"So is everyone here?" Kim asked Kat after finally handing Austin off to Trini.
"Almost. We're just waiting on Mystic Force. I guess they got into an argument before they left about how to get here. Something about a motorcycle."
"Mystic Force…" Kim thought aloud as they walked to the backyard. "They're the newest team, right?"
"No, that would be Operation Overdrive," said Ashley, who heard Kim's question as they walked up to where a few people were gathered.
"But Mystic Force was before them," added Kendrix.
"And before that was Dino Thunder?" Kim asked.
"Yep," Tori answered quickly. A little too quickly, but she left to greet Connor and Ethan before anyone had a chance to say anything.
"Hey guys! So, Kira let you out. I gotta admit, I didn't think she'd do it so quickly. Where is she anyhow?"
"Dunno. Don't care. Ooh food!" said Connor before rushing over to a table.
"That kid's definitely got his priorities in order," Rocky said as he came out of the kitchen, followed by the Mystic Force Rangers. "Hey! Color-coded people!" he yelled to the crowd in the backyard while stepping up on a chair. "This is the Mystic Force team! Nick red, Madison blue, Chip yellow, Xander green, Vida pink! I hope you all have been taking notes throughout the morning, because Tommy will be giving a quiz later! …Don't tell him I told you…"
"Oh very funny," Tommy said dryly.
"I thought so," Rocky replied, hopping down from the chair.
"Hello there," Xander said walking up to Tori and Ethan. "Great party. I must say, my favorite part is the two people making out on the driveway." He winked at Tori.
"They're on the driveway?"
"Well, they're in a car that's on the driveway,"' Chip added in.
"Good thing too," Xander said grinning. "I imagine the driveway would be awfully uncomfortable to lay on."
Tori laughed. "Xander, this is Ethan. Dino Thunder blue."
"Hi. So, you're with Kira, right?" he and Tori were both laughing now.
"Uh, yeah," Ethan said confused at their exchange of words.
"Don't mind him," Madison said softly, also not knowing what they were talking about. "He's been giddy since we passed that car."
"Give it a few hours, it'll wear off," Vida added, hitting Xander upside the head.
"Yeah, if they're even done in a few hours," Xander managed to gasp out before he and Tori cracked up again.
Adam chose right then to walk up to his most recent teammates. "Hey Xander, Tori." Xander and Tori just laughed harder when they realized that Adam would know what they were laughing about. "What's so funny?" Adam asked the others.
"Kira," Xander gasped.
"Trent," Tori managed.
"Our Kira?" Adam asked, starting to smile. "Ah. I see. I trust you didn't soak them this time Tori?"
The three of them were all laughing now. Ethan, Vida, Madison, and Chip looked between the three of them before walking away.
"I do not understand you people," Ethan said.
"Please Dr. O?"
"For the last time, no! Go bug Kim!"
"She told us to come bug you about it," Ethan said happily.
"Well, I'm telling you to go bug Jason."
"But you just said to bug Kim," Connor said.
"I changed my mind. Go find him or Rocky or someone."
"Now you want us to bug Rocky too?" Ethan said exasperately. "Would you make up your mind already!"
"Just go away! And no beer!"
"Dr. Oooooo!!!" they both whined.
"NO! I told your parents I'd make sure you didn't do anything stupid, and I'm holding by that!"
"Seriously?" Connor asked. "Dr. O, you've met my parents. They are the definition of stupid..."
"And it's not stupid!" Ethan added. "It's actually pretty responsible! I mean, there's plenty of trustworthy adult supervision."
"They also said to not let you do anything illegal."
Connor and Ethan glanced at eachother.
"Ok yeah. That sounds more like my parents," Ethan gave in. He turned and went into the kitchen. Connor grudgingly followed.
"No dice," Connor said to the small crowd in the kitchen.
"Did you try whining?" Kira asked from the doorway. "You know Dr. O hates when you do that."
Connor just stuck his tongue out at her.
"Kira!" Xander exclaimed surprised. "I didn't know you were even here!" Tori stifled a giggle as Xander got up to hug Kira. "Where have you been hiding out?"
"Oh shut up tree boy," Kira said while Trent looked embarassed behind her.
"Guys," Vida said rolling her eyes, now that she knew the story behind Kira's disappearing act. "If you don't mind..."
"Sorry love," Xander said cheekily, sitting down next to her again.
"I change my mind. Go back over there."
"I have an idea of what we can do!" Dustin said excitedly, which quieted everyone down. "We could play musical chairs!" he said with mock enthusiasm.
Nine people groaned at him.
Dustin, Tori, Connor, Ethan, Trent, Kira, Chip, Xander, Madison, and Vida were gathered in the kitchen. They had been banned from the backyard, with the older rangers claiming that it was a "no underage" zone. This had mainly been to keep their kids inside Kat and Jason's recently added play room, so they would bother each other instead of their parents. The clever idea totally backfired.
Unfortunately for the ex rangers under 21, Billy and Trini's son Joey took after his parents and was a super-genius, even at seven years old. He threatened a revolt of all the kids if even one person under the age of 21 was allowed into the backyard. The parents, who prefered to catch up with their ranger friends than fend off an attack of kindergardners and preschoolers, didn't hesitate to give into his demands.
That led the ten "underage" rangers to find something else to do that didn't involve baby-sitting, which is what Jason had originally suggested for them to do.
"Wait," Dustin said slowly. "I totally got it."
"What?" the other nine asked wearily.
"We could..." he paused dramatically. "Go to Wal-Mart!"
They all stared at him blankly, with the exception of Connor, who was grinning widely. "Dude, brilliant!"
"Wal-Mart?" Madison asked weakly.
Vida shook her head exasperately. "What the hell is there to do at Wal-Mart?!"
