*****************Juice Bar********************

The community center was a bit busy. Some people were lifting weights to blow off some stress. Other's were going through clothing and shoes that had been found. Still other's were working on the notice boards, talking about jobs that needed volunteers and tools needed to turn the park into a farm. A few people were eating and just hanging out. The juice bar had always been a safe space to relax.

"Nothing on the notice board." Katherine said quietly to Tommy. She felt so out of place around all these people. One or two she remembered from the harem. Bad memories of a horrible place she wished was nothing more then a dream. Katherine felt the wave of emotion wash over her. It was all too much.

"Kat Whoa!" Tommy called out, catching the girl as she semi- fainted. "Hey Kat! Speak to me beautiful!"

"I'm sorry Tommy. I don't know what came over me." Katherine mumbled quietly with a groan as Tommy led her to a table to sit down.

"It's okay Kat. Let's just rest for a moment." Tommy couldn't help feeling strangely drawn to her as he helped her to sit safely. Katherine needed him and he couldn't deny how protective of her he suddenly felt the moment she fainted slightly into his arms. Having someone to protect always brought out the best in Tommy. Especially if it was a girl, more so if it was a beautiful girl who needed protecting.

Kimberly had always brought out his protective side as well. She was so small and delicate. Without the battle ready desire to fight. She would fight when forced but she never seemed to like it. She always preferred her gymnastic practice over sparing with the boys in the juice bar. Though she had learned dutifully from Jason in the beginning. Even if Jason hadn't mentioned training her, Tommy would have seen it. Her fighting style mirrored the late red rangers.

Kimberly had helped save Tommy from Rita and he had been devoted to her since. Not that he didn't care for his other friends. He protected Billy too, from Bulk and Skull just as much from monsters. Jason and Zack were more than capable of taking care of themselves so he didn't worry about them too much whenever putties showed up. And other then once or twice when she was outnumbered, Trini was just as strong as the boys. She didn't need to be protected very often.

"Tommy. Whose your friend?" Ernie asked cheerfully before seeing the paleness in Katherine's face. "Oh miss are you alright?"

"Ernie this is Katherine. She just got a little faint."

"I'm sorry." Katherine said quietly.

"No need to apologies. How about I make you both some fresh apple smoothies? I still have some left that the rangers brought the other day."

Katherine opened her mouth to say no but Tommy spoke first. "That would be great Ernie. Thank you."

With a smile the juice bar owner left the duo to go make those drinks.

"But Tommy... we already take too much." Katherine said, barely more than a whisper. "We can't possibly repay Ernie."

Tommy shook his head. "Ernie's one of the good ones. So don't worry. Besides, you are still too pale to be walking to your house. I think your blood sugar might be a little low. Did you eat enough breakfast?"

Katherine looked away slightly and Tommy had his answer. "Kat, you've got to eat."

"I just feel so bad. Taking so much just to survive."

Tommy reached over and put his hand gently on her arm. "I understand but we do give back when we can." He said and she knew what he meant. As rangers they still did so much. "If you want after we check out your house. We can see about getting more supplies."

Katherine nodded. She was thankful for Tommy's falcon zord and her crane zord. There were many farms and orchards abandoned now but with fruit ripe for the taking. Of course they had to travel all over the country. Apples in Washington. Oranges from Florida. Nuts from California etc. Katherine wondered at first if it was stealing but those farmers would probably never be back to there fields again.

And it would be a shame to let all that food rot when there were starving people here in Angel grove.

Ernie had barely put the smoothies down when a loud, sad sob drew there attention. Both looked over at the rotund woman sobbing hard into a handkerchief. She was by the notice board for missing people. "Oh my little Farkas. There's still no word from him."

"Now now Mrs. Bulkmeier. We can't give up hope yet. He might still be out there will my Eugene hiding someplace." The man standing next to her said.

"Oh Mr. Skullovitch! Our poor children! Where ever could they be?" Mrs. Bulkmeier cried again and the man carefully put an arm around her and lead her out of the juice bar.

"We can try again tomorrow." he said quietly.

Tommy watched the pair go. He had been so tempted to call to them. He knew where Bulk and Skull were. They were safe and sound at the command chamber. Though not human right now. The way she was crying made Tommy's heart flinch. "Are you feeling any better Katherine?" he asked turning back to the blonde.

"A little. Why?"

Tommy gave her a reassuring smile, hiding all sense of sorrow he had just been feeling. "Because we need to find your parents."

She smiled brightly and finished her smoothie. "Okay. I don't live too far from here. Just a few blocks."

"Let's go."

*********************** Command Chamber*****************************

"Kim? Hey Kim? Kimberly, rise and shine."

Kimberly mumbled and rolled over. "I don't want to go to school today mom..."

Adam had to laugh at that. "Come on sleepy head. Open you eyes. Billy needs something from you." And Adam certainly wasn't going to cut her hair without asking. Even if it would have been easy to do while she was sleeping.

Kimberly sat up with a yawn and rubbed at her eyes with the back of her hand. "Adam? How long was I sleeping?"

Adam smiled and was struck for the first time just how adorable Kimberly was. Yeah, he thought she was pretty on the moon but thoughts like that really didn't mean anything. Survival came first but she was also incredible kind, brave and strong. He was lucky to have such a good friend. "About five hours. How are you feeling?"

She yawned again. "Still sleepy but I'm up now." She smiled at him. "You said Billy needed something?"

"Yeah here." Adam held out the pair of tiny silver scissors.

Kimberly crinkled her nose as she took them. "What are these for?"

"Billy needs a hair sample. He's down in the lab working on finding a cure."

Kimberly took blades to under her hair and cut a long lock. "Is this enough?"

"Oh geez Kim, he only needed an inch or so." Adam said, blinking in surprise as Kimberly handed him the long lock and the scissors back.

"Well now he has extra. Besides since it was the underside of my hair, no one will see its missing." She smirked a bit with a teasing smile.

Adam felt his heart jump. What was wrong with him? "I better get this back to Billy."

Kimberly watched him rush off. She couldn't help but smile. Adam might have come into her life as a gift from Lord Zedd but she was happy to have made such a kind friend.

Kimberly stood and stretched. She wondered where everyone was and decided to see if she could find the others. She remembered something about a sparing area. Rocky and Tommy had been talking about it. She could use a good workout, so winding her way down the corridors she found the work out room. Some weights, gym mats, a treadmill. Nothing fancy but built to endure power attack practice.

The place was empty as Kimberly kicked off her shoes and moved onto the mat. She took a few deep breaths and began to go through the katas Jason had taught her. Ready stance, punch, switch, low block, switch, side kick, repeat. She did a few rounds before a voice spoke from behind her. "Hey Kim."

She jumped and spun, dropping down into a defensive stance just like Jason had taught her. "Rocky, you scared me."

He chuckled good naturally, "Sorry Kimberly. I didn't mean to. I was hoping I could talk to you?"

"Can you talk while sparring? I'm starting to feel rusty." She asked, rolling her shoulder.

Rocky smiled. "Sure Kim."

Rocky and Kimberly went a few rounds. Neither really getting the upper hand. "You're good." He praised.

Kimberly's eyes gleamed. "You better not have been about to add 'for a girl' to that remark."

Rocky was sweating. Kimberly had stamina like crazy. His training was always about bursts of powerful strength, take you opponent down quickly. She was wearing him down with her dodges. Making it easier for her to get in a few punches and kicks. He didn't even think she was breathing hard yet. "Never...but I'm not sure I can beat you like this." Rocky admitted.

She grinned like the Cheshire cat. "Want to take it up a notch then?"

Rocky nodded. "I'm game if you are. Ninjetti the Ape!"

"Thunder Fire Bird!"

"Let's dance Kim."

"After you."

Rocky grinned under his mask. "A-yah!"

*************************** Katherine's house**********************

"Well it's still standing." Tommy said as they approached the front door. Most of the houses on the block seemed okay. Sure a few had collapsed roofs or burned out cars in the driveway but most seemed to still be standing.

"It's open." Katherine said as she reached for the knob, the front door was just a few inches open and looked slightly broken. "Mom? Dad? I'm home!" She called, pushing the door open and stepping inside.

The smell hit Tommy like a truck. Katherine didn't seem to notice it but that smell. That terrible smell. He knew that scent from his time in the castle. When he belonged to Rita. "Katherine wait!" he called in warning but it was too late.

Katherine screamed and Tommy was beside her in the entrance hall in an instant. Upon the floor were what was left of two adult bodies. One had been gutted, entrails strung across the hallway like morbid holiday garlands. Tommy assumed this was Katherine's father as a few feet behind him laid the body of a woman... with her head a few feet from her body. Rotten eyes that no longer could see sat under a crown of golden blonde hair.

After her initial scream Katherine had gone silent. Her body shaking like a leaf in a wind storm. Her eyes glazed over like the eyes of a doll. Tommy knew shock when he saw it. He grabbed her around the shoulders and spoke into his watch. "Alpha beam us to medical right away. Katherine's in trouble."

"Ai-Yi-Yi! Right away Tommy. I'll let Billy know you are arriving."

Tommy picked Katherine up into his arms, cradling her to his chest. "I've got you." His whispered to her as he felt the teleport happen.

**************************** Practice room***********************

"Ninjetti sword!" Rocky called, his weapon materializing in his hand. "Get ready for this Kim!"

She back flipped away putting some distance between her and Rocky. So far they had been fighting without weapons. If he was calling on his sword he must be getting close to losing she reasoned. Her own powers, she could feel them starting to waver under the suit, against her skin. A warning that she was almost at her powers limit of staying morphed.

"Oh I'm ready!" Kimberly shouted as Rocky began his powered up energy attack. "Power Bow!"

Nothing happened...

Rocky released his attack. "Ape energy slice!"

"Power bow!" Kimberly cried again but her bow did not come.

"Kim move!" Rocky screamed, seeing she was about to be directly hit by his energy wave.

Kimberly felt frozen to the spot. The red lightning was about to hit her head on when a feeling came over her mind. Moving on instinct, she put her arms straight out, wrist touching and spread her gloved fingers wide. "Fire Bird Flame!" She shouted. The moment she did, flames of burning fire came from her hands, cutting through Rocky's energy attack. The flame was wild and uncontrolled. Moving as if it was alive with a will of its own.

Rocky shouted, jumping back and clutching at his right arm. His hand that held his sword was badly burned.

Kimberly immediately powered down. "Rocky! I'm so sorry! I don't know how I did that! I've never had a flame attack before. I'm sorry!"

Rocky also powered down but his hand was still burnt. "Shit, its bad." he mumbled. He couldn't open his hand for the swelling and peeling of skin.

"I'll get you to medical. Billy can fix it." Kimberly said, letting Rocky lean on her for support.

And that's how Billy found himself with two emergencies at once.