************************ Earth***********

Kimberly shielded her eyes from the sun as she gaze up at the crystal blue sky. She had forgotten how much she loved the sun and sky. For a moment she took in a deep breath, trying to hold the golden warmth inside her for as long as she could.

"Come on! I don't have all day!" Goldar grumbled, from a few paces ahead of her. Yet he pulled out no chains to hurry her along or tossed any threats her way. He seemed deeply occupied with the paper Billy had given him. Turning it this way and that, looking confused.

Kimberly frowned, she had been so very close to just forgetting all the bad for just a moment. Her face dropped and she shoulders dipped in sorrow. If only it was that easy.

The world around her was beaten. Broken storefronts, burned out cars, little more then twisted metal frame, buildings reduced to piles of rubble. The desert sand was creeping back into the city, taking it back. She saw no people. Not a stray cat or dog to be glimpsed, not even a bird.

It felt like she was the last human on earth, well humans... she gave a quick look at Adam who was staying a few steps behind her. He had his hands on his belly. Kimberly chewed on her lip in thought. Teleporting for the first few times had made her feel a little sick too. "I want to go in there." She said out loud pointing at the pharmacy.

Goldar huffed, "Nothing in there worth taking. Finster's magic is much stronger than any of your human medicine."

Kimberly stopped in her tracks. "I want to go in there." She said each word slowly and with emphasis.

"Fine!" Goldar growled. "You six, go with her and protect her." He waved at some putties before turning back to her. "Don't try anything foolish Kimberly." He warned staring hard at her.

Kimberly set her jaw and stared back just as strong as she could. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Adam hadn't been addressed but as Kimberly broke off and moved towards the store he stayed right beside her, if just a pace or two behind, while the putties seemed to encircle them. Two putties went inside, clearly checking the store before allowing the teens inside.

Kimberly walked down the aisles. The place had been picked pretty clean but she was able to find a bottle of pink stomach settler. "Here. This will help." She said, handing the bottle to Adam.

"T-thanks." He said taking off the cap and taking a dose.

He offered the bottle back to Kim but she shook her head. "I'm use to it. Doesn't bother me like it did before. Let's grab some shopping bags and look around. Take whatever you think you might need or anyone else might need. Not just here but any store we go to." She added quietly. Clearly referencing Justin.

Adam nodded as they wandered the store. He couldn't help but feel funny and not just from the teleporting. This was more awkward then being put in the slave mines with Aisha and Rocky, weirder then the wash room or kitchen. He was her slave and yet again, Kimberly showed she had respect for him.

There really wasn't much left but Adam was able to find some socks, construction paper and colored pencils. Kimberly went to the magazine racks and took a copy of everything they had, she even grabbed a copy of every ones of those terrible cheap romance novels. She had been so bored recently. After all the few magazine the putties had taken from her house she had read several times over. She debated makeup but the last thing she wanted was to look pretty for Zedd. Instead she grabbed some deodorant, and a couple tooth brushes and tooth paste.

There wasn't any chocolate though.

"Are you done yet?" Goldar called from just outside the entryway.

Kimberly looked at Adam, who nodded. "Yes we are." She said moving towards the door. "Carry this!" She shoved her bag at the closest putty who took it dutifully.

Goldar seemed to be scratching his head over the other list. "You slave!" He shouted, starting Adam. "Do you know what these things are?" He shoved the list at Adam who almost dropped the bag he was carrying.

Adam tried to be brave as he nodded. "Y-Yes, this is all computer stuff. Probably you can find it over there." He gestured to the large store half a block down the road.

"What are you waiting for. Go and get it!"

"Don't order my slave around Goldar!" Kimberly shouted back. "We will go get it. Besides I want some computer things too." She held her head high as she walked that way down the road. Adam and putties right at her heels.

She really didn't want any 'computer things' but she was a power ranger. She couldn't just let Goldar mistreat another human, not if she had the power to stop it. And from the way Goldar was acting, she did have power, even if it was only because she was Zedd's 'favorite'. That thought tasted bitter in her mouth.

Goldar blinked, she had never used his name before. It was so hot! He wanted to hear her say his name in his private chambers. He was going to have to do something to in debt lord Zedd even just a little. His passion for Kimberly was starting to burn.

*********************** Falcon Zord****************************

"That's a great place to stop Kat." Tommy said with a smile, going to grab a few towels. Both teens were drenched in sweat. "I think we mighty have overdone it but you're making real progress."

Kat toweled off her face. "Well you're a really good teacher."

For a moment they just enjoyed the silence before Tommy spoke up again. "You accent. I hope this doesn't sound rude but where are you from? England?"

Kat shook her head but smiled. "Australia. My family has just moved to Angel Grove a few days before... before everything happened." There was a sadness in her voice but she pushed it away. "What about you... I mean how did you become a power ranger?"

Tommy looked away slightly and Kat rushed to apologies. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

"It's not that." Tommy shook his head. "Its nothing I'm ashamed of but... its not a pretty story. Only the other ranger knew what I went through at Rita's hands."

Kat blinked "Rita?"

Tommy had said too much but Kat, she seemed so understanding and kind. Maybe he could tell her his tale. "It all started when my family moved to angel grove a few months ago. I wasn't chosen to be one of the original 5 rangers. No," Tommy balled his hands into fists. "It was Rita, that witch, who decided she needed someone to match the power rangers. To be her evil ranger."

Kat gasped. "You were the green ranger? I saw on TV that he... wasn't good at first."

"And I wasn't. I hurt the other rangers badly. Kidnapped Jason, um... the red ranger, took him to Rita's dimension prison with plans to torture him." Tommy shook his head. "And it was all because of a spell. A spell I spent every waking moment trying to break free from but I couldn't. If it hadn't been for the others. I would still be Rita's plaything."

"Oh Tommy..." Kat moved to comfort him but he held up his hand stopping her approach.

"That's why I have to find my other ninjetti rangers. I can't let them do that to anyone else. I have to figure out a plan to stop Rita and Zedd, I have to save Billy and Kimberly. No matter what the cost. I have to rescue what's left of my old team. I can't leave them to suffer." Tommy's eyes shown with a determination and love that Katherine had never seen before. He may have been bad once but Tommy's good spirit shown brightly.

So why did her heart suddenly hurt?