Disclaimer – I don't own them….stop trying to force them upon me!

Author's notes – This was a part I scribbled out for a different story actually, but I liked it too much on it's own, it explained the situation and first encounter between the two too well to let it never be posted.

Thanks – Thanks to Pam Marks, she gave me the idea and when it was gonna be used for a joint story she helped.

Summary – How Tommy fell in with Mercer, thus setting up for the whole Dino Thunder season years later.

-o-

'What Life Throws You'

Tommy

-o-

(Angel Grove Community College)

Slinking to my chair, I am amazed I made it here on time today. I have to do something about these nightmares. I'm not a Ranger anymore, I shouldn't be having those sorts of dreams. Okay, and reminding myself I'm not a Ranger anymore doesn't help my mood so let's just push that aside for the moment.

"Wow, you're here." Can it Rocky. Slipping into the chair beside mine, the former Blue Ranger gives me a smile. A far too amused smile if you ask me.

"Had to be. I miss many more classes and I'm going to be repeating this semester. I have to do something about these nightmares, Rocky." Laying my head down on my black backpack, I just want to get some rest. Is that too much to ask?

"Yeah, I still think you should go see a doctor and maybe get something to help stop those. Like remember in the Freddy Kruger movies, the main girl Nancy in the third one, she had those dream suppressants. Maybe you could get something like that." Yeah except this isn't a movie, and I'm not even sure such a thing exists. Besides what would I pay for it with? Ever since I quit Uncle John's racing crew to go to college I've been greatly lacking in the financial area.

"I'll see wh-"

"Can we all settle down now?" Watching as Mrs. Shields struts into the room, tweed skirt and matching jacket covering her wiry frame, I really dislike her. It's not so much the surprise tests, or the constant insults that are thrown at her students, no, I'd have to say it's the fact that she reminds me of that useless, power stealing witch, Demitria. "Am I making myself clear?" No, I'm not bitter about her forcing our hands to relinquish the power though. Perish the thought.

Nudging me discreetly, Rocky seems torn between laughing and glaring at me. "Stop glaring, she isn't Demitria." Since when did he get so observant?

"Class, today we have a guest speaker that is here to talk us about business. Dr. Mercer has doctorial degrees in business, biology, and economics. He also owns three companies and is currently a large benefactor to several hospitals and charity organizations. There will be a quiz on what he has to say so if I were you I would listen. Dr. Anton Mercer." Wow, only thing this guy hasn't done is be a Ranger it seems. Oh and there's that pang of bitterness and anger again. Must work on that.

Watching through heavy eyes as the blonde haired, blue eyed man takes his place at the podium, I have to admit he's not that bad looking either. Most of these over successful speakers she brings in look like they could be related to Big Foot, but not this one. Though he does look a tad…evil?

Crossing my arms on of my backpack, I try and focus on what he's going on about. Ethics, success, hostel takeovers, all the usual.

-oooo-

(40 minutes later)

'Bahm!'

Jerked up by the loud noise that was far too close to my head, I am in instant fight mode. "We're under attack, let's do it….um, guys…" Crud. Looking up and seeing no one, but Dr. Mercer standing over me, I think I better start praying. Even Rocky seems to have abandoned me. That's just great. He's going to get an earful next time I see him. And did this jerk just drop my Economics text book by my head?

Arms crossed, the man does not look happy. "Thomas Oliver. Sleeping through class and my lecture. Mrs. Shields says you do this often." She would. It's honestly not on purpose though. If I could just get some rest during actual rest hours. "I don't suppose you heard any of my lecture."

"Um, well got a tape of it?" And that look right there tells me he does not appreciate my wit. "Guess not."

"Do you have any excuse on why you slept through it?" Because I spent last night watching infomercials, after two nightmares about Dark Spector. However, I don't think that's going to work very well in this case. So do I go with a semi truth, or…

"I uh, I guess I'm just not a morning person?" Oh come on that doesn't warrant a look of disgust. "Look if it makes you feel any better this happened in high school too. It drove my history teacher up the wall." Though that was for slightly different reasons. I was out late fighting giant monster then, didn't have time to have bad dreams.

"This isn't high school, Mr. Oliver. This is college where you have to stay up if you want to pass this class." Not like it's actually your class you know. Besides if I wanted a lecture I'd give it to myself, so back off.

"I'm sorry okay, besides I don't see what business it is of yours anyways. You're not my teacher, you're not my parent, and I'm hard enough on myself as it is according to my friends so give me a break." Shoving my book back into my bag, I just want out of this conversation. I don't know why this guy is getting to me so much, but he is and it bothers me.

"What's your major, Thomas?" I pled the fifth? "No wait, let me guess, undecided right?" So? I have to take two years of basic classes anyways, so what if I haven't decided exactly what I'm majoring in yet.

"I just haven't decided what I want to do with the rest of my life yet, I'm only nineteen. I doubt you knew exactly what you were going to be at nineteen." Never mind I really do know what I wanted to do and that selfish 'I want my own team' witch ripped it away from me. Zordon wouldn't have let that happen. If I'd been able to get to him he would have stopped her I know it. But no, couldn't, so now here I am, powerless if any of the big bads decide to come get me in revenge. Struggling my way through classes I don't even like. Being lectured by some pompous jerk in an Armani suit.

"No, I had my own business at that time. I swear to god what is wrong with kids nowadays? You are throwing your life away Thomas do you know that? Is that what you want? To be a nobody for the rest of your life? You're failing this class according to your teacher and I'd bet it's not the only one. Maybe if you took a little initiative then you would see that being a nothing and a nobody is not something you want."

Turning back around, I give him a heated glare. "Who the hell do you think you are? I don't know you and you don't know me so who are you to judge me? Fuck you and your assumptions." Turning back towards the door, I head off, not about to give the jerk time to retaliate. I don't need this. I was somebody, I was somebody important damn it and it got taken from me. Well forget it, and this idiot, and everything else. I don't need some stranger's approval, what does he know anyway.

-ooooooo-

(West Hill Apartments)

"That know nothing, snobbish, too good to be real, holier then thou, jerk!" Storming into the apartment and throwing my bag against the wall, I hate that guy! I know I said I wouldn't let him get to me, but he did okay! The entire drive back it was all I could think about.

"Rough class Tommy?" Looking up from his movie, Adam seems to be the only one here to bear my ranting.

"Anton Mercer!" Dropping onto the couch beside him and taking a handful of chips from his bowl, I just want to strangle that guy for getting under my skin so much.

"Okay." Picking up the remote and turning the TV off, he turns a bit to give me his attention. "Care to elaborate just a bit?"

"This guy, Anton Mercer came to lecture in our class and I accidentally, accidentally mind you fell asleep because you know I've been having those stupid nightmares again and so I fell asleep and he has the gal to stand there and call me a nobody who has no ambition. If I had my powers I'd show him a nobody! Oh and Rocky left me there! Okay so I caught him afterwards and the teacher apparently stopped him from waking me deciding it would be more fun to let Mercer have at me, but still."

"Okay Tommy calm down. We all know you are not a nobody, bro. Plus why do you care what this Anton Mercer guy thinks of you? He doesn't know you Tommy so why give a second thought about what he thinks?" I don't. It's just he shouldn't have said it.

"I don't, I just…he had no right to say it is all."

"You're right he didn't, but it's not worth getting so worked up over. This guy doesn't know you, who you were and who you are, he doesn't know about your nightmares, or the constant threat of the Evil Alliance coming after you now that you don't have your powers. In short he's a jerk who jumped to conclusions and he isn't worth your time or the effort spent on being upset over what he did." I know that's why he shouldn't have laid into me like that. I guess the frog has a point though.

"Yeah, well." Groaning as my therapy session is interrupted by rather loud knocking, I sink back into the soft couch as Adam gets up.

"Hold that thought." It's probably just Rocky, he always forgets his key.

"You should have seen him though. With his perfect Armani suit and stupid blonde hair, he had a receding hair line too you know!" Raising my voice a bit as he's in the entrance hall now, I got to admit talking to Adam does tend to put things in perspective most of the time. "And those beady little blue eyes he looked like a freaken gerbil so who is he to call me the loser! Probably never even had a girlfriend."

"Was it a blue Armani suit by any chance, Tommy?" Uh, that's a bit of an odd question.

"Yeah, how'd you know?" Shoving some more chips into my mouth and flipping the TV back on, I wonder if I can convince him to watch some of my old eighty's horror movies. It's not as much fun watching those alone with no one to make comments too about the chessy but really funny costumes and special effects.

"I do not look like a Gerbil."

To be continued………