ANDROS
As an 'outsider' of sorts to the current situation, I can see things a little more clearly than they can. I'm not exactly certain what occurred outside, but I do know by the feel of Tommy's mental state alone when they returned to the kitchen it wasn't all good. The mostly silent dinner that occurred afterwards only helps to reinforce this thought in my mind and as the meal is winding down, I decide that I'm going to have to say something for all of their sakes. But just as I open my mouth to speak, Jason's communicator goes off again.
Pina, Dar, Jason and I all sigh as he answers it. "Go ahead, Kira."
"So, um, we're having a problem with another monster and, um, we were hoping you and your friends could help us." The slight emphasis on the word gets all our attention.
"Okay. What's going on?" She fills us in again, but this time Dar and Pina exchange puzzled looks and shrug at each other.
"Sorry, kid, no idea on this one. Either before our time or something new" Dar finally responds into the communicator.
Wondering myself how to help them when I can't place it either in way of familiarity I'm more than a little surprised when Zedd suddenly speaks up.
"That almost sounds like a monster I used - oh, about a thousand years ago." Looking thoughtful as he finishes off the last bit of his steak, he toys with his knife casually before tapping the cutlery against his empty drinking glass, smirking at the sound that results. "If its similar enough, it'll be susceptible to sound waves, which I'm pretty sure is right up your alley, little girl."
Dar and Pina laugh. Dar comments, "Wow. First they come up with a monster like one Rita used and now one of Zedd's old monsters. What's next? One of Mondo's creations?"
"Now that would indeed be in bad form" Zedd protests. "You do not go from one of my creatures of destruction and chaos to some lower level tinker toy."
I can't help but frown. "You know, you might not be so off in that statement. I mean there are similarities certainly, but are these coincidences or something else?"
"What do you mean?"
Looking to Zedd I continue seriously. "Are they coming up with this on their own or are they somehow getting the information another way?" Confused looks all around, I elaborate. "I know that if I had to, I could search intergalactic databases for that kind of information. Can they?"
Looking to Tommy, Zedd now taps his glass gently, getting the human's attention from whatever he himself seems to be contemplating now. "That would be a question for you love, you know more about Mesogog than we do. Do you recall if he has that kind of intelligence and setup?"
Seeming to think on it for a moment, Tommy finally shakes his head and says quietly, "If they can, then they're in league with a bigger evil than we're aware of. There's no way that Anton could have gotten that kind of information otherwise."
Anything that anyone else was going to say is drowned out by a chorus of "Dr. O!" and "Tommy!". He has a small smile as he answers, "Hey guys."
I can hear the anxiety in someone's voice as she asks, "How are you doing?"
"Better," he replies "but not quite there yet."
"Tommy, I-"
He interrupts her. "Forget it, Hales. It's in the past. Okay?"
"I can't."
Tommy sighs. "Sis, let it go and deal with whatever you have going on there. Right now, your priorities should be Mesogog, yourself and the café - and Mesogog should only be first when he's active. We'll deal with the rest of it if you need to later." I can see the confused looks that the Eltarians are exchanging. "For right now, beat the monster. Then you need to take a day for you. Do whatever you want to that isn't Ranger or business related - or has anything to do with me. Trust me - it'll help get your head screwed on straight for dealing with the rest."
"But-"
His tone reminds me of a teacher I had many years ago. "No buts!"
Silence falls for a minute. "Okay."
"We miss you," the young girl again.
"I miss you guys too." Catching the flinch and brief flash of hurt in Zedd's eyes at this, I can't help but shake my head as he's fast to bury it before Tommy can notice.
"Dude, we'll be glad when you're feeling up to coming home." A boy now, but I'm unsure which one. "We're glad you're getting better, but I think I speak for all of us when I say we definitely need you."
"I told you before don't call me dude, Conner."
Watching as Zedd is again playing with his dinner knife and seeming less pleased by the moment, I catch the muttered statement of aggravation and claim of 'mine' in Eltarian even if the others don't.
Seeming too focused on the children to notice his mate's growing temperament, Tommy addresses them all. "Listen to me, you guys can do this. You don't need me - you never did. Conner, you're the Red Ranger. I'm counting on you to take command. Ethan, as the Blue Ranger, you're the brains out in the field. Use them. Trent, White Ranger, you have the quiet strength that they need to keep their confidence up. Kira, Yellow Ranger, you are the courage to stand tall in the face of it all." He falters for a moment. "Who has the Black Ranger powers?"
Reluctantly, Hayley answers, "I do."
"The Black Ranger is the one that brings it all together, Hayley. You can do this. All of you - you can do this."
"You really think so?" Kira asks.
"I know so," Tommy answers firmly. "There's not a doubt in my mind. Remember - the gems wouldn't have bonded with you if you weren't worthy."
"We still miss you."
"I still miss you guys too, but I still need to be here for right now. It'll be okay, you guys will be fine and I'll tell you I told you so when I do see you again." Looking up as the sound of wood splintering causes all of us to turn our attention to Zedd, it only takes a moment to realize what he's done. Knife no longer being tapped on cups, but now lodged firmly into the table top where he's shoved it he at least has the decency to clear his throat and give a small shrug of embarrassment at Tommy's questioning look.
"There was a spider." When this only earns him more looks from all of us, he continues in a less than convincing manner. "I killed it."
"Right." Still looking at Zedd oddly, Tommy wisely decides to end the conversation. "I'm going to let you all go now, we'll see if we can't figure out how Mesogog is coming up with these monsters and get back to you."
Shortly after, the call ends. Even I, given how little I know Tommy by comparison to the others, can see that he's about to slide into depression. Deciding to - as the humans say - head it off at the pass, I speak up. "So, before the call came in, I was going to talk to you guys about some things."
Everyone turns their attention to me. "Look, with the bond strengthening, both of you are becoming more emotional." Giving Zedd a pointed look despite him trying to avoid my gaze now, I know he gets the message. "Eltarians are taught early on how to manage this sort of thing. Humans, on the other hand, are more susceptible to their emotions. Very often it reaches into the core of who they are. Zedd, with the exception of your anger, you are very much in control of your emotions - to the point that, if you aren't careful, it could be detrimental to your relationship with Tommy in the future."
"Your anger." The mutter from the Eltarian, despite being snippy and childish, does at least signal he knows what I'm talking about and is listening.
"Tommy, you are almost his opposite, in that you feel things very deeply and, quite often, show it. Your challenge in this is to not let everything overwhelm you. You need to extend your emotional control beyond just when you're in battle, but not so much that you're unreadable to your mate. If you learn from each other, as true bond mates should, nobody will be able to come between you."
