Chapter 1:
It was late that evening. She had promised Ernie that she would close off the youth center. She needed to train badly if she wanted to have a chance to train with Gunthar Schmidt in Florida.
Tommy, who had driven her to the training, even asked if he shouldn't watch just to be sure that nothing would happen but Kimberly told him she would be fine.
The pink ranger was training for half an hour when a dizziness spell distracted her. The dizziness came in waves, so she thought she would be fine soon.
She started with a pirouette, the first few attempts failed and she almost lost balance. She closed her eyes for a minute before she tried again. This time she succeeded, she took a deep breath before making a backward flip.
At first, it looked like she would make it but the moment she came up again another dizziness spell came over her and this time she lost her balance.
She started to fall backward. The dizziness that had gripped her and the momentary weightlessness of freefall disoriented her further, causing her body to twist wildly in the air. So much so that somehow during her fall from the beam her right knee made contact with the gymnastic tool. The full weight of her body, shattering it almost instantly. Still, in motion, her momentum propelled her body across the mat so when she did hit the mat she was almost at its edge. First making contact with her hip she bounced like a stone skipping along the surface of the water, causing her body to travel even further along with the empty space. Smashing her head against the hard tile floor just outside the protection of the safety mats.
She didn't even hear Kat calling her name, for she had been knocked out instantly when her head made contact with the floor and remained unconscious.
The next time her eyes opened she was in an unrecognizable place her body racked with pain. The only comfort she felt was the feeling of a warm hand holding hers.
She heard a soft but familiar voice, "Hey beautiful."
She turned her head ever so slightly and saw a blurry form of her boyfriend come into focus.
"What happened? where am I?" she asked.
"You had a nasty fall, beautiful. You are in the hospital right now." Tommy sighed deeply.
"What?" Kimberly asked shocked.
"I shouldn't have left you. I should have stayed and made sure you were safe," he said softly.
Kim sighed, "I should have listened to you but I didn't want to be a burden. None of this is your fault, it's mine, my choices. I was being stupid and stubborn and should have told you the dizzy spells were getting worse."
Let me get someone. I will be right back," Tommy said, as he brought her hand to her lips and kissed it lightly before leaving.
This had been the worst five days of Tommy's life. Jason, who had taken the first plane back the moment he heard of the accident, had to pull him from Kim's side. He had to make him take care of himself, take a shower, eat, and get some rest with the promise that he would call the moment any change would occur.
At least now she was awake, but despite what she said he still felt guilty, as soon as he had told the doctor he had to tell Jason to tell the others.
"What happened to me?" she asked herself. Her memories of what happened were fuzzy at best, she remembers going into the youth center but everything after that was muddled.
She didn't even know how she ended up here. Did Tommy come after all? She would have to ask when he got back.
"Everyone must be so worried." She thought to herself before her mother came to her mind, she must be freaking out right now.
She was brought out of her thoughts when the doctor entered her room with Tommy right behind him.
"Welcome back, Miss Hart. Good to see you awake." The doctor said as he took that little light stick and shines it into her eyes to check her pupils. "You had a hairline fracture of your skull and a concussion but good news we were able to suture your scalp without the need to shave your head. You were quite lucky to be found when you were. left undiscovered that blow to your head could have been fatal.
outside of other bruising, the other missive injury was your right knee. it was completely shattered. It had to be replaced with an artificial one for yours was beyond repair. With therapy, you'll be able to walk again and regain full mobility. But whether you can compete or not is still to be seen, but highly unlikely." the neutral matter-of-fact tone to his voice did little to cushion the blow of the brutal truth she was just told. that she could kiss her dream of entering the Olympics goodbye.
The Doctor went on to say you lost a lot of blood, we had to transfuse you. Thankfully your blood type AB+ which is the universal recipient. So that was taken care of quickly. Which confused Kim because she knew both her parents were a type A- so there was no way she should be type AB+. She didn't understand how that could be possible? But the even freakier thing was that when they learned about blood types in bio class last month they did a lab where they all had to prick their finger so they could find out their blood type. She had been O + then and Tommy, who was her lab partner, was AB-. How could her blood change so drastically? It's not supposed to do that. She looked at Tommy and could see that he was confused as well.
"Is something wrong, Miss Hart?" the doctor asked
"No, just overwhelmed by everything doctor," Kim replied. She didn't want to say a thing to anyone until she could ask her mother what the hell was going on. Not knowing the large secret her mother carried with her.
The doctor said, "I understand. I'll give you some time."
"Thank you, doctor," Tommy said in Kim's place when he noticed she didn't respond, She was lost in her thoughts.
He left the young couple alone to process all he told them.
As soon as he was gone Tommy said, "Kim, how is that possible? If I remember correctly you were O+ last month?"
Kim was as confused as he was maybe even more so, "I was, I'm sure of it, but I don't think the doctor could be wrong. Maybe I screwed up the Lab work?"
"I doubt we would have gotten such a high grade on that project if you messed up that much." he countered.
"I have to talk to my mother. She is the only one who can explain it." Kim sighed.
Not long after that her mom and Jason came into the room. They were overjoyed to see Kim awake.
"Hey honey, how are you feeling," Caroline asked, a bit worried. Seeing her daughter like this shocked her.
"Like I got hit by a truck mom!" Kim said before asking, "What actually happened?"
"You fell off the beam, beautiful. Kat found you and called the ambulance. She is the reason you are alive." Tommy sighed deeply remembering Kat's phone call. It was like the world ended at that moment.
"Kat saved me?" kim asked, shocked before turning towards her mother and Jason. This was something she had to bring back up later, "The doctor said I'll walk but I'll never compete again."
"I think you must have an excellent guardian angel, Kim," Jason responded not knowing how close to the truth he actually was.
"If he was so good I wouldn't be here to start with." Kim growled to Jason before turning to her mom again, "Mom the doctor said something strange... maybe you can explain it. He said my blood type was AB+ how is that possible? Both you and dad are a type A-, but that is not the strangest thing. Last month in bio class we did the blood typing lab and I came up with O+ then. how is that possible?"
"There is something I still need to tell you, Kimberly. I think now it's the time to answer your first question..." Caroline started to say she didn't know how to break the news to her.
Kim and the two boys looked at her shocked, "What is it, mom?"
Caroline sighed and placed her fingers like a prayer in front of her mouth while she closed her eyes, "It happened 18 years ago. We were in Hawaii on our honeymoon. Your father and I. One night though we had a big fight because I was jealous of the young beauty he was flirting with. You must know I was really insecure since even before we got married he flirted with women in front of me all the time. So we had the first major fight of our marriage, and for the first of many times to come over the next years, he hit me. Right across the face, hard enough to leave the outline of his hand on my face. So I ran out of the room and went to the bar downstairs, I thought it would be a good idea to let ourselves both cool down a bit, and that what had happened had been a one-time fluke. A few minutes after I got there the empty seat next to me was filled by a charming man. I believe he was British, he listened to me, he was charming, compassionate, empathic, and told me everything I so desperately wanted to hear. Anyway, he had something magical about him and before I knew it, I was doing the one thing that I was so mad for at Kevin. I cheated on Kevin for the first and only time in my marriage with him. 9 months later I received a gift from that one night, you." Caroline didn't dare to look at her daughter's reaction before she continued, "When I did see Kevin again he was so sorry for what he did, he apologized and seemed honestly repetitive that I believed him when he said he would never do it again. The rest of that trip he didn't. He treated me like the queen I was, even if he couldn't come close to comparing to your father. It was clear shortly after returning from our honeymoon, that the honeymoon phase was over and the harsh reality set in. So I let him think that you were his. I thought it would protect you. It did for a while and the few times he tried to go after you I stepped in and took his wrath in your place. When we finally got a divorce it was because he got tired of me and ran off with one of his many girlfriends. He was bored of me but fought me hard over you just to hurt me. It's why we managed to settle on joint custody just so he still had that ability to hurt me if he wanted."
"With you only a year away from being considered an adult, and losing that tool to use against me, I'm worried about what he might try to weasel his way back into your life." Caroline continued her story.
Everyone in the room was shocked. They didn't know how to react, especially Kimberly, "Why didn't you tell me before?" She asked suddenly, "Who is my real father?"
"I've been trying to protect you. The divorce hurt you so much, as well as his indifference towards you. I didn't want you to suffer further." Caroline answered the question, "I did an online search for him a few years ago, he owns a nightclub in L.A. called Lux. His name is Lucifer Morningstar."
"Great," Kim said, "My real father is named after the devil."
"Yeah, I know there is a certain irony to it, but he couldn't be any worse than the man I married. he was the true monster." her mom replied
It was a few days later before Tommy dared to ask, "Does he know? Kim's real father?"
"No, I never saw him again after that night." Caroline sighed, "He just disappeared. I tried to write to him so many times since I found out where he was but something always stopped me."
"I think he has a right to know he has a daughter, mom." Kim said, "Who knows he can be what dad wasn't, a good father."
"Maybe if he is willing, from what I read online he is quite the playboy." Caroline wanted to say that she didn't want to get her hopes up, but her ringing phone stopped her.
Caroline fished her phone out of her purse. "Speak of the devil..." Caroline muttered, "one moment baby." As she got up and stepped out of the room.
"What do you want, Kevin!" Caroline said in an angry voice.
Kim looked to Jason and Tommy surprised as they could hear her mother's raised voice. She rarely ever did that.
"Why do you even care? you never even made the effort to be in her life."
Kim instantly felt bad, "they are arguing about me." she said. each of the boys were holding her hand to give Kim some comfort
"You don't even want her! why are you doing this now?"
The three in the room flinched a bit when they heard that. Tommy wrapped an arm around Kim.
"Big news flash Kevin, she, not even yours!" They heard her mother yell a few moments later. They all looked at each other knowing things were going to get ugly from here on out.
"Just go ahead and try, you schmuck!" they heard Caroline yell.
A few minutes later she entered the room again, the rage she felt rolled off her in waves, as well as being visible in her eyes. There was also fear for her daughter's life there as well.
"Mrs. Dumas, what's wrong? Jason asked.
"Kevin wants full custody. He blames me for the accident." Caroline said with tears in her eyes. "He said he will be here in 48 hours with his lawyer to take custody of you."
Kim looked at her utterly shocked.
"What are we going to do?" Tommy asked. He didn't like this one bit.
The shock of everything seemed to snap Kim into a state of mind similar to when she was about to go into battle, a very emotionally detached state that let her think very clearly. "He doesn't know I'm getting discharged in a few hours does he?" she asked her mother in a flat, factual tone that lacked emotion and kind of scared the others a little.
"No, he doesn't. That's why you need to disappear, baby. Go to Los Angeles. Look for your real father, maybe he can help you hide." Caroline said. She hoped he would help her anyway.
"Okay," said Kim,
"We have friends that can help us with that but you need to tell our parents so they don't file missing person reports on us," Tommy responded because the boys decided without a doubt that they were going with Kim to Los Angeles. The ranger leader would easily give up his powers for that.
"Take my father with you." Jason said next, "He was the one that helped you so many times afterward. I know it will be hard but tell him what you told us about Kim's real dad and he'll understand and help you convince Tommy's parents."
"Mom once you've done that, go back to France. stay as far out of his reach as possible." Kim said, "He can't hurt you if he can't find you. It will be easier for me to hide if I know that you're safe." she added.
A few hours later, a little after 3 in the afternoon Kim was discharged as planned, with all her appointments setup. for her outpatient physical therapy. The guys wheeled Kim out to her mother's car.
They had to find a way to get to the command center as soon as possible. They had to talk to Zordon.
So as soon as they got to Kim's house. Kim tells her mother, "Mom go to Jason's parents now and talk to them. There is no time to lose. We are going to go see our friends. now, and get the ball rolling on getting to LA."
Her mom got tears in her eyes, "so this is goodbye? right now?"
Kim nodded, "just for a little while. Don't worry, the guys will take care of me."
Her mother looks at her and starts to cry a bit as she hugs her close.
The moment Caroline left the driveway Tommy said, "Hold on to me, Jason. Let's teleport to the command center."
"Let me take Kim. She can teleport both of us while I am carrying her." Jason answered.
Tommy nods and gives Kim to Jason. Tommy had been carrying her since they had to leave the wheelchair at the hospital.
"Maybe Zordon can help us with getting a new wheelchair." Jason said
"Or Billy" Kim said now being in Jason's arms.
"Come on we don't have time to lose." Tommy said with his leader's voice.
They nodded and teleported out of the room.
They arrived in the command center and right away alpha started to panic.
"ay ay ay ay ay, Kimberly, we are so glad you are alive," Alpha said.
"So am I alpha." She answers, "can you call the others we have something very important to talk about."
Just then Zordon appeared in his tube.
It took only a few minutes for the rest to arrive Kat included. Zordon already sensed what was going to happen.
"It's too bad that it has ended that way." Zordon said, "But I have a solution for your problem Tommy. I won't let you give up your powers."
"What is he talking about?" Rocky asked.
Kim cries, "it's my fault."
"No, it isn't your fault, my pink ranger. You will always have the power to protect you in the future." Zordon started, "The only thing I ask is to keep an open mind and don't let what people say make you fear your real father. That's all I can say about it."
Kim sighed before saying, "It turns out the man I thought was my father isn't actually my father. Now he is trying to take custody of me away from my mother just to hurt her and me. So my mother wants me to leave and find my real father."
"Me and Jason are going to travel with her to keep her safe but Zordon, how can I be a ranger leader when I am in Los Angeles?" Tommy asked, confused.
"You have permission to teleport back and forth since it is in the protection of the world and of Kimberly here. You will choose a second in command but you will be on standby when needed." Zordon explained.
Tommy didn't need to think about it, "I choose Rocky."
"Kimberly you on the other hand you will have to pass on your powers since your body is not up to the task." Zordon continued.
"That's why I choose Kat to take over my powers and become the pink ranger. She is the reason I am still alive. We gave Tommy a chance. I think she deserves one too." Kim said with a smile.
Kat looked surprised.
"You were there when it counted Kat and that is enough to earn a second chance at least it is to me." Kim gives her coin to Kat, "Please take good care of it. I know you will be an excellent pink ranger." A pink jolt travels from Kim's hand to Kat's.
"I will not disappoint you," Kat said with tears in her eyes.
"Zordon, Kim's going to need a wheelchair for a while and I have to put her down." Jason said.
Kim smirked, "am I getting too heavy?"
"Never, but I didn't want to drop you either." Jason winked at her.
"Accept this as a gift from me," Zordon said before he made a pink wheelchair appear.
"Thanks, Zordon," Kim said with tears in her eyes.
Jason placed her in the chair.
"But what are we going to do once we get there? we have no transportation, no place to stay, no money, how are we going to get there?" she asked
"We can crash with my uncle until we figure things out. He owns a garage there, along with the apartment above it." Jason offered.
"Know that I will watch over you always, Kimberly." Zordon suddenly said with a sad tone, one that echoed her mother.
"Thank you Zordon. I'll miss you and know I was proud to be your pink ranger. I hope to see you again." she said in a teary voice
"Let the power protect you always, my rangers." was the last thing Zordon said.
After a round of hugs and goodbyes from everyone, they teleport out to Jason's uncle's place.
TBC