So, I know the last chapter was heavy, but it had to happen. The drama is far from over, but consider this chapter and the next to be an attempt to lighten things up. There's not much in the way of a trigger warning. Some minor language is the extent of it and it's brief.
Other that that, I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and eat lots of food! For those of you people crazy enough to shop on Black Friday: Be careful and remember that a crock pot is not worth losing your life over.
I'm not going to be posting another chapter till after Thanksgiving, so I'll see you all when the dust settles.
Anyway, I'll let you guys get to it! Read on and I'll see you at the bottom!
The Manor
"So, what happened, exactly?" Andros asked as Ashley ran a scanner over Katsume's neck. The Asian teen sat topless on a kitchen stool as the older woman fussed over him.
Trent leaned against the counter with his arms crossed over his chest. He was still feeling angry over what had happened though he was doing his best to hide it.
Conner and Ethan exchanged looks as they waited for Ashley to complete her examination. Trent was destined for a workout at the dojo whether he wanted to or not. That look on his face was evidence of angry stress; getting an intense workout would help him relax and clear his mind.
"I got a detention." Katsume answered in a resigned voice. "I was just eating lunch with Elisa, this really pretty girl and that jerk started butting in and smack talking her. I stood up to him and got in trouble after shoving him into the lunch table after he tried to punch me."
"And that led to you getting choked?" Andros asked softly.
Katsume shook his head. "No, that was just a coincidence. I was concerned that our homeroom teacher was being hurt at home. That's why I didn't fight the detention when I found out that she was in charge of it. Ranook gave me his pendant camera and I used it to see if I could get evidence. Nobody is going to believe the word of a Street Rat."
Trent frowned deeper at his use of the derogatory term.
Ashley frowned at him but said nothing as she read the results of the scan.
"Well, everything looks fine. You've got bruising, but that's to be expected given what happened."
Katsume nodded. "Can I go now? I don't want to talk about this anymore."
"Yeah." Ashley answered as she put the scanner back in the case. "I'm all done here."
"Thanks." Before Trent could stop him, Katsume walked out of the double doors and towards the camper where his friends were.
Conner looked at his brother. "Trent, come with us. We're going to the dojo."
Trent huffed. "You really think that kicking my ass is going to make all this go away?"
Conner nodded, "You bet it will. I've been there, done that, and bought the T-shirt. Getting all the anger out will help you think better. Don't make me call Dr. O."
Andros raised an eyebrow.
"I heard my name." Tommy said as he walked into the room.
Trent whipped his head around. "Dr. O! Didn't expect to see you so early into the school year."
"This takes priority." Tommy said as he walked towards his teammate. "I know you're a capable man, but this is a case of a teacher bullying a student. You're way out of your element in that department. We all risked our lives to clean up Angel Grove from the TSA, I'll be damned if we let an idiot teacher screw all that up by being an asshat. Besides, that kid has been through enough already."
"Tommy, it's good to see you again." Andros said as he was pulled in for a manly hug. "I wish it wasn't under these kinds of circumstances…again."
Tommy sighed in resignation. "I'd honestly be shocked if we met here for pleasant circumstances. If there's one thing that I've learned from wearing the armor is that evil never takes a break, not even dick head teachers."
"Dr. O. I don't understand; what could possibly be done to stop him?"
Tommy looked at his former student. "We'll tackle that later. For now, let's go to the dojo."
Andros smirked. "You mind if I joined in? It's been a while since I was in a battle royale."
"Yep, the more the merrier. Let's go."
The Trailer
Katsume had expected to just slip into his bunk in the travel trailer and rest, but those plans went up in smoke when he saw his friends and the newcomers sitting around the newly bought fire pit. It had been a gift from Conner and Kira-their version of a housewarming present.
Currently they were sitting around it in plastic patio chairs roasting marshmallows and making s'mores. Katsume sat down on the only chair left.
"Hey, dude, you good?" Kyle asked softly.
"Yeah, I'm bruised, but alive…and hungry."
"The other burger we got you was cold and gross, so I made you a fresh one along with fresh cut fries. They're both in the oven being kept warm. You know where the condiments are."
"Awesome!" was all Katsume said as he walked up into the trailer and closed the screen door.
"So, what was today's lesson about?" Leif asked as talk resumed.
"Movies, but they seemed kind of cheesy." Ryder answered. "Nothing like the holofilms Dad showed us."
Kyle looked up at him. "Which earth films did they show you? I'm guessing they started you out with either old time movies or anything rated G."
"Yeah, they started out with something called Cinderella and it was moving drawings."
"That's as kid friendly as you can get, short of Winnie the Pooh."
"What's a pooh?" Ryder asked in confusion.
"It's stuffed bear with a honey addiction. There's other characters in his adventures, but his movies are considered the most kid friendly movies.
"Unless you consider the Teletubbies." Sapphire added.
"What are…Teletubbies?" Ryder asked again.
Autumn glared at her friend. "We do not SPEAK of those creepy characters!"
Sapphire snickered.
"There are so many other kiddie movies you could bring up, and you go with THEM?" Autumn added with feigned anger.
Sapphire laughed harder and Leif only shook his head.
"I'm not sure I want to know what those things are." Miranda said with a wrinkled nose.
"I promise you, there are better movies to watch, all sorted by genre, ratings, and age appropriateness. Between the six of us, we've got all kinds of experience in films."
"What about horror movies?" Miranda asked again. "Our parents only glossed over those…they wouldn't go into details. Are they really that bad?"
"Well, that's the whole other end of the rainbow." Ranook stated. "You have to be really careful what franchise you start out with. Those kinds of movies have to be eased into and they're not for everyone. They go from cheesy to giving you straight up nightmares…you'll never sleep with the lights off again."
"And you guys enjoy that kind of thing? Titania asked incredulously.
Ranook nodded with a wry grin. "It's all about the adrenaline rush and proving that you're not a coward; like I said, it's not for everyone. All of them are rated "R" and to see them in theaters, you have to be 18 years old or with an adult."
"And how many have you seen?" Ryder asked them in a tone of disbelief.
"I've sampled a few of them, but the references to them are everywhere. I don't even have to watch the movies to know what they're about. Freddy Kruger kills you in your dreams, Jason Voorhees comes after you with a machete, Michael Myers is pretty much just a homicidal murderer that's out to kill his relatives. There are other series, but those are the basic three."
Titania shuddered. "Ugh. Could we talk about other films and stuff? That's creeping me out!"
Kyle nodded with a grin. "Okay, so what else do you want to know about?"
"The mall." Titania answered. "We went there with Mom when we got here, but only got the basic clothes and shoes. There are so many stores in there! What's so secret about Victoria and why are there pictures of naked women on the walls? I know you guys don't walk around in just bras and underwear?"
"Yeah, that did seem kind of odd…and those women didn't seem real…they were so skinny!" Ryder added.
Autumn blew out a breath. "That's a loaded question. Victoria's Secret is the place some of us go to buy the sexier bras and panties. It only caters to the women who are really thin. That's where Mom took me to get some new underwear sets for my birthday. It's an okay store." She looked at Ryder. "Those women on the wall are the Victoria Secret Angels…or models. And you're right about them not looking real. I can guarantee that no women looks like that without starving herself. Those pictures have been edited heavily to match what their idea of sexy is."
"And what is lingerie?" Miranda asked. It's a weird word.
At this, Leif smirked. "That's what women wear to entice their mate into having sex with them. It's not really necessary, but hey, if it makes her feel beautiful, then I'm all for it."
Kyle eyed his friend and he winked back. Yeah, they'd taken that final step.
"Ok, so why does that Spencer's shop smell funny? What's in there?"
At that Leif snickered and Sapphire smacked his arm.
"Well, that store is an acquired taste. I get some of my jewelry and I know my mate here has gone in there to get a new wallet once in a while, but the rest of it is pretty much replicas of male and female genitalia. It's the place where one might go and get party favors for a bachelor or bachelorette party, if you get my meaning."
"You're joking." Titania said in shock. "They allow that stuff in a public place?"
Kyle shrugged. "Yeah, but they're careful to keep that stuff in the back of the store. You don't see it unless you actually go in. If that's not what your taste is, you can probably go to Hot Topic and get the same kinds of wallets and necklaces and you won't see male and female parts in there."
"That place is a lot cooler and it's full of pop culture and band stuff." Leif broke in. "It's kind of a limbo between rock and goth stuff. I shop there occasionally, but for our style, we go to the dark side of the mall."
"Yeah, I noticed the diversity between you guys." Ryder pointed out. "I thought it might be rude to ask you guys about that."
"It's not." Leif answered nonchalantly. "Don't sweat it."
About an hour later
The Spa House
Trent sat in the heated waters of the Jacuzzi and let the massaging jets work his lower back.
The match hadn't lasted very long with all the men pushing him harder and harder to resist their attacks. He hadn't realized just out of practice he was.
"You've gotten sloppy." Tommy remarked. "It shouldn't have been that easy to beat you."
Trent shrugged. "I admit it. I was at school and Martial Arts aren't as big where I was, and I was busy screwing around with a girl that didn't feel the same way about me. I learned a lot from Art School, but everything else was a waste of time."
Tommy nodded thoughtfully. "You've got a lot on your plate right now; I can see how worn out you are. That's why I came here, you need a time out to get your head together."
"Um, I don't know if you guy's noticed. but I'm a foster parent now and my kid is being targeted by an asshole teacher. He actually calls himself a 'Street Rat'; he needs me to handle this problem."
"Don't hide behind him." Conner said bluntly. "You can't use that excuse now that I'm working at the school. He'll be fine for a week."
"You've been a wreck since you got here." Rocky added. "Drinking beer and stuffing your face with food isn't the answer."
"That's rich coming from you." Trent retorted with while rolling his eyes.
"It's all about moderation." Rocky answered calmly. "I enjoy my food and drink, but I don't overdo it, and everything is balanced with vigorous exercise. I burn off all the food I eat."
"The point is, that you can't help Katsume out in your current condition." Tommy added. "When your heart,, body and spirit are out of balance, you're a train wreck waiting to happen. That's why we're acting now before you derail."
At this, Trent deflated, and Tommy gave him a sympathetic smile. "It's going to be okay; we've all been there. Pack a bag when you get back to your room; we leave for the cabin early tomorrow morning."
After this, they all got quiet and simply enjoyed the warm bubbling water and each other's company.
After an hour passed, they began to get out put their outer clothes on and drift up to their rooms in the manor.
Connor, Ethan and Trent were the last to leave.
"I don't like the idea of leaving Katsume alone. He's been through too much already."
"I'll keep my eyes on him; you've got my word." Connor said in a solemn voice. "I can't keep that asshole away from him, but if anything happens to him, we'll get damn good evidence. Then we'll make that jerk pay and he'll never teach in Angel Grove again."
Ethan looked between them. "How come I've never heard about this problem before today?"
"Because it just happened." Trent answered. "It's only the first week of school and already there's trouble. If it was just a basic asshole teacher, I would have left it alone, but when he starts verbally abusing my kid, then it's a whole new kind of battle."
Ethan nodded. "We've got the weekend, I'll set Katsume up with a mini cam and update the other kid's software. If we're going to nail this guy, then they'll need some new tech."
Trent grinned at his brother seeing his eyes light up at the mention of technology. He'd only been a Cranston for a month, but he was already mirroring the original blue ranger.
"By Monday, things will be all set up. He tries to go after Katsume, we'll nail that guy to the wall."
The Movie Room
So, is this what it's like in your earth cinemas?" Miranda asked as she looked at the mini snack bar. Kyle had prepared enough popcorn for everyone and set up the toppings in their customized shakers. Microwave popcorn was frowned upon by both Kyle and Rocky. It always tasted better when it was made on the stove top.
No, this is better." Kyle answered her. Here, there are no previews to sit through, no crying babies, and no people with body order. The only reason we'd go to the theater is if a really good movie was out and we don't want to wait for it to come out on DVD."
"Here, we have a huge selection of movies to choose from and they've all been digitized and cataloged." Autumn added. "This is the best place for watching the action movies. We've got surround sound here and not a single window for light to escape in…and we've got uber comfortable seats to enjoy them from. This is a step up from the cinemas."
After everyone was seated and the lights were dimmed, Kyle sat at the little monitor in the back scrolling through the movie selections.
"So, what are we watching?" Autumn asked. "What do we have that would start them off easy?"
"Well, movies with gore and horror are out and so are any of the Disney animated movies. Rule out chick flicks and we're down to Sci-Fi and a few cult classics." He paused and clicked on a link pulling up one that seemed to leap out of in front of them.
"Ooh, that's a good one." Autumn said with a grin. "It's perfect!"
Sapphire turned around in her chair. "So, what will it be?"
Autumn grinned at her. "The Princess Bride."
"But what about the R.O.U.S's?" Sapphire gasped with mock fear.
When everyone burst into laughter, the Space Teens just looked confused.
Don't worry about it," Autumn said in a breathless voice. "You'll understand by the end of the movie. Just sit back and enjoy!"
By the end of the movie, as Wesley and Buttercup kissed, everyone was in good spirits, and the Space Teens were breathless from all the laughter. Katsume was laughing too and the incident from earlier was temporarily forgotten.
At the stairway on the main floor, the teens separated with the Space Teens heading for the kid floor and Katsume followed Kyle and Autumn to their camper. Ranook and the Goth couple went to their homes for the night. They'd meet up again the next morning for a day of fun, showing the space teens around the town and just generally having fun. The fun center was definitely on the itinerary.
For now, in his bunk compartment, he stripped down to his sleep shorts, turned off the light, and climbed up into his bunk and slid beneath the sheets and blankets. The cooler air coming from the partially open window felt amazing against his bare skin.
As he lay in the bed, with his bed covers pulled up to his waist, he looked out those same windows to see the night sky above him. He could never have done this in the city, not with all the light pollution. But out here, he gazed at the stars and his mind wandered.
Before long, the sounds of the night lulled him to sleep.
So, what did you all think? Leave me your comments below!
See you all next chapter!