MMPR Revisited
Green with Evil Origins Part 1
An unsettling peace had descended upon Angel Grove over the past few days, at least for the Power Rangers. The citizens, on the other hand, reveled in this newfound tranquility. If one word could encapsulate the spirit of Angel Grove, it would be "resilient." Even amid the ongoing chaos and the city's restructuring, most residents were eager to carry on with their lives. This determination was the reason the Angel Grove Youth Games remained untouched by cancellation.
Every year, high schools from the tri-state area competed in a diverse range of sports during these games, including gymnastics, swimming, basketball, and martial arts. For the participating students, the pressure was palpable, with college scouts in attendance and cash prizes awaiting the victors. The allure of the cash prize for Martial Arts was particularly enticing for Jason. It could potentially free him from the burden of his demanding martial arts classes and put him ahead on his mortgage payments.
"Are you ready for this?" Zack inquired, observing Jason sipping from a glass of water.
"Absolutely," Jason replied, setting his glass down. "The competition seems fierce this year."
"Anyone we should be keeping an eye on?" Zack probed further. Jason's gaze drifted toward Tommy Oliver, a recent addition to Angel Grove but representing his former school. Jason had been observing Tommy's training for the past half-hour, marveling at his unwavering focus.
"Yeah, Tommy. He's a pretty impressive guy," Zack disclosed, much to Jason's surprise.
"You know him?" Jason asked curiously.
"Yeah, we've crossed paths before, in the same class, I mean. He's remarkably level-headed. I'm not sure if he's made many friends here yet. Lately, he's been spending a lot of time with Kimberly," Jason couldn't help but feel a pang of unease.
"What do you mean?" Jason attempted to sound nonchalant, though his genuine interest was hard to conceal. Since Homecoming, things between him and Kimberly had been strained. He had been trying to give her space, but the situation remained challenging.
"I think they just hit it off, that's all. Kimberly seems to be the only person he stops for in the hallways," Zack concluded.
"I see," Jason responded, picking up his glass and taking another sip of water. One of the official referees for the Martial Arts competition approached Jason's table with his official number.
"We'll start outside in fifteen minutes; you're in the first match," the referee informed him. Jason took the number and affixed it to his shirt. "Good luck," the referee added before moving over to inform Tommy of the same.
"Hey, guys!" Billy chimed in as he, Trini, and Brent joined them. "The gymnastics exhibition just ended. Kimberly took first place, no surprise," Billy announced.
"I'm so proud of her. The scouts were watching, and I know she was nervous about it," Trini added. "Are you ready, Jason?"
"Absolutely," Jason affirmed, turning to Brent. "Will you be competing, Brent?"
"Yeah, but my swimming event isn't until later this afternoon, after the Martial Arts exhibition. I'll miss the finals, unfortunately. I want to get in a few practice laps before we start," Brent explained.
"No worries, man," Jason reassured him. "Best of luck to you."
"Thanks. My whole family is here to support me. I'm really excited. I owe it all to Billy. Without his tutoring, I wouldn't even be able to compete," Brent acknowledged, offering Billy a half-smile. Billy attempted to downplay the praise.
"Yeah, yeah, no big deal," Billy said, modestly.
"Are your parents here?" Brent inquired, catching Jason off guard with the question.
"No, my mom isn't feeling well, and my dad is away on business again," Jason lied, a well-rehearsed story that had become his default response.
"That's a shame," Trini sympathized, and Jason chose not to respond. "Oh, hey, Brent, your family is here," Trini pointed to Brent's twin brother and their mother, along with the surprising presence of Commander Trask.
"Oh great, she brought her new boyfriend," Brent muttered under his breath.
"Boyfriend?" Trini prodded curiously.
"Yeah, they met after the school shooting. I get shot, and my mom gets a date. How does that work?" Brent chuckled. "Oh well, he's not a bad guy. He's really nice, but really strict. I haven't seen him laugh much."
"I can imagine," Zack commented, earning a curious glance from Brent. Quickly changing the subject, Zack turned to Jason. "You should head outside now."
"Yeah, it's about that time," Jason concurred, his eyes still on Trask.
"Cool. I'll catch up with you guys later," Brent said, rising from his seat and leaving. Jason shot Billy an inquisitive look.
"Small world, Brent's mom dating Trask," Trini remarked.
"Right. We definitely don't need to get any closer to him. Billy, are you almost done tutoring him?" Jason asked.
"No, not yet," Billy lied. "A few more weeks at least." The truth was that Brent hadn't needed tutoring since Homecoming, but they maintained the charade to conceal their growing relationship.
"Be careful. Trask is determined to find out who we are. We need to keep our distance," Jason cautioned, and Billy nodded. Jason stood up. "Alright, I'm heading outside. Time to get down to business," he laughed. The others followed suit, with Zack trailing behind Jason, and Billy and Trini not far behind.
"So, I thought you were done with tutoring, Brent," Trini inquired. Billy stopped and looked at her, her expression penetrating. Trini knew him well and could easily see through his façade.
"I am. Well, sort of. He still needs some help," Billy claimed, but Trini remained unconvinced.
"Are you just using that as an excuse to see each other?" Trini asked. Billy hesitated before responding. Trini had been one of the first to know about Billy's potential feelings for Brent and vice versa. However, given her recent loss of Daniel, Billy had thought it best not to press the matter.
"No," Billy said, though his tone betrayed him. "We're still figuring things out, that's all," he finally admitted, rubbing his arm after Trini punched him.
"Don't keep me in the dark about these things. Trust me, I'm fine. I want to know everything," Trini insisted enthusiastically. Billy smiled, and they dropped the topic as they reached Zack and took their seats next to him.
"So, anyone we should keep an eye on?" Trini asked, sizing up Jason's competition.
"Only the new kid," Zack replied, referring to Tommy.
"Really?" Trini was surprised. "I didn't know he was into martial arts." As the moments passed, the announcer provided information about each competitor, their representing high school, and the scoring system.
"First up, we have Jason Lee Scott from Angel Grove High School and Gideon Parker from East Malcolm High School in San Francisco," the announcer declared. Jason and Gideon took their positions on the mat and bowed respectfully before assuming defensive stances.
"Begin!" the referee called out. Gideon struck first with a lightning-fast punch that Jason barely managed to counter. He responded with a kick to Gideon's stomach, knocking him back. "One point for Jason!" Zack, Trini, and Billy cheered from the sidelines as Jason and Gideon resumed their stances. Opting for a different approach, Gideon leaped into the air, delivering a swift high kick that Jason narrowly evaded. When Gideon landed, he attempted another punch, nearly landing it. However, Jason grabbed Gideon's fist and pulled him close, taking him by surprise, and punched him in the chest. "Two points for Jason Scott!" the announcer exclaimed before Jason swept Gideon's feet out from under him. Gideon fell to his back, and Jason tapped his chest once more. "Two more points for Jason Scott, making it five points in total! A perfect victory for Jason Scott."
Jason helped Gideon to his feet, and they shook hands. "You really owned me there," Gideon admitted with a laugh. Impressed by Gideon's sportsmanship, Jason smiled and nodded.
"You have excellent form. Keep it up. I'm sure a rematch would be a lot of fun," Jason suggested, and Gideon agreed. Jason then moved to the winners' circle, being the first one there, and sat down to watch the remaining matches.
In the next match, Pruitt Taylor emerged victorious, setting up Jason's next opponent.
The third match concluded with Vanessa Lewis winning over Michael Smith.
The fourth and final match of the quarterfinals was between Anders McQueen and Tommy Oliver. If Jason hadn't been paying close attention before, he certainly was now. Before the match commenced, he saw Kimberly joining the others in the stands. He waved, but she didn't notice him. To avoid appearing foolish, he set his hand on his knee.
Tommy and Anders bowed their heads and assumed their defensive positions. "Begin!" the announcer shouted. Tommy initiated the first move, landing a direct hit to Anders' abdomen. "One point for Tommy!" the announcer declared. Anders attempted a spin kick, but Tommy caught his foot and brought him down to the ground, followed by a punch to the chest. "Two points for Tommy."
"Go, Tommy!" Kimberly cheered from the stands, though Tommy didn't hear her. Jason did, and his fists clenched, knuckles turning white.
Anders rose to his feet and tried to sweep Tommy, but without success. He threw a punch that Tommy blocked, then attempted another sweep, only for Tommy to jump in the air and land a kick to Anders' chest, sending him to the ground. "Two points for Tommy, making it five points in total! Tommy Oliver wins!"
"Wow, he just demolished that guy," Pruitt Taylor commented under his breath. Jason scoffed and continued to watch. Tommy waved to Kimberly in the stands, and she responded. Jason looked away, took a deep breath, and refocused on his upcoming match.
"You need to win, Jason. You need that money," he silently reminded himself, using it as motivation.
The following match between Jason and Pruitt began. While Jason ultimately won, it was a close contest, with Jason scoring five points to Pruitt's three. Tommy's next match against Vanessa had a similar score, but Tommy emerged as the winner.
"Our final matchup is between Jason Lee Scott and Tommy Oliver," the announcer declared.
"Good luck, man," Tommy greeted Jason, his demeanor upbeat. This only fueled Jason's frustration. While he usually appreciated good sportsmanship, it felt different this time.
"You too," Jason replied as genuinely as possible. The two opponents bowed their heads and assumed their stances.
"Begin!" the announcer yelled. Tommy struck first, executing three consecutive spin kicks. Jason struggled to keep up and received a hit to the chest. "One point for Tommy Oliver!" Jason pressed forward, launching an offensive. He leaped into the air and aimed a kick at Tommy, but Tommy ducked and rolled to the other side of the mat.
Jason swiftly regained his footing and blocked a punch from Tommy. He retaliated with a kick to Tommy's stomach. "One point for Jason Scott!" The match remained neck and neck. Whenever one of them landed a hit, the other quickly countered.
"It's four points for Jason and four points for Tommy; it could go either way at this point," the announcer declared. "This is the most electrifying display of martial arts I've seen all day. And to think they're just teenagers. Oh no! Oh my goodness! Behind you! They're everywhere!" Mid-fight, Jason and Tommy both stopped to look around, hearing the screams of terrified bystanders. Jason's gaze shifted to his friends, who were attempting to break through the panicked crowd.
"Putties!" a voice called out, and Jason's heart sank. Rita had struck again.
"Oh man, you've got to be kidding me," Tommy said.
"I know," Jason agreed.
"Run! Take shelter in the Youth Center!" the announcer urged before going off the air. Jason considered his match with Tommy officially over and sprinted towards the chaos, meeting up with his friends moments later. "Spread out, guys. We need to secure the area."
"Should we morph?" Trini inquired.
"There are too many people around. We'd definitely be seen," Billy pointed out.
"And don't forget, Trask is here. I'm willing to bet that the authorities will arrive soon. Be cautious. Don't draw too much attention. We don't want Trask questioning why five teenagers are effortlessly dealing with Putties," Jason instructed. "Let's go, team!" Jason ran off and immediately intercepted a group of Putties attacking civilians. He leaped into the air, extending both legs, and delivered powerful kicks to two Putties, sending them flying in opposite directions.
"Damn, these Putties couldn't have come at a worse time," Zack muttered, surveying the chaotic scene. His eyes darted to a family in the crowd, and his expression shifted to one of immediate alarm. "Oh no, Brent's family," Billy remarked with concern. Before he could charge forward, Zack restrained him by placing a firm hand on his chest.
"Dude, what are you doing? Trask is dating Brent's mom. We need to lay low around them. Saving the day ain't laying low," Zack cautioned Billy, who shot him a contemptuous look. Billy understood the risk, but he couldn't stand by and let Brent's family get hurt.
"Are we just supposed to let people get hurt to lay low?" Billy retorted, frustration evident in his voice. Zack remained silent, unable to provide a convincing argument against Billy's point.
Billy chose not to wait and rushed forward, passing Jason. His eyes locked onto a group of Putties harassing Brent and his family. Brent had just pushed a Putty away after it attempted to attack his mother, and with Trask nowhere in sight, Billy knew they needed protection. Swiftly, Billy leaped into the air, executing a powerful kick to the same Putty's back, sending it crashing to the ground. He followed up with a devastating kick to its head, reducing the creature to a pile of dirt.
"Damn," Brent muttered, still in shock.
"Are you guys okay?" Billy asked, concerned, receiving nods of affirmation from Brent and his family. Brent, though stunned by Billy's display of martial prowess, remained silent. Another Putty approached them from behind, but Billy reacted swiftly. He crouched low and delivered a swift kick to its stomach before transitioning to an upright position, landing a series of jabs that rendered the Putty incapacitated.
"How did you..." Brent began, bewildered.
"When your best friend is a black belt, you learn a lot," Billy replied quickly, attempting to downplay his abilities. "But you guys should get inside the Youth Center," he urged.
"Yes, and so should you," Brent insisted, catching Billy off guard. Refusing outright would be too suspicious, but entering the Youth Center would limit his ability to help.
"C'mon, we need to go," Brent's twin brother, Trent, chimed in. "More are coming! And I'm sure the Power Rangers will be here soon." Unable to come up with a convincing excuse to remain outside, Billy reluctantly ran with them into the Youth Center.
Meanwhile, at the martial arts stands, the chaos continued. Trini and Zack chose to stay behind, guiding as many people as possible away from the Putties.
"Keep going! C'mon, this way!" Trini urged, her voice filled with urgency. She turned in alarm as a woman screamed in pain, spotting a group of Putties relentlessly attacking her. Without hesitation, Trini sprinted toward the distressed woman, breaking up the assault by delivering a powerful punch to one Putty's face and a high kick to another.
"It's okay, you're okay!" she reassured the traumatized woman. However, the woman remained unresponsive. Suddenly, a strange sensation washed over Trini as she examined the woman's injuries, and she was transported back to a traumatic moment. She saw Daniel, her late boyfriend, lying in the woman's place.
"Impossible!" Trini gasped, initially in disbelief. She reached out to touch the woman's body and was shocked to feel warm flesh. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry," Trini apologized, her voice trembling, as she noticed the woman's condition. A Putty approached her from behind, attempting to attack, but Zack managed to intercept the assault, kicking the Putty to the ground.
"Trini, what are you doing?" Zack inquired, concern etched across his face. Trini gazed up at Zack, her eyes widening as she let out a gasp. She looked back down at the woman, but this time, she saw the woman and not Daniel.
"I... I don't know. I thought I saw..." Trini began, her voice faltering.
"Duck!" Zack suddenly shouted, rushing over and executing a spin kick to fend off an incoming Putty. Trini wiped her eyes, stood up, and was left in confusion over what had just happened to her.
"Are you okay?" The woman remained unresponsive to Zack's inquiries as he gently picked her up. "I'm getting her to the Youth Center, and you should come too," he suggested.
"No, I'm fine. I need—" Trini started to protest, but Zack interrupted her abruptly.
"You're no good to anyone like this. C'mon, let's get to the Youth Center," Zack insisted. Trini, unable to argue any further, submitted and led the way to the Youth Center.
Kimberly, separated from the others, decided to take matters into her own hands. She performed a series of agile cartwheels, propelling herself through the scattered crowd and closer to a group of Putties. She delivered a swift kick to one of them and executed a backflip to evade a punch from another. Upon landing, she promptly high-kicked a Putty in the neck, sending it stumbling backward.
"You guys just can't give us a break!" Kimberly exclaimed, her frustration apparent. Suddenly, a sharp pain flared in her left side, causing her to fall to the ground. A Putty had struck her from behind, and as it prepared to attack again, Kimberly managed to roll out of harm's way. Still on the ground, she barely blocked a kick to her face but felt an intense impact on her wrists.
"Watch out!" A familiar voice shouted, snapping Kimberly's attention back to the fight. She looked up and saw an indistinct figure in the sunlight, its silhouette becoming apparent as it soared through the air. Ducking her head, Kimberly heard a Putty crashing onto the ground behind her. When she looked up, she was surprised to see Tommy standing on the defeated Putty, extending a hand toward her.
"Are you alright?" Tommy inquired as he helped her to her feet.
"Yes, now I am," Kimberly replied with a grateful smile. Her gaze shifted from Tommy to a Putty charging toward him from behind. "Throw me up in the air!" she urgently instructed. Tommy wore a puzzled expression but complied, lifting her into his arms and tossing her skyward. Kimberly extended her leg, executing a skillful kick that knocked the Putty to the ground.
"Wow, you've got some moves," Tommy complimented, impressed. Amid the ongoing brawl, Kimberly blushed slightly, unable to prevent a faint smile.
"For the most part, these Putties are neutralized," Kimberly noted. "Hey, what do you say when this is all wrapped up, we get a drink at the juice bar?" Tommy's forwardness caught Kimberly off guard, especially given the circumstances, but she managed to smile and nod her agreement.
"Help!" a faint voice cried out in the distance, drawing Tommy's attention.
"Whoa, do you hear that?" Tommy turned to survey the area, attempting to locate the source. Kimberly looked around but didn't hear anything. Then Tommy spotted her: a young girl being carried away by a group of Putties. "Over there! That little girl!" he pointed out.
"I don't see anything," Kimberly responded, peering in the same direction. However, before she could say anything further, Tommy dashed off. She tried to follow him but was blocked by another Putty. "Tommy, wait!" Her calls went unanswered, and she couldn't join him in time.
Tommy charged forward through the lingering crowds of people who were unsure of what to do with themselves.
"Hey, let her go!" Tommy confronted the group of Putties who had cornered the terrified little girl. Rounding the corner into an alley, he found the girl on the ground, sobbing into her hands, while the Putties had seemingly vanished. "Okay, that's weird," he muttered, suspicious. Kneeling down, he tried to comfort the distraught child. "Hey, it's okay. You're okay now." The girl continued crying, and Tommy couldn't hide his bewilderment.
The girl slowly raised her head and met Tommy's gaze. "I know it is. But not for you." In an instant, the girl transformed into a Putty, and three more Putties appeared around them.
"Great," Tommy muttered to himself, lowering his guard. The Putty that had once appeared as the little girl punched Tommy in the face, knocking him back. Another Putty shoved him against a wall, but he reacted quickly, narrowly avoiding a punch from one of the Putties. Tommy responded by slamming his knee into the Putty's midsection, causing it to stumble backward. He then delivered a forceful kick to the Putty's face, sending it crashing into a trash can.
Just as another Putty lunged at him, Tommy executed a nimble flip over it, landing behind the creature and launching a series of kicks from behind. He sidestepped another Putty's kick and performed two backflips to create some distance between himself and his assailants. Grabbing the circular lid of a nearby trash can, he used it as a makeshift shield to block a Putty's punch.
Tommy retaliated by kicking the Putty in the knee before striking it across the face with the garbage lid, sending it tumbling over into another trash can. With only one Putty remaining, Tommy hurled the lid like a frisbee, striking the creature in the chest and sending it sprawling on the ground, incapacitated. He held his defensive stance, vigilant in case any of the fallen Putties showed further signs of movement. However, they vanished inexplicably.
"Damn, why me?" Tommy muttered, bewildered. He couldn't fathom the encounter, particularly the momentary illusion of the little girl. As he prepared to leave the alley, a sudden gust of wind slammed him back into the wall. "What the hell?" he cursed under his breath. An eerie laughter emanated from above, drawing Tommy's gaze skyward.
"Tommy!" Rita's malevolent voice echoed as she hovered above him.
"What do you want?!" Tommy demanded, a mixture of contempt and confusion in his tone.
"You have passed my test!" Rita declared, a sinister grin playing on her lips.
"What test?!" Tommy demanded, perplexed.
"I have been watching you for some time, Tommy. You have a latent power inside you that you don't even realize. I intend to harness it. You will become my mighty warrior and aid me in bringing down Zordon and the Power Rangers!"
"No, I won't help you! You've killed innocent people!" Tommy protested vehemently.
"All for a cause far greater than they could ever comprehend; a cause that you will soon embrace! Help me realize it!" Rita countered, raising her wand. The ruby jewel on her wand glowed a sinister red. "We mustn't waste any more time. Come, Tommy! You have much to learn before eternal power is yours!"
"No!" Tommy shouted in protest, but his resistance was futile. A crimson beam of light enveloped him, and he felt pressure bearing down on his body, a searing sensation on his skin. He cried out once more, but the sound was lost in the eerie wind. In a matter of seconds, Tommy, the wind, and Rita all vanished.
...To be continued
HI EVERYONE!
Sorry this took so long to post. Tommy is by far one of the most popular, if not the most popular, characters in Power Rangers history and I've been playing around with this arc, trying to make it right with the story and the tone I've created. There is an enormous, crushing pressure to writing Tommy but I'm having a lot of fun with it and all I have to say is, I hope you're all ready. I also planned to have this out hours ago because of St. Patrick's Day being a green holiday, but my internet wasn't working for me - such is life. Regardless. I'm very excited to have started this arc and we have a long way to go.