Rocky's POV
So much time had passed, yet it seemed like so little.
Billy had been right. That Hayley chick had told us about Tommy's funeral. Hell, she'd even let us tell Jason. Now, here we all were.
To say goodbye. None of us ever thought this would happen. We'd all thought, hell we'd known that Tommy would outlive us all. He'd always had a vibrancy, an energy that astounded anyone and everyone that ever came in contact with him.
It shocked us still, years later, whenever we saw him again. We knew him, and yet we didn't.
Who was Tommy Oliver? You could ask me, and I wouldn't be able to give you a definite answer. No one would.
I walked in. There were a bunch of kids there. I was stunned for a moment, until I remembered that he'd been a teacher. There was a guy who looked kinda funny talking to this chick who looked like a bitch. Didn't like her much. They soon left.
The kids paid their respects and left. Four stayed constantly. I'd look over and bam, there they were, with this red-head woman. Who were they?
I asked Billy. He shrugged. "I guess they're Tommy's new team. The kids he was training up to save the world."
Made sense. I bit my lip and tried to avoid them. Who knew what they thought?
Kira's POV
What was I supposed to do? To say? We were surrounded by those who'd known Dr. Oliver for years.
The original Power Rangers, legends in our minds. We'd seen them before. Dr. Oliver had made a video diary type thing. They'd all been on it. Every single one. We knew them, and knew that they guessed at who we were.
I took deep, shuddering breaths. I wondered if I'd go off on them if they tried to talk to me. Wondered if I'd go medieval on them.
Dr. O had liked that phrase. It had made him smile every time we'd used it. He never got tired of it.
A watery smile spread over my face. I didn't think I had one bad memory of my teacher, my mentor, my fellow Ranger. My friend. Funny, I'd never thought of him like that before, as a friend. Always as an authority figure, but always a friend.
Death really made you change your perspectives.
Somehow, all four of us had managed our colors, even with black. Well, black went with everything. Like Dr. O. He'd been great in every situation, adapting so easily.
I felt a hand on my shoulder. Not Trent. His was in mine. I turned.
I was face to face with one of them. One of the originals.
My lips tightened. My face hardened. My body tensed. It almost felt like I was getting ready for a fight.
Noting the change in my posture, the others turned too.
"Uh, hi," she said. "I'm Kim."
Dr. O had talked about her, of course. She was pretty. She'd also hurt him bad.
"Kira," I said shortly. The others followed suit. She looked hurt. Oh yeah, like we were supposed to be nice? She, along with all the others of them, had been part of our mentor's death. What were we supposed to do?
Her eyes filled, and I couldn't help but feel slightly sorry for her. Slightly.
"Look, he was my friend too."
Kim's POV
I knew as soon as the words were out of my mouth that it was the wrong thing to say. I bit my lip and averted my eyes.
"He was your friend, huh?" The tall, sandy haired one was talking. From the look, he was Tommy's new Red. Conner, I thought he'd said. "Then why the hell did you abandon him?"
The one in blue, a slightly shorter dark skinned boy, elbowed him. Ethan? I thought so.
Conner glared for a moment, then subsided.
"Look, I. . ." I hesitated. "I made a mistake. Tommy was the only one I could ever love, honest. After Jason's girl died, I was confused. I didn't know what. . ."
"Bullshit." The girl was speaking now. Kira, maybe. Conner glared at her. She ignored him, focused on me. "I saw that letter." I knew the one she was referring to. How could she have seen it? It was eight years old! "I'll never know why he kept it, but he did. If you had loved him, you'd've been there for him. You wouldn't have cheated on him."
"Kira," the red head reprimanded. "I'm Hayley," she said, turning to me.
"Oh, yes, Tommy's friend," I said warily.
"Yeah," she said. "Look, forgive them, but this is hard for them. Tommy's been everything to them for quite a while. I don't think they realized until this week how much a part of their lives he was."
"Oh, that's fine," I twittered. God, I felt like an idiot. A blonde.
No offense to Kat, or anything.
"Look, I'd like to see his, um, note," I said. "If that's okay."
Conner looked about ready to object, but Hayley shushed him. "Sure," she said, pulling it out. I guess she'd been expecting such a request. "Feel free to show others, circulate it around. I'd ask you not to let any of the students see it. I'm sure you'll understand."
With that, she hauled the four teenagers away. Maybe they wanted to destroy me. After I read the note, I wanted to destroy me too.
I let all the others see it while I went, sank down on a couch, and cried my eyes out.
Jason's POV
I was shocked, to say the least, when Hayley decided to let me come. I spent most of my time standing by the coffin, staring at the face I knew so well. He looked okay, like he was sleeping in a tux or something. He'd been known to once or twice. I smiled briefly at the memories. He'd been so much fun.
God, how I missed him.
His appearance gave no idea of what lay beneath.
I turned away, looked at the people. Lots of kids. Tommy's students, I guess. I saw Hayley with four teenagers. Tommy's Rangers maybe. They had matching bracelets. Their morphers?
I went over, hoping to have a word with Hayley. I had so many questions. I really wanted to make it all up to Tommy. All of it. Maybe helping his Rangers would do it.
If only they'd accept me.
Hayley turned to look at me. I could see her harden. It was like watching coal turn into diamond in about two-point-four-nine-five seconds. It gave me the chills.
"Look, I was wondering if I could possibly have a word or so with you," I said, shooting for levity. Didn't quite make it.
"About what?" she demanded.
"What else?" I replied. "About Tommy."
Her gaze flicked to the teens. "Go on, Hayley," the one in the red dress shirt said. "I promise we won't kill any of them." His eyes glittered. "Yet."
That gave me the shivers too. I really believed that, despite our experience advantage on them, they could pull it off.
Hayley and I walked outside. Only for Tommy would the sky remain clear. It was a lovely day, a fitting memorial for one who had been so full of light.
"What did you wanna talk about?" Hayley asked, breaking into my reverie.
"Well, mostly about the Rangers you're helping," I said slowly. "I wanted to help."
She was already shaking her head. "Look, I appreciate the offer. I realize that it comes from the heart and a genuine desire to make it all up to Tommy. What you have to realize is that the kids won't allow it. In so far as they can see, you, more than any of the others, caused Tommy's death. I know that, if you even tried to offer, they'd kill you. They'd think you'd be trying to mock him."
"And you don't?"
She didn't look at me. "No. I don't. Don't ask me why. I just. . .I get this feeling that Tommy would have really wanted me to like his best friend." She looked at me now. "Even offering to help shows that you really are."
"I never meant to hurt him," I said, my voice breaking. I didn't care. She'd understand.
"I know," was all she said. We stood, looking at the sunset for a few minutes, then silently made our way back inside.
Finally, the breach was starting to heal.
Hayley's POV
I'd been asked to speak for those who chose to remain. The only ones in attendance were past and present Power Rangers. Good. I could speak frankly.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Hayley. I don't know the majority of you, and most of you don't know me. We really only have one thing in common, and that would be Tommy Oliver.
"I'm sure that by now you've all read Tommy's. . ." Oh, God, I couldn't do this. My throat closed. I still couldn't say it. "Tommy's. . .letter." Oh, good. Ways around. Easy ways out were good. "His final farewell to the world." The teens wrapped themselves around Kira. She would give them strength, I was sure.
"In it, he described the reasons he did what he did. I'm not condoning his actions, but they were justified.
"The blame for it belongs to most of us. I know that if I had paid more attention, dug a little deeper, I wouldn't have left him alone that night, I'd have been there with him. Then he'd still be with us. Hurting badly, but healing.
"It's obvious to me, by the turnout here, that Tommy was well-loved, or at least well-liked. If you asked me, I'd say he touched so many lives. As Ranger, as teenager, as friend, mentor and teacher, he was there when we needed him, when the world needed him. He never shirked his duty. I know I thank God there are people like him somewhere in the world, and I thank God I got to know him.
"People are here so briefly in this world. Even as a youngster, Tommy touched people. Maybe not always in a good way," I got smiles from the older Rangers, "but he always had a powerful impact. The world knows not what it loses now, knows not of the bravery, strength and leadership that leaves us. It has no idea that the one to whom it owes so much has passed beyond all pain, beyond all hardship."
I heard a derisive snort. I gave a fake-glare to the one who'd given it. "I dunno about you all, but I'd like to think Tommy's gotten into Heaven, that he'll be waiting when we all get there," tears pricked my eyes, "long hair and all." Smiles of remembrance. Apparently, I wasn't the only one to get on him about that; I was just the one who won. "I also think, no, I know, that if Tommy were here now, he'd murder us all for being so sappy." Laughter. "Tommy was a bright guy, in more ways than one. Let's be thankful we knew him better than many did. Let's not make him ashamed to know us by being leaky faucets. Be happy. Don't forget him, but move on. Isn't that what he'd say to do?"
I stopped then. That seemed a good ending.
I was surprised when people started applauding. Well, at least people would begin to heal. Maybe, in time, my Dino Thunder Rangers – the Rangers Tommy and I had created together, would be able to forgive their predecessors and accept their help. I knew Jason, at least, would be waiting for that day.