Disclaimer: I'm sorry, I am really getting sick of this, I DON'T OWN THEM,
OKAY!!! *sigh* I'm better now. Glad we got that all cleared up then.
"What do you mean he just took her? How?" cried Andros. Tommy was attempting to tell them about Kim, but they kept interrupting him with disbelief. Tommy sighed, and tried again.
"I couldn't really see what he was doing. Kim had her back to me and was standing in front of him, but he somehow slipped handcuffs on her, and when she turned around to me, he injected some sedative into her. I tried to get to her, but he pulled a gun on her, and drove away. He said if we tried to teleport her, he'd...he'd.." Tommy sighed and looked at them. Their shocked expressions told him they understood what he couldn't say. "Guys...he knows." He added.
There was a brief silence among them, their faces going from curiosity and puzzlement, to comprehension and shock. "You mean, he knows who we are..?" Cassie said uneasily. Tommy nodded, confirming what they all inwardly hoped was not true.
"How!?" Ashley said shaking her head.
"Rangers," D.E.C.A. interrupted, "since he is a human foe, who knows who you are and intends to use it against you, he must be eliminated."
"What!" cried Andros.
"I like the sound of that." Tommy mumbled, clenching his fists.
"If he attacks you first, then it is mere self defense, otherwise it is murder. But I would have suggested a memory sweep." D.E.C.A. said.
"Memory sweep?" Carlos frowned.
"We wipe the memory of our identities from his mind. It's a very delicate procedure, but we can't kill him, he's human." Andros stated.
"But he's already attacked us as any other alien foe would, he's taken one of our own!" Tommy cried. "Only I believe that humans tend to be a bit more sick and meticulous in their planning. Who knows what he could do to her. Zedd, Rita, they all just wanted our powers gone, us ending up dead would just have complicated their operation by sicking the military on them. This guy, he's out on a personal vendetta against Kim and me. He's not after anything but revenge, and who knows what he'll do to get it."
"I agree. We can't just sit here and let him decide the next move." Kat said firmly.
"We cannot put Kimberly's safety in jeopardy. To do so would most likely get her killed, and on top of that we do not know where she is." D.E.C.A. said.
Andros frowned. "What. I thought you would have found them by now."
"By the time the news arrived in my database, and I began searching, he had already moved into a secure location beyond my sensor location capabilities, whether it be knowingly or unknowingly." D.E.C.A. said. "But it is up to you rangers."
"D.E.C.A.'s right." Andros sighed.
"What! We have to do something! He'll kill her!" Tommy protested.
"Tommy, I'm not saying that we do nothing. But we have to wait for some kind of message; we have nothing to go on. We don't even know where to look. We'd be wasting our resources. I know his type. He'll send us a message. Kimberly still has her communicator, correct?" Andros said.
Tommy sighed and sat down heavily in a near by bridge chair. "Yes. You're right. As much as I am completely against it, for Kim's sake, I'll go with it." He said crossing his arms over his chest. Kat moved to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We'll get her back. I know it." She smiled. Tommy looked and her, and smiled briefly before looking away sadly.
"There is one way then." Andros said, moving to a near by console. "We can patch into her communicator signal, hopefully we can still get the signal through the difficulties D.E.C.A. had." He said as he began pushing various buttons.
***
"Come on Kimmie. Show me how to contact your pals." Brad said menacingly as he circled Kim, who was tied to a chair. They were in an abandoned warehouse in the run down district of Angel Grove. Brad's words echoed off the old walls in the back offices he had brought her to.
Kim sat there and merely eyed him angrily as he passed in front of her before returning her gaze to examining the cracks on the wall in front of her. Brad sighed. "Don't get me started Kimmie. I could go all night, but that would lead to anger, anger would lead to me killing you a bit too soon. Then poor Tommy-boy would get the corpse of his only love ahead of schedule, and that would ruin all of my fun." He taunted her.
"Then why should I even give it to you if you're so confident Tommy is going to find me, and the fact that you're going to kill me anyway." Kim spat.
"Because," he snarled moving mere inches from her face, " that's half the fun." He pushed off the chair and began pacing the room. "You show me how to contact them, they come looking for you, and find you seconds too late with a bullet to the head. Then I kill your ranger pals, leaving good ol' 'Tom' in pure agony the rest of his miserable life." He smirked.
"You're insane." Kim said lowly. "Tommy will hunt you down, kill you, then mount you on his wall."
"Quite the optimist, aren't we Kimmie?" he said. "You know you're going to die, yet you still make threats. I like this game, and you my darling, are tempting me to keep you alive for the entertainment!"
"You are sick." She said glaring at him.
"Even so..I still win." He grinned. A single beep pierced the air, and Brad's eyes narrowed at the sound. He moved around behind Kim, finding the source of the noise to be the strange looking watch on her wrist. He grabbed it off her and grinned.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" he smiled, waving it in front of her face.
"Give that back!" she yelled, trying to break free from the ropes that held her.
"Oo, important is it? Not just your everyday wrist watch. Hmm, one that doesn't even show the time, interesting. This is how you contact your pals isn't it?" Kim just looked at him. "Tell me." He said, the smile fading from his face.
"Yes." Kim said.
Brad smiled and looked at the communicator he held. "Which button?" he said, glancing sideways at her. Kim stared at him for a moment, then looked away defiantly. Brad backhanded her with a crack, causing Kim to scream. "Which button." He said again.
"..Right..." Kim said, desperately trying to keep her emotions under control.
"Very good Beautiful." He grinned.
"Don't you dare call me that." Kim said angrily.
"So," Brad continued, ignoring her, "left is for that nifty trick you guys do..teleporting right? And left is for communicating. Okay..Rangers? I'm guessing you've been listening in. I want Tommy. He had, and has the woman I love in his affectionate favour, and therefore must be punished, and watch her be punished for betrayal. You all are welcome to watch, but try to interfere, and Kimmie here dies right before your very eyes." He paused. Hearing no sounds of objection, he continued. "Good, meet me at the old warehouse on Ancan Street tonight at seven. Be there or bye-bye Beautiful. And listen in again, and she's gone." He cut the communication and grinned at Kimberly.
"I hate you." She spat.
"Ouch." He said mockingly, putting a hand to his heart. "Hit me where it hurts."
***
"I'm going alone."
"Tommy you can't, you'll be killed!" said Kat getting up.
"It's me he wants, you heard him, he's going to kill anyone that comes with me. I'm going alone." Tommy said firmly. "And thank you for the vote of confidence." He added bitterly.
"Tommy, I didn't mean it like that and you know it. He's obviously insane, so we don't know what he's capable of, if he's some kind of computer genius with the place rigged, and weapons expert, or a professional trapper, or worse-''
"Kat, thank you for your concern but I am not going to risk anyone's life but my own!" He yelled.
"That is my choice to make, it would be my life to risk..For god's sake Tommy, she's my friend!" that brought an understanding silence to Tommy, after all, she was the woman he loved. "Just... at least let me come. Even if I can't help you with the out right fight, because I agree with you about him just wanting you. But I may be more useful in the background. Get her out while you're fighting with Brad. Please. You are not the only one who wants revenge here." She said, softer now that she had his attention.
Tommy pondered it momentarily. "No. It's too dangerous. I don't-''
"Want to be worrying about me too. I'm a big girl Tommy; the battles I went through as a ranger were not the toughest ones I've faced. I can sure as hell take down this prick if it means saving ones of my friends. No worrying attached, take it or leave it." She said firmly. After a moment of silence, she sighed and walked away. Tommy let out a breath and left in the other direction. The other rangers stood stunned in their wake. Andros sighed uneasily.
"This is getting way out hand. Cassie, Ashley, you talk to Kat, and meet me, the guys, and Tommy in the simudeck as soon as you can. Carlos, T.J., Zhane, you're with me." As Andros finished, everyone moved to follow their targets.
***
"He can be so arrogant sometimes! It pisses me off!!" Kat said angrily as she paced her quarters. The chime on the door sounded, followed by a voice.
"Kat? Can we talk to you?" Ashley asked from the hall.
Kat sighed, opened the door for them and then flopped down in a nearby chair and crossed her arms. The two girls entered and exchanged a look with one another. Ashley sat across from Kat while Cassie chose to stand.
"Okay, we'll talk you listen. Tommy is just worried, really worried, about Kim." Ashley began.
"He wants nothing more than for her to be safe, and he wants to do that without losing anyone else." Cassie continued.
"Without losing you." Ashley finished.
Kat sighed again, her angry expression shifting to one of exasperation. "I understand that, but I just hate it when he thinks that he has to do it himself. He refuses help, where anyone can see that he needs it most." She said softly.
"Would you be willing to work it out with him?" Ashley asked.
"The more time we spend mad at each other, the longer Kim's life is danger." Kat said, getting up from her chair. Cassie and Ashley smiled, and they all headed out and to the simudeck.
***
Carlos, Andros, T.J, and Zhane found Tommy working out in the ships weight room. He was punching the mounted bag in the corner with such fury that the four were almost afraid to approach.
"Tommy? Could we speak to you for a moment?" Zhane asked as they moved over to him. Tommy looked over at them briefly, and stopped hitting the punching bag, then merely stood there staring at them, clearly on the defensive.
"Okay, well. Um, we know that you're worried about Kim, and the last thing that any of us want is to put another life on the line..but you know that she's going to go no matter what you say. We both know that." Zhane said. Tommy sighed and visibly relaxed.
"I know. That's what I'm worried about." He said.
"Tommy, if this were just a matter of her wanting to help, I would probably agree with you..But, Brad has picked a location that we can't teleport in or out of within the walls. Which means..."
"Kat has to go." Tommy frowned. "I...just don't want her to get hurt. I already failed in protecting Kim.."
Zhane smiled understandingly and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Tommy, don't beat yourself up. We'll get her back. Would you be willing to work things out with Kat now?"
Tommy sighed and nodded. The others let out a sigh of relief, and the five of them made their way to the simudeck.
***
"Finally, we were about to-...what's wrong?" Cassie said seeing the grim looks that accompanied their friends faces.
"Brad's in a place we can't teleport in or out of." Tommy stated angrily.
"You're going to need to go now Kat." T.J. said.
Kat walked up to Tommy, biting her lip nervously as she stood before him. "Look Kat," Tommy began.
"I'm sorry too." Kat said hurriedly. Tommy looked at her and smiled gently.
"So, we're cool?" he asked.
Kat smiled and hugged him. "Always. Now," she sighed pulling back, "let's go and get our friend back." She and Tommy smiled at one another and turned to the door.
"Hold on guys." Andros said as he stepped in front of them. "Have you ever been to this warehouse?" Kat and Tommy looked at each other, then back at Andros, collectively shaking their heads. "That's what I thought. That's why we're in here. We may not be able to teleport in or out, but we have the buildings interior structure on file so you can take a look around before you go rushing in."
"Once D.E.C.A. discovered that we couldn't teleport, she hacked into the city files and copied the buildings layout." Carlos smiled.
Tommy and Kat frowned in curiosity. "You've got an hour before you have to be there. We'll leave you alone to look around." T.J. said as they moved to leave. Tommy and Kat just stood there, still not understanding what was going on.
"D.E.C.A. activate the warehouse simulation." Zhane said as he left, throwing Kat a grin and a good luck kiss as he left. The two clueless rangers turned around to find the interior of the warehouse before them, beginning about half way across the room, but deep enough to go on for at least a mile. They quickly got over their amazement, however, and began examining the battlegrounds. They discussed possible surprise points Brad could use against them, where he may be holding Kim, where they could surprise him. After half an hour they decided that they knew the building well enough to move on to training a bit for the fight to come. They moved into the weight room where there were practice mats laid out. The other rangers helped, splitting into two groups to spar with each former ranger. D.E.C.A. alerted them when it was ten minutes to seven, and Tommy and Kat excused themselves to change quickly, borrowing clothes from the others. They all met on the bridge at five minutes to seven. Zhane moved shyly over to Kat as she entered, stopping her before she encountered the others.
"Be careful, okay? Come back to me." He smiled. Kat returned the smile and kissed him quickly.
"I promise, on both counts." She said. The two moved over to the others, as Tommy entered.
"Ready Kat?" he asked.
"When you are." She nodded, shifting the bag on her back so that she could maneuver herself easier when they landed.
"Good. Let's get the bastard." Tommy said firmly.
***
Author's note: What do ya think??? There's a lovely twist coming up in the next chapter. I'll give ya a teaser line, just for fun. I'm starting to sound like Brad...I'm getting too into this story.
Teaser Line:
"At least I can say that I took out a Power Ranger!!!!"
"What do you mean he just took her? How?" cried Andros. Tommy was attempting to tell them about Kim, but they kept interrupting him with disbelief. Tommy sighed, and tried again.
"I couldn't really see what he was doing. Kim had her back to me and was standing in front of him, but he somehow slipped handcuffs on her, and when she turned around to me, he injected some sedative into her. I tried to get to her, but he pulled a gun on her, and drove away. He said if we tried to teleport her, he'd...he'd.." Tommy sighed and looked at them. Their shocked expressions told him they understood what he couldn't say. "Guys...he knows." He added.
There was a brief silence among them, their faces going from curiosity and puzzlement, to comprehension and shock. "You mean, he knows who we are..?" Cassie said uneasily. Tommy nodded, confirming what they all inwardly hoped was not true.
"How!?" Ashley said shaking her head.
"Rangers," D.E.C.A. interrupted, "since he is a human foe, who knows who you are and intends to use it against you, he must be eliminated."
"What!" cried Andros.
"I like the sound of that." Tommy mumbled, clenching his fists.
"If he attacks you first, then it is mere self defense, otherwise it is murder. But I would have suggested a memory sweep." D.E.C.A. said.
"Memory sweep?" Carlos frowned.
"We wipe the memory of our identities from his mind. It's a very delicate procedure, but we can't kill him, he's human." Andros stated.
"But he's already attacked us as any other alien foe would, he's taken one of our own!" Tommy cried. "Only I believe that humans tend to be a bit more sick and meticulous in their planning. Who knows what he could do to her. Zedd, Rita, they all just wanted our powers gone, us ending up dead would just have complicated their operation by sicking the military on them. This guy, he's out on a personal vendetta against Kim and me. He's not after anything but revenge, and who knows what he'll do to get it."
"I agree. We can't just sit here and let him decide the next move." Kat said firmly.
"We cannot put Kimberly's safety in jeopardy. To do so would most likely get her killed, and on top of that we do not know where she is." D.E.C.A. said.
Andros frowned. "What. I thought you would have found them by now."
"By the time the news arrived in my database, and I began searching, he had already moved into a secure location beyond my sensor location capabilities, whether it be knowingly or unknowingly." D.E.C.A. said. "But it is up to you rangers."
"D.E.C.A.'s right." Andros sighed.
"What! We have to do something! He'll kill her!" Tommy protested.
"Tommy, I'm not saying that we do nothing. But we have to wait for some kind of message; we have nothing to go on. We don't even know where to look. We'd be wasting our resources. I know his type. He'll send us a message. Kimberly still has her communicator, correct?" Andros said.
Tommy sighed and sat down heavily in a near by bridge chair. "Yes. You're right. As much as I am completely against it, for Kim's sake, I'll go with it." He said crossing his arms over his chest. Kat moved to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We'll get her back. I know it." She smiled. Tommy looked and her, and smiled briefly before looking away sadly.
"There is one way then." Andros said, moving to a near by console. "We can patch into her communicator signal, hopefully we can still get the signal through the difficulties D.E.C.A. had." He said as he began pushing various buttons.
***
"Come on Kimmie. Show me how to contact your pals." Brad said menacingly as he circled Kim, who was tied to a chair. They were in an abandoned warehouse in the run down district of Angel Grove. Brad's words echoed off the old walls in the back offices he had brought her to.
Kim sat there and merely eyed him angrily as he passed in front of her before returning her gaze to examining the cracks on the wall in front of her. Brad sighed. "Don't get me started Kimmie. I could go all night, but that would lead to anger, anger would lead to me killing you a bit too soon. Then poor Tommy-boy would get the corpse of his only love ahead of schedule, and that would ruin all of my fun." He taunted her.
"Then why should I even give it to you if you're so confident Tommy is going to find me, and the fact that you're going to kill me anyway." Kim spat.
"Because," he snarled moving mere inches from her face, " that's half the fun." He pushed off the chair and began pacing the room. "You show me how to contact them, they come looking for you, and find you seconds too late with a bullet to the head. Then I kill your ranger pals, leaving good ol' 'Tom' in pure agony the rest of his miserable life." He smirked.
"You're insane." Kim said lowly. "Tommy will hunt you down, kill you, then mount you on his wall."
"Quite the optimist, aren't we Kimmie?" he said. "You know you're going to die, yet you still make threats. I like this game, and you my darling, are tempting me to keep you alive for the entertainment!"
"You are sick." She said glaring at him.
"Even so..I still win." He grinned. A single beep pierced the air, and Brad's eyes narrowed at the sound. He moved around behind Kim, finding the source of the noise to be the strange looking watch on her wrist. He grabbed it off her and grinned.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" he smiled, waving it in front of her face.
"Give that back!" she yelled, trying to break free from the ropes that held her.
"Oo, important is it? Not just your everyday wrist watch. Hmm, one that doesn't even show the time, interesting. This is how you contact your pals isn't it?" Kim just looked at him. "Tell me." He said, the smile fading from his face.
"Yes." Kim said.
Brad smiled and looked at the communicator he held. "Which button?" he said, glancing sideways at her. Kim stared at him for a moment, then looked away defiantly. Brad backhanded her with a crack, causing Kim to scream. "Which button." He said again.
"..Right..." Kim said, desperately trying to keep her emotions under control.
"Very good Beautiful." He grinned.
"Don't you dare call me that." Kim said angrily.
"So," Brad continued, ignoring her, "left is for that nifty trick you guys do..teleporting right? And left is for communicating. Okay..Rangers? I'm guessing you've been listening in. I want Tommy. He had, and has the woman I love in his affectionate favour, and therefore must be punished, and watch her be punished for betrayal. You all are welcome to watch, but try to interfere, and Kimmie here dies right before your very eyes." He paused. Hearing no sounds of objection, he continued. "Good, meet me at the old warehouse on Ancan Street tonight at seven. Be there or bye-bye Beautiful. And listen in again, and she's gone." He cut the communication and grinned at Kimberly.
"I hate you." She spat.
"Ouch." He said mockingly, putting a hand to his heart. "Hit me where it hurts."
***
"I'm going alone."
"Tommy you can't, you'll be killed!" said Kat getting up.
"It's me he wants, you heard him, he's going to kill anyone that comes with me. I'm going alone." Tommy said firmly. "And thank you for the vote of confidence." He added bitterly.
"Tommy, I didn't mean it like that and you know it. He's obviously insane, so we don't know what he's capable of, if he's some kind of computer genius with the place rigged, and weapons expert, or a professional trapper, or worse-''
"Kat, thank you for your concern but I am not going to risk anyone's life but my own!" He yelled.
"That is my choice to make, it would be my life to risk..For god's sake Tommy, she's my friend!" that brought an understanding silence to Tommy, after all, she was the woman he loved. "Just... at least let me come. Even if I can't help you with the out right fight, because I agree with you about him just wanting you. But I may be more useful in the background. Get her out while you're fighting with Brad. Please. You are not the only one who wants revenge here." She said, softer now that she had his attention.
Tommy pondered it momentarily. "No. It's too dangerous. I don't-''
"Want to be worrying about me too. I'm a big girl Tommy; the battles I went through as a ranger were not the toughest ones I've faced. I can sure as hell take down this prick if it means saving ones of my friends. No worrying attached, take it or leave it." She said firmly. After a moment of silence, she sighed and walked away. Tommy let out a breath and left in the other direction. The other rangers stood stunned in their wake. Andros sighed uneasily.
"This is getting way out hand. Cassie, Ashley, you talk to Kat, and meet me, the guys, and Tommy in the simudeck as soon as you can. Carlos, T.J., Zhane, you're with me." As Andros finished, everyone moved to follow their targets.
***
"He can be so arrogant sometimes! It pisses me off!!" Kat said angrily as she paced her quarters. The chime on the door sounded, followed by a voice.
"Kat? Can we talk to you?" Ashley asked from the hall.
Kat sighed, opened the door for them and then flopped down in a nearby chair and crossed her arms. The two girls entered and exchanged a look with one another. Ashley sat across from Kat while Cassie chose to stand.
"Okay, we'll talk you listen. Tommy is just worried, really worried, about Kim." Ashley began.
"He wants nothing more than for her to be safe, and he wants to do that without losing anyone else." Cassie continued.
"Without losing you." Ashley finished.
Kat sighed again, her angry expression shifting to one of exasperation. "I understand that, but I just hate it when he thinks that he has to do it himself. He refuses help, where anyone can see that he needs it most." She said softly.
"Would you be willing to work it out with him?" Ashley asked.
"The more time we spend mad at each other, the longer Kim's life is danger." Kat said, getting up from her chair. Cassie and Ashley smiled, and they all headed out and to the simudeck.
***
Carlos, Andros, T.J, and Zhane found Tommy working out in the ships weight room. He was punching the mounted bag in the corner with such fury that the four were almost afraid to approach.
"Tommy? Could we speak to you for a moment?" Zhane asked as they moved over to him. Tommy looked over at them briefly, and stopped hitting the punching bag, then merely stood there staring at them, clearly on the defensive.
"Okay, well. Um, we know that you're worried about Kim, and the last thing that any of us want is to put another life on the line..but you know that she's going to go no matter what you say. We both know that." Zhane said. Tommy sighed and visibly relaxed.
"I know. That's what I'm worried about." He said.
"Tommy, if this were just a matter of her wanting to help, I would probably agree with you..But, Brad has picked a location that we can't teleport in or out of within the walls. Which means..."
"Kat has to go." Tommy frowned. "I...just don't want her to get hurt. I already failed in protecting Kim.."
Zhane smiled understandingly and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Tommy, don't beat yourself up. We'll get her back. Would you be willing to work things out with Kat now?"
Tommy sighed and nodded. The others let out a sigh of relief, and the five of them made their way to the simudeck.
***
"Finally, we were about to-...what's wrong?" Cassie said seeing the grim looks that accompanied their friends faces.
"Brad's in a place we can't teleport in or out of." Tommy stated angrily.
"You're going to need to go now Kat." T.J. said.
Kat walked up to Tommy, biting her lip nervously as she stood before him. "Look Kat," Tommy began.
"I'm sorry too." Kat said hurriedly. Tommy looked at her and smiled gently.
"So, we're cool?" he asked.
Kat smiled and hugged him. "Always. Now," she sighed pulling back, "let's go and get our friend back." She and Tommy smiled at one another and turned to the door.
"Hold on guys." Andros said as he stepped in front of them. "Have you ever been to this warehouse?" Kat and Tommy looked at each other, then back at Andros, collectively shaking their heads. "That's what I thought. That's why we're in here. We may not be able to teleport in or out, but we have the buildings interior structure on file so you can take a look around before you go rushing in."
"Once D.E.C.A. discovered that we couldn't teleport, she hacked into the city files and copied the buildings layout." Carlos smiled.
Tommy and Kat frowned in curiosity. "You've got an hour before you have to be there. We'll leave you alone to look around." T.J. said as they moved to leave. Tommy and Kat just stood there, still not understanding what was going on.
"D.E.C.A. activate the warehouse simulation." Zhane said as he left, throwing Kat a grin and a good luck kiss as he left. The two clueless rangers turned around to find the interior of the warehouse before them, beginning about half way across the room, but deep enough to go on for at least a mile. They quickly got over their amazement, however, and began examining the battlegrounds. They discussed possible surprise points Brad could use against them, where he may be holding Kim, where they could surprise him. After half an hour they decided that they knew the building well enough to move on to training a bit for the fight to come. They moved into the weight room where there were practice mats laid out. The other rangers helped, splitting into two groups to spar with each former ranger. D.E.C.A. alerted them when it was ten minutes to seven, and Tommy and Kat excused themselves to change quickly, borrowing clothes from the others. They all met on the bridge at five minutes to seven. Zhane moved shyly over to Kat as she entered, stopping her before she encountered the others.
"Be careful, okay? Come back to me." He smiled. Kat returned the smile and kissed him quickly.
"I promise, on both counts." She said. The two moved over to the others, as Tommy entered.
"Ready Kat?" he asked.
"When you are." She nodded, shifting the bag on her back so that she could maneuver herself easier when they landed.
"Good. Let's get the bastard." Tommy said firmly.
***
Author's note: What do ya think??? There's a lovely twist coming up in the next chapter. I'll give ya a teaser line, just for fun. I'm starting to sound like Brad...I'm getting too into this story.
Teaser Line:
"At least I can say that I took out a Power Ranger!!!!"