Disclaimer: Do I look like a mouse...wait don't answer that.
The Day after Tommy has a chat with Will (MiB)……………
"Mr. Hartford, do you have a moment?" Tommy asked from the door to Hartford's office.
Andrew Hartford looked up and smiled, "Come on in, Dr. Oliver. Did you need something?"
Tommy sighed, "First, it's Tommy, sir. Second, well, this has to be one of the weirdest conversations I'm about to start."
"I'll call you Tommy when you start calling me Andrew," Andrew replied, "and don't you think you're exaggerating? I'm sure in your life you've had plenty of strange conversations."
"Well, I'm not so sure," Tommy said, moving into the room and sitting across from Andrew "Um, Andrew, I, well, we Red Rangers, want to kidnap Mack."
"What…why?" Andrew asked, startled.
"Well, Jason was shooting his mouth off at one of the festivals last month and got called on it. We need Mack to settle the issue. We might be able to get them to accept Nick, but they specified our Rookie Red in settling the matter. They want him to compete in a tournament that is held annually on Eltare. Some years back, the Lightspeed Red, Carter, set some pretty tough standards. Two years ago, one of the new kids from Javor broke those standards. It's our chance to get back the title of toughest humans in the galaxy." Tommy leaned back, "I don't want to kidnap him tonight, I mean, the tournament was last month, so we have a year to figure out if Mack can do it or not."
"A year," Andrew said.
"Yeah," Tommy said. "I'm coming to you as his mentor, and so I'm asking you to think as his mentor and not his father. In one year can we kidnap your son, convince him to compete in a tournament and maybe introduce him to alcohol?"
Andrew sighed, "I'll think about, Tommy. There are factors that you don't know about that might preclude my son from being a part of your tournament. Come ask me again in a year."
"Fair enough," Tommy said. He stood, "I'm not sure if I'll be a part of this. If not, Shane Clark, the Senior Red, will be in contact with you. For now, I have to leave; I have a class to teach tomorrow."
Andrew stood and the two shook hands, "I'll call if I have any problems, Tommy," he said.
"And I'll call if we run into one of those problems that you men with money can just make go away, ok?" Tommy said with a grin.
RFOORFOORFOORFOORFOORFOORFOO
One Year Later…
RFOORFOORFOORFOORFOORFOORFOO
Shane and Hunter exchanged glances, "So, Mack, you used to be an android," Shane said finally.
"And now I'm a real live boy?" Mack said with a groan. "Yes, I'm human, just stronger than most Rangers."
"Great," Hunter said, "Because we need you more than you need us right now. Are you willing to compete? We've told you what we can."
Mack grinned, "Sure, I'd love to. It would be fun to try to best all those other races."
"What's going on?" A slender, tall blond, dressed in jeans and a silvery shirt had wandered into the room.
"Tyzon!" Mack jumped up, "I thought you went back home?"
"I couldn't stay. I wanted to come and see my friends. Vela and I broke up." Tyzon replied.
Mack draped his arm over Tyzon's shoulders, "I'm sorry man. Oh, Ty, I want you to meet Shane Clark and Hunter Bradley; Shane's Red Wind and Senior, Hunter's Crimson Thunder. Shane, Hunter, this is Tyzon of Mercurion, he served with Op Overdrive as the Mercury Ranger."
Tyzon placed a fist to his heart and bowed, "Sirs, it is an honor."
"I didn't know there were Mercurian Rangers any more," Shane said. "I heard SPD had a base there."
Tyzon nodded, "Yes, they do. It is part of why I wished to leave. They were very, intent, on bringing me into their fold."
"They don't like wild card Rangers," Hunter said. "You might be looking at a longer visit to Earth than you may have planned."
"Is there something wrong with SPD?" Mack asked, "The little I've heard has been nothing but good."
"Nothing we can point at and say, 'This is wrong.'" Shane replied, "But we don't want them here on Earth, and for right now, we're the only voice Earth has and they're staying away."
"We've taken care of Earth for fifteen years," Hunter added, "and there's no reason now for us to be supplanted by a military group that the world has never heard of."
"Sounds good to me," Tyzon said; "if I'm welcome to stay, of course."
"How could you ever doubt it?" Mack exclaimed, "You're still a part of Operation Overdrive even if we aren't fighting monsters and traveling the globe. You're stuck with us, Ty. If nothing else, you can come to this tournament and help me from making a fool of myself."
Tyzon frowned, "What tournament."
"The Eltarean Sess'naf'ghean," Shane said. "About seven years ago, the Rookie of the year set some impressive records for Humans at it, three years ago, one of the Javor Rangers broke those records. We want our title back, and Mack is one of the few Reds that are acceptable to compete."
"You refer to Carter Grayson and Alik, no?" Tyzon asked.
"Right," Shane said. "Carter's one of us. Alik is related by marriage to one of our older Reds, Rocky DeSantos, so it's a challenge to us that he got as far as he did."
"Well," Tyzon said, "I'm in, if you're going Mack. We'll need to bring, if not wear, our uniforms, and morphers, although we won't have to morph unless someone decides to try the Eltarean defenses. Anyone who would dare to attack during the Sess'naf'ghean deserves the fate that awaits him."
"Great," Shane said, "you two should get your things together; we need to leave in the morning. Launch site is in Briarwood this year, go to the Rock Porium and tell one of the employees that you're looking for Nick Russell. He's the Mystic Force Red. Tell Nick who you are and where you need to be, he'll tell you where to go. For now, we have things to finish up before the tournament. We'll see you tomorrow."
RFOORFOORFOORFOORFOORFOO
"There's the Rock Porium," Rose said, pointing.
"Great, we're here," Will added.
Shaking his head, Mack parked the jeep and watched as Ronnie, Will and Dax parked their bikes behind them. The whole team had decided to go along on the trip, seeing as none of them had left the planet, except Tyzon. It was also a good excuse for them to spend time together. As the three bikers dropped their helmets in the jeep, Mack checked out their new uniform jackets, designed to be worn with either jeans or slacks, they were the similar black and color design of the full uniform, with the Op Overdrive logo on one shoulder and under it the number associated with their primary Zord. "Let's go," he said once everyone looked settled. He led them into the store and glanced around.
"Hi, welcome to Rock Porium, how can I help you?" A pretty girl with long brown hair tied back in a tail and an aqua colored shirt under her purple work shirt approached with a very large grin.
"My name is Mack Hartford," Mack said, "I'm looking for Nick Russell."
The girl, no, woman, seemed to change, "I'm sorry, but Nick isn't here today. Can I give him a message?"
"Will you call him now," Tyzon said, "and say that Shane Clarke and Hunter Bradley sent us to find him."
The woman nodded, "I'll do that. I'm Madison, by the way, and I used to be blue. Feel free to look around, but I'm sure Nick will be here pretty soon." She turned and hurried to the counter, where she had a hushed conversation with the cashier, a dark haired young man with a yellow undershirt.
"Blue?" Dax asked.
Tyzon coughed, "Mystic Force has a 'Lady Blue' as I believe Dr. Oliver termed it, and a male Yellow. They're one of two teams with that configuration; the Ninja Storm team is the other one. You remember Tori, I'm sure."
"Hold on," Will said, he turned, and then flashed them a grin, "Hey, Xander!"
A very familiar face leaned around a nearby shelf, "Will? Mack? What are you all doing here?" Xander asked.
"Shane told us to come down here," Mack said, he wandered over closer, "Nick Russell, I knew I knew that name! We're supposed to catch a ship to Eltare around here."
"Oh, you're going to the tournament with Nick then?" Xander asked.
"Yeah, I'm going to prove Jason right, I think." Mack replied.
Xander shrugged, "I went to that thing last year, and it's tough. I'm sure you'll do well though. Is the whole team going to?"
"Yeah, he needs the moral support," Rose replied. "How are things down here anyways?"
"Good, quiet," Xander replied. He glanced up, "Here's Nick. Nick, over here!"
Another dark haired young man joined them, "Yes, Xander."
"Nick, these are the Operation Overdrive Rangers, Mack, red, Will, black, Rose, pink, Ronnie, yellow, Dax, blue and Tyzon, Mercury, or rather, silver." Xander said.
"So we finally get to meet Xander's friends," Nick said dryly, "I'm Nick Russell, Mystic Force Red. I take it you're all going to Eltare then?"
"Why not?" Ronnie said.
"Great, well, Conner and the others are at the launch site. I know Maddie's coming; what about you Xander?" Nick said, turning to his Green Ranger.
"Yeah," Xander said, "I want to see how Mack does. I saw Carter's tape, so I suspect this will be very interesting."
"Great," Nick whistled and waved his arm, and moments later Madison appeared, backpack over her shoulder, "Maddie," Nick said, catching her by her waist, he dropped a kiss on her lips lightly, "these are the Operation Overdrive Rangers; Mack, Dax, Rose, Ronnie, and Tyzon."
"Nice to meet you," Madison said, "sorry about earlier. We just got rid of another group of reporters and we're all a bit on edge."
"No problem," Mack said. "We're ready to go then?"
Nick grinned, "Let's ride."
RFOORFOORFOORFOORFOORFOORFOO
There were four Dino-Thunders waiting at the launch site, sparking more greetings between Op Overdrive and Kira, another friend from when they'd lost their powers. They also got to meet Kira's 'boys' as they had come to be referred to as. Conner stayed long enough to collect their names before dragging Nick on board for a 'conference'. This brought a couple of resigned looks between the two teams, but they didn't treat it as unusual. Ethan proved to be a bit more enthusiastic than Kira had admitted and soon had Will and Rose chatting with him about security protocols and programs. Trent was aloof, his arm tight around Kira as if to establish his place. It didn't hurt when Dax recognized his name and announced his liking of Trent's comics. That got Chip involved and Trent backed out.
They piled into the ship, which rivaled the Megaship in size, in a mass of cheerful, chattering young people. While the others settled rooms, Mack found himself and Tyzon drawn aside by Nick and Conner. The two pulled them into a small conference room. It wasn't very big, and dominated by a table with a floating image of Earth above it. "Tyzon," Conner said, leaning against the holoboard in the center of the room. "We understand that your planet plays host to SPD?"
"Yes," Tyzon replied.
Nick stood next to Conner, but didn't lean against the table, his earlier mischievous look gone. "We have permission from the Senior and Elder Rangers, and we would like to extend an invitation to live on Earth if things get bad. We've sheltered other refugees before, not just from SPD, but other troubles. You've actually got a place and all, but this is for us to say, we're willing to let someone help you become an American citizen if that's what it would take."
Tyzon nodded, "I think I will accept your offer. SPD is not a bad group, but they are very eager to study Ranger technology and effects. Should I join them I might find myself no better than a common test animal."
"Great," Nick said, "now then, how the hell did we wind up with everybody but Hailey and Dr. Oliver on this trip?"
"Sheer dumb luck?" Conner offered. At Nick's look, he shrugged, "How often do the rest of the guys get off planet, Nick? We offered an open invitation to see what we see every Friday."
"Good point and it makes me glad that the Kerovans loaned us the Rayven for the trip. We'd never fit into the Firestorm or the Mezadon Rover; or even both." Nick said. He shrugged, "We should get going, they'll be fighting over rooms for a while."
"We need to find bunks for ourselves as well," Tyzon said.
"Everyone has to double up; I'd suggest you two grab a room and a roommate fast." Conner added as he followed Nick to the door.
RFOORFOORFOORFOORFOORFOORFOO
Mack and Tyzon had left the rest of their team early on the last day of the open competition. Since the activities varied every year, Mack had not competed in the exact same activities as Carter had, but he was holding his own now. He'd joined in the Amare Hunt, which was a maze with obstacles to get through, and had come in fifth, then had come a series of races, divided by species, to keep it fair. Now, with Mack holding stead in twenty-third place out of two hundred competitors, they came to a very new addition, a melee that everyone would have to fight in. The Rangers would morph and fight until there were twenty-five fighters still standing and morphed. You could opt to leave the melee anytime after it started, and if you got knocked out of morph you were disqualified, but other than that it was basically no holds barred, and nothing like the elimination rounds that would follow.
Today, the two friends had found privacy in the simu-deck on the Rayven, where they created the view from the bluffs behind the mansion. "You worried?" Tyzon asked as they watched the waves beat the bluffs from the top.
"Sort of," Mack said, "I mean, I know that they've made this safe, but still, I'm doing a lot better than I should have. Certainly none of them expected me to be this good. I've beaten Alik and Carter's records very clearly, and that's what Tommy and the others wanted. I just don't know that I want to finish this."
"So, opt out. Stay in the fight long enough to make it look like someone else knocked your morph out. If you don't want to dance to their tune, why should you? You have showed me how to live amongst humans and to pass as one, but you have made it clear that I need to be myself just as much." Tyzon replied
Mack grinned, "Thanks Ty. I needed to hear that, ya know? At least one person won't think I'm a wimp if I don't want to finish this. I even have an excuse…Thrax tore the Morphin' Grid, and even though Alpha fixed it, whose to say that a lucky shot couldn't short the morph?"
"Nobody at all," Tyzon agreed.
"Excuse me, Mack and Tyzon," the computer, a rather unemotional personality known as Art said diffidently, "But it is time for the competitors to report."
Mack nodded, "Thanks Art." He stood.
Tyzon followed, "I guess I'll go herd the chickens."
Mack laughed, letting his head fall back and felt warmth slide through him. He'd coined the term for the rest of Op Overdrive because of their inexplicable ability to get into trouble just walking down the streets opened to the festival. Add in the Mystics and the Dino-Teens and it was a lost cause that anything would be done with a minimum of fuss. Especially since Doctor Oliver, Will, and the other Black Rangers who'd come along had vanished, leaving very few voices of reason in the clamoring throng. Of course, just the sight of Tyzon, who had once been so lost he had almost never spoke in public, spouting off a line like that was priceless.
The good mood inspired by Tyzon's wisecrack lasted until the melee started, which was good. It was not good, however, that the fight was horrible. Nobody really understood the rules or what to do, and so they tried to figure it out. Mack gathered up the other humans and formed a unit, using weapons, blasters and combat skills to create a safe circle, where they could watch each other's back with out fear. Mack got them organized, and then saw his chance…he leapt forward to take on a Wookie-like Halsper, who threw him into a brick wall. While the Power held, he dismissed the morph discretely as he hit the ground.
The teleportation crew sent him to the holding area, where Mack got checked over and dismissed to watch the other teams. The Humans were holding their own, backing up to cover holes and taking out many opponents. When they were down to five, the five exchanged looks and went berserk. They knew they'd go down, but they went down as five deadly dancers. Mack kept count. They took out fifty three opponents as a whole before they were taken down by their enemies.
When the fight was over, Mack found the other Earth Rangers and found himself the focus f celebration, after all, he's finished up at 35th place and that made him the toughest human to compete in the tournament. "All right," Shane said, catching everyone's attention, "We're taking Mack to celebrate, and by 'we', I mean everyone who wears RED. Yes, I'm referring to our theme rangers on this one. We'll be taking the Hypershock, I suggest that the rest of you redistribute the pilots and get back to Earth. We don't want to raise anymore suspicions, do we?"
RFOORFOORFOORFOORFOORFOORFOO
Thirteen Red Rangers teleported to Rocky's; including the man and his wife. They'd no sooner cleared the pad than a server appeared and whispered in Rocky's ear. Rocky grinned, "Tommy's here. Shall we?"
"Why, yes," Shane agreed, turning to Mack. "I'm sorry about this, Mack," he added.
Hands seized Mack's arms, and then his legs before he could react. He realized that it was his fellow reds that were…lifting him? It took a moment, but he was soon resting on their shoulders, despite his struggles. "Ready?" Jason asked.
Assent came in a low rumble, Mack closed his eyes. He heard the doors open, and then the Reds burst into song. "Alive, alive-o; alive alive-o, cockles and mussels alive, alive-o."
As he was carried around the bar to that tune, Mack vowed that he would get revenge, both on these Red Rangers, and on Tommy Oliver, who was, no doubt, the cause of this. Too many overheard conversations had told him that. His humiliation was meant to embarrass someone else…and they would pay.
A/N: Yes, this is the same tournament that Carter was in...it's kind of like the Olympics, except different. Those who don't know what a Wookie is...need to watch Star Wars, the original movies. Those who don't know what a melee is...well, back when Knights actually had to know how to fight, they would hold tournaments were they held mock battles, the melee was an event that anyone who competed could take place in. It's an every-man-for-himself fight were the object is to beat down as many people as you can. Last man standing wins. Very dangerous...but it sounds like fun to. The last scene can also be seen from Tommy's eyes in the story "A Calm Night". No, Conner and Nick are not together...they're just very good friends. They clicked, the way that some people do. There's a bit of kindred spirit there. Mack is going to be dragged in as their third kicking and screaming... or will it be Mack dragging them around kicking and screaming. The song is a play on the fact that Mack is now alive, and with flesh and bones.