Chapter Text
Zack Taylor, leader of the Coinless rebels against the reign of the evil Lord Drakkon has seen many things. He has seen friends die before his eyes, he seen people starving, abuse of power, people giving up hope for fighting a seemingly endless war, and his allies killed without a hint of mercy. War does that, it's a terrible thing that changes life. Makes it dark, bitter, cold with little sources of joy. Which makes the scene in front of him all the more strange, something he hasn't seen in a long time. Teenagers just being teenagers. No trace of terrible hardships, no dread for the future, no sunken eyes haunted by the battlefield. Just bickering teenagers too busy poking at one another to fully grasp the situation they're in.
“This is all your fault Conner!" Yelled the teenage girl with dirty blonde hair. Her hands in fists at her sides, her bright yellow Ranger uniform a stark difference compared to all around her. The dark gritty color of the rebel base. The same can be said about the Red Ranger she is currently yelling at. And the Blue Ranger currently standing in between the two who seems to be enjoying the show of the teenage girl berating the taller boy.
Yes, something else that Zack has not seen in a long time. Power Rangers, not Lord Drakkon’s sentries, actual free willed Power Rangers. They appeared because of some weird portal they referred to as an Invisiportal in one of the warehouses the rebel group uses to transport supplice. The teenagers have no clue who Drakkon was and after confirming they were not under his control or from this world, they were brought forth to him. For obvious reasons they couldn’t let these teenagers wander free. Not when they would be targeted by Drakkon’s forces, killed and have their morphers taken.
“OK, so this may look bad right now, but,” The Red Ranger, Conner, tried to say in defense before the Yellow Ranger cut him off.
“Look bad? Conner, we were literally sent to an alternate universe! All because you were messing with stuff in the Dino Lair instead of cleaning like you were supposed to be!” She exclaimed in anger. Pointing an accusing finger at the Red Ranger.
“So us being here may be my fault, but come on Kira! You can’t honestly say cleaning the lair with a floating tigersword who shoots lasers from its eyes supervising us isn’t stressful enough to touch a few things you weren’t supposed to touch?” The teenager jumped to his defense, his words made Zack’s eyes widen and made him really listen to the teens. Floating Tigersword? Lasers from its eyes? Does he mean Saba? These teenagers know Saba?
“Plus there is no way Dr.O and Hayley don’t know were missing and aren't trying to find a way to rescue us right now.” The Red Ranger stated matter of factly. He seemed to have full confidence in his words.
Finally the Blue Ranger spoke up in a light hearted tone, “Yeah, and you know how Dr.O is, Kira. He’s crazy protective of us, nothing will stop him from finding us, even if he has to tear up the morphing grid itself.”
“I think you mean crazy and protective, Ethan.” Conner interjected as he looked towards the Blue Ranger.
With a huff, the Yellow Ranger crossed her arms and loudly muttered “Well you definitely got the crazy part right.”
Zack cleared his throat loudly, just like every other rebel in the room. The teens had his full attention. Well now it was time for him to act as the leader he is and take control of the situation. He figured a quick introduction and icebreaker would help and hopefully shed some light onto the situation. Maybe getting the teenagers to talk about their world would also answer his question about Saba as well.
After introducing himself, Trini and several others, he explained to the teens their current whereabouts. What he didn’t anticipate was the wide eyes and looks of awe the teenagers gave him and Trini before he could explain who Lord Drakkon was.
“No way! Trini? As in the original Mighty Morphin Yellow Ranger?” The girl exclaimed, “Dr. O always talked about how badass you were during your Ranger days!”
“And how the original Black Ranger had some sick moves with his Hip Hop Kido!” The Blue Ranger added, no bothering to hide his excitement.
“Guys! Do you think we will meet the original Red Ranger too?” The Red Ranger burst with his own excitement.
“Oh? I’m flattered, but I’m afraid I don’t know anyone that goes by Dr.O.” Trini explained, quickly changing the subject from Jason. That was a sore subject and she really did wonder who this person could be. Especially if they spoke so highly of her, she must have left a great impression.
“This uh, Dr.O? Is he your team's mentor?” Zack asked the group of excited teens. He really hoped he could bring things back to a focused topic, but man these teens play off each other like they were raised together. Maybe they were? Adopted siblings possibly? They really needed some answers right now.
“Yeah Dr.Oliver, he used to be the Mighty Morphin Green Ranger.” Conner answered.
The room went silent, Green Ranger, these kids couldn’t possibly mean who they thought they were talking about. Said teens didn’t seem to notice how tense everyone was.
Trini spoke up for clarification “The Green Ranger? Is his real name Tommy Oliver?” she asked, only to regret it.
“Yeah,” Ethan replied before adding, “and he was also the Mighty Morphin White Ranger, and the Zeo Red Ranger.”
“Don’t forget he was the first Turbo Red Ranger too.” Kira reminded the boys.
Ethan nodded, “Oh yeah I forgot about that, anyways now he’s the Dino Thunder Black Ranger.”
"And team mom." Conner added nonchalantly.
Kira rolled her eyes before snapping at Conner, “You know he hates when we call him that.”
Conner just scoffed in return before saying “Yeah, but he is such a mom. Dude literally packs us lunches when we go out to training and don’t forget the chore list he made for each of us.”
“Shouldn’t we just call him team dad then?” Ethan inquired.
The Red Ranger just shook his head, “Nah, calling him team mom annoys him more.”
“That’s true.” Ethan nodded in agreement.
Zack felt like his head was spinning. He was on the verge of a mental crisis and these kids were arguing over calling someone team mom or dad. Someone who he, along with all the other members of the Coinless know as an insane, tyrannical, cold hearted dictator. And their saying he packs them lunches, a team mom? Really? He couldn’t see Tommy Oliver as any of these things.
“You're joking right? Tommy Oliver? That evil bastard?” Aisha spoke up. Just like him, she has seen far too many heinous things under that warlord's reign to even fathom him as anything other than a tyrant. She was shaken with rage, and Zack couldn't blame her. They had lost so many good friends and allies in this rebellion to just think of that man as anything other than the bastard he is.
"Hey! Dr.O is not evil!" Conner yelled in response.
"Are you sure? His pop-quizzes are pretty brutal." Kira off-handedly voiced.
Ethan jumped in, "Tough pop-quizzes don't equal evil, pull if you study more it would be a piece of cake."
"Quizzes or not! Dr.Oliver is not evil!" Conner emphasized, anger hinted in his voice.
"They must be brainwashed." Rocky suggested, taking Aisha's side.
"We're not brainwashed!" Kira denied, her own voice raising.
"Everyone calm down." Zack demanded. He kept his voice firm and took command of the room. "We are not going to argue over the morals of a Tommy Oliver from a different world."
"Yeah, cause there's nothing to argue about, Dr.O isn't evil." Conner declared, glaring at Aisha and Rocky as he did.
Zack let out a heavy sigh. He wasn't going to respond to that. It would just edge the teens on. "Let's sit down and have a proper discussion. You guys can tell us about your world and we will tell you about ours. Sounds fair?"
"Really? You guys live in a post-apocalyptic wasteland ruled by some tyrannical wack job, I don't think there's much you can tell us." Kira said as she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.
"How about your precious Dr. Oliver being the tyrannical wack job Lord Drakkon of our world?" Rocky snapped at the teens with attitude.
"What?" Kira exclaimed in shock.
"Ok, I don't know about you guys, but I definitely didn't see that coming." Ethan chimed in.
"Yeah, so how about we start off this conversation?" Zack offered, as he waved towards the meeting table nearby for all of them to sit, "I think we have a lot to talk about."