"You deliberately disobeyed a direct order!" Tommy scowled and fell into the chair. He glared at Kojin and Sierra, just wanting to rip them to shreds. But he knew the power of their morphers all to well and wasn't up to the challenge. "Give me your morphers, now."
Kojin shook his head and grinned. "Is this how you treat your saviors? If it wasn't for us," He thrust his finger back at the other Rangers. "They'd be dead!"
The teens frowned and bowed the heads. Tommy glared at them and then at the black rangers. He scowled and slammed a fist hard onto the desk. There wasn't any more arguing to be done. The Black Rangers had taken care of Merios, saved the Dino Thunder Rangers and in the process, bought Haley's ticket to freedom.
He sighed in defeat and swiveled in the chair. Kojin smirked and locked hands with Sierra as they turned to face the other rangers. No words were exchanged between them, only a simple, respectful bow.
Conner watched as the forest entrance closed behind his friends glanced back at Tommy.
"You know, even in their morphers are evil…they have proved their usefulness." He commented, facing the door again. He waited for Tommy to come spear him to floor, but it never came.
"Yes Conner, I know." Tommy sighed, feeling the beginnings of headache come on. "But you don't know the black morphers like I do…they are evil…they are powerful. Increases a normal human's blood lust almost 10 fol."
"Maybe so, Dr. O. But that gives you no reason not to trust them. I mean, they haven't turned evil yet." He countered, glancing at the other rangers. Trent just waved himself out of the conversation and went back to drawing.
"Yet is the keyword, Conner." Tommy sighed, wincing slightly. It was definitely a headache. "Leave…I want to be a lone for a while."
Trent looked up, surprised and turned to Conner. The Red Ranger shrugged and walked to the forest entrance. Reluctantly, the others followed as well, leaving Tommy with Haley.
"Thanks for saving the day." Haley said and kissed his cheek. "I owe you one."
He smiled lightly and laid his head back against the chair. Before he knew it, darkness had consumed his mind and he was fast asleep…
Few hours later…
Conner sighed and stretched out in the chair. His groan sounded almost painful as he went rigid. After a moment, he let out a sigh of relief and melted in the chair. Kira giggled and looked back down at her work.
"That felt good…" he whispered, closing his eyes. "…after taking a thrashing from the General, stretching has never felt so good…"
Ethan frowned at his computer screen. "Must we bring him up again?"
"No, in fact I've got something even better to talk about." Trent said, falling into a chair beside them. "I get off work in a couple hours and Haley's decided to throw a party for us Rangers. She also it was an early wedding gift to Kojin and Sierra. She wants us all come and drag the two of them with us."
For once Ethan actually looked up from his screen.
"Excuse me? Have fun trying to drag THEM out. That'd be nearly impossible." He said, rubbing his chin. "In fact, the chances of us actually getting them to leave the dojo are less then 10."
"Save the technical talk, Ethan, we don't have much of a choice." He said and stood up, sighing. "Oh, and dress nice. Tuxedo and Dress…you know, the usual for a dance."
Conner watched Trent scurry off behind the counter and disappear into the back room. Sighing and shaking his head, he glanced at Kira and their eyes locked for a moment. For that second, he could of sworn he saw a fire in her eyes. Whether it was desire or anger, he did not know. She looked away and returned to her work as Conner stared a moment longer.
"Ahem…"
Conner shook his head and looked up at the girl before him.
"Are you Conner McKnight?" The woman asked, raising a brow.
"Erm…yes." He glanced at Ethan and raised a brow. "Why do you ask?"
"Oh, good, finally found you. Can you tell me where a Mr. Oliver lives? I heard he was a teacher here at Reefside High?" She questioned, a look of hope burning in her eyes.
Conner stared at her, a bit perplexed on how she knew him. "Ah…" he pulled out a piece of paper and yanked Kira's pencil from her hand. He began to write the address down as Kira burned holes through him. "Here, go to that address…once you find the path in the woods, you really can't miss his house. It's the only log cabin there."
The woman smiled and bow respectfully. "Thank you very much!"
Conner watched the woman turned and make a rather noticeable dash for the door. She stopped short and looked back at them once more.
"Oh, by the way, my name is Kimberly. Kimberly Hart." She said and disappeared through the doors.
Tommy laid on the couch, staring blankly at the ceilings. Yesterday's events played over and over in his like a broken record. What had Kojin and Sierra done to make Merios so afraid? Could they have beaten the will to fight out of him?
Too many questions lay before him with no place to find the answers. Sure, he could ask Kojin or Sierra, but he didn't trust them enough for the truth.
"Besides Tommy, the Black Morpher's control your thoughts and actions, so the likeliness of them actually remembering is-"
"Less then 20." Billy finished, startling Tommy. He jolted up from the couch and then sighed, seeing Billy standing there.
"Yeah, not good odds, huh?" Tommy spoke, resting his head in his palm. "I don't like having them around, Billy."
He shrugged. "Nothing you can really do. I mean, the Morphers will eventually run out of energy. Well, Kojin's will anyway. I've analyzed Sierra's Dino Crystal, but it's almost an exact replica of Trents. So it is supported by the Morphing Grid rather then your own energy."
Tommy stood up and walked to the window. "I know, but…what if the morphers get a grip on them before they run out of energy, Billy? What then? The Dino Thunder Rangers will have no chance against one of them – much less two." He threw his hands up in defeat. "If just one of them can thrash an opponent who diced us, we have no chance against such power."
Billy sighed, searching for something to say. But there wasn't anything to be said. Tommy turned to face him with a defeated look and just turned back to the window. Billy looked to the floor, shaking his head.
"I'm going out for a while, Tommy. Haley has some things for me to do down at the Cyber Café" He said, pulling the door open. "Take care."
Tommy waved but was silent. Billy sighed again and pulled the door shut. For a long moment silence settled within the small log cabin. To Tommy, for a man who was used to some sort of sound, it was unnerving.
Suddenly the phone ranger and provided a much needed relief. He picked up the phone, pressed the call button and pressed the receiver to his ear.
"Dr. Oliver speaking." He said calmly.
"Lighten up, Mr. Serious." The voice said.
Tommy rolled his eyes. "What can I do for you, Haley?"
"Did Billy just leave?"
"Yes, why?"
"Well, he's suppose to be helping me with a party. I've already invited the other rangers, include your cousin and his girl."
Tommy sighed and fell back into his chair. "Ok, so this has what to do with me?"
"I want you at the Cyber Café tonight at 11:30." She demanded.
Tommy growled into the phone. "You know I don't like being pushed around, Haley."
"Yeah well, tough luck."
He growled again. "I'm not coming, Haley. I'm not in the mood for a party."
"But Tommy!"
"No but's Haley! I'm not coming and that's the end of it."
He slammed the receiver down and turned away from the window. Smart Tommy, blow up at your best friend. It's just a part you dolt. He sighed and leaned against the wall, his mind all tangled with confusion. He didn't know what to do or believe anymore. The Black Morphers had finally seemed to be winning.
"There's so much more power to the Morphers then what meets the eye…" he whispered, tapping his head against the wall. "It's…it's a telepathic bond between user and source. The Black Dragon will eventually run out of power, for it was the failed duplicate of the Dragonzord Coin – Rita's last desperate attempt at killing us. The Black Wolf Crystal…no that'll never run out of energy." He opened his eyes, staring at the wall, thinking harder. "No, it'll run out of energy – no power source is forever. Ones that are not substantial to the Morphing Grid are given a set amount of energy…"
He leaned against the wall now, rubbing his chin. "One's that are not substantial…the Dino Gems are…they are the current source that fights evil…eventually the Gems will lose power once the Morphing Grid senses a tip in the balance of good." He looked over at the T.V, frowning. "But why aren't they out of power yet? The beating from Vertox should have drained them."
A sudden knock at the door startled him back to reality. He looked over at the door and then at the clock. It blinked 8:30 at him. "Who in the hell?"
Another knock and this time it was louder and desperate.
"I'm coming, I'm coming. Keep your pants on who ever you a-"
There was a moment of silence as Tommy peered at his visitor. A visitor he never expected in a million and a half years.
"Hello, handsome." Kimberly spoke, her arms folded over her chest.
That scent, that sight, that emotion – for eight years it was lost and it all came rushing back. It seemed like only yesterday since he last laid eyes on her. She was 17 and it was Christmas Time in Angel Grove. She'd gotten several weeks off practice and decided to come see everyone again.
All the memories, all the passion, all the desires came rushing back to Tommy, hitting him like a semi. Their eyes locked for what seemed like an eternity.
Those eyes; yes, those eyes are what had driven him so long ago. Those eyes had driven him during battles, to fight with all his strength so he could come home to her. Those eyes worked miracles on him, even when he didn't want them to. It got her whatever she wanted, who ever she wanted.
Those eyes were stilled filled passion even after eight years of nothingness.
Tommy swept Kimberly into his arms, causing her to scream in shock and pressed his lips so very gently against hers.
His heart and mind exploded with passion and desire.
The kiss deepened as Kimberly held his head close. For eight years she had thought the love to be dead. But now, this kiss, this passion, she realized that it wasn't. It…it was even stronger.
Their tongues swirled against each other and Tommy pulled her closer, if that was even possible. He shuddered with pleasure as her silky hands ran down his back slowly and gently. His own rested at her waist, keeping her from running away again.
Suddenly they broke, gasping for desperately for the cool air. What had happen? One moment Tommy found himself staring bewilderedly at his ex-girlfriend, and the next he was locked in the most passionate and loving kiss ever. But, as he stared into her chocolate brown eyes, he realized that after eight years of pain and suffering…it just didn't matter.
"Kimberly Ann Hart…Welcome Home…" Tommy greeted and pulled her into the house.
Behind her, she kicked the door shut to the prying eyes of the animals…tonight was their night.
"Well…tonight is going to be a rather interesting night." Conner sighed, pinning the string of ribbons to the wall. "Dr. O's ex is in town and who knows what's going to happen at the party."
"No kidding." Kira said, leaning against the wall. She stared blankly at the ground, lost in her own thoughts.
"Well, I've got some good news and…I've got some bad news." Haley said, tapping the pen against the yellow pad.
"Bad news first." Trent said, washing down a glass.
Ethan nodded in agreement, not really caring what was going on. Space Rangers had just come out and he was almost level 97 and on the last boss. Who cared about a party?
"Dr. Oliver isn't coming." She sighed, scratching his name off the list. "Apparently he's not exactly feeling that well."
Conner frowned, dropping down off the later. "Well, who could blame him? Between his cousins not listening, having to rescue you, and the stress of the zords…I'd be feeling like crap as well."
"What's the good news?" Kira asked, suddenly well aware of the situation.
"I got Kojin and Sierra to come to the party." She grinned, writing something down on the pad. "Just…don't ask how."
A chime sounded behind the counter. "I got it." Trent said and picked up the phone. "Cyber Café, how may I help you?"
Haley looked back to the rangers, smiling. "Well, it looks like this party is going to be a success after all. Now all I need to do is set the food out and call it good."
"Anyone else coming?" Ethan asked, looking up from the screen. "Or is it just us?"
Haley shook his head. "No, Billy Cranston is coming. A couple kids from your old high school. Elsa and Anton are also dropping by."
"Really?" They heard Trent shout in the back ground. "Awesome Dr. O! See you there!"
Trent hung up the phone and grinned at the others.
"Ok, now what's up?" Conner asked, glancing between Trent and Haley.
"It seems Dr. O is coming to the party after all." He asked and set a couple glasses on the shelves behind him.
"Oh? What changed his mind?" Conner questioned, looking at Haley. She just shrugged, confused by the sudden change of plans.
"His girlfriend." Trent answered, grinning. "He's bringing her tonight."
- - - -
DUN DUN DUNNN! It seems like the love is still there between Tommy and Kimberly. Isn't that just sweet " Yeah, I thought so too. Anyway, don't worry, there's lost more coming up in this 7-Part Mini-Series. It's called "Lovers Reunited." I'm pretty sure you know who I'm talking about. Anyway, next chapter is entitled "Feuding." And don't let the title confuse you either – it's not what you're thinking. As always, please C&C and Thanks for those who have so far " I really appreciate for this is my first successful story! May the Power Protect you!