A/n: Here's another chapter for you all. Thank you for following, and favoriting. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Power Rangers, just writing for fun.
Chapter 4: Hood Ornament
Kate was ecstatic that Tommy had called her the next day for another date to catch up. It was just going to be dinner as friends, nothing more, nothing less, and she was fine with it, save for the butterflies that she felt in her stomach as she drove up to his cabin. Why was she so nervous? They were old colleagues and friends. Sure she hadn't liked being on that island, but now? What was going on with her? She was about to ring the doorbell when it opened up. Tommy opened the door and she instantly smiled. She smoothed down her skirt and inhaled sharply.
"Hello," she said.
"Hi, come on in. Soups on," he said.
She inhaled the smells of his home. "Mhm, pasta?" she asked.
"Spaghetti."
Kate laughed. "Good choice."
"Here, I'll take your coat," he said and offered to take her coat away from her. She handed it to him and he put it on the coat rack beside the door.
"I thought we could eat outside, since it's nice out," he said, showering her way to the patio. He had it all set up. The pasta dish, the salad dish, and even had dinner rolls.
"Thank you. It looks really scrumptious," she said as he led her to a chair.
"Hang on one second, I thought I heard something," he said and walked away for a bit.
When he didn't return, she grew curious. She got up and walked back inside to try and find him, hoping it was by the kitchen. She frowned when she saw some lights glowing down below. She walked over and saw the secret passage down below. "Tommy?" she asked, noticing the T-Rex made out of bones on the table as she walked down the stairs.
"Ethan. Conner. What are you two doing here?" Kate asked. Then she saw Tommy. "Tommy?"
"What are you doing here Miss McKinney?" Ethan asked.
"Uh, we're on a…I'm here as a friend, a catch up dinner sort of thing," Tommy replied.
"Right, exactly," Kate nodded. She sighed with relief. "What's going on?"
"Okay we can explain why we're here," Ethan said.
"Dude, they're just going to laugh when we tell them," Conner said.
"It's the truth, they'll believe us," Ethan said.
"All right, Kira's gone," Conner said.
Kate and Tommy both raised their eyebrows at the alarming news.
"What? How?" Kate asked.
"Uh, taken by these weird looking dinosaur things," Ethan replied.
Tommy looked down and Kate looked up.
'They don't look convinced," Conner said.
"They're called Taranadrons," Tommy said.
"And you know that because…" Ethan began.
"I helped create them," Tommy said.
Kate pressed her lips to the side. "I was his research partner."
"Oh, class project?" Ethan asked.
"For now we've got to figure out what they want with Kira," Tommy said.
"It might have something to do with these," Conner pulled out a red gemstone from his pocket.
Tommy looked at it and Kate looked at it in wonder.
He held the yellow gemstone in his hand.
"We're really sorry. How were we supposed to know these things had like super powers and those lizard dudes were going to come looking for her?" Conner asked.
"I guess this isn't exactly something you see every day," Tommy said. .
"So with like a science teacher with the ruins of ancient civilization under his house?" Ethan asked. "And that doesn't freak you out?" he turned to Kate.
Kate chuckled. "Oh, it's fine. Really. I've been through worse dates in my time."
"Like not this isn't real cool, or anything, but seriously dude, you gotta come clean," Conner said.
"First of all, don't call me dude," Tommy said. "And second, as hard as this may seem, you two need to forget all about this. I'll find Kira."
"I'll help you," Kate offered. Tommy gave her a look. Conner suddenly zoomed in fast blocking Tommy.
"The gem's power is already starting to bond with you," Tommy observed. "You can tell us all about it now, or at our next parent teacher conference."
Tommy looked back at Kate. "Rain check?"
"Rain check," she nodded.
~PR~
They put the food away and got into Tommy's jeep, and drove onto the high way. Kate sat in the passenger seat while the two students sat behind them.
"When you said you created those Tyranowhatevers, you were just kidding right?" Ethan asked.
Kate wished that were so.
"They weren't supposed to be used like this," Tommy explained. "Someone's modified their programing. A few years back Kate and I were doing research on combining dinosaur DNA and technology. Our partner, a scientist Anton Mercer…"
"The rich guy who disappeared years ago," Ethan said.
"Yep. Shortly after Mercer disappeared, our lab was attacked, and all of our research was destroyed. Or at least I thought it was."
"And the guy who did this is back?" Conner asked.
"He calls himself Mesagog," Tommy replied and stopped at a red stop.
"And you think he's after the gems?" Conner asked.
"Looks like it," Tommy said.
"Great," Kate leaned back in her seat.
"This is all totally fascinating, but how is it helping us find Kira? I mean she's not just going to fall out of the sky and land right in front of us," Ethan said looking back at Conner.
Suddenly Kira fell from the sky and landed on top of the jeep. They glanced at each other and unbuckled their seatbelts to help her off the jeep.
"How did you do that?" Ethan asked.
"No idea," Kira said. "One minute I'm being chased by frankinlizard in his creepy lab and the next thing I know, I'm a hood ornament!"
"Invisaportal," Tommy and Kate said in sync. They glanced at each other and Kate bit back a grin.
"Whatever, next time, I'm calling a cab," Kira said. "What are you guys doing here?"
"We came to rescue you," Ethan said.
"Nice job, way to show up when I don't need you anymore," Kira said.
Then all of a sudden a bunch of taranadrons fell onto the road.
"You sure about that?" Conner asked.
They turned to face them. Tommy got in front of Kate protectively.
"Mesagog find a new goon to do his dirty work?" Tommy asked.
"You are not fit to speak my master's name. Come with me peacefully or suffer the consequences," he said.
"I'm gunna have to say, no," Tommy said.
Then they charged after them. "Run!" Tommy said pushing Kate away.
"I can fight you know!" Kate yelled back at him. She ran back towards the jeep as one started to go for her. Two went for Tommy and the rest went for Kira, Ethan, and Conner.
She round house kicked hers back to the ground.
"Looks like Mesagog made a few new improvements," Tommy said.
Then two more came after Kate. Tommy kicked both of them out of the way.
Once they all fought the goons away they got together in a circle. "Make sure you tell your master that Dr. Oliver's back."
"I will inform him. This battle is over, but the war has only just begun."
"That's the best he could do?" Ethan asked.
"Seriously?" Kate asked.
"Let's get out of here. It's getting late. I don't want your parents to worry," Tommy said.
"I bet you don't," Conner said. "You might have to explain something."
"I'll fill you in tomorrow after school. I promise," Tommy said.