Tommy
"Where's Zordon?" I asked, walking into the control room of the new Command Center. William, Billy, and Alpha were here, talking in low voices given the late hour. I wasn't sure where everyone else was. I honestly didn't care either. I was prepared to rip Zordon a new one in front of a whole room full of people if need be. Trini, Kim, and the Ranger Slayer were behind me as I walked to the middle of the room.
"What do you mean, Tommy?" Billy asked, looking at me with confusion on his face. "He's recharging in his dimension."
"Bring him back here. I have some questions for him." I said.
"I can't until he's fully ready to come through." He replied.
"Fine. I'll get him back." I turned towards the tube. "Zordon! Get back here. I want some damn answers." I called out loudly.
"Tommy, that's not going to work," Billy said. I could tell I was making him nervous, the uneasy look he shared with William telling me so. "He can't hear you where he is."
"I'll just yell louder than." I shrugged. "Hey, Zordon! Come back here and tell me all about this prophecy I'm a part of." My voice echoed around the room, the sound vibrating off the walls.
"Oh, dear," Alpha said, putting his hands on the sides of his head. "I knew this would happen." Clearly, even Alpha knew more about me than I did.
"Man, what's going on?" Jason asked, coming into the control room. Zack was behind, the two of them coming from the direction of the kitchen.
"Alpha? Do you know what Tommy is referring to?" William asked, looking at the little robot.
"I'm afraid I do. I told Zordon that this would happen if we weren't honest with all of you." He said, stepping towards the controls. Reaching out, he pressed a deep blue button. "Zordon, please return to Earth." He said directly. The tube began to illuminate the room, a dim white light that grew brighter slowly until the outline of Zordon's head began to appear. I took a step back, glaring up at the form as he materialized in front of me.
"Yes, Alpha?" Zordon asked, his voice echoing around the room. By now, everyone was crowded into the middle opening of the room, looking between Zordon and me. I balled my hands into fists as I looked at him.
"He didn't call you. I did." I called out. "I hear you have something you might not have told me when I return. I reckon this might be a good chance seeing as I've been in the dark this entire time."
"Tommy, you weren't told to protect the fragile balance of the universe," Zordon said. "It was a critical situation and that is why you weren't informed of it."
"Informed of what? What the hell is going on? You've talked in riddles since the moment I've met you and you still treat us all like children. We aren't! We're adults who had to grow up in the war because of the roles you pressured on us when we were just kids." Anger bubbled in my blood. "I have every right to know exactly what it is that you have been planning behind my back all this time. What is it that you haven't been telling me? Haven't been telling anyone?"
"It's a matter of the universe. It's important that the knowledge I've withheld remains that way." He said.
"Zordon, it's time," Alpha said, stepping in front of me. "Tommy needs to know his role in this whole mess if he's going to be able to achieve what he was born to do. You aren't being fair by not being truthful." It was odd to see Alpha stand up to Zordon like this. He had always been the submissive type, taking orders from Zordon without question. But I felt that this was something the two had spoken about numerous times at great length for some time now. Zordon gazed down at Alpha for a long moment before shifting his gaze to me again.
"There was a reason why I instructed you and Kimberly to not have a relationship. By doing so, you set forth a series of events that brought upon the destruction of the Morphing Grid and the universe itself." He stated. "The prophecy states that it was destined to be this way unless prevented by forbidding the relationship."
"What prophecy?" Kim asked. "Something about us from a million years ago?"
"Upon the day rocks will rain from the sky, a breakdown shall bring forth a new fury and a new life. It shall be on the day that the mountain weeps with molten fury, a man of gold shall usher forth the overthrowing of royalty and an end to hunger. It shall be on the day that the ground shifts, the accused shall mark broken friendships. A forbidden relation will mark the beginning of the end of times. From the shadows of defeat, the new world order will begin that will save all of humanity across the stretch of all universes." Alpha said, sounding like he was reading off the lines of a memorized fairytale from a child's youth.
"Are you saying that by being with Kim, it's my fault that Drakkon was able to come to our world and begin this war?"
"No." The Ranger Slayer said, stepping forward. "It means Jason and me in our time." Everyone turned to look at her. "The Zordon of our world forbid Jason and me from being in a relationship just like Tommy and Kim here. I didn't want to be with Jason though. It wasn't an issue."
"But Drakkon believes there was one," I said. "Meaning that it's what started him on his mission to bring down the Rangers with Rita and weaken the Grid to begin with."
"And that's why he was able to detect us using it to recharge Tommy's power coin," Billy stated. "The Grid was unable to separate the powers between the two universes. With its defenses down, it was seeking ways to escape his take over."
"A new life…" Kim whispered. "It's talking about Abby."
"What could her role be in this whole thing?" I asked, looking up at Zordon.
"She's the reason why Drakkon will be attacking with his whole forces, bringing forth the possible end of the world unless we find a way to stop him." He replied.
"Who is this man of gold it talks about?" Zack asked. "We don't have a gold Ranger. Do we?"
"Not gold," Alpha said. "But white." Reaching over, Alpha pressed another button on the panel. There were some clicking noises from somewhere followed by a loud yawn. A while light shone from the ceiling and we watched as something lowered down from the source. It was Saba, the tiger-headed sword that I had seen before during one of my battles with Drakkon. Saba hung in the air, looking around at all of us.
"What? Haven't any of you seen a magical weapon before? I'm sure you have." He stated, scanning the room. He shifted his attention to Zordon. "Zordon, you've called for me?"
"Saba, the time is come to use your gift to the Rangers," Zordon called.
"Excellent!" Saba turned to face all of us again. "Which of these fine humans will be receiving the powers of the White Tiger?" He spotted Jason, floating down near him. "I bet it's you. You'd be a fine champion to wield this sword."
"Saba, the White Tigerzord will be going to Tommy," Alpha said. Saba flipped around, looking in my direction.
"Alpha, you must jest. This fool isn't worthy of my powers. Last I saw him, he was a mere child you couldn't handle his own tantrum, let ALONE the great power I possess." Saba said. Crossing my arms, I glared at him.
"I am literally standing right here," I spoke.
"Exactly my point. You aren't well enough to know when to speak only when you are addressed to do so." The sword replied.
"Saba, that's enough," Zordon said. "Tommy is the Chosen One. He is to receive the powers of the White Tigerzord."
"No. There must be some type of mistake. These powers come with a large responsibility. I refuse to believe that the fate of the universe is going to be left in the hands of someone who cannot control their own emotions."
"He will need to be guided," Alpha said. "But Tommy is a great Ranger and possesses the skills needed to become a great warrior." He reached up and put a hand on my arm. "I have faith in Tommy that he will be a great leader."
"Leader?" I asked.
"Yes, Tommy. With the mantle of the White Power Coin comes the title of the leader of the Power Rangers. Only those with the strongest of wills and purest of hearts are able to wield its power. That is why you have been chosen." Swallowing hard, I averted my gaze from Zordon over to Kim who gave me a small smile. "You will become the new leader of the Power Rangers and lead us all into victory."
"I am strongly against this, Zordon. Please reconsider your options." Saba said turning to face Zordon. I saw Zordon narrow his eyes and he shook his head.
"The decision has been made, Saba. That is the end of the discussion." With that, Zordon disappeared with a bright light. Sighing, Saba turned back towards us.
"Saba, you will be able to train Tommy in our training center," Alpha said, walking over to the control panel. He pressed some buttons and the image of a room appeared on the large screen next to where Zordon's tube usually was. On the screen, I could make out the outline of a large room. "There, you will be able to manipulate any type of environment needed. Jason will be able to assist you as well."
"Anything to help," Jason said, nodding in my direction.
"We will need to wait until the Grid is back online a little more. We are running on reserve power as it is." Billy said, looking at the monitor. "It shouldn't be more than a few hours though."
"We will begin at dawn then," Saba said. He zipped through the air, stopping in front of me. "Listen to me, Oliver. I may not like this decision but it is still my sworn duty to be wielded by the holder of the Tigerzord coin. I will shape you into what is hopefully a passable warrior worthy enough to earn the title. It will not be easy and I promise that you will not enjoy it. But it is our only hope in making sure that Drakkon isn't able to destroy the Grid and the entire universe in the process."
"What exactly is the White Tigerzord?" Zack asked. "And why is there just another Power Coin laying around?"
"In my world, Drakkon absorbed it. That's why he has both green and white powers. He combined them and make himself strong. It was supposed to be given to Jason in order to stop him but Drakkon stopped that from happening." The Ranger Slayer said. "It's rumored to be the most powerful Power Coin of its kind."
"It's no rumor. It's true!" Saba boasted, rising up in the air so that he could look at all of us. "I was created at the same time as the Zeo Crystal. With the crystal and the Grid in such great jeopardy, it's vital that the Power Coin is used. Even if it's by an unlikely person." Saba turned, looking at Jason. "You're Jason, correct?"
"Yes." He replied.
"I remember you from when Drakkon was trying to steal me before now that I think about it. Take me to this training center. I need to see it and determine the best course of the plan for tomorrow."
"Okay." Jason turned, starting for the door.
"Where are you going? Did you just hear how old I am? You'll need to carry me. I'm much too old to travel that far after being awoken." He snapped, lowering himself to Jason's eye level.
"Erm..right. Sorry. What was I thinking?" Reaching out, Jason grabbed Saba under his head and at the hilt.
"Don't smother me either, boy," Saba said as the two of them walked out of the room.
"I am going to make something to eat," Zack said, shaking his head. "You think you get what's going on around here and then shit like this happens."
"I'll come to help you." Trini offered. The two headed off in the direction of the kitchen.
"Billy, we will need to run a scan on the status of the Grid every four hours," Alpha said. "Perhaps you should get some rest now."
"I can assist," William added, fixing his glasses. "I have more tests to run down in the medical unit but will be free shortly."
"I'm going out on patrol." The Ranger Slayer said, tying her cape around her neck.
"You think that's a good idea?" I asked, looking over at her. Nodding, she pulled the teleporting pad out from the bag on her back.
"I need to see what his forces are up to and exactly what might be happening on our side of the Grid here. I'll be back tomorrow after I meet with Finster." Tossing the pad down, she pressed her foot on the side of it. There was a recharging noise and she disappeared in a streak of light.
"Are you okay?" Kim asked, softly. She took my hands in hers.
"What? Yeah. I'm fine." I lied.
"You don't look it. Was it what Saba said about you not being worthy? Because it's not true. You are more than worthy of any kind of power they have to offer you. You deserve to be the leader, Tommy."
"It's not that," I said. "It's what Zordon said about having a pure heart. What if he's wrong? What if I don't have as pure of heart as he thinks?"
"Tommy, why wouldn't you?"
"Because part of me could still become Drakkon," I said softly.
"No." She said firmly as she gripped my hands. "Look, I don't understand how all this multiverse stuff works. I do know that even though he was once a version of you, you are not a version of him. There's no way that you could become someone so hateful and set on an illusion of revenge that you would cause so much death and destruction. You might have the same face and Rita might have chosen the both of you but he's the only one who was weak enough to go back to her after being freed. You were strong enough to know she was evil and that you belonged with us. You can't forget that."
"I know but that doesn't mean that there isn't a chance of it happening."
"Stop it." She said, reaching up and putting her hands on my cheeks. "Don't talk like that. The person standing in front of me could never imagine doing the things that Drakkon has done. It doesn't matter. Do you hear me?" Slowly, I nodded. "You are destined for some kind of greatness, Tommy Oliver. And I don't know exactly what that means but it means for sure that you aren't lined up to be like Drakkon."
"I just don't want to hurt you or Abby," I whispered. Smiling, she stroked the skin of my temple.
"You could never. We are going to regroup, come up with a plan, and then use these new powers to kick Drakkon's ass to get our daughter back. Just like old times, right?" I wrapped my arms around her and pressed my lips against her. My chest felt full at the sensation of Kim wrapped up in my arms. All those moments I waited for her to be here and it was still hard for me to realize it was happening. She was still the rock I needed to hold onto and the beacon of light in those darkest of times that tried to swallow me whole. Even if I was meant to become Drakkon, at least I knew that she would be the one to save me again.