Long Journey Home

A stunned silence lingered around the table as the five Rangers watched the broad back disappear through the door. Tommy looked at his friends.
 
"What was that all about? And what did Jay mean, I haven’t kissed him before? Heck, you all know we’ve been together ever since he got back from Switzerland ..."
Rocky looked uncomfortable. "Maybe ... maybe he’s under a spell, or something."
 
"I don’t think so, Rocky," Tanya objected. "He seemed perfectly normal when we talked. Why would Mondo put Jason under such a selective spell, only affecting his relationship with Tommy?"
 
Adam frowned. "You don’t think there could be someone else involved, besides Mondo?"
 
"Unlikely," Tommy decided. He determinedly pushed his chair back. "I’d better go and look him up, get to the bottom of this. You all know we have to get to Phaedos tomorrow. If Jay, Kat and Tanya don’t get their Ninjetti Powers now, we might lose the Zeo Crystal altogether."
 
"Right. We’ll meet at noon at the lake, right?"
 
"Uh-huh. I’ll see you there." With that, the leader of the Rangers made his way outside, in pursuit of his Companion.
 
Tommy had a pretty good idea where he would find Jason. True enough, he sat at the small rise overlooking the lake, in almost the same spot Tommy had found him after he’d lost the Gold Power. As then, Jason was sitting with his knees drawn up, his chin resting on his arms. He looked up as Tommy sat down next to him. The deep voice was weary as he dredged up a smile.
 
"I guess I owe you an explanation, huh?"
 
Tommy draped a comforting arm around the broad shoulders, giving a reassuring hug. He failed to notice the slight stiffening.
 
"I’d like one, yeah, but only if you’re ready. You know I can wait, Jay."
 
Jason sighed; despite the fact that this was the third time, giving this explanation was never easy. Meeting the warm brown eyes with a sad smile, he told his tale.
 
"Tommy .... I’m not ‘Jay’. I’m Jason, sure, but back home you always call me Jase, or bro ..." It took longer than he thought to explain who he was, and how he’d gotten here, due to the innumerable questions Tommy had. Finally, though, it was done.
 
".....so, when the dizziness passed, there I was in the shower, back in my own body -- or so I thought, until you kissed me. I knew then that I’m still caught in this ‘random reality warp’ thing. I wish I knew how I can get home, and hopefully return all my counterparts to their own realities, but I don’t."
 
"Oh boy."
 
Tommy was stunned. He’d been surprised when his Companion denied him, but he’d never suspected anything like this. A million things raced through his mind, with two things at the forefront: how was Jay coping with suddenly being displaced, and what was going to become of their mission? Somehow, it never occurred to him to doubt Jason’s words; they’d never lied to each other, after all, and even though this was not his chosen partner, he still felt almost the same connection to him as to his own Jason. Making a snap decision, he scrambled to his feet, hauling Jason up with him.
 
"Come on -- I think it’s time we brought Zordon and the others in on this. Maybe there’s a way in this reality to help you."
 
Jason’s look was skeptical, but he was willing to go along with almost anything; he was getting sick and tired of adjusting to ever new surroundings, having to cope with different versions of Tommy and the resultant changes in their relationship. At least he was feeling more like himself, now that he had his body back. He shoved the memory of Tammy to the back of his mind; that still hurt far more than he was comfortable with. Everything else, he could cope with. Then he remembered the kiss Tommy had given him. *Then again, maybe not.*
 
Tommy teleported the two to the Power Chamber and summoned the rest of the team. After explanations had been made all around, the six teens turned expectant faces to their ancient mentor.
 
"Alpha, will you run a scan on Jason?"
 
The little android already had an array of scanners ready. With a welcome minimum of fuss, he took readings of Jason, similar to those that had been taken that first time. Now, however, the results were slightly different.
 
"Zordon, there is a slight anomaly to what’s in the databanks. It looks like the resonance between body and mind has been disrupted."
 
"That would account for the displacement you experienced. Tell me, Jason -- what effects did giving up the Gold Zeo Power in your own reality have on you?"
 
Jason swallowed; it had been weeks, and he was fully recovered physically, or so he’d thought, but he still hadn’t quite come to terms with the experience.
 
"I ... I think our Zordon said the loss of the power was draining me of my ‘vital life force’, because it was never meant for a Human; of course, I’d never considered NOT giving it back, but it happened all so fast ..." briefly he outlined the events of those days to his audience. Tommy’s face slowly drained of colour as the full impact hit him.
 
"You ... you’re saying you could have died?!"
 
The ex-Ranger shrugged. "I knew it was a possibility, but we couldn’t let the Machine Empire get hold of the Gold Powers. I’d do it again, if I had to."
 
The others stared at him; they could see that their friend wasn’t quite as nonchalant about this as he’d like them to believe. Nevertheless, they kept their opinion to themselves -- for now. Only Tommy took it harder. He was unable to separate this Jason from his own, they were so alike; the thought of losing him, when they’d only just found each other, was frightening. Jay had been weakened by the Gold Powers, yes, but never been in any real danger; his recovery had taken only a couple eekseeks. Tommy barely held himself in check; this was not the time for the close embrace he wanted -- needed -- to give his best friend.
 
Zordon considered the information for a few moments.
 
"I would speculate that the imbalance created in your system was --is-- directly responsible for your affinity to this reality warp. Random occurrences of these phenomena usually are too weak to affect stable Humans. It also increases the likelihood that the personalities you displaced are indeed transported to your own reality. I think that, once the Zeo Crystal has again been stabilized, we can utilize the Crystal’s omega emanations to adapt the resonance left within your body from the Gold Power. It will not directly transport you back, but will insure your return once the random factor strikes again. Maybe we can determine a common thread in your experiences so far to pinpoint the next occurrence."
 
"Zordon, that’s great!" Jason almost reeled. It was the best news he’d had in weeks -- for the first time, he had hope that it would -- could -- be over, and he’d be able to get home. As long as he had that, he could put up with whatever this reality might throw at him.
 
"But Zordon, what about the trip to Phaedos? We have to go tomorrow, as long as the solar eruptions will keep Mondo from attacking the Earth; you said so yourself!"
 
Jason turned towards the Red Ranger. He’d led the team long enough to sympathize with his concerns. Before he could say anything, though, Tommy continued, casting a slightly skeptical glance in his direction.
 
"Besides, since Jay is missing -- his spirit, anyway -- what are we going to do about a sixth Ranger? We can’t call Trey back so soon!"
 
Jason grimaced.
 
"If the Gold Power hadn’t messed me up, I’d say I’d come with you. But Zordon said that I’d never be able to hold Ranger Powers again." All five teens reacted to the unconscious pain the deep voice revealed.
 
The Eltarian smiled benevolently. He enjoyed being able to give good news to his Rangers, and with some, more than most.
 
"Jason, the Ninjetti Powers are connected differently to the Morphin’ Grid than the Dino or Thunder Powers. Even the Zeo connection, while to some extent dependent on the Ninjetti, is separate. Tell me, in your own reality, have you ever been to Phaedos, or met Ninjor?"
 
"No; no, I haven’t. I’d left the team to go to the Youth Peace Summit, and transferred my Powers formally to Rocky; that’s how he joined the team, along with Adam and Aisha."
 
Before Zordon could answer, Alpha piped up, bouncing excitedly.
 
"Ai-yi-yi, Jason, how did you manage that transfer?"
 
"Well, it was our last mission; the whole team went to the Deserted Planet and got the Sword of Light."
 
Now even Zordon betrayed excitement. "Jason, do you know by any chance if the Sword of Darkness still exists in your reality?"
 
Jason let the touch of pride he still felt whenever he recalled that moment show in his voice.
 
"It doesn’t; I destroyed it to free Tommy from Rita’s spell. She’d used it to reinforce her hold over him. Once it was gone, Tommy got out of her influence and joined us." He couldn’t help the slightly triumphant look at Tommy; to his astonishment, it was met by an equally bright light in the brown eyes that seemed to share his delight. Without realizing it, their hands joined in a fierce grip, reaffirming their friendship which stemmed from that moment.
 
"That is excellent news, Rangers; now I can almost guarantee that all will be set right once you return. One who has touched the Sword of Light can never be completely stripped of the Power. That you personally destroyed the Sword of Darkness only reinforces this fact. The release of so much energy ... I would think that your visit to Phaedos will completely repair the damage to your system -- Dulcea, the Master Warrior, will determine that. Should that be the case, once you return, you will once more be able to join the Rangers, should the need arise."
 
Elation filled Jason. "Zordon -- Billy was with us at the time; he’s helped get the Sword of Light. But our Command Center exploded, and he got an overdose of negative protons; that’s why he didn’t take over from Trey. Couldn’t he be cured, as well?"
 
"Why didn’t he go to Phaedos?" Kat interjected.
 
"Huh? Billy started to age rapidly; he’s been on Aquitar ever since. They have a special water source which restored him, but he has to stay close by....." Jason’s voice trailed off as he saw the smiles on his friends’ faces. Adam clapped a hand on his shoulder.
 
"Just tell him to go to Phaedos; he’ll have to stay there for some time, but the Sacred Grounds will heal him. After all, they keep Dulcea young."
 
Rocky grinned as well. "Actually, that’s where our Billy is right now. He’ll be able to give you all the information you need for your own."
 
"Oh man, that’s so great!"
 
Jason was nearly beside himself. They had all missed Billy terribly; the possibility of getting him back was just too good to be true! However, he had a more pressing matter at hand.
 
"Zordon -- could I transfer the Ninjetti Powers to Jay, if I went now? I mean, you said there’s not much time, and besides the fact that I’ll be able to go home, I’d really like to help, if I can..."
 
"I am afraid transferring the Ninjetti Powers is impossible. One of the Reasons Katherine has to go is that Kimberly’s Spirit Animal is not really hers. We assume that it is similar to the Crane, but it was only a stop-gap measure so that she could take fro from Kimberly -- it is also one of the reasons why the Zeo Crystal is unstable at this time."
 
Tommy spoke up at this point.
 
"Well, can’t we just stabilize the Crystal for now, and then, at the next opportunity, Jay goes back to claim his own Spirit Animal?"
 
"If Dulcea is amenable to this plan, I do not see why it should not work. I wish you good luck in your endeavours, Rangers. May the Power protect you."