It had been a little over a year since the day Tommy met Anton Mercer. After completing their semester, Tommy and Kimberly returned to California to finish up their graduate studies. Both of them had graduated with their masters. Kimberly wasn't able to get a job at school in Angel Grove or Reefside, so she just worked at a fitness gym for the time being. As for Tommy he was still continuing his education while working for Anton Mercer's Industries. Currently, they were in the process of building a home in Reefside, which nearly completed; while their new home was being build they were living an apartment close to the Reefside mall.
Tommy walked into the kitchen and found that Kimberly had already picked up the mail. There was mail for him and a letter for Kimberly. It appeared as if she had already opened it. He took it out of the envelope and saw that she had a job interview at Reefside Elementary for a full-time job as PE teacher for the upcoming school year.
Lying next to her opened envelope was a letter she left for him.
Tommy,
I am sorry to leave without waking you up. I've got a really important letter and I've left to go to Reefside Elementary. I will be back shortly.
Love,
Kimberly
Ever since they moved to Reefside in the summer of 2000, Kimberly was wanting to apply for a job in the Reefside school system. At the fitness gym that she was currently working at, she was only teaching swimming and aqua exercise classes. Her busiest schedule fellow on Saturdays and in the summer months. On the days she was busy she was leaving their apartment at 8:00 AM and was getting off work at 4:00 PM. The rest of the time she was lucky if she got to work during the week. To get in more hours, she was substituting teaching. Currently, she was substituting for a teacher who had taken a leave of absence. When she wasn't subbing, she was working as Tommy's assistant in the lab.
He put Kimberly's letter back in the envelope and shifted his attention to the envelope with his name on it. However, it was just barely sealed. With shaking hands, he opened the envelope and pulled out a letter.
Dear Tommy,
I am pleased to tell you that you've been one of the three people who have been chosen to attend an internship with me. We will be studying dinosaurs and doing projects which will involve combining dinosaur DNA and technology together. Our study will last sixteen months and we will be staying on island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. If you choose to attend, you have very strict requirements to follow.
We do not allow jewelry expect for a watch and a wedding ring and an engagement ring. Women are allowed to bring one necklace, but they must keep it on at all times.
We will supply your bedding and food, so the only things you will need to bring is clothing. However, we are only allowed to bring pajamas, solid color or stripe tee shirts, solid color plaid dress shirts (short sleeves or long sleeves. (Women are allowed to wear three-quarter sleeves), women are allowed to bring skirts that are knee length and sheath dresses that are knee lengths (dress may be sleeveless), socks must be a solid color, you must bring a pair of dress shoes and a pair of tennis shoes, a belt, and hair supply items.
Anyone with long hair must have it pulled back into a ponytail while we are working in the lab
We have a pool outside our lab for weekends and days off, if you want to swim you must bring a pair of swimming trunks, jammer shorts, or board shorts. Women must wear a one-piece suit.
We provide meals for everyone, if you choose to eat in your dorm you must purchase your own food
We have a convenient store on our island and everyone there must buy their hygiene items and groceries from there. You will be provided with a mini refrigerator, mini freezer, a can opener and a microwave in your sleeping quarters. (If you purchase food that needs to be warm, you can only buy food that can be warmed up in the microwave)
On Monday through Friday you will be working in the lab from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
On Saturdays you will be working in the lab from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM (note: Once a month, you will get a Saturday off)
You will have Sundays Off
This internship will count towards a higher degree. The project is top secret; therefore, you aren't allowed to have any contact with anyone who isn't working on the island with you.
If you choose to attend, you must get back with us within a week. We will leave to go to the island in August and will return in December of next year!
Sincerely,
Anton Mercer
"Kim, put in an application too," Tommy sighed. "I guess she didn't get chosen."
He put the letter back in the envelope and took a seat on the couch. He covered his face with his hands as his eyes begin to tear up. Just six years ago, Kimberly was in his shoes when she had to make a decision whether to remain a power ranger or to go to Florida and train for the Pan Global Games. If he had known that Harry was going to purposely break them up and throw her down a wooden stair case, he would have told her don't go. He wanted to tell her that from the beginning, but he knew that she'd always regret not going. Tommy knew that Kimberly would want him to go, but he knew that he had to follow his heart.
"I just hope she takes my decision well," Tommy said as he wiped his face. "I'm not going to go off and leave her for sixteen months."
"Tommy, I'm home!" Kimberly announced. "I've got great news to tell you."
"Really, what is it?" Tommy answered hoarsely when he sat up.
It appeared that she had really went out of her way to look nice for the job interview. She was wearing a pink floral sleeveless knee length dress and a pair of pink strappy flat sandals. Anyone who was as beautiful, loving, hardworking, sweet like her was bound to get a teaching position.
"Tommy, are you okay?" Kimberly asked when she noticed his red eyes. She immediately took a seat next to him. "What's troubling you?"
"I got accepted to go on an internship with Anton Mercer," Tommy stated. "But, I don't think I am going to take it."
"Tommy, do you realize what you are giving up?" Kimberly gasped as her jaw dropped. "Why are you doing this?"
"I do, I've dreamed of doing an internship with Anton Mercer since I was a little boy," Tommy confessed taking a deep breath. "But, when I got married, I promised that I was going to be faithful to you. I'm not going to go off and leave you for a year and not have any contact with you-"
"-Tommy, I realize that we were in a similar situation when I went to the Pan Global Games," Kimberly interrupted. "But, there is something that you need to know-"
"-Kim, I know. When I was in your shoes, I didn't want you to go," Tommy started. "But, I knew that you'd always resent me if I held you back from your dream. The biggest mistake I made was not coming after you when I got the fake break up letter. When you went to Florida, I wish that I passed down my power coin and went with you-"
"-Tommy, please listen to what I've been trying to tell you!" Kimberly shouted as she reached into her purse and pulled out a letter. "Please read this!"
She handed Tommy the letter and he started to read it. Kimberly watched with a smile as his eyes widened and a big smile appeared on his face.
"You've been chosen too!?" Tommy gasped putting the letter down.
"I was," Kimberly smiled taking hold of his hand. "I noticed that you got a letter. When I saw that you had been chosen too, I took the letter to Reefside Elementary and told them that I couldn't take the job because we were both chosen to go on an internship-"
"-so that explains why my letter was just barely sealed," Tommy smirked.
"Yes, I'm guilty," Kimberly admitted. "And I am sure the reason why you were going to turn down the internship was because you read my letter that I got from Reefside Elementary."
"You know me pretty well," Tommy grinned as his cheeks turned pink. "Are you sure that you want to give up your chance of being a PE teacher?"
"Tommy, I am sure," Kimberly promised. "When I talked with the principal said that he understood my decision and I needed to go with you. He told me that when we returned, I will be notified when a job comes available. I was told that I was one of the top choices in the Reefside School district to be hired as a PE or Health teacher. They could have an opening in the fall of 2003 because the health and PE teacher at Reefside High are planning on retiring around that time."
"That's great!" Tommy cried and he pecked her on the cheek. "I always knew that you'd make a good teacher."
"And I know we'll both do well on this internship," Kimberly added taking hold of Tommy's hand. "I was hoping that the both of us would be chosen to go on the internship so we could work on the creating dino morphers, Bio zords, and raptor riders."
"Beautiful, I really want to go on this internship," Tommy started. "But, I can help from feeling sad about us not being able to have any contact with our friends and family for sixteen months."
"Tommy, our family and friends will feel the same way you did when I went to the train for the Pan Global Games," Kimberly reminded him as she gave his hand a tight squeeze. "I know they will tell us that they will miss us. But, they won't want us to give this up."
"I can tell you really want to go too," Tommy said as he gazed to into her eyes. "How do you feel about us being stuck on an island for six months and not being able to have any contact with them?"
"I'm nervous and scared about it too," Kimberly admitted. "But, it isn't as bad as it was when I went to Florida because you're coming with me and we'll be rooming together. And besides, I promised you a few years ago that I'd help you with the dino gems."
"We won't have to worry about being apart from each other again," Tommy smiled giving her a tight hug. "Are you sure that you can put up with only having me around you for sixteen months?"
"Of course," Kimberly giggled when she hugged him in return. "I love you."
Meanwhile, Terrance Smith was spying on them from outside, while hiding in a bush. Unknown to Tommy and Kimberly, he had been chosen for the internship was going to finish Harry's dream of being able to turn people into monsters.
"You can be happy now," he muttered. "I'll do whatever I can to destroy your projects and fulfil Harry's wishes. Hopefully, I can find a way to save Goldar while I'm on this internship."
Author's note: What does Terrance Smith have planned for the internship? What kind of stunts do you think he might pull? Find out in the next chapter!
