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

Tommy leaned against the far wall of the community center watching the final preparations for this 'Vote for the mayor' to happen. Other then a few respectful words, no one had asked him to do anything to help out. While he didn't mind helping, he was glad for the break. Just being allowed to lean on the wall and watch. It gave him time to think.

Rocky had been right. He was tried, down to the bone tired, and therefore, Tommy reasoned they all were tired. Tommy crossed his arms and sighed letting his chin drop slightly to his chest. He wished Jason was here. He was so new and unprepared to do this 'leader' thing. It didn't come as naturally to him as it seemed to have been for Jason. The former red ranger always seemed to know what to say or do. Tommy had always been strong on his own, beholden to no one. It was probably why Rita chose him in the first place.

A strong human who no one would miss or report missing... at least not for awhile. Tommy thought of his parents. Even if they hadn't been the best parents, he stilled missed them. He had checked his house but, unlike the horrors of death they had found in Katherine's home, his house was untouched. It was if his parents were simply at work.

It helped to think like that. They were just at work or working late. They'd be home soon. It helped ease the pain of knowing they were, in all probability, dead and rotting somewhere.

There had been no sign of Ninjor. No matter how hard they searched they could not find the ninja master. Every time they seemed to get close to pin pointing Divatox submarine, a monster would attack and then poof, the submarine would be gone from where it had been.

Tommy wasn't blind. He could see the team was splintering under his leadership. Breaking apart into factions. And he was partly to blame for that. Tommy shook his head slightly. He still couldn't pick between Katherine and Kimberly. He had tried everything he could think of. If he tried making a list of things he loved about both of them, the list would be a tie. If he tried spending time with each of them one on one, he always felt drawn to whomever he was with.

His falcon spirit was zero help. The spirit inside calling to both the fire bird and the crane equally.

And the one time he had tried flipping a coin to pick for him... it had falling through the cracks of the floor.

As deep in thought as Tommy was, he didn't miss the other rangers arriving back. Rocky in the lead with Katherine, Aisha and Adam right behind him followed by Justin who was unmorphed and walking with someone else. It was this other form walking a few steps casually behind the rangers, as if she was just another human, that caught Tommy's attention. Kimberly was here! She was back from the island. Why the hell hadn't Billy called him? Oh well that didn't matter now Tommy thought as her soft brown eyes caught his gaze. Tommy couldn't stop the grin from under his hood as he moved to join them. "Hey Kim."

Kim hissed slightly and looked around before dropping her voice to a whisper. "Tommy, you've got to pretend not to know me."

"Right sorry, forgot how I was dressed. Hang on."

Kimberly didn't get a chance to answer as Tommy teleported suddenly away. Rocky looked at Kim and she only could shrug her shoulders at the white rangers sudden departure.

Rocky frowned under his mask. Great... now Tommy had run off, right as they were about to get started. People were lining up all the way outside and around the building. Ernie came up to the front. "I was going to ask falcon to help but since he's gone, red ranger, would you mind announcing voting is open?"

"Of course." Rocky said with a nod and did just that. It was odd, helping to hand out ballots and move people along. At first he had been surprised Ernie had requested help for this but soon he realized why. People were afraid of corruption, or in this case corrupt people having power. The rangers helping to run things along with a few trusted others, seemed to lesson the fears of ballot tampering.

Aisha nudged him suddenly and nodded to the door. Tommy had come in but as normal Tommy and made a straight bee line for the table a little out of the way where Kimberly was sitting with Justin. He said something and Rocky watched as Justin got up and moved to help Bulk and Skull checking people in to vote.

Tommy pulled out a chair and began to talk to Kim. Rocky couldn't make out a word but she was smiling. So it must be okay.

Though he had to admit, the red ranger felt a little annoyed that Tommy seemed to be ignoring ranger responsibilities, just to talk to Kim. After all she was living back at the command chamber with all of them. There was plenty of time to talk.

Then again with the way she had been sparkling since her return from the island. If that was the real Kimberly, who she really was before the fall of the original rangers.

Then Rocky couldn't blame Tommy at all.

******************* Regda 2***************************

Rows of shops and drinking establishments lined the narrow back alley of this dismal little planet. Rita had long tired of her conquest and even the puppet dictators she had left in place were no more. Goldar hadn't expected much but this whole wretched planet was barely more then a trash heap. He was glad he had set his ships deference to kill. Couldn't risk having anyone stealing his only way off this muck ball.

"Hey handsome! Want some fun?" A aging six breasted female beast called so him from outside the door of a place that smelled of sex and stale booze. "Reasonable prices."

"No." Goldar replied curtly.

The woman followed slightly, "We've got everything here! From barely legal monster girls to shape shifters!"

Goldar paused slightly. "Shape shifters?"

The woman nodded. "They can read your thoughts, be anyone you want them to be."

Golder frowned. No fake could ever come close to the pure sweetness that was the only being in the universe had hadn't had a chance to be with. No shifter could be as perfect as Kimberly even if they wore her face for awhile. "Another time." Goldar replied turning away.

The woman called after. "We're open all night!"

Goldar shook his head as dark rain began to fall. He lifted his wings to partly shelter his face as he continued following down deeper and deeper into the city. The puddles reflected the lamp and lights of the bars, cafes, and bordellos he passed.

Finally he arrived at the small shop he was looking for. Unlike the others shops. A shop that offered monsters for sale. Monsters to serve, to cook, to clean, to fight, to kill... Goldar would know these handicrafts anywhere.

White furred hands pushed little bits of clay away from his newest creation. "Shh... there there. I'm sure someone will want such a fine monster as yourself."

With the tenderness of a father holding his child Finster moved his newest monster to the window display where a few others were.

A bell jingled over the old wooden door. "Welcome." Aged eyes, that seemed so much older than just a few months ago greeted. "Oh My! Goldar! Come in, you must be soaked through."

"I... thank you." Goldar said, wringing the water from his wings.

"I'll make some tea. What bring you here old friend?" Finster asked even as he moved to the back room. Goldar hesitated to reply. This room, this shop. It was just as poor as the rest in the alley. The roof was leaking, only a single lamp lit the whole front room.

Finster wouldn't have any work for him... let alone a few coins he could borrow. "Just in the area..."

Finster chuckled, "I highly doubt that but I won't pry. Here, sit."

Goldar did at told and took a few sips of tea as the duo fell into silence. "Finster I..." Goldar started to say but then hushed.

"Let me guess. You're in some kind of trouble."

Goldar nodded at the sage and before he was aware of it the story was tumbling from his mouth.

Finster said nothing but rubbed under his chin when Goldar had finished speaking. "It seems to me this key part is your way back to the top."

Goldar snorted, "Yes but I'm sure the rangers have it by now. Divatox wouldn't still be there if she had it."

"That is very probable. King Mondo's minions found Ivan Ooze's lock. It's the talk of the universe. Rumor has it that Dark Spector is not happy. Ooze is suppose to almost as strong as Spector himself."

Goldar put his cup down hard on the table making the china clink loudly. "If only I had something! A plan or spell or anything. If I just had a way to get that key part. I could get in good with King Mondo."

"Yes, or perhaps even with Ooze. I have something that may help." Finster pulled out a box from under the floor and unlocked it, pulling out yet another smaller box of dark wood. "...but in return you must help me." He said opening it and pulling out a vial of shimmering clear liquid with bits of glowing crystals in it like tiny diamonds.

"What is it?" Goldar asked, eyeing the strange liquid that seemed to pulse with life.

"It's a cure for the immortality monster serum Zedd gave the former rangers. I know that even with his high intelligence, without magical aid or knowledge, the former blue ranger will never be able to make a cure. If you offer this to the rangers, they will give you the key part."

"And what would you want in return?" Goldar asked.

Finster held out the vial. "When you get in good with someone who has powers, all I ask is your remember your old friend Finster."

"I will." Goldar promised taking the vial and putting it in his belt pouch before standing. "I should go."

"Remember your promise. Oh and Goldar?"

Goldar turned at the door. "Yes?"

Finster smiled. "There is only enough to cure one of them. Billy or Kimberly. Not both."

Goldar returned the smile. "Good." with a jingle of door bell, Goldar was gone.

Finster sighed and went once more about his work. Making monsters, it was all he knew.

***************** Juice bar****************

"Hey beautiful. Sorry that took so long but the line to get back in was long." Tommy slide his chair a little closer. "How are you feeling? You look great. Really great." Tommy mused seeing the brightness back in his maybe girlfriend.

Kimberly laughed. "I'm good Tommy. Adam and I found the... you know what."

"Seriously? I told Billy to call me the moment you got back."

"Don't be upset Tommy." Kimberly said, reaching out and gently putting her hand over his. "Billy's got a lot on his mind. You know if anything bad had happened he would have called the rangers to help us."

Tommy still seemed unconvinced. "I was so worried Kimberly. I mean, I never went to that island but I remember Rita talking about it... geez, that feels like a lifetime ago."

"Yeah it does. Everything's changed so much." Kimberly smiled softly. Her whole world was different now but as long as she had her friends, there would always be a silver lining even behind the darkest of storm clouds. "But I have awesome news. We might have a cure for Billy and me. An old friend of Alpha's. A wizard named Lerigot."

Tommy raised an eyebrow. "A wizard?"

Kim nodded, "So we won't need to go find Finster."

A wry look passed by Tommy's face but it was gone in an instant. "Good. A space trip would have left earth undefended. Do you really think this wizard will be able to help?"

"Tommy we have to have hope." Kimberly teasingly chastised him. "So long as there is hope we can do anything."

Her aura sparkled so brightly that Tommy felt his falcon call loudly in his chest, spurning him to action. Without thinking he took Kimberly's hands into his own and pulled her to her feet. "Come on, let's get out of here."

"And go where?" Kim asked, a smile still on her face.

"Anywhere you want. You and me. Just for a bit. I promise."

Kimberly was about to argue that they should stay close. The others might need them but the look in Tommy's eyes tugged at her heart in a way she had no words for. "The park. Take me to the lake."

"You got it." Tommy's heart was pounding as he held Kimberly's hand and they practically ran from the juice bar. The park was about a mile away yet something gave wings to there feet and he was standing in the grass before he realized it.

"Oh Tommy. It's so beautiful here." Kimberly said, shielding her eyes to gave out over her favorite lake. The sunlight danced across the water.

"Yes, Yes it is." Tommy replied but he wasn't looking at the lake. In fact he wasn't looking at anything but Kimberly.

She turned slowly, smiling at him and memories slipped past Tommy's mind. They had been right here one year ago, when he had kissed her. Before either of them knew what was happening Tommy had taken three steps to Kimberly's side and leaned down, touching his lips with her.

For a long moment everything from the past year faded away. Everything was exactly like before. Like the last time they were here. "Kimberly?"

"Yes Tommy?"

"I... I think I..." but Tommy never got the words out as suddenly they were surrounded. "Piranhatrons! Kimberly stay behind me! Ninjetti the Falcon!"

Kimberly couldn't exactly argue as she back up as close to the water as she could. Her heels just touching the edge of the lake. She couldn't morph but she could fight if it came to that. She reached for her communicator to call the others. She didn't hear anything as Rygog rose out of the water behind Kimberly.

"Kimberly behind you!" Tommy shouted, before taking a punch to the guts.

Cold, strong, claw covered hands grabbed her and the next thing Kimberly knew she was under water.