The rest of the week passed largely without incident. Zedd, while biding his time, sent a couple of squads of putties to attack the rangers, had not sent a monster since Slythor had been destroyed. Early, on Saturday morning, Tommy got out of his bed at 5:00 AM. He double-checked to make sure that his door was locked, then looked under his bed and pulled out a shoe box. He opened it and took out a cube made of bronze in an intricate diamond and triangle pattern around a softly glowing blue gem-like structure. He took a deep calming breath before closing his eyes and clearing his mind. He slowly opened his eyes and the cube began to float in his hand before the corners shifted and pulled away from the cube followed by several smaller sections, leaving only a glowing ball. The ball split into two hemispheres and his room was filled in with a pale blue-white light.
"Master Yoda said that this could help further my training at that Zordon would know how," he thought to himself as he tapped back into The Force and put the cube back in its original form. He placed it back in its hiding place, got dressed, and went for a long run. Leaving his house he went to Angel Grove Park, did a complete lap around the park, and returned home. When he entered the back door into the kitchen of the Oliver home, he was greeted by his mom as she began brewing coffee for herself and her husband.
"Good morning Tommy," Mrs. Oliver said happily, "I'm starting some eggs and bacon, what would you like?"
"Morning Mom," Tommy said as he poured himself a glass of water and quickly drank it. "A couple of eggs over easy and a couple of bacon strips would be great. I'm going to take a quick shower first though, that okay?"
"Absolutely dear."
"Thanks, Mom," Tommy said with a smile and wave as he ran off to the bathroom.
When he came back into the kitchen, dressed in a green tank top with black denim shorts, and a green bandana tied around his head, it was just in time for him to see his mom place his plate on the table, next to his dad who was reading the paper, and sipping his coffee. "Morning Dad," Tommy said as he sat down. "This looks great, thanks, Mom."
"Well then, dig in," Mrs. Oliver laughed as she sat down at the table.
"Hey, Tommy, how'd you like to go fishing with the old man today?
"I'd like to dad, but, I promised Earnie I'd help him out with something at The Youth Center today."
"Alright, have fun." Mr. Oliver said smiling at his son.
At 8:00, Tommy left his home and began walking toward The Youth Center, with the green gym bag he always kept his gi and workout clothes in slung over his shoulder. In addition to its normal contents, the bag also held the Holocron Yoda had given him, along with his lightsaber. When he got close to the juice bar, he turned down the same ally Rita had once abducted him in and looked around. When he saw that he was clear, Tommy tapped his communicator.
"Zordon, Alpha come in," he said keeping his voice low.
"I read you, Tommy," Zordon replied.
"Zordon, I have something from Master Yoda. He said you would know how to use it to keep my skills sharp."
"I suspected you would," Zordon replied. "Bring it to The Command Center, and Alpha and I will begin integrating it into our computer systems."
"I'm on my way," Tommy said before scanning the area one last time. Seeing that he was still clear, he tapped his communicator again and teleported to The Command Center.
"Tommy, the computer is," Alpha said once Tommy appeared.
"Alright let's get started," Tommy said with a smile. He placed the Holocron on a small circular platform hooked into the main computer bank. Just like before, Tommy reached out with The Force and opened the container of Jedi knowledge. When it opened completely, several lights on the computer lit up and holographic image after holographic image began to flicker within the Holocron.
"Preliminary data shows we'll be able to create training programs for you based on what information this contains," Alpha said as the computer did a quick scan of the data held by the Holocron. "Aye aye aye aye aye! that's a lot of data, this will take several hours!" Alpha said excitedly when a read-out reported an approximate assimilation time of five hours.
"That's alright Alpha," Tommy said with a smile. "Patience is invaluable for a Jedi. I'm going to go to The Youth Center, will you let me know when it's ready?"
"Of course, Tommy," Alpha said, nodding his head.
Tommy teleported back to the ally, and once again started heading toward The Youth Center. When he emerged from the ally, he nearly bumped into Kat. "Oh sorry," Tommy said before realizing who he had nearly run into.
"Tommy? Hey, headed to Ernies?" she asked. She was dressed in a simple pink tee shirt, dark blue denim shorts, and her long blonde hair done into a loose updo.
"Yeah, you?"
"Yeah, I wanted to ask him about letting me run a ballet class. You want to walk together?"
"Yeah, let's go," Tommy said with a smile. "So, have you always been an early riser?" he asked as they began walking.
"Yeah, ever since I trained for the Pan Globals myself a couple of years ago."
"No way! You were in the pan Globals?"
"Yeah, I was a diver, took third. I hate to admit it, but, I probably would have gold, but I hit my head on the platform in my last dive." She looked over at Tommy, his face twisted in a grimace.
"I'm sorry Kat. You must have been so disappointed."
"Yeah, I haven't been able to bring myself to dive since."
"That's too bad," Tommy said sadly.
"How about you? Always been an early riser?"
"No," Tommy laughed. "Before heading off to train with Master Yoda, I was much more likely to oversleep than anything else."
"I suppose spending a year living with someone like that would tend to change that," Kat laughed as the two approached the front of The Youth Center.
"You have no idea," Tommy laughed as he pulled the door open. "After you," he said waving Kat in.
"Thanks," Kat said smiling at him. The two walked into the main area of the juice bar finding it empty, save for Ernie who stood behind the bar, leaning on it and looking up at the TV.
"Hey, Tommy, Kat. What brings you guys in so early?"
"Felt like an early morning workout," Tommy answered before heading to the men's locker room to change.
"And I have a question for you, Ernie."
"Alright, hit me," Ernie said with a smile.
"Would you mind if I started up a ballet class, and taught it here?"
"Not at all Kat, let me know if you need anything. I'll help you out as much as I can."
"Thanks, Ernie!" she said with an excited smile.
"No problem Kat, Can I get you anything?"
"Umm," Kat began tapping the bar with her palms as she looked over the menu. "Can I get a strawberry banana smoothie please?"
"Coming right up."
"Thanks, Ernie," Kat said as she turned to see Tommy come out of the locker room. He was now dressed in a green sleeveless shirt and long loose fitting black pants. He made his way over to one of the exercise machines and began pushing the handles outward, simulating a bench press.
"Here ya go, Kat," Ernie said as he set the smoothie down on the bar.
Several hours later, Zordon had contacted Tommy, and by extension the other rangers as they played a three-on-three game of basketball. "We read you, Zordon," Jason said into his communicator as the others huddled around him.
"Rangers, please teleport to The Command Center," Zordon replied.
Seconds later, the six rangers stood in the center of The Command Center looking up at their mentor. "What is it Zordon?" Jason asked.
"Zedd up to no good again?" Zack asked.
"No rangers, I brought you here because the information from the Holocron Tommy provided us has been fully integrated into the computer.
"'Holocron?'" Billy asked.
"Devices used by The Jedi," Tommy began as he stepped forward and turned to face his friends. "They hold information and can be used to communicate messages."
"Can this Holocron help us?" Trini asked.
"Yes, Trini. Thanks to Tommy's Holocron, Alpha has been able to create files on the dimension where Tommy trained to be a Jedi. As I told you before it is a dimension of experiencing a civil war. Now that Zedd knows of Tommy's return and new powers, I fear it is likely he will seek out their source. If he can figure it out, Zedd may be willing to work with Emperor Palpatine to defeat you."
"Do you think it will come to that?" Kat asked looking back and forth between Zordon and Tommy.
"It is a possibility, we cannot ignore," Zordon answered.
"Which is why I gave it to Zordon," Tommy added.
"In addition to the information database, we've been able to design new training programs based on it you can use in the training room," Alpha added.
"Okay, that makes sense," Jason said rubbing his chin in thought. "When do we start training?"
"Soon, but, for now, I feel it is best for Jason, Zack, Billy, Trini, and Kat to get an idea of what they might be up against," Zordon answered. "Tommy please head down to the training room, the rest of you, please head to the observation platform. The rangers nodded, turned, and walked toward the viewing globe, Alpha following close behind. As they circled it, a hidden door opened revealing an elevator. It went down one level and everyone but Tommy exited and looked out into the empty training room. Zordon appeared in a second tube behind them. "Tommy, in this simulation you'll be dueling a hard light hologram of Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Master Yoda spoke very highly of Master Kenobi," Tommy said to the group before the elevator began to lower itself again.
After reaching the training room, Tommy went into one of the changing rooms at the side of the training room and changed into his Jedi robes he had been keeping at The Command Center, deciding to leave the cloak before clipping the hilt of his lightsaber to his belt. When he left the changing room, the empty training room was gone. In its place, Tommy found a large circular room with a white marble floor, and that was held up by several thick brown marble columns. The room was left wide open with no walls and looked out in all directions over a massive cityscape. At the center of the room stood a bearded man with short light brown hair, dressed in Jedi robes identical to Tommy's. He smiled warmly at Tommy.
"Ready to spar, Tommy?" the man asked in a crisp almost British-sounding accent. Tommy couldn't help but smile in return.
"Ready if you are, Master Kenobi," Tommy said with a slight bow. Of course, he knew he was speaking to a hologram, but, after all, Master Yoda had told him of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Tommy felt he owed the man a great deal of respect, even if it was just a hologram.
"Then let's begin, shall we?" Obi-Wan asked as he pulled his silvery-colored lightsaber hilt to his right hand. He activated it. and with the distinctive snap-hiss sound a brilliant blue blade sprang to life as he spun it in his hand. He then stood still with his feet a little wider than shoulder-width apart, his weight shifted slightly back onto his right leg with his left hand held out in front of him and his blade held slightly above his eye level, the right of his face, and pointed at Tommy.
Again, Tommy bowed to Obi-Wan before pulling his lightsaber to his hand. The green blade came to life. Tommy shifted his stance so that he stood with his left side to Obi-Wan. His feet were shoulder width appear, left foot about half a step in front of his right, green blade held high above his head, pointed toward Obi-Wan, and tilted slightly downward.
"Zordon," Kat said nervously, "could Tommy be... I mean the other lightsaber..."
"Have no fear, Katherine. The hologram's lightsaber can do no more damage than a minor burn."
"Man!" Zack said excitedly as he clapped his hands together. "This is going to be intense!"
"No doubt," Jason agreed.
"I must admit, knowing what Tommy is capable of doing has me quite curious to see a duel between two Force-wielding individuals."
"Yeah," Trini said thoughtfully as they all stared down at Tommy and Obi-Wan. Neither had said anything further, and both had hey to make any kind of offensive move. They slowly circled one another neither advancing seemingly patiently waiting for an opening of some sort.
After a long few seconds, Tommy slowly advanced on Obi-Wan, lowered his blade, and performed a quick probing jab at Obi-Wan who moved his blade to deflect the blow, an approving smile on his face.
Tommy feigned another jab at a low angle and to the left. Mid jab he shifted his stance and swung the blade upward and to the right. The Hologram of Obi-Wan grimaced as he swung his blade to deflect Tommy's. No sooner had the two blades clashed together than Tommy pulled his blade back to his left and swung it in an arc until it was overhead and brought it down hard. Obi-Wan blocked the strike. Tommy spun on the balls of his left foot and landed a spinning back sidekick to Obi-Wan's stomach sending the holographic Jedi stumbling backward. Tommy quickly advanced, his blade behind him as he ran sideways at the hologram.
When he tried for another overhead strike, Obi-wan turned his body slightly to his right and swept Tommy's legs from under him sending him crashing to the hard floor. Acting more on instinct than thought, Tommy reached out with The Force and sent a powerful Force Push at Obi-wan. The hologram was caught off guard and flew backward. He landed hard on his shoulders but managed to roll back to his feet and dove aside just in time to avoid the leaping slash Tommy attacked with. The two duelists stood toe-to-toe, their blades whirling around them, the pitch of their hum changing constantly as the two changed their levels and speeds trying to create an opening for them to strike. After nearly a minute, then the two blades clashed together, and the two stared into one another's eyes.
Without warning, Obi-Wan sent Tommy flying backward with a Force Pushe of his own. In his surprise, Tommy dropped his lightsaber, and Obi-Wan was on him as soon as he slammed against the wall. Tommy moved faster than he thought was possible, even with assistance from The Force. He ducked, sidestepped, bobbed, and weaved his head. Each time he narrowly avoided Obi-Wan's lightsaber. He flipped over Obi-Wan's head, reached out with The Force, and pulled his lightsaber to his hand. He ignited it and turned to face Obi-Wan. He moved his blade to block Obi-Wan's. However, with a deft flick of his wrist, Obi-Wan slid his blade under Tommy's just before the two clashed together yet again.
"Ah!" Tommy said as much in shock as in pain as Obi-Wan's blue blade scorched his wrist.
"Very well fought my young friend," Obi-Wan said as he picked up Tommy's lightsaber and handed it back to him. "I can certainly see why Master Yoda holds you in such high regard.
A few short minutes later, Tommy got off the elevator in the observation room and was greeted by his friends' concerned looks. Kat ran to him and gently grabbed his hand and began to inspect his wrist. "Are you okay?" she asked looking at him her bright blue eyes full of concern.
"Yeah, it was just a glancing blow with a training saber," Tommy said with a smile.
"Tommy, man, I gotta tell you, I never thought I'd see anything like that!" Zack said excitedly as he came over and offered Tommy a high-five.
"Thanks, Zack," Tommy said as he slapped his hand against Zacks.
"That was quite impressive," Billy said with a nod. "It must have been something to see the Jedi Order at its height."
"Not to mention terrifying," Kat added, suddenly realizing she was still holding Tommy's hand. "I mean look what happened with Bonecrusher. If it was a real duel Tommy would have just lost his hand."
"Very true, but, thankfully the wound would have been instantly cauterized," Tommy said smiling at Kat trying to put her at ease. However, the look on her face told him he had failed.
"I'm guessing the real Obi-Wan was a real mean fighter," Jason said walking over to Tommy.
"According to Mater Yoda, Master Kenobi was regarded as the master of Soresu," Tommy said drawing looks of confusion. "It was the most defensive form of lightsaber combat. If the computer can recreate people based on the data it has even half as accurately as Alpha and Zordon say, I highly doubt I'd have lasted that long against the real Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"That does make sense," Trini said nodding her head. "Think about it, when was the only time the hologram pressed any kind of real offense?"
"When Tommy had been disarmed," Jason said in realization.
"Tommy doesn't sell yourself short," Alpha said bringing over a printout. "According to this, the computer predicts a high probability of you being able to match Obi-Wan's skill."
"Thanks, Alpha," Tommy said gently clapping the robot on the shoulder.
"Tommy. I have no doubt that in time, with continued dedication and practice you'll be quite an accomplished lightsaber combatant."
"Thanks, Zordon."