The next day, at the Angel Grove Juice Bar, Kimberly Hart sipped a strawberry smoothie as she thought about her Olympic training. The juice bar, located along the boardwalk, was a hut-like stand with booth counters. Kimberly stopped drinking her smoothie when noticed someone sit next to her.
"Hey," Kimberly greeted.
The young woman, a blonde with a long ponytail who was wearing a black leotard and green shorts, turned towards Kimberly and said, "Oh, I didn't expect to see you here, Coach Kim!" To make ends meet, Kimberly taught Gymnastics at a local academy.
"How do you like school so far?"
"Well, this semester's a bit rough. After all Angel Grove University isn't a party school. But I'm not really concerned so much about school."
"What's up, Lisa?" Kimberly asked.
"I can't believe my parents are selling that boat," Lisa said.
"What boat?" Kimberly asked.
"Well, Dad and Mom own this thing called the 'Just Deserts.'"
"That's a sweet name," Kimberly commented.
"No, it's just bizarre," Lisa declared. "But I liked it when they took me on board last summer. It was the best trip of my life!"
"Where did you go?"
"We sailed up along the Pacific Coast, then past the Aleutian Islands, then to Russia, Japan, and Taiwan. It was the best trip of my life!" Lisa grinned as she recalled fishing from the side of the boat, napping inside the common area as the waves rocked the boat, watching cheesy 80s movies, sun tanning on the roof of the boat, and visiting the Ainu of Hokkaido.
"And why are they selling it?"
"Grandma and Grandpa are becoming senile."
"Well, that's understandable."
"Why don't they just put them in a nursing home?" Lisa growled.
The stressed Kim mentioned, "Well, maybe they want to take care of their parents themselves?"
"But they promised to take me on the boat when I graduated from college!" Lisa cried. Kim didn't say another word; on one hand, Lisa seemed very livid for an understandable reason. But Kim also wondered if maybe Lisa should more properly manage her anger; after all taking care of the parents is an important duty.
"Why don't they give the boat to you?" Kim asked. There was an idea.
"You know, I never really considered actually owning the boat. I don't know how to steer a ship!" Lisa realized. "And also I plan to get an MBA. How would I be able to manage the boat?"
"Well, why don't you take Coast Guard classes and see if your parents can sell it to you for a reduced price?" Kim asked.
She had never considered the idea that her parents would be possibly open to selling it to her for a reduced price. She never considered learning how to drive and maintain the boat. It would take a lot of work, but she decided she would try to get the boat. "Thank you, Coach Kim!" Lisa cried. She had this wonderful idea, and she hoped maybe she could convince her parents to let her own the boat.
At the marina dock Lisa Peregrine jogged towards the endless rows of ships. She followed one corridor towards the "Just Deserts." Usually at this time of the day, 11:00 AM, her parents would be maintaining and inspecting the ship. There she saw her father and mother with three men. What were they doing?
"Hey, Lisa!" Tim called.
"Dad, I want to talk to you about something," Lisa declared.
"Well, first, why don't you meet the prospective buyer here?" Tim asked. The man known as Roger offered his hand. He was wearing a striped blue and white polo shirt and grey khaki trousers.
As Lisa's and Roger's hands shook, Roger said, "I'm Roger."
"Hi! I'm Lisa Peregrine!" Lisa sensed something odd about the two men next to Roger. They didn't speak at all.
Roger said, "And they are Lyndon B. Johnson and Tarver Goodings," as he pointed to a tall, burly dark-skinned man wearing a Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts and a blue-haired man wearing sunglasses, a white shirt that read "Good Times," and red swimming trunks.
"Just like the President?" Lisa asked.
Johnson, the man in the Hawaiian shirt, clarified, "Yes, just like the President."
"So, what are you two guys doing with the buyer?" Lisa asked.
Jo answered, "Oh, Lyndon's Roger's financial manager and Tarver's the loan officer. They will help figure out the purchase as we do a little test drive!" Lisa's looked downward as she heard this.
"But I really want to ask you something," Lisa requested.
"What is it, Lisa?" Tim asked.
"Could I buy the boat?" Lisa asked.
"I know you are very disappointed about that trip, but I never realized you were willing to own the boat. If I had known maybe I would have arranged something," Tim said.
"Dad, now I really want to have the boat. I'll pay off as much as I can," Lisa pleaded.
"Well, I'll think about it," Tim said. "This isn't 100% final; maybe you and I could talk about it later."
"Alright," Lisa sighed.
Jo cried," We have to go, hon!" as she boarded the vessel.
"Goodbye!" Tim cried as he boarded with the three men. Lisa's face was blank as she watched the boat depart. Maybe after Mom and Dad give these men a tour, they could back out of the deal and let her buy the boat at a reduced rate. Something in her felt tight and uneasy. Something was wrong, but she couldn't put a finger on why it was wrong.
Following evening, the Power Rangers Reunion was hosted at the Angel Grove Civic Center. Well, the Power Rangers had secret identities, so it was being called the "Angel Grove High Reunion." But in reality few besides former Power Rangers attended. The brutalist concrete 1970s Civic Center had three levels. On the top sky level Jason, Tommy, Zack, and Kim drank soda pop as they stared into the lit Angel Grove skyline out of the window. Jason, Tommy, and Zack wore tuxedos while Kim wore a pink cocktail dress.
Kim asked, "Whatever happened to Trini?"
Tommy cried, "Oh, yeah, I wanted to wonder what happened." Zack's face froze and he did not utter a word. Jason was also silent.
Kim asked, "Did something happen to her?"
Zack cried, "She… she got killed in a car accident in New Jersey three years ago." Kim gasped and Jason began to cry. Tommy and Kim had stayed in touch, while Zack and Jason had reconnected days ago. Zack and Jason had seen Kim and Tommy for the first time in years.
Kim sobbed as she moaned, "I can't believe it.. She's dead." Already the supposed-to-be joyous evening was ruined. The former heroes looked at each other in silence.
The former Power Rangers descended to the second floor, where they saw the people who clearly were the current Power Rangers. They were Theodore Jay Jarvis Johnson, nicknamed "T.J.," was the Red Ranger. Carlos Vallerte was the Black Ranger. Ashley Hammond, sipping a box of juice, was the Yellow Ranger. Cassie Chan was the Pink Ranger. The rangers wore their uniforms, except for their helmets.
Zack asked, "So, uh, your name is T.K., right?"
Kim said, "No, it's T.R."
"T.J.," the Red Ranger corrected. The former Rangers felt awkward. It is as if they, seeing these strapping young men and women in combat uniforms, were reliving high school again. The former Power Rangers felt like they were children.
Kim asked, "So, do you guys have any missions so far?"
"Well, we have a report about some missing people," Carlos answered.
"Missing people?" Jason asked.
"Yes. The televisions stated that they are looking for a couple who owns a boat. I forget their names," Cassie explained. This gave Kim a shudder, as she had talked with one of her students about the boat situation. She had accidentally left her cell phone off, so she didn't hear about anything.
"So, where is the boat?" Tommy asked.
"The boat's at the dock," T.J. answered.
"So, where are the missing people?" Kim asked.
"Oh, we don't know. There was a guy who said he knows something about it," T.J. continued.
Ashley added, "Oh yeah, some guy named Roger." Zack and Jason remembered Roger; hmm, he had the same name. They didn't know that he was the same person.
Kim asked, "Who are the missing people?"
Cassie sighed, "I told you, I don't remember their names."
Ashley said, "But they were middle-aged people. And their boat is called the 'Just Deserts.'" Oh no. Kim's eyes widened and her face locked up.
Kim cried, "Those people are the parents of one of my students." The Power Rangers and former Power Rangers gathered around Kim. Then she yelled, "What does that Roger guy know about them?"
T.J. answered, "He says they went into Mexico, and they never came back." The Power Rangers and the former Power Rangers groaned at the idea of searching Mexico for this couple. What does Roger know? Where in Mexico? Is the couple all right? The current Power Rangers weren't too concerned about the combat aspect; if anyone tried to give them trouble they would Morph and beat up the bad guys no sweat. The former Power Rangers had not connected the little boy from around a decade ago to the disappearance of a middle-aged couple.
