When The Past Comes Back To Shove (Power Rangers Wild Force/Time Force Fanfic)

Prelude

Eric was checking and rechecking to make sure the guns were locked and loaded. He didn't want to waste a single moment. Mere seconds were the difference between life and death.

Wes and Carter were interrogating Arthur. They'd kicked Eric out because his outbursts were only causing the man in interrogation to laugh. Ryan was calling the rest of the Lightspeed Rangers, as well as updating Jen back at SGHQ on the situation. Jen was supposed to get in touch with Alyssa to inform Taylor's team of any updates. Dana was making sure the Aquabase infirmary was equipped for the worst. She and other EMTs were on standby.

Eric knew the other Wild Force Rangers would want to help, but he wasn't throwing them into whatever it was they were getting into. Taylor had once described her team as the embodiment of "Peace, Love, Happiness!" and Eric wasn't putting a team like that in the middle of Hell on Earth. While Merrick could probably handle seeing Taylor in whatever state she was in, he was positive the Cole, Alyssa, Max, and Danny wouldn't be able to. Eric didn't even want Wes to go in. Eric himself had been in the middle of a war zone with people dying all around him. Carter and Dana had experience with these types of situations from being a fireman and an EMT respectively. Ryan had literally grown up with demons. In Eric's mind, Wes was still the rich boy who knew nothing of the world outside his little bubble.

"Kelsey, Chad, and Joel are on their way," Ryan walked in. "I'd rather rangers do this."

Eric nodded, still not turning around to look at the other man. "Especially since she's supposed to be dead."

"What?"

"She crash landed on the Animarium over a year and a half ago," the Quantum ranger explained. "She's officially MIA, assumed dead. It was the only way she could be a ranger. Especially since she was on her own for six months."

"She fought," Ryan paused, "whatever she fought by herself for six months?"

Eric nodded. "Alyssa showed up first. Within the next six months, they had all but Merrick. Before Cole, she was the leader. That's one reason why I don't want her team going on this mission."

"Understandable. But they're still her team."

"Ryan, you pretty much grew up in Hell. I was a Marine. Carter's a fireman, and Dana was an EMT. We've seen horrors no one else could even imagine. Cole grew up in the Amazon. Alyssa's a college student. Max is barely an adult. Danny's a hopeless romantic florist. This isn't something was was done by demons, or mutants, or orgs. Everything that's happed to her was done by a human being. If she's," he trailed off, blinked, and swallowed. "If she's dead, it's because she was murdered by a member of our own human race."

Ryan put a hand on his shoulder. "We'll find her."

"But will it even be her?"

"Eric."

"I've seen her broken, Ryan. Tay's the strongest woman I've ever met, and he broke her. I held her while she cried her eyes out. She never cries. She's usually so strong. A force to be reckoned with. But not when it comes to him. He broke her, Ryan. He broke her."

Ryan sighed softly. "I understand. I'd feel the same way if something like this happened to Kelsey or Dana." When Eric didn't say anything, he continued. "I also called Tommy Oliver. He said that the Alien and Galaxy rangers won't be able to get here in time, but he's bringing Andros, Zhane, Karone, Jason Scott, Adam Park, Rocky DeSantos, and T.J. Johnson. They'll help in the field. He also called in Kathrine Hillard, Kimberly Hart, Aisha Campbell, Tanya Park, Ashley Hammond, Cassie Johnson, Zack Taylor, and Carlos Vallerte as backup."

"So, field team is me, you, Wes, Jen, Carter, Kelsey, Andros, Zhane, Karone, Jason, Adam, Rocky, and T.J., and backup is Dana, Chad, Joel, Kathrine, Kimberly, Aisha, Tanya, Ashley, Cassie, Zack, and Carlos," Eric repeated.

Ryan nodded then remembered that Eric still had his back turned. "Yes."

"Eric!" Wes nearly ran into the room and the two sixth rangers turned to look at the red. "We have a lead."

Eric grabbed his Quantum Defender and a rifle. "It's what I used in the Marines," was his only answer to Wes's unspoken question.

The three met the other former rangers in a meeting room.

"Let's do this," Wes said.

A/N
Some of Eric's thoughts. And woohoo! I finally decided if I wanted Jen in the present or the future! The action's coming in soon, I promise. Also, I hope you understand my reasoning behind the two rescue teams and not letting the rest of Wild Force be a part of either. Basically, the reason why most of the girls are on the backup team is because of what's happened to Taylor. The guys don't want to put them in the line of fire. Jen and Karone have more experience, plus Jen is a familiar face and Karone has magic to protect her. Also, the reason why Karone's there but the rest of the Galaxy rangers aren't able to make is it simple. She was already on Earth with the Astro rangers.

As always, please R&R. Constructive criticism is always welcome, and questions are encouraged!

May the Power protect you!