Kendall stirred awake in the bed, turning over, only to find the other side of the bed empty. She was a little disappointed that she woke up alone, but as she sat up the bed and could see the light streaming in the window, she realised Matt must have already gotten up to begin his chores. Although the harvest festival was today, she was well aware that work on the farm didn't really end, and so he was probably just up to try and get it out of the way early so that they could head over for the festival opening.
She got up, stretching as she yawned in exhaustion. Although she couldn't say she was disappointed, she was still more than a little tired. She'd spent most of the previous day travelling, and she had fallen asleep quite late thanks to Matt. She couldn't say she was disappointed by that. She looked around as she heard a shotgun blast. She wasn't exactly surprised, she was deep in the farming community now, but it did bring her attention to Matt's desk and to the tools on it. The pestle and mortar, the tool kit...she picked up the pestle and sniffed it, confirming her suspicion. It had a distinct smell of sulphur and carbon, and had some black staining at the bottom. She was sure if she opened the tool box, she would find shotgun shells and shot. Matt obviously made a lot of his own ammunition.
Heading for the bathroom, noticing that Mrs Griffin's room was also empty. It was a good thing, since it would limit the chances of an embarrassing encounter coming out of the shower. She ran the water until it was hot enough, and headed inside, getting washed up for the day ahead. She had to admit being a little disappointed that Matt wasn't there with her in the morning. She had never really considered herself an especially affectionate person, even handshakes were usually the stretch of her physical contact greetings and it took her a while to get the intention when Shelby insisted on a fist-bump after they'd "crushed it" with the E-tracer. Koda...well...Koda was a hugger, something that she had gotten used to out of necessity but even now, she kind of preferred it when people maintained a little bit of a distance. That was different with Matt though, when she woke up, she was hoping to still have his arms around her, or at least to feel the warmth of him still beside her in the bed.
As she dried herself off and wrapped a towel around herself, she headed back into Matt's room. It was only then that she noticed that there was an outfit laid out for her. It certainly wasn't anything like what she normally wore, she knew for certain it wasn't her clothes, but it was clear it was laid out for her. It was a set of jeans, and a white and purple plaid shirt, with a bandana scarf laid out. There was a note beside it.
"Things get messy at the festival, so I took the liberty of looking out some old clothes for you." She read the note with it. She smiled a little as she realised that it was Matt's mother. She was happy that Mrs Griffin approved of her, but she was starting to find it a little strange how much she seemed to be pushing them both. She dutifully started to get dressed, and headed downstairs. When she got there, she found another note on the kitchen table.
"We'll be back by 11, help yourself to breakfast." Kendall read aloud. "There's food and milk in the fridge, coffee in the cupboard and kettle on the work surface."
Kendall headed to the cupboard to look out the coffee first of all. She wasn't exactly a late riser, she was up early most mornings to do work before the museum opened, but out here, the term 'up with the lark' had an entirely different and all too literal meaning. Her alarm was quite loud at home, Kendall knew she was a sound sleeper, and so she had slept right through the early morning bird calls. Putting on the kettle, she decided to check her phone for any messages. There were a few as it happened.
"Got new waitress, please don't make me interview again!" She smiled, reading Allison's message. She was glad that she found someone to help out, but she couldn't help having a little snigger at her expense. It was something of a rude awakening letting her have the 'joy' of interviewing job applicants. It was something Kendall had to endure a few times, and she knew it was sometimes very wearing.
"Tell Alessandra." That was all Koda had typed. She wasn't too surprised, she could always ask for the details later, but the finer points of texting had been lost on him. She had no such worries with Chase.
"You know where Koda is? Not in cave!" That was the extent of Chase's message. She was a little curious about this herself, but she didn't really have time to worry about it. She knew she was expecting a delivery and the chances were Chase just didn't want to deal with it himself.
"Chase driving me nuts, please tell me we have new guy and you're coming home!" Riley had typed. Kendall pulled the Energem out of her pocket and smiled. She knew how close Riley and Matt were, and while the thought of having him in Amber Beach was great for her, she had always imagined Riley's reaction when she told him his big brother was also a Ranger.
"Soon Riley." She responded, putting it away. "Hopefully soon."
Back in Amber Beach, Allison and Riley were taking their new recruit Leanne through the basics of opening the restaurant. She seemed genuinely excited and eager to start, something that Allison hadn't seen in a while.
"You are WAY too chipper for someone that's up for the pre-caffeine fix crowd." Allison commented, looking to Leanne. The new girl just smiled in response.
"Believe me, after the pixies that used to come into my old place, a few caffeine starved office workers will be nothing." Leanne assured her. Allison took her into the kitchen.
"Alright, so we need to put on the coffee machine to heat up and...son of a BITCH!" She grumbled, seeing a bunch of empty prep trays. "God damn it Brad, if I find out you were playing that stupid game again I'll break your bloody fingers!"
"Brad didn't do any of the prep work?" Riley asked. Allison just groaned.
"It doesn't look like it." Allison responded. "Alright, we'll have to do it before lunch; thank God I'm not on by myself..."
"I can do it." Leanne assured her. Allison just looked to her. "I mean...I used to do it in the last place all the time."
"I might just have to ask you to help." Allison told her. "Damn it, he didn't even change the till roll! I'll just go and get another one while I plan how I intend to murder Brad with his own I-phone!"
"Wow, she really doesn't like Brad much does she?" Leanne asked Riley.
"I think she just doesn't like having to continually pick up his slack." Riley commented. "I'm just surprised she hasn't kicked him straight in the poke balls yet."
Leanne just stared blankly at him.
"It's a game people play on their phones..."
"No, I know what Pokémon is; I just don't understand why it's such a thing here." Leanne told him. "When we have tiny magical creatures running around all over the place back home, I guess the appeal is kind of lost on most of us."
"I suppose that's a good point." Riley answered as Chase came into the cafe.
"Hey, have you guys seen Koda?" He asked. "I can't find him anywhere."
"I'm sure he's just around here somewhere." Riley responded. "You know he does live downstairs right?"
"First place I looked." Chase answered. "Look man, can you help me inventory the delivery?"
"Chase, we're kind of short-handed here." Riley reminded him. "Leanne just started..."
"Leanne, you worked in cafe's at home right?" Chase asked. Leanne just nodded. "Great, she'll be fine. Come on Riley."
Before he could protest, Chase yanked Riley out of the cafe, leaving Leanne alone. She just turned her attention to the prep work, and picked up a knife.
"Chase, why can't you just do the inventory yourself?" Riley asked him.
"Come on man, we always have two sets of eyes on everything." Chase told him. "You know, so we don't miss anything..."
"Like that you mean?" Riley asked as Koda walked in, looking a little dazed with a huge smile on his face. "Koda, where have you been?"
"Talk to Alessandra." He said in a dreamy kind of way.
"That...that was last night!" Riley commented. "So, can you help Chase with...?"
"Tired." Koda told them, walking past them. "Need lie down."
"I'll bet you do." Chase replied with a wry grin as he grabbed Riley. "Come on, inventory awaits."
Allison walked past them in the other direction, almost bumping into them, all the while grumbling about Brad and the fact she was now clearing up after him.
"Alright Leanne, sorry I left..." Allison started to say, before stopping suddenly. She could see that most of the prep trays were already full, and the chopping board was overflowing with chopped up vegetables. She just stood, open-mouthed.
"How...how did you...?"
"What? Is this too much?" Leanne asked her. Allison just shook her head.
"No, this should be good." She responded, beginning to load up the till roll. "Alright, that looks like the first customers. Hope you're ready."
"Trust me; it's like falling off a bike." Leanne assured her as the first customers started to approach the counter. "Welcome to the Dino Bite Cafe, how can I help you?"
Over in Millport, Matt headed back into the farmhouse, carrying his shotgun and a couple of ducks with him. He saw Kendall sitting by the table with a cup of coffee and came over, kissing her cheek.
"Wow, what's with the get-up?" He asked her.
"If I am going to this festival, I suppose it's as well I look the part." Kendall told him, indicating the clothing. "Your mom looked out some old clothes for me. She said something about the festival getting messy."
"Yeah, it can do that." Matt chuckled. "I guess you'd rather not get your suits messed up."
"You and your mom are aware I'm a palaeontologist by training right?" She asked, looking to him with a smile. "I do spend quite a bit of my time literally up to my knees in muddy fields. I'm not exactly the delicate little lab rat your mom thinks I am."
"Yeah, my mom seems to think anyone that doesn't have calluses on their calluses is a delicate little flower." Matt answered with a little laugh. "She's a farm girl, always has been."
"Well, maybe I can convince her I'm not exactly a soft city girl today." Kendall suggested. "So what kinds of things are there to do at this festival?"
"Ah, good, you're both here." Mrs Griffin said as she arrived in, dropping some eggs off at the counter. "Kendall, would you be a dear and put these away while we get showered and changed?"
"I think I can manage that." Kendall replied as they headed to get changed.
Over in Ocean Bluff, Koda was in his cave, resting up after his night. He was still smiling, unable to believe how it all went. He always knew that if he wanted his relationship with Alessandra to continue, then eventually he would have to tell her everything, but he always dreaded doing so as well. He was terrified what would happen when he did tell her the truth of what he was. He loved her, and it terrified him to think of what he would do if she had decided she couldn't deal with the fact her boyfriend was born before the Ice Age.
She never did make an issue of it though. When she heard, she was curious, and she had questions, but beyond anything else, she was happy to finally hear the truth from him. She loved him so much that she didn't see a cave man that still got confused by how the toaster worked; all she saw was the man that she loved.
"I thought you might just need a little something to eat." Chase said, interrupting Koda's thoughts as he lay on his "bed", a simple flat rock covered over with furs. The Black Ranger put down a tray, carrying a truly monstrous burger, one of a size even Koda had never seen.
"Is that...Double Bronto...with bacon?" Koda asked. Chase gave him a little smile.
"Well you have to keep your strength up my man." Chase answered, sitting with him. Koda just glared at him, forcing Chase to hold his hands up defensively. "Dude, no disrespect meant, I'm totally stoked for you."
Koda didn't answer, but since Chase didn't find himself on a one-way flight into the nearest wall, he presumed that he was at least happy enough with what Chase said to not be looking at murdering him. At least not until he finished with his burger. Koda started looking at how exactly he was meant to fit the whole thing into his mouth to take a bite.
"Look, I know I joke around, but I'm serious man. What you two have is a beautiful thing." Chase assured him. "If anything...I guess I'm kind of jealous."
Koda looked to him, his mouth already full. He didn't know exactly what Chase meant by that. He knew enough about relationships to know where they generally ended up. He had seen many members of his tribe starting families.
"You've got a good one there man; I couldn't be more made up for you." Chase assured him. "I just wanted you to know that."
"Thank you." Koda replied. Chase just smiled.
"So, things are going really well for you then." He continued. "You have that show coming up; Alessandra has that big match..."
Koda stopped eating. Chase couldn't help noticing that. It was usually a bad sign.
"What, did I just say...?"
"Alessandra...maybe no wrestle." Koda told him. Chase furrowed his brows.
"What, is she hurt again?" He asked. "I thought that girl she was up against was good..."
"Vinnie pull off mask." Koda told him, starting to become a little more noticeably agitated. "Want hurt Vinnie!"
"Well, you'll get a chance soon enough." Chase told him. "But...what's the big deal? Can't she just...put it on again?"
"Mask very important, very special." Koda explained to him. "Once lose mask, she no can wear again."
Chase didn't claim to know anything much about wrestling, but he knew that Alessandra had told the Rangers when they met her not to tell anyone she was El Jaguar. He had to stop himself from laughing at the irony of her being concerned about a secret identity around literal superheroes. He did know though that it was an important part of her character. Almost all her merchandise featured her mask as part of the design.
"She really can't wear it again?" Chase asked him. Koda just nodded.
"Tradition very important to her." He replied.
"So, why does she need it?" Chase asked him. "Dude, you and me, we both know better than anyone, the mask is a great thing. Sure, ours come with a few more fringe benefits and some real superpowers, but the thing is, the mask doesn't make us what we are. All the stuff she can do in that ring...none of that is down to the mask."
"She just sad." Koda continued. "She use El Jaguar gimmick long time. Not know what she do now."
"Well, she managed to make the El Jaguar character." Chase said as he thought about it. "Maybe she can make another character...something new. Like...when the Megaforce guys became the Corsairs."
"New character?" Koda asked him. Chase nodded in response.
"I'm sure a lot of guys have had careers once the masks went." Chase told him. "She just needs to find a new face that works. And since hers is pretty amazing, what's to stop her next mask being her?"
Koda knew what Chase was getting at, but he was also aware of the need for colour and showmanship in a gimmick for the crowd to take notice. Something on the wall caught Koda's eye, and he broke into a massive smile. He got up, grabbing his cell phone.
"Alessandra...meet me at gym!" He rushed out. "Trust me, come to gym!"
Chase just looked completely confused.
"Dude, what's happening?" He asked. Koda started grabbing stuff from his cave and shoving them into a bag. He looked to Chase with a smile.
"Sometimes, you have good ideas!" Koda told him, before running out. Chase just sat, trying to figure out if that was a compliment or an insult, when he saw the burger left behind.
"Koda running out on a burger?" He asked, picking it up and shrugging, starting to take a bite. "That must be important."
Meanwhile, upstairs, Koda ran out of the door, narrowly missing Leanne as he went. She spun around with surprising dexterity, not spilling a single drop of the tray of drinks she was taking to the table. She started to hand out the drinks.
"Sorry about that, enjoy your drinks." She said as she left the table, picking up a ketchup bottle from a table and dropping it on another just as the guy was looking around. "You're welcome."
She got to the counter, where Allison was overjoyed with how smoothly the shift was running. Leanne was a tremendous waitress. She seemed to anticipate what customers needed before they said anything, she was extremely quick negotiating the tables, and she seemed to have an uncanny ability to appease any customer. So far, she hadn't heard so much as a single raised voice or even a disapproving grunt.
"Leanne, where have you been all my life?" Allison asked her, looking out over a dining room full of happy customers.
"Oh, it's nothing really." She responded.
"Really, you should teach some of my other guys a thing or two." Allison told her. Leanne covered her mouth with her hand as she laughed a little, beginning to blush.
"Stop, it's nothing." She assured her.
"Seriously, nothing's been broken, no one's screaming, I haven't given out a single comp...you're just amazing!" Allison gushed, looking to the clock. "Listen, can you hang on for a couple of minutes? I just have something I need to deal with real quick."
"Sure, I'll be right here." Leanne assured her. Allison left the restaurant, heading through the back, stopping only by the clocking in machine. She checked, finding her suspicion confirmed. She went out the back, into the trash disposal area. There, she heard someone crashing around. She smiled as she heard a voice swearing loudly.
"Shit, where is it?" Brad yelled loudly as he tossed around some trash bags. "Oh come on, where is it?"
He managed to get to the bottom of the pile, and grumbled.
"Just a stupid lure." He muttered, before finding something else. It was an envelope addressed to him. He tore it off, staring at it confused. "What the hell?"
"That...that would be a written warning." Allison announced. "One I knew you'd only find if you were out looking for that lure I put out when your shift started...twenty minutes ago!"
"You're writing me up?" He snapped. Allison just nodded her head, before pointing in the door.
"Do remember to wash your hands before you get to the counter." She told him. As Brad stomped past her, clearly put out, Allison just smiled and kissed her I-Phone.
"Best money I ever spent." She commented as she went back inside.
A/N: OK folks, this is kind of a good news/bad news situation. The good news is that on Monday, Dino Supercharge will be starting to air in the UK. Finally able to get all that material will allow me to progress some more with the stories which I'm sure we're all happy to hear.
The bad news is, since this has happened with Super Megaforce, Dino Charge and now Dino Supercharge, it looks as though it'll probably be September NEXT year before they start airing Ninja Steel over here, which will inevitably cause delays in me getting material for that. So, fair warning, don't be surprised if Ninja Steel is delayed significantly.
Thanks for your continued support and reviews.