(Author's Notes: Hey guys, here's chapter 6 which will include Tommy's rescue by an unexpected ally from the aftermath of the island explosion, homecoming back to Reefside and a prelude to another new adventure.)

Chapter 6: Guardian Angels

Moments Later...

The Pacific Ocean

The explosion was so loud it rattled Tommy Oliver's hearing and immediately he felt the ground lowering. It was like an action packed battle scene from a movie that in a matter of minutes the island looked like a bloody warzone. He couldn't make sense of the chaos and madness happening around him from the seeing the bodies of members of the excavation team or if he was dreaming he must have seen what he believed looked like dark clothed armed ninjas on the island.

Making his way back to the campsite, he stumbled upon another battlefield come to life thanks to a major mishap in their research. The Tyrannodrones that he, Anton, and Smitty were so invested in were now chasing him. The excavation team was completely wiped out and he wasn't sure what happened to Anton and Smitty.

There was only one option left as Tommy viewed it; grabbed the coloured rocks and get the hell off the island and somehow hope and pray for a miracle to get him back to his family back home. Running through the jungle, it was a free for all and he found himself being pursue by the Tyrannodrones or the mysterious ninjas responsible for massacring the excavation team.

As Tommy made the one final leap off the island into the ocean with the rocks, the last thing he thought was, "If I have to die trying to get back home, someone promise me they'll keep Kimberly and Amelia safe because this isn't the end."

Unbeknownst to just the rocks Tommy escaped with, he was carrying a critical item that was the epitome for the mayhem that nearly cost Tommy his life.

July 3, 2003

Oliver Residence

Reefside, CA

"We interrupt your daily programming for breaking news," the newscaster said. "Approximately 15 minutes ago, the island renowned scientist Anton Mercer has been working on for the last four months was destroyed in an explosion."

Hayley was watching the news report and felt the hairs on the back of her neck go up. She was in disbelief but the minute Kimberly entered the room with Amelia she felt a strange and familiar sensation overwhelm her. The dormant Ninjetti powers and her animal spirit of the crane cried out in distress feeling that her falcon was in trouble.

The cries of her animal spirit calling out to her mate was making Kimberly feeling lightheaded as Hayley saw the distress all over the young mother. Amelia started crying as if she can sense Tommy is in danger while Hayley tended to both mother and daughter as the caws of the falcon inside Kimberly's head continued.

"Hayley!" Kimberly shouted. "Is it true what they're saying about the island?! Is Tommy in trouble?!"

"Come on Kim take it easy and breathe in and out very gently." Hayley replied attempting to calm the hysterical wife. "You need to relax for Amelia's sake."

"I can hear my animal spirit the crane calling out to the falcon. It's as if it's trying to reach out to Tommy." she said as newscaster resumed her report.

"According to initial reports, there was a spontaneous explosion, followed by an explosion in the lab, which destroyed both the lab and the island." the anchor reported. "There have been casualty reports of the excavation team who were also on the island at the time. However, there hasn't been any updates in the whereabouts of scientist Anton Mercer and his two interns, Thomas "Tommy" Oliver and Terrence "Smitty" Smith and it is unclear if there are any survivors. We will continue to keep you posted on the latest updates of this developing story."

The expression on Kimberly's face was one of shock and disbelief. Last month Anton gave him three days off during his internship to briefly come home to celebrate Amelia's first birthday and thirty days later, a mysterious explosion occurs. She had this strong gut feeling something was suspicious.

"So there's a fifty-fifty chance Tommy didn't make it off the island because of the explosion?" Hayley said in shock. "That's bullshit and we know it."

"I know but Tommy is a survivor. He'll go through hellfire and brimstone just to make home to me and Amelia." Kim said. "Mercer is not one to make mistakes and I've met the man several times before Tommy left for his internship. My heart tells me he's still alive because I can feel him. However, this thing seems a bit off."

"Hey listen to me Kim, your falcon is going to come home you got to have hope," Hayley reassured her. "That man loves you and Amelia too much not to leave you alone."

"Still, I may have this dormant Ninjetti power inside of me but what can it do?" Kimberly questioned worriedly. "I just wish I can help him somehow."

Unbeknownst to Hayley, Kimberly and baby Amelia, there was a silent guardian who was watching everything inside the Oliver house transpire. However, he wasn't alone as he was accompanied by two of his fellow Garrison. The influx of Kimberly's Ninjetti powers alerted them to the Oliver house and they can sense the falcon's distress.

"You were right Aria, it was the crane and she's calling out to the falcon." Quinn said. "You can sense the falcon's distress can you?"

"Indeed that is true Quinn." Aria said looking at her allies. "The crane's powers are magnifying due to her connection with the falcon. It's our job to fulfill our promise..."

100 miles off the coast, about 45 minutes later...

Tommy's hope for survival was fading minute by minute. The second he hit the water after the island exploded, he was concerned about be left a vulnerable target to the creatures that inhabited the ocean. His only lifeline for survival rested on an emergency inflatable life raft he found drifting in the middle of the ocean and summoning he reserved strength boarded it and laid in there.

It was as if the life raft was a godsend miracle by some work of divine intervention, but Tommy didn't know how long he was drifting in the middle of the ocean. He was tired, injured and he wasn't sure about Anton and Smitty's fates. Hope was dying was the second and Tommy's biggest regret is breaking his promise to his two girls.

Feeling the last of his strength slipping away from him, Tommy's last thoughts were about his wife and his baby girl. More than ever, all he wanted was to see Kimberly and Amelia's face one last time, but somehow fate had other plans for him. He caught a glimpse of the mysterious ninjas he encountered on his escape closing in on his location and Tommy felt his luck couldn't get any worst. What he didn't expect was to hear the sounds of a volley of arrows flying through the air striking down the foes who posed a threat to Tommy's life.

He was hearing the splashing sounds of bodies dropping into the ocean and then 20 feet to his right, Tommy gasped seeing a cargo ship that saved his life. In an instant, a cargo net came down and swooped Tommy along with the black box he held onto dear life out of the depths of the ocean. After that, Tommy's world went black when he heard the sound of a familiar acquaintance.

"Don't worry Tommy boy, you're in good hands I guarantee you." the voice said as he passed out.

Inside the cargo ship, about 1 hour later...

When Tommy regained consciousness, he awakened with a massive headache and with the feeling that a cement brick dropped on top of him. He vaguely heard voices and had absolutely no idea who they belonged to. He wanted to get out of bed and find out who was the owner of the cargo ship, but his head hurt that he willed himself to stay where he was. That was when the door opened and he saw someone he recognized...with a few individuals he didn't know.

"Wow, after almost two years of wondering where in god's name you disappeared, you're here again." Tommy said utterly surprised. "I'm guessing this is your cargo ship?"

"You could say that or you can say that the ship is owned by a few close friends of mine," Quinn said. "How are you feeling kid? Does anything hurt?"

"I've got a massive, massive headache and I feel like I'm about to throw up." Tommy said. "It feels like a giant cinder block dropped on me."

"Well it's not everyday one survives an island explosion and a battle royal just to make it out in one piece." Quinn's friend said as she brought a bucket over to let Tommy vomit to relieve the nausea. "It's nice to finally meet you. My name is Aria and you must be Tommy Oliver? Quinn used to brag about his former students, especially you."

"Really now did he?" Tommy asked. "Did he tell you that he used to be my camp counsellor when I was a kid? Plus he has this habit of spontaneously appearing and disappearing from my life. He used to own a dojo in Phoenix until he decided to up and leave one day after Kim and I graduated."

"Unfortunately, he does have that habit but don't hold it against him." Aria reassured him. "You and your friend may have felt hurt by him for abandoning you but he felt you guys needed your independence. Besides, Quinn does a soft spot for...his pupils."

"I figured he still does, despite everything that has happened." Tommy said, as Aria nodded. "I guess...I owe him for saving my life. I bet you being here has to do with all your weird activities you kept from Kim and me after all these years?"

"Kid I wish somehow the shit I got myself into didn't involve people I have grown fond of." Quinn said catching Tommy's attention. "Whatever is in that box you had a death grip on, hold onto it. Whatever business you and your buddies had on that island you were on, apparently there's a group of scumbags who too had business."

Tommy nodded absently as he just lay back and prepared for what whatever was coming next. He could tell he was in the infirmary wing of the cargo ship with all sorts of medicines and treatments lined on the shelf. He could vaguely hear the sounds of what sounded like combat training on the other decks of the ship.

"What do you remember about what happened on the island?" Quinn asked.

"Barely anything, except an explosion, saving the rocks, enduring a battle royal between a bunch of weird ninjas and some science experiments gone wrong and then almost having my life raft popped due to a barrage of arrows." Tommy replied.

After about an hour, which seemed like ten Aria finally said. "You're a lucky man, Tommy Oliver. You may have a slight concussion, you had a lot of water in you, and you got your insides busted up a bit. However, a couple day's of rest should heal you up. You'll be back in Reefside in a few hours giving the speed this ship travels and you can get in contact with your family and friends."

"So I'm all cleared and okay?" Tommy asked. "I thought I wouldn't make it back to my girls."

"Yeah, and believe it or not...I would have guessed you survived worse," Quinn commented. "Those bastards would have finished you off if the crew haven't intervened."

"Quinn you can tell him the truth. I know you were reluctant the first time after you revealed the truth to Kimberly and she ran." Aria said as Tommy was startled by the mention of his wife. Did Kim know something about Quinn while she lived in Phoenix before they got back together. "Maybe Tommy will be more understanding."

"Something tells me that this cargo ship we're on," Tommy said as he saw Aria give a nod to Quinn. "Is this the part of your life that you kept secret from us for years?"

"Kid, this part of my life was something I kept from you for the benefit it wouldn't get you hurt." Quinn explained. "You know all that crazy talk you used to hear from me back in the day about fighting in a war, well that crazy talk is about to hit the fan. It was what caused your girl to run back to Angel Grove after she left Florida and ended up in Arizona looking for you. Unfortunately, the thought of her being on the frontlines scared the crap out of her and the things she went through..."

"I know about the truth about the letter and about those guys she killed in Florida." Tommy said processing what Quinn told him. "Are you saying, that you're supposedly part of this group that is preparing for some so called war? Then somehow after what happened with my wife back in Florida seven years, you made her buy into this so called recruitment bit? What was the cost Quinn? I know about the unhinged urge that is inside of her and how bad she spent years taming that fire."

"It was why it was wise she ran at the first chance she got Quinn." Aria said. "You knew about the untamed fire inside of Kimberly. If you thought that letting her fight alongside the Garrison was the solution to tame that fire, you thought wrong and look what happened. It wasn't by coincidence Tommy Oliver ended up on that island."

Quinn then turned to Tommy and said. "You know it's a blessing she has you Tommy. These bastards that we're up against in our war want something and I couldn't risk putting your girl in harm's way. At least with you by her side, she can tame that fire burning in her."

"The ninjas on the island that killed the excavation team. Are...those the guys you and this Garrison you're in is up against?" Tommy asked.

"Apparently your little adventure on that island somehow coincided with our enemies' mission. You may have stumbled upon something they wanted to keep hidden for so many years." Quinn explained. "That box may hold the answers as our war and your new adventure will collide. Keep your girls protected because there will be some people who will come for you two. They'll tell you something...that may change things. I can't explain the whole truth to you, but at least understand where I'm coming from."

"So it wasn't coincidence and I wasn't dreaming about seeing other individuals on the island?" Tommy questioned. "I don't know what became of Anton and Smitty because everything was so chaotic. My gut tells me something is coming and I don't know if it this war you're talking about or something else, but I know I have to be ready."

"If I can part some words of advice for you Tommy before we mutually part ways?" Aria said. "From what Quinn says about you and Kimberly, never falter in your steps together. If you both stay in sync with one another and face the wars and battles ahead as one, those who oppose you won't stand a chance. Always...stay the course."

Eight Hours Later

Reefside Shipping Yard

Reefside, CA

Once the cargo ship arrived at the shipping yard harbour and Tommy was helped off the ship, he was nearly tackled by his beloved pink crane in joyous celebration. However, she wasn't alone when she noticed Hayley Ziktor accompanied his wife.

"Hey Beautiful, easy now, I'm not quite myself just yet." Tommy said smiling giving Kimberly a hug.

"Thomas James Oliver! Don't you ever scare the shit out of me like that again." Kimberly smirked crying but tears of joy. "I thought I almost lost you for good. So even if you're not at 100 percent that will do for now. Besides, you almost nearly made me a widowed wife and mother to your little princess."

"And besides you promised you go through hellfire and brimstone just to get home to your girls Tommy." Hayley replied.

"Well that is what I did to get home to my girls." Tommy said, as he produced the black box. "All I want to do right now is go home, give my little girl a great big hug and sleep for 10 hours while relishing in being back with my pink princess. A souvenir from the island, the only thing that survived the explosion. I'm lucky to be alive and I got a few guardian angels to thank for that."

"Well since you mentioned home, let's get you back home where you belong." Hayley said. "Don't worry about Amelia we left her in the hands of some good babysitters."

"Is my Jeep where I left it?" Tommy asked.

"Why do you think Hayley and I came together?" Kimberly smirked. "My falcon is in no position to drive and thankfully your crane will be driving. Oh and FYI we got a few houseguests that decided to crash with us for a few days."

Ten minutes later, they finally reached the parking garage and Hayley would follow the couple home in her car. As they made the drive back to their house, Tommy wondered if this would be a good time to tell Kimberly the truth about his rescue. Whatever he heard from Quinn and his friends, he wondered if there was some truth to it.

"You know that guardian angel I was talking about who saved my life." Tommy said suddenly. "Apparently he's had such an impact on our lives since we first met him when we were kids at Algoma Summer Camp. I owe him my life although he tends to have this habit of coming in and spontaneously leaving without saying a word."

"Are you talking about Quinn?" Kimberly asked shockingly. "As in the same guy you sold his dojo we spent four years in Phoenix living in and took off after we graduated?"

"Is there any other guy named Quinn we know about?" Tommy slightly smirked. "And he had some help in the form of friends who he's been running with for quite sometime training to fight some so called war. It was why you came back to Angel Grove eight months after you wrote the letter. He told me...about the truth about your time in Phoenix before we got back together."

"He did now, did he? I'm guessing he filled you in about this group called the Garrison and about them recruiting young youths to fight some war for a cause?" She asked reluctantly trying not to recall the traumatic period of her life. "I ran because of the things he told me and made me do in order to be one of their soldiers for their war. I couldn't run to the frontline like that. But...whatever you're about to face, this battle I'll stand by you. I know we wanted to avoid being called back to duty, but we can't ignore duty."

"I know because it was a battle just to get off that island and I think I got a preview of things to come." Tommy said. "There are some things I heard that are uncanny to even consider. However, I know that whatever we embark on, I will do everything in my power to keep you and our daughter safe, Beautiful. You two are my world and I can't bare the thought of living without the two most important girls that I love more than life itself."

"Then I'm going to do the same thing too, fight for the two most important people I love more than life itself." Kimberly replied back. "Something is coming our way to Reefside and it's our job to prepare for what comes next on the horizon. Remember, we're the falcon and crane, The Winged Lord and Lady of the Skies and we fly together as one."

August 23, 2003

The Oliver Residence

Reefside, CA

After months of construction and years of planning, their contingency plan was finally complete. The new lab that Tommy and his friends have been working on. Ever since his near brush with death from the island explosion and the abrupt reunion with Quinn and his so called group of fighters, Tommy's sixth sense or the Ranger intuition told them that they needed to prepare and his friends were constant support for him, Kimberly and Amelia.

During the next month and a half, Tommy and Kimberly along with the help of Billy and Hayley and the rest of their friends worked continuously to finish the lab. They needed to be alert and aware if trouble came, so this time they were ready and not caught off guard.

It was the matter of expecting what was heading their way to Reefside, but the Quinn situation was something Tommy and Kimberly kept to themselves for now. The couple agreed to wait for the proper time to tell them about their little secret they kept all these years from their closet friends, unless there was truth behind Quinn's claims. To Tommy and Kimberly's surprise, there was no hiding the truth from Jason about the day of Tommy's rescue and at least found a confidant in their best friend and brother.

"And the passwords and codes are set. No one gets in without knowing it." Billy said as he added the final pages to the emergency manual he wrote up for them. "You two are lucky that I found out about your little contingency plan. Hayley filled me in about the notebooks and design plans you guys kept since Boston."

"Of course it was a blessing for Billy to speed up the process," Hayley said. "So everything is planned in motion."

"This is still surreal bro," Jason commented looking at the lab. "Can't believe you two actually did it? Built your very own lab underneath your house."

"Yeah and this redefines the definition of baby proofing your place for Amelia," Rocky slightly chuckled as Aisha playfully smacked his arm.

"Well we probably had that in mind Rocky when we came up with the plan," Tommy said. "So with one task completed, Kim and I can focus on doing the other thing. Prep up for our new jobs next week with the teachers conferences before the start of the school year in a week."

"Tommy's right. Just because we built this lab we also have another job and that's raising our daughter to financially support our family." Kimberly said. "Still, we're still trying to process the fact that Tommy and I decided to pull a Miss Appleby and get into the teaching profession."

"Could agree with you on that one Kim," Kat replied. "It's a far step away from karate and gymnastics, but knowing your daughter she'll probably follow mommy and daddy's footsteps. I know Jason is waiting to get Henry interested in karate."

"You can bet on that one," Tommy said as he looked at Kimberly and then turned to Jason. "Ever since the island, I can't shake the feeling that something is coming our way to Reefside and we need to get ready. I may have an idea of what to expect and it's time you guys get filled in about a part of our lives Kim and I have kept secretive."

"What do you have to hide from us?" Billy asked.

"Something about our past we didn't tell you and believe us it's quite a story." Kimberly said. "You're our best friends and we don't keep secrets from one another but there are some things you don't about. It goes back to the incident in Florida, the letter, the day Tommy was rescued from the island. Everything you know isn't what it is."