[For Wes, Bridge and Jack to start]

[spd_blue]

The SPD Rangers had gotten an emergency call from the Time Force Rangers and of course they'd gone running. Wes had said they were being attacked by two assailants and their cronies, with one of the assailants being the evil Black ranger they'd been trying to track, before he'd been cut off.

Sky was trying very hard not to think about why his dad had been cut off and just getting there was fast as he could.

When they arrived on the scene, all they found was a badly beaten Wes laying on the ground. Running to him, Sky powered down and dropped to his knees. "Wes?" He said, trying to swallow his panic as he checked his father over. He knew he should be checking the perimeter and making sure they weren't still in any danger...but this was his dad. He trusted Bride and Jack to watch his back while he made sure Wes was alright.

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[owndestiny]

Wes had a lot of good memories in his life, and a lot of bad memories, too.

Being held back while Eric was essentially tortured right in front of him was not one of the good memories.

He groaned, tried to push himself up off the ground, failed. His cheek impacted the cold dirt again. Wasn't sure how many times he'd done that so far. Seemed like the bad guys'd only just left -- taking Eric with them -- but maybe it'd been hours ago. Maybe he was destined to stay here forever, cursing himself for not being strong enough to save Eric.

He'd even done the sensible thing and called for help. Eric'd still been taken.

Of course Eric had been yelling at him to get away, keep safe, get back. Idiot. As if he could do anything like that.

-he blinked awake to the sight of some guy leaning over him, saying a name. He knew he should know the name. He knew he should know the guy's name. What was it, again... "Sky," he said thickly.

[handstandsfortruth]

Bridge had a tendency to be maybe a little bit reckless when Sky was upset. Probably that was why they'd barely arrived on the scene before he was tugging his glove off.

Luckily, the auras left behind by artificial intelligences were generally pretty low-key, not terribly overwhelming, so while this could have been a disaster, it turned out not too bad.

Bridge still gave himself a headache piecing together the entire fight from nothing but residual energy signatures, but this was important, so he did it anyway.

Most of the mooks, so to speak, had been completely lacking in anything but the most basic kind of AI, the 'fight when told' kind. Not unlike krybots in a way, but definitely different. Tainted with something more... malicious, maybe? Strains of dark purple, anyway. And the other two, the ones who had collaborated near-seamlessly to take down and drag off Mr. Myers, well. They were human alright, but similarly tainted with the same energy signature as whatever created their lackeys.

He backed up until he was within talking distance of Sky and his dad. "Do you think two mostly-human-half-people makes up one whole person?" He mused aloud, mostly to himself. Shaking his head to set his thoughts back in order, and sticking his hand in his pocket to block some of the stress, pain, defeat and guilt radiating off both Sky and his dad, he grinned hopefully at them.

"Don't worry. Mr. Myers' aura is like a supernova. Finding him will be no problem."

[spd_blue]

A quick field check showed that his father was alright, just badly beaten and bruised. They definitely needed to get him medical attention but first, Sky wanted to know what happened, especially if his uncle needed help.

"Hey Dad..." Even stressed and in his perfect cadet mode, Sky couldn't help but smile when Wes recognized him. It was both a good sign that he didn't have too bad of a head wound and, well, Sky couldn't help it. "Can you tell us what happened? Do you know why they attack you?"

He did look up and give Bridge a grateful look. He knew what Bridge went through with his powers and he appreciated it every time Bridge used them for an investigation, but especially now.

OMFG I THOUGHT I HAD THIS TRACKED I'M SO SORRY

[owndestiny]

Sky called him Dad.

......cuuuuute.

Wes managed something of a grin. It wasn't much of one, but it'd do. These kids -- not much younger'n him, after all -- were decent fighters, decent Rangers. "Got ambushed," he said thickly. "Something about the future. They took Eric..."

He wasn't sure if it was about information or about killing Eric, but... but if they'd taken him, not killed him here, that meant they had something more in mind. There must be a chance to get him back.

"Bridge, you can read where he is?"

[handstandsfortruth]

The hope in Wes' voice struck Bridge a little bit like a hammer between the eyes and he took a step backwards and held up his free hand as if that would actually do any good blocking anything. He shook his head, not in answer but just to clear it a little bit more, then took his hand out of his pocket to put his glove back on.

That done, and already feeling quite a bit better for it, he turned to answer Wes' question properly.

"Not right at this second. I don't have a radius big enough for that. But I can track them, follow in their wake so-to-speak. No problem! It'll be easy as toast. Only..."

He paused, not sure if either Wes or Sky was going to take this particularly well.

"But I should probably do it on my own. Mister Collins, you're badly in need of medical attention. Sky, you should be with your dad right now. I know what you're going to say! It's dangerous, I shouldn't go alone, and so on. But I swear this is the best way. Once I find out where they're keeping him, I'll contact you guys and probably get Jack and maybe some of the other Rangers to help me. We'll get him back."

[spd_blue]

In truth, Sky hadn't even realized what he'd said until Wes was smiling at him. He'd been trying really heard not to use the words 'dad' or 'uncle' so as not weird anyone out but at the moment, he just couldn't help himself. And while his lips didn't move in response to Wes' smile, his eyes got lighter for a moment before getting back to business.

"But...what would harming him now do to the future?" Wes Sky could understand. A future Ranger wouldn't be born and SPD wouldn't have the fully developed Ranger program they did. But Eric? Sure, he was important as a Ranger and a member of Sky's family, but Sky didn't see the immediate repercussions as to what the evil rangers and his cronies would want with Eric Myers.

Looking at Bridge, Sky consciously remembered to reel back his emotions and attempted to shield Bridge from both him and Wes. And Bridge was right, Sky didn't like his idea. "Bridge, if they could take down the Quantum Ranger, they could kill you." Hell, even Sky wouldn't want to face them alone if they could take down Eric, who was the best fighter Sky had ever known. "You should take Jack with you and then call for more Rangers when you find them. Like the ninjas we aren't supposed to know about or the other RPM Rangers."

[owndestiny]

Wes raised himself a couple inches in protest that he was fine, but then white fire slashed through his torso and he had to lie back down again. Okay. Maybe Bridge had a point.

"Not alone, Bridge," he said urgently, backing up Sky's words. His son's words. "Don't go alone. There were two of us here and they took us down easily. If they realise you're there, you'll only be one..."

He let his eyes close for a moment. Having trouble focusing. "Sky, I don't know about Eric. Maybe I misheard. Or maybe they want me to go after him. Get killed in a specific way." Anything was possible. He just needed more information.

He didn't want Bridge to go after them, but it was looking like it was necessary. Not alone, though.

[handstandsfortruth]

Bridge completely expected Sky's protest to his plan, and really, he expected Wes to back Sky up too. He shakes his head and takes a step back, but keeps his eyes on Sky.

"They're not even going to know I'm there. You have to trust me, Sky, I can't take anyone or I'll just end up getting confused. This kind of stuff is tricky at best, and... Look, I hate to say it, but Jack is too much like Mr. Myers, I'll just end up following myself around in a circle if he's with me."

He crouched down, better to meet Sky's gaze. "I won't go in alone. I'll call Jack and everyone else as soon as I know where they are. But I have to find them first."

He muscled up a lopsided grin. "I'm going to be tracking them. I'll definitely know if they start coming towards me. You have to trust me." He turned his eyes to Wes briefly. "Both of you."

[spd_blue]

"Dad!" When Wes tried to get up, Sky moved to support under him so he could sit up a bit more without hurting himself. They really needed to get him medical attention but he knew it would be better for everyone if they settled on a plan first.

"Too many damn Reds around." Sky muttered under his breath before he sighed. "It's hard to see Jack as anything like my Uncle...but I can see where you are coming from." He still didn't like it. "I can go with you..." But they both knew that wasn't an option.

Carefully, Sky reached out and gripped Bridge's arm, picking a spot he knew was completely covered and carefully shielded himself so he could be this close without hurting Bridge. Especially since his constant fear of losing everyone he loved was right under the surface. "You know I trust you. Be careful and bring both of you back to me."

[owndestiny]

"Hey, too many damn Reds?" Wes protested mildly, but he knew what Bridge meant, knew what Sky meant. Dammit. He didn't like this at all, but it was going to be necessary. Trail'd go cold no matter how good Bridge was at this stuff.

"Bridge, good luck. Be careful. I know I can't stand in the way of a determined Green."

[handstandsfortruth]

"Thanks, Mister Collins."

Bridge took a moment to center himself, then put his hand over Sky's and gripped carefully. "Everything is going to be okay, Sky. I'm going to find out where they took him. Then I'll call Jack and anyone else I can reach. And we'll get him back. No matter what."

He took a step back there and nodded once. "Easy as toast, like I said. Now, you two need to get out of here, get somewhere safe. Preferably a hospital?"

[spd_blue]

When Sky let go of Bridge, he reach up to rub the bridge of his nose and sighed again. He really, really hated this but there was clearly no other way. At least for the moment. "Keep me updated alright? Both of you."

Then he turned to Wes. "Do you want me to call an ambulance or do you think you can stand?"

[owndestiny]

"Pfft, of course I can stand," Wes retorted amiably, but he had no goddamn idea if he could, really. He'd make it work, somehow. He'd ignore just how heavily he was leaning on Sky already.

"Bridge, talk to you soon," Wes managed as they began to get Wes to his feet.

[spd_blue]

And Sky wasn't going to comment. Unless it was clear Wes was doing more harm then good, then he was calling an ambulance.

He carefully helped his father to his feet, arm slung over his shoulder. "Still relatively okay?"