TOMMY - A WEEK LATER

I sigh tiredly. We just got back from David's yesterday and we have to turn around and get ready to leave again. What the hell was I thinking? The beach, David's, the castle AND Eltar before we have to come home and get ready for school? Not to mention Gina and the kids in tow AND getting ready to be pregnant again? I switch the clothes from the washer to the dryer, start yet another load in the washer and grab the basket of now dry clothes for folding. On top of it all, we still need to show Gina and the kids the others' battle forms so they don't freak out if they have to use them.

I've already talked to Kira and we've agreed that she doesn't need to be here for this. After all, even if they don't know Kira personally, they'll recognize a Ranger uniform and, I hope, react accordingly should it be necessary. Still, I can't help but shoot a quick prayer to the Powers That Be that - not only will it not be necessary - but that the reveal goes better than I fear.

I've barely finished folding the laundry when I hear the front door open. "Hello?"

"It's us, brat" Dar calls back. "And I still don't know that this is a good idea while we're on this planet."

I shrug as he comes into the kitchen, followed by Pina. "Gives Gina one last chance to back out before it's too late."

"Yeah, but you're banking that they'll keep their mouths shut."

"On Earth" I agree. "I figure that word will get around quickly enough on Eltar."

"Eltarians do love their gossip" Pina agrees. "Either way, there are rooms ready for their visit - both at the palace and on Eltar."

"Thanks, Pina."

Moving to the fridge to retrieve something to drink, Dar still seems less than thrilled by the whole matter, very likely only even really agreeing for the sake of Mara Jane's happiness at having her friend for the summer. "Just make certain if they do still decide to come along that they understand our offices, your lab, and the dungeon are off limits at the palace. The last thing we need is one of children blowing something up or locking themselves in a cell."

"Again it might not even be necessary depending how today goes" Pina reminds him.

Zedd comes in and greets the couple. "We'll find out soon enough how they'll take it and if they do still wish to go, I'll make certain it's understood they stay away from certain areas and things in the palace."

Raising a curious brow at this, I give him a lost look. "Things?"

"Weapons" all three respond as one.

"Again though, that's assuming they don't instantly back out once they get a look at us."

"It'll be fine, Papa" Mara Jane reassures him. "Hi Uncle Dar. Hi Aunt Pina. Miss Gina is smart and so is Megan. Between the two of them, they'll deal with Dylan if he has a problem."

"Fear has little to do with intelligence" Dar responds. "Your papa knows that a needle is just a little piece of metal, but he's more afraid of one of those than a thousand swords."

"You just had to bring that up, didn't you?" Zedd asks wryly.

Dar shrugs. "Just making a point."

"Either way, I still have to decide how to present it - not to mention bringing up the subject at all."

When the doorbell rings, Mara Jane shoots through the house to get it. I'd never admit it to the others, but I'm a bit nervous. This could go really badly or really well and my biggest concern in truth is my daughter losing her best friend because of it. I take a breath as Gina and Dylan come in, Mara Jane and Megan following behind and talking a mile a minute as if they hadn't seen each other in months instead of a couple of weeks.

I can't help but shake my head at the girls. Gina exchanges an indulgent smile with me. "Because, you know, it's been forever since they've seen each other."

"Right. How have you guys been?"

"Pretty good. Busy getting ready for the trip, of course. Mike may have a new job. He had an interview a couple of days ago that he thinks went really well."

"Oh?"

She nods. "Actually, the way he tells it, it was a pretty surreal situation. It was raining pretty hard and he was holding the door open for someone who was struggling with a box of files as well as a briefcase. Some guy shoved past her and Mike, saying that they needed to get out of his way because he was there for a very important interview. The woman nearly lost the file box but Mike steadied her until she got control of it. She thanked him and headed in through to the offices. The guy that had shoved past was talking loudly and nastily to the girl at the reception desk, demanding that she let them know that he was here so that he could get the job and save them a lot of time looking for someone."

"Doesn't sound like someone I'd want to hire" I comment.

Zedd and the others nod. "There's a difference between confident and being an ass."

"Well, it turns out that the woman was the personal assistant of the head of HR and made sure that he knew that Mike had helped her and that the other guy was a pompous jerk."

"Well, that had to help him a bit. Let's hope that it's enough."

Gina nods. "Now, what did you guys want to see us for?"

The others turn to me. I sigh. "Look, Gina. There are some things we need to discuss before we leave for our other two homes. It's nothing bad really, but we wanted to make certain you all were coming before we even brought it up, as if not, there would have been no reason to mention it."

"Okay."

"Do you remember a while back when you asked me about Zedd? Saying that he wasn't as harmless as he acts?" She nods and I take a breath. "Well, you're right. He's not - and neither are they." I nod toward the other couple.

"You did say that they were warriors" she nods slightly. "Not to mention you trying to explain Zedd's power to Mike."

"Right, well, there's more to it than that."

Gina cocks her head at me. "Is this something that's going to interfere with the trip?"

"That's up to you. As I said we're only even telling you this because you are going and since, as we said before, we have some rather powerful enemies it might be necessary for us to fight off an attack."

"It's unlikely, but it does happen on occasion" Zedd agrees.

"And if it does, we need you to be aware that we're the good guys, as Jacob would put it, and that you need to trust us to protect you and the children."

Gina leans back against the counter, arms folded as she takes this in. I'm holding my breath while we wait, as I'm sure the others are. "All right. Obviously there's more to this than just you pointing out that you're the good guys. What is it?"

I give the others a quick nod and they head for the back door. "Come on." Gina and the kids follow us outside. "Zedd, Dar and Pina were all - at one time - working for the Evil Alliance that tried to take over the planet, just like Rita Repulsa. While working on that side, they hid their normal appearance so as to be more intimidating." I nod at them. "Go ahead."

They exchange quick looks and, as one, transform to their warrior modes. Gina and the kids all jump slightly at the sudden change. We all wait in tense silence for their response. Finally, Gina says, "Well, there's a world of difference between having suspicions and seeing them become real before your eyes."

Megan pokes Mara Jane. "Your dad is the real Lord Zedd! He could have destroyed our algebra teacher!"

Mara Jane rolls her eyes. "And I told you that it would be a frivolous use of power and in bad taste. I wasn't kidding, you know."

Dylan looks at me. "So can you do it too, Dr. Oliver?"

"Not the same, but yes. I call forth the power of the falcon."

Gina's mouth falls open. "You're a Power Ranger!"

"No" I correct quickly. "I'm Ninjetti. It's not the same." I'm careful to make the distinction so I can keep some of my past hidden. The last thing I want is to accidentally out any former Rangers. "The Rangers you're aware of on Earth were given power by an Eltarian mentor. I'm a Phaedosian halfbreed, my power comes from that world and draws on my connection to nature and my animal spirit."

"Not seeing a real difference there" Dylan comments calmly.

"The difference is the Rangers you're aware of are bound by rules concerning how they use their powers and must answer to a mentor or guardian. Thomas, however, is not. The same as the three of us" Zedd explains, taking a step forward, and causing the boy to take one back in response.

"Easy, mate." Holding up a hand and knowing he wasn't purposefully trying to scare the boy, just help in my explanation and cover, I give a nod to Dylan as he moves a tad closer to his mother and sister. "Remember, you're a bit more intimidating at the moment than you mean to be."

"So, quick question now, you say that you're the 'good guys' but the last I recall, you three were trying to destroy the planet" Gina states reasonably.

"We've settled down a bit over the years" Scorpina explains.

"Moved on to other things" Goldar adds.

"Thomas curtails that part of me" Zedd finishes with a shrug.

Looking at me again, I can practically see the thoughts running through her head. "That's what Zedd meant when he told Mike that you keep him under control."

"We balance each other, despite being on opposing sides in the past, or maybe even because of it we help keep each other grounded."

"So, can you like do it too?" Looking at Mara Jane and seeming to be trying to find some sign that she has the ability to shift her appearance like the others, Megan looks just a tad leery.

"No, they're able to change how they look from their time serving Dark Spector and the Alliance. Since I never did that, I can't change how I look" Mara Jane explains, now looking a tad concerned herself. "Even if I could though, I'd still be me, just like they're still them. It's just their appearances that changed, not who they are."

"I get that."

"So…"

"I wish you'd told me, we're supposed to be best friends" Megan explains, showing she's not so much scared as just hurt it seems our daughter had kept it from her.

"She wasn't allowed to tell you, Megan. It would have been far too dangerous, and had people found out chances are we would have had to leave long before now. That in mind, you three cannot tell anyone on Earth about this. We keep this quiet for a reason."

"While we ourselves are rather unbothered by the consequences of people learning about us, it would put Mara Jane and Jacob at risk, never mind force them to leave their school here as, like Thomas had stated, we'd have to return to Eltar."

"So do people on Eltar know?"

"Considering I nearly destroyed half the planet at one time, yes, they are well aware of who I am" Zedd replies calmly. "Which is another reason very few will try and argue or pose a threat to you and the children once it's learned you work for me."

"Assuming you still wish to come with" I add.

Gina looks at her children, assessing their gazes and opinions before she turns back to us. Shrugging lightly, she says nonchalantly, "I don't see why not."

"Power down." All four of us return to our natural forms and turn curious looks on them. "You're taking this a lot better than I thought you would."

"Tommy, our girls have been friends for years. Quite frankly, I've wondered for a while now. I just decided not to bring it up. After all, if you wanted me to know, you would have said something. Just like you did when you were going to let Mara Jane spend the night for the first time and explained that she might need a bit of a break now and then. After a while it dawned on me that her power had to come from somewhere, not to mention the stories I've heard about Jacob and his animal friends."

Dar and Pina exchange approving looks as, astonished, Zedd asks, "So you've known for quite a while now?"

"I wouldn't say that I knew, but I suspected, yes."

"Well then, I guess there isn't much more to say. We'll leave the day after tomorrow as planned."

"Okay, we'll see you then."

As they turn to go, Zedd stops them. "One more thing - I have your tokens made, but I need to know how you wish to wear them so I can get the bracelets or necklaces made."

"Bracelet" Megan says instantly.

"Necklace for me" Gina puts in.

"What about you?" Zedd asks Dylan.

The boy looks unhappy. "Those sound pretty girly. Can we do something else?"

Zedd looks at me. "Girly?"

"Feminine."

"Oh." Zedd frowns. "I can make a necklace that isn't 'girly'. I can show you some of my own jewelry from home and perhaps you'll find a style you like and I can duplicate it."

We all head into the house. Shortly, Zedd has his jewelry box - chest actually - on the table and open and the boy paws through the extensive selection. I hand Gina a cup of coffee. "What kind of things is he into?"

"Sports, mostly. Ancient civilizations fascinate him. You know - Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Native American."

Rapidly, thoughts link together and I can see a possibility the young man might accept. "Hang on, Zedd." I turn the box to me and dig down to the bottom. Where is it? I found it one time when I was looking for a piece he wanted... "Ah ha! Here it is!"

I pull out the piece I found and show it to Dylan. "It's a bracelet" the boy protests.

I shake my head. "No, it's not. Show him, Zedd."

Zedd sighs. "I hate that piece, Thomas." I give him a look and he reluctantly pulls his sleeve up and slides the simple metal band on his upper arm.

I explain to Dylan, "The style is similar to some of our ancient civilizations. Zedd could mount the token here and you can wear it over or under your sleeve, depending on the situation."

Interest lights the boy's eyes and Zedd slips it off and hands it to him. He shoves his sleeve up to his shoulder and puts the band on. It's too large for him, but that was rather expected. He pulls it up too high and I chuckle lightly as I reach over and hold it in the proper location. Zedd says temptingly, "It would be easy to make it the right size."

Dylan nods in agreement and Zedd digs a measuring tape out of the drawer and takes measurements of the boy's upper arm and Megan's wrist as he debates necklace length with Gina. Finally, Zedd has all the information he needs and they head out, apparently excited about the forthcoming trip.

All of us exhale in relief as one once the door closes behind them. "I never thought it would go that well" Zedd comments.

Me either. "Let's just be thankful that it did and get back to getting ready to go."