A/N: The title pretty much says it all. This takes place before Beginnings. My version of how they met before they became rangers.

Chapter 1

"Strangers"

It was a beautiful day in New Tech City as the sun blazed brightly in the clear blue sky. Elizabeth Delgado, known as Z for short, appeared from the dark alley of the streets in light olive green pants and a black leather jacket over a yellow jersey. She wore a white bandana over her head with loop earrings on both ears. Z begins walking cautiously on the sidewalk, passing by other people and acting rather casual with her hands stuffed inside in the front pockets of her jacket. She would look up occasionally to make sure no one was watching her every move when unexpectedly she bumps into someone before entering a store. Z gasps and slowly looks up at the young, tall, handsome man wearing khakis and a blue polo shirt stood before her wearing dark sunglasses as he slowly takes them off to reveal his blue eyes.

"I'm sorry." Z briefly apologizes. There was anxiety in her voice for she wanted to leave that very moment, but the stranger became a distraction that she could no longer attempt her plans for that day. "I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." She explains calmly.

"Yeah I can see that." The man looked at her hard and slightly chuckles. "Are you new here?" He asks out of curiosity as Z furrowed her eyebrows at the question. "I swear I don't think I've ever seen you around here before."

"That's because I try stay away from spoiled, rich city dwellers like yourself." She shot back coldly in attempt to brush him away, but it only made him laugh and stick around longer.

"Whoa now." He stood back and chuckles. "That's a bit harsh don't you think? You can't be saying any of that negative stuff when you don't know me at all."

Z glares at his way. "And neither do you."

He looks down and smirks. "You don't see me judging you." She avoids his gaze and remain silent. "My name is Sky." He extends his hand out for her to shake. "Sky Tate."

Z looks down at his hand reluctantly and after a brief moment in silence she sighs and accepts it. "I'm Z."

Sky smiles as the two of them shook hands. "It's nice meeting you, Z."

"Well, I should get going." She says hurriedly. "I umm…have to meet a friend of mine."

He nods his head. "Okay, it was nice meeting you, Z."

"Uh yeah," Z lifts her eyebrows awkwardly, "Sure, you too." She responds half-heartedly as she walks off towards the opposite direction, and without looking back, went straight to a dark, narrow, and deserted alleyway.

Z folds her arms across her chest as she continues to walk between two long brick walls, looking down at every step when suddenly strange creatures appeared before her. She stops on the middle of the alleyway, looking up as a faint gasp escape from her lips. Robot creatures surrounded her as she looks on wide-eyed for she has never seen anything like this before. "What do you guys want?" She asked, trying to keep her cool as she begins taking steps back. The robots haven't responded as they make weird sounds in which Z isn't able to comprehend. Eerie silence filled the air accept for the sounds that the robots were making. She furrowed her eyebrows, not aware of what to expect nor what they wanted, when suddenly they came charging after her. Z's eyes fell open as she gets into a fighting stance and began taking them on one by one.

She held her own for a couple of minutes, using her martial arts and self defense skills to hold them down. Eventually, more came coming her way as she begins to struggle for there were just too many of them.

"Ugh, let go!" She grunted as they got a hold of both of her arms, Z struggling to break loose from their grip. "Help!" She screamed furiously in hopes for anyone to hear her from afar. "Help! Let go, you freaks!"

"Hiya!" One of the robots from behind went flying in the air and towards the trash cans. "Let her go!"

Z gasps and looks over her shoulder. Her eyes widen at the sight of him. "Sky!"

He grabs the robotic creatures away from her and begins revealing his fighting skills. Z stood back in amazement as she watches him take them on single handedly. He was far outnumbered as she went to help them. The two were now fighting side by side, successfully defeating the robots. Once each of them has fallen, they suddenly disappeared, leaving Sky and Z in a state of bewilderment.

"Well that was weird." She thought as she looks up at him. "Robots roaming the city? Wow, I need to get out more."

Sky lets out a chuckle. "You alright?" He asks, lightly tapping her on the back with his hand as a sign for comfort.

"Yeah, thanks." Z weakly smiles at his way.

"No problem. I heard someone calling help so I rushed over here."

She wrinkles her forehead. "Who were those robots anyway?"

"They are actually called Krybots." Sky shrugs his shoulder in response as though it was the only information he knows that he could share with his female companion. "That's all I know."

"Why were they after me?"

"I don't know. Lately, they've been attacking the city. So you're not the only one."

She averts from his gaze, followed by a deep sigh. "Where's SPD when you need them? Shouldn't they be taking care of it?"

He clears out his throat with a force cough. "Uh…who knows? I'm sure they're trying to figure it out." Sky uneasily chuckles. "A lot is going on around the city yah know." She nods with no knowledge of what happens around New Tech City due to her isolation from society. "So, where did you learn how to fight like that?" He asks curiously, noticing her impressive skills when they were fighting the Krybots.

"I had a rough childhood growing up." She answers as they begin walking side by side down the alley, suddenly making conversation. "I've been pretty much on my own…didn't really have much of a family, so along the way, I was driven to take care of myself all my life." Z takes her gaze off from the ground and looks up at him. "What about you, Sky? How did you learn how to fight?"

There was a brief pause as he presses his lips together with eyes wandering on the ground. "Well…I've taken classes." He answers in a rather hesitant tone.

"Yeah? That's good."

The two continued looking away from each other as awkward silence cast over them. Z, who thought little of him the first time they met, was actually enjoying her company. It's not often she goes out in the city and meets someone who she could talk to. She finds it sweet of him to save her from the Krybots.

"Listen, thanks again for helping me back there." Z breaks the silence as they appeared from the alley and back to the busy streets of New Tech City. "How could I repay you?"

They stopped on the side walk. Sky with his hands stuffed inside the front pockets of his khakis looks at her with a wide smile. "How about you repay me by letting me take you out to lunch? I'm getting hungry and I could use the company."

Z wrinkles her forehead in bewilderment. It was an unusual offer from a stranger who just saved her. 'Wasn't I supposed to repay him?' She thought. 'Should I trust him?' Although they've just met, she is willing to get to know the stranger who helped her escape from the Krybots. And besides, how can she not accept a free lunch meal from a good looking guy? "Sure…" Z nervously replies, "Why not?"

A/N: I got to know what you guys think of it so far before I continue. Thanks.