RPM: Call to War
Prologue
Venjix was just the beginning. In a broken world, war is the only way.

Authors: DJ Rocca and Ring Slinger (shigeki_jkp)
Note: I do not own Power Rangers RPM and Judd Lynn didn't deserve to work on it.
Rating: Teen+
Genre: General/Drama
Timeline: 5 months after "Danger and Destiny".

She stood at the chalk board, the air heavy with dust, the tops of her fingertips stained white. She exhaled after explaining how the bio-armor taps its energy from the morphing grid and that through the grid, the hormones go into mass production of testosterone to make each wearer more powerful. She had nearly done so in one breath in an attempt not to choke on the chalk filled air as she wrote down each equation.

She turned and felt her stomach roll. Each of the children who sat in the desks behind her stared blankly ahead. They were clearly lost and confused, and for the sake of all knowledge, two in the back were sleeping. She couldn't take this, she felt like she was drowning. Throwing down her chalk she bolted from the room, she had to get away, she had to breathe. It was too bright in the small building, too much light, she had to get somewhere dark, deep, it would make her feel better.

Ripping open the janitorial closet she stumbled in and closed the door. As she sat down, drawing her knee's to her chest, she realized she was shaking and on the verge of hyperventilating. This had been the third panic attack she had this week and it was only Tuesday. Her mouth was dry and she felt like she was going to vomit, at least this time there was a bucket nearby. She heard feet pounding and the door knob shuddered violently. Finally the other person on the front side of the door managed to open it and looked down at her.

"Doctor K! Not again!" Ziggy Grover whined as he left the door open and tossed himself to the floor next to her. "What has gotten into you?"

She eyed him with a glare but allowed him to wrap his arm around her and snuggle her close to his side. For the moment she felt better, to have his comfort and concern. She sighed and tried to calm herself, waiting for her body to stop shaking.

"I don't think I can do this." She told him after a good 10 minutes of silence, he looked at her, peering into her face.

"What do you mean? We planned this down to the last detail, this is what we wanted."

"Given my high intelligence I failed to realize a few key details." She said, resting her head on her knees, facing him as he rubbed her back.

"And what would that be?" he asked, he was worried. They had spent weeks and months planning, going over everything. They sank what money they had into this , well not all her money; she refused to do that, which is why they were in a small building in the middle of town.

"I hate children." He laughed, he couldn't help it. She gave him another death glare.

"I'm extremely serious, Ziggy. Or have you forgotten what happened when a child tried to utter the words 'spandex' in my presence?"

"How could I forget, I thought Colonel Truman was going to have to taze you to keep you quiet. Thankfully the others grabbed you." He said, and gave a small smile. "Simpler times."

"Exactly. Ziggy, I cannot do this. I'm sorry but I can't. For my own sanity's sake and the safety of those ignorant children in there, I'm going to have to walk away." She watched his face fall.

"But you can't, I need you." He told her, she sighed and pushed off the ground and stood, holding out her hand, she helped him up.

"Not for this you don't. I have to go. I can't be here anymore, I actually believe I may go and vomit, it's causing me this much stress. Venjix was nothing compared to this." She told him, he blinked.

"You're serious about that, aren't you?" he asked, feeling his heart break.

"When have I not been serious?" she asked in return and he sighed.

"K…don't…leave me ok?"

"Ziggy, I'm not going anywhere. I'm not going to up and leave the City, disappearing into the night, you can stop being over dramatic. I just cannot teach ignorant and unwilling children. I do not understand them and cannot fathom every actually doing so."

"If you don't try then you never will. You wanted to grow as a human being and be normal, this was your chance, it's what you wanted." He begged.

"No, Ziggy, it is what you wanted. I went along with you in hopes of easing myself into a normal life but this isn't for me. I cannot see any happiness in my future if I force myself to do this. I cannot, but trust me my friend, I'll still be there for you for support as much as I can and given I'm not even good at that, I just need time. More time than you're willing to give me." She told him, she crossed to him and gave him a firm hug. "It would be stupid for me to say good bye since we both reside in the same building." She told him and with that, turned on her heel and walked out, her lab coat billowing around her. He watched her go and felt crushed and guilty. That's when a small hand tugged on his shirt.

"Ziggy, is Doctor K leaving for good?"

"I think so honey," he told the little girl, and didn't expect to hear the uproar of cheers that assaulted his ears. Ok, maybe he expected it a little bit but apparently this might be for the best, if the kids have their way.

Doctor K sighed as she walked into the sun, as much as she wished she could enjoy being out in the day, seeing the natural sky, she couldn't. She had so much on her mind; there was only one place she wanted to go right now. She continued her pace through the City and just as she reached the City limit, she heard a car screech up behind her. She turned to see Gem, Gemma and Scott Truman in the military issue jeep. They were quickly climbing out and jogging to her. She was immediately embraced between the Twins. Scott simply inclined his head to her and she gave him a half smile.

"Where exactly do you think you're going?" his tone firm yet warm.

"I need to go to the ruins of Alphabet Soup. I need a day a way, I need to rethink my life. I had to walk away from Ziggy and the school. I couldn't deal. I need to decide what my path is and I need to see the ruins to prove to myself it's gone and dead and I can move on. I want to do so much more but I can't. Not while I'm still haunted." All their eyes scanned the desert which was slowly becoming fertile once more.

"Do you want us to go with you?" Gemma asked as she and Gem finally let go of her.

"I appreciate the thought Gemma but Scott needs you both."

"No I-"

"No he doesn't" all three chorused at once, causing the doctor to blink and be slightly confused.

"Oh. Alright, I'm sorry for assuming you had training to do." She told them, they all smiled.

"They know more than all of my other recruits combined. They can go off for a day. After all, it's to help you out and I'm not letting you out there alone." Scott exclaimed, earning smile from the young doctor.

"Always looking out for everyone" she mused out loud before moving onto her request. "Please, Scott, if there is one thing I ask of you, would you comply?" she asked, her voice was soft, unsure how to ask what meant the world to her.

"Well that depends on what it is." He told her, eyebrows arched at her statement.

"Do not change who you are. Out of my Ranger group, you were always the most balanced and I see that still remains. Please, do not conform to anyone else's opinions and expectations of you. Stay how you are." She told him and he beamed.

"I'll try." He said with a laugh and stood at attention and Gem and Gemma immediately stood at attention. "Keep her safe you two. I expect you guys back in two days."

"Yes sir!" they chorused at once as he tossed them the keys.

"Good. And don't wreck the car. My Dad hasn't forgiven me over the Go-Onger RV yet." He told them and turned away.

"What are you going to do?" Gem asked.

"Going to go check on Ziggy then get back to work." He exclaimed with a shout, proud to help his city once more "Got Eagles to train!"

The jeep roared into the desert and ventured to a path only the three within knew. Back to the underground facility, that ripped them from their families, the one that lead to the destruction of the world.

---To Be Continued---
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Also please do not review complaining of shippage, it will not change how the story is going to go and I don't care who you think should be with who. I don't force my shipping and tell you how to write your stories, its common courtesy to not do it in return. I do not wish to sound mean, but it's true.