Once A Ranger, Forever A Hero
Chapter 1 – Not Done Yet

A/N: Hey guys, okay so these first two chapters will be like Tommy's side to the original 'Once A Ranger' so if you want to check out Kira's end go to that fic. To that end, I also want to add that all the ships established in that fic will carry over, including, as you might be able to tell, Kira/Tommy. I'm not really in the mood to sit here and explain ranger continuity and age errors so I'm just going to say that Kira has graduated, is of age, there won't be any adult content, and it's all perfectly legal. Don't like? Don't read. I won't begrudge you of that decision. For the rest of you lovelies, ENJOY! R&R PLZ!

Tommy rubbed his hands and glanced at the yellow ranger again. To the video camera he said, "It all started when Kira went to Angel Grove…well…to be truthful it didn't start then but that was when we realised that our time as rangers wasn't over."

A few days previously…

Kira had gone to Angel Grove with Adam and Tommy was doing some grading in his home ahead of exams. Everything was quiet. Connor and Ethan had promised to come by later for a game of basketball and Hailey, hell bent on resurrecting the zords, was down in the zord bay as she was in her every free moment. Tommy was grateful to Sentinal Knight for restoring their powers. It felt good to have them back. Perhaps it was due to his long tenure as a ranger but knowing what was out there and being helpless to stop it or help was not a comfortable feeling. Now he and the Dinos could relax and just be. Just then his seldom used cellphone pinged with a text from Kira. Been holding out on me Mr. Oliver. She accompanied that with a picture of a picture of him and Jason when they won the Ninja Team competition. He smirked, she must be at the Youth Center. He didn't even know that picture still existed. However, before he could reply his communicator went off.

"Tommy? Tommy are you there?"

"Hailey?" Tommy responded. "What's the matter?"

"I was working on the zords' operating systems on the computers and something isn't right."

"What?"

"Tommy, I wish I was wrong but there are definitely energy spikes around the cities. The last time we saw that…"

"Mesagog was using his lab's portals," Tommy finished for her. "What are our options?"

"Other than portals? Not much, the energy pattern is very distinct but it's scattered and rapid, like someone is randomly opening and closing them for no reason."

"Alright contact Connor and Ethan and put them on guard for anything suspicious," Tommy decided. "I'm going to call Trent and check out Anton and Elsa."

"And Kira?"

"I'll talk to her after, there's not much she can do from where she is anyway."

As far as he knew, Trent was home so Tommy didn't waste time opening a comm-link to the white dino ranger, "Trent?"

"Hey Dr. O."

"Is your father around? Or Elsa?"

"No they're on vacation…"

"Cuba right," Tommy remembered Anton and Elsa had left since last week. "Trent, someone is using Mesagog's lab portals, now I don't want to accuse you but-"

"Dr. O I haven't been back to Mesagog's lab since it was destroyed but if you want I can be at your place in ten minutes, you can test me."

"That won't be necessary, I believe you," Tommy said sincerely. "But I could use your help here, Hailey is in the zord bay and the others are keeping a lookout in the city."

"Okay, at least you'll know where I am."

Tommy stopped short then added, "I'm not blaming you."

"I'm not taking it personally," Trent assured him. "I'm already on my way." He hung up and Tommy sighed. He knew in his gut that this wasn't Trent but he had to admit, having the white ranger close by wasn't a bad idea. Time to speak to Kira. Since she was at the youth center, he simply activated the communicator and waited for her to get back to him.

A moment of two later he heard, "Go Tommy."

"Hey princess sorry to disturb your digging up dirt on me but we got problems."

"What's wrong?"

"We're picking up strange readings from several unrelated points in the city."

"Portals?"

A smile ghosted across his face, Kira was always quick on the uptake. "Possibly but that would mean someone or something is using Mesagog's lab."

"Did you call Trent?"

"Yeah it's not him, or Elsa, both of them check out." Tommy said simply.

"Do you want me to come back?"

"Not right now, but I want you on standby. I've contacted the others already. Whoever is doing this isn't being discreet which could mean they intend to make a move soon." Tommy pinched the bridge of his nose

"You got it," There was a pause before she added gently, "Tommy, be careful please."

"Always princess," Tommy vowed. "Now go do more detective work, I'll call if anything happens."

"You're not scared of what I might find?"

"Terrified," Tommy laughed lightly, "But I know that's not going to stop you."

"Damn right. Kira Ford, singer, power ranger, and now P.I. extraordinaire signing out."

Tommy chuckled, "Have fun." He cut out and at that moment, there was a knock at the door. It was Trent. "Hey."

"Hi Doctor O, what do you need me to do?"

"Follow me." Trent came in and they went immediately to the underground command center. They divided up the monitors and began scanning the city, occasionally commenting on something but nothing really out of the ordinary.

"I don't know Dr. O," Trent said after a while. "Everything is pretty quiet." No sooner had he said that did all the alarms go off as the system was in meltdown. Both men took their hands away from their keyboards in shock and exchanged an unnerved, shocked look. They regained their composure and began tracking the problem. According to the equipment, the energy output was enormous and if they were being perfectly honest, the ground itself felt like it was shaking a little.

In flash, Tommy was on his communicator, "Hailey? Are you getting this?"

"Yes! The readings are massive! Get out there quickly!"

The two stood up, "Let's go."