Ch. 1 In the Pink

Reefside the home of Tommy Oliver and Katherine Hillard-

Tommy was sitting at his desk grading papers for his class when Kat walked over to him. She was wearing the sexiest pink dress you ever saw, at least that's what Tommy thought when he looked at her. His jaw dropped as he looked at her, then he smiled.

"When are you going to ready hun?" Kat asked.

A look of confusion ran across Tommy's face for a second. "Oh no! I am so sorry Kat I've so consumed with grading these papers; I forgot we were supposed to go out tonight."

Kat looked at him with a scorn, one that seemed to pierce the armor of the strongest metal.

"Thomas! If its not one thing, its another! I thought it was going to change now that you lost your Black ranger powers. I'm sorry Tommy; I couldn't take it last time and I won't tolerate it now!" Kat storms out of the study with Tommy following after her.

"Kat! It has changed. It's over now; I am no longer a power ranger you know that. It's just that I'm behind in work this week. I promise this weekend we'll go out. I am not going to let you walk out my life again. Powers or not I love you Kat"

"I know you do. Sometimes though, I would just like to hear it more. I know you had to stop Mesogog, but I left the power ranger life a long time ago. You need to move on as well Tommy. There are other rangers to handle things now."

"I know Kat. I have moved on. That's why I asked you to move in with me. I want to prove to you that I have changed. I just need to get these papers graded. This weekend I promise."

"You'd better sweep me off my feet this weekend Thomas Oliver. You've already gotten too many chances from me. I'm going upstairs to take a shower and change. Don't even think you can join me you're sleeping down here tonight."

Tommy frowns as Kat walks upstairs accentuating everything that Tommy will miss tonight as he slumbers on the couch. He turns back to his work sits down in his leather chair, which doesn't feel as comfortable as it usually does.

A black IBM Laptop sits by the stack of papers that he begins to grade. A slight ding sounds from the computer and an IM pops up. He recognizes the screen name. The message asks: "Are we still on tomorrow for lunch?"

Tommy smiles. He glances up the stairs and hears the shower turn on. He looks back at the screen and types in: "Yeah Bulk's place at 1:00pm. I'll be there"

"Great! See you there! Ttyl." The user signs off and Tommy turns back to his work.

He looks at a paper and marks it with a red marker. He shakes his head. It was a paper on the Pterodactyl but the student had spelled Pterodactyl without the "P."

Tomorrow comes and its lunch time. Tommy makes his way to Bulkmeir's waterfront Café.

He sees the bartender behind the bar. "Hey Bulk can you get me a glass of chardonnay and a glass of zinfandel."

"Drinking on the job? Not a very good influence on the kids there Tommy."

"No I took the day off. I suppose to meet somebody here. Have you seen her yet?"

"Ohh yeah. It was good to see her again. I put her at our best table. Outside on the patio."

"Thanks" Tommy says as he grabs the glasses and looks outside to see his lunch companion staring at him and smiling. He smiles back and walks over and sits down.

"Hey Kim" He hugs her and kisses her on the cheek. "It's good to see you."

"Hey yourself. This is becoming a regular occurrence. I never thought you'd agree to a yearly lunch after my Dear John Letter."

"You're not that easy to forget Kim. I am sure you know that."

"Yeah I do. How is Kat?"

"As feisty as ever. I got scratched the yesterday. I forgot I promised her we would go to dinner." He says showing her his face. It's not actually scared but she touches it anyway.

"Awww. Poor baby."

The waiter comes by. Tommy orders a Turkey sandwich on Rye and Kim orders a Caesar salad.

"So how are things with your fiancé there? What was his name? Mark something?"

"Was being the key word there, We called or well I called the wedding off about 3 months ago."

"What happened?"

"I don't think I ever truly loved him."

"Guess you're not the only one who's hard to forget."

She smiles and looks up as the waiter has brought their food. For about 2 to 3 hours they sit and talk. They both let out the occasional laugh and glance at each other lovingly making sure the other one doesn't notice the glance.

The waiter took away their plates but when he turned he knocked Kimberly's wine glass over and the wine poured out on to her elegant pink dress. Tommy jumps up and grabs a napkin he catches some of the liquid on the table and dabs some off of her. This time there was no avoiding it, their eyes met. Tommy slightly laughed and handed her the napkin; she continued to sop up the wine on her clothes.

"Well I think that's our cue to end our little rendezvous. I'll see you online Tommy. It was nice to do this again." She begins to get up and Tommy shoots up simultaneously.

"Hold on let me walk you home. You never know what could happen."

Kim smiles. "Ok, come on, I'll lead the way."

They make their way to a townhouse a few blocks down.

"You're staying in town?"

"Yeah with a few friends. They're probably out working right now."

He walks her to the door. She turns to look at him. She begins to speak but their eyes do all the talking. Their faces motion towards each other; their lips getting closer and closer. But Tommy suddenly pulls away and wips his head around to his left. A flash of fire erupts and Scorpina appears from behind the flames.

"HAHAHA! Hello Rangers! Am I interrupting something! I certainly Hope so!"

"Scorpina! What are you doing here?"

"I've come for you White Ranger! Or is Black now! Oh wait you don't have any powers."

"I can still beat you Scropina! Kim get out of here!" Tommy yells to Kim but she is already busy with several cloaked creatures. They are clawing and slashing at her. She manages to block a few shots. She lays a front kick on one sending it flying. Another swings his claw at here but she blocks it. And Pushes the Creature away.

"URRGGHHH! Get off me ugly!" She exclaims struggling with another.

"Hey! Gastly! Get OFF HER!" Tommy grabs the creature and throws him off Kimberly. Scorpina Grabs Tommy's Shoulder, he grabs her hand and spin kicks her in the stomach. She stumbles back.

"It's a pity my master wants you alive!" Scorpina then morphs into her monster form. She launches her tail at Tommy. Tommy manages to dodge a few shots but when he is distracted by Kim being kicked down he is hit with the tail in this middle of his back. Tommy falls to his knees, his eyes close and he falls to his side.

"TOMMY!" Kim tries to get to him but she his held back by three creatures. Scorpnina kneels beside Tommy, smiles, she touches him a flame engulfs them and then they disappear. The creatures are gone too leaving Kimberly crying. She drops to her knees and slams her fist on the ground. A tear drops on the street.

Three hours before Tommy's capture. Kat has called Reefside high.

"Hi Jess I am trying to reach Tommy. Can I speak to him please?"

"Oh Kat I am sorry Tommy took the day off today we have a substitute in." The Assistant Secretary Jess says.

"OH! Of course. I'm sorry I forgot. Thanks Jess."

Kat hangs up the phone; she sits in her chair with some confusion. But it is fleeting, as she realizes: "Tommy must be planning something romantic for tonight" She thinks to herself.

Several hours later Kat has fallen asleep waiting for Tommy to come home.