Disclaimer: I don't own the ranger's etc etc etc. It's along the lines of 'What if….'. Hopefully I have done this right and still kept in character, as much as the parameters allow me. Also, please remember that I am Australian and the bits and pieces I have put in about the American trucking industry are mostly from tele, I mean no offence to anyone. I have decided to turn this into a little mini series I suppose you could call it. Mouse, July 2002.

Broken Dreams 1: Rollin' Along.

By Mouse.

It was the dead of night, 3 or 4 am, and as with other countries around the world, America's trucks were on the move. Hauling freight, livestock, furniture, you name it, across country. The drivers lived by impossible schedules, pushy bosses and union regulations. Very few of these drivers were independents. Rising costs and the fact the initial outlay for a rig being prohibitively expensive. But those few that managed it were content in their own ways. Taking what contracts they could get, going places that union trucks sometimes wouldn't.

One particular truck was rolling along nicely on interstate 91. It was a Mack Truck, one of the most common rigs on the road. This one was painted white with blue stripes and had a logo of a blue wolf's head painted on the doors and the trailer. If we look inside we will find a most unexpected sight. Billy Cranston, former Blue Power Ranger, was driving this rig. But then we take a second look and notice that it's not really the same Billy that we used to know. This one still has the slightly unruly blond hair, the clear blue eyes that still need contacts and still well muscled. But it's not the situation we expected to find Billy in, these days he prefers to be called Will though. Another change that has his friends concerned. And his passenger for this trip had said so earlier that evening. Taking a sip of his coffee Will replayed the conversation in his mind.

He was helping Kimberley shift home to Angel Grove after living in Florida for about five years. She had won gold and then went onto a successful career coaching due to the fact she had unfortunate injured her ankle permanently. Not bad enough that she still could do gymnastics but bad enough that she couldn't compete again. After a couple of years of coaching she decided it was time to return home. She had found out from Jason that Billy had returned to Earth and was of all things, driving a big rig.

They had stopped for dinner and coffee at a small roadhouse somewhere. Kim was startled by the changes she saw in her friend. He was more self-confident and seemed more at ease around strangers. What amazed her most through was that he seemed happy with what he was doing.

"So, you didn't tell me Will why you took up driving a big rig?"

"Huh?"

"Why are you driving a truck when you could be doing so much more with your life Will, your so intelligent and extremely smart you could be doing some really huge high paying computer job than this."

He smiled at her, he could tell that she was concerned for him.

"I enjoy driving Kim, I really do. Besides, when I got back, the first thing everyone did was assume that I was going to go into some form of computer or technical work. It was the last thing I wanted to do to be honest Kim. My time on Aquaitar changed me. When they got me back to my right age I realized that there was so much I hadn't seen on Earth, let alone out there. So I stayed there for a while, explored a bit but then realized that there was so much more I wanted to see on my home planet. So I came home. Sold a couple of designs to Microsoft and then sat down to figure out the best way to see the country. That's when my cousin Joe stopped by." He smiled in remembrance and took a gulp of his coffee.

"And?" Kim wasn't one to let a person go once they had a story to tell.

"Well, Joe had been driving a rig for a little while for a Removals Company across country. He needed a co-driver and I volunteered. I went and got my license, only took me a couple of days."

"I can imagine. You always were quick when it came to driving stuff, all sorts of stuff." Kim said with a knowing smile and was rewarded with a small blush.

"Well anyway, I helped him take his rig across country. Spelling him at the wheel every so often. It was great. There's a sort of unbridled freedom in driving a rig you know Kim. Something I haven't experienced before. I help Joe out for about a year and then decided to get my own rig. I sold some more software to various companies, did a little bit of tech support for them and after six months I had enough to buy a rig outright. And she's sitting right out there." Kim took another look at the truck and could tell it was extremely well maintained. And she knew that it must be expensive.

"Are you making any money on it?"

"A bit. I still write software and sell it off occasionally to get a bit of extra cash now and then. But I'm comfortable Kim. I really do enjoy doing this, I do. So you can stop worrying now and tell the others that to." Kim was shocked, she had thought she was being subtle.

"Um, how did you know that we were worried?" he grinned at her.

"Come on Kim, this is me your talking to. How long have we known each other?"

"Over twenty years."

"Exactly. I know that the other's are concerned about me. I get no less than a call a week from Jason and Tommy. I hear from the rest of the guys at least twice a month. So you needn't worry, I'm doing okay Kim." He sounded a little sad at that and Kim stared at him until he reached over the table and grabbed her hand. "Seriously I am. I'm doing okay. Now will you drop it please?" Nodded she squeezed his hand and dropped the subject. After all he had cleared his schedule especially to help her shift back to Angel Grove. The trailer wasn't even half full and she knew that this was costing him money but he had refused to take any from her to pay for the trip.

Will watched Kim sleep, and smiled in remembrance of their earlier conversation. She really was worried about him. They all were. It was nice to know that they hadn't lost their closeness when they had given up their respective powers and he had gone away. And he wasn't lying to Kim, he was content driving. It was uncomplicated and sometimes mind numbingly boring. But after all the excitement of his teen years, boring and uncomplicated were heaven sent. He glanced over at Kim again and she was starting to stir with the morning's first rays of light. She opened her eyes to find Will smiling at her.

"Good morning Kim."

"Morning Will, what time is it?"

"About 5.30am or thereabouts. First light anyway." She pulled a face.

"Ugh. I'm never up this early."

"Do you good." She laughed a small silvery laugh and stretched. "There's a roadhouse up ahead. Be there in about ten minutes. You can have a shower and some breakfast. Then we should be home sometime this afternoon."

"Good. I can't wait to see everyone again. Uncle Sam has been looking after the place for me while I have been away. It'll probably need a good cleanup when I get there." Will laughed at the hopeful expression on her face.

"Sorry Kim. I have to pick up a load of white goods and haul them to Texas. I have to pick them up from stone canyon tomorrow at first light. So I'll be going home to see dad and then crashing for as long as I can."

"Oh, okay." They road in silence until coming to the roadhouse. With ease Will pulled in the truck and turning off the motor he looked around and didn't like what he saw.

"Uh oh."

"What Will?" he jerked his head at three other trucks sitting in the lot.

"It's noting but there might be a little bit of trouble. I want you to be as quick as you can Kim. I'll go in and get us some breakfast for us both okay."

"Why Will?"

"I'll explain later Kim. Suffice to say that those guys and trucks are union trucks. I'm not. And some of them don't like independents like me. Most of them know not to mess with me after I have knocked out about a dozen off them, word spread around and they mostly leave me alone. But I want you to be prepared just in case okay?"

"Okay Will." They got down out of the truck and Will locked it. He pointed out the shower block to Kim and she went that way, throwing little concerned glances back at him. Taking a deep breath he walked into the dinner.

"Good morning sonny, what can I get for you?"

"Good morning ma'am. Can I have one breakfast with the works and a couple of those lovely looking muffins you got there. A black coffee, double sugar, and an orange juice to go please."

"Certainly my boy. Sit down while I get it for you."

"Thank you ma'am." The waitress beamed at him and then left to get his order. He sat down and rubbed his eyes. He would have to take out his contacts when he got back to the truck and put his glasses back on. Sometimes on long drives he was okay, this wasn't going to be one of them. Behind him he heard a chair scrape the floor and winced inwardly. He knew what was coming. Taking a deep breath he turned as he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Can I help you?" It was another truck driver. Big, beefy and looking like he hadn't shaved in a week. And he was also looking mighty peeved about something.

"That your rig?"

"Yes it is."

"Your independent ain't ya boy?"

"Yes I am. You got a problem with that?" The big guy snorted and looked at the other two. They quietly rose as well and came on over.

"You hear that boys, wants to know if we have a problem with that." He leaned closer and Will leant back by reflex, the guys breath stank of stale beer and coffee.

"Look, I don't want any trouble. I just want my breakfast and to be on my way, okay?"

"To late boy. We don't like independents so you're getting trouble." With that the big guy took a swing at his head.

With a speed the belayed his size he ducked under the poorly placed swing and quickly swept up his left arm to place a swift jab in the man's oversized stomach. He doubled over with a groan and Will jumped off his chair and spun to face the other two guys. The tall skinny one had a fist already coming towards his face so he ducked under that and launched a spin quick that connected with a satisfying 'oof'. As he did that the third one tried coming in closer to land a blow to his stomach region. Will feinted with a jab to that guys head and then swiftly caught him with a leg sweep that took the other's guys legs out from under him. By this time the big guy had gotten his breath back and Will swung his arm around in a blow to the guys head and knocked him out cold. He whirled again and chopped the skinny guy across the back of the neck and he went down as well. He turned to the third guy who was painfully trying to get to his feet. He raised his hands.

"Okay mate. I don't want no more trouble."

"Good. Now get out and take these reprobates with you." Just then the waitress returned with his order.

"Here you go sonny. That'll be $7.35. What happened to them?"

"Oh, they learned that you should never play with a wolf. Thanks for the breakfast." With a smile and a small wave he left the diner and back over to his rig. Kim was waiting for him and had a frown on her face.

"What happened in there? I saw you fighting."

"Oh, they just wanted some directions. Come on, let's get you home." They climbed into the rig. Will quickly took out his contacts and put on his glasses and they got underway.

Yep, he defiantly enjoyed driving a rig.

The End.