I believe I am owed some cookies.

Chapter Fourteen

Kim helped with the carrying of equipment as she was in no way qualified to help install it. Alpha's ship contained huge amounts of gizmos and gadgets that Kim had no clue about but which Billy enthused over. Clearly Alpha had brought with him all the pieces of technology which Billy was unable to provide on Earth. Which left Kim wondering how Alpha had known they were doing this.

She could ask him, of course, but he was too busy helping Billy, as were any former Rangers with even the slightest hint of technical knowledge. She felt somewhat useless.

Billy was working as fast as possible, directing his helpers in their tasks and performing those too complicated for anyone else to understand. The interior of the Command Centre was beginning to take shape. Jason, Rocky and Adam were busy constructing the huge tube where Zordon's head used to float.

Kim wondered if that was what this was all about. Were they bringing Zordon back?

She wondered about asking Tommy, but he seemed to be getting worse by the second. He was sitting in the shade, but she could feel the heat coming off him if she even got close. The Mystics had attempted cooling spells, but nothing was helping. Even with his eyes closed, she could see the light burning through the lids. Whatever he was planning on doing, it had better be soon.

"Trini, get ready to hit that switch," said Billy, busy over controls on a newly formed panel. "And... now!" Lights flickered on around the room. The tube glowed slightly, glowed a bit brighter, and then went dark again.

Billy muttered something that sounded a bit like a swear word. He headed to the tube, made a few adjustments and left Jason standing holding a wire in place part-way up the transparent casing.

"OK, try it again." Trini pressed the switch. This time the tube stayed lit up until Jason shifted slightly because his arm was getting tired.

Kim watched the proceedings from the side of the room. There was a circle of panels much like she remembered although most of them had wires sticking out and were only half finished. Billy was working on getting the main features working, which meant the whole building was a mess and there were wires trailing between everywhere. Carlos had tripped up three times already walking across the room.

Billy called out some instructions to Justin, who was lying on his back underneath the new viewing globe. As usual with Billy's technical speak, Kim barely understood a word. The rest of the Rangers were gathering inside Command Centre, all the equipment now here and in the process of being installed. They stood watching as the geeks continued their work.

The place felt amazingly crowded. There had never been this many people in here. Everyone watched as Billy performed another of his technological miracles. It was hard to believe that just this morning this place had been an empty stretch of rock and dirt.

"We're almost ready to commence initialisation," stated Billy.

"Can I take my hand down yet?" Jason asked, still holding up wires to the side of the tube. His problem was solved with the application of duct tape.

A minute later, several switches were pressed and levers thrown. The whole place lit up with a hum as panels and machines came to life. The tube glowed brightly, but still empty, at the heart of the room.

"Basic operations are functional," declared Billy.

"Good." Everyone turned as Tommy walked into the room. Not only were his eyes glowing, there was a faint sheen of changing colours over his skin. Heat was radiating off him like a furnace.

Those who'd been working on the panels moved out of the way as Tommy came to stand beneath the tube.

"Tommy..." Jason began, "bro..."

Tommy looked at him. "This is the only thing to be done," he said, with perhaps the faintest trace of emotion in his voice. Or maybe that was just Kim's wishful thinking.

Tears pricked her eyes as Tommy looked across the assembled crowd. "You have all served your time as Rangers and have done your duties well. You gave your lives in another time to destroy evil. Now no one remembers your sacrifice. But I know it and I am proud to know each and ever one of you."

Kim didn't even attempt to stop herself crying. Tommy was saying goodbye. There could be no doubt about that.

The light that had been inside Tommy burst out. It blazed from inside him as though someone had just set fire to him. Four colours, shining out through his skin. His arms were flung out, his head tilted back in a silent scream as he burned. The Power streamed out of him, his body subjected to the full force of it.

Kim couldn't look. She turned to Jason and buried her head in his chest, crying uncontrollably. He put his arms round her, but his chest shook slightly with his own tears.

Kim didn't want to turn around and see what was happening to Tommy. She wished she'd stayed at home and ignored the nightmares. She'd been happy enough as a gymnast, without anyone else aware that the Rangers existed. If she hadn't agreed to go to Briarwood, maybe Tommy wouldn't have released the Power, maybe he'd still be alright.

Her mind filled with maybes and might-have-beens as, behind her, a man she had loved was dying.

She felt the change in Jason shortly before she heard the, "oh my god," he uttered.

Kim pulled herself away from him and forced herself to turn around and look at Tommy.