PRSPD FIC: What Would You Be Willing To Do Chapter 2

[daylight_darknight]

Title: What Would You Be Willing To Do
Characters/Pairings: Jack & Z friendship
Rating: G
Summary: Jack must face the consequences of something he did five years ago.


Prologue
 
Chapter 1

Chapter 2

 

Elizabeth Delgado stormed through the hallways towards the prison cell where Jack was being held. The former red ranger was sitting on top the bench, arms wrapped around his bent knees as he leaned against the wall his eyes lost in brooding despair. He looked up only when he heard the yellow ranger’s voice as she commanded the bars of his cell to open. The look of wicked fury in Z’s eyes made him cringe and he couldn’t help the inclination to back up further against the wall.

 

“You… You… You idiot!” Z’s voice finally broke through her silent rage as she stalked towards him. “You told me someone had given you those drugs!”

 

Closing his eyes, Jack sighed. “I’m sorry, Z.”

 

“You lied to me!” she cried throwing her hands up in the air.

 

Jack sat up sliding his legs off the bench onto the floor. “And what would you have done if I told you the truth?”

 

“There must have been another way!”

 

“Don’t you think I tried?” The former ranger stood up. “Do you honestly think someone would have handed over those drugs to a couple of street kids?!”

 

“So you steal 80 kilograms?”

 

“I had to make a deal. I didn’t know where to get some so I found someone who did.”

 

“But the rest of those drugs… There were people who needed them!”

 

“I’m sure the loving government of Eltar sent along another delivery before anything bad happened.”

 

Z raised her eyebrows. “Are you sure?”

 

Avoiding her gaze, Jack sat back down without replying.

 

“Oh, lord. Those people…” Z sat down next to him gazing at the ground. “It’s my fault.”

 

“No.” Jack grabbed her shoulder forcing her to look at him. “It was my decision. I wasn’t going to let…” Swallowing, he shook the memories away. “And I would do it again if I had to.”

 

“Jack!”

 

“I would. It was worth it.”

 

Suddenly, Z stood up. “We have to explain things to Cruger.”

 

“No! He wouldn’t understand and besides if we do, he’ll want to know why…”

 

“Then we’ll tell him. We can’t keep running from the past.”

 

“But what if…” Jack pleaded the worry evident in his eyes.

 

“I’m almost 18, Jack. I’m not 13 anymore. You don’t have to protect me.”

 

“I just don’t want you to get hurt again. I know you didn’t want the others to know about…”

 

“I’ll be fine.” She knelt down and grabbed a hold of both his hands gazing into his eyes with a determined expression on her face. “We got into this together. We’ll face it together.”

 

oooooo

 

            “I understand you have something you wish to tell me,” said Commander Cruger eyeing the former red ranger.

 
            The dim blue lighting of the command room left Jack’s complexion faded his dreadlocks casting shadows. He stood at attention mostly out of habit looking over the commander’s shoulder as he did not feel comfortable meeting his eyes. Z remained unwavering beside her brother while the other rangers stood awkwardly to the side. Jack and Z had requested that they be there knowing they also deserved to hear the story.

 

            “Yes, sir.”  Jack opened his mouth to continue, but hesitated glancing at Z who gave him a nod of encouragement.

 

            “Well?” prompted Cruger impatiently.

 

            “I did participate in the theft of the Bracktix five years ago. But I had good reason…” The former ranger took a deep breath. “It was to save Z’s life.” He paused seeing the others frozen as that revelation sunk in.

 

            “At the time, Z and I had been hanging out on the streets together for a little over a year. We were managing okay. We’d even found to a descent place to sleep at night for once. And then Z got sick. She was just a bit weak and tired at first, but then the little black veins started appearing and the tremors began… I managed to catch a news program on the outbreak of the Black Vein sickness. It was pretty obvious that’s what she had. They also mentioned the only cure. I knew Bracktix was dangerous, which is why I knew no self-respecting doctor was going to hand it over to a kid off the street. I tried grabbing some from the hospital, but that didn’t go so well. Phasing through walls can only get you so far in a place that’s fairly heavily occupied and brightly lit.

 

So I started asking around. When you live on the streets, you get to know the who’s who of the gangs and black market traders. And some of them make Piggy look like outstanding citizen of the year. Normally, I’d try to avoid them, but this time I didn’t have a choice.

 

There were these couple of creeps. They knew when the ship from Eltar was arriving. They knew where. They even had schematics for the ship. I don’t know how they got all this information, but they did and they were willing to share it for a little help. The only thing they didn’t have was a way on to the ship without getting caught. That’s where I came in. I phased into the ship and phased back out with the stuff as they kept watch. I took the small amount I needed to cure Z and gave the rest to them. That was the deal we made.”

 

“I don’t understand,” said Syd, frowning. “Why didn’t you just take Z to a clinic? I’m sure when the doctors saw how sick she was...”

 

It was Z who replied. “He didn’t take me to a clinic because I asked him not to. The thing about all the well meaning doctors at those clinics is that as soon as a kid walks in off the street on their own they’re immediately on the phone with social services. I didn’t want them splitting us up. I didn’t want them sending Jack back into foster care and I sure as hell didn’t want them sending me back to my mother.”

 

            “Your mother? I thought your parents were dead. Why…?” Sky started to ask but Jack stepped forward cutting him off.

 

            “That’s none of your business.”

 

            But Z put a hand on his shoulder pulling him back. “I was sent to live with my mother after my father died. It didn’t work out.”

 

            “But...” began Bridge.

 
            “She didn’t want a freak for a kid. And I wasn’t going to hang around where I wasn’t wanted.”

 

            There passed a moment of silence where no one dared look into the others eyes. Commander Cruger broke it as he once more addressed Jack.

 

            “I understand your reasons for committing this crime and for trying to keep those reasons private, but these are still serious charges. There is no way of knowing the lives that may have been lost both from the lack of the drug and whatever evil use the criminals may have used it for.” He took a deep breath and started pacing. “Considering the situation you were in and your services to the greater good, I would be inclined to go lenient on you, but I’m afraid it is not up to me.” He turned to look at Jack. “Did you ever work with those thieves again?”

 

            “No, sir.” Jack shook his head. “I promised myself that I would never do a job like that again. Not that that stopped them from asking me,” he added as an afterthought.

 

            Suddenly, Z’s eyes grew wide and she delivered a quick punch to Jack’s shoulder.

 

            Cruger raised his eyebrows. “Cadet Delgado, please refrain from hitting Mr. Landers.”

 

            “Yeah, Z. What was that for?” demanded Jack.

 

            “Idiot. That’s the second time you lied to me. You told me those guys beat you up because you accidentally crossed their territory.”

 

            Wincing, Jack couldn’t help the blush spreading across his face as he realized he’d been caught out.

 

            “Regardless,” continued Cruger. “Would you be willing to aid the investigators in apprehending the two criminals you worked with?”

 

            “Yes, sir.”

            “Eltar is very strict when it comes to the theft of medically supplies, but I will talk to them on your behalf. Otherwise, I'm afraid the minimum prison sentence is ten years." There were deep breaths from the others but no reaction from the former red ranger. Cruger shook his head and sighed. "Z, please escort Jack back to his cell.”

            Jack’s expression remained blank, but his face was drained of colour as Z took his arm and led him out of the room.

Chapter 3