Gathering of the Power Rangers [Closed for now]

[morphitudinous]

Having posted his call for the Rangers to report to the Command Center immediately whenever they had time, there was little Billy could do but stand in the circle of consoles and wait. With dim blue lights twinkling along the walls, he could just about see his hand in front of his face.

Maybe he should have asked someone to bring a flashlight.

Shaking that thought off, he started preparing a speech for the others in his head, reminding himself of all the rules and ideals. The threshold of a new beginning. What an exciting and nerve-wracking place to be.

I wish you were here, Billy thought as the light reflected off the empty glass tube. But wishing wouldn't bring anyone back, as the past year had proven. The Rangers were his responsibility now, and he'd have to improvise.

Starting with the first few Rangers. He hoped they would make it through the door safely, and further that they wouldn't trip.

((A guest will be dropping in already, but depending on how the conversation goes others might be asked to come by later. Let's go!))

Comments

[potentialmonkey.livejournal.com]

"AUGH!" Came a shout, followed by a series of loud bangs.

"Who the heck put those stairs there?"

[morphitudinous]

"Stairs?"

Billy sounded surprised. "They shouldn't be there. I'm sorry about that, I'm looking for a light, but it's difficult to grope for in the dark. I should find it soon though."

[potentialmonkey.livejournal.com]

"Got an idea. Rufus! Find the lightswitch.

"O-kay." squeaked the nocturnal rodent. Finding what he was looking for, the naked mole rat leapt up and flipped the switch.

[morphitudinous]

That was much better. Billy blinked a few times to adjust to the light---not as bright as the Center had been in normal operation, but well enough to see.

"Thanks Rufus," he nodded. "All right, everyone should be here soon enough."

[nothawkingbird.livejournal.com]

Why was it so dark in here? Kate moved slowly, feeling along the walls as she made her way inside.

"Ok, we starting on practice already or somebody forget to pay electricity bill?"

[morphitudinous]

"No, I forgot to bring a flashlight---but there should be one here, I'm looking for it," Billy explained apologetically.

"When it was on my world, this whole room was well lit and the small blue lights looked more like white stars, but the Command Center has lost most of its power. That, and my mentor and his assistant are no longer here to maintain it---hey," he adds belatedly.

[nothawkingbird.livejournal.com]

"And me without the one in my belt. knew there was something else to bring." She was usually prepared in her Avengers gear. This Ranger deal was definitely a brand new experience.

Kate started to search around, "Hey, so. This is different."

[morphitudinous]

"Don't worry about it," Billy assured.

"Yeah. This was my team's base. We'd never seen anything like it before, and at full power, it's beautiful," he explains, trailing off with that awed inflection he reserves for great technology.

It still felt weird to be in here with a team that wasn't his, but with time it might feel normal again. He hoped.

[andyallgrownup.livejournal.com]

Andy looked around in the darkness as he walked forward. "So, is everyone here yet?"

[morphitudinous]

"Not yet---hey, Andy," he waved, trying to make his position obvious. "But I think we're off to a good start."

As soon as the lights are on, anyway.

[andyallgrownup.livejournal.com]

Andy smiled. "Okay, hopefully everyone will get here soon."

[bonnypiperlad]

There's a very faint thud from the general direction of the entrance, followed by a muffled oath. A few moments later, Jamie emerges from the general area, looking vaguely disgruntled.

"Could ye have not mentioned to bring torches, Billy?"

[morphitudinous]

"I'm sorry!"

Billy was really frustrated with himself right now. How could he have forgotten something so basic? "There should be a spare one here. I'm looking for it."

[bonnypiperlad]

It happens, and Jamie's not too put out by the situation. He carefully makes his way over to where he heard Billy speak, doing his best to try and avoid walking into anything else. At least he's been here once, which helps a little.

"Did ye want me to help look?"

[morphitudinous]

"I think I almost have it," he answers, wiggling under one of the consoles. "It was under one of these if I remember correctly..."

Billy's fingers search in the dark, groping about until his fingers close over a large object. There---

---unfortunately his grip is loose, and he falls atop it and clunks onto the floor. Groaning, he rolls out and switches the light on.

"Ugh...okay, that should do it."

[thewunderkind]

And of course Lash had to arrive last. And just like the others, a trip, a fall and a few pg-rated swears later her head peeked into the room.

"You'd...think I would have noticed that there." Urgh, so frustrating!

[bonnypiperlad]

"Aye, well, you're not alone in that," Jamie comments dryly, unconsciously rubbing at the knee that he had banged into the wall earlier. "Are ye all right, Lash?"

[thewunderkind]

"Y-yeah," she said rubbing her head. "It's just kinda hard to see, even with that light." She squinted her eyes and looked around, adjusting to it and the figures around her. "I guess we're all here? I think..."

[bonnypiperlad]

Jamie nods, before realizing that might be difficult for Lash to see. "Aye, it is, but ye get used to it quick enough. Billy did say there might be a few others that were going to stop by, though - ninjas, he called them."

He really needs to figure out what that word actually means sometime. It sounds very odd. Maybe Lash knows? "Hey, ye don't know what a ninja is, do ye?"

Starting Explanation

[morphitudinous]

Once all five were present, Billy could begin his explanation.

"Welcome to the Command Center, the base of all Power Ranger operations on my world. It's not fully functional, and it's normally not as dark and perilous as you all found it today," he joked, awkwardly scratching his neck.

"Anyway, I called you all here to explain the power I was forced to give to you, what it all entails, and ask each of you whether you want to keep the morpher. If you do keep it, there are two simple rules of conduct to follow---there were originally three, but I've broken the third rule so thoroughly aboard Stacy that Zordon would be ashamed."

Strangely, Billy turned and glanced apologetically over his shoulder at the empty glass tube behind him. "I'll explain the nature of the Power at first. As I'm sure you noticed, morphing enhanced your strength, reflexes, and ability to take hits. If you weren't sure what to do, it also provided guidance in combat. The thin spandex-like material is actually composed of a network of nanofibers that distributes the force of blows to soften them, and it blocks most acidic substances. Even when the power's not active, it will speed up your body's healing processes."

Judging by the glazed looks on their faces, he paused. "I'm sorry, I tend to ramble about technicalities if I'm not stopped. Do you have any questions so far?"

((Dustin/Cam/Peter, feel free to be here too, or you can come later.))

Re: Starting Explanation

[andyallgrownup.livejournal.com]

Andy shook his head. "No, so far everything makes sense to me."

He was already pretty sure that he was going to be keeping the morpher, he needed to be able to do something here on the ship.

Plus how often did people get a chance to become a superhero like they always wanted when they were a kid anyway?

Re: Starting Explanation

[nothawkingbird.livejournal.com]

Kate admitted, "I really could have used something like this against the Skrulls."

She then tilted her head to the side, "But what does this mean now? I mean there's a reason I guess it worked with us right?"

Meanings and Oaths

[morphitudinous]

((Keep asking question above! I just want to have this up to keep it organized---tag when you're ready.))

Once everything was reasonably well understood, Billy folded his hands and took a deep breath. This was it---this was their moment.

"All right...now I have a question for you. Listen carefully, because I need to explain what it means."

Suddenly, Billy wished he was a mere head in a tube. He'd probably appear more impressive and imposing than the young nerd standing before the new recruits now.

"So far, you know what Power Rangers do and how the powers work. Individually, we're not exceptionally powerful compared to the other superheroes. A Ranger team's main advantage is its unity. We're a cohesive unit, a team that stands together."

"That's how the original Power Ranger team on my Earth operated. We were already a group of close friends when we were summoned by Zordon, a powerful wizard, to take up his power and engagee in battle against the witch invading Earth. He chose us because we were fairly moral and trustworthy, and we could fight...well, to be precise, they could fight. I was only useful for my brain at first, but they trained me. I'm still training to catch up with the rest of you now."

"When we took up the power, we had to agree to follow three rules: never escalate a fight unless forced to, never use our powers for personal gain, and never reveal your identity as a Ranger to anyone. Suffice to say that I've thoroughly broken the third rule, but I believe the first two still stand. We don't believe in punitive pre-emptive strikes. We fight when the situation calls for it. And with the Ohm as our opponents, it definitely does---they killed almost everyone we knew and thousands of planets in between. If you're going to join up with us, then I ask you to please respect the first two rules. They define us as Rangers. Can you do that?"

Re: Meanings and Oaths

[potentialmonkey.livejournal.com]

"No problemo dude. Me and Kim did more-or-less followed those rules back home anyways." Ron answered truthfully.

Re: Meanings and Oaths

[nothawkingbird.livejournal.com]

Kate nodded, "Really, it doesn't sound that much different from being an Avenger. Ok, wish it was more clear cut there like this, we were all fumbling at times." Though she had run into a little bit of trouble with the first one and tried to be better about it.

"So yes, count me in."