Jason listened carefully to Zack as he showed him around
the new Command Center. Evidently Billy had rebuilt it in exterior
only. The main Power Chamber had been replaced by a multimedia-briefing
center complete with a holo-tank that used real-time data from multiple J-STAR
and Global Hawk reconnaissance aircraft as well as low orbit satellite feed
to create a three-dimensional image of the battlefield. The only
things he recognized from the old Command Center were the 'Zord Bays and
the labs. The latter were pretty much unchanged and the former were
now occupied ten massive low-slung swept-wing aircraft that just seemed to
project speed and power. Each was easily the size of a C-5 Galaxy,
but was built like some designs for space fighters he'd seen at Top Gun.
They were basically a tetrahedron compressed from the top and then stretched.
A pair of wings curved forward from the ventral and aft section, with two
wicked looking cannons mounted under them close to the fuselage.
He couldn't wait to get into the cockpit and fly one.
A dry part of his mind noted that on the one he was admiring, someone had taken the time to paint the strip along the wings and rear stabilizers Red Ranger Red, and his name and call sign was stenciled neatly under the cockpit canopy: Commander Jason "T-Rex" Scott USN. He was still getting used to the extra full stripe on his sleeve. Was it just yesterday that he was Lieutenant Commander Jason Scott? He wasn't quite the youngest officer to ever make the rank of Commander, but he was definitely in the top five. Zack must have seen him admiring the ship, because he smiled, "Can't wait to take her up can you?"
Jason turned and laughed back at him, and put friendly hand on his shoulder, "Am I that obvious?"
Zack chuckled and said, "No, not really. I feel the same way about mine," he nodded to another ship trimmed in black at the end of the hangar. Jason could barely make out the name under the canopy: Zack "Mastodon" Taylor- no military rank was attached.
"Yeah, but I'm really not rated on it yet. It'll probably take weeks in the simulator before they let me fly one." Jason told him.
Zack shook his head, "We don't have that kind of time buddy." He indicated the doors leading from the hangar into the main operational center. "Besides, I can guarantee you can fly it. Billy designed it."
Jason shot him a look but said nothing. His mind drifted back to that night things had fallen apart between him and his best friend since fourth grade. He knew the others thought that their split had come before Billy had left for Aquitar. Evidently Billy had had as little inclination as he to correct their information- that it had occurred three years later, after his graduation from Officer's Cadet School. Viciously crushing the memories before they could come flooding back to him, he turned to face the briefing room as they entered.
A short woman wearing an Admiral's uniform was standing in front of the inactive holo-tank. She looked to be in her early fifties, with soft brown hair that was just beginning to gray at the temples. She had dark hazel eyes that were just beginning to show the signs of crow's feet. Jason was reminded of the woman who played the new M in the Bond films. Without even noting the other occupants in the room, Jason reflexively snapped to attention and saluted, "Commander Jason Scott, ma'am."
The woman seemed to scowl at him for a moment before she returned the salute and then smiled, "At ease Commander. I'm Admiral Hazard, your new CO." She gestured toward the rest of the room, "This is the rest of your wing. A rather unorthodox mixture of pilots, and support personnel, but I have it on the best authority that they're the only people capable of carrying out your mission." Sighing she said, "Let me make some introductions: Thomas and Katherine Oliver," she pointed to Tommy and Kat, "perhaps you've heard of Mr. Oliver's racing credentials." The woman seemed oblivious to the fact that most of the people in this room were his old high school friends. "Adam and Kimberly Park," She gestured to where Adam and Kim were standing. Kim was doing her best to suppress the laughter in her eyes. "Aisha and Rockford DeSantos." Jason noted that Aisha seemed to tense when she saw him. "The man beside you is Zachary Taylor, and his wife Trini is the corner." Trini waved at him and smiled. Next she indicated where Billy was standing next to a tall man in his late thirties or early forties with reddish blond hair. Both men were wearing utility work suits with lab coats over them. They had the look about them as if they'd worked together for a long time. For a brief instant, Jason felt a wave of jealousy toward the Commander wash over him, before he crushed it as viciously as he did his earlier memories. "And this is Commander Benjamin Storm and Major William Cranston."
Every head in the room turned and looked at Billy at the mention of a rank with his name. Evidently he was still keeping secrets. Commander Storm nodded and smiled, "Commander."
Next to him, Billy just nodded impassively and said, "Commander." Then turning to the Admiral he said, "With all due respect ma'am, but I think perhaps you are unaware that Commander Scott is an old acquaintance of all of ours."
A minute hardening of around her eyes was the only indication of any surprise the Admiral might have felt. "Thank you, Major. Then that should make your job in working together that much easier."
Jason reminded himself that he was a professional, and forced his face to become impassive as he nodded toward the men. Neutrally he replied "Commander, Major, it's good to see you again."
Billy just nodded, but something else showed in his eyes- something that cut Jason to his soul. Did he really see disdain, and indifference in those blue-green eyes? Had the confessions of that night so long ago- no not the confessions, his own cowardice- really caused his best friend's heart to harden that much? Well, if that was the way Billy wanted, it, he could be the professional too.
Kim watched the interplay between Jason and Billy. The news that Billy was in the military had come as a complete surprise to all of them. She made a mental note to ask the Admiral about it, in a round about way of course. Right now, she had to find out what eating two of her oldest friends.
Turning her attention back to the Admiral, the woman continued, "I am told by Central Command that all of you possess some kind of unique genetic quirk that makes it possible for you to interface with the Omni-Tech fighters." Walking over to the holo-tank she activated it and the image of one of the fighters in the hangar bay appeared in the field as it rotate in three-dimensions. "The Omni-Tech is the ultimate in multipurpose assault craft, capable of metamorphing itself into various combat configurations."
The craft in the field- Kim noted that it did not have any of its markings painted in- began to shift forms, not unlike the old 'Zords, into a quadrapedal walker, complete with gun turret. "They are the most versatile piece of technology on the planet." The craft shifted again to form into a huge humanoid shape complete with an energy rifle. "They are also capable of combining into one giant form under the central command of the lead craft." She saw several more Omni-Techs appear on the screen and combine into a form that reminded her of Megazord, but more human looking. Only this Megazord was about five times the size of what she was used to.
"According to Major Cranston, you ten are the only people in the world capable of piloting these crafts. He says that some of the exposure you had to the first Power Ranger teams here in Angel Grove back in the early nineties has changed your nervous systems in some way to allow you to interface with the cybernetic controls of the Omni-Techs."
"What about the "treatments" that Kimberly was telling us about?" Tommy asked.
The Admiral turned to Billy. "Major Cranston, could you explain the effects of the proto-phyre?"
Billy stepped forward and hit several controls on the tanks. Kimberly had already heard this before- of course her explanation had been before the military had become involved, and covered some details with which the Admiral might not yet be familiar. It had started as an experiment in trying to re-activate either the Morphin' or Ninjetti Powers destroyed by Ivan Ooze and Mondo, and bring the old 'Zords back online. Kimberly suspected that Billy might have known the Dragons were coming. "Commander Storm and I have discovered that the dragons are emitting low levels of a type of radiation we've never encountered before."
"Admiral Cupit told me that there were no traces of radiation at the Los Angeles blast site," Jason interrupted. Kim saw the look Billy shot Jason under his eyes, and wondered if she'd seen correctly. She wondered if Jason had caught it or not. It might explain what the rift between them was, but she wasn't sure.
Billy continued, "Correct Commander. There is an element in the dragons' body that reacts in unpredictable ways with nuclear radiation. However the radiation they are emitting is not nuclear based. We've named it proto-phyre- sort of a living energy. For some humans it seems to enhance them, make them more alive." Turning back to the Commander he said, "Ben, perhaps you could describe the effect this radiation is having on the human physiology."
The tall man who'd been at Billy's side since she and Adam arrived here, stepped forward, nodded to Billy and cleared his throat before beginning. "We've discovered that this radiation begins to slowly modify the genetic code in some-not all- but some humans." The holo-tank suddenly switched over to show an image of a pair of generic human forms, one of each sex. Several organs inside the forms were highlighted and blinking. Kimberly realized that most of them were parts of the endocrine system.
The female in the diagram disappeared and the male rotated and slid down as the medical lab took form around him. Kimberly could see the image slowly shift to become actual film footage- footage she hadn't seen before. The man in the film had his features blurred by the computer as well as certain other parts for the sake of modesty. She noted that he was very well defined, and in extremely good physical condition. It took her several moments to realize that it was Billy lying in the diagnostic bed. In the lower left hand corner was a series of read-outs showing muscle density, heart rate, and blood pressure. "It enhances several body functions, slows down others, and for most part super charges the body."
A line of light appeared above Billy's head and slowly made its way down his body, much the way a digital scanner moves down a sheet of paper. There was nothing dramatic about it, no flashing lights, no explosions, just a low hum as the line worked its way down Billy. The only change seemed to be in the readouts. Billy's heart rate dropped into the twenties, his muscle density doubled, and the blood pressure dropped. "The subject here saw a marked increase in physical strength, and an improvement in reaction times." The blond looked around the room and said, "Also it seems increase the healing factors in humans by about a hundred fold."
"What do you mean, it doesn't effect all humans?" Tommy asked.
Commander Storm shrugged, "Just that, Mr. Oliver. We've exposed several humans to the treatment to no effect. It seems to affect about one in a million people."
Kim watched Tommy do some quick calculations, "That would mean two hundred fifty people in the United States."
Commander Storm nodded, "Exactly, Mr. Oliver."
Tommy asked, "Billy, are you saying that the ten of us happen to be among those one in a million?"
Billy smiled, and reached to push glasses he wasn't wearing up on his nose- Kim guessed old habits were hard to break, and knew it was a sure sign that he was uncomfortable about something. Looking around he finally said, "No." Sighing he continued, "The ten of us have each been exposed to some unique energy forms" he looked over and indicated Commander Storm, "Ben and I believe that they have something to do with the first two incarnations of the Power Rangers teams.
Commander Storm nodded, and continued, "Bill's right. Even the humans who are capable of benefiting from this exposure don't show the dramatic changes that you ten do. There is something about the radiation you were exposed to as… uh in Angel Grove that accelerates the process." From the tone in the Commander's voice, Kim wondered how much Billy had told him. It also didn't escape her notice that the Commander and Billy were on a comfortable first name basis that no longer existed between Billy and Jason.
Tommy looked over at Kat and asked, "Is there a risk of danger from the treatment?"
Billy shook his head, "No. Not for the ten of us. I'd never subject you guys," he looked at Jason as if to emphasize his point, "any of you guys to anything that would hurt you." Kim watched his face begin to blush deeply, "And there's reason to believe that the healing factor may reverse certain damage that previous radiations did to Trini, Kimberly, Kat, and Aisha."
Tommy nodded and then looked to Kat. Kim understood that this was something they would both have to agree on. Billy already told her that he wouldn't take just half a married couple- that he wouldn't put their marriage under that kind of stress. It had to be both or neither. Something seemed to pass between them before Kat looked up and said, "Count us in."
Billy turned to Jason and asked, "How about you Commander Scott? Are you in as well?"
Jason first looked to Billy, then to Commander Storm, and Kim wondered what was going through his mind. Her enhanced senses could see a slight flaring of Jason's nostrils, his pores open up and could detect the slight increase in his hear rate and respiration when he looked at the other Naval Commander. Looking back to Billy he said, "If you say it's safe Major Cranston, then I trust you. I'm in."
A dry part of his mind noted that on the one he was admiring, someone had taken the time to paint the strip along the wings and rear stabilizers Red Ranger Red, and his name and call sign was stenciled neatly under the cockpit canopy: Commander Jason "T-Rex" Scott USN. He was still getting used to the extra full stripe on his sleeve. Was it just yesterday that he was Lieutenant Commander Jason Scott? He wasn't quite the youngest officer to ever make the rank of Commander, but he was definitely in the top five. Zack must have seen him admiring the ship, because he smiled, "Can't wait to take her up can you?"
Jason turned and laughed back at him, and put friendly hand on his shoulder, "Am I that obvious?"
Zack chuckled and said, "No, not really. I feel the same way about mine," he nodded to another ship trimmed in black at the end of the hangar. Jason could barely make out the name under the canopy: Zack "Mastodon" Taylor- no military rank was attached.
"Yeah, but I'm really not rated on it yet. It'll probably take weeks in the simulator before they let me fly one." Jason told him.
Zack shook his head, "We don't have that kind of time buddy." He indicated the doors leading from the hangar into the main operational center. "Besides, I can guarantee you can fly it. Billy designed it."
Jason shot him a look but said nothing. His mind drifted back to that night things had fallen apart between him and his best friend since fourth grade. He knew the others thought that their split had come before Billy had left for Aquitar. Evidently Billy had had as little inclination as he to correct their information- that it had occurred three years later, after his graduation from Officer's Cadet School. Viciously crushing the memories before they could come flooding back to him, he turned to face the briefing room as they entered.
A short woman wearing an Admiral's uniform was standing in front of the inactive holo-tank. She looked to be in her early fifties, with soft brown hair that was just beginning to gray at the temples. She had dark hazel eyes that were just beginning to show the signs of crow's feet. Jason was reminded of the woman who played the new M in the Bond films. Without even noting the other occupants in the room, Jason reflexively snapped to attention and saluted, "Commander Jason Scott, ma'am."
The woman seemed to scowl at him for a moment before she returned the salute and then smiled, "At ease Commander. I'm Admiral Hazard, your new CO." She gestured toward the rest of the room, "This is the rest of your wing. A rather unorthodox mixture of pilots, and support personnel, but I have it on the best authority that they're the only people capable of carrying out your mission." Sighing she said, "Let me make some introductions: Thomas and Katherine Oliver," she pointed to Tommy and Kat, "perhaps you've heard of Mr. Oliver's racing credentials." The woman seemed oblivious to the fact that most of the people in this room were his old high school friends. "Adam and Kimberly Park," She gestured to where Adam and Kim were standing. Kim was doing her best to suppress the laughter in her eyes. "Aisha and Rockford DeSantos." Jason noted that Aisha seemed to tense when she saw him. "The man beside you is Zachary Taylor, and his wife Trini is the corner." Trini waved at him and smiled. Next she indicated where Billy was standing next to a tall man in his late thirties or early forties with reddish blond hair. Both men were wearing utility work suits with lab coats over them. They had the look about them as if they'd worked together for a long time. For a brief instant, Jason felt a wave of jealousy toward the Commander wash over him, before he crushed it as viciously as he did his earlier memories. "And this is Commander Benjamin Storm and Major William Cranston."
Every head in the room turned and looked at Billy at the mention of a rank with his name. Evidently he was still keeping secrets. Commander Storm nodded and smiled, "Commander."
Next to him, Billy just nodded impassively and said, "Commander." Then turning to the Admiral he said, "With all due respect ma'am, but I think perhaps you are unaware that Commander Scott is an old acquaintance of all of ours."
A minute hardening of around her eyes was the only indication of any surprise the Admiral might have felt. "Thank you, Major. Then that should make your job in working together that much easier."
Jason reminded himself that he was a professional, and forced his face to become impassive as he nodded toward the men. Neutrally he replied "Commander, Major, it's good to see you again."
Billy just nodded, but something else showed in his eyes- something that cut Jason to his soul. Did he really see disdain, and indifference in those blue-green eyes? Had the confessions of that night so long ago- no not the confessions, his own cowardice- really caused his best friend's heart to harden that much? Well, if that was the way Billy wanted, it, he could be the professional too.
Kim watched the interplay between Jason and Billy. The news that Billy was in the military had come as a complete surprise to all of them. She made a mental note to ask the Admiral about it, in a round about way of course. Right now, she had to find out what eating two of her oldest friends.
Turning her attention back to the Admiral, the woman continued, "I am told by Central Command that all of you possess some kind of unique genetic quirk that makes it possible for you to interface with the Omni-Tech fighters." Walking over to the holo-tank she activated it and the image of one of the fighters in the hangar bay appeared in the field as it rotate in three-dimensions. "The Omni-Tech is the ultimate in multipurpose assault craft, capable of metamorphing itself into various combat configurations."
The craft in the field- Kim noted that it did not have any of its markings painted in- began to shift forms, not unlike the old 'Zords, into a quadrapedal walker, complete with gun turret. "They are the most versatile piece of technology on the planet." The craft shifted again to form into a huge humanoid shape complete with an energy rifle. "They are also capable of combining into one giant form under the central command of the lead craft." She saw several more Omni-Techs appear on the screen and combine into a form that reminded her of Megazord, but more human looking. Only this Megazord was about five times the size of what she was used to.
"According to Major Cranston, you ten are the only people in the world capable of piloting these crafts. He says that some of the exposure you had to the first Power Ranger teams here in Angel Grove back in the early nineties has changed your nervous systems in some way to allow you to interface with the cybernetic controls of the Omni-Techs."
"What about the "treatments" that Kimberly was telling us about?" Tommy asked.
The Admiral turned to Billy. "Major Cranston, could you explain the effects of the proto-phyre?"
Billy stepped forward and hit several controls on the tanks. Kimberly had already heard this before- of course her explanation had been before the military had become involved, and covered some details with which the Admiral might not yet be familiar. It had started as an experiment in trying to re-activate either the Morphin' or Ninjetti Powers destroyed by Ivan Ooze and Mondo, and bring the old 'Zords back online. Kimberly suspected that Billy might have known the Dragons were coming. "Commander Storm and I have discovered that the dragons are emitting low levels of a type of radiation we've never encountered before."
"Admiral Cupit told me that there were no traces of radiation at the Los Angeles blast site," Jason interrupted. Kim saw the look Billy shot Jason under his eyes, and wondered if she'd seen correctly. She wondered if Jason had caught it or not. It might explain what the rift between them was, but she wasn't sure.
Billy continued, "Correct Commander. There is an element in the dragons' body that reacts in unpredictable ways with nuclear radiation. However the radiation they are emitting is not nuclear based. We've named it proto-phyre- sort of a living energy. For some humans it seems to enhance them, make them more alive." Turning back to the Commander he said, "Ben, perhaps you could describe the effect this radiation is having on the human physiology."
The tall man who'd been at Billy's side since she and Adam arrived here, stepped forward, nodded to Billy and cleared his throat before beginning. "We've discovered that this radiation begins to slowly modify the genetic code in some-not all- but some humans." The holo-tank suddenly switched over to show an image of a pair of generic human forms, one of each sex. Several organs inside the forms were highlighted and blinking. Kimberly realized that most of them were parts of the endocrine system.
The female in the diagram disappeared and the male rotated and slid down as the medical lab took form around him. Kimberly could see the image slowly shift to become actual film footage- footage she hadn't seen before. The man in the film had his features blurred by the computer as well as certain other parts for the sake of modesty. She noted that he was very well defined, and in extremely good physical condition. It took her several moments to realize that it was Billy lying in the diagnostic bed. In the lower left hand corner was a series of read-outs showing muscle density, heart rate, and blood pressure. "It enhances several body functions, slows down others, and for most part super charges the body."
A line of light appeared above Billy's head and slowly made its way down his body, much the way a digital scanner moves down a sheet of paper. There was nothing dramatic about it, no flashing lights, no explosions, just a low hum as the line worked its way down Billy. The only change seemed to be in the readouts. Billy's heart rate dropped into the twenties, his muscle density doubled, and the blood pressure dropped. "The subject here saw a marked increase in physical strength, and an improvement in reaction times." The blond looked around the room and said, "Also it seems increase the healing factors in humans by about a hundred fold."
"What do you mean, it doesn't effect all humans?" Tommy asked.
Commander Storm shrugged, "Just that, Mr. Oliver. We've exposed several humans to the treatment to no effect. It seems to affect about one in a million people."
Kim watched Tommy do some quick calculations, "That would mean two hundred fifty people in the United States."
Commander Storm nodded, "Exactly, Mr. Oliver."
Tommy asked, "Billy, are you saying that the ten of us happen to be among those one in a million?"
Billy smiled, and reached to push glasses he wasn't wearing up on his nose- Kim guessed old habits were hard to break, and knew it was a sure sign that he was uncomfortable about something. Looking around he finally said, "No." Sighing he continued, "The ten of us have each been exposed to some unique energy forms" he looked over and indicated Commander Storm, "Ben and I believe that they have something to do with the first two incarnations of the Power Rangers teams.
Commander Storm nodded, and continued, "Bill's right. Even the humans who are capable of benefiting from this exposure don't show the dramatic changes that you ten do. There is something about the radiation you were exposed to as… uh in Angel Grove that accelerates the process." From the tone in the Commander's voice, Kim wondered how much Billy had told him. It also didn't escape her notice that the Commander and Billy were on a comfortable first name basis that no longer existed between Billy and Jason.
Tommy looked over at Kat and asked, "Is there a risk of danger from the treatment?"
Billy shook his head, "No. Not for the ten of us. I'd never subject you guys," he looked at Jason as if to emphasize his point, "any of you guys to anything that would hurt you." Kim watched his face begin to blush deeply, "And there's reason to believe that the healing factor may reverse certain damage that previous radiations did to Trini, Kimberly, Kat, and Aisha."
Tommy nodded and then looked to Kat. Kim understood that this was something they would both have to agree on. Billy already told her that he wouldn't take just half a married couple- that he wouldn't put their marriage under that kind of stress. It had to be both or neither. Something seemed to pass between them before Kat looked up and said, "Count us in."
Billy turned to Jason and asked, "How about you Commander Scott? Are you in as well?"
Jason first looked to Billy, then to Commander Storm, and Kim wondered what was going through his mind. Her enhanced senses could see a slight flaring of Jason's nostrils, his pores open up and could detect the slight increase in his hear rate and respiration when he looked at the other Naval Commander. Looking back to Billy he said, "If you say it's safe Major Cranston, then I trust you. I'm in."
