun close friendships with you all, but damnit, I care about Bridge, too. He saved my life once, you know, before I joined here... then when I showed up at SPD as an ex-college student with little more'n the clothes on my back, he helped me get over my shyness and become more confident in myself as a cadet. He told me he knew I was going to be great after he read my aura, and made me feel right at home until I found my niche. I appreciated that a lot... even if he could practically aggravate the dead with his ramblin'."
"He takes some getting used to, but he's hard not to like," I agreed. I had to set down my mug before I dropped it because my hands were now shaking so badly. We both then jumped as a nearby door opened and a bleary-eyed Z stumbled in, getting coffee as well and joining us. None of us spoke for a while, before Z finally said sarcastically,
"Well, we're all one happy, awake, lively bunch. Sure fun to be around."
"Join the Insomnia Club," said Tessie, hugging Spider-Man to her chest. "We'll have three members if you do. We have meetings over coffee every night that ends in Y at 3:12 AM."
"How can you be so damn cheerful?" Z asked her. "I know you've slept about as much as the rest of us, which is next to not at all."
"It's just how I am," shrugged Tessie. "Y'all could stand to be a little more cheerful once in a while, you know. And at least when I can't sleep, I meditate. Try it sometime. It's a tiny percentage of the restfulness of a full night's sleep, but it's better than nothing, I guess... and it's a good way to think."
"Think about what?" I yawned.
"Like how the kidnapper manages to not leave ANY trace of himself wherever he goes," Tessie replied. "Like how, since the first time we found Bridge, nobody has seen hide nor hair of him or the kidnapper in a city full of hundreds of thousands of people and creatures, despite all of our connections and searching. That doesn't make any sense, yet here we are, about to give in because this guy is so good."
"What the hell's your point?" I asked impatiently. "We know we're facing some kind of... super kidnapper-assassin alien freak. So what?" She shrugged.
"Just something to consider." She crossed her legs once more, placing Spider-Man and her glasses in her lap, and closed her eyes again. Z and I looked at each other, and she rolled her eyes slightly.
"Well then, on that note, I'm going to go back to bed," I said, standing up. "Can't guarantee that I'll sleep, but I'll go back to bed. Night, ladies."
"I think I'll come with you," said Z, following suit. "See ya, Tess." Tessie nodded to acknowledge us as we left together. "Come to think of it, she may have had a point," said Z thoughtfully. "You really DO have to wonder how this kidnapper has had us so effectively running in circles."
"Does it matter?" I asked. "All I care about is the fact that the sonuvabitch has Bridge, and we're completely helpless to do anything." Z stared at me, looking a little taken aback.
"Are you OK, Sky?" she asked.
"Sure I'm OK. Never better," I snarled, opened the door to my room and turning to face her. "Let's see. Bridge is still missing, for all we know he could be dead by now, I haven't slept in days because I keep having nightmares where he gets killed in any number of gory ways, Tessie is speaking in riddles and giving me a REALLY BAD headache, oh, and the search is making me LOSE MY FUCKING MIND. Of course I'm okay!" Z stepped into my doorway, leaning against the frame and preventing it from closing.
"Alright, stupid question," she said coolly. "Still, excuse ME for being concerned about you. We're ALL under a lot of stress, Sky, but you're the last person I would have expected to come unhinged this badly, and however bad you're feeling, you need to stop taking it out on us. If any of US had snapped at someone else like you just did at me, or at Tessie a minute ago, you would have read us the riot act, or at least told us to stop taking our problems out on each other." I opened my mouth to speak, then shut it, turning away and feeling throughly ashamed of myself. She was right, of course. I expected all of my Rangers to remain calm and composed no matter how stressful the situation was, and here I was, beginning to lose it right in the middle of them.
"You're right. I'm sorry, Z," I said, and I meant it. "If you want to know the truth, I can't really explain why this is affecting me so badly. I mean, I know you all have been having the odd nightmare and few sleepless hours ever since Bridge disappeared, but I... I haven't handled it well. I can't sleep at all because the dreams are so bad. It wasn't like this when my dad died, which was the last big trauma in my life. Not even close." What I didn't tell her was that I'd been feeling as though there were a hole in my heart since Bridge had been kidnapped, especially since we'd gotten so close to rescuing him, which was strange. I hadn't really thought before how attached to him I had become, and was starting to think- and not for the first time that week- that maybe something deeper than friendship was at work... No. It couldn't be.
"I accept your apology," said Z, placing her hands on my shoulders. "Look... try to be strong, Sky. You're our leader, and even though we don't say it, I think all of us look up to you in a way. You've almost always been the most stable and most reasonable of all of us. I know it's got to be hard to be strong at a time like this, but to be honest, it scares me to see you like this. It really, truly scares me, and I'm really worried about you. I'm sure the others feel the same way. Having your strength here would definitely keep us going through this. I don't mean to pressure you," she said quickly, but I smiled reassuringly at her. Somehow her words had made me feel a little better, a little stronger.
"Thank you, Z," I said sincerely. "You're right. I'd started to give up... but that's not me. It's not me at all."
Extract from the journal of Sky Tate
Z's verbal slap at me last night seemed to do the trick. I finally had a good night's sleep (so good, in fact, I didn't wake up until noon today) and am filled with renewed vigor. My teammates, too, seem to be refreshed. They believe in my strength, so I'm going to deliver it to them.
Today is a new day. We received another communication from the kidnapper, asking if we were ready to accept his demands, and decided to seize the opportunity. Today, we're putting a plan to rescue Bridge into action. Today, we're going to save him... and I'm going to make sure that the monster that did this to him suffers.
I'm thinking this is going to top out at 26 or 27 chapters, and I'm already planning a sequel...
Chapter 7 (Sky)
Five days later...
Extract from the journal of Sky Tate
There's been serious talk around the Delta Base of possibly giving in to the kidnapper's ransom demands, which Cruger has declined to name so far. The search for Bridge is exhausting our time, resources, and sanity, and right now, our only goal is to have him back, safe and sound. Now, I don't like negotiating with kidnappers. They're some of the lowest kind of scum, those who would capture a defenseless man, hurt and threaten him, then make demands of his comrades for his safe return... but I guess in this case, giving up is unavoidable. Whoever- or whatever- grabbed Bridge is unbelievably cunning, and after the first time we found Bridge, has left no discernable trail, no way to trace him, and still no clue as to who or what he even is. None of our contacts and undercover cadets have found anything. It's like there's no way to win. The last communication we'd had from the kidnapper was an audio file of what sounded like Bridge being tortured, with the promise that worse was to come if we didn't agree to the demands.
Normally, I'd be the first to say we should never give up, never give in to threats... but I'm tired of all of this. Physically and mentally. Keeping up with normal crime while searching for our comrade is starting to take its toll on all of us. I also have barely slept in days, because whenever I fall asleep I start having nightmares involving Bridge getting killed in various gruesome ways, or hear his tortured screams. It makes me sick to think of him, always so nice and gentle, being held captive and getting hurt like this.
I feel like I'm coming undone...
I lay in my bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling thoroughly exhausted... but rest would not come to my weary mind and body. I looked over at Bridge's empty bed before I finally gave up on sleep and started prowling the hallways in my pyjamas, as I tended to do often nowadays. It had been close to a week since Bridge had vanished, and I couldn't stop thinking about him, much less stand staying in the room we shared for too long. Everything seemed to remind me of him. All I wanted now was to see his smile again... hear his voice... even listen to him ramble on and on about nothing, just as long as he was where he belonged. A few days ago, since we were at a complete dead end, I'd been given the painful task of letting his mother know some of what had happened to him, and I don't think I have ever done anything more difficult in my entire life. Bridge and his mom were pretty close, and I didn't like having to tell her that her son had been kidnapped and we could very well never see him again. That was all I was allowed to tell her, though; I couldn't mention any of the communications from the kidnapper, which was good, because I didn't even want to think about them myself, much less talk about them. Stop dwelling on those pictures and that damn audio file, I told myself. Remember what Cruger said, that there's no way we could've known this would happen, and that blaming yourself isn't healthy for you or your teammates. Yeah. Don't think about the fact that you were a total jerk to Bridge the last time you saw him, either. Or that you're a jerk to him quite often, actually, even when he doesn't deserve it. Or that he probably was thinking we hated him the whole time he was wandering around before getting captured. Don't think, don't think, don't think.
I finally wandered into the rec room to get something to drink, finding it empty (as was expected at around 3 in the morning) except for Tessie. She appeared to be meditating, sitting cross-legged on top of a table in a corner of the room, her eyes closed and her glasses in her lap. I noticed that she was in her green pyjamas with a very well-loved stuffed toy of Spider-Man by her side and smiled bitterly, guessing that she wasn't able to find rest, either. I got some coffee and was about to leave when she spoke up,
"So... you can't sleep either, sir?"
"Don't call me sir," I said, much more angrily than I had intended to, then sighed and walked over to her. "Sorry, Tess. I'm... I'm just tired."
"I understand why you snapped, but we're all tired, too," she said placidly, not shifting from her position. I sat down beside her with another heavy sigh, sipping my drink, staring blankly into space. Finally, Tessie opened her eyes, slipped her glasses back on, and stretched her arms before resting her chin on her fist. "I still can't quite believe this is happening. I've never been so exhausted in my life or this stressed."
"Tell me about it," I said, looking down and noticing that my hands were shaking. "The rest of us can't believe it, either. Even the Commander is starting to look tired and hopeless. You know, Tessie, you could have backed out of this mission from the beginning. I know you never expected to become a full-fledged Ranger, and none of us would have thought any less of you." She shrugged, then got up and made herself her own mug of coffee in the synthesizer.
"It was my duty," she said, sitting next to me again and pulling the Spider-Man doll into her lap. "I didn't agree to take the rank of Power Ranger just to sit back, never leave my comfort zone, and never take on difficult tasks. I would have thought less of myself if I didn't do what was expected of me. Becomin' the Green Ranger was the proudest moment of my life, a chance I never thought I'd have, so I take my responsibilities very seriously. I woulda been letting y'all down- both as my seniors AND and as my friends- if I'd have backed out. I've only just begun close friendships with you all, but damnit, I care about Bridge, too. He saved my life once, you know, before I joined here... then when I showed up at SPD as an ex-college student with little more'n the clothes on my back, he helped me get over my shyness and become more confident in myself as a cadet. He told me he knew I was going to be great after he read my aura, and made me feel right at home until I found my niche. I appreciated that a lot... even if he could practically aggravate the dead with his ramblin'."
"He takes some getting used to, but he's hard not to like," I agreed. I had to set down my mug before I dropped it because my hands were now shaking so badly. We both then jumped as a nearby door opened and a bleary-eyed Z stumbled in, getting coffee as well and joining us. None of us spoke for a while, before Z finally said sarcastically,
"Well, we're all one happy, awake, lively bunch. Sure fun to be around."
"Join the Insomnia Club," said Tessie, hugging Spider-Man to her chest. "We'll have three members if you do. We have meetings over coffee every night that ends in Y at 3:12 AM."
"How can you be so damn cheerful?" Z asked her. "I know you've slept about as much as the rest of us, which is next to not at all."
"It's just how I am," shrugged Tessie. "Y'all could stand to be a little more cheerful once in a while, you know. And at least when I can't sleep, I meditate. Try it sometime. It's a tiny percentage of the restfulness of a full night's sleep, but it's better than nothing, I guess... and it's a good way to think."
"Think about what?" I yawned.
"Like how the kidnapper manages to not leave ANY trace of himself wherever he goes," Tessie replied. "Like how, since the first time we found Bridge, nobody has seen hide nor hair of him or the kidnapper in a city full of hundreds of thousands of people and creatures, despite all of our connections and searching. That doesn't make any sense, yet here we are, about to give in because this guy is so good."
"What the hell's your point?" I asked impatiently. "We know we're facing some kind of... super kidnapper-assassin alien freak. So what?" She shrugged.
"Just something to consider." She crossed her legs once more, placing Spider-Man and her glasses in her lap, and closed her eyes again. Z and I looked at each other, and she rolled her eyes slightly.
"Well then, on that note, I'm going to go back to bed," I said, standing up. "Can't guarantee that I'll sleep, but I'll go back to bed. Night, ladies."
"I think I'll come with you," said Z, following suit. "See ya, Tess." Tessie nodded to acknowledge us as we left together. "Come to think of it, she may have had a point," said Z thoughtfully. "You really DO have to wonder how this kidnapper has had us so effectively running in circles."
"Does it matter?" I asked. "All I care about is the fact that the sonuvabitch has Bridge, and we're completely helpless to do anything." Z stared at me, looking a little taken aback.
"Are you OK, Sky?" she asked.
"Sure I'm OK. Never better," I snarled, opened the door to my room and turning to face her. "Let's see. Bridge is still missing, for all we know he could be dead by now, I haven't slept in days because I keep having nightmares where he gets killed in any number of gory ways, Tessie is speaking in riddles and giving me a REALLY BAD headache, oh, and the search is making me LOSE MY FUCKING MIND. Of course I'm okay!" Z stepped into my doorway, leaning against the frame and preventing it from closing.
"Alright, stupid question," she said coolly. "Still, excuse ME for being concerned about you. We're ALL under a lot of stress, Sky, but you're the last person I would have expected to come unhinged this badly, and however bad you're feeling, you need to stop taking it out on us. If any of US had snapped at someone else like you just did at me, or at Tessie a minute ago, you would have read us the riot act, or at least told us to stop taking our problems out on each other." I opened my mouth to speak, then shut it, turning away and feeling throughly ashamed of myself. She was right, of course. I expected all of my Rangers to remain calm and composed no matter how stressful the situation was, and here I was, beginning to lose it right in the middle of them.
"You're right. I'm sorry, Z," I said, and I meant it. "If you want to know the truth, I can't really explain why this is affecting me so badly. I mean, I know you all have been having the odd nightmare and few sleepless hours ever since Bridge disappeared, but I... I haven't handled it well. I can't sleep at all because the dreams are so bad. It wasn't like this when my dad died, which was the last big trauma in my life. Not even close." What I didn't tell her was that I'd been feeling as though there were a hole in my heart since Bridge had been kidnapped, especially since we'd gotten so close to rescuing him, which was strange. I hadn't really thought before how attached to him I had become, and was starting to think- and not for the first time that week- that maybe something deeper than friendship was at work... No. It couldn't be.
"I accept your apology," said Z, placing her hands on my shoulders. "Look... try to be strong, Sky. You're our leader, and even though we don't say it, I think all of us look up to you in a way. You've almost always been the most stable and most reasonable of all of us. I know it's got to be hard to be strong at a time like this, but to be honest, it scares me to see you like this. It really, truly scares me, and I'm really worried about you. I'm sure the others feel the same way. Having your strength here would definitely keep us going through this. I don't mean to pressure you," she said quickly, but I smiled reassuringly at her. Somehow her words had made me feel a little better, a little stronger.
"Thank you, Z," I said sincerely. "You're right. I'd started to give up... but that's not me. It's not me at all."
Extract from the journal of Sky Tate
Z's verbal slap at me last night seemed to do the trick. I finally had a good night's sleep (so good, in fact, I didn't wake up until noon today) and am filled with renewed vigor. My teammates, too, seem to be refreshed. They believe in my strength, so I'm going to deliver it to them.
Today is a new day. We received another communication from the kidnapper, asking if we were ready to accept his demands, and decided to seize the opportunity. Today, we're putting a plan to rescue Bridge into action. Today, we're going to save him... and I'm going to make sure that the monster that did this to him suffers.