Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Ranger series.
Chapter 25
Kim had to sit on the couch after Tommy had told her the news.
"Seriously?" she asked.
He had told her that his uncle had invited him to his place to help out.
"It's only for a couple of weeks," Tommy told her.
"If you must," Kim replied with a sigh.
Tommy laughed and sat next to her.
"You'll live," he replied.
"Yeah, I know," Kim said.
Kim then got up and grabbed a guitar from the closet.
"I've never heard you sing," Tommy said.
Kim gave him a confused look. She could have sworn he had.
"Yes you…" she began to explain, but then she stopped. It came back to her. "Oh, right."
"The clone," Tommy guessed. Kim nodded. He put a hand on her shoulder as she sat back down. "It's over now."
"Yes, it is," Kim agreed.
Kim then strummed on her guitar for a little while. She stopped, not being able to get into it. "It'll be good getting away. Get your head clear."
Tommy agreed. He needed to get away for a while. If anything were to happen when he was away, they would call him.
xxx
After saying goodbye to Tommy the next day, the others went to the gym. Finals had just ended before breaking for the holidays.
"Zack?" a male voice called out.
Zack turned and smiled.
"Hey, Curtis," he greeted him. "Guys, this is my cousin, Curtis. He just finished his first semester here."
"You liking it so far?" Trini asked.
"I am. It's different, but good," Curtis said.
Jason noticed the instrument in Curtis's hand.
"You play?" he asked.
Curtis looked down at the saxophone and nodded.
"Oh, Curtis was the bomb in High School," Zack said, slapping his cousin on the back.
Curtis have an embarrassed laugh.
"We have to listen to you some time," Kim said.
"Well, I'm actually performing at the Jazz festival this weekend. You all should go," Curtis told them.
"Sounds good," Billy replied.
They said their goodbyes and went to work out.
xxx
Kim laid in bed the next night as she talked on the phone with Tommy. She had mentioned Curtis and the festival.
"Go to the festival," Tommy told her.
"You sure?" Kim asked.
She felt bad because he was not here, but knew she should not.
"Yes, have a good time with the others," Tommy said.
And that was the end of that subject.
"How are things going?" Kim asked.
"Good. Can't wait to be back," Tommy replied.
"See you soon," Kim said.
She hung up and went to bed.
xxx
It was the day of the festival. Kim was supposed to meet up with Trini, but she had not answered. Come to think of it, she had not heard from her, Zack, and Jason for days now. Kim had to suppress a giggle when she saw a girl chatting up Billy when she arrived at the festival.
"Who's the lucky girl?" she asked Billy when he walked up to her.
"Very funny," Billy told her, not looking amused to all. "Her name's Laura and she's from class."
"Come on, let's find the others," Kim said, grabbing his hand to look for the rest.
They ended up running into Rocky, Adam, and Aisha as well. Little did they know Rita and Zedd had taken notice of the Ranger's new friends?
"What should we do with those three?" Rita asked Zedd as the watched the group enjoying the music at the festival.
"Let's test their skills first away from the Rangers," Zedd said.
xxx
Kim and Billy could not believe what they were hearing. Jason, Trini, and Zack had just told them their news.
"How long?" Billy asked.
The three looked at each other for a moment.
"A year," Jason told him.
Jason, Trini, and Zack had been invited to study abroad.
"What are we going to do?" Kim asked as looked at Billy, who shrugged his shoulders.
"Zordon and Alpha will have to pick our replacements," Zack replied.
"You all are really going through with this," Kim said.
"We can't miss this opportunity," Trini replied.
"Zordon would agree," Billy told them.
"So, when do you leave?' Kim asked.
"Right before the new semester begins," Jason replied.
Kim took Trini in her arms.
"I'm going to miss you guys," she said.
Rocky, Adam, and Aisha came running up to them.
"What's wrong?" Zack asked.
"Yeah, you look like you got your asses kicked," Jason replied.
The three have a heavy breath as they laughed.
"You should see the others," Rocky said.
They others gave each other a shocked look.
"Seriously, what happened?" Kim asked.
"Putties," Adam said.
They concerned the Rangers even more.
"Why weren't we called to help?" Trini wondered.
"I don't know," Billy said.
"It's not like Zordon and Alpha to do that," Jason replied.
"There has to be a reason," Zack told them.
"I'm glad you all are all right," Kim said.
The rest nodded in agreement.
"We'll see what's going on," Jason told them.
Rocky, Adam, and Aisha leave. After a few minutes, Kim made her move to leave as well.
"Guys, I'm out. Tommy's coming in an hour," she replied.
"Okay, see you tomorrow," Trini said.