Lantern Ranger
Prologue
Tommy Oliver had messed up before, but never like this. As he fled from the robotic henchmen he helped create, all he could think about was how much he regretted not listening to Jason and the others. If he survived this, he owed them all a big apology.
When Anton had selected him, a student fresh out of college, to be part of his elite research team, he had been over the moon and foolishly had not asked why he was being chosen over others who had years and even decades of experience over him. When Billy had brought it up, he thought the other man was doubting his intelligence… His own insecurities had flared up and he had argued with his best friend that just because he was not a prodigious genius, he was any less a man of science! Tommy had left the other man on bad terms, without even giving him a chance to explain himself.
Billy was right.
Heck, all of them were right to be wary of Anton!
The fact was true. Anton had prior ties to Bio Labs and Lightspeed, organizations who were deeply involved with ranger affairs. It was not inconceivable that he had deliberately sought out Tommy because of his ranger history.
If he was being honest, a part of him might have suspected from the start but had refused to believe that he was not genuinely worthy of the opportunity Mercer had given him… He was one of the youngest scientists to get a doctorate and several accolades, and he realized that was all because of Mercer backing him up.
So many people had doubted him when he gave up his martial arts tournaments in order to pursue science. He had never been one of the brainy types like Billy or Trini. When good opportunities came up thanks to his association with Mercer, he hadn't refuted them, all because of his fear that the world had been right and that he wasn't worthy of being a scientist.
When the dino gems surfaced and Mercer chose him to be his confidant and partner in pioneer research in robotics and genetics, he had buried the lingering doubts in his mind and focused on the work, thinking it would make the world a better place.
He should have confronted Anton when he had the chance and got to the bottom of this before it escalated.
The Dino Gems contained unadulterated energies of the Grid… That was one thing he was sure of. He shouldn't have trifled with them.
Now this creature Mesagog had seized the research facility on Mercer's private island and he had no idea of where Anton was, or even if he was still alive!
He halted to breathe for just a second before resuming to run past the dark corridors again. Sparks tore through the cables lining the walls and dust fell from the ceiling.
A tyrannodrone leapt at him from the shadows, tackling him to the ground, trying to claw at his backpack, which contained a laptop with all the data on his research and more importantly, the three dino gems.
He shoved the robot off him and continued running. A pack of tyrannodrones were guarding the exit. He took a deep breath, snapping into his fighting pose before leaping at the robots.
Seriously, what had he been thinking when he created these?
Kicking one of them back, he grabbed another's arm, activating the laser on it's arm and firing at the door, blasting through it. He smirked, pushing the robot to the floor as he escaped the compound and into the woods surrounding it.
Explosions rocked the island as he continued to run, even as he felt his throat dry up and muscles spasm.
A pair of tyrannodrones pounced on him from behind, sending him rolling down the terrain.
When he got back to his feet, he found himself surrounded by tyrannodrones from all sides. It was just like old times as he fought the robots, except the putties nor the cogs had ever been this powerful, though he supposed it was his fault.
Tommy gritted as a blow sent him reeling back, gasping for breath. He clutched his abdomen, looking up to stare at the robots defiantly. One of them came forward with a blade spiking out from their wrist.
Tommy gulped. He so missed the Power right now.
He looked around. There was no way he could win a fight, especially in his injured state.
The ranger in him twinged with shame and resentment as he scurried backwards, running from the robots who sprinted after him once again.
More explosions rocked through the island.
He was nearly there. The helicopter pad was just in front him. Thank the Grid, he knew how to pilot one due to the training he underwent from Zordon and Alpha to fly the Falcon Zord.
Just then, the helicopter exploded sending shrapnel flying in all directions.
"NO!" He roared, ignoring the pain as a metal shard cut through his leg. He dragged himself to the edge of the cliff, surrounded by flames and rubble.
The tyrannodrones gathered out of the woods, approaching him slowly.
He looked down, at the endless expanse of the Pacific Ocean and then back at the tyrannodrones.
He took a deep breath, resigning himself to his fate.
Whatever the cost, he would ensure Mesagog wouldn't get his claws on the gems, even if that meant the gems sank down to the depths of the ocean with him.
The island exploded, a green energy washing over it. Tommy looked back even as he fell… He had succeeded getting off the island before Mesagog activated the invisiportal network to send the entire island to a separate dimension.
Even as he hit the waters, the cold water doing nothing to ease the burning pain of his muscles, he knew he had won.
He knew there was no escape this time. No one to save him because no one even knew where he was.
This was how he died. At least he took satisfaction in the fact that he had stopped Mesagog this time.
And he had faith in the other rangers that when Mesagog resurfaced, they would be able to stop him.
He swam, ignoring the exhaustion which ate away at him. He grabbed a log that had fallen off when the island had exploded, holding it tightly. He felt his legs do numb and he teared up.
He should have listened to his friends.
Now he was stranded in the ocean, waiting for the inevitable.
In the end, he had handled it the best he could, by making sure that his death redeemed his part in the creation of Mesagog, even if by a bit. He was at peace with it, but he had regrets.
He felt his mind wander to his mom and David… all his friends… to his fiancée.
Suddenly he felt a green glow surround him. Great, he was already hallucinating.
A strong force slammed against him, forcing him to let go of the log as he was pummeled underneath the surface. He panicked, waddling his arms, only to realize a second later, he was still able to breathe. He blinked.
He felt the water dry off his body as he was encased in a bubble of sorts. The bubble of water lifted upwards and he noticed the green taint surrounding it.
"What…" He murmured. Was he dead already? It took him a moment to realize he was encased in an energy sphere of some kind, which was now above water. He could see the sky as well as the sphere flew higher and higher.
Tommy looked sideways to see a green ring floating before him, hovering in the air before slipping itself onto his finger.
He felt a strange feeling of déjà vu and he realized what was happening seconds before it did.
A green flash enveloped him and his clothes were replaced by a form fitting green suit not unlike the ones he used to wear as a ranger but different all the same. Instead of a helmet, a dark green mask materialized on his face. He looked down to see an emblem of what happened to be a lantern on his chest.
"Tommy Oliver of Earth, you have the ability to overcome great fear. Welcome to the Green Lantern Corps."
Hope you guys enjoyed reading this chapter. I know there have been other fics and LOTS of fanart regarding this concept, but I wanted to put my own spin on it. :)