Green with Evil

Salvation Part 2

The Command Center hummed with its usual low, steady rhythm, its control panels casting a soft, ambient glow that reflected off the metallic surfaces. Despite the familiar surroundings, the atmosphere was tense, weighted by the previous day's revelations. The air felt thick with unresolved emotions, as if the very walls of the Command Center were absorbing the unease that had settled over the team. None of them had slept well; the night had been long, restless, filled with questions that had no easy answers.

Billy was the first to arrive, his punctuality a predictable comfort in an otherwise chaotic time. Weekends usually found him in the Command Center, tinkering with systems or running diagnostics. But today, his focus was singular: finding Zordon. With Tommy's true identity revealed, the need to restore their mentor was more urgent than ever. If anyone could help Alpha in this task, it was Billy.

He positioned himself at the main console, his fingers moving deftly over the keys as he worked to isolate a faint but persistent signal buried deep within the grid framework. His mind raced through calculations, algorithms, and theories, searching for anything that could bring Zordon back.

"Maybe these coordinates," Billy murmured to himself, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the data. "If we can lock onto this signal and isolate the anomalies, we might be able to triangulate the source. It's a long shot, but at this point…"

"You're right, Billy," Alpha replied, his synthetic voice laced with the same urgency Billy felt. "A lead is a lead. Closing in on identified parameters now."

For a moment, they worked in silence, the only sounds the soft beeps and whirs of the Command Center's machinery. But Billy's mind wasn't entirely on the task at hand. There was something else he needed to address, something that had been weighing on him ever since it happened.

"Alpha," Billy began, taking a deep breath as he prepared to confess. "There's something I need to tell you."

Alpha paused in his work, turning towards Billy with what could only be described as concern, despite his lack of facial expressions. "What's wrong, Billy? I'm sensing some anxiety in your voice."

Billy hesitated, searching for the right words. "I revealed my identity… to someone. Someone who's important to me." The words came out slowly, as if speaking them made them more real, more irreversible.

Alpha's lights flickered in surprise. "Billy, you've revealed your identity? But why?"

Billy sighed, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he gathered his thoughts. "It's Brent… my boyfriend. Keeping this secret from him was tearing me apart. This experience—being a Ranger—has been incredible, but it's also been isolating. I know the protocols are in place for a reason, to protect us and those we care about, but I couldn't keep lying to him. He deserved to know the truth."

Alpha tilted his head slightly, processing this new information. "Billy, the rules are there to keep you and those you care about safe. Rita's influence is dangerous. If she were to find out…"

"I know, Alpha," Billy interrupted, his voice laced with the weight of his decision. "I've thought about the risks, over and over. But I also thought about what it would mean to keep living a lie. Brent didn't ask for this, but he's part of my life. He needed to know who I really am."

Alpha was silent for a moment, his mechanical gaze shifting to the empty crystalline tube where Zordon should have been. "Life is fleeting, Billy. Zordon always believed that protecting life was paramount, even if it required sacrifice. The fact that you've chosen to share this part of yourself with someone you love… I believe Zordon would understand. He chose you for a reason. The Morphin Grid chose you. These decisions are yours to make."

Billy felt a surge of relief at Alpha's words, the weight on his shoulders lightening ever so slightly. "Thank you, Alpha. I wasn't sure how you'd react, but… it means a lot to hear you say that."

Alpha's lights flickered in what could almost be interpreted as a smile. "Just be careful, Billy. The dangers are real, and the stakes are high. But trust in your judgment. We all do."

Billy nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. For the first time in days, he felt a sense of peace, knowing that he wasn't alone in his decision.

It wasn't long before Trini arrived, her usual calm demeanor replaced with a quiet intensity. She said nothing at first, simply taking her place beside Billy at the console. There was so much she wanted to say, but the words were tangled in her mind, caught between anger and sadness, between resolve and uncertainty.

When Zack finally walked in it was the late afternoon, he set his gym bag down with a heavy thud. The three of them exchanged glances, their unspoken thoughts hanging in the air like a storm about to break.

Trini was the first to break the silence, her voice tinged with disbelief. "I still can't wrap my head around it. Tommy, the Green Ranger… it just doesn't seem real."

Zack leaned against a console, his arms crossed tightly across his chest. "Yeah, like something out of a bad dream. I thought he was just some new kid trying to find his place, but now… everything's upside down. He was nice at first, then something changed. We saw it…we just… I don't know. It just didn't click in time for us..."

Billy adjusted his glasses, his voice taking on a more analytical tone. "It's clear that Rita's using some form of mind control. She's taken Tommy's natural abilities and twisted them into something dangerous."

Trini clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white. "It wouldn't be the first time she's done this. This is Daniel all over again." Her voice trembled slightly, the memories of their former teammate still raw.

"There are some differences," Zack pointed out, though he was careful with his words. "Daniel seemed… conflicted. Like he was fighting against it. But Tommy… he's just been so hostile lately. Almost like he wants this."

Trini nodded, though she didn't seem entirely convinced. "Maybe it's a stronger spell. But that doesn't make this any easier. He's human, just like Daniel was. And now we have to stop him… how are we supposed to do that?" Trini's eyes were filled with concern as she thought of Kimberly. "Kim's taking this really hard. She really liked Tommy, and now… this has to be tearing her apart."

Zack's expression mirrored her worry. "Yeah, it's complicated. But Trini, Tommy isn't Daniel. Their situations are similar, sure, but we can't… we can't let this break us."

Trini looked away, struggling with her emotions. "A few weeks ago, I thought I was ready to do whatever it took. But now… I don't know."

Billy adjusted his stance, the weight of their conversation pressing down on him. "Even if Tommy's under Rita's influence, and that's what drove him to do everything he did… the fact remains that he did those things."

Zack nodded, his expression grim. "Yeah, he's done a lot of damage. He trapped Jason in the Dark Dimension, tried to kill him—tried to kill all of us more than once. And he's getting stronger. Every time we face him, he seems more in control, more dangerous."

Trini's brow furrowed as she processed Zack's words. "But he didn't kill any of us," she countered, though her voice lacked its usual confidence. "Maybe not for lack of trying, I get that. But are we really prepared to… to take Tommy down by whatever means necessary?"

The room grew quiet as her words hung in the air, a heavy question that none of them wanted to answer. They all knew what she was asking, and it terrified them. Could they do what might be necessary if it came to that? Could they stop Tommy, even if it meant…

Zack shook his head, struggling to find the right words. "I don't know, Trini. We've been through a lot as a team, but this… this feels different. We've always been able to find another way, but what if there isn't one this time?"

Billy looked at his friends, his heart aching with the weight of the decisions they might have to make. "We have to believe there's another way. We have to believe we can save him. But… we also have to be prepared for the worst."

Trini crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on the floor. "I don't know if I'm ready for that. I don't know if any of us are."

Just then, the Command Center's alarms blazed to life, the sudden noise jolting them out of their heavy thoughts. Alpha 5 spun around to the console, his lights flashing in urgency. "Aye-yi-yi, Rangers! We have an incoming threat!"

The three Rangers quickly moved to the central console, where the viewing globe began to flicker and swirl with images. As the static cleared, a scene unfolded that sent chills down their spines. In the distance, just offshore from Angel Grove, the waters began to churn and bubble ominously.

"What's going on, Alpha?" Zack asked, his voice tense.

Alpha's mechanical hands danced over the controls, his voice filled with dread. "Rangers, this is terrible. Rita has summoned the Dragonzord!"

The image in the viewing globe shifted to reveal the massive form of the Dragonzord rising from the ocean depths, water cascading off its metallic body. Its eyes glowed a menacing green, and as it let out a deafening roar, the ground trembled under its sheer power.

Trini's eyes widened in shock. "What… what is that thing?"

Alpha's voice wavered as he explained. "The Dragonzord is a powerful Zord, one that rivals your own. It was created long ago and has been lying dormant beneath the ocean, waiting for the right time to be awakened. Rita must have given Tommy the Dragon Dagger, the only weapon that can control it."

Billy's mind raced as he processed this new information. "If Tommy has control of the Dragonzord, then he's more dangerous than we thought. Our Zords… they're gone. We don't have anything to match that kind of power."

Zack clenched his fists, frustration and fear warring within him. "We have to do something. We can't just let him destroy the city."

Trini took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. "But what can we do? We're outmatched."

Alpha's lights flickered as he turned towards them, his tone filled with determination. "Rangers, you may be without your Zords, but you still have each other. You've faced impossible odds before and come out victorious. Don't lose hope now."

Billy nodded, his resolve hardening. "Alpha's right. We need to find a way to stop the Dragonzord and get through to Tommy. We can't give up."

Zack was the first to break the silence, his voice firm with resolve. "We need to get Jason and Kimberly here, now. If we're going to have any chance against that thing, we need to be together."

Alpha nodded quickly, his circuits buzzing with activity as he moved to the control panel. "I'll contact them immediately. Aye-yi-yi."

The three Rangers watched as Alpha worked, their minds racing with thoughts of the battle ahead. The sight of the Dragonzord's emergence still replayed in their heads—a beast of unimaginable power, ready to lay waste to everything in its path.

Billy stepped closer to the console, his analytical mind already considering the possibilities. "We need to understand its weaknesses. The Dragonzord is powerful, but it must have vulnerabilities. If we can identify those, we might stand a chance."

Trini's thoughts were elsewhere, however. She couldn't help but think of Kimberly and what this revelation would mean for her. Tommy, the boy she had liked so much, was now the greatest threat they had ever faced. The emotional toll this was taking on their friend must have been immense.

Zack noticed her distant expression and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll figure this out, Trini. I know it feels like everything is falling apart, but we've been through tough spots before. We just have to keep our heads straight and trust each other."

Trini nodded, though her heart was still heavy. "I know, Zack. But this is different. We've lost our Zords, and now we're up against something we've never seen before. I'm just… I'm scared for all of us, but especially for Kim. Losing Daniel I think made me less human. I just don't want that for her. How do we even begin to deal with this?"

Zack didn't have an answer, and that silence spoke volumes. This was uncharted territory for all of them, and the path forward was anything but clear.

As if sensing their need for reassurance, Alpha's voice cut through the tension. "Jason and Kimberly are on their way, Rangers."

Billy's eyes were fixed on the viewing globe, where the Dragonzord continued its march toward Angel Grove. "We need to prepare for the worst. If Tommy is beyond saving… we…we just have to be ready."

The room fell silent again, the weight of Billy's words sinking in. They all knew what he meant, and none of them wanted to face that possibility. But as Rangers, they had sworn to protect the world, even if it meant making impossible choices.

Before the silence could deepen, the familiar hum of teleportation filled the room, and Jason and Kimberly appeared in streaks of red and pink light. Their expressions were grim, reflecting the weight of the conversation they had just shared.

"Hey Team," Jason said, his voice steady but laced with tension. "What's the situation?"

Zack pointed to the viewing globe. "Oh, you know. Rita's unleashed the Dragonzord, and Tommy's in control. Our Zords are gone, and we're outmatched. Just another afternoon," he shook his head, "We need a plan, and fast."

Kimberly's eyes were fixed on the image of the Dragonzord, her heart twisting in her chest. She had feared this would happen but seeing it with her own eyes made it all the more real. The boy she had such complicated feelings for was a pawn in Rita's game, and she didn't know how to handle it.

Jason noticed her distress and stepped closer, his voice softening. "Kim, I know this is hard, but we need you. We can't do this without you."

Kimberly nodded, her resolve hardening. "I'm here, Jason. I'm just… trying to process everything. But I'm not going to let Tommy or anyone else destroy our city."

Trini moved to stand beside her, offering a supportive nod. "We're all in this together, Kim. We'll find a way to stop Tommy, and maybe even save him. But we need to be ready for whatever comes next."

Billy, still focused on the task at hand, spoke up. "Alpha, is there any way to amplify the Dragonzord's control signal? Their connection is brand new. If we can interfere with Tommy's connection to it, we might be able to weaken its influence."

Alpha's lights flickered as he considered the suggestion. "It's possible, but it would require a high-energy output that we don't currently have access to. However, if we could restore Zordon, he might be able to help us devise a solution."

Jason's expression hardened with determination. "Then we need to find Zordon. There's just no other way around it. Without him, we're fighting this battle blind. Alpha, what's the status on the search?"

Alpha's tone was somber. "I'm doing everything I can, but the signals are faint. Although, we may have made some progress. In short, there's still hope, but it will take time."

Time they didn't have.

Kimberly took a deep breath, steeling herself for the fight ahead. "Whatever happens, we need to stick together. And Tommy's just…We can't let Rita win. We have to believe we can save him."

The others nodded in agreement, but the unspoken fear lingered in the air. Jason in particular had no idea if saving Tommy was possible. And there was another part of him that just didn't want to. But he didn't show it. They had always found a way to overcome the odds, but this time felt different. The Dragonzord loomed over them, both a symbol of their greatest challenge and a reminder of how much they stood to lose.

Alpha's lights flickered again, this time with a sense of urgency. "Rangers, the Dragonzord is closing in on Angel Grove. We need to act now!"

Jason clenched his fists, his mind racing as he tried to formulate a plan. "We'll figure something out. We always do."

But even as he said the words, he couldn't shake the feeling that this battle would push them to their limits—and beyond.

"We'll teleport to the city and try to slow it down," Zack suggested. "Maybe we can buy some time while we figure out how to stop it."

Jason nodded, his eyes locking with Kimberly's. "You ready?"

Kimberly's grip tightened around her morpher. "Let's do this."

Without another word, the Rangers activated their teleporters, disappearing in streaks of red, pink, black, blue, and yellow light. As they materialized in the heart of Angel Grove, the sound of the Dragonzord's roars echoed through the city, a chilling reminder of the battle that awaited them.

But even as they prepared to face the greatest challenge of their lives, the bond between them remained unbreakable. Together, they would stand against the darkness, and whatever the outcome, they would face it as one.

"Let's do it guys," Jason yelled, reaching for his morpher. "It's Morphin time!"