Author's Note: This is my first fanfic! While I'm very excited to finally have my ideas down on paper, I know that there is much room for improvement. Constructive criticism is much appreciated.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except my own crazy ideas. Power Rangers? Certainly not mine. :-)

The Falcon Oracle

Chapter 1

He shuddered violently as he stumbled along the edge of the lake, trying to keep his eyes focused on his destination. He had almost reached the stone ledge at the water's edge when his legs betrayed him and he fell face first into the sand. Cursing loudly, he pulled himself up on his forearms and used a mock army crawl to travel the remaining few feet. Once he felt the cold, hard stone beneath his fingertips, he pulled himself up to a sitting position. Cold sweat streamed down his face and back, causing him to shiver. He used one hand to push a damp strand of dark hair out of his eyes while using his other to brace himself against the ridge. His breath was coming in short gasps, and his vision was blurred with his own tears.

He used one shaky hand to pull a folded piece of paper from his pocket. He sighed as he opened it and read it to himself for what felt like the millionth time that day.

…hardest letter I've ever had to write… in some ways like a brother… met someone else… Please forgive me.

Squinting, he was only able to make out parts of the letter between his shudders and tears. The last line in the letter still pulled his breath from his chest, and for a moment he thought for sure he would suffocate. This letter had caused this same reaction each time he had read it that day. His tears started to fall, and he began to tremble violently. A sickening feeling overcame him, and he leaned over and placed his head on his knees to keep himself from throwing up.

White bolts of energy started emanating from his chest and working their way down his arms and legs. He couldn't stop shaking now, and it was all he could do to keep from screaming in agony. The energy bolts made their way down to his fingertips and leapt to the ground below. He used every fiber of strength to keep his body under control, which was now convulsing uncontrollably.

And then, as soon as it began, the white beams stopped. He slumped with exhaustion and took several deep breaths to regain his composure. Then he pulled himself to his feet. The trembling, sweating and blurry vision had all faded away, but they had been replaced with an empty, gut-wrenching feeling in his chest. He was fairly certain he knew what just happened, but he had better check with Billy and Zordon. Fast.

Tommy Oliver had just lost the power of the Falcon Oracle.

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Eight Years Later

Dr. Thomas Oliver couldn't help but smile at the sight before him. He watched from behind a computer screen at Hayley's cyber café as Trent, Ethan and Connor had an animated discussion that he was all too familiar with. Trent was nervous about asking Kira out, and the other two boys were actively trying to persuade him that Kira would undoubtedly say yes.

"Penny for your thoughts, stranger," said a voice behind him.

Tommy turned to find Hayley, standing with one hand on her hip and the other holding a rag to wipe down the tables. The look on her face was a mix between anger and relief, and Tommy knew he was receiving that look because it had been quite a while since he had stopped in just to say 'hi.' These days, the only time he and Hayley got to talk was when they were talking ranger business, and Tommy could honestly say he missed their 2am powwows about Tommy's latest romantic mishap or Hayley's current scientific venture.

"Oh, I was just watching Connor and Ethan bully Trent into asking Kira out," Tommy replied. "It brings back old memories."

"Oh yeah? Good memories or bad ones?"

Tommy frowned. "I don't know. I guess that's what I was trying to figure out. Part of me wants to grab Trent and tell him to stay far away and avoid having his heart ripped to shreds."

"Only part of you?" Hayley said in a facetious tone as she started to wipe a nearby table. "What does the other part of you think?"

"The other part of me wants to relive these parts of my life vicariously through him."

Hayley rolled her eyes and tossed the damp rag at Tommy. "You're such a hopeless romantic."

Tommy tossed the rag back and sighed. "I sure used to be. I don't know, anymore."

"Getting cynical in your old age?" Hayley said with a giggle.

"I guess."

After a brief silent moment, Hayley decided this conversation was over, and it was time for shop talk. "I was worried when I didn't hear from you guys yesterday."

"Why's that?" Tommy answered as he redirected his attention to the computer screen.

"Well, I heard about the tyranodrone attack on the news," she whispered. "They said you guys took care of them, but I didn't hear anything about a monster. And then, I didn't hear from any of you afterwards. It was just weird."

Tommy shook his head. Lots of strange things had happened lately. About two weeks prior, they had started picking up some strange energy readings from the remains of the original command center. This had happened occasionally over the past eight years, but in the last two weeks the readings were much stronger and almost constant. When the readings started showing up in Hayley's energy scans, Tommy had hiked to the spot in the mountains where the command center once stood. Time had long concealed the remains, and anyone who passed the ruins now would never know the significance of the force buried there. Tommy spent most of the day there meditating and reminiscing, but he found nothing out of the ordinary, and he returned to the lab that evening and told Hayley that nothing was amiss.

Then the tyranodrone attacks started. Not that this was out of the ordinary for the Dino Thunder team, but what was strange happened after each attack – nothing. Tommy knew as a veteran ranger that when the evil armies were dispatched – whether they were putties, tengas, cogs, or tyranodrones – a monster attack was sure to follow. However, that hadn't happened in the last few weeks. Just a handful of drones that fought and then retreated quickly. Neither Tommy nor Hayley could come up with an explanation or possible motive for such attacks, putting them in the uncomfortable position of waiting like sitting ducks for whatever plan Mesogog had to come to light.

"I don't know, Hayley. Something is definitely up… I just don't know what." He sighed, signed off of the computer and stood to leave. "I'll let you know if anything pops up."

"Okay. I'll probably swing by later to do some more in-depth energy scans in the lab. If there's something lurking out there, we'll want to find it before it finds us."

Tommy nodded and headed for the door of the café.

"Hey!" Hayley called after him. "What's up with you lately? You seem… off."

Tommy turned and shrugged. "I guess I'm feeling nostalgic. It'll pass. It always does." And with that he headed for the parking lot and took the short drive home.