Chapter 7

Kimberly was settled comfortably in Jason's front passenger seat, her feet on the dash and the back down almost as far as it would go, just over an hour later. Tommy sat behind Jason, spending more time with his eyes on Kimberly than ahead towards where they were going. Jason, for his part, was doing his best to ignore the blatant advances Kimberly continued to make in his direction despite his obvious disinterest.

He brought the car to a halt along a mostly deserted stretch of beach that was reminiscent of Angel Grove's park back in California. The beach was lined on one side with palm trees and various greens along with a pathway system. The plaza was deserted at that time of day - the hottest part - which was what Jason had been hoping for. He put the truck into park before turning to look at his friends. "I've a couple of errands to run before my class tomorrow morning, but I'll be back in a few hours to get you guys."

"But Jason," Kimberly pouted, sitting up straight and the bringing the seat back with her. "I thought you were going to be around. I don't want to spend time with Tommy; I want to spend it with you."

"I'm flattered, Kim," Jason kept his tone evenly neutral so not to encourage her, but his words were clipped indicating he didn't appreciate her actions. "Really. You could be a little more sensitive, though - Tommy was your friend first. Show a little respect for his feelings."

She huffed and looked away, but Jason caught the subtle shift in her posture. Interesting. His suggestions appeared to have an impression on whatever spell she was under. His suspicions were confirmed when Kim turned to Tommy with an apologetic smile.

"Tommy, I'm really sorry about all of this. I really didn't want to hurt you, you know."

Tommy glanced at Jason before meeting Kim's gaze. "I know."

"What do you say we do as Jason suggested and spend the afternoon at the beach?"

The abrupt about-face caught both men off guard but Tommy jumped at the opportunity. "I'm game."

"Morphinominal!" Kimberly unbuckled her belt, pushing open the door. "Jason, while you're out what do you say you grab some hot dogs and we do a fire on the beach later for dinner?"

"Good idea, Kim." Jason made a mental note. "I'll pick up a couple of other things while I'm at it. Have fun, you two."

Her smile was brilliant, almost blinding, with his approval. "Don't worry about us; we'll figure something out."

Tommy closed his down behind him as he dropped to the pavement of the parking lot and slapped it twice. "Thanks Jason. We'll see you at sunset."

He waved in acknowledgement and put the truck back into gear. The truck pulled away, leaving Tommy alone with Kimberly for the first time since he'd received her letter. He was nervous and skittish, wondering how he could get through to her in the time he had - if at all. The chance was one he hadn't really expected - at least not this soon - and he didn't know where to start.

Kimberly, however, seemed less than thrilled. Her smile died almost immediately after Jason's truck disappeared from view. She cast him a dark look. "Well, if we're stuck here until Jason gets back, what do you say we go for a walk and at least try to make nice?"

Ouch. Tommy winced. "I've never had to try and be nice with you, Kim, even when we were just friends."

She looked chagrined, and he could almost see Jason's scold echoing through her head. "I suppose - I haven't been very nice about all of this, have I?"

He shook his head.

Kimberly stepped forward, placing a hand on his arm, and looking up into his face. Her expression was contrite - remorseful - but it was her eyes that held him captive. Her lips moved, but he didn't hear whatever she was saying. Trapped inside the brown orbs that had haunted his dreams in the months she was gone, was the Kimberly he knew. She was reflected in their depths, in pain and struggling valiantly against the force that held her captive.

A strange sound, like something out of a memory, brought his head up sharply. Kimberly was cut off mid-sentence as he spun her away from him and ducked, a golden fist headed for his head.

Tommy dropped, spinning as he did, and sweeping the legs from the creature. Golden in color and standing a few inches shorter than he was with strange pieces sticking up from their heads, he hadn't expected them in Florida. The creature hit the ground with barely a sound only to be replaced by several more.

Cogs.

Of all the rotten timing.

"Tommy, what are these things?"

"New enemies, Kim. Be careful!"

She ducked, diving away as one tried to grab her, and coming up kicking.

Tommy didn't have time to watch as he had his hands full. Four of the Cogs had come at him, not including the one who lay twitching on the ground. He spun, kicking out and sending another to the ground. It quickly regained its feet, but not before he'd sent another its way and the two of them hit the ground together. The other two circled cautiously, blocking his attacks, but not making any of their own.

He took a split second to check on Kim and found her holding her own, the four cogs who'd come after her being repelled by powerful sweeps of her legs and arms.

The grin that split his face was practically feral as he turned his attention back to the two remaining cogs, back flipping away as one attempted to capitalize on the opening of his split attention.

"Kim - run for the plaza."

She didn't take even a moment to respond, simply threw herself into a backwards hand spring and darted away towards the plaza. Tommy momentarily downed the two Cogs who'd stepped in to block his path to Kim, and took off after her. She stayed ahead of him, launching herself into an attack as two more cogs appeared in their path. One dropped as she landed on it, twisting with her legs as she did to keep it down.

Tommy caught up and down the other with a vicious backwards cuff across the head. Kimberly accepted his quickly proffered hand, seemingly without thinking, and was on her feet beside him in moments, continuing their dash.

They reached the plaza, and Tommy motioned for her to get on the nearest bench as he took up a fighting stance in front of it. The Cogs seemed to think better of attacking in singles and took a moment to regroup. Gathering together, they waited until all functioning units were within arm's reach and then charged to two.

"Tommy?"

The sound of her inquiring voice calling his name, even in that worried tone, was like balm to his wounded heart. Kimberly, his Kimberly, had always trusted him to have some kind of plan to get them out of scrapes like this. Of course, she's also had good ideas once she'd become more confident as a Ranger and spoken out.

"When I tell you to, jump."

"That's it? That's your-"

The cogs rushed in.

"Now!"

Tommy dropped, rolling along the ground and connecting with the legs of several Cogs as he did, but pushing himself through to the other side.. He saw a blur of color as Kimberly jumped up and over, twisting in mid-air to land gracefully to the side. He rolled to a stop at her feet, grinning from his prone position. "Didn't you used to tell me you wanted the whole world at your feet?"

She laughed, her eyes sparkling, and for a moment the smile was in complete harmony with the look in her eyes - his Kimberly was in control.

Just as quickly, the door seemed to slam shut, driving her away, and her laughter died. "You're hardly the world, Tommy. Now what?" She nodded to where the Cogs had tripped over the bench, and each other, in their attempt to capture them.

"Follow me."

He grabbed her hand, pulling her deeper into the plaza and the mass of greenery. Ducking around paved pathways, he chose deliberately blind corners until he reached the other side of the gardens. Kimberly made no move to free her hand, distracted by their pursuers, and kept looking back over her shoulder to see if they were still being followed.

Tommy ducked and pulled her into a bush, snapping branches as he did before emerging into the center of the planter itself. They were surrounded on all sides by greenery, effectively screened by the wall. Tommy hit the deck, dragging her down with him as he stretched out on his stomach.

"Why don't you just morph?"

"Something doesn't feel right about this." He slanted her a look. "They rushed us as a group, and I don't know if you noticed but they're looking more at you than me."

"That's weird?"

"They don't know you, Kim - you were never a Ranger when they arrived." He crawled forward, spreading the branches a little and watched as the Cogs searched the pathways for them. "Don't you think it's odd to focus on you?"

"A lot of people focus on me, Tommy. It's part of my profession."

"People, maybe, but the Machine Empire?" He shook his head. "There's more to it than that, I know it. I don't know how just yet, but deep down something doesn't feel right."

"Maybe Zordon can help."

He smiled a half-smile. "Good idea. If anyone should have some answers it's him."