Power Rangers: A Legend Retold

"The Others" Part 2

The two teams of Rangers spent the next couple of hours greeting and getting to know each other. Rocky was the usual jock with brunet hair and matching hazel eyes, muscular in build. In many ways he and Jason were a lot alike, he too did martial arts. Adam was a black haired Japanese American boy, he seemed rather shy but was easy to get along with. Joey ironically was from New York city where they had been living these past three months, he had ruffled dark blond hair and brown eyes, he too was athletic, he also spoke with a think New York accent and was casually flirted with the female Rangers every chance he got. Katherine was an Australian blond that was similar to Kimberly in a lot of ways, if a little more reserved. Finally Aisha was an African American girl with braided hair and a boisterous personality.

Joey walked into the lounge area where the girls were all in mid conversation, exactly were he wanted to be. He had been trying numerous times over the course of the last month to put the moves on Kat but she was having non of it. That didn't stop him trying.

"Hey Kat" he grinned sitting next to her "how you getting on with the new loverly ladies?"

"Fine" Katherine said with irritation in her voice.

"Wouldn't you be happier out there, bragging to the others about your misadventures with women?" Aisha asked him.

"No, no I'm happy right here" it was then he noticed Kimberly giving him a look he liked, he moved over to her and took her hand "Kimberly right?"

"Yeah. Thats Trini" Kimberly replied.

"I see. So you have seen lots of battles with those alien scum I hear" he kissed her hand and released it.

"Yeah, saved that planet and all that crap" she sighed.

"Your not happy being a...what did the talkin' head call it? Ranger?" He put his arm over the backrest and moved in.

"Somtimes" she said frankly.

Trini rolled her eyes and stood "I'm going to find Billy."
"I'll come with you" said Aisha and followed her out.

***

Jason and Rocky had decided to go for a walk on the red desert area outside the Command Centre to get to know each other and to swap leadership stories, advice in Jason's case. They walked now by a small stream that passed through the valley near the base.

"Oh don't worry, Master Kaku made it quite clear you would stay the leader. You guys have been at it nearly a year now, we're still green" Rocky said as they walked.

"Well you all hold your own from what I saw. Hell, you have been keeping them busy since he brought you together. We thought they had given up, turns out it was just you were kicking their ass for us. If one hadn't been in a big city and made news we may never have found out" Jason replied.

"Soon as that happened the Master told us you would have probably seen it and it was time for our teams to come together, that we were ready or somthing like that" Rocky told him.

"Yeah well don't get complacent. The guys you have been facing are the small fries. Last time we battled Zedd in full force we lost a man" Jason responded.

"I heard about that from Master Kaku, he said he was there in Sydney getting Kat when it happened. He saw the whole thing. Sorry man."
"Yeah, well thats war for you. Good know they have lost a lot more to us though."
"What?" Rocky stopped and turned to Jason in shock "you kill them?"

"Yeah. You don't?" Jason frowned.

"Oh course not! If we kill 'em we are just as bad as they are. The guys that fight us aren't to blame, from what the master told us they are just men and women from occupied planets that are just trying to make a living for their families under occupation."
"Yeah but like I said Rocky, thats war. I mean what are you going to do when you fighting ship to Zord? Target and engines and leave it at that so they can repair and come back at you? Rocky they made there choice, they are on Zedd's side and in war their are casualties."
"Jason you just don't get it do you? Thats what makes us heros and not soldiers following orders. We capture as many as we can and keep them at our base. Like you say ships are a different matter...not that we have faced any yet, but I wouldn't just go for the critical strike. I can't believe Zordon let you do this."
"They are trying to kill our whole race you fucking naive idiot! Go look at Tommy's grave or the casualty reports from the attacks on our cities if you don't believe me. For Gods sake Rocky, they slaughtered our families! You think I'm just going to lock them up like common criminals because they were just 'following orders' when they committed Genocide! We have to protect our race! Zed is evil and we are the only hope this planet has, we can't afford to split hairs over the morals of war!" Jason was getting hot now.

"Your no better than they are if thats your attitude. No wonder you lost a man you probably were to worried about killing the enemy to protect him!" Rocky shouted back.

"How dare you!" Jason sneered.

He quickly lifted his fist and struck Rocky square in the jaw. Rocky reeled back from the punch and looked back at Jason.

"Your no hero" Rocky held he jaw as he spoke "and I will not be lead by the likes of you."
"Then leave" Jason replied sternly.

***

Master Kaku stood now on the centre platform in mid conversation with Zordon. They had exchanged many words about many things and had only just touched on the most sensitive subject at hand.

"We can not tell them. If he chooses to reveal himself then that will be his choice" Kaku told Zordon.

"I do not like keeping secrets from my team but as you wish. Does your Rangers know?"
"They do not" Kaku replied.

"Then I will remain silent on the subject. The question I believe we all need the answer to is how you are here..." Zordon said but was but was cut off as the main doors slid open.

"Master! I won't have any part of working with this lot, never mind be led by one of them!" Rocky said as he walked down the ramp.

Jason followed Rocky in a soon the commotion had been heard and most of the others were filing into the main chamber.

"What is the problem my son?" Kaku asked.

"These bastards are nothing more than blood thirsty war mongers out for personal revenge! They kill any Zedorian they come across in cold blood!" Rocky cried back and pointed Jason's way.

"I knew of this" Kaku sighed "this was also the way of the old tribes. I decided as did Zordon not to impose such moral guidance upon you all, instead letting each leader and team decided their own path. You chose mercy and non lethal combat and I respected that. As did Zordon with his team killing their foes as any of the old warriors would do."
"What are you saying? Master its wrong!" Rocky pleaded.

"It is for each of you to decide what is right and wrong, we can only guide you" Kaku spoke softly in stark contrast.

Distrust filled the room as soon a gulf between the two teams had suddenly appeared where as moments ago there had been non. The Thunder Rangers seemed for the most part to be looking down at Zordon's Rangers as if they were somehow above them for their views, while Zordon's Rangers looked at the new guys like naive children for the most part.

The awkward silence did not have long to sink in however as the alarms sounded and screens came to life. They all came to and rushed toward the main platform to see what was happening.

"What the hells going on now?" Asked Jason, still angry over Rocky's words.

"Sensors and reports indicate a large group of Zedorian troops backed up by Golem soldiers are attacking the city you call Dallas, Texas. It would seem some of the troops have mobilised for a joint assault. Reports also indicate they have two battles suits with them, no doubt from theirs vessels cargo holds" Zordon told the group.

"We can worry about this later" Jason said and turned to Rocky "we need you. Are you with us?"

"For now, but don't expect me to kill" Rocky replied.

"Don't expect me to save you ass when you get yourselves in the shit for your naive crap" Jason snapped back.

"Guys! We can do this later. People are dying!" Adam pleaded.

"He's right" nodded Billy to Jason.

"Alright. Rangers move out!" Jason commanded.

"Lets transform" Rocky told his team.

"Masterdon!"

"Pteryadactyl!"

"Triceratops!"

"Sabretooth Tiger!"

"Tyrannosaurus!"

"The Lion!"
"The Griffin!"

"The Phoenix!"

"The Pegasus!"
"The Dragon!"