A/N: Chapter 8. The younger Rangers come to grips regarding what they are really fighting for, and some interesting dynamics begin to develop.

A/N 2: I own nothing. Power Rangers once belonged to Saban, then they went to Disney and belong to Saban again.

Chapter 8 – Fighting For What You Believe In Pt. I

Saturday, Jan. 24, 2004

Mesogog's Island Fortress

"Zeltrax, GET IN HERE!" Mesogog hissed. Mesogog couldn't believe his luck; somehow, he had gained access to the lab of one Dr. Oliver.

"Yes, my lord?" Zeltrax asked.

"We have been able, for some reason or another, to obtain the coordinates to Dr. Oliver's lair," Mesogog hissed.

"I shall be the one to go destroy it, my lord," Zeltrax hissed.

"No, you imbecile; we will let Dr. Oliver live in peace at this time," Mesogog said. "It is not time to strike at his place just yet, but when we do it will be with a vengeance."

Hayley's Cyberspace

Reefside, CA

"…so, having said all of that are you four ready to put yourselves on the line for what Dr. Oliver truly believes in?" Hayley asked. "I'm truly asking because I want you all to realize, as someone who has been working with Tommy for going on three years now, are you truly all in to beat Mesogog and give Dr. Oliver the life he deserves? Because I don't think I have to tell you that losing this fight is not an option."

The four teens looked at Hayley, their great moods suddenly somber because of the realization that they weren't just fighting for themselves. In some ways, a great weight had been dumped on the team from out of nowhere.

"I'd like to know why he didn't tell us all of this before this fight began," Ethan said. "At the very least maybe we could have let it sink in."

"Because it's just like I said earlier Ethan," Kira said, "we had nothing to do with them and Dr. O didn't want to wrap us up in that part of his business. Mesogog is our business, not the stuff between Dr. Oliver and Ms. Hart."

"Kira's right," Hayley said. "I told Tommy a couple of times that I felt he should have talked to you about that part of his Ranger life, but I understand that it's still a rough spot and it's generally his business, not yours. But I felt you should know about it at some point."

"Moreover, it's like Hayley said, we have to focus even more now on winning," Conner said as he took charge. "That should be the only goal on each of your minds right now; Dr. O and that girl of his got screwed badly. If Hayley's theory is right and she's the only reason he's alive now, then we owe it to the both of them to give 100 percent from here on in."

The rest of the team had to shake their heads for a moment, not believing that dumb jock Conner McKnight had just made sense. But there was no question that what he had just said was "real talk."

"We're in," they all said simultaneously. The gauntlet had been thrown down.

Meanwhile….

Tommy had to laugh at some of the reactions to his email that he had sent out last night…and he had sent them out to EVERY member of the legacy who served in the Zordon era. He recalled what he had typed, and read it over again.

To: Scott, Jason; Scott, Trini; Hart, Kimberly; Taylor, Zackary (Zack lived single so Tommy was safe with him, he had been told); Cranston, William; Hillard, Katherine; DeSantos, Rocky; Campbell, Aisha; Park, Adam; Park, Tanya; Stewart, Justin; Ashley and Andros; Zhane; Karone; Johnson, TJ; Chan-Johnson, Cassie; Valerte, Carlos

To All Who Served in the Zordon Era,

Tommy here; you know me in some form or another. I am emailing you to get you caught up to speed on some things and to make a major announcement; in case you have been living under a rock or somehow this hasn't gone around in our world yet, I'm in spandex once again. Black this time, in case you are wondering. Cut your snickering, Zack, Adam and Carlos. I'm also teaching high school science, and some of my students eventually became Rangers too. Don't ask how that happened.

I'm wrapped up fighting a dinosaur monster named Mesogog and his minions. I don't know how they arrived in this world, but I'm trying to get some suspicions on how I'm fighting these guys and how to solve it.

However, that's not why I'm emailing you. I found out something last night that is earth-shattering. This is huge. It's information that has a lot to do with why we are as apart as we are. It's created factions that have divided us more than we need to be divided. And united, no one can beat us, but divided evil can easily pick us off.

I won't tell you what the information is, but I'll give you one hint as to what the topic is; birds. Those of you who went to save Zordon that one time likely will know what I'm talking about.

That is why I am calling for a code red meeting. It's that serious. As of now, I am planning on it being Sunday, May 2, at my house outside Reefside. You'll know why it's at my place when you come here, and you will know why I chose that date when we meet. Billy, Kat, Jason and Trini, I don't think you need a reminder of why it's here because you've been here.

For those that don't know, code red meetings, as established by those of us in the red fraternity, are meetings where if you wore spandex and I am emailing you, you are required to attend. The only way you are excused is if you are on your death bed and Dark Specter has his sword hanging over you.

I hate to say it like that guys, but as one of the leaders of this legacy, that's just the way it is. You need to be here. I'm especially looking at one of you that I'm emailing, even though I can't see you. That person had better be here or there will be hell to pay. I look forward to your RSVPs.

May the power protect you,

Tommy

So far he'd read some of the reactions, and they'd made him chuckle. For instance:

From: Park, Adam

To: Oliver, Tommy

Tommy,

Hey, long time no hear from, man. I'd wondered where you'd been; you kind of fell off the face of the Earth and those who had seen you were sort of cryptic about what had been going on with you.

Black, really? Are you going to take Tanya's color next? Are you seriously going to steal every color of the rainbow?

In all sincerity, this must be pretty serious to be calling a code red three months out. I guess it's a good thing being that it's so far out and we can make plans, but still, man, that's a long time.

Nevertheless, I'll talk to Tanya and I'm sure we can make arrangements. I'm getting ready to head out with Tanya as she's got a concert in San Diego later tonight. Speaking of which, rumor around the campfire is that one of your Rangers is pretty talented in music. Tanya needs someone else for her band, as one of the members quit. Would your Ranger be interested in a potential tryout?

Thanks and MTPPY,

Adam

Tommy knew that color dig was coming; this was now his fourth color, he'd read response emails from a few others and was surprised he hadn't received any jokes…until now. That it was from Adam was even more predictable, but it still caused him to laugh.

That last part had caused him to smile a bit; he'd heard good things about Tanya's band too. Kira Ford was a talented singer; maybe this could be her big break.

There were others that were more blunt than that email, such as this one:

From: Scott, Jason

To: Oliver, Tommy

Bro,

Great to hear you are alive. Hayley called me and Trini yesterday and we wondered if you'd make it. Good to see you survive.

As for the meeting, you know I'm there. I wouldn't miss it for the world. I assume you found out what you'd been searching for last night.

MTPPY,

Jase

Tommy knew that Jason's wouldn't be long, he was quick and to the point.

And as he looked down the list of the few that had responded, there it was. He smiled as he couldn't resist.

From: Hart, Kimberly

To: Oliver, Tommy

Tommy,

Well, I see it didn't take you long to find things out after you got out of that coma of yours. I'd asked myself all morning whether you'd found out anything yet, and I'll take this email as a yes. I'm a bit curious as to why you marked May 2 as a date for this meeting, but my calendar is completely clear and it's a Sunday, so I am saying I will be there. I look forward to seeing us again…even if it's just once.

Kimberly

Tommy gave a small fist pump at that email; that Kimberly would be there. He wanted the others there too, but there was no doubt Kimberly was the one that had to be there, no excuses. With that, Tommy went to go grade papers; this was the one thing he never, ever looked forward to doing.

Saturday, March 13, 2004

The Oliver Home

Reefside, CA

Ever since he'd gotten the call last night from Dr. Oliver to come see him at his base this morning…alone, Trent Fernandez-Mercer was a nervous wreck. Dr. Oliver said he trusted Trent to be able to help the team when needed, but if that was the case, why was he being called here?

Gulping, Trent descended the stairs to the lab, where Dr. Oliver was waiting.

"Hey, Trent, good to see you; you were five minutes early, too," Tommy said as he stood up after checking his emails.

"Yeah, you know my father; on time is five minutes late," Trent said. "In all seriousness, let's get to the point. You asked me to come here out of the blue; why?"

"I can tell you think this is some sort of setup," Tommy said, "and I'm glad you have that sixth sense about you, but it isn't a setup."

"Then why did this come out of the blue?" Trent said.

"Sometimes, some of the best things in life are impromptu, Trent; they just happen," Tommy said. "What I called you here for is a reminder that I believe in you, even though Conner in particular has some doubts."

"I understand his doubts and where he's coming from, but I'm here to say something I said earlier in the year, Dr. O; I'm all in," Trent said. "I'm 100 percent in; chiefly because if Mesogog isn't destroyed, my father loses his life."

"Yeah, not to mention everything else he would do to the world," Tommy said.

Trent gulped; he knew not how his mentor would react, but he felt Tommy needed to know something else.

"And I'm not just all in because my father's life is very likely on the line," Trent said. "A while ago, Hayley told us about what's happened to you…and Kimberly. I know it's a sore spot, but I think you need to know that we're aware of what else is at stake; that we're not just fighting to beat Mesogog and I'm not just fighting to save my father's life."

Tommy deeply sighed; he hoped no one would put added pressure on his kids, but now had come the revelation that Hayley had done just that.

"Oh man, I'm going to kill Hayley the next time I see her," Tommy said. "I have to admit Trent; that is a small part of the reason I'm keeping you on the team is because I have my deep dark secrets as well. I know how you feel and can relate to your situation."

"We also made a solemn promise to keep it within our group; that we were going to tell nobody but that we were going to use this as added motivation to win; not just for ourselves and for this city, but so you can have the life you want too," Trent said. "Since we're both being honest here, if I lost my girlfriend thanks to a fake Dear John letter written by some alien psycho, I don't think I could go on."

"And the saddest part is, I don't even know who did it," Tommy said. "It's a high probability that it's someone that my old team never, ever faced before in combat. Not Rita, not Zedd, not King Mondo, Prince Gasket, Divatox, none of them."

"I do have one favor you can do for me; something that can get done on, as luck would have it, Day No. 2950," Tommy said. "You can drive, right?"

"Yeah, I can drive all right," Trent said. "What do you need me to do?"

"These," Tommy said as he picked up some documents, "are the fake Dear John letters and information about them. Here is what I want you to do…"

2 hours later…

Angel Grove, CA

"I'LL GET IT!" Rita shouted as she heard the doorbell ring. She was surprised; very rare was the visitor ever, especially on a Saturday afternoon when everyone was out playing. Currently, Zedd was out playing golf, Selena had just finished working out and was in the shower and Finster was working on whatever he was working on.

She was even more surprised when she opened the door.

"Well, if it isn't Dr. Mercer's son, Trent," Rita said.

"I assume I have the correct place; you are Rita, right?" Trent said.

"Indeed I am, come right in," Rita said as she led Trent into the house.

"I wish I was here on a social call, but I'm not," Trent said as he produced a small white envelope. "I'm here on behalf of Dr. O; he wanted me to give this to you."

Curiously, Rita opened the envelope and was surprised to see the fake Dear John letters, as well as some results.

"Why would Dr. Oliver give this to me?" Rita said. "Not that I'm questioning him but I'm curious."

"I think he thinks something's going to happen to the lab," Trent said. "It's not very well protected like the old Command Center was, he said, and someone could walk right in and destroy it. If all this were in there when the lab was destroyed that could ruin everything. He sent me because if he came himself, he felt it would look suspicious to whoever is stalking him."

"Ah, I see. With Mesogog formerly as Anton and Elsa being the principal of the school, both of them probably do know where the lab is," Rita said. "He has always had that innate sixth sense; if he said it, I don't doubt it can happen. I've been to that lab and it's great, but I agree the one flaw is that it isn't very well protected. Back in the old days the only way one could get into the Command Center was via power coin."

"Yeah, that's how Tommy got in there in the old days as the evil Green Ranger," another voice said as a well-built woman with jet black hair and a nice white collared polo shirt came bounding into the room. "Are you Trent, Tommy's White Ranger?"

"Yeah, I am, though I didn't start out that way," Trent said.

"I'm Selena, nice to meet you," she said as the two greeted each other formally. Trent all of a sudden found he couldn't stop staring at her and backed away a bit.

"I think she likes you," Rita goaded Trent.

"Oh, come on now," Trent said. "There's no way someone who is thousands of years old like her would be interested in someone like me."

"Age has nothing to do with love, Trent," Selena said, winking at him slyly as she did so. "We have a lot in common. I was the original White before your mentor was. In addition, I too was corrupted after that and not by choice. I lost much of what I held dear in the process."

"So you understand what I've been going through," Trent said. "The only problem is not all of my team trusts me anymore and I don't blame them."

"Oh please," Rita said. "You had enough guts to tell Dr. Oliver about what happened with you and your father, didn't you? And he accepted you back, right?"

"He did, but Conner is our leader and to say the least he doesn't trust me," Trent said.

"I've seen Conner in action; he's a good leader and has good intentions, but he's also pretty hard-headed and you've made the best out of a terrible situation. Conner being hard-headed isn't uncommon for someone of the red fraternity but still," Selena said. "I take it Dr. Oliver thinks the lab is going to be attacked, Rita? That's why he sent Trent here with those documents?"

"That's what Trent told me," Rita said.

"That's Dr. Oliver, he's always one step ahead of the game," Selena said. "Do you need anything before you hit the road again?"

"Not really; the only thing is that Dr. Oliver told you guys not to lose those documents," Trent said.

"We won't," Selena said. "As a matter of fact when I get done getting something to drink I'm going to cast a spell around these documents. Any being with even an ounce of evil in their hearts who comes within 50 feet of these documents is incinerated on the spot."

3:30 p.m.

Reefside, CA

Already one half into the new season for the Angel Grove Heat, and Heat Coach Rockwell DeSantos was feeling a sense of déjà vu. He was losing to his rival, again.

It was the same old song and dance; no matter who he'd tried to put on that McKnight kid, the kid just found a way to keep scoring. Already he'd scored twice and if someone didn't stop him, he'd score four or five times and make Rocky look real bad.

Closer and closer he looked at that McKnight kid and watched how he carried himself. Rocky couldn't put his finger on it, but there was something special about that kid, Rocky sensed, and it didn't come from just his soccer abilities. Rocky would have cared not to talk about his soccer abilities since he was hurting Rocky's ability to look like a smart coach.

Rocky was going to keep an eye on this kid, no matter what. There was something about him….

Meanwhile, for his part, Conner was having fun. He didn't dislike any of the players on the Heat team and they were talented and played really hard, although they were one of the Reefside Wave's biggest rivals. However, he enjoyed it when a coach employed an entire game plan around stopping him and it still didn't work.

As he looked over to the Angel Grove sideline and saw scowls galore, including one from Coach DeSantos, it made him smile. The more they hated, the more it was fuel for Conner's fire.

8:00 p.m.

Hayley's Cyberspace

"Another great performance, Kira," Tommy said, 30 minutes after Kira had finished her latest gig. "The more I hear from you, the more I think you have the potential to realize your dream."

"Thanks, Dr. O," Kira said. "And we're going to help you realize your dream too. We're not only fighting for us, we're fighting for what you believe in."

"That's right," Conner said. "I told the guys, you're either all in or you're all out. We're all in."

Tommy nodded solemnly, simply saying, "If you guys could play a role in that, I would be forever grateful. I do have something I need to talk to Kira about, Conner, could you step away for a moment please?"

Conner nodded and joined Trent and Ethan, after which Dr. Oliver said. "Very soon, an opportunity may potentially await you Kira. I have a friend in the music business who wore the spandex as well; she seems interested in your musical talents."

"What do I need to do to have this opportunity?" Kira said.

"It's very simple actually, and here's what I hope will happen…" Tommy said.

Review box is at the bottom. Please leave one if you wouldn't mind. We are getting close to Day No. 3000…it's coming up.