THE REASON - Part Twenty-Three: Red and Blue Confrontations

Summary: Ethan has a talk with Hayley about Tommy's past. Conner goes to the park to try and relay what has happened in the past few days, but instead runs into Jason and Tommy. The three talk more about the rangers' past and what has happened between friends, with a little surprise concerning a little pink cat from Tommy's past.

A/N: Just something, the guys (Conner and Ethan) had to do. It's not one of the best chapters, but answers some questions. So, enjoy and hope you like it.

"This concerns every one of us now involved in your life, and we can't run away until we get the answers we want." –Eclyptyk Neo
Ethan walked into the cyber café hoping to find Hayley there. She was, and lucky for him, she wasn't too busy. He greeted her as he took a seat at the counter.

"Hey, Ethan. How's Dr. Oliver?" she asked with great concern.

Ethan shrugged, sighing. "Not all too good. He gave us so much homework to do. Nearly 50 pages to read, a packet of questions to answer, and a research paper on a career in science. Either the guy is forgetting we're still in high school, or he's treating it like some AP class when really it isn't."

Hayley shook her head. "I'm sorry, Ethan. But it could be worse. But than again, I guess that's how Tommy is sometimes when he's upset. Don't let it get to you. It's been a rough few days."

"You're telling me." Ethan nodded. "What happened to having a life? Doesn't Dr. O see that? I highly doubt high school was that hard years ago."

"Be careful how you say that, Ethan." Hayley advised. "Remember, he went four straight years trying to maintain good grades while still saving the world in his free time."

Ethan nodded slowly. He knew he couldn't deny that his teacher had faced just enough, if not more crap in his high school years than what he has faced in his junior year alone. "Okay, you win, Hayley. I take back that last comment. But what do you think is going to happen now?" Hayley could only shrug. "I really don't know, Ethan."

"Well, than is it possible for me to ask some questions about these past few years of Dr. O's life? Just so we're all on the same page here."

Hayley looked about the room, noticing that many people were off doing their own thing. But even she had a tendency to blurt out some truth that wasn't meant to be said. But she knew that he wouldn't give up until he had some clear answers. Especially with the issue arising about both the fate of the world and the outcome of the future for the ranger generations in the past, present and future.

Hayley directed him to the back of the café and into the office area. Well, not necessarily. It was like another command center aside from the underground lab located under Tommy's house. It didn't have the same crazy computer console, though it was hidden behind a wall in the office. A small work area which appeared to be where Hayley made the gadgets and weapons the team would use in battle.

And with a comment of the interior, Ethan took a seat and began to file out questions as they popped into his head. About Hayley's years in college and how she and Tommy had met at CalTech. Up until junior year, they were college buddies, but she transferred over to MIT after getting a degree in computer programming. She finished at MIT with several other degrees that Ethan was unable to count or really grasp. It didn't bother him much. He was more concern with his teacher. About the thesis and the experiments on the island. About finding the dino gems and what were his studying and dating habits in college, but of course, that subject was something Hayley couldn't answer. But it was enough to clear up some questions in his mind. Ethan just figured he'd try to collect as much information on his teacher's life in the past eight years. The ones not been answered in the video diary. Ethan could only question how far the other two were getting with their missions.

-----

Conner walked through the park in his red soccer outfit, hoping to find some random game to join. But none really caught his eye, or it was a team of kids doing drills with their coach. He began to kick the ball with every step he took, remembering the sacrifices he had to make for himself.

The Reefside Wave, a pro soccer team, had offered him a position on the team. And he would have to give up everything to make the commitment to play for the team. But than he would no longer be a ranger. He'd have to walk away, and the team would have to find a replacement leader. But he didn't. He couldn't. Saving that little girl had changed his mind. It made him realize that saving the world was a bigger responsibility that he was lucky enough to have. Kira and Ethan, too. Three teens from three different worlds. And a legendary mentor who knew the in's and out's of the game to save the world.

So, he stayed on. In the back of his mind, he still regretted the loss of making it into pro soccer. The ranger gig was something that could not be easily passed up now, when there has been so much more that the team has faced in the past several months. He could only hope he still had a chance in the pro soccer league to make himself known by other means than saving the world while keeping his identity secret.

-----

Tommy walked along one of the cemented paths in the park, where it took him to several pavilions where other people rested or chatted quietly. Jason was already there, as he was the one who had invited the black dino ranger out to the park for another chat. Jason seemed a little preoccupied as Tommy approached him.

Tommy cleared his throat.

Jason managed a smile, and got to his feet. "Didn't think you'd show."

Tommy looked away, pushing his hands into his pockets, shrugging. "Yeah. Me too. But, ya know, I couldn't turn up an offer when I figured I had to talk to you sometime."

Jason nodded. "Guess so." Tommy shook his head, seeing the cut on Jason's lip from the previous day. "Ya know, Jason, I didn't mean that. Ya know, clockin' you the way I did.." Jason held up a hand. "It's cool. That's the past, bro. I've gotten over it. Kinda my fault that this all happened in the first place. Sorry, man. Besides, I know that anger. It happens every time you've hit a pretty big loss." "So, we cool?" Tommy held out a hand.

Jason clasped it as they initiated their own handshake created by the old crew. By those setting the standards for the rest of the ranger family. "We cool, bro. We always are." He directed his friend to a seat on the bench, as he sat beside him.

"So, what brings me out here, now? Anymore of your big surprises?" Tommy asked cautiously.

"C'mon, bro. It's me...."

"That's what I mean, bro." Tommy cut him short. "You always loved to surprise me with these little confrontations, don't you? So, who did you bring with you now?"

Jason shrugged.

"Is it possible for me to join in this interrogating?" A voice asked from behind, as the two men turned with a surprise to see the red dino ranger standing there. "Hey, my fellow red buddies."

"Was." they corrected, directing him to a seat across them.

Conner took a seat, greeting them more properly. "So, what are we talking about now?"

"How long have you been standing there?" Tommy asked.

Conner shrugged. "Not long. Just enough to question how long Jason was gonna stay. Or what surprise he has in store for you, Dr. O? Or even this little fiasco considering a certain evil white ranger?"

Jason exchanged a look with the black dino ranger, shrugging. "A couple days. I gotta get back to teaching at my martial arts school. But yeah," he nodded. "This whole little evil ranger thing. It has happened before."

"Don't start with me, bro." Tommy held his breath.

"I wasn't going to," Jason shook his head. "But only wondering what conclusion you might have about this matter."

Tommy looked down. "None. We just got to make sure we stop him before it's too late."

"Do you have any idea who it might be, Dr. O?" Conner asked with great concern, trying to take the role as the leader needing answers.

Tommy sighed. He recalled his earlier conversation with Kira, but figured it would be best not to mention much about it even if it was important. He needed more time to deal with it before he could confront the others about it. "I'm sorry, Conner. I wish I did, but I don't. This guy is tough."

"And you weren't?" Jason tried to poke another joke into his friend.

Tommy glared at him, scoffing. "Fine, I take that back. I just never expected it to happen, though. I didn't want it to happen."

"No one's blaming you, Dr. O" Conner tried to be encouraging. "But you have been in the situation before, so wouldn't you know how this guy acts?

What his motives are?"

"To destroy the Power Rangers." Tommy shrugged, making that clear. "Nothing new. But it does appear as if he's working solo on this mission."

"So, what do we do?"

"Find out what he wants and stop him. And find out if the gem is making him act this way, or some other power."

"Is that possible?"

Tommy shrugged. "It could. But I really don't know."

Conner nodded slowly, noticing that his mentor appeared at just a big loss as he did about the situation. And there wasn't much that could be asked of Jason except how he managed to deal. Managed to deal that his best buddy was in fact the evil threat that wanted to destroy a legacy.

"Hey, don't worry." Jason saw the loss in both the current ranger's eyes. "Stop. C'mon. You guys will figure out who it is and get him help before it's too late. It wouldn't be much of a happy ending if you guys lost to an evil ranger such as you had the first one right here."

Tommy smacked him in the back of the head. He had about enough of Jason's jokes, though it did manage to lighten the mood. He just didn't like that he had to be the target behind each one. "Stop it. I know you're trying to help this situation, Jase, but by targeting me as apart of the joke isn't cool." "Sorry, my bad, bro." Jason held up his hands in surrender. "I'll stop."

Conner looked up and saw someone approaching them. She was wearing a baby pink T-shirt with some light colored jeans and a denim jacket. She wore a light smile on her face, her blonde hair was cut just a little below shoulder length and layered out. She didn't seem that old, if not any older than the two men sitting in front of him. She set one slurpee down on the table next to Jason.

"Here you go, Jase." She smiled, taking one look at Conner and winking. "But now, you owe me gas money." "Please. You could have just walked," he took a little drink of it. "It was just down the street."

"And have these crazy lunatics run me over? I'll take a pass on that." Conner seemed star stuck at the woman's gesture, trying to figure out where he had seen her before. Tommy finally awoke from his mindless state, as he saw the confused look on his student's face. He looked over his shoulder, seeing the person he had called his second love standing right there. He slowly got to his feet, to take a better look at her. Jason and Conner exchanged a look as Jason shrunk against his drink. The woman turned to the ex-red zeo/turbo ranger. She seemed as surprised to see him as he had seen her. She just didn't seem to notice that it was him. And after three years, he didn't seem to have changed much except that his hair was shorter and he no longer wore any earrings. He appeared more built and mature in the past years of their last sighting. "Hey, Tommy." She opened up her arms as a greeting.

"Kat." Tommy whispered as he walked into her greeting.

It was just a gentle welcoming. A hug. But it was enough to re-establish their lack of seeing each other in three years. Though, they did talk on the phone and exchange emails through the years. But were far too busy to establish a chance to meet.

Kat slowly broke the embrace to meet him in the eyes. "So, how are you doing, Tommy?"

"I'm better," he said, simply knowing what she was talking about. She was asking about how he had been coping with the loss of his brother and a friend. "So, what are you doing here? Did Jason drag you out here, too?"

"Yeah. Knowing Jason, he likes to bring things up last minute. I would have called, but Jason told me that he had informed you about my visit." Tommy chuckled, looking at Jason. "Oh, did he? Must have not got it."

"Is your phone on the fritz or something, cuz I swear I mentioned it in that text." Jason tried to make it less obvious that he failed to mention her visit, but that was a lie.

Tommy shook his head. "I didn't get it."

"Than something is wrong with your phone." He looked away, just as Kat had turned Tommy away.

Conner exchanged a look with Jason, still unsure of what was going on. "A little help?"

"Ex-girlfriend." Jason whispered. "And uh...my fiancee."

Conner's eyes widened, as he wanted to say something, but Jason shook his head. He leaned in closer to the former red/gold ranger. "You haven't said anything to him about it?"

Jason shook his head. "Not yet. But, I will."

A few feet away.

Tommy scratched his head absently, still confused at how Jason managed to get a hold of Kat for a visit. He hadn't seen her in years. And the last they talked was when he was first granted the powers of the black dino gem. "So, how long you in for?"

"A couple of days. I don't know." She shrugged.

"I guess I have to get used to the surprises," he nodded. "So, what's up with you?"

"Not much. I'm doing okay. But, I hear that Kim's in town. How's that going?"

Tommy dropped his head. "Not how I like it."

"Taking way too long, bro." Jason called out.

Kat walked over to him, slapping him in the shoulder. "Stop it, Jason. Leave them alone. It's been far too long. And I don't like how you're making this your business."

Jason got to his feet, holding up his hands. "Sorry, my bad. Back story: Kim wanted to see Tommy and she was scared to do it herself. I was just here to fill in the gaps. But, I'm serious, T." He looked at his best buddy. "This is some serious stuff. You're breaking up our friendship. Stop arguing. Just kiss and make up already and we can all be happy."

"It's not that simple." Tommy said sadly.

"You guys are talking, right?" Kat asked.

Tommy nodded. "Well, we did, anyways." He held up his arm as the sleeve of his jacket fell loose to reveal the bracelet honing his dino gem. "Up until she found out what I've been doing in the past few months."

"You never told her?!" Kat was shocked.

He shrugged. "I couldn't."

"Nice way to have her find out, honestly." Conner said to himself, but they all heard it anyway. He looked away, seeing the glare from his teacher. "Hey, sorry, Dr. O, but first impressions like that these days aren't exactly the best way to win back a girl's heart."

Tommy forced out a sigh. Then he remembered. "Aww, man. I'm sorry. Kat, this is Conner. Conner, this is Kat."

Conner took her hand in a firm handshake as he got to his feet. He stopped to look at the ring on her finger. He couldn't believe Jason's word until he had real proof of their commitment. The ring had a diamond in the middle with two cats circling around it as if leaping over it in a continuous ring.

"Wow. Nice ring."

Kat chuckled nervously, pulling her hand away. "Um....thanks, Conner." She turned to meet the confused look on Tommy's face. She held it out for him to see, as she looked at the nervous state of her fiancé, as Jason took a giant step back.

"Engagement?" Tommy asked as she nodded. "With who?"

Jason scratched his head absently, as Conner pushed him forward. "It's me, Tommy. I proposed to her." "What?!" Tommy caught his breath. "And you didn't tell me?!"

"No." Jason held up his hands, waiting for his friend to clock him, but he didn't. "But only because I didn't want to worry you with my life. Besides..." "How long?" he looked down.

Kat's face dropped, seeing his sadness. "Since the funeral, Tommy."

Conner walked over to his teacher's side, hoping to relay some of the shock radiating off him. "You're not mad, are you, Dr. O?"

Tommy shook his head, forcing a breath out before looking back up at Kat. "Are you happy?"

Kat nodded. "Yeah. But don't think that this is some kind of revenge on you..."

Tommy dismissed her comment, looking directly at Jason. "And you, Jase? Are you happy?"

Jason nodded. "Yeah, man. But.."

Tommy held up a hand. "As long as both of you are happy, I don't have anything against it." He looked directly at Jason, his alert eyes kept on him, making Jason stuck in his tracks. "You just take care of her, all right? I don't want to see the two of you being miserable." Jason complied, nodding. "Of course, man. You got my word." He held up his right hand. "Ranger's honor."

Tommy gave him a light smile, before taking him into a bear hug. "Congrats, bro." He looked over at Kat, seeing the saddened look on her face. And she knew that was her meaning of sensing his unhappiness. Though, he was shaken by the sudden dismissal of the news, he now knew that deep in his heart, it was true. Jason and Kat were going out, and were going to tie the knot. He walked over to her, and pulled her into a protective hug. "It's cool, Kat. I'm not crying about it. So, don't be sad for me. Just as long as you're happy. That's all that matters. Take care of him, Kat. Congrats."

She broke the embrace, looking directly into his eyes. Remembering the very first day she had met him, and how his eyes just caused her to melt. "I will, Tommy. But take care of Kim. I mean that. She needs you more than I ever did." She gave him a kiss on the forehead. Tommy looked down, nodding slowly. "I will. Thanks, Kat. For everything."

"I'm always here." She smiled.

Jason walked up beside him, clearing his throat as he wrapped an arm around his fiancee. "You ready to go?"

Kat nodded. "Sure."

"Where you guys going?" Tommy asked.

"Catch a movie. You wanna come?" Jason offered.

Tommy shook his head. "I'll pass. Gotta fill in Conner on a few things, anyways."

"Yeah, I'll say." Conner nodded.

They all exchanged a good-bye. Tommy and Conner watched with a smile on their faces as the couple left the park.

"So, you guys went out?" Conner began as he found his way back to the table.

Tommy nodded. "We did for some time...."

And he continued to explain the story behind Kat's appearance and arrival into the team. How she was the one who had comforted him in his hard break- up with Kim. Where she picked up where Kim left off. And how she was apart of Rita's evil plan to take out the power rangers. It was almost a success, but after the spell was broken she was the only one who would be suitable for the position as the pink power ranger. Then he explained the loss of their ninja powers and how they had to move up to zeo rangers. He explained to the young red ranger about his years spent in the suit, and the people that came in went, hoping to clear up some uneasiness in the new team leader.

It was a trip down memory lane, but it was enough to answer the questions that Conner had about his teacher's past. Now, he wanted to set a goal to collect information from the other rangers in town and their story behind their crime fighting days.

To be continued......

A/N: Well, it was true about Kat and Jason. They are in fact, engaged. But they also forgot to mention one more thing, too. That they have a kid together and Kat is pregnant with another. Just something to have Tommy dangle about, just for the safety of keeping him and you readers on the edge. In the next chapter, I would like to introduce to you the red ninja ranger and the black ninja ranger. But could they be connected to the power sources that Tommy speaks of? Find out, next chapter.