Chapter 6.
Kim walks up her driveway. She hears a voice say "Kim, wait up." She turns to see Tommy running over from next door.
"What are you, like, stalking me now?" Kim says. "Waiting for me to get home?"
"No, I'm… well this time I was waiting for you, but I swear I wasn't waiting for you earlier." Tommy says.
"You were waiting for me?" Kim asks.
"Yeah, I wanted to apologize." Tommy says. "I was kind of a jerk earlier. I had no right to tell you to skip whatever you were doing tonight."
"Tommy, you don't have to apologize." Kim says.
"I know," Tommy says. "I want to. I don't want to be the same jerk I was before I came here. I thought with you, I was changing, but then I fell back into old habits before."
Kim shakes her head. "Tommy, you weren't a jerk." She says. "You had every right to be frustrated with me."
"But not every right to ask you to skip something that clearly was important to you." Tommy says.
"Well, I appreciate the apology, but really, it was not necessary." Kim says. "I felt horrible blowing you off earlier. I really wanted to hang out with you, but I just couldn't. I had something I had to do."
"You know something?" Tommy says. "I haven't always been the most responsible person. You, on the other hand, had a responsibility tonight. I still don't know what that responsibility was, but you chose what you had to do over what you wanted to do. I really respect that about you."
"Tommy, you can quit trying to flatter me." Kim says. "We're cool. I'm not upset with you."
"I'm still upset with myself." Tommy says. "I can't believe I acted like I did. I hardly know you, but I just wanted to hang out with you so much, that's all I could think about."
"Sometimes, when we want something too much, we lose sight of what is really important." Kim says. "My grandma taught me that when I was a little girl. Tommy, forget this ever happened. All right?"
"I'll try, but I don't know if I can." Tommy says.
"You can." Kim says. "Now I really should head inside. Can I get a ride to school tomorrow morning?"
"You got it." Tommy says. "And, once again, I'm sorry."
Colonel Freeman walks into the DETA Headquarters. He turns to an employee sitting at a computer. "I need to talk to Commander Harrison!" He shouts. The employee looks at him. "Now!" Freeman shouts again.
"Taking someone to him really isn't my job." The employee says. Freeman grabs the employee's shoulders. "But, I can make an exception this one time." He says. "Follow me." The employee gets up and walks down a hallway. He comes to a door and knocks on it. Harrison opens the door.
"What do you want?" Harrison asks. Freeman steps forward.
"Thank you, now beat it." Freeman says to the employee, who quickly leaves.
"Freeman?" Harrison asks. "What are you doing here? I thought you were in Angel Grove."
"I was." Freeman says, stepping into the office and shutting the door. "But the aliens were too much for our forces. That was until the Power Rangers showed up."
"Power Rangers?" Harrison asks. "What are 'the Power Rangers'?"
"That was my question." Freeman says. "I was hoping you knew."
"I've never heard of them?" Harrison says. "What were they?"
"They were some sort of warriors." Freeman says. "There were 5 of them, each wearing a costume that looks like a prehistoric creature. Each were brightly colored, as well. There a red one, a blue one, a black one, a yellow one, and a pink one."
"That's odd…" Harrison says.
"I'm not done." Freeman explains. "Their weapons were able to defeat the monster, despite our weapons having no impact at all. Then, after defeating the monster, it grew to a large size, and they called on giant robots they called 'zords'. They defeated it again, and then disappeared."
"So they got away?" Harrison says. "Go back to Angel Grove. If they show up again, capture them."
"Sir?" Freeman says.
"We don't know who they, friend or foe, but it seems a little too convenient that they just show up right when the aliens invaded."
"My men have been hurt." Freeman says. "They are in no condition to go up against monsters like that. Our weapons were useless against the monster, and you want us to try to capture the things that destroyed it? Yeah, that's going to go well."
Harrison just stares at him. "I don't care how you do it, but we need to bring these 'Power Rangers' in for questioning." He says. "Now take your men back to Angel Grove."
"With all due respect, I don't take my orders from you." Freeman says. "I'm not one of your lackeys that works for you here at D.E.T.A. I am a highly respected member of the United States military. I only agreed to go to Angel Grove the first time because we are friends."
Harrison sighs. "James, the world is under attack." Harrison says he says calmly. "I'm not ordering you to go back there. I'm asking you, as a friend. We have no idea who these 'Power Rangers' are. They could be friends, they could be an enemy, but until we know who they are, they serve as a threat to our national security. Anything with that kind of power needs to held accountable."
"I agree," Freeman says. "but what do you plan to do with them if I do bring them in."
"Simply question them." Harrison says. "Where their powers came from, why their weapons are effective against these monsters while ours are not. These are important things for us to know."
"Fine." Freeman says. "I'll go back, but I'm not taking any of my men. They are in no condition to fight the monsters."
"How do you plan on bringing five warriors back by yourself?" Harrison asks.
"Simple. I'm going to find out who the rangers are." Freeman responds. "We are no match for these aliens, and the rangers are. I'm just planning on letting them take care of any business against the aliens, while I watch. I'll follow them until they reveal their identities."
"All right, and good luck to you." Harrison responds.
Freeman walks towards the door. He turns and looks back at Harrison. "You know, you owe me big time after this."
"I know." Harrison says. "I know."
The next morning, Jason walks down the stars to see his parents at the kitchen table. His father is reading the newspaper while his mother is sipping on a cup of coffee.
"Morning." Jason says. He gets a glass out and pours a glass of orange juice.
"Morning." His mother says. "You were awfully quiet last night." Jason gets a nervous look on his face.
"Yeah, well, I was tired." Jason says. "Went straight to bed." He nervously sips on his orange juice.
"I know you think we were a bit hard on you, Jason," His father says, putting down the paper. "But we only did it because we care about you."
"I understand." Jason says. "It just was… bad timing that was all."
"Bad timing?" His mother asks.
"It's just that I made this commitment to help my friends." Jason says. "Being grounded kind of prevents me from doing that, and they're relying on me."
"About the grounding." His father says. "Your mother and I talked about it. You may have done a stupid thing in going hiking in the mountains after an earthquake, but you're a senior in high school. You're old enough to make your own decisions. Plus, we did tell you to always honor you commitments."
"Are you saying I'm not grounded?" Jason asks.
"Yes." His mother says "But at least call us and tell us what you are doing. We just want to make sure you're going to be safe." Jason finishes his orange juice and places the glass on the counter.
"Thank you so much." Jason says. He grabs his backpack, and heads for the door. "I'm probably going to go to the youth center after school again. OK?"
"That's fine." Jason's mother says. "See you when you get home."
Jason heads out the door with a smile on his face. Zack's car pulls up and Jason gets in the passenger side.
"You look happy." Zack says.
"I'm not grounded." Jason says.
"OK…" Zack says. "It's not like being grounded kept you in last night."
"That was an emergency." Jason says. "I've never snuck out before in my life."
"Sure." Zack says sarcastically.
"Plus, being able to teleport does make it a bit easier." Jason says laughing. Zack chuckles a bit also.
"I'm just messing with you man." Zack says. "It is good news that you're not grounded. We're going to need you if we're going to stop Rita."
"Don't I know it." Jason says.
Goldar walks into Finster's laboratory. "Finster!" He shouts.
Finster comes out from behind his monster making machine. "Oh, it's you Goldar. What do you need?"
"Tell me if Rita given you any monster instructions lately!" He demands.
"Why, no, she has not." Finster responds.
"She's taking too long." Goldar responds. "We all know she isn't the rightful leader of this palace. If she was a fit a leader, we would have won already."
"What are you saying, Goldar?" Finster says. "Rita was put in charge all those years ago. You work for her. Don't tell me you're thinking of betraying her."
"So long as she is in charge, my loyalties will remain with her." Goldar says. "That doesn't mean I can't take matters into my own hands every now and then."
"Why have you come here?" Finster asks.
"I need putties." Goldar says. "I am going to take care of the rangers."
"Rita has a plan." Finster says. "If you just give her enough time…"
"We've given her plenty of time! "Goldar shouts. "Her plan is to sit around and wait, something the warrior in me can not allow! I am going to Earth, now make me some putties."
"Right away, Goldar." Finster says. He begins to mold the clay, and putting it into the shape of putties. "What should I tell Rita if she discovers you are away?"
"See to it she doesn't find out." Goldar snarls. "When will the putties me ready?"
"Be patient, you big ape." Finster says. Goldar growls at him. "I mean… Goldar. I can only move so fast. The putties will be ready soon."
"They had better be." Goldar responds.
The bell sounds at Angel Grove High School and the students all rush out of the classrooms. The put their books away in their locker and head out the door. The school day has ended and the students can't wait to get out. Kim is putting some books away in her locker. Tommy walks up to her.
"Hey there, beautiful." He says.
"Tommy, stop." Kim says, embarrassed. "You're embarrassing me." Tommy laughs. "So, how was the second day of school?" Kim asks Tommy.
"It was fine." Tommy says. "But like I said yesterday, it's still school." Kim laughs. She shuts her locker.
"Listen, Tommy, I think the gang is all headed to the youth center again after school." Kim says. "Maybe you'd like to join us again. Give us the guys a second chance."
"Thanks, but I think I'm going to pass." Tommy says. "I promised my uncle I'd be home right after school today, plus, I don't really get the feeling your friends like me that much."
"That's because they don't know you." Kim says. "Trust me, when they see the you that I saw last night, they'll like you."
"Maybe." Tommy says. "But today just isn't a good day, for me anyway."
"OK, some other time then." Kim says. Tommy starts to walk away. "Tommy, wait." Tommy turns around.
"What is it, Kim?" Tommy asks.
"Well, maybe sometime when you are free, you can give me a call." Kim says. "That way you can get ahold of me without waiting for me outside your house like a creepy stalker."
Tommy laughs, nervously. "Creepy stalker?" He says.
"You know what I mean." Kim says. She pulls out a pen and piece of paper and writes down her number. She hands it to him. "So, here's my number. Call me, maybe?"
Tommy shoots her a look. "Only if you promise never to quote that song, ever again." Tommy says. They both laugh.
"Deal." Kim says.
"Later." Tommy says. He walks away. Kim watches him leave with a big smile on his face.
"Somebody's got a crush on him." Trini says walking up behind Kim.
"No I don't." Kim says. "You have a crush on him."
"Kim, I know you." Trini says. "You're crushing hard."
"I know." Kim says. "I really want to hang out with him, but it's not really a good time with all this…ranger stuff." Kim says, whispering the words "ranger stuff".
"Yet you gave him your number anyway." Trini says.
"Should I not have done that?" Kim asks.
"All I know is you shouldn't make any promises you can't keep." Trini says. "You already made one promise, and it's a pretty damn big one. I know you like Tommy, and I don't want to see you hurt him by promising him something more when you're not going to be able to keep it."
Kim sighs. "You're right."
"When am I not right?" Trini says, jokingly. The girls walk towards the door together. Just then, their communicators go off. They look at each, then look for a quiet place to answer the call. They see a girls bathroom and rush in there and check the stalls. There is no one in them so they answer.
"Trini here." Trini says.
"Trini, Goldar and a group of putties is attacking citizens in the park." Zordon says. "You and the other rangers must go immediately."
"Right away Zordon." Trini says.
"Let's find the guys and get to the park." Kim says. Trini nods. They go to rush out the door, but bump into their teacher, Ms. Applebee.
"Why, hello girls." Ms. Applebee says.
"Hello Ms. Applebee." Kim says.
"We'd love to stay and chat, but we really have to go." Trini says.
"Hm…" Ms. Applebee says. "Well, alright, but it's strange. I could have sworn I heard a deep man's voice coming from in here, just a second ago."
Kim and Trini look nervously at each other.
"That was, um…" Kim says.
"Just me." Trini says. She drops her voice to a lower tone. "Just practicing my manly voice. I'm auditioning for a play where the part I want is a girl who has to pretend she's a man."
"Oh." Ms. Applebee says. "I love plays. What play is that?"
"It's…" Trini says.
"The Sound of Music!" Kim shouts. Trini glares at her.
"The Sound of Music?" Ms. Applebee asks. "I don't remember any crossdressing girls in that show." She says.
"It's a modern retelling, based very loosely on The Sound of Music." Trini says.
"Oh." Ms. Applebee says. "Well good luck Trini."
"Thanks." Trini says. "Bye." They rush out the door. Trini glares at Kim again.
"What?" Kim asks.
"The Sound of Music?" Trini asks. "Really?"
"It was the only play I could think of." Kim says.
"Let's just find the guys and go stop Goldar." Trini says.
"Right." Kim says. They rush off.
Goldar stand in the middle of the park laughing while the putties attack the civilians. "Foolish humans!" Goldar shouts laughing. "You're world stands now chance. Why not surrender now."
The rangers, in morphed form, come charging out from a nearby building. "Stop right there, Goldar." Jason says.
"We're taking you down." Billy says.
"Ah!" Goldar says. "Power Rangers. I've been expecting you. Putties get them!"
The group of putties charge at the rangers. Each of the rangers pulls out their weapons and starts to battle the putties. Jason tries to charge at Goldar, but is grabbed and thrown back by the putties.
"I can't get to the gold freak!" He shouts. "Zack, go take on Goldar. We got this!"
Zack nods and rushes towards Goldar. He swings his axe at Goldar, but Goldar pulls out his sword and blocks the attack.
"So I get to fight the black one today." Goldar says.
"Don't worry." Zack says. "I'm not going to make this easy on you." He again swings his axe, and Goldar blocks it with his sword. The two weapons clash and are stuck against each other. Zack pulls out the laser pistol from the side of his suit and shoots Goldar, knocking the monster back.
"When did you get a gun?" Goldar shouts as he makes his way back to his feet.
"Had it all along." Zack says. "Just waiting for the right chance to use it."
Meanwhile the other rangers are taking care of the putties. Kim jumps up on top of a nearby hill and simply shoots arrows, one after the other, hitting the putties. Jason, Billy, and Trini are all engaging in close combat with the putties, but defeating them with ease. After a few moments, the sky turns pitch black.
"What's going on?" Jason shouts.
"I'm not sure." Billy says.
A screeching voice cuts though the darkness. "Goldar!" The voice says.
"Yes, Empress Rita." Goldar says.
"What are you doing!" Rita's voice screams. "Return to the palace, now!"
"Yes, my queen." Goldar says. He snarls at the rangers. "This isn't over!" He pulls his sword across his chest. As he does this, he and the putties disappear. Then the sky returns to blue.
The rangers run to the center of the park and form a circle. They look around and don't see anyone. They nod, and then demorph.
"That was weird." Jason says.
"Why would Rita just call back Goldar like that?" Zack asks.
"She must have a bigger plan in the works." Billy explains. "Maybe we should ask Zordon about it." He suggests.
"No." Jason says. "I doubt Zordon would know Rita's plan. Besides, if he, don't you think he'd tell us."
"Maybe." Billy says.
"I don't know about you guys, but after that, I could really go for a milkshake." Trini says. "Let's go to the youth center."
"You guys go." Billy says. "I'll catch up."
"What?" Kim asks. "Why?"
"I'm going to look around here a bit." Billy says. "See if I can figure out why Goldar attacked the park. I'll just see if there is anything he might have wanted here."
"Billy, it seems pretty obvious that Goldar just wanted to draw us out." Jason says.
"He wants us dead." Zack says.
"Why not attack the school?" Billy asks. "The attack of the Minotaur monster made sense. There were troops downtown that Rita would want to eliminate. What is here in the park that made Goldar choose to attack here? You guys are probably right. It' probably nothing, but it'll just take me a few minutes to check around here. No harm in making sure that there's nothing he wanted here."
"I guess that's true." Trini says. "You want some help?"
"Nah." Billy says. "You guys go have some fun at the youth center. I'll be there shortly."
"Alright." Jason says. "See you when you get there." The four rangers walk off towards the youth center. Billy starts to look around the park. He looks at a couple of trees near where Goldar was standing.
"Something just not right about this attack." Billy says to himself, he reaches for his communicator. "Zordon?"
"Yes Billy." Zordon responds.
"Do we know of any reason Goldar was called back or what he wanted in the park?" Billy asks.
"I'm not sure, Billy." Zordon responds. "Rita and her minions often do things that puzzle me."
Billy sighs. "Thanks anyway, Zordon." Billy responds. He looks around the park for a few more seconds. "Something about this just doesn't add up." He says outloud to himself. "Why here?" Billy continues to look around where Goldar was. "Well, it looks like if there was anything he wanted, he got it." He is just about to give up and head to the Youth Center when he feels a gun up against the back of his head.
"Don't move." A deep voice says.
Billy puts his hand above his head. "Please don't shoot." Billy says. "What do you want from me?" he asks.
The deep voice responds, "I know who you are... Blue Ranger."
END CHAPTER 6
Sorry for the long wait on this chapter. Chapter 7 will probably be a little while as well. I'm a college student currently taking a summer course. I'm writing a paper for it, and that has taken up a lot of my writing time. Once that class is over with next week, I should have more time to (hopefully) get a chapter of this out once a week. While I know exactly what I'm doing with the overall arc in this story, it's ironing out the details that takes some time.
Also, some of you may have noticed a made a minor reference to another Power Rangers villain in this chapter. That villain will not have a major role in this story, but I do have a planned sequel. I'm not even close to done with this story, though, so that won't be for a while, but when that time comes, you will see that villain have a major role in the story. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review. Thanks.