Author's Notes: This chapter is going to focus mainly on Tommy and Kimberly, with the appearances of the other Rangers late in the chapter. Just a quick heads up.
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"Kim, do you ever regret giving up your powers?" Tommy asked, sinking back into his seat. He hoped this would go over without too much fuss.
He heard a sigh and could feel her shrug.
"To be honest Tommy, I don't really know. I mean, there are times when I wished I could be out there with everyone, with you, but there are times where I'm afraid of fighting." She watched the trees zip past her, all blurring together as one. "I mean, there were times where I really thought I was going to die. Especially when Kat stole my power coin…"
Tommy winced as those memories came flooding back. Kat had been under Rita's control at the time and was ordered to steal a power coin. Unfortunately for her, she nabbed the wrong one.
"But each and every time we made a difference." He countered, squeezing the steering wheel a bit tighter. "I mean, we stopped Serpentera from destroying Earth, we stopped the Green Rang- me from doing the same thing."
He looked over at her and saw her attention was focused on him. It was now or never…
"Kimberly…I guess this isn't really coming out right…" he sighed, eyeing the speed limit. He was doing nearly 30 over it. "What I'm trying to say is…well…I never really gave up being a power ranger."
Her brow arched as she leaned forward, peering at him. "What do you mean you never gave it up? I thought you passed your powers on to T.J."
He blushed, slouching a bit further in his seat. At this moment he wished he'd just fade away.
"Well, I did…but…" He saw the turn rapidly approaching and he pressed hard on the break. "It'll be easier if you see what I mean."
"No Thomas, you explain it now." She demanded, folding her arms.
Shit. She called me Thomas… "Just…wait…" he whispered as he pulled the car into a stop outside his house "Everything will be explained…"
He risked a glance at her and she didn't seem at all happy. He winced and opened the door quickly. He rounded the car and opened her own door, still blushing considerably.
"So what is you wanted to show me?" Her fingers drummed against her arm, arching her brows. He shuddered as he looked away. The look never meant anything good for anyone.
"Come inside, it's in my uh…basement." He quickly turned away before she could say anything else. Great one, Tommy. Now she's really pissed.
He swiftly unlocked the door and pushed it open as Kimberly followed him inside. She watched him bypass the light switched and stand near a dinosaur statue. He made one last look at her before he pushed the jaw of it up.
Near it, a latch released and a trapped door slowly opened. The Dino Thunder emblem was engraved beneath the door and a latter slowly extended downwards. Kim's eyes went wide as she looked at the glowing opening. She looked up at Tommy but he offered only a shrug and waved, before disappearing down the steps.
Cautiously she followed him, squinting against the light. Only a few meters down and she touched the bottom to enter a…
"Command Center?" She gasped, her eyes wandering around the room. Straight ahead was the skull head of a tyrannosaurus and beneath it small sitting area. It in was bookshelves and a small desk. Beside her, the walls were still rough and jagged, but had a crimson color to it; almost like it was painted with blood.
To the right of the stairs, just a little ways in was another entrance and she could see vines and leaves covering it. It was another entrance – most like an emergency exit. Also beside it, on the opposite wall were two grey double doors, also bearing the Dino Thunder insignia. On the other wall was a row of chairs with a small coffee table in the center – most likely a place for…someone to hang out.
The left of the entrance was a small opening with an operation table, various emergency equipment and a rather large workout room. She turned the corner and caught her breath. There, sitting at one of the three computer chair was Billy. He smiled at her and stood up, his arms wide. Tommy stood beside him.
"Billy!" She cried and rush into his arms. It'd been eight years since she'd last seen him, and he didn't seem any different (besides the long hair) and didn't age a bit.
He hugged her tightly, smiling. "Hello Kimberly." He whispered and glanced at Tommy. He seemed to have a pleased look on his face as he sat down in one of the chairs. But just as quickly, Kimberly broke away and glared at Tommy.
"So this is it? You're still in the Ranger business?" Her eyes flared and Tommy seemed to shrink.
He sighed and nodded fractionally. "Yeah, I'm the unofficial mentor of the team and also the Black Dino Thunder Ranger."
"Am I the last to know about it?" She hissed, stepping up to him.
He shook his head. "Only two other former rangers know of this place." He said, looking up at her. He was about to get slapped and he deserved it. "Jason and his wife Kat."
Suddenly her expression lightened and she sat in his lap. "To be quite honest, I already knew. Big Bro Jason accidentally let it slip to me one day." Tommy mentally noted himself to murder the former Red and Gold Ranger. "He never told me what color you were, though." She waved his shirt, her brows flickering. "By the looks of it, black?"
He smiled and kissed her ever so gently. "Yeah, Black Dino Thunder Ranger." He smirked and glanced at Billy. He had that technical look to him and that never was a good thing. "Oh no…" He waved his finger at Billy, a bit frightened. "You have that look. What's up?"
Billy shrugged and frowned. "Well…to be honest, I don't know if it's good news or bad news at this moment." He turned to the computer and tapped a few keys. A map appeared on the screen with a blip in the center of a forest. "While getting used to the computer systems, I did a planetary scan. It picked up this energy source."
Tommy swiveled in the chair, hugging Kimberly close as he looked at the information. For a moment there was silence but then it got deep as Tommy's face went rather serious.
"Billy, what is that?" He asked, tapping a few keys. "And why is it in the Petrified Forest?"
He shrugged. "I don't know what it is, to be honest. But it's giving of mixed readings and a helluva lot of power." He handed him several papers as the blip deepened in color.
"These reads are the same as our morphers." He concluded, scanning the papers again.
"Close." Billy corrected, pushing another button. It brought up an energy pattern of the Dino Gems and Crystals. Another signature appeared beneath them with an a completely different pattern. "It's actually a mixture of both. To be more honest, the energy signature matches that of a Zeo Crystal."
"Another shard?" He looked up Billy, still rather confused by it all.
He shook his head as a fourth and final graph appeared. This one showed an energy signature equal to that of the Dino Crystal – Trents.
"No, I don't think so. The Sub Signature matches that of Trents Dino Crystal. I compared it to Sierra's crystal, also getting a match." He answered, his brows furrowing. "To be quire frank, I have no clue what the hell it is. It gives off a base signature of a Zeo Crystal, while radiating the power of a Dino Crystal."
Kim looked at Tommy, her brow's raising. "Sierra's still a ranger?"
Tommy rolled his eyes and nodded. "So is Kojin."
She "ahed" and looked back at Billy. "Do think maybe we should check it out?"
"Tomorrow." Tommy smiled and kissed her. "Right now it's 2 am in the morning and it's time for bed." He hugged her close and winked at Billy. "Thanks again Billy. You should go and get some rest as well."
"Yeah, I'm going to Hayley's place. She's offered to take me off your guy's hands."
Tommy winked and grinned. "Alright. Good Night, Billy. Report here tomorrow so we can get that…well, whatever it is."
Billy nodded and pulled on his leather jacket. He waved goodbye and dismissed him, disappearing in the shadows of the stairs. Tommy locked eyes with Kim and smiled. For a moment there was silence and love.
Their lips locked together in an oh so passionate kiss. Waves of pleasure shot down their spines as the kiss deepened. Their hands exploded one another bodies as the passion began to heat up. They broke apart for a moment, sucking in deep breaths of air. The fire in their eyes spoke of the desires and urges; things they would satisfy soon enough. Kimberly leaned forward and kissed him once more as he stood up, holding her close in his arms.
Indeed to night was going to be very interesting…
Tommy awoke the next morning to an empty bedside and the scent of bacon lingering in the air. He sighed contently and stretched with a mighty groan. Last night had been the best night of their lives. He smiled up at the ceiling, letting his thoughts linger back to last night, listening to her moans and screams of pleasure. He grinned his devious grin and sat up.
The scent of bacon was getting stronger.
Quickly he threw on his pants, washed his face and hands then a made a quick escape to the kitchen. He grinned as he watched Kimberly sway back and forth to the song on the radio. She was oblivious to his presence in the doorway and she swayed a bit more. He grinned and slowly tip-toed into the kitchen, silently approaching her.
"Good morning, Beautiful!" he shouted, wrapping his arms around her.
She screamed and jumped, then jabbed her elbow hard into his side. "That's not funny, Mister!" She growled, squirming in his grasp.
He just grinned and held her closer. "Aw, poor baby." He teased and kissed her cheek. "Bacon and Eggs…damn girl you can cook. I'm lucky if I can cook scrambled eggs."
She giggled and kissed him gently on the lips. "You mister, go shower and put some better clothes on. I just got off the phone with Conner and the other Rangers are coming over breakfast. I figured you guys are going to want something in your stomach before you guys go out there."
He groaned and gripped her waist, pulling her against him. She gasped, feeling something stir. She looked back at him, grinning.
"Nuh uh." She teased and kissed him again. "Save that for tonight. Now git!" She shoved him back and teasingly flicked her hair over her shoulder.
He groaned and made his way out of the kitchen and up the stairs dejectedly. She just rolled her eyes and smiled wider.
"Some people never change." She grinned.
Tommy nearly ran down the stairs from the smell of food; his stomach was aching for food. He stepped into the kitchen and grinned, seeing the other rangers help set up the plates and such.
"Conner." Tommy greeted and snatched the milk out of the refrigerator.
"Dr. O" Conner answered scraping some eggs onto the plates as Kira placed the bacon on it. Tommy grinned as he took each glass, pouring some milk into it and handing it back.
Within minutes, everyone was gulping down the food like it was their last meal.
"So, Dr. O, you going to propose anytime soon?" Kira asked, setting her fork down on the empty plate.
Kimberly blushed a deep scarlet as Tommy choked on his food. He cleared his throat and peered at her with a rather bewildered look. He tried to say something but coughed again and slapped his shoulder.
"C-Come again?" he asked, taking a big gulp of milk.
She grinned glanced at Conner.
"Are you going to propose to her? We did a little research, and according to Kojin you two were a thing back in high school." He said, jabbing his fork at her. "So? After many years of a great relationship that seems to be back on track to me…don't you think it's time to pop the question?"
Tommy looked at Kim and shrugged. "Who knows, maybe I will." Kira saw his hands shaking slightly.
Conner saw his hand too and just grinned. For the moment the discussion was dropped and it was time to clean up. No discussion was made as each ranger did their duties. Only the radio provided a much needed release from going insane.
The Rangers could see it in their mentors eyes. He was nervous, but deeply in love. The subject of marriage scared him, but the new deep in his heart, that's what he wanted. Kira caught Conner's nod as he disappeared into the living room.
"Alright, that's the last of the dishes!" She smiled and set the wet, clean plates on the counter. "And it's Dr. O's job to dry them. I'll be in the living room, whenever you're ready."
Quickly she excused herself and disappeared into the living room. Conner sat in the chair at the far, ending smile slightly.
"Alright…time to begin Operation: Courtship Kimberly." He said, nodding his head. "Those two belong together…"
Kira nodded and fell into the couch beside him, sighing. She bit her lip slightly and glanced at Conner, staring at him for a second. She smiled remembering the dance last night and looked away.
"So did you ever talk to Elsa about our jobs?" She asked, trying to spark a conversation between them.
Ethan and Trent dropped into the room, grinning. "Yeah, Trent's been bugging me about his art job!"
Trent pushed Ethan into his chair. "I have not!"
Conner rolled his eyes and nodded slightly. "Yeah, Elsa says she has plenty of job openings. With all the attacks from Mesogog, no one wants to take a chance of Déjà Vu." He glanced over at Trent. "So yeah, we all got our jobs there; Trent the Art teacher, Ethan the Technology Teacher, Kira the Music Teacher and me the Soccer Couch." He grinned and leaned back a bit. "With Dr. O as our Science Teacher, we'd be complete if Kim could get a job there as well."
"Is there an opening for Gymnastics' teacher?" She asked, clinging to Tommy's arm as they entered.
He shrugged. "Well, most likely; half the staff quit over the summer after all. Especially with this new guy in town, it doesn't make matters any better. Who could blame them?"
Tommy shrugged and smiled. "Yeah, about 15 teachers quit and it's up to Elsa to find new teachers. You guys came along at the most opportune times for teaching jobs." His face contorted into confusion. "But what baffles me is, did you guy's at once point have separate dreams to pursue?"
They all shrugged all at once. "Things change, Dr. O. I guess it's the fact we're still Rangers and we can't find it in our hearts to leave this town. Living in one place for 18 years can do that to yeah." Conner answered and got a nod of approval from everyone else.
"Whatever." Tommy smiled and nodded to the trap door. "Come on, we've got some work to do…"
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Another chapter? So soon? gasps heard around the world
Well ok, that's a little farfetched, but the point is, I've just been in a serious mood to write. Well, anyway, I'm developing the characters a bit more. The relationship between Conner and Kira is picking up and we see that they want Tommy to settle down. Also, about the teaching part…ah…I didn't like where the end of Dino Thunder was taking them and I had to find some way of them staying together… so um…I hope you guy's (and gals) aren't to angry with my sudden career switch "
May the Powers Prot-
Oh yeah! Chapter 14 is entitled "The Power of the Dino Prt. 1"
NOW May the Powers Protect You!