Here it is, Chapter 4. First a minor note, the original Chapter 4 was going to be much longer, however since Chapter 1 is a bit short I've moved a couple scenes to the Prologue to make it larger. Chapter 1 has been updated and I suggest reading the new content in it first before starting this chapter. As usual, please review with any thoughts :)

Chapter 4 - Glimmers

Bridge rubbed at his eyes as he rose from a bed, as he looked around things seemed...odd. The room was dark, and as if it had seen better days and better care. He padded down the silent corridor, perhaps some buttery toast will help me think he thought to himself, his fingers reflexively wiggling at the idea. As he reached the recreation room he wondered to himself why things were so quiet, it couldn't still be that late. He entered the room and was engulfed in a blinding flash.

He rubbed at his eyes again as things came back into focus, only...how did he get to be outside....he looked around, chaos littered the front of SPD. His teammates and some strangers laying around, he caught a glimpse of a white helmet half buried beneath a pile of rubble. White helmet, I don't remember any of us having white helmets...Bridge frowned and moved closer to investigate. As he stepped closer his head began to throb with pain, all around him he could hear faint voices, crying out for help.

“Help us” the voices called “Help us Bridge, help us” He sank to his knees, hands clutching the sides of his head.

The voices became louder and louder and started faster and faster, becoming a chant in his head. “Help us, help us, help us Bridge, help us help” screams of pain and anguish joined the pleas for help, Bridge desperately tried to block the voices out, but they continued like a flood. Louder and faster, more voices joined the din some were familiar voices others complete strangers.

Bridge felt as though his head was going to explode, sweat rolled down his face, he closed his eyes and let out a gasp as the voices and screams reached their climax and then. Silence. Merciful silence, he opened his eyes to and saw Emperor Grumm as he thrust his staff, crackling with energy into Bridge's face, and one last voice called out his name “Bridge!” and for the second time he was engulfed in light.

Turtle Cove – 2009

She was terribly lost, it had been ages since Shayla had walked down the streets of Turtle Cove. Hopefully she would find her old friends soon, it didn't feel right leaving the wild zords alone. But, she needed her rangers and the only way to get them was to venture into the city herself. Now then, she thought, Taylor should be somewhere around this air force base as she called it.

She hurried over to someone laying underneath one of the jets “Oh! Excuse me, could you help me?” she asked “I'm afraid that I'm rather lost, and I'm looking for my friend, her name is Taylor”

Taylor rolled out from underneath the jet “Princess Shayla!” she exclaimed “What are you doing here? How are you even here, I thought you were on Animaria?” she stopped for a moment, her face went cold “There's trouble isn't there”

“I'm afraid so” the Princess replied sadly, “Your the first of the rangers I've been able to find, I don't really know what to do or how to find the others.”

“Don't worry Princess” Taylor said as she rose and duster herself off, “Danny is still here in town, he owns a small store, and Alyssa is here as well working at an elementary school” she stopped and looked at her friend and gave her a reassuring smile “Your worried about Merrick aren't you? I'm sure he'll find us, whenever we were in trouble he was there to help and he will be this time too”

Alyssa looked up at the clock and watched the seconds tick by until finally the bell rang. “Ok, class is dismissed and I'll see all of you tomorrow bright and early” she smiled at her students as they called out their goodbyes on the way out the door.

“Knock knock” came a familiar voice, Alyssa looked over and saw Taylor of all people walking into her classroom.

“Taylor! Oh my gosh, it's been how long since you've come by? Come in, how have you been?” she said, pulling her friend in for an embrace. She sensed someone else had entered and looked up from her hug to see Princess Shayla standing in the doorway.

“Hello Alyssa” she smiled, “It's...been a while, you've been doing well I hope” something about the Princess seemed sad but what?

“Princess” Alyssa breathed, she took a moment to gather herself and it hit her why the Princess was sad, she nodded at her friends “Where do we start?”

Centaur B

Karone stood with her back to the megaship staring off into the distance, lost deep in thought. She had not slept well since her encounter with Ecliptor, his words still fresh in her memory. She gave a small start as her brother put a hand on her shoulder

“Are you all right Karone?” slight worry was in Andros' voice.

Karone turned to him and gave him a small smile, “I'm alright, just haven't been getting much sleep lately”

“I know what you mean I haven't slept much either, we should go check out the colony now” Andros waited a moment before heading off to where the others were beginning the search.

Ashley watched as Andros walked away from his sister, both of them seemed tired lately as if they hadn't slept in days. Turning to head to the next building she let out a small curse as she tripped over something hard. She looked back to see a metal ball. Leaning forward to examine it she noticed a picture on one side of a man, his face frozen in terror. She lifted the ball, carrying it over to Carlos.

“Hey Carlos, take a look at this, I think I found....” she stopped as she reached the top of the small hill he was on, before them lay dozens of scattered metal balls. “...something” she finished.

Cassie wandered into an empty building, the silence broken only by the sounds of her boots. Ever since landing things had seemed unnaturally quiet. She turned around a corner into a small hallway, as she made her way down to the lone door she heard a faint sound coming from behind it.

“Hello?...” she called out tentatively “Is anybody there? I'm here to help” she reached the door, and took a hold of the handle, slowly turning it. She opened the door, and let out a yell as a hooded figure lurched towards her.

TJ watched as Cassie disappeared into one of the buildings, he turned his attention to the empty street. It's so odd he thought, if they had been attacked why wasn't there any sign of it? A gust of wind sent a swirl of feathers into the air, slowly falling again before being blown around again.

He sighed and went to walk up the road when he heard Cassie's yell, he ran into the building calling out for her, “Cassie? Cassie where are you?” he turned down the hall to see her on the ground, a young man reaching to help her up.

He ran up to his teammate and the stranger, “Are you alright Cass?” he directed his attention to the man, “who are you? Were there any other survivors?”

“I'm alright” Cassie replied, dusting herself off, “I was just startled that's all, this place is a bit unnerving I wasn't expecting to find anyone really”

“Well, we should get you back to the megaship, now what did you say your name was?” TJ asked again.

“Dru” the young man replied, “My name is Dru”

Zhane watched from the corner of the small room they had set up their supplies in. He half watched the young man Cassie had found as he told his story again.

“It all happened in the middle of the night one week ago, they came out of nowhere and started attacking. We tried to fight back but they were too strong.” he paused a moment to sip at his water “I managed to sneak into the storeroom, been there ever since until you guys arrived”

Cassie gave Dru a warm smile “Well your safe now, we will find a way to help the others as well”

Dru looked over to Andros, “I'll help in any way I can if you need it, I want to help”