ZEDD
Talking to the men before me has been considerably less trying than I feared. Still, it has been no picnic. Suddenly, I realize that I cannot sense Thomas - at all. Not like when he's blocking me, either. Momentarily ignoring the other men in the room, I try to trace the bond. It's almost as if we had never bonded to begin with. I can still feel that the bond is there when he blocks me, but now - nothing. A knot of anxiety builds in my stomach. Hastily I stand and head for the door. "I'll be back."
I head for the gardens, meeting up with Pina on the way. Neither of us breaks stride as we head through the kitchen holding a shorthand conversation on the way.
"Something's wrong." You think?
"Can't sense Thomas." And there are very few reasons that I know of for that.
"Dar's worried." What did he do?!
"Angry?" If he did something stupid…
"No." Might not have to kill him after all.
We head out the back door and to the gardens, barely aware that we've been followed. Pina points out Dar, who glances at us briefly before returning his attention to whatever he's watching. All of us hurry forward - and stop short at what we see.
Thomas is - glowing, the light pulsing, almost as if he is starting a slow motion morph. He's staring at a large bird which is perched on his arm. Slowly, Dar sidles over to us and begins speaking quietly. "We were sparring, but he wasn't really into it. We were talking and he's had some more memories come back and then the bird appeared and he's been like this ever since."
The glow fades from Thomas, but he remains frozen. With relief, I realize that I can sense him through the bond once more - not feelings, just the sense that he is there and we are once more connected. The bird turns his attention to the seven of us, studying us for long minutes before launching off of Thomas' arm and flying away.
Signaling the others to stay where they are, I slowly approach my bond mate, who still has yet to move. I speak softly. "Thomas?"
I feel my anxiety rise once more as he does not move or respond to me in any way. I move in front of him, feeling like I'm studying a statue, rather than a living being. I glance at Pina, who says something to Dar. He disappears inside the castle as she crosses over to me. I take a half step back as she begins to give him a quick exam. Minutes later, Dar returns with one of her scanners, which she takes and begins using immediately. What seems like an eternity later, she hands the machine back to Dar. Gently, she lowers Thomas' raised arm before she speaks.
"Zedd, take him to the infirmary. Don't worry, it's just the healing process again."
While some of my worry fades at having his condition explained, it does not dissipate entirely. I lift my boy and head for the infirmary, visitors all but forgotten.
Once my boy is settled on the table and in Pina's capable hands, I turn to Dar. "You said that you think that he's had some memories return."
The man nods. "We've seen what happens when he has a memory return - the pain in his head. He went through that in the garden. Usually, the episodes have been a minute or two in nature. This time was significantly longer."
I can feel my eyes narrow. Something is off in his tone, but I can't pin it down. "What were you discussing when it happened?"
It happens so fast I almost miss it - the flash of something on his face that I cannot put a name to right now. "He wanted to know who Rita and Zordon were and why they were here and what they wanted with him."
Uh oh. Knowing that one of the only things that Thomas trusts about Dar is that Dar will tell him the truth, I'm not sure I want to know the answer to the next question. "And what did you tell him?"
Eyes completely emotionless, he responds with, "I never got the chance to tell him why they were here and what they wanted."
Which means that Dar told Thomas who they were. Which triggered - this. I ask my next question, tone clearly telling him that he'd better not try and elude me on this. "Did he speak of what he remembered?"
Dar takes a deep breath, straightens his spine, squares his shoulders and looks me in the eye before he answers me. "He remembers being the evil Green Ranger - all of it."
Quiet gasps from around the room mirror my feelings exactly. Quickly, he speaks again. "I told him that it was Rita's influence that caused his behavior then and that she was a different person now. Before we could really discuss it in depth, he noticed the bird on the wall." He frowns and corrects himself. "No, that's not right. Between the discussion about Rita and the situation with the bird, he and I were both briefly sidetracked by the emotions of our bond mates. Then came the bird."
Resisting the urge to wrap my hands around Dar's throat, I turn to Pina, continuing to ignore the others. "Pina?"
She sighs gently. "Zedd, I told you, this is normal. As long as it's a natural state, he'll be fine."
I can't help but interrupt her. "You also said short periods."
"We also don't know for sure when he slipped into this state. Was it as soon as the bird perched on him? Was it after the bird broke communication? Somewhere in the middle? Besides, as I recall, I told you that I had to research what 'short periods' meant. In the case of a human, it could be up to six hours."
I don't like this answer at all, but I also know that Pina can't do anything about it. "Why does it cause him such pain when he has a memory return?"
Pina pauses. "Basically, his brain is trying to rewire itself. The pain is a pathway being restored."
"What?" Pina spares a quick look at Jason before coming up with a metaphor that she thinks he'll understand.
Picking up a lamp from her desk, she switches it on. "Suppose this lamp represents one of Tommy's memories when it was accessible. Now here's what happened when he was shot with the laser." She yanks the cord from the wall. "Now, his brain is trying to make a new connection-" She pulls out an extension cord, which she plugs into a different outlet before picking up the lamp plug and the other end of the extension cord. Plugging them in together, she finishes, "and when it does, the memory is accessible and the electricity in the brain shoots through, causing the pain as the connection is made. Understand?"
The man nods, frowning. I can tell he's thinking out loud when he says, "So making connections with roughly a week's worth of memories could have temporarily overloaded him."
Before I can react to this idea, Pina shakes her head. "No. If that were the case, he shouldn't have been able to connect to the bird the way he did."
Rita speaks. "Maybe I can-"
"No." I turn to her quickly. "Right now you will do nothing."
"Easy, Zedd." Pina cautions me. That woman is out of her mind if she thinks I'll be calming any time soon. She continues, speaking to Rita this time. "We need to wait until he's past this and returned to base line before we can consider any courses of action beyond what we've been doing. Until we know, we could do more harm than good - and I know you don't want that."
"Of course not." Right answer - the only one from you so far.
Dar finally speaks again. "I'll go start the meal and we'll see what happens. He might be awake before it's ready." With that, he disappears from the room before anyone moves or speaks.
Andros speaks hesitantly. "Perhaps we all need to talk. After all, Jason and I haven't had the chance to talk to Sc- sorry, Pina and there were some things that we learned from Zedd that I'm fairly certain that Rita and Zordon don't know. Maybe a brief recap would be good for everyone."
ONE HOUR LATER
All the information has been imparted to all parties and Thomas' condition hasn't changed. Rita and Zordon have been strangely quiet through it all. Several times it looked like Pina wanted to say something, but thought better of it each time. Finally, I'm tired of it. "Pina, what? You've avoided saying something several times now."
She bites her lip. "Only because I don't know how necessary it is to mention." I give her a look that she recognizes and she turns her attention to Rita and Zordon. "This is the kind of thing that makes me think that your plan is not the best thing for Tommy."
I narrow my eyes at the goddess and her companion. Jason speaks up. "What plan?"
"Rita and I suggested to Pina that it might benefit Tommy to take him to the Keeper of the Powers." No way, that is not happening.
Jason stares at the pair. "Are you crazy? All the progress they've made with him and you want to take him away?" Oh yeah, I'm certainly appreciating the older Red Ranger at the moment.
Rita protests. "We were just making a suggestion based on what we knew at the time. The Keeper could remove or activate the ninja spirit within him."
Andros frowned. "It seems to me that the ninja spirit is doing fine trying to awaken on its own and at this point, removing it could be very detrimental to Tommy's recovery."
Hmm - having Rangers on my side for a change is an odd feeling, but welcome as it makes the count four to two in this discussion with Tommy and Dar not voting at the moment.
Weakly, Rita tries again. "The Keeper could tell us more."
Tone brooking no discussion, Jason responds. "Seeing the Keeper has waited this long, it can wait a little longer."
Finally, Rita relents, much to my relief. I have far too much to worry about without worrying about what she might do as well. Zordon speaks again. "I will call the Keeper and update her on what we do know. Perhaps she can give us an answer without having to see him in person." That's a better idea than Rita's. "I'll call her from the ship."
Yeah you do that. I watch the pair leave the infirmary, hoping that they are being truthful. I lean against the counter, out of Pina's way but where I still have a good view of Thomas. I'm startled when Andros speaks. "If you need anything for him, Zedd, all you have to do is say the word."
I shake my head, but Pina speaks up. "Actually, Andros, if you really mean that, I know something you could do." He nods and she continues. "I'm having trouble finding information on interspecies bonding - especially with humans. With your contacts, you might have access to materials I do not."
"I'm on it. Jason, do you want to help me?"
The man levels a look at me. "You will let me know when he wakes up?" Without hesitating, I nod. He has impressed me slightly in the time he's been here, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt - for the moment. He nods to the Astro Ranger and they both leave the infirmary. Dar steps into the room. I still haven't decided how I feel about the information that he has given so far.
Dar looks at Pina. "No change?" She shakes her head and he frowns. "I wonder if the extended time in this state is caused by the volume of memories that he recovered."
Pina shrugs. "It could be that or that the ninja spirit is helping the medicine do its job or any number of other things or even a combination."
Dar sighs and directs his attention to me. "I may hate him, but I wouldn't have deliberately done something to hamper his recovery." Which is true in so much as it would keep Thomas here longer - something that I know that Dar does not want. Plus, now that he knows about the bond, he realizes that risking the former Ranger's life could also risk mine. I nod to acknowledge his statement. He speaks again. "Zedd, perhaps you should talk to him - they say that sometimes the comatose can hear."
I stare at him briefly. "What in all the hells would I say?"
He shrugs. "I really don't know, Zedd."
I sigh and cross over to the man lying on the table. "Come on, Thomas. Wake up. You are worrying everyone."
Dar clears his throat. As I glance up at him, he shifts his gaze away and makes a suggestion. "Perhaps Eltarian?" At my questioning glance, he shrugs and replies, "Something he said. Might be worth a try."
Pina moves to watch the monitors as I repeat myself, this time in Eltarian. I glance at Pina, who nods encouragingly. I continue speaking as I tap into our bond, hoping that he will sense me as well as hear me. I don't really notice as Dar leaves the room. Continuing in Eltarian, I assure him that he is safe and that he needs to wake up so as not to miss the coming meal. My feelings are still mixed about having sent him with Dar, but I'm going to leave that on the back burner until I can speak to Thomas.
I lightly brush the back of my hand against the back of his. Pina asks quietly, "What did you just do?" Without waiting for my answer, she commands, "Do that again."
Startled, I do as she says, finding myself slightly amused at her attitude. Her eyes are locked on the monitors before her and suddenly she grins. "Keep doing that - it seems to be helping."
I do for another minute before an idea occurs to me. I take his hand in mine, holding it much as I had my Ranger the day he told me about what had occurred at the facility - tightly enough that he knows I'm there, but not so tightly that he feels restrained in any way. I continue speaking, barely keeping track of what I'm saying - really only paying enough attention as to not say something that might panic him if he does hear me.
I find that I'm unaware of the passage of time when finally Thomas opens his eyes and blinks owlishly. Relief floods through me as Pina comes around the table and begins scanning him again. His gaze remains on the ceiling as she completes her scan. As I open my mouth to speak, he shifts his attention to me. Something in that look stops me and I wait for him to speak first.
Finally, he does. "I don't trust her."
"Who?"
"Rita. She wants to take me away from here."
"If I have anything to say about it, she won't be taking you anywhere."
"But do you?" At my puzzled look, he elaborates. "Have anything to say about it, I mean. There's no way she can just take me, is there?"
I don't even begin to know how to answer that without panicking him. I sigh before I answer him. "Yes, technically she could use her magic and transport you. But if she's truly the goddess of light that she claims to be, she wouldn't dare. Even if it were best for you, it would still be kidnapping."
"She could lie and-"
He stops as I shake my head. "She would be risking way too much. The consequences would not be worth it - not even for her to make up for the past."
Pina mutters something under her breath that I cannot catch, so I know that Thomas can't. I can't help but look at her questioningly. She shakes her head. "Sorry. I don't like her very much and I don't trust her at all. She might not be able to flat out lie, but you still have to listen very closely to what she does say - as well as all that she does not. If there is a loophole, she may find it and use it."
I frown. This is one of those times where I value Dar's skills with people. He hears what is unsaid and finds the holes that I would otherwise miss. A chill sweeps over me as I realize that neither she nor Zordon have promised anything in regards to not taking him. The temptation to start throwing magic is very strong at this point, but I rein it in as Pina speaks again.
"Perhaps we should speak to Dar. He might be able to pin her down to a promise without a loophole."
Before I can do more than nod, Thomas speaks up. "I know he doesn't want me here, but he hasn't tried to hurt me - recently." A grin quirks at the corner of his mouth briefly before he sobers once more. "I think that if Jason or Andros wanted to take me away, I could talk them out of it, but Rita and Zordon - not so much. I think that they would tell me that because I'm hurt that I don't really know what's best for me and that they do."
I am well and truly at a loss here. I don't even begin to know how to reassure him that I will not just let them take him. I can feel the truth in the pit of my soul and relay it to him. "Even if they were to do something as foolish as to try and take you against your will, not only would none of the rest of us allow it - not Pina, not Andros, not Jason, not even Dar - I would not stop trying to find you if they did take you. And even if they did try, I have a great chance of finding you just because of our bond."
A mildly disturbing idea comes to mind and I quickly try to block my unease in my thoughts from him. Fortunately, he cannot read my thoughts, or he would surely be worried as well. My eyes flicker to Pina, relaying a message to her that we needed to talk privately - and soon.
