Ranger On The Run

The World As We Know It

Tommy crept down the stairs, looking for any signs of movement. Nothing, but the smell was definitely getting worse. Tommy turned a corner, to see a Pihranatron up really close. Said Pihranatron was in front of many others, as soon as it saw him he immediately swung for Tommy. Tommy ducked and kicked him into the sofa. They were in the living room. Tommy started to fight all of them at once. They knew where he lived, there was no point in saving anything now. Tommy threw one of them straight into his TV, smashing it. Tommy blocked another punch and threw the opponent arm first into another one. Quickly they were all gone. Tommy looked out of the window. There were many Pihranatrons, but that was not all; monsters were running wild, buildings laid to ruin. He could hear more Pihranatrons in the background, he had to leave. Zordon was right in thinking that the first place to be taken was Angel Grove partly because it was always the residence of the power rangers, partly because the police presence had slackened since the arrival of the rangers. Divatox had been successful. Tommy grabbed his brown jacket and started to power walk towards the back door of his house, where the car was parked. Tommy's jeep was one of the few things he had left that he loved. He managed to run to his jeep and get in, from then on it was a straight drive across America, to find a safer location.

Tommy had left Angel Grove, he was wondering where he should go, where security would be highest. The president arrogantly thought it was all about him and went into hiding, but Washington would still be fairly protected. Tommy decided to go to Washington, and hope to set up a new life there, perhaps join the rebellion against Divatox.

It was a fairly long drive from California to Washington, but it was worth it. When he arrived there, there was no Divatox, it was normal life as such. Tommy picked up a newspaper from a stand. Divatox was on the front page. She had taken California as fast as Tommy could leave and was now residing on Earth. California was now a giant Fortress of hers, a base from which she could operate and take on other states and areas. Tommy gave thoughts to other countries across the globe, would they be under attacks led by monsters, or were all enemies now in California? If word had spread that Divatox had taken California then there were bound to be rebellions forming. Most of them started by crackpots with no experience in battle. The best retaliation Tommy could think of would be a military one; thousands of armed soldiers turning up at the gates in military jeeps. That would be the best solution. Or perhaps just a simple Atom bomb. Either way Tommy had to find out what plans Washington was making to free California. But he had no power here; well he never really had lots of power in Angle Grove as such, but he was known. He couldn't prove that he was a power ranger, for all everyone else knew, he could have been just a man interested in national security, he could have been a spy. But he didn't have to lead the rebellion, he was safe in Washington. Washington would not fall if it knew to expect attacks, Tommy could lead a normal life, it was trying to save the world that caused his team mates to die around him. Thinking of that, Tommy began to wonder what happened to that robot. There were no pictures in the paper, very few to be precise. One of the wall that surrounds California, one of Divatox's flag bearing the phrase 'Viva La Diva!' and one of Divatox, who sent a photograph of herself to every major newspaper, depicting herself as the first and last ruler of the world. Tommy was also angry about the lack of heroes waiting in the wings to save Earth. Fair enough that Ninjor was in a deep sleep since before the attack. But Auric's key, lost? Who'd been so careless as to lose it? It was probably Jason, Jason being the previous holder. The Ninja turtles disbanding was probably out of fear. Still no word about why the Blue Centurion was not available. Tommy had to find some sort of resting place; not in a funeral sort of way, as in a motel room, except he could not afford to live in motels for ages. He needed a place. He put the paper down, he didn't want to buy it; that was frowned upon in most places, reading a paper on the street only to not buy it. Tommy decided to look in the ads of local shops, perhaps there was a housemate wanted or similar being, Tommy could get a job to start paying rent. Tommy slept rough that night, in a cheap motel, on a questionable mattress. The next day was exploring the area. This was until he came across a familiar face.

He saw him when he was walking down the street, he'd actually taken the trouble to buy a paper this time to rifle through the help wanted section. He took the time to sit down on a bench provided, he put the paper on his lap and started to read.

"Tommy?" a voice called out, Tommy raised his head and saw that familiar face.

"Ernie?" Tommy stood up. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh you haven't heard? I got out of my missionary work just in time as Divatox took over Angel Grove, my brother's in Taiwan and I asked him if I could stay in his house. Yeah I got back, as soon as I did I had to leave." Ernie sighed.

"Yeah? Cool, I got out as well." Tommy nodded.

"So, where are you staying tonight?" Ernie sat down.

"Ah, motel probably." Tommy sighed.

"Tommy, you can't do that! I think it'll be a long time before California's safe again, you're gonna stay with me." Ernie stood up.
"What? No, I can't do that." Tommy shook his head.

"It's a two bedroom house, I feel I owe it to you; it's you and your friends that kept me going." Ernie insisted. Tommy stood up.
"Ah, if you're sure." Tommy hugged the large man. It was slightly ironic that a large man ran a juice bar that encouraged healthy eating and exercise. "I'll need to get my car."

"Ok, I'll be at this address, I know you don't know this place too well, but it should be easy to find." Ernie handed Tommy over a piece of paper, this note was given to Ernie the first time he visited his brother, it was now Tommy's. It contained brief notes on how to get there, something Tommy could find slightly useful. Tommy separated from Ernie, and went off to the motel to pick up his car. It was a long walk back to the motel, and Tommy reflected more as he walked, he seemed to spent a lot of time reflecting on past times.

Tommy's black 4X4 cruised down the road, he was following the instructions given to him by Ernie. After a good hour of cruising, he turned up at the house. It was a terraced house in a large street, there was a gravel parking area behind the houses, the area fitted nicely as Ernie's brother's house was exactly in front of it. Tommy parked up and got out, he decided to go in through the back entrance. Tommy walked down the patio path and in through the conservatory.

"Hello? Hello?" Tommy called out as he entered the conservatory, the door was opened by Ernie.

"Hi Tommy, take your shoes off and come in." Ernie smiled. Tommy took off his trainers and entered.

"Can I offer you juice?" Ernie asked. Tommy was now in a living room of sorts, large TV and leather armchairs.

"No thanks, you got any beer?" Tommy sat down. Ernie was across the hall, presumably in the kitchen.

"Beer? Tommy what happened to that keeping your body healthy and all that stuff? You know alcohol will kill you?" Ernie came through. "No we don't."

"Never mind then." Tommy sighed, Ernie sat down.

"So, what started you drinking anyway?" Ernie asked, he had a tall glass of smoothie in his hand. Tommy thought for a while about the question.

"Can you keep a secret? I was a power ranger; the red power ranger, the leader. We were on a routine call out when it all went wrong. The blue ranger; Justin was blown up by a car explosion. We were then spotted by a large robot. That robot crushed our pink ranger; Katherine underfoot. I went with the yellow and green ranger to fight it in the megazord. We were running low on power, I decided to abandon the megazord, hoping they'd follow. Adam and Tanya were rangers until the end, and died in the megazord fighting the robot. I'm the only survivor of the team. Now Divatox has taken my home and all the places there that I loved. That's what turned me to drink." Tommy blithered on, telling the story of his downfall.
"Oh, tough break. But that's no excuse for drinking! I'm supposing you'll want to take Angel Grove back from Divatox. You can't do that in poor health." Ernie tried to put a positive spin on things.

"That's my point; the others were in perfect health, and they were cut down in my prime, I can't win against Divatox any way you spin it, so my sobriety makes no difference."