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. Everybody's in their early to mid-twenties. You'll recognize the other stuff I changed.
Kevin, this ending is just for you…
Hey, when you're done reading this and after you review (please!), go check out anything by Dagmar Buse, ScarletDeva or Rach. Seriously great writers.
Legacy, part 19
Aji looked up as Tommy walked slowly back toward the atrium, his expression preoccupied.
"Find out what you wanted to know?" she asked quietly. She had to repeat the question before he surfaced enough to reply.
"Yeah. I guess so." He thought back to what the Watcher had said.
***************
"Of course humans lifebond, Tommy. It's a different process: slower, more fluid, less abrupt; but it certainly happens."
"So you meant me, then."
The little man twinkled at him. "I did. You sound surprised."
Tommy shook his head. "I am, but it's not that. It's – why didn't I know? The way Billy knew, the way Jason knew. I know it's different for me, but I should have known. Maybe I would have done things differently."
The Watcher sighed, his expression for the first time serious. "A very good question. But one only you can answer. Though you need not find the answer now; indeed, it may be out of reach until you can resolve things with your lifebound."
***************
Still at a loss, Tommy asked his partner the same question.
Aji considered it, her head tilted to one side. "Why didn't you know she was the one? Well, the only thing I can think of is: are you sure you didn't?" She got up, leaning against one of the massive pillars. "You know, if a thing is right, and you don't feel right within yourself, you might push the right thing away. Or not even recognize it, not consciously. But I think the Watcher's right. It's not me you need to talk to."
Tommy brooded a moment more, then squared his shoulders. "Then there's only one thing we need to do now: kick some Citadel booty so I can get home to my girl, and see if I can convince her to be my girl again." Aji chuckled, drawing a smile from him. He glanced at her, his hazel eyes warm. "Thanks, Aj. Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Are you going to be as stupid as I am?"
The redhead sputtered with laughter. "I hope not." Then she sobered a bit. "You want to know if I'm going to accept the Bloodsong." Tommy nodded; Aji shrugged. "I want to, Tom. I really do. But Jason thinks I'm dead. And I don't want to spend my life alone, even if it's not with Jason."
"I don't follow."
Aji tried to explain. "If a lifebound dies, the one left behind can refuse the Song, to ease the pain of loss. Jason has to be feeling a lot of unresolved pain, both from my initial reaction to the Song and now from the belief that it's lost to him. I don't know whether he'd continue to sing under such a burden. If he has refused and I accept him…"
Tommy nodded slowly. "You'd never be able to be with anyone else, so you'd be alone. Like me. I get it, sort of. So what are you going to do?"
She chewed at a blunt fingernail worriedly. "Wait and see, I guess."
***************
"I see you are ready to get back to your friends," the Watcher smiled.
Tommy and Aji exchanged glances. They were clean, healed, wearing new, close-fitting garments in black and white, respectively. You look good, said Tommy silently, using their mindlink. The relatively baggy uniform Aji'd been wearing before had concealed… a lot. He chuckled, his amusement growing as he imagined Jason's reaction to the feisty redhead. Jase is gonna have a stroke.
Aji ignored him, turning to the Watcher. "Is there anything else we should know?"
The Watcher fingered his chin thoughtfully. "Most importantly that you must use these powers in conjunction with one another. Light means nothing without shadow to give it definition; likewise shadow cannot exist without light to give it form. You will not be able to call upon them if you do not call together. Similarly, if one of you powers down, the other will as well, even if against your will." He thought for a while longer. "When manifested, the power will act as armor, tempering any blows you might receive. However, if one of you is injured, the other will feel the pain also." The Watcher folded his hands over his belly in what the two had come to recognize as his lecture mode, smiling benevolently. He leaned forward to tap Aji playfully on the arm. "Bright energy is your servant, sharp and clean and quick. As for you," he patted Tommy on the shoulder, "the energy over which you are master is dark, blunt, deliberate. Where there is shadow, you can only be perceived as you choose." The Watcher nodded excitedly in an excess of emotion. "There is more. Combine your powers and you will create illusion so real it could convince any beholder; for what is sight except the perception of light and shadow?" He sighed. "But beware of So'Vran; he will not hesitate to use anything he can find against you. Hope travels with you, my friends. Care for one another and follow your hearts. They will not lead you far astray."
"Then it's time," said Aji, reaching to grasp the little man's hand.
"Past it," added Tommy. "Thanks for everything. We'll do our best."
The little fellow nodded his bald head, his mismatched eyes twinkling kindly. "I know you will." With that the temple, the jungle, the Watcher faded from view, and Tommy and Aji found themselves huddled against a rocky outcropping in the desert, the Citadel looming dark against the distant sky.
*******************
Jason took the copilot's seat next to Billy; the blond scientist flicked him a brief smile. "How are you holding up?"
Jason nodded absently. "Better. Some, anyway. It's still – it's still hard, but at least I know where I stand, now."
"I'm sorry about it, Jase. It's bad enough that we lost them, but how you must feel… well, I just wanted to say I'm sorry."
Jason clapped a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Thanks, bro." He turned his attention to the barren landscape ahead of them. "So what's the plan now?"
Billy shrugged. "I'm heading for the Citadel, doing a wide-band scan around us, hoping we'll catch up with Frid before he gets to So'Vran. I'd be delighted if you had a better idea."
"Wish I did. Any luck?"
"Not so f – no!" Out of nowhere, it seemed, a yellow-white ball of energy bloomed in front of them, causing the runabout to lurch sickeningly to one side, throwing the two men violently into the bulkhead. Blue-white electricity arced through the cabin and its inhabitants. The two men arched and twisted painfully, glued to the bulkhead, vainly struggling to escape, and then the static sputtered away, freeing them from its grip.
Billy clawed his way back into his seat, panting, cursing a blue streak. "Where the bloody hell did that come from?" The runabout veered, lurched, screamed in protest, one wing bursting into flame. Jason pulled himself forward as the ship pitched lower, gaining his seat with effort. Smoke filled the cabin and their lungs as the console erupted in sparks. Taia stumbled through the cabin door, dirty, bleeding from a cut on her cheek; she nodded to the others and dragged herself to the emergency seating in the bulkhead, strapping in and readying for impact.
"I'm gonna try to smooth – this – out – " Billy gritted between clenched teeth, his fingers moving over the console at lightning speed; despite all his efforts the runabout lurched lower, to the hair-raising sound of tearing metal. No good, the runabout was lost. He cursed inwardly, sent a wave of love to his father and Tai, and grasped the console firmly. "Impact in four – three – two – hold on!"
It was like nothing they'd ever felt, the shock of the runabout hitting the baked clay of the desert floor; every bone crunched on bone as the cabin spun and shrieked against the hard ground. The smell of acrid smoke was overwhelming, and the three began to cough and gasp for air. With a final, sickening lurch and groan the runabout, or what was left of it, ground to a stop. Billy's head impacted sharply on the console, leaving a messy gash; Jason's seat sheared free from its moorings, throwing him into the heavy viewshield, which spiderwebbed under the force of the blow.
Dust filled the air, both in and around the ship. Billy became vaguely aware of Taia freeing him, then pulling at her dazed brother's restraints. "Come on, Jason, Billy… we have to get out of here!" At her words Billy staggered free of the pilot's chair and came to help her, swiping blood out of his eyes. Jason groaned, bleeding and bruised, but was able to stand when they got the restraint open. Leaning on each other they fell out of the totaled ship, dodging behind it for cover as a phalanx of soldiers clad in dusty yellow-brown advanced on them. Taia bit off an epithet, leaning hard against the side of the ship. Sentinel?
Already on it. And indeed a bronze form knelt by Jason, rapidly healing the worst of his injuries. Then he turned his attention to the cut on Taia's cheek as her brother powered up, sheathing himself in gold, a lambent blade forming in his hands. What the hell was that they hit us with? And why didn't we detect it? Billy asked, his fury barely contained.
Taia scanned the oncoming troops, silver armor sliding over her. It looked like a disruptor blast, but on a much bigger scale. As to why we didn't detect it… She flicked him a silvery glance, and Billy nodded.
Frid has my father's files, would have known how to conceal it from us. Damn him. A bronze energy staff formed in Billy's grasp. Let's go.
Jason was the first to leap into the fray, his blade cleaving through the air as he whirled into the throng, a feral snarl on his face. Billy flipped over the heads of the nearest troops, his staff striking with lethal accuracy, while Taia took to the air, power scudding from her hands, downing soldier after soldier. Another silent yellow-white bloom of energy caught her with its outer edge, causing her to drop from the sky abruptly, flickering silver static.
TAI!
NO!
The answer was weak, but there. I'm… ohhh… I'm all right. Billy fought his way to her side, using his staff as a pole to vault over the heads of the troops separating them. She was on her feet, fighting, but he could tell her blows weren't power-enhanced.
He maneuvered around until they were back to back. How bad? he asked succinctly, bashing the face of an unfortunate soldier with the end of his staff.
Can't summon anything but armor. I've been hit worse. Billy felt the adrenaline surge through her system. I have a few surprises left. She proved it with her next move, a fluid roundhouse kick that threw two of the men surrounding them back, but the reprieve was temporary as they pressed forward again.
This does not look good, Billy observed, looking around the ever tightening circle of Citadel troops that had forced their way between the two and Jason, cutting the golden warrior off. He dispersed his staff as the troops came too close for him to use it effectively.
We're not trapped yet, Taia responded.
What do you have in mind? he asked, sensing she had a plan.
There was a definite smile in her next thought, Just lean forward.
Puzzled, Billy did as she requested. The next moment, Billy felt Taia lean back, along his body, before launching herself heels over head to flip backwards. He straightened in time to see her wrap her feet around the neck of the soldier in her path. In mid-flight, she twisted her body to bring the soldier down.
Billy took that as his own cue to move, while the other soldiers were too stunned to do anything. He leapt forward, bulling through the soldier in his path and knocking the man aside effortlessly, before rolling back to his feet. Billy landed a neat double kick to the face of another, while Taia did a quick and skillful low sweep to the legs of a third, throwing him to the ground where she rendered him senseless with a well-placed fist. The circle widened as the soldiers backed away.
Much better!
Yes – but where is Jason?
Sensing her anxiety, Billy started to scan the battlefield, aware that Taia was matching his actions. His eyes were drawn to a large knot of soldiers, but he couldn't voice the fear.
"Jason, no!" Taia screamed.
********************
In the mêlée, Jason found himself separated from Taia and Billy and surrounded by soldiers. A sharp blow connected to the back of his head and dazed him enough that his blade shorted out. He lashed out with a snap-kick to the nearest soldier, sending the armored man staggering backwards into several of his fellow soldiers. But as Jason moved to pivot, a well-placed leg sweep took him down.
Falling forward, Jason managed to tuck into a slightly clumsy forward somersault that enabled him to regain his footing almost straight away, but the maneuver benefited him little as he found himself coming to his feet straight into the path of an armored fist. The blow connected with his jaw with a crack, and while he knew it would have been a lot worse without the Paladin energy protecting him, it still sent him reeling backwards.
He didn't see the kick that was aimed at him from behind until it connected with the small of his back. It sent him staggering forwards once more, arms reflexively pin-wheeling to retain his balance.
Someone landed a kick on his hip, further unbalancing him. When that was followed up by a staff blow to the knee, down he went. Without giving him a chance to regain his feet or his weapon, three of the soldiers surged forward. They grabbed at Jason, two seizing his arms while the third hauled on his torso. Jason looked up to see the mouth of a disruptor pointed squarely at his forehead.
The helmeted soldier holding it chuckled. "Paladin; a true prize. So'Vran will be pleased."
Jason snarled, bracing himself for the blast, but a dark figure suddenly appeared between him and the disruptor. "Hey," said a very familiar voice. "Watch where you're pointing that thing!"
Note: this is completely AU. Zordon never died. Everybody's in their early to mid-twenties. You'll recognize the other stuff I changed.
Kevin, this ending is just for you…
Hey, when you're done reading this and after you review (please!), go check out anything by Dagmar Buse, ScarletDeva or Rach. Seriously great writers.
Legacy, part 19
Aji looked up as Tommy walked slowly back toward the atrium, his expression preoccupied.
"Find out what you wanted to know?" she asked quietly. She had to repeat the question before he surfaced enough to reply.
"Yeah. I guess so." He thought back to what the Watcher had said.
***************
"Of course humans lifebond, Tommy. It's a different process: slower, more fluid, less abrupt; but it certainly happens."
"So you meant me, then."
The little man twinkled at him. "I did. You sound surprised."
Tommy shook his head. "I am, but it's not that. It's – why didn't I know? The way Billy knew, the way Jason knew. I know it's different for me, but I should have known. Maybe I would have done things differently."
The Watcher sighed, his expression for the first time serious. "A very good question. But one only you can answer. Though you need not find the answer now; indeed, it may be out of reach until you can resolve things with your lifebound."
***************
Still at a loss, Tommy asked his partner the same question.
Aji considered it, her head tilted to one side. "Why didn't you know she was the one? Well, the only thing I can think of is: are you sure you didn't?" She got up, leaning against one of the massive pillars. "You know, if a thing is right, and you don't feel right within yourself, you might push the right thing away. Or not even recognize it, not consciously. But I think the Watcher's right. It's not me you need to talk to."
Tommy brooded a moment more, then squared his shoulders. "Then there's only one thing we need to do now: kick some Citadel booty so I can get home to my girl, and see if I can convince her to be my girl again." Aji chuckled, drawing a smile from him. He glanced at her, his hazel eyes warm. "Thanks, Aj. Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Are you going to be as stupid as I am?"
The redhead sputtered with laughter. "I hope not." Then she sobered a bit. "You want to know if I'm going to accept the Bloodsong." Tommy nodded; Aji shrugged. "I want to, Tom. I really do. But Jason thinks I'm dead. And I don't want to spend my life alone, even if it's not with Jason."
"I don't follow."
Aji tried to explain. "If a lifebound dies, the one left behind can refuse the Song, to ease the pain of loss. Jason has to be feeling a lot of unresolved pain, both from my initial reaction to the Song and now from the belief that it's lost to him. I don't know whether he'd continue to sing under such a burden. If he has refused and I accept him…"
Tommy nodded slowly. "You'd never be able to be with anyone else, so you'd be alone. Like me. I get it, sort of. So what are you going to do?"
She chewed at a blunt fingernail worriedly. "Wait and see, I guess."
***************
"I see you are ready to get back to your friends," the Watcher smiled.
Tommy and Aji exchanged glances. They were clean, healed, wearing new, close-fitting garments in black and white, respectively. You look good, said Tommy silently, using their mindlink. The relatively baggy uniform Aji'd been wearing before had concealed… a lot. He chuckled, his amusement growing as he imagined Jason's reaction to the feisty redhead. Jase is gonna have a stroke.
Aji ignored him, turning to the Watcher. "Is there anything else we should know?"
The Watcher fingered his chin thoughtfully. "Most importantly that you must use these powers in conjunction with one another. Light means nothing without shadow to give it definition; likewise shadow cannot exist without light to give it form. You will not be able to call upon them if you do not call together. Similarly, if one of you powers down, the other will as well, even if against your will." He thought for a while longer. "When manifested, the power will act as armor, tempering any blows you might receive. However, if one of you is injured, the other will feel the pain also." The Watcher folded his hands over his belly in what the two had come to recognize as his lecture mode, smiling benevolently. He leaned forward to tap Aji playfully on the arm. "Bright energy is your servant, sharp and clean and quick. As for you," he patted Tommy on the shoulder, "the energy over which you are master is dark, blunt, deliberate. Where there is shadow, you can only be perceived as you choose." The Watcher nodded excitedly in an excess of emotion. "There is more. Combine your powers and you will create illusion so real it could convince any beholder; for what is sight except the perception of light and shadow?" He sighed. "But beware of So'Vran; he will not hesitate to use anything he can find against you. Hope travels with you, my friends. Care for one another and follow your hearts. They will not lead you far astray."
"Then it's time," said Aji, reaching to grasp the little man's hand.
"Past it," added Tommy. "Thanks for everything. We'll do our best."
The little fellow nodded his bald head, his mismatched eyes twinkling kindly. "I know you will." With that the temple, the jungle, the Watcher faded from view, and Tommy and Aji found themselves huddled against a rocky outcropping in the desert, the Citadel looming dark against the distant sky.
*******************
Jason took the copilot's seat next to Billy; the blond scientist flicked him a brief smile. "How are you holding up?"
Jason nodded absently. "Better. Some, anyway. It's still – it's still hard, but at least I know where I stand, now."
"I'm sorry about it, Jase. It's bad enough that we lost them, but how you must feel… well, I just wanted to say I'm sorry."
Jason clapped a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Thanks, bro." He turned his attention to the barren landscape ahead of them. "So what's the plan now?"
Billy shrugged. "I'm heading for the Citadel, doing a wide-band scan around us, hoping we'll catch up with Frid before he gets to So'Vran. I'd be delighted if you had a better idea."
"Wish I did. Any luck?"
"Not so f – no!" Out of nowhere, it seemed, a yellow-white ball of energy bloomed in front of them, causing the runabout to lurch sickeningly to one side, throwing the two men violently into the bulkhead. Blue-white electricity arced through the cabin and its inhabitants. The two men arched and twisted painfully, glued to the bulkhead, vainly struggling to escape, and then the static sputtered away, freeing them from its grip.
Billy clawed his way back into his seat, panting, cursing a blue streak. "Where the bloody hell did that come from?" The runabout veered, lurched, screamed in protest, one wing bursting into flame. Jason pulled himself forward as the ship pitched lower, gaining his seat with effort. Smoke filled the cabin and their lungs as the console erupted in sparks. Taia stumbled through the cabin door, dirty, bleeding from a cut on her cheek; she nodded to the others and dragged herself to the emergency seating in the bulkhead, strapping in and readying for impact.
"I'm gonna try to smooth – this – out – " Billy gritted between clenched teeth, his fingers moving over the console at lightning speed; despite all his efforts the runabout lurched lower, to the hair-raising sound of tearing metal. No good, the runabout was lost. He cursed inwardly, sent a wave of love to his father and Tai, and grasped the console firmly. "Impact in four – three – two – hold on!"
It was like nothing they'd ever felt, the shock of the runabout hitting the baked clay of the desert floor; every bone crunched on bone as the cabin spun and shrieked against the hard ground. The smell of acrid smoke was overwhelming, and the three began to cough and gasp for air. With a final, sickening lurch and groan the runabout, or what was left of it, ground to a stop. Billy's head impacted sharply on the console, leaving a messy gash; Jason's seat sheared free from its moorings, throwing him into the heavy viewshield, which spiderwebbed under the force of the blow.
Dust filled the air, both in and around the ship. Billy became vaguely aware of Taia freeing him, then pulling at her dazed brother's restraints. "Come on, Jason, Billy… we have to get out of here!" At her words Billy staggered free of the pilot's chair and came to help her, swiping blood out of his eyes. Jason groaned, bleeding and bruised, but was able to stand when they got the restraint open. Leaning on each other they fell out of the totaled ship, dodging behind it for cover as a phalanx of soldiers clad in dusty yellow-brown advanced on them. Taia bit off an epithet, leaning hard against the side of the ship. Sentinel?
Already on it. And indeed a bronze form knelt by Jason, rapidly healing the worst of his injuries. Then he turned his attention to the cut on Taia's cheek as her brother powered up, sheathing himself in gold, a lambent blade forming in his hands. What the hell was that they hit us with? And why didn't we detect it? Billy asked, his fury barely contained.
Taia scanned the oncoming troops, silver armor sliding over her. It looked like a disruptor blast, but on a much bigger scale. As to why we didn't detect it… She flicked him a silvery glance, and Billy nodded.
Frid has my father's files, would have known how to conceal it from us. Damn him. A bronze energy staff formed in Billy's grasp. Let's go.
Jason was the first to leap into the fray, his blade cleaving through the air as he whirled into the throng, a feral snarl on his face. Billy flipped over the heads of the nearest troops, his staff striking with lethal accuracy, while Taia took to the air, power scudding from her hands, downing soldier after soldier. Another silent yellow-white bloom of energy caught her with its outer edge, causing her to drop from the sky abruptly, flickering silver static.
TAI!
NO!
The answer was weak, but there. I'm… ohhh… I'm all right. Billy fought his way to her side, using his staff as a pole to vault over the heads of the troops separating them. She was on her feet, fighting, but he could tell her blows weren't power-enhanced.
He maneuvered around until they were back to back. How bad? he asked succinctly, bashing the face of an unfortunate soldier with the end of his staff.
Can't summon anything but armor. I've been hit worse. Billy felt the adrenaline surge through her system. I have a few surprises left. She proved it with her next move, a fluid roundhouse kick that threw two of the men surrounding them back, but the reprieve was temporary as they pressed forward again.
This does not look good, Billy observed, looking around the ever tightening circle of Citadel troops that had forced their way between the two and Jason, cutting the golden warrior off. He dispersed his staff as the troops came too close for him to use it effectively.
We're not trapped yet, Taia responded.
What do you have in mind? he asked, sensing she had a plan.
There was a definite smile in her next thought, Just lean forward.
Puzzled, Billy did as she requested. The next moment, Billy felt Taia lean back, along his body, before launching herself heels over head to flip backwards. He straightened in time to see her wrap her feet around the neck of the soldier in her path. In mid-flight, she twisted her body to bring the soldier down.
Billy took that as his own cue to move, while the other soldiers were too stunned to do anything. He leapt forward, bulling through the soldier in his path and knocking the man aside effortlessly, before rolling back to his feet. Billy landed a neat double kick to the face of another, while Taia did a quick and skillful low sweep to the legs of a third, throwing him to the ground where she rendered him senseless with a well-placed fist. The circle widened as the soldiers backed away.
Much better!
Yes – but where is Jason?
Sensing her anxiety, Billy started to scan the battlefield, aware that Taia was matching his actions. His eyes were drawn to a large knot of soldiers, but he couldn't voice the fear.
"Jason, no!" Taia screamed.
********************
In the mêlée, Jason found himself separated from Taia and Billy and surrounded by soldiers. A sharp blow connected to the back of his head and dazed him enough that his blade shorted out. He lashed out with a snap-kick to the nearest soldier, sending the armored man staggering backwards into several of his fellow soldiers. But as Jason moved to pivot, a well-placed leg sweep took him down.
Falling forward, Jason managed to tuck into a slightly clumsy forward somersault that enabled him to regain his footing almost straight away, but the maneuver benefited him little as he found himself coming to his feet straight into the path of an armored fist. The blow connected with his jaw with a crack, and while he knew it would have been a lot worse without the Paladin energy protecting him, it still sent him reeling backwards.
He didn't see the kick that was aimed at him from behind until it connected with the small of his back. It sent him staggering forwards once more, arms reflexively pin-wheeling to retain his balance.
Someone landed a kick on his hip, further unbalancing him. When that was followed up by a staff blow to the knee, down he went. Without giving him a chance to regain his feet or his weapon, three of the soldiers surged forward. They grabbed at Jason, two seizing his arms while the third hauled on his torso. Jason looked up to see the mouth of a disruptor pointed squarely at his forehead.
The helmeted soldier holding it chuckled. "Paladin; a true prize. So'Vran will be pleased."
Jason snarled, bracing himself for the blast, but a dark figure suddenly appeared between him and the disruptor. "Hey," said a very familiar voice. "Watch where you're pointing that thing!"
