ELSEWHERE IN THE GALAXY
DAR
I stand in the doorway, just looking out into the storm for a minute before I cross the threshold and let the rain wash over me. I don't know why, but I love storms. It's almost like anything washed by the storm can start again clean and new. I laugh with a joy I haven't felt in a while, making certain to open up my bond with Pina so I can share it with her after all the negative emotions she let me bombard her with the other night I'm happy I can give her, well, some of my happiness. I turn to head toward the garden, when a movement catches my eye.
I tense as I realize that it's him and he's watching me. Why is he out here? Why of all damn places does he have to be out here? I take a step to continue on my way, to try and ignore him for Zedd's sake as well as my own when he speaks. "I don't think I've ever seen you smile, much less laugh."
I take another step, determined to get away from him before he says or does something to completely destroy my mood. Just don't Tom, just don't do it, I've finally made some damn peace with Zedd, don't make me destroy it.
"I heard what you guys said earlier." Oh hell.
"Let it be." Giving him a warning, hoping he will take it, will just walk away, it becomes clear he is not going to take the hint as he speaks again.
"I get that we aren't friends and all, but maybe we could at least be something." Seeming to think a moment, his next suggestion makes me wonder again about his intelligence. "Maybe I could spar with you sometime."
Is he kidding?! Has he lost what little bit of his damn mind he has left?! I can't help it, I lose my tenuous grip on my temper and spin on Zedd's boy. "You want to spar with me? You really want to attempt out of all activities THAT one? Well fine, you got it!" I don't care anymore that Zedd could and probably will kill me for this. I don't care that I could and probably will break his spine while doing this. I have had it. My calm and happy mood is very quickly pushed aside as a decade plus worth of rage spills forth.
"I-"
I don't let him speak. I have way too much to say to allow him to interrupt me as I stalk toward him, quickly moving into striking distance. "You've finally fulfilled your life's purpose, haven't you? You have managed to repeatedly take everything I've ever wanted away from me!"
I throw a punch which he deflects and launches my temper into overdrive. Once more, my mouth runs unchecked as I continue my attack. "Ever since the first time Rita saw you, I have hated you. From the moment Rita chose you, I hated you! Some worthless, scrawny, CHILD, she deemed more worthy than myself! You were nothing but a whiney, scared, inept brat!" Knowing it's harsh, and again deep down unfair as he did not ask to be chosen, I however can't bring myself to care right now as I continue unabated.
Executing a fast combination of hits, most of which he dodges, he is still not actively fighting back. "When she gave you the power coin, I hated you! It should have been me! I should have had the power! I was the one who could handle it! I wouldn't have turned on Rita! But no, give it to the human! I should have been the one to destroy the Command Center, but no, that honor went to you too!"
Looking as if he wants to argue, to say something to deny my accusations, his focus however is too firmly rooted on my attacks and not getting taken down by them. How lucky he is that I don't have my blade on me.
"Then Zedd came, he came and he FINALLY got rid of you, finally took the last of those damn powers, and I finally thought it was over. But no, he then reveals the reason for doing so is to make you his heir! He wanted you as his heir when I had proven time and again that I was dedicated to the cause! I was the one who should have been second in command! It should have been me! But no, you, with your horrible smug attitude, butchered use of your species language, less than intelligent behavior, you are who he wanted even after you had taken those damn synthetic powers Zordon had created! You heard what was said in the infirmary, I didn't lie, he was obsessed with you then and he's just as much so now! It's always been about you where he's concerned, which is even more infuriating when it's backed by my mate!"
At the mention of my mate I realize somewhere in my mind that I hadn't stopped any attempt to close my bond with Pina when I had started this, I know that trouble will be coming and soon if he has likewise allowed Zedd any form of access through theirs, but frankly I don't care right now. "And speaking of my mate do you have any idea what it's like when I couldn't even be second best! You always beat me when we battled and she knew it! Have you ever been beaten, and then had the added humiliation of someone you're trying to court witness it?! Do you know how hard it is to have someone you're trying to impress watch you get beaten by some inept child! Not to mention the fact half the time our battles weren't fair! Whenever I'd have you beaten Jason, fucking Jason would show up just in time to save you, every damn time. In some respects you were as bad as the pink one!" I barely realize that I have begun an all out physical attack on the boy as well as verbal. I throw punch after punch, kick after kick as I continue, firmly in the grip of my rage and using the physical attack to punctuate and emphasize the verbal.
"Then we left and the evil was destroyed and I finally got my position! Finally got what I wanted, what I deserved! What I had work so hard for, and what happens? You show up and invade my home! I didn't want you here. I don't want you here. I was TOLD you would come here if it was necessary. Thanks to you, I've lost my home, my friend, my mate, my piece of mind and my control! And when you're better you're going to take my place! You have constantly and repeatedly taken everything from me and that's why I hate you! Once again, you've taken everything from me and I will NOT allow it to continue!"
The warrior in me knows that the boy - Tommy - isn't fighting back, but right now I crave the conflict, so I escalate my attack to try to force him into a more active role. It quiets the small voice in the back of my mind that is trying to remind me that he is here through no fault of his own.
"You need to go back where you came from and as soon as possible! I HATE YOU!"
Losing my temper completely I don't focus properly on my next attack and he solidly blocks my roundhouse kick, which lands us both in the mud. Great. Just great. As we lay there panting for a good minute, he finally speaks between gasps of air.
"Do you feel better now that you got that off your chest?" Fucking human.
Finally out of energy and most of my anger spent as well, my response is slightly calm if not very bitter. "Not particularly."
"Dar - Goldar, I have no intention of taking anything from you. You have your mate back. I'm not making Zedd replace you with me. My relationship with Zedd is totally different from yours. Your relationship with Zedd is like the one I used to have with Jason. Well before he abandoned me." Refusing to let myself feel bad at his last words, I can't however quite manage it as Zedd had informed me how none of his friends, including the former Red Ranger had come to see him while he was on Earth and injured.
"You've moved past master and minion and I'd have to be the worst creature in the universe to try and destroy your friendship. My main goals are to get better and learn to manage this bonding thing, which again was something I didn't ask for and am still very uncertain and if I'm honest scared of. I also didn't ask Zedd to consider me for his heir, or Rita to choose me for her pawn. I don't remember everything, but I remember enough to know that I didn't want what she shoved on me, so as far as I'm concerned you're blaming the wrong person here. If you want to be mad at someone then why not make it the person who made all those decisions back then and not the one who was forced into them and their consequences."
Taking a breath and continuing to lay where he is, he glances over at me wearily. "If you still have an issue with me, that's fine. I'll just avoid you as much as I can, but I think things will be easier for Zedd and Pina if we can try and get along. But you have to understand, just like you weren't asked about me coming here, neither was I. I know it's what I needed, but still I wasn't given a choice either, just like with all the things you listed before that you felt were my doing but in reality weren't as they were done to me. I have done my best to stay out of your way as much as possible. I didn't ask for any of this. Right now, I am as stuck as you are. The only difference is I'm trying to make the best of it and you are sulking like a child. And you can be as mad about me saying that as you want but it's true and it needs to be said because quite frankly, Zedd and Pina wouldn't tell you that you're being childish. They care too much about you, which is also why I think that it's a shame that you think so little of them that you'd actually believe that they can only care about one of us at a time."
His words pull me up short. That wasn't what I meant at all, but I get a new perspective on my attitude from the soft spoken words. Is he really my problem or is it something else entirely? Slowly, I stand up as he sits up. I look at him for a long time - really seeing him for the first time since he's been here. After a moment I hold out my hand for him to grab. He pauses for a moment to gauge my intention before accepting and I pull him up when he does.
"I guess that Pina was right, after all."
A small smile quirks at the corners of his mouth. "Imagine that. What about this time?"
"You aren't the boy you used to be." I turn away from him and see Zedd and Pina standing in the kitchen doorway, both looking incredibly worried, but neither interrupting out right as we are no longer in an immediate fight. I look back at Tommy. "They're waiting for you."
"For you too." Perhaps, but I don't think I'm quite ready to face either yet after my oh-so-charming display a minute ago. He turns to head to them before pausing as he realizes I'm not following, "Aren't you coming too?"
"No." Giving him a gentle but purposeful push toward the castle I continue much more calmly than before. "You need to go get cleaned up, and assure them you're not gravely injured. Go, before Zedd comes out here and gets soaked as well."
"Are you at least coming back?"
Rolling my eyes at his statement, I shake my head. "I'm not leaving the planet, Tommy. I'm simply going for a walk."
"What do I tell Pina if she asks?" You're assuming Zedd will give her time to ask anything when he gets you into the house and gets a look at what a mess you are.
"Tell her I have some thinking to do." I turn and walk away into the woods, letting the rain wash over me and absorbing my new perceptions of Zedd's boy.
