Interlude- A Different Shade of Black
Kim didn't let go of Tommy, even as he continued to hover over his bed.
"Tommy!" She screamed as loud as she could, hoping it would awaken her friend from his slumber.
"What do we do?" Kira whispered to Trent.
"I don't know, Kira." He replied helplessly. "Maybe we should take him to the hospital… even if it means risking them finding out that he is a ranger."
"Whatever we need to do, we need to hurry." Kira said, when suddenly, her eyes widened. "Wait! I completely forgot! We do have other people we can ask for help! The Ninja Storm rangers!"
"That's a good idea!" He smiled. "Cam or his dad would know what is going on with Doctor O."
Kira nodded, taking out her phone, and going through the contact list. Tori Hanson, the Blue Wind ranger had given her number to her during their brief meeting a few months ago, and they had talked a few times since.
Just as she was about to call her, a burst of golden light appeared in front of them, and before she could react, something slammed against her hard, knocking her out.
"What the…" Trent took a step back, his hand on his morpher, but before he could activate it, the golden blur collided against him, tossing him to the floor hard, and rendering him unconscious as well.
"Guys!" Kim looked away from Tommy on hearing the noise to see the two rangers lying on the ground, and her muscles stiffened.
"What is going on?" She called out, as she looked around the room warily.
"Kimmy, Kimmy, Kimmy… Still holding on to your precious Tommy." A feminine voice mocked, as a shape emerged from the shadows. A beautiful woman in golden armour.
Though it had been years since she had last seen her, it hardly took her a second to identify the intruder.
"Scorpina!" She gasped.
"Glad to see you remembered me, Pink ranger… Oh wait, you aren't a ranger anymore, are you?" The villainess laughed condescendingly. "You are just a scared little human, powerless to save herself or her friends."
Kim clenched her teeth at the truth of her words. She was powerless, but she had to do something. Tommy was counting on her.
No matter what happened to her, she wouldn't let Scorpina lay a finger on him.
"Why are you here?" She demanded, hoping to buy time, while praying either Trent and Kira regain consciousness, or Conner and Ethan come back, before Scorpina attacked them.
"Well, my orders are to capture you and your hubby…" Scorpina mused, tapping her chin. "But after all the trouble you whelps caused me…"
She flashed an unhinged smile before raising her sword, only to pause as another wave of coloured light was expelled from Tommy's form, and passed over them.
"Huh, Lokar really did a number on him, didn't he?" She shrugged. "Well, not sure if it's worth getting on his bad side, just to get back at you Kimmy. Good news, you two will get to live. Bad news, you would have been better dying at my hands than whatever that demon has planned for you."
"Don't come any closer." Kim warned, her voice shaking.
"Or what, you will huff and puff, and blow the house down?" Scorpina raised an eyebrow.
"Face it, Pinky, you are at my mercy." She smirked, lunging at her.
Time seemed to slow down.
Just then, Kim felt a tingle running up her arm… the same arm with which she was holding on to Tommy.
From the corner of her eyes, she saw a sparkle of black light from the gem in his bracelet, and tendrils of golden energy extending from it, traversing his wrist, and from it, her arm, before wrapping around her body.
She did not know how it happened, but she felt the power reinvigorate her once more.
She did not hear the screech of the pterodactyl or the cries of the crane. Nor did she feel the flames of the firebird.
This sensation was different.
Old memories flashed before her eyes.
Memories of the many times Tommy had taken off his jacket and put it around her shoulders while returning from their dates on chilly evenings.
The times she had borrowed his leather jackets and flannel shirts, just because they felt nice, and Tommy hadn't asked for them back a single time.
During all their time together, there hadn't been a single moment when she hadn't felt safe and loved.
The same feeling of warmth and comfort flooded her body.
Kimberly smirked.
Scorpina's eyes widened, seconds before the light exploded, forcing her to stop in her tracks and shield her eyes.
Once it subsided, in place of the petite gymnastics coach, stood the fully morphed Black Dino Thunder Ranger, ready for battle.