BACK ON EARTH - HAYLEY
I look on in satisfaction as the thief is led away in cuffs. Good news and bad news - because of the distraction of having to deal with Ranger business, the little jerk got enough of my money to put this squarely into the grand theft category. Thanks to the appearance of Billy and Trini - no doubt courtesy of Jason - I was able to catch him before things got any worse. Still, to have someone I trusted stealing from me-
I sigh and push this away. I head back into my office. I need a few minutes to myself and this is the only place I can seem to get it lately. How Tommy ever dealt with having the kids constantly around him at work and off is beyond me. I've barely sat down when the communicator goes off. I sigh again and answer it. "Go ahead."
Trini informs me, "There's a monster at the park. We've alerted the others but you might be needed."
"I'll head over that way." This really has to stop. I know that Billy and Trini have been working on it and I've helped when I'm able, but some days it feels like there's been no progress at all. I mean I know he's young but isn't Conner technically supposed to be their leader. That is the order of things, or at least has been, I've seen enough of Tommy's history and research to know that the one holding the Red powers is generally in command. So why isn't he commanding damn it?! Quickly, I head for my car determined to help find a way to get him to even if I have to sic Jason on him when he returns.
An hour later, I'm in the lair waiting for the monster to come back and analyzing the battle tapes to try and find a weakness. I swear, since we lost Tommy as a Ranger, Mesogog is doing his level best to kill us. We wouldn't have beaten the last one if Kira hadn't found its weak point. Idly, I wonder how she even noticed that small spot. I turn to where the kids are sparring while they wait and notice the Yellow Ranger is currently correcting the two boys on their form, much like Tommy would do.
"Kira, when we fought the last monster, how did you know how to beat it?"
"Say what?" Stopping and looking at me in a surprised but almost guilty manner, she's making me think that luck definitely did not have anything to do with it now.
"How did you know how to beat the last monster we faced? That one small pressure point on it was barely big enough to see, how did you know to tell Conner to aim for it?"
To my surprise, the girl reddens. Finally she admits quietly, "I had a little help."
Out of the corner of my eye, I see the two former Rangers exchange looks as I demand, "From who?"
And now she looks unmistakably guilty. "From Jason and some friends of his that heard my call." Her call?
"How are you calling them?"
She holds up her wrist, showing me her communicator. "I guess that Jason found a way to tap into our communication system." Or Zedd did. Either way I am not pleased it was apparently her that they conferred with instead of me.
"And just who are these friends of his that helped?"
"I don't know." Narrowing my eyes at this and uncertain if she's telling the truth or not, I in the end drop it for the moment. Chances are it was Zedd, but on the other hand if it was him why didn't he shoot me a taunting email concerning the matter? I'll definitely have to look into this.
About to let it drop for now though, I suddenly stop as another thought occurs to me. "Why did you call him?"
She straightens her spine and looks at me. "Because we needed help and you weren't going to." The defiant look in her eyes reminds me so much of Tommy back in college - almost daring me to argue. The problem is that I can't as I know she's right - and so does she.
I sigh again. "If we don't think of something soon, we might have to call him again." It grates on my nerves to do so, since I doubt that Tommy would have had to have help. Between the two of us, we always managed to figure things out before.
Conner says something that grabs my attention. "Have you talked to Dr. O?"
"No. Just Jason and his friends."
I'm disappointed to say the least. I haven't heard back from Jason since I replied to his last email. Or have I and I've just forgotten due to the craziness that my life has become? No, I'm sure I would have remembered. Great, now he won't talk to me either. I remind myself that it wasn't Tommy's choice not to see me when he was in rehab, but it really doesn't help when the only one currently giving me any information right now is my best friend's former enemy, and I feel even that is only done to aggravate me at times.
Billy says, "Well, Trini and I haven't found a solution so perhaps it's time to tap some other sources of information."
I try to keep the bitterness out of my voice as I speak. "Go ahead, Kira, since you've already contacted him before." I do my best to ignore the brief flash of hurt on the teen's face - again, so much like Tommy - before she initiates the call. I'd never noticed how much these kids are like Tommy before his accident and Jason's observation, but now it's like I see it constantly. It's like a constant guilt trip and I'd really like for that to stop too.
