Chapter 5
.
They say people are in the right place at the right time when something good happens. But if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time instead, then.
................
Behind the Saunders home was a good acre of land; trees were sportatically plotted about the landscape. Kimberly smiled at her surroundings, feeling that special tinge of romance caress her skin. She and Tommy were alone with the exception of another couple talking very closely on a bench back by the house. The music from the party was now only a quiet hush in the background once the two teens stepped inside the center-standing kazeebo.
"What are you smiling about?" Tommy asked taking a seat, Kimberly following.
An off-guard Kimberly reached the first available answer. "The party. Crazy, isn't it?"
"Not really?"
"Oh, I mean, you know, my first party. All the noise, the people ... the drinking."
"If you're not comfortable, we can leave and go somewhere else -- if you want to," Tommy suggested.
"Right here's fine. At least we can finally talk!" Kim smiled changing subjects.
"Yeah, really," Tommy grinned back. "With school and all, we never really got to catch up."
The wind picked up again. Kimberly put on a smile to hide her discomfort. Tommy read past the charade and offered the green-hoodie he had.
"Thanks," Kim said slipping her arms in. "It's not usually this cold this time of year in Angel Grove."
"Yeah," Tommy acknowledged. ""Better now?"
"Much. Thanks. -- So, um, are you adjusting okay to being home again?"
"Yeah. I never realized how lucky I really was after being gone for, what, a year and a half?"
"Yeah?"
"I mean -- I had it good, Kim." Tommy's tone sobered. "A family, a nice house, good friends, I was doing well in martial arts. ... Then I blew it."
Kimberly placed a sympathetic hand on Tommy's shoulder and gave it a soft squeeze. "All that matters is it's over. You're back to who you were."
"Am I?" Tommy asked.
"Are you?" Kimberly asked back. "What's on your mind?"
"I don't feel the same, Kim. ... I feel..."
"Yes?"
"I feel old."
Kimberly laughed at the absurbity of Tommy's answer. "What?"
"I feel old," Tommy repeated.
"How could you feel old? You're fifteen!"
"Maybe old isn't the word then. ... I feel something."
"Tommy," Kimberly said scooting in closer. "You're most likely feeling guilt. It's normal. Once you get back into the swing of things, you'll see it'll all get better."
"You think so?"
"I know so!" Kim smiled. "We all love you very much."
Feeling encouraged, Tommy returned the smile and brought Kimberly into his arms. "Thanks, Kim. I needed to hear that."
................
"Ay-yah!" Jason screamed, his sidekick bowling over yet another Putty.
The young fighter flipped backwards and extended both foot out, keeping another set of Rita's grunts from coming any closer. Goldar watched in fascination as the human he loathed most took each patroller out with ease. How can one stupid Earthling fight so well the alien pondered. He's heard the words martial arts and karate used frequently with the humans as the year went on, but he never inquired what it truly meant beyond its obvious purpose. Nevertheless, it empowered Jason to be a great warrior and quite possibly useful to Rita.
"Ha, yes!" Goldar said, the very idea amusing the general. "Putties, find the one Empress Rita has requested! I'll deal with this!"
In the same manner they appeared, the Putty Patrollers vanished just as quickly.
"Jason, I want you!" Goldar said pointing his sword to the human.
"You can't have me, monkey boy!" Jason shot back, his eyes landing on his morpher.
"Your presence is requested at Rita's palace!"
"Over my dead body! It's morphin' time!"
Goldar released another blast of gold fire to keep Jason apart from his morpher. The teenager tossed himself onto the lawn to avoid inhiliation. A second batch of Putty Patrollers then materialized in his midst.
................
"So anything interesting happen while I was away?" Tommy asked.
"Um -- yeah," Kim answered. "You can say that."
"Still cheerleading?"
"I was for like a month when school started, but plans changed."
"Oh?" Tommy mused. "What happened?"
"Nothin'. You know how fickle girls can be," Kim said trying to sound coy. "I still have time to teach gymnastics at the Youth Center though."
"Cool. ... Can I ask you something, Kim?"
Tommy's demenor noticibly changed. He wasn't looking directly into her eyes anymore. His left hand was playing with the small cross hanging from his neck; the one his mother sent him while away at boot camp. Tommy was nervous!
"You've already've been asking me questions," Kimberly answered with a growing smile. "But okay sure."
"Now you have to be careful with what I'm going to say," Tommy warned. "I don't want you to react weird."
"Ha, okay. I promise. No weirdness," Kim gingerly agreed, her right hand placed over her heart.
"When -- forget it."
"TOMMY SCOTT. You always do that. Spit it out."
"Promise you won't freak?" Tommy asked again.
"If you don't tell me I might as well!" Kimberly said pushing the boy's shoulder. "And I already promised. Out with it already."
"Okay. Here it goes . --- When did you ... get so cute?"
Kimberly's curious smile waned for a second, enough to let Tommy know her true reaction, or what he assumed to be her true reaction.
"What?" Kimberly asked swallowing a nervous chuckle.
"Weirdness. I knew it," Tommy trailed off, his eyes turning away.
"NO. That's not true," Kimberly said touching his hand. "As much as I don't act it, I'm actually self-concious about the way I look, Tommy."
"I shouldn't have said anything. Forget it."
"Forget what? Tommy, I'm totally open to whatever you have to say to me."
"Just forget it, Kim."
Tommy's reaction took Kimberly by surprise as the boy rose up from his seat and saw himself out the kazeebo. He wouldn't get far. Kimberly shot up and rushed to Tommy's side the moment the yellow flash completely disolved.
"What the--?" Tommy asked unsure how to respond.
"Meet the Putty Patrol," Kim said falling into position, one hand raised and the other placed in front.
"That's them? Whoa, what are you doing?"
Not bothering to answer, or even listening, Kimberly summersaulted her way through the gang of Putty Patrollers. Tommy followed in suit and dove into the center of things with Kim.
"Are you crazy?" Tommy shouted, his back to Kimberly's.
The Putties surrounded the duo, their mindless babbling growing louder by the second.
"Can't be!" she replied. Kimberly stepped out, turned, and struck a hard kick to a Putty's stomach. The Patroller hit the ground and withered there in pain. "I'm already nuts."
The remaining Putties sprung forward. Tommy brought up a split-kick in mid-air, completely smashing in two of the clay-molded faces. Kimberly backflipped and landed with a leg pointed out. Her foot dealt another harsh blow much like the previous Putty, whom now laid atop his unintelligble peer.
................
"What a great fighter this human is," Rita gleamed. "He'll be perfect for the green power."
"Brilliant choice, your evilness!" Baboo clapped. "Outstanding! Marvelous! Stupendous! Aw--"
"Quiet! I can't think with your constant yammering!" Rita scolded, her eyes still pointed toward the Earth. "Let's see how Goldar is doing. ... WHAT? He's still dueling with Jason! I told that dolt to get Tommy; not the Red Ranger!"
"Might I suggest more Putties?" Baboo asked.
"You may NOT. I make the decisions around here! FINSTER!"
The servant "happened" to be around the corner, as his appearance was prompt.
"You called?" asked Finster, his voice and hands nervous as ever.
"Putties! Pronto!" Rita ordered. "I want that teenager and I want him NOW!"
The ball on Rita's wand illuminated bright scarlet red. Finster flenched at the sight, interpreting its meaning immediately.
................
"Siekya!" Tommy cried, his foot nearly breaking through the material of the Putty's face.
The alien grunt wailed violenly on the ground realizing he, or it, could no longer see. The fight has carried on for more than three minutes now and nothing has come from it but exhaustion.
Checking over his shoulder, Tommy saw Kimberly holding her own. He theorized her years as a gymnist has provided her with a system of self-defense all her own; gull even.
"Shouldn't the Power Rangers be showing up by now?" Tommy shouted over to Kimberly.
"Only if you knew," Kim thought unhappily before giving her answer. "Just a few more kicks and I'm sure they'll get the idea."
Only if Kimberly waited another moment before speaking. Five more of Rita Repulsa's ultra-annoying foot soliders landed clumsily into the vacant backyard. Their collective babbling echoed into the night sky as they gathered their bearings from their less than comfortable entrance.
"Aw man," Tommy said dropping his arms. "Why me?"
"Tommy, please go!" Kimberly ordered, her other hand clutching the morpher behind her back. "I can take care of this!"
"Are you crazy? Kim, there's too many!"
While the two negotiated, the same five Putties that had shown up curiously started to slip away and head for the front yard. The molding clay Rita has given Finster to create Putty Patrollers with is not capable of providing the clay warriors with the ability to produce independent thoughts -- unless a spell was involved.
"They're heading for the neighborhood! Someone could get hurt!" Kimberly said coming to Tommy's side.
Her eyes searched Tommy's for help with a resolution. How she wished the other Rangers would show right about now.
Tommy's protest caved. "I'll get them. You stay here and finish these guys!"
The boy dashed away following after the AWOL aliens. Kimberly nodded in agreement and set her sights back onto the nearly beaten first set of Putties.
................
The air in the Command Center grew cool. The heat pulsating from the computers and scanners subsided once sleep mode had been activated. The house lights were still dimmed and Zordon's plasma tube, too, remained vacant. Alpha Five stood slouched over next to the console as he slept. The sight was almost humorous, seeing how the atmatron resembled a real person who had fallen into a light doze after standing for a period of time. A blinking light behind the robot spun in a continual counter-clockwise motion inside its ruby-red casing. Its usual screaming was silenced as the computers rested.
In the background stood a large spherical monitor. The viewing globe suddenly produced a low hum as its power brought the intergalactic television back to life. A live shot of the Angel Heights subdivison faded into view.
................
"Alright then," Kimberly grinned cockily. "You guys are in for it now. It's morphin' time!"
Producing her morpher, Kimberly extended her arms forward clutching the silver device. The sound of the word Ptyerdactyl resonated into the sky.
"How's my reveal?" the Pink Ranger asked spinning around to give the Putty Patrollers a good look at her costume, inevitibly their last. "Shall we dance?"
................
"I'm over this!" Tommy shouted rounding the corner. "Where are you guys? Where'd you go?"
The boy in green stopped where he was in the ally way that seperated the house from the shed and workshop where Mr. Saunders was often found tooling around in his spare time. Carefully scanning his surroundings, Tommy became baffled. He could of sworn the Putties went this way. He'd just seen them enter the area.
"Jesus!" Tommy yelled, his heart momentarily stopping as a white cat sprung out from between the triad of garbage cans beside him.
The feline looked at Tommy curiously as it strolled over to the fence and hopped atop the wooden post. Its gazing eyes were watchful and spooky almost, as if a real person were watching.
"Dumb cat," Tommy muttered, his focus dedicated again to his search.
The teen proceded up the ally way to the front yard. There were no signs of them anywhere as it would seem. Of all the years playing hide-n-go-seek with Jason and Kimberly, he would think he'd be an expert at this little game by now. Tommy checked over his shoulder for the cat. Sure enough, he or she was still staring.
"Did you see where they went, kitty?" asked Tommy.
The white cat didn't respond of course. Its head, however, shifted upward. Tommy further suffered the mock conversation and followed the feline's eyes.
"Bingo!"
No longer clutching the gutters above, the five rained down around Tommy and grabbed ahold of the fourth-degree black belt. The cat on the post screeched as a flash of yellow light appeared and quickly vanished with the Putty Patrollers -- and along with Tommy.
................
Pink Ranger shoved the ever-sharp tip of her Power Bow into the neck of the Putty. Watery clay goop spewed and ran down the creature's chest as the head began to decapitate. The round bust hit the ground and rolled into the thick bushes lining the fence.
"Don't go losing your head, clay boy!" Kimberly said kicking over the now lifeless body of the headless patroller.
The remaining Putties suddenly grew brains as they bore witness to the end of their fellow grunt. Huddling together, they disapated in the same yellow light.
"And that's all she wrote," Pink Ranger quipped, her arms folded proudly. "Oh my gosh! Tommy!"
Kim ran in the direction in which she saw Tommy leave. Coming into the ally way, nobody was found. A hissing noise drew the Ranger's attention. Startled for all but a second, Kimberly ignored the cat's protest to her presence and continued up the ally to the front. Careful for civilian eyes, Pink Ranger peaked around the corner. No one was there.
"Tommy, where are you?"
................
"Hey! Adam! Aisha!"
Rocky DeSantos reentered the lanai holding his red plastic cup with both hands careful not to drop it. His face was lit with a great smile.
"Got another 'joke' for us?" Adam asked, his tone indicating his disdain for Rocky's drunken non-sense.
Aisha, right of Adam, put down the can of Diet Coke she was drinking and looked up at the wasted teen.
"You wouldn't believe what I just saw, you guys!" Rocky said wanting to laugh.
"What'd you see?" asked Aisha, who appeared interested only for the reason of hearing another of Rocky's stupidly funny stories.
"I -- me," Rocky said pointing to his face, "saw a POWER RANGER."
The words 'Power Ranger' drew some attention from the people around them.
Rocky continued. "I remember her exactly, too! She was here and--"
"Rocky, sit, relax," Adam said scooting over for his friend. "Just fiften minutes ago you claimed to have been making a new kind of cereal with Count Chocula, the Smacks frog, and the rabbit from Trix in the kitchen."
"But we did! And you know what the secret ingrident was?"
"Beer?"
"You got that right!" Rocky said holding out his hand for a five. Adam declined.
"So you want to hear about the Ranger or what?"
They say people are in the right place at the right time when something good happens. But if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time instead, then.
................
Behind the Saunders home was a good acre of land; trees were sportatically plotted about the landscape. Kimberly smiled at her surroundings, feeling that special tinge of romance caress her skin. She and Tommy were alone with the exception of another couple talking very closely on a bench back by the house. The music from the party was now only a quiet hush in the background once the two teens stepped inside the center-standing kazeebo.
"What are you smiling about?" Tommy asked taking a seat, Kimberly following.
An off-guard Kimberly reached the first available answer. "The party. Crazy, isn't it?"
"Not really?"
"Oh, I mean, you know, my first party. All the noise, the people ... the drinking."
"If you're not comfortable, we can leave and go somewhere else -- if you want to," Tommy suggested.
"Right here's fine. At least we can finally talk!" Kim smiled changing subjects.
"Yeah, really," Tommy grinned back. "With school and all, we never really got to catch up."
The wind picked up again. Kimberly put on a smile to hide her discomfort. Tommy read past the charade and offered the green-hoodie he had.
"Thanks," Kim said slipping her arms in. "It's not usually this cold this time of year in Angel Grove."
"Yeah," Tommy acknowledged. ""Better now?"
"Much. Thanks. -- So, um, are you adjusting okay to being home again?"
"Yeah. I never realized how lucky I really was after being gone for, what, a year and a half?"
"Yeah?"
"I mean -- I had it good, Kim." Tommy's tone sobered. "A family, a nice house, good friends, I was doing well in martial arts. ... Then I blew it."
Kimberly placed a sympathetic hand on Tommy's shoulder and gave it a soft squeeze. "All that matters is it's over. You're back to who you were."
"Am I?" Tommy asked.
"Are you?" Kimberly asked back. "What's on your mind?"
"I don't feel the same, Kim. ... I feel..."
"Yes?"
"I feel old."
Kimberly laughed at the absurbity of Tommy's answer. "What?"
"I feel old," Tommy repeated.
"How could you feel old? You're fifteen!"
"Maybe old isn't the word then. ... I feel something."
"Tommy," Kimberly said scooting in closer. "You're most likely feeling guilt. It's normal. Once you get back into the swing of things, you'll see it'll all get better."
"You think so?"
"I know so!" Kim smiled. "We all love you very much."
Feeling encouraged, Tommy returned the smile and brought Kimberly into his arms. "Thanks, Kim. I needed to hear that."
................
"Ay-yah!" Jason screamed, his sidekick bowling over yet another Putty.
The young fighter flipped backwards and extended both foot out, keeping another set of Rita's grunts from coming any closer. Goldar watched in fascination as the human he loathed most took each patroller out with ease. How can one stupid Earthling fight so well the alien pondered. He's heard the words martial arts and karate used frequently with the humans as the year went on, but he never inquired what it truly meant beyond its obvious purpose. Nevertheless, it empowered Jason to be a great warrior and quite possibly useful to Rita.
"Ha, yes!" Goldar said, the very idea amusing the general. "Putties, find the one Empress Rita has requested! I'll deal with this!"
In the same manner they appeared, the Putty Patrollers vanished just as quickly.
"Jason, I want you!" Goldar said pointing his sword to the human.
"You can't have me, monkey boy!" Jason shot back, his eyes landing on his morpher.
"Your presence is requested at Rita's palace!"
"Over my dead body! It's morphin' time!"
Goldar released another blast of gold fire to keep Jason apart from his morpher. The teenager tossed himself onto the lawn to avoid inhiliation. A second batch of Putty Patrollers then materialized in his midst.
................
"So anything interesting happen while I was away?" Tommy asked.
"Um -- yeah," Kim answered. "You can say that."
"Still cheerleading?"
"I was for like a month when school started, but plans changed."
"Oh?" Tommy mused. "What happened?"
"Nothin'. You know how fickle girls can be," Kim said trying to sound coy. "I still have time to teach gymnastics at the Youth Center though."
"Cool. ... Can I ask you something, Kim?"
Tommy's demenor noticibly changed. He wasn't looking directly into her eyes anymore. His left hand was playing with the small cross hanging from his neck; the one his mother sent him while away at boot camp. Tommy was nervous!
"You've already've been asking me questions," Kimberly answered with a growing smile. "But okay sure."
"Now you have to be careful with what I'm going to say," Tommy warned. "I don't want you to react weird."
"Ha, okay. I promise. No weirdness," Kim gingerly agreed, her right hand placed over her heart.
"When -- forget it."
"TOMMY SCOTT. You always do that. Spit it out."
"Promise you won't freak?" Tommy asked again.
"If you don't tell me I might as well!" Kimberly said pushing the boy's shoulder. "And I already promised. Out with it already."
"Okay. Here it goes . --- When did you ... get so cute?"
Kimberly's curious smile waned for a second, enough to let Tommy know her true reaction, or what he assumed to be her true reaction.
"What?" Kimberly asked swallowing a nervous chuckle.
"Weirdness. I knew it," Tommy trailed off, his eyes turning away.
"NO. That's not true," Kimberly said touching his hand. "As much as I don't act it, I'm actually self-concious about the way I look, Tommy."
"I shouldn't have said anything. Forget it."
"Forget what? Tommy, I'm totally open to whatever you have to say to me."
"Just forget it, Kim."
Tommy's reaction took Kimberly by surprise as the boy rose up from his seat and saw himself out the kazeebo. He wouldn't get far. Kimberly shot up and rushed to Tommy's side the moment the yellow flash completely disolved.
"What the--?" Tommy asked unsure how to respond.
"Meet the Putty Patrol," Kim said falling into position, one hand raised and the other placed in front.
"That's them? Whoa, what are you doing?"
Not bothering to answer, or even listening, Kimberly summersaulted her way through the gang of Putty Patrollers. Tommy followed in suit and dove into the center of things with Kim.
"Are you crazy?" Tommy shouted, his back to Kimberly's.
The Putties surrounded the duo, their mindless babbling growing louder by the second.
"Can't be!" she replied. Kimberly stepped out, turned, and struck a hard kick to a Putty's stomach. The Patroller hit the ground and withered there in pain. "I'm already nuts."
The remaining Putties sprung forward. Tommy brought up a split-kick in mid-air, completely smashing in two of the clay-molded faces. Kimberly backflipped and landed with a leg pointed out. Her foot dealt another harsh blow much like the previous Putty, whom now laid atop his unintelligble peer.
................
"What a great fighter this human is," Rita gleamed. "He'll be perfect for the green power."
"Brilliant choice, your evilness!" Baboo clapped. "Outstanding! Marvelous! Stupendous! Aw--"
"Quiet! I can't think with your constant yammering!" Rita scolded, her eyes still pointed toward the Earth. "Let's see how Goldar is doing. ... WHAT? He's still dueling with Jason! I told that dolt to get Tommy; not the Red Ranger!"
"Might I suggest more Putties?" Baboo asked.
"You may NOT. I make the decisions around here! FINSTER!"
The servant "happened" to be around the corner, as his appearance was prompt.
"You called?" asked Finster, his voice and hands nervous as ever.
"Putties! Pronto!" Rita ordered. "I want that teenager and I want him NOW!"
The ball on Rita's wand illuminated bright scarlet red. Finster flenched at the sight, interpreting its meaning immediately.
................
"Siekya!" Tommy cried, his foot nearly breaking through the material of the Putty's face.
The alien grunt wailed violenly on the ground realizing he, or it, could no longer see. The fight has carried on for more than three minutes now and nothing has come from it but exhaustion.
Checking over his shoulder, Tommy saw Kimberly holding her own. He theorized her years as a gymnist has provided her with a system of self-defense all her own; gull even.
"Shouldn't the Power Rangers be showing up by now?" Tommy shouted over to Kimberly.
"Only if you knew," Kim thought unhappily before giving her answer. "Just a few more kicks and I'm sure they'll get the idea."
Only if Kimberly waited another moment before speaking. Five more of Rita Repulsa's ultra-annoying foot soliders landed clumsily into the vacant backyard. Their collective babbling echoed into the night sky as they gathered their bearings from their less than comfortable entrance.
"Aw man," Tommy said dropping his arms. "Why me?"
"Tommy, please go!" Kimberly ordered, her other hand clutching the morpher behind her back. "I can take care of this!"
"Are you crazy? Kim, there's too many!"
While the two negotiated, the same five Putties that had shown up curiously started to slip away and head for the front yard. The molding clay Rita has given Finster to create Putty Patrollers with is not capable of providing the clay warriors with the ability to produce independent thoughts -- unless a spell was involved.
"They're heading for the neighborhood! Someone could get hurt!" Kimberly said coming to Tommy's side.
Her eyes searched Tommy's for help with a resolution. How she wished the other Rangers would show right about now.
Tommy's protest caved. "I'll get them. You stay here and finish these guys!"
The boy dashed away following after the AWOL aliens. Kimberly nodded in agreement and set her sights back onto the nearly beaten first set of Putties.
................
The air in the Command Center grew cool. The heat pulsating from the computers and scanners subsided once sleep mode had been activated. The house lights were still dimmed and Zordon's plasma tube, too, remained vacant. Alpha Five stood slouched over next to the console as he slept. The sight was almost humorous, seeing how the atmatron resembled a real person who had fallen into a light doze after standing for a period of time. A blinking light behind the robot spun in a continual counter-clockwise motion inside its ruby-red casing. Its usual screaming was silenced as the computers rested.
In the background stood a large spherical monitor. The viewing globe suddenly produced a low hum as its power brought the intergalactic television back to life. A live shot of the Angel Heights subdivison faded into view.
................
"Alright then," Kimberly grinned cockily. "You guys are in for it now. It's morphin' time!"
Producing her morpher, Kimberly extended her arms forward clutching the silver device. The sound of the word Ptyerdactyl resonated into the sky.
"How's my reveal?" the Pink Ranger asked spinning around to give the Putty Patrollers a good look at her costume, inevitibly their last. "Shall we dance?"
................
"I'm over this!" Tommy shouted rounding the corner. "Where are you guys? Where'd you go?"
The boy in green stopped where he was in the ally way that seperated the house from the shed and workshop where Mr. Saunders was often found tooling around in his spare time. Carefully scanning his surroundings, Tommy became baffled. He could of sworn the Putties went this way. He'd just seen them enter the area.
"Jesus!" Tommy yelled, his heart momentarily stopping as a white cat sprung out from between the triad of garbage cans beside him.
The feline looked at Tommy curiously as it strolled over to the fence and hopped atop the wooden post. Its gazing eyes were watchful and spooky almost, as if a real person were watching.
"Dumb cat," Tommy muttered, his focus dedicated again to his search.
The teen proceded up the ally way to the front yard. There were no signs of them anywhere as it would seem. Of all the years playing hide-n-go-seek with Jason and Kimberly, he would think he'd be an expert at this little game by now. Tommy checked over his shoulder for the cat. Sure enough, he or she was still staring.
"Did you see where they went, kitty?" asked Tommy.
The white cat didn't respond of course. Its head, however, shifted upward. Tommy further suffered the mock conversation and followed the feline's eyes.
"Bingo!"
No longer clutching the gutters above, the five rained down around Tommy and grabbed ahold of the fourth-degree black belt. The cat on the post screeched as a flash of yellow light appeared and quickly vanished with the Putty Patrollers -- and along with Tommy.
................
Pink Ranger shoved the ever-sharp tip of her Power Bow into the neck of the Putty. Watery clay goop spewed and ran down the creature's chest as the head began to decapitate. The round bust hit the ground and rolled into the thick bushes lining the fence.
"Don't go losing your head, clay boy!" Kimberly said kicking over the now lifeless body of the headless patroller.
The remaining Putties suddenly grew brains as they bore witness to the end of their fellow grunt. Huddling together, they disapated in the same yellow light.
"And that's all she wrote," Pink Ranger quipped, her arms folded proudly. "Oh my gosh! Tommy!"
Kim ran in the direction in which she saw Tommy leave. Coming into the ally way, nobody was found. A hissing noise drew the Ranger's attention. Startled for all but a second, Kimberly ignored the cat's protest to her presence and continued up the ally to the front. Careful for civilian eyes, Pink Ranger peaked around the corner. No one was there.
"Tommy, where are you?"
................
"Hey! Adam! Aisha!"
Rocky DeSantos reentered the lanai holding his red plastic cup with both hands careful not to drop it. His face was lit with a great smile.
"Got another 'joke' for us?" Adam asked, his tone indicating his disdain for Rocky's drunken non-sense.
Aisha, right of Adam, put down the can of Diet Coke she was drinking and looked up at the wasted teen.
"You wouldn't believe what I just saw, you guys!" Rocky said wanting to laugh.
"What'd you see?" asked Aisha, who appeared interested only for the reason of hearing another of Rocky's stupidly funny stories.
"I -- me," Rocky said pointing to his face, "saw a POWER RANGER."
The words 'Power Ranger' drew some attention from the people around them.
Rocky continued. "I remember her exactly, too! She was here and--"
"Rocky, sit, relax," Adam said scooting over for his friend. "Just fiften minutes ago you claimed to have been making a new kind of cereal with Count Chocula, the Smacks frog, and the rabbit from Trix in the kitchen."
"But we did! And you know what the secret ingrident was?"
"Beer?"
"You got that right!" Rocky said holding out his hand for a five. Adam declined.
"So you want to hear about the Ranger or what?"