A/N- Don't own the show. Don't own the characters, "Wish I Did!" Just borrowing some things, and I'll return them later I Promise... Well Maybe I Will... Do You Even Read These? No profit made and all of that. Thanks for sticking around through everything!

October 23rd, 2001

8:45 A.M.

Mr. Collins face fell when he heard Eric say that to him, he started to turn when Eric got another idea.

"Or we might be able to just open one of his eyes while he is unconscious." Mr. Collins snapped back around and had a finger a half a inch away from Eric's face.

"You will do no such thing to impair my son's recovery Mr. Myers!"

Mr. Collins hand slowly lowered and he did something Eric was not expecting at all. He closed the distance and wrapped his arms around Eric in a almost desperate hug. "Please forgive me Eric. I don't have any answers right now, I'm a man that can control most everything, and now I feel so damn helpless."

Eric stood there motionless and rigid as a steel beam. He was barely used to receiving a handshake from this man standing there holding onto him for dear life; much less a full on embrace. Eric started to offer Mr. Collins some words of condolences, but before he could Mr. Collins stepped away from him, and looked him in the eye.

"Eric I never told you this before, but when Wes would come home from prep school on holiday, all he could do was talk about you. His friend that helped him get into so much trouble. But one day he stopped. I knew something was wrong, so I asked him. The only answer I could get out of him was that you had left the school. I always knew there was more to it, he could have called you or wrote, but for some time he wasn't the same, he felt devastated that his friend had abandoned him."

Eric was replaying those same memories in his head over again. Being sick and tired of the prep school, and all of the rich kids talking about how they had so much money. He knew he didn't fit in, nobody wanted to talk to the kid that didn't have anything. He was made fun of almost daily for being "Yesterday's Mail." Except for one kid. This kid would come to his defense over and over again. The kid knew he would get crap for it, but he didn't care. Before long they were doing almost everything together. Ditching class to go get ice cream from the local diner. Stealing other kids bags, and talking about how their dad's never really seemed to care one way or another about what they did. The other kids had stopped making fun of him when he was around Wes, but he could still see it in their eyes, and he watched as they talked about him behind his back. So one day he decided that enough was enough, he didn't want to hurt Wes anymore than he had to, he packed his bag and he left the school without anyone's permission, and he didn't go back. Eric wandered as a nomad for some time there after, joining the Army as for four years, but got injured in combat, and was honorably discharged. After the Army he got jobs where he could. and slowly grew more and more desensitized to the world around him.

Eric slowly came back to reality as Mr. Collins continued in his speech. "Eric when you put in your application to become a part of the Silver Guardians, I almost rejected it on the spot. You see I knew who you were before you walked through the door, and honestly I was upset at how you treated my boy. But then the mutants started to pick up their destructive path that tore chunks out of our city, and I knew that I would need your military experience. I'm sorry to say that I hired you because I needed you for the time being."

Eric's face slowly started falling as Mr. Collins told him these things, he never knew that Wes had told his dad all of these things, had never imagined that he meant that much to Wes as a kid. Eric wanted to borrow a time ship, and go back to kick his own ass for being such a ignorant fool.

Eric took a deep breath, and asked Mr. Collins a simple question. "Then why didn't you fire me when you got the chance?" His tone was not one of confronting, but one of almost hurt.

Mr. Collins knew that he had to tell Eric the truth. "Honestly Eric you need to understand that I was a very greedy man. When I found out my own son was the Red Ranger, I wanted that sort of power for my own agenda. And when I saw the drive in you, I saw the commitment, and the desire to be your own ranger. You wanted to be better than my son. I wanted the power that you held. But when I was attacked in the lab, I realized something. You and Wes are so very alike. Both of you want to carve out your own destinies. You two need each other even if you don't realize it. That's why I made you the leader Eric, not because you were the Quantum Ranger, because you and my son have each others back. For the longest time I considered you a 'Lone Wolf.' But now I know the truth, you care about the people around you more than you show."

Mr. Collins sat down in one of the chairs in the conference room, and motioned Eric to do the same. As Eric sat down, Mr. Collins continued on.

"Eric honestly now I view you as a son to me." Mr. Collins was on the verge of having an emotional breakdown as he sat around the table. "And if Wes doesn't make it for whatever reason I need you to have my back. You two boys are all that I have left in this world."

Eric was shell shocked to hear these confessions from the man he had come to be rock solid, and unfaltering in his actions. "I don't know what to say Mr. Collins... It's an honor that you consider me that way, and I won't let you down that much I can promise."

Mr. Collins took a handkerchief out of his jacket pocket and cleaned his eyes. "I know Eric, now lets find a way to.."

Eric started to receive a high priority transmission from Silver Guardians command on his radio as he sat there. "Attention Mr. Myers we are receiving reports of suspicious activity in the industrial district, we have sent out a response team but we lost contact with them."

Mr. Collins regained his composure quickly, and motioned Eric to figure out what happened to them.

"Go Eric, I will secure this in the vault until we have a course of action."

Eric began barking orders into his headset as he exited the conference room. "Have Bravo team standing by for maximum response in case this thing is something big. Prepare Charlie team for citizen evacuations, and coordinate with the local paramedics for any sustained injury's."

By time Eric got down the elevator into the basement, the Silver Guardians were beginning to lock down the building. Eric got into his awaiting Suburban, and hit turned onto the main road at speed. He activated the vehicles red and blue led lights on the roof of the vehicle. Cars moved swiftly to move out of the way of the speeding black mass.

Eric did not waste any time getting to the industrial district, he knew something was wrong when he saw the massive clouds of black smoke rising through the air. He headed to the source of the smoke and what he saw stunned him. The utter devastation reminded him of his time in the military. Alpha teams four Suburbans were tore in half, and engulfed in flames. Eric could see his fellow comrades laying on the ground in pools of blood. He ran the numbers through his head in a millisecond. Four vehicles, six personnel in each. Possibly twenty four of his comrades were laying scattered about.

"This was no single person that did this."

Eric stopped his vehicle, and dawned his gear. Standard weaponry for the Silver Guardians was a select fire 5.56 millimeter M4 with green tip ammo, and full auto capabilities. A L.B.E. Vest (...LOAD BEARING EQUIPMENT...) with extra magazines and his sidearm which fired a directed electrical charge capable of stunning humans, and disrupting electrical components.

Most times the rifle stayed in the vehicles for political reasons, but Eric knew that today was already worse than anything he had seen as a civilian before, and grabbed the rifle as he exited the vehicle. He used the vehicle for cover as he checked the closest man next to him. The man was still moving which gave Eric hope for the others. Eric keyed his radio, and continued to do a sweep for any contacts. "This is Captain Myers I have multiple causalities in the industrial district target unknown at this time, Bravo team is to come in hot I repeat Bravo team is to come in hot, Charlie team work as best you can to save any wounded, but do not become stranded in the process."

Eric saw some movement inside of one of the warehouses, and carefully made his way over to the building. Despite wanting to rush in and kill whoever did this to his men, he still had a job to do. He yelled out; "Silver Guardians! Put your weapons down and surrender NOW! This is your only chance."

Inside the warehouse, the movement stopped. A male voice responded by simply laughed at Eric's command.

"You must be kidding Mr. Myers, take another glance at your Alpha Team, and tell me what makes you think you have any chance of getting me to obey that order."

A bright light exited the warehouse and hit Eric's vehicle. The vehicle exploded into a bright fireball, sending shrapnel in every direction.

Eric backed away from the warehouse and moved for a better firing position.

The voice inside continued to speak as it got closer to the exit of the building.

"Because you see Mr. Myers, I am not as harmless as I look."

Eric saw the person exit the building and immediately put five shots from his rifle into the man. Eric was stunned when the man didn't even flinch.

"Must be wearing body armor." So despite his military training telling him otherwise, Eric fired three more shots, aiming for the Man's head.

The first two shots went wide, hitting harmlessly on the side of the building, but the third one connected square on the crown of the man's head.

Eric was horrified to see the man remain standing despite taking the rounds.

"What the Fuck Are You?"

The man laughed as Eric continued to unload his rifle into the man. Twenty two rounds later the man was still standing.

"Mr. Myers, never judge a book by it's cover."

The man transformed before Eric's eyes into a creature that Eric had learned to know as one thing.

"Your a mutant. How do you know who I am?"

The creature laughed as Eric came to the realization.

"You humans are always so quick to assume, even in the future, you assume."

The creature fired another energy blast in Eric's direction. Eric swiftly rolled out of the way narrowly avoiding the blast. Eric was becoming more and more angry at the creature in front of him.

"Alright you want a fight, I'll give you one."

Eric threw down his rifle, and made a fist with his left hand.

"QUANTUM POWER!"

Eric disappeared into a bright flash, and the mutant continued to laugh. After the light faded away the mutant simply stated ;"Now we have a fight, one that you will inevitably lose but a fight nonetheless."

Eric's suit was trying to match the mutant with any of the one's on his database when the mutant charged him. The mutant wielded a sharp looking blade that he tried to slash Eric with. Knowing better than to stay in one place to long, Eric leaped into the air further than any human possibly could, and drew his quantum defender.

The mutant was still trying to figure out what happened to Eric when a volley of plasma fire engulfed him.

The mutant absorbed the blasts from the defender and flung them back to Eric. Eric tried to move out of the way as one of the blasts hit him square in the chest sending him reeling from it's power. Rather than attack when the mutant had the chance, it chose to speak to Eric. "You have no idea of what I am capable of. Your world will burn until nothing is left!"

Eric regained his composure and proceeded to hit the mutant with another volley of fire. The mutant was thrown to the ground and Eric decided to capitalize on the opportunity.

"Mega Battle Activate!"

Again Eric was covered in a light that blinded his surroundings. And when he emerged , his suit was more powerful. "And you mutant talk to much!" Eric approached the mutant and said a command. "Mega Battle Sword!"

A flash of light revealed Eric to be carrying a large energy blade that he used slashed the mutant with. The area surrounding the got hit with a wave of energy as Eric connected. The wave disappeared to reveal the mutant critically injured. He spat in Eric's direction.

"You win this round Mr. Myers, but against the others you will not be so lucky!"

Next he did something Eric had seen before, The mutant ripped at his side and exposed some of his DNA, normally this made the mutants grow into massive behemoths, but this one was different, the mutant fell to the ground and started disintegrating into a puddle of acid that ate into the asphalt leaving a smoking crater where he once stood.

Eric stood there looking at the empty crater on the ground.

"What The Hell Is This? Now they disintegrate? Well now my day just keeps getting better."

Eric heard the sirens approaching his location, he knew it had to be his men coming to aid.

"Power Down!"

As his suit disappeared in the same flash of light that it came from, Eric was already running to some of his companions aid.

Eric stood over what remained of the battlefield, his men were loading the injured onto ambulances, and securing the area from reporters and locals alike. He walked over to one of his men in charge of Charlie squad and asked him the total injured and total killed in action numbers from Alpha Team.

"How many?"

The man lowered his notepad and looked to Eric.

"Sir I.."

Eric did not want to hear any of the bullshit that came with after action reports.

"Tell me the total Sergeant, how many wounded, how many dead?"

The Sergeant looked Eric in the eye and responded.

"Sir six killed in action, and eighteen injured."

Eric's heart dropped in his chest He knew it was bad, but this was the worst it had ever been. Six killed in action on his watch. These men were supposed to be protectors not soldiers. Eric held a firm face as he thanked the Sergeant. He ordered his men to clean the area, and clean it the best they could from any blood, or shell casings remaining. The vehicles would have to be towed out, and the damage repaired. Eric knew this would lead to a nightmare with the government, and Mr. Collins. Trying to explain everything that had happened.

He could read the headlines on the newspapers now.

'MUTANTS BACK IN SILVER HILLS.'

'SILVER GUARDIANS CAN'T MUTANTS.'

'WHERE ARE THE POWER RANGERS?'

And the one that chilled Eric the most.

'SIX DEAD IN MUTANT ATTACK!'

Eric had to get back to Bio-Lab to report the events to Mr. Collins. And to write letters to his companions widowed spouses, and orphaned children. He hated this part, the action he could take no problem. But the living with what happened that would always scar him deep in his soul.

He got into a vehicle and had one of his men drive him back to base. Eric was completely exhausted now, he had been going for well over twenty four hours straight, and the adrenalin was leaving him quickly. He was now a hollow form of what a Silver Guardian should look like. Everything he was wearing outside of his morpher was completely trash now. Everything would have to be replaced. He felt like he was back in the middle of a war zone fighting the for his country. Eric wanted nothing more than to close his eyes and hope that this had been some kind of wickedly bad dream. But he knew better. Eric pulled Wes's morpher out of his pocket, he continued to look at it for the rest of his ride to Bio-Lab, and simply thought; 'I could have really used your help today Wes.'

A/N- Yeah I know I'm sure most of you want to kill me and all that, but I needed to get back to some of the good things in my life. This is one of those things. And I wanted to give all of my readers a special Christmas present, seeing it's the 25th. Sorry for making you all wait so long. Really tried to make this 3000 words for you all waiting so patiently for me to remember how to type. Hopefully you enjoy this chapter. As Always, Please leave some constructive criticism down below. "It helps me more than you know." - Alex