Chapter Six
At Angel Grove Park, Kimberly waited patiently for Tommy to show. He was at least 5 minutes late. She figured he had gotten lost. He probably forgot were the entrance nearest to the lake was. She knew he had a bad memory, but she found it an endearing trait while he found his forgetfulness annoying.
"Hey Kim," Tommy said from behind the Pink Ranger.
Kimberly started and turned around to face her friend. Her hand over her heart as it pounded within her ribcage.
"Oh, hi, Tommy," she said with relief and a smile.
"I'm sorry I scared you," the Green Ranger apologized.
"No, it's okay," Kim assured.
There was short, awkward pause between them. They were both nervous. Tommy wanted to ask to Kim out and Kim wanted know why Tommy wanted them meet.
"Wanna go for a walk," the boy asked.
"Sure," Kimberly answered.
They began to walk towards the lake.
"So, what did you want to talk to me about," Kimberly asked. "You sounded so serious over the phone."
Tommy nervously wrung his hands. He knew he hand to tell Kimberly his reasons for the sudden call. He just couldn't find enough courage to do so.
"Yeah, um…" he began. "Well, I want to know if…"
"Yes," Kim said hoping he would continue.
She had a feeling the Green Ranger was going to ask her to the dance. All of her early fears began to wash away by the look on the boy's face. He looked as if he was about to have an anxiety attack.
"If, maybe, you like to, uh," Tommy tried again.
Kimberly was now positive Tommy wanted to ask her to the dance. Boys only acted like the way he was acting when they wanted to ask a girl out.
"Like to what, Tommy," she asked.
"Kim, I just don't know how to ask you this," Tommy explained.
They stopped walking and faced each other. They were standing in front of the ponds in the large park.
"Come on Tommy, we're friends," Kimberly encouraged with a light punch to his shoulder. "You can ask me anything."
Tommy was afraid that friends were the only way she thought they were. He hoped she didn't. He hoped she thought of him as more.
"Really," he asked nervously.
"Yes," Kim said.
Tommy sighed heavily. Why was this so hard? He was pretty confident when it came to everything else. Why couldn't he simply ask the girl he liked out to a stupid school dance?
"Alright, here goes," he mumbled himself.
He decided he needed to do this.
"Um… Kim I was wondering if, maybe, you would like to go to the…" The Green began to ask but a team of Putty Patrollers fell from the sky interrupting his question.
As the fight with the Putties began, Kimberly and Tommy separated. Sometime during the battle, Kim lost her morpher. The putties had the device in their possession. She didn't realize that this was a distraction for her and Tommy to make their mission easier.
Tommy was held so he couldn't reach his own morpher at the small of his back. He couldn't help the Pink Ranger and before he knew if, he was wrestled to the ground by two putties. He struggled trying to break free. He saw Kimberly was also being held and he wanted break free so he could help her.
Then, to both of the Rangers' surprise, Goldar appeared before him. The putties holding Kimberly drop her and went join their companion in detaining Tommy. Goldar stared directly at the Pink Ranger.
"Say good bye to Green Ranger forever," the golden clad, man-sized, flying monkey sneered wickedly at the girl.
Kimberly could do nothing but watch as Goldar, the Putties and Tommy vanish before her eyes, leaving her and her morpher alone in the park. She began to cry. She felt like a powerless little girl. She might as well had been.
The Pink Ranger glanced down at her hand. She had her morpher now. The putties were obviously only trying to make sure she was unable to stop the Green Ranger.
She lifted her left wrist and brought to her mouth. She pressed a button on her silver and pink communicator.
"Guys," Kimberly said in the device.
"We read Kim," Jason answered, but she knew the others were listening. "Why are you crying?"
"Tommy's been taken by Goldar," she informed.
"Teleport to the Command Center," her red leader instructed. "We'll see what Zordon has to say about it."
"Right," Kimberly said before breaking the connection.
She stood up and pressed the other button on communicator and teleported to the Command Center in a pink beam of light.