A/N: I just want to take a moment before the next chapter begins to thank those of you who are enjoying this story, as well as those that take the time to leave a review and give me valuable feedback.
"Master Qui-Gonn, your faith in Skywalker, misplaced is," Yoda said looking at the Force Ghost of the Jedi Master. "Consumed by evil Skywalker was, only Vader remeans."
"With respect, Master Yoda, I must still disagree," Qui-Gonn said assertively. The two had been stuck in a circular argument for some time. Finally, the two Jedi Masters looked at Tommy. "I'm curious my young friend, what your opinion on this is," Qui-Gonn said.
Tommy sighed as he collected his thoughts. "I'm not sure, Masters," Tommy began, "The aura of The Dark Side that he put off, I can't imagine him ever being anything like what Jedi are supposed to be."
"Yes, yes, to Tommy you must listen," Yoda said looking at Qui-Gonn and pointing his walking stick at him.
"However, I can't help but hold out hope. I know how Sidious manipulated Anakin and preyed on his fear of losing those he loved."
"Which is why attachment, forbidden by The Jedi Code was," Yoda said now looking at his latest apprentice.
"Respectfully, Master Yoda, 'was' is correct. You yourself admitted that the stringency of The Code was part of the reason the Jedi Order fell alongside The Republic," Tommy said bringing a small smirk to the face of Qui-Gonn. "Look, I can't help but feel that what happened to me, and what happened to Anakin, aren't that different. I was brainwashed by dark magic, and Anakin was manipulated by a master manipulator."
"True, your observation is," Yoda said with a nod, "Chose is path Anakin did, forced onto yours you were."
"I am sorry Master, but, I must agree with Tommy."
Yoda growled in his throat. "For all our sakes, right I hope you are, but believe I do that Skywalker forever corrupted by The Dark Side is."
"Master Qui-Gonn, it was great meeting you," Tommy said before he stood up. The other rangers followed his lead and stood themselves. "But, it's late back home and we need to get back."
"It was nice to meet all of you as well," Qui-Gonn said with a nod of his head. "May The Force be with you all."
"And with you, My Masters," Tommy said as he bowed slightly to them.
"May The Force be with you," The other rangers said before they all teleported away.
Not long later, the rangers landed in The Command Center in steaks of colored light. When they did they found several sets of eyes looking at them with mixed looks of anger, fear, worry, and pride. Each of their parents stood in The Command Center. "Zordon, what are all of our parents doing here?" Tommy asked in a slow and nervous tone.
"Thomas Oliver!" his mother said in a tone he had not heard in a long time, a long, long time. "Just what were you thinking! Becoming a Power Ranger, going away for a year, and letting everyone that knew you just forget you ever existed for an entire year!"
"Monica, dear, try to calm down," James Oliver said as he stepped in front of his wife and put his hands up defensively.
"'Calm down!?' Don't you dare tell me to calm down James!"
"Monica please, you heard what Zordon said, Rita abducted him once she knew the coin would accept him. I wish we hadn't spent a year not knowing we had a son, but, in that case, I think ignorance in a way truly was bliss."
"Oh, believe me, it was," Mike Kwan said as he looked at Trini who quickly averted her gaze. "But, I can't say that I am surprised or disappointed," he said as he walked over and used his fingers to lift Trini's chin. "On the contrary, I've never been prouder."
"That goes for me too," Rachel Kwan said as she joined her husband.
"I do believe their right," Roger Cranston said looking over at Billy. "With the exception of the Hillards and the Olivers, we've all known each other for a very long time. We all went to the very school they go to now. We were friends just like they are, and they've been given a chance to protect this world and make it a better place, which they try to do anyway. They're all of age, or near enough too that I think we should trust them and let this be their choice."
One by one, each set of parents looked around at each other, their own kids, and each other's kids. and again, one by one they all agreed. "Pardon me, everyone," Alpha said as the buzz of several conversations died down. "The living quarters below The Command Center have been prepared. There is plenty of room for everyone."
"You expect us to stay here?" Heather asked looking at Zordon.
"Actually, Mrs. Hillard, that was my idea," Tommy said catching her attention.
"What? Why?"
"Darth Vader tracked me to your place, for all I know, for all any of us know he was watching us at the dance," Tommy said first looking at Heather, then to the rest of the group of parents. "If he did, The Darkside might provide him with guidance to the others, to all of you."
"So you think us staying here for the time being is the safest option?" Allen Scott said as he stepped forward.
"I do, Mr. Scott, and so does Zordon."
"What Tommy says is true," Zordon said, "While I do not know of The Force in the manner that Tommy does, I believe there is a substantial risk of him being able to deduce the identities of the other rangers through it."
"And if he does, he comes after them and us, to what get to Tommy?" Evalynn Cranston said before nodding her head at Tommy.
"Yes," Tommy said nodding his own head.
"I think Tommy's right," William said placing a hand on his wife's shoulder. "We saw what that... uh what was his name again?" he asked looking at Tommy.
"He goes by Darth Vader now, but, he was once a man named Anakin Skywalker," Tommy answered.
"Right, Heather and I saw what that Vader guy can do. He's no joke, Tommy was the only one that was able to get close enough to fight him the others, even once they changed into rangers, keeping them away was like child's play for him."
"William's right," Heather sighed, "I mean, this place does have defenses right?"
"Yes, under ordinary circumstances, it would be impossible for one without a power coin to enter here," Zordon said.
"And, if Vader does attack we can teleport everyone to safety," Alpha added.
"Good, it's settled then," Tommy said, "Everyone stays here for the time being."
Despite the late hour, the rangers rose early the next morning, for a pre-planned training session. However, none of them rose earlier than Tommy. As soon as he had woken, he left the living quarters where he and his parents had stayed and made his way to the training room. He began his private training session by meditating. He reached out through The Force asking it for advice and guidance on how he could handle Vader. As his mind wandered to the fallen Jedi, he saw him wielding his crimson blade deflecting blaster bolts as he made his way down the narrow corridor of a starship. Vader cut down and used The Force to toss Rebel Soldiers around like ragdolls. As he began to come out of his meditative state, he sensed what Vader was after, the stolen Death Star plans.
"It's nearly time," he thought as he stood from his kneeling position. "Computer, begin the simulation," he said.
It was then that the other rangers, accompanied by their parents, entered the observation room. "What is he wearing?" Monica asked as she looked down into the room that was rapidly changing into a large hanger bay with several strange-looking crafts.
"Jedi robes," Kat answered as a hard light hologram of an aging man with silver-slicked-back hair, a neatly trimmed beard wearing a dark shirt, dark brown pants, black boots, and a black cape clasped with a silver chain.
"And who is that?" William asked.
"According to the computer," Billy began, as he pressed a series of buttons on the computer. "That is Count Duku. Also known as Darth Tyranus, a Sith Lord."
"Alright!" Zack said excitedly. "Lightsaber fight!"
"Considering what we saw last night, I'm not so sure I'd be excited about that," Heather said nervously.
"Excuse me, but, what's a lightsaber?" Monica asked.
"You'll see," Kat said with a smirk, "and not to worry, the hologram's won't be able to do anything more serious than a minor burn. Right, Zordon?"
"You are correct Katherine. However, Tommy has programmed that the hologram's Force Powers be as close to the real Duku's as possible," Zordon answered before everyone turned their attention back to Tommy.
"Surrender and join me young Jedi, or feel the power of The Dark Side," Duku said his voice smooth and elegant but intimidating at the same time.
"Your faith in The Dark Side, and in your master is misplaced, Duku," Tommy said as he dropped into a fighting stance, but, did not draw his lightsaber.
"Very well, young fool," Duku said as he held his right hand out to his side and flicked his wrist as if slapping the air. When he did, a large canister was ripped from the wall and sent flying at Tommy. Tommy held up his right hand stopping the canister, and a slit second later used The Force to push it back at Duku, who spun gracefully out of the way his cape flowing around him as he did so. The older man looked at the ceiling and held up his hands and brought them down hard. Tommy looked up when he heard the horrendous sound of wrenching metal. He raised his arms, again calling on The Force to stop the support Duku had ripped from the ceiling and threw it at the old man. Duku however, flipped over the metal beam and landed gracefully in nearly the same spot he had jumped from. Duku sneered at Tommy as he held out his hand, fingertips pointed at the young Jedi.
"Whoa!" Kat yelled as she and the others watched lighting bolts erupt from Duku's fingertips. Tommy held up his right hand and a blue-white light appeared in front of his palm. Like with Goldar's energy projectiles, the lightning vanished into his hand.
"Your knowledge of The Force is impressive, young one. I wonder, however," Duku began as he held his right hand out to his side and a silver and black distinctively curved lightsaber hilt flew to it. Duku activated it bringing the blood-red blade to life. He moved the blade in an X pattern before spinning it in his hand and holding it vertically in front of his face. "how is your skill with a lightsaber?" Tommy said nothing, he only used The Force to call his saber to his hand and activated the green blade.
"So are all of those things either green or red?" Monica asked.
"No, Mrs. Oliver," Billy said. "According to what information I've been able to gather from Tommy's Holocron, by the time of The Clone Wars, an event that Darth Sidious instigated to bring about the end of The Republic and Jedi Order, blue and green were by far the most prevalent among the Jedi. However, many colors of blades were possible, it depended entirely on how the Kyber Crystal at the heart of the blade reacted to the Jedi it chose."
"What?" William asked speaking the question on everyone's mind.
"Lightsabers are caused by energy passing through a Kyber Crystal, a naturally occurring crystal embued naturally with Force Energy. As such, they are subject to what The Jedi called 'The Will of The Force.' So for a crystal to be usable, presumably it had to react to a given Jedi. In the times of what are called The Old, and High Republic respectively, there are several variations of lightsaber blade colors that have become non-existent."
"And the red? is that some holdover from those times?
"No," Kat answered drawing knowing smirks from the other rangers. "What?" she asked.
"Been doing a little light reading, Kat?" Trini asked playfully nudging Kat.
"I've taken an interest," Kat answered trying not to sound too defensive. "Anyway, Dad, to answer your question, red crystals didn't occur naturally, at least not according to the information in the Holocron. Red crystals were corrupted by Sith Lords who poured all of their hate, rage, fear, and sorrow into it. They called it 'bleeding' the crystal."
"Hey, they're starting," Heather said nervously.
Down in the training room Tommy and Duku slowly circled one another. Duku stood with his right foot one step forward, his right side turned ever so slightly towards Tommy. he held his blade downward in his right hand, his free hand resting on his left hip. Tommy stood with his right foot forward, lightsaber held in both hands blade angled upward and across his body. Slowly he stepped toward Duku who smirked at him before his blade came up quickly at a sharp angle. Tommy moved his lightsaber to parry Duku's stab knocking it wide. He then slashed his blade down and across his body attempting to cut the Holographic Sith Lord Down. With speed uncommon of such an old man, Duku spun his red blade with deft precision, ultimately sending Tommy's own strike wide. Duku snarled as he swiped low at Tommy's right foot. He quickly lifted it, dodging the blade as he flipped his lightsaber into a reverse grip, and quickly spun. As he did, he tried a horizontal slash which Duku evaded by jumping back and gliding gracefully through the air before landing three feet back.
"I commend you, young Jedi. Such fine swordsmanship in one so young, Surely Yoda himself would be impressed."
"He was," Tommy replied before the duel began again. Up above in the observation room, the other rangers and their parents watched the duel. The rangers and Kat's parents looked on in awe, and the rest of the parents in horror at what they were seeing. Both had used some kind of mythic power on each other and now fought with glowing laser swords.
"Wow, I can't believe that the same weapon can be used so differently," Kat thought as she watched the duel unfold. both combatants stabbed and slashed at one another. Each time the blade was blocked, parried, or evaded only to have their own blade turned away. In her time since becoming a ranger herself, she had learned to recognize different fighting styles. She trained with each of her fellow rangers however she thought Jason and Tommy were the best teachers in the group.
Her thoughts drifted back to Tommy's training duel with the holographic image of Obi-Wan Kenobi. That duel was something right out of a fantasy novel or action-adventure movie. The two blades moved at lighting-fast speed, crashing together. Her thoughts then went to the very real and very deadly duel just hours ago in her front yard. Vader used his size and strength augmented by both The Force and his cybernetics to bash at Tommy's guard trying desperately to break it. So much so, that in an odd way made her think of a bullfight. Vader the rampaging bull, intent on death and destruction. Tommy the skilled matador, staying just out of death's reach. What she saw now, reminded her of the fencing matches she had seen during her time training for and competing in The Pan Global Games. The two warriors moved their blades in quick, efficient, precise, and most of all, elegant movements. Where in the two previous duels, the energy swords would clash together and crackle loudly and occasionally lock together in shows of strength, here they lightly touched and rarely locked together at all.
"This is unreal," James said as he watched his son stab at the older man three times, each strike knocked away with masterful skill. When the old man went on the offensive again Tommy began moving his own blade in defensive arcs knocking aside the crimson blade. "Come on Tommy, you can do it," James said willing his son on.
"Don't worry Mr. Oliver," Kat said, "Duku's lightsaber can't do anything more than a minor burn. Besides he's got this, look closely at their faces."
"Hey, she's right, look," Jason said as they watched Tommy spin gracefully away from Duku. His face was covered in sweat, but he was calm, allowing The Force to flow through him and guide him. Duku on the other hand looked to be frustrated. He was not used to having his swordsmanship matched by anyone other than his current master Darth Sidious, and his former Jedi Master, Yoda. He lunged wildly at Tommy, to have the green lightsaber meet his own. Tommy pushed the red blade aside, then moved it over Duku's blade and over the other side where he pulled the blade back across his body pushing Duku's along the way with it. Then with a sharp upward motion and a push back the other way, he disarmed The Sith Lord.
"Surrender," Tommy said pointing the tip of his blade at Dukue's chest as the metallic clank of the curved hilt hitting the floor behind him filled the air. Duku however turned his hand over, summoning his weapon. Sensing the danger, Tommy lept into the air flipping over the ignited sword and catching the curved hilt in his left hand. As soon as he landed he flicked his left wrist slicing of Duku's now outreached hand with his own weapon. He did not scream. Instead, he looked in shock at the stub where his hand had once been. He grabbed it as if in pain as the holographic image of Duku faded from existence.
"That was incredible bro!" Jason said excitedly as he offered up a high five when he and the other rangers exited the elevator into the training room.
"Thanks, man," Tommy said only slightly winded despite how sweaty he was. "Alpha, Zordon, you there?" he asked looking up towards the observation room.
"Of course Tommy," Alpha's voice responded over the loudspeaker.
"Has the data disc from General Reikeen been installed yet?"
"Yes, with no issues."
"Good," Tommy said with a nod before turning his attention to his team. "Guys, I don't think it will be long before we end up with The Rebellion again. And, maybe it's insight from The Force, or maybe it's experience. But, something tells me Zedd saw the fight with Vader. If Zedd and Sidious should team up we'd be in serious trouble."
"We're in this together, you know that," Kat said with a smile.
"That we are," Tommy said with a nod. "I think we should make an effort to be capable of several aspects of fighting in the rebellion. So today I was thinking we would learn to fly and fight in Incom T-65 starfighters, more commonly called 'X-wings.'" The other rangers looked at one another excitedly at the prospect of learning to fly a space fighter. something that even with being rangers, they not long ago, would have thought impossible.
"I must admit, I have been hoping for an opportunity like this ever since we battled The Empire along side The Rebels on Dantooine," Billy said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.