Chapter Text
Location: New York, NY
Tommy guided the SHIELD marked sedan through the packed streets of New York, following Agent Coulson in a SHIELD SUV. Adam in the passenger seat beside him was taking in the sights and calling out street signs. Tommy glanced up at the rearview mirror, checking on Fitz and Simmons in the back seats. Coulson had asked Jason to ride with him. Tommy suspected the agent was trying to recruit the original Red. As they pulled up to the Stark Tower skyscraper Coulson, May, Skye, and Jason were already exiting the first vehicle.
Fitz, Simmons, and Adam joined them on the sidewalk, but Tommy hesitated, looking up at the ugly building with its A logo. Slowly, he exited the driver’s side and looked over the top of the sedan, “Hey, you guys go on without me, I’ll meet up with you later.”
Jason gawked at him in confusion “Wait, what? No. You’re the only one who’s met Thanos, you need to explain him to the Avengers.”
“Have you heard of Wanda Maximoff? The Scarlet Witch?” Tommy pointed up at the tower “There’s a high likelihood that she’s up there. Do you really want me around someone who controls minds?”
Jason took a second to think about it, “Yeah, no. Fair point. You stay here, we’ll see you later.”
Skye looked back and forth between the two rangers, “What? You’re just going to let him get out of the meeting? Just like that?”
“Absolutely. Tommy and mind control don’t mix well.” Said Jason, he and Adam walked into the tower reception area.
She pointed at Tommy and turned to Coulson, “Can I go with him? You guys don’t need me there, and I’m not good with crowds. Don’t want to freak out meeting the Avengers and start a quake in the tower.”
Coulson nodded and followed the rangers into Stark Tower. May, Fitz and Simmons are already waiting for them at the security check-in. Tommy smiled and clapped his hands together, “All right, lets go get some lunch.”
~~~
Skye and Tommy walked through the streets of New York, Skye with a hot dog in hand. They had found a food cart a couple blocks from Stark Tower. It was a nice enough day to go see the sights, but she was starting to think Tommy had other plans. The ranger kept stopping, changing direction, and going down side streets, almost like he was looking for something.
By the third time they had changed directions she was starting to get fed up with not knowing where they were going. “So, are we just wandering in circles until the Avenger meeting it done, or are you trying to find a museum or something?”
Tommy laughed and stuck his hands in the black leather jacket he was wearing. “I’m not sure what I’m looking for yet. I have a feeling I’ll recognize it when I see it.”
The cryptic answer piqued her curiosity. Looking around at the towering buildings she could see Stark Tower in the distance, she noticed that their meandering path has taken them steadily South, “So, this a ranger thing then?”
“Sort of. Maybe.” Tommy stopped and looked down a side street. “I think the Time Stone is here somewhere.” He was absolutely positive the Time Stone was here. He had felt it at the edges of his senses like a glowing beacon for hours. Narrowing down the location was the hard part. The Infinity stone was so powerful it seemed like the energy was coming from everywhere at once.
“What!? We’re tracking down an Infinity Stone!? Shouldn’t we have backup?”
Tommy continued down the street, “Relax, I just want to know where it is. This one jumps around a lot, all over the world. This might be our only chance to catch it.”
Skye stood frozen in shock for a second and had to jog to catch up with him, “So, what, you could track this thing the whole time? Can all rangers track Infinity Stones?”
“I don’t know, it’s never come up before. Although, I wasn’t able to track the Aether like this, even though I had two different Red ranger powers.” Tommy looked thoughtful, “If I had to guess, this might have something to do with Rita. When I was the Green Ranger, she used some kind of spell to bind me to the Dragon Coin, it’s how she was able to drain the power after I joined the Rangers. If that spell was strong enough, it might have connected me directly to the Time Stone itself.”
Skye didn’t know anything about magic. The whole thing gave her the creeps. She followed Tommy on his winding path through the city, keeping an eye out for anything unusual. As they turned down Bleecker St. Skye was distracted, admired the cool old building as they passed, and nearly ran into Tommy as he stopped dead. The ranger was looking up at an old brick building with white pillars. The roof was a dull copper green that contrasted with the beautiful round, stained glass window in the center of the building. Straining to look up, Skye could barely make out the figure of a man standing at the window.
Tommy eyed the place suspiciously, “This is the place.”
~~~
Coulson went up to the security check point in the Stark Tower lobby and recognized Happy Hogan at the desk. “Hello Mr. Hogan.”
Happy looked up from his phone, startled. His eyes went impossibly large when he saw Phil Coulson back from the dead. The chief of security scrambled to his feet, pulling a Taser from a holster and yelling into a radio, “Mr. Stark, we have an LMD attempting to gain entry to the building!”
“I’m not a live model decoy. I have an appointment.”
“That’s what an LMD would say-“
“Happy it’s OK, It’s really him.” Happy and Coulson both looked in the direction of the new voice to see a blond man in a purple and black hoody walking towards security.
Colson smiled, “Good to see you again Agent Barton.”
“You too Director. Everything’s all right Happy, he really does have an appointment to talk to the Avengers.” Happy scoffed and sat back down with a huff. “Come on Phil, everyone’s waiting.” Coulson and his team followed Clint down the hall, Jason throwing a friendly wave to Happy as he passed the desk. “We were able to get everyone together, well, except Thor, he’s off planet again. We’re set up in briefing room 12 on the 55th floor.”
“That’s surprising. Knowing Stark, I would have thought he would meet us in the Penthouse.”
“Yeah, well… there are some unplanned renovations going on up there. Wanda was experimenting with her powers again and it set off the Hulk, and it kind of snowballed from there.”
Clint chatted with Coulson as they waited for the elevator to get to the upper levels of the tower, “I was surprised to get a call from you. I thought you were still playing dead?” Clint subtilty looked over Phil’s team. He recognized May, of course. Things must be serious if they called in the Calvary.
“Circumstances changed. How did Stark take the news of my less than permanent death?”
Clint pulled out his phone and played a short video of Tony, his voice tiny as it yelled through the small speakers. Stark waved his arms around, pointing accusingly at Natasha and Clint behind the camera. “I think he took it pretty well.” The archer chuckled.
Coulson chuckled with him right before the doors opened. They stepped out into a well-lit office room with a large, heavy oak table and floor to ceiling windows. It was very…Stark.
Tony Stark was the first one to meet them at the door, the eccentric billionaire wearing a stock, almost condescending expression. “Agent. You’re late.”
“I missed you to Stark.” Tony gave a slight nod and headed over to a bar in the corner to pour himself a martini.
Steve greeted him next, coming over to clasp his hand in a firm handshake, “It’s good to see you made it out Coulson. What brings you back to working with the Avengers?”
“Nothing good unfortunately.” Coulson looked around at the two assembled teams, waiting for them to gather around so he could explain why they were there. “What we’re about to read the Avengers in on has been classified above top secret for over a decade, and we’re going to need all the help we can get for what’s coming.” Coulson said seriously.
~~~
Tommy pushed open the heavy wood doors of the building, glancing inside. He had tried knocking, but when no one answered he tried the door, finding it had been unlocked.
“You can’t just go in!” whispered Skye from behind him, “We don’t even know what kind of place this is. It could be a trap.”
Tommy stepped inside, studying the grand staircase that took up most of the space and noticing all the books and artifacts in glass cases. The whole place practically vibrated with magic. It reminded Tommy of Rita’s palace more than he’d like to admit, and it made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. He didn’t see anything that looked like an Infinity Stone thought.
“You shouldn’t be in here” a voice echoed from the top of the stairs. “This is privet property.” The voice had come from a man in his early 40’s with a trimmed mustache and gray streaks at his temples. He was dressed in strange blue robes and high boots, and around his neck was a large gold amulet. “This is no place for tourists.”
Tommy heard Skye standing behind him, letting the door close. “Sorry, we tried knocking.” She said, “We’ll just be going.” She tried to grab Tommy’s arm to get him to come with her.
The former ranger ignored her and stood his ground, “Actually, I’m looking for something, maybe you’ve seen it? A green gemstone, about the size of a marble, probably glowing.”
“If you’re looking for some kind of gem, there is a jeweler down the street. You’re not going to find anything here.” The man said, striding over to them down the staircase.
Tommy could hear the Time Stone calling out to him stronger as the man approached. He studied the stranger and the amulet he wore. His eyes narrowed in determination, “That’s funny. Because the stone I’m looking for is in the amulet you’re wearing.”
The stranger stopped abruptly, taken aback, and regarded them with suspicion, “I’m sorry, you must be mistaken Mr.-”
“Doctor”
“Excuse me?” The stranger looked affronted, his brown drawing together with annoyance.
“My name is Dr. Tomas Oliver, and I’m here for the Time Stone.”
The man on the stairs went on the defensive, dropping into a fighting stance, sparking gold shields with spiraling sigils appeared on his hands, “I am the Sorcerer Supreme. It is my duty to protect the Time Stone. You’ll have to go through me to get it.”
Another man in similar robes rounded the corner of the stairs, holding a takeout bag and looking exasperated, “Strange! What is going on?”
“Wong, we have an intruder attempting to steal the Time Stone.”
The Monk dropped the food and mirrored the Sorcerer Supremes stance, ready for a fight. Tommy could see Skye in his peripheral, tightening the shock absorbing braces on her arms, subtly glancing at him, ready to follow his lead. Tommy forced himself to stay relaxed. He didn’t want to take the stone by force, but this self-proclaimed sorcerer was starting to get on his nerves, “Look, whoever you are, I think we might be on the same side here. We both want to protect the stone. Now if you could just give it- “
“The Time Stone is a crucial element in safeguarding the timeline and preventing disruptions across the multiverse. What make you think I’ll just-” Tommy rolled his eyes and reached out his hand towards the amulet, using the connection to call to the stone. The intricate gold clockwork spiraled open on its own, revealing the Time Stone. The sorcerer could only watch in bewilderment as the Time Stone leapt across the room into Oliver’s waiting grasp. “-Hey!?” The sorcerer helplessly dropped his guard, “How did you do that?”
Tommy gave him a smug little smile, “I didn’t do anything, it just likes me better.” He closed his hand around the Time Stone. The stones power surged, wrapping him in a translucent green cloak. The power formed around him and took on the ghostly image of green plated armor with a gold shield and dragon helm, before fading away.
“Oh, that is who you are.” Wong rushed forward and bowed respectfully, “Our greatest apologies, Grid Master.”
Grid Master? “Is that what you sorcerers call us?” Tommy asked. He liked it, it was catchier than Power Rangers.
The Sorcerer Supreme joined them at the bottom of the stairs, “Wong, what’s going on? Do you know this guy?”
The monk made a so-so gesture, “The sorcerers of Kamar-Taj have known about the Grid Masters for centuries. They are the ones chosen by the Infinity Stones to protect the balance of the universe. If anyone could be considered the rightful masters of the stones, it would be them.” That made Tommy laugh, he has always felt more like a servant to the Power rather than its master.
“We’ll in that case, I suppose you can take it after all.” Strange seemed rather sullen about surrendering the Time Stone. Tommy could understand that. No one enjoyed relinquishing a powerful weapon. “If you don’t mind my asking, what are you going to you use it for?”
“Oh, you know, the usual, batting against intergalactic, tyrannical warlords, saving the universe from mass genocide, that sort of thing. But first-” Tommy pulled his green ranger morpher from his back pocket, the antique gold dragon coin shining against the green crystal and black metal. Tommy opened the hand holding the Time Stone and moved it closer to the morpher. The vibrant green glow of the stone intensified, its power filling the air around them. They all watched in amazement as the dragon coin started absorbing the energy, the green light swirling around the morpher and being drawn into the coin. It was over as soon as it started; the Time Stone glowing contentedly, and the Green Ranger morpher humming with restored power.
Tommy smiled, heart racing at the familiar, intense rush of energy flowing through him, as his first morpher connected him back to the Morphing Grid.
Tommy jumped and almost threw the morpher as his phone buzzed and started ringing in his pocket. He fumbled with the morpher and Time Stone as he pulled the phone free, he saw Adams name on the screen and quickly swiped to answer, “Hey Adam, how’s it going?”
“Not great. We gave them the whole ‘Imminent Danger, We’re Here to Help’ speech, but Stark is being an ass. He thinks they can handle Thanos themselves. He called us dead weight, Tom! Dead weight! Can you believe that!?” Tommy could hear Stark arguing with Jason in the background, “Look, we need you to come back and help convince these guys that we can help.”
Tommy scowled at Starks stubbornness before a slow smile crept onto his face, “Adam, I have an idea. It will defiantly get their attention, but it’s going to take a few minutes. Hang tight… and keep an eye out the window.”
“What-?” Tommy hung up the phone and put it away.
Tommy turned to the sorcerers, “Do you know any piers around here? Something by the Atlantic?”
“There’s Brighton Beach Pier,” said Wong.
“Perfect. You wouldn’t happen to have a fast way to get there, do you?”
Curious to see what the Green ranger had in mind, Dr. Strange held up his Sling Ring and started forming a portal. The golden sparks cleared into a circular gateway onto a long boardwalk. Tommy and Skye gapped in amazement as the two sorcerers walked through, then quickly followed them.
The cold fall air whipped around them as they exited the portal, the expanse of the ocean cooling the air to chilling levels. Tommy took a deep, bracing breath and started towards the end of the pier, “All right. Let’s see if I remember how to do this.” The newly reenergized ranger quieted his mind, falling into a light meditative state where he could concentrate on the Power flowing through him. Tommy held out his right hand. Green sparks of energy formed along his palm, sparking in the air before solidifying into a long green and gold dagger, the blade gleaming in the afternoon sun.
Skye was closest to him and could see the sparks of green energy racing along the length of the blade. She wondered at the curious hilt of the dagger that almost looked like a flute. She was even more curious when Tommy raised the hilt to his lips and blew into it. The sound that came out of the dagger was a haunting, clear melody like a trumpet.
Tommy smiled, remembering the tune. He repositioned his fingers on the hilt and focused out to the water. He changed the tune, letting power from the Time Stone weave into the sound. It released a shockwave that rippled out across the water and… nothing happened. Tommy scanned the horizon whispering under his breath, “Come on, come on. Wake up.” Tommy raised the dagger and played the tune again, strong and clear, and another shockwave rippled out over the ocean… this time answered by a spray of white water in the distance as something moved under the waves.
Tommy grinned in triumph, “There you are.”
~~~
Coulson leaned against the wall of the office. Clint and Natisha were standing with him, watching the reactions of the various Avengers as they sorted out the new information they had been given. With the threat of Thanos hanging in the air, Steve and Sam seemed ready to do what was necessary to defend the planet. Vanda and Vision sat at the table, waiting to see how things played out. But the overwhelming commotion in the room was the argument going on between Jason and Tony. The billionaire had taken on the opinion that the Avengers alone could handle Thanos, and that the Rangers would just be in the way.
“No one needs your weird dinosaur things. My tech is more advanced than anything you’ve got!”
“We’re asking you to help make the new ones! We live on earth too, and we will fight to defend it!”
The two had been going back and forth for several minutes now, with no sign of either one giving in. Adam had given up trying to help convince Stark and was staring morosely out the window.
“The Avengers have sent The Chitauri packing before, we’ll do it again.”
“That was one mother ship- “
By the windows, Adam tensed up, eyes going wide, “Um, guys’-“
“- and you barley won. Thanos has hundreds of those ships under his command!”
“We still don’t need your stupid Zords!”
“GUYS!” Everyone turned to Adam, who was staring out the window, expression pale, “You’re gonna want to see this!”
The whole room went quiet and now Coulson could hear a dull thud… Thud…THUD. A water glass on the table rippled, seismic vibrations rattling the floor. He looked towards the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the East River. The Avengers all crept closer to the glass, curious and hesitant. Adam stepped aside so they could get closer. Coulson walked up beside them, just in time to see something massive walking through the river towards them. Coulson gapped in fear and astonishment as the colossal assault weapon prowled up the river towards the tower.
Over fifty stories tall, green and black metal glistening, the Mecha-Godzilla like Dragon Zord stood gazing at them with red, glowing eyes. It’s massive head and gleaming metal teeth eye level with their floor of Stark Tower. The Zord let out an ear shattering roar, the Avenger dropping to the ground and covering their ears as the windows rattled.
Jason walked up behind Stark, “So. You don’t need Zords, hum?”
Stark half turned toward Jason, not taking his wide eyes off the Dragon Zord, “Yeah, OK. I’ll help with the morphers.” He ripped his gaze away from the windows, “What are we waiting for. Let’s go save the world.”
Jason’s phone rang, the old ranger communicator tone he had recorded years ago playing through the speaker. The former Red ranger swiped open the screen without looking at the caller, “Hey Tom.”..… “Yeah, they see it. Kind of hard to miss. How did you even-”……. “You found what?” ……. “You know what, I’m not even going to question it right now. Just send the Zord back and get over your ass over here. It’s time to get back to action.”