More Than One Bolt From The Blue

“I think I’ll install a synchronization resonance structure in here,” Billy commented as he tapped his foot to music only he could hear. “The acoustics in this place would make for some killer reverberation.”

“As long as you don’t shake the foundations, we’ll be all right,” Zordon said, and his smile was almost indulgent, and the others looked at one another, and realized they’d never seen Zordon look so . . . human, before.

Zordon immediately dropped his expression as Billy grinned and stuck his head up from under the console. “I believe I could adjust the frequency modulators so as not to cause too much structural devastation.”
“Billy,” Zordon’s expression was suddenly serious, and Billy’s mood adjusted itself accordingly. “I must thank you for your sacrifices that you have made over the last year.” Billy looked up at the giant tube with the large floating head, and smiled.

“I hardly count giving up my Ranger powers to work in here full time as a sacrifice,” the young man said, and shrugged. “Although, I have to admit, I do miss being a Ranger. But by the same token, I’ve saved the Rangers just as often from here as I did when I was out there, if not more so. And as for the Gold powers, well, it was a nice idea, but I threw myself on that exploding panel to try and protect you and Alpha, and while silly to someone who doesn’t know the limits of their own body, as well as what could have happened if the core there . . .” he indicated Zordon’s tube. “Had absorbed the energy rather than I, well, I would do it again in a minute.”

“And I appreciate that,” Zordon said. “Even as I appreciate all the work you do with Alpha and me to make sure this place continues to run efficiently. However, I must remind you, that you do need to sleep sometime.”

“I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” Billy grinned and went back to his work under the console. “Seriously, it’s a genetic thing, I think, but I don’t need near as much sleep as anyone else, and it was Leonardo Da Vinci who discovered a body needs little more than three or four hours of sleep. And anyway, I don’t like to sleep. I get nightmares. Had ‘em ever since I was a kid and my Mom died.”

That was something none of Billy’s friends had ever known, and it hurt them to know that he had never shared that with them . . . not that there was much they could have done anyway, and they sighed collectively as they knew he had realized that . . . which was why he had never told them.

Billy missed the sadness that passed over Zordon’s face, but the others saw it, and his voice was low, though his inflection never changed. “I must admit, it is nice having someone to talk to, other than Alpha,” Zordon said. “While he is a good companion, I like to be able to talk to someone while he is in recharge mode.”

“Gheesh, Zordon, drool much?” Kimberly commented as Zordon’s gaze was practically glued to Billy’s behind, as he started to crawl out from under the console he’d been working on, and Aisha hit her on the arm, though she couldn’t resist a chuckle.

“And I like being here to be talked to,” the grin on Billy’s face was wide, and Jason covered his face with his hand as Billy stared up at the head, hero worship just screaming from him. “You’ve got so many stories to tell . . . a thousand lifetimes and more, of stories to tell, and wisdom, and intelligence. I bet you’ve forgotten more than anyone would even begin to know.”

Zordon looked away, and did something Billy had never heard him do . . . he sighed sadly. “There is not much that I have forgotten, but there is much that I miss.”

Billy dropped the instrument he was holding, and walked over and stood in front of Zordon’s tube, concern all over his face, and in his body language, and he reached up with his arm, and grimaced in frustration as he realized he couldn’t comfort the head. “Zordon?” He questioned. “Are you all right?"

“I am very pleased to have you here, Billy,” Zordon said. “So please do not think anything else, but, having you here has also made me realize how very much I miss contact with another being. Here, in this tube, while I can see and hear . . .”

“You can’t touch,” Billy nodded, as his mind made the connection. “I realize that must be difficult . . .” He looked at his own hand and then back up at the tube.

“Yes,” Zordon nodded. “Being as old as I am, and I was old long before I was imprisoned in this tube, I had many wives, children, and even lovers.”

“Whoa,” Billy’s eyes opened wide, and he stared at the head. “I never knew . . . I never thought for a moment . . .” he looked down and shook his head. “I’m sorry, Zordon, I guess that was less than tactful of me to make such an assumption that I believed when there were no facts to base it upon. But, I should have realized that anyone who has been alive for so long would indeed have had intimate relationships. I have to admire you for that. I’ve tried a few myself, but none ever lasted long enough to come to any kind of satisfactory conclusion . . . usually due to my duties as a Ranger. I have given up on said relationships.”

“You must not do that, Billy,” Zordon said. “When you are of age, your duties as a Ranger, and even here in the power Chamber will come to an end, and you will move on.”

“Perhaps,” Billy said neutrally. “But I’m not ready to think about that yet. I like it here . . . and I like you.”

“I like you, too, Billy,” Zordon said, and Billy grinned.

“Good. It’s so much more pleasant a work situation when bosses and employees have an appreciation for one another.”

“You are much more to me than a mere employee,” Zordon said, and Billy sighed.

“Not as much as I’d like to be,” Billy muttered quietly to himself, and grimaced as he gazed up at the tube, mortified.

“What do you mean?” Zordon asked, almost hopefully, and Billy shook his head, somewhat frantically.

“Uh . . . never mind, Zordon,” Billy said. “I . . . I must still be suffering from the effects of that talk-before-thinking monster. As we discovered, there are some things that should never be said, and that was one of them.”

“As you wish, Billy,” Zordon said, far too innocently, though Billy obviously never caught it. “I really didn’t hear you to begin with. Your voice was quite low, so though you are suffering the effects still, you retained some control over it. Another few hours, and the effects will be completely gone.”

“Good,” Billy said, his face scarlet. “Can’t be soon enough,” Billy sighed, turned, and left the Power Chamber.

“But, I did hear you, Billy,” Zordon smiled. “And that gives me hope. I will keep that memory for future reference. And, young Billy, when I said I liked you, I certainly didn’t mean it as innocently as you so obviously took it,” Zordon’s smile was almost predatory, and the others shook their heads.

Zordon had obviously been watching Billy, the montage had proven that, and he very obviously liked what he saw. “You are young, you are handsome, you are funny, you are full of life, and given enough time, your wisdom and intelligence could someday surpass mine,” he sighed as he stared at the door Billy had exited through, and smiled sadly. “One day, Billy, I hope to make you mine, but until that day, if it ever comes, I will wait for you.”