Disclaimer: Saban owns Power Rangers and the characters within, not I.
"So.. I was surprised to get your text," Trini said as she sat on the park bench and turned to Tommy.
"Really?" Tommy asked turning his head to her and furrowing his brow.
"Yeah," Trini replied with a nod as she looked out across the park in front of them.
"Why?" Tommy questioned. This prompted Trini to turn her attention back to him. She studied him for a moment before answering.
"It's... it's just we haven't exactly been hanging out much lately," Trini responded with a shrug.
"I..." Tommy paused. He was gonna defend himself but knew she was telling the truth.
"It's fine," Trini added. "I mean... I get it... and I know we talked about everything."
"We did," Tommy agreed with a nod of his head. He turned his attention to a couple walking hand in hand along the path in front of them. It was then he noticed the space they had left between them on the bench and frowned.
"So it's no big deal," Trini continued.
"I don't know," Tommy responded. His words garnering Trini's eyes back to him. He turned to her. "I'm not sure that's true."
"Why?" Trini asked.
"Today..." Tommy began and then he hesitated.
"What?" Trini sensed his hesitation.
"I got asked to lunch by someone," Tommy confessed. He studied Trini for a reaction but she was holding a poker face.
"Oh," Trini replied.
"I mean... it got me to thinking... the first thing I wanted to do after that was to see you," Tommy stated. Trini turned to look down at her hands.
"That made me realize how we've been avoiding each other."
"I haven't really been avoiding you," Trini responded.
"Maybe it's just been on my end," Tommy said with a sigh. There was silence.
"Okay... it's not just you," Trini confessed. Tommy turned to her.
"If we are going to be seeing each other, I'm not sure this is healthy," Tommy suggested. Trini turned back to him and after a moment she nodded in agreement.
"It probably isn't," Trini agreed. Tommy considered his life at the moment and suddenly a pang of guilt rose up in him.
"Trini," Tommy spoke. "I need to tell you something."
(****)
Jason stepped through the doorway leading into the command center portion of the ship. He glanced to his right to see Alpha hard at work pressing buttons and he saw Zordon looking down over him. Jason made his presence known by making some deliberate steps across the metal floor. This garnered the attention of both.
"Jason... what's up buddy?" Alpha asked him as he reached him.
"I've um... come to talk to you both," Jason replied.
"What's on your mind Jason?" Zordon asked. Jason looked up at him.
"It's about Tommy," Jason responded.
"Is he okay?" Zordon asked in response.
"I was hoping you could tell me," Jason countered.
"We haven't been able to make any headway on his powers," Alpha chimed in with a somewhat defeated tone.
"I was afraid of that," Jason reacted with a sigh. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and took a few steps toward the center of the room.
"You are very troubled by what is happening to him," Zordon surmised from his actions. Jason turned back to him.
"I am," Jason agreed with his assessment.
"It's not your fault," Zordon informed him.
"I know... not directly, but seeing him go through it and not being able to stop it or even help him..." Jason threw his hands up.
"Even as the leader of the team Jason you will not always have all the answers," Zordon stated, drawing upon his own experience.
"What if he just loses his powers?" Jason asked.
"We are hopeful it won't come to that," Zordon responded.
"I know... I get that, but I'm not sure that's going to make much difference...hope," Jason replied. He turned to Alpha. "Are you sure there is no way we can stop it?"
"Like we told Tommy, it would require us physically getting our hands on the object used in the ritual," Alpha answered. Jason nodded and digested the information.
"Look... I know Tommy hasn't told anyone yet, but I think at this point you should consider getting Billy's help on this," Jason said. "He has an incredible mind for figuring stuff out like this."
"That's... not a bad idea actually," Zordon responded. Jason turned back to him and gave him a half smile.
"I'll get him to help me," Alpha said.
"I have another question," Jason stated.
"What is it?" Zordon inquired.
"If Zedd drains these powers... what will happen to them?" Jason questioned. He noticed that Alpha turned to Zordon at his words and grew intrigued. "What?"
"Zedd isn't draining the powers just to have them disappear forever," Zordon began. "He is doing so to take possession of them."
"Can he do that?" Jason asked.
"Unfortunately we believe he can," Alpha answered for the duo.
"What will he do with them?" Jason questioned.
"We are not sure, but again we are hopeful it will not come to that," Zordon responded. Jason cursed under his breath at the thought.
"Get Billy up here to help you Alpha and I'm gonna check on Tommy," Jason said as he reached for his communicator to teleport.
"Got it," Alpha responded before turning to contact Billy.
(****)
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Trini asked, her hand instinctively reaching for Tommy's on the bench next to her.
"I just..." Tommy paused. "I guess I felt like it would make it more real."
"What are they doing to stop it?" Trini questioned.
"I don't know... they say they are working on it, but honestly I don't think there is much they can do," Tommy answered.
"You can't think like that," Trini stated.
"Trust me... I don't want to," Tommy countered. He glanced down at Trini's hand over hers and then made eye contact with her. He was just about to speak when he saw Jason approaching them.
"Hey guys... sorry to interrupt," Jason said as he stopped in front of them and knelt down.
"It's cool," Trini replied. Jason looked at her and her countenance and then turned to Tommy. Tommy gave him a look and Jason nodded.
"I just left the ship," Jason said.
"What's going on?" Tommy asked. "It's fine... I told her about what's going on."
"Okay... well they are going to get Billy to help them and hopefully they can find a way to get us up there to stop it," Jason stated.
"Stop it how?" Trini questioned.
"They suspect Zedd is using something in the ritual.. something to represent the drain on my powers," Tommy began.
"And if we can get up there and get it, whatever it is, we can hopefully stop the process," Jason continued for him.
"We can't teleport there?" Trini asked.
"Not enough power," Jason replied with a shake of his head. "Hence why they are going to see if they can get Billy to help them figure something out."
"Hopefully he can," Trini stated as she turned to Tommy.
"Look..." Jason began. Both sets of eyes turned to him. "I am not going to promise you that we can stop this... but whatever happens... I'll make him pay," Jason stated firmly.
"I know you will," Tommy said with a nod and offered him a smile.
(****)
Kimberly glanced over at her walking partner. He seemed to be deep in thought. She reached over to elbow him slightly. He turned and she smiled at him. He smiled in response.
"That's better, you looked so gloomy," Kim said.
"Sorry.. I was kind of lost in my thoughts there," Zack responded.
"I noticed," Kim said as she turned her attention back to the footpath in front of them. "What's on your mind?"
"Trini," Zack answered. Kim wasn't expecting the response and turned back to him.
"What about her?" Kim inquired. Zack shrugged.
"It's weird..." Zack replied.
"What is?" Kim asked.
"Well... just... my thoughts on her," Zack answered.
"Okay?" Kim was confused. Zack looked out across the park, glanced up at the sun and then back to his walking partner.
"What I mean is..." Zack began an explanation. "It's not a secret right that I kind of had a thing for her is it... I mean... she talks to you right?"
"Right," Kim agreed.
"I bet you wouldn't tell me what she says about me right?" Zack asked.
"Right," Kim replied with a small laugh.
"It was worth a shot," Zack responded with a chuckle of his own. "But... what I was saying is that I'm super happy for her."
"With Tommy?" Kim questioned.
"Well... yeah... I mean... in that she seemed happy," Zack replied.
"Okay," Kim said.
"But lately things with them have seemed off," Zack continued. Kim nodded. "Actually I should make it clear that my feelings for her... I had gotten over it."
"You have?" Kim asked.
"Well... I thought so," Zack answered. "Then the weirdness with them started and now..."
"They are back?" Kim guessed.
"I think so," Zack responded. "But... I don't want to go down that road again."
"Why not?" Kim asked.
"All the obvious reasons," Zack replied. "My best friend, dating my other friend, it's just a mess."
"Right," Kim considered the reasons.
"So I'm kind of in this weird place right now with her I feel," Zack stated. "I have these feelings, I don't think that's a good thing, but I want to be there for her if she's going through some stuff... but then I'm afraid doing that will make the feelings issue even bigger."
Kimberly stopped their walking and reached out to place her hand on Zack's arm. He turned to her.
"Zack..." Kim began. "I wish I had something profound to tell you about this, but I really don't... except to say that I think you are a great friend and the fact that this stuff is bothering you kind of proves that."
"Thanks, Kim," Zack replied with a smile.
"So I think what you have to do is just trust your gut," Kim continued. "You can't neglect your friendship because of those fears... because then you leave with nothing."
"I know," Zack agreed with a nod.
"Yes, Trini has been going through some things... I think that's obvious," Kim said. "And I know she'd love to spend some time with her friend and if nothing else forget about it for awhile."
"So what are you saying?" Zack questioned.
"Don't avoid her," Kim responded. "Just be you, that goes along way in making people happy."
Zack grinned and hung his head a little. He wasn't used to getting compliments like that but it was not a bad feeling at all.
"Now come on... we got some more laps to do," Kim said as she pointed down the walking path.
"You got it," Zack replied as the two continued their walk.
(****)
"How's it going?" Jason asked as he walked up behind Billy and Alpha.
"Hey Jason," Billy greeted him without looking up from the panel in front of him.
"Billy may be on to something," Alpha replied to Jason's question.
"What you got?" Jason asked turning to Billy.
"The Zeo crystal," Billy replied, glancing back at Jason before turning back to the panel.
"What about it?" Jason asked.
"We can use it to power the teleportation," Billy answered as he ran through some calculations on the screen.
"Why didn't we think of that before?" Jason asked turning to Alpha.
"We did," Alpha responded. "But we didn't think it would work."
"What Billy is proposing is a way to harness the power simply for teleportation, which we did not think we could do," Zordon added.
"Using the crystal's power is dangerous and if not done correctly could be catastrophic."
"So what is the plan?" Jason inquired. Billy looked up from the panel and turned to Jason.
"One of us will have to go... while the rest of us stabilize the crystal," Billy replied. "To contain and focus its power."
"I am not sure I understand what that means but we can we get it done?" Jason asked. Billy turned to look up at Zordon, to Alpha and then back to Jason.
"We can do it now," Billy replied.
"Then let's get the team," Jason said.
(****)
"So what do we do?" Trini asked looking at the Zeo crystal sitting in the middle of the quarry outside of the mines. She turned to the rest of the Rangers who had all morphed sans Tommy.
"We will have to place your hands on the crystal," Billy replied. "The power will go through us but it should contain it."
"Okay..." Trini replied with a nod.
"Should?" Zack asked, taking a couple of steps back from the crystal.
"Yes... I can't give definites," Billy replied with a shrug.
"So how will I get up there?" Tommy asked with a point to the sky.
"No," Jason replied, prompting Tommy to look at him. "You can't go."
"What do you mean?" Tommy questioned.
"We can't risk that," Jason replied.
"Jason..." Tommy began.
"You need to preserve your powers and you can't go up there unmorphed," Jason cut him off.
"Jason's right," Trini added before Tommy could present his counter-argument.
"Also... your proximity to the ritual going on up there could be bad," Billy said. Tommy turned to look at Billy and then back to Jason.
"Okay..." Tommy conceded. "I understand."
"I'll go," Jason said. The rest of the group nodded in agreement. Jason turned to Tommy. "I'll do everything I can to stop it."
"I know you will," Tommy said. Jason placed his hand on Tommy's shoulder and gave it a squeeze before turning back to the crystal and the rest of the group.
"You may want to step back a little Tommy," Billy suggested. Tommy did as he said stepped back several feet away from the group.
"So what do I do?" Jason questioned.
"Well first..." Billy began. "Everyone gather around the crystal and place your hands on it."
"Got it," Zack replied as he tentatively reached out to the crystal as if he was afraid of getting an electrical shock.
"It won't hurt you," Billy stated.
"Uh-huh," Zack responded before finally placing his hand on it. Trini moved next to him and done the same.
"Be careful," Kim said as she walked up to Jason.
"I will..." Jason replied with a smile. Kim reached down to give his hand a squeeze before she took her place in line around the crystal. Billy moved to the front and placed his hand on it as well.
"Alright... Jason... stand here," Billy said, pointing the ground in front of him. Jason did as he was told. "Now place your hand on the crystal... and whenever you are ready, just teleport."
"That easy?" Jason asked.
"In theory," Billy replied with a shrug.
"Alright," Jason said as he placed his hand on the crystal and it began to pulsate with light. Immediately he felt a surge of energy and he looked at the rest of the Rangers to see it was evident they were feeling it too. Jason closed his eyes took a deep breath and the disappeared in a flash of red light.
Tommy paced back and forth as he watched the rest of his teammates hold their position on the crystal. Holding the link between it and Jason. He began to mouth a silent prayer when his communicator beeped. He held it up to his mouth.
"It's Tommy," Tommy said.
"Tommy... we have a problem," Zordon's voice came through the device.
"What is it?" Tommy questioned.
"Goldar," Zordon replied. "In the park."
"Really... now of all times?" Tommy asked, mostly rhetorically.
"I'm afraid the other Rangers can not break their hold on the crystal so you will have to face him," Zordon continued.
"I'm on it," Tommy replied.
"Be careful Tommy, your powers may fail," Zordon warned him.
"I know... but someone has to stop him," Tommy replied before he lowered his arm. He took one last look at the other Rangers before teleporting away.
(****)
Jason took in his surroundings. He recognized immediately where he was. He found a wall nearby and moved to get as close to it as possible. Jason looked both ways down the long hallway he found himself in. He took a few quick breaths to gather his bearings and then made his way along the wall.
Jason stopped at the familiar doorway in front of him. He slowly looked around to see that it had changed slightly since the last time he had been here. Located in the center of the room was a large throne. Jason took in the sight of it before a noise from the other side of the room got his attention.
Jason looked to see Zedd standing next to a concrete table. Jason could clearly see someone lying on the table but Zedd was obscuring most of their body. Jason quickly glanced around the room until something else caught his eye. Between the table and the throne was a stand. On the stand was a burning candle. The candle was green and illuminating the space around it in a soft light.
Jason put the pieces together to surmise that the candle was likely the source of Tommy's power drain. He quickly flattened back up against the wall as he formulated a plan to retrieve it without having to battle Zedd for it. He would fight him if it came to that, but doing so would only take time that he knew that Tommy didn't have judging by how much of the candle had already burned.
Jason knew he had to just make a run for it and teleport as soon as his hands reached it. He took a deep breath and allowed his adrenaline spike to take hold. In one quick movement, he had spun around the open doorway and was making a mad dash across the room. Jason kept his eyes focused on the candle in front of him.
His tunnel vision proved to be a detriment though as he did not see the blast from Zedd's staff until it him in the side like a speeding car. The impact knocked him off his straight course and he tumbled into the throne in the middle of the room. Jason got to his feet quickly and looked up to see Zedd was now standing between him and the candle. What really shook him though was when his eyes made their way over to the table to see a familiar face he hadn't expected to see again.
(****)
"I'd stop right there," Tommy said as he stepped into the path of Goldar's power walk through the park.
"You still have powers?" Goldar questioned with a sneer.
"Yep," Tommy answered simply as he twirled the Dragon Dagger in his hands before dropping into a fighting stance.
"Not for much longer," Goldar countered.
"This won't take long," Tommy replied as Goldar charged him. Tommy blocked his sword slash with his dagger and hit Goldar's gold-plated chest with a kick that knocked him backward. Goldar snarled with disgust before going on the offensive again. He swung with his sword once more, this time it burst into flames before it made contact with Tommy's dagger.
Tommy struggled underneath the strength of his opponent and the added heat of his sword as he born down on him. Tommy fell backward and flipped Goldar over top of him in the same motion. Tommy got up to see Goldar was doing the same. Tommy went on the offensive and hit three quick kicks to the side of the the head of his larger foe. He followed that up with a slash with his dagger that was blocked.
Goldar saw an opening and grabbed Tommy by the throat. He lifted him high and then tossed him into a nearby tree. As soon as Tommy hit his suit disappeared and he hit the ground in his civilian clothes.
"No..." Tommy said as he looked down at his hands. Much to his relief armor covered them once more and he got to his feet.
"Almost gone," Goldar taunted. Tommy responded with a flying kick that hit Goldar in the chest and knocked him backward and almost to the ground. Tommy looked down to see his armor flickering off and on. His distraction caused him not to see the fireball flying at his chest until it was too late and he was hit hard. Tommy felt a burning sensation all over his body as he hit the ground.
Tommy attempted to get to his feet just as he felt a force slamming him back to the ground. He looked up to see Goldar towering over him. Tommy grabbed the foot that was firmly planted on his chest and holding him in place. His heart sunk when he saw his own hands sans any armor wrapped around the ankle. He still struggled to move as he watched Goldar lift his sword to come down with a killing strike.
(****)
"Rita?" Jason questioned in shock upon seeing the body lying on the table across the room.
"She is the least of your concerns at the moment," Zedd said as he spiked the edge of his staff in the ground, garnering Jason's full attention.
"What are you doing with her?" Jason asked.
"Doesn't matter," Zedd countered dismissively. "You know this was a suicide mission right?"
"We'll see," Jason responded as he moved to a fighting stance. He glanced behind Zedd to see the flame was burning dim as the candle was nearly gone. Jason knew he had no choice but to go through Zedd.
"Try it," Zedd said, anticipating the Red Ranger's thoughts. Jason nodded and then charged. He reached Zedd and the latter grabbed him around the throat. Jason grabbed at his arm as he attempted to break his grip. He turned to see the candle once more and found the motivation to twist his way loose and hit Zedd with a punch.
Jason reached for the candle but Zedd knocked his hand away with his staff. Jason countered by summoning his sword and swiping the staff away and nearly out of Zedd's grip. Zedd glowed red with anger as he twirled his staff and then struck at Jason with it. Jason dodged it and rolled away from Zedd and nearer to the candle. He reached up for it but felt himself being pulled away from behind. He looked down to see Zedd had him around the waist.
"Such a valiant effort but for what?" Zedd asked as he flung Jason to the side and scooted across the marble ground and into the concrete table that Rita's body was lying on. He got to his feet just as Zedd moved once again between him and the candle. Jason was preparing to charge when his communicator beeped.
"Jason... can you hear me?" Kimberly's frantic voice came through the device.
"I can..." Jason replied. "What's wrong?"
"You have to get back here," Kimberly stated.
"I can't, I don't have the candle yet," Jason replied.
"Please Jason... if you don't Tommy is gonna die," Trini's voice came through the device, her words sending chills down Jason's spine.
"Goldar has him... we can't leave without you," Trini explained. "Please."
"I..." Jason paused as he looked up at the candle and then reached down and activated his teleportation.
(****)
Tommy struggled against the sword inching ever closer to his neck. He felt the warmth of the blood running down his arms from the sliced up hands he now had from holding the blade. His powers were coming and going and when they left he had no protection from the sharp blade. He was fast losing the strength to hold it against the force of Goldar driving it down.
Tommy closed his eyes as he knew within seconds he would have lost the battle and nothing would prevent his death at that point. Just as he felt his hands give he prepared for the end. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes and saw that Goldar was no longer standing over him but was off slightly to his left and pulling a pink arrow out of his shoulder. Tommy looked to his right to see the rest of the Rangers fast approaching him.
"Tommy... are you okay?" Trini asked as she reached him and knelt down next to him.
"I am now," Tommy replied as the other Rangers formed a circle of protection around him. He got to his feet just as his armor appeared once more. He got in line next to Jason and smiled feeling Jason's mission must have been successful. Goldar fled upon seeing the whole group.
"Tommy..." Jason began as he turned to him. Tommy felt his armor disappear and his heart sunk. "I tried."
"Your life was in danger we had to pull him back," Zack added. Tommy looked around at the rest of the morphed Rangers and then down at his unmorphed form. He was overcome with emotion as he felt it. The power was gone. Not just temporarily. Gone for good. It wouldn't come back. It was over.
