Tommy stood in the medical center located in the heart of the ancient castle. He rubbed his chin in thought as he looked at Quaren Dal'ak floating unconsciously in a bacta tank.
The bacta tank is a large, cylindrical tank filled with a cloudy, blue liquid that glows softly. Tubes and wires connect to Quaren Dal'ak's body, providing oxygen and nutrients while healing his injuries. The tank is equipped with various monitors and controls, indicating its advanced medical technology. Inside, Quaren's peaceful form floats in the liquid, his wounds slowly closing and his breathing steady. His black armor was gone, replaced by loose-fitting medical robes. Force Dampening attachments had been added to the exterior of the tank to ensure the reptilian alien from lashing out with The Force if he regained consciousness.
"If I hadn't felt it for myself, I wouldn't have believed it," Tommy thought as he reflected on his duel with Quaren mere hours earlier. Tommy had impaled the alien through the back and out of his chest with his lightsaber. Yet, he clung to life drawing on The Dark Side of The Force. "Keeping you alive is a risk, but, if you can be turned back from The Dark Side, you could be a valuable ally. If not, you could still provide valuable insight and intel on The Empire." His thoughts were interrupted as he suddenly sensed another presence in the room just before the sound of crackling energy that always accompanied the teleportation process filled the air. "Kat," he said without turning to face her as she materialized in a streak of pink light.
A look of amazement came to Kat Hillard's face. "H-How did?" was all she could manage to say in her amazement at being identified by her boyfriend without him even turning to face her.
"I'm not entirely sure, but I believe the close connection between The Power and The Force allows me to sense each of you like I can other Force Sensitives."
"I suppose that makes sense, the blonde Australian said as she moved to stand by his side. "Are you sure, keeping him alive much less trying to heal him is a good idea?" she asked looking at Quaren through the tank's transperisteel.
"I don't know, but for some reason, I feel like he can be turned back to the light." Kat gave a nod of understanding.
"In a way, I suppose he's not all that much different that we were. You used by Rita, me by Zedd, and him by Sidious."
"Yeah, what brings you here anyway?" he asked turning to her. She smiled at him as she brushed a few stray strands of her long blonde hair from her face.
"I thought you might have forgotten," she said with an amused smile. "It's New Year's Eve. The party at Ernie's starts in a few hours."
"Right, I guess we better go and get ready. Has Rachel decided to go with us?"
"Yeah, although I think she might feel a bit like a third wheel."
"I'm sure she'll find plenty of willing dance patterns at Ernie's," he said with a slight shrug. "I'll borrow my mom or dad's car and pick you up at eight."
"See you then," he said before the two teleported away.
Tommy materialized in his bedroom and glanced at his alarm clock. It was 5:00. He walked over to his closet and began riffling through it. he selected a dark green button-down shirt, a black tie, black pants, a black leather belt, and black dress shoes. He hung them on the knob of the top drawer of his dresser in preparation for when he would need them.
"Oh good you're home," Monica said as she stuck her head into her son's room.
"Yeah, just got home. Has anyone been by?" he asked somewhat nervously. This was the first time any of the rangers or their parents had been to their homes after Sidious had revealed their identities to the entire world.
"No, surprisingly," Monica replied. "Dinner's ready, come and eat."
It wasn't until then that Tommy realized how hungry he was. "Right behind you, Mom," Tommy said with a smile.
"Hey, Tommy, just in time," Jack said as he set a large plate of freshly grilled burgers on the counter.
"Looks like you and Dad outdid yourselves, Uncle Jack."
"That's why I'm the grill master," James said as he entered the kitchen clacking a set of tongs together for effect.
"Yeah, may I remind you of The Great Grill Melting of '89?" Monica asked as she began getting the ketchup, mustard, pickles, onions, and cheese from the fridge making the three men erupt in laughter.
Tommy picked up his burger and took a bite. He looked at his parents and his uncle, it was moments like these that he loved the most. Moments of normalcy, because he knew sooner or later they would end and he and his friends would be called on to defend their world again.
"So, Tommy," Jack began between bites of burger. "Any thoughts on what you want to major in when you to Angel Grove University in the fall?"
"I was thinking history or maybe paleontology."
"Nice, your friends are going there too right?" Monica asked.
"Yeah, that's right. Billy is going for their aerospace engineering program, and Kat is for the nursing program, she said she's thinking of minoring in dance. Zack's going for the performing arts, Jason for physical education, and Trini for political science."
"Well, whatever you kids do with your lives. I'm sure you'll be great. I mean come on you already are," James said with a prideful smile.
"Thanks, Dad," Tommy said with a smile of his own.
By the time they had finished eating and everything was put away, it was nearly 7:00. Tommy took a quick shower before putting on the clothes he had set aside. When he came back downstairs Monica, James, and Jack smiled at him. "Have a good time, Tommy, and just be responsible," James said handing him the keys to his car.
"I will, Dad, and thanks for letting me borrow your car. Three people in the cab of my truck would have been uncomfortable."
After a short drive, Tommy arrived at Kat's he was more than a few minutes early but, he knew he would have a chance to spend some time with Kat's family. Her parents had quickly accepted him, and the reality of their daughter not only dating him but being a ranger.
He stepped onto the front porch and knocked on the door. Seconds later, Heather Hillard pulled the door open and greeted him with a warm smile.
"Tommy, you look handsome tonight," she said as she motioned the young man into the house.
"Thanks, Misses Hilard," Tommy said with a smile.
"Hey Tommy," William said walking into the room. "Looking good kiddo," he added as they shook hands.
"Thanks, Mister Hillard."
"Tommy, if anything, seeing you go off to another dimension for days with Kat and your friends has let me know I can trust you. I've seen you look out for her and the others while you were fighting battles so, I trust you to be responsible tonight and when you get her back home, you get her back home."
"Uh.. Thanks, Mister Hillard," he said not sure of what else to say.
"Well, you're both eighteen now, you've lived more life in the last few months to a year than most people have in their entire lifetimes. You two are capable of making decisions on your own."
Tommy blushed slightly at the praise he had been given. With everything that had happened he, and he doubted the others, had even thought of any of what William had said. To them morphing and protecting their world had become as normal as going to school or hanging out at Ernie's.
"Wow, and I half expected you to still read him the riot act," Kat said from the hallway that would lead to her room. She had her hair in a messy, yet elegant updo, with her cheeks slightly blushed. She wore a knee-length black dress with a pink floral design and silver shoes with broad three-inch heels. Rachel stood next to her, her long brown hair in a ponytail. She had opted for a dark red dress with a black sash and black shoes similar to Kat's
"So did, I, but, I'll trust William on this one and trust that the two of you will be responsible and of course look out for Rachel, remember we're new here," Kathy said.
"Of course Aunt Kathy," Kat said with a nod.
"Well, ladies, are you ready?" Tommy asked as they walked over and he offered his arm to Kat. She smiled and snaked her arm around his.
"Absolutely," she said with a smile.
"Are you two sure I won't be a third wheel?" Rachel asked.
"Of course not," Tommy said.
"We'll reintroduce you to the others, some of our friends that aren't rangers, and Ernie. You'll love him, he's the kindest sweetest man there is," Kat said reassuring her cousin. "I'm sure you'll have new friends in no time."
"Alright, I do have to meet new people here, after all."
"Yep, sure do," both Tommy and Kat said remembering what it was like to be the new kid in Angel Grove.
It was a short drive from Kat's to The Youth Center. Tommy pulled his dad's car into a parking spot next to Jason's car. The other rangers and their dates were standing near the front door to the juice bar. Tommy easily picked up on the nervousness of Emily, Richie, Marge, and Angela.
"Hey, why so nervous," he asked the four.
"Well…" Richie began unsure of what to say.
"It's just…" Emily added.
"You guys um…" Angela stammered.
"Saved my life, all of our lives and here we are with you like it's a normal thing," Marge said, speaking quickly even for her.
"Yeah, I get it," Tommy said smiling at them.
"We all do," Jason added placing a reassuring hand on Emily's shoulder.
"Besides, we're making our first public appearance without our suits on since Sidious told the world who we are," Tommy said fighting back a nervous chuckle. "My stomach feels like it's on a roller coaster," he added drawing laughs from the non-rangers in the group.
"Everyone, this is my cousin Rachel, she just moved here," Kat said introducing her cousin once the laughter died down. "Rachel, you remember Zack, Billy, Trini, and Jason, and this is Emily, Angela, Marge, and Richie, she said introducing her to the new faces in the group.
Good to meet you all," she said with a nod.
"Come on, let's head in," Jason said as he opened the door for the group. They all entered the building and rounded the corner into The Youth Center's main room. When they did all the activity and noise stopped as those who had arrived at the party early stopped and stared at them. Ernie rounded the bar and stood at the top of the small set of stairs that led from the main activity area to the bar and smiled warmly at them. Slowly and loudly he began to clap his hands.
The room erupted with thunderous applause, cheers, and whistles as the other guests at Ernie's party joined in. Ernie's smile grew wider as he motioned to the table just down from the elevated bar area whenever it was available.
Tommy was the first to move followed closely by Kat. As they made their way through the crowd several of their fellow students at Angel Grove High, shook their hands, and offered high fives as they passed. Other students grabbed empty chairs and added them to the rangers' table so that they and their dates could sit.
"I always knew you guys were something special," Ernie said as they all sat down. "Somebody hit the music, we got a new year to ring in!" he added loudly as he looked at the crowd in his juice bar.
As the music started up, Tommy offered his hand to Kat. She took it, and they both stood. He led her to the dance floor, followed by the rest of the rangers and their dates. Rachel hung back at the table for a moment before a young man with short black hair walked over to the table. He wore a black button-down shirt, with a purple tie and black pants.
"Excuse me, but I don't think I've seen you here before," he said sticking out his hand. "I'm Adam Park, a friend of Tommy and Kat's from school."
"Hi, I'm Rachel Hilard," she said taking Adam's hand and shaking it. "I'll be starting school in a couple of days."
"Cool, my friends Rocky and Aisha are already out on the floor, their friends of Tommy and the others too," he said gesturing to a man with short brown hair in a red shirt and black pants and a young African-American woman in a yellow dress. They were dancing near the rangers and their dates and when they saw them looking, quickly began to wave them over. "Care to dance?"
"I'd love to," Rachel said taking Adam's hand and walking out onto the dance floor with him.
Ernie stood behind the bar waiting for the inevitable rush of drink and food orders. He smiled as he looked out at the crowd and found the rangers and their friends.
"Those young men and women have the weight of the world on their shoulders and yet they can come in here and just be kids. Some of the most community activism-minded, kindest, and most caring kids I've ever known. We sure are lucky to have them," he thought to himself. Slow melodic notes began to play and Ernie watched as the rangers and their friends quickly partied off and began to slowly dance to the music.