Letters to the Not-Forgotten
[Sealed in a small envelope, tucked deep in Billy's belongings, rests a letter. It was hastily scribbled shortly after Billy made his decision to found the new Ranger team, as a method to close the door on his past and look forward to the future.
Inscribed on this envelope in color-coordinated ink are the names of the addressees: Jason Lee Scott, Trini Kwan, Zack Taylor, Kimberly Hart, Tommy Oliver, Rocky DeSantos, Aisha Campbell, and Adam Park. If it were to ever be opened, it would read:]
To my fellow Rangers, teammates, and best friends,
If you ever awaken and find this letter, you're probably confused and worried about your situation. Just as I was---as we all were. You were alone, cold, and in a disturbingly unfamiliar situation. Then they told you that our world was gone. We wouldn't see Angel Grove or our friends there again. Not even Bulk and Skull---if you ever see them, though, you can share this letter with them.
You're probably wondering if I've lost my mind. Why would I recommend letting them know about our identities against Zordon's rule? The truth is...it's not a secret anymore. As you may have been told, some events in certain universes are so compelling that their power leaks into other universes and becomes a fictional legend through the hands of an author. That happened to us. To several others on the ship, the Power Rangers are childrens' television heroes. They've watched parts of our lives. It's flattering yet unsettling. I wonder how much they know about us.
Anyway, I should fill you in with a rough sequence of events of the past year or so:
I awakened alone, wondering what on earth had happened to me. I was told that we were trapped on this ship until further notice, and invited to join the Engineering department. I soon joined them and began developing weapons and defensive tools. Just where I belong, right?
Over time, we were attacked more and more often. We learned of our enemies: the Ohm, the destroyers of all our worlds. We were all refugees and the last hope the universes had left. All we could do was fight, learn from our mistakes, prepare, and fight again.
I made some wonderful friends along the way, some of them heroes like us from other eras and universes. I even developed a Power Ranger team of my own from Zordon's leftover technology when it became apparent that none of you were awakening any time soon. We're going to use your Zords and occasionally damage them, but they should be in great condition for your use. We'll always be careful to repair what we break.
But none of those Rangers are you. Every time another batch of crew members arrived, I scanned the crowd for your faces. Just one familiar smile would have confirmed for me that not all from our world had been lost. I kept waiting and waiting, but you never came. I slowly gave up.
And this is where I am today---saying farewell to you. Our mission here is becoming progressively more dangerous. I've never stopped fighting to become stronger, but several friends who were stronger than me have already died. So I'm beginning to fear that I will die during the mission, and if you awaken then you'll be left with no trace of me.
I don't know if you're still alive. I lose more and more hope of it by the day. If death comes, I may either be leaving you behind or joining you in death. But I hope it's the former, I truly do. With all of you there, we may stand an even better chance of surviving and winning the war.
Jason, Trini, Kimberly, Zack, Tommy, Rocky, Aisha, and Adam: you have all contributed more than you know to my life. I wouldn't still be hanging on and helping whoever I can without your memory as a guide. You helped me begin to go strong, and I've never forgotten that for a moment. Not ever.
If the Ranger team I established is still there when you read this, please help them. They're a wonderful group and they would be pleased to work with you. Together, you might finally make a difference in this war.
Good luck and may the Power protect you all, my dearest friends.
-Billy
P.S: If any of you stumble across this letter and I happen to still be alive and with you all, you may disregard most of the contents. I'll be there to let you know what portions of this are still true---and I'm sure by now that I've informed you repeatedly that I am overjoyed to see you again.
But this will always be true: You've helped me in more ways than I can begin to count, and I'll never forget you.
Inscribed on this envelope in color-coordinated ink are the names of the addressees: Jason Lee Scott, Trini Kwan, Zack Taylor, Kimberly Hart, Tommy Oliver, Rocky DeSantos, Aisha Campbell, and Adam Park. If it were to ever be opened, it would read:]
To my fellow Rangers, teammates, and best friends,
If you ever awaken and find this letter, you're probably confused and worried about your situation. Just as I was---as we all were. You were alone, cold, and in a disturbingly unfamiliar situation. Then they told you that our world was gone. We wouldn't see Angel Grove or our friends there again. Not even Bulk and Skull---if you ever see them, though, you can share this letter with them.
You're probably wondering if I've lost my mind. Why would I recommend letting them know about our identities against Zordon's rule? The truth is...it's not a secret anymore. As you may have been told, some events in certain universes are so compelling that their power leaks into other universes and becomes a fictional legend through the hands of an author. That happened to us. To several others on the ship, the Power Rangers are childrens' television heroes. They've watched parts of our lives. It's flattering yet unsettling. I wonder how much they know about us.
Anyway, I should fill you in with a rough sequence of events of the past year or so:
I awakened alone, wondering what on earth had happened to me. I was told that we were trapped on this ship until further notice, and invited to join the Engineering department. I soon joined them and began developing weapons and defensive tools. Just where I belong, right?
Over time, we were attacked more and more often. We learned of our enemies: the Ohm, the destroyers of all our worlds. We were all refugees and the last hope the universes had left. All we could do was fight, learn from our mistakes, prepare, and fight again.
I made some wonderful friends along the way, some of them heroes like us from other eras and universes. I even developed a Power Ranger team of my own from Zordon's leftover technology when it became apparent that none of you were awakening any time soon. We're going to use your Zords and occasionally damage them, but they should be in great condition for your use. We'll always be careful to repair what we break.
But none of those Rangers are you. Every time another batch of crew members arrived, I scanned the crowd for your faces. Just one familiar smile would have confirmed for me that not all from our world had been lost. I kept waiting and waiting, but you never came. I slowly gave up.
And this is where I am today---saying farewell to you. Our mission here is becoming progressively more dangerous. I've never stopped fighting to become stronger, but several friends who were stronger than me have already died. So I'm beginning to fear that I will die during the mission, and if you awaken then you'll be left with no trace of me.
I don't know if you're still alive. I lose more and more hope of it by the day. If death comes, I may either be leaving you behind or joining you in death. But I hope it's the former, I truly do. With all of you there, we may stand an even better chance of surviving and winning the war.
Jason, Trini, Kimberly, Zack, Tommy, Rocky, Aisha, and Adam: you have all contributed more than you know to my life. I wouldn't still be hanging on and helping whoever I can without your memory as a guide. You helped me begin to go strong, and I've never forgotten that for a moment. Not ever.
If the Ranger team I established is still there when you read this, please help them. They're a wonderful group and they would be pleased to work with you. Together, you might finally make a difference in this war.
Good luck and may the Power protect you all, my dearest friends.
-Billy
P.S: If any of you stumble across this letter and I happen to still be alive and with you all, you may disregard most of the contents. I'll be there to let you know what portions of this are still true---and I'm sure by now that I've informed you repeatedly that I am overjoyed to see you again.
But this will always be true: You've helped me in more ways than I can begin to count, and I'll never forget you.