Chapter 10 – Unexpected Visitors

The Dino Thunder Power Rangers were wandering around the outer corridors of the Command Centre. They weren't totally lost, just close to it, as Dr.O had only taken them down a dead end corridor twice. They had just arrived at a T-junction; with the corridors themselves shrouded in darkness as power that would have been used for the lights had been diverted elsewhere. Dr.O understood why the tunnels were in darkness, what was the point of powering a corridor that wasn't going to be used when most rangers teleported in to the heart of the command centre.

"Ok Dr O, Which way?" asked a frustrated Ethan, who was getting angry because all the corridors looked the same: dark and dismal.

"Hang on a minute Ethan, let me think," answered the Black Ranger.

Conner and Kira had both leaned up against the wall to wait for Dr.O to make up his mind; Ethan made his way over to join them.

"Who knew a place this small could have so many twists and turns?" asked Kira

"Remind me never to complain about how far Dr.O's house is from the centre of Reefside, this place is huge," replied Conner

"Tell me about it, I have never had to walk far in these suits before, I wonder if they chafe?" enquired Kira

Meanwhile Dr.O was studying the T-junction carefully, he was sure he knew where he was, only a few minutes away from the actual heart of the command centre, but he wasn't positive that it was this corridor that lead there. He put his hand to his chin in thought, and as he studied the possible routes available to him, his eyes were drawn to a small plaque that was on the top rim of the wall opposite him and he smiled.

The Black Ranger was brought out of his own thoughts when he felt a hand suddenly appear on his shoulder. When he turned around he found that it belonged to Kira

"Dr O? How far do we have to go? It seems like we have been wondering down here for days, not just 30 minutes," she asked

"We are not far now Kira, just a few minutes away. If we turn left here and follow the corridors straight, we should appear near the south entrance of the command chamber, right next to the viewing globe." He paused. "See, I told you that I could get you there!" said Dr O triumphantly.

"Really, Dr.O? Are we nearly there? How can you be so sure that this corridor leads us to the command centre? Not that I don't have faith in you, but you haven't been here for at least 9 years, how can you be sure that we are even going in the right direction?" asked Ethan

"Thanks for the vote of confidence in me guys!" Dr.O replied, "but I really do know where we are going through my gut instinct… that, and a sign on the wall over there," he jerked his thumb in the direction of the plaque, saying 'Command Centre' followed by an arrow. "Alpha must have put these signs up just encase the Rangers couldn't teleport and had to arrive here on foot, but that hardly ever happened, so no wonder I forgot... come on guys, just think, if Zordon can help us we shall be home before the day is out!" with that statement Dr.O started walking down the left corridor.

The three students followed him rolling their eyes in their helmets thinking that the signs were probably put up there for the younger Tommy's benefit because he had developed a reputation of being extremely forgetful.

True to Dr.O's word, the Dino Thunder Rangers could hear the humming sounds of the command chamber, as they got closer to the heart of the base. Just before the group was about to enter the actual chamber, Dr.O stopped the teenagers for a team meeting.

"Now remember guys say nothing of where we are from, just that we are stuck here in time. I want no mention of things that are going to happen, just stick to the facts." The Black Ranger specifically looked at the Red Ranger. "Conner you will have to do most of the talking as you are the team leader. I can't talk at all in case Zordon or Alpha recognizes me. If you need any advice from me, it will have to be discreet signals." Dr.O glanced around at the rest of the team, "Also before I forget there is a robot in the centre called Alpha 5, and Zordon, the one we need to talk to, is a giant floating head in a tube, so don't be to alarmed by what you see"

The three rangers, for a brief moment, couldn't believe what they were hearing, but then they cast their minds back to the video they watched of their heritage, and remembered what the intergalactic being looked liked.

"Ok Dr O," the Red Ranger replied, "I think I can handle that, everyone ready?" Conner received nods from the rest of the team. "Ok let's go." Lead by Conner, the Dino Thunder Rangers entered the command centre chamber.

Alpha 5 was just looking at another negative report about the strange Power Rangers when he suddenly sensed that he was not alone. He spun around and to his shock and surprise; standing in front of him was the object of his search. They stood where the Ninjetti Rangers normally stood when addressing Zordon; he wondered how they got so close to him without him detecting them. Alpha 5 nervously asked the rangers the two questions that had been eating at his logic circuits.

"What are you? Or more importantly, how did you get in here? You cannot enter the command centre without a power coin." As he was stating these questions he slowly edged his way towards the button that would alert the Ninjetti Rangers to the intruder's presence. But just as he was about to press the emergency button a black and gold-gloved hand grabbed his robotic arm and stopped him in his tracks. The Black Ranger shook his head in a no gesture at the extremely shocked robot. Then the red ranger spoke.

"We are not here to hurt you...err Alpha 5 (he had temporarily forgotten the robot's name) we need to speak to Zordon about Phantom and us."

"How can I trust you? You have broken into the Command Centre, that is an act of aggression, how do I know that you will not try to destroy Zordon?" enquired Alpha.

"The same can be said for you, Alpha. From our friend's reaction you were about to create some problems for us, or summon your rangers. I'm afraid we can't let that happen," said Ethan. The Blue Ranger was really buzzing with excitement, he couldn't believe all the equipment and all the gadgets that were scattered about the room; Ethan was in heaven.

"Please let us see Zordon. It is really important that we meet him," the yellow ranger said gently.

All throughout the conversation the Black Ranger continued to hold onto Alpha's arm, and had decided to perch on the edge of the nearby console. The robot noticed that although the Black Ranger didn't speak, out of all the intruders he seemed most at home in the command centre. There was something familiar but different about the puzzling ranger. It was possible that both he and Zordon had met him before, but if so, where?

"Greetings Dino Thunder Rangers" said Zordon who's head rose from the bottom of the tube "So you were searching for me, while I was searching for you, most interesting," he paused for a moment to think, "well then, you have found me, but before we begin, tell me how did you manage to enter the Command Centre undetected?"

When Zordon appeared, Dr.O released his hold on the robots arm and decided to move closer to the rest of his team and again, found himself leaning against the Command Centre consoles. Conner glanced at Dr.O and, after receiving a nod, answered the intergalactic being.

"It turns out that the power contained in our gems is similar enough to the Power Coins that we were able to get through your defense systems. But our intensions are peaceful. In fact, we need your help Zordon," said Conner

Out of the corner of his eye he saw his mentor shake his head a couple of times.

"What have I done now?" He thought. "All I did was tell them how we entered the building, what vital information important to the future did I reveal now?"

"NO Conner!" Dr.O shouted mentally. "Don't mention the source of our powers! I just hope that Zordon will ignore that statement and be more interested in the rest of our tale. If Zordon scans us specifically for our Dino Gems and then locates them in this time before I find them, then the future could be dramatically altered! Calm down Oliver, you have gotten melodramatic in your old age, Zordon wouldn't do that once he finds out where we are from, and because I know some of the workings of the command centre, I can prevent a bio scan of us. Calm down and just breathe; let's get back to the situation at hand."

"Fascinating Information, and how can I help you?" enquired Zordon.

"It seems that, through an accident, we have found ourselves in the wrong place and the wrong time" stated Ethan.

"Really? Please explain more," replied Zordon

Conner, with the help of the Yellow and Blue Dino Rangers, explained how they ended up in this time period, while leaving out any key details that could harm the future. Dr.O kept quiet throughout the conversation, and was quietly proud of the students that the Dino Gems had picked to be their owners.

Zordon and Alpha both listened to their tale.

"So Phantom is from your time. That would explain why we can't find any information on him, as he does not yet exist, that same reasoning can be said to you," said Zordon, focusing on the Black Dino Thunder Ranger, who still hadn't uttered a word since entering the Command Centre. "You did right coming here, as any changes you make here could alter the future. For now Alpha and I will work on a way to send you home. I must ask you not to leave the Command Centre, and for now we shall not tell the Rangers where you are from, as there is always the temptation to ask what the future holds, and that could bring about awkward questions."

The Black Ranger shifted uncomfortable from where he was leaning at this last statement.

All of a sudden the bright flashing lights and the klaxon sound of the Command Center's alarm for monster attacks sounded. This caused the Red, Yellow and Blue Power Rangers to flinch slightly and the Black Ranger to immediately move to a better position to look at the viewing globe.

"Behold the viewing globe," boomed Zordon's voice

On the globe was Phantom attacking some people near the park. Conner immediately turned around and asked a request of Zordon

"You have to let us fight Phantom. He is from our time, and we are the best equipped to fight him."

Zordon seemed to ponder over that statement before agreeing to let them go. "I agree. Alpha teleport them to the site, and May the Power Protect You."

"Yes Zordon" said Alpha, who pressed a couple of buttons on a console, and the DT rangers were teleported in their various colors to the attack site.

Once they had left Alpha asked Zordon a question that had been nagging at him from the first time he had laid eyes on the Dino Thunder Rangers, when they entered the Command Centre.

"Zordon, there is something strange about the Black Ranger. His posture seems familiar, he seems to know this Command Centre very well as he stopped me from contacting the Rangers, and notice how he hardly spoke a word while he was here."

"I agree there is something strange about him but there is familiarity as well. Alpha, Contact our rangers and tell them of the situation, they might need to support the Dino Thunder Rangers. But don't tell them where they come from, just that they are our allies."

"Affirmative, Zordon, contacting them now"