AN: Here's the chapter you've all been waiting for including me. I've had the idea behind this chapter worked out for years. I hope you like it.

Once a Ranger
Chapter 5: The Red Dragon
By Daylight

The enemy Tommy found himself facing that afternoon was one of the eternal scourges of the universe, paperwork. Glancing up, he enviously eyed the rays of sunlight streaming through the windows, and cursed himself for volunteering to sort through the accumulated mess. The former leader of the power rangers was never one to be organized. Usually, he left the paper pushing to Adam, but the former black ranger was busy teaching a class, leaving Tommy to man the front desk of the dojo and fight the monstrous piles. With a sigh, he set one neat stack aside before diving into another. He tapped his pen against the wooden desk trying not to think about all the places he'd rather be.

A chime heralded the brightness of the clear afternoon flooding the room as the front door opened. Without looking up, Tommy called out a greeting. "Can I help you?"

"Tommy Oliver?"

He lifted his head. "Yes?"

As the dark silhouette, framed by the radiance of outside, slowly approached, his features became clear, resolving into those of a stranger who for some reason seemed eerily familiar. Studying him, a nagging voice at the back of Tommy's mind began to grow. The new arrival looked pale and exhausted, a gash crossed a bruise on his temple and his left wrist was in a cast. Tommy frowned. Something about this situation felt wrong.

Pulling a letter from his pocket, the visitor offered the paper to Tommy. With a slight hesitation, the former red ranger reached over his desk and accepted it. The smudged and crumpled envelope only seemed to confirm his suspicions. Across the front, his name was written in green ink.

"What's this?"

The stranger shrugged. "I'm only the messenger."

Tommy searched the newcomer's face, but couldn't find any malevolence in his eyes. His curiosity winning out over any reservations, he tore open the envelope. Pulling out the paper contained within, he carefully unfolded it. The green ink continued in the flowing script covering the page Tommy began to read.

Dear Tommy

I know what I did to you was unforgivable, but I have to say it. I'm sorry. I am writing this as much for me as for you. Of all the sins that lie heavy on my heart, this one has always been the heaviest. Maybe it's because I now understand exactly how you must feel. Zordon changed me, showed me the light as it were. I don't know why he gave me this second chance, if he saw some good hidden in me or if this is just his final revenge for the war that raged between us for so long. Because now I am left with the guilt, a shadow that always lies over my shoulder, over everything I do as I try to set things right. And that is what I did to you. I did more than take away your free will and force you to experience evil firsthand. I left you with memories that will forever haunt your dreams, just like mine. Memories I'm afraid I can never take away. The only consolation I can offer you is this: I did not pick you to be the green ranger because of any evil in your heart, but because I saw a goodness that abhorred me, and a strength I admired. It was the same with Kat and I hope you'll tell her. I myself may never even gain the strength to send you this letter, but if I do, I wish you well in all your endeavours. May the Power protect you.

Rita Repulsa

Placing a hand over his mouth, Tommy set the letter down. He stared ahead, his emotions numb as he tried figure out his thoughts on what he had just learned. Then he gazed back at the deliverer noting the two-toned hair, and suddenly, it all fell into place.

"You're Andros."

The ranger nodded.

"Rita asked you to deliver this?"

"Right before she died."

"What?" Tommy rubbed his forehead trying to deal with the dizzying emotions going through his head. "What happened?"

"It's a long story."

"I thought you guys were retired."

"Something came up." Turning, Andros headed for the door.

The former ranger shot out of his seat. "Wait!" As his fellow red ranger glanced back, Tommy noted the increasing paleness of his features and his concern grew. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

"What about your teammates? Are they okay?"

Crossing his arms over his chest, Andros looked away refusing to reply.

With quick strides, Tommy got out from behind the desk and moved in front of him. "What happened?"

"I told you. It's a long story and I don't have time to tell it."

"I just want to help!"

"It's none of your business!"

"If it involves the power rangers, it is my business!"

"You are retired, remember!"

The heated shouting attracted attention from the gym bringing Adam bursting into the room. The former black ranger suddenly found himself between the two hotheaded young men breaking their locked glares. Adam was startled. Though he had only met Andros on a few occasions, he had never seen either man in such a temper. While he tried to assess the situation, he found his confusion turned to worry as his eyes were drawn to the battered space ranger.

"Andros! What happened to you? Are you alright?"

Angry and frustrated by the bombardment of questions, the red ranger ran his fingernails across his scalp. "I'm fine. Now if you don't mind, I need to get going."

"Not until I get an explanation!"

"You don't want to get involved!"

"Wait a minute." Lost in the middle of the conversation, Adam attempted to intervene. He tried putting an appeasing hand on Andros' shoulder but the red ranger evaded him as he began once more to leave.

"I have more important matters to deal with." Andros turned, but his departure was suddenly brought to a halt as he found his exit blocked.

"Translation he needs to get out of here because he feels like he's about to fall over."

A new person had managed to enter the dojo unnoticed as they argued.

Andros cursed. "Don't you start." He tried to get round him, but true to Zhane's words, he stumbled. The silver ranger took a hold of his shoulders and guided him to a chair.

"I thought you were going to wait outside."

"I thought you said you were only going to be a couple of minutes."

Andros glared at his friend.

In response, Zhane glanced at Adam and Tommy and raised an eyebrow.

With an exasperated sigh, Andros made introductions. "Zhane these are the former rangers Tommy Oliver and Adam Park. Adam, Tommy, my annoyingly overprotective companion is Zhane, the Silver Space Ranger."

"Nice to meet you," greeted Tommy with a nod. "Maybe you can help clear up a few things."

"I presume that Andros hasn't been too forthcoming."

"That would be an understatement."

Rolling his eyes at his ill-tempered companion, Zhane began telling the story. The red ranger slumped down in his chair as Zhane told the others about what they had found on the planet and what had befallen the other space rangers. Once the silver ranger was finished, Andros leaned forward and placed his head in his hands. "It's my fault."

Zhane shook his blonde head. "Don't start that again. There was nothing you could have done."

Meanwhile, Adam and Tommy glanced at each other.

"What can we do to help?" asked the former red ranger.

"No." Andros was adamant.

"Yes," Zhane insisted in return. "Remember what happened the last time you were offered help and tried to refuse?"

"They don't have any powers," Andros protested.

"The Zeo Crystal."

All eyes were drawn to Tommy, the confusion and questions in them obvious.

"We never actually lost the Zeo Powers. When we made the Turbo Powers out of Lerigot's keys, we sent the Zeo Crystal to Trey on Triforia for safekeeping. All we have to do is go to Triforia and get it back."

Adam gave Tommy a thoughtful look. "You've considered this before."

"The possibility that we might be needed again has always been in the back of my mind."

Zhane glanced at Andros. "Well?"

"Alright. Alright." Refusing his friend's offered hand, he stood. "I guess we'll need all the help we can get against those shadows."

"I suppose this means I'm going too," came a new voice.

"Rocky!" exclaimed Adam.

The former blue ranger moved from where he had been leaning against the interior door of the dojo to join the group. "Aren't you forgetting something, Adam? The kids are starting to wonder where their sensei disappeared to."

Adam felt his face flush. "Sorry, man. This seemed a bit more important."

"'S alright. I got the gist of it. Time to save the world again, right?"

"Right." Adam let out a deep breath. "Might as well call Tanya and see if she can get some time off. And Kat…"

"Kat's busy," was Tommy's quick response.

"Listen if this is about…"

"It's not." The former ranger shook his head. "You know how important her ballet is to her, and she just got that staring role."

Adam eyed him suspiciously but decided to go along with it. "Well, with Tanya we have six, so hopefully that should be enough."

With faces both determined and apprehensive, the others nodded.

Tommy took a deep breath. "I guess it's back to work."

Next:
Chapter 6: Tanya Sloan
Another former ranger is thrown into the mix.