Chapter 2

Oliver Home – Kitchen

"I can only hope and pray to God that Billy and Alpha find out something about whatever that monster is," Kimberly whispered as she stood over the stove, preparing the typical Friday night dinner she, Tommy, Roxanne, Brianna, Billy, Kat and Jason had together.

Tommy let out a sigh. "Do you think it's best we don't let the kids in on this?" he asked.

"I hate lying to our daughters, too, Tommy, but this is something they cannot know about. We never told them our secrets of being Power Rangers, ever," Kimberly said. She was relieved that Brianna and Roxanne were up in their respective bedrooms and would not be able to hear the conversation.

"Well when would we tell them?" Tommy asked. "Beautiful, I know we're retired from being Rangers, but I'd rather be honest with my kids. I mean I've had a secret mini version of the Command Center hidden in our basement ever since my days as leader of the Dino Thunder team, for God's sake! I'm surprised Brianna and Roxanne never found it!"

He remembered how when he'd first purchased their home, he'd been so paranoid at the thought of another threat arising he'd built his own version of the Command Center with Billy's assistance. However, he'd kept it hidden deep in the basement in a place that even Brianna and Roxanne would never find. But it hadn't been easy, since the basement was also the place where he kept his office, as well as a dojo and gym fully equipped. After having mentored the Dino Thunder team of Rangers in Reef Side, Tommy had grown especially nervous when building a family of his own with Kimberly. Maybe it was he being an overprotective dad, but Tommy couldn't help but be a little paranoid when it came to the safety of his daughters. That was especially after having been a mentor and high school teacher to the four other members of the Dino Thunder team, Conner, Ethan, Kira and Trent. After having experienced his own research being put in the wrong hands, the last thing he wanted was for his kids to be dragged into that. Even though Tommy sometimes felt like screaming his secret to his daughters, he also remembered that he could not reveal his identity to anyone.

"Because you made it very clear no one is allowed down there," Kimberly said with a shake of her head.

"Excuse me, but even though I am for telling them our history as Rangers, I am not for them going out there playing superhero like we did. Roxanne and Brianna are my princesses; my job is to protect them," Tommy said.

"I know you still see them as babies. But have you gotten a good look at them, Handsome?" Kimberly asked. "They're not little girls anymore."

"That's what scares me," Tommy said with a shake of his head as the doorbell rang. "Brianna, Roxanne go get the door! Kat and Jase are here!" he called out to them.

Brianna and Roxanne raced down the stairs to greet Kat and Jason who were waiting at the door. Jason had with him a bag for both the girls.

"Uncle Jase what's this?" Brianna asked after having hugged her godfather and godmother.

"You two are going to be excited about those. Shortly after you left those got delivered. They're your new robes for the karate class because I am here to announce you both got promoted to become teachers of the junior class," Jason said. "I figured I could use an extra set of hands around the place. And with Adam and Tanya away on another honeymoon, I figured now was the time."

"Holy shit!" Roxanne gasped as she noticed her new white and gold karate uniform and Brianna's blue one. However, her cursing didn't go unnoticed by her parents, who turned to scold her.

"Roxanne, I don't want to hear that out of your mouth," Tommy said sternly, giving her a glare.

"Sorry, Dad," Roxanne said. She'd always had a bad habit of cursing a little too often.

"Well I'm going to be holding you both to a lot of responsibility," Jason said.

"As we expected," Brianna said, brushing her fingers through her hair. She knew it was about time that she started helping out at the Juice Bar. She felt Kat sitting near her as Jason went into the kitchen to speak with Tommy and Kim.

"Tommy, I know what you're thinking, bro. But you remember what we promised twenty-five years ago," Jason hissed.

"Jase, I know! But there are days I just feel like screaming it at the sky to them!" Tommy whispered. "I need to face reality, Jase! Hell, I may see them as babies, they're fourteen and fifteen! Roxanne's going to be driving soon she'll be turning sixteen. It's time they know the truth, sooner or later."

"No, Tommy. The time will come when they have to know," Kimberly said.

"You make that sound like a bad thing," Tommy hissed as Kimberly focused on not burning the meatballs in the frying pan.

Kimberly rolled her brown eyes at her husband. Sure, they had a happy marriage and rarely argued. But when it came to them discussing whether or not to reveal their pasts to their daughters, they were at each other's throats.

"All I can hope for is that Billy is making progress with tracking down who this new big bad guy is," she whispered.

Underwater Command Chamber

'I candidly thought Zordon had everything on every probable adversary of ours before he died,' Billy thought as he checked his watch.

"Ay-yi-yi!" Alpha continued to cry out. "Billy, do you have any luck?"

"Negative, Alpha," Billy said with a shake of his head. "I'm going over every conceivable leeway in the database. I looked at every dossier there could perhaps be. I'm stupefied Zordon never had anything on this guy. Nevertheless, I presume he might not have had a motive to. Half the world's villains were depowered and turned respectable after Zordon's detriment. But that doesn't mean there couldn't be other resources out there. What I would advise is trying to contact the SPD Rangers, or even the Time Force team, and see what they can find out."

"Of course, Billy! I shall contact them and then teleport you and the other former Rangers here once I find out anything," Alpha said.

"Alright, appreciations, Alpha," Billy said, leaning a hand onto the robot's shoulder. "Teleport me to Tommy and Kim's house. I've got obligations to attend to."

"Right away, Billy!" Alpha said cheerfully, before Billy vanished from the Chamber in a flash of blue. He found he was right outside Tommy and Kim's house, and the door was unlocked. Tommy had made his home an "open door policy." Tommy's mother and father, James and Melissa, had expressed concern about burglars and possible attackers. But all Tommy had to do was remind his mother and father, as well as Kimberly's mother Caroline, that he was a fourth-degree black belt. That was all the convincing needed for Caroline, James and Melissa to be assured they were safe in the house. When Billy opened the door, Roxanne and Brianna sprung off the couch to greet him with hugs. Although he tended to come over often, he hadn't seen Brianna all summer because she had been away at camp.

"Jesus, Brianna look at you. You're like a woman," he told her, running his fingers through the blue ends of her hair. "And the hair pigment, it adulates you."

"Thanks, Billy," Brianna said with a grin before he made his way into the kitchen.

"Did you find out anything?" Kat asked.

"Negative," Billy said with a shake of his head. "All the annals Zordon had on conceivable rogues; he did not seem to have any that correspond the description of this one. My philosophy is attesting to be more meticulous. This must be a peril Zordon wasn't cognizant of. Because if he had been, he would have divulged us about it long ago."

"I . . . do not know what you just said but . . ." Jason started to say.

"It means Zordon did not have any record of this villain we're up against," Billy said, suddenly missing Trini. If she had been there, she would have been able to be his translator, because she spoke his language. Kimberly seemed to sense Billy's sadness, because she placed a hand on his arm as she started setting the table for dinner.

"Billy, we all miss Trini, too," she said softly.

"She was the only one that understood me," Billy pointed out sadly as he felt Tommy's hand resting on his shoulder, pulling out a chair for him to sit down. "At least with her around, she spoke my etymological tongue – language," he added hastily, to avoid any confusion.

Everyone grew solemn. With the anniversary of Trini's death coming so close, everyone was feeling the sadness creeping in. For Kimberly, Trini had been her sister in every way but blood. Trini had been the one she'd run to if the fighting in her household between her mom and dad had become too much. Trini had been the only one to understand Billy and often translated for him, and had been one of the first people that reached out to him after he'd lost his mother to cancer. The loss of Trini had been devastating for them all, even more so than losing Zordon when he'd sacrificed himself.

"And somehow . . . losing Zordon was nothing compared to the deaths of Trini and my mother," Billy said with a shake of his head.

"Yeah," Jason said softly as Roxanne and Brianna came into the kitchen. Immediately, the former Rangers attitudes shifted. The last thing they wanted was for Roxanne and Brianna to see them upset. If the girls saw, they'd ask questions as to why. Both girls were very intelligent, Roxanne more so street smart and Brianna more so book smart. Those two different forms of intelligence made them very observant and thoughtful. They knew everything that was going on around them. That was why it was all the more vital that the former Rangers made sure their secrets were kept secret. Tommy hadn't even told his daughters of his career as the black Dino Thunder Ranger, and how he'd been a mentor and father-like figure to his first set of students, Trent Fernandez-Mercer, Kira Ford, Conner McKnight and Ethen James. They – whether Tommy believed it or not at the time – had truly been his first children. He'd felt like a real uncle or father to the four of them, and Kim had been around to see it, too.

"Alright guys, let's eat," Kimberly suggested, changing the subject.

Roxanne and Brianna both quirked an eyebrow. They weren't stupid. They knew their parents and godparents had been talking about Trini, the girl they'd heard of, but never met. They knew their mother was just changing the subject to avoid the atmosphere from getting to solemn.

"Alright, so, how was your first day?" Kat asked them finally.

"It was good," Roxanne said.

"And she got my lecture about keeping her grades up," Billy said.

"Uncle Billy, I keep telling you! I am doing the work, but it's almost as though I'm in this state of being so hyper, I cannot focus myself, and when I read, or try to do a math equation, it's like I am seeing everything backwards," Roxanne said, frustrated. "I'm just not good in school. Not everyone can be you, or Brianna."

"Hey, don't compare yourself to your sister. Everyone learns differently," Tommy said. "I struggled with science and math, too, okay?"

"You're the one to talk, former paleontologist and now high school science teacher," Roxanne huffed as she attempted to eat her lasagna.

"Look, as long as you're trying that's all that counts," said Jason, trying to offer his own words of encouragement. "You're extremely disciplined with karate. Try and take that discipline you apply to your martial arts and use that to focus yourself in the classroom. You've got other talents; you can apply that somewhere."

Roxanne breathed out a sigh. "I just hate feeling like the dumbass when I stand up there in front of my classmates and I have to present something or perform an experiment."

"You're not a dumbass. Don't talk like that," Kimberly said sternly. "You're not stupid. It takes intelligence to be talented at martial arts and other athletics. You're excellent at softball and basketball."

"Why does it feel as though those are the only things that I am good at?" Roxanne asked.

"Not true either," Kat said. "You're also very talented with art. You excel in art class where your mum and dad both struggled with it in school."

Roxanne breathed out a sigh. In addition to karate and other athletics, she'd always loved art. She'd always considered herself talented with it, but never saw it as a career for her to have.

Brianna, sensing her older sister's frustration, breathed out a sigh. Being the most intelligent one in the family, Roxanne often found she was comparing herself to her sister. Almost every teacher she'd had in middle school and elementary school asked Roxanne, "Why can't you be more like Brianna and apply yourself?" More than anything, it always made Roxanne feel like the stupid kid in the classroom while her sister was put on a pedestal as the perfect student.

"Look, in her defense, it's not easy when you've got me, the sister who is praised by everyone as being the "perfect student." Everything just comes naturally to me; it's a gift. In all fairness, I'm sick of people comparing us, too," Brianna said with a shake of her head.

Roxanne shook her head. "You're just saying that to try and make me feel better. It's not working. More than anything, I'm sick of this bullshit."

Tommy cast her another stare to remind her to watch her language. But he also sympathized with her greatly especially as he watched his oldest daughter's eyes go glassy with unshed tears. Many didn't realize that Roxanne worked so hard for her accomplishments and no matter what, she did try. He'd watched her struggle with her science grades all throughout her freshman year due to him having been her teacher. She'd gone to tutors and had tried to do everything right. Tommy knew, however, that she would not have passed with the grades she'd been getting. He'd given her an option for extra credit as a result. With help of Billy, Roxanne's extra credit assignment had managed to help her pass with a D-grade. More than anything, Roxanne hated it when others pitied her like that. It made her feel like even more of a failure than she already did when her teachers gave her a pass.

'I just hate having others pity me,' Roxanne thought bitterly as a lone tear made its way down her cheek. She could feel Billy pulling her closer to him, hugging her as he kissed her in her hair.

"Roxanne you're going to pass this year; you're so smart," Kat said.

Roxanne shook her head. She did not want to hear it. She was tired of hearing the same things being said to her over and over. She could feel Brianna reaching across the table to grab onto her hand.

"Roxanne, listen to me," Billy said softly. "I was like you when I was in school. Sure, I was like Brianna where I had the unsurpassed marks. Me, and the others – your mom and dad included – we were considered the superlative students in the school. But one day, I'd obtained a B on a science test, and it had been humiliating because my science teacher came up to me to apologize to me as she gave me my test. I was perplexed because I'd never received a B before, ever. I loathed the thought of anyone commiserating with me, because no matter how much I may have struggled with martial arts or athletics or even the death of my mother, I knew school was the one thing I was superior at."

"Over a B, are you kidding me?" Roxanne asked, exasperated. "I would kill to receive a B in anything!"

"I know, and I see that now," Billy said, sternly yet gently. "But you cannot allow yourself to be outclassed at it. You ought to recognize yourself enough to know that you have value. When I'd gotten that B, I had thought my forthcoming was concluded. Nevertheless, I'd pulled myself up, and I'd prospered. I affirm, you're a carbon-copy of me. If I can do it, you can do it."

Roxanne couldn't help but smile at Billy's words. Even though he often used a vocabulary she did not quite understand, she somehow understood what he had to say. She even felt comforted by it. After sitting there in silence for a moment, Tommy decided to change the subject.

"Alright, so, plans for the weekend?" he asked.

Roxanne and Brianna straightened up, their moods suddenly shifting. "Well, we're thinking about going to the beach tomorrow."

"With who?" Kimberly asked.

"Gia, Bobby, Casey and Jake," Roxanne said, listing her usual group of friends she normally hung out with. "We're going scuba-diving Bobby's been wanting to test out his new under-water camera equipment."

"Alright, just be sure you're home in time for dinner," Kimberly said.

"Dad, is our scuba equipment in storage?" asked Brianna.

"Yes, and I will get it for you out of storage. You know I don't want anyone down there, ever," Tommy said, remembering that their storage space was also his Command Center.

"You never allow anyone down there," groaned Brianna.

"And with good reason," Kat said, casting Tommy a glance. She knew about his secret Command Center in his home just as much as their other friends did.

For the rest of the evening, Tommy, Kimberly, their daughters, Billy, Kat and Jason found they were having a normal, quiet dinner. Even with a new threat on the horizon, everything was peaceful.

However, the former Power Rangers knew that this bliss wouldn't last forever. Weird and crazy crap were guaranteed to happen to them at some point. They did not realize just how soon that would end up happening.

Underwater Command Chamber – Three Hours Later

Down in the Command Chamber, Alpha Five found that he was scrambling through the data that had been sent to him by the Time Force Rangers. Having contacted Wesley, Eric, and Eric's wife Taylor from the Wild Force team, Alpha had wanted to make sure that the time traveling Rangers had heard of anything in the future. Thankfully, Wes, Eric and Taylor were in the present and residing in Silver Hills. Eric and Taylor managed to pull a favor with their previous teammates Jen, Katie and Lucas, who had managed to collect the data on this new threat.

According to Eric and Taylor, this new, monstrous threat was named Lord Hades. Eric had sounded quite serious when giving the name attached to this new threat.

"When one names himself after a god, he tends to believe he's worthy of ruling the world," Eric had said. The tone in his voice had greatly concerned Alpha. Of course, they'd dealt with foes such as Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd and Mondo, who had been sadistic in their own ways. Even Ivan Ooze had been one opponent who had been one of their toughest. Ooze had succeeded in nearly killing Zordon and had drained Tommy, Kimberly, Billy, Rocky, Adam and Aisha's power. They had had to travel to Phaedos to get the power of the spirit animals from Dulcea. It had been the most perilous mission they'd been on, even more so than when Tommy had become Rita's evil Green Ranger.

Alpha wanted to believe with every wire in his being that this new threat wasn't something that would force the previous Rangers to come out of retirement. Tommy and Kimberly have worked so hard to have a quiet, peaceful life with their two children. Rocky and Aisha, as well as Tanya and Adam, were enjoying their time together. Kat and Jason were busy operating the Youth Center. Billy's life was fulfilled with teaching at the high school. Zach was still in Switzerland.

They were all finally experiencing peace and quiet for the first time in twenty-five years. The last thing Alpha wanted to see happen was for something to come in and screw it up for them. The Rangers had enough to worry about in their lives. The last thing they needed was to have to worry about battling monsters again.

However, Alpha also knew he needed to make the Rangers aware. Observing the Viewing Globe, he could see Tommy and Kimberly sending their daughters off to their rooms for the night. Billy was at his apartment, working on his lesson plans. Kat and Jason were in the apartment above the Youth Center, watching TV. Alpha decided now was as good a time as any to teleport them to the Command Chamber. In flashes of red, white, pink and blue, Tommy, Kim, Kat, Jason and Billy appeared in the Chamber. Billy was in his sweat pants and a blue t-shirt. Tommy and Kim were in their sleeping clothes. All looked exhausted, yet also eager.

"Alpha, did you find out anything on who this new villain is in Angel Grove?" asked Kat around a deep yawn. She and Jason were in their pajamas and socks, clearly ready to go to bed. Jason pressed a soft kiss to Kat's forehead, rubbing her arm.

"Yes, Katherine, I did," Alpha said, distressed. "I managed to get in contact with the Time Force Rangers! According to Eric and Taylor, this new threat is named Lord Hades."

"As in the Greek god?" Kimberly asked.

"The very same, Kimberly," Alpha said.

"Well, that should give us a cause to be apprehensive," whispered Billy, rubbing his eyes. "Well, I would gladly stay here tonight and help you look for anymore data, Alpha. I guess I should start brewing up a pot of coffee. I'm in for a long night."

"We'll come by and bring you your breakfast from the Youth Center," Jason said. "In the meantime, we should all go back to our homes. Let us know if anything ends up happening . . . like what monsters this one would bring with him. After facing tengas, putties and cogs, I've got the feeling we'll be in for the long haul."

"Not to mention those dinosaur-mutant freaks my research had ended up producing," Tommy whispered, shuddering at the memory of Mesagog. "Alpha, teleport us back home, please. I don't want my kids getting suspicious."

"As you wish, Tommy," Alpha said. With a stream of white, red and pink, the others left, leaving Billy and Alpha alone in the Chamber.

A/N:

Be sure to review if you want more next time, folks! Affirm yourself! -

DC-MarvelGirl 1997

Also, be sure to check out my series I'm working on with MarvelMaster 616, Peace in Our Time!