- Chapter 4 -

After Tommy and Kat finished unpacking and setting up her things, the two decided to go out for dinner. They went to the Olive Garden, which always provided the proper atmosphere for talking and laughing whilst eating delicious food. This is exactly what the old friends did, not being able to stop smiling throughout the evening as they told some of the stories not yet shared.

"Once, I had a student that wasn't doing all that well in class, so I asked to see him after school," said Tommy as Kat took a bite of her salad. "So I asked him why he was in my science class to begin with, since I knew he didn't like it. My class isn't a graduation requirement, it just looks really good for college applications, and he said he was only there because his girlfriend was in the class."

"Ah," said Kat with a smile.

He smiled in return. "Yep. The kid was risking credits for a girlfriend he probably wouldn't have a year from then. Teenage love."

"What kids do... So well-meaning, yet so naive," said Kat, who then got a reminiscent look in her eyes. "Remember when the man who was supposed to be the tree in the play I organized for the girls in my ballet class couldn't make the show, and you took his place? You were taller than the original, so we could hardly get you in the costume."

Tommy let out a small laugh. "Yeah, I remember that. Do you remember the time my uncle got me a spot in a race he was funding, and you came out to see it, even when it was around 110 degrees, and could've been at the beach with the others?"

"Yes," said Kat. The two remained silent for a moment, enjoying the brought-up memories instead of the food they ate, then she turned to him again. "You know, Tommy, it's been wonderful catching up with you, and getting to know the new short-haired doctor you, and I think it'd be nice if I got to know your friends a little better, too. Perhaps we could have a small gathering one of these days, when they're not all busy."

Tommy rubbed his chin. "You mean, like a party?"

"Well, not quite. I was thinking something more along the lines of a barbeque."

"Yeah, that'd work," he said with a nod. "I'll call everyone and ask what they're doing tomorrow. If we set it up, we could head to the store later on."

"Sounds great," Kat said with an earnest smile.

- XXX -

The next morning, Tommy and Kat began preparing for their barbeque at 11 a.m., setting out picnic tables with paper plates and plastic utensils out in Tommy's ample backyard. By the time the guests began arriving at around noon, the food was on the grill, and was awaiting for someone to put it on a plate next to buns to prepare as the eater so wished.

Conner arrived in his red Mustang with his girlfriend Krista, and Ethan brought along his girlfriend Angela. Kira and Trent arrived together, but separately from his adopted parents in Anton and Elsa Mercer. Everyone approached Katherine with warm smile, and exchanged a few quick words before they left to have Tommy give them their food.

"So, do you guys know where Hayley is?" Tommy asked once he joined them at the tables, taking a seat at the edge, next to Kat.

"She told me she had something to take care of first at Cyberspace; she'll be here as soon as she can," answered Ethan.

Tommy nodded, and the ten quickly became intertwined in conversation, most of it with Kat included. A little while later, after everyone had had second servings, Hayley arrived with a weary smile.

"Sorry I'm late. Of all days for the smoothie machine to break down, it had to be today," she said as Tommy got up to serve her her food.

With Hayley now at the table, she and Kat primarily talked about her time in college, and some humorous stories of Tommy, as he smirked and looked away at some of the more embarassing tales. It was during a good laugh shared by all when Tommy's phone began ringing in his pocket, and he calmed down first to check it out. Most quieted down in intruige, although Conner and Ethan continued talking quietly.

Tommy opened his phone to accept the call. "Hello?"

"Tommy," said an urgent voice on the other line, which he recognized immediately, and made his heart sink. "I need to talk to you."

"Phantom Ranger," he whispered, with no one able to clearly hear what he said. He stood up from the table, and walked a few steps away. "Something tells me this call isn't under the most pleasant terms."

"I apologize," Phantom Ranger said, his tone confirming it to be true. "I have some important information that I need to relay to you quickly. I just returned from a quest on the planet Onyx, and I heard of someone named Xiarayne planning to launch an attack on the Red Rangers of Earth."

Tommy took a moment to absorb this information, then asked, "Why?"

"I don't know. Neither did the person who I got the information from," answered Phantom Ranger. "I searched my records of anyone named Xiarayne, although I got nothing vital. None of them checked out to have some sort of criminal background."

The legendary ranger again was silent for a second, then asked rhetorically, "So I guess I have to round up all the Red Rangers again and stop this guy, huh?"

"I'm sorry for this. I'll continue to help you as much as I can."

"Thanks," Tommy said, then hung up his phone. He turned back around and walked up to the table, where all of the smiles disappeared once they saw his expression.

"What's wrong?" asked Kat.

He let out a sigh, then said, "That was the Phantom Ranger. Apparently some guy named Xiarayne's out for the Red Rangers. And you know what that means."

Everyone looked disappointed at the realization, then the eyes turned to Conner, whose arm was being gripped by Krista. He cracked out a smile without much happiness or excitement as he said, "Well, let's go get this guy."

Tommy nodded his head once, then looked to his phone, bringing up his contact list. "I'll let the other Red Rangers know what's going on."