(We pick up where we left off. Tommy, Kimberly, Billy and Robbie are in the command center in the midst of a crisis.)
Tommy: They resigned?
Zordon: Yes Tommy. Adam, Rocky and Aisha have turned in their morphers. They are no longer power rangers.
Billy: How? I-I mean, why?
Zordon: They each cited a hostile work environment. Beyond that they would not elaborate.
(Stunned, although not quite dumbfounded by the news, the remaining teens turn to one another.)
Kimberly: This is our fault.
Billy: What do you mean?
(She turns to Tommy, who blankly stares back at her.)
Kimberly: We haven't been as welcoming to them as we could be.
Robbie: Speak for yourself.
Kimberly: Robbie please! You of all people shouldn't be speaking right now.
Robbie: Hey. At least I bother to acknowledge that they exist. (Points at Tommy) Not like you two, who've lived in some far off castle the past year.
Kimberly: Is that so? Then explain to me why Rocky seems to despise you so much.
Robbie: (Hesitates) ...I don't know. He's an idiot.
Kimberly: That doesn't answer the question.
Robbie: Yeah it does. He said he took a year off after the 5th grade to "save up." He's not exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Tommy: And yet he knows enough to avoid being around you at all costs.
Kimberly: Answer the question, Robbie. Why does Rocky hate you?
Robbie: Answer this question, what's Rocky's last name?
Kimberly: You don't even know that.
Robbie: Answer the question!
"Enough!"
(Zordon's booming, echoing voice immediately silences any bickering in the room.)
Zordon: It has become abundantly clear to me that there is a fundamental problem in this team in regards to its sense of unity. Instead of hearing one another out, we continue to point fingers and make this problem worse.
Tommy: ...
Robbie: ...
Kimberly: ...
Zordon: What I assumed a few months ago were simply growing pains is clearly something deeper. Nearly half the team is gone due to our own selfish preoccupations. With those remaining arguing before me. Something clearly needs to be done here. For the sake of all Angel Grove.
(No one responds, but by the looks on their faces, it seems Zordon's words have hit their mark. Unfortunately, before much can be done about it, the alarm sounds.)
Alpha: Aye, yi, yai! We have a riot breaking out in Angel Grove!
(Rangers huddle around the viewing globe and see Aisha in trouble. Aisha and Tara are seen running hand and hand down a dark alley. Stopping dead when they see a pack of angry people, pitchforks and all, staring back at them. They turn back the other way but find the same thing. Through the crowd however, Bulk and Skull are seen breaking through.)
Aisha: Oh thank god. You guys, we really need your help...
(But they don't reply. Instead, Bulk shuts off his radio where there are calls for back up. Skull slowly pulls out his baton.)
Bulk: AFTER THEM.
Tara: Oh god. What do we do?!
(Reflexively, Aisha reaches for her morpher. An angry sigh comes out when she remembers it isn't there. Distressed by what she sees, Kimberly turns away.)
Kimberly: It's my fault she doesn't have her powers anymore. I pushed her away.
Billy: What do you mean?
Tommy: They got into a pretty nasty argument yesterday.
Kimberly: I was mad she didn't show up for my gymnastics tournament. She was madder because I forgot she was out of town.
(There's a brief silence in the room. Until Billy shrugs, and steps forward.)
Billy: Well I guess I'm no angel either. I could have been more supportive towards Adam. He's complained about you guys before, I kinda just told him to deal with it.
Zordon: ...
(Then, in a less confrontational way, Kim turns to Robbie.)
Kimberly: Robbie, why don't you tell us why Rocky is so mad at you?
Robbie: No idea.
(The others in the room groan.)
Kimberly: Really Robbie. Coming clean could mean the difference between in us being able to save Angel Grove. You may not care about Rocky, but you do care about this city.
Robbie: (Sighs) ...
Tommy: What is it?
Kimberly: Come on, no one is here to judge you. We just want what's best for the team.
Robbie: Okay... (Throws arms up) I'm kinda...
Billy: ...
Robbie: I'm kinda... involved... with Hannah.
Kimberly: You mean it's true?!
Tommy: That's disgusting!
Kimberly: Hilary and Lindsay were right?!
Billy: Appalling.
Tommy: Do you know where girls like her have been?
Robbie: (Shrugs) I know where she was last night.
Kimberly: Ew. And you're proud of that?
Tommy: He's got no shame, Kim. No shame.
Robbie: ALRIGHT ENOUGH.
(Robbie slams his fist on top of the control panel.)
Robbie: I am not here to have my life picked apart. Especially not by a bunch of hypocrites who just ran off their own friends. So we cut this out, and we cut this out now. Or in about thirty seconds, you'll be missing four rangers.
(Almost as loud as Zordon, the remaining teens pause for a second of reflection. Kimberly finally speaks up...)
Kimberly: You need to apologize to Rocky.
Robbie: For what?!
Kimberly: ...I don't know. But clearly he's taking this really hard.
Robbie: That's not my problem.
Kimberly: It is when you're both on the same team and he's supposed to trust you with his life.
(Robbie doesn't response for a second, though he's still resistant.)
Robbie: No...
Kimberly: Why not?
Robbie: I don't want to set a precedent.
Kimberly: Robbie...
Robbie: Fine. Then by that token, you should apologize to Aisha.
(She turns back to the viewing globe. And bites her lip)
Kimberly: If I can get to her in time.
Billy: I should talk to Adam too.
Tommy: Great. That sounds like a plan.
Kimberly: What plan?
Tommy: You guys can find the others and apologize. I mean we can hope for the best. Maybe they'll come back. Meanwhile, I'll try to hold off Penn as long as I can.
Zordon: While I am thankful that you appear to have put yourselves on the right path forward, that is a tall task to ask of you Tommy.
Tommy: Huh?
Zordon: Penn is no Pudgy Pig. He holds superior strength to any of Vile's other aides and most of Rita and Zedd's entire arsenal. He will also not hesitate to take the Falconzord down by any means. And he will crush you while you are down. He will not stall.
Tommy: What choice do we have? I can't just let him tear the city down completely unchallenged.
Kimberly: We will have to try. We have to at least try to make amends with the other rangers.
(Zordon considers the plan momentarily, then relents as there may not be another option.)
Zordon: Very well. Alpha, try to get in contact with Ninjor. He may be Tommy's only hope to buy the others some time.
Alpha: Right away, Zordon.
Tommy: Alright guys, wish me luck.
Billy: Good luck, Tommy.
Tommy: I'm counting on you guys to make these wrongs right. But if they won't come to terms, then I need you downtown with me. We'll have to make due.
Robbie: Right.
(Tommy turns to Kim.)
Tommy: Aisha's being hunted down right now by an angry mob. It might be best if you morphed for this one.
Kimberly: Right.
Tommy: Avoid attacking civilians as much as you can. Self-defense only.
Zordon: Good luck rangers, and may the power protect you.
Tommy: It's morphin time!
"Pink ranger power!"
YOU ARE READING
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Robbie Chronicles - Volume 3
FanfictionWith his closest allies gone post power transfer, Robbie adjusts to not only his new role on the team, but to the realization that he must now stand on his own.
