Disclaimer: Power Rangers Time Force and all related logos are property of Disney and/or Saban Entertainment. I am using them without permission. KJ Sheldon, Lt. James Emery, Trinity Oliver, A.I.S.H.A., Admiral Summers, Camille Summers, Leo Claw and the "Omega Project" are property of yours truly. Sierra appears courtesy of… well, Sierra.
This chapter deals with a very delicate subject: religion. The intent was not to offend anyone, but to give other perspectives into religion. I apologize in advance for anyone who made have been offended.
~~
The doors slid open, and Tommy walked into the communication's room. Other than a few flashing lights and the light coming from the hall, the room itself was completely dark.
He sat down in front of the control panel, inputting a series of commands. "Computer, open a subspace channel to these coordinates," he ordered.
'Coordinates accepted, opening channel,' the computer replied.
Within seconds, the screen blinked on, and there she was. Her hair was a bit longer than he remembered it, but she was still as beautiful as he remembered her. "Hello sweetie," he said warmly.
"Hi daddy, it's been a while," she said cheerfully. "I haven't talked to you since mom and I came to Time Force for the wedding,"
"I know, there's a lot going on here. We're just trying to get everything in order. How is school?" he asked.
"Just fine, still top of the class. My professor says I'm way ahead of my class, and I may be able to graduate early," she said.
"That's great. How is your mother? And Wes?"
"Mom is pregnant, about two months now. She and Wes are planning to name the baby Tommy if it's a boy, and Trini if it's a girl," she told him.
He couldn't help but smile. "That's great news,"
"Are you sure everything is okay dad? You normally don't contact me unless something is going on," she mentioned.
"No, everything is fine. I just missed my little girl is all,"
"How is Jen?" she asked.
"She's having twins, so she isn't in the best mood these days, but we're expecting her to deliver in the next few weeks," Tommy said.
"I'm glad to know everything is workin' out for you,"
He paused. "Honey, do you know is Tanya and Gaby are done with the morphers yet?" he asked her.
"You know they don't talk to me about classified stuff, but as far as I can tell, all their attempts to create a stable morpher have failed horribly. Gaby mentioned something to Wes last week about using pieces of the red Chrono morpher to enhance the power of the trans-dimensional rift, and something about accounting for subspace variances. That's all I know," she explained.
"For someone who doesn't have any classified information, you sure know a lot about the project," he said.
"I know more about it than you think. There's something going on, isn't there? There's a reason Time Force has such an interest in the morphers we're working on here, so 'fess up, what's going on?" she asked him.
"All I know is that the cadets are going to be involved, that's all. What I don't understand is why the morphers would be built in the past. If we were in some serious danger, it would make more sense to build the morphers here, in the future. All I can tell you is that everything happens for a reason, and even if we don't see it now, things have a way of falling into place," he explained.
"I hope you're right dad, but I…" she was cut short as something in the communication's lab began to beep.
"Hold on Trinity, I'm detecting a communication coming on, but its on a lower EM band frequency," he told her, going over the readings.
"Lower EM? That's primitive even by 21st century standards," she brought up.
"I have to go sweetie. I need to investigate this," he told her.
"I understand,"
"I love you honey,"
"I love you too, dad," she said.
Without a word, he closed the subspace channel, and as the image of Trinity blinked off the screen, he reached over to the controls on the far right panel. "Tommy to Trip, respond," he said.
'Trip here, what is it Tommy?'
"I'm picking up a general distress class on a lower EM band frequency, you may want to get down to the communication's lab and have a look at this," he suggested.
'I'm picking it up down here in the science lab too. According to these readings, the message has a Time Force signature on it, but it doesn't make sense. No one from Time Force uses such an archaic form of communication,' he pointed out.
"Maybe whoever it is sending the signal is using the only means of communication they have. Can you get a lock on the origin of the signal?" he asked.
'I can track it. I already contacted Alex and informed him, he should be on his way to the lab now. We're going to investigate it,' Trip told him.
Trip's statement was just a reminder that Tommy was no longer a ranger, and no longer to command of the Slipstream project. Part of him wished he was back out in the field, but understood why he couldn't be. 'I have to be here with Jen and the twins, I can't be traveling to different worlds and risking my life everyday,' he thought.
"Understood. When you guys get back, let me know how it all turned out,"
There was a pause. 'Ya know Tommy, we could use someone down in the lab to keep an eye on things while we're gone,' he mentioned.
Tommy smiled. "I'm on my way,"
~~
Alex walked into the science lab, making his way over to Trip. "Report," he said dryly, standing over him by the controls.
"I've been able to track the coordinates to a parallel reality, but from what I can tell, they don't have any technology there. It's the year 3002, but every bit of technology has been wiped out," he told him.
"Is it safe to open a vortex there?" he asked.
"I don't foresee any problems, but it wouldn't hurt to take a couple phaser riffles with us," Trip suggested.
"Sounds good. Contact Lucas, Katie and Adam to…" he paused, recalling that Adam no longer had his powers. "Contact Katie, Lucas and Lt. Emery to join us," he ordered.
"They're already on the way. I told Tommy to come to the lab and monitor our progress. We'll need someone on the controls to let us know if something goes wrong," Trip said.
"Good idea,"
Just then, the doors to the lab opened as Lucas and Lt. Emery walked into the room. "What's going on boss?" James asked, walking over to Alex.
"We've got a mission. Where is Katie?"
"She isn't coming, she was… occupied," Lucas said.
"Occupied with what?"
"This is a difficult time for Adam. I think she just wants to be with him right now," he said.
Alex nodded. "Fine, it's just the three of us then,"
"Make that four," Trip said, standing up.
"Okay. Everyone grab a phaser riffle, there's no telling what we can expect on the other side of the vortex," Alex ordered.
Lucas walked over to the storage cabinet, pulling out a set of phaser riffles, handing each of them one. "I thought the initial reports said there was no technology on this world," he brought up. "If there are no weapons there, why are we breakin' out the big guns?"
"Just in case," he told him.
Tommy walked into the room, making his way over to the rest of the group. "You guys about ready to go?" he asked, sitting down in front of the controls.
"Once we get there, run a scan and see what you can tell us about the world. We'll need as much information as we can get," Alex said.
"You got it," Tommy said, activating the slipstream.
Alex was the first to step through the portal, allowed by Lucas and Emery. Trip headed towards the portal, but stopped, turning to Tommy. "Be ready to pull us out in case something goes wrong," he said.
"Just say the word," he said.
Trip nodded, then stepped through the portal.
~~
The four of them stepped out the portal, getting a good look at their surroundings. At first glance, it appeared to be New Silver Hills, but there were no signs of buildings. As far as the eye could see, there were only trees, with the exception of what appeared to be an open field.
"Everyone okay?" Alex asked, turning to them.
"We're all in one piece," Lt. Emery said, speaking for the group.
"We should head to that clearing over there, see if we can see anything," he suggested.
They made their way through the trees, eventually coming to the clearing. There was a small stream near by, but still no signs of civilization.
"Are you sure we're in New Silver Hills?" Lucas asked.
"According to my readings, yes. This is the year 3002, and this is exactly where New Silver Hills should be," Trip told him.
"So where is everyone?"
"If I had to take a guess, it looks like after World War three, the human race never rebuilt their technology. They may have seen it was a chance to start over and reverted to a simpler way of life," Trip speculated.
"So if that's true, who sent a distress call?" Alex asked.
"Um guys. I don't think we'll have a chance to worry about it," James brought up.
"Why not?"
Alex glanced around, only to discover they were being surrounded by a group of people. He noticed they were wearing animal skins, and had tribal symbols painted on their bodies and face, each of them with spears in hand.
The four of them took a step back, putting their backs up against one another to prevent being attacked from behind.
"So what's the plan?" Lucas asked.
"I only count twenty of them. We can take'em," James pointed out.
"No, we don't have to seem hostile. No one make any sudden moves," Alex ordered.
"Us? Hostile? We're not the ones with sharp pointy things," Trip said.
One of the tribesmen approached the group. Judging by the necklace made of animal teeth and the distinct markings on his face, Alex concluded he was the leader of the group. "We mean you no harm," Alex assured him.
"As it was prophesied, the travelers have come. The Beholder foretold your arrival," the tribesmen said.
"The Beholder?" he asked.
"Yes, the Anointed One, our savior," he said.
"The Beholder is the light, the Beholder is the way. All praise to the Beholder," the other tribesmen said in unison.
"Okay," James mumbled sarcastically.
"We were told of your coming, and we must take you to the Beholder at once. Those are his wishes," the tribesmen said, motioning for them to follow.
Reluctantly, the four of them followed the tribe members through the forest. After a long, tedious walk, they arrived at what appeared to be a temple.
"That kinda looks like the Hall of Elders on Xybria," Trip mentioned as they continued to walk.
The tribesmen stopped dead in their tracks, bowing in front of the entrance to the temple. "We can go no further, it goes against the wishes of the Beholder. The four of you may enter, but leave your weapons behind," he said. Alex nodded slightly, and the four of them dropped their phaser riffles. "All of them, including the devices in your wrists,"
"I'm not giving up my morpher," James snapped.
"Just do it, it'll be okay," Alex insisted.
Hesitantly, they removed their morphers, tossing him in the pile along with their riffles, then headed into the temple. There was a long, narrow hallway, and at the end was a thrown room of sorts. There were swords and shields along the wall, and at the end of the room was a giant thrown.
"I knew it was a matter of time before you would come," a voice said, echoing through the entire room.
It was Alex who stepped forward. "I am Captain Alexander Collins from…" he was cut short.
"Yes, from Time Force. I know. You're here to investigate the distress call you received, is that correct?" the voice asked.
"How did you know?"
"I am the Beholder. I am all knowing, all seeing," he said.
"Then that means you know I'm not easily impressed by cheap parlor tricks and a spooky echo effect," Alex snapped.
"Always were impatient, weren't you Alexander? Even the academy, you were impatient. Isn't that right Lucas?" the voice asked them.
Lucas couldn't help but nod, recalling Alex in his younger years. "If you're going to play games, we can leave," Lucas said.
"And how do you propose to leave? I have your morpher, and you'll find that your friends at Time Force won't be able to get a lock on you while you're in my temple. There are mystical barriers that prevent such a thing,"
"I've had enough of this…" Lucas was cut short by Trip, who grabbed his arm.
"Wait," he paused, listening carefully. "Who are you?" he asked.
"I'm surprised you don't already know my Xybrian friend. Doesn't this temple look familiar to you? Does my voice sound familiar to you? You know who I am, don't you young Trip?" the voice asked.
The thrown began to turn around slowly, allowing them to get a good look at him. Though he had long, flowing white hair, he didn't appear to be any older than thirty years old. His eyes were completely white, and there was a jewel in the middle of his forehead. He wore an all white robe, which seemed to shine.
"It can't be," Trip sighed, getting a look at him.
"Trip, you know this man? Who is he?" Alex asked.
"Its me," he sighed with disbelief.
Alex took a second glanced, surprised that he hadn't seen it sooner. "Trip, what happened to you? What's going on here?" he asked.
"The man you knew as Trip is no more. I am the Beholder," he told them.
"Let me guess, you found your way to this world and decided to play God with the locals. You forced them to build you a temple, and you use the little technology you have to enslave them, convincing them that you're their Lord and savior," Lucas snapped.
"To the contrary Lucas, events leading to this moment were very different," he stood up, and because the robe was so long, it seemed as though he floated over to them. "Years ago, I invited a device called the Slipstream Interdimensional portal. So eager to test it, myself and the other rangers went in blindly, but I'd overlooked a calculation, and we were unable to get back to our home world. We began traveling from world to world, each of them more remarkable than the last. One day, we traveled to a world plagued with a disease, and within days, Lucas, Alex, and Jen were killed. Left only with Kathryn as my companion, we escaped that world, but on the next, Katie was killed, and I was only. I traveled alone for months, doing whatever I could to survive. Finally, about eight months ago, I came here, and these people were suffering from a disease that would have surely killed them all. I used my knowledge to develop a cure for them, but not before I got the illness myself. I was able to give myself the antidote, but it robbed me of my sight in the process. However, because of my jewel, and I am able to see much more than I ever imagined. Not only can I see the four of you plain as day, I also have visions, allowing me to see into the future," he explained.
"So the locals dubbed you their savior for curing the plague, and you decided to go along with it," Alex said.
"You are mistaken. The tribe's people foretold my arrival. It was written that a noble soul would travel to this world with the gift of foresight, freeing them from oppression and suffering. Don't you see Alex, I'm not playing God here: I am God," he told him.
It was Trip who took a step forward, facing him. "I don't know what happened to you, but I refused to believe that I could ever allow myself to get so screwed up in the head that…" he was cut short as the Beholder raised his hand slightly, and a bolt of lighting struck Trip in the chest, knocking him to the ground.
Lucas and James rushed over to Trip, checking on him.
"I am the light, I am the way. All praise to me, or you will die," the Beholder told them.
"We'll see about that," Alex said, charging towards him. Almost effortlessly, the Beholder was able to avoid being hit; moving aside no matter what Alex threw at him. Finally, he nodded slightly, and a beam of light came from the jewel in his forehead, hitting Alex in the stomach, forcing him to double over.
"Say it Alexander, say I am the way," he told him, kicking him in the stomach with so such force that he flew twenty feet, crashing into one of the pillars.
Alex stood up slowly, holding his stomach in pain. "I will never say it," he groaned.
"Oh you will, or you will die," he said, raising his hand slightly. Alex began to rise in the air, holding onto his throat as if he was choking. "I could kill you with a mere thought human. Now say it,"
James and Lucas tried to charge at him, but the Beholder lifted his other hand slightly, and the two of them found themselves stuck up against the wall.
"This can be very painful for you Alexander, but I can make the pain stop. All you have to do submit to me, and say the words," he snapped.
It was Trip who got back to his feet, standing face to face with the Beholder. "You adopted the ways of our elders, harnessing the dark forces for your own benefit," he mentioned.
"I am far beyond anything the elders could have foreseen. I am immortal, I am all powerful," he snapped.
"I know what really happened to you. You traveled to all those worlds alone, convinced that you would never see your friends again. You were lonely, and when you came here, you felt as though you were needed and decided to stay. The only problem is, you realized that this was the world you'd left behind in the first place, didn't you?" Trip asked.
"I have no what idea what…"
"When you and the rangers left, the world was invaded by something or someone, and without the rangers here to protect them, everything and everyone was wiped out. There were a handful of people who survived, but they were dying, and you felt a responsibility to help them. Now this is all that's left of your world, and with all the power you have, you're still that lonely little boy who knows he can never see his friends again," he told him.
"You know nothing, silence!" he screamed.
"That's when we received a distress call on the lower EM band, it was all Time Force had left after the invasion. It took it years to reach us, but when it did, you knew we would come," he said.
"Enough," he screamed as a beam came from the jewel in his forehead, knocking Trip to the floor.
Trip stood back up. "You're no God, you're just afraid. You're afraid and lonely, and the only thing you could do to comfort yourself was taken over an entire planet, but you realized that it wasn't enough for you. You need an equal; you need someone who won't bow down to you. You needed your friends," he told him.
That was enough to distract him, and that second was enough to make Alex fall to the floor, gasping for air. Trip motioned James and Lucas across the room, pointing out a stone that was on the other end of the room. The stone had a glow to it; similar to the way the Beholder's robe was glowing. "You know nothing Xybrian. I have evolved beyond anything you can comprehend, I am a God," he screamed.
"You blame yourself for not being here to stop what happened, you think it's your fault. Maybe if you'd ran more tests, maybe if you done something different. None of this was your fault, there was no way you could have known," he assured him.
"I wanted to…" he paused, turning his back to him. "Be gone Xybrian, you know nothing about me," he snapped.
Alex took advantage of the distraction, going back through the hall they'd originally come through.
"It wasn't your fault," he repeated.
Finally, the Beholder turned around, revealing tears in his eyes. "It was my fault. Radiation from the Slipstream infected the entire planet while I was gone, and when I got back, there were only a handful of humans left. All of this is my fault, and its up to me repair the damage I've done," he snapped.
Lucas and James finally made it to the stone, examining it.
"Not by enslaving the world and embracing the dark magic of the elders. You have the knowledge, and with our help, you could rebuild," he said.
"You would… help me?"
"Yes. On my world, we've perfected the slipstream. We could come back with personnel, with supplies. If you let us help, we could…" he was cut short.
"Do you know how many times I've heard that? Do you know how many times someone from another Earth came to me with empty promises or helping me rebuild? You can keep your lies Xybrian," he snapped.
Trip glanced over the Beholder's shoulder, noticing James and Lucas were in position. "Ya know, there's a lot I know about you Beholder. I know you're drowning yourself in self-pity, blaming yourself for something you couldn't have possibly stopped. I know that you didn't lose your sight to a disease; you lost it when you adopted the dark powers. I also know that you need that stone to harness your power, and now, your time is up," Trip told him.
At that moment, James and Lucas picked the stone up, slamming it down to the floor…
But it didn't break.
"Well, so much for that plan," James sighed.
The Beholder turned to them, and with a flick of the wrist, knocked them through the wall. "You will pay for your betrayal Xybrian. The cost is your life!" he screamed, simply looked at Trip, lifting him into the air.
"I believe my friend said your time was up!" Alex snapped, aiming his phaser riffle at the stone and shot it, breaking it into a million pieces.
At that moment, Trip fell to the ground, and the Beholder dropped to his knees. Suddenly, his hair began to change color, and his robe stopped glowing.
"Its over Trip," Trip said, kneeling over him.
"You've ruined it," he screamed.
Alex stood over him with the phaser riffle, aiming at his forehead. "Now what is it that you wanted me to say to you?" he asked.
Trip pushed the riffle away. "Alex, no," he said.
Lucas walked over to them. "Trip is right. If we'd gone through what he went through, this could have been any of us. Without the stone, he won't be able to use the dark powers anymore,"
"But these people still worship him, we have to put a stop to it," he said.
"These people think of him as a God, to take that away from him would destroy everything these people have rebuilt. Without his powers, he won't be able to control them, and they'll have to make their own way," Trip said.
"You want to leave him here?"
"Yes. Things will work themselves out," he told him.
Alex lowered his weapon. "Fine, but we should get going. When the locals realized I knocked out one of the guards to get my riffle back, they won't be very happy with us," he said as the four of them headed for the exit.
"I will exact my revenge on you Trip, on all of you. You have no idea what you've done. This world is doomed, and its all your fault," he screamed, but it was too late, they were gone.
* that evening *
"I can't imagine you with white hair," Camille said as she walked into the lab, making her way over to him, handing him a cup of coffee.
"You see this," he pointed to a group of wires. "If these hadn't been tested, the same thing that happened on his world would have happened here, and everyone would have been wiped out. Can you imagine returning home after traveling randomly from world to world, only to find out that it's your fault that everyone you knew and loved was dead? If it had been me, I might have turned to the dark forces as well," he explained.
"I'm glad things turned out differently for us," she sighed.
At that moment, the doors to the lab opened, and KJ walked over to them. "Am I intruding?" she inquired.
"Not at all KJ. What's up?"
"I reviewed the report from your mission earlier today, and I was curious about something," she sat down in the chair across from Trip. "I am familiar with Xybrian mythology and there religious practices, but I was curious to know what your beliefs were," she said.
"What do you mean?"
"The Xybrian equivalent to Earth's Bible insisted that Xybria was the only world with intelligent life, yet that has been proven wrong. It states that an Xybrian was the creator of the entire universe, breathing life into everything it touched, but your scientists have been able to prove that there were creatures on Xybria long before any recorded history. The existence of the dark forces of your elders also goes against that Xybrian religion teaches. SO again, with so many contradictions in your belief system, what do you believe?" she inquired.
He sighed. "Well, I like to think I'm a man of science, but our religious values are too strong to ignore," he said.
"But surely both of them can't be wrong. This is similar to the debate that has raged on here on Earth for countless years: creation vs. evolution," she brought up.
"True, but in both cases, I don't think that either belief has all the answers. People who believe in God tend to believe that creation is the only way, and aren't open-minded to the possibility that it could be wrong. Those who rely on science tend to think that evolution is the only answer, and aren't interested in exploring any other option. I've seen a lot of things in my time, and I know enough to know that no one knows for sure," he explained.
"Time Force possesses the ability to travel through time. Why not simply go back to the beginning of time and conclusively prove which theory is correct?" she asked.
"People aren't ready for that KJ. If were to prove that religion was wrong that there was no God, there would anarchy. Religious people would be in a panic, and you essentially create more problems than it would solve. To prove that scientists were wrong would create chaos as well," Camille told her.
"But do you not think the human race deserves to know the truth about their existence?" KJ asked him.
"No. Some things are best left to debate. There are some things man isn't suppose to know," he said.
"I understand, but you still have not said what you believe,"
"I believe in the pursuit of the truth in all its forms, and though we may never know for sure, it's the journey that matters," Trip told her.
"I believe I understand. Thank you lieutenant," she said, walking out the room.
~~
Preview: CluesNext time on Parallels II: The rangers hope to find some clue as to when the "Final Battle" will begin. Meanwhile, the cadets search for clues to their own destiny.
~~