Chapter Two

Location: Power Chamber, Command Center.

Trini:"We go to Eltar."

Tommy:"You think they've got a mighty army! We destroyed it, remember!"

Trini:"There's a chance. We don't have any other options."

Tommy:"Your right, we don't."

Trini:"So we go?"

Tommy:"Yea. We go."

Location: The Temple of The New Republic of Eltar Gates.

Night.

Tommy and Trini walk towards the gates.

Neither of them are in ranger uniform.

They lost their armor in the skirmish against the robotic scout.

So together the two stressed out rangers march trough the gates and into the courtyard.

As they stand under the stars, shivers run down their spines.

Trini:"I remember."

Tommy:"Be strong."

She remembers the year old war they fought.

She remembers her loss.

Tears begin to run down her face.

The emotions are strong.

Trini:"It happened right here. I held him right here. He died right here."

Tommy:"Hey. Trini. You've got to remember why we are here. Come back to reality. There is nothing for you in that past. Nothing."

She wipes the falling tears from her eyes.

Trini:"Thank you. You're a good friend Tommy."

Tommy:"You're like my sister. I love you."

Trini:"Well, thanks for always being there for me. I know I've been difficult this past year."

Tommy:"It's natural. Your dealing with it well though. And never forget, we're all we've got. We're the last of our kind. We have to be there for each other, always."

They arrive at the senate hall doors.

Trini:"Always."

And the two rangers walk through into responsibility.

Location: The Hall of Directorate of Interplanetary Affairs, The Temple of The New Republic of Eltar.

Tommy and Trini stand together in the center of a spherical chamber.

A stadium composed of Eltarian diplomats eye them.

Trini:"We enter your temple with the greatest of respects, Sirs. Our presence has a distinct purpose. The topic of an accepted force of malevolence. On the topic of the Machine Empire that is."

The crowd breaks into an uproar of secondary talks.

Trini:"Please, gentlemen, this is of urgency. My colleague and I have encountered a foe that wields such a master. Understand our concern. With the little history I can recall, there is prevalent section in your past that holds the truth of a certain resistance. A war. Your successful campaign is important to regard as useful. Yet we have discovered a somber threat towards our people. I refer to our as the collective planets of the recently liberated systems as well as Eltar itself, not only Earth."

Tommy:"If I may intervene. She speaks of a probe scout sent from the Machine Empire. An improved alteration upon the Cogs of your previous war. This foot-soldier's weaponry was far superior to our Eltarian-Tech ranger equipment. The motivations behind our presence here are simple. We politely request an alliance between our peoples as well as any assistance in a collaborated resistance against this forthcoming invasion."

Trini:"We would also have you consider our efforts in your liberation from Zedd."

Councilman:"The delegated officials of our council will pause in it's operations for a thorough evaluation of your presented testimony. This assembly is herby adjourned until the appointed hour of twelve."

Trini:"Thank you Councilmen."

Tommy:"Thank you."

Location: Royal Quarters, Eltar.

Tommy:"I hate that formal shit."

Trini:"Me to. But these Eltarians are a proper people."

Tommy:"Indeed they are."

Trini:"So we have until twelve on their time."

Tommy:"How long is that?"

Trini:"A few hours."

Tommy:"Do you think they'll agree?"

Trini:"It's possible. They do respect us quite a lot."

Tommy:"One thing I did notice since our arrival here is the lack of military force. It almost seems as if they were disarmed."

Trini:"They very well could be."

Tommy:"If that's the case, we're in deeper than we thought."

Trini:"They may still be of service to us. Strategically anyway. They did fight a war for over a millennia against them."

Tommy:"I really hope they have a reserve army though."

Trini:"Me too."

Tommy:"I."

He hesitates.

Trini:"What?"

Tommy:"I'm going to get some rest. Wake me up before you head to the temple."

Trini:"Sure."

He exits.

//log.on/green/tommy/06/ I should have told her. She needs to know about the Zeo-Tech. I just can't loose her trust. Not now. /log.off/green/tommy/06/

Twelve.

Location: The Hall of Directorate of Interplanetary Affairs, The Temple of The New Republic of Eltar.

Chairman of the Council:"We have come to our definitive conclusion. Being that Eltar has become a passive planet, we regrettably cannot offer any military aid that you request. That does not prevent us from assisting you in other means. Therefore we are prepared to entrust the entirety of our historical logs into your custardy. Due to the severity of this threat we have also contacted a militant ally planet of a nearby system known as Aquitar. They are to formally hear your claim in the presence of their leaders. Coordinates will be relayed proceeding our verdict. In regards to your technology deficiency, we can only offer technical designs due to the absence of our military. I, along with my fellow Eltarians are fully confident that the Power Rangers will deliver us as well as the entirety of the universe from the wave of terror the Machine Empire has issued to impose upon it. You are our guardians. May the power protect you."

Tommy:"One other request has just recently come to my attention. Would you be able to offer us your documental process on the recruitment of Power Rangers. If we are to establish an army, we would need a proper screening procedure."

The crowd once again breaks into an uproar of secondary talks.

Trini whispers to Tommy:"What are you doing? What army?"

Tommy whispers back:"I have an answer to our technology issue."

Chairman of the Council:"Silence. Your request is granted. Proceed to the Eltarian Archive on the Western point of the temple estate. Our intelligence officer will assist you."

Tommy:"Thank you Sirs."

Trini:"Ditto."

Trini storms out of the chamber.

Tommy follows her.

As they exit into the hallway they are greeted by two robotic units.

Robotic Unit:"Please follow to the Eltarian Archive."

Tommy catches up to Trini as the two make their way to the archive.

Trini:"We are a team!"

Tommy:"I should have told you. I'm sorry."

Trini:"What is it that you've been hiding from me?"

Tommy:"The reason I never told you was because none of it was ever useable. Not until now that is."

Trini:"Because of the weapons schematics they're giving us?"

Tommy:"Yea. I'll tell you more when it's ready."

Trini:"You should know that secrets would be the end of us."

Tommy:"It was never finished."

Trini:"Just promise me you'll never lie to me again."

Tommy:"I promise."

They reach the Eltarian Archive.

And are greeted by a young woman.

Tommy:"Your the intelligence officer?"

Intelligence Officer:"Yes, and I'm here by order of the council to carry out their orders."

Trini:"Thank you Ms?"

Intelligence Officer:"First Class Resident I.O. Xenia Vestas."

Trini:"Well thank you."

Xenia:"Orders. Follow me please."

She leads them trough a maze of levitating holographic files.

Xenia:"Here we are."

She removes several panels from the air.

Xenia:"These are the files on the Eltarian-Machine War."

She hands them to Trini.

Xenia:"You can view them at that terminal over there."

Trini:"Thank you."

Xenia to Tommy:"Come with me, I'll get the Power Ranger files for you."

Tommy:"Thank you."

Trini to Tommy:"We've got a lot of work to do."

Tommy:"We'll be quick."

Xenia:"Follow me."

They leave Trini at the terminal and proceed to the ranger documents.

Tommy:"So how is the new government holding up?

Xenia:"It's doing well."

Tommy:"Seems very bureaucratic."

Xenia:"It can be described as such."

Tommy:"As long as it works."

Xenia:"Yea. As long as it works."

Tommy:"So what's your story? Been an intelligence officer for a while?"

Xenia:"Since the liberation. My family was killed in the 22nd massacre."

Tommy:"You're Eltarian then."

Xenia:"Yea."

Tommy:"Then how old are you? I can never tell with your race."

Xenia:"I'm actually only twenty years."

Tommy:"I thought you all lived forever."

Xenia:"Only those who retain great power. Such as yourself. I should be asking how old you are. Power Ranger."

Tommy:"You can call me Tommy."

Xenia:"Alright Tommy, how old are you?"

Tommy:"I don't know, about 20,000 years."

Xenia:"I know your lying."

Tommy:"And why is that?"

Xenia:"You act young, if I had to guess I would say your as old as you look."

Tommy:"So how far are we from the files."

Xenia:"There right here."

They stop walking and she gives him the panels.

Tommy:"Thanks."

Xenia:"No problem."

Tommy:"So maybe I'll see you before I leave for Aquitar."

Xenia:"Maybe."

She exits the room.

Tommy returns to Trini.

Trini:"What took so long?"

Tommy:"Nothing. Find anything useful?"

Trini:"It's amazing, these are detailed video documentarians of the entire war, from commanding officers to infantrymen."

Tommy:"And?"

Trini:"You'll see them when I'm done."

They spend the next few days researching the Machine Empire in the Eltarian Archive.

Every bit of detail is revealed to them on their tactics.

But the records are outdated.

And as accurate as the information may be, it does not account for the thousands of years of technological advancement.

Location: Royal Quarters, Eltar.

On the eve of the ranger's conference at Aquitar.

Tommy lies awake standing on his balcony.

He stares out into the night sky.

At a quite city.

A peaceful planet.

//log.on/green/tommy/06/ It's been so long since I've felt alive. Felt as if my life had a purpose other than to serve. I have been given a gift. A light. I've only known her for a few days. But she has brought me out of a long depression. One I wish I could save Trini from. But I had never known love before. Trini had. And as much as I want it, as much as she wants it, she'll never recover. She'll never move on. But I now have a warmness in my life. Something to protect and love. Xenia gives me hope. She shows me that I can still be human. I can still know love. /log.off/green/tommy/06/

Xenia moves from the bed over to Tommy and wraps her arms around him.

Tommy:"Hey."

Xenia:"Hey."

They kiss.

Everything is perfect.

They think they're in love.

Morning.

Location: Just outside The Temple of The New Republic of Eltar.

Trini:"Your different."

Tommy:"Yea."

Trini:"Xenia?"

Tommy:"Yea."

Trini:"Your going to have to find a way to take whatever feelings your have for her and store it deep inside yourself. Somewhere no one can reach. No one but her. We are going back into a war. I don't know if you can remember what that means. But I can. As vivid as this reality; I remember. So show me a warrior. Show me the brother you claim to be. Things are going to get much worse."

They teleport to Aquitar.

To responsibility.