Upon landing at the Command Center, Kim quickly stepped away from Tommy. She was torn between showing him as much affection as possible to prove to him that she wanted this relationship as much as she always had and giving him space so that he could tell what he truly wanted. She had never had reason to doubt him before, but, as he said, he'd had a day without her, thinking that she didn't love him, to let his thoughts run wild about that life and what it would be like.
Kat and Billy both looked up as the flash of red light illuminated the Command Center more than the array of lights and alarms usually did, thus they both saw the hasty departure from the comfortable embrace the two had been sharing.
"Zordon!" Kim rushed up to her former mentor and the man she had once claimed was like a father to her and to her friends. "I've missed seeing that comforting face!" The beaming smile mixed with a few tears for the peppy former pink Ranger. She truly was happy to be back here, but this wasn't the Center she had spent years in. She knew this, of course. Tommy had told her everything, but it still felt foreign. A robotic creature came rustling forward, "Alpha!" Kim rushed to the smaller, shiny figure and leaned down to give him a hug.
Alpha cried out a similar greeting followed by his trademark, "ay-yi-yi-yi-yi!" The reunion, though Alpha had no face to properly display his emotions, was so happy that even Tanya, who didn't really know Kim, had to smile at the interaction.
Still wearing a smile from seeing Kim so happy, Tommy stepped up in front of Zordon's glass confinement. "So, what do you have? Do you know anything?"
The floating head, that could be disconcerting to those who weren't yet used to him, responded in his booming voice, "No, Tommy. We have not. We need the letter that you carry with you in order for Alpha to run any tests about the identity of the true sender. Although, I must remind you, it is possible that this was a cruel joke played by someone is not your mortal enemy as Rangers."
Billy stepped forward, "We figured it was best to let the two of you talk until you decided to show up here on your own. We didn't know what we would be interrupting." He held out his hand, "Now if you wouldn't mind giving me the letter, please, I can run some tests for fingerprints, or any other tell-tale signs that this has been handled by someone other than you two and Adam."
Digging in his back pocket where he had hastily stashed the letter, Tommy handed it over. He was slightly embarrassed at the amount of wear on it after only 24 hours and how that showed that he had read it many, many times, but Billy was polite enough not to mention anything.
The group of teenagers, robotic assistant, and mentor stood and bounced around theories while the machines did their work until finally, a familiar alarm began to blare just as a computer chimed that the tests had yielded something of note.
All turned to the viewing device in the corner except for Billy, who went to check on his results. A monster, clearly of the Machine Empire's creation had begun to terrorize unsuspecting citizens in the park. Its hideous visage sent families fleeing. You would think that most citizens of Angel Grove would be used to the idea that if they were going for a picnic in the park, they might have to evacuate.
Zordon's voice rang out clear for everyone in the room to hear, "Behold! Their newest creation meant to bring you and Angel Grove to its knees. This monster holds the power to freeze anything it touches with its hands. As you fight it, you must be careful that you avoid the blue glow on his fingertips or you too may succumb to his power."
Billy interrupted just before any of his companions could call out that it was morphin' time! so that he could share his news. "My findings show that before Kimberly's fingerprints from this afternoon, she had never touched this letter, however, there was a polymer found on certain spots of it that would indicate some type of machine/living being hybrid was touching the paper. I think that clinches it. Someone was trying to target you, Tommy. They wanted to throw off your focus by breaking up you and Kimberly so that you wouldn't be able to fight as well."
Rocky looked almost as angry as Tommy and Kimberly at this news. "They've got another thing coming if they think they can get away with this! It's Morphin' Time!"
Kim stood back with Billy while she watched the new movements required to morph with these Zeo Powers. She hadn't had much opportunity to see them yet. She barely bit back a laugh in relief that she had only to do one simple movement to morph with both sets of her powers, however she hoped that calling for Zords still called for similar theatrics.
The five left in their signature streaks of color and Kim shielded her eyes. Had she really never noticed how bright and annoying these lights were? Looking to Billy, who also wasn't an active ranger anymore, she asked, "how do you do it? How do you sit here and watch without going crazy?"
Adjusting his glasses, Billy closed the distance between the two and offered his arms for a hug. She took it and heard his reply, "I trust in our friends and I trust that the power will protect them." She smirked at the old lesson she had learned so long ago and then turned to watch the fighting unfold.
She saw the morphed rangers land and take up defensive positions around the creature. Its taunting voice rang out, "What took you so long rangers? Is someone's heart a little cold after receiving a certain letter? Did you feel like time just froze as you read it? HAHAHA!"
Hauling herself up on some empty counter space, Kim had to remind herself that the comebacks and taunts of monsters had always been dumb, but had they been this dumb? If the rangers hadn't already figured out there was something fishy with the letter, wouldn't these jabs have made it pretty clear to all of them?
It was stressful. How did Zordon and Alpha, or even Billy stand here and watch all of this and stay sane? Each dodge, each kick landed, each near-miss with the monster's fingertips made Kim's own breath freeze within her.
Then the unthinkable happened: Rocky was right in the monster's path and Tommy came out of nowhere to push the blue ranger from harm's path, meaning that he was struck with the full force. He began to stagger and stumble, his movements becoming slower and slower.
Kim whirled around to look at Zordon, "You have to send me there! I can't just watch as he freezes. Please, please, teleport me there."
A comforting hand was placed on her shoulder. "Kimberly, you wouldn't do any good. The other rangers will figure it out, they always do. If you were there, you would just be in more danger and you Tommy wouldn't want that. You don't have your powers anymore to protect you. Tommy will be fine once they defeat this Monster and get back here."
Panicked and terrified, Kim looked between the two of them. "I don't care. Please, Zordon, please, send me there, I can get him out of the way and to safety. I'll stay out of the action and just make sure he stays safe. I can't just watch!" She pulled at her hair and paced. Why couldn't they see that she needed to be there? A small part of her was admonishing this freak-out. She had been a ranger before him. He had to leave when his power coin was given to Jason. He knew this side of it and always trusted her to get herself out of harmful situations. He trusted in the team and in the power.
Annoyingly calm, Zordon's voice broke through. "Kimberly, I know all too well the stress of the situation. But you know as well as I that Tommy is an extremely accomplished ranger and his team will see to his safety. Billy is correct. The power is protecting him. He will merely move extremely slowly until the monster is defeated. If you were to fall into the clutches of the monster, it would freeze your heart and bloodstream as you have no powers."
Swiveling her view back to the viewing globe, she continued to watch the scene unfold. The rest of the rangers had just called for the Zeo power cannon. They would need Tommy's Zeo V power, right? They were preparing to power up the cannon, none of them noticed that the monster was advancing on Tommy's sluggish form.
Suddenly, Kim felt the once-familiar tug of teleportation. She was in the park, next to Tommy. Tommy!" She reached for his hands and began to drag him farther away.
"How did you get here? What are you doing? It's too dangerous!" Of course her safety was his biggest concern, never mind that he could have been captured and taken back to be used as a hostage.
Before Kim had time to respond, Kat called to her, "Kim, we need Tommy's charge! Toss it here!"
Looking back to Tommy, who was struggling to move his arm in the direction of his belt, she followed the trajectory of the movement and found the small canister attached to it and threw with everything she had in her. With a blinding flash, the Monster let out a final scream. Kim curled her body around Tommy's to shield his eyes and head from the blast since he would be unable to move out of the way. When she felt his arms tighten around her, she looked up. Zordon was right, he was fine as soon as the Monster was destroyed.
The rest of the rangers hurried over to them. Adam offered a hand to help each of them to their feet, "You guys all right? Kim, how did you teleport here in a streak of pink?" The other rangers offered similar questions.
Looking among all of the morphed rangers, Kim was unable to see their eyes to read their expressions, but she knew that hers was confused, "I came in pink? I figured Zordon must have given in to my begging and sent me here. But then I would have come in a neutral light, not pink."
Holding out a hand to her, Tommy suggested that they all head back to the Command Center and figure it out. Unsure of how she had teleported to the park in the first place, Kim took his hand and allowed him to teleport her along with himself.
Landing safely back in the main viewing area, the entire group, including Billy and Alpha turned to Zordon hoping for an explanation.
"Welcome back, Rangers, and congratulations on eradicating another evil that was going to be unleased upon Angel Grove and the earth beyond that."
Tanya was the one to step up and give voice to the question they all wanted to know. Kat was hanging at the back of the group, looking uneasy once she had removed her helmet. "Zordon, why was Kimberly able to teleport to the park on her own? And if it was pink, what does that mean for Kat's powers?" The implication was not lost on anyone in the room. Tanya had only ever known Kat as the pink ranger and would like to keep things as they are.
The last thing Kimberly wanted was to sow discord amongst the team and was quick to jump in. "I gave my powers up willingly to Kat. I still have things I have to do outside of Angel Grove. I can't have my powers back, and even if I could, I wouldn't take that away from Katherine."
Beaming at the sense of honor Kimberly was displaying, Zordon addressed them, "Admirable sentiments, Kimberly. But they are unnecessary. Katherine is still Pink Zeo Ranger I. Kimberly never possessed those powers and so could not have taken them without Katherine willingly giving them up, similar to what Kimberly did when she transferred her Ninjetti Powers. However, it has long been my theory that those of you who received your Ninjetti Powers on Phaedos are the only ones who could rightfully posses them. Kimberly was given the Crane's powers because of her agility and grace- characteristics specific to her soul. She transferred the powers to Katherine, but it remained forever a part of her. When Katherine accepted the Zeo powers, some vestiges of the Ninjetti powers reverted back to Kimberly. It is my belief now that the Crane and its powers felt such a strong calling to the Falcon and responded.
The rangers' reactions to this news ranged from placated to elated, particularly as Kim and Tommy drew comfort from this news. Tommy asked if the two could take their leave of the group as everyone else was debriefed from the mission. Kim wrapped her arms around his shoulders and he teleported them back to the lake.
Tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, Kim wasn't sure where to start their conversation. He had asked that she think about their relationship. That she be sure it's what she really wants. They had just received supernatural confirmation that he soul was calling out to his enough to bring forth long-dormant powers to literally transport her across time and space for him. Turning to look at him, she drank in his appearance. He had been well-muscled in early high school when he first transferred, but the years of ranger training had developed his body into quite the sight. His eyes were in gazing at her full of love.
"Kim, I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I was trying to protect myself from feeling like that again. If we worked through that letter issue and then you ended up breaking up with me a few weeks, or even months later- I'm not sure what I would do. I don't ever want to feel like that again. But in the park back there, when you appeared in front of me, my first thought was that I didn't want you in danger, but that was stupid, even without powers you can protect yourself. My next thought was how much I love you and how I felt that you were there to save me, without a second thought for yourself. We've always been like that. We're so in sync and so ready to anything for each other. Even if we for some reason end up not working out, however much time I get with you is worth it to me." He reached for her hands and intertwined their fingers.
For her part, Kimberly was beaming. She stepped closer to push their bodies flush against each other and craned her head back to be able to look up into his eyes. "Tommy, truthfully, I did think about it. I thought about how you've been my rock during this whole training experience. I thought about how ever time I wanted to give up and come running back here, you were my inspiration to keep going. I thought about how badly I don't want to lose you in my life. I, panic-stricken, thought about how I couldn't lose you to a monster and your ranger duties. Yeah, it's been hard to be away from you, but I wouldn't trade it for a single life at all. I love you so much, Tommy Oliver."
He leaned down to kiss her and then pulled her close. "I can't believe that 24 hours ago, I thought that you didn't love me. I'm so, so happy that you were coming out here to see me so that we could get this cleared up, Beautiful."
Smiling against him, Kim tightened her grip. "I never want you to feel that way again, Tommy. I'm going to compete in this competition, but then I'm coming back here. We'll figure out where we go from high school together." Pulling back, she fixed him with a smile and added on a chuckle, "For a couple of kids how have saved the world multiple times over, we should be able to figure out college, right?"
Laughing lightly as well, Tommy turned the two of them toward the setting sun and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Sounds like a plan to me, Kim. We'll figure this out and we'll figure this all out together."