Disclaimer/Acknowledgments: I don't own Power Rangers (obviously) or any characters (even more obvious)
The inspiration for this story comes from Panache's Five Girls Billy Never Kissed story #5 The Sweetest Thing. If you have not read this story I highly suggest it. The link is in both my author and story favorites if you'd like to see it.
Notes: Five Girls Billy Never Kissed was one of the first PR fanfics I ever read. I loved every chapter of it, but the one that affected me most was definitely the last one. Not only was the Billy/Aisha concept incredibly unique and exciting, it was deep and physiological. What I loved most of all was that these two characters would have to go through so much shit in order to get to the point where they could have a relationship. And of course the ultimate question of "Are they really in love?"
I mean this story as a tribute to the original. It is a jumping off point, and will largely follow the structure of the original story, but is not intended to be a direct retelling or recreation. I mean this solely as an interpretation on a theme.
As always, all critiques, criticisms and other forms of review are welcome.
So without further ado: On with the story!
*****
It took three passes over the mountain range to find the Command Center. He spotted in on the second pass, little more than a black crater between the sandy rocks. There were no signals, no signs, life electronic or otherwise to indicate he would find them here. He landed over the nearest flat and said a prayer before cutting the engine.
The sun was setting over the mountains when Billy finally entered the building that had once been his second home. For four years he'd given his life to this place and to the people inside. He'd known every bolt and strut, every wire and diode by heart. He'd designed and built much of it himself. He'd seen it destroyed and rebuilt once already and it almost killed him then. Now, as he entered the structure that held his fondest memories of his adolescence, he could feel his heart breaking all over again.
Please God don't let it be too late.
The message had arrived on Aquitar only days ago, but the timestamp was over six months old. It had been from Tommy, but it hadn't been sent from the Command Center, it had been sent from somewhere outside the solar system.
The message had been short. Simple and straight forward, the way Tommy always handled things.
"A new alien force is attacking Earth," he'd said. "The new Rangers are overwhelmed. We don't have enough power to overcome their weapons, we need help.
"Please come, Billy. I don't know how long we have, but if anyone can help it's you. Please come, my friend. We need you."
There had been a look in Tommy's eyes Billy had never seen before. Fear, fear beyond anything he'd faced before. So Billy had come.
Please, God don't let it be too late.
"Zordon? Alpha?"
He called the names softly at first with a cautious reverence of entering a temple or holy place.
When no one answered, he repeated them louder each time. He kept calling, long past the point when he logically knew he wouldn't get an answer. He kept calling, kept shouting because he knew once he stopped he'd never be able to say it again.
"Zordon! Alpha! Tommy! Kat! Rocky! Adam! Tanya!"
He called all their names in succession, chanting them like a mantra, calling their very spirits to his aid. He screamed their names until his voice was gone and he'd collapsed on the soot-covered floor. He screamed until the tears came and his body gave out. Until the shaking started and the grief surrounded him so close he was sure it would crush him to nothing and he'd die with them.
Still he said the names. Whispers in the silence between the sobs and spasms. Over and over until they were burned into the walls and floors and he could neither say, nor think anything else and he could almost believe he'd called their spirits back from the dead.
Or maybe his just went to join them.