Disclaimer: the Power Rangers don't belong to me, they belong to Saban. Please don't sue the poor broke college student!:(
Author's Notes: this is the first of three fics that i wrote in my mythology class. Takes place sometime during that shaky period when Tommy had a limited amount of Green Morphing Energy. Any typos are the same as when I handed in the assignment.
"The striving for excellence in particular areas of human behavior, called aret� by the ancient Greeks, is an integral part of the Homeric hero's life." Tommy red as his eyes began to droop. "Strength, skill, and determination. . . . courage and moral responsibility . . .aret� in the form of intelligence, insight, or ingenuity is more common in the older hero." Tommy's head fell from it's perch on his hands. Frustrated he closed his book and was about to go to sleep when his communicator went off. He groaned and rolled his eyes before answering it. "I read you Zordon."
"PLEASE TELEPORT TO THE COMMAND CENTER" Zordon spoke through the communicator.
"Right away." With that, he pressed a button and disappeared in a flash of green light.
****
A beam of green light streaked across the night sky above Angel Grove, California and continued out into the desert cliffs outside the city until it reached a desert colored building protruding from a giant rock face. There the light entered and disappeared revealing a blurry-eyed Tommy staring up at his incorporeal mentor. "What's up Zordon?"
TOMMY, I NOTICED YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONCENTRATE ON YOUR WORK. I'M GOING TO HAVE ALPHA RUN SOME SCANS ON YOU. THIS MAY TAKE SOME TIME. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WISH TO DISCUSS?
"No Zordon, not unless you can help me with an essay I have to write for English class by tomorrow?" He responded rhetorically.
WHAT IS THE ESSAY ABOUT? Zordon asked, thinking the question was meant seriously.
Tommy started. He hadn't been expecting Zordon to ask him about it. After he got over his shock, he replied. "I'm supposed to tell how Achilles and Hector from Homer's Iliad both lived up to the aret� of ancient Greece."
I REMEMBER THAT TIME PERIOD QUITE WELL. THE ARETÉ WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE GREEKS OF THAT ERA.
Mildly surprised that Zordon could help him with his assignment, Tommy settled down on the diagnostic table on the far side of the large chamber. As Alpha ran tests on him, he listened to Zordon tell the story.
ACTUALLY, ACHILLES REMINDS ME OF YOU. Tommy blanched. He knew that Achilles was fated to die young. NO, NOT THE DYING YOUNG PART. Zordon said after seeing Tommy's reaction. I EXPECT YOU TO HAVE A LONG PRODUCTIVE LIFE AHEAD OF YOU. The Mentor paused a moment to collect his thoughts, then continued. WHAT I MEAN IS, ACHILLES WAS A VERY FIERCE WARRIOR AND NEVER BACKED DOWN FROM A CHALLENGE. HE DEFENDED HIS FRIENDS WITH HIS LIFE, AND AVENGED THEIR DEATH WITH ARDENT PASSION. THAT IS THE VERY SPIRIT OF THE ARETÉ FOR A YOUNG WARRIOR LIKE YOURSELF.
"Zordon? What about Hector? He wasn't like that. Why would they consider him to have aret� also?" Tommy asked confused.
TOMMY YOU MUST REMEMBER THAT THE ARETÉ WAS A WAY OF LIFE FOR THE ANCIENT GREEKS. IT IS MUCH LIKE THE CODE RANGERS MUST LIVE BY. IT ISN'T SO RIGID A CODE THAT THERE IS NO VARIETY TO THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IT. HECTOR WAS A SEASONED WARRIOR. HE DEVELOPED PATIENCE AND A QUICK WIT OVER USING HIS BRUTE STRENGTH ALONE
"Like the difference between you and me Zordon?" Tommy was beginning to think he was understanding what this aret� meant.
Zordon chuckled. YES TOMMY, THAT WOULD BE A CORRECT ANALOGY.
Alpha finished his scans and pressed a few buttons on the diagnostic table and a hypospray appeared in his hand. "Tommy your energy levels have been low lately but your powers are not draining. This will help you." with that, he gave Tommy the injection. Tommy winced a bit, expecting pain, but surprisingly felt none.
WELL TOMMY, I HOPE THIS TALK HELPED YOU WITH YOUR ESSAY.
Tommy looked up at his mentor and smiled. "Yes Zordon, I think it did. I'm sure Mr. Muray will give me an A when he reads it."
I'M GLAD I COULD BE OF ASSISTANCE. PLEASE GET SOME REST. SO THAT YOU CAN MAKE IT TO SCHOOL ON TIME TOMORROW.
"I will Zordon. Good night." Tommy teleported back to his room and quickly jotted down what Zordon had told him and went to sleep.