Disclaimer: Power Rangers isn't mine, never was never will be….
*****
When the fire of Goldar's magic faded, Tommy was disoriented. He barely stayed on his feet when the putties released him. It took several seconds to recognize the place, but once his head cleared a bit he knew. He was in Goldar's dark dimension, and he was trapped.
"Welcome back, Green Ranger," said a scraggly voice from behind him.
Tommy turned and came face to face with Goldar. "What do you want?"
"It's simple," Goldar said. "If you join Rita you can keep your powers, if not, they will be destroyed."
"I'll never join Rita again," Tommy said. How could Goldar think that after everything he and Rita had put him through he would willingly come back. "And you'll never get my powers."
Tommy jumped into a spin kick which Goldar ducked away from. Then Goldar lashed out and Tommy was a second too late on the block and went tumbling backwards onto the cold marble floor.
"You won't have a choice," Goldar laughed. "When the Green Candle burns down, you're powers will be gone with it."
The golden warrior gestured to something behind him and Tommy noticed for the first time a tall pedestal with a large pillar candle on top. The candle was a deep shade of green and the flame that rose from the top shot out bright green sparks in every direction.
"Yes," Goldar said. "You should already be feeling its effects on your powers. You will continue to weaken as the flame burns away until the Green Ranger is no more."
Tommy just shook his head in disbelief. It couldn't be true. He didn't feel weaker yet, but that candle was burning at a faster rate than a normal candle. If Goldar was right, he didn't have much time left at all.
"This is your only chance," Goldar said. "Join Rita now, or your powers will be lost forever."
Tommy looked up at Goldar, then back at the candle. Even with his powers at full, taking on Goldar would be a challenge. There was only one way out now. He had to hope Billy and the others would find him before that candle burned out.
*****
Jason leaned against the kiosk on the far side of the Command Center clenched his fists so hard his nails nearly pierced his skin to keep from growling. Across the room Billy and Alpha were working painstakingly over the computers, searching for Tommy. He'd gotten a frantic call from Billy a little less than an hour ago that Tommy had been captured. He'd teleported to the Command Center right away and called the others, who now stood scattered helplessly around the room, waiting for Billy and Alpha to declare they'd found something.
His thoughts were broken by an outburst across the room. Billy had slammed his fists against the console in frustration. "No!" he shouted. "There has to be something!"
Jason stepped forward and put a hand on Billy's shoulder. "It's alright," he said. "Take a breath and try again."
"The Red Ranger is correct," Zordon said. "We've been attempting to track Goldar's dark dimension ever since Rita's return. It is well hidden, and will not be found easily."
"But we need to find it now!" Billy said. He stepped back from the computer and his hands rubbed at his eyes, pushing his glasses up to his forehead. "This is all my fault. I should have been faster."
Jason gave Billy's shoulder another squeeze and turned the blonde boy to face him. "No," he said firmly. "This isn't anyone's fault. You and Tommy are great fighters, but Goldar is strong, and there's no way anyone could have taken on that many putties. No one here blames you for this, and I know Tommy won't either."
Billy sighed. "I just wish I wasn't so weak."
"You're not weak," Kimberly's voice interjected. Jason jumped because he hadn't even noticed she'd appeared at his elbow. "Just because you can't fight like Tommy and Jason doesn't mean you aren't important to this team."
"Kim's right," Trini interjected, also stepping forward. "You have a lot of strengths, and one of them is being able to trace the dark dimension, which you WILL do." The Yellow Ranger placed her small hand on Billy's arm.
"Show me what sequence you are running, and I'll help you," she said.
Billy nodded and produced a brave smile. He and Trini turned back to the computers and Jason resumed his post at the edge of the circle. We're coming Tommy, he chanted over and over in his head. Billy will figure it out. We're coming.
The third round of the mantra was interrupted by the Command Center's alarms.
"Aiaiaiai!" Alpha exclaimed.
"Zordon, what is it?" Jason said, turning to the viewing globe. The alarm could only mean one thing, a monster attack. Rita was trying to distract them to get more time to do whatever it was she was doing with Tommy.
"The Dragon Zord is attacking the city," Zordon said.
"That's not possible," Kim said. "Tommy would never work for Rita."
"Maybe he didn't have a choice," Jason said cooly.
"You don't think she put him under a spell again?"
Jason took a breath before speaking so his voice wouldn't shake. "There's no telling what Rita would do."
"It has to be a spell, or a trick," Billy said. "Tommy wouldn't use his powers for Rita again willingly.
"Be that as it may, Ranger," Zordon interjected. "The Dragon Zord is still a threat and until we know the truth we have to treat it as such. I'm afraid you must go and fight."
"What about Tommy," Billy protested. "I still haven't found a way to trace the Dark Dimension."
"I know," Zordon replied. "But the Dragon Zord is very strong, it will take all of you to defeat him."
Billy turned to Jason and the pleading look on his face tore the Red Ranger in half. He wanted Tommy back just as much as Billy did, but Zordon was right, he knew from experience that only the Megazord was a match for the Dragon Zord and it took all of them to form it. Letting Billy stay behind would mean putting the city at risk. This was one of the things he hated most about being leader, he had to make the hard decisions.
"Tommy is strong," Jason said, keeping his tone firm. "He can resist Rita and Goldar for a long time. I know it."
"But Jason!"
"We have to protect the city," Jason said, again as firmly as he could muster, even though his own gut twisted in sorrow that they were abandoning a friend. "Tommy wouldn't want us to put all those people at risk just for him."
Apparently, the words worked because Billy's lips pressed together in a tight line and he didn't argue anymore.
Jason stood as straight as he could. "Let's go," he said. "It's morphin' time!"
*****
Sorry about the delay in posting. Yesterday got a little busy. Hope you enjoyed. Please review!