This predates the version that would eventually be published on Fanfiction.Net. It features the original ending that would have led into an entirely different path from what ended up being the final product… and by “final”, I mean good enough for a year before I decided to go back and tweak it again.
-o-
Thomas Oliver stood in front of the structure, staring as if it was a ghost from the past.
In some ways, that’s exactly what it might have been. The original home base of the original Power Rangers, destroyed once by means of an implosion device, but was soon restored and served as a entryway to the underground Power Chamber base. That base, along with this structure, was destroyed during the Turbo Rangers’ battle with pirate queen Divatox and the ruins has been dormant all this time.
… or so everyone thought.
In front of him was the very structure thought to have been destroyed and never to return and yet here it is, just as it appeared ten years ago. Realizing he wasn’t alone, he turned towards the two Silver Guardians. “You guys better regroup with the others,” he ordered, although unsure of himself. “Form whatever strategy you can to find and stop the Varox.”
“What about you?” Eric asked implicitly.
Thomas shrugged.
“Gonna meet an old friend… kinda.”
Eric and Wes shared a glance before facing Thomas, who gave them a knowing nod.
“I’ll join up with you guys when I’m done here.”
Wes nodded. “Okay.”
“See you then,” Eric replied.
Both Guardians returned to their hummer. Thomas watched as the vehicle started its engine and slowly backed off to turn towards the horizon. Once it was out of sight, Thomas turned to face the massive structure before him. Despite having been rebuilt twice over after unfortunate destruction, the building looked as old as it ever did. Pleasant memories flooded Thomas’ mind before he pushed them aside and approached the front entrance. It wasn’t long before he entered the empty Command Center.
The last time he had been in this room, it was moments before it had been destroyed by an implosion device. Though the structure was rebuilt, this area had been blocked off from all access and during his days leading his team during their Zeo and Turbo phases, they had been operating out of the Power Chamber, which was better equipped to deal with the Machine Empire threat… a threat once thought wiped out, but never truly gone… until the threat of the Wraith came along.
Thomas surveyed his surroundings. Everything is as it had been before… except there were no lights. No power. Everything was dead silent in darkness. Only the hard winds from outside could be heard. Thomas approached one of the consoles, specifically the one with the Numeral Pad. Keying in the numbers 5 – 3 – 9 – 4 and following that combination with a Pound key, Thomas turned to see a door of light emanate from the other side of the room.
Glad to see this still works, Thomas thought to himself as he approached the door of light and took the first step.
All of a sudden, he found himself in freefall, yet somehow stood still, surrounded by blinding light that forced his eyes shut. The feeling lasted momentarily before he felt his feet land on the ground softly. The intense light darkened, allowing Thomas to open his eyes and find himself in a familiar setting.
The chamber of light. He had been here before. The control panels and the optical read-outs were the same as before. Although he had been unconscious most of the time, Thomas recognized this place as the hidden laboratory where Zordon and Alpha Five had experimented with a new Power Ranger, the White Ranger. Aside from the fact that it had collected dust over years of inactivity, it is relatively unchanged, as if he had been there for the first time. Clearly, the multiple destructions of the structure above did not affect this chamber at all.
Good thing, he thought, I need this more than ever.
Thomas decided to due away with the nostalgic feelings for the moment and concentrate on the matter at hand. Beside the lab table were several file folders. Curious, Thomas thought to himself, I had never known Zordon to be keeping notes on paper. Grabbing the stack of files, Thomas opened one of them and studied the various documentation. He chuckled to himself; the first folder contained documentation of the White Ranger project. Another folder contained implemented features into the White Ranger project. Everything seemed ordinary; typical schematics, abilities, and other…
Thomas backtracked through the documents he scanned through until he found the one marked “GS-01.” Taking the document from the folder, he scanned through the document, looking at handwritten words and diagrams. When Zordon briefed Thomas long ago, he explained that the White Ranger was supposed to be more powerful than any other Ranger, but he hadn’t mentioned anything about a “GS-01” of any kind. Thomas sat on a chair near the lab desk and began to read the document with interest and curiosity. Although the information is rather outdated, it could hold something worth mentioning.
For several pages, the document was simple properties of energy absorption through a process unfamiliar to Thomas. The next part of the document had an interesting theory about an ability to gather the absorbed energy with a Ranger and use it to release a discharge of energy that would devastate everything in its path. This did not make sense to Thomas; why would Zordon implement a destructive power into the White Ranger matrix?
Another curious dilemma strikes Thomas in the third and final part of the document. In the final three pages were schematics of the White Ranger, except the schematics included components not installed in the final product. In fact, Thomas’ eyes widened when he read that the additional components could not be found and therefore, compensations had to be made. Thomas sat there confused. Missing components? Compensations? What does all this mean?
Thomas spotted a chair near by and sat in it, reading the White Ranger files. It took him a little over an hour to study the files and once he took note of the time, he set aside the files. Standing up, he approached a computer console and keyed up the word “Wraith” and the screen displayed over two hundred different entries concerning the term “Wraith.” At first Thomas thought his search parameter was too general, but then remembered former Ranger William Cranston saying that the database “knows” what to look for. Thomas also remember Billy explicating telling him not to ask, so he didn’t.
The files concerning the Wraith proved to be more useful than Thomas had hoped for. Most of the Wraith’s functionality was clearly explained, including the less-than-powerful laser beam that only destroys ravaged planets while causing healthy worlds to become wastelands. In other words, Thomas concluded, a bigger Serpenterra with more guns. Other files has incidents and known encounters with the planet-killer.
One particular file was especially interesting. HISTORY OF THE WRAITH was the header. Thomas selected the file and read an extensive essay. He learned that the Wraith was a weapon built by an ancient civilization, designed to destroy their enemies effortlessly. Most of this information seemed trivial, except for one portion. Thomas had to read and re-read this segment several times, and each time he read it, he couldn’t believe it.
During the days of the Repulsa wars, Eltarian troops commanded by Zordon uncovered and used the Wraith to destroy most of Rita Repulsa’s border worlds before abandoning the weapon. However, they did not shut down the Wraith and thus the ship went about its original program; destroying uninhabitable worlds high on resources.
I can’t believe it, Thomas mouthed. Zordon had a part in this thing’s rampage?
Desperate to search for more, Thomas skimmed through Zordon’s journals that dated to the period in question. They confirmed his fears about Zordon’s involvement:
This weapon seemed like the perfect foil to take out the threat of Rita and end the Repulsa regime. However, it was difficult to control, so I set its mission parameters to go out and destroy rogue worlds that were under Rita’s control.
Thomas didn’t understand that particular statement and continued down towards the entry’s final lines:
The Wraith did not receive any orders to halt its assault and in fact, none of us, not even myself, had thought much about it. By the time we realized our error, the Wraith was gone. Its destination… unknown. Its purpose… mindless destruction. Its target is simply rogue worlds… but I have no doubt that it will stop there. It is a weapon capable of defending itself and will stop at nothing to complete its mission.
Although Andros had told him in his recent email that the Wraith was still pursuing rogue worlds, the thought of Earth being a potential target certainly cross Thomas’ mind. However, with Andros taking care of that problem, he needn’t worry. So Thomas concentrated on the White Ranger project files, knowing that something within the files could possibly be adapted to the Zeo Ranger powers and could be of help to their conflict against the Varox threat.
Eventually, Thomas found his answer. His face furrowed as his eyes darted across the briefs. He suddenly felt heavier and needed to sit down, his eyes still afixed to the information on screen. He was having second thoughts. He read the notes several more times before confirming in his mind that this is what he was looking for. He shook his head intently. This wasn’t what he had in mind.
Isn’t there some other way? he thought. Some other way besides this?
But he already knew the answer before he finished the thought. Thomas lowered his head and let out a heavy sigh. This was going to take time. Time they didn’t have. But he also knew there were no other options. He also knew that he had to do this on his own. He didn’t have time to call on Cranston for help. Thomas had to work with what he had and what he taught himself over the years.
Thomas looked up, his face glowing with confidence.
“Let’s do this.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
