Tommy and Elizabeth were just finishing up their meals. For the last couple of hours the two had discussed school business and Tommy had talked a little bit about his job working with Anton Mercer, basically leaving anything out related to the dino gems and the experiments they did together.
Elizabeth had said too much about herself. It just seemed like she had dropped onto the face of the Earth a few months ago to become principal of the school. Tommy wasn't sure, but she reminded him of someone from the past, someone he had once met, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He had met several people over the last few years, mainly through Mercer and Smitty and their crew. But she didn't seem to act like they had met before, so perhaps she just looked like someone he knew.
Elizabeth grinned as she watched Tommy eat the last few pieces of his steak. She had him right where she wanted him. She had gained his trust. It would be easy to take him out now, with his guard down and none of his friends around to help him. But as she looked around at the crowded restaurant, there were too many people around, she would have to wait until they were alone, perhaps when they walked outside.
"What are you smiling about?" asked Tommy.
"Oh just admiring the man before me. It takes a lot of hard work to get where you were, working with a great man like Anton Mercer."
As Tommy thought back, it really didn't take a lot of hard work for him to get where he was, at least not in his opinion. "I don't know about that."
"Oh come on, stop being so modest. It's not every day you get asked to be Anton Mercer's partner."
He eyed her for a moment. She had been talking a lot about Anton Mercer, wanting to know everything about him. He had just thought she might have some interest in the things he had accomplished, but now he wasn't so sure. He was just about to question her on Mercer when his cell phone began to ring. "Sorry about that." Tommy took out his cell phone and looked to see who was calling; it was Conner. Probably just checking up, making sure nothing's happening.
"Who is it?" asked Elizabeth.
"Just one of my students, probably wants to know something about the homework I assigned. I can ignore it if you like."
"No, go ahead, take the call. I don't mind, we are educators after all."
He opened up his cell phone. "Hello?"
"Dr. O! Thank God, you answered!"
"Conner, you sound kind of worked up. Is everything all right?"
"Are you still out with Randal?"
"Yes. Not that's any-"
Conner quickly cut him off. "You got to get out of there now!"
Tommy laughed. He still couldn't believe that they were all still having a problem with him going out just to discuss school business. "Conner, I'd told you everything's going to be fine."
"Well, it won't be fine when Randal turns into Elsa and kills you!"
Tommy's face suddenly became alert. He eyed Elizabeth watching as she took a sip of her water. He began to see a resemblance between the two; his heart started racing. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. What are you going to do?"
He knew he had to keep his cool. He couldn't let her know he knew. "Just hang in there. I'll make a point to go over it in class." Tommy ended the call and put his phone back on his belt.
"So were you about to help him out?"
"Yes. I guess I need to start making things a little clearer for them." How could I have not seen it before? I should have known it was too much of coincidence, both of us showing up to work at the school. How are you going to get out of this one, Tommy?
"Well, I suppose all of us have to do that once in a while." She smiled back at him, with her eyes staring right at him. Only this time, he knew they were Elsa's eyes.
I wonder if she knows I know? He knew he had to get out of there. But how?
"Well, what he'd say?" asked Hayley.
"He said he'd go over it in class," replied Conner.
"She probably was sitting right across from him," replied Hayley.
"Well, what should we do? Should we go help him? Go to the restaurant?" Conner started rambling on.
Eric and Hayley shared a glance with each other, both knowing their showing up would only cause problems. "Bad idea, if all of us start showing up she'll know we know. Better to stay put and wait until we hear from Tommy," announced Eric.
"What!" Conner couldn't believe what he was hearing. Tommy was in danger and they wanted to stay put and wait it out. "I don't believe this. Why?"
"She doesn't know we know, which gives us the advantage," remarked Eric.
"Eric's right, Conner." Hayley could see that Conner wasn't happy with the decision. "Don't worry, Tommy is able to take care of himself."
Conner crossed his arms. "Yeah, that's what he said when he told us he was going out with her, and now look what happened. She's an alien witch mutant, bent on killing him," he remarked cockily.
Tommy looked around. The restaurant was filled with people. He figured Elsa wouldn't try to start anything here, or perhaps she would and use innocent people to get to him. And he knew he couldn't morph here, it wasn't time yet to let the whole world know he was a power ranger.
He could wait until they were outside alone, but that too could cause problems and be an even bigger danger for him. Tyrannodrones could show up along with Janixsaur and gang up on him, before he had a chance to call for help.
Either way he was screwed. Tommy eyed her, while cleaning his mouth with his napkin. And he decided to chance it and reveal here that he knew, being in a crowded area gave him a little more of an advantage. "You think you're real clever, don't you?"
Elizabeth smiled darkly, her eyes staring right at him. She laughed. "It took you long enough. I'm surprised you never figured it out until now, you being such a legend and all. I guess you're not all that you're cracked up to be."
"You're right, I should have seen it. This was your plan all along, get close to me and the moment my back was turned, take me out."
"That's right. And now I have you right where I want you."
Tommy smiled. "Really? Look around, this restaurant's filled with people. You attacking me here would cause too much of a commotion. I would have more than enough time to contact the others."
"Perhaps." She smiled. She stood up and walked over to him, looking him up and down. "Or maybe I already have you. Don't forget it was I who invited you." She laughed evilly and transformed herself into Elsa.
Tommy's eyes widened. He looked around wondering why no one was screaming. There were no more people eating dinner and enjoying small conversation, the people had been replaced by Tyrannodrones. His heart started racing. Me and my big mouth! Tommy jumped quickly out of his chair, to avoid Elsa kicking him in the chest. He rolled to the ground. A Tyrannodrone crept up behind him and pulled him to his feet, forcing his arms behind his back. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't force them off of him. He watched helplessly as the other Tyrannodrones crowded around them, with Elsa facing him.
"It's too bad; you're fighting on the wrong side, Tommy. We could have had something."
"In your dreams," Tommy spat, as he struggled to force the Tyrannodrone off of him.
Elsa frowned at him. She walked up to him, grabbing him by the chin. She then leaned in and kissed him on the lips. Tommy just looked at her, disgusted. She just grinned evilly. "So long, Dr. Oliver." She eyed the Tyrannodrones. "Finish him off!" She stepped back and disappeared in a green glow.
The Tyrannodrone tossed Tommy hard to the ground. He went crashing into tables and chairs and fell hard on his shoulder. Tommy gripped his shoulder as the Tyrannodrones surrounded him from all sides. "Ah man!" He knew he was in trouble, but he wouldn't have enough time to morph and he knew he couldn't take them all on his own.
Then out of nowhere there was a red flash, quicker then light. It was a red ranger. "Conner?" But no, it wasn't Conner, wasn't his power suit and he knew it wasn't Eric. Then who could it be?
"Kimberly said you could use some help. Looks like I got here just in time!"
Then it hit Tommy. "Jason?" Tommy jumped to his feet.
"Yeah. So you going to help me take on these freaks or am I going to have to do it on my own?"
Tommy just grinned. "Come on, let's show these creeps what teamwork is all about."
"I'm with you, bro." Together Jason and Tommy took on the Tyrannodrones, and for that moment it was just like old times, like it was all those years ago. It brought back so many memories to both of them, when they took on putties and monster after monster. Soon the restaurant was cleared of all the Tyrannodrones, but was left a big mess of broken chairs, tables and plates.
"Power down!" Jason yelled, and was back in his normal civilian clothes.
Tommy walked up to him. "Thanks. I probably would have been a goner if you didn't show up when you did."
"What are friends for?" The two smiled and then shook each other's hands, just before giving each other a hug and pat on the back.
"Dad, is it safe?" asked a small voice. Tommy looked around. Dad? Tommy couldn't see anyone but Jason. He looked at Jason, confused.
"Yeah. They're gone, Schuyler, it's safe to come out." Jason looked at Tommy, as if trying to read his face.
A moment later a young boy of around four or five stepped out from the corner. He had dark brown hair. He looked like Jason, only much younger.
"Tommy, I'd like you to meet my son, Schuyler."
Tommy couldn't believe what he was seeing; Jason had a son. But how? This child was at least four years old, and he had seen Jason a little more then a year ago, and he hadn't mentioned having a son. And Kimberly had never said anything.