Disclaimer: I don't own Power Rangers.
Chapter 21 – Date Night
Days turned into weeks but neither the White Ranger nor Trent had made an appearance. Even with the new clam normality, or rather as calm as things could get with monster attacks, Tommy insisted that no one let their guard down. He knew the White Ranger was regrouping and preparing for what would probably be his final strike. Although Trent hadn't been seen in weeks, Connor would not let Kira go anywhere alone, much to her annoyance. He would usually pick her up in the morning; they'd meet Ethan in front of the school and head to class together. Tommy and Kat would often be sitting together when the teens arrived for homeroom. Although they would just as often run in mere seconds before the bell. Kat complained constantly that it was all his fault and that he hadn't changed since high school while Tommy insisted he had, as in high school he would usually be late whereas now they were on time; if only just. Principal Randall seemed to take great pleasure in giving them detention duty whenever they ran in at the last minute.
Mesogog continued to send his monsters down and Elsa and Zeltrax continued to taunt them but they had yet to face a monster they couldn't beat. This confused the teens as it seemed like Mesogog was getting lazy or giving up, neither of which they believed to be true. Tommy and Kat, however, had a better idea of what was going on.
"He's holding back, trying to lull us into a false sense of security." Said Tommy one Friday, nearly a month after the White Ranger had made his last appearance. "They're trying to get us to a place where we're not looking over our shoulders every five minutes so they can catch us off guard."
"So what can we do?" asked Connor.
"Not much I'm afraid. We have to let them make the first move. But keep your guard up. And always be looking over your shoulder. They want us to get lazy and feel secure and as much as I hate saying it, we can't let that happen." The teens nodded.
"Alright well if that's it for now, Kira and I will be going."
"Got a hot date tonight guys?" teased Ethan.
"Yeah, we do actually." Replied Kira.
"Jealous?" asked Connor, smirking.
"No." Scoffed Ethan as they headed up the stairs. Kat and Tommy smiled at each other as their students could be heard bickering from all the way outside. Finally they heard three car doors slam shut and Tommy let out a sigh of relief.
"I thought they'd never leave." He said putting his arm around Kat.
"Are you feeling old, Dr. Oliver, being around all these hyper active teenagers?" asked Kat as she leaned into him. Tommy scoffed.
"Me old? Yeah right. I'm twenty-six and am just as hyper active as I was in high school."
"Mmhmm, whatever you say, Tommy."
"Fine you don't believe me? Let's go out on our own date tonight. I'll show you just how young and active I can be." Kat didn't respond but burrowed deeper into Tommy's side. "Unless of course, you're feeling old and simply can't get up." Kat's eyes snapped open and she turned to glare at Tommy.
"You did not just call me old." She said deathly quietly. Tommy only smirked in answer.
"You know calling your girlfriend old is one way of insuring you stay young. You'll be dead before you have the chance to hit twenty-seven." Tommy let out a laugh as Kat hit his shoulder.
"Alright ignoring the fact that we're both no longer the hyper active teenagers we once were, how about it?"
"How about what?"
"You, me, a date. You know I don't think we've actually gone on a real date since we went to Angel Grove. Though I'm not sure Angel Grove counts as Bulk and Skull were there. So if you think about it, we haven't been on a real date since we gave up the Turbo Powers."
"Very true." Kat said. "Well alright then. If you wish to take me out on the town why not? I'd love to go on a date with you. It is, as you pointed out, long overdue."
"Yeah, and just think. We're not in high school anymore. I don't need to get you home by curfew and stop at the end of the block for a goodnight kiss lest your dad shoot me." Kat laughed but shook her head.
"You do know that the gun we had, which was my grandfathers from World War II, only came out of a box in the attic after we started dating and hasn't actually worked since the war." She stated. "Not to mention that we've had enough practise dodging blasts that I think you could have easily dodged a bullet."
"Yeah I know, but what kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't at least let your father think he could hurt me?" said Tommy in mock seriousness.
"Alright, Dr. Oliver, where are we going tonight?"
"I was thinking of the new Italian restaurant, Mia Italia. It's on the boardwalk so I thought maybe we could go for a walk after?"
"That sounds perfect Tommy."
"Great, so we have reservations for seven." Kat sat up and looked at him.
"Reservations? You planned this?" Tommy smiled.
"Yeah I did. I had hoped you'd say yes and wanted to prove that I wasn't the high school Tommy who wouldn't even know what a reservation was."
"Tommy you know I'm just joking when I say that right?" asked Kat seriously.
"Yes I know." He smiled at her and leaned in giving her a quick kiss. "Alright we better get ready if we're going to make it on time." Kat looked at the clock and noticed it was almost six.
"Yeah you're right. I guess I should go take a shower." Kat got up and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Oh no, you're showering solo. If I join you we'll never get out of here." Kat pouted a little before heading up the stairs. Tommy sat there, resisting the urge to join her, for another fifteen minutes before he too got up to take a shower. Something which he found impossible to do in his own bathroom as Kat had locked herself in it. Tommy sighed, knowing that she wouldn't be out until she was ready and trudged to the guest bathroom. By 6:20 Tommy was showered and dressed and waiting in the living room somewhat nervously. The first time he and Kat had gone on a date he had been a nervous wreak beforehand. He spent a long time getting ready, arrived early for once in his life and had to endure fifteen minutes of her father lecturing him about her curfew and what he could and could not do to his daughter. Tommy didn't pay even an ounce of attention to him as he was to busy imagining what she would wear, if he was overdressed, underdressed and if she would like the place he chose. Needless to say, by the time Kat actually walked down the stairs he was so exhausted from worrying that he was ready to call it a night. However the minute he saw her walking toward him, everything else didn't really matter. As he turned to face the stairs hearing the sound of heels on wood, Tommy mused that something's hadn't changed in eight years.
"Wow…Kat you look…simply gorgeous." Kat smiled at him and came down the final few steps. She was wearing a light pink short sleeved, scooped necked dress, made of some gauzy material that flowed from the waits down and stopped at her knees. She wore matching light pink heels and had her hair pulled back with a few stray curls framing her face.
"You don't look too bad yourself." She commented. Tommy had gone with a simple black suit without the tie. His shirt was white and the first two buttons were left undone.
"Why thank you. Shall we?" he offered her his arm and they exited the house.
Tommy and Kat arrived at the restaurant right on time for their reservation and were quickly shown to their table.
"Wow, this place sure is popular." Said Kat. Tommy looked around the room and noticed that she was right. It seemed that every table in the restaurant was full.
"I'm glad I made a reservation then." The two of them ordered appetizers and a bottle of wine and engaged in simple conversation about their day and their students, intentionally staying far away from the topic that occupied most of their time recently.
"Speaking of students." Tommy half groaned, looking over Kat's shoulder. Kat turned around and saw Connor and Kira being shown to a table a few away from theirs. Kat sighed, though she didn't seem as bothered by it as Tommy.
"It's alright, they haven't even seen us. We don't need to talk to them or even acknowledge them. They don't exist tonight." Tommy nodded and they continued to talk, occasionally stopping to eat. Every now and then, however, Tommy couldn't help but sneak a glance at his students. One time he could have sworn that Connor was staring right back at him but as the teen didn't say anything Tommy let it go. He was glad that for once in his life Connor had enough tact to not bring attention to the fact that he was on a date at the same place as his teacher. Either that or he really wasn't looking at him. Either was fine with Tommy. Nearly an hour later the couple's main course finally arrived. Tommy and Kat took one bite of their pasta and deemed the wait worth it.
"This gnocchi is heavenly." Said Kat, popping another one into her mouth.
"The lasagne's good too. Hey give me one of those." Tommy reached over with his fork but had it batted away.
"No. You got the lasagne, you eat the lasagne. Leave my gnocchi out of it." Tommy smiled and waiting a moment before stealing one when her guard was down.
"Hey!" cried Kat softly.
"Never let your guard down." Was his reply. Kat glared at him but said nothing. They ate the rest of their meal in peace and were waiting for the waitress to bring their dessert when they saw the china on the table start to shake.
"An earthquake?" Kat asked looking up at Tommy. Suddenly a blast sounded. Tommy and Kat both whipped their heads around and saw smoke coming from the kitchen.
"I'd say not." Said Tommy watching some staff run out of the kitchen while other's tried to figure out what was going on. Shortly after, the staff who had braved the smoke ran out of the kitchen yelling for everyone to evacuate the restaurant. It didn't take long for them to realize why when Tyrrannodrones started pouring out of the kitchen. Tommy and Kat, and Kira and Connor jumped up and immediately started helping people outside.
"Dr. O, what do we do?" asked Connor as he and Kira practically carried an elderly couple outside.
"Get everyone out. And hope the Power Rangers show up." He said, looking pointedly at the remaining people in the restaurant. Connor seemed to understand and didn't waste any time in getting people outside.
"Alright, now we take care of these clowns." He raised his Morpher and Kira, Tommy and Kat followed suit.
"Dino Thunder Power Up Ha!"
"It's Morphin Time! Zeo Ranger I – Pink!" In flashes of red, yellow, black and pink the quartet felt the Power encircle them, and seconds later they stood as the Power Rangers.
"Let's take this outside." Ordered Tommy. The others nodded and quickly ran out the door, the Tyrannodrones following close behind.
"Ptera Grips!"
"Tyranno Staff!" Kira and Connor teamed up and took on a group of the Drones.
"Couldn't they have waited till tomorrow? They ruined our date!" Kira snarled as she slashed an oncoming Drone. Connor could tell she was pissed and decided to steer clear of the Drones nearest her.
"And not only ours, Dr. O's and Ms. Hillard's." Connor jumped up and flipped over one of them before stabbing one in the back.
"Are we ever going to be able to go out on a normal date?"
"No." Kat answered from a few feet away. Tommy sighed, knowing she was right, as he took out the last of his Drones. The others weren't far behind him and when the last of them disappeared they grouped together, assuring themselves that everyone was alright.
"Well, I guess we can head home." Said Tommy. "Power-" He was cut off as an blast sent in their direction exploded nearby knocking them down.
"Or not." Tommy picked himself up and looked strait ahead to see a figure walking towards them.
"Hello Rangers." He sneered.
"Trent, why are you doing this? We don't want to fight you!" cried Kira.
"Speak for yourself, Yellow Ranger. I believe your boy toy wants to fight me very much." Kira looked to her right and saw Connor nearly shaking in anger.
"Connor stop. We knew he'd return. He hasn't done anything yet." She murmured.
"Yet." He said through clenched teeth.
"Enough talk." The White Ranger pulled out his Drago Sword and went on the attack. Kat was the first he engaged and he made quick work of her. Just as she fell to the ground, Tommy took her place, anger evident in his voice.
"I guess you learned some new tricks while you were away, didn't you?"
"You have no idea, Black Ranger." It didn't take long for him to send Tommy flying and start in on Kira.
"Ready to go, Kira? We can leave now and I promise you I'll leave your friends alone."
"You'll leave her alone now!" yelled Connor as he charged at Trent.
"You haven't learned anything have you, Red Ranger?" he laughed.
"In case you're forgetting, the last time we fought, I won." He snarled. "Super Dino Mode!" Trent took the opportunity of Connor's lax in attack to flip over his head at Kira who was still sprawled on the ground.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." He said, holding his Drago Sword to her neck.
"Say goodbye, Red Ranger." Trent held up his free hand and summoned a mass of energy which he sent at Connor.
"Connor no!" cried Kira. Tommy, who was closest to him, jumped at him attempting to push him aside but wasn't fast enough. The energy blast hit them both, knocking them backwards.
"Two for the price of one." Said the White Ranger smugly. He bent down and picked Kira up.
"Let go of me!" The White Ranger merely laughed.
"Kira!" cried Kat. She lunged for the younger girl and was able to grab onto her just as the White Ranger disappeared, taking them both with him.
Mere seconds after they vanished, the sound of a motorcycle could be heard and Ethan arrived.
"I'm too late!" he moaned. He got off his Raptor Cycle and searched around, looking for any sign as to where his friends could have gone. He was about to give up when he saw a flash of bright red in the corner of his eye. Ethan took off at a run and stopped short at the sighed of his friend and his mentor not moving.
"Connor! Dr. O!" he cried going over and shaking them. When they didn't wake up he lifted his Morpher to his mouth.
"Hayley, I've found Dr. O and Connor. They're not moving."
"I'll teleport them to the command centre. Any sign of Kira and Kat?"
"No. Nor of the White Ranger or Mesogog's goons."
"Alright, come back here once I've got them. We'll try to figure out what happened.
"Alright." Ethan watched as the two motionless bodies disappeared before he returned to his Raptor Cycle and headed back to Tommy's.
"Hayley what's wrong with them?" were the first words that left his mouth the minute he entered the basement command centre. He walked up to the red head who was attending to the still morphed rangers.
"Are they…"
"They're not dead. They're immobilized." She replied. "I ran a few scans and as far as I can tell they're perfectly healthy."
"Except for the fact they're not moving."
"Exactly." She said going over to the main computer.
"Well can you bring them back?" Demanded Ethan.
"I think so. When whatever the White Ranger sent at them hit them, it freezed their bodies. From what I can tell, their Gems are just fine."
"Yea you can't exactly freeze a rock, can you?"
"Not this way. The blast was directed at their life force. Although the Gems are bonded to them they're still an external factor. I just need to access the power in their Gems and activate it. If I can do that, hopefully the link the Gems have to them will awaken their bodies."
"And if it doesn't?"
"Then we hope Mesogog doesn't attack until we can locate Kira and Kat."
"Meaning if the White Ranger has them we're screwed." Ethan sighed.
"Basically."
"Alright well let's get moving. What do you need me to do?"
"I need you to concentrate your Gem energy on them. The Gems are bonded to their DNA and will only work for them. But the Gems are also connected to one another."
"If I can open that connection, maybe I can access their Gems." Hayley nodded. Ethan walked over to the two still men.
"Alright, well…here goes." Ethan held up the bracelet holding his Gem, closed his eyes and concentrated on the connection between the Gems. He started to glow blue as he delved deeper into the power of his Gem. Connor and Tommy eventually started glowing red and black respectively. The shine the three Gems were giving off as Ethan accessed the connection to its fullest nearly blinded Hayley. When the light had passed she saw Ethan kneeling on the ground panting.
"Ethan!" She ran over to him and helped him into a chair.
"Did it work?" he asked.
"Hayley looked over at Connor and Tommy who had started to groan in sit up.
"Yes." She smiled down at him and moved to let him get a look.
"Connor! Dr. O!"
"Man, my head…what happened?" asked Connor.
"We were hoping you could tell us." Said Hayley. Connor shook his head to clear it and suddenly it all came back.
"No! Kira! He took Kira!" Connor fell to his knees and pounded the ground.
"Where's Kat?" asked Tommy. Ethan and Hayley looked at each other.
"When I got there, the White Ranger had disappeared. Kira and Ms. Hillard weren't there. We think he took them both." Even through the spandex they could see Tommy tense.
"We'll think of something, Tommy. We'll get them back." Assured Hayley trying to head off Tommy's well known rage when someone he loved was involved. Tommy sighed, knowing that, no matter how much he wanted to, ranting and raving wouldn't get them anywhere. Not to mention the example he'd be setting for Connor.
"Your right Hayley. Run a scan on the city." Hayley nodded and went to sit at the computer. "Connor, we'll get them back. But pounding my floor until you crack it is only going to result in you having to fix it." Connor didn't seem impressed with Tommy's attempt to lighten the mood. "Connor come on, let's get some rest. Hayley will let us know if the computer finds anything." Connor nodded and stood up.
"Power down!" they called. Only there was no flash of black and red light. The two looked at each other before trying again. "Power down!" Again they were disappointed when they were met with no light and no surge of energy.
"Well this isn't good." Said Tommy.
A/N - I know it's been to long since I've updated...sorry...
Kira's been captured again, but so has Kat this time. I'm winding down the evil White Ranger saga. The part about it being his final strike is dead on. Tommy and Kat had a date, although it did get interrupted, and Tommy and Connor are now stuck in Morph. I liked the part where Ethan had to tap into the Gems power, I hope the explanation on why and the actual part was ok. I've got the next chapter planned out, although it's not written. I don't know when I'll get it up, but I'm aiming for next weekend...though knowing me it'll be two weeks...sorry...
Review please!