"So?" Kimberly Hart, soon to be director of Grid Battleforce, asked as Billy drove away from the Oliver Estate. "How'd it go?"
"I didn't ask him," Billy said simply.
"Why not?" Kim's voice came out through the Radbug2's speakers. "We could really use someone with his experience."
"The man's had enough," Billy said. "He wants to enjoy some peace and quiet. Can't say I blame him."
"No rest for the wicked." Kim said with a touch of humor.
"Affirmative," Billy replied coldly enough for him to feel Kim tense up from the other end of the call.
"So… what's next?"
"We prepare."
"Without Tommy, who's going to train the new recruits?"
"You will."
There was a moment of tense silence. "Me?" Kim asked. "Are you sure? I mean, I've never done anything like that. Am I even qualified?"
"Of course you are," Billy said. "When Zordon chose us he wasn't just thinking about Rita. He was thinking about whatever came next. Each and every one of us is capable of passing on what he taught us."
"You sound like whatever happened between you and Tommy aged you by fifty years."
"It made me realize something," Billy admitted. "Our team is gone. Long gone. But what we have left is what Zordon taught us. And that's what's going to save us in the end."
"You sound confident in that."
"I am," Billy lied. "Because if not we're doomed."
Three months later…
"So… this is really it…" Tommy said in a sort of distant way as he loaded the last box into the moving truck.
"It is," Kat agreed. She turned to Tommy and asked him, "Are you gonna be okay?"
The man who'd saved the world more than anyone else gave a tired sigh. "I'll have to be."
Kat nodded, and tried not to feel guilty.
Divorce was never easy, at least that's what her lawyer had advised her.
But this wasn't a normal divorce. It left her feeling like she was betraying her best friend, and throwing away years of her life.
Tommy set the box down and after a brief pause he rolled down the truck door. He turned to face her, a lost look plastered on his face.
"I'm sorry," she said and pulled her former husband into a tight hug. "You know I still love you. I just… can't keep feeling like an attachment. Like just Tommy's wife."
"You know I never saw you like that," he whispered in her ear.
She sighed, trying not to get frustrated at the fact she'd have to repeat this tired conversation. "I know. But how you feel isn't the issue."
They stayed embraced for several long moments, and in a small way Kat wished they never had to part. But in the end she pulled away and said. "I gotta go. They're waiting for me at the base."
"Right," Tommy said. "SPA…"
"Oh stop it," Kat said with an eye roll. "I know how you feel about Kruger but in the last few months alone we've pushed the Pirate Comporium back to the edge of allianged space. We're finally undoing everything Dark Spectre caused."
"But at what cost?" Tommy asked. "How long before they run out of enemies to campaign against and that old dog starts chasing his own tail?"
"Tommy…"
The former ranger looked away, "I'm sorry… I'm just worried about you."
"And I'll be fine. I have Aisha and Rocky. I even hear they're working on bringing Adam on board."
"Sounds like old times," Tommy said with a distant look.
"You know if you ever change your mind they'll take you in a heartbeat," Kat said.
Tommy said nothing, just gave her a defeated look.
Kat turned away from the man she'd given her vows to. She couldn't afford to let his gloom infect her.
"Make sure J.J doesn't stay up too late," Kat warned him. "Summers coming to end and middle school is gonna kick him in the butt."
Tommy smirked. "I know." He turned around, back towards their house. After a moment he turned back towards her and spoke again. "Y'know… it's going to be rough without you. But in the end I'd rather you do what makes you happy."
Kat nodded. "Thank you."
What hurt the most in that moment was how badly she wanted to kiss him, just one last time. But she knew that wouldn't be fair. All it would do is germinate false hope.
"If you ever need me," Tommy said.
"I know," Kat finished, then added, "Same to you."
The two shared one last silent glance as the finality of the situation settled between them. This was Kat's last chance to take it all back. But back wasn't an option. Only forward.
"I love you," Kat said in a soft voice as she headed towards the door of the truck.
"I love you too," Tommy replied.
It broke her heart, but Kat opened the truck door and climbed inside.
Three Years Later…
Tommy Oliver shut the door of his SUV and sighed. Another long day of preparing his classroom for the next crop of students passed, and a night of beer and late night t.v awaited.
The silence was deafening as he opened his front door. No doubt J.J was over at Trini's house hanging out with Minh.
It had been nearly a month since his son had spent an evening at home, and when he did he was usually pent up in his bedroom.
Tommy felt a pang of sorrow, he missed the nights they spent together watching old movies on the couch.
The rational part of his brain said that this was the natural course all teens took, but the small dark corner of his mind where awful thoughts linger told him otherwise.
It was the divorce, J.J blamed him for it.
Tommy wouldn't even fault the boy if that was the case. After all, J.J wasn't privy to their past as Rangers. He couldn't even hope to understand the baggage that plagued his parents' marriage. It was unfair, but it was how it had to be, and as a result Tommy would gladly take the brunt of his son's disdain.
"I was wondering when you'd finally come home. Hahaha!"
Tommy practically felt his stomach hit the hardwood floor. He knew that voice, knew it from the nightmares that had plagued him for years.
The Wizard of Deception lounged in Tommy's recliner.
"It's been quite some time, old friend, how's the bachelor life going for you?"
Tommy thought about the Morpher sitting in the lockbox under his bed. Damn it. Why'd locking it up seem like such a good idea at the time?
"What do you want?" Tommy demanded of the wizard.
"To offer you a deal."
Tommy frowned. "Get the hell out of my house."
"Ouch," the wizard said with feigned pain. "After all we've been through and you won't even hear me out… I guess you don't care about your son either."
Tommy tensed. "Is that a threat?"
The Wizard laughed. "A threat? No. That would imply whatever happened was premeditated. No, my dear Thomas. This is post-meditated."
Tommy Oliver suppressed the urge to beat the greasy wizard to a bloody pulp.
"Now I have your attention," the Wizard said with a smile. "You see, last time I visited you, I left you a little surprise."
"What did you leave?"
"Nothing too bad," the wizard replied. "I just imbued a teeny tiny bit of chaos energy into your precious little boy. "
Tommy was on the wizard in an instant. His recliner crashed to the ground as Tommy wrapped his hands around the Wizard of Deception's throat. "Reverse what you did. NOW!"
"I intend to," the wizard choked out. "Assuming we can come to an agreement."
"You know, I could have every Ranger in a fifty mile radius here in a few minutes flat," Tommy warned.
"And it wouldn't do an ounce of good," the wizard retorted. "The chaos inside of him has been slowly growing, festering, and soon it'll finally manifest itself. If it hasn't already. Without me you can't purge it."
"I can be pretty persuasive," Tommy growled.
In that moment he wasn't Dr.Oliver, mildly grumpy science teacher, instead he was the same vessel of raw unfiltered rage he'd been during his time as Rita's Ranger.
"Nevertheless, you can't afford to solve this problem so undiplomatically.
Tommy seethed. "What do you want?"
"A trade," the wizard said simply. "I will release your son in exchange for you."
"Over my dead body," Tommy growled.
"Oh really? You'd condemn your son to such an unsavory fate in the name of self preservation?"
For a split second Tommy almost gave in. The momentary guilt was suffocating, and the paternal urges were far louder than anything resembling logic.
"Sorry, but I'm not falling that," Tommy said. "I know that even if I give in there's no guarantee you'll commit to your end of the bargain."
"What other choice do you have?" The Wizard of Deception asked.
"I'll stop you before you can take him," Tommy said.
"Hahaha! Are you sure about that?"
"You can count on it."
"Very well," the wizard said. "I suppose we shall see."
Suddenly the Wizard was nothing but rolling smoke.
After a moment Tommy finally calmed down enough to pull himself up. That damn wizard. Why did he have to drag J.J into this?
Deep breaths…
The former ranger used every ounce of willpower not to scream and punch a hole into the nearest wall. Giving into his anger would basically be the same thing as letting the greasy bastard win.
He needed to be careful and calculated. J.J couldn't afford him screwing this up.
Tommy knew, no matter what, he couldn't do this alone.
His mind raced through people he could contact. His first thought was Kat, but with a pang of guilt he dismissed it. She was far too busy and he was worried she'd wrap SPA into it somehow. Then he considered Anton, but no that didn't feel right anyway
Billy would make the most sense. He was the smartest person Tommy knew, and had all the right connections.
Tommy had settled on him as he grabbed his cellphone and began to search his contacts.
Then he paused. His finger hovered over a name he hadn't seen in years. For a moment time stopped, then Tommy tapped on the number.
It rang for a while, and just when Tommy convinced himself it was going to go to voicemail a familiar voice picked up on the other end.
"Hey Jase," Tommy said in a shaky voice. "It's me. I need your help."
A/N: Thank you everyone who's taken the time to read this! To uncover the next chapter of the story read Dino Charge: Rise of the Next Generation!
