Notes: This is my first Power Rangers fanfic. None of the characters are mine (please don't sue…you don't want my debts ^_^) and the setting takes place roughly about 10 years after the last Turbo/Zeo movie…
"Hey man, are you sure you're allowed to do this?" Tommy began. "I know you can fix a zord and all—"
Dr. William Cranston, known as "Billy" to his old high school friends disregarded him. "Does my Nobel Prize make you feel better? Hand me the wrench, will you?"
One of Tommy's slack-jawed employees silently handed the blond scientist the tool. Billy murmured thanks and continued tweaking the car.
"Look, Billy, you're overqualified! I feel bad! This is supposed to be your vacation! You're in Daytona Beach and you're supposed to be relaxing and sightseeing – not fixing my race cars!" Tommy protested.
With a couple more twists and adjustments, Billy pushed out from under the car. "Tommy, some people unwind differently, right? You, Jason, and Rocky practice martial arts. Adam meditates when he's stressed. I tinker with things. Besides, my boss wouldn't dare look or bother me here. You and your crew intimidate him." Billy grinned.
"Okay, but I still feel bad."
"Consider it a thank you, all right?" The blond man asked.
"If you insist…so why did you pop up here after retiring from Fish Planet and spending six years at MIT and the government?"
"It's a long story…Let's head down to the beach," Billy suggested. "Maybe you can update me too."
** **
Somewhere else"Trini, please?" The petite brunette begged. "I need you."
"You, need me to go to Angel Grove to SPY for you?" exasperated, Trini Kwan blew into her bangs. I'm an executive with an MBA from the Wharton School of Business and my best friend still runs over me. Not wanting Kim to know her acquiescence, Trini made one last objection. "And why aren't you going? Is it because you're afraid? Have you even checked if anybody is still there?" The Asian asked.
"Well, Mr. And Mrs. Scott are probably there, even if Jason isn't," Kimberly Hart admitted. "I'm sure they would let you stay for a while."
"So, why don't you go yourself? We both know Tommy is in Florida, racing of all things. What are you afraid of?"
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing. But when was the last time you had to travel in a car with 2 miniature headbangers? In case you've forgotten, I'm the mother of two."
"So what?" Trini retorted. "You went to the Olympics, won a gold medal, and went to train people to follow their dreams, and that's just the 'official' story. Two kids in one car for a road trip should be no sweat like a veteran like you." Hearing Kim's grumbling, she compromised, "How about we both go to Angel Grove. I'll meet you there and say hi to your children. I'll even pay for a plane ride if that's what's keeping you from coming.
"As long as you're going, nothing can keep me from going back. Besides, I need a vacation." The two women haggled over the dates, and hanging up 5 minutes later, both had circled 2 weeks of August in red on their most important calendars and planners.
** **
Angel GroveJason Scott looked at a box full of memories and wondered if he should just throw it away. A picture of him and Emily four years ago at Emily's college graduation made him grimace before turning his attention to the rest of the stuff from his apartment.
"Hey Jason, where do we put Mr. T?" Rocky hollered from the U-Haul in the front of the house. He, Adam, and Tommy all kept in contact since high school days. Adam and Rocky decided to help Jason move into his old house.
Jason turned as red as the enormous five foot stuffed red dinosaur Rocky held. "Quiet guys!" But he couldn't help himself and the goofy grin erupted on his face, matching the one on the red dinosaur. "Just put it over in the corner of my room," he directed. "Thanks, guys."
"It's nothing. We get to see your ugly mug again." Adam laughed.
Eyebrow cocked, Jason taunted. "Ugly mug?! That's coming from a Frog warrior?! Mr. Park, do you care to repeat that in my face?"
Rocky choked on a laugh. "Hey take it easy general. We still need to drive back on Sunday to San Diego and back to work. I don't think Adam's director is going to like to see his villain bruised and battered before the movie."
Laughing at Rocky's way of talking, Jason walked down the steps and to the truck. He grabbed the box labeled 'Switzerland' and carefully lifted it out. "That's it. Thanks guys. C'mon, I still owe you that dinner tonight."
"Sure Jason, whatever you say," the other young men drawled. "Lead on."
** **
Billy and Tommy went to the beach in Billy's rented SUV and unloaded the cooler and chairs. The two young men sat down and enjoyed a moment of quiet before Billy heaved a great sigh. "No matter how many times I see a sunset on a beach, I can't get enough of it."
"Not the same on Aquitar, huh" Tommy joked, munching on some chips.
"Nope," Billy just stared at the setting sun. "Did you know that there are several methods to counteract the effect of positive electrons with the water from the Fountain of Life. If you swim in it, you cancel the effect; if you drink it all at once you become younger, but with careful dosage you can…" When he realized Tommy's glazed-over eyes and blank gaze, Billy attempted to stifle a laugh. He was never one for higher science. "I guess Mother Nature always had a check and balance for everything. Even if I had to leave the planet to do so."
Tommy still gaped. "Earth to Tommy. Earth to Tommy," Clapping his hand in front of Tommy, Billy laughed when Tommy only responded whenever he said "Green Candle." The young man jumped and was ready to battle before realizing only Billy was in the area.
"Oops…sorry man…I never did understand you techno babble…no offense. So basically…" Tommy gestured helplessly, hoping Billy would take pity on him.
Sighing, Billy gave a much simpler version. "I'll grow old, but just have a longer life span." Last guess was around 110…
"Hey man, that's great." The former leader looked relieved. Billy realized he needed to see Tommy in an environment outside of Angel Grove. Billy realized that seeing Tommy here answered many previously unanswered questions. A silence again descended.
"You keep in touch with the gang?"
Tommy fidgeted. "Other than a few emails to Jason and Rocky…not really."
"Not even Kat?" Billy asked. Man, Tommy might not be the most inconsiderate man on earth, but heck, no wonder he has no relationships.
"Nah. Our schedules didn't mesh," Tommy admitted. "Sometimes, I wonder if it's me. My manager told me to go to a shrink."
Billy forced a rough chuckle, unsure what to say. "Trust me, Tommy. Don't go to a shrink. I don't believe they are qualified to handle us." Tommy joined in the joke and then watched a couple of seagulls circling offshore.
Tommy finally ventured a loaded question – "You know what happened to Kim?"
"No, you?"
"No clue."
"Hey Tommy, can I ask something since it's been over 10 years?"
"Sure, shoot."
"If you could, would you want to see Kim?"
"I don't know…I doubt it…It's been such a long time…" Tommy protested. "So, why did you drop by?"
"Just to relax, catch up, and unwind."
"Yeah."
"Hey Tom, thanks for letting me drop by. Let's go back to your penthouse."
"Yeah, it's getting late." Heaving the cooler at the chairs, Tommy grunted and the two men returned back to the condo.
Fifteen minutes later, Billy took the couch and hollered "Good night."
"Nite."
** **
"…And Oliver Racing takes the lead. Can he do it?" The announcer cried as the racecars rushed by. "50 laps to go."
Billy looked on from the crew pit and grinned. If those adjustments were correct, everything should be kicking in…
"Whoa! Oliver's not only in the lead, but he's steadily gaining speed and closer to the end of the lap. How can he do it? He hasn't had this kind of performance since a year or two ago."
Now. Billy smirked. Techno babble has its uses.
"Ladies and gentlemen, you are witnessing a historical event. Oliver has always been a presence in the field and close to the podium, but hasn't lately been able to make the extra push to win it all. Apparently that's going to change NOW!! What a man, what a car!"
In a matter of seconds, Tommy finished, lapping the other competitors several times, shocking the crowd. As he waved the checkered flag, Tommy pumped his arm in victory. When he finally stopped, he gave Billy a big high five and even a slap on the shoulder, yelling over the noise. "Something extra?"
Bellowing back, Billy waved the communicator he still wore. "YEAH!"
"Thanks man! Couldn't do it without you!"
"It was time. Keep in touch?"
"Yeah, sure…stay for the interview and celebration!"
"Nah. Gotta go!" With a wave, Billy weaved out of the celebration and jogged to the SUV. Driving and returning to the car rental, Billy went to the airport, boarded the first class cabin and settled into the seat. He knew Tommy would probably forget and was glad to have helped his old friend. Maybe now I can get on with my life.
** **
A few weeks later…"What was I thinking when I came home" groused Jason, looking at the storefront of his office Martial Law.
"I have no clue, but hey, we trust you, oh fearless leader," Adam laughed.
"Worse comes to worst, we all can return to our old jobs, right?" Rocky quipped.
Jason laughed. "Yeah, sure."
"Seriously, man, everything looks good since you came back. Besides, we're partners. But hey!!" Rocky spied the box of untouched items.
"What is that stuff anyway? Why does some of it look vaguely familiar?"
Taking a deep breath, Jason replied, "It's Emily's stuff."
"Oh."
Rocky barged forward, "Where is she anyway?"
"Probably in a hippie colony, "Jason replied. "With her husband."
"Ooh…whoops."
"It's no problem. It's over. Old news."
Adam remarked, "speaking of old news, Jason, heard anything from Kim or the others?"
"You know as much as I do. Tommy has no knowledge of the phrase 'write back' and Billy's…. Billy. I wonder if he thought we abandoned him or something. I think Zack's in Washington D.C. and Kim's in Idaho." Jason didn't add anything else. "You guys keep in touch with Aisha or Kat?" Running a hand along the windowsill, he waited for an answer.
"I hate to admit it, no. She's always been Tommy's and stuff," Adam confessed. "It's weird not to think of them together."
Looking at the storefront, Jason felt roughly confident things would go smoothly. "See you tomorrow guys. Thanks for everything."
** **
"What do you mean, you're still in Idaho?!" Trini screamed into the cell phone.
Kim sighed. "I don't think it's the right time, that's all. It doesn't feel right. I know you think I'm abandoning you, but I didn't mean to this time. Really! I promise I'll go back later, but as long as you're there, please get my stuff," She pleaded for forgiveness.
"Kim, think about it – where am I going to stay!?! Argh!!"
"Go to the Scott's place, Trini. I don't think they'll ever move or leave Angel Grove," Kim encourages.
"Kim, it's rude to come in unannounced." Trini scolded, lifting her luggage into her car. There goes my semi-relaxing vacation, she mused.
"I don't think they'll mind. We're best buddies, remember?" Kim chuckled. "Here's the address," she rattled off a series of numbers faster than the micro machine man and said a quick goodbye and to have a good time.
"Yeah, easy for you to say," Trini grumbled. Now where was Jason's house…she wondered, driving to her old hometown.
40 minutes later, Trini found herself in Angel Grove, California. She drove the streets and found herself in front of an old teammate's house. She heard herself praying, but continued up the porch.
Knocking on the front door, she experienced a sense of déjà vu as she watched the door open. The person on the other side of the door looked so familiar and yet was a stranger.