Author's Note: Own no one. Saban owns the Power Rangers.
Zordon smiled down at the little robot that was working diligently on the computer consoles. Alpha 5 hummed happily as he worked…some song one of the Rangers had played on a radio when the Viewing Globe had lit up spontaneously one time showing the Rangers at their favorite hangout.
He had watched as Alpha watched the scene in interest. After his last disastrous attempt to go outside and enjoy the sunshine the android had resigned himself to never being able to leave again.
Before Rita's escape Alpha had been able to go outside and, even though he couldn't feel it, enjoy the sun's rays and the peacefulness it brought. He had also enjoyed the stars at night.
Now he was trapped inside all the time and constantly working and on alert for any danger. Zordon knew Alpha skipped charging every night and only shut himself down for rest when he was forced to.
The old sage had a plan. Alpha was going to have a day off. He had planned it with the Rangers. This one was special because according to all of the calendars the next day was Alpha's birthday…so to speak. The day he was created.
Zordon's gift was to use a spell to turn Alpha human for 24 hours. The Rangers would spend the day with him and that night they'd camp out near the Command Center. Sometime that night they'd bring Alpha inside where a party would be held!
There were even going to be some special guests in attendance: Jason, Trini, and Zach would teleport in.
As to what Alpha would look like the Rangers had all brought up ideas. They ultimately decided on a caucasian boy with black hair and blue eyes. He would be dressed in a pair of jeans, a red t-shirt with a lightning bolt on the front, and a pair of sneakers.
Zordon just hoped that Zedd and Rita didn't get any bright ideas and ruin Alpha's day of fun. He could just imagine how angry the Rangers would be.
It would quite possibly be the quickest battle they've ever fought simply because they'd want to get it over with and keep Alpha safe.
Speaking of Alpha, his companion finished his checks as his movements began to get stiff.
"Forget your oil again?" Zordon asked amused. "You'd best go and rest a moment."
Alpha looked at him, optic sensors flashing! "You know me! I get on on a task and I get it finished one way or another!"
Zordon chuckled! "All too well I'm afraid! Now go on…take a break."
"Aye yi yi! Yes sir!" Alpha said as he left for a room just off to the side, a storage room that was in a way his "bedroom".
Zordon shook his head with a fond smile.
That night Zordon told Alpha to shut down for the night and get some rest. As the night passed Zordon tapped into the Morphin Grid and used it to perform the spell. What now sat against the console in Alpha's place was the child the Rangers had come up with, fast asleep.
Zordon contacted the Rangers and they teleported in. The six teens smiled as they situated Alpha into a sleeping bag they had brought and put a pillow under his head. He watched as Kimberly and Aisha laid on either side of Alpha and held him, promising protection. Rocky, Adam, and Tommy sat nearby. Billy took a seat near the women and reached over, running a hand through the boy's hair.
'Alpha has no idea how loved he truly is,' Zordon thought as he watched over Alpha and the Rangers…his children.
The night passed peacefully and in the morning Alpha woke up confused as to why the Rangers were there! They just smiled at him.
"Look at your hands," Tommy said.
Alpha did as he was told and stilled in shock! He moved hsi hands around his new body as well as his face! "Aye yi yi! Am I…human?!"
Zordon chuckled! "Yes…Alpha for the next 24 hours you are human."
Kimberly grinned and pulled out her mirror to show him his face! "You're so cute!"
Alpha's eyes were wide in shock as he looked at his reflection! "H-how? Why?"
"Happy birthday Alpha 5," Zordon said with a chuckle. "Today is your day off. Enjoy it."
"Are you sure you'll be ok?" Alpha asked. "I don't want to leave you alone!"
"I will be perfectly fine. I will meditate unless I am needed."
Billy smiled as he put his hands on Alpha's shoulders and helped him to stand up! "We'll take good care of him Zordon!"
Zordon chuckled! "I have no fear of that! All of you enjoy yourselves!"
Alpha smiled up at Zordon. "Thank you so much!"
"You are very welcome Alpha," Zordon said returning the smile.
The Rangers took Alpha to the park first where they taught him how to play soccer, where Tommy couldn't help but joke about "monkeying around" leading to an explanation about the Primator much to Alpha's embarrassment!
"Hey you didn't get into too much trouble for that did you?" Billy asked.
Alpha rubbed the back of his neck wit ha sheepish grin! "Well…Zordon yelled at me after you all left!"
"Well…good because you scared us that day!" Kimberly said hugging him. "We love you!"
"But…I'm a machine…" Alpha said.
"A fully functional SENTIENT automaton…" Billy said. "You are so much more than a mere machine."
"You're our friend," Rocky said with a smirk. "Our kid brother that if anybody is stupid enough to touch they'd get their butts kicked!"
The Rangers nodded in agreement and Alpha looked at each one! "That…I love you all too…!"
They continued to play. At one point Rocky tagged Alpha and got him to chase him to the nearby playground! Alpha may not have been fast or very agile but he managed to catch him by surprise by jumping out from a hiding spot!
From there they moved to the swings where Kim and Aisha showed him how to use it. Alpha quickly got the hang of it and was thoroughly enjoying himself!
That is…until Bulk and Skull showed up.
"What are you dweebs doing?" Bulk asked.
"Hey Bulkie look! They got a kid with them!" Skull said with a smirk.
Alpha looked over! He stopped the swing. "Uh oh…Aye yi yi…!"
Tommy glared at the bullies. "You two can just go away!"
"Who's the kid?" Bulk smirked as he approached them. "Someone's little brat brother?"
Mama Bear Aisha stood in front of Alpha as Kimberly hugged the boy. Both women were outright glaring at the two bullies!
The male rangers stood between the bullies and their friends with crossed arms, muscles tight ready to fight if need be!
As usual the bullies backed down and left.
Alpha breathed a sigh of relief! "Aye yi yi yi yi!"
Rocky looked at him with a slight frown before perking up! "Hey I got an idea! Let's go to Ernie's! Alpha can try one of the shakes!"
It had the desired effect. Alpha brightened! "I've always wanted to go there…!" He grinned! "Well…when its not Halloween!"
Billy smirked and Kim burst into giggles as they remembered that day!
As they walked to the Juice Bar Alpha was practically vibrating with excitement and happiness. Upon getting to a crosswalk Billy held his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
As they crossed none of them knew that Zedd and Rita were watching from the moon, a dark plan forming between them.
"So Zordon turned his little robot into a kid," Zedd said in thought. He turned to Goldar. "Bring the boy to me! Alpha 5 is the perfect hostage! The Rangers will never want him harmed!"
Rita smirked. "WIth a little dark magic we could turn him evil…and he could be our heir!"
"Excellent idea! Even if the change is temporary it will still break the hearts of the Power Rangers and Zordon!"
Meanwhile back in Angel Grove Ernie smiled as he served Alpha one of his famous shakes! "They got you babysitting these rowdy kids huh?" He winked at him. "They do need someone to keep them out of trouble!"
Alpha giggled as the Rangers laughed with a shrug! "Thank you Sir!"
"Sir?!" Ernie said in mock outrage. "I'm not old and in the grave yet!" He chuckled. "SO what's your name Kid?"
Alpha looked at the Rangers a little nervous. His name wasn't exactly common among the humans…
Tommy thought fast. "It's Al…short for uh…Alfred!"
The others mentally facepalmed as Alpha nodded quickly to agree with him!
When Ernie left Rocky looked at Tommy. "Alfred? Really?"
"It was the first thing that came to my mind that was close to Alpha!" Tommy said in defense.
As they enjoyed the shakes Alpha looked around with a smile. No wonder the Rangers loved it here so much. It was warm and inviting…friendly and lively…
He was used to mostly silence except for the occasional sound of beeping from the consoles. For 10,000 years that was the only sound in the Command Center. Once all of the Zords were built and operational, the weapons ready for use, and the Power Coins ready for their respective Power Rangers the robot had nothing to do but maintain everything. Zordon would occasionally pop in to check on everything but would go back to his meditations leaving Alpha alone.
To pass the time Alpha would use the Viewing Globe to watch the humans. He would watch plays from theaters and when television and movies were invented he'd watch those too. It broke the monotony while he worked.
Now that he thought about it it probably wasn't for the best. It made him long for the relationships humans had with each other. Made him wish he was a part of a family.
"Hey…you ok?"
Alpha blinked out of his thoughts and looked at Billy. "I'm fine! Sorry! Got lost in thought!"
"About what?" Adam asked kindly.
Alpha looked at each of them. "It's…it's silly…not important!"
Kimberly put an arm around him. "It's important to you."
"Just…this place is so amazing! So…there's so much life here…so many other people to talk to and make friends with!" Alpha chuckled. "Just…not used to it is all. I'm fine I promise! I'm having so much fun!"
"Good! That's the point of today!" Tommy said.
"So…what's next?" Alpha asked curiously.
"Well…"
Before Tommy could finish Puddies and Goldar teleported in and began wreaking havoc! Patrons ran screaming and soon emptied out the building!
Ernie glared at them! "Get out of my business! You're scaring away my customers!"
"I'm just here for one boy," Goldar said smirking at the Rangers.
"Alpha…hide!" Rocky said as he and the other Rangers began fighting the Puddies! Alpha wasted no time as he ducked behind the counter with Ernie! "Aye yi yi yi yi!"
Ernie put his arm around him! "Hey…its ok! Your friends are great fighters!" He leaned to Alpha's ear. "I wouldn't be surprised if they were the Power Rangers!"
Alpha stiffened as he looked at him! "O-oh?"
Ernie winked at him with a grin! "I have kept many secrets that the kids tell me and whatever I figure out stays with me."
Goldar took the opportunity to approach the counter and smash his sword against it! "Come on out ALPHA 5!"
Alpha yelped and Ernie wrapped his arms around him! "Shh…! It's gonna be ok!"
The Rangers heard him and turned their attention to Goldar!
"Leave him alone!" Aisha screamed in anger.
Goldar reached over the counter and grabbed Alpha by the hair! With a mighty yank he tore the boy out of Ernie's arms and threw him over the counter and to the floor! Alpha let out a pain filled yell as Goldar let go! The monster then grabbed his arm! "I have what I came for! Lord Zedd and Empress Rita has plans for you!"
"NO!" The Rangers jumped at them but Goldar teleported away laughing wickedly.
The six teens stood there stunned for a moment before rushing out to a safe place and teleported to the Command Center.
Zordon was livid! His voice was deadly calm. "I saw everything Rangers."
"What'll we do?!" Tommy asked. "We gotta get him back!"
"I say we go in with the Zords and rescue him before Zedd and Rita do something to him!" Kimberly said worriedly. "We know what they're capable of!"
"Observe the Viewing Globe," Zordon said.
The Rangers nervously turned to see what was going on.
Alpha was thrown in front of Zedd and Rita! His eyes darted around to find some way to escape.
"So…why were you turned human?" Finster asked.
"None of your beezwax!" Alpha snapped making a smile flick across Kim's face for a second. Alpha had to have heard her say that in the past.
Zedd chuckled! "We can make it permanent you know? You would be our heir…our prince and part of our family…"
"Already got a family thanks!" Alpha replied with a glare.
Rita leaned down and put her hand under his chin. When he yanked his face away from her she grabbed it and made him meet her eyes! "Do you really think they care about you? A robot…a pile of metal, wires, and circuits? You are just Zordon's assistant. His slave…"
Alpha continued to glare. "You don't even know him! If he didn't care he wouldn't have given me today! If the Rangers didn't care they wouldn't have spent today with me!"
"One day. You were given ONE day in over 10,000 years," Zedd pointed out. "Choose to join us and you will never be left alone again."
"Right…instead I'd be treated like dirt like the way you treat everybody here!" He looked at Finster and Goldar! "Why do you let them abuse you? Finster you're from a peaceful planet! Squat! Baboo! You should give being good a try! Goldar…!"
SMACK!
Alpha was sent sideways as Zedd's staff hit him! He then screamed in pain as he was zapped by both Zedd and Rita!
Once it was over Alpha lay on the ground, pain filled tears fell from his eyes. His body now littered with marks from the blasts.
"Shut up you worthless little bucket of bolts!" Rita screeched. "How dare you speak to us this way!"
"Take him to the dungeon!" Zedd ordered. "That should adjust his attitude!"
The Rangers watched horrified as Alpha was picked up and taken to the dungeons. He was thrown into a cell and the door slammed shut!
"Zordon…I know you said to never escalate a battle…" Tommy said hands clenching.
The look on Zordon's face spoke volumes. "Rangers, this is the only time I will make an exception. Bring him home."
"IT'S MORPHIN' TIME!"
"WHITE TIGER!"
"MASTODON!"
"PTERODACTYL!"
"TRICERATOPS!"
"SABERTOOTH TIGER!"
"TYRANNOSAURUS!"
Zordon watched as they teleported away. "May the power protect you all…"
Zedd and Rita were about to learn just how big of a mistake they had just made!