“Um . . .  listen, do you want to get together with some of us after school? You know, nothing major, just hang out, at the Youth Center?” Kim had asked.

”Yeah. That sounds cool!” he had replied.

He never made it; it was the beginning of his life on the wrong side. Chosen as an evil Ranger to defeat the ones under Zordon’s command. It still shamed him to think about it. Never knowing why. It was something he wasn’t proud of. He gave a bitter laugh, letting a tear stream down his face.

“Worry about saving yourself, old man!”

He couldn’t believe he had said that to him, a person who was important to the Rangers of past and present. His leaving left him empty and raw with emotions. He couldn’t deal with the guilt back then so he had buried it. Only to have it opened again on his father’s departure. Tears threatened to arise again, he forced them back.

He had also tried to kill a person who meant the world to him. Jason. After everything he had done, Jason was the only one who offered his friendship. Jason had repeatedly told him what was done under Rita’s spell wasn’t his fault. But still, even now, years later, it felt like it was. That he was chosen.

To make up for his wrongdoings he had joined the Rangers—but somehow it wasn’t enough. It was never enough. He wanted to prove more, give more. His guilt had been eating him away, slowly, like a cancer. But it was something he had no control over.  

Shaking his head, he looked at the view before him, endless desert surrounded the place he called home.

He had been the longest serving Ranger out of the original six. Even though he wasn’t an original chosen by Zordon, he was one of them. He didn’t dislike Rocky, Aisha and Adam; but he resented them for being the holders of the power now. For taking away the woman who had stolen his heart. He had laid his heart at her feet when he competed with Jason.

Her long hair fell to her waist, her almond shaped eyes sparkled with happiness. That was the first thing he noticed. Her leaving the team had been hard, but by then he had become the leader.

He had taken the adventure into Zeo, fighting the Machine Empire. The most important changes were made then, he found his brother; his best friend returned from Geneva, taking on the Gold Ranger Powers, which nearly killed him.

Another stab of guilt went through his heart. It was his fault.

But it had been a nightmare when Jason and Kim were kidnapped . . . so along came the Turbo Powers. Without Rocky around, he became bored, tired, but he didn’t let it show.

He was glad when his Ranger days were over.

He passed on his powers to TJ, a baseball player. The legacy of the Red Lightning Turbo Power was handed on to someone who was courageous and strong.

Maybe one day Thomas Patrick Oliver, otherwise known as Tommy, will bury his demons forever. 

Till then he stood looking at the ruins of the Chamber that had been a home, a place of friendship and victory.