tA/N: A very pleasant Tuesday from the Great State of Texas. Welcome to the main event of the Project Phoenix series. As a disclaimer, this series is inspired by Kctimes2's The Adoption. Before reading this, you should read The Crane's Destructive Path and its accompanying one shot, Granted Wishes. Hope everyone is staying safe in the middle of the coronavirus. I am in Houston where it is running rampant...we are COVID central right now here in the US.
A/N 2: Part II of Confluence and Consequence. In this chapter, the Falcon, Crane and their son are together for the first time since his birth. And, Kim has some things to say.
A/N 3: Couples featured are Jayden/Mia, Memily, Lantonio, Jason/Kat, Adam/Tanya and a slew of other old-school pairings. You'll have to read on to see if there is Tommy/Kim at the end...hehe.
A/N 4: Usual disclaimer. Power Rangers doesn't belong to me. Used to be Saban, then Disney, then Saban, now Hasbro owns them.
Chapter 36 - Falcon, Crane and Phoenix
November 19, 2012
1492 Valencia Drive
Reefside, CA
When Tommy had called Kimberly over the communicator, it was about midday. Honestly, she didn't feel like being cooped up inside, as nice as Tommy's place was. And mind you, the place was nice. It was the kind of place Tommy would live in, she mused. Even during their better days, he was more of a loner than the other Rangers. She wondered, though, how time had changed him. Based on where his house was, didn't seem like much.
Not feeling like being cooped up inside, she decided to go out to the back porch. She didn't know what month it was as she had been trapped by Maligore, but from the slight coolness in the air, she guessed it was later in the year. Under normal circumstances, that was California's weather...eternally sunny in most places, especially Southern California, but it could get a little cooler in the later months.
"Finally, I found you!" came a female voice. Kim turned around suddenly and nodded. This must have been Tommy's technical advisor that he spoke about.
"You must be...Hayley, is that right?" Kim said.
"Yes. I suppose Tom already told you I would be coming," she said.
"He did, but I didn't feel like staying cooped up inside here. I like the place, but I'm back in California at least temporarily and for a few weeks, I won't be blowing things up. So I figured I'd get some fresh air."
Hayley nodded. Honestly, that wasn't a terrible idea that Kim had put forth.
"I wish I could do that, but I work most of the day in town," she said. "It's nice to finally see you the way you should be. I brought you lunch. Tom is still forgetful sometimes, so he didn't ask you what you wanted, though he did indicate many times during the fight against Mesogog that you liked strawberry banana smoothies. So I got you a ham sandwich, some chips, and that smoothie."
"Sounds good. I'll come get it in a second. By the way, I owe you and the rest of your team a huge debt," Kimberly said.
"What do you mean by that?" Hayley said. "I'd say the opposite is true...without your wins against Zedd and Rita I'm not here."
"That's true, but your team faced a bigger and badder opponent than either of them," Kim said as she walked back towards the kitchen. "Those were dark days for me but I did my best to stay in tune with what you guys did. I was so scared during that time because I feared Mesogog would find out about Jayden and open the floodgates."
"There wasn't a day Tommy didn't think about that too, Kim," Hayley said as Kim sat down to eat. "That's why he told us about Jayden after we beat Mesogog. Mesogog didn't beat us, but he had ways to make Tommy's life miserable like no one else has done since King Mondo and Prince Gasket."
"You guys are great. And Conner and Kira are so great together. I developed a lot of respect for him, though he is a typical hot headed Red. I'm going to tell them specifically how much I appreciate them when they get here. Thank you for taking up the fight to protect my son," Kim said.
"Ever since that day, we'd been preparing for the day Jayden would have to step in and save everyone. I never could have ever dreamed that he'd do the things he's doing now. Not even Tommy ever did things like this," Hayley said.
"I'm amazed too, but one thing I notice is he doesn't have any fear. Of anything. He doesn't know he's not supposed to be doing what he's doing," Kim said.
"Right. He doesn't have the baggage that you or Tommy had. I think the closest thing he's ever had to fear was when Lauren got captured," Hayley said as Kim shivered a little bit. "He looked up to Lauren as a child. Always wondered whether he could meet the standard she set."
"I'll never forgive Maligore for threatening to bring that damn machine against my own son," Kim said, briefly recalling what that device had done to her. "I can see why he was scared of that. If my brother Kenny had been used against the Rangers during my day I wouldn't have been able to fight him."
"And Lauren is quite skilled as well," Hayley said.
"She is. Jayden should feel great that he had that young woman to look up to as a sister because she is class all the way," Kim said. "The only thing I fear now is that my son is going to have to go through Murianthias some day."
"You think Maligore is going to want to turn him evil?" Hayley said.
"I know it," Kim said. "He's just waiting for this period of bliss to end, waiting for the right time."
"Try to think positive thoughts, Kim," Hayley said. "For at least a few weeks, we won. We need to savor this time we are going to have together. Besides, it's the week of Thanksgiving!"
"Wow, I knew it was later in the year, but I didn't know we were in November."
"Yes, Thanksgiving is this coming Thursday, which means I have to go back into town later and get a whole lot of stuff. With the Rangers back in town, we're going to have a lot of hungry folks."
"After freeing two planets, I bet. Just...try and keep Rocky away from the buffet as long as possible but I'm sure you know that," Kim said. "I actually have a theory now that you think about it."
"Tell me," Hayley said.
"I wonder if the fact that it's the holiday season is partially giving more power to this confluence that temporarily took away my evil side," Kim said.
"That's...interesting. I'll talk to Tommy tomorrow and see what he thinks," Hayley said, noticing Kim had finished her lunch. "Trash can is to your left."
"Thanks, Hayley. And tell your team to keep up its good work."
November 20, 2012
1492 Valencia Drive
Reefside, CA
She normally didn't like to be disturbed in the middle of the afternoon...even 24 hours after she became herself again. She needed to nap sometimes, and this was one of those times. But Hayley had successfully shook her out of her sleep, because, as she said "they're almost here!"
And both of them more than anyone else knew who "they" meant. Kim didn't doubt Hayley was right also...after all, she had the technology downstairs in the Dino Lab to prove her assertions right.
Sure enough, as Kim headed for the kitchen, the ground began to give way just a little bit, and Kim, though shaken a bit, rushed outside with Hayley right behind her.
"Holy shit," Kim murmured as she looked to the sky and saw a moving black brachio-like ship. Tommy hadn't been kidding when he said he was coming in a brachio.
"Who in the holy hell has the money to build that?" Kim gawked. "Surely, not Tommy."
"His mentor post-Zordon, Anton Mercer," Hayley said. "We decided after Anton's stint as Mesogog that the Megaship, while great, would be too recognizable for your evil half. So we've been working on that since. This trip into space was actually its maiden voyage."
"How rich is Mercer anyways?" Kim asked.
"He swims in money. One of the wealthiest businessmen in the world," Hayley said. "But the great thing is, he uses it for good. It's starting to land."
As the ship lowered to the ground, Kim stared in awe and lamented that she couldn't go in there. If she couldn't go in the Chamber of Command, or Tommy's basement, she knew she wasn't stepping foot in that.
It was a work of art, Kim thought. A brilliant piece of machinery.
"Before everyone comes out, let me point one thing out, Kim. The Space Rangers aren't here," Hayley said, "though Karone did stay behind on Earth as she isn't a Power Ranger. The rest are on KO-35 at the behest of their once again-ruler, Kimana to help clean the planet up."
Kim nodded. She wanted to meet Andros and his team, as their efforts had kept Jayden alive past 1998, but knew they had more pressing matters to attend to at the moment.
Then, the occupants of the ship began to exit, one by one.
The first team, she didn't recognize instantly, though one of the figures that exited with them looked familiar to Kim.
"Mystic Force team. They're the team that came after Tommy's team," Hayley said. "The figure you faintly seem to recognize is Rita. She is now known as the Mystic Mother. She's still married to Zedd, though they do not see each other as often. Tommy buried the hatchet with her long ago."
Kim nodded and knew that if she got the chance, she'd bury everything with Rita too. Now she knew how it felt to be on the dark side, corrupted by a spell from hell. It was a horrible feeling.
"That's Zedd and that's Rito," Hayley said pointing to the next two figures. "Yes, Rito. We found out after Jayden escaped the moon that Rito's destruction was reversed when Thrax was destroyed during Operation Overdrive in 2007. He's actually not really the dumb clown he was when you faced him, Kim. Master Vile made him seem that way because he knew Rito was smart enough to destroy his whole empire."
The next group that came out, Kim recognized immediately. The Dino Thunder Rangers.
First it was Trent, clad in white. Then, her eyes lit up when she saw Justin, and she beamed with pride.
When she first saw Justin, he was a scrawny little kid who lived in a foster home. He was a primary reason she returned to Angel Grove in 97 in the first place...to help him. Now he was all muscle, and had filled out nicely. He was in good shape too and no doubt was still as smart as he was when he was a kid.
Then came the leader, Conner and his wife, Kira McKnight, hand in hand. She noticed that Conner had a Manchester City pin on his red shirt.
"He didn't pick United when he went to play in Europe?" Kim said. "I mean, they're like THE team."
"No, he hated their arrogance. They have titles out the wazoo and he shares the same color but they're arrogant, so Conner says. Being a Ranger really knocked the arrogance out of him," Hayley said. "So he decided to go to Manchester City and help build them into a power. They're the defending Premier League Champs in part because of him."
Kim nodded; being chosen by the Power was humbling and did certain things to certain people.
"Ninja Storm," Hayley said as the next group came down the ramp. "Three Rangers from the Wind Academy, two from Thunder and Cam, the Samurai Green Ranger and Kanoi Watanabe's son. We only just found out that the former Lothor may or may not be on our side. He and his wife Nova are a major reason for the last two victories."
"Maybe, but I think he is looking for payback and decided my evil half is the bigger threat," Kim said. "My other half embarrassed Lothor twice before."
The next team that came down the ramp, Kim had wondered where they'd been and if her other half had hurt them bad enough to where they hadn't been in the fight yet since they were rescued.
"Your evil half tortured them bad enough, Kim, that they have been on the mend since we rescued them. Jayden restored their Quasar Sabers and powers, but they've been hurt. But this is the best I've seen them since they were rescued. Something's going on there," Hayley said.
Then, Kim gulped. Now came the members of the original team. The people she knew by heart. First came Kat and Tanya, side by side, seemingly the way they'd always been since Tanya obtained the Power. Kim's eyes met Kat's as she came off the ship and instantly, the regret she felt at the anger she had at Kat began to increase.
Then came Jason, Zack and Trini and the woman Kim recognized as Jayden's girlfriend, Mia. For the first time since Murianthias, Jason and Kim's eyes met and the emotions began to swell. Mia, for her part, stopped and stared in reverence at the living legend now standing before her.
And then the tears really started flowing when the last group came out.
First, it was Rocky and Aisha, then Adam and Billy, then a familiar blue figure came behind them, and the emotions boiled over.
"Ninjor!" she shouted as she surged forward to meet the Master Ninja, tears flowing now.
"At last, my Crane returns," he said, his voice cracking as well as the two were reunited after 17 long years.
"We'll have more time to talk later. Your Falcon and your son are on their way out...now," Ninjor said. As if on cue, father and son stepped off the ship and it was anyone's guess as to who would embrace the Crane first. She saw Jayden and Tommy look at each other, and it was Tommy who went first.
Everyone stopped what they were doing to watch the spectacle unfolding before them. For two or three good long minutes, and for the first time in about a decade and a half, the Falcon and Crane held each other and didn't let go.
"The fates are so cruel, Kim, so cruel. It's hard to believe what's happened..." Tommy said; only Kim could hear him.
"I will never, ever tease you ever again about the massive Oliver guilt complex, Tommy, because I know how it feels now. At least yours was only a week..." Kim said.
"I should probably let you go for the moment," Tommy said as he released Kim. "There's still...one left."
Kim nodded and waved Tommy toward the door. As soon as Tommy was out of sight, Kim surged forward again, this time to meet her son, as a grown man, for the first time.
The first thing that struck Kim was that her son didn't have the look of a 17 year old teenager. His facial expressions were that of a grizzled veteran who had become an undisputed leader of a mission that once seemed inconceivable, but now was within the side of good's grasp.
In one sense, she felt so terribly that Jayden had his childhood robbed from him. But she'd done everything she needed to do as hard as it was. The two hugged it out and cried all the tears they could.
"I slaved...15 long years...inside that monster, for this moment, right here. This is special. I get to see my son as a man for the first time."
"Not a man yet, Mom. I'm technically still only 17 years old and honestly the Power is driving this. I can't honestly believe half the things I'm doing right now."
"I believe that, but the way I look at it is that you trust the Power and that, combined with the skills you honed in the fight against Xandred, is the reason for what I see today," Kim said.
"Those monsters your evil half runs, Kim...they all need to go to jail," Jayden said. "What I saw on Triforia...those monsters can never ever walk free again after this."
"Don't let go of that dream, Jayden, but I'll tell you that it will be tough," Kim said. "There are a whole lot of galactical crime families throughout the universe that pay these goons. Behind the villains you all know is a shadow network of mafia activity that puts what these goons do to shame."
"We'll discuss more, but I want to talk to all the teams here and show my gratitude for each of them, so let's go on inside," Kim said.
30 minutes later, the teams that had come off the ship just now were seated in Tommy's living room. Ninjor had asked the Alien Rangers to come, as well as Karone since they were linked to Zordon's legacy. Kim ideally would have liked to see all the Ranger teams there, but as she understood it they either had work or were getting food for Thanksgiving.
"There are so many things to say, that I'm not sure where to begin," Kim said. "It's been 15 years since I've been...me...again and teams have come and gone. But the overarching theme of this is...everyone sitting here should feel very proud right now. I know that Zordon would be proud of each and every one of you."
"I think it best if I start with the Dino Thunder Power Rangers," Kim said, which surprised most people in the room. "Most of you weren't a part of Zordon's legacy, but you are connected to it in a lot of ways."
"Justin, you may be one of the youngest in this room, but you did everything that was ever asked of you. Nothing that has happened was any fault of yours, now or ever."
"Conner, Kira, Ethan, Trent, without your contributions, I would not be here. Thank you for willingly taking up the fight to make sure Jayden would be ready to for battle when the time came."
"We had to earn everything we got, Ms. Hart," Conner said. "There were times, honestly, when I privately thought we might lose. I've never faced Zedd or Rita in their evil forms and nor would I want to, but I can't help but think Mesogog was as tough as they were."
"He was," Rita said. "That's the reason Tommy buried the hatchet with me. He told me Mesogog was too close a call and knew he needed help."
"And Conner, call me Kim, please," Kimberly said. "I get the respect factor but that makes me feel old."
"Rita," Kim said, turning to her former archrival, "thank you for coming back when the time was right and helping lead Mystic Force to victory. Zedd, thank you for helping keep her sane all these years. And Rito, thank you too for coming back when the time was right to help my son out."
"It was the least I could do after I got that fluke win against the Thunderzords," Rito said.
"Hey, when you get it, you take it, right?" Kim said, laughing slightly. "Beating the Thunderzords is the last thing I'd ever call a fluke."
"Ninja Storm," she said, next turning to the team that preceded the Dino Thunder team, "thanks for beating Lothor. Twice. I know nothing about this Nova person that the former Lothor is married to, but as I'm sure you know, none of us want Lothor version three. Be careful. If I ever get fully free will you let me come visit your academies some day?"
"Heck, if that happens I will arrange the visit," Tori said, with Hunter nodding.
"Lost Galaxy," Kim said, referring to the team that had maybe taken the most punishment from Flammia's forces, "it breaks my heart every time visuals flash through my head of how terribly you all were treated by my evil half. There's nothing that I can say that will make it any better, unfortunately."
"There isn't but for whatever reason, the last couple days, we feel at 100 percent for some reason," Maya said. "Even before KO-35 we were on the mend, but suddenly now we feel 100 percent again."
"I've been wondering about this. You guys looked pretty good coming off the ship," Karone said. "I'm wondering if that confluence of power didn't reverse your injuries."
The Galaxy Rangers suddenly looked at Karone with a state of shock, and were even more surprised when Rita nodded her head.
"I believe it," Rita said. "What the Phoenix has done has a lot of far reaching consequences."
"Karone," Kim said, "not to diminish that piece of news, but thank you for fighting the good fight when it has to have been so tough for you. I remember meeting you on the Dark Fortress when we were both evil. I saw a woman that was tortured and had been for a long time. That shadow is not easy to conquer."
"And now, for you guys," Kim said, as she looked at every one of the members of Zordon's legacy that she hadn't already addressed.
"Aquitar Rangers," she said, turning to the team that had always been there for Zordon's Rangers when they were needed, "thank you for being there for Zordon when Master Vile turned back time. I was not in Angel Grove then, but without you, Jayden is dead. Thank you."
"No, we say thank you to your son," Delphine said. "Because of him, our planet is free of evil for the first time in thousands of years. We would do anything for him."
"Tanya," Kim said in her first address to the original teams, "We haven't met, until now, but know that I am forever grateful to you. You have been there for Adam through good times and bad and the life you have lived together has made both of you better. Thank you."
"Kat," Kim said, sighing as she did so, "you of maybe all of us have had to carry a burden you never deserved. You had to follow me, and yet you carved out your own legacy. Any anger I may have felt towards you was always misplaced. You have more than proved your worthiness of the Power over the years and again in this time. You held your own against my evil half."
"The fault is mine," she added. "I was a naive, stupid little girl back then who dreamed of trophies and accolades, and that didn't get me anywhere. It was never worth it."
"Dreams are always worth chasing, Kim," Kat said, "Some just aren't meant to be."
"Big brother," she said, looking at Jason next, "thank you for keeping Kat sane all these years."
"It's been a task, and it's doubly difficult when you have a cousin in the federal government, in the FBI, who thinks Power Rangers are above the law and need to be reined in," Jason said.
Even the older teams gasped at this.
"How long have you kept us from this, Jase?" Tommy wondered. "This is dangerous shit."
"Only Kat knows about this aside from me," Jason said. "They leave us alone because we win, but some day that will not be the case."
"Aisha," Kim said, regaining their attention, "my fierce Bear, my sister in everything but blood. Thank you for being the first to talk to Jayden and smooth things over. It could not have been easy."
"I'm telling you, he's been ready to fight since when we met him, Kim," Aisha said. "His eyes flashed green."
The second she said this, the hairs of every person in the room stood on the back of everyone's neck.
In Ranger history, there was only one other person whose eyes flashed green when he was angry.
Yet, Kim continued on.
"Rocky," Kim said, "thank you for carrying the mantle for as long as you could. Part of me wonders what would have happened if you had been well enough to go to the Nemesis Triangle, but then again part of me is glad you didn't see what happened to me."
"If I had been there, Kim, my heart would have broke. I cried a lot when Justin told me what happened," Rocky said.
"Billy and Trini," she addressed her original former teammates next, "you two were always meant to be together, before Switzerland intervened. Eventually fate seems to have found you both though. Congratulations."
"Zack," she said next in a bit of a chiding manner, "it's my understanding that Angela knows of our secret now..."
"Not my fault, Kim," he said, "that was Zordon's doing."
Kim suddenly scratched her chin in puzzlement. That wasn't like Zordon, at all, to intervene in civilian matters.
"He basically told Angela that if she doesn't get back with Zack, that it was an or else situation," Tommy said. "I to this day don't know what or else means, and nor do I want to know, but he has his reasons as we know."
"She's basically the Ranger child sitter," Rocky said. "Whenever we have a situation that's where our kids go."
"Adam, our Frog Prince, I still remember the days after you joined our team where it seemed like deer in the headlights for you. Now, you've matured into someone who realizes his full potential. I thank heavens for Tanya helping you along."
"I wouldn't be here without her," Adam said. "There is no doubt."
"Mia," Kim suddenly said next, turning to the newest Ninjetti.
"It is an honor to meet the Pink Crane at long last," Mia said.
"No, the honor is mine, Mia," Kim said, "Thank you for being there for my son, forever and always. I shudder to think of where Jayden would be without a soulmate to turn to."
"I loved him from the moment I met him, Kim," Mia said. "His charm is so alluring to me. Not to mention he fights for what he wants."
"If I don't survive this whole ordeal, Mia, know that I am entrusting you to be there for him for the rest of his life," Kim said sternly. "Do you understand?"
"Yes ma'am," Mia said.
"Tommy, my handsome falcon," she said next as Falcon and Crane eyes locked once again, "thank you for showing the true maturity of a leader that blossomed while we were together. One of the reasons I surrendered so easily last time is that I knew you would do the right thing at every turn. You have. It is my understanding that you had a meeting with the Sentinel Knight before he died."
"It is also my understanding that he could have granted you my freedom," Kim said. "But you knew everything had to play out."
"I did. Breaking prophecy even for you was never an option, Kim," Tommy said. "As much as it pains, I had to eat the ball then just as you did in 97. If worst comes to worst at the end of this, I will carry on with Jayden, though it will be very hard to do so."
"Jayden," she said, finally looking at her son one more time, "we had a lot to say out there, but I want to say one final thing to you and everyone else here. If the final battle comes down to my freedom or the universe's freedom, choose the universe. If worst comes to worst, you may have to destroy me completely. Do it. The fate of the Phoenix and the universe may ride on it."
The room was deathly quiet for a few moments.
"Now that I'm off my soapbox," Kim said, "let's party. After all, it's two days till Thanksgiving!"
Review box is at the bottom. Please review/follow/favorite if you don't mind. Thanks. The next chapter will be a very Ranger Thanksgiving celebration, with more Power Ranger teams in attendance.
