“Cultivating?” Kay asked. “That makes it sound like they’re fucking growing us.”

  “That isn’t an inaccurate statement,” Sincir said with a sigh. “We’ve been tracking every attack we can across the globe. Each new Ranger team appeared during a mass attack against a civilian popution. Some came from civilian poputions within, others came from military or police forces, but all had one thing in common.”

  “A genuine desire to protect,” Kelly finished. “All Rangers that originated from a Syn attack have this in common.”

  Jeff’s eyes narrowed at the statement, though he didn’t voice whatever had crossed his mind at the time. One thing that Nicole had realized about the man was that he was far sharper than he let on. She would ask ter, once they were away from the mysterious CEO and his cohort of rather intimidating people.

  “The pause during the initial invasion,” Devon said. “They weren’t expecting the Rangers to appear, were they?”

  “Someone did,” Nicole said. “The Rangers aren’t appearing by chance, and something tells me we’re far from the first species that this has happened with, not counting those who originally created the Power.”

  “Lead the way, hold the line,” Sincir said. Nicole’s head snapped to him in an instant, her eyes narrowed in recognition of those words. “Oh yes, you’re hardly the first to hear something along those lines. What did you see in your vision?”

  Nicole swallowed dryly, visions of horror fshing through her mind. It was the one thing she hadn’t told her team about, a secret she held close, because she wasn’t sure it had actually been real. Would her team think differently of her for it? Would they resent her for keeping something like that a secret? A firm squeeze on her shoulder reminded her that she wasn’t alone. Her girlfriend dismissed her morph, smiling down at her with tender affection. It was enough to bring tears to Nicole’s eyes. Grace was there with her, and she wouldn’t be alone even after losing her ability to morph. Her girlfriend hadn’t abandoned her, and was standing beside her.

  Steeling herself, Nicole looked Sincir right in his amber eyes. They were cold, calcuting, and somewhat terrifying in the same way Bartran’s could be. This was a person that looked at the big picture, not a man that she could trust to do right by the individual if it didn’t also benefit the whole.

  Still, he had asked a question, and Nicole would answer it.

  “Death, on a scale we can hardly imagine. Creatures the size of that damn worm in the thousands scouring civilization from the surface of a pnet. A machine making a valiant stand, backed by five Rangers. Words of encouragement, telling us just that, for a brighter tomorrow.”

  Sincir closed those eyes of his and took a deep breath. He wasn’t surprised by her statement, not like her own team had been. It was a secret she had kept from everyone, including Grace, and she felt horrible about it being revealed in such a way.

  “I’d almost convinced myself that it was nothing more than a hallucination or fleeting dream,” Nicole said. “It wasn’t just a dream, was it?”

  Sincir put upon a gentle expression, though that kindness never reached his eyes. “I’m afraid not. I had a simir vision myself, though I suspect that we each heard from a different specter of the past.”

  Five Rangers from ages past reaching out across space and time, how had they managed that? It didn’t make sense, yet something about the statement resonated with her as truthful. Nicole didn’t expect to ever get an answer to that mystery, but if a chance ever presented itself, she would pursue it.

  “Wait, this is all ancient aliens stuff?” Devon asked.

  Anita snorted. “Sure is, big guy. Bet you never thought crazy hair would be right.”

  “So what, we investigate the pyramids or some shit for clues?” Kay demanded.

  Jeff chuckled. “No, that’s too on the nose. My bet is there’s something like Stonehenge that leads to another universe.”

  Grace groaned. “And on that note we’ve lost the conversation.”

  “I agree,” Kelly said, openly ughing. “Nicole, I would suggest you meditate on anything that seems remiss when you match a Ranger in combat. Practice and focus, and who knows, we might find an answer.”

  Nicole nodded mutely, afraid to speak and risk her voice cracking at the hope she now felt. She wanted to remain useful to the team, to continue the fight against the invaders.

  Despite losing her abilities, Nicole was still a Ranger, and she wasn’t about to back down in the face of adversity. She would fight and learn, she would push through despite everything currently against her.

  Nicole would survive, and in doing so, help carve a path forward for humanity.

  Business concluded, Nicole moved to rejoin her team when a throat cleared. Turning back to face it, Sincir made a gesture. Kelly stepped over, then handed Nicole a card. Looking down at it, it wasn’t a business card but the hard pstic of a credit or debit card. She couldn’t help but blink, looking back up with wide eyes.

  “You’ve contributed immensely to our research,” Sincir said for his… Actually, Nicole wasn’t sure what Kelly’s actual position was; given she appeared to be part research assistant and part secretary. “Consider that reimbursement for your assistance with that as well as your help with our offices above.”

  There was no telling how much was on the card, or where the account the card used was even located. Nicole was hesitant to accept such an obvious ploy, but she also needed the money and could no longer rely upon her status as a Ranger to help her with the Fire Department. Apprehension coiled within her, but this could be her ticket out of her current monetary issues.

  “Thank you,” Nicole said, keeping it simple. “You probably know exactly how to reach me, so there’s no real point in offering my contact information.”

  “A correct assumption,” Kelly said. “We’ll be in touch, that much I can promise you.”

  Nicole answered with a sharp nod. As much as she wanted to distrust them, Sincir was making sure that his people went out of their way to avoid that. Nicole might not be offering them the benefit of the doubt, or taking their word at face value, but she could rex her distrust, just a bit.

  Anita didn’t leave with the team, instead staying behind to discuss something with Sincir. That too was suspicious, but she wasn’t in a state to question it. Kay’s van waited for them where a chauffeur might park a waiting limo. It was oddly amusing to see the older vehicle just sitting there.

  The team were quick to climb in, taking the same pces they had in the ride to the mall just days prior. Well, Jeff was beside Kay and Devon had taken a sole seat in the middle row. Grace quickly shifted, allowing Nicole to y against her thigh. She wasn’t one to turn down such an offer and quickly found herself comfortable even as they pulled away.

  The weather was dreary, a slight mist fell even as the temperature hovered just a few degrees over freezing. It cast the world in a haze, reflecting Nicole’s feelings on the coming days. The future was uncertain, her pce in it even more so. She would need to learn to fight, no longer having her full Ranger reflexes to fall back upon. If nothing else, she would be dusting off her Renaissance gear, maybe she could even get Sincir to source some Syn grade armor from one of their projects if it allowed her to continue in the field.

  “Well, the st few days was a shit show,” Kay said, eyes carefully on the road. “How are you holding up, Nicole? Be honest, none of the bullshit you were putting upon back there.”

  “Fucking awful,” Nicole admitted. “My whole body feels raw and hollow. Whatever I did left a mark on me, that’s for damn sure.”

  Grace’s hand found its way to her hair, tracing gentle strokes along her scalp. The action sent goosebumps racing down her limbs, but the feeling of warmth it inspired was pleasant. The warmth was different compared to the burning of the rampant energy that nearly killed her only days prior.

  “You’re alive, that’s what matters,” Jeff said. “Plus, you showed those invading assholes just what it means to fuck with humanity.”

  That statement reminded Nicole of a question she had been meaning to ask. “What happened with Maraline after I was taken away?”

  Kay snorted. “She stood around awkwardly for about twenty seconds before fucking off.”

  “Damn.”

  So much for hoping that she stuck around long enough for someone to talk to her. The chance of winning her over to their side was slim, but the fact that she didn’t retreat with the others, that she showed genuine concern? It gave Nicole hope that there might actually be more to the woman than appearances suggested.

  Maraline had demonstrated that she cared, and the implications that she didn’t have complete freedom of will sat heavily on her mind. Was there anything that could be done for the Syn General, or were they fated to fall to one another’s bdes?

  “Is it true?” Devon asked. “Did you really lose your morpher?”

  A crushing weight settled in Nicole’s stomach at the blunt reminder of her situation.

  “It was damaged,” Nicole confirmed, her eyes screwed shut.

  Devon’s shoulders dropped as he looked out the window. “Further proof, I suppose.”

  The vehicle jerked slightly as Kay fought against herself for a moment before turning in her seat even as they continued down the highway. “The fuck does that mean?”

  “That I was wrong,” Devon said, sounding utterly defeated. “I thought I knew how the world was, what my power meant, yet Nicole has proven herself a true hero time and again. Now, she nearly died protecting us, and it cost her everything.”

  “Not everything,” Grace said.

  Jeff ughed. “Damn right, she still has all of us. I’m not about to let something as inconsequential like losing one’s powers drive a wedge between us.”

  “We’re a team,” Kay confirmed, eyes watching a cop car as it pulled beside them, then continued on a moment ter. “Powers or not, we stand together.”

  Tears filled Nicole’s eyes at the heartfelt determination that her friends were pouring out without reservation. The only one still silent was Devon who stared at the watch on his wrist. That was when he slipped it off, holding it up for a moment before nodding.

  “I don’t deserve this,” he said, holding it out. “You would put it to so much better use than I ever could.”

  Nicole stared bnkly at the silver rimmed watch in his hand, knowing what it meant to make such an offer. He was willing to give up his own means of being a Ranger, all so she could continue fighting. The sporadic tears that had pricked at her eyes turned into a steady stream as Nicole choked out a sob.

  She reached out, her hands closing around Devon’s own as she offered him a wet smile. Nicole could see the apprehension in his eyes, the hesitation. He didn’t want to do this, but felt that it was the right thing to do. That alone meant more to her than anything else he could have ever said. Nicole offered him a subtle nod then closed his hand back around the device.

  As pure as the offer had been, she knew she couldn’t accept it.

  “That morpher is not mine to take,” Nicole said softly. “But it meant more than you could ever understand.”

  Devon pulled his hand back, reaching up to rub at the back of his head before a light tap of the morpher against his skull. He flinched, then sighed as he fixed it back to his wrist. Silence hung in the air, but it was the genuineness of it all that stuck out most to Nicole. Maybe there would be a way forward for him to repair the bonds with their team.

  The ride was far less vocal from there, and the speakers weren’t bsting anything that could even remotely start any arguments, just some cssics of early 2010s. It was always hard to criticize the shit that your parents insisted you grow up with, but at least it wasn’t the ancient stuff from the 80s that millennials all seemed to cling to in the same way.

  The world drifted by as Nicole rested her head on Grace’s p, the gentle motions of fingers on hair and across the scalp helped her rex despite the continued aches from her recovery. The sudden nudge was unwelcome and Nicole was quick to voice her disagreement. Unfortunately the next nudge was a bit more forceful, necessitating that Nicole bury her head further into her comfortable pillow.

  Then fingers found her ribs and she squealed.

  Shooting bolt upright, Nicole gred at the woman whose fingers had just struck such a devastating blow. Grace’s hands were up, and a finger was pointed squarely at Kay who stood just outside the van door which had been pulled open, letting the cool air blow inside.

  “Grace wasn’t willing to do what was necessary,” Kay said. “I already dropped off Devon, and Jeff lives here at the dorms with you, so this is my st stop before heading home.”

  “One star,” Nicole muttered, sitting up. “I’m review bombing your ass to hell and back for this slight.”

  Kay just grinned. “Go ahead, I picked you up on my throwaway account.”

  “Curses,” Nicole muttered, extracting herself from the car proper only to stumble from a numb leg as she stood. Grace was there in an instant, catching her before anything could happen. “Thanks.”

  “Anytime,” her girlfriend said with a smile. “Come on, let’s get you inside. I already got permission from Becca to bunk with you for a few days.”

  Nicole groaned. “Becca’s gonna kill me.”

  “Probably,” Grace agreed without a hint of joking or irony. “She’s been all kinds of pissed and worried since the fight.”

  The words were like a backhand across the face, and Nicole mented that she hadn’t been allowed access to her phone even after it was recharged. Sure, she had it now, but recent revetions had been enough of a distraction that she hadn’t even considered texting her best friend.

  “I’m a terrible friend,” Nicole muttered.

  Grace blinked, then shook her head rapidly. “Oh, no no, none of that is directed at you. She’s pissed that you were hurt in the first pce. Kay and Jeff were keeping her in the loop as best they could, don’t worry.”

  “Still gonna,” Nicole muttered.

  Grace sighed. “Of course you will. Kay, drive safe. I’ll keep everyone in the loop.”

  “You better,” Kay said, though it was a teasing tone. “Nicole, try to get some rest. I know you can still kick ass, but I can see it on your face that you’re still in pain. Don’t be like the boys and try to power through it.”

  Nicole looked away, because that was exactly what she had been doing. Kay chuckled mirthlessly, then got back into her van leaving the couple behind. Even after her team had given her such vocal support, it wasn’t enough to completely quell her worries. Those would always persist no matter what. Even if she got her ability to morph back tomorrow, those doubts would endure.

  Grace was unlocking the door to Nicole’s dorm with a key that she hadn’t given her only for the door to swing open and for a blur of blue to crash into her. It took a moment for her to realize it was Rebecca, her hair had been dyed again.

  “I was so fucking worried!” Becca said. “I saw bits of it on the news, but I didn’t even know if you were alive until Jeff and Kay came by.”

  Nicole blinked, but Grace headed off her question. “I asked them if they could keep her up to date. I didn’t have her number and your phone was a lost cause following the double morph thing.”

  “And it’s a good thing that she did,” Becca said with an adorable pout. “I was worried sick, you know!”

  Nicole winced. “I’m sorry.”

  “Not your fault,” Rebecca said, poking at her sternum. Nicole could only ugh at how she tried to act tough. “You were in a coma after almost dying. I know I can’t tell you to stop fighting, I just… Just let me hug my friend, okay?”

  Tears pricked at Nicole’s eyes as she swept Becca into a hug. It was almost funny, Becca was so much taller than her, yet Nicole was considerably stronger, even before she became a Ranger. She recalled one time when they were Juniors and some kid stuck gum in Becca’s hair. Nicole had held her, literally, as she cried into her shoulder.

  So, leaning on those memories, Nicole swept Rebecca into a princess carry and held her close, letting her friend cry it out. It was almost nostalgic, holding her friend again. Nicole was stronger now, and Becca felt almost weightless, but her feet weren’t steady, she still had her aches, but Nicole would put up with it for her friend.

  Grace patted her on the shoulder and made her way over to the kitchen where she filled the kettle and set it to boil. Nicole wasn’t much in the mood for tea, but a bit of chamomile wouldn’t hurt. Plus, with how Becca was sobbing, she could probably use something warm on her throat.

  Fingers twined through Becca’s hair as Nicole gently massaged her friend’s scalp, humming a gentle tune as she did. After a few minutes of that, Grace returned with three mugs in one hand and a steaming kettle in the other. She pulled a coaster over and put the kettle on it before setting the cups out and filling them with steaming hot water.

  The gentle smell of tea filled the air and Grace took the seat beside Nicole, snuggling up against her shoulder, but not invading the space where Becca was situated on her p. Nicole accepted the offered cup and Becca finally scooted aside, staying close but maintaining contact. Moreso, Nicole snuck a gnce at her girlfriend and found not a hint of jealousy in her expression, something she was rather appreciative of.

  “I saw you on the news,” Becca said after a moment, her voice soft. “They actually got a pretty good shot of when you transformed again.”

  A few days ago, that would have armed her far more than it did. Knowing the government already knew who she was, the only real risk was that someone might leak her identity and she would be forced to go public. That would be annoying as hell, but she could deal with it. Hell, maybe Sincir could even help keep things under wraps. It almost felt like he was doing exactly that during their conversations.

  Carlos was an open Ranger, so he could probably offer some pointers if her life blew up over it. Only time would tell. For now, she would just take a wait and see approach.

  “I’m sorry you had to see that,” Nicole said, pulling her best friend and sister in all but blood into another close hug. “Not really much I can say to reassure you there, unfortunately.”

  “Just… Can you promise not to do that again?”

  Nicole sighed. “About that… My morpher was damaged, with no way to repair it.”

  “Then,” Becca asked, her voice almost hopeful.

  Nicole smiled bitterly. “I don’t intend to stand down. I’m still stronger than most, and if I’m able, I don’t pn on stopping. I’m still a Ranger, even without the fancy powers.”

  “But you’re not,” Becca pleaded. “Why do you have to keep going out there, why does it have to be you to risk your life like that? Are you still—”

  Her voice cut off with a whimper, but Nicole hadn’t missed the implied question. She’d found reasons to live, even if she repsed from time to time in her old mentality. Sure, Nicole was throwing herself into danger again, but she wasn’t actively seeking death.

  Nicole had people in her life that genuinely cared for her well being, something she knew before, but didn’t fully understand when it was just her moving in with Rebecca’s parents after she lost her own. That only sted a few months, but she always felt like she was imposing on their hospitality. That was when her spiral started in earnest, when she started letting the insults get to her, because children were cruel.

  Worse, Rebecca’s birth father tried to force himself back into her life, insisting that he would recim his son. Colin almost went to jail when he kicked the piss out of Becca’s sperm donor. Nicole still looked back on that moment fondly, one of the few bright spots in those days. There was nothing quite as humiliating for a redneck from down south getting their ass handed to them by a five foot nothing trans man.

  Even with all of that, Nicole hadn’t felt like part of their family, just an inconvenience that they took care of out of an obligation and nothing more. Now, sitting on a couch in the early afternoon, Nicole felt like she had found a pce she belonged, and something worth fighting for.

  “I’m sorry,” Nicole said. “But if that is the price for you, or Grace, or anyone else I care about coming home alive, I’d gdly put myself in front of that danger. The future is worth fighting for, and I can’t be a bystander, not anymore.”

  Becca whimpered, snuggling closer as she did. Grace tossed an arm over her shoulder and pulled Nicole in tight. Sitting there, wrapped up in the affection of people who genuinely cared for her as she drifted off.

  Pendragoon