Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter five of "Just Away." It features the first appearances of Rocky, Adam, and Aisha. Tommy will be reunited with Kim in the next one. Stay tuned for chapter six.
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Chapter 5: Walk in the Park/Informing
A gray squirrel wandered across the grass in Angel Grove Park. It approached the sidewalk and began pawing at the ground. It created a hole, pulling out a nut. It proceeded to feast on it. Footsteps caught its attention. It watched Rocky, Aisha, and Adam walk past it. She inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. She let out a contented sigh.
"It is such a beautiful morning," Aisha said warmly.
"It sure is," Rocky agreed and took hold of her hand. "It's not as beautiful as you are."
"Rocky, you are making me blush," Aisha said, her cheeks growing as red as a cherry.
"You look even more beautiful when you blush," Rocky teased and kissed her cheek.
"At least I don't blush as much as Adam does," Aisha said, gesturing toward the Black Ranger.
"Hey!" Adam blurted out in much annoyance.
"It's the truth, Adam," Rocky said while looking toward him. He let out a soft snort before clearing his throat. "Get used to it."
"Your pigging out all the time is the truth about you," Adam said with a smirk. "You might as well get used to that too."
Rocky stuck his tongue out at Adam, who mimicked him with his. They pulled them back into their mouths. Rocky gave Aisha's hand a gentle squeeze. He pressed his lips together. The redness faded from her face.
"I hope Kim wakes up soon. She's been unconscious all night," Rocky said in much uncertainty.
"Who knows what kind of damage she suffered?" Aisha muttered in fear. Her body began shaking a bit. "Even a slight hit on the head can result in a serious concussion."
"We don't know even know how long she will be out of action. Zedd and Rita could use that opportunity to strike us hard," Adam commented seriously while slipping his hands inside his pockets.
Aisha winced loudly. "I hate this uncertainty."
"Kim has always been more than she seems. She has managed to defeat multiple monsters on her own. She has even handed Goldar and Scorpina their asses several times," Adam pointed out.
"Tommy is the White Ranger, yet he has defeated only a few monsters on his own. He has defeated Goldar and Scorpina a few times by himself," Rocky murmured, squeezing his girlfriend's hand a little tighter. "I recall Tommy mentioning Jason defeated both of them on his own twice."
"That doesn't neglect the fact that Tommy is still a very powerful Power Ranger," Aisha commented and snorted softly. "He has been very beneficial to the team."
Adam ran his hand over his face. "It sucks that the Green Ranger powers were sucked dry. Zordon and Alpha did everything in their power to recharge them, but they failed. They even looked for a power source to restore them and got nowhere."
Rocky blew softly. "Fate can be such a bitch."
Adam and Aisha nodded in agreement. They knew some people saw themselves as victims of fate and believed they could not change it. They wondered if Zedd, Rita, and their minions were such people.
"What's so strange is Kat happened to be at the Youth Center when Kim fell," Aisha said in much curiosity.
"She might have been walking by and thought something bad was about to happen, so she checked it out," Adam suggested.
"You are likely right, Adam," Rocky commented and snorted in a quiet way. "Billy gets bad feelings himself sometimes. Remember the day Rito showed up? He felt something, but none of us did."
"Geniuses like him are more attuned to their surroundings," Aisha murmured. "They can sense things others can't."
"Unfortunately, Billy's feeling didn't prepare us for our first confrontation with Rito," Adam said in much sadness. "Our old zords were destroyed."
"Tommy made a poor decision to keep fighting. We got on his case soon after we acquired our Ninjazords. He regrets it every day. Jason made a similar decision when the Dinozords were recharging while Cyclopsis was on the loose. He took them out when they were only at half power. He was reprimanded just as badly," Rocky explained.
"Leaders make mistakes. Then they learn from them," Aisha answered and rubbed her nose. "Tommy and Jason vowed to never do what they did again."
Suddenly, the communicators began beeping loudly. Rocky sighed while his friend and girlfriend looked around. Adam and Aisha could see the coast was clear. Rocky let go of her hand and brought his communicator up to his face.
"This is Rocky," Rocky whispered and let out a shuddering breath. "What is going on?"
"Hey, it's Billy," Billy answered calmly. "Kim just woke up."
"Yes!" Aisha cheered and high-fived Rocky. He did the same with her before letting out a relieved sigh. "How is she?"
"There was no permanent damage. She should be back on her feet before we know it," Billy explained.
"That's great," Adam commented as he took his hands out of his pockets. "We've been pretty worried."
"Zedd and Rita are probably planning something right now," Aisha said in much uncertainty.
"Who knows what it could be?" Adam added.
"The uncertainty is wearing on us. Anyway, Tommy is the most relieved about Kim's condition. He's gone to see her," Billy pointed out matter-of-factly.
"All right," Rocky said in much happiness. He formed a big smile on his face. "We're on our way."
The trio began heading down a hill. They proceeded to talk about the time Goldar and Scorpina attacked them during a walk in the park.
00000
At the Lunar Palace, Rito was looking through the Repulsascope on the balcony. He made an adjustment to it before turning it west. Goldar stood on the second stair along with Scorpina. Zedd and Rita were near the throne. They sighed in frustration. Rito turned around and went down the stairs. He made his way toward the couple.
"The Power Brats are at their weakest point. We don't have a monster ready," Lord Zedd grumbled.
"Hey, sis," Rito greeted as he stopped before the couple.
Rita turned to her brother and screamed in fright. He jumped back and shook his head while babbling. He moved closer to her and cleared his throat. He took three deep breaths.
"Bad news," Rito said in a glum voice. "Kimberly pulled through."
"How do you know?" Rita asked curiously.
"Whoa! A little lighter on the garlic, sis," Rito said while waving his hand in front of his face.
Rita hissed irritatingly and gritted her teeth. "My breath doesn't stink as bad as yours does!"
Scorpina looked toward the group along with Goldar. "Rito's stench could put an entire planet to sleep!"
"You better watch your mouth, lady!" Rito retorted while turning to her. He pointed his sword at her with a snarl. "That pie hole will get you in trouble one of these days!"
"Oh, shut the fuck up!" Goldar yelled angrily.
Rito emitted a loud growl. "No, you shut up!"
Zedd glared at the trio. "That's enough, you three. I do not want to hear another word!"
Scorpina stuck her tongue out at Rito, who waved her off. She pulled it back into her mouth. Zedd and Rito returned their attention to each other. Rito breathed deeply.
"I just overhead a message from the Blue Ranger. The others are on the way back to see Kimberly now," Rito explained, making his hand in the shape of a phone.
"Ugh!" Rita growled as she made her way to the stairs.
Rito gave a shrug. "Hey! What did I do?"
Zedd mumbled inaudible words before following his wife. She headed up the stairs and approached the Repulsascope. She made two adjustments to it before letting out an annoyed groan.
"Damn it. Everything's falling apart!" Rita cried as she looked through the Repulsascope. She saw Rocky, Adam and Aisha heading down the hill. "We've got to stop them before they get back to her."
Rita gritted her teeth and curled her hands into fists as Rocky tickled Aisha's sides while growling playfully. Aisha pushed his hands away and smacked him on the shoulder twice.
"You better keep your hands to yourself or else!" Aisha warned as she shook a finger in Rocky's face.
"You will do what, tie my hands behind my back?" Rocky responded and wiggled his eyebrows.
Aisha giggled. "Something like that."
"I will just have to grab at you with my feet then," Rocky teased and kissed her cheek.
"You can as long as you get Adam first," Aisha commented.
Adam shook his head fast. "No way."
Rocky nodded in a rapid manner. "Yes way."
Rita hissed while watching Adam smack Rocky upside the head and get a slap to his shoulder from him in retaliation. She turned around, her fists tightening quite a bit.
"This is lousy timing!" Rita groaned in frustration. She clenched her teeth so tight that it seemed they were about to break. "There's never a good monster around when you need one!"
Rita let out another groan as Zedd turned to Rito, who titled his head somewhat. The skeleton looked very curious. He lowered his sword to tap the tip on the floor.
"I don't believe it!" Zedd snapped while walking toward his wife. "Rito, take a platoon of Tengas and get down there."
Rito turned around and walked to the Tengas. He made speaking motions with his hand. He waved it toward himself. Ten Tengas gathered around him. They teleported to Earth. Zedd touched the top of his head before balling his hand into a fist.
"You're usually worthless, but who knows? Maybe this time you might get lucky!" Zedd shouted as he went up the stairs. He went to Rita's side as she faced the Repulsascope once more. "I just don't want to stare at Rito for a long while."
"Fat chance of him succeeding in his mission, my lord," Scorpina hissed. "He has achieved very few victories since he got here."
"Look on the bright side, Scorpina. You do not have to deal with his stench for a while," Goldar pointed out matter-of-factly.
"That is true," Scorpina said, letting out a relieved sigh. "I am sure you are glad too, Goldar."
"You bet I am," Goldar said with much pride.
"I remember when Rito said he just took a shower last month. I wanted to puke," Scorpina admitted. She made a retching sound as she patted her chest. She snorted softly before yawning somewhat. "Kat had just stolen Kimberly's Power Coin at the time."
"There are times where I just want to zap that idiot," Goldar said, shaking his head in disbelief. He touched the top of it before emitting a loud groan. "He gives me a headache."
"Hey, that's my line!" Rita snapped as she glared at him.
"Not anymore," Goldar said, a smirk forming on his face. "Now, everyone can say it."
"Rito gives me a headache," Scorpina commented with a loud giggle. She knocked on her head. She did the same to his. "I wish I could see what is inside that head of yours, Goldar."
"I could say the same about your head, Scorpina," Goldar commented while ruffling her hair. "It is so pretty."
"Why, thank you," Scorpina responded in much sweetness. "Just don't hammer me into the floor."
"I won't," Goldar said with a chuckle. "I promise."
Scorpina smacked Goldar on the cheek. He waved his hand in front of her face. He raised it upward, jerking it downward. She gave him another smack to his cheek. He rushed two fingers forward, only for her to block him by putting her hand sideways in between her eyes. He pushed it downward. Zedd and Rita looked each other.
"Those two watch The Three Stooges too much," Zedd grumbled annoyingly.
"I agree," Rita said while rolling her eyes. "At the same time, it's not as annoying as hearing Squatt say 'D'oh' all the time."
He shook his head in disbelief. "Oh, I hate The Simpsons. Homer Simpson is an idiot. He didn't even notice he had his hand stuck in the toaster in 'Treehouse of Horror V' until Lisa said something."
She blew a raspberry. "At least Squatt and Baboo are smarter than he is. That's not saying much."
Zedd and Rita shifted their attention to Earth. They narrowed their eyes at it as Goldar and Scorpina made funny noises.
