Disclaimer: Saban owns all characters except Jan, who belongs
to me. Please don't use her without my permission. This is my first fan-fic,
so feedback would be much appreciated. And now, on with the show.
He whipped around furiously, leg in the air, as if about to knock an opponent
into the netherworld. He then dropped down into the grass, exhausted. He
was hurting so bad. And he was so ANGRY! He just couldn't understand that
one. He was happy for Kim, he really was. He wanted her to happy. And if
that was with another man, so be it. It wasn't her fault he wasn't a good
enough boyfriend.
Tommy decided that he'd had enough practice for today, and headed for home.
And unbeknownst to him, a pair of eyes were watching him.
"Soon," said the voice attached to those probing eyes. "Soon,
you will be mine, Tommy Oliver. Mind, body and soul."
The next day, Tommy was at the youth center, working out on the weight
machines. Sweat soaked his muscle shirt, not unexpectedly, since he'd been
at it for over an hour and a half.
"Hey, Tommy!" Rocky yelled as they entered the youth center.
"How ya doing? Mind if I join ya?" He then plopped himself down
on the machine next to Tommy. Tommy raised an eyebrow at him. He then asked
Adam, "How much Jolt has he had today?"
"About five cans. He has been wired for hours."
"Hey!" Rocky protested. "I'm a growing boy!"
"Growing boys need nutrients, Rocky, not the endless sugar supply
you've been having lately." Tommy voice was curt, and extremely out
of character. The two gave him a funny look, not quite sure what was wrong,
but figured that he needed some slack, with that thing with Kim and all.
"Look, I really have to get going. See you later."
"Ya, later." Rocky and Adam looked at each other, very confused.
"Maybe he exercised too much" Rocky suggested.
* * * *
A woman was standing over a looking glass, as she watched Tommy leave the
Youth Center. She smiled as he headed for the Park. Things were going nicely.
Soon, he would be under her control. And then, she would be strong again.
Tommy was walking through Angel Grove Park. He didn't understand it. He
had been mean to Rocky. Sure, he was being annoying, but Rocky was always
annoying. It just was not like him to be so short-tempered. And since Tommy
wasn't looking where he was going, he ran smack into a girl who had been
jogging down the path. The impact made both of them kind of dizzy.
As he looked at the girl, he couldn't help but stare. She was gorgeous.
She was tall, although he couldn't tell how tall since she was lying on
the ground. She had long silky blonde hair that reached the middle of her
back, and emerald green eyes. The girl looked up at him with an amused
expression.
"Are you just going to stare at me, or are you going to help me up?"
"Oh, I'm so sorry. Here, let me help you." Tommy helped the girl
to her feet, and then started to apologize again when he saw that her knees
were all scraped up. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going."
"Don't worry about it. Neither was I. It was an accident." The
girl was about to continue her jog, when she paused, turned then said,
"My name's Jan Milford. Pleased to meet you."
"Tommy Oliver."
"Well, Tommy Oliver, you sure can sweep a girl off her feet."
A wide grin spread on her face. Tommy couldn't help a laugh at that, since
it was obviously in such good humor.
"Look, you really should get those cuts cleaned. You don't want them
to get infected."
"Right," she said with a smile, "And now you're my doctor,
too?"
"I just want to make up for knocking into you."
"Alright, if you want to make it up to me, why don't we have lunch
together?"
"Oh, I really couldn't."
"Why not? You involved with someone?"
"No, but..."
"You can't stand the sight of me?"
"No, but..."
"Look, if you're not involved, then what's the problem. Besides, you
said it yourself, you owe me."
"Oh, alright."
"Great. How about tomorrow? We can meet at the juice bar around noon?"
"Sounds good to me."
"Great, see you tomorrow, Tommy." With a wave, Jan jogged off.
Tommy shook his head, trying to figure out what had just happened, but
decided that it wasn't worth the effort. He then walked home. And those
eyes were still watching him.
* * * * *
The next day, Tommy walked into the Youth Center at twelve forty. Jan waved
at him from a table.
"And here I thought you weren't going to show." She teased him.
"But then I asked the guy behind the bar, and he told me you have
a habit of this sort of thing."
"Sorry. I kind of lost track of time."
"It seems every time we meet, you have something you have to apologize
for. Now, there's a bad habit. You can stop apologizing. I don't mind."
She grinned. "Now, can we get some food. I'm starved. And you're buying."
"Yes, ma'am." He saluted her mockingly.
They went over to the snack bar, and ordered their food.
A few hours later, the rest of the gang walked in.
"Hey, there's Tommy." Said Kat. "And who's that with him."
They watched the two who were sitting together, laughing and joking.
"Beats me. Never seen her before." Replied Adam.
"She is gorgeous!"
"Rocky!" Tanya and Kat rolled their eyes and swatted at him.
"Is that all you ever see?" Tanya asked.
"And food." The others groaned at this.
"Come on. Let's go meet Tommy's new friend." They walked over
to Tommy's table, and when Tommy saw them, his expression changed, and
it appeared almost hostile.
"Hey, guys."
"Hey, Tommy. Who's your friend." Rocky was practically panting.
"Down, boy." Jan said, laughing. "My name's Jan. And you
are?"
"Rocky."
"Tanya."
"Kat."
"Adam."
"Well, I'm pleased to meet you all. You're friends of Tommy's?"
"Yes. Good friends."
"Well, it was nice to meet you all, but I really have to run. Because
YOU were late," she punched Tommy lightly in the shoulder, "now
I'm running late. I'll see you around, Tommy. Maybe in school tomorrow?"
"Sure, see ya." Tommy gave her a grin as she left. His smile
vanished when he looked back at his friends. "Thanks, guys, thanks
a lot." His tone was surly, and he was quite mean about it.
"Hey, what did we do?" Rocky protested.
"What did you do?" he said in a very quiet, very angry voice.
"You scared her off. We were doing fine till you came along. And you
had to practically drool on her, didn't you? A fine friend you are."
With that, Tommy stormed out of the Youth Center.
"OK, that was beyond weird. Isn't Tommy usually the one with the very
calm temperament, who never loses his cool?" asked Tanya.
"Ya, he is. Something's wrong. Really wrong. He would never act like
this normally. We should go talk to Zordon."
"I don't know, Adam. I mean, he's been under a lot of stress lately.
Maybe all he needs is a little breathing room."
"Alright, we'll wait before we talk to Zordon. But if he continues
this behavior, we go talk to Zordon."
The others then scattered to the various activities they had wanted or
needed to do. And those mysterious eyes were watching them, breathing a
sigh of relief as her control worked, and they hadn't brought the floating
head into it, yet. But, she knew that they would eventually. She didn't
have much time. She would have to work quickly to get what she needed.
* * * *
Tommy had headed home straight from the Youth Center, and was now in his
bedroom, sprawled on his bed. His thoughts were on Jan, and his so-called
friends. They were acting really weird. But Jan, now she was a real friend.
She was patient and kind and wise and beautiful. She was the greatest.
They had talked for hours at the Youth Center. She always had just the
right thing to say to cheer him up. He had told her about Kimberly, how
she had hurt him, and Jan had been there, helping him cope, bringing him
out of his blue funk. He had felt he could talk to her about anything.
Well, except the Rangers, but that was a different story. He had even told
her about how he had grown up in the streets of L.A. He rarely talked about
his childhood. But, with Jan, he felt he could. Suddenly, he realized that
he had dominated their conversation. He had only got a bit out of Jan,
like how she grew up in England, and her parents died when she was little.
But, he could always learn more about her next time he saw her. He felt
for the first time that he had found a friend who could understand him,
and who cared. It was a feeling he rarely felt. Then, he felt his eyes
grow heavy, and he fell into a deep sleep.
Tommy found himself in a weird place. It was a barren landscape, made
of smooth rock. There wasn't any vegetation anywhere, yet he was outside.
And the mist, it kept disorienting him.
"Hello?" he called out. "Anybody here?"
"The only people in here are those you invite in, Tommy."
"Jan, is that you? Where are you?"
"I'm right here."
Tommy whirled around to find Jan standing behind him, a serene expression
on her face.
"Where are we?"
"We are in your mind, Tommy. This is the Dreamscape."
"Dreamscape?"
"The place that people go to dream. Except, usually, you don't realize
you're here." She waved her hand, and then they were in the Youth
Center. "The Dreamscape is never what it appears."
"But, why are you telling me this? I'm so confused!"
"The Dreamscape is not for the weak-minded. Few can survive its challenges.
But you are strong, Tommy. You will endure. As you always have. Here,"
she twirled around in a circle, "you never have to be afraid. You
have solved the secret of the Dreamscape. It is now your refuge."
"But, how do I control it?"
"I will teach you. And if you ever need help, simply come here and
call my name, and I will come."
Jan then turned and walked away.
"Jan, don't leave me alone, I'm scared."
"You are never alone, Tommy. I'm always with you here. And, soon,
the Dreamscape will be yours to command, and you will never be scared again."
The scenery changed, and they were again in the barren landscape they had
been in before. Jan then walked into the mist and disappeared.
"You're never alone, Tommy. I will always be with you."
Tommy sat up with a start. He put a hand to his head, closed his eyes.
Man, he thought, what a dream. He then looked at his alarm clock.
"What? Morning already? I must have slept for over 13 hours straight."
Tommy took his time this morning to get to school.
Later, the gang all went by Tommy's locker, and saw Tommy talking to Jan
animatedly. But, when he saw the others, his features locked up, and he
said something to Jan, and headed in the opposite direction. The others
couldn't quite believe this. He was giving them the cold shoulder.
"Alright, that's it. I'm talking to Zordon at lunch. If we aren't
a team, the Power Rangers aren't going to be able to win." Adam said
this quietly, so only the others could hear. They then split up to go to
their separate classes. Kat was surprised when Tommy didn't show up for
their first period class.
* * * * *
Meanwhile, Tommy had left the school grounds. He was angry. Angry at his
friends for deserting him. Angry at Kim. Angry at the whole world. He wanted
to lash out. His friends, the best friends he'd ever had, didn't want anything
more to do with him. He sat down next to a tree and cradled his head in
his hands. He went from furious to despondent and back again. Suddenly,
he felt a hand on his shoulder. He grabbed it, and sent the person over
his shoulder to lay prone on the ground in front of him. Then he realized
it was Jan. The only friend he had left.
"Oh, Jan, I'm so sorry."
"There you go again. Don't worry about it. Now, what's wrong. I saw
you leave the school grounds. And, by the way," a teasing smile on
her lips, "you dropped your lunch." She held it up enticingly.
Tommy grabbed it, and then said, "It's my friends. They don't want
to be around me anymore. No one does. I'm alone."
"You're not alone, Tommy. I'm here. I'll be with you. Always. Just
say the words."
"I don't want to be alone."
"I know, Tommy. No one wants to be alone." But while Jan said
this, inside she was glowing. It was working all too well. Tommy had seen
and heard only what she had wanted, resulting in him pushing his friends
and family away, yet thinking that they had been the ones who had pushed
him away. Soon, he would be under her complete control. And they would
be together, forever.
"Promise me, Jan. Promise you'll always be with me. That you'll never
leave me alone."
"I promise, Tommy. But you have to promise to stand by me forever,
as well."
"I promise, Jan. I'll be with you, forever." She had him. No
matter what happened now, she would always have a way to get to him. She
held Tommy in her arms as he cried into her shoulder. You're mine, she
thought.
Meanwhile, back at school, it was lunchtime, and no one had seen Tommy
in the longest time. They teleported to the Power Chamber.
"Zordon, I think something's wrong with Tommy. He's been acting really
strange lately. Completely out of character. And we haven't seen Tommy
at school since before first period."
"Alpha, bring Tommy up out the viewing globe." They did,
and saw him with Jan.
"This is most distressing, Rangers. The woman you see with Tommy
is a psychic vampire."
"But that's Jan!" Rocky protested.
"She has obviously set her sights on Tommy. Her kind confuse and
disorient their prey, making them believe they are completely alone, that
they are their only friend. After they ask that they can stay with the
vampire, for always, the vampire has access to that person's soul. And,
soon, there is nothing left but a husk of a person, that eats and breathes,
but who isn't truly alive. Catatonic."
"So, we have to stop Jan."
"I'm afraid it's not that easy, Rangers. Tommy has already taken
the step needed. Jan already has access to his soul, and only Tommy can
truly stop her now. You must go to him, try to make him understand what
is going on. But Jan will try to deceive him and won't let him go easily.
Her illusions are strong. She may try to alter what you see and believe.
Be careful. And you must do it quickly. If you haven't convinced him by
sunset, Jan will drain his essence dry."
"Let's go."
* * * * *
They teleported to the park, where Jan was still holding Tommy.
"Tommy!" Kat yelled. Tommy jumped up.
"What do you want?" he sneered.
"Tommy, we're here to help you."
"Help me. Why would I want your help? You deserted me!"
"No, Tommy, we didn't. We want to help. You're not alone. We're always
here for you." Rocky said.
"Jan is tricking you, Tommy. She's trying to pull you away from the
people who love you. Don't let her." Kat's eyes were pleading as she
said this.
"How can she trick me? Jan has shown me the truth, that none of you
are my friends. You all just lie to me." He then dropped into a battle
stance.
The others began to feel confused, and Rocky also dropped into a fighting
stance, but Adam pulled him out of it. Tanya appeared to be least affected,
as she yelled, "Tommy, Jan is a psychic vampire. She preys on the
lonely, exploiting their weaknesses; altering events in a person's mind
when it suits her purpose. We didn't push you away; she tried to make you
push us away, so that you would be under her power. When the sun goes down,
you'll be her victim." Her words seemed to sink in some, as Tommy
looked confused, and dropped to a seated position in the grass. Jan came
over and put her arms around him.
"Now, don't believe all these lies they're spouting. You know whom
you belong with. You belong with me. We were meant to be together."
"So, it's true. You are a vampire."
"Vampire is such a nasty word. I just think of it as a need, something
I have to do, just like you have to eat and breathe. I don't want to hurt
you Tommy, I just want us to be together." She then leaned forward
and placed her lips on his. Kat looked at the two with desperate eyes,
and looked as if she wanted to tear the two apart, but Tanya held her back.
Finally, Tommy pulled away and looked up at her with fathomless eyes and
said, "I'm not under your power anymore, JAN." he said her name
mockingly. He stood up and moved away from Jan, but always watching her,
until he stood with his friends. Jan then stood up sinuously, like a cat.
"These are my friends, my only true friends. Not you. So just stay
the hell away from me, got it?"
Jan got very angry at Tommy for this, but then a serene expression came
over her face.
"Well, it seems that your willpower is stronger than I thought, Tommy.
You saw through my illusions. Brava!" she clapped her hands together.
You could see the predator now, stalking her prey. Tommy was in a battle
stance, ready to defend himself.
"Oh, no need for that, Tommy. I'm not going to attack you. That's
not my way. You've won this battle, but we have just started the war. We
exchanged promises, Tommy. To be with each other always. And I will. Just
not quite yet. We shall see each other again, Tommy. Soon. Very Soon. See
you in your dreams." With that, Jan blew him a kiss, and walked off.
Tommy's eyes widened when he realized what she meant. He then collapsed
to the grass. As the others tried to go after her, they realized that they
couldn't see her anymore. She was gone.
"She's right, guys. This is far from over. She'll be back." And
as he said this, despair came into his eyes. How could he fight the only
person who truly understood him?
The End ? ? ?
