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The stadium is filled to capacity on this
bright sunny day. A dais has been set up and many high ranking
police officials sit behind a podium and wait for the ceremony
to begin. In the rows in front of the dais are hundreds of young
police cadets waiting to graduate. Their families and friends
stand with them talking and laughing.
"Here I thought you were going to open
a martial arts school with Jason." a woman says.
"There's no reason why I can't do that
too, mom. I mean I can't always be on the job. This is something
I need to do and the school is something I want to do. Don't worry."
Tommy says.
That's right Tommy Oliver, the Red Zeo Ranger,
is now going to be a cop. A whole new side of him isn't it. A
squeal of the loudspeakers and everyone takes their seats. I won't
bore you with long speeches, I hate those. Suffice it to say that
the designated speakers talk about the honor of being a cop and
serving the city, the pride at the new class of Rookies to the
Angle Grove Police Department ad nauseum and so on. Later that
afternoon a small group gathers at Ernie's to celebrate. All the
rangers, past and present, are there. Tommy's still in uniform,
and I must say looking very good, drinking one of Ernie's famous
juice shakes and laughing himself silly at something Jason is
saying nearly choking on the drink. His eyes just sparkle when
he laughs, his whole face lights up.
"C'mon, Jase, you're gonna kill me if
this keeps up." he says, sputtering, trying not to choke
again.
That gets everyone else howling. This lasts
well into the night as all the rangers bask in each other's company
maybe for the last time for a while.
A new day dawns and Tommy is up early for
his first watch as a rookie cop. He smiles as he puts his uniform
on and checks that everything is in place in the big mirror. He
goes downstairs and eats a quick breakfast, toast and juice, that's
all his stomach can handle right now he's so nervous. On his way
out the door he picks his hat and gun belt up off the table by
the door and goes out to his car. He watches the neighborhood
wake up with a sense of renewed wonder. He drives off to the station.
Through the residential section he sees people getting their morning
paper in their robes, young kids playing in the yard getting an
early start. This is going to be a perfect day.
Tommy just makes it in for roll call, his
memory is still bad. The others smirk and giggle at him for nearly
being late his first day. Tommy finds a seat near the back of
the room so as not to be seen by the desk sergeant. The veteran
cop runs down the night's events and current happenings. Tommy
never realized all the problems his hometown really has besides
the screwy aliens on the moon. Tommy gets the downtown beat this
day which is fine with him. He begins his patrol through the downtown
shopping area.
* This is great. Beautiful day, not a cloud
in the sky and no sign of Mondo or Machina. Maybe this once I
can have a day with out trouble. * Tommy thinks to himself.
Around noon Tommy heads for a convenience
store to get something to eat, not doughnuts and coffee thank
you very much. He hasn't acquired that habit yet and hopefully
he never will. When he goes in Tommy hears a familiar voice. Jason
had a similar idea, attack of the killer munchies. Jason turns
when he hears familiar footsteps behind him. He is startled at
first, forgetting that Tommy's a cop now. Something other than
an attack of the raving hungries has brought them to this particular
store, though neither knows why. The front door opens a couple
of times as the two friends continue to talk. Tommy is constantly
looking up at the fisheye mirror, making Jason jumpy. Suddenly
Tommy stops talking and watches something that is going on near
the register. He looks at Jason and mouths "Trouble."
Tommy slips into the shadows near the back of the store. Jason
heads for the blind spot in the mirror. With long practice familiarity
the two friends edge towards the threat. A masked hold up man
is pointing a gun at the clerk. What Jason and Tommy didn't see
was that he has a hostage. The robber turns when Jason slips on
something and curses. Now Jason is under the gun. Tommy is still
coming up behind them so quietly that the robber never hears him
until it's too late. Jason knows his friend's moves so well that
he reacts instantly. He dives on the hostage and knocks her out
of the man's grasp. The robber turns and only sees a blue uniform.
His eyes burn with rage as he fires. The clerk hits the floor
at Jason's lunge. Jason rolls to his feet and sees Tommy tackle
the offender. The creep hits the floor cracking his head open
and is unconscious. Tommy's not moving. Something's wrong. Call
an ambulance, hurry. Jason rolls his friend over to check for
injuries. His hand touches something warm and sticky. Look at
his hand, it's covered in his friend's blood. Can't get sick he's
still awake.
"Hang on Tommy. The ambulance is on it's
way." Jason says, his voice cracking.
"Should've gone for the knees."
Tommy croaks.
He tries to laugh but coughs up blood.
"Hush, save your strength." Jason
says.
The ambulance finally gets there and takes
him away. Jason follows despite the police wanting a statement.
Get to the hospital and call the others.
"Tommy's been shot." he tells them
when they arrive.
Fear and sadness in their eyes. Endless wait
no one says anything. Jason's shirt is stained with Tommy's blood,
hands covered in dry lifeblood. Hours pass as the doctors frantically
try to save the brave rookie , the strong former Power Ranger.
Finally the surgeon comes out, a grim look on his face.
"There's nothing we can do. He won't
survive the day. You can go in and be with him till it's over."
the man says.
The rangers and their families creep into
his room. He's so pale, almost as if he's already gone. They gather
around his bedside and keep the final vigil. Hours pass as it
gets harder and harder for him to breath, he never fully comes
around. The rangers don't see Detective Stone at the back of the
room on the verge of tears. Soon Tommy breaths his last and is
gone. The tears that were held at bay flood the eyes of those
that knew him best.
"No he can't be gone. This isn't fair."
his mother cries.
No one can say anything that will comfort
her. She's right it isn't fair. This was his first day he had
so much to learn and so much to give. He shouldn't be dead. Why
did this have to happen? The bastard that shot him has to pay,
has to die for this. Tommy must have justice.
Three days after his death Thomas Lyn Oliver
is laid to rest in Silent Angles Cemetery. Cops from all over
the city, the Mayor, and at least a dozen other important people
gather with his friends and family to say their final good-bye.
Red Ranger Passing
Time to go, Red flash.
Gunshot in the blinding light, Pain.
Too cold now, Something is wrong.
Hurt, confusion, light fading.
Red Ranger Passing.
Death, that final equalizer, has come.
Take him away, too soon.
No one knows what went wrong. Confusion.
He's gone, only the flesh passes away.
The spirit lives forever.
The Red spirit will go on.