Green with Evil

Intermission

"Could you provide further details regarding the explosion? Given the evolving narrative, there's understandable concern regarding the truth of the matter," Cindy V, from the Angel Grove News Network, maintained her composure in questioning, though skepticism lingered. Trask remained nonchalant, casually sipping from his mug of water.

"It was an isolated incident, contained thanks to our Angel Grove Rescue Squad. The interference of the Power Rangers nearly caused irreparable harm to our efforts to deescalate the situation," Trask stated.

"Was the explosion caused by the Power Rangers or..." Cindy began.

"The reality, Cindy, is that our adversary is highly advanced and relentless. We must adapt our strategies. The Power Rangers do not align with our interests; their true agenda remains unknown," Trask interrupted.

"But they've always assisted in defending against these attacks," Cindy countered. Trask's complexion reddened, yet he stayed composed.

"I understand why you may perceive it that way," he said condescendingly. "However, they act as vigilantes despite our requests to stand down. Their recent actions endangered lives. Our brave soldiers repelled the invasion, not the Power Rangers."

"Can you believe him?" Kim struggled to swallow her water, disgust evident as she watched the TV. She rolled over in bed, placing her water bottle on the nightstand. Trini remained silent for a moment.

"He's a master at manipulating public perception," Trini agreed, lowering the TV volume. They had been spending more time together, finding solace in each other's company.

"Do you think it will ever end?" Kimberly asked, sitting up in bed.

"What? This?" Trini gestured towards the television screen.

"Trask. Rita. Sometimes, I forget what it was like to just be a normal girl. Is this... is this our life now? Constantly?" Kimberly crossed her arms, her frustration evident. "I don't know. We barely got Jason back. And that was... terrifying. Scorpina is just the worst. Now Trask is creating his own monsters, all the while painting us as these... domestic terrorists. And I have a biology test next week."

"Biology is the worst," Trini chuckled, uncertain if Kimberly was trying to lighten the mood. "I don't know. Part of me wonders even if it does end, could things ever go back to normal for us? We've seen so much. Experienced so much. We can't just... put the genie back in the bottle, you know?"

"Totally," Kimberly agreed. "Knowing all this... would you still have agreed to it?" Kimberly hesitated to ask, and Trini fell silent at first, her gaze narrowing.

"I don't know," she admitted. "I love being a Power Ranger... but I'd be lying if I didn't feel like the world has become so much more..."

"Sad?" Kimberly finished for her. Trini tilted her head.

"Just... more complicated," Trini countered. "Good versus Evil is much more nuanced than any of us could have understood. And the power that comes from being a force of true good... It's a privilege that we get to wield that power."

"Yeah, a privilege," Kimberly echoed, not fully convinced.

"We're heroes, Kim. For people and for each other," Trini reassured, placing her hand on Kimberly's shoulder. "And let's not forget – you specifically saved Jason the other day."

"Oh gosh, that was so scary," Kimberly admitted. "His new form, though, wicked cool. But the situation? Trini, we just got him back, and I thought we were going to lose him again."

"Your concern about Jason," Trini started, "Is there more to it? I was worried about him too, but..."

"What are you really asking?" Kimberly interrupted, sensing Trini's implication.

"You know what I'm asking," Trini replied, her glance knowing.

"Since Homecoming... Jason and I – things have been... I don't know," Kimberly struggled to articulate. "I thought we lost him forever when he went missing. And I feel like I dismissed him. Or – I don't know. Tommy showed up. And don't even get me started on Tommy," she paused, attempting to contain her frustration.

"Kim, do you have feelings for Jason? Or do you feel guilty for not returning his feelings?" Trini's direct questions struck Kimberly like a brick.

"Trini I don't know how to answer that," she said, throwing her hands in the air. "It's not as simple as "do I or don't I" you know?" Top of Form

"Yes, but if Jason thinks you feel something..."

"I know. I feel like a horrible person because it might seem like I'm leading him on. I'm not. Or at least, I don't think I am. Because I don't know. When I found him safe, I felt relieved. And that's all I wanted."

"Yes, and you did save him. Because we're a team," Trini affirmed.

"So maybe it's just that and not romantic feelings. Or maybe it is. Jason has always been there for me. And he's a great guy."

"But he's not the guy?" Trini probed.

"He could be the guy. I don't know," Kimberly admitted. "I don't want to hurt him if he's not."

"You should tell him that. He'd understand," Trini suggested.

"With everything he's been through, I just... again," Kimberly trailed off.

"It's better this way. It takes the pressure off you and him," Trini concluded. "Say how you feel even if it hurts. What I'd give to tell Daniel one last time," Trini said, and Kimberly's eyes widened.

"Oh Trini," Kimberly took her hand, Trini's eyes welling up.

"I didn't mean to go there. It's just hard to not think about sometimes. Saying how we feel to the people we care about, for better or for worse, is also a privilege. And we should say it while we can." Kimberly leaned over and embraced Trini. She had no idea Trini was still hurting this way. They hugged it out for a few minutes before Trini pulled away.

"We should probably get some sleep," Trini said. Moments later, the lights turned off, and they both settled in for the night.

"You've been very distant," Brent stated bluntly, addressing the elephant in the room, or the garage, rather. Billy's parent's garage that also served as his workshop. Billy couldn't refute the observation. Since the attack on the school, he hadn't seen much of Brent. And even then, it was as the Blue Ranger, not as Billy. "Is there something I should know?"

Brent specifically gestured to a bruise on Billy's arm. A wound that hadn't fully recovered from the last fight but didn't hurt him that bad. He didn't seem to bounce back as quickly as the others.

Still, it was a fair question, indeed. Billy wrestled with the urge to confide in Brent, but the setting wasn't ideal. The garage was connected to the house, where his parents could potentially overhear them. His parents didn't know about Brent. In fact, they didn't know he really had friends outside of Jason, Zack, Trini and Kimberly. And whatever Brent was…he couldn't really explain himself.

"There's just been a lot going on," Billy offered, attempting to downplay the complexity of his situation. But Brent wasn't in the mood for half-truths.

"Is there? Because you haven't been around. I went to your team's Mathlete's competition, you weren't there. I was going to surprise you," Brent revealed, and Billy's heart sank.

"No, I was sick," Billy lied.

"News to me," Brent added, clearly unconvinced.

"Brent," Billy said, setting down his tools to meet Brent's gaze. He could sense Brent's genuine concern, and guilt gnawed at him.

"I feel like you're keeping something from me. And whatever it is, if it's personal, okay – you don't have to tell me everything. But can you tell me something? Are you okay? And more importantly… do you – are you even still into this? Us?" Brent's words hung heavy in the air, and Billy struggled to find his voice.

"It's not that," Billy began, but his words faltered.

"It kinda feels that way," Brent sighed, his defeat palpable. Billy took a deep breath. He couldn't continue lying.

"Your assessment of me… isn't entirely off," he confessed. "There is something I'm going through. It's not so much personal as it is... exceptional. And I can't talk about it. Not because I don't want to, but because I just can't. Not because I want to push you away. I can't talk about it."

"I don't understand, Billy…" Brent murmured, his frustration evident. "I'm trying. So there is something going on, but you just can't tell me?"

"Correct," Billy stated matter-of-factly. "But it has nothing to do with you."Top of Form

"It's hard to build a relationship with someone if you don't trust them, Billy." Brent's words caused a flush to spread across Billy's cheeks. Sensing his discomfort, Brent shook his head. "Billy... I'm here at your place after school because I care. I mean, with all the gestures I've made since homecoming, some more obvious than others, you have to know my feelings are genuine."

"We're from different worlds – you're the jock, I'm the geek," Billy retorted.

"One of your closest friends is Jason Lee Scott," Brent pointed out.

"Yeah, but I don't have feelings for Jason. And honestly, I don't even know what it means to have feelings for someone. This isn't... easy for me to figure out," Billy confessed.

"I don't have it all figured out either, Billy. I've never been into another guy before, but I have to say – I feel pretty lost in the deep end here. And I'm a swimmer," Brent admitted.

"I don't want you to feel that way," Billy said. "Feelings aren't like math or science, you know? An equation, I can figure out. This is different."

"You can't look at it like that, Billy – every relationship is different."

"That word," Billy said, "Relationship. Is that what we're in?"

"I thought so…" Brent said. "I guess it was never established. But is that even what you want? You have to be present to be in a relationship."

"It's not like I don't want to be there for you, Brent. There are things that I want to do. I wanted to win the Mathlete championship! And maybe yeah, I wanted to congratulate you on your race the other day. Your mom and Trent and Skarlet, they were all there. You were winning by a mile before the attack."

Billy then paused. Brent's eyes narrowed, catching this. "I mean, that's what I heard."

"How did you know Trent and Skarlet were there? Or how I was doing? We haven't really even talked about the swim meet."

"I mean, that's what I heard anyway…" Billy tried to recover, his face now completely flushed, sweat dripping from his forehead.

"No – Billy, were you there?" Brent's inquiry pierced the tense air. Billy shook his head, but Brent pressed on.

"I don't understand why you wouldn't have – unless. Billy, you're always…so secretive. I can never seem to lock you down. And the bruises…" Brent's eyes widened. "Billy, the Blue Ranger was at the swim meet and personally saved my family and me. It was a very close call. You were there at the swim meet weren't you? But not as you – Billy, are you…" Brent's expression morphed into disbelief as he hesitated, then uttered the question that hung in the air, "Are you the Blue Ranger?"

Billy froze, his heart pounding in his chest. The weight of Brent's suspicion bore down on him, threatening to crush him under its intensity. He had hoped to keep his identity hidden, to protect those he cared about. He thought of Daniel and Trini. He thought of Jason's and Zordons instructions to keep their identities secret. But now, faced with Brent's direct question, Billy found himself at a crossroads.

The seconds stretched into eternity as Billy wrestled with his response. Finally, with a heavy sigh and a resigned nod, he met Brent's gaze.

"Yes," Billy admitted, the weight of truth lifting a burden from his shoulders yet adding new layers of complexity to his already tumultuous life. "I am the Blue Ranger."

"Man, your right hook is intense. You must be staying on top of your game!" Jason remarked, offering props to Zack after an intense session with a particularly unfortunate punching bag at the Youth Center. The evening air hung heavy around them, and not many remained in the gym. Ernie had allowed them to stay later, providing an outlet for blowing off steam when needed.

"140 pounds of twisted steel and sex appeal," Zack joked, earning a playful eye roll from Jason.

Their banter was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. Both turned to see Tommy emerging from the locker room and heading over to a workout machine. It was late, and Zack and Jason exchanged glances, surprised to see him there at this hour.

"Ernie lets him stay late too?" Zack asked. Jason honestly didn't know, but it seemed likely. "Speaking of staying on top of the game – every time I see him, he's always working out. So I'm not surprised if he worked something out with Ernie."

"I guess," Jason said, his mind drifting to the last time he saw Tommy, just before he disappeared. "He and I were supposed to have a training session before I was… taken by Rita. I remember telling him I had to rain check just before."

"As in right before? Do you think he saw something?" Zack asked, his curiosity piqued.

"That's a good question. I don't know," Jason admitted. "No – he would have said something, right? To someone? Something like that happens?"

"I mean, what do you say? 'I saw a kid in my class get beamed out of the sky'?" Zack countered.

"Fair point, but I've seen him around since. I think. You'd think he'd say something to me if he saw something out of the ordinary." Jason's brows furrowed in thought as he considered the possibility. Taking a step forward, he walked across the gym, with Zack following closely behind. Tommy was at the bench press, fully engrossed in his workout, seemingly oblivious to Jason's approach.

"Hey Tommy," Zack greeted. Tommy made eye contact with them both but exhaled sharply, showing no sign of acknowledgment.

"270 – impressive," Jason commented, attempting to engage Tommy in conversation.

"What do you want?" Tommy replied curtly, his tone laced with hostility. Jason exchanged a surprised glance with Zack, sensing the tension in the air.

"It's just been a little bit since I last saw you – we were supposed to have a training session, but then I –" Jason began, trying to explain.

"Yeah, you bailed," Tommy interjected, cutting him off.

"Had to reschedule," Jason corrected, his voice measured.

"You were nowhere to be seen for a while. Vacation?" Tommy's tone carried a menacing edge.

"Not exactly," Jason replied flatly, his mind flashing back to his harrowing experience in the Dark Dimension.

"Ah, so you just ghost everyone then?" Tommy remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Did you see him?" Zack interjected, attempting to steer the conversation away from escalating further.

"Yeah, Tommy, I told you I couldn't do it. I didn't just not show up," Jason replied, his irritation evident.

"Maybe you did – doesn't change the facts though," Tommy retorted, his demeanor unyielding.

"The facts being?" Jason inquired, his patience wearing thin. Tommy finished his last press and set down the weights before sitting up, finally locking eyes with Jason.

"That you would have lost, and you were saving face," Tommy asserted. Both Zack and Jason exchanged incredulous glances, taken aback by the audacity of Tommy's statement.

"You didn't beat me in the competition, Tommy. We were even then. And I don't think that would have changed overnight," Jason countered, his voice tinged with defiance.

"Those aren't real fights. And the real fact is that you could never beat me, Jason," Tommy declared, his words stoking the flames of tension between them.

"You wanna say that again?" Jason bristled, his fists clenching instinctively. Zack stepped forward, placing a calming hand on Jason's chest to diffuse the mounting hostility.

"Okay, okay, Tommy. He had to reschedule. It didn't mean anything, man. And I don't know where this energy is coming from, but you're acting like a straight-up jerk for no reason," Zack intervened, attempting to restore a semblance of peace to the situation.

Tommy chuckled, "Ah yes, the brave second-in-command. You could do better, Zack."

"Second-in-command?" Zack repeated, a puzzled expression crossing his face. Tommy leaned down to grab his bag before standing up to face them both.

"We'll have our rematch soon, Jason. And I promise you, you won't win," Tommy declared, a smug smirk playing on his lips. After a tense moment of locking eyes with Jason, he then turned to Zack and nodded his head. "You can't protect him forever."

Zack's brows furrowed as he watched Tommy leave, his words lingering in the air. Turning back to Jason, he sighed heavily. "That guy's got some serious issues."

"Something's not right – the way he said things. I just…I don't know. It doesn't seem like the guy I met before. He seems different. Twisted," Jason expressed, his brow furrowing with concern.

"We didn't really know him – still don't," Zack offered. "Maybe he was always this way."

"Maybe," Jason conceded, though not entirely convinced. Tommy's sudden hostility left him unsettled, his promise of another confrontation lingering heavily in his mind. Why was Tommy so bent on challenging him? What did he have to prove?

As they left the gym, the weight of Tommy's words hung in the air, casting a shadow over their thoughts. Little did they know, the challenges they faced were far from over, and the mysteries surrounding Tommy's behavior were only beginning to unravel.