Chapter I: Echoes of the Past
"KYAH!"
"Watch your form, guys!"
"KYAH!"
"Come on! You guys can be crisper than that!"
The dojo resonated with the intense regimen of practice, a symphony of determined breaths and the rhythmic smack of bare feet on polished wooden floors, faintly slick with the sheen of sweat from an afternoon's workout. Sunlight streamed through elevated windows, projecting elongated shadows that danced in concord with the smooth actions of the pupils.
The Scott Dojo was always like this on a Friday afternoon.
In the heart of the martial arts barrage stood Jason Lee Scott. His eyes were tracking every kick, every block, every disciplined gesture of his students, their gis whispering like leaves with each fluid movement, the discipline clear as they flowed through their forms. His beard, flecked with gray, scarcely concealed the pride that lined his face whenever one of his students executed a move flawlessly. This was his fervor now. This was his identity…
At times though, those glimpses of red flashed in his mind. His own reflection in the dojo mirrors was a bit distorted—a vestige of another life, seemingly from another era. The red uniform, power sword, and headgear…
"Sensei Scott?"
"Hmm?" Jason turned to his student Larry, startled out of his daydreaming.
"You've been frozen for about half a minute again... just waking you up like you tell me to do."
The young students in Jason's martial arts class laughed and giggled as their teacher slowly returned to the present moment. Jason felt a flush of embarrassment creep up his neck as it was happening again.
"Thanks, Larry… appreciate you having my back as always."
"Ride or die, Sensei Scott."
Bad habits die hard. The memories from his past kept invading his consciousness as they had for decades now, transporting him back to another time and place. The place and time that was once so positive, now a living nightmare in his mind. The laughter of his students pierced through the haze though, grounding him once more in the here and now… at least temporarily.
"Alright... let's get back to it, class!" Jason commanded, turning away from his reflection in the mirror. "Take it from the top!"
"Yes, Sensei Scott!" In perfect harmony, they responded, hands positioned by their sides, mimicking samurai warriors attentive to their leader's commands.
"Remember," Jason instructed, summoning up his signature voice of authority tempered by compassion. "Martial arts isn't about fighting others. It's about mastering yourself! Defeating the enemy within! The doubts… the negativity… the mistakes… all your… regrets… expel it all in the perfect technique!"
The words resonated through the dojo, echoing principles Jason himself was still struggling to embody. Principles he would need now more than ever just to keep himself sane. It sounded simple. Lead by example. Show the kids how to be strong and silent. Don't be the big talker… but carry a big stick.
The past made it so much harder than it sounded.
Twenty years and it truly hadn't gotten easier, Trini…
"HAH! KYAH!" The students completed their katas energetically, standing in the powerful stance Jason always instructed them to adopt.
"Excellent! That's what I want to see! Alright!" Jason encouraged them. "Great lesson today, everyone! Larry, lead the class in bows and fist bumps so we can get you all home for the weekend, alright?"
"Yes, Sensei Scott!" Larry responded eagerly with a bow, signaling for the class to line up to perform the traditional Jason Scott fist bump ceremony.
Jason could only beam at the camaraderie and unity these children displayed, Larry being the young leader of this class of his. It was just more nostalgia. The team spirit ingrained in them was what had been ingrained in him all those years ago... my, how long ago that was.
"Got these kids looking good, pops!"
"Hey kiddo... just in time to help close up, eh?"
"My timing is always perfect, ya know!"
Aria Scott walked into the dojo with her usual cheerfulness, her presence breaking up the serious mood as the class ended. She walked with grace that showed her fitness, her movement suggesting she'd spent many hours practicing dance and martial arts. Her energy was infectious; the young students' eyes lit up, as they always did when she arrived.
"Hey guys, you looked great today… Maya, your head kicks are getting crisper…" Aria gave the young blonde a high five, complimenting several others as they crowded around her… the 'big sis' of the dojo doing her thing.
Jason smirked to himself as he let her take the attention of his students, starting to get cleanup going so he could close up a bit quicker tonight. His daughter was always a bit of a ham when it came to attention… something he didn't instill in her… or so he hoped.
After the last of the kids split off to grab their bags and wait for their parents to pick them up, Aria snuck up behind her father with that big smile… like her mom.
"You know! I can't envision a finer way to spend my evening than helping you clean up the sweat and muck!" Aria said a bit too cheerily.
Jason noted that tone, the one of 'I want something and you're going to give it to me.' Knowing she desired something from him, Jason was going to play it cool. That characterized their relationship to a tee, and the details are what made Jason that great leader long ago… it was his patience and knowing when to put up his defenses.
"Alright, get to work, young lady..."
"Yessir, Dad sir!" Moving along gracefully, Aria joined him on the mats. They shifted in unison, each swipe of their cloths bringing them closer until they converged in the center.
"So how were classes today?" Aria asked, running her cloth along the smooth surface.
"Good. They're improving daily, especially Larry… I like that kid's moxie," Jason replied, his gaze following a group of students organizing equipment. "And how was your day?"
"Same old college grind." She shrugged, a playful sparkle in her eye. "Joined the Eco Committee for that Save the Earth Rally, ready to pop some Global Warming non-believers in their asses… and I did ace my presentation in History class—thanks for helping me set that up, Pops."
Jason chuckled. "No kicking people for their politics, girl… and History's straightforward when you've lived through half of it."
"I'm kidding about the butt kicking…" Aria laughed and playfully nudged him with her shoulder. "And you're not that old... old man."
With more chuckles, the mats clean and their task complete, they stood side-by-side—a father-daughter pair framed by discipline and affection. This was life after dojo class for Jason.
He really couldn't complain about this part of his life at all.
"So Dad... best Dad in the entire world… top five Dad ever in the history of mankind…" Aria started, her fingers nervously playing with the bottom of her top.
"Uh huh… who else is in the top five?" Jason glanced at her with accusing eyes, picking up on the change in her voice.
"… I dunno… what TV dad did you like… uh… Uncle Phil from Fresh Prince of Bel Air?" Aria threw her hands up. "… Is that '90s enough for you?"
"… Get to the point, dear…" Jason shook his head.
"So… I was just wondering... if it would be alright for me to go out with John tonight? We're planning to go to the Angel Grove fair! Please? It's the last night it's open!" She peered into his face, looking for any hint of disapproval.
"There it goes…"
"There goes what?"
"That enthusiasm earlier isn't for tidying up the place with your dear old dad, was it?" Jason almost laughed. "Come on, I knew you wanted something, Aria."
"Hehe… give me a break, Dad… I've been your good girl for ages. I'm practically an adult in college and I still bow to your authoritarian rule! John and I have been more than patient and fair."
"Maybe so… but I… I just don't trust that John kid."
"Really? And why's that? Because he's into martial arts… maintains stellar grades, steers clear of trouble… and he respects you immensely?" Aria sighed. "Dad, you always taught me trust between us is the most important thing in a relationship. Why do I feel it's a one-way street here?"
"… Good point…" Jason paused, almost visualizing the throbbing vein on Aria's temple. "… But come on, a boy that squeaky-clean must be hiding something—"
"Ugh! Not fair, Dad! You're making me regret not going to the East Coast for school!" Aria seethed... yet a look into her father's eyes, the same eyes of the man who raised her solo, soothed her rage in a flash. It was that same look he'd give when staring at photos of mom.
"I know I'm not being fair… but… life isn't fair, right?" Jason tried to hold his ground.
Aria quickly fought to reign it back… those fatherly eyes softening her so quickly.
"Heh, look, Dad, I understand you're worried because of what you've been through, but I'm not just your little girl anymore—I've learned from the best, and I know how to take care of myself. Trust me as I've always trusted you."
Trust. Something that Jason struggled with on the day-to-day… and those cute eyes that reminded him of 'her'… it was now Jason's turn to soothe his own doubts.
"Alright, alright, alright… I… uh…"
Jason paused for a moment; his protective instincts always at odds with Aria's growing independence. But he saw in her eyes not just a plea for permission but a quest for understanding—acknowledgment of an adult daughter's desires.
"Ugh…" He nodded slowly, almost painfully speaking. "… Promise to be back before midnight… and no funny business."
"O! M! G! Midnight it is!" she beamed, relief washing over her features like sunlight breaking through clouds. "Thanks, Dad! Muah!"
Aria launched herself into Jason's arms, wrapping him in an embrace that might have rivaled the strength of her mother's fearless grip. Jason exhaled a heavy sigh, the only thing he could muster as he ruffled her silky hair with a tenderness that belied his rugged exterior—a gesture she playfully batted away, yet deep down, it was a touchstone of their bond she deeply treasured. "Have fun—and you better tell that kid that if he even thinks about trying something stupid with you, I'm gonna Jon Jones his ass and ragdoll him! I swear to God."
"Hehe okay, I'll call Dana White and set it up… consider the message delivered," she replied with a mischievous grin, her eyes sparkling with the hint of rebellion and adventure. She scooped up her belongings and strode toward the exit, her every step an assertion of independence, observed by a pair of eyes that held a universe of concern and love for her well-being.
The dojo quieted as the evening drew to a close, the echoes of the last student's departure fading into silence. Jason stood deathly still, his gaze locked onto a photograph—one that captured a moment frozen in time, a snapshot of him and Trini Kwan, a testament to their youthful love, back when the world was theirs and she was still by his side.
"The girl's taking on the world at full speed… and she's the spitting image of you, Trini," Jason murmured to the stillness, a softness in his voice that rarely surfaced. "Love you… and wish you were here…" His words trailed off into the quiet dojo, a silent plea to a memory that would never fade… for better or worse.
- o - o - o -
16 Years Earlier
A mission to end the battle once and for all didn't go as planned…
Even in victory, this was a nightmare come to life.
Jason knew it. He knew it with his heart, and yet that bastard Tommy still went on with it.
"NO! DAMN IT! NO! NO!" The Red Ranger stood surrounded by the unusual coldness of the Command Center, his uniform torn and burned from the devastating battle at Moon Palace. Each strike to Alpha's control panel from his bruised fist released some anger, a pointless attempt to express a sorrow too deep to reveal.
The Rangers had done it. Rita and Zedd were no more. They had won the battle at Moon Palace, but the cost was unthinkable.
"I can't believe it..." Kimberly Hart, the Pink Ranger, collapsed to the cold metal floor, her uniform as damaged as Jason's from the battle. Her sobs, unrestrained and raw, unlike her normally unbreakable attitude, echoed through the room. "We lost... Trini... she's gone," she whispered through tears, each word heavy with crushing grief.
In the eerie quiet, broken only by the occasional hum of machinery, Kimberly's sobs reverberated against the walls, each heave of her chest a testament to the unbearable pain that gripped them all.
Billy, struggling himself, was at her side instantly, his arm around her tightly, his own eyes wet with unshed tears. His attempt to be strong for Kimberly was clear, as was his shared sadness. No specific calculation or scientific breakthrough was going to help them this time.
"Jason, man, please chill out," Zack pleaded, his voice anxious and urgent. He watched Jason pace like a trapped animal, moving erratically and filled with uncontrolled, raw rage.
Jason seethed with anger as he fought to gain control over the tempest within, barely hearing a word Zack said. His hands clenched into fists so tight that his knuckles whitened, the rage beneath his skin threatening to burst forth like the energy of the Tyrannosaurus Dinozord he commanded.
"Back off, Zack!" Jason snapped, his fury pivoting towards Tommy, who stood isolated in a corner in his White Ranger suit, lost in his own turbulent sea of guilt and regret. "This is on you, Tommy!" His words were sharp, cutting through the thick air.
Tommy remained silent, his gaze distant, the weight of their hollow victory pressing down on him like a physical burden.
Alpha 5's electronic voice stuttered in a failed attempt to comfort them, the LED lights of his eye visor flickering in distress. "Rangers, this tragedy... it's beyond words... but we must find unity, not division, in these dark times."
Zordon's image in the viewing tube flickered with a mix of concern and sorrow. "Rangers, please, remember our purpose, our unity..." his voice trailed off, laden with the unspoken grief of losing Trini, their brave Yellow Ranger he found alongside these Rangers.
Jason's reaction was swift and sharp. "No, Zordon, just stop!" His voice was like ice, his finger accusingly pointing at Tommy. "This mess, this disaster—it's because of his half-baked plan. Trini is gone because of him!" Jason's voice choked on her name, her memory a fresh wound in his heart.
The accusation hung in the air, a spectral echo that seemed to linger before it reached Tommy. For a long beat, the only movement was the slight twitch in Tommy's jaw, the invisible battle with his own demons etched into the tension of his face.
Tommy finally found the strength to lift his head, the pain clear on his face. The memories of their final battle, of Trini's sacrifice, played in his mind like a haunting melody.
Even then, his dark silence stretched long and heavy before he finally spoke, his voice a fragile thread of sound in the charged atmosphere. "Jason, I never intended—"
"Your intentions?" Jason's voice broke through the tense air, the words torn from a place of deep pain and furious disbelief. "They cost us Trini! Rita chose you as her puppet for a reason, Tommy! I knew it… I always knew it!"
Silence befell the room as if to give space for Jason's crushing words to land. The Command Center's usual hum of activity dimmed, giving way to a stillness that pressed down on the group, as heavy as their grief.
"I should've finished you when I had the chance instead of recruiting you!" Jason spat uncharacteristic venom. The thoughts of the moment he had defeated Tommy as the Green Ranger… that pivotal moment where he became one of them afterwards… a painful stab in his heart.
The words struck Tommy with the force of a physical blow. He felt as if the ground beneath him had given way, leaving him free-falling into a chasm of regret and self-loathing. The voices around him seemed distant as he grappled with the piercing truth in Jason's words. He felt alone, like he did before he became a Power Ranger.
Tommy had good intentions. He had heroic intentions. He was so stout in his beliefs. He felt strongly about this final battle with Rita and Zedd. Were the Rangers expected to fight Rita and Zedd off for eternity? They had to end the madness… didn't they?
"I need to save you all… I love you guys…"
As the voice of Trini telling the Rangers over the intercom in her Sabretooth Tigerzord crept into Tommy's mind, the strength of his convictions seemed meaningless. Tommy's silence was his fortress for now, a hollow refuge from the relentless surge of guilt that threatened to drown him. Within the walls of his mind, a cacophony of 'what-ifs' clamored for attention, each scenario a haunting vision of a reality where Trini survived.
"Yeah, feel the pain. You deserve no sympathy from any of us…" Jason growled.
Tommy's silence still was all he could muster. He felt horrible. He felt… numb.
Billy exchanged a sorrowful look with Zack, a silent conversation passing between them. They both understood the pain and had to be the ones of reason even if the invisible weight seemed to suffocate the room. With deliberate steps, they moved apart and approached their embattled friends.
Billy's hand rested on Jason's shoulder, a silent plea for calm, while Zack positioned himself between the two former friends like a protective wedge, his expression grave.
"Jason, this anger, it won't bring her back. We need to think about what's ahead," implored Billy, his words measured, betraying a tremble that belied his composed exterior.
Zack nodded, his voice steady. "We're all in pain, Jase. But tearing each other apart isn't what Trini would have wanted, man."
"I agree," Alpha 5 gave his support, his robotic hands raised in a soothing gesture. "Please, Rangers, we must—"
But Jason was beyond listening. He shook off Billy's hand and fixed a bitter gaze on the robotic assistant. "Words won't fix this, Alpha. Trini's gone. Aria's lost her mother because of this bullshit!" He spat the words out, each one laden with fury he couldn't contain.
Turning away, Jason removed his helmet, revealing a face marred by battle and emotional turmoil. His steps were heavy as he approached Zordon's console. The sound of his helmet hitting the metal echoed through the Command Center, a symbolic gesture of finality.
He unclipped his Power Coin, its gleam dim in the somber light, and laid it next to his helmet. "I can't do this anymore," he said, his voice strained. "We failed, Tommy. We all did. But it was your plan that cost us Trini." The unspoken blame hung heavily in the air.
The air felt thick as Jason removed his Power Coin with hands that trembled subtly, betraying the storm of emotions he worked so hard to contain. The soft metallic sound of the coin touching the surface beside his helmet resonated in the silence, a somber note signifying the end of an era. "I can't do this anymore…"
"N-no... Jason, please... w-we... need you... you're our leader… we need you now more than ever…" Kimberly's voice was barely above a whisper, each word weighted with sorrow as she found the strength to reach out to him, desperately seeking the foundation he once provided.
The tension in the room was even thicker than before, a mix of grief, guilt, and unresolved anger. As Jason locked eyes with Tommy one last time, the depth of their shared pain was evident. He turned to the Rangers.
"You and Billy went with Tommy when I told you all not to go..." Jason reminded them of their allegiances before this suicide mission. "I couldn't lead you then... How can I lead you all now?" Jason's reply felt hollow, as if the act of speaking was stripping away the last vestiges of his resolve. "Let this white Knight lead you… I'm done…"
And with that, the Power Rangers, once a symbol of unity and strength, stood fractured, their sanctuary now a monument to their greatest loss. Jason walked off into the desert alone, away from the only family he knew.
In the wake of Rita and Zedd's downfall, the irony was stark and unmistakable. The very victory that should have been their crowning achievement had instead shattered them, leaving the once invincible Power Rangers fragmented and defeated.
In a way, Rita and Zedd also got what they wanted for years… the Rangers were completely destroyed.