Staring intently over the blue clad shoulder, Skull couldn't help the smile dancing at the corners of his lips despite the potential gravity of their situation. Being able to see Billy in person again was a dream come true; he'd never dared to hope that he could reach out and touch his love once more. But there he stood now in Finster-5's lab, his eyebrows scrunched in concentration as he analyzed the readings displayed on the monitor.
For his part the Blue Ranger could feel the sweat gathering at his temples, heart starting to race, his focus zeroed in on the data. The readings were eerily similar to that of the deceased Lord Drakkon. The random spikes scattered throughout were even more powerful than the tyrant's and marked the difference between the two readouts.
However, there was yet another surprise buried under the dissonance.
Sighing, the genius turned to face the gathered group; he nervously wiped his glasses on the hem of his shirt. He had both good news and bad news to report. Well, possible good news.
The team assembled in the lab consisted of Kimberly, Bulk, Trini, Zack, Tommy, Jason, Finster-5, and Skull. The older Zack pointedly remained at a distance from Jason and Tommy even though he kept stealing glances at the Red Omega. Yes, he was pissed as all hell that he was going to marry Drakkon's alter, but it didn't mean that he didn't ache to snatch the teen in a tearful hug. Trini kept a reassuring hand on his slumped shoulder, grounding him in the swirl of painful emotions.
Blue eyes settled on each face one by one as Billy returned his glasses to the bridge of his nose.
"Guys, I have to agree with Finster-5. These energy readings from the time of the attack are that of Lord Drakkon, but these large spikes? They greatly exceed any expended by our former villain," he began.
Zack was in disbelief.
"Wait! So, you're saying that motherfucker isn't space dust?" he cried.
Billy held up a hand.
"Specifically, the signature is a match to his morpher, the Black Dragon coin. Only it's more powerful than before. Whether the entity wielding this power is actually Drakkon or something else is unknown," he explained.
Kimberly frowned.
"So his morpher is intact and was floating around for someone or something to grab? It wasn't the most stable when it was just the green and white powers fused. I don't understand how its suddenly more powerful?" she stammered, waving a hand in frustration.
Billy shrugged; he hated not having all the answers but the Blue Ranger did have more.
"I was able to locate the last coordinates the canine appeared," he stated, pointing to a screen displaying a small blue orb. "Here. It's a planet similar to our own and not too far away. The creature has attacked at a steady pace, but after it was present on this planet, it hasn't returned."
Pressing a few buttons on the console, the main display depicting the energy signatures shifted to add a third spiked line underneath the first set.
"What's that?" Tommy asked, pointing to the newest data set.
Billy felt a small smile play across his lips.
"This data here was hidden in the middle of this unknown set from the canine attack. I almost missed it but it stood out because it too is similar to one I've come to know anywhere," he answered, approaching the monitor.
"It's almost the same as Grid energy," he announced, trying to keep excitement out of his voice. "Only, it's also more powerful."
Jason's eyes sparkled in understanding.
"Billy, are you saying there's another Ranger? One that was on that planet with the alien dog? Maybe that's why it hasn't reappeared. It was destroyed," he asked. "Maybe it's over?"
The Blue Ranger's blonde hair brushed his frames as he shook his head.
"Negative, Jason. The creature wasn't destroyed. The energy signature faded as before. It didn't abruptly end like when a monster is decimated."
Kimberly tapped her fingers on a nearby metal table.
"How long would it take to reach this planet? So we can check things out ourselves? I'd like to know if there's a Power Ranger out there we don't know about. Especially with that asshole's morpher unaccounted for," she posed to Billy.
Billy deftly punched a few buttons.
"We can reach the planet in approximately two hours, maybe one and half if we pushed it," he answered. "I am in agreement that we need to see what's happening there."
Kimberly turned to face the others in the group, her face tensed, knowing that emotions were high with the discovery of Drakkon's energy signature, the canine attacks, and the news of the Red Omega and White Ranger's engagement. Truthfully, she wasn't sure how she really felt about it, hadn't had time to process it really with the bigger issue at hand.
She turned to look at Zack and Trini, her eyes bright and expression firm.
"Anything remotely involving that asshole, I'm there," she declared. "But I need steady heads here in case that creature comes back here for some reason. It was definitely looking for something in that wing. Can I count on you guys to hold down the fort without me?"
Bulk put a large hand on her shoulder and turned the Slayer to face him.
"Are you sure it's a good idea? What if something happens to you? People are looking to you for leadership now," he reminded her, his loving expression breaking her heart.
She nodded briskly.
"Yes, I have experience handling anything Drakkon related. But I suppose we're leaning towards his morpher being in the wrong hands. That asshole's dead. I can't see anyway he would have made it."
Bulk kissed her lips gently.
"I knew you'd say that, but I had to try. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you," he whispered tenderly.
Tommy and Jason exchanged a look at seeing this version of Bulk so gentle and romantic. Their Kimberly would probably be stunned to see her alternate self in a serious relationship with Farkas Bulkmier. Jason felt sure it was by far better than being in the older Rangers' position of seeing him with the White Ranger. The undertones of Drakkon and Red's relationship had a sexual charge that appeared confirmed to a large degree by the asshole himself taunting Tommy.
When first meeting with Skull after the dust settled, the former Red Sentry was happy to answer questions the pair had about their alternate selves. He'd confirmed everything Drakkon had chronicled, pointing out that he hadn't worked his way into the Red Sentries for much of Red's early days.
"I was told my first day on duty to not even ask questions about him, about who he was, or what Drakkon might or might not being doing with him," Skull recalled, eyes lifting to the sky as he thought back. "I only knew him as Red and I definitely did not recognize Jason at all. It wasn't just the shaggy grey hair and beard. His facial expressions, his body language, his whole…. I don't know… 'aura' was different."
Tommy's guilt had settled heavily on his shoulders despite not being the cause of Red's suffering or eventual madness. He couldn't bring his eyes to meet Jason's. Feeling his best friend put a reassuring hand on his shoulder brought tears.
"Red was timid and fearful in those early years when I first had the pleasure to make his acquaintance," Skull went on. "Over time, his mental health took a deep dive. Getting him ready to travel for fights? I knew guys who lost limbs because of his aggressive behavior. He didn't talk much but when he did? Downright bonkers. Besides the cussing and swearing, of course."
The Red Omega swallowed nervously, thinking how close he had probably come to suffering the same fate. The older man hadn't seemed overly vile or hateful to him at the time he was stuffed into the escape pod, but the former Red Ranger had the veil ripped away from Drakkon's lies.
"That poor man," Tommy whispered, sniffing and cheeks flaming in shame.
Skull had given him a friendly ruffle to his long hair; he was one of the few who didn't seem put off by Tommy and Drakkon's shared appearance.
"It wasn't you, Tommy. And Drakkon created his own prison with that one. Let me tell you. As much as he thought himself in control and in power, Red wasn't completely powerless himself. Drakkon was so mesmerized with his pet, he didn't realize all the times he fell prey to Red's wiles. He knew just how far he could push that asshole, how to string him down the rabbit trail chasing his wild ass."
He laughed pleasantly.
"It was like the other Sentries said. Those two were a match made in hell. No offense to you guys."
When you viewed it like that, Jason could see how the Coinless would be offended by his relationship with his lover. The descent into insanity their Jason had taken due to Drakkon's 'affections' made this version a perverted sideshow.
Tommy's voice cut into Jason's musing.
"I'm there," he said firmly. "Just in case."
He turned to his Red Omega, bracing himself for Jason's outrage when he heard what the White Ranger planned to say next.
"Jase, I want you to go back to our universe and wait with the others," he ventured hesitantly.
The Red Omega's eyes widened in anger.
"What? No way! I'm not letting you go out there without me!" he yelled indignantly.
The White Ranger turned his boyfriend to face him; he cupped Jason's jaw gently.
"I almost lost you once," he whispered. "I couldn't bear it if something happened, if this situation has anything to do with Drakkon."
Zack spoke up now, surprisingly agreeing with the long-haired man.
"He's right, Jason," he stated. "Those two seem to be obsessed with their Red Rangers. Drakkon might take off with you again."
Jason moved to approach the former Black Ranger when the man in question raised his hands passively.
"Look, Jase, I'm not trying to sound like a dick here. I just think you should sit this one out. If Tommy gets distracted worrying about you…" he trailed off, spreading his arms.
The Omega wasn't about to give in so easily however.
"I thought we all agreed that it was Drakkon's morpher making the energy signature, not Drakkon himself, since he's obviously dead," he snarled, pointing at the readout on the monitor.
Tommy sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He knew his boyfriend was bullishly stubborn and not about to give it. At least if he was with Tommy, the White Ranger could keep an eye on him. Billy had said the canine hadn't reappeared; it was possible this new Ranger had dispatched it already.
"Jason, you're not going to give up easily, are you, love?" he tried one last time.
The Omega shook his head resolutely and crossed his arms.
"Absolutely not. I can take care of myself, Tommy," he answered.
Zack rolled his eyes and couldn't help the anger welling up inside.
"If I recall correctly, Jason, Drakkon almost took care of you last time. And Tommy was way too smitten with our Red Ranger," he snarked.
Trini's grip on his shoulder tightened and she pulled him to face her.
"That's a low blow, Zack," she scolded.
"Their whole relationship is a low blow! You know what, Jason? Go. Go with Tommy and try not to get yourself killed. Because I promise you as someone who knows, your death never gets any easier!" he yelled, jerking himself away from Trini and shoving his way toward the Omega.
Jason braced for a blow and was taken by surprise when the former Ranger hugged him fiercely, almost lifting him from the ground.
"Losing Jason and Billy the first round broke our spirits. Losing Jason a second time has damn near killed us. You have no idea," he whispered harshly into Jason's ear.
He released the younger Ranger and proceeded to swipe tears from his eyes. With a glare towards Tommy, he warned venomously.
"Don't you dare let anything happen to him!"
Then he was gone, out the door with a slam that shook the walls.
Kimberly had stood silent, letting her friend speak his mind and she now grasped both of Bulk's hands.
"Keep an eye on him. I don't guess I need to tell you that," she said with a sad smile.
Giving her a wink, Bulk reassured his partner.
"You know me. Mother hen. Trini and I got him," he smiled.
Nodding, Kimberly looked back to the others and drew a deep breath.
"Alright, so Jason, Tommy, Billy, and myself are going?"
She gave a look towards Skull, wanting to allow him to make his own decision. He always kept a calm and collected head when shit hit the fan and she secretly hoped he would accompany the group on this mysterious excursion.
"You're asking me if I want to go on an asshole hunt with my favorite people? Count me in!" he laughed, eyes twinkling as he cast a fond look at Billy that didn't go unnoticed by the Ranger Slayer.