Copyright: Power Rangers, the name and characters are owned by Saban Entertainment.
***One rainy day at Angel Grove University***
"Once again I am completely stunned by your ignorance, professor Cranston!" said Tommy Oliver to the crowd of university students and teachers, who were gathered for his presentation; and more specifically, to his rival: Professor Billy Cranston. "I'm willing to bet that if you weren't born in California, you would still be claiming that the world is flat!" he said, much to the amusement of the students.
"Doctor Oliver, I assure you that my views on your subject of a 'world where prehistoric creatures still exist' are widely shared amongst the rest of us!" Billy responded calmly from his seat.
"Just because you do not wish to admit that such a place could exist, does not mean that it is not possible!" Tommy continued to talk, as everyone in the audience was listening intently to his words, whether anyone believed him or not was another story. "I am talking about a world where prehistoric creatures like the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the Pterodactyl still exist and mingle amongst each other; and not only dinosaurs but other ancient beings like the Saber tooth Tiger and the Mastodon…"
"Um… excuse me?" One of his students raised his arm.
"Yes, Ethan?" Tommy responded.
"I don't mean to dismiss your claims Doctor O, but all these things you say… about ancient creatures that have somehow survived and living in this one plateau in the Amazon for millions of years, how do you think it is possible?"
"I am glad you asked me that question." Tommy said while opening up his laptop. "Over the past few months I have made several analyses that could possibly suggest that a miniature black hole had appeared somewhere in that region, which would have allowed these creatures to survive the cataclysms that whipped them out all these centuries ago..."
"Doctor Oliver this is absurd!" Billy interjected. "I think you have been reading too many comic books; even if SOMEHOW all this happened, could you please explain to us how for example creatures like the T-Rex, which were native to North America, somehow got to the Amazon?"
"I don't know that." Tommy admitted.
"But you know that they exist!"
"That I DO know!"
"Seriously! And do you have any proof to back up your arguments?" Billy asked.
"Yes I do! And I am thankful that you, at least, allowed me to hook up my laptop to the projector. Now if you would excuse me for a moment…" Tommy then took out a USB memory card from his pocket and inserted it into his laptop. "Ready! Now, professor Cranston, what do you say to this?" He opened the files and as soon as he showed the first photo half of the hall gasped, while the other laughed.
"Is that a Pterodactyl?" Ethan asked.
"That is correct, a Pterodactyl!" Tommy explained. "We all know that they were all extinct after the Cretaceous period, but here we have a photograph, that was taken no more that a few months ago…"
"You can't be serious with these claims, doctor!" Billy interrupted him, almost in a mockingly manner.
"Where did the photo came from?" One of the students, named Kira, asked.
"All of these photos were taken by my good friend Anton Mercer…" Tommy explained. "…who also believed this world to exist."
"Or another con-artist, looking for fame and fortune!" Once again Billy interjected himself. "You do know that these days, even a 6-year old can make similar photos on his computer? The scientific process requires substantial confirmation! Not some random pictures!"
"I believe in my friends evidence! He was all ready rich and famous, I doubt that he would go on a dangerous quest in the Amazon just to make fake evidence!"
"Then good! Why didn't you bring him here to tell us about his 'adventures'?"
"Unfortunately…" said Tommy in a sad tone. "…my friend Anton was found dead by a rescue team, in the Amazon, that was sent to look for him two weeks ago. This camera, containing the photos, as well as his diary, where he described the way to get to the plateau, is the only thing that remained of him."
"How convenient!"
"I understand your criticism, but I would appreciate if you do not mock the memory of my deceased friend, Professor Cranston!"
"Don't get me wrong, Doctor!" Billy backtracked. "I am sorry about your loss, but what you present us with is nothing."
"I knew it would be pointless to try and convince you with just words!" Tommy said confidently. "That is why, I am preparing an expedition that will take me, and everyone who wants to join me, to the plateau, so that we can prove its existence once and for all…" he then turned to Billy. "And if you were truly as skeptic as you claim to be, Professor Cranston, then you would be the first to volunteer for this journey."
Billy was unsure at first as to how to react to Tommy's challenge, but finally agreed. "Very well, I shall accompany you on your journey!"
"Excellent, now would there be any one else who would be interested in coming?" Tommy said to the people in attendance.
"I will!"
"And you are…"Tommy took his attention at the tall uniformed man somewhere in the back seats.
"Sergeant First Class Jason Lee Scott!" He said with a salute. "I spent three years in the special forces, mostly in South America, so I am confident that I can be helpful to you!"
"The addition of a SpecOps Operative would certainly be a good addition to the team! We would be honored to have you join us! Anyone else?"
From the back seats emerged another man with a notebook. "Adam Park, sir! International Discovery Magazine." he said while showing his journalist ID. "I served as a war correspondent in Iraq and Afghanistan, so I can be an unpretentious witness; I was also trained in martial arts so I can help if things get too… messy."
"I doubt that a karate kick would knock down a T-Rex." Said Tommy, which made the students laugh. "But I will not hold it against you! Welcome to the team! Anyone else?" he asked again, but no one else seemed to want to volunteer. "No? Ok then."
"If I may interrupt you, doctor, but how do plan on financing this wild goose chase?" Billy asked.
"Well my funds are rather limited…" Tommy responded. "But I am sure that after showing you the evidence I have, I assume that the University will…"
"You assume!" Billy said, while face palming and laughing. "Surely you've heard that finances are very tight these days. This community does not have the resources necessary! I am afraid that your fairytale journey is out of the question, doctor!"
"I will finance the journey!" said a woman, standing at the entrance way, as she made her way to the hall. "My name is Kimberly Hart, and I offer to provide the resources necessary to fund the mission."
"Excuse me, miss…" Billy said. "…but do you have any idea how much an expedition, like this, could cost?"
"My resources are unlimited!" Kim said confidently. "The money will be transferred to you by tomorrow morning! And I will personally escort you on this mission!" And then she abruptly left the hall, much to the shock and dismay to the people in attendance.
"So it is done!" Tommy said. "Ladies and gentlemen, the proof will be delivered to you within two months!" he finished with a grin. "The world would be amazed!"
***Outside the University***
Kimberly was walking to her car, as she felt that a masked someone was following her.
"Do I know you?" she asked him, which made him draw out his gun. "You have been following me for the past week, so I'm just curious to know."
"No!" He said calmly as he approached her. "You don't know me!"
"But you know me!" she said while looking him in his eyes.
"Does it matter?"he said while pointing his pistol at her head.
"I just want to know if it is personal or just business?"
"For me its just business, for my boss it's very personal!"
"Good!" she remarked with a smile. "Then we could probably make a deal!"
"Sorry, baby! My boss gave me strict orders to take you out!" he whispered to her. "You shouldn't have made such a powerful enemy!"
"So I see!" Kimberly said calmly, which was followed by a gunshot. The masked man fell dead to the ground, after being shot by Kim's silenced pistol. She quickly put her gun back into her purse and called in her driver. "Dispose of the body!" she said while pointing at her stalker.
"Yes, ma'am!"
To be continued…