Author's Note: I'm trying to keep to my promise to update sooner between chapters because I'm really anxious to get to some of the ideas I have for where this story is going. Now to copy an author whose story I've been immensely enjoying, I've decided to write back to those of you who take the time to help this story improve.
GargoyleSama: I'm not sure how Kat's past will influence things other than to say it will help her make a powerful ally who will help her to make sense of everything going on around her. As far as Kat and Tommy getting together, it may be a few more chapters to come since Tommy's still stuck in his ranger suit, but there will be more to come for these two.
Ultra Sonic: Hopefully, this chapter and the ones to come after it will give you insight into what Kat's planning.
Purple Strobe: I knew having Will be the one who grabbed Kat would throw some people off. But you know me; I always have to keep you guessing. It's what keeps you coming back for more. I just realized that Will wasn't getting enough attention and decided to bring him more into the story. I agree the story lost some rhythm. I just thought explaining everything was getting to me a bit too much and I thought it might bore some readers so I decided to wrap things up guess I should have stuck to my first thought and kept things going. Oh well, maybe I'll get it right this chapter. Please don't apologize for all the comments, I love having feedback from my readers because I want this story to be the best that I can offer. The longer the reviews the better, I really appreciate it.
"I brought you a cup of coffee," Will said as he sat down next to Kat at her desk where she sat waiting to hear anything from the rangers.
"Thanks, I need it, it's been pretty quiet this morning," she replied as she took the cup from his hands.
"Has Hayley figured out a way to free Tommy from his suit?" Will asked.
"No, she had to get back to the cyberspace but Tommy mentioned that Kira was on her way over to help him sort through some things in the lab so I was just waiting until she arrives, she seems to be the only one who really cares about Trent so I was hoping maybe we'd over hear something that would help me find a way to talk to him again," Kat informed him.
"Alright, let's see what's going on now," Will said as he turned up the volume on her computer.
"I really appreciate your help Kira," Tommy told her.
"No problem Dr. O, I'm happy to help," Kira replied.
"I've been meaning to clean all of this up but just haven't had the time," Tommy told her.
"Who's that guy with you and Dr. Mercer?" she inquired.
"His name was Terrence Smith, we called him Smitty, we were both up for the same job at Mercer Industries and when I got the job Smitty went to another company but he got into a horrible accident and no one's heard from him since," Tommy explained
"What should I do with the picture?" Kira asked.
"Just throw it away," he replied.
"That's odd, I wonder what happened to the guy," Kat said to Will.
"It's worth checking into, his disappearance is just as mysterious as Mercer's," Will decided.
"Well, I guess I'll leave you to it then," Kat said as she got up from her chair.
"And where are you going?" Will asked.
"I think I'll go to the school and pay then new science teacher a visit," Kat replied.
Kat arrived at the school only to find that Zeltrax had brought along a monster and attacked the school. She saw Ethan doing his best to fight but he couldn't morph because Cassidy was on the scene along with a few other students. I've got to find a way to get those students out of there. She thought just as Kira morphed as the yellow ranger arrived to help and Ethan ran off so that he could morph as well.
"You tell Tommy I want him to meet me or else I'll return with another monster to attack the city," Zeltrax told them after the battle ended.
Once all the students were gone, Kira and Ethan rushed inside the building as the bell rang and Kat followed them. They were met by Anton in the hallway who immediately informs them that they now have detention for being late.
"You're really getting the hang of this whole teaching thing," Kat remarked as Kira and Ethan went inside the classroom.
"Dr. Hillard, what a pleasant surprise, would you care to sit in on my class," Anton greeted her.
"Are you sure I wouldn't be imposing?" Kat asked.
"Not at all, I'd welcome your input," Anton said as allowed her to enter the classroom first and then followed.
After class, Anton had to meet with a few of the students so Kat excused herself and went to phone Will.
"Any news on Terrence Smith?" Kat asked as Will answered the phone.
"Unfortunately no, after the accident the company he was working for just assumed that he died and no one's been able to find anything about him since," Will reported.
"Well, it was long shot, where are you now?" Kat asked.
"I've tracked Tommy and Conner to the warehouse where their supposed to meet Zeltrax," Will answered.
"I wish I could join you but Anton asked me to keep him company during detention and Ethan and Kira are here so they may need my help getting out of it if Tommy and Conner need them," Kat told him.
"Ok, I'll keep you posted," Will said as she hung up.
Awhile later, detention finally ended and Kira and Ethan were released.
"Thank you so much for keeping me company," Anton told her.
"It was my pleasure, it kept me from having to do work in the office," Kat said and smiled.
"Is there anyway I could persuade you to have dinner with me?" Anton asked.
"Sure, I'd love to but could I have sometime to go home and get ready," Kat replied.
"Of course, I'll have my driver pick you up in about an hour," he told her.
Meanwhile, Kira and Ethan had joined Tommy and Conner in battle. They soon defeat the monster with the Z-Rex Blaster. It grows and they call on the megazord as Tommy is left to fight Zeltrax alone. Will hides nearby and listens as Zeltrax reveals some startling information to Tommy.
"Man, why do you have it in for me so much?" Tommy asked as he and Zeltrax continued to fight.
"Does the name Terrence Smith ring any bells?" Zeltrax questioned.
"Smitty, what do you know about him?" Tommy inquired.
"I know everything about him because I am him, years ago when you beat me out for that job, I was hurt in an experiment but Mesogog found me and rebuilt me to the form that I am now," Zeltrax revealed.
"Smitty, I'm so sorry, I had no idea," Tommy told him.
"I don't want your apologies, you stole my life and I won't rest until you pay for what you did to me," Zeltrax told him.
Tommy then hit Zeltrax with his Brachio Staff and Zeltrax soon retreats.
"Thank you so much for inviting me to dinner," Kat told Anton as she was led into the dining room of his home.
"Thank you for coming and I hope you won't look at this invitation as some sort of bribe to get you to give my company a good review," Anton replied.
"Of course not, as far as I'm concerned we're just two scientific colleagues enjoying a dinner together," Kat told him.
"Good because there's something I've been meaning to discuss with you," Anton revealed.
"What's on your mind?" Kat asked.
"I realize I've been avoiding setting up a time for you and Dr. Cole to come to my plant and continue your inspection so I've decided to offer you a job," Anton told her.
"What sort of job?" Kat asked.
"I was hoping that you'd consider working with me at Mercer Industries that way you'll see up close and personal what kind of business I run," Anton replied.
"Dr. Mercer, that's such a generous offer, I'd be a fool not to take you up on it," Kat answered.
"Please call me Anton, I'll make the arrangements so you can start right away," he told her.
"Sorry I'm late for dinner," Trent said as he entered the room.
"Trent, you remember Katherine Hillard," Anton said.
"What's she doing here?" Trent asked.
"I've just offered Kat a position at Mercer Industries to speed up her investigation," Anton informed him.
"Would two please excuse me, I need to use the little girls' room," Kat said as she got up from the table. She walked into the hallway and once she was out of sight from the doorway she made her way up the stairs and into Anton's office where she once again tried to enter the invisiportal.
"What do you think you're doing?" Trent asked as he came up behind her.
"Um, nothing I was just admiring this painting your father has on the wall," she lied.
"Really because it looked like to me that you were searching for something," Trent replied.
"And just exactly what do you think that was?" Kat asked.
"You're way in over your head on this one Ms. Hillard and if you don't want me telling my father that you were snooping in his office I suggest you get back to dinner," Trent told her.
"Fine I'll go but Trent I'd like to talk to you about what you're going through, I was evil once and I know how hard it can be trying to fight its influence on you but you have to try, you can't let Mesogog win," Kat responded.
"Mesogog is trying to ensure a better future for us all and with my help he might succeed, perhaps you should consider joining us," Trent replied.
"I will never let anyone control me like that again," Kat promised.
"Then I guess we have nothing more to discuss but remember I'm watching you," Trent said as he stepped aside so she could leave.
A few days later, Kat sat in her apartment drinking coffee and getting her things ready for her job at Mercer Industries. Hearing the doorbell, she sat the cup down and went to answer it.
"All set for your big day?" Will asked as she let him in.
"As ready as I'll ever be, hopefully I'll be able to uncover some things about Mercer that will help our case," Kat replied.
"Don't count on it, I've got a feeling the only reason he asked you to work there is so he could keep an eye on you and make sure you only find out what he wants you to know," Will told her.
"So what are you planning on doing while I'm otherwise occupied?" Kat inquired.
"I figured I'd stick close to the rangers and see if Trent shows up after what he said to you, we can't be too careful, I learned that Kira got an internship at the television studio so I figure I'll hang around there and see if she makes contact with Trent," Will revealed.
"I guess we'll both have our hands full then," Kat remarked.
"Yes, just make sure you keep your earpiece in, in case we need to contact each other," Will said.
"Ok, I'll let you know if I discover anything," Kat told him.
Katherine arrived at Mercer Industries and set out to find Anton's office.
"May I help you?" his secretary asked as Kat approached her desk.
"My name's Katherine Hillard, I think Dr. Mercer may be expecting me," Kat told her.
"Oh yes, Dr. Hillard, he told me to be expecting you but unfortunately Dr. Mercer was called away so he asked me to show you to his office," she replied.
"Oh well, surely there must be another office I can work in, I wouldn't want to impose," Kat responded.
"My instructions were to show you to his office, he's laid out some reports for you to look over about the upkeep of all the plants and warehouses owned by Mercer Industries, it should keep you quite busy," she said as she led Kat to Anton's office.
"Wow, you weren't kidding about this being a lot of work, I'd better get started," Kat said as she looked at the pile of folders that Anton had sat on a table in the office.
"Let me know if you need anything," the secretary said as she left Kat alone with her work.
Kat waited a few minutes after the secretary had left the room and quietly walked over to shut the office door. She then took a seat at Anton's desk and hooked a device similar to the one she planted in Tommy's lab into Anton's computer. Using the device, she managed to log into Anton's computer.
"Will, do you read me?" she asked.
"Yeah Kat go ahead," he said.
"I managed to log onto Anton's computer and I'm going to try and find out what he's been up to lately," Kat told him.
"That's great, I can't talk now things are kinda crazy over here," Will replied.
"Why, what's going on?" Kat questioned.
"That woman called Elsa was here and she turned Marty the Mackerel into a monster," Will informed her.
"Ok, I guess I'll contact you later, try and stay out of the rangers way," Kat replied.