Californian high school senior Billy Craston exited the Zeo Zord Holding bay. Laden with a pile of rolled up diagrams, drawings, and notes teetering in his hands, he hurried down the dimly lit, royal blue painted metallic hallway toward the main room of the Power Chamber. Readjusting his grip on the pile, he quickened his pace, his heart pumping with glee. Experienced with three years of being power ranger, the now volunteer technical advisor/assistant to the current team smiled brightly, chuckling down the hall.
Trey definitely knows how to give a gift, he thought, thanking the humanoid Lord of the planet Triforia, and former Gold Ranger. If he hadn't turned over those gems, Mondo unquestionably would have defeated us and conquered Earth. Images of cogs, Mondo's foot soldiers, patrolling through the streets and terrorizing the public, shot through his mind. Billy blotted those images out, smiling that Earth was safe and free.
Whoever had built these knew what they were doing, he remarked for the fortieth time. The Super Zeo Zords' technology was more advanced and efficient than what the rangers' mentor, Zordon, Alpha 5 (Zordon's robot assistant, whom manned the Power Chamber's controls), and Billy had developed for the Zeo Zords. After seeing their display of power during yesterday's battle, Billy had been itching to analyze them in depth.
Having woken up early that day (thankfully the weekend), he had been working nonstop for the past five hours. Though he was nowhere near done, he felt a demonstration was in order for Super Zeo Zords 1 and 2. Also, having marked several corrections, he wanted to scan some of his plans back into the zord database. Breathless but light on his feet, Billy quickened to a jog towards the triple door entrance of the Power Chamber.
But the doors refused to open automatically.
Halting mere inches from them, he swept his eyes for any evidence of sabotage. He found none. Must be a malfunction, he surmised, sitting the stack of papers on the floor. Crossing to the wall to his right, he typed in a code into a small computer console for the door's emergency release lever. It popped out automatically from a hatch on the floor. Crouching, Billy reached for the lever.
Suddenly a male voice yelled at Zordon from within the Power Chamber, his words slightly muffled through the wall. Adrenaline pumped through Billy, his throat tightening. An intruder, he thought. He listened but was unable to understand the man's words; automatically, he hunched his shoulders. However Zordon replied calmly and sympathetically, his voice resonating throughout the multi-story high room.
"Patience, good friend. Allow me to explain."
Hearing the change in tone, Billy relaxed his composure but crouched by the doors, pressing an ear to them.
"I cannot believe you allowed that transfer to happen!" the unfamiliar voice protested further.
Why? Billy pondered. Suddenly the memory of him spying on Zordon and Alpha 5 when they were making the new White Ranger flashed in his mind. He shook the irritation from his mind and listened.
"Zordon, it is more dangerous for him to have those powers!" the stranger continued.
"There wasn't time to explain," Zordon answered. "It was imperative for us to transfer the Golden Powers from the Treys to someone else as soon as possible or the Golden Powers would have been lost. Tommy did not tell us who he had selected for the candidate so I could make no objections."
"Don't hide behind logic, Zordon. You could have told him before the transfer or at least after the battle," the stranger pointed out. "We agreed to tell him especially if he ever became a ranger again."
Billy blinked. What had Zordon not told Jason? Why had he not told him or the others present? It had nothing to do with the transfer; Billy had been there, monitoring it during the last battle. Everything had checked out for Jason.
Unfortunately, because King Mondo had ordered the monster to grow giant-size, and upon discovering that the monster was coated with a near invincible armor, the rangers' current zords would have been ineffective against it and most likely destroyed if summoned. Therefore, the Treys' gift had come at a perfect moment.
"There wasn't an opportune time," Zordon confessed. "If I had held Jason back, the others would've asked questions about what I had told him."
"And the secret would have been revealed. Or at least suspicion, the seed of paranoia."
A pause. Billy waited for the response.
"It isn't right to keep them in the dark, Zordon," the stranger said, "When they have a right to know. It is as if you do not trust them."
"I trust all of them with my life," Zordon said, raising his voice slightly. "However, the time is not yet right for them to know the truth. Secrecy is our best strategy for now."
The stranger heaved a deep sigh. "I accept, know, and understand. Please forgive me. However, is it right to hide this from the Zeo Rangers? It affects them too."
If this affects my friends, it affects me also, Billy thought. Dropping the pile, he pulled the emergency release lever. Storming into the Power Chamber proper, he glanced around. Nothing had been damaged. He was glad.
The metallic walls, ceiling, and floor were of the same dark blue as the outside hallway, but the Chamber was lit with a medium glow. A computer console was positioned before him at near the center of the room. On the wall in front of the console were two computer screens. To the right of them, a bluish energy tube stood which held the three dimensional projection of the wavy, blue-colored, bald head of Zordon, the rangers' mentor and the one that had selected them all to be Rangers. To Billy's right, the White, Black, Pink, Blue, Yellow, and Red Mighty Morphin' Power Ranger costumes and Power Weapons stood in memorandum in seven glass covered alcoves.
Billy glanced to his left. Freezing on the spot, his eyes widened.
There, the Green Mighty Morphin' Power Ranger stood, his triangular golden chest shield folding over his shoulders and narrowing to a point at his navel. Golden armbands gripped his upper arms while golden borders ringed the tops of his gloves and boots. Emerald green dominated the remainder of his costume save for his neck cover and the glimpses of the white diamond shape underneath his shield.
"Tommy?" Billy automatically asked.
The Ranger slowly shook his head.
However Billy already noticed key differences between this ranger's costume and the costume his friend, Tommy Oliver, had worn as the Green Ranger before becoming the White Ranger.
In fact Tommy's original green ranger costume had never been displayed in the Power Chamber's wall memorial. Though the current Zeo Rangers (Katherine, Tanya, Rocky DeSantos, Adam Park, and Tommy Oliver) and Billy had guesses as to why, none of them knew for certain. Zordon and Alpha 5 had never divulged a reason nor mentioned the green ranger powers when the Power Chamber had supplanted the destroyed Command Center.
Is he the reason why? Billy wondered, referring to the strange ranger.
As these thoughts whisked through Billy's mind, the ranger before him shook his head again. Curious now, Billy noticed clear differences in Ranger's costume.
A rustic golden circular medallion no wider than four inches sat nestled within the Ranger's diamond shaped center of his shield. Carved upon it in raised 3D detail, a bird the cross between an eagle and a swan soared in still flight. Billy lifted his eyes to the top of the ranger's helmet. Instead of bearing the eyes and brow of a dragon, the top of the stranger's helmet possessed the brow of the same bird on his chest.
Billy stood paralyzed with shock, staring at the unknown supposedly humanoid ranger, judging from the body frame. This made no sense, he thought. Had Zordon made a new ranger? If not, where did he come from? Was he from another planet? Did the others know about this? If so, why didn't I?
"Billy, you should not be here," Zordon said.
"Where's Alpha 5?" Billy asked, refusing to take his eyes off of the Ranger. Suspicions raced through his genius mind.
"Alpha 5 is regenerating at the moment," the Ranger replied, gesturing behind him.
Billy peered in the direction. Indeed Alpha 5 stood in his wall alcove regenerating in sleep mode.
"I was wondering when you were going to come inside," the stranger mentioned.
"You knew I was there?" Billy asked, bewildered.
The ranger nodded. "Perhaps you would prefer if I showed you my face," he suggested, already reaching to unclip his helmet.
He was human. He looked about twenty-five with short, thick brown hair and an angular, pointed face. His medium gray eyes bore several years, if not decades, of war, pain, and many years of life beyond his physical appearance, as if he had faced hardships all of his life. Yet underneath the pain there was a benevolent quality to them. From just behind his right temple, a jagged scar cut up into his scalp and brow and also down into the middle of his cheek. Whether it was recent or old, Billy could not tell. He was not well versed in healing physiology.
The stranger extended his hand to Billy. They shook hands. "My name is Sean," he said courteously inclining his head forward in a slight nod. "It's an honor to meet you."
"Forgive the abruptness, Billy, but I must know how much you heard," Zordon said.
"Only that you needed to tell Jason something when he received Trey's powers."
"I see," Zordon said. "While I understand your concerns, I cannot allow you to repeat what you have heard to anyone."
Sean turned to Zordon. "If I cannot tell Billy the whole truth, then let me tell Jason."
"If Jason knew, it would only be a matter of time before Dark Specter would know also," said Zordon.
Dark Spector? Billy wondered, searching his knowledge for any familiarity. He came up short.
"I can hide Jason from him," said Sean.
"Yes, but for how long?" Zordon asked. "Dark Specter has spies everywhere—even on Eltar."
Billy blinked. That's Zordon's home.
"You are the best fighter I have ever known but even you cannot stop all of the Monarch of Evil's forces."
"Monarch of Evil?" Billy asked, glancing at both. Zordon had never mentioned that title before.
"Yes, Billy," Zordon answered. "Dark Specter is the master of the emperors and queens of Evil throughout the universe—the sole overlord of the United Alliance of Evil."
"You'd mentioned that empire before."
"Yes, and even King Mondo and Lord Zedd cannot compare with Dark Specter's power. Indeed I doubt that the Machine Empire will remain seceded from Dark Specter for long."
As a scientist Billy ingested the information, but a chill fell upon him. Hairs along the back of his neck tingled. The knowledge whirled within his mind. While he had known that the universe was vast, the scope of these legions stretched his perception. Blinking he stared at Zordon through new eyes. Is Dark Specter Zordon's real nemesis? he wondered.
In the past, Zordon had expressed his fear at Lord Zedd's arrival and afterwards the arrival of his father-in-law, Master Vile. A tendril of dread danced inside Billy. He ignored it. "Is Dark Specter a threat to Earth?" Billy finally asked.
"At the present, no."
At this, Sean stepped forward. "I would protect Jason with my life," he pledged, "even if I had to fight Dark Specter himself."
"You need not fight alone," Zordon said. "I intend on telling Billy everything."
"Seriously?" Sean asked.
"He and the other rangers have expressed their curiosity about the Alliance of Evil, and he has proven himself worthy to hear of this information."
"Tell me what?" Billy inquired.
"A secret kept between only Sean and me that affects the entire universe and further dimensions," Zordon said. "If what we fear comes to pass, it will take more than Sean, Alpha, and me to confront it. Will you help us?"
The day that Zordon had bestowed upon Zack, Kimberly, Billy, Trini, and Jason their first power coins and morphers, Zordon had asked for their blind faith but he had given a bit more information about Rita Repulsa's evil plans. Now, after three plus years of defending the earth from five major villains, Billy had learned to trust Zordon's council.
Despite his trust, Billy remained objective. Ever since Zordon had mentioned the United Alliance of Evil during his introduction of the Machine Empire a few months ago, Zordon had remained reluctant to reveal more of this broader organization. While curious to learn more, Billy trusted that Zordon had his reasons for secrecy. "But I won't be able to tell the others, will I?" he inquired, expecting it to be rhetorical.
"That choice rests with you," Zordon answered. "However, I strongly advise that you refuse to divulge or let on to anyone outside of us and Alpha that you know this truth, despite any implication you feel at the time."
"You're taking a risk even though I spied on you and Alpha making the White Ranger," Billy confessed for the first time.
"I appreciated your honesty. However I should point out that you were younger than and also that I trust you. Alpha and I could erase your short term memory but I suspect your curiosity would remain unaffected. You have been patient for these past several months. I grant you the opportunity to have the information you sough then and seek now at the price of greater integrity."
"I swore to protect the Earth three and a half years ago; and I swear now to help anyway I can," Billy said.
"Thank you, Billy," Zordon said with a nod. "You may proceed, Sean."
"Do not be afraid," Sean said. A green light shined from beneath his skin and through his costume as though a star shined from within. The call of a melodious bird echoed throughout the room. Bright beams of golden light flowed out of Sean's hands and into Billy.
Immediately, a cerulean light glowed from deep within Billy, its light illuminating the vast room.
When the lights faded, Billy stood in amazement, inspecting his different outfit. Once again, he was adorned in the blue Ninjetti outfit. It was a somewhat baggy ninja outfit made out of a cotton-like substance except for the leather headband tied around his forehead, shoulder pads, gloves, and gauntlets. Tied around his waist was a long blue sash. A familiar hood and mask covered his head and face, revealing only his eyes. Fastened onto the center of his chest, a golden medallion carved, with the insignia of a wolf's head and neck, glistened in Billy's light.
"Welcome back, Blue Ranger," Zordon said, pride and excitement beaming in his voice. The howl of a gray wolf echoed throughout the Power Chamber. "May you and Sean be the first of this new incarnation."
