 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chapter 3
Tommy landed hard and rather ignominiously, flat on his face— but was grateful to have landed at all. That had been the longest, roughest teleport he had ever experienced. Although teleports were virtually instantaneous, he'd actually had time to wonder if he was going to make it through.
He sat up and began brushing off the dust as he surveyed his surroundings. He was grateful for the coat he had stuffed in his backpack, for it was much cooler than he had expected. He quickly shrugged on his bomber jacket. From the terrain that rose before him, he had to guess at being in the mountains, quite possibly a rather high elevation. He couldn't be certain if the thin air was due to elevation or if it was a normal condition on Threa. From what he could see of the trees, they didn't seem to be any different than Earth trees at least in appearance but the sky seemed a lot greener, probably because there was more land than water. However, as long as his telltale light on his shield generator was steady, he had no worries about being able to breathe.
Next, he turned his attention to his immediate vicinity. He seemed to be within the walls of a courtyard of sorts. The plot of ground on which he had landed was grassy and ringed with flowers; it was also cast in shadow. He turned to see what lay behind him, and a lump formed in his throat.
It was, indeed, the statue of Kimberly dressed as the Imbera, just as she had been in the hologram. She looked every inch the warrior/leader that she had become, and that he had always known she could be. Her helmet was in place so the statue could not convey her compassion, her spirit, her heart. Still, it made his heart full to see this tribute to the vibrant young woman he loved.
He rested his hand against the smooth, polished stone. He could feel how much love and care had gone into shaping this monument. It was as if the artist had left a piece of himself in the stone, giving inanimate rock a semblance of life.
At last his eyes fell upon the plaque at the base of the statue. The language was unlike anything he had ever seen before, looking more like decorative squiggles than written words. However, in smaller glyphs near the bottom of the placard was an inscription he could make out, presumably an English translation:
The Great Imbera
She sacrificed home, family, friends
And lifebond for our future
Not to mention her life, too, Tommy added silently, but then, to Kimberly, those she cared for meant more to her than anything else.
"I'm so proud of you, Beautiful," he murmured, his eyes misting up. He took a moment to collect himself; he needed to get moving and see if he could find Jamie which wasn't going to be easy. He had no idea where to go. He had no back up. No support from Billy he didn't even know how long he had to complete his mission. Jamie had never indicated how long the shield batteries would last.
When Tommy turned, he was stunned to find himself surrounded by a throng of onlookers. He'd been so wrapped up in his thoughts of Kimberly that he hadn't heard anyone approach. That was major carelessness on his part, but how had such a large gathering of people managed to be so silent? Judging from their body language, several appeared as if they were in conversation. Then he recalled Kimberly's notes: most Threans had some sort of telepathic ability and human minds were closed to them. So much for them being able to "read" his non-hostile intent.
As he considered his course of action, he observed that there were several Threans in uniforms standing just on the perimeter of the green island upon which he stood; however, they gave every indication of wanting to cross the barrier but were unable.
Is this hallowed ground? Am I safe here? Tommy mused, then he considered another option. Have I totally pissed them off because I'm standing here?
He studied the uniformed individuals security personnel, he decided. Both males and females were at least a head taller if not more than he was, but they were reed slender, looking as if a good strong wind would break them in two. In all probability, he could take them if need be, but then a little voice inside nagged him, Don't underestimate them; they're probably tougher than they look, and you're out of practice. Besides, you want them to help you.
Tommy decided to approach them, moving closer, hands raised, palms facing out in a gesture meant to convey peace. However, he made certain to remain within the grassy circle beyond arm's length just in case.
"Please, I mean you no harm; I need your help," he began.
The guards looked at each other in confusion, whispering a few words between themselves, and Tommy realized that he didn't understand them any more than they understood him. Duh! Couldn't you tell by that gibberish on the plaque that you wouldn't be able to understand them?
But somebody on Threa had to understand English. After all, Jamie spoke it, and when Kim first came to Threa she couldn't have spoken their language. And if no one spoke English here, why then would they have included the English inscription on Kim's statue?
Suddenly, he had an idea. Gesturing to the uniformed individuals to wait a moment, he hurried back to the statue's pedestal, a move which caused the crowd of onlookers to gasp and tense. He indicated the lines of incomprehensible squiggles.
"Threa," he said and pointed to the crowd. Next he pointed to the lines he could read and tapped his chest. "English the Great Imbera's language."
He was beginning to think he hadn't gotten through to them when one of the women's faces lit up with comprehension. Tommy flashed her a grateful smile, and he could almost sense the request being passed mind to mind through the gathering.
At last, a young woman with flame red hair, leaf green eyes and delicate elfin features stepped forward. Though short by Threan standards, she could look Tommy in the eyes. Age-wise, she didn't appear to be much older than he. As he studied her, he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd seen her somewhere before.
"You speak the Great Imbera's tongue?" the girl asked, her accent very lyrical.
"I do," he answered. He noted that she had not crossed the ring of flowers. "Am I trespassing on holy ground or something? If so, I apologize. It's where I landed when I teleported in, and...."
"It is not consecrated to the First Ancestors in the way you mean, but none of our people would stand within the circle out of respect to the Great Imbera," the young woman explained. "Many saw you show respect to the Great Imbera; do you revere her as well?"
"That's one way of putting it."
His interpreter relayed something to the group that seemed to put them at ease.
"You are of the Imbera's people human," the young woman noted. "How is it that you know of the Imbera and our world? The Imbera promised that save for a select, trusted few, none of her world would know of us."
"I'm one of those select few," Tommy explained. "My name is Tommy Oliver, and...."
The rest of his introduction died on his lips. The already-wide, angular eyes widened further, and all the color drained from the girl's face. She swayed on her feet, and Tommy thought she might faint.
"By my Ancestors!" she gasped in a tiny voice. "The Progenitor!"
"Excuse me?"
"Lifebond to the Great Imbera; sire of the First Born," she babbled on.
"First Born...? You mean Jamie!" Tommy realized. "Do you know my son? Is he still alive? Can you take me to him? It's important... I have to tell him...."
His questions came out in rapid-fire pace, so anxious was he to find his son. However, as he made his requests, he could see the awe fade from the Threan's face to be replaced by cautious reserve. He wondered why.
"Have you the signet?" she asked suddenly.
He was a little taken aback by the request, not expecting anyone other than Jamie to know he had Kim's amulet, but then, Jamie had said it would ease his passage. Without hesitation, he produced the medallion from under his shirt.
At this, the girl stepped forward onto the grass and came close enough to inspect the disk.
"The falcon and the crane as my grandmother told us...." she murmured, again with reverence. Then, she turned to the crowd and addressed them, after which they dispersed, security officials as well.
"I don't get it," Tommy muttered, scratching his head. "What did you tell them?"
"That you were the White Ranger of Earth, bearing the Imbera's seal; it is not ours to question, merely to render aid," she explained.
Tommy was about to correct her and tell her that he hadn't been the White Ranger in sometime that he was a retired Ranger but Kim had only known him as the White Ranger, his being Red Ranger when they created Jamie nothwithstanding. As he recalled, at the time, she had flat out told him that he looked better in white.
"I don't mean to be rude, but you look a little young to claim that kind of authority," he said. Although, how old had he been when first he had been given the Green Ranger Powers?
"I am most likely twice your age," the young woman responded with a laugh. "And what of you, White Ranger of Earth? Are you not young to be wearing the mantle of leadership?" She did not wait for him to reply. "To answer your observation, yes, I am young for a Threan. Officially, I do not have the power to order the security forces about; I am only a cadet in training. However, I am of the House of Sahr, and that carries with it a great deal of authority."
Sahr... the name clicked in Tommy's memory at last. "Sahr as in the Blue Ranger who severed with Kim I mean, the Great Imbera?"
"Yes, she was my mother's grandmother. I am Lris," she introduced herself. "Come.... Oh, pardon me, but I am not certain how to address you."
"Just call me Tommy," he recommended.
Lris gave a nod as if the response was not unexpected. "The Great Imbera always preferred those she considered family to address her as 'Kim.' The same for the First Born. All but the great families have forgotten they possessed any other names than their titles, and you are all but a figure of myth, save to the families and the elite of the Ranger Corps."
"Is that why you didn't tell the crowd exactly who I was?" he wondered.
"Correct. It would only have created delays, and your request to see the First Born sounded urgent."
"It is," he assured her gravely. "I take it Jamie is still alive?"
"Why would he not be?" she asked as if the question was absurd.
"Humans don't have very long life spans, for starters."
"Ah, but the First Born has known the touch of the finest healers and shapers on Threa. There is little they cannot do." Then, Lris sobered. "The problem is not so much is the First Born alive as it is 'is he available?' It is probably easier for you to gain an audience with the Imbera than with your son."
"Why's that?" Tommy asked as the red head directed him across the court yard towards the impressive array of buildings ahead of them.
"Simply because he is considered the last survivor of the Great War," she explained. "Threans put much more faith in living memory than the recorded word. Other elders survive from that time, but the First Born was there at the last battle. Though their kin live on, the First Born is the only one who can speak of what befell the heads of the Great Families as Rangers. He was there when they died; he was the only one to receive their dying thoughts.
"Of course, there is also the matter of the First Born's mother...."
"Speaking of his mother," Tommy interrupted, looking around in awe, "I know Kim said she instituted a training center for future Rangers, but I can't imagine that this is what she intended."
He gestured to the collection of buildings around them. It reminded him more of a college campus with a town growing up around it to serve it's needs. Rangering had always been something conducted in secret from the general public.
"It was not. In the Great Imbera's day, there had only been the central complex; she dubbed it the Command Center. Over the turns of the seasons, it has grown to become a seat of learning in addition to a facility for training Rangers.
"For example, I am here as a cadet working on perfecting my healing abilities, not necessarily to become one of the elite recruits a potential Ranger. Most of the cadets here will never serve as Rangers; they leave to become healers, shapers, artisans, teachers or any number of other pursuits.
"The Academy is very selective when it comes to accepting candidates; even being a member of one of the Great Families is not a guarantee. Ability alone is not enough, either; is even more than that something deep inside your heart and soul. It is something only the Imbera is able to see."
"Who is the present Imbera?" Tommy queried as they passed beyond the 'town' and made their way towards what had to be the most nondescript edifice he had yet seen. Unlike the architecture of the rest of the complex, the obsidian building was quite plain, yet it filled Tommy with a sense of belonging. Then it hit him all at once: this Command Center was designed to resemble the one Kimberly knew from Earth.
"The general populace does not know when a new Imbera takes over. Save for Kimberly's death, they have only ever known one Imbera."
"But you're not the general populace," Tommy pointed out teasingly. "According to Kim and Jamie, they considered Sahr and Rhee's family as their own."
Lris smiled. "The First Born retired when his lifebond Ayn died. His youngest daughter Twyn took up the mantle next. Injury forced her to retire much sooner than she would have liked. Now, her son Jax wields the power."
His great-grandson, Tommy realized. He found himself both grateful and concerned that Lris was so forthcoming with personal information about the Imbera's family. He wouldn't have been. Perhaps that was why she asked to see the signet.
"How come you still refer to Jamie as "First Born,' if your family knows them all by name?" he asked, curious about her formality.
"I have not been given leave to call him anything else," she said. "Were you not instructed to shield your identity? It is much the same in this matter."
The two came to stand before the entrance to the Command Center. Tommy felt a shiver of remembrance shudder through him.
"Tommy?" Lris questioned, wondering at his hesitation.
"It's like coming home in a way," he murmured.
"And like your former headquarters, only those who have touched the Power may enter," she explained. "This is one door you must open, for I cannot."
Tommy nodded, but he was loath to leave his guide behind. Knowing that they had brought other non-Rangers into the Command Center on occasion, he tugged Lris after him as he passed through the energy field.
Chapter 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Epilogue