Shadows in the Glass

Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers I just own the plot and the characters that don't exist.

Author's Notes: For anyone who is familiar with Marvel's Daredevil (in particular season 2) or The Defenders on Netflix, some of the concepts inspired the plot of the story. There will be a few chapters that will involve time jumps from the past to the present day but I will indicate it.

Summary: An incident causes Tommy to retire from the Ranger life following the end of his latest tenure. However, an unexpected battle between two warring factions will throw him and the original Rangers into the mix fighting not only for the fate of their city, but for the heart of the team.

Prologue: Chapter 1- Setting the Pieces

February 14, 2009

Rideau Circle Corporation

Angel Grove, CA

High up in the executive office suites of the Rideau Circle Corporation, a late night board meeting occurred among the mysterious and intriguing members of the board. The company itself has established their head office in Angel Grove after a five year construction plan in the city. They've held wealth, power and shares throughout the world and have been in business for many years.

The corporation itself was a frontpage for public eyes to conceal themselves of their true nature and identity. The members of the Rideau board have been in business for many years, if one includes living multiple life cycles throughout the galaxy for centuries, years or eons that one loses count of how many lifetimes one lives.

Once upon a time in another lifetime they had another higher calling, until fate and destiny deemed them unworthy for they saw what laid deep in the hearts of these individuals. They were cast out after defiling and manipulating the essence of the Great Power for their own benefit to cheat life and death and gain power for their own malicious purposes. Instead, these so called heretics took their traits to become heralds for the most foulest villains of the galaxy and aided them in their ambitions for domination and control.

Life many minions serving their masters and all for a common purpose, the exiled heretics did too form their own faction in the name of evil and established a forefront on Earth many lifetime ago. Using their titles as heralds and minions for the galaxy's evil villains they called themselves The Emissary. Like their masters who made enemies against the forces of good who defy their evil intentions, The Emissary also made enemies as well who opposed them, one faction in particular simply known as The Garrison made it their mission to contend with putting a stop to The Emissary's plans by any means.

After the fall of their masters following the destruction of the ultimate force of good, Zordon of Eltar's sacrifice, a purification wave swept across the galaxy wiping out the major key figures of the United Alliance of Evil. The Emissary, the last heralds of the original UAE found themselves leaderless without masters to serve and to dismay, their resources limited except for their ultimate weapon.

It was the reason for this impromptu late night meeting, to discuss about the status of The Emissary's long foretold weapon. Despite no longer without their masters they have longed served, they made it their mission to carry on their legacies and eliminate their enemies who oppose them. It was the ideology The Emissary lived by that each member lives and dies in service and name of The Emissary...and for the one weapon that will give them their purpose, The Scarlet Sovereign.

Unfortunately, instead of celebrating and rejoicing in their procuring of their so called deity weapon, like their masters before them they had adversaries to contend with. But to their unsuspected surprise, their adversaries turned out to be familiar foes they have previously dealt with which brought heated confrontation among them.

"I hope you are happy because after years of planning, we are now running on borrowed time. Do you not realize the severity of our situation we have run into...some complications. We underestimated them once, this time they will come for us and will realize the truth about the Scarlet Sovereign."

That was one major flaw The Emissary made, messing with the heart of a team.

February 14, 2009

Unknown Penthouse Suite

Angel Grove, CA

Meanwhile, hidden deep away in an luxurious and isolated penthouse suite in the heart of downtown Angel Grove a young woman was being trailed by her guards and escorted to her private suite. Gently putting down her twin swords on the floor and changing out of her battle outfit she slipped into a pair of silk pajamas while walking around her room. She stopped in front of the mirror and stared blankly at the reflection staring back at her.

She was simply known as The Scarlet Sovereign and it was the life and purpose she only knew. However, the reflection staring back at her told another story and after what happened today something awoke inside of her. It was like as if someone or something called to her deep in the void of an unknown presence laying dormant in the vessel that held the Scarlet Sovereign.

The battle was like any other and it was her purpose as The Emissary's weapon to serve life itself. Unfortunately, these adversaries she fought earlier at the headquarters of Rideau Circle Corp felt somewhat familiar and distinct to her. The Scarlet Sovereign was a fighter without hesitation to strike down her foes, until she came across an opponent who matched her fighting skills, but it was much more than that.

Staring at the mirror, she lifted up her shirt and began to trace the scars on her body. There was one scar in particular that caught her attention, the one above her chest near her heart. It was an old flesh wound that was there but for some reason this particular scar was one of great significance to her. Her fingers gently traced the mark but suddenly she recoiled her hand back down to the side and gasped.

The Scarlet Sovereign looked back at the reflection staring at her, unaware of the sudden internal struggle that was slowly begin to rage inside of her. If there was one question she wished she had answers to, she wanted to know. Why did she suddenly hesitate when she looked upon the man with brown eyes? Why didn't she strike him?

"I am The Scarlet Sovereign...but what am I feeling? I am the weapon of The Emissary and my purpose is to serve life itself. But who are you? Why am I feeling like I know you from a distinct past life? Am I truly the Scarlet Sovereign of The Emissary? Or...am I someone else?"

Whoever cause her hesitation did something more than just that. Somehow, they awoken an unknown struggle inside of her that was only just the beginning.

February 15, 2009

Reefside City Cemetery

Reefside, CA

The last 24 hours was all that Tommy Oliver could think about and to the testament of his best friends, it weighed heavy on his heart: physically, mentally and emotionally as he found himself in the last place he least expected: the cemetery. This is the last place he wanted to but it was necessary in order to answer the questions that plagued his heart since that incident five years ago.

"You know when one goes to a cemetery in the middle of the night, they usually bring flowers instead of a shovel when paying their respects." Jason said as he came behind his best friend and brother standing in front of a familiar gravesite. However, Tommy simply gripped the shovel as he stared at the tombstone.

"Well, there is no flower shop opened in the middle of the night to buy a bouquet for her." Tommy said sighing. "You know for five years this is the one place I dread coming to, but yet at the same time I force myself to come here because it's her. However, when I come here reality sets in and I have to remind myself she's gone."

"But yet you made her that promise to live for the little girl at home you two created." Jason reassured him. "We know how hard it was for you losing the love of your life, and watching my little sister being buried was the hardest thing to imagine. However, you need to think about this carefully Tommy."

"I am thinking and after what happened down at Rideau Circle things don't seem to make sense." Tommy replied. "I been apart of this life since I was sixteen years old and I made a vow to myself and my daughter to walk away from it all because the price we paid for it. No matter how many times we try walking away...ignoring...it...it..."

"...The life of a Power Ranger always calls to us," Jason completed his friend's thought. "It was why we all made that choice to go to Angel Grove. You're a father and you'd do anything to protect Amelia, even if it means finding yourself on the frontlines again."

"And don't think you're heading to the frontlines alone." Billy said as Tommy finds the former Blue Ranger accompanied by Trini, Zack, Rocky, Adam, Aisha, Kat, Tanya and Justin, the original Power Rangers who served under Zordon many years ago. "Jason alerted us why you're here."

"Is Amelia...is she alright?" Tommy asked regarding his daughter.

"Hayley is staying overnight at the house along with your former students." Trini assured him.

"That's good and I appreciate you guys being here although what I'm about to do counts as trespassing and destruction of public property." Tommy said. "Five years ago we all stood at this spot and mourned the loss of one of our own. The last thing I never expected finding myself doing was desecrate the grave of the heart of our team. But yet something tells me that the answers I need to seek for my sake, my daughter and everybody else here is buried six feet below us."

"How the hell did we manage to find ourselves in his position? I mean five years why now?" Kat questioned. "Who the hell are these people we encountered?"

"I don't know who they are but apparently they messed with the wrong people. My heart is telling me that somehow the impossible became possible and if I have to dig a six feet hole to find the truth, then I'm going to make it my mission to get the other half of my heart back." Tommy said.

There was no way to convince Tommy otherwise to stand down as he began to dig away at the ground in front of the gravesite. The ten former Rangers watched their leader frantically clear away the dirt as the hole got bigger and bigger. It wasn't until Tommy's shovel came in contact with the lid of the ominous oak casket.

"Are you ready to prepare yourself bro?" Jason asked his best friend. "Whatever is inside that casket just know you're not alone."

"I...I...need to be sure for whatever happens next and no matter what we decide to do next, you guys will always have my back." Tommy said. He swiped the dirt off the lid as he slowly begins to pull up the lid of the casket.

Tommy wanted to prepare his eyes for the sight that laid upon him expecting to reside himself to reality. Instead, the expression in his eyes told Tommy another story and in that moment he began to wonder how did things spiral out of control once again in his life.