Into the Dark (Fox Storm and ab103 only)

ab103 wrote:

Alfred didn't know what was going to happen. He wasn't prepared, nor was he expecting it to happen. But, suddenly, there was a crash up ahead, yells, what sounded like a weapon going off, and then... One of the worst cries of pain he had ever heard. He skidded to a stop from shock and then hurried to catch up with Pixel, wanting to make sure that he was wrong about what he assumed happened.

He and XL finally reached to where the cry of pain came from, and they both gasped in shock and horror.

Pixel was lying in a small pool of blood, the source of the blood coming from one of her sides. A ladder was on top of her, and a smoking gun next to the ladder. An LGM was in XR's arms, both shocked at what they have just seen.

Pixel howled so loudly in pain, sounding like a coyote when it cries.

Fox Storm wrote:
He and XL finally reached to where the cry of pain came from, and they both gasped in shock and horror.

Pixel was lying in a small pool of blood, the source of the blood coming from one of her sides. A ladder was on top of her, and a smoking gun next to the ladder. An LGM was in XR's arms, both shocked at what they have just seen.

Pixel howled so loudly in pain, sounding like a coyote when it cries.

Alfred stood there, in a dumb shock, with no clue whatsoever what he was supposed to do. "What happened?" he asked, though he had a pretty clear idea. He looked down at XL. "XL, go get... Someone. Anyone. Someone who knows what to do here." He was a bit rushed and panicked and kept wincing when he saw Pixel.

No... She wasn't supposed to get hurt... Not her...

ab103 wrote:

Alfred stood there, in a dumb shock, with no clue whatsoever what he was supposed to do. "What happened?" he asked, though he had a pretty clear idea. He looked down at XL. "XL, go get... Someone. Anyone. Someone who knows what to do here." He was a bit rushed and panicked and kept wincing when he saw Pixel.

No... She wasn't supposed to get hurt... Not her...

XL nodded and quickly scurried away to find someone. No sooner had he turned a few corners that he literally bumped into Ty and Simone. He quickly told them what happened, and they had arrived to Pixel's side.

And so did a few curious other Rangers...

Fox Storm wrote:
XL nodded and quickly scurried away to find someone. No sooner had he turned a few corners that he literally bumped into Ty and Simone. He quickly told them what happened, and they had arrived to Pixel's side.

And so did a few other curious Rangers...

Alfred could tolerate Simone and Ty because they were friends with Pixel and therefore more concerned with her well-being than with him, so he should have been able to panic in peace. However, when the others rangers arrived, he tried to avoid looking at them, instead concentrating on his feet.

"Cosmic...?" one of them asked, voice sounding stern. Oh... Blaze. "Cosmic, isn't that thing part of your new security design?"

Alfred glanced to the weapon that had obviously hurt Pixel and winced. "Um... Y-Yes?"

"So then..." Blaze gave him a look that was clearly accusatory. "This is your fault."

"What?" Alfred whipped around to face him. "No! It's not!"

"Then whose fault is it?"

Alfred went silent then. He didn't want XR to get in trouble, despite all the grief his little brother gave him, because XR was just that. His little brother. However, he hoped the darn robot would actually be kind enough to speak up and help him.

ab103 wrote:

Alfred could tolerate Simone and Ty because they were friends with Pixel and therefore more concerned with her well-being than with him, so he should have been able to panic in peace. However, when the others rangers arrived, he tried to avoid looking at them, instead concentrating on his feet.

"Cosmic...?" one of them asked, voice sounding stern. Oh... Blaze. "Cosmic, isn't that thing part of your new security design?"

Alfred glanced to the weapon that had obviously hurt Pixel and winced. "Um... Y-Yes?"

"So then..." Blaze gave him a look that was clearly accusatory. "This is your fault."

"What?" Alfred whipped around to face him. "No! It's not!"

"Then whose fault is it?"

Alfred went silent then. He didn't want XR to get in trouble, despite all the grief his little brother gave him, because XR was just that. His little brother. However, he hoped the darn robot would actually be kind enough to speak up and help him.

But XR was too horrified by what happened to even say a word. Seeing Pixel in that pain...and seeing the weapons actually firing AND causing someone to BLEED...this was too much for him.

Ty immediately started trying to calm down Pixel as she yelped in pain. "Pixel, you've got to calm down. Sim can't do anything to help if you don't stop!" He was very worried about her, and stroked her between her ears to get her to relax. But even with all he was doing for her, she continued to yelp in pain, eyes closed tightly.

Simone was looking over the wound and immediately went to work. She took off her upper half of her suit, and tore off the sleeves of her jumpsuit to press against Pixel's wound to stop the bleeding.
She was very much in concentration with her work, but the yelling around her began to annoy her...

Fox Storm wrote:
But XR was too horrified by what happened to even say a word. Seeing Pixel in that pain...and seeing the weapons actually firing AND causing someone to BLEED...this was too much for him.

Ty immediately started trying to calm down Pixel as she yelped in pain. "Pixel, you've got to calm down. Sim can't do anything to help if you don't stop!" He was very worried about her, and stroked her between her ears to get her to relax. But even with all he was doing for her, she continued to yelp in pain, eyes closed tightly.

Simone was looking over the wound and immediately went to work. She took off her upper half of her suit, and tore off the sleeves of her jumpsuit to press against Pixel's wound to stop the bleeding.
She was very much in concentration with her work, but the yelling around her began to annoy her...

"This is the kind of thing I'm talking about!" Blaze sneered. "Why should we have you here if you are just going to keep getting people hurt? How do we know you're not just a spy for Zurg and that you set up this security to keep US in and away from stopping people like you?!"

There were agreements from the other rangers gathered. Alfred took them all in, staring at the ground and shaking slightly.

"You want me gone," he surmised, quietly. "You want me gone..."

ab103 wrote:

"This is the kind of thing I'm talking about!" Blaze sneered. "Why should we have you here if you are just going to keep getting people hurt? How do we know you're not just a spy for Zurg and that you set up this security to keep US in and away from stopping people like you?!"

There were agreements from the other rangers gathered. Alfred took them all in, staring at the ground and shaking slightly.

"You want me gone," he surmised, quietly. "You want me gone..."

Simone finally had enough of Blaze's yelling and turned around while she was still kneeling and shouted, "Will you all SHUT UP?! We're trying to help Pixel, and YOUR yelling isn't helping much! So if you DON'T mind, we'd like a LITTLE peace and quiet to do our job! Can you do that?!"

She turned back to Pixel. Ty said nothing but just did his best to soothe Pixel's pain. She wasn't yelping much now, but she was still in deep pain. He let her lick his gloved hand as his way of letting her relax and let her know he was here.

Fox Storm wrote:
Simone finally had enough of Blaze's yelling and turned around while she was still kneeling and shouted, "Will you all SHUT UP?! We're trying to help Pixel, and YOUR yelling isn't helping much! So if you DON'T mind, we'd like a LITTLE peace and quiet to do our job! Can you do that?!"

She turned back to Pixel. Ty said nothing but just did his best to soothe Pixel's pain. She wasn't yelping much now, but she was still in deep pain. He let her lick his gloved hand as his way of letting her relax and let her know he was here.

The other rangers all winced, or focused their attention on Simone when she yelled. Not wanting to incur her wrath any further, many of the rangers started to leave.

"Now look what you did," Blaze muttered, intending the jab to be aimed at Alfred. However, he looked up...

And he noticed that Alfred was no where to be seen.

He decided not to bother with it and left with the rest of the rangers.

ab103 wrote:

The other rangers all winced, or focused their attention on Simone when she yelled. Not wanting to incur her wrath any further, many of the rangers started to leave.

"Now look what you did," Blaze muttered, intending the jab to be aimed at Alfred. However, he looked up...

And he noticed that Alfred was no where to be seen.

He decided not to bother with it and left with the rest of the rangers.

Simone sighed, and took deep breaths to calm herself down. She returned her attention back to Pixel, who more or less wasn't yelping anymore. Ty just kept quiet, doing his part to help out his partner and friend.

When he heard Simone tell him that she needs to be in the medical bay now, he didn't hesitate. He gently scooped Pixel into his arms and went to the med bay as quickly as he could, Simone following suit. XR and the LGM finally recovered from their bout of horror and saw the mess that was on the floor. They shared knowing glances and said in unison, "Janitor's job."

Fox Storm wrote:
Simone sighed, and took deep breaths to calm herself down. She returned her attention back to Pixel, who more or less wasn't yelping anymore. Ty just kept quiet, doing his part to help out his partner and friend.

When he heard Simone tell him that she needs to be in the medical bay now, he didn't hesitate. He gently scooped Pixel into his arms and went to the med bay as quickly as he could, Simone following suit. XR and the LGM finally recovered from their bout of horror and saw the mess that was on the floor. They shared knowing glances and said in unison, "Janitor's job."

Sometime later, a man looked into the med bay where Simone and Ty were waiting for news on Pixel. The man gulped, nervous about having to deal with THESE two, but when in anyway.

"Hey, so... How's your pet?" Blaze asked, trying to make civil small talk in hopes that he'd manage to NOT get Simone mad at him.

ab103 wrote:

Sometime later, a man looked into the med bay where Simone and Ty were waiting for news on Pixel. The man gulped, nervous about having to deal with THESE two, but when in anyway.

"Hey, so... How's your pet?" Blaze asked, trying to make civil small talk in hopes that he'd manage to NOT get Simone mad at him.

Ty and Simone, who replaced her upper half of her suit to replace her torn up one, turned in theirs seats to see Blaze standing there, apprehension apparent on his face. Ty greeted Blaze wearily, "Hey, Blaze. We just got Pixel into the med bay in time...now we're just waiting for news on her."

Simone just nodded silently, before rubbing her eyes. She looked very exhausted and distressed; she wasn't in the mood for much talk right now.

Fox Storm wrote:
Ty and Simone, who replaced her upper half of her suit to replace her torn up one, turned in theirs seats to see Blaze standing there, apprehension apparent on his face. Ty greeted Blaze wearily, "Hey, Blaze. We just got Pixel into the med bay in time...now we're just waiting for news on her."

Simone just nodded silently, before rubbing her eyes. She looked very exhausted and distressed; she wasn't in the mood for much talk right now.

"I'm sure she'll be fine," Blaze nodded. "Anyone who could tolerate someone like Cosmic has to be able to tough something like this out. Speaking of Cosmic, have either of you seen him anywhere? The Commander wants to talk to him about what happened but no one can find him anywhere."

ab103 wrote:

"I'm sure she'll be fine," Blaze nodded. "Anyone who could tolerate someone like Cosmic has to be able to tough something like this out. Speaking of Cosmic, have either of you seen him anywhere? The Commander wants to talk to him about what happened but no one can find him anywhere."

Ty and Simone looked at each when they heard that. Ty turned back and shook his head. "We've been waiting here for the past ten minutes. We haven't seen or heard from him since we came here."

Simone nodded again, but she spoke up this time, in her usual soft-spoken tone. "Ty's right. We barely got Pixel here in time before the LGMs took her in and started helping her."

"And it doesn't help that I am not a veterinarian, otherwise I would have been able to help Pixel." She thought bitterly to herself.

Fox Storm wrote:
Ty and Simone looked at each when they heard that. Ty turned back and shook his head. "We've been waiting here for the past ten minutes. We haven't seen or heard from him since we came here."

Simone nodded again, but she spoke up this time, in her usual soft-spoken tone. "Ty's right. We barely got Pixel here in time before the LGMs took her in and started helping her."

"And it doesn't help that I am not a veterinarian, otherwise I would have been able to help Pixel." She thought bitterly to herself.

"Huh... Well, we can't find him on the station at all. Corla's supposed to see if his ship's even here anymore." Blaze looked around, as if checking to see if anyone was listening in. "You know what I think? I think he finally had enough of this place so he ran off to go crawling back to Zurg."

ab103 wrote:
"Huh... Well, we can't find him on the station at all. Corla's supposed to see if his ship's even here anymore." Blaze looked around, as if checking to see if anyone was listening in. "You know what I think? I think he finally had enough of this place so he ran off to go crawling back to Zurg."

Simone cringed at the acid dripping from Blaze's voice. That was harsh, even on Blaze's part. Ty felt the same way, only he took it differently.

He felt that rising wave of paranoia wash over him, but he clenched his fists to get a grip on himself before Blaze could see it.

Simone saw the fist clenching and quickly asked Blaze, "What makes you think he WANTS to go back to Zurg? He DID seem willing to put in those security systems for us to...strengthen...our defenses."
She started to falter when she realized what she was saying. Alfred's defenses DID work...a little too well.

Ty took a deep breath to settle himself. Blaze noticed.

Fox Storm wrote:
Simone cringed at the acid dripping from Blaze's voice. That was harsh, even on Blaze's part. Ty felt the same way, only he took it differently.

He felt that rising wave of paranoia wash over him, but he clenched his fists to get a grip on himself before Blaze could see it.

Simone saw the fist clenching and quickly asked Blaze, "What makes you think he WANTS to go back to Zurg? He DID seem willing to put in those security systems for us to...strengthen...our defenses."
She started to falter when she realized what she was saying. Alfred's defenses DID work...a little too well.

"Well, it's like what I said to him," Blaze answered. "How do we know that he didn't build that system to keep US in and not our enemies out?"

Fox Storm wrote:
Ty took a deep breath to settle himself. Blaze noticed.

Blaze raised his brow when he noticed the deep breath Ty took. "You okay there, Ty?"

ab103 wrote:

Blaze raised his brow when he noticed the deep breath Ty took. "You okay there, Ty?"

"Huh? Oh...yeah, I'm fine. I'm just...I'm just worried about Pixel, that's all. I know she's taken worse hits before, but this...this was..." He trailed off, not wanting to finish his sentence. He felt even more betrayed by his cousin. He knew he didn't have all the facts about what really happened, but the fact that one of his closest friends, his most loyal friends, was hurt by Alfred...that just made his paranoia want to erupt. What if he wanted to hurt Pixel? What if he put in the security systems to harm Simone and the other Rangers? What if-

But before he could finish that thought, the medical doors opened. A LGM in a doctor's outfit came out. Ty and Simone stood up in anticipation about Pixel's condition.

Fox Storm wrote:
"Huh? Oh...yeah, I'm fine. I'm just...I'm just worried about Pixel, that's all. I know she's taken worse hits before, but this...this was..." He trailed off, not wanting to finish his sentence. He felt even more betrayed by his cousin. He knew he didn't have all the facts about what really happened, but the fact that one of his closest friends, his most loyal friends, was hurt by Alfred...that just made his paranoia want to erupt. What if he wanted to hurt Pixel? What if he put in the security systems to harm Simone and the other Rangers? What if-

But before he could finish that thought, the medical doors opened. A LGM in a doctor's outfit came out. Ty and Simone stood up in anticipation about Pixel's condition.

"Right... Well, I'll just let you guys be, then. See ya around." Blaze gave a quick wave and then hurried out of the med bay.

ab103 wrote:

"Right... Well, I'll just let you guys be, then. See ya around." Blaze gave a quick wave and then hurried out of the med bay.

The LGM waddled over to the two Rangers with a neutral frown on its face. Ty's nerves were beginning to break. "Well...how is she?" He asked, VERY hesitant and worried about his friend.

The LGM's neutral frown turned upside down and he cheerfully replied in that signature slow monotone, "Will recover in due time. See for yourself." He motioned a hand towards the wings of the med bay, and with a few more LGMs, limped out Pixel. She smiled, seeming a bit sheepish. Around her waist were a couple of white bandages wrapped all the way around, healing the wound.

Ty and Simone's faces lit up with relieved smiles and they came up to her. Ty knelt down and hugged her neck. Pixel nuzzled Ty, glad to see him. Simone stood by, waiting her turn to hug Pixel. She got her wish and Ty moved out of the way to let Simone hug her, Pixel nuzzling her. As Pixel did this, Ty expressed his relief, "We're glad you're alright, Pixel." Simone let go of Pixel and as she did, Pixel grinned, very sheepishly and said, "Yeah. My pride was the only thing that got seriously hurt."

Ty and Simone laughed at that. Pixel joined in briefly.

"Awww..." The LGMs said around them.

After they laughed for a few minutes, Pixel noticed that one person was missing. "Wait...where's Alfred?"

Fox Storm wrote:
The LGM waddled over to the two Rangers with a neutral frown on its face. Ty's nerves were beginning to break. "Well...how is she?" He asked, VERY hesitant and worried about his friend.

The LGM's neutral frown turned upside down and he cheerfully replied in that signature slow monotone, "Will recover in due time. See for yourself." He motioned a hand towards the wings of the med bay, and with a few more LGMs, limped out Pixel. She smiled, seeming a bit sheepish. Around her waist were a couple of white bandages wrapped all the way around, healing the wound.

Ty and Simone's faces lit up with relieved smiles and they came up to her. Ty knelt down and hugged her neck. Pixel nuzzled Ty, glad to see him. Simone stood by, waiting her turn to hug Pixel. She got her wish and Ty moved out of the way to let Simone hug her, Pixel nuzzling her. As Pixel did this, Ty expressed his relief, "We're glad you're alright, Pixel." Simone let go of Pixel and as she did, Pixel grinned, very sheepishly and said, "Yeah. My pride was the only thing that got seriously hurt."

Ty and Simone laughed at that. Pixel joined in briefly.

After they laughed for a few minutes, Pixel noticed that one person was missing. "Wait...where's Alfred?"

Of course, according to Blaze, Alfred was no where to be found on the station. This turned out to be true, since some of the other rangers were finding out that his personal ship was missing. That could only mean that Alfred had left Star Command, but for what reason, no one knew.

ab103 wrote:

Of course, according to Blaze, Alfred was no where to be found on the station. This turned out to be true, since some of the other rangers were finding out that his personal ship was missing. That could only mean that Alfred had left Star Command, but for what reason, no one knew.

Ty and Simone told Pixel what happened, and needless to say, Pixel wasn't happy about it. She explained to them what really happened and they reacted with annoyance. At her, yes, but also to XR for being the one to push her buttons. She reasoned that they had to find Alfred and bring him back because if they didn't, not only would the guilt of letting Alfred being blamed for something he didn't do haunt them, but also the Healer might come back and criticize them more.

Ty and Simone weren't really too keen on seeing the Healer again, even if they felt safe with her. They didn't want to see that wrath that far outmatched Simone's wrath again.

And so, with a quick thanks to the LGMs, they headed to Commander Nebula's office and told them the whole story of what really happened. They told them what they had to do if they wanted Alfred back AND to make sure the Healer wouldn't come back again.

Nebula tried to keep Pixel from going anywhere since she just got hurt, but her spirited attitude wouldn't allow it. She begged Nebula to go with her partners since she felt it was her fault that Alfred left, and she wanted to take responsibility for her actions. Nebula couldn't help but agree with her actions, but she demanded for her to stay on the sidelines if they had to head into dangerous territory and battle to wherever Alfred went to.

She reluctantly agreed, and so...Ty, Simone and Pixel blasted off in a Star Cruiser and left to go find Alfred.

Fox Storm wrote:
Ty and Simone told Pixel what happened, and needless to say, Pixel wasn't happy about it. She explained to them what really happened and they reacted with annoyance. At her, yes, but also to XR for being the one to push her buttons. She reasoned that they had to find Alfred and bring him back because if they didn't, not only would the guilt of letting Alfred being blamed for something he didn't do haunt them, but also the Healer might come back and criticize them more.

Ty and Simone weren't really too keen on seeing the Healer again, even if they felt safe with her. They didn't want to see that wrath that far outmatched Simone's wrath again.

And so, with a quick thanks to the LGMs, they headed to Commander Nebula's office and told them the whole story of what really happened. They told them what they had to do if they wanted Alfred back AND to make sure the Healer wouldn't come back again.

Nebula tried to keep Pixel from going anywhere since she just got hurt, but her spirited attitude wouldn't allow it. She begged Nebula to go with her partners since she felt it was her fault that Alfred left, and she wanted to take responsibility for her actions. Nebula couldn't help but agree with her actions, but she demanded for her to stay on the sidelines if they had to head into dangerous territory and battle to wherever Alfred went to.

She reluctantly agreed, and so...Ty, Simone and Pixel blasted off in a Star Cruiser and left to go find Alfred.

Meanwhile, Alfred was on some random planet that he didn't know the name of, just trying to calm himself down so he could make a good decision of what he was to do. He stared out from his place on the cliff, looking at the ocean waves breaking and crashing. The air was safe to breathe on the planet, there wasn't really anyone around, and according to his monocle he wasn't trespassing anywhere. Maybe he would just stay there for a few hours.

He laid back to look up at the sky but noticed a familiar group of three coming towards him. He panicked and rushed to his feet, watching them and wondering how they found him.

ab103 wrote:

Meanwhile, Alfred was on some random planet that he didn't know the name of, just trying to calm himself down so he could make a good decision of what he was to do. He stared out from his place on the cliff, looking at the ocean waves breaking and crashing. The air was safe to breathe on the planet, there wasn't really anyone around, and according to his monocle he wasn't trespassing anywhere. Maybe he would just stay there for a few hours.

He laid back to look up at the sky but noticed a familiar group of three coming towards him. He panicked and rushed to his feet, watching them and wondering how they found him.

Ty, Simone and Pixel had managed to track Alfred on some random planet to which they didn't know about, and which they didn't care to know about. They landed on a place near the waves, and decided to take to the skies with their jet packs. They flew around, searching and looking until they spotted him. The pale-faced man was gazing out at the crashing ocean waves. They flew down to meet him. Pixel was the first to land, gingerly taking her time in landing. Ty and Simone followed suit and landed beside her.

Pixel was happy to see he was alright, but Ty and Simone were less than thrilled. She was even held onto by the collar by Ty, preventing her from seeing Alfred, and from overexerting herself. So she sat down with a sheepish smile planted on her face.

A few awkward minutes went by before Alfred spoke.

Fox Storm wrote:
Ty, Simone and Pixel had managed to track Alfred on some random planet to which they didn't know about, and which they didn't care to know about. They landed on a place near the waves, and decided to take to the skies with their jet packs. They flew around, searching and looking until they spotted him. The pale-faced man was gazing out at the crashing ocean waves. They flew down to meet him. Pixel was the first to land, gingerly taking her time in landing. Ty and Simone followed suit and landed beside her.

Pixel was happy to see he was alright, but Ty and Simone were less than thrilled. She was even held onto by the collar by Ty, preventing her from seeing Alfred, and from overexerting herself. So she sat down with a sheepish smile planted on her face.

A few awkward minutes went by before Alfred spoke.

"...How did you find me?" Alfred shifted awkwardly, nervous. Besides Pixel, they didn't seem like they actually WANTED to find him. He frowned, unsure how to take this. He didn't want to be found, not yet at least. He didn't want to be told to go back to Star Command yet. Unless... Unless they were going to tell him NOT to go back to Star Command. He wasn't sure which was worse.

ab103 wrote:

"...How did you find me?" Alfred shifted awkwardly, nervous. Besides Pixel, they didn't seem like they actually WANTED to find him. He frowned, unsure how to take this. He didn't want to be found, not yet at least. He didn't want to be told to go back to Star Command yet. Unless... Unless they were going to tell him NOT to go back to Star Command. He wasn't sure which was worse.

Pixel shrugged. "Remember how ya told me about the gremlin proofing? We tracked you down through that, since you had it on hand."

Ty and Simone looked at her, impressed. She REALLY paid attention to everything Alfred told her about the security systems....that was pretty good, for a dustchaser.