A/N: Chapter 5. Includes a conversation with Billy and Kat, Tommy's return to duty and him being stuck in his uniform.
A/N 2: I own nothing. Power Rangers once belonged to Saban, then they went to Disney and belong to Saban again.
Chapter 5 – Donning the Spandex Again
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2003
The Oliver Home
Reefside, CA
True to Billy's word, Katherine had decided to join Billy, Tommy and Hayley for dinner…and had cooked up a monster batch of true English fish and chips…which she'd learned while in London at ballet school.
As the foursome dug in, Billy said, "So Tommy…I'd appreciate it if you catch me up, since we haven't had time. How long has this quest been going on and where exactly have you been since I last saw you?"
Tommy sighed deeply and said, "To begin, I think you two should be aware that there's more than what I received on that day. Take a look at this."
Tommy produced a piece of paper and handed it to Kat, who then handed it to Billy. Billy frowned and read it over several times.
"Do you notice how similar that is to what I received?" Tommy said.
"I haven't read what you received in a long time, but yeah, the similarities materialized immediately," Billy said. "I'm surprised you didn't say something about how you didn't write this."
"Well, because I know I didn't," Tommy said. "If I know I didn't, it's best not to go there."
"Who are you and what did you do with Tommy?" Kat said jokingly. "You would have been apologizing like crazy for this when I knew you."
"Because I know in my heart, even though I don't have the evidence to prove it – yet – that I didn't write that and that she probably didn't write me," Tommy said. "My guess is she's probably still mad at me…and she has every right to be. But I know in my heart that this one stinks of something deeper. I should have known something was up when Kim came back during the Maligore fiasco and I tried to make it right, but she pushed me away."
"Getting back on track, shortly after we passed on our powers, Dimitria called me into the Power Chamber shortly after we retired to have a chat," Tommy said. "She was surprised that I didn't know about…that, and that's when I found out about what you just read. How she obtained that from Kim, I have no idea, but she did."
"That was when I decided to end my abrupt racing career and begin my quest," Tommy said. "A quest that has, so far, taken me to hell and back and it really hasn't even reached its peak yet."
Tommy then proceeded to tell Billy and Kat about his time at A&M (including how the day went for him during the Countdown), then going to MIT and meeting Hayley, him graduating from MIT and being selected to go on the dig with Anton, leading up to the explosion nearly two months ago.
"And you're OK with this? You're all in with him?" Billy asked Hayley.
"I couldn't say no if I tried," Hayley said. "Your mentor Zordon left a video in the bowels of the old Power Chamber that Tommy retrieved. I watched it with Tommy the first day I met and I was transfixed. I feel the same as you, that both Tommy and that girl of his got screwed. There is another reason, too."
"I know it's hard to talk about, so let me handle this, Hayley," Tommy said as he took another piece of fish. "Billy, have you ever heard of the VR Troopers of Crossworld City?"
"No, but I was a close follower of what they did," Billy said.
"Well her step-father…his alter ego was the Troopers arch-enemy, Grimlord," Tommy said. "In part because of this her family was not easy to be around. She's fighting for her family's good name, even though she never, ever has to prove herself to me."
"It's probably not her fault, but many of us have been under evil spells and we know how it feels. I suspect Zordon explained in the video about how we came to know Katherine," Billy said. "How would you describe how Tommy has been since you got ahold of him? When we had him, he had this massive Oliver complex of feeling not good enough. It was really bad after he got The Letter…the void it created was huge."
"I would describe him as determined, but the Oliver complex or whatever you just talked about, I don't see it," Hayley said. "The determination is there though. I think at some point he realized in his heart, he's done the best he can do and that's all anyone can ever ask."
"There are times when I had lost hope in the dream, like when I heard that the island blew up, I thought that was it," Hayley said. "Truly, I did. But since he's survived that, I actually think this can happen. If an island blowing up and a bunch of great whites couldn't stop his dream, who's to say anyone can?"
"Well, all I can say is I'm bloody excited to be back and to see you in such a refreshing light," Kat said. "There were times that I was genuinely concerned for your health when we were growing up, but you seem to be in a better place today. No matter what comes, I'm sure you'll be prepared to deal with it."
Affirmative," Billy said. "And what's this I hear about Rita and Zedd being good now?"
"Yeah, it's true. That's who saved me out there, right as I was about to be eaten by a great white and his friends," Tommy said. "Zedd, Rita, Rita's friend Finster, and their teammate Selena were corrupted by Master Vile and his wife Adrianna Repulsa. Selena became Scorpina, but she held the White Tiger powers before me."
"I was not aware of that revelation, Tommy," Billy said, a look of surprise creasing his face. "I was under the impression the White Tiger powers were an original creation by Zordon. And you said Finster is now on our side?"
"The White Tiger powers were originally Selena's when she was Ninjetti, but before she was corrupted she lent some of her energy to Zordon so that it may be used later; Zordon was her older brother," Tommy said. "As for Finster, Dulcea decided to bring him back and he now lives with Rita, Zedd and Finster in Angel Grove."
"These are all very interesting tidbits you have revealed here tonight, Tommy," Billy said. "I'll be honest, you're twice the man I am. If everything happened to me that's happened to you, I'd have lost it a long time ago. I mean, all you want is to know the truth and get her back if you can. That's not too much to ask."
"Yeah I don't think it's too much to ask either, but I've got people trying to blow up islands and resurrect long lost war machines to get rid of me. I have the feeling that someone does not want us to be together," Tommy said. "Not just me and Kim…I mean, all of us."
"Right, because when we're together, we're unbeatable, and evil knows that. I'm not naïve enough to think that just because we got rid of Specter's minions, that we've gotten rid of everyone," Kat said. "At the very least, Tommy, you've got us to help you, and that's something you'll always have."
Billy then handed the letter that was in Tommy's name back to him and asked, "Why didn't you have those letters scanned in the Power Chamber, Tommy? I'm just curious."
"Well, when I talked to Dimitria on the day I began my quest, I asked Alpha 6, who was Dimitria's assistant, if that was possible and he said that the technology wasn't up to speed," Tommy said.
"What he really meant to say was that the technology Zordon put in the Power Chamber was of Earth origin and thus was incapable of performing that task. On other planets such as Aquitar, anything that is written can be scanned and the origin can be found, easily," Billy said. "I begged Zordon several times to put something in that could potentially scan writing from Earth or other planets for that matter, but he never did. But having been on Aquitar, I now have the ability to rectify that problem here in the lab. I can get to work on it whenever you want."
"Whenever you can is fine, Billy. Don't feel hurried," Tommy said. "I've got conferences starting next week, and you're working too. Whenever life allows, go ahead."
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Mesogog's Island Fortress
Day No. 2800 since…that, Tommy suddenly realized, as he heard Mesogog rant about what he would do to him and the rest of the world once he got the Dino Gems. Day No. 2800, and Tommy wondered how it was him that always got into these predicaments all the time.
Not soon after he'd settled in Reefside, the attacks, sure as Tommy had suspected, had begun. Already, this Mesogog creature had attacked, three new Rangers had been found, and he'd lost one of those Rangers and got him back again.
As Dr. Oliver listened to Elsa fill Mesogog in about the invasion of Rangers that was supposed to take place, Mesogog nodded expectantly.
"Like obedient dogs, I speak, and they come," Mesogog hissed.
"I can save you some trouble. Good guys always win," Tommy said snarkily.
"I suppose that all depends on who you believe the good guys to be," Mesogog hissed and then gave orders for his minions. Tommy had to admit the remark stung him a bit, seeing as how he had, in fact, been on the other side and fought for Rita…and pushed his friends to the brink in the process.
No, Tommy thought, this could not and would not end here. Not to this freak, anyways.
Later that night
The Oliver Home
Reefside, CA
As it turned out, Tommy had been right. That whole fiasco wasn't the end, though it had been a hell of a pickle he'd found himself in.
Not only was it not the end, but he'd managed to keep the gem from Mesogog, and it had bonded to him now. He now had a fourth color to add to his wardrobe.
"I can't believe you," Kat said as she shook her head; she and Billy had received the news from Hayley earlier and had rushed to Reefside. "A fourth color. Adam's gonna be really hurt, you know, that you took his first color."
"Not to mention Zack," Billy said.
"Yeah, well you tell him he took my first color too, so we're even, if anything," Tommy said, getting a hearty laugh. It was true; Tommy had held a Green power well before Adam had become the Green Zeo or Green Turbo Ranger. "As for Zack, I'm not worried about him, if I know Zack he'll just let it be even though he may tease me some day."
"In all seriousness, we need to decide if all of us need to know about you being a Ranger again," Billy said. "I'm sure they've heard the news; they probably don't know yet that you're back on active duty but I'm guessing they suspect."
"I said it before, and I'll say it again; this isn't just my fight anymore," Tommy said sternly. "I don't want Kimberly to know what I'm doing yet, but I'm going to call Jason and tell him what's going on soon enough. I want him and everyone else to be on standby."
"Yeah, that's probably a good idea; Kimberly is probably busy with her life anyways. Even if she wanted to know, she probably wouldn't have the time to get here and we all have lives. But Jason, as a senior member of this group, needs to know," Kat said. "And you have your plate full now too."
"Speaking of Kimberly, that reminds me, I need to get to work on that intergalactic writing scanner," Billy said. "I need to go get some tools from my lab back in Angel Grove, but I can start to work on that this weekend."
"Whenever, Billy," Tommy said. "Remember, Kimberly is more of a long-term thing. Right now, the more immediate threat is Mesogog, his minions, and defeating him. This is going to be as bad as bad guy Rita and Zedd all over again, I can feel it."
"Hey, speaking of, I just realized it, 2800, guys," Hayley said.
"Wow, that is right. That's prodigious. On another milestone day, you had another milestone moment, Tommy," Billy said. Of course, Tommy knew this was Day No. 2800 since…that, but Billy couldn't possibly know that he knew that. "You're becoming pretty good at these milestone days, Tommy."
Thursday, December 4, 2003
The Oliver Home
Reefside, CA
"Well, I guess this isn't the worst thing in the world…at least not for now," Tommy said. "I can't demorph, but I'm still alive at least. And out of that stupid amber."
It was true, over the last 50 days since he'd become a Ranger again, things had gotten real interesting. Tommy had to go through flashbacks when the evil White Dino Ranger had come on the scene, then Tommy had been encased in amber for approximately a week, thanks to same White Dino Ranger, which the team had found out was Trent Fernandez-Mercer. The same Trent who was Tommy's protégé's son.
The sad thing had been that he was planning on going back to Angel Grove for Christmas to see some of the guys. But now, there was a pretty good chance he was going to be spending Christmas and New Year's in his damn uniform; thus, restricting him to Reefside.
"There is some good news, aside from you still being alive," Billy said. "I finally got that intergalactic writing scanner finished."
"OK, thanks Billy," Tommy said. "When I'm out of this uniform, then I'll use it. Is it pretty easy to use?"
"Yeah, it should tell you where that writing came from; whether it was here on Earth or not," Billy said. Billy went over, grabbed a piece of paper with some writing scribbled on it, grabbed the scanner and pressed a small, red button. Instantly a green light shot forth from it and after a few moments a printout popped out of the scanner.
"Wow, nice. I made sure to put the two letters in a very safe place, so when I'm out of this uniform I'll take care of that. Right now I'm way too damn uncomfortable to do anything," Tommy said.
"I bet," Billy said. "By the way, I forgot to mention, but 2850."
"Ha, I wasn't aware of that right away, but it makes sense considering I got myself in yet another pickle on yet another day that ends with the number zero," Tommy said jokingly. "You know this means I may not make it back home, right?"
"Don't worry about that; like you've said, whatever happens, well that's just life," Billy said. "Although, no normal man goes through what you've been through. If you can't make it, Kat and I will inform the rest of the guys about the situation."
Suddenly, Billy's cell phone rang and he almost nodded nonchalantly when he saw who it was. Tommy had already talked to Jason several times since his return to active duty, and Tommy immediately knew he was going to get ribbed…again if this was him.
"That's probably Jason…or Trini," Kat said. Tommy sighed; he knew the guys already were aware of the amber thing and they were going to give him hell for that the next time they saw him. Now he couldn't even get out of his damn uniform.
"Hey Jason…yeah, we got him out of the amber, but now we have another problem that's manifested, we can't get him out of his uniform," Billy said. "No, I'm serious. Why don't you talk to him?"
Tommy then took the phone and put it to his helmet.
"Hello?" Tommy said.
"Well, I guess this gives new meaning to the term stuck in neutral," Jason said. "I swear, man, you get into some of the worst pickles I've ever seen. Are you going to steal Trini's color next and get stuck in that?"
"I know, and sometimes I silently wonder why I do this to myself," Tommy said (he'd already told Jason about his quest and his suspicions shortly after he'd returned to active duty, which Jason had heartily agreed with). "But I've come too far to turn back now."
"Billy got that scanner done, right?" Jason said.
"Yep, that's for when I get out of this uniform," Tommy said. "Have you heard from her lately?"
"Yeah, her gymnastics school is expanding," Trini interjected. "Rumors are flying that a branch of her gymnastics school is going to be opening in your town in the summer of 2004. By the way, it's my opinion that she still loves you even though she won't admit it. She's tried other guys, but they were no good."
"Well I've got more important things to worry about for now, but when the time is right, I now have the means to find out the truth, finally," Tommy said.
"Well, you know we'll all be waiting with bated breath for the results," Trini said. "Good night, Tommy. Know that you continue to make us proud."
"Good night to you too, guys and know that if I can't make it up there for Christmas, you'll know why," Tommy said.
"Yep, we'll know why. Good night, bro," Jason said as the phone clicked dead.
TBC…