Day of the Dumpster

-Angel Grove-

Angel Grove, 10 o'clock pm August 28, 1993. That was the day it all started. We had all met each other before. We did the big, "Wow, you too?" "Morphinaminal!" Then we realized how stupid that sounded and promised never to say it again.

I think we toyed around with actually teaming up but in the end who really wants to. Movies, TV and comic books make teaming up sound cool, but in the end, do you really want to give up your freedom to the obligations of a team. Especially when you have the Powers of a Ranger. Seriously doubt it.

And that brings up the first of many weird similarities we would discover along our journey and the years that followed August 28, 1993. The name Mighty Morphin' Power Ranger. It was no where imprinted on the power coin we all found. Which were in different locations mind you. We just all came up with the same name off the top of our heads without talking, seeing or even knowing each other.

We all got over it really quick though. Many of us had our own lives, family and friends back in our respected cities. The how and why of the power coins and their relationship to each other just didn't seem to matter. I, on the other hand, didn't have a home to return to. Born an orphan, please I don't need your pity, I'm fine, I decided to stay here in Angel Grove. Cost of living was cheap and so was rent. The Black Ranger would be the Protector of Angel Grove. As white as this town is, they'd shit in their pants if they found out a brother was their hero. But that is why I laugh my ass off whenever I hear them cheer for me.

So back to the night of August 28, 1993. Everything was going fine. I had been living in Angel Grove a year. I was on the roof top of a local video store. One of those rare privately owned ones you don't see much of anymore. I was doing my regular nightly patrols when suddenly I saw in the corner of my eye what looked like a falling star. That's pretty much where it ended for me. Seems insignificant I know. I was quickly distracted by some kids attempting to rob a convenience store over my radio com in my helmet. But later Kimberly would tell us it wasn't a falling star at all. No matter what the news said that next morning.

-Los Angeles-

I sometimes wonder how differently things would have turned out if let's say Billy found the dumpster. Funny how my description of it caught on amongst us quick. But seriously it looked like one of those old silver dumpsters before they came up with the black plastic ones.

Anyways, I seriously wish it would have crashed in Billy's city. I think he was in Seattle, I forget. He would have known what to do. At least he would have more of an idea than me. But no, of all places it had to land in L.A., my city. And close enough for me to reach before anyone. I didn't have a fucking clue. All I knew was that the next morning when I was getting ready for school and they said a meteor crashed into the parking lot of the Getty Center I was like, "Bullshit!"

See this is what happened. I was doing my nightly patrols. I had just bought myself a Pink Kawasaki Ninja 600R. See I'd been having some problems with the L.A.P.D. They hated my guts since I got them all in trouble with the media by busting a group of cops for drug trafficking. That bust turned into a domino effect leading to the arrest of over 100 police officers from 20 different precincts and 5 congressmen. Damn near got the Mayor involved but the slimy bastard weaseled his way out. I doubt he'll get re-elected though. So the bike was to help me get around faster. The coin helps my strength, agility, and speed but I still don't want to run around all the time. And don't tell anybody but I got the money for the bike by skimming a little money off from busting those cops. I know it's hypocritical but a girl deserves it for how many times she's protected the citizens.

So anyways, I was riding my bike around, listening to the police radio in my helmet when I heard a call about some domestic violence a couple miles from where I was at. The operator didn't seem to be getting any response from police officers. Guess the patrolmen in the area were pretending to be busy. I figured what the hell I'll check it out.

When I arrived it turned out to be what other officers probably figured it would be. A couple arguing loud late at night. Some neighbor was calling complaining about the noise. Such a waste of a Power Ranger's ability, a domestic dispute.

I walked up and there was a man yelling up at the bedroom window as a woman was throwing his cloths and what looked like video cassettes and CDs out. So cliché.

"Just open the door and let's talk," the man yelled!

"No," she screamed as she sat on the window sill throwing out a box that opened up in mid air and a bunch of magazines fell out. "I'm tired of hearing the same excuses from you!"

I walked up and glanced at one of the magazines and broken video cassettes on the ground. They were porn. The man looked at me as I came up to him. He looked confused and upset.

"Who are you suppose to be," he asked with a sarcastic tone. "A pink Uma Thurman? You here to kill Bill?"

… alright, alright! He didn't say that last part. I know that movie wasn't out yet. But I imagine that is what he would say today.

"What's going on," I asked. "It's like 3 in the morning and you guys are screaming."

"She found my porn collection and is freaking out," he said lowering his head in embarrassment.

I was surprised. I was expecting cheating, sleeping around. I was half waiting for her to throw some bitch out next. I looked up and now joined the screaming match. I have a loud speaker built into my helmet too so now no one would be sleeping for sure.

"Seriously," I yelled up at the girl who was now looking embarrassed herself. "Porn? People are going to go to work tomorrow without their 8 hours of sleep because you're dumb enough to be shocked your husband…"

"Um boyfriend," The man corrected me.

"Your boyfriend watches porn," I continued. "Get your stupid ass down here and let him in."

Before anyone could react there was a loud BOOM! Followed by what felt like a violent Earthquake. The man next to me was knocked to the ground and the woman in the window lost her balance and fell out the window. I managed to maintain my footing and used the jets in my boots to force myself forward and catch the woman before she hit the ground.

When I turned around everyone was coming out of their house asking questions.

"What was that," I heard.

"It came from over there."

"Was it a bomb?"

"No it came from over there."

"I think it was a meteor."

"Yeah I saw something in the sky."

"Maybe it was a spaceship."

I started looking around and saw smoke in the distance.

The woman I yelled at then saved pointed, "I saw it fall over there by the Getty Center."

In my helmet I heard the operator dispatching cops to that area as well. So I ran to my bike. As I rode off I heard the boyfriend say, "Damn it! Now we are both locked out!"

I got to the bottom of the hill on the 405 freeway with my bike and used the jets in my boots to get to the top. I could hear sirens in the distance so I knew I wouldn't have much time. I don't think I believed I knew what I would do once I got there. I was being motivated by curiosity. I just wanted to know what it was that crashed.

When I got up there my nerves were killing me. The anticipation of walking towards the fire and smoke. The feeling of being rushed cause the sirens were getting louder and closer. My suit was fire proof so I walked through it and right to… again what looked like a silver dumpster.

At first I was almost disappointed. Then I touched it. My gloved protected my hands, but I could still feel the heat and feel that this was no dumpster. See, I can tell the difference. This thing felt solid. Then curious. It was hard to see with all the smoke but there seemed to be an inscription on the lid and what would be the handle looked like a Maltese Cross.

Then I heard the cops arrive. I looked back and through the fire I could see the cops coming out of their cars and the fire truck and ambulance arriving.

Then I heard one of the cops yell, "Hey, it's that Ranger!"

I attempted to lift the thing and take it with me but found it was way too heavy and the cops were now drawing their guns and trying to surround me.

I heard one come over their loud speaker, "Stay where you are!"

"Fuck this," I said to myself and flew out of there.

I got back to my bike. I could hear a bunch of yelling but I didn't look back. I even turned off my helmet radio and went home.

-Seattle-

I remember thinking, "Why not me?" Every exciting thing happens some place I am not. God I hate Seattle. I keep saying I'm going to move but I never do. 2 years since I graduated high school and still I stay here.

My mornings usually consisted of sleeping. I'd usually get home from patrolling around 5 am to 6 am. Sleep in till 11, 11:30am. Then lay around my apartment till it was time for class. I always schedule my classes in the afternoon.

Although that day I didn't have any classes. Well, I had one class but it was… eh. To tell you the truth I was more interested in going to L.A. at that point. My worst fear since I obtained the coin was seemingly coming true. It was changing me. I use to be so responsible. I took my studies serious. Now, they didn't seem as important. I was becoming more reckless. Motivated by my whim and curiosity.

A part of me wanted to put my foot down and go to class, but the Blue Ranger inside of me won over and I morphed. With that I flew to L.A.

The news report said the meteor crashed in the parking lot of the Getty Center. So that is where I went. When I got there the entire place was surrounded. Cops everywhere. People in suits and pant suits walking around, talking to each other and ordering people in uniform around. I stayed hiding from a distance. The Pink Ranger warned me L.A. wasn't friendly to our kind.

I used my Helmet to zoom in and take pictures. I saw paramedics caring body bags into ambulances. I began zooming in as close as I could scanning the area. The meteor hole in the ground looked like a regular hole, minus the meteor. At the time I just figured I got here too late and they had already picked it up. Seemed quick but I didn't give it a second thought.

I wasn't going to get any closer with the area so busy, so I decided to take a break. Hit the city, get something to eat and check back once the area was cleared.

I occasionally checked in throughout the day and it wasn't till after midnight that they cleared the area. I was expecting guards or officers posted on all ends to the parking lot. But nothing. I got to where I remember the crash being and it was all gone. The area was clean, repaved and repaired.

"Weird, huh," I heard behind me.

I looked and it was the Pink Ranger. She walked passed me. It looked as if she were scanning the area too.

"Yeah," I responded, trying not to look like she startled me. "You would think a thing like this would be preserved for further investigation."

She nodded, "That's what I thought."

I turned up the sensitivity of my scanner in hopes of penetrating the pavement but an odd occurrence. The soil was fresh.

"They dug up the dirt," I said. More to myself.

"I don't mean to be a bitch," She said. "But this is my city. Why are you here?"

"Originally to just see the meteor crash," I answered. "But now I think I've stumbled onto to something."

"Well, whatever it is I can handle it," She said. She sounded like a brat. Her voice had a slight squeak. Like nails on a chalk board. "I really don't need someone else getting in the way."

I looked at her and she was still scanning the area.

"Do you even know how to use that scanner," I asked.

She stopped walking around and spun to face me. I think I insulted her.

"I know how to use it," She answered, then seems to think about it. "I just check out what ever turns red."

I laugh. Responds to what turns red! God this one must be blonde.

"What," She yells. "That's how it works."

"Yeah, "I laugh. "That's how it works on automatic. Basically you have it on training wheels."

"So," she says defensively.

I started to feel bad for her so I cut the jokes.

"Sorry," I said. "I guess everyone can't be a science nerd like me and know the names of the chemicals and stuff."

I began scanning the areas that weren't paved around the parking lot. The cracks in the pavement. Anything they might have missed. I was walking around and the Pink Ranger just followed me around. Scanning the area too. She was coming off really childish. I was beginning to wonder how old she was.

"I may not know all that technical stuff but I took down a police force," she said sounding proud.

"Yeah I remember hearing about that on the news," I said.

"And that was with my training wheels on," She said.

"I'm sorry about that comment," I said. Hoping it would shut her up.

"I've saved a lot of people from danger," She continued on.

I was scanning trees around the parking lot, trying to ignore the Pink Ranger, when I came across something.

"Why is there blood at a meteor crash site," I whispered to myself.

"My God," She yelled. "Why do people keep saying that?"

I looked back at her. If she could see my face, she would have seen the face of a really annoyed man.

"What else should they call it," I asked.

"It wasn't a meteor," She said.

"How do you know," I asked.

"I was the first one here," She answered. "I saw what crashed and it was definitely no meteor."

I stood up now giving her complete attention.

"Why didn't you mention this at first," I asked, suspicious she was putting one over on me.

She shrugged, "'Cause, you come here acting like you know everything. Making fun of me. Made it seem like I wouldn't have anything to offer you."

"What was it," I asked.

She shrugged again, "I don't know. It was metal and looked really old. Like an Antique. Looked like a dumpster from the old days. Those metal ones."

I laughed, "A garbage can crashed to the ground?"

"It just had that look," she said. Sounding frustrated that I laughed at her. "And it had some writing on it and a cross as a handle."

Now this was getting interesting. "What kind of writing," I asked.

"I couldn't read it," she said, pausing. As if she stayed still enough it would magically come to her. "Looked like that language they write the bible in."

"Hebrew," I asked, not really believing it.

"Yeah," she yelled all excited.

I thought about it for a second. I really wish this thing crashed in my city. I could have been the first on the scene rather than Blossom here. I don't know why but my gut was telling me I had to figure out what really happened here.

-Fort Huachuca, Arizona-

Fort Huachuca, Arizona. New home, at least at the time, of The United States Army Intelligence Center. I got in thanks to my father who was the Commander of at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.

I remember as a child I was always curious of how things are and why they are. I enjoyed characters like Indiana Jones, Don Quixote, and Marco Polo. I was fascinated by the stories about the age of Exploration. I sometimes felt I was born too late. Everything now is paved on or built a building on it. Everything to discover has been discovered I felt.

I expressed this to my dad once. One of the rare times I had a chance to sit down with him. And he said if I wanted to learn about life and discover its mysteries, military intelligence was the way to go. As much as I tried to correct him and reiterate what I said, from there on out he was on a mission. "My son, Thomas Oliver, will go to Army Intelligence."

So here I was. First day and confused as hell. I just finished basic training so if you have been through that before you can understand what I was feeling. Just waiting for someone to give you an order so you can feel like you have a purpose.

I had one big green duffle bag and a CD walkman when I entered the building. I scanned the area and saw a front desk so I walked over there. Everyone seemed so busy I had to draw attention to myself.

"Excuse me ma'am," I said as professional as I could sound.

The girl, who couldn't have been any much older than me, turned to face me as if I had just disturbed her. "What do you need," she asked.

"I'm sorry, I just arrived and was wondering where I check in," I stated.

She looked around as if I had just said the most ridiculous thing and was wondering if anyone else had heard it. "That's going to have to wait," she said. "We are all getting ready for the assembly in…," she checked her watch and rolled her eyes. "In like 10 minutes."

I was surprised. I hadn't heard of any assembly. "Am I suppose to go to that?"

She let out a laugh, "If you intend to attend this school you should." She then turned to finish what she was doing. I called for her attention.

"I don't mean to bother but can I at least stick my bag behind the counter there till after," I asked.

She rolled her eyes again and waved me around as if she were doing me a favor. I have never hated a person so quickly after meeting them as I hated her. And I didn't even know her name yet.

The Assembly hall was huge. You could hold concerts in here. Thousands of seats filled the circular room surrounding the stage in the middle.

I was still hot and sweaty from the bus drive over. Wearing my military dress uniform like a moron. "Dress to impress," my dad said. As I stare around, everyone was in their BDU's. Some people didn't even look like they combed their hair this morning.

Everyone quieted down as a man took the mic.

"Thank you all for showing up at such late notice," he said. "I know we surprised everyone just announcing this assembly early this morning."

That explained it.

"We had a surprise last night with Gen. Luis Smith being given orders to Alaska," he said. "It was short notice but we now have a new Commander and she would like to say some words. I want you all to welcome Brig. Gen. Rita Rea."

I sat now bored. This was going to be a speech about how she plans on making some changes, how she's here to make everyone's life better, her office is always open. I was a military brat, I've been to a bunch of these.

It got interesting when I saw her stand up and saw how short she was. I was kind of far up in the stands but I think she was Asian or Mexican, it could be hard to tell some times.

"Hello," she addressed the room. "I'm Brig. Gen. Rita Rea and I've been assigned as the new Commander for this Base."

And the speech pretty much went like I expected. Nothing really out of the ordinary. She announced some missions that had fallen on her desk and she would be posting for volunteers within the week. She also announced, for us students, changes to the curriculum. Nothing really out of the ordinary.

-New York, Ny-

New York City, NY. Home of the Red Ranger. Also home of the future Middle Weight Champion of the UFC. As soon as I could get a submission accepted. Last year when I graduated high school I promised that by know I would be a professional Fighter. That didn't quite work out.

If one I could use my Ranger powers on the match. Damn would I kick ass. But then that would give me away and probably get me in trouble. NYPD already has a warrant out for my arrest. Vigilantes aren't exactly legal. I say if the laws weren't designed to protect the criminal then I wouldn't have to be out there every night protecting innocent bystanders from crooks, rapist, and murderers. I praise the day I got that power ring. Who knows where I would be today, and I don't want to find out.

August 29, 1993. I was again out of work. I was fighting in local tournaments and shows. I'd sometimes do wrestling to pay the bills. I also did temp work, working warehouses and stuff. I didn't want to take any permanent job for fear it would interfere with my fighting. So all I had to do that morning was watch TV.

I had gotten in late from a really boring night of patrolling. Every call I intercepted that night was gone by the time I got there or cops were already on scene. So I got home around 6am and passed out on the couch with the TV on.

I woke up only an hour later to the news coverage of some meteor crash in L.A. I tried to fall back to sleep but it struck my interest. "When did this happen?" I thought. "Where in L.A?" "Was anyone hurt?"

Pretty soon I just sat up and watched. I had a VCR set up in at all times to record in case something like this came on the news. My early version of a TiVo. So I grabbed my remote and pressed record. I watched and they explained how no one was hurt and officials were checking the area. Clean up was in progress and the meteor had been moved to a nearby government facility.

But then I caught something in the background. Blue Ranger. I jumped out of my seat and leaned forward, but they changed angles. I waited for them to cut back but they cut to commercial instead. So I stopped recording and pressed play. I rewinded to the spot and it was blurry but definitely looked like Blue Ranger.

What was he doing in L.A.? That was Pink's city. Whatever it was, it appeared this crash was more than it appeared to be.

I had nothing tying me down here. So I decided to find out for myself. I went to the Air Port and bought a ticket to L.A.

-Chicago-

And finally me. Trini. The Yellow Ranger. And yes I am cliché. I protect China Town in Chicago, IL. But my reasons for such a decision is mainly 'cause this part of town is rarely policed by the CPD and crime runs ramped.

How I ended up in L.A. was slightly different to the rest. I didn't hear about the meteor crash. I was busy. Tracking a mysterious man who was investigating me.

I had caught wind of it by a local snitch of mine. It all started when I stopped a robbery of a neighborhood Check Cash.

"Hands up," yelled the robber.

A couple years later I would find the surveillance tape on an episode of "America's Dumbest Criminals." But I digress.

He aims the gun at the bullet proof glass. Now I'm not here yet but from watch it on TV I saw him. At this point it is as if he notices how stupid he looks. Now from the angle of the camera you can see the girl behind the counter lower her hand carefully and push the button. Now give it about 10 seconds and that is when I heard the call and I wasn't that far away.

So then, realizing what a lack of a threat he was he quickly grabs Liu Xiang, my snitch who was cowering in a corner. The robber puts the gun to Liu's head and begins making threats to shoot Liu if the money isn't given to him.

After an exchange of words and the robber shooting a shot to the floor, to display his seriousness, you see the girl gather the money and make her way to the door to the lobby. The robber starts walking over to meet her at the door which is parallel to the front door. The girl cracks the door open when I come flying in using the jets in my boots. The girl dives back into the room, Liu is knocked to the floor as I grab the robber by the head and slam him into the bullet proof glass knocking him out cold.

It was your regular hooray. The press arrived and interviewed me. The public praised me. Then I could hear the sirens which meant I had to leave. Cops hated being shown how worthless they are.

But I wasn't done. I caught up with Liu in the alley.

"You alright," I asked.

"Jes, Jes," Liu said. He had a strong accent. "I need to talk to jou. There is a man looking for jou."

"Who," I asked curiously. Why would someone be looking for me?

"I don't know," Liu answered shaking his head. He always looked nervous. "He was asking if I knew who you were, and then asking me tings like where you go and where I see you."

"You know where he is now," I asked.

Liu handed me a card to a hotel, "He said if I found you to call him here."

It was a Holiday Inn just outside of China Town.

The next morning, I was posted on the roof top across the street from the entrance. I had Liu at my side to point him out. Around 10:00am he walked out.

"That's him," He pointed.

He was bald, looked to be about 6'5 300lbs. He was a big boy.

"Thanks," I said to Liu as I ran to get to the bottom.

Whoever it was he was entering a cab and I didn't want to miss him. I had my car parked downstairs, so I powered down, jumped in my car and followed the cab.

He led me to the Air Port. I followed him in my civvies to the Los Angeles terminal. I was at a dilemma. I had no money to buy a ticket. I was broke. I just spent most of my money for some new shoes. But I had my Dad's credit card. "For emergency use only," he told me.

I think this constituted an emergency. So I bought it.

-Los Angeles-

Angel Grove wasn't that far from L.A. so I jumped in my car and drove my happy ass to the site. Like Jason would tell me later, I also saw the Blue Ranger in the news segment and was curious what he was up to.

When I met Bill for the first time I knew he was a smart guy, so he wouldn't be invading Kim's turf for no reason.

I had some loose ends to tie up before I left. I was a single guy so I had to pay my rent, pay my bills. It was the end of the month and I wasn't sure how long this was all going to take. I wanted a roof and electricity when I got back. I worked for a Dot-Com Company at the time so my laptop was my job. This was way before the bubble so it was a good living.

I ended up arriving pretty late. There they all were arguing.

"What are you all doing here," yelled Pink.

"I came here 'cause I saw Blue make an appearance on the morning news," said Red.

I decided to make that my intro. "That's funny," I said walking towards the group. "That's why I came."

Everyone looked back as I entered the circle.

"Jesus," yelled Pink. "The Black one too?"

"Is that a racist statement," I blurted out.

There was a moment of silence and then I realized why.

"Are you really black," Yellow asked with a laugh that told me she already made her conclusion. I heard chuckles amongst the rest.

I got a bit defensive and fired back, "So what, you're probably yellow 'cause you're Asian."

Yellow got quiet then it was my turn to laugh, "Ha! You are!"

Red quickly took control, "Alright, alright, Black's black 'cause he's black. Yellow's yellow cause she's Asian. Pink's pink cause she's a brat…"

"Hey," yelled Pink.

Red just continued down the line, "Blue's probably blue cause he never gets laid, and I'm Red 'cause I'm a hot stud. "

"Fuck you," I said.

Red just ignored me and went on listening to himself talk, "We came here 'cause we all were curious about this meteor thing."

"It wasn't a meteor," Pink again with the yelling. "Why won't anyone listen to me?"

"Pink says it was an object of some kind," Blue explained.

"It looked like a dumpster," Pink said. "One of those old silver ones with the lid."

Red laughed, "Maybe someone was just throwing out the trash at the space station."

He made everyone else laugh causing Pink to pout and cross her arms.

"But seriously," Blue said. "Something weird is going on. They cleaned this mess up way to fast and the news says there were no injuries but when I was here this morning I saw them taking out a bunch of body bags."

"How many," Red asked.

"I saw 6 or 7 but there could have been more," Blue explained. "Plus I found blood on some of the trees around here."

Yellow tapped her foot impatiently then spoke up, "This is great and I wish you all good luck with this. I'm going to go. I actually didn't know anything about this. I was following someone and they led me here. I kind of lost them."

Everyone looked at each other. We all seem to get the same feeling. Blue just put it in perspective.

"Someone conveniently led you here," he asked.

And as if on cue a large man stepped out of the darkness. We all turned startled, caught off guard. He had one arm raised in surrender and the other pouring water out of a bottle over his head. It was cold outside so it couldn't be the heat.

"I didn't mean to scare you," he said. "I'm here as a friend." He wore a long black trench coat with the collars all wet.

Of course Red stepped forward to speak, "What do you want?"

I heard Yellow whisper to Red, "That's the guy I was following."

He whispered back, "Yeah, I figured."

"My name is Zordon," he introduced himself. "Those coins you are using are mine."