The Phone Call

PRangerX · 04/09/10, 07:37 PM

Tommy Oliver laid in bed, unable to sleep. He didn't know why. Since he had just one his first major race and seemed on his way to a good career in Nascar. Just like he had wanted since High School ended. But Oliver couldn't help but feel empty lately. It was baffling to him why the more he came close to his goal the less he seemed to want it. His time as a martial artist seemed far too simple compared to how he felt now. The only other time he had felt so unsure of something was Football. But that was just a hobby to him.. And thanks to Ernie's help he had made the team.

But tonight it was more then just an empty feeling that was keeping young Tommy Oliver up. It was a nagging feeling that something was wrong. A feeling he hadn't had in a long time. Not since his final days as the Green Ranger. But Oliver felt silly at the same time. As he hadn't been a Power Ranger in over a year and a half. A new group of heroes we're in charge now and seemed to be doing okay. Adam himself had even checked up on them. Zordon was missing. But the new Space Ranger's we're looking for him. Plus Zordon had escaped worse scrapes then this.

Tommy's thoughts turned to guilt as he remembered cutting the connection to Zordon from the Command Center. But that was in the past. And when Tommy was under an evil spell. But still Tommy couldn't help but feel shame over it. Even after the Zeo Crystal proved to himself that he was a good person. Tommy pushed those thoughts from his mind. Knowing full well that it was better to leave the past in the past.

But not knowing did seem nerve racking. At least when he was Ranger, he was in control of the situation. Being the leader of the Rangers was stressful and not always as easy as he made it appear to his teammates....... But at the end of the day, at least he was on the frontline of the battles. His decisions effected the outcomes of battles back then. Now he was just like any other citizen on the Earth. In the dark and dependent on the Power Rangers to save them.

Tommy was far away from Angel Grove now. Actually in Australia, the other side of the world. His uncle wanting him to learn the racing ropes from a local racer that had been his friend. Tommy's six months in Australia was almost over. And he couldn't wait to return to Angel Grove. Just to feel close to the Rangers again. But his Uncle's plans didn't call for that just yet. He was probably going to end up somewhere in the deep south. Preparing to qualify for Nascar.

But tonight Oliver just couldn't shake that nagging feeling. Like a close friend had been lost. Maybe he should call Jason or Kat, or even Kim. But it had been awhile since he talked to any of them. Kat came to visit him a few times but she was busy with her dance classes in England. Kim had a new man in her life now. And Jason, well Jason had become a hard guy to find. Everyone seemed busy with life now. And it probably wouldn't be fair to bother them on a silly though. They'd probably think Tommy was crazy for calling in the middle of the night.

Tommy laughed, realizing that he forgot the time difference. Being forgetful was definitely something he knew he was still good at. He was almost a better forgetter then a martial artist. Tommy remembered how the the old gang tried to help him learn to remember things as part of a project for Mrs. Applebee's Class. But in the end everyone realized that it was part of what made him who he was.

"Aww Man, Do I miss those guys!" thought Tommy to himself.

Thinking of the project his friends made for him made him nostalgic for the old days. Whole being the Ranger was an honor, he almost missed his friends more. Sure his friends always came and gone. But there was always plenty of them. One of these days he'd have to get his former pals all together. Maybe they could tell old war stories. Tommy laughed at the thought of his 20 something friends as old war heroes.

Tommy felt that maybe this was the source of the bad feeling. Maybe he just missed his old life and his old friends. Things did change fast after High School. At one moment he was hanging with his friends at the Juice Bar and the next they all went their separate ways. Perhaps Tommy thought he should check on the new Rangers. Like Adam had done. Maybe they could even use his help to find Zordon.

But no, Tommy stopped himself. They didn't need him getting in the way. It wasn't his fight anymore. Zordon and Dimitria made it clear. It was time for him and his friends to let go of their Ranger duties and move on with their lives. The defense of the earth was in capable hands. In the hands of those that they had selected themselves. Sure they seemed to lose their Turbo Powers and get new ones. But that happened all the time in the old days. Tommy knew that his friends always seemed to manage to overcome challenges. Just like the new Rangers have and will continue to do.

Still it would be nice to see how they we're doing. but not now. They had a serious job to do. Perhaps when Zordon as safe and sound and their jobs finished, The Space Rangers could show up at the big Ranger reunion he would be planning. That is if his Uncle let him back in Angel Grove anytime soon.

Tommy knew his Nascar career would keep him busy for a long time. Still, Tommy hoped to find time to go back and reconnect with his friends. Even if just for a little while. They we're all busy. But surely they could find time for one more party. One more gathering at the Juice Bar. Maybe even Ernie could come back to visit. Tommy had heard that a woman named Adle had bought the bar from Lt Stone and renamed it. But it would always be the Juice Bar for him.

Tommy grew frustrated at himself. Here he was trying to sleep..... He had a early morning wake up and along day ahead of him...... And instead of sleeping all he could do was think of the past. And none of it reassured him. Not even the good memories. He still had that nagging feeling like something was wrong. Tommy wished more then anything that he still had his communicator and could use it to call Alpha. Just to know if everything was alright.

Boy did he miss the tune the communicator used that meant the Rangers we're needed. Although it did eliminated the akwardness of being paged in inappropriate situations. Like the time his communicator malfunctioned and he found it repeatedly beeping in Mrs. Applebee's class. Forcing the teacher to take if from Tommy. Tommy was lucky that Applebee gave it back to him that But here Tommy was thinking about the past again. Now wasn't the time. Tommy tried to clear his head once again. Now was the time to forget about everything and sleep. He could get all nostalgic later.

Still, Tommy couldn't help but shake that horrible thought. Maybe it wasn't the longing for the past. Sure it was there. But this feeling was something else. Tommy knew something was wrong. But what could he do. It was just a feeling. Its not like he had the ability to teleport to the Power Chamber anymore. And that would do nothing since it was gone. And Tommy would rather not see that wreckage anytime soon. It was bad enough when the Command Center exploded. This time there would be no hidden chambers holding Alpha and Zordon.

Tommy tried to focus his mind and go into a meditative state. It was something his brother David had learned growing up with his adoptive tribe. Davide had taught it to Tommy, as a relaxation technique. Tommy almost felt there. Finally ready to let the bad feeling go away and go to bed. But then it rang. Tommy's head popped out of bed as he heard the ringing of the phone.

"Why would someone be calling him me at this hour?," Tommy muttered to himself.

But Tommy knew the answer. Whoever was on the other line wasn't making a social call. It was about something bad. Most likely the source of Tommy;s bad feeling. Tommy wanted to pick up the phone. But did he? Would he better off now knowing what was on the line. Tommy felt as though answering the phone would change his life forever. And he was too scared to know what that would mean right now. Things had changed enough. A devastating change just wouldn't be what he wanted right now. Maybe if he didn't pick up , he could avoid it altogether.

But no, Tommy had to know. He learned as a Power Rangers that you couldn't be afraid to face you're problems. Running from them did you know good. If he ran from his his power loss situation in his Green Ranger days.....He wouldn't have continued to be a Ranger so long. If he ran when the Thunderzords were lost ... He wouldn't have got his Ninja Powers. If he ran when the Command Center destoryed.... He wouldn't have become a Zeo Ranger. If he ran during his vision quest.... He wouldn't have meant David. No, Tommy knew that whatever the pain the phone call would bring, he had to face head on. Tommy cleared his throat and picked up the phone.

"This is Tommy, Who are you?" uttered Tommy as his stomach braced for the impact of the bad news

"That's not important right now." said a voice that was unfamiliar to Tommy, but at the same time reminding him of himself in some ways. "But there is something you have to know-".

"What-What is it man, tell me. "

"Its Zordon.....Zordon is dead............................................."

Zabitan · 04/09/11, 07:54 PM

That's cool is there more or is this just a one shot?

PRangerX · 04/09/11, 10:15 PM

Its meant to be a short story. I actually posted this at the yuku. Just never moved it over.

MattEmily · 04/16/14, 02:37 AM

This was an interesting story... although I'd like to read more of it, lol.

PRangerX · 12/18/14, 11:03 PM

The idea was to be a short story to highlight something from the PRU. I figured seeing how Tommy reacted to Zordon's death made for an interesting story. I tried to make it a surprise at the end.

MattEmily · 12/18/14, 11:55 PM

I hope you actually continue it, LOL.

PRangerX · 12/19/14, 12:07 AM

Well it was always meant to be a short one shot lol.

MattEmily · 12/19/14, 12:51 AM

indeed but it'd be interesting to see how you would continue it.

SPOILER:

PRangerX · 12/23/14, 01:43 PM

Yeah I was.going for the surprise ending there. Since the reader didn't know where I was going. Good point though.

04/09/10, 07:37 PM	#1
PRangerX Administrator Join Date: 12/04/00 Posts: 4,004	The Phone Call Tommy Oliver laid in bed, unable to sleep. He didn't know why. Since he had just one his first major race and seemed on his way to a good career in Nascar. Just like he had wanted since High School ended. But Oliver couldn't help but feel empty lately. It was baffling to him why the more he came close to his goal the less he seemed to want it. His time as a martial artist seemed far too simple compared to how he felt now. The only other time he had felt so unsure of something was Football. But that was just a hobby to him.. And thanks to Ernie's help he had made the team. But tonight it was more then just an empty feeling that was keeping young Tommy Oliver up. It was a nagging feeling that something was wrong. A feeling he hadn't had in a long time. Not since his final days as the Green Ranger. But Oliver felt silly at the same time. As he hadn't been a Power Ranger in over a year and a half. A new group of heroes we're in charge now and seemed to be doing okay. Adam himself had even checked up on them. Zordon was missing. But the new Space Ranger's we're looking for him. Plus Zordon had escaped worse scrapes then this. Tommy's thoughts turned to guilt as he remembered cutting the connection to Zordon from the Command Center. But that was in the past. And when Tommy was under an evil spell. But still Tommy couldn't help but feel shame over it. Even after the Zeo Crystal proved to himself that he was a good person. Tommy pushed those thoughts from his mind. Knowing full well that it was better to leave the past in the past. But not knowing did seem nerve racking. At least when he was Ranger, he was in control of the situation. Being the leader of the Rangers was stressful and not always as easy as he made it appear to his teammates....... But at the end of the day, at least he was on the frontline of the battles. His decisions effected the outcomes of battles back then. Now he was just like any other citizen on the Earth. In the dark and dependent on the Power Rangers to save them. Tommy was far away from Angel Grove now. Actually in Australia, the other side of the world. His uncle wanting him to learn the racing ropes from a local racer that had been his friend. Tommy's six months in Australia was almost over. And he couldn't wait to return to Angel Grove. Just to feel close to the Rangers again. But his Uncle's plans didn't call for that just yet. He was probably going to end up somewhere in the deep south. Preparing to qualify for Nascar. But tonight Oliver just couldn't shake that nagging feeling. Like a close friend had been lost. Maybe he should call Jason or Kat, or even Kim. But it had been awhile since he talked to any of them. Kat came to visit him a few times but she was busy with her dance classes in England. Kim had a new man in her life now. And Jason, well Jason had become a hard guy to find. Everyone seemed busy with life now. And it probably wouldn't be fair to bother them on a silly though. They'd probably think Tommy was crazy for calling in the middle of the night. Tommy laughed, realizing that he forgot the time difference. Being forgetful was definitely something he knew he was still good at. He was almost a better forgetter then a martial artist. Tommy remembered how the the old gang tried to help him learn to remember things as part of a project for Mrs. Applebee's Class. But in the end everyone realized that it was part of what made him who he was. "Aww Man, Do I miss those guys!" thought Tommy to himself. Thinking of the project his friends made for him made him nostalgic for the old days. Whole being the Ranger was an honor, he almost missed his friends more. Sure his friends always came and gone. But there was always plenty of them. One of these days he'd have to get his former pals all together. Maybe they could tell old war stories. Tommy laughed at the thought of his 20 something friends as old war heroes. Tommy felt that maybe this was the source of the bad feeling. Maybe he just missed his old life and his old friends. Things did change fast after High School. At one moment he was hanging with his friends at the Juice Bar and the next they all went their separate ways. Perhaps Tommy thought he should check on the new Rangers. Like Adam had done. Maybe they could even use his help to find Zordon. But no, Tommy stopped himself. They didn't need him getting in the way. It wasn't his fight anymore. Zordon and Dimitria made it clear. It was time for him and his friends to let go of their Ranger duties and move on with their lives. The defense of the earth was in capable hands. In the hands of those that they had selected themselves. Sure they seemed to lose their Turbo Powers and get new ones. But that happened all the time in the old days. Tommy knew that his friends always seemed to manage to overcome challenges. Just like the new Rangers have and will continue to do. Still it would be nice to see how they we're doing. but not now. They had a serious job to do. Perhaps when Zordon as safe and sound and their jobs finished, The Space Rangers could show up at the big Ranger reunion he would be planning. That is if his Uncle let him back in Angel Grove anytime soon. Tommy knew his Nascar career would keep him busy for a long time. Still, Tommy hoped to find time to go back and reconnect with his friends. Even if just for a little while. They we're all busy. But surely they could find time for one more party. One more gathering at the Juice Bar. Maybe even Ernie could come back to visit. Tommy had heard that a woman named Adle had bought the bar from Lt Stone and renamed it. But it would always be the Juice Bar for him. Tommy grew frustrated at himself. Here he was trying to sleep..... He had a early morning wake up and along day ahead of him...... And instead of sleeping all he could do was think of the past. And none of it reassured him. Not even the good memories. He still had that nagging feeling like something was wrong. Tommy wished more then anything that he still had his communicator and could use it to call Alpha. Just to know if everything was alright. Boy did he miss the tune the communicator used that meant the Rangers we're needed. Although it did eliminated the akwardness of being paged in inappropriate situations. Like the time his communicator malfunctioned and he found it repeatedly beeping in Mrs. Applebee's class. Forcing the teacher to take if from Tommy. Tommy was lucky that Applebee gave it back to him that But here Tommy was thinking about the past again. Now wasn't the time. Tommy tried to clear his head once again. Now was the time to forget about everything and sleep. He could get all nostalgic later. Still, Tommy couldn't help but shake that horrible thought. Maybe it wasn't the longing for the past. Sure it was there. But this feeling was something else. Tommy knew something was wrong. But what could he do. It was just a feeling. Its not like he had the ability to teleport to the Power Chamber anymore. And that would do nothing since it was gone. And Tommy would rather not see that wreckage anytime soon. It was bad enough when the Command Center exploded. This time there would be no hidden chambers holding Alpha and Zordon. Tommy tried to focus his mind and go into a meditative state. It was something his brother David had learned growing up with his adoptive tribe. Davide had taught it to Tommy, as a relaxation technique. Tommy almost felt there. Finally ready to let the bad feeling go away and go to bed. But then it rang. Tommy's head popped out of bed as he heard the ringing of the phone. "Why would someone be calling him me at this hour?," Tommy muttered to himself. But Tommy knew the answer. Whoever was on the other line wasn't making a social call. It was about something bad. Most likely the source of Tommy;s bad feeling. Tommy wanted to pick up the phone. But did he? Would he better off now knowing what was on the line. Tommy felt as though answering the phone would change his life forever. And he was too scared to know what that would mean right now. Things had changed enough. A devastating change just wouldn't be what he wanted right now. Maybe if he didn't pick up , he could avoid it altogether. But no, Tommy had to know. He learned as a Power Rangers that you couldn't be afraid to face you're problems. Running from them did you know good. If he ran from his his power loss situation in his Green Ranger days.....He wouldn't have continued to be a Ranger so long. If he ran when the Thunderzords were lost ... He wouldn't have got his Ninja Powers. If he ran when the Command Center destoryed.... He wouldn't have become a Zeo Ranger. If he ran during his vision quest.... He wouldn't have meant David. No, Tommy knew that whatever the pain the phone call would bring, he had to face head on. Tommy cleared his throat and picked up the phone. "This is Tommy, Who are you?" uttered Tommy as his stomach braced for the impact of the bad news "That's not important right now." said a voice that was unfamiliar to Tommy, but at the same time reminding him of himself in some ways. "But there is something you have to know-". "What-What is it man, tell me. " "Its Zordon.....Zordon is dead............................................."

04/09/11, 07:54 PM	#2
Zabitan Administrator Join Date: 01/06/11 Location: Eureka California Posts: 1,778	Re: The Phone Call That's cool is there more or is this just a one shot?

04/09/11, 10:15 PM	#3
PRangerX Administrator Join Date: 12/04/00 Posts: 4,004	Re: The Phone Call Its meant to be a short story. I actually posted this at the yuku. Just never moved it over.

04/16/14, 02:37 AM	#4
MattEmily Administrator Join Date: 01/13/11 Posts: 5,877	Re: The Phone Call This was an interesting story... although I'd like to read more of it, lol.

12/18/14, 11:03 PM	#5
PRangerX Administrator Join Date: 12/04/00 Posts: 4,004	Re: The Phone Call The idea was to be a short story to highlight something from the PRU. I figured seeing how Tommy reacted to Zordon's death made for an interesting story. I tried to make it a surprise at the end.

12/18/14, 11:55 PM	#6
MattEmily Administrator Join Date: 01/13/11 Posts: 5,877	Re: The Phone Call I hope you actually continue it, LOL.

12/19/14, 12:07 AM	#7
PRangerX Administrator Join Date: 12/04/00 Posts: 4,004	Re: The Phone Call Well it was always meant to be a short one shot lol.

12/19/14, 12:51 AM	#8
MattEmily Administrator Join Date: 01/13/11 Posts: 5,877	Re: The Phone Call indeed but it'd be interesting to see how you would continue it. SPOILER: definitely want to see your imagination of how you would think Tommy would actually react to Zordon's death since that story of yours just shows someone calling him and telling him that Zordon is dead, it doesn't show the reaction that he has.

12/23/14, 01:43 PM	#9
PRangerX Administrator Join Date: 12/04/00 Posts: 4,004	Re: The Phone Call Yeah I was.going for the surprise ending there. Since the reader didn't know where I was going. Good point though.