Roberto stormed into the Guardian's central headquarters in New York City. From the outside- it looked like a normal business and even the first floor could pass as being a reception area. It was only after someone tried to go to the other floors that they might realize that this building was severely locked down. He waved at the building guard as he moved into the elevator and scanned his key card. As the elevator moved, he let out a groan. The elders were insistent that he do things a certain way, but he knew that Kimberly and Shelby would not be able to wait for him to follow the rigid procedures. Genesis had agreed with him, but she was the only elder that got it. Everyone else thought that this measured approach would work best.
"What was that?" Genesis asked as he continued past her, towards the main conference room. He knew the other elders would be there. There was no way that they had missed the astronomical signal that Kimberly and Shelby had just sent off. "Roberto!"
"That is what happens when we slow roll figuring out how to help two prophetesses with ranger powers. They blew out the power for a three block radius and basically signaled every intergalactic being within…I don't know…a few light years that Earth is truly open for business when it comes to all things Power Rangers," Roberto seethed as he threw the doors open and watched the other elders jump back from the door. "Good. You heard me."
"Roberto- you're being overly dramatic," Anise said as he continued past her and logged in to their custom database. Tommy had allowed him to take whatever footage he needed to get the point across. He knew they were very close to Tommy insisting that he talk to this council and that would probably not end well- for the council.
"Is this overly dramatic?" Roberto said as the power explosion video played on every screen in the room and they all froze. He was still not sure how the cameras had not shorted out, but he didn't really question it. Shelby and Kimberly were giving off wave after wave of energy- lasting for well over five minutes. They had known something was building within the both of them, but no one expected this. "Kimberly and Tommy are done with us floundering around- they need answers. We need answers or no one will be safe around them."
"There is a procedure and a precedent- we cannot change that," Ivan stated and Roberto turned around as they heard the alarm. Someone was trying to get up to the higher floors. When Roberto glanced at the camera, he chuckled. It may not have been who he would have bet on, but it was still an interested party. "Genesis-"
"Let him up," Roberto interjected and Genesis left to complete the order. The other elders tried to reverse the order, but Genesis ignored them. It had been far too long since most of them had talked with a ranger. "Looks like he has company- let her up too."
The room went silent as they waited for the rangers to arrive. Most of them had never met a ranger and only had a basic idea of what they were like. They were in for a surprise.
Cameron and Julia stormed into the conference room and Genesis quietly closed the door behind them. The pair he had thought would come had been Tommy and Cameron, but Cameron and Julia was probably enough to get them moving. At least he hoped that it would be enough or he was going to have to go rogue to help them.
"Cam," Roberto said with a nod as the ranger just shook his head. "I'm not a fan of this either."
"We were told that prophets are necessary, but this is killing Shelby as it is right now. What aren't you telling us?" Cameron asked as he looked around the room and noticed how uncomfortable everyone except Roberto was. "Nothing?"
"You do not demand things of us," Anise said as Cameron quirked his head to the side and then looked over at Julia. "Didn't think it through whittle ranger?"
"He may not have, but I did," Tommy said as he threw open the doors and they struggled to stay on their hinges. He was pulsing with energy and all of the Guardians could feel it. While they were concerned about Kimberly and Shelby, they were scared of Tommy. "And I'm not a 'whittle ranger' and I believe I can make some demands."
"No- you're just the ranger that let things get so bad that Atlantis activated the elimination protocol," Anise stated and Tommy ground his teeth together. If they had ever been informed that there were checks and balances- that would not have happened. The rangers would have policed themselves better. "You are not sufficient for your job and I do not see anything that matches the prophecies that were foretold."
"How many of you agree with her?" Tommy asked, calmly, and many of the elders avoided his gaze. "I just have a few questions and then maybe we can actually talk. Where were all of you when it came to guiding the rangers? When it came to doing your job? Because I did mine. I have done mine for twenty years and while I haven't done it perfectly, I've been in the fight. Did you watch our struggles from here? Or was there another base in Angel Grove? Why was it that the first time I ever met a Guardian- he tried to kill me?"
The room went silent as the elders exchanged glances as Tommy settled in one of the chairs and motioned for Cameron and Julia to join him. He could tell how mad the two of them were, but he was glad that Brandon had come and got him when they decided to go off the reservation. They meant well, but they weren't prepared for this kind of conversation. This was why he was here.
"We may have neglected our duties," Ivan hedged and Tommy raised an eyebrow as he met the man's gaze. "We did neglect our duties."
"Everyone, except Cam and Jules, are part of why Atlantis did what he did. Some of you, obviously, supported it. Others think he went too far. I think we all know where I land on this spectrum. I don't want to see something similar happen to the prophets because we ignore their needs, but I know enough to know that what happened earlier today…it's put the two of them directly in the category of 'easier to eliminate' and I think all of you know what will happen if you try to come after them," Tommy finished, darkly, and more elders filled in seats at the table. He looked over at Cam and saw the anger in his eyes. It was obvious that the boy had not thought that that would be a 'solution'. Tommy had known it was always on the table after everything that had happened with Atlantis.
"How do we prevent that?" Julia asked and the elders looked at her. "I'm here because I've seen what is happening to Shelby and Kimberly. I've also seen what's happening to Cameron and Tommy. It's more than just the prophets that are being affected- two of the best rangers we currently have aren't able to focus completely on what is in front of us. They're only able to focus on keeping the women they love safe. Tell me how that isn't a disadvantage."
"You are a smart one," Anise remarked as she joined the table and motioned for Ivan to sit down. "We also lost information on the prophets. Obviously, William knew some things, but he was so young that he didn't have anything else to give. Our only option is the Command Center."
"So we're back to communing with the Command Center?" Tommy asked and Roberto shook his head no. "No? I've asked the Command Center for help- so far I've got nothing."
"That's interesting. All of our research indicates that the Command Center will know what to do to help them," a woman said as she entered the room and started spreading out various pieces of paper on the table. "Hello- I'm Rebekah…Tommy?"
"Dr. Vinzant?" Tommy questioned as he recognized one of his new colleagues and they both froze. "Is this the research you wanted to discuss when I return from paternity leave?"
"Well…partially. Your experience in rare genomes and facilitating the sequencing of new DNA types from the paleolithic era got me thinking there might be something from that time period that would be helpful- to many ranger causes. I mean- they were rather prevalent then- along with Guardians and Prophets," Rebekah stated and Tommy slowly nodded his head. He had always thought she was a bit of a fangirl and had not really appreciated it. Now he could see exactly why she had been so interested in talking with him. "Bertie…you didn't tell him?"
"No, Bertie…" Tommy pointedly said as he locked eyes with Roberto and he saw how much he hated the name. He was absolutely going to be using it much more. "...did not explain that I was working with a Guardian."
"I thought you knew- it's why I've been so friendly…which I guess explains why you've been equally distant. Probably seemed like I was trying to come on to you, sorry," Rebekah stated and just shook her head. "Any way- back to the Command Center- it's not responding to you?"
"Cam- have you given it a try too?" Tommy asked and Cameron nodded his head. "Shelby and Kimberly, they're barely…they're getting completely lost in the prophecies. Everyone said there would be some catch up, but this isn't lessening."
"Traditionally prophets were protected by rangers- they break some of the rules by being rangers," Roberto said and Tommy nodded. He was already aware of that. "Have we just tried having them ask?"
"Don't you think if it was that simple- it would have responded to us?" Cameron fired back and Roberto looked between the both of them. "Am I missing something?"
"It matters who asks. There's some things that I've seen it do for Kimberly- it wouldn't do for me," Tommy stated and he glanced down the table and Julia stood up. "Make sure they get the both of them to try it- separately and together."
"Absolutely," Julia said, already reaching for her communicator as she left the room.
"If it's that simple…" Anise trailed off and Tommy shook his head. "What do you have to say, Mr. Oliver?"
"Wouldn't your protocols start with 'have them talk to the Command Center'? You and Mr. Sourpuss over there definitely don't want this to be more complicated than that," Tommy said and Ivan jumped up from the table. "Sit down. The most you'll do to me is give me a sub-par fight and I'm not in the mood for it."
"Ivan- sit. He has a point," Rebekah stated as Ivan glared over at her. While they were built to contain the Power Rangers, they all knew that Tommy was not one they could challenge. Atlantis had only stood a chance because of his age. "We have put up with yours and Anise's sabotage long enough- I will not pull him off if you push this. None of us will and I'm sure he could take on the both of you."
"As you can see- we have differences of opinions," Roberto stated and Tommy chuckled as he shook his head. He had no idea that the infighting was this bad for the Guardians. "Maybe it's time that we start bringing you into some of the discussions."
"That would probably help all of us to figure out a bit more about each other," Tommy said and he caught the looks from Anise and Ivan. "Do they have to be here?"
"We are Elders. Some of the first of Atlantis' descendants- show some respect," Anise ground out and Tommy shook his head. "How dare you…"
"Respect is earned and that starts with some basic kindness. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have listened to Cameron and Julia's pleas to help Shelby. I know you don't care about us, but other people here do. Maybe give them a chance to show why all Guardians are more like Roberto and less like you," Tommy said as he stood up and leaned over the table. "I'm guessing you wanted Atlantis to finish it, to finish me. I would suggest you never tell my wife that if you want to outlive that conversation."
"Tommy…" Julia interrupted and the entire room turned to face her. "They tried it and something happened. Kimberly's asking for you, but it…it doesn't sound like her."
"Shit," Tommy muttered as he looked around the room and then clutched his communicator but didn't move. "Seriously? It's a teleportation free zone?"
"We have to keep the unwanted ruffians away," Ivan supplied and Tommy let out a sigh and then went to leave. "You aren't dismissed."
"If the Command Center is inhabiting her, I don't have much time and this may be our only chance to get the answers all of us want," Tommy stated as Ivan moved between him and the door and Tommy looked up at him, ever so slightly. "Nuclear level power surges are not good for any of us- the two of us can finish the argument you want to have any day. We get one chance at this."
Ivan stepped out of the way and Tommy walked past him. He was glad to have met many of the other Guardians, but he was not sure about those two. He was not sure what they would do to the rangers if left in charge of the Guardians, but that was something he could deal with later. Right now, he needed to talk to his wife.
AN: I'm not going to have access to my computer this weekend- so enjoy this chapter a bit early!