Always A Ranger
Summary – It is always tough to lose someone. This time, the rangers not only lose someone close to them but also the sense of security that came with it. -Tribute to Jason David Frank/Tommy Oliver-
"Thank you…for gathering here today. Even if it's under…some of the worst circumstances one has to face, I'm glad to be able to look out and see all the faces looking back at me. It proves that, in his short life, Tommy Oliver impacted a lot of people."
Billy Cranston cleared his throat before looking out at the crowded gymnasium of Reefside High. He looked at all of Tommy's students, past and present—or all past as was the simplest explanation for the most complex situation. His gaze shifted from the stands to the floor of the gym, where the faculty and staff stood, eyes trailed along the line that stretched from there to the door of the gymnasium and beyond. He knew the Reefside High campus had come to a stop to watch the monitors of the memorial service.
Knew there were news crews waiting outside for in-depth interviews of those who were the most affected by the tragedy. He looked to Kat, who stood with her arms around JJ's shoulders, lips pressed together in a line so thin it could be mistaken for a pleasant smile. A strong smile of a woman whose husband was taken from her too soon.
When he locked eyes with her, Kat gave a small, encouraging nod. Billy had been touched, surprised, but mostly touched when Kat had asked if he would speak at Tommy's funeral. He had expected her to take on the reigns herself, if not Jason or Kimberly. But she had explained it well; Kimberly and Jason had given all their emotional capacity for tragedy at Trini's funeral years previously.
It was interesting how they'd been then; how young they were now. Only in his forties and he'd seen more death and destruction than he'd thought possible. But this had hit home, harder than a car accident. How did one explain how someone had died in battle against the forces of evil. How was a group of teenage students going to understand that he had been one of the team that had been trying to protect not only Reefside but human life as they knew it.
Sucking in a deep breath, Billy looked to Conner, Kira, Ethan, and Trent, who stood at the far back corner of the gym, partially hidden beneath the bleachers. The last team he had been officially part of, maybe the most important one. Conner's jaw was clenched, head slowly bobbing as if trying to stave off tears. Ethan stood tall and firm, hands clasped behind his back. Kira was turned into Trent's side, his arm around her shoulders as he rubbed his fingers together on his free hand. Anton Mercer just behind his son, face as blank as ever.
"Tommy wasn't just a teacher of science, he was a lover of life," Billy continued when he found his breath. "Tommy was one of the few people who you didn't have to convince to try anything new. He would be the first one to jump in on it." A small smile came to his face. "I remember the first time we went snowboarding; we'd never tried it before but, of course, Tommy was the best one of us out there."
He saw Kat smile.
"Even the times where it was something he hadn't even thought of doing before, he went in with gusto. Have you ever heard him sing?' At that, Billy could hear Tanya's laughter rise above the murmuring that moved around the gymnasium. Billy smiled. "Have you ever seen him try gymnastics?" That time, he could hear Kimberly's giggle. "But one thing you can always say is that Tommy Oliver was fearless. He took everything that came his way knowing he had two choices; to either face it head on or allow it to get him down. And he never let anything get him down, even when faced the unknown of losing friends and gaining new ones."
Billy took in a deep breath through his nose, scanned the rows once more. Found Rocky, Adam, and Aisha grouped together, all smiling while tears glittered down their cheeks.
"Or barely keeping up with the fast moves of their old ones." Billy looked to Zack and smiled, while Zack grinned in response. "His friends were his family. His closest friends becoming his brothers and sisters." He looked to Jason who nodded solemnly. Found his own wife and sister-in-law in the crowd. "Family was always important to Tommy, whomever came across his path became his family. People he always needed to protect."
Kat hugged JJ closer to her.
"And while protecting his family…he always put himself in the line of fire. Was always willing to put himself in harm's way to ensure everyone else was safe." Billy took the deepest breath he could take, felt his hands start to shake in anticipation of what he was going to say next. Of what he was about to reveal. "You see, he didn't just care about the well-being of his son JJ, his wife Katherine, his family and friends. His students. He cared about the well-being of everyone. So much so that…"
Billy trailed off. Silence stretched through the gymnasium. He could see his friends watching and waiting for him to reveal everything they hadn't said for the last few years. Waited for their identities to be revealed to the world. Billy heard a creaking sound, the door to the gymnasium open. He turned to look, giving a light roll of his eyes when he saw Bulk and Skull push their way into the gym, Skull's son Spike pushing his way to the very front, chewing gum loudly.
Some things never chance, Billy thought with a smile.
He gathered his strength and continued.
"So much so that he worked to protect everyone since he was a teenager. Since he was…a power ranger." The low rumbling through the gymnasium spurned him forward. "Tommy became a power ranger when he was sixteen years old along with…" Billy closed his eyes. "Myself, Kimberly Hart, Jason Lee Scott, Zack Taylor, and Trini Kwan. He joined our team. Many others joined us over the years, but we were the first power ranger team to protect Angel Grove from the forces of evil that were Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd. As the years went on, Tommy then served as the Zeo Ranger, the Turbo Ranger, and the Dino Thunder Ranger. He continuously put himself on the line to make sure everyone could live a life they deserved to lead. It was that call of duty that, ultimately, took his life.
"Tommy died in the middle of a ranger mission, protecting the rest of the team he was called upon to protect. He died protecting all of us. So, it's more than fair to say we owe our lives to Tommy."
Billy set his speech aside, ready to finish it. "He's one of the best people I've ever met. One of the fearless people I've ever met. He was full of life, full of adventure, and I'm really going to miss him."
The Power Rangers and their families gathered at the lake that night. The same lake that Tommy sparred at, went to when he had his first kiss with Kimberly, went to when he needed to clear his head when she broke up with him, went to when he needed to be alone with his thoughts. From Mighty Morphin to Ninja Steel, they gathered at that lake and paid their respects for their fallen friend and teammate.
Every ranger held a candle in their hand, an even distribution of green, white, red, and black, the tips all glittering with the flickering flames atop. Representations of his ranger colors and the gold accents on his suits. They stood in a long line, from the first rangers to the present ones, Kat and JJ standing at the very forefront.
Kat held flowers closely to her chest. Red, Green, White, and Black represented all throughout the bouquet. She nudged JJ who, the spitting image of both of his parents, stood firm. Tall and strong, a pillar of strength for his mother despite his youth. He grasped his mother's hand and the two walked to the edge of the lake.
Kat and JJ gently placed the flowers in the water and gave it a gentle push. The current picked it up and, taking a step among rangers past and present, Kat placed her arm around her son's shoulders.
Tommy Oliver.
Son. Friend. Hero.
And as the bundle of flowers slowly drifted across the water, the night sky lit up with a banner that meant even more to the rangers now than it ever had before.
Thank You, Power Rangers.
The End