Disclaimer: Don't own the Power Rangers. Anybody you never heard of before is probably mine, but it doesn't matter because there's no money involved anyway.

Note: this is completely AU. Zordon never died. The originals are all in their early to mid-twenties. You'll recognize the other stuff I changed. There's a little something at the end here, a tip of the hat to fans of a particular Ranger.



Legacy, part 10



The food got eaten, though nobody remembered eating it, so engrossed were they as Billy and Jason told their story. For a while afterward they just sat, staring at each other, each occupied with their own thoughts, until Tanya noticed Taia looking distinctly shy and uncomfortable. She nudged Kat, who smiled at the alien girl.

"Tell us about your dad," the Aussie said kindly, drawing her knees up under her chin. "Is he like Jason?"

Taia nodded emphatically. "Both in countenance and in manner, they are very much alike," she smiled at her brother. "Strong of body and of will, kind and gentle in nature. Loving and honorable. And very handsome," Taia added with a chuckle, noting her brother's rising blush.

"Knock it off, My-Tai," Jason mumbled, ducking his head.

"Sounds like our Jason, all right," Tanya interjected cheerfully. "He's a dish, all right."

"A hottie," agreed Kat gleefully.

Jason groaned and buried his head under a towel. "Tell me when they're finished, Bill."

Rocky took the last piece of fried chicken. "I don't know why you always get like this, Jase. I only wish they'd say this stuff about me."

"Which is why we don't," retorted Kat and Tanya in unison, then burst out laughing at the coincidence while Rocky turned red.

"See what I meant earlier?" whispered Billy to his love. "They're merciless."

Adam curved his arm around Tanya. "All right, stop torturing Jason."

The lovely dark-skinned girl made a face. "He deserves it, for not telling us how sick he was." Kat nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, maybe." Adam sent Jason a look as well. "But 'was' is the operative word, thank God. So what will you guys do now?"

Jason took a deep breath and glanced at Billy, who nodded briefly. "Head home."

"Home?" asked Rocky, voicing all their concerns. " 'Home' as in Xerya? But – no – what if – ?"

Tommy laid a hand on Rocky's shoulder. "They have to, Rock. The people of Xerya are in trouble, and if I understand Zordon right, so are we all if that barrier breaks down. Billy and Jason and Tai are the only hope these people have. They have to go."

The group fell silent; then Kat spoke up. "What can we do to help?"

****************

"So this is where you live," said Taia, her dark eyes looking over the suburban home Billy shared with his father. She turned to him. "Shall you miss it?"

He looked at the house, the only real home he'd known, shading his eyes from the afternoon sun with his hand. "Yeah, I will. But who knows, maybe we'll come back someday. Come on, love, I've got work to do, and not a lot of time."

Billy went directly upstairs, leaving Taia to wander the house. Curiously she studied the photos on the wall, running her fingers over the softness of an afghan draped on the back of the sofa. She looked at books, touching the spines gingerly; at videos and CDs, trying to figure out their function. At length she wandered up the stairs to find Billy packing a small suitcase. "What are you bringing?" she asked quietly.

"Mementos, mostly. None of these clothes fit anymore, and my laptop would be less than useless on Xerya. But there were a couple things I didn't want to leave behind, just in case."

"May I see?"

"Of course," he held out a photo album. "Have a look."

She curled up on the bed, plopping the book in her lap. The album fell open as though its spine was permanently bent in one well-used place. Before Taia was a portrait of a lovely woman, blonde, with hazel eyes, and Billy's smile. "Your mother." Billy nodded. "She's beautiful."

"I used to think she was the most beautiful woman in the world." He sat next to her, looping his arms around her. "Until I met you."

She answered him with a delighted smile, putting the book aside as he bent his head to hers, kissing her gently. "William?"

He was exploring her neck now. "Mmmm?"

"Have we time?"

His blue eyes flared as he reached for her. "Time enough."

***************

Eventually they all found themselves back at the Command Center as though by consensus. Adam, Tanya, Kat and Rocky watched with sober eyes as Jason, Billy, Peter and Taia readied their ship in one of the Center's huge docking bays. The ship was very large and well-appointed; Billy's father explained that he and Alpha had been working on it for years, assuming that the Xeryans would one day return to their homeworld. They would avoid detection on takeoff the same way they had avoided it on arrival so many years before, through Zordon's powerful teleportation grid and then through subspace, turning a several years' journey into one of mere days' duration.

"Okay," said Peter finally. "Ready to go. Have we got everybody?"

"Yup," came the answer from the doorway, as Tommy walked in carrying a good- sized duffel.

"Wait—"

"Tommy, what –"

"Bro, you can't—"

The bay was filled with a jumble of protesting voices. Peter held up his hands for silence. "I take it you haven't told them yet," he said dryly to a sheepish Tommy.

He looked at each of his friends in turn, his gaze finally resting on Jason. "I'm coming with you."

Jason crossed to him, his stance belligerent. "The hell you are!"

"The hell I'm not." Tommy shook his head. "It's already settled, Jase. I'm going, whether you want me to or not. Zordon knows, and he agreed."

"But—but—what about the Rangers?" Adam asked. "You're the leader, you can't just walk away. Who could possibly take your place?"

In answer a red streak of light materialized in front of them. Tommy grinned. "Already taken care of."

A figure stepped from the beam of crimson light; the onlookers shielded their eyes from the glare as the figure stood silhouetted in front of them. Tommy stepped forward, hugging the slight Asian girl exuberantly.

"Hey, everyone, Tommy." Trini smiled serenely. "I got your message."