Note: This is our tribute to one of the most fun episodes in PR history and, like the previous chapter, a further attempt to establish a timeline for our story. Enjoy what -- in our imagination -- might have taken place on Earth during (and after) "Forever Red" ... Please drop feedback into the box at the door? DB/CR
Seasons To Remember
Chapter 10: The Wrath Of A Ranger
The silence that had fallen over the family was just short of uncomfortable; it was time to leave the painful memories the WTC tragedy had evoked behind, despite everyone's relief that the Parks had survived unscathed. To that purpose, Kat's youngest determinedly reached over to the album still lying on his mother's lap and turned the page in the hopes of finding something to lift everyone's spirit. There was one picture in particular two pages over that seemed promising.
"Who are these guys?" Jared wondered, having come upon a group shot of nine young men, all roughly the same age, all athletic – and all wearing at least some article of red clothing. "There's Dad, and Uncle Tommy … I think I recognize these three from somewhere, but have no idea how … are those two military, or something? That looks like uniforms they're wearing."
Oliver looked over his brother's shoulder. "Yeah, they do look kind of familiar … but I can't place them, either. Mom?"
Kat didn't need to be shown the picture, snapped by Aurico, to know who was in it. She shared a glance with Tommy. It was a time when she and Kim had been more afraid than ever in their lives – when Tommy and Jason had joined with their fellow Red Rangers to save the Earth one last time.
"They were … colleagues," Tommy said casually. "Your Dad and I knew them from fighting together." He hoped fervently that none of the kids would recognize Andros or Carter Grayson, whose identities were on public record – and the Silver Hills Guardians' leaders hadn't exactly kept a low profile, either. (Luckily, the current operators of both branches of the Red Dragon Dojo had yet to meet Eric and Wes in person.) While he, Kim, Jason and Kat had been aware of their oldest sons' activities as Rangers – it had been among their proudest moments when they, too, had been chosen for that duty, Jay to wear the Red and Oliver the Black, as his second-in-command – as far as they knew, they were unaware of their parents' involvement, unless their mentor had told them.
"Oh, a tournament?" Jasmine asked, losing interest. While she, too, knew some martial arts, it wasn't high on her list of hobbies.
"Something like that," Tommy replied, glossing over the subject. He'd noticed the shadow descending over his fiancée's blue eyes, and didn't want to cause her fresh anguish by making her relive the memory. To his eternal gratitude, he succeeded in diverting the family's attention by pointing at the next photograph, showing a bride and groom on the steps of St. Magdalen's. "Goodness, I'd almost forgotten about that! Look, here's a picture of Rocky at your folks' wedding reception, Jazz," he chuckled.
"I see that," Ramon muttered, ignoring Trini's sudden delighted snicker as she took a good look at the picture. "Uncle Tom … why is Papa wearing that silly fake moustache, a mask and a cape?"
"He looks like a silent movies actor in that getup," Jared chortled. "No offense, Ramon, but that is so your dad!"
"I'll say," Trini giggled. She and Rocky mutually adored each other, and got along great. "He looks like Zorro!"
"That's exactly what it was supposed to be," Tommy grinned. "And as with most of these pictures, there's a story behind that, too."
"Tell, tell!" clamoured everybody, and he obliged gladly, giving Kat time to regain her composure.
While Tommy told the story about the bet Rocky had made with Zack about wearing a Zorro costume to his best friend's wedding without getting killed by Tanya that had their offspring in stitches with laughter, Kat let her mind wander back to that day when Kim had appeared unexpectedly at her doorstep, clearly on the verge of tears, and breezed past her.
~*~
"Good, you're home," she said without pausing. "I need to talk to someone, like, so bad …! I feel like I'll burst, or go crazy or something if I don't!"
"Why, Kim, what's wrong?" the taller blonde asked, alarmed, as she followed her friend inside her apartment and guided her towards a seat. Agitation rolled off Kimberly in waves, and it took her a few seconds to compose herself enough to speak coherently at all.
"They're gone," Kim sniffled, striving for control. "God, Kat, these idiots have actually gone!"
Completely baffled, Kat sank down next to her. "Who has gone? Gone where? To do what?"
"Tommy and the others," the gymnast gulped. "He got a call from Andros, and now they're on their way to the moon!"
It took Katherine a moment to connect the name with a face and an identity.
"Andros? The Red Space Ranger? The one who killed Zordon?"
"And saved the Earth from Astronema, yes."
"Right. But – I don't understand. What are they doing on the moon, of all places? And who is 'they'?" A terrible suspicion began to gnaw at Kat. Jason was supposed to have arrived fifteen minutes ago; sure, he had promised to pick up groceries on his way home so she hadn't given it much thought – the checkout lines could have been longer than usual – but what if …
Kimberly made a brave attempt to tell everything in order. "Tommy didn't have much time to explain everything, just the essentials, but it seems some leftover types from the Machine Empire have discovered Serpentera buried on the moon and now want to use it to destroy Earth – again. Revenge for destroying King mondo, or something. It's too much for the current Ranger team to handle or whatever, so Tommy and Andros have gathered all the current and former Red Rangers they could get hold of and sailed off into space to fight them if they can."
"All the Red Rangers? You mean … Jason has gone with him?"
Kimberly gasped as Kat's sudden pallor and incredulous question registered. "Oh no – he didn't tell you?!?"
"He most certainly didn't," Kat said from between clenched teeth, feeling herself suddenly go weak at the knees.
"How could you not know?" Kim wondered. "You're as good as living together already …"
"His car was still parked out in front of the dojo when I passed it on my way home. How was I supposed to notice he's gone off into space instead of just to the supermarket?"
That stumped Kim momentarily. She knew Tommy hadn't picked Jason up – in fact, her fiancé hadn't been entirely sure his best friend would show up at all. Then, an idea occurred to her. "Doesn't Jase sometimes use his old motorcycle to drive in the city? Maybe he took that."
"Whatever," Kat muttered, getting angry now that the first shock was wearing off. "I'm going to kill him when he comes back! How dare he go off like that, without telling me, or better, taking me along? I was a Ranger as much as he!"
"Kat, I don't think we could help, however much we want to," Kimberly sighed. "I said as much to Tommy, but he nixed that idea right away. From what he managed to tell me in the two-minute call he gave me, this particular task is color-coded to the Red Power, somehow. Don't ask me why, I don't know anything more, either," she forestalled the next question. "If it wasn't, the new team from Turtle Cove, or maybe the Lightspeed guys out of Mariner Bay, could've handled it. No, for once it has to be just the Red Rangers."
All of them habitually kept track of the active Ranger teams as best they could.
More coherent thought processes had kicked in with Kat by now. Calling on her own experiences as a Ranger, she tried to think things through logically.
"But how can they do anything? From what I read in the Power Chamber's archives, Serpentera was the most powerful Zord ever built; even with an Ultrazord at your disposal, the best you could do was drain its energies. And the guys don't even have Zords anymore – how in the world do they hope to defeat it?"
Kimberly finally unwound enough to lean back against the couch with a sigh that was a curious mixture of exhaustion and exasperation. She rubbed her hands over her face.
"Beats me. I think Andros brought a spaceship or something so they can get to the moon at least, but other than that …" She shrugged, feeling as impotent as her friend. And as furious.
"I never was the tactician on the team, but I've picked up enough to know that if what you say is true, they've gone on a – a virtual suicide mission!" Kat said, her voice shaky.
"I know," Kim whispered miserably, tears threatening again. "Trust me, I know!"
Another idea popped up. "And what about their Powers, anyway? I thought they were destroyed?"
"Apparently not. Tommy's using the Zeo Powers, TJ is Red Turbo again, and Jase obviously has dug up his old morpher, or he wouldn't be a Red Ranger. I bet Rocky is spitting mad about that," the petite brunette snickered, momentarily distracted. "I wonder why they both didn't go … but I kinda doubt Rocky's Ninja uniform is strong enough on its own, with only the Ape Spirit to sustain it."
"Yeah, and the Ninja coins to power the armor are gone, thanks to Goldar," Kat recalled with a shudder. "Maybe they drew straws, or something. Whatever. If Rocky's staying behind … who all has gone with them, anyway?" she wondered next.
Kimberly started ticking names off her fingers. "Let's see … of the guys we've met, there's Jase, Tommy, TJ and Andros. That alien guy – what was his name again?"
"Aurico."
"Right. He'll pick up the Red Galaxy Ranger, whatshisname, Leo Corbett, then there's Carter Grayson of Lightspeed, Wes Collins and Eric Myers of the Silver Hills Guardians … and the newbie. Cole Something-or-other."
In part, the names were public record; others, the two former Pink Rangers had met personally or at least knew about. It made them marginally more comfortable to know that their men weren't in the company of total strangers. They shared a moment of silence, trying to come to grips with the fact that Tommy and Jason had gone off to fight Evil once again – and done so without them at their sides, where the women felt they belonged.
After a while, Kat cleared her throat. "You know … I don't know if I'm more scared for them, or plain mad," she confessed.
Kim nodded. "Uh huh. It's like they are old fire engine horses – as soon as they hear the alarm bell going off, they run. Right into the face of danger."
"It's the way they are, I suppose," Kat said glumly. "And deep down I wouldn't want Jason to be any different, but …"
"Yeah, but," Kimberly grumbled, calmer now that she had found a kindred soul to unburden herself to. If Kat couldn't understand what she was feeling right now, nobody could. "I still want to be out there, with the guys!"
"Me, too," the dancer admitted. "Not only am I mad at Jason for leaving like he did, I feel so left out!"
"No kidding."
"So what do we do now?"
"We wait, I guess. Until we hear from them."
"Or until Serpentera destroys the Earth."
That was a thought neither woman wanted to look at too closely. The two shared a long, anguished glance, then Kat heaved herself to her feet with a deep sigh.
"If we're stuck here waiting, I might as well put on some coffee."
"Right." Preceding her friend into the kitchen, Kat heard Kim mutter a very unladylike oath under her breath. She grinned fleetingly; her thoughts exactly! Out loud, however, all Kim would say was, "I hate waiting!"
"You and me both."
~*~
Hours later, during which Kat and Kim had grown increasingly tense, their minds filled with anxious wonderings and desultory attempts at conversation falling flat within minutes, both women flinched when Kimberly's cell phone shrilled. Even though they had been waiting for a call, it still took them by surprise. Closing her eyes, sending a quick prayer to whichever deity would listen, Kim picked up the small device and unfolded it.
"Hello?"
"Kim, it's me."
"Tommy," she squealed, feeling a huge load lift off her chest. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah – and so's everybody else. We did it."
"Oh, I'm soooo glad," Kim gushed, making frantic signals to Kat, who got the gist of the conversation from Kimberly's goofy grin alone. She, too, heaved a sigh of relief. Jason was safe!
"What happened? What did you do? You gotta tell me," she babbled.
"Later, Beautiful, when I'm home. Right now, all I want is a shower and a tall drink. Can you pick me up at NASADA?"
"Sure. I'll come right away." It was not entirely satisfactory – her curiosity was nigh on killing her – but Kim supposed she could wait a while longer for the gory details. And Tommy had better have all of them ready! The connection died, and with a happy sigh, she turned to Kat. "Tommy says they did it, and that everybody's okay."
"Oh, thank God!" Impulsively they hugged, relief making them weak. When they released each other, Kimberly reached for her purse.
"Tommy's waiting for me to pick him up at the space facility; I gotta go."
Determination suddenly flared in the blue eyes. "Okay. But I'm coming with you, if you don't mind." It wasn't exactly a request.
Kim raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Knowing Jase, he'll want to come home as fast as possible, too."
"I don't care. I have to see him, have to know he's unharmed … and then I'm going to kill him!"
"Uh-oh – poor Jason," Kimberly grinned, starting to feel giddy. Now that the danger was past, she was able to perceive some humor in the situation. She'd never seen Kat spitting mad like this before – and she very definitely wanted to be present when she let Jason have it. If Tommy hadn't called her before the mission … lucky for him, he had. Or he, too, would be facing the wrath of a Pink Ranger.
~*~
Tommy was waiting just inside the compound's gate when Kim's car pulled up. He was about to reach for the door handle when the driver's door flew open with such vehemence that he had to jump back to avoid being hit. A pink-clad bundle of energy threw herself into his arms.
"Tommy!"
He couldn't answer; his lips were sealed by a passionate kiss. When Kim finally released him he actually had to gasp for breath. He smiled broadly.
"Maybe I should go on Ranger missions more often; I could get used to such a welcome!"
Kim smacked his shoulder, instantly indignant. "Don't you dare! Letting you go off by yourself this once was bad enough; if there ever is a next time, I'm coming with you, come hell or high water!"
Before he could reply, some movement caught his eye. Kat had left the car more sedately, and was looking at him now with a strange intensity burning in her eyes.
"Jason? Is he alright?" she asked hoarsely, her face pale and her posture stiff and tense, despite Kim's earlier assurances.
Tommy nodded. "He's fine. We all are. Don't worry, Kat."
She gave him an unreadable look. "Where is he?"
"Back with the others still, I think," he answered, slightly puzzled and unnerved by her icy reserve. This was not the Kat he'd always known – warm, loving, gentle. In her place stood a woman on a mission … and Tommy wasn't at all sure he wanted to know what that mission was. A bit lamely, he added, "He's come on his bike."
"See? What did I tell you?" Kim remarked, having a very good idea of what her friend was going through right now. Uh-oh. Jason had better watch out!
Without a word, Kat wheeled around and marched off. The guards, being military and knowing when discretion was the better part of valor, didn't even try to challenge her. Tommy looked at Kimberly with a puzzled frown.
"What's up with Kat? Doesn't she believe me?"
Kim shook her head in disgust. Really, how dense could one be? "Yes, she does – but your best bud 'forgot' to tell Kat he was going along on your little pleasure jaunt," she said with heavy irony. "Taking a not-so-wild guess, I'd say Kat's royally pissed at Jason – and with good reason, too!"
Her tall fiancé winced, things finally clicking in his mind. "Ouch."
She just gave him a look that brought an embarrassed blush to his cheeks. Tommy cleared his throat, looking at Kat's back as she turned the corner of the Megaship's hangar.
"Uh, maybe I better go after her," he mumbled. "Give moral support, or something."
"You and me both," Kim agreed, reaching for his hand. Together, they followed Katherine.
"Jase can probably need our help if Kat is really this upset," Tommy mused, then nearly choked when Kim gave him a saccharine smile.
"What makes you think I'll help Jason?"
~*~
Andros was just about to take Aurico and Leo aboard the Astro Megaship, when he saw a slender blonde figure approach the group of Red Rangers. The after-battle banter had ceased by now and the usual leave-taking was underway, so the others didn't notice the young woman right away. She ignored everybody else, pushing determinedly ahead to the hangar wall, where Jason was in the process of putting on his helmet, his back to the others.
"Who's that?" Wes Collins asked TJ under his breath. "She's gorgeous!"
TJ grinned his easy smile. "Kat Hillard – Pink Zeo Ranger, later Pink Turbo. Jason's better half-to-be, I think."
"Lucky guy," Eric commented dryly. He, too, gave Katherine an appreciative once-over.
"I'll say," Carter murmured. Her blonde loveliness reminded him of his own Pink Ranger. Cole watched with wide eyes as the woman tapped Jason on his shoulder from behind.
Startled, Jason looked around. When he recognized Kat, he laughed delightedly and reached for her, still flushed with their success. "Kat! I'm so glad to see y-"
He never got to finish either his motion or his sentence. For in a reaction that was as automatic as it was surprising to everybody, Kat hauled her hand back and slapped him across the face as hard as she could. With a shout of pain, the broad-shouldered first Red Ranger rocked back.
A few steps away, Leo winced. "Ow. That had to hurt!"
"You think?" Andros said with vast understatement. He'd seen Ashley in action more than once, and unconsciously rubbed his own cheek.
Aurico tilted his head and steepled his fingers in an Aquitian gesture of amused contemplation. "I may be mistaken, but it looks to me as if Katherine is emotionally disturbed over something," he murmured.
TJ snorted. "You can say that again!"
"Who or what pissed her off?" Eric wondered. "Someone tell me, so I can move to another state the next time."
"Jason himself," Cole marvelled, his gift of perception providing him with details. Kat's emotions were too strong to hide her state of mind from his capabilities.
"What? Why?" Carter was non-plussed. She looked so sweet, so gentle … just like Dana.
A new voice supplied the information. "The esteemed Original Red Ranger neglected to tell Kat he was going off with you guys."
As the men looked around, Kim let go of Tommy's hand and stepped forward, greeting them with a nod. "Kim Hart, Pink Morphin'/Ninja Ranger. Kat's predecessor," she introduced herself. "Let's say she's … not amused about that."
"Oh boy," Wes gulped, quick on the uptake. "If I had pulled such a stunt with Jen …"
"You'd be counting your teeth by now, too," Eric muttered, his mind flashing to a certain Yellow Ranger who reputedly packed a mean punch as well.
"Never cross a lady Ranger," Leo murmured, receiving grudging nods from the others.
"Or a woman who knows she's right," Carter grinned, suddenly remembering Ms. Fairweather and her quick temper. Now there was a lady who he didn't want mad at him for any reason!
"Yeah – they've been kicking monsters around so long, and so well, what chance do we have?" TJ asked rhetorically. "None, that's what!"
"I believe even Delphine would be seriously angered if I had committed such an oversight," Aurico contributed, his smile audible even through his helmet. "How fortunate that I did not."
"They do have a tendency not only to get mad, but to get even, don't they?" Andros remarked, thinking of both Cassie and Ashley … and Karone. They all could be sweet as honey when it suited them, yes – and madder than angry hornets when riled.
Tommy cleared his throat, trying to regain control of the situation. "Really, I don't see what the fuss is all about," he ventured. "We're back, safe and sound …"
To his surprise, Kim whirled on him. "Tommy Oliver, you can thank your lucky stars that for once you did remember to call me! If you hadn't, Black Belt or not, I'd be mopping the floor with you as well!" Her brown eyes blazed fiercely. There was no doubt that she meant every word. And despite her petite stature, at that very moment none of the males present would bet a wooden nickel on Tommy's chances against her.
Which brought everyone's attention back to Kat and Jason. He'd staggered back from the force of her slap, and had to brace himself against his motorcycle with one hand; the other was cradling his stinging cheek, now bearing a clear imprint of Kat's fingers. He was staring at the love of his life with wide eyes and slightly open mouth as she lit into him but good.
"How dare you go off like that, Jason Scott? Of all the inconsiderate things … didn't you think I'd find out? Did you plan on mentioning this little jaunt to me at all?"
"Kat, I-" he started, but she interrupted him angrily.
"How do you think it would have made me feel if you hadn't succeeded, if I'd lost you without even knowing why or how? Has it ever occurred to you that I might have wanted to know that you were off trying to save the Earth? Even if only to pray for your success and be with you in my thoughts?"
Jason gulped. To be honest, he hadn't given it much thought, his mind had been on the emergency and on the mission, and what little mental energy he'd had to spare for Kat had been for her safety – he'd fought for her as much as for his planet, after all.
"I, um, I didn't want you to worry," he said lamely, knowing it wasn't an excuse.
"Like I didn't now?" she shot back. "If anything had happened to you, you never even gave me the chance to say good-bye, you idiot!"
Suddenly, her façade crumbled, the fire left her blue eyes and they filled with the tears she'd so valiantly suppressed all afternoon. "I-I nearly went out of my mind with fear, waiting to hear from you," she sniffled, suddenly embarrassed by her emotional outburst. And in front of so many witnesses, too! They must think her completely crazy. The first fat, salty drops began to course down her soft cheek.
It was too much for Jason. With an inarticulate sound, he caught her in his arms and crushed her against him.
"Ah, love, I'm sorry," he murmured into her golden hair. "Don't cry; I won't do it again."
Kat clung to his broad shoulders, her face buried in his neck. "Promise?"
He pressed a kiss against her temple. "I promise. I'll never leave you again without saying good-bye first."
Kat looked up at him then. "I'll hold you to that," she whispered fiercely. "See if I don't!"
In reply, Jason just smiled at her, and captured her mouth in a passionate kiss, totally unmindful of their audience, who were watching the couple's interaction with lively interest – and a few wolf whistles and catcalls when their liplock wouldn't end until they were both out of breath.
Flushed pink with relief, pleasure and more than a touch of embarrassment at her behaviour, Kat smiled shyly back at Jason. "I'm sorry I hit you," she murmured, eyeing the fading mark on his cheek contritely.
He grinned ruefully. "I kind of deserved it," he admitted softly. The two exchanged another gentle, sweet kiss, to the raucous sounds of approval of the other Red Rangers. He mock-glared at his brothers-in-arms.
"Okay, show's over, guys. Cut it out already!"
His only reply was laughter, but they subsided willingly enough when they saw that Kat was not about to slug anyone else.
"Now the world is truly safe at last," TJ quipped, stepping forward to greet Kat with a friendly hug. "After seeing the wrath of just one Pink Ranger when her man was in danger … maybe we should have let the ladies do the job for us, guys."
And Kimberly got the last and hardest laugh when she stood beside Katherine, mock-glowering at the men. "Well … I know one thing for sure," she began, winking at her blonde friend.
"Oh? What's that, Beautiful?"
"It wouldn't have taken ten of us, of course."
~*~
The memory faded, leaving Kat with a sense of melancholy. Jason hadn't been able to keep his promise after all, but it wasn't as if he'd had a choice … and she'd been so proud of him then, and of Tommy – knowing that even though they were 'retired', they hadn't hesitated to go back on duty, to save them all.
She glanced over at Tommy, his grey head bent over the photos. As if he could feel her eyes on him, he looked up and sent her a warm smile which Kat returned gratefully. They both had suffered great loss, but from now on, they would help each other cope with it. As soon-to-be husband and wife.
With a small smile and a silent prayer of thanks for having been given
a second chance at love, Kat rejoined the merry conversation around her,
searching for happier memories.
To Be Continued ...