Family Rangers: A Dino Thunder AU
Disclaimer: I own nothing about Power Rangers. Oh, wait, I own Theresa and Kyle. Yay, me!
Backstory: Tommy and Kimberly made love while she visited during Christmas. She became pregnant with twins. I added more years between Zeo/Turbo and Dino Thunder so the twins' age would make sense. This story starts in August during Zeo. No real mention of anything Zeo/Turbo in the beginning. Maybe an episode plot or two. Kim is also a Zeo Ranger, but not really that important.
Bold letters indicates telepathic conversation between any of the Olivers.
Tommy Oliver smiled down at the tiny infant in his arms. The baby yawned and shut its eyes. Tommy rocked his son a few more times before placing the now-slumbering infant back into the plastic bassinet. He sat on the bed beside his beautiful girlfriend, where she was nursing their daughter. The Red Zeo Ranger kissed the top of Kimberley Hart's head. His arm wrapped around her shoulders.
"It's hard to believe these little people didn't even exist this morning. Now they're here! And they're real!" Tommy gushed as his daughter held onto his finger. Kim smiled down at their little Theresa Trini.
"Oh, they existed, alright. My bladder can attest to that." Tommy was silent.
"How are we going to do this, Kim? Working with Kat on that family project was bad enough."
Theresa stopped feeding and Kim maneuvered their daughter to burp her. Tommy handed Kim a burp rag from the bedside table.
"It didn't help the baby you were watching turned into a plot to injure you guys. We do it one day at a time, together."
"And when we get called into action? Mondo's been quiet lately but he won't stay that way."
Upon returning to Angel Grove after Prince Gasket's attempt to brainwash Tommy, Kimberly discovered an unknown Zeo crystal, purple. She'd been inactive for the past seven months due to her pregnancy. She helped Billy in the Power Chamber during that time. They both knew she'd be pressed into service soon. King Mondo was quickly becoming too much for the five Zeo Rangers, plus the Gold Ranger, to handle.
"Mom and Pierre are back from Paris. They said we could leave Kyle and Theresa with them whenever we need to. Besides we already live above Mom's garage."
"That's going to be a lot of whenevers."
"We'll deal with it. We have to. It's not like we can give these little guys up for adoption. They're the children of two Rangers. I've got a feeling these two are going to be very special."
Both new parents smiled as Theresa gave a great burp and settled to sleep on her mother's shoulder. Tommy relaxed and thought about his new family. Yes, they were only seventeen and Power Rangers and new parents. They'd be living in the room above Kimberly's mom's garage until after graduation. They planned to get an apartment while they both attended college. They had plans. They made plans together. That was the important thing. No matter what, they'd be together, all four of them.
To think, two months ago, he didn't even know Kimberly was pregnant. It was Billy who realized Kim's Dear John letter didn't sound like her. He teleported to Florida with Jason, with Zordon's blessing. The pair had a long talk with Kim but promised the former Ranger they wouldn't say anything to Tommy. Kim sent the letter so Tommy could have a real life free of babies. Kim got scared and felt Tommy deserved to chase his dreams.
The pair talked for the whole week Billy and Jason were in Florida. They got everything out in the open. They pled Kim to let Tommy know about the baby but she was adamant about giving Tommy a life free of diaper changes and 2AM feedings.
Kimberly came back to Angel Grove when she was six months pregnant. She was the only one who was able to get through to Tommy when he was brainwashed by Prince Gasket. It was during the drive back to Angel Grove from Miami that the couple discussed their future. They decided that they were going to face it together, with their children.
Sixteen Years Later
Doctor Tommy Oliver adjusted his glasses as he entered Reefside High School, his children right behind him.
"Remind me again why we couldn't return to Angel Grove after the island's destruction and living in Blue Bay?" Kyle moaned from behind Tommy.
"Because I found the dino gems here, not in Angel Grove. Besides, I think Blue Bay has had its fill of Power Rangers for a while."
Theresa rolled her brown eyes that were so much like Tommy's. "Here's hoping these gems lay dormant and no new Rangers get created. I'm ready for some peace and quiet. Especially after last year."
Theresa's twin seconded her suggestion.
"Get to your homeroom, both of you," Tommy sighed as his kids stalked off.
In no time, a woman with short black hair and matching glasses approached him.
"Dr. Oliver? I'm Principal Randall."
Tommy extended his hand.
"It's nice to meet you.
She ignored his proffered hand. He lowered it.
"It's your first day, too, isn't it?"
Randall perused her binder. "Yes, and I'm still trying to figure out why a doctor of paleontology would come all the way to Reefside to teach science to teenagers."
Tommy turned to face his new boss. "Guess my family and I are looking for some peace and quiet."
Randall smiled mockingly. "So you became a high school science teacher." Randall turned so she blocked Tommy's path to his classroom. "That doesn't really make lot of sense, now does it, Dr. Oliver?"
Tommy tried for the peaceful method. "You know, I was thinkin', maybe we should get together. This way you can fill me in on what you expect of me."
"I expect you to make it hard for them. Painful, if at all possible. If they smile, you know you're doing something wrong. Now, I'm off to find my first truant. We'll talk later."
Randall departed down the hall, leaving Tommy confused. His experience with his own children was quite different. He felt he was a fair parent. Not too lenient, not too strict. He was sure his kids would disagree.
The science lab was pure chaos. Hardly anyone was in his or her seats. Students threw wads of paper across the room. He noticed exactly two students sitting as he dodged a paper ball. One was a petite blonde girl wearing yellow and black. She was doodling in a notebook. The other was a young African-American boy dressed in blue denim typing furiously into a laptop.
"Guys! Settle down. Take your seats, please." The students took their seats, including Theresa. She smiled at him warmly as she got settled. "I'm Dr. Oliver and this is first period science. Before we start, are there any questions?"
A prim blond girl in a ponytail and a white sweater and skirt ensemble raised her hand. Tommy could tell she was going to be trouble. He caught an eye roll from his daughter. She had serious issues with spoiled princesses. It stemmed from confrontations with Marah and Kapri last year. Theresa was also very much a tomboy.
"Yes?"
The blonde stood. The class groaned. "Cassidy. Cassidy Cornell. Dr. Oliver, as you may know, I'm the anchor and field reporter for our school TV station." More eye rolls from the class. Theresa appeared positively disgusted. Cassidy noticed the groan and threw her peers a look. "Anyway, I'm sure our viewers are wondering. Well, you don't really look old enough to be a teacher."
While Tommy was flattered by the comment, there still remained the fact that Tommy was old enough to have not only a beautiful wife but also sixteen-year-old twins.
Cassidy turned toward her sidekick, completely missing the snicker from one Theresa Oliver. Tommy again glared at his younger child. Theresa just shrugged her shoulders. Yeah, Tommy had no discipline when it came to his daughter.
"Cassidy, I promise you, I'm old enough, as your classmate, my daughter, can attest to. Put the camera away."
Cassidy and Devin sat back down.
"For now, let's talk about you guys and what you expect of yourselves in this class. 'Cause that's what's really important."
Tommy noticed an empty stool where he was sure a student was supposed to be.
"Is someone missing?" Students glanced around. Finally, it was the girl in yellow that spoke up. "Conner McKnight. You'll find him on the soccer field. The idiot practically lives there."
Tommy chose to ignore the name-calling and concentrated on the young woman.
"And you are…?"
"Kira Ford, sir." Tommy took note and continued his lesson, handing out a syllabus and having the students read and take notes on the first chapter while he took role. The former Ranger wondered about the absent Conner McKnight. What kind of student ditches the first class of the new school year? Tommy's classes continued for the rest of the day. Kyle was in his fifth period class.
Tommy was just going to find his kids at the end of the day when Randall came up alongside. "Dr. Oliver, how was your first day?"
"Ah, the kids were great, no problem."
"Good, you're going to be seeing a lot more of them. In detention."
"Mind telling me what I did?"
"No, you're in charge of it today."
"Uh, actually, my kids and I have plans to go to that new museum outside of town."
"Perfect! Bring the little monsters with you."
"My Jeep only seats four comfortably and I already have Theresa and Kyle for the rest of the day."
"That little soccer punk McKnight has both a license and a car. He can follow you. This should be sufficient torture for them."
Tommy took in his three detainees. He recognized Kira and Ethan from his first period. The young man in blue jeans, a red t-shirt, and an open button-down covered by British flags must be Conner McKnight.
"You've all met, I trust. Well, enjoy your little outing." None of the four were happy. Only Randall was entirely too happy. Tommy removed his glasses.
"So, you guys like museums?"
Both of his kids were already waiting in his Jeep, arguing. Theresa was in the backseat, Kyle in the front passenger.
"I called shotgun. You can't just ignore the car rules, Ky."
Kyle smirked at his little sister. "I was born first, so I'm entitled."
The pair noticed their dad coming toward them with three students.
"Uh, Dad?"
"Yes, Ky?"
"Are you kidnapping these kids?"
Tommy pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm monitoring detention today. Principal Randall decided these three would join us on our trip to the museum. Conner McKnight, Kira Ford, Ethan James, my children, Kyle and Theresa."
Everyone exchanged polite hellos.
"Why don't you three follow us? There isn't room enough in my Jeep for all of us."
Conner, Kira, and Ethan met up with the Olivers in the parking lot of the museum. An extremely lifelike T-Rex stood silent in front of the museum.
"Whoa, check out that T-Rex!"
The six walked up to the entrance but found their way blocked by a metal chain and a sign that read 'Sorry, we're closed'. Tommy looked around. "That's weird."
"Great, no museum for us," Conner quipped.
"Let's go home," agreed the teen in yellow. Kyle and Theresa glanced at one another.
Yeah right. Like Dad's gonna let these brats off easy!
Good one, Ky!
"Why don't the five of you have a look around the grounds? If any of you find anything prehistoric, I'm canceling detention for the rest of the week."
"Sweet," replied Ethan.
"I'm gonna find someone to tell us when they're opening up."
Kyle held back. "Do we really have to go with them, Dad? Theresa and I did nothing wrong today. We don't have detention."
"Ky, just go with them. You and your sister need to make sure nothing happens to those three. I have a funny feeling about them."
"You mean, aside from the fact they enjoy primary colors?"
"Just go!"
Kyle hurried up to his sister and their dad's charges. He couldn't help but laugh as Conner asked Ethan about his computer club. Kyle and Theresa hung back behind the trio. "Please tell me the dumb jock doesn't become the new leader."
Theresa looked up at her brother. While both inherited their father's height, Kyle was still a good six inches taller than his sister. "He favors red." Theresa cocked her head to the side. "Or maybe he just really likes Britain." Kyle had to agree with her. That was a very British shirt the soccer star had on.
"Let's just go. We wouldn't want them to discover the cave to our basement or anything," Kyle stated sarcastically. The pair hurried up to the detainees. Just as they caught up, all five fell through the ground to the network of caves and tunnels below. Conner attempted to climb the cave wall but didn't get very far before falling and landing on his back.
The twins knew exactly where they were and where this particular tunnel led. It led to a dead end with a dinosaur fossil set up at the underground entrance to their basement where five dino gems were kept, hidden safely away from the outside world. Once the group got to the dead end, Big Red Idiot just had to reach for the fossil's jaw and unknowingly gain access to the Oliver's basement. The twins were just glad their mother was staying late at her gym and not home to hear the ruckus below the house.
Kira, Conner, and Ethan wandered around in amazement. The twins stood by the door, bored. That changed when the trio noticed the glowing gems in the center of the room. Theresa noticed that there were five gems for five teenagers and two of the gems coincided with her and Kyle's Ninjetti colors.
"We probably shouldn't be touching things that don't belong to us," Theresa advised.
Conner scoffed. "They're rocks and they look prehistoric to me. This would get me out of detention for life!"
Really, he's the leader? Theresa asked her twin, incredulous.
Maybe, Sis, his leadership skills are buried and being a Ranger will bring them to the surface.
Gag me with a spoon!
Ethan, Conner, and Kira gaped at the twins. If their body language was any indication, they were having a conversation without any words. Theresa noticed them staring.
"What?"
"Do you and Kyle have telepathic conversations often?" Ethan asked the shocked twins. Maybe not all of them were oblivious.
"So? We are twins. Born minutes apart. Shared a womb. Multiples have been known to have psychic connections. Now, can we just get out of here?" There was no way she was going to let these guys know the twins shared the same telepathic connection to their parents. They couldn't read each other's minds but could send telepathic messages.
The students not of Oliver/Hart blood each grabbed a stone. Kyle smirked at his sister. "You want to be green or orange?" Theresa folded her arms. She took in her brother's forest green tee and raised an eyebrow.
"You know Mom and Dad are going to kill us, right?"
"At least we'll go out with powers."
Theresa huffed. "Fine. Give me the orange gem. Just don't come crying to me when you turn evil!" Kyle tossed his sister the orange gem and grabbed the green gem for himself.
"Last time it was navy and crimson that were evil," Kyle reminded his sister.
Theresa didn't comment.
He followed his classmates out back into the cave. The five emerged some minutes later, blinking as their eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight. A sharp breeze blew past the group. A crack like thunder followed a second later. The teens were no longer alone in the forest. Dozens of tyrannodrones surrounded the teens. Kyle and Theresa quickly morphed into their Ninjetti uniforms and dropped into fighting stances, a green and orange fighting force to be reckoned with. Kyle's spirit animal was the eagle, swift and destructive. Theresa's animal was the fox, sly and quick.
"Keep very still, maybe they won't attack."
Theresa rolled her eyes. Kira seemed to be thinking along the same lines.
"Great, make it easier for them."
"Uh, just a suggestion, but we could fight them," Theresa suggested from behind the trio. The three turned around to face the Olivers, mouths agape. Kyle cocked his green-clothed head to one side. "What? Never seen a ninja before?"
The drones chose that moment to attack. "I suggest a new plan, run!" Conner exclaimed before taking off through the woods. The newbies ran through the forest while Kyle and Theresa fought their dad's creations. Theresa saw Kira fall, then let out a mind-numbing scream and several drones flew backward, hit by a wall of sound.
Okay, thought Theresa, one dino power discovered. Her power, she soon discovered, was the power of fire. Tendrils of flame danced from her fingertips, incinerating her group of drones. Her brother, to pair with his spirit animal, had the power of levitation. He was throwing kicks and punches from his place above the drones' heads, easily defeating them. The drones departed as quickly as they came, leaving the teens alone in the forest. The twins unmorphed from their Ninjetti uniforms. Conner advanced on them.
"Okay, I have like a million questions."
"We may or may not be able to answer your questions." Theresa placed her hands behind her back as she began to walk out of the forest.
"How long have you guys been ninjas?"
"We've been training ever since we were little. It runs in the family. Kyle and I have only been Ninjetti since we turned sixteen last March."
"What's the difference?"
"Ninjetti are focused around a spirit animal that is specific to the person. This animal guides you through the rest of your life. One has to be worthy just to attempt a spirit quest. There's no guarantee in passing the tests, either. You have to face the worst parts of yourself and overcome those traits."
"Sounds intense."
"It really is, but rewarding. The power you gain at the end is incredible. My parents went on their spirit quests when they were around our age. That's where we inherited our power from."
"Dr. O's a ninja, too?" Ethan was bugging big time. The twins nodded.
"He's a karate master. Before we moved to Reefside, our dad taught at the youth center in Angel Grove and at a dojo in Blue Bay Harbor."
"I still can't see it," Kira said.
"What were those things we just fought? What's happening to us?" Conner demanded of the twins. He had a feeling these two knew more than they were saying.
"Why would we know what's happening?"
"You didn't seem surprised to be throwing fire or floating."
"When you train as ninjas, nothing much surprises you. I have a friend that can literally walk on water." Theresa shrugged, as if it was not big deal.
Kira turned toward the brunette. "Really? Someone who can walk on water?"
"She's a friend from Blue Bay. Her element is water."
The group emerged from the forest to find Tommy running toward them.
"Hey, are you guys all right?" With him being chased by a giant robot dinosaur, he wanted to make sure nothing happened to his kids and his charges. Conner, Ethan, and Kira quickly hid their gems. Theresa and Kyle didn't even bother. Their parents would discover the missing gems soon enough. Tommy and Kim spent time in the lab every night after dinner, collecting data.
The group nodded their heads in agreement. Tommy noticed his kids' hair was mussed, a sure sign they'd been in a fight, and using their Ninjetti uniforms again. He recalled the mussed look very well from his own days as a Ninjetti. He'd have words with his twins on the way home.
"Couldn't be better," Ethan piped up. Tommy was obviously suspicious. Raising teenagers gave him special insight that his three detainees were hiding something. "Nah, just your routine hike in the woods. Lots of furry little creatures."
"Not to mention some scaly ones," Kira muttered under her breath. Tommy, still suspicious, opened up his mind link to his nonchalant kids.
You two will tell me what really happened.
Yes, Dad, the twins chorused.
Conner was eager to change the subject. "So, you get into the dino exhibit?"
Now, it was Tommy's turn to be evasive. He really didn't want to say anything about the robo-dino lying in the middle of the highway. "Uh, they're still working the kinks out."
Now whose being squirrely, Dad? Theresa smirked and crossed her arms.
Just ignore the fact that there is no longer a Tyrannosaurus statue out in front of the museum.
"We better get you guys back." Tommy glanced around nervously before taking off towards his now-slightly battered Jeep. Theresa and Kyle used their Ninjetti camouflage powers to eavesdrop on the other teens' conversation.
"Don't you guys think we should tell him?"
"I don't know about you, but I've got over 1,000 sci-fi DVDs. Do you want to know how many times the dude with the superpowers ends up in some freaky government lab on a table with wires in his head?"
"Even I know that," Conner confirmed. Theresa rolled her eyes at Kyle. Little did they know how much their dad could actually help. He was the greatest Ranger ever, after all…
"Are you guys coming?" Tommy looked around, not seeing his offspring anywhere. The three teens searched but didn't know the twins were hiding in plain sight. Kyle smirked. They loved playing this game with either of their parents. It kept the older ninjas' senses sharp. Tommy closed his eyes and concentrated. Kyle attempted to slip past his dad but Tommy was still too quick. He grabbed a fistful of Kyle's shirt and flipped him. Kyle reappeared and landed on his butt. Theresa stepped out from her meld with a tree. Tommy squatted down by his son.
"You'll never the jump on me, Ky." Kyle pushed himself up and dusted himself off.
"Had to try, Dad. Keep you on your toes, and all that!"
"Just get to the car, will ya?" Kyle smiled and nodded, racing his sister back toward the parking lot. That left Tommy alone with his students. Students who now had powers they didn't even know existed and were dying for answers.
"Theresa said you're a ninja, Dr. O. Is that true?" Kira wondered as they walked back to the cars. Tommy glared after his departed daughter.
"At one point in my life, yes, I trained with a ninja master, so have my kids."
"That is so cool! How did you get involved in all that?" Ethan gushed at his teacher.
"I've studied karate nearly all my life, the ninja training branched out of that." That was all Tommy would give them. The four reached the parking lot and split up. The Olivers headed home while the three detainees headed back to school.
Tommy drove for a few minutes, as his kids remained silent. "Okay, mind letting me in on what happened in the woods?" Theresa gave a quick recap, including the part about the gems being taken and their powers binding to the teens' DNA. Tommy sighed. He hated that his technology, his research, was being used against him. But what could he do? Mesogog wasn't just going to give up and move to Bermuda. The teens could hardly give up the dino gems, now that the gems have bonded. The only way to get rid of the powers now was to destroy the host body and that was one thing Tommy simply refused to let happen. Not one Ranger has ever died on his watch and he wasn't about to let his kids or his students become the first casualties.
"I already have morphers made up. I'll give them to you guys once we get home."
"You know Mom's going to kill you, right? For creating a new team of Rangers?"
"You just leave your mom to me. Besides, the others aren't Rangers, yet. They may never be."
Theresa sat back with a shrug. She just didn't want to have to explain to Principal Randall why her mom murdered her dad….
Kyle had his doubts. Tommy had trouble syncing his iPod at times, much less creating the technology to enable Rangers to morph properly. "Who helped you?"
Tommy cast a sidelong glance at his son. "What?"
"With the morpher technology. It couldn't have been Zordon or Alpha. Uncle Billy's still on Aquitar most of the time. I know you had help. Who was it?"
Tommy sighed. It sometimes seemed as if his children knew him too well. "For your information, Hayley Johnson helped a lot."
"Your friend that owns the cyber café?"
"One and the same. We attended MIT together, in case you forgot, Ky."
"She doesn't seem like the super genius type to me."
Tommy smirked. "All part of her master plan. She aided me in gaining control of the two zords we do have."
Theresa was excited. "We get zords? How cool, I've always wanted my own zord!"
"Mesogog has control of the other three, unfortunately."
"What are our zords? I'm assuming Kyle's is a flying dinozord as his spirit animal's a bird."
"We can discuss all this at home."
"You get to tell Mom you're planning on making a new team of Rangers! I can't wait to see her face! You know all she wants is some peace from all the Ranger business for a while."
"I know, Theresa, especially after what went down in Blue Bay last year with Lothor and the Wind Ninjas."
"Just a reminder, Cam's going to be calling tonight. So if you could have your fight with Mom before eight, that would be greatly appreciated!"
"Sis, you don't have to talk with your boyfriend every night."
"We don't talk every night. He's really busy now that the academy's up and running again. Cam's teaching the new students as well as trying to keep an eye on Marah and Kapri. We talk maybe, a couple times a week."
"Would you like to see the phone bill, daughter of mine?"
"No thank you." That effectively ended conversation for the remainder of the trip home.
Once Kim got over her anger at the Dino Gems finding their owners, including her own children, she and Tommy started working with the twins to harness the dino gem power into morphers and uniforms. Thankfully, Kim learned a lot being around Billy for so many years and then being friends with Hayley since college. Kim studied at MIT with Tommy and Hayley. They were doing all this in the basement lab when they heard the trap door to the kitchen open. Down the steps came Ethan and Conner, obviously confused.
"This is the same place!" Ethan exclaimed, standing in the middle of the lab and turning around. Conner did the same thing. Neither noticed the family coming out of the shadows.
"Are you freakin' out right now?"
"Yeah, I'd have to say, I am!"
"If you're looking for extra credit you're in the wrong place."
End of Day of the Dino Part 1
