A Legend lost to Time (Open)

[Dr. Tommy Oliver]

Characters Appearing: Tommy Oliver, Open
Location (s): Petrified Forest, Obsidian Shades
Previous Thread Name.: N/A
Plot Summary.: Another victim of the portals arrive, and is pretty sure he’s not in Angel Grove anymore…

[Dr. Tommy Oliver]

A bright green and blue portal opened in the middle of the Petrified Forest, a familiar sight by now on Median.

From the colorful vortex spewed a green and gold clad individual, a male voice grunting as he went tumbling several feet from the force of the portal’s opening which vanished before the individual could recover. When he finally did stop, it took a few minutes before he could find his bearings. The world spun around him, vertigo overtaking his entire body for a short while before he could be bothered to open his eyes. The rough arrival had been…well, a rough one to say the least. He had yet to go through a dimensional jump quote like that. It had been different somehow, a different feeling having taken over as he went to jump dimensions after the various villains in the Legacy Wars.

“This definitely isn’t Angel Grove anymore.” Tommy scanned his surroundings, slowly taking in the unfamiliar scenery. In fact, it didn’t appear to be any place he was remotely familiar with.

He might as well have been in a fossilized wasteland from the looks of it. Even the sky reflecting a very gloomy landscape, heavy smoke from a massive volcano nearby blocking out any signs of a sky or the sun. On top of that, any attempts to remotely use his communicator were met with unsettling sounds of static and white noise. Where in the universe had he ended up? Why couldn’t he seem to contact his friends and allies? And why did he get this old dreaded feeling something wasn’t right? Tommy hated such gut feelings. It always meant his instincts were kicking in, that something bad was about to happen or some sort of bad news would soon hit. And he had yet to find that gut instinct to be wrong. But, it did him no good laying there on his side just pondering, he had to start moving and getting some sense of what had happened. If there was even another living soul there anyway…

“Won’t get anywhere sitting on your butt Tommy.” He told himself, grunting as he rolled to his knees and pushed himself up slowly to allow his body to fully adjust from the effects of the portal. “Now just to hope I’m not trapped here without some other living soul to know something about this place.”

[Kaine Parker]

Running from your troubles. Kaine hadn’t done that in a long time, not since he had seen the Jackal as he tried to recover his prize. But Kaine had kept, true to his word, to Cindi, and Otto, that he’d be back in a couple of days. The spider found himself in an unfamiliar area as there were trees, but they all looked like they were dead long ago and had suffered. Now hallow shells of themselves. Rotted away for years, and now nothing left but husks of their former selves. Kaine was wearing his red Scarlet Spider suit, jumping from tree to tree. Or what was left of them. It was starting to get very hot. Kaine knew if he didn't stop and rest soon he was going to overheat.

“Stupid Web Warriors. Stupid plan, stupid fights, and stupid everything. If anything, I should know I’m not a leader material. Yet everyone keeps believing it’s my ‘destiny’ to lead. Otto made it sound so simple, but it’s not.” He muttered under his breath as he kicked a piece of rock as it went flying. If anything, he was mad at himself. Not at his new found team mates. “Stupid getting lost too. Where the heck am I?” He added as he had been trying to go to Median City, but Kaine felt like he had been going in the wrong direction some time ago. Kaine couldn’t exactly stop and ask for directions. Kaine also had a pretty good reason for not wanting to lead the web warriors. He was afraid like last time when he was with Peter something awful happened before he got sucked into the portal into New York City… The spider heroes were almost killed! Though it wouldn’t have been on his hands, that would’ve been Peter’s alone. Kaine didn’t want that on his conscious. Not his responsibility.

The rock made a clack in the petrified forest as he looked around wondering where he was now. He was hungry, tired, and pretty sure he wasn’t going to be back at one of the beacons any time soon. Soon, things changed as he saw a large portal open up. He saw the green flash in the sky, his spidey sense. Tingling softly in his mind acting like a compass. He had no choice but to investigate.

Kaine climbed his way through the petrified forest, and soon. He found the rocky cliff side as he climbed his way forward. It was a lot hotter. “A new arrival from the looks of it,” Kaine said. The spider was trying to determine if this person was good or bad. Probably, wouldn’t hurt to be cautious.

Kaine quickly determined it was a human, of course, but had no idea if he had powers or not. That was going to be discovered sooner or later. He was used to that. “So, you’re not around here either? I’m lost as well. Long story.” Kaine said as he jumped off one of the last few trees in the area as he landed on his feet in the ground and remained in the squatting position. “I don’t know about you, but I’d turn around. I heard rumors that the Greek god lives here,” Kaine said. Kaine didn't want to tempt even with a god. For example, Thor wouldn’t be the one to mess with it. Though Kaine couldn’t help but wonder why Hades rested here. Perhaps it was worth checking out… Or just plain dangerous due to the heat and sulfur that could kill you at any second.

As Kaine watched the temporary sleeping volcano magma would rise and fall in the crater. When it dawned on him he hadn't found a purpose... Perhaps he might find it here he had struggled all his life thinking killing was the answer. However, that wasn't the case, was it?

[Dr. Tommy Oliver]

Before Kaine had arrived, Tommy was able to force himself to get back on his feet. And to say the least, he was quite grateful for his suit that helped in regulating against the elements. The outside temperature picked up to unsafe levels, barely tolerable for a normal human like himself if he was depowered at the time. So, he was definitely lucky he still had enough energy to maintain his morphed state for the time being.

With little land marks to go off of, Tommy would have to get a little creative with his skills. Inwardly, Tommy activated his internal systems to scan for signs of life, any intelligent life in fact. Slowly moving his head back and forth, his scanners moved up and down along the visor screen, giving a gradual 3-dimensional outline of the area, giving thermal and live scans that brought back sulfur, magma, molten rock, smaller signs of creatures that were definitely…alien. Though useful readings, they didn’t really give much to knowing if he was alone or not, until his readings picked up new found movement further above some cliff sides, causing Tommy to raise a brow slightly. Well, that came out of no where.

Turning curiously in the direction of the cliffs, a flash of red and black caught his eye right away. Though Kaine would have almost blended right in, his movements as well as the whites of his mask made him stand out a fair bit against the harsh landscape. Well, that would do for signs of life. Seemingly without fear or concern, the spider hero approached the ranger causing Tommy to become a little on guard, eyeing the man as he got closer and resting a hand on the hilt of his dagger. “I’d say lost is putting it mildly. More like I took a wrong turn while jumping dimensions.” Tommy commented humorlessly, making Kaine more aware of his situation. He really wouldn’t call it lost so much as just…utterly stranded at this point. Even his dimensional communicator seemed unable to penetrate the dimension he had found himself in, interference coming from some outside source he could not seem to triangulate where they were now. Maybe in time he could figure out how to amplify the signal and get through to his teammates and friends. Much emphasis on the maybe…For now, he would have to settle on what help he could get.

“Maybe you can enlighten me to exactly what here is? I just got here, so I’m not exactly acquainted with exactly what “here” is.” Tommy pointed out. But it was intriguing that Kaine would mention a Greek god. There were mythical gods here now? Well, that changed the game a little. “I’m sure he won’t bother if we don’t go further towards his domain.” The green ranger pointed out, casting his gaze towards the volcano. It seemed the only logical location for a god.

[Kaine Parker]

“You’re not the first to make a wrong turn or the last,” Kaine explained as he looked over towards Tommy with a curious look. Or a little bit cautious at the same time. He knew there were strangers. And due to his past, he had every right to be cautious. Kaine knew he didn’t want to hurt anyone, or he may cause an enemy or a misunderstanding. However, he figured it was probably ok to answer his questions. “This is a place called Median. I’ve been stuck here for months. However, I am doubtful we’ll be able to go home anytime soon.” Kaine admitted knowing he and Otto hadn’t found a way back. He hated to be the bearer of bad news, but that was just how it was. The portals didn’t seem to discriminate against anyone, for that matter. It appeared that it was at random. It almost seemed like the portals, and they didn’t care who came through or not. Or if you had unfinished business or not. It was all a mystery.

Kaine looked over towards the volcano as it boiled and rumbled. It looked like it was going to erupt any day. However, that was its familiar spot. It wasn’t going to do that likely for some time. Kaine wasn’t an expert on volcanos. But he knew if you stuck around one, you might as well be boiled alive. Kaine knew that volcanos were forces of nature. He recalled reading about them in some books that the Jackal had given to him. He had read about a lot of things, but this was his first.

Kaine had also heard stories about volcanos or even how Icarus had flown too close to the sun. Kaine knew better than to mess with fire or anything hot. He had suffered enough in life not wanting to mess with a volcano. He knew he had to get back to his own objective of going through the maze of the petrified forest. That was the first goal. And that may take days.

“The name is Scarlet Spider, or most people call me Kaine. I can lead you back to the Petrified Forest, but even that is a maze.” Kaine admitted. “Even I know better than to mess with a god.” He added knowing that was something he wasn’t going to toy with or even think about. Kaine wouldn’t scoop down to such a low level like that. The idea was incomprehensible, so bad… He knew it was almost like making a deal with a devil.

“So where did you come from? You look human… If you want, you can come. I am certainly not sticking around here.” Kaine asked. The spider hero knew it was probably ok to ask. “Let’s go,” Kaine said suddenly. The spider hero knew that they had to head south the way they had come out of here in the first place and not tempt a god and even cause trouble by loitering. It was true Kaine missed his home. But now, he had managed to form a new home at the space station. It would be some time before he found a beacon to send him back. And that was going to be difficult just getting out of the petrified forest. The closest city was probably miles away from here. Kaine knew that it would take them a while to get there. Their first objective was to go through the forest.

[Dr. Tommy Oliver]

A place called Median. And there were others who had ended up trapped here against their will. At one point, Tommy would have been in total disbelief at such claims, probably would have called Kaine insane even. But, he had been a man who lived a long life into the unknown and strange, faced space witches, monsters, and those claiming to be gods. A darker version of himself who claimed to have attained the potential for godhood. Experiences he would seem to be putting to good use now.

“So, it’s almost like a central nexus of dimensions. No wonder I ended up here.” Tommy surmised, mostly to himself. He wasn’t exactly sure what to make of all this. Had his dimensional teleporter picked up on the pathways to this Median, or had it been coincidence he had been diverted? The researcher and scientist in him wanted to know, but right now he would have to wait.

Tommy could help the amused chuckle at Kaine’s guessing, even though this was far from an amusing situation. “Trust me, I’m about as human as you can possibly get. The suit is basically what gives me the power to do what I can do, so don’t concern yourself too much with the having a super powered friend.” Tommy assured Kaine, confirming that beneath the suit he was just a man. Though some would consider him a legend where he came from, the longest living and strongest Power Ranger, the one who could probably still teach generations to come. “But, it’s a pleasure to meet you Kaine, the names Tommy Oliver, Green Dragon Ranger of the Power Rangers.” Tommy introduced, figuring he might as well extend the same courtesy to the spider hero. They may be suspicious of each other for now, but Kaine was his best bet to understand his situation especially if he had been here for months as he claimed.

So, he was taking a chance on this one and hope his gamble paid off.

With a final glance at the volcano, Tommy turned from the path he had been walking through the Petrified Forest and began to follow Kaine. “Well, if we keep to ourselves and try not to draw attention, I think we should be fine when it comes to a god.” Tommy commented in regards to worrying about any, whoever that god may be. “As for where I came from, I technically came from a town called Reefside, California. I was living there with my fiancé and our son, but got dragged back into an inter-dimensional fight regarding the legacy of the Power Rangers, the group I’m part of. Somehow, I got here from a dimensional jump.”

[Kaine Parker]

That first part confused the spider. Central what? Nexus? Those sounded like big words that Otto would use. At least, it reminded him of the doctor. He hadn’t seen Otto in some time and felt bad for ditching him. Kaine had been trying to find himself for the past few weeks and lately, he hadn’t been too successful. That doubt and the uncertainty about himself and his future were still there. He looked back at the doctor. “A central what? You’re starting to sound like my friend using too many scientific words.” Kaine said wishing he had Peter’s smartness at times. Kaine wished he had a lot of things that the clone had. But that latter part that the doctor had said made no sense to him whatsoever. The heat of the petrified forest was enough alone to keep you on your toes. Kaine had no idea how to get out of there, but they’d figure it out eventually.

“I see it is nice to meet you, Tommy. You’re the second doctor to run into on this planet,” Kaine said. “As much as the next guy, I’d like to go home. However, I doubt that’ll happen any time soon,” Kaine admitted as he knew that, was probably the last thing on their minds. Kaine wanted to go home. The desire was there. The spider raised an eyebrow. Behind the mask, his voice was a bit puzzled. He didn't understand it. “Come again? Power ranger? Never heard of those either.” He admitted wondering if it was another superpower as they thought it was something along those times.

“California? There is one of those in my dimension usually. It is brought up by the west coast heroes… A long story as the Avengers team split up into two places. But I know I heard them on the news on occasions. There's lots of heroes from New York too, that is where I'm from.” Kaine admitted. “I’m sorry you got dumped in this dimension, as did I… Most of us against our will,” Kaine explained.

“I’m doubtful we’ll find anything in this petrified forest, it seems to go on and on as if something or someone killed these trees suddenly, and they have been like this for some time,” Kaine admitted. The spider rubbed the back of his head. “It’s our best bet to probably get moving and find a way out of this place.” He admitted looking up at the sun. Judging by the distance of it, they probably had about 3 to 4 hours until it was dusk which would mean they would have to find shelter. Or worse, worry about the creatures that might live here. The spider glanced over seeing the volcano as it was rumbling silently it appeared to be in a state of sleep and was doubtful that it would erupt soon. Compared to the gas, heat, and smell the petrified forest was a cake walk compared to the awful volcano. Kaine sighed as he decided to tell the doctor while he was there. It probably didn't hurt. “To be honest, I’ve been looking for myself. I was wandering in the forest and then somehow took a wrong turn… That was when I noticed that these trees were suddenly dying and soon turned to this petrified state. It was a bit of a concern yet, at the same time, there’s probably nothing we can do but get out,” Kaine admitted knowing it was harsh, but it was the truth.