Author's Notes – Part 1 of a re-do of how Tommy acquires the Black Dino Gem. Because let's face it Mesagog was a total lame ass in that episode.
Summary – The Black Gem is found, but at what price to Tommy?
-o-
Careful What You Ask For
Tommy
-o-
(Dino Lair, 5 months later)
"I want kids. Let's have kids. It's not as funny now is it."
Pausing in my rant which is this time- like most all others -directed at Conner, I fix the smirking Zedd with a withering glare. "If you don't have anything constructive to add then go away."
"And miss you telling Jason Jr. there just what's what, wouldn't dream of it." Sitting back in the chair which is situated in front of the main computer he is enjoying this far too much. And Jason Jr.?
"I wouldn't have to be telling him what's what if you would help me lay down some rules and boundaries instead of encouraging him and the others for that matter to do things they shouldn't do." Gesturing to the broken fossils, chairs, and gadgets currently littering the floor of the lair, I redirect my annoyance onto the adult that was present when Conner's impromptu soccer practice occurred. "Why did you let them play soccer down here anyways? What on Earth were you thinking?"
"Hey, hey, I didn'tlet them do anything, I was upstairs making cheesy soup of goodness for you when I heard the first crash from below." Cheesy soup of…never mind.
"And you didn't investigate what was going on after said crash because?" Catching a hint of movement out of the corner of my eye, I whirl back around pointing a paternal finger at the trying to retreat Red Ranger. "And you don't even think about going anywhere because as soon as I'm done with him you are so going to be doing laps until you're twenty."
Cringing and giving me a rather bad attempt at what I'll assume he considers puppy eyes he gives one more plea for mercy. "Aw Dr. O, so not fair. It honestly wasn't even my fault. If Ethan had just caught the ball-"
Cutting the other boy off Ethan shakes his head sternly. "Hey don't drag me into this I told you we were going to get in trouble."
Hands on hips, Kira is having none of it. "No you told him to aim higher, I told him you guys you were going to get in trouble." More apt to believe the Yellow Ranger was indeed the voice of reason among this chaos I decide to only make her do five laps as there really was probably nothing she could have done to stop them.
Snickering Zedd decides to take a chance on returning my focus back on himself. "And what do you know she was right."
"Yes she was. She normally is as she seems to be the only one among the three of you that has a lick of sense." Turning back to my mate I fix him with another look. "And you you're the worst of all, you're how many thousands of years older then them and you act like…like…I don't know what you act like to be honest, but I'm fairly certain it's some cross between a hyperactive five year old and unhousebroken gold retriever."
Grabbing his chest he gives a comically overdramatic groan. "Oh you wound me with your harsh words Thomas, really and truly you do. Especially considering that this is coming from someone who still owns a Play Station 2 and watches MTV, oops did I say that."
Narrowing my eyes and deciding two can play at this game, I go with two of the more less embarrassing things I know about the once evil sorcerer, considering the kids are still present and a lot of the ammunition I have isn't PG. "At least I don't watch children's programming such as 'Lazytown' and 'My Little Pony', not to mention sing along to the songs."
Face heating up and letting me know I've won for the moment, he points a stern finger at me. "That is quality programming. Unlike 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'!" So much for winning.
"I don't watch 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'." Arms crossed and clearing my throat nervously, I look back at the watching in interest group behind us. Great some all knowing level-headed mentors we are. "And how did we even get on this topic anyways, I was in the middle of doing our mentor duty of doling out punishment for reckless behavior. Some help you are in the matter."
"Mentors? Us? Right, we would do Zordon proud we would." Bursting into peels of laughter at even the thought of possibly contacting Zordon to inform him of our latest development of gaining a brand new Ranger team, Zedd looks close to falling off his chair.
Huffing at his mockery I continue completely unamused. "We are mentors, good mentors at that. Or we would be if you'd stop encouraging our Rangers to be completely irresponsible."
"You're serious? You really think we're mentors?" At my nod he sobers slowly though still seems to be struggling to keep from bursting from fresh laughter at any moment. "Thomas come on, we are not mentors."
"We are so mentors."
"No we're not. Thomas you're a young human who teaches children science, thanks to that fake doctorate degree I cooked up for you, likes to sleep in, and has an addiction to adrenaline induced activities. I'm barely eight thousand, I have the attention span of, well a human, and I'm addicted to…well that's most likely something you'd feel the children present do not need to know. But you're well aware of what it is. This is hardly mentor material. Not to mention I even went so far as to drop out of the mentoring academy when I was still on Eltar."
Listening intently Kira is the first of our observers to speak up. "There's a mentoring academy?"
Apparently focusing on a different aspect of that debate, Conner falls in line next. "You're over eight thousand?"
Third to have a go, Ethan's observation makes me cringe just a bit. "You don't have a doctorate?"
Turning to the kids Zedd beats me to the punch answering each question calmly and in turn. "Yes there's a mentoring academy on Eltar. Eight thousand is very young for my species, it's probably around the equivalent to Thomas's age actually, and no he doesn't have a real doctorate however he did graduate with honors in college and has a masters in paleontology."
"We didn't think a masters in paleontology without any form of educational degree would get me a teaching job, which I needed to find Rangers." Though really it was them who found me. "Besides I like teaching. I like mentoring too." Even if I seem to be very bad at it right now.
Perhaps seeing just what I'm thinking Zedd finally allows some sympathy into his eyes and gives in to my wants even if just a bit. "I'll tell you what Thomas why don't you go to Hayley's café for a bit and I'll clean up here and handle the kids. Alright? I'll even lecture them just like Zordon would."
"I can't go to Hayley's I was just at Hayley's when the destruction of my lair occurred. If I leave again I might come back to find the house burned down."
"You're cute when you're overdramatic and paranoid." Standing and taking me by the arm he begins leading me towards the exit as this doesn't seem to be up for debate any longer. "Now go. If you don't want to go see Hayley again then go for a walk. You like walks. Just you and nature okay? I promise I will have this place cleaned up the kids horribly punished by the time you get back, okay?"
Seeing as I'm not being left with much choice I head for the tunnels giving the lair one last look. "Fine, but the lair better be clean and the kids suffering when I get back, understand?"
"Got it… Right after the pizza gets here."
-ooooooooo-
(20 min. later….)
"I don't see why he's so stubborn about it. What's wrong with being mentors? If you can't be an active Ranger mentoring the current ones is better then nothing." Kicking a rock out of my way I continue towards the Cyber Space for some Hayley perspective on the matter and a bagel…possibly a smoothie too.
"I suppose some people just don't appreciate the perspective of a has-been."
Looking up at the snide and baiting voice I barely hold back a groan of annoyance as I see the leather clad female who is also unfortunately my current boss. "What do you want Elsa, I'm off the clock."
Smirk still in place as we're both aware that I am unfooled by her disguise of glasses and a pants suit, she nevertheless lets my comment slide. "What's the matter Tommy, feeling a little washed up?" Stretching my name out in a manner which makes my skin crawl, she continues to try and get a rise from me. "A little under qualified? A little…trapped?" Trapped?
Before I can respond I'm grabbed right on cue by five tyrannodrones which materialize behind me. Ah trapped, clever.
Moving to throw them off I don't have time as an invisaportal opens over head dragging us all through. Could this day seriously get any worse?
-oooooooooo-
And it got worse. Strapped to an operating table, no powers, no help, and at the mercy of whatever Mercer has turned himself into, it's gotten a lot worse.
Struggling against the too tight metal cuffs, which are currently holding my wrists, ankles, and neck in place, not to mention greatly reducing my air supply and circulation, I give a growl at the mutated scientist currently looming over me.
"So nice of you to join me Thomas."
Cringing as he uses my proper name I give what I hope is an adequately unfearing response. "Really didn't have much choice in the matter now did I."
"No I suppose not." Moving around the laboratory we currently seem to be located in he begins absently examining jarred specimens on the rows of metal shelves lining the walls. "Though I must say it was much easier to get you here then I had originally anticipated. Easier and perhaps even a bit disappointing due to your lack of struggle." Lack of struggle? When did I even have time to struggle? The tyrannodrones swooped in, grabbed hold of me, and swooped out. I was practically teleported onto the table.
"Well far be it for me to disappoint. Tell you what how about you let me go and then we'll try this again at a later date. One when I'm feeling a bit more feisty."
"Your wit will not save you this time Thomas. If any thing it will actually bring you more harm than help." Turning back to me annoyance showing clearly on his face, or what remains of it, I'm quickly reminded of the fact that Mercer never was a fan of my sarcastic humor. Of course on that same note I was never one of his superior attitude.
"Then why don't you move it along and tell me what you want so we can get this show on the road because frankly I've been though this kidnapping crap so many times in the past it's getting more then just a little old."
Hand suddenly grasping my left cafe he squeezes painfully hard, making me grit my teeth to silence the scream wanting to come. "You've gotten your one warning human, that is all you will get. Next time you will be punished."
Point made he releases my leg, but not before holding up his bloodstained claws for me to see. "Now as for what I want, your little pets have become quite a nuisance for me as of late, especially since they have gained the aid of those loathsome little gems. Where exactly did they acquire those I wonder." Giving me a look as if expecting an answer despite his earlier warning for me not to speak, he really is messed up isn't he.
"I really wouldn't know. As you're well aware I'm no longer an active Ranger."
"No you're not. You are however someone who knows much more then he lets on, which is why I've brought you here. I've recently come into the possession of a certain item of interest. Care to take a guess just what it might be."
Rolling my eyes as I'm unable to really do much else I allow my mouth to run away from me once more. "No but by all means do tell, the suspense is sure to kill me."
"There's that wit again." Hand coming down to strike me across the face I feel my head whip to hit the table, the metal collar holding my neck in place cutting into my jugular just enough to leave a biting mark.
"Now as I was saying I've recently come to own a very interesting item. One I believe you know a great deal about." Moving to one of the shelves he removes a chunk of what would appear to be energized amber, which holds some sort of dark object inside. Not waiting for a response, he continues, bringing the football sized mass closer to my face. "I believe you refer to it as a dino gem." Oh my god.
"It can't be."
"Oh but it is. You know it is. I'm almost certain you can feel the power radiating from within its confines." Bringing it nearly close enough for me to touch, he pulls back at the least second perhaps having second thoughts. "However there is the small little matter of it being confined inside this crystallized substance. The creature from which I bought it had unfortunately been unable to free it himself, thus he was willing to part with it for a small price. And myself being the master mind that I am, well let's just say I felt fairly certain I would have it freed before long."
"I take it things didn't go quite as you planned." My tone dry and uninterested, I make certain to keep a close eye on the object in question, not wanting it to be taken too far if it is in fact some how a morphing gem.
"No, the gem is incased in a substance I unfortunately cannot break down into all of it's individual properties. Not to mention there seems to be some form of external power charging it. A power I assume you know a good deal about." Coming far too close to my face, he is definitely pushing the boundaries of personal space. "Which is why you are here. You will help me free the gem from it's protective shell so I might use it to combat the new little pets you have acquired."
"And if I don't?"
Almost looking pleased by this, he quickly moves to a far table retrieving a very large, very sharp looking scalpel. "If you don't I will simply have to try and extract the information I need myself. The choice is yours to make."
To be continued…..
