MMPR AU Mini-Series
.............................
Author's notes: Saban owned them, now Disney does. Theirs, not mine; just here for your amusement. Next, this takes us back to 1993 before "Green With Evil." Also, this AU has Tommy has Jason's adopted brother and the Rangers start off as sophomores, not freshmen. Other alterations will be obvious as the story progresses. Finally, the first paragraph at the beginning of each chapter that's written in first person serves as a voice-over, the identity of that person to be revealed later. That's it!! R&R please!!
.............................
Chapter 01
Hi. I want to tell you about the greatest kids ever. Also the most brave, responsible, and kind bunch I've ever met. Zack, Kimberly, Billy, Trini, and Jason; the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Always triumphing over Rita Repulsa's monsters, always striving to secure our world. Howbeit, Angel Grove and the rest of the world wondered if the day would come if the Power Rangers wouldn't be able to save us. That was the question to be answered one fateful afternoon as you will soon learn...
.............................
A sleepy-eyed Jason Scott came down stairs still dressed in his red flannel pajama pants at the late morning hour of 11 A.M. The long paper banner he helped Kimberly make last night was taped alongside the banister reading in large green letters: Welcome home, Tommy. Karen Scott looked up from her duties in the kitchen and shook her head disapprovingly of her son's lackadaisical state.
"Jason, please hun, I need you to get ready soon before you father gets home with Tommy," Karen said continuing to pour the cake batter into the pan.
"I will, ma," Jason answered, flopping haphazardly on the couch.
He reached for the remote and turned on the television. The returning tune from Sports Center blared from the surround sound, nearly sending the bowl of chocolate cake mix out of Mrs. Scott's hands.
"JASON," his mother seethed.
"Sorry," Jason said lowering the volume.
The doorbell rang. Then again a second later, finished with a lingering third.
"Wow, she's just a tad early," Mrs. Scott said wiping her hands off on the dishtowel. "Jason, please go upstairs and put a shirt on. You don't want to give Kimmy any ideas."
"Funny, ma. It's not like she hasn't seen me without one before," Jason said getting up to obey his mother.
Jason returned a minute later with a plain white tee on. Kimberly was already seated at the kitchen counter talking with his mother.
"Mornin'," said Jason.
"Nice do," Kim said brushing her hand through the teen's messy black hair.
"Ahem. Jason was just going to get ready to hop in the shower and change, weren't you?" Mrs. Scott said looking to her son with a semi-venomous stare.
"I guess," Jason said looking to Kim. "What are you doing here? The party isn't until 12:30 or so."
"Yeah I know," Kim gleamed, almost embarrassed. "I'm just so excited that Tommy's coming home. We all are. Aren't you?"
"Of course. He's my brother. I'm just not expecting much."
"Jason, now cut that out," Karen said checking on the oven. "Judge not less ye be judged."
"There she goes again," Jason murmured to Kim.
Kimberly giggled, but was cut short from the familiar sequence of beeps from her wrist communicator.
"There's that noise again," Mrs. Scott said shooting her head up. "Are those watches of yours the latest fad or something?"
"Totally," Kim answered promptly and confidently.
"Look, Kim and I need to go do something real quick. We'll be back in a few minutes," Jason said already heading out.
"Nah uh, mister. Shower and change. You're not leaving the house like that."
Jason started to protest, but Kimberly intervened.
"Uh, how about I go take care of it and you join me when you're ready. Deal?" Kim offered trying her best to sound conspicuous.
Jason accepted almost immediately knowing no other option was available. He bolted upstairs to the bathroom while Kimberly left casually out the front. The Pink Ranger checked around the bend for any prying eyes or ears.
"Kim here. Sorry about the delay, guys," Kimberly said into her communicator.
"Kimberly, Rita has let loose Goldar and the Putty Patrol in Angel Grove Park. We need you and Jason there at once," briefed Zordon.
"I'm on my way, but Jason will be along shortly."
"Very well then. May the power protect you."
The transmission ended. Kim scanned the area once more as she drew the silver device from her back jean pocket.
"It's morphin' time! Pterodactyl!"
.............................
"Kee-yah!" Black Ranger hollered throwing a kick into Goldar's side.
Yellow and Blue together flew through the sky with blade blasters set on auto, creating a hailstorm of lasers for the Putty Patrol. Goldar took his sword and connected with Black's Power Axe and threw up a kick to counter. Zack flew back several feet and bounced up just as quickly.
"Give up?" Goldar asked through his arrogant snicker.
"Yeah right! Cosmic cannon!" Black said spinning his Axe around to convert to blaster mode.
Dark purple orbs of lasers flew at Goldar like baseballs at a batting cage. The golden warrior reflected all but one of Black Ranger's attacks away with his mighty sword.
"There's too many of them!" Billy said holstering his blade in exchange for his Power Lance.
"They just won't quit today," Trini added coming back to back with Blue.
"Mind if I cut through?" a voice called out as a fire storm of arrows plowed down a trio of Putties.
Pink Ranger landed effortlessly and joined her ailing team members.
"Sorry I'm late," Kim said offering apologies.
"Just in time!" Trini said touching her friend's shoulder.
Zack's yell caught their attention as the last of the Putty Patrol went in for one last attempt to overthrow the teenage superheroes. Goldar's sword connected with the Power Axe again as Zack fell flat on his back trying to keep Rita's minion from driving his blade through his neck.
.............................
Finishing his briefing with Zordon, Jason rushed out his bedroom still dressing himself on the way downstairs. Looping his belt, he grabbed his red and white Converse sneakers with his free hand and slipped them on. His mother was still at the counter and was talking on the phone when she saw the rush her son was in.
"Hold on a sec. Jason, where's the fire?" Mrs. Scott asked.
"I really got to go, ma. I'll be back soon. Love you."
"Love you, too," Jason's mother chuckled at her son's erratic behavior.
Jason placed hand to knob, but was stopped again.
"Oh Jason, hold on a moment. Since you're going out, I need you to get two key lime pies from Ernie's."
"Ma, I don't have time!"
"Jason, it's for your brother. You know he likes that. Would you please?"
Jason couldn't argue and couldn't stay any longer to talk.
"FINE," Jason said shutting the door behind him rather loudly.
"Golly," Karen said into the phone again. "Never seen him so anxious to go talk to Kimmy. Sometimes I wonder what those two are up to."
.............................
"We need Jason!" Kim yelled as she and the others struggled to get up following the slingshot of fire Goldar produced from his sword.
"Someone call for me?"
A red streak of energy flew down and peeled away, revealing the Red Ranger and his Power Sword. The weapon sliced down Goldar's and caused the space alien to tumble back thanks to the force of Jase's speedy entrance.
"Curse you, human!" Goldar cried out as he stumbled up to his feet.
"You guys alright?" Red asked his team.
"We'll be fine," said Zack.
"I say we lock 'em up and take care of Goldar for good!" Jason said referring to their power weapons.
"Not so fast, Rangers!" Goldar said raising his sword into the air. "Empress, I request the power!"
"What power?" Kim asked Billy, as if the teen in blue would somehow hold the answer.
Red-colored lightning came between the clouds and wholly consumed Goldar. Jason and the other raised their weapons in defense as Goldar received an upgrade to his battle armor. The alien's chest plate was large and round. His shoulder armor had long piercing spikes as did the armor protecting his calves. His face too was covered with a golden mask of armor, almost resembling that of a minotaur. A shield also occupied his other hand.
"How do you like my new outfit, Rangers?" asked Goldar.
"It's gaudy and ugly!" snapped Kimberly.
"Fear me, Rangers! Today is the day my great empress Rita takes over your worthless planet!"
"If it's so worthless, then why does she want it?" Zack quipped.
"Silence!"
Goldar produced another round of golden fire and distributed it to each Ranger. The five fell back in a shower of sparks flying out of their power suits.
"Now's not the time for jokes," Trini advised.
"Right," Zack concurred.
Jason stumbled up first with his sword clenched tight in his hands.
"I don't have time for this! Let's go, Goldy Locks! Just me and you!"
"Ha ha! Foolish human! You cannot defeat me!"
.............................
The halls of the moon palace echoed with the cackling of one space witch known as Rita Repulsa. A magnified eye could be seen through the lens of the Repulsascope as the empress of evil watched attentively the battle on Earth.
"All is going to plan!" Rita announced to her underlings cowered in the background.
"What's going on, your evilness?" Baboo inquired.
"Yeah, what's the scoop?" asked Squatt.
"Goldar has those Rangers on the ropes. Hehe, yes. I believe I should go ahead and crush them while I can!"
"Brilliant! Brilliant!" cooed Baboo.
"Magic Wand! Make my Goldar grow!"
.............................
Karen Scott walked out her bedroom fresh from the shower and changed for Tommy's welcome home party. She bore a red buttoned blouse and a conservative black skirt and the Sterling silver earrings Tommy had given her the Christmas before he was sent away. Karen deeply missed her son and held the same love for him she had before the trouble he had gotten himself involved with. Boot camp was the last decision she and her husband Daniel wanted to resort to, but it had to be done or they would lose Tommy forever. Karen herself resorted to religion in the difficult time not knowing how to deal with things on her own anymore. The crucifix charm dangling from her bracelet served as a confirmation of her faith.
"Jason?" Mrs. Scott called from downstairs. "Jason? Hun, you home?"
Karen checked the garage next, as her son and his friends often hung out there on occasion.
"Where is that boy? Tommy's friends will be here soon and so will Tommy," Mrs. Scott said looking at her watch. "He better not forget those pies."
Without warning, the ground shook. On instinct, Karen darted under the nearest doorway for safety. The brief tremor could only mean one thing. She hurried to the living room and turned on the television. Sure enough the Power Rangers were in their Megazord fighting the monster of the week.
"Wonderful," Karen said sitting down gently. "Of all the days in the week, the monster chose today. Lord, I hope Jason's careful out there and not anywhere near that mess."
.............................
"Be careful, Jase!" Zack warned as another round of sparks flew around in the Megazord cockpit.
"Don't worry, man. I got this. Helmet defense, fire!"
White energy collected and disbursed from the tip of the Megazord headpiece. Goldar reacted in time and reflected it back at the multi-colored mecha.
"Mammoth shield!" Black Ranger summoned.
The head of the Mastodon zord materialized and reflected away their returned energy blast without a second to spare. The laser eventually disbursed and flittered down like an exploding star in the cosmos.
"Billy, power report!" demanded Jason.
"Negative outlook. We can't keep going back and forth with Goldar like this or we'll completely diminish the zord's own power and have to switch to solar," Blue Ranger explained.
"And by the looks of the sky, it's fixing to rain," Kimberly noted.
"Do we have enough for the sword?" Jason inquired.
"Positive, but if that doesn't work, we'll be what Zack says so elegantly."
"You mean screwed?" asked Black.
"Affirmative," said Blue.
"Then let's wrap this up!" Jason ordered. "Ready, guys?!"
"Ready!" was their collective response.
Five right hands raised up and came down in a synchronized swiping motion, signaling Megazord to do the same with the Power Sword. A fury of energy gathered in the Megazord weapon and flew forward at Goldar, completely dismantling the armor from the warrior's body.
"Dead on!" Jason hooted.
"I'll be back and stronger than ever! Count on it!"
Goldar nabbed his sword and teleported away.
"Good job, guys!" Red said congratulating his team.
The lights in the Megazord cockpit started to wane.
"Man, Billy. You weren't kidding about the power level," said Zack.
"No, I wasn't. This has never happened before. Strange," Billy added.
A cackle of lightning shot across the sky. The skies rumbled and began to poor down the inevitable midday shower.
"Let's return them to their hiding places and go before anything else happens. Tommy's coming home soon. We better get going."
.............................
By now a small group of Tommy's friend had arrived and were talking amongst themselves and snacking on triscuits and cheese squares in the living room. The rain was coming down pretty hard now. Karen stood silent, but inside was growing worried the longer it took for her husband and sons to return home. The day was not turning out the way she had hoped. First it was Jason's prolonged absence, then the monster attack, now a dreadful looking storm.
A red Ford truck pulled into the driveway right then, giving Karen the piece of mind she desperately needed.
"Tommy's home, guys!" Mrs. Scott called out to her son's friends. "My baby's home."
.............................
"Man, this bites," Zack said as he and the others ran for the nearest cover.
Each teen was wet, but not by much as their selection of teleportation landing spots were severely limited thanks to the current conditions. They were in central Angel Grove and not in walking distance to Jason's house.
"Now what?" Kim asked letting loose her hair from her pink scrunchie to dry out.
"We'll just have to wait for the bus to take us to the front of my subdivision I guess," Jason said sitting down on the empty gray bench. "My mom's gonna be disappointed if I'm not there when Tommy walks in."
"As long as you come home safe and in one piece, I'm sure she'll be fine," Trini said taking a seat next to the brooding fifteen year old.
"Usually after a Megazord fight you're a pretty chipper guy, Jase," Zack said sitting down next. "Something else bugging you?"
The stare of his four best friends easily broke the Ranger leader.
"It's Tommy," Jason confessed. "I don't know. I guess I don't know what to think. I love him. He's my brother. I hope he learned a lot from boot camp, but somehow I don't think anything can change the kid."
"Jase, you gotta have faith in him," Kim said sitting down on Jason's other side. "He wasn't always that way. He made some mistakes. We all have."
"Not those kind. Anyone here get addicted? Anyone? How about skipping school three to four times a week? Zack? Trini?"
"We get it, Jase. You have your doubts," Zack said diffusing the building tirade.
"I just need to see to believe. That's all."
.............................
Author's notes: Saban owned them, now Disney does. Theirs, not mine; just here for your amusement. Next, this takes us back to 1993 before "Green With Evil." Also, this AU has Tommy has Jason's adopted brother and the Rangers start off as sophomores, not freshmen. Other alterations will be obvious as the story progresses. Finally, the first paragraph at the beginning of each chapter that's written in first person serves as a voice-over, the identity of that person to be revealed later. That's it!! R&R please!!
.............................
Chapter 01
Hi. I want to tell you about the greatest kids ever. Also the most brave, responsible, and kind bunch I've ever met. Zack, Kimberly, Billy, Trini, and Jason; the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Always triumphing over Rita Repulsa's monsters, always striving to secure our world. Howbeit, Angel Grove and the rest of the world wondered if the day would come if the Power Rangers wouldn't be able to save us. That was the question to be answered one fateful afternoon as you will soon learn...
.............................
A sleepy-eyed Jason Scott came down stairs still dressed in his red flannel pajama pants at the late morning hour of 11 A.M. The long paper banner he helped Kimberly make last night was taped alongside the banister reading in large green letters: Welcome home, Tommy. Karen Scott looked up from her duties in the kitchen and shook her head disapprovingly of her son's lackadaisical state.
"Jason, please hun, I need you to get ready soon before you father gets home with Tommy," Karen said continuing to pour the cake batter into the pan.
"I will, ma," Jason answered, flopping haphazardly on the couch.
He reached for the remote and turned on the television. The returning tune from Sports Center blared from the surround sound, nearly sending the bowl of chocolate cake mix out of Mrs. Scott's hands.
"JASON," his mother seethed.
"Sorry," Jason said lowering the volume.
The doorbell rang. Then again a second later, finished with a lingering third.
"Wow, she's just a tad early," Mrs. Scott said wiping her hands off on the dishtowel. "Jason, please go upstairs and put a shirt on. You don't want to give Kimmy any ideas."
"Funny, ma. It's not like she hasn't seen me without one before," Jason said getting up to obey his mother.
Jason returned a minute later with a plain white tee on. Kimberly was already seated at the kitchen counter talking with his mother.
"Mornin'," said Jason.
"Nice do," Kim said brushing her hand through the teen's messy black hair.
"Ahem. Jason was just going to get ready to hop in the shower and change, weren't you?" Mrs. Scott said looking to her son with a semi-venomous stare.
"I guess," Jason said looking to Kim. "What are you doing here? The party isn't until 12:30 or so."
"Yeah I know," Kim gleamed, almost embarrassed. "I'm just so excited that Tommy's coming home. We all are. Aren't you?"
"Of course. He's my brother. I'm just not expecting much."
"Jason, now cut that out," Karen said checking on the oven. "Judge not less ye be judged."
"There she goes again," Jason murmured to Kim.
Kimberly giggled, but was cut short from the familiar sequence of beeps from her wrist communicator.
"There's that noise again," Mrs. Scott said shooting her head up. "Are those watches of yours the latest fad or something?"
"Totally," Kim answered promptly and confidently.
"Look, Kim and I need to go do something real quick. We'll be back in a few minutes," Jason said already heading out.
"Nah uh, mister. Shower and change. You're not leaving the house like that."
Jason started to protest, but Kimberly intervened.
"Uh, how about I go take care of it and you join me when you're ready. Deal?" Kim offered trying her best to sound conspicuous.
Jason accepted almost immediately knowing no other option was available. He bolted upstairs to the bathroom while Kimberly left casually out the front. The Pink Ranger checked around the bend for any prying eyes or ears.
"Kim here. Sorry about the delay, guys," Kimberly said into her communicator.
"Kimberly, Rita has let loose Goldar and the Putty Patrol in Angel Grove Park. We need you and Jason there at once," briefed Zordon.
"I'm on my way, but Jason will be along shortly."
"Very well then. May the power protect you."
The transmission ended. Kim scanned the area once more as she drew the silver device from her back jean pocket.
"It's morphin' time! Pterodactyl!"
.............................
"Kee-yah!" Black Ranger hollered throwing a kick into Goldar's side.
Yellow and Blue together flew through the sky with blade blasters set on auto, creating a hailstorm of lasers for the Putty Patrol. Goldar took his sword and connected with Black's Power Axe and threw up a kick to counter. Zack flew back several feet and bounced up just as quickly.
"Give up?" Goldar asked through his arrogant snicker.
"Yeah right! Cosmic cannon!" Black said spinning his Axe around to convert to blaster mode.
Dark purple orbs of lasers flew at Goldar like baseballs at a batting cage. The golden warrior reflected all but one of Black Ranger's attacks away with his mighty sword.
"There's too many of them!" Billy said holstering his blade in exchange for his Power Lance.
"They just won't quit today," Trini added coming back to back with Blue.
"Mind if I cut through?" a voice called out as a fire storm of arrows plowed down a trio of Putties.
Pink Ranger landed effortlessly and joined her ailing team members.
"Sorry I'm late," Kim said offering apologies.
"Just in time!" Trini said touching her friend's shoulder.
Zack's yell caught their attention as the last of the Putty Patrol went in for one last attempt to overthrow the teenage superheroes. Goldar's sword connected with the Power Axe again as Zack fell flat on his back trying to keep Rita's minion from driving his blade through his neck.
.............................
Finishing his briefing with Zordon, Jason rushed out his bedroom still dressing himself on the way downstairs. Looping his belt, he grabbed his red and white Converse sneakers with his free hand and slipped them on. His mother was still at the counter and was talking on the phone when she saw the rush her son was in.
"Hold on a sec. Jason, where's the fire?" Mrs. Scott asked.
"I really got to go, ma. I'll be back soon. Love you."
"Love you, too," Jason's mother chuckled at her son's erratic behavior.
Jason placed hand to knob, but was stopped again.
"Oh Jason, hold on a moment. Since you're going out, I need you to get two key lime pies from Ernie's."
"Ma, I don't have time!"
"Jason, it's for your brother. You know he likes that. Would you please?"
Jason couldn't argue and couldn't stay any longer to talk.
"FINE," Jason said shutting the door behind him rather loudly.
"Golly," Karen said into the phone again. "Never seen him so anxious to go talk to Kimmy. Sometimes I wonder what those two are up to."
.............................
"We need Jason!" Kim yelled as she and the others struggled to get up following the slingshot of fire Goldar produced from his sword.
"Someone call for me?"
A red streak of energy flew down and peeled away, revealing the Red Ranger and his Power Sword. The weapon sliced down Goldar's and caused the space alien to tumble back thanks to the force of Jase's speedy entrance.
"Curse you, human!" Goldar cried out as he stumbled up to his feet.
"You guys alright?" Red asked his team.
"We'll be fine," said Zack.
"I say we lock 'em up and take care of Goldar for good!" Jason said referring to their power weapons.
"Not so fast, Rangers!" Goldar said raising his sword into the air. "Empress, I request the power!"
"What power?" Kim asked Billy, as if the teen in blue would somehow hold the answer.
Red-colored lightning came between the clouds and wholly consumed Goldar. Jason and the other raised their weapons in defense as Goldar received an upgrade to his battle armor. The alien's chest plate was large and round. His shoulder armor had long piercing spikes as did the armor protecting his calves. His face too was covered with a golden mask of armor, almost resembling that of a minotaur. A shield also occupied his other hand.
"How do you like my new outfit, Rangers?" asked Goldar.
"It's gaudy and ugly!" snapped Kimberly.
"Fear me, Rangers! Today is the day my great empress Rita takes over your worthless planet!"
"If it's so worthless, then why does she want it?" Zack quipped.
"Silence!"
Goldar produced another round of golden fire and distributed it to each Ranger. The five fell back in a shower of sparks flying out of their power suits.
"Now's not the time for jokes," Trini advised.
"Right," Zack concurred.
Jason stumbled up first with his sword clenched tight in his hands.
"I don't have time for this! Let's go, Goldy Locks! Just me and you!"
"Ha ha! Foolish human! You cannot defeat me!"
.............................
The halls of the moon palace echoed with the cackling of one space witch known as Rita Repulsa. A magnified eye could be seen through the lens of the Repulsascope as the empress of evil watched attentively the battle on Earth.
"All is going to plan!" Rita announced to her underlings cowered in the background.
"What's going on, your evilness?" Baboo inquired.
"Yeah, what's the scoop?" asked Squatt.
"Goldar has those Rangers on the ropes. Hehe, yes. I believe I should go ahead and crush them while I can!"
"Brilliant! Brilliant!" cooed Baboo.
"Magic Wand! Make my Goldar grow!"
.............................
Karen Scott walked out her bedroom fresh from the shower and changed for Tommy's welcome home party. She bore a red buttoned blouse and a conservative black skirt and the Sterling silver earrings Tommy had given her the Christmas before he was sent away. Karen deeply missed her son and held the same love for him she had before the trouble he had gotten himself involved with. Boot camp was the last decision she and her husband Daniel wanted to resort to, but it had to be done or they would lose Tommy forever. Karen herself resorted to religion in the difficult time not knowing how to deal with things on her own anymore. The crucifix charm dangling from her bracelet served as a confirmation of her faith.
"Jason?" Mrs. Scott called from downstairs. "Jason? Hun, you home?"
Karen checked the garage next, as her son and his friends often hung out there on occasion.
"Where is that boy? Tommy's friends will be here soon and so will Tommy," Mrs. Scott said looking at her watch. "He better not forget those pies."
Without warning, the ground shook. On instinct, Karen darted under the nearest doorway for safety. The brief tremor could only mean one thing. She hurried to the living room and turned on the television. Sure enough the Power Rangers were in their Megazord fighting the monster of the week.
"Wonderful," Karen said sitting down gently. "Of all the days in the week, the monster chose today. Lord, I hope Jason's careful out there and not anywhere near that mess."
.............................
"Be careful, Jase!" Zack warned as another round of sparks flew around in the Megazord cockpit.
"Don't worry, man. I got this. Helmet defense, fire!"
White energy collected and disbursed from the tip of the Megazord headpiece. Goldar reacted in time and reflected it back at the multi-colored mecha.
"Mammoth shield!" Black Ranger summoned.
The head of the Mastodon zord materialized and reflected away their returned energy blast without a second to spare. The laser eventually disbursed and flittered down like an exploding star in the cosmos.
"Billy, power report!" demanded Jason.
"Negative outlook. We can't keep going back and forth with Goldar like this or we'll completely diminish the zord's own power and have to switch to solar," Blue Ranger explained.
"And by the looks of the sky, it's fixing to rain," Kimberly noted.
"Do we have enough for the sword?" Jason inquired.
"Positive, but if that doesn't work, we'll be what Zack says so elegantly."
"You mean screwed?" asked Black.
"Affirmative," said Blue.
"Then let's wrap this up!" Jason ordered. "Ready, guys?!"
"Ready!" was their collective response.
Five right hands raised up and came down in a synchronized swiping motion, signaling Megazord to do the same with the Power Sword. A fury of energy gathered in the Megazord weapon and flew forward at Goldar, completely dismantling the armor from the warrior's body.
"Dead on!" Jason hooted.
"I'll be back and stronger than ever! Count on it!"
Goldar nabbed his sword and teleported away.
"Good job, guys!" Red said congratulating his team.
The lights in the Megazord cockpit started to wane.
"Man, Billy. You weren't kidding about the power level," said Zack.
"No, I wasn't. This has never happened before. Strange," Billy added.
A cackle of lightning shot across the sky. The skies rumbled and began to poor down the inevitable midday shower.
"Let's return them to their hiding places and go before anything else happens. Tommy's coming home soon. We better get going."
.............................
By now a small group of Tommy's friend had arrived and were talking amongst themselves and snacking on triscuits and cheese squares in the living room. The rain was coming down pretty hard now. Karen stood silent, but inside was growing worried the longer it took for her husband and sons to return home. The day was not turning out the way she had hoped. First it was Jason's prolonged absence, then the monster attack, now a dreadful looking storm.
A red Ford truck pulled into the driveway right then, giving Karen the piece of mind she desperately needed.
"Tommy's home, guys!" Mrs. Scott called out to her son's friends. "My baby's home."
.............................
"Man, this bites," Zack said as he and the others ran for the nearest cover.
Each teen was wet, but not by much as their selection of teleportation landing spots were severely limited thanks to the current conditions. They were in central Angel Grove and not in walking distance to Jason's house.
"Now what?" Kim asked letting loose her hair from her pink scrunchie to dry out.
"We'll just have to wait for the bus to take us to the front of my subdivision I guess," Jason said sitting down on the empty gray bench. "My mom's gonna be disappointed if I'm not there when Tommy walks in."
"As long as you come home safe and in one piece, I'm sure she'll be fine," Trini said taking a seat next to the brooding fifteen year old.
"Usually after a Megazord fight you're a pretty chipper guy, Jase," Zack said sitting down next. "Something else bugging you?"
The stare of his four best friends easily broke the Ranger leader.
"It's Tommy," Jason confessed. "I don't know. I guess I don't know what to think. I love him. He's my brother. I hope he learned a lot from boot camp, but somehow I don't think anything can change the kid."
"Jase, you gotta have faith in him," Kim said sitting down on Jason's other side. "He wasn't always that way. He made some mistakes. We all have."
"Not those kind. Anyone here get addicted? Anyone? How about skipping school three to four times a week? Zack? Trini?"
"We get it, Jase. You have your doubts," Zack said diffusing the building tirade.
"I just need to see to believe. That's all."