Back to the beginning
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or people in this story apart from the original ones I have created. This work is not profit.
Chapter 20 – MMPR part 1.
Knock knock knock
"Hey guys. Come on, you know you don't have to knock." Zack said as he opened the great mahogany door to his and Trini's home.
"Thank you, Zack, though it is good etiquette to observe." Billy replied as he followed Jason and Kimberly into the house.
Before Zack could reply, Trini ran over to Billy and gave him a big hug, before separating and also embracing her other friends.
"Hey Trini. Nice to see you too." Kimberly giggled, appreciating being so close to her best friend again.
Trini and Zack had invited their friends over for dinner. With everything that had happened and was still happening in their lives, they certainly deserved a break. Evil was rearing its ugly head once again. Billy had broke off his engagement with Marge, Kimberly was pregnant, their lives were really taking off right now. Trini and Zack took it upon themselves to help lift their best friend's spirits with a fun evening to get their minds off everything that was going on.
"Well, take a seat guys." Zack said, ushering his friends into the spacious living room.
Jason and Kimberly eyed the sofa that only a few months ago, Jason was sleeping on during their little reunion. They both ended up sitting there with Billy joining them, again, just like last time.
"You know Trini, you should have called me to give you a hand." Kimberly said, reacting to the amazing aromas coming from the kitchen.
"No way Kimberly." Trini replied, sitting down on the sofa opposite them. "The next few months, you will need to rest and take it easy." The yellow ranger turned to Jason. "And I expect you, mister, to take good care of her. Remember, she needs spoiling and given lots of love."
Jason blushed a little as he answered. "Cmon Trini. What do you take me for? You know I'm going to look after her."
Kimberly placed her hand on top of Jason's. "He's doing a great job so far. Though to be honest guys, I feel absolutely fine. It's still the early stages yet."
"Well, take a day off and sit back. We're going to have a nice chilled out evening tonight."
And Trini wasn't wrong.
The rangers utilised the multitap for Zack's PlayStation 2 and played a few games, in a call back to their younger days when they would finish school, go to each others houses and spend some of the evenings when they wanted to be lazy, video gaming together.
They might be a little older now, but they seamlessly slipped back into their old ways. Trini would take intervals to go to the kitchen and check on the food, denying Kimberlys frequent requests to help her.
But to Kimberly's pleasant surprise, Trini finally called out to her to give her a hand.
Kimberly immediately got up, left the lads to the game and nearly jogged over to the kitchen to see Trini sat down at the island/breakfast bar in the middle of the kitchen.
"Hey, what can I help you with?" Kimberly asked.
"Just close the door and come sit here." Trini replied, tapping the seat next to her.
Kimberly, a little surprised, closed the door behind her and sat right next to her best friend.
"You didn't call me in to help you, did you?" She asked.
Trini shook her head and gave Kim a cheeky smirk. "Nope. Just a quick girly catch up." She leaned into Kimberly. "So then. How is it going? How are you feeling?"
Kimberly smiled at her friend. "You know, apart from the occasional bouts of morning sickness, I'm fine. I get a few cramps now and again but yeah. I feel fine." She added after reading Trini's expression of disbelief.
"And how is Jason taking it all?"
Kimberly bit her lip and smiled, her cheeks turning rosy pink and her pupils dancing in her eyes. "You know, I couldn't imagine having someone more perfect to be having a baby with." Kimebrly said, her smile widening even further.
Trini smiled back, her eyes indicating for Kimberly to go on.
"He's just so, so supportive Trini. He fusses over everything. He fluffs up my pillows, massages my legs and feet every night, makes me tea and coffee and the occasional meal too." Kimebrlys smile was threatening to stretch right off of her face. "You and me both know, he's always been the quiet, shy type, right? Well, he is, but my god, he's so cute. Like, everything you could ask for from a guy, he has it. I'm so proud and happy that it's Jason with whom I'll be spending my life with." Kimberly finished, gazing at Trini, her eyes looking dreamy, not focused on her friend at all.
Trini let out a little giggle and held Kimberly's hand.
"You have no idea how freakin happy I am to hear all of this Kimmy. I mean, this is all you've ever wanted isn't it. Just someone to love you completely. And he was right there, all this time. Right in front of us."
Kimberly nodded her head. "Yeah, exactly. Do you believe in destiny, Trini?"
"I do. How could I not believe in it after seeing how you two found each other after all this time?"
The two friends embraced and went back to join the guys in the living room. Their need of a girly catch up, fulfilled.
The sun had started to set outside, blanketing the houses with a luminous deep orange glow. The rangers, tapping away on their PS2 controllers didn't even realise it but nearly an hour had gone by and Trini had called them all into the kitchen for their fabulous dinner.
Trini had prepared a classic vietnamese chicken noodle soup called Pho, for the appetiser, along with some freshly made sushi.
She had gone for a Mexican inspired main. There were bowls of spicy chicken and beef, surrounded by corn tortillas, large and small for everyone to help themselves and put together whatever they felt like. Side dishes of pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, salsa verde and many other accompaniments were placed around the table.
"Wow Trini. This looks fantastic." Kimberly stated, looking around at the dining table sat next to the large glass doors that led to the back yard, groaning under the weight of all the food. You shouldn't have gone out of your way."
"I didn't. It was nothing." Trini said, her cheeks flushing. "Come, sit down."
And sit down they did. For at least an hour. The rangers sat right there at the back of Trini and Zack's kitchen, enjoying the fabulous spread Trini had prepared. They slipped back into their old ways, as if master vile had reversed time once again. Joking, laughing and all five of them seemingly forgetting their troubles.
The lives of these five young adults were turned upside down in their teens when they became power rangers. They were exposed to so many things that seemed impossible. Travelling into space, learning that aliens and monsters were real and there were plenty of them out there in space, time travel was possible, there were in fact, multiverses and different dimensions. But throughout everything, there was one magic that outshone everything else. The connection that these five people shared was extraordinary. Unlike anything that they had encountered before. It was a testimant to this friendship that even though each of these five people went their separate ways a few years ago, they were here now, in Trini and Zack's kitchen, behaving like they never separated at all.
When they all helped clean up after a delicious meal, Trini brought out the desserts. Throughout all the talking and laughing, they didn't realise just how full they were. But even then, they couldn't resist the magnificent orange and lemon chiffon cake that Trini had made. She took full advantage of the fact that california had the best citrus fruits in America and made a dessert that was a little tart and temptingly sweet, paired with an airy, pillowy soft cake. They just couldn't help themselves.
Once the dessert was polished off, the group of friends made their way back to the living room. Still talking away, remembering fond memories.
"You guys destroyed me that day!" Zack said, leaning back into a couch and clutching his head with his arms. "You went the whole day, pretending that you didn't know it was my birthday. I went out for a little walk and what happened to make my day even worse? I bumped into that nasty Knight!"
"True, it must have been horrible." Billy replied.
"Yeah, but after we kicked his butt, and we walked you down to the juice bar. I'm sure we more than made it up to you. Right?" Jason said with a laugh.
Zack couldn't help but smile. "You sure did guys. It meant the world to me. Even though Billy's cake machine thing, went completely berserk."
"I must apologise for my cake-o-matic malfunctioning." Billy replied.
"It's okay Billy. It was fun to watch. Besides, you all made sure I had my cake when we went out for dessert afterwards."
"Of course. We couldn't just leave the birthday boy hanging without his cake." Trini said to her husband, leaning onto his shoulder.
"And don't forget, me and Trini baked you a morphinominal birthday cake the day after." Kimberly chimed in.
"You sure did."
The rangers stayed that way for a while, sat on the couches, enjoying each other's company and recounting past memories until Jason mentioned that they ought to think about heading back home.
"You know guys, it's still pretty early you know." Zack pointed out, not wanting the evening to end.
Billy immediately checked his wristwatch. "You're correct Zack."
Jason checked his own watch and saw that it was a few minutes shy of 9pm. He and Kim didn't have work the next day, neither did the rest of the group. "Yeah, it's earlier than I thought it would be." Jason said with a smile. He had started fairly early at the dojo that day, but was also throughly enjoying the evening.
"You know what we haven't done in ages?" Trini asked, looking around at her friends, stopping momentarily a little longer at Kimberly.
"We haven't gone for a movie!" Kimberly replied with a grin.
"You read my mind Kim." Trini gave her friend a wide smile. "What do you think guys?"
The rest of the group looked at each other with smiles etched on their faces and Jason spoke first. "When WAS the last time all five of us went to the movies?"
"If my memory serves me correctly, it was the day that Zedd captured Kimberly to turn her into his queen." Billy said.
Kimberly gasped and frowned upon these words. "Oh please, do not remind me of that day!" She said with a wave of her hand and a disgusted look on her face.
"That was like 1994, right?" Jason asked.
"Yeah. Wow, nearly a decade ago." Kimberly replied.
"Well then, we definitely need to sort that out, don't we?" Said Zack.
"So then, who's up for a movie?" Trini asked.
The answer was unanimous. Since Angel Grove had so many movie theatres, the rangers knew that they would easily be able to find a place to go and enjoy a movie.
Everyone got into Jason and Kim's Lexus since Jason offered to take them, Trini forcing Kimberly to take the front seat.
"Everyone buckled up and ready?" Jason called out.
Jason turned his key as soon as he got thumbs up from the occupants of the car. But as he checked his rear-view mirror, he saw a flash of light escape the trunk accompanied by a loud bang. Jason didn't have time to do anything. The last thing he and the rest of the rangers remembered, was the loud bang. And then, darkness.
It took quite a while for Jason to finally stir and slowly begin to open his eyes. He was extremely confused, to the point that, for a few seconds, he didn't even know who he was.
It took another few moments for him to gain his senses and begin to register what his now open eyes were seeing. I'm alive? Were his first thoughts. As he began to take in the surroundings that he was in, he had another thought. Kim, the gang.
He peered over to his right with trepidation, still blinking out the confusion and to his delight, he saw Kimberly, looking beautiful as she laid there with her eyes closed, seemingly in the middle of a peaceful sleep.
His heartbeat quickened. He used all the strength he could muster and quickly took her hand into his and slid his forefinger on to her wrist, breathing a sigh of relief as he felt a pulse.
He turned around, still clutching Kimberly's hand, and saw that Trini, Zack and Billy were also still there in the back.
There was no smoke, no apparent injury to anyone, and as he tried to look out of the window, he was faced with pure, darkness. Nothing but pitch black, darkness. Confused once again, Jason inched closer to his fiancé.
"Kim." He whispered "Baby, wake up." He gently rocked her as though she was an infant in a moses basket. Repeatedly checking her eyes and re checking her pulse. Making sure she was alive.
After what felt like hours, but in reality, was mere seconds, Kimberly began to stir a little. Jason, feeling elated, relieved, as he saw Kimberly's eyes flutter, turned around to the rest of the group and attempted to wake them up, saying their names out loudly and reaching back to shake them by their knees.
"Kim, baby, are you okay?" Jason shuffled to his right once he saw his friends stir and quickly, yet ever so gently, placed Kimberly's chin into his palm.
Kimberly opened her eyes with what appeared to be huge effort and looked into the caring, worried face front of her. "Yeah, I think so." She whispered, her mind starting to remember what had just occurred with the car before she went out.
"Huh, what happened?" Zack was the first one from the back seat to come around to his senses. He was awake and stroking his wife's hair as she also began to come around.
"I'm not sure. Did you remember that bang?" Jason replied.
"Yes, it was most unsettling." Billy said, rubbing his eyes.
"But the car is fine. Nothing seems to-"Jason was confused as he looked around at the interior of his and Kimberly's car. They hadn't had it long, Mr. Hart had only gifted it to them a few weeks ago, but he was sure it looked different. "Be outa place." He finished his sentence, even more confused.
"Jase!" Kimberly looked into her boyfriend's eyes with shock. "This isn't our car!"
"That is correct Kimberly. Because this isn't the automobile we entered earlier." Billy said, looking around at the car with a look of confusion and then harrowing realisation on his face. "This is the Radbug!"
"The Radbug?" repeated Kimberly, her face twisted with confusion.
"Why would we be in the Radbug?" Trini asked.
Billy frowned and shook his head with a shrug of hic shoulders.
"Do you think it's safe to get out? Kimberly asked nobody in particular. "I can't see anything from out of the windows."
"I'll tell you what." Jason said, holding Kimberly's hand. "You guys stay put. I'll get out and see what we're dealing with."
Kimberly shook her head rapidly and let go of his hand. "Why do you always have to bear the brunt of everything? Put yourself in danger all the time."
"Because that's my job Kimberly." Jason rebutted.
"Your job? Since when?" She asked, rather louder than she intended.
"Since 1993. The day Zor-"
"Zordon isn't here anymore Jason. Yes, it's awful." She frowned a little, remembering their old mentor. "But he isn't and you don't have to shoulder all the responsibility anymore! Right guys?" she barked at the three in the back seat, who nodded their heads in haste. "We'll all get out at the same time."
"Look, I hear what you're saying babe, but there's no point endangering all of us." Jason said, looking around the car and then out of the window once again. "We're in the radbug. This obviously isn't normal and is probably a trap. It makes sense if only one of us goes first."
"You know what Jase. I agree with Kim."
Jason turned around at the source of the voice and found the face of his best friend, Zack. "It's always been you that puts himself first to protect us all. And it's not right."
"We need to make some modifications to that little rule." Billy added.
"The problem is, this is a two-door car." Trini said, looking around with lamentation. "So, you and Kim will have to get out first, but move the seats forward and we'll climb out right after you, stand right by your side and deal with this together?" The yellow ranger suggested.
Kimberly looked back at her friends, immensely proud and happy for their support. She saw, from the corner of her eyes, that Jason's mouth opened in protest. She leaned towards him and placed her hand on top of his.
Jason recognising defeat, relented and nodded his head. He knew there was no point further arguing his opinion. It was four against one. He conceded defeat so he smiled at his friends and nodded at Kimberly to show he agreed with the plan and to put it into action.
Jason and Kimberly opened the car doors and looked out at the floor. Thankfully, there was a floor. Jason slowly, cautiously stuck out a foot and placed it upon solid ground, as did Kimberly on the other side.
Jason looked back at Kimberly from the roof of the car and they both pulled out together and exited the vehicle, the rest of the team clambering out after them.
"And CUT!"
I know I haven't posted a new chapter in a long time. Life has been rather hectic. But this is just the first part of a number of chapters I've been working on. It's not action packed but trust me, there's a whole lot more. Ibwon't let the next chapter wait much longer. It'll be up soon, maybe even within a few days….. Thankyou for sticking by me.
RedDragon.