THE REASON - Part Forty-Nine: The Black Jokester
Summary: Zack pays that much needed visit to the crew in Reefside.
Disclaimer: Power Rangers not mine.
A/N: The much anticipated visit from Zack, and sorry if you hoped it would be longer. Again, the time to get it on and trying to keep in line with the show is hard work. Anyways, read and reply.
"It's been a long time. I guess it comes with trying to live a normal life even if the past still lives inside me." -Eclyptyk Neo
Days later.
Adam was chilling on the couch in Tommy's living room. Not that he really had anything better to do with Tommy being stubborn about him running some tests on him. The team had destroyed another monster, and Hayley was smart enough to reconfigure the Shield of Triumph to give Ethan and Kira a chance to stay morphed while giving up their powers to enhance the shield's own powers.
Adam began to flip through the channels, but found nothing to watch. Even on digital cable. "I don't get it, T." Adam protested taking a drink from the soda in hand. "Why isn't there anything to watch?"
"Don't look at me." Tommy shrugged as he crossed the room to the kitchen. "I don't watch a whole lot of TV."
Adam continued to flip through the channels, until he came to a stop. "Hey, whoa! Yo, Tommy, check it out, it's Cassidy on the news."
Tommy scurried into the room with a soda in hand as he looked at the TV screen. "Hey, it is."
"....sacrifice and dedication for everything that's good and right in the world. We have heroes like that right here living in our city. The Power Rangers." Cassidy said from the TV with a bright smile.
"Huh?!" Adam looked over at his black counterpart.
Tommy exchanged a look with him, shrugging. "I didn't say anything."
"...proven we are in good hands." Cassidy continued to say. "This is Cassidy Cornell reporting...."
The shot of Cassidy was cut of and the footage of the recent battle with Jupitor appeared on the screen. Mesogog's latest scheme involved using the gravitational pull of Jupiter to disrupt the rotation of the Earth and block the sun making it an ice age. Unfortunately, the teens saved the day, yet again. And it was no doubt that Cassidy had caught the footage when she was heading to the TV station to call her news reporting days to a close. But with a story like that, she was sure to stay in that position.
Minutes passed.
Adam and Tommy were surprised to see footage like that captured on camera. They could never recall a time when it was a close call for them. They were just glad that the teens didn't de-morph, and it was clear that if they did, Tommy would have all their asses for the exposure. He just wasn't ready, as well as most of the old rangers to tell the world who they really were.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
The black dino thunder ranger exchanged a look with his black counterpart.
"Expecting someone?" Adam asked raising an eyebrow.
"It's late. I wouldn't see who would." Tommy moved toward answering the door.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Tommy opened the door to be met by a picture of himself in a martial arts uniform, forcing him back. He raised an eyebrow, knowing the only person who had a copy of that, not signed.
"Oh my god! It's Tommy Oliver! After all these years, I've finally found him." the person laughed as Tommy noticed his black attire.
Tommy couldn't help but laugh when he pushed the picture down to reveal the person's face. "Zachary Walter Taylor." he greeted as he clasped the jokester's hand. "What brings you around? You finally decided to come by?"
Zack pulled the black dino thunder ranger into a bear hug. "Hey, don't get me wrong, man. I've been busy."
Zack appeared to be the same as his high school years. He had got rid of the deadlocks, but a small thin mustache was located about his lips. He looked a little more built than Tommy could remember from his old friend, but could never forget that he was a break-dancer/hip-hop dancer. Tommy directed him into the house, glad to see his friend after so long. He was the one that others always had problems contacting, and even if Aisha told him stuff, he never really paid much attention to it.
The two filed into the living room, where Adam was waiting to get his greetings in. The two clasped hands and pulled each other into a hug with a greeting.
"Long time no see, frog man." Zack smiled.
"Yeah, long time no see, Z."
Zack shrugged as he found a seat on the couch. "Well, ya know. Still working out the kinks in my rap album. Just ain't feeling it at the moment."
"It would only be your first." Adam said.
"But the first album can usually make or break a person."
Tommy nodded as he found a seat across the room. "That's true. But you're quite the poet, Zack. I think people will like what you have to say."
"Yeah. Just give me a few more months and you'll be seeing The Black Joke out in stores. I mean, without Tanya, I'd probably not be getting the hook up."
"She can hook up anyone with a musical contract. And Kat's got the acting thing down." Adam nodded.
"And besides, thought I'd see how the new team is coming. So, team leader?" Zack looked at the black dino thunder ranger. "Where's the team I've heard so much about? The one you created."
"Not here. At the moment, but knowing them, they'd probably be by in an hour or so."
"So, what has the jokester been up to?" Adam asked, looking at the original black ranger.
Minutes passed.
Zack began to file out his success with the dance school he opened up in Los Angeles. He liked the kids there and was having a great time teaching them to reach their potential in dancing. He was dogging on his two black counterparts, telling them that anyone who was a martial artist could dance. They were learning, anytime Zack had a chance to teach them. But they also had their own lives.
Tommy and Adam began to explain the adventures of the new team, and what to expect if they were to arrive.
"Okay. Word is--the proposal. How could I have missed it?" Zack asked.
"Didn't you also missed Jason and Kat?" Adam asked.
"Hey! So, did I. But that's not the point." Tommy shook his head, then nodded it. "Yes, Zack, I did propose to Kim. And she accepted."
"It's about time." Zack laughed.
"That's what we were all saying. Tommy, here waited too damn long to do it."
"What about you, Zack?" Tommy began, hoping that he wouldn't be the target in this proposal discussion. "Are you and Aisha gonna do it?"
Zack shrugged, turning a little red. "I don't know yet. I mean, I don't want to rush."
"And you thought I took too long."
Zack looked over at Adam, who took a swig of his beer. "And what about you, frog man? Still single?"
Adam coughed, nearly choking on his drink. He swallowed it and nodded. "And loving it. Don't try to hook me up with one of your friends again, Zack. I mean, they're okay, but they aren't in my taste."
"Don't worry. I got you, Adam." Zack wrapped an arm around him. "I got plenty more girls who would want to go out with a Korean guy."
"Sorry, but no way. As much as all of you are trying to hook me up, stop it." Adam shook his head. "This single thing gives me more time to do other things."
"Too much time on your hands." Tommy shook his head.
The room fell silent as Adam and Tommy exchanged a look. They turned their heads toward the door leading into the hallway, and saw a familar face of the red dino thunder ranger peek his head through.
"Hey, Dr. O." Conner greeted with a wave.
"Don't you ever knock?" Tommy forced out a breath.
"Doctor?" Zack furrowed his eyebrows. "Oh yeah, sorry, T. Forgot you got that degree in paleontology." Then he looked at Adam. "And our certified medicine man. Man, I can't believe we got two doctors in the room."
By the time he had finished off his sentence, the teens had gotten into the room, minus Trent.
"See, that's what you get for telling your students where you hide your spare key." Adam sighed.
Zack looked at the teens, eyebrow raised. "The new team?"
Tommy nodded. "The new team. This is...."
Ethan was the first to step forward, obviously relieved to have another African-American on the ranks. "Name's Ethan. You're Zack, right?"
"So, you've heard." Zack took the hand in a greeting. "The Billy prodigy."
"Trust me, Zack. They already know more about you than you ever could about them." Tommy said.
Ethan nodded as he looked at his mentor with confusion. "Right. But that's what I've been told. But, when are we ever gonna meet this guy, Dr. O?"
Tommy shrugged. "Depends on if I could get a hold on him." He got to his feet, directing Zack to the other two teens in the room. "Guys, this is Zack. The original black ranger. Zack, that's Conner and Kira. And unfortunately, Trent is working over-time. But he would be the other."
"But that only makes five. I thought ranger teams had six." Zack stated, remembering the first day that Tommy joined the original team as the green dragon ranger.
"Well, there was. Until the issues." Adam said, pulling the man back on the couch. "This is gonna be a long story."
Adam and Tommy began to file out their discovery of another dino gem, but was destroyed due to the evil encoding. And how the Shield of Triumph gave the added power to wake Kim up. They mentioned of the power transfer, and how they felt the changes going on with themselves.
Minutes passed.
The teens began to ask the original black ranger about stories of his adventures with the team. Half the time, the teens saw Tommy cringe under the embarrassment he had gone through in high school, especially if it was Zack watching him.
Another subject regarded the Olympics and how Tommy would be a perfect candidate for it. But he refused, and would rather not compete in that level. The teens suggested he go with Zack and surprise Kim, but he refused. Not with those changes going on in him. He couldn't do anything about it until they got more answers, but for the most part he was fine.
Tommy became the center of attention again when Zack brought up his army days and racing days, which the teens had no idea about. And when he showed them his dog tags, they still wasn't convinced he was an army man. Though, he could sound like it.
"Speaking of family. Did you call up Kim's parents?" Zack asked. "Ya know how Kim's dad is."
Tommy sighed. "Not quite. Been busy."
"No, you haven't." Adam shook his head scoffing. "You've been sitting around the house writing all this stuff about Kim."
"That's busy work." Tommy protested.
Adam and Zack shook their head, as the teens followed suit.
"You got to. Ya know, I wouldn't want Kim's dad to come down here with a shotgun to blow your brains out for not calling." Zack said.
"Ok. Ok. I'll do it. Just not now."
Another good hour passed as the black trio reminisced in their past adventures together. And the teens were glad to hear such things about their friends. When it was time to call it in, Tommy was so relieved. Not that he liked their company. He was just beat. And the hopes for calling Kim would have to be put on hold since he hit the sack the moment he reached the bedroom.
To be continued.....
A/N: Simple, and just–okay, give me a break. I have had the worse writer's block since school started, so these chapters aren't where they need to be when it comes to suspense and all. Either ways, more to come next chapter. Peace until another time.