"You expect me to believe you're a Power Ranger from another dimension?" Scorpina asked in an almost hysterical tone.
The Black Ranger shrugged. He knew it sounded pretty sketchy, more so because had omitted anything personal from the story.
"What about the wormholes?" Kimberly asked.
"What do you mean?" Scorpina barked, "Those are just side effects of Lord Drakkon's abuse of the Morphin Grid.
"What if that's what brought Dr.O to our world."
"We can't trust him," Scorpina repeated, "He could still be a spy."
"Would Lord Drakkon send his own men after a spy?"
"You already know the answer to that one."
Tommy was flattered that Kimberly would fight so hard for him. Especially against someone as stern as Scorpina.
"You know what?" Scorpina grunted and pushed the gun away from Tommy's helmet. "I'll let you trust your gut. But let me tell you this Kimmy. If I even suspect for a second that he's going to pull a fast one I'll shoot you both."
After half an hour of steady, pressing, silence the three now stood at the least obvious place Tommy could think of.
"So this is your base?" He asked, speaking loud to try to escape the thundering waterfall.
"Sort of!" Kimberly called.
Scorpina moved first. She took a few steps back and leaped upward on her powerful legs. Her body was quickly swallowed by the raging water.
"I know it's pretty scary but you just have to jump," Kimberly said and flashed a smile that sent a chill down Tommy's spine. Much in the same manner as Scorpina Kimberly leaped flawlessly through the waterfall.
Tommy wasn't scared exactly, but he was a little anxious. He had no idea what was waiting for him on the other side.
With one blind jump, Tommy felt the powerful water crash hard against his body.
Then there was nothing.
His feet landed softly onto soils ground. The arrival was so abrupt he actually fell onto his knees.
The large Japanese buildings seemed unreal. The cherry blossoms fell softly before getting caught in the breeze. It looked like something ripped from a movie or one of those anime Ethan watched.
It was all very strange and seemingly staged. He supposed the small posse of ninja with raised blades didn't help much.
"Relax boys," Scorpina said, "he's with us."
"What is this place?" Tommy asked.
"It's sort of a long story," Kimberly said, "Sensei Ninjor will be able to explain better."
"Ninjor?" Tommy asked. He was quite familiar with the Ninjor of his own world. Tommy wasn't sure if this was a good thing just yet.
The duo led Tommy to the largest building in the strange village. Everyone that passed seemed to be clad head to toe in strange leather uniforms. Outside of the building rested a large stone sculpture of a falcon. As Tommy passed he couldn't help but feel as if the opal eyes were tracing his figure.
When they entered the room Tommy was met with mostly empty space. Sitting crossed legged in the center of the room was the familiar blue armored figure.
"Ninjor," Kimberly said softly.
"I know you're there!" Ninjor announced, "Kimberly, Scorpina and… who are you?"
" Dr.O."
"And Doctor O," Ninjor said. "Told you I knew you were here."
"Very impressive," Scorpina mumbled.
"Now what is so important that you had to interrupt my meditation?" Ninjor asked pompously.
"We thought you might be interested in the Ranger that suddenly appeared in Reefside," Scorpina said.
"Well, that is interesting…" Ninjor mumbled, "And now that you mention it I am sensing a rather strange flux in the Grid."
"That would be me," Tommy said. He figured he should feel comforted. This was a world where so much was upside down, but Ninjor was his same old self.
"Ah," Ninjor said, "That would make sense."
"So what is this place?" Tommy asked.
"This is my personal pocket dimensions," Ninjor explained, "and the Aether Ninja Academy."
"Aether Ninja Academy?" Tommy asked. He was familiar with the Wind and Thunder Academies of his home world, but this was new.
"It's something my brother used to run. Unfortunately, Lord Drakkon and his posse of hooligans shot him down."
Tommy nodded. "So what happened, how did everything go to hell?"
Ninjor laughed, "Someone's a little behind on the news. What have you been doing for the last decade, living under a rock?"
"It's a long story," Kimberly explained, "But now that we're in a safe place I suppose I can tell you."
The MMPR Rangers of this world fought their final battle in the brutal winter of 1995. In this world things had begun quite similarly, the splinter came with the introduction of the Green Power Ranger.
Much to Tommy's disgust, his alternate self hadn't ever turned to the side of good. Instead, he stayed as Rita's lieutenant during her entire campaign. Unfortunately for Rita when the Lord Zedd of this world arrived he did so with less friendly intentions. He managed to convince the Green Ranger to switch allegiances, offering a shiny new suit as compensation.
The Green Ranger agreed and swiftly killed Rita in cold blood. After that, he took over the empire and named himself Lord Drakkon.
Soon after that was the great battle, where what was left of Rita's army joined Lord Zedd as he conquered city after city.
The Rangers fought and the Rangers fell.
Billy was sent to Aquatar by Zordon for reasons unknown as the rest of the Rangers were picked off one by one.
The only reason Kimberly managed to survive was because of Scorpina. The intergalactic warrior was more than a little irked to see her long time master taken out so disrespectfully.
That was why she decided to leave Zedd and join the frail resistance.
Using her limited knowledge of Earth's history she managed to help Kimberly and her stragglers from Angel Grove escape to Aether Ninja's pocket dimension, where they built their hidden civilization.
"So that's where we are," Kimberly said after her long winded explanation. "Lord Drakkon has sent his Ranger Slayers, or Sentries as they're officially called, to wipe out any stray Rangers and extinguish the revolution."
Tommy just nodded. Her rage for Lord Drakkon flared like an inferno. Her hatred towards the evil Ranger was indefinitely tied to Tommy himself. Lord Drakkon and himself were both two variables of the same equation.
"Boooring!" Ninjor exclaimed, "I've heard that story a million times. Tell me something new."
"I'm a dimension hopping Ranger from a world where the Rangers managed to overthrow the entire United Alliance of Evil," Tommy snarked off.
He wished the others could see his smile as Ninjor whipped around.
"Why didn't you say so?" Ninjor asked.
"Because I know you only take interest in things when you personally decide to," Tommy replied with a shrug.
"Good point," Ninjor said, "Tell me, traveler, what brings you here?"
"I accidentally got shot into this world while trying to get free from my armor. I was hoping for a way back home." He stopped and his eyes locked to Kimberly, "But if there's anything I can go while I'm here I'll be more than willing."
"Hmmm...I don't know much about interdimensional travel, but there is something you might be able to assist us with."
"Yeah?"
"By any chance did you construct your own Morpher?" Ninjor asked.
"Not exactly," Tommy muttered, but as his eyes caught the hopeful glimmer in Kimberly's expression he quickly added, "But I do know a great deal involved."
"You don't think he could help us finish the Thunder Morphers?" Kimberly asked. For a brief moment, Tommy saw her tough facade peel back. He wanted to catch the valley girl by the ankle and beg her to stay.
One sideways glare from Scorpina and Kimberly was knocked back into place.
"Long story short," Ninjor began to explain. "Before Zordon's demise by the hand of Lord Zedd, he gave Kimberly the heart of the Thunder Zords and three damaged Power Morphers. He believed that it would be possible to fashion them into brand new Rangers."
Hearing that Zordon was murdered actually struck a cord in Tommy's chest. Sure, Zordon was just as dead in his dimension but he had been hoping that somehow he survived.
"Wait," Tommy said, "You're Ninjor didn't you make the Power Coins?"
"Yes," the ninja master said with a nod. "Channeling the Thunder Hearts into Power Coins was child's play. The problem is that I don't know squat about Power Morphers. That was Zordon's job."
A faded memory flashed in Tommy's mind. In 2002 he had been held responsible for building and leading a team of Rangers to defeat General Venjix of the former Machine Empire. At that time he had felt a particular responsibility that he hadn't been sure how to interpret it. It was crystal clear now.
Zordon was gone, and somebody needed to take his place.