Death Was Arrested - Chapter 9
The group dispersed after Steve gave the crew orders. He initiated a countdown clock so they would know how much time they had until Red Skull arrived on the planet, and he had Bruce and Rhodey work with what was left of federal law enforcement to have them watch the skies for any incoming ships approaching the earth's atmosphere. Rocket and Tony worked with Tommy and Kimberly to help create technology so that the zeo crystal could become a conduit for a greater power source, while the rest of the rangers, Thor, Loki, Clint, Natasha, and Scott all got some much needed rest before they geared up to fight the first wave of Red Skull's army.
As Rocket and Tony worked, the pair traded quips, yet Tony was the first human that Rocket had been impressed by. Or at least, impressed by his technological ingenuity. It seemed like everytime Rocket was ready to criticize the inventor, Tony would do something that would work. First it was testing the levels of energy that the zeo crystal had in its own entity, then the introduction of power. He then analyzed Tommy's zeonizers to figure out how they transmitted the power of crystal into a powerful suit of armor.
"I wish I could say this Zordon guy copied me..." Tony joked. "The zeo crystal isn't an arc reactor, but it's similar to it. Your zeonizers are conduits to the power."
"Well, they were," Tommy replied. "Who knows how much power the shards are still giving off, with the morphing grid off-line."
"The morphing grid isn't the problem," Tony replied as he continued to analyze the morpher. "The only thing the grid did, at least from what I can tell, is that it helped form the type of armor you used. It allowed you to access different weapons, equipment."
"What exactly are you saying?" Kim asked.
"Ever use a macbook?" The pair nodded. "The power source comes in from a charged battery in the unit. But it doesn't only need power, it needs an operating system, programming... the grid, at least from how you described it, had a template to use. It gave a practical application of the power, but it wasn't the power itself."
"So you're saying that the zeo crystal doesn't need the morphing grid?" Tommy asked. "How is that possible? All of our powers were always fried when severed from the grid."
"It wasn't always the grid that kept us from the power," Kim replied. "You told me that when you lost the Dinothunder powers that the gems had been drained of their power."
"What you need is a new operating system," Tony replied. "Complete upgrade, from top to bottom. Including a new shard from the crystal to get Ms. Hart here back in the game. Then, we'll create a program of sorts that allows the zeo crystal to connect to the stones."
"How exactly are you going to do that?" Rocket asked. "That might take months, and we ain't got months based on what soldier boy was talking about."
"Well... I did create my first iron man suit in a cave with a box of scraps. Created a power source that powered my suit and kept shrapnel from entering my heart, created a new element to then keep the old arc reactor from poisoning me to death, harnessed an infinity stone and created two super bots, one of which wasn't a good idea, and then created a brand new nanotechnology to create the greatest suit I've ever made." Tony stopped to look at his new working buddy.
"What, am I supposed to be impressed by that? I saw Thor survive the power of a dying star, you're not that impressive."
"Yeah, well, Thor's a show off," Tony quipped. "Looking at the crystal, and taking a look at the tech from my future self from Mr. Lang, we should be able to get a new set of power rangers in no time."
"Thanks Tony," Tommy replied.
As Tony continued to work, Tommy and Kimberly left him and Rocket to go and rest for the upcoming battle. They conversed a bit as they walked, mostly light conversation until the topic of Red Skull came up.
"Are you ready to get back out there?" Tommy asked.
"Honestly, not really," Kim confessed. "When I left the rangers, I was pretty sure I was done for good. Even when Strange appeared in my apartment, I didn't believe I'd be a ranger again. To be honest, I'm still not sure if it will happen."
"Stark seems to be pretty confident it will," Tommy replied. "We need you out there."
"I don't know... the five of you worked pretty well as a team." Her reply came with a bit of nervous chewing on her bottom lip. "The zeo rangers have worked a long time together. In some ways it feels like I'm butting in as an unwelcome guest."
"Anyone in particular making you feel that way?" The question cut right to the heart of the matter as Kim's cheeks flushed a bright shade of red. "You should talk to her."
"Tommy..." Kim began to plead, but Tommy cut her off.
"Look, I'll be the first to admit that probably all of the coldness in your relationship with Kat is due to my insensitivities and stupidity, but that doesn't mean you guys shouldn't talk it out."
"What do you mean?" Kim asked. The question caught Tommy off-guard.
"Let's just say I wasn't fair to her. Extremely unfair to her. We were engaged."
"What?!" The admission caught Kim off guard.
"I broke it off soon after, and the next time I saw her was a few weeks ago, and whether it's fair or not, she saw me with you and assumed we were back together." Kim didn't know whether to punch her ex-boyfriend or feel sorry for him, but she didn't have enough time to process the thought. "I think Kat is in the lounge, you should go talk to her."
"What about you?" Kim challenged. "I mean, if it is your fault..."
"We have talked. I think it'll be helpful for the two of you to clear the air." Kim rolled her eyes at Tommy's remark.
"I'm only going to do it because Captain America thought it also would be a good idea," Kim conceded. "But don't think you're out of the woods yet, mister."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Tommy smiled. "Get some rest." He wandered off, while Kim took a deep breath and wandered into the lounge where Katherine was sprawled out on one of the leather sofas.
"Kat?" She stirred and looked up and over the sofa to see that Kim was behind her. Kat gazed at her predecesor, her eyes seemingly glazed over. "I'm sorry if I woke you."
"No... I was close to dozing off, but I think I'd like to go to my quarters anyway, get a good few hours before we have to report back."
"Before you do... can we talk?" Kim asked awkwardly.
"Can it wait?" Kat asked, a not so subtle irritation attached to the tone of her voice.
"I'm pretty sure I've waited too long all ready," Kim replied. "And from our few interactions on base, I'd guess you have too." Kat scooched over towards the end of the couch, allowing Kim to circle around and sit on the other end of it. "Look... I don't know if there's anything I've done to offend you, but if I have, I'd ask you would forgive me." Kat's anger dissolved into sadness, her face showing pain while her eyes began to well up with tears. She tried to speak, but she was overcome with emotion. Kim slowly moved towards her, and gently placed her hand on her shoulder. The gesture became a full embrace, the petite woman clutching her replacement, letting her weep freely.
After a few moments, Kat moved her head, and Kim allowed her freedom to move back to the end of the sofa. "Sorry," Kat choked out. "I... I don't know what came over me."
"Well, we have approximately 40 hours before Red Skull gets here, so we have until then to talk about it," Kim chided, which brought a much needed smile to the Australian.
"I think I've spent so much time being angry with you, but the way you approached me, wondering if you had done something wrong..." Kat stalled for a minute, trying to come up with the right words. "It's easy to villainize someone until they do something honorable with you."
"Thanks... I think?"
"I was always jealous of you, Kimberly," Kat continued.
"Jealous?" Kim gasped. "Of me?"
"You had everything, at least I thought you did. Good friends, great boyfriend, power ranger, popular in school, pan-global gymnast. I wanted what you had. When you broke up with Tommy, I felt like I couldn't have him. He was too good for me, because he had you. And then when he broke up with me out of blue the same way you broke it off with him..."
"Wait... what?!" Kim stopped her. "What do you mean he broke it off the same way? Tommy just told me you both were engaged."
"Apparently I wasn't good enough for him. Not even good enough for an explanation. Just a letter."
"I... I can't believe it." Kim didn't know whether to leave the room and berate her ex-boyfriend, or to weep with her fellow ranger.
"I haven't been the same since," Katherine admitted. "Granted... I didn't know what Tommy was going through either. But for a long time, I've been wondering if everyone would leave me. Am I worthy of anyone? Everyone I knew moved away, Tommy didn't want to see me, and the whole dance community isn't exactly the most welcoming place in the world. All that I had left, it seemed, was Danny."
"Your older brother, right?" Kim asked. Kat nodded. "Let me guess... he faded away?" Tears threatened once more, but Kat fought more to stay composed.
"Soon after he faded, I got a call from Tommy. The first phone call in nearly ten years. And it's about a mission. And then I get here, and you're here too, and it feels like everything is back to the way it was all those years ago when I met you both. Young and in love, and me longing to be in your place, the one with everything."
"I didn't realize that was how you felt," Kim empathized. "I'm sorry that you felt that way, and if I made you feel that in any way." Kat nodded as she sniffled. "I guess, I'm just amazed that you thought I had everything."
"What do you mean?" Kat asked.
"Well, to be honest, I was always a little jealous of you, too" Kim confessed.
"You were jealous? Of me?"
"Katherine, you're tall and blonde, you were valedictorian of Angel Grove High, you're a high-level dancer, and an amazing pink ranger. Honestly, part of the reason I sent the letter was out of fear that I would get dumped first and he would move on to you."
"What?" Kat gasped.
"It was stupid, honestly," Kim confessed. "But you were with Tommy all the time. You worked together in school and as rangers. And I was in Florida. Alone. Without Tommy, wondering if I would get a phone call one day saying that he moved on to you. So I did the one thing that I thought would save me the most pain: I dumped him first."
"So you dumped him because you were intimidated of me?" Kat asked.
"Kat, I think you're great," she replied. "And Tommy... I know he trusts you with his life."
"And how would you know that?" Kat asked honestly.
"Because he called you here," Kim replied. It was at this point that she grasped Kat's hand to affirm her.
"Thanks Kim," Kat replied. "I'm sorry for how I've treated you."
"I forgive you, friend," Kim affirmed. "Now... I need to give our mutual ex-boyfriend a tongue lashing he is going to wish he never received." The statement brought a chuckle to the blonde.
"Go easy on him," Kat reminded her. "He was going through some hard things too." With that they hugged, and Kim wandered off to find Tommy. Kat yawned, and started to get up and leave, but not before she was stopped once more.
"See, that wasn't so bad," a voice said behind her.
"Oh Captain, my Captain," Kat joked as he turned around. "Making sure Kim and I were following orders?" He grinned at the accusation.
"No, but I am pleased to see all of our newest members getting along," Steve replied. "You doing ok?"
"I'll be better after I get some sleep," she yawned. "Good night Captain."
"It's Steve," he replied. "My friends call me Steve."
"Good night, Steve."
"Good night, Katherine."
To Be Continued...
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