Chapter 6 got finished this evening, so I figured you all could have chapter 4. Updates may slow down further as we're winding down the semester at school which means I am up to my eyeballs in grading. However, following that is summer break, so updates will speed back up then. Hope you enjoy.
"Jason told us he was bringing friends," Kira replied with a smile, as she shook Trini's hand. Unlike Connor, she could clearly handle speaking to the first yellow ranger without prompting. She'd easily conversed with Aisha. Trini was a human being. Legendary in their legacy, but still a human being. She would admit that meeting the first of her color was a big honor. She wondered if that's how Ethan had felt when they'd met Billy. She never really thought to ask Trent if he'd felt anything about Tommy, but that was different. They'd seen him practically every day, and he was there teammate. Still, honor or not, she was human.
"Friends, huh?" Trini laughed, as the boy, attached at her side, moved to hide behind her slightly now that she was talking to someone he didn't know. His eyes were wide as if he were absolutely terrified. He didn't quite come up to her waist, and he gripped her right leg with his free hand, dragging her captive hand behind her as he went. "I'd say we're more than friends," Trini laughed. "Might have to have a talk with him about how he describes our relationship, or he's going to be sleeping on the couch for a very long time." She paused and looked the teenage girl over, before nodding. "So," she stated, "how long were you yellow?"
"About a year," Kira replied, continuing the cryptic-ness of their conversation, as they stood on the sidewalk outside the cyber café. There were weren't many people around, but neither wanted anyone to pick up on their conversation. "Ended just before graduation, about a month and a half ago." She really didn't want to discuss that topic.
"Sorry to hear it," Trini replied, sensing the sadness in the girl's tone. She gave Kira a half smile. "You'll find something soon to keep your mind busy. It doesn't hurt forever, and it does get easier."
"Thanks," Kira replied, with a nod. It was the same thing she'd heard from all the others, and as much as she wanted to believe them, it was easier said than done. "Who's this?" she asked, indicating the boy playing shy. She was both trying to change the topic and curious about the small child. Apparently, Rocky and Aisha weren't the only former rangers to have begun the process of procreation.
"This is Tyler," Trini replied, using her arm to pull him out from behind her. She released his hand as she walked him in front of her and placed her hands on his shoulders. "Ty," Trini stated, kneeling down so that her head was just slightly over his. "This is mommy and daddy's new friend Kira. Can you say hello?"
The little boy looked at Kira for a moment, studying her with his dark eyes. His face shape was Trini's, as was the jet black of his hair. But his eyes were lighter than his mother's and wider. After a moment or so, the boy looked back up at his mother, meeting her eyes and shaking his head vehemently no. Trini sighed and stood back up, as Kira chuckled slightly into her hand. "He's cute," she told the older former yellow ranger.
"Thanks," Trini replied, not entirely convinced what Kira said was true, rolling her eyes slightly at the small boy, who grabbed her hand and resumed his hiding place behind her leg. "He's painfully shy. It's something we're working on."
"How old is he?" Kira asked her.
"He's just a few months shy of four," Trini replied, turning over her shoulder and looking for someone. Kira assumed it was Jason. "I really thought they'd find a parking spot by now."
"They?" Kira asked, frowning.
"We did actually bring a friend," Trini laughed. "The three of us were on vacation in Blue Bay Harbor when Jason got your call."
Kira grimaced in response and gave the older former yellow ranger a hesitant and apologetic smile. "I'm sorry we interrupted your vacation. If we'd known, we would have handled it on our own."
Trini laughed at her and let a large smile break out over her face. "Don't be sorry. This is the most excitement we've had in a while. And a great excuse to see our old friends again. I'm glad you called."
"Well, Rocky called," Kira stated, and Trini nodded, with a slight chuckle. "You do know there are others like us in Blue Bay Harbor right?"
Trini's expression was one of surprise, as she shook her head. "No," she stated. "We just thought the mountains were a nice place for a getaway. Retired or active?"
"Mostly retired," Kira stated. "At least I think so," she added in. "They're slightly older than we are. They're the most recent team besides us," she added in and Kira nodded.
"Maybe you can introduce us one day," Trini stated. "I love meet new people," she added in with a slight smile. Kira nodded in reply.
"Here comes Jason," she replied, her eyes locking onto a figure over Trini's shoulder. The older woman turned around, watching as the man Kira had referred to walked towards them. He wore the same t-shirt Kira'd seen on the video chat, and a pair of black jean shorts, black sun glasses resting on his head. Behind the lighter skinned individual was a man with dark brown skin and black hair shaved close to his head. He had a small patch of hair on his chin and a thin mustache over his top lip. He wore a pair of pale blue jeans and a black short sleeve button down shirt. The two men were talking to each other as they closed in on Cyberspace. "If memory serves me, that's Zack right?"
"Correct," Trini replied with a smile and a laugh. "How'd you know?"
"Dr. O made us learn our history," Kira laughed in response, and Trini gave the girl a funny look. Almost as if she couldn't believe it. "Tommy, to you I guess," Kira added in and Trini giggled slightly with a nod, turning back towards the two men who hadn't noticed them yet.
"Jason! Zack!" she called out, using her free hand not clutched in the silent toddler's vice grip to wave them down. Jason looked up from his conversation to let his eyes settle on her. Within a moment, he grinned and waved back, leading Zack over to the two women.
"You found them," Jason stated as they stopped walking. He gave Kira a smile of greeting.
"Well," Trini stated, "one of them at least," she laughed. "What took so long?" she asked him, wrapping her free hand around his arm.
"Parking here is a nightmare. Every time we thought we had a spot, some teenager snatched it up," Jason grumbled and Zack laughed.
"Man," Zack stated, "you're just not aggressive enough." Jason gave him a mock glare, and Trini rolled her eyes. Kira grinned, enjoying the banter between the older former rangers. She was glad to see relationships similar to the ones she shared with her friends did have the ability to last for years.
"Hi," Kira stated. "I'm Kira," she added, extending her hand to each of the men. Jason shook it first and then Zack. Jason didn't state his name, knowing she would already know from the video chat. He figured that her greeting was directed more towards the only member of the original team that she apparently hadn't met in any capacity.
"I'm," Zack started to say.
"Zack," Kira finished for him with a nod. "I know," she laughed. "First black," she continued with a grin.
"How did she know that," Zack asked Trini, a freaked out frown on his face as he leaned in towards his friend to stage whisper. "No one is supposed to know that," he added in. "At least not unless we tell them."
"It appears Tommy decided that his students," Trini opted for the word students instead of rangers, due to the public nature of their conversation, "should be well versed in their history lessons." Her grin showed that she was more than a little amused by that fact.
"Come again?" Zack laughed slight and Jason shook his head. Kira grinned.
"Dr. O made us learn who everyone was who came before us. He made a bunch of videos explaining the legacy," Kira explained. "Some of us learned it better than others though," she continued, "so you'll probably need to introduce yourself to Connor." Zack's face said he wasn't too sure he liked the idea of being part of a video for future rangers to watch.
"Speaking of Connor," Jason stated, bending down and picking up the small boy so he no longer held his mother's hand captive. Tyler clung to Jason, burying his face in the man's neck, and Jason sighed in response, patting the boy's back. "Is everyone else inside?" he asked, gesturing to the entrance of Cyberspace behind them, and Kira nodded, and rolled her eyes, remembering exactly what it was that was inside waiting for them.
"Along with nearly ninety percent of Reefside's population. It's slammed," she stated. "Everyone is trying to avoid the heat."
"Might not be the best place to reunite with you know who," Jason stated, eyeing the building, and Kira nodded her agreement. "Now that the sun's lower," he continued, "outside might not be a bad idea."
"The park's not too far," Kira suggested. "I can show you the way, and call the guys to meet us," she offered.
"Sounds like a plan," Trini replied, as Jason shifted Tyler onto his hip. She slid her hand into Jason's as Kira pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and began to lead the way to the park. Zack fell into step beside her, his friends behind.
Kira flipped her phone open as she led the way across the street, and dialed Trent's number. His familiar voice answered the call after the third ring, saving her from the fear that she was either going to need to call one of the others or the cyber café itself.
"Where'd you go?" Trent immediately asked, without greeting. Kira rolled her eyes and chuckled.
"Hello to you too," she laughed. "Stepped outside for a moment. I needed some air. The situation was beginning to give me a migraine."
"I know what you mean," Trent replied. "Connor took Tommy to play foosball while Ethan fixed the computer."
"Is it ok?" Kira asked him. "What'd they do to it anyway?"
"No idea," Trent laughed. "But it's not displaying the blue screen of death anymore. Ethan's sitting here with me watching Connor and Tommy."
"Watching them do what?" Kira frowned. The way Trent made it sound, either something entertaining or horrifying was happening.
"Well," Trent stated, drawing out the word. "Some girls joined their foosball game, and Connor decided to flirt with them."
"Oh boy," Kira groaned, running her free hand over her face.
"Yep," Trent laughed. "They started flirting back, with Connor and Tommy," he snickered, stressing the word 'and'.
"That cannot have gone well," Kira stated, realizing she was getting funny looks from Zack beside her. Jason and Trini were talking to one another, so she wasn't sure if they had overheard her conversation.
"Still going on," Trent laughed again. "For a green," he stated, "he's spending in amazing amount of time flushed red," he added in, and Kira burst out laughing.
"Poor kid," she stated, shaking her head. "Anyway, it took you forever to answer. I was afraid I'd have to call Connor."
"We're still pretty busy," Trent replied to her, and Kira made a face that suggested she wasn't actually happy to hear that. "And I was distracted watching the train wreck that is Tommy," he laughed. "Seriously," he added in, "he's worse than Ethan."
"I resent that," Kira heard Ethan's voice in the background, and she laughed, shaking her head.
"Can you get a way for a bit? After all, you weren't even supposed to be working this evening," Kira told him.
"Yeah," Trent stated, "Kyla can handle things," he added in. "Why?"
"They're here," Kira stated. Behind her, she could hear the three adults talking to each other. She was actually surprised by the lack of sound made by Tyler.
"They?" Trent questioned her.
"Jason did say he was bringing friends," Kira reminded him, and pictured Trent nodding when there was no answer. "Ran into them outside Cyberspace. Figured a packed house was probably not best suited for reuniting them with Dr. O."
"Can you even call him that right now?" Trent laughed.
"Good point," Kira grimaced, with a slight smirk. "Anyway, it's a bit cooler out now than it was earlier. I'm taking them to the park. Figure the benches by the pond might be secluded enough?"
"Absolutely," Trent replied. "They're normally vacant enough," he stated and then paused for a moment. "I take it you want me to get Connor, Ethan, and Tommy and meet you there?"
"Please and thank you," Kira laughed, and she heard Trent chuckle in response.
"Alright," he told her. "But it's not going to be easy. I think Connor's having too much fun, but I suppose Tommy will be happy to escape."
"See you soon," Kira laughed in response.
"Bye," Trent told her, before she hung up the phone. They were halfway through the walk to the park by that point. She slipped her phone back into her pocket, and looked up at Zack beside her.
"The guys are going to meet us at the park, provided Trent can get Connor and Tommy away from the group of teenage girls surrounding them," Kira stated, getting chuckles and giggles from the adults around her as they imagined the scene she'd hinted at. "So, what do you guys know of the situation?"
"Jason said Tommy managed to regress himself physically and mentally through the use of a machine he was working on," Zack told her, with a shrug, his hands in his pockets.
"Yep," Kira replied. She gave one nod. "That's pretty much it," she laughed. "Connor is technically the one who caused it," she explained. "He hit the device with his soccer ball. Next thing we know," she stated. "Poof." She took her hands and brought them closer together, indicating shrinking.
Jason, Trini, and Zack laughed at her explanation. "Ok," Trini stated, "so I can start looking the device over," she explained, "but I don't know how much I'll be able to do. I've helped Billy on some projects in the past, but he's the brains behind them. I guess the main thing we can help with is keeping him calm and helping him adjust to the situation."
Kira nodded in response. "He's pretty jumpy," she explained. "And really wary. He definitely doesn't trust us very much," she explained, her voice displaying her worry.
"He doesn't know you," Jason told her. "That's all." He clearly read the expression on her face. She was just as bothered by the fact that her teammate didn't trust her as he would have been.
"So," Zack asked, as they reached the area of the park that Kira had sought out. The teenager sat down on a bench, Trini falling into the seat beside her. Jason set Tyler down, hoping the boy would expend some energy, but the toddler kept his eyes locked on Kira and hid behind his father's leg. Jason just sighed in response. Zack leaned back against the trunk of a tree that shaded the bench. "What was he trying to do with this device anyway?"
"To be honest," Kira stated. "My best guess is it had something to do with nostalgia. We were set to have a reunion of sorts, and Dr. O decided," she began.
"Dr. O?" Zack laughed. "That's the second time you've called him that."
"He was their science teacher," Jason told him, "right?" he checked with Kira, and the girl nodded.
"Ok, you're really going to have to explain that one," Zack laughed, trying to picture what Tommy as a science teacher would look like. "And how you became one of us in the first place," he added in. Kira smirked in response.
"We will," she stated. "We haven't explained it to him yet either, and I'm willing to bet he'll ask soon, if he hasn't asked the guys already. I'd rather only explain it once."
"Go on about the machine Kira," Trini encouraged her, and Kira nodded, leaning forward in her seat, her hands tucked underneath her legs.
"Oh yeah. Anyway," she continued, "Dr. O decided he wanted to be able to relive his old memories with his friends. So he had Haley, our tech, work on this machine. I guess the point was to be able to visualize the memories, rather than just verbalize them. Clearly," she laughed, "they became a bit too realistic."
"So, when the machine activated," Trini stated, frowning, and crossing her arms over her chest as she pieced together the explanation in her mind, "Tommy was thinking about his earliest days."
"Well," Jason stated, "not his earliest. Things would be a hell of a lot worse if he was." He shook his head and shuddered slightly at the thought. Tommy the evil green ranger had not been fun to face with powers, and from what he understood, no one in the group had active powers at the moment. Granted, neither did Tommy, but Jason had no doubt he would still have been able to cause trouble.
"Good point," Zack stated. "He's not evil then?"
"Nope," Kira stated. "At least not as far as we could tell."
"Would you know though?" Trini asked her, concern written on her face, "I mean, if he was trying to hide it?"
"Probably," Kira laughed. "We've had enough contact with evil individuals throughout our 'career' to know one," she stated, throwing air quotes around the word career. Jason, Trini, and Zack gave her uneasy looks. They clearly knew from firsthand experience what evil rangers were like. "Even got to experience being one for myself."
"Not a great feeling is it?" Jason asked her with a knowing, empathetic smile. Kira frowned for a moment at him.
"You?" she asked, raising her eyebrow, trying to remember that from her history lessons with Tommy. Her mind was coming up empty.
"Yeah," he stated. "With Kim," he added in, and Kira realized the moment he was indicating. She shuddered slightly. Tommy had explained that Mesogog couldn't even control Kim while she was under the influence of Maligore, until he'd fused her with dinosaur DNA. Looking at Jason, physically, she was pretty sure he must have been one scary evil ranger. "Not the highest point of my life," he finished, and Trini reached for his hand, giving his fingers a squeeze. Kira sighed and nodded, casting her gaze down to her feet.
"Thanks for coming," she stated simply. "I know you don't normally have to deal with stuff like this anymore," she added in. She truly was thankful for their help.
"Once a ranger," Jason began, and Kira looked back up at him smiling.
"Always a ranger," she finished with him and laughed. "Glad to hear it's a common saying and practice," she added in.
"Someone taught you well," Trini laughed. "Wasn't Tommy though right?" she joked.
"Quite a few someones in fact," Kira replied with a nod. "Kim, Billy, Adam, Rocky, Aisha, Tanya, and Tommy on occasion," she counted off on her finger tips.
"Besides that saying," Zack stated. "This gave us an excuse to see everyone again. It's been far too long," he added in. "I can't wait to see the look on Kimmy's face when she finds out we're here."
"Before or after she kills Connor?" Jason asked his friend, eyebrow raised. Zack grinned and shrugged his shoulders while Kira and Trini both laughed.
"Speaking of Connor," Kira stated, looking up and nodding into the distance towards four teenage boys who were headed in their direction. Connor and Trent led the group, while Ethan walked slightly behind them. Behind the three recent high school grads, trailed the youngest of the group, who appeared to be slowing his pace with every step. Kira raised her eyebrow, trying to figure out why the boy who seemed so eager earlier when they told him Jason was coming, now seemed extremely reluctant to see his old friends. She stood up and walked forward to meet the four, the new arrivals to Reefside falling in behind her slightly. "Took you long enough," she told Connor, as she reached her friends. She spun on her toes, and fell in beside him, stepping back out of habit so that Connor formed a point of a triangle created by him, her, and Ethan. Trent stood in his customary place beside Ethan, but Tommy hung back, kicking at the ground with his shoe, several yards away.
"Someone got a case of cold feet," Connor replied, giving her a grin in response. He sighed and shook his head, looking up in front of him and meeting Jason's eyes before allowing his gaze to fall on the small boy still clinging to him silently. "Although," he stated, a bit of nervousness coming to his eyes. "I can understand being a bit nervous," he told Jason with a grin, extending his hand.
"I put my pants on one leg at a time," Jason told him, shaking his head and extending his free hand to grip Connor's, both former red rangers exchanging a strong handshake. "Just like you," he added in, and Connor laughed, shaking his head.
"When you put on pants," Trini joked, stepping up and smiling. "I'm Trini," she told the teenagers, as they each took in the primary color of her attire, realizing that she was the first yellow ranger.
"My wife, always with the jokes," Jason laughed, slinging his free arm over Trini's shoulder. He bent towards her and kissed her lips lightly. Connor's grin faltered and he frowned, looking from Trini to Jason and back again. "What's wrong? Something on face?" Jason asked, worried. Connor didn't answer. His gaze however became more frantic, as he looked back and forth between the two. Confused, Jason dropped his arm from Trini's shoulder, giving both Trini and Zack concerned looks. If this was earth's most recent red ranger, he was slightly concerned for the safety of humanity.
"Connor," Ethan asked, looking at his friend with concern. "You alright?" he added in, frowning at his friend. Connor tore his gaze off of Jason and Trini and looked directly at Kira, his face turning slight green. Kira raised her eyebrow at him.
"Dude, first Rocky and Aisha! Now this!" Connor stated, giving Kira the deer caught in the headlights look, as he paled. He tore his eyes off of Kira and looked at Trent, gulping. Kira frowned at him for a moment, trying to figure out what he was thinking. Connor didn't always make sense, but at that moment he was making less sense than ever.
"Connor," Ethan demanded, "What are you even talking about?"
"Seriously!" Connor burst out. "You don't see it?" he asked the only former blue ranger in the group. He looked at Jason and Trini again, his eyes falling on the matching wedding bands they wore, before turning his attention back to Kira, who was still giving him a puzzled look. "You don't get it?" he asked her, still pale.
"Get what?" Kira asked, and Connor shook his head.
"Never mind," he muttered, casting his gaze onto Trent, who looked as confused as Kira did. He shuddered slightly, and looked down at the ground.
"What's with him?" Jason put into the conversation, his eyes full of concern for the teen.
"I don't know," Ethan replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "What do you have in common with Rocky and Aisha?" he asked, although it was more of a rhetorical question. He frowned as he studied the two rangers in front of him, Kira beside him mirrored his expression before she suddenly got it, and her face contorted into disgust.
"Ewww! No way," she screamed, glaring at Connor. "How could you even think that!" she yelled at him, stalking towards him, her fist raised in the air. She threw her arm out and punched him as hard as she could in the shoulder. "You are the biggest idiot in the world," she growled, as Connor stepped back sheepishly rubbing his arm. Kira made a sickened face again and shuddered, curling her hands into fists at her sides, all of her muscles straight and tense as she tried to get the image Connor had planted out of her mind.
"What?" Ethan, Jason, Trini, and Zack all stated at the same time. Realization then dawned on Ethan, and his eyes went wide. "Oh," he stated, drawing out each letter of the word. A thin smirk worked his way onto his face and his eyes danced in amusement. "Seriously dude?" he laughed at his former leader.
"Connor," Trent stated, his voice dropping an octave, as he clearly understood, looking at Connor with ice in his eyes. "Think about it even for one more moment, and powers or not, I will find a way to skin you with my drago sword," he threatened, pulling Kira towards him in a possessive and defensive manner. The adults looked the boy, slightly confused, although Jason was beginning to fully understand what Kira meant about experience with evil rangers.
As Trent had spoken, Connor had shifted his gaze onto his former teammate, and let his face fall into a slightly serious, slightly apologetic smile. He rubbed the back of his neck, casting his eyes to the ground. "You can't deny it's a pretty weird coincidence," he stated, although there was a bit of amusement and reluctance in his voice.
"Dude," Ethan laughed. "I'm pretty sure Trent will not be your biggest worry if you continue on this line of thought," he pointed out, indicating Kira who was shooting her former leader glares that he was pretty sure might actually have the power to kill. Out of all of them, they were pretty sure that without powers, Kira was the most dangerous. Connor followed Ethan's prompting and paled, gulping when his eyes landed on the only girl on his team. He gave her an apologetic smile, but Kira's only response was to deepen her glare. Ethan was pretty sure she was plotting his murder, if Kim didn't get to him first.
The adults had watched the entire exchange, slightly confused looks giving way to understanding. At which Trini and Jason had broken out into grins, Trini gripping Jason's free hand and wrapping her other hand around his arm, leaning against him. Zack just burst out laughing.
"He's got a point though," Zack cracked up, leaning forward, gripping his stomach, as he spoke through his laughter. "There is a tendency," he added in to the teenagers. "There's these two," he stated, indicating his friends, "and like Connor said, Rocky and Aisha. And Jason told me about Ashley and Andros," he continued, tears streaming down his face, as he spoke each word thought fits of laughter.
"Zack," Trini laughed, hitting the man with the back of her hand lightly. "You're not helping. Not all reds end up with yellows," she added in, when she saw the look the teenagers gave him in response to the mention of a third red/yellow ranger couple. Ethan looked mystified, Connor had gone pale, Kira looked sick, and Trent looked like he was about kill Connor. It didn't take a genius to realize that Kira and Trent were an item; especially, not with the way Trent still held Kira possessively. "After all, he was red," she stated, nodding toward the boy who was far enough away that he couldn't hear them, though he was watching everyone with a suspicious look in his eyes, his expression almost a glare, as if he was angry. Everyone followed her gaze, letting it settle on the teenager. Trini sighed and let go of Jason's hand as her husband set Tyler on the ground. She walking toward Tommy, even as Zack muttered 'doesn't count; he was green first' in response.
She stopped a few feet in front of the boy, who had immediately cast his gaze to the ground when he realized that the group had shifted their attention off introductions and onto him. Even though he didn't see her, she knew that he knew he was no longer standing alone. The boy had his left hand hanging limply down toward the ground. He held his forearm with his other hand, his right arm across his stomach. His head was down, and his eyes cast at his feet. He rubbed up and down his arm, and Trini watched as his fingers lingered on his wrist, searching for something that wasn't there. His physical features were all extremely familiar, her memory sharp as always, but it was his clothing that disconcerted her. The loose black t-shirt he wore felt extremely out of place to her. She was sure he wasn't comfortable in it either, especially if the teenagers were right that he believed himself to be the green ranger, which she was sure they were. She let a slight smile drift across her face as she studied him. She sensed his nerves and anxiety. "Hey Tommy," she spoke gently, and noticed him flinch slightly. "You recognize me don't you?" she asked him.
Tommy looked up at her, and gulped, nodding. He cast his gaze over her shoulder at the other six individuals. He recognized two of them way more than the new four. Trini watched as he tried to bury the fear in his face. He'd pretty much succeeded. Apparently, it was one thing to talk to Jason via a computer, and something completely different to be standing in front of a person that in his mind, should have been a teenager too. The look in his eyes confirmed his nod, as Trini saw recognition. "You look almost the same," he told her, his voice containing a slight bit of nerves. He told the truth. Although her face did look slightly older, of the three of them, Trini was the least changed. She was a bit taller, and dressed more maturely, but there was not a doubt in his mind that the woman was his yellow ranger. That she was the girl he went to school with; was slightly afraid of heights; was the voice of reason and calm on their team.
"Thanks for the compliment," she laughed gently. "You doing ok?" He opened his mouth to respond, but Trini laughed again and shook her head. "Don't give me the answer you'd tell those two," she stated, jerking her thumb back over her shoulder. She knew he'd know she meant Jason and Zack.
"So," he stated, with a bit of a reluctant grin and a blush. She knew him well. "You want the honest answer?"
"Always," she replied, smiling back at him.
"Trini, I'm terrified," he stated. "I still can't understand how this is possible. Everywhere I look, something is different. I'm not in Angel Grove; I'm clearly not a ranger; my friends aren't my age; I'm surrounded by people who claim to know me; And if I do try and accept it, I get another shock," he stated, "Like that!" he pointed to the child clinging to Jason's hand, his eyes going wide, even though he kept the tone of his voice even. Trini saw the panic in his eyes. "He looks like you," he stated, his eyes darting back to Trini. "You're a mom?" he asked her, and Trini smiled with a nod. "And he's the dad?" Tommy asked again, pointing at Jason, his face paling. He was fifteen. He knew what it took to make a baby, and he knew that Trini and Jason were just friends. The little boy was way too much for him to handle.
Trini chucked slightly, following Tommy's finger. "Things are a bit different from what you're used to," she agreed with him.
"A bit!" Tommy stated, his eyes going wide. "Trini," he said, shaking his head. "Me going from green to white is a bit different. This is not a bit. This is huge!"
"Come on," she laughed at him, throwing her arm over his shoulder, and steering him back towards everyone else. "It'll be alright," she told him.
"So I've been told," Tommy grumbled, rolling his eyes, but he allowed her to drag him over to his old friends, not lifting his eyes off the floor. She stopped him in front of Jason and Zack, her hands on his shoulders, sort of how she'd coaxed Tyler out from behind her earlier.
"Hey Bro," Jason laughed slightly, and Zack looked the teenager over.
"Man," he stated, a grin on his face. "You'd expect someone to age forward, not backwards after not seeing them in almost a decade," he laughed, and Tommy's eyes flashed up and open, his mouth falling open.
"We haven't seen each other decade?" Tommy squeaked out, his eyes darting from Jason to Zack, fear, disappointment, and hurt reflected in them.
"Zack," Jason scolded, a slight chuckle in his voice, while Trini glared at her friend. "I don't think you're helping again," he told him, and shook his head.
"What do you mean a decade?" Tommy asked again, frowning. He looked at the four teenagers he'd spent the day with. "You knew this?" he accused, his eyes falling specifically on Connor.
Connor sighed and ran his hand over his face, casting helpless looks at Trent, Ethan, and Kira, all who shrugged in response. Tommy was now glaring at Connor.
"Tommy," Jason interrupted before the boy's temper could get a hold of him. "It's not their fault," he stated.
"Well, then whose is it?" Tommy turned on him, his eyes flashing in anger slightly. "How could I have not seen my best friends in ten years?"
"Chill bro," Jason commanded him, letting go of Tyler's hand. The child's eyes went wide in fear, looking between his father and the strange teenager in front of him. Now that he had no physical contact with either of his parents, he felt overwhelmed, and as a result, he crouched as low to the ground as he could, watching his parents silently. "I just saw you two years ago," Jason informed him. "And you're not going to like it, but it's your own fault."
"Mine?" Tommy asked, disbelief in his voice. There was no way he would have abandoned his friends.
"Yes," Jason told him, his voice flat, but not cruel. He wouldn't lie to the teenager. He knew Tommy could take it. "And if you hadn't turned yourself back into a kid, we probably wouldn't even be here now," Jason informed him simply. Tommy glared at him, anger welling up inside him as he curled his hands into fists.
"Jason," Trini stated, "was that necessary?" her voice was soft as she looked between her husband and the teenager she remembered as one of her best friends. They might not have spoken in years, but the kid she saw before her didn't know that. In fact, she was pretty sure, that as far as the boy was concerned, they may have spoken that very day.
"Yes," Jason replied to her, not taking his eyes off Tommy. "He deserves to know the truth," he added in, and Tommy deepened his glare at Jason. "I won't lie to him."
"It can't be the truth," he stated. "I'd never," he began.
"You'd never intentionally loose contact with your friends?" Jason asked him. "Is that what you were going to say?" Tommy's glare deepened further, as Jason held his gaze. The teenager didn't respond. Jason took a deep breath, and exhaled sharply. "Things happened. Some of them you couldn't control," Jason explained. "Life takes twists you don't expect and things occur that can't be predicted. Unfortunately, you can't always like the outcome and you can't undo them. But we're here now," Jason stated, "when you need us the most."
"I don't need you," Tommy muttered, angrily. He wasn't sure who he was angry at: himself, or Jason. He wanted it to be a lie, but if that was, so was everything else they were telling him, which meant he was in danger, and in the last few hours he'd discovered that he definitely did not have his morpher, so he was practically helpless if they all turned out to be monsters or an illusion created by Rita. "I can handle this perfectly fine on my own," he spat. Jason frowned, blinking for a moment, looking over at Zack and Trini who both shrugged. All three were apparently trying to figure out where Tommy's hostility stemmed from. The four real teenagers were slightly taken aback by the defensive nature of their regressed teammate. They gave each of the adult former rangers questioning looks which Zack and Trini returned with shrugs.
Jason ran his hand over his face, watching the glaring teenager, and sighing. "Tommy," he suddenly asked. "Remember Titanus?" Connor, Ethan, Trent, and Kira frowned at Jason's sudden question. It seemed so entirely off topic. They were stunned, trying to determine the purpose. Trini and Zack each raised an eyebrow, clearly understanding why Jason had asked the seemingly random question.
"Who?" the teenager replied, clear irritation and confusion on his face.
"Yeah," Jason stated, sarcastically rolling his eyes. "That's what I thought," he added, looking over at Zack and Trini. "This is going to be harder than I thought," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. The dino thunder team all gave him questioning looks, but Jason just shook his head. Apparently, Tommy had thought himself so far back, he'd forgotten his lessons in "gung ho". He might not have been the evil green ranger, but he was definitely not yet a team player. Not that he didn't want to be; just that in his mind, he and Jason hadn't yet learned how to work together. "Trini?" he stated, giving his wife a look that screamed 'help'.
Trini sighed and shook her head. "Tommy," she stated calmly. "I know it's not what you wanted to hear, and it's a really long story, but the point Jason was making is we still all care about one another enough that we came here to help, no matter how long it has been, or how much things have changed. You do believe that, don't you?" Tommy sighed, and dropped his hostile gaze away from Jason, nodding to Trini's words.
"Man," Zack added in. "I didn't mean to make you upset," he added. "I'm just really happy to see you," he laughed.
"You are?" Tommy asked, frowning. He was pretty sure that if roles were reversed he wouldn't have been happy to see the people who abandoned him.
"Of course," Zack laughed. "Time may have passed, but you're definitely still the Tommy I remember."
"That's cause he reversed himself," both Jason and Connor muttered at the same time. Kira and Trini both glared at them.
"Well, you're not the Zack that I do," Tommy replied, a smirk on his face. "You're both old," he added, indicating Jason and Zack with his eyes.
"Watch it bro," Jason snickered in response, his arms crossed over his chest. "I can, and will, still kick your," he paused what he wanted to say, his eyes falling on the silent but observant toddler, and sighed. "Butt," he finished, slightly irritated that he had to be responsible and watch his language.
"Oh really?" Tommy stated, shifting his stance, clearly challenging Jason, who shook his head in response. Tommy was definitely exactly how he remembered. The boy always felt better after a tense situation if he could hit something.
"No way," Jason laughed. "I am not fighting a fifteen year old," he added in.
"Chicken?" Tommy mocked him. His smirk had a slightly dark undertone to it. Zack's eyes went wide as he fought extremely hard not to laugh. Ethan, Trent, and Kira raised their eyebrows, surprised at Tommy's sudden playfulness, and Connor snickered.
"What did you just call me?" Jason asked, raising an eyebrow at him. Connor gulped, not wanting to be in Tommy's position at that moment, but the former black who thought he was the current green ranger did not back down. Instead, realizing he'd struck the nerve he wanted to, his grin enlarged, as Jason stalked towards him.
"Oh no!" Trini shouted, getting in between the two of them, and placing both her palms against Jason's chest. "Not here, not now," she stated, looking back and forth between the teenager and her husband, her eyes then shifting to her son, who was silently watching the entire exchange, his eyes wide. "Jason Scott! You are not setting a good example."
"He called me a chicken!" Jason protested.
"So?" Trini asked him, getting eliciting laughter from the four dino thunder teenagers.
"He also technically called you old, seeing as we're all the same age," Zack offered and Jason nodded. Trini frowned at both of them for a moment before whirling around to face Tommy, who immediately shifted out of fighting stance, and jumped backwards.
"I'm sorry?" he asked, more than stated, before diving so that he was slightly obscured by Connor. His voice had squeaked in the process.
"Dude! I am not a human shield," Connor groaned, looking up at Trini, holding his hands out in front of him. He'd known four other yellow rangers during his time as a red ranger, and one thing he'd learned, was that if they were female, they were definitely dangerous. He doubted, based on his own knowledge, and Tommy's current reaction, that Trini was any different. "I swear! I do not share the same views as him."
Trini just smiled sweetly in response, and shook her head. "It's alright Connor. He's just confused by everything," she explained. "Why don't we all go back to his place and we can talk everything through calmly and rationally?" Connor gulped and nodded, dropping his hands to his sides.
"Sounds like a plan," Kira stated, looking between Tommy and Trini, and then at Zack and Jason who both wore concerned expressions. "How long are you planning to stay in Reefside?" she asked Jason, as she began to lead the way out of the park. Jason scooped Tyler off the ground, as he and Trent moved to follow her. Trini, Zack, and Ethan fell into step behind them, falling into easy conversation. Connor looked over his shoulder at Tommy and studied the boy for a moment, before sighing.
"She's going to kill you later isn't she?" he asked the younger teenager, whose eyes were still wide as if he'd been about to be crushed to death by a zord.
"Yep," he replied simply, shaking his head and casting his gaze at the ground. Connor chuckled slightly and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Yellows," he laughed, and began to steer the younger teen out of the park after the rest of the group.
For those who have been begging, you now have Jason, Trini, and Zack. They'll all stick around long enough to be reunited with Kim, Billy, Adam, Rocky, Aisha, and Tanya. I make no promises of bringing in anyone else, but we'll have to wait and see how the story plays out. If the plot takes a turn where it makes sense to bring them in, I will. But I won't bring them in just for the sake of bringing them in.
Thanks for reading, and as always reviews are greatly appreciated,
Fateless