Chapter
2: What, Why, How, When, Who & Oops.
3:27 PM
Command Center
“I knew it… I knew it from the start…” Kim bites down on her lip. “Well I didn’t really know… it’s just… I kind of thought of it but I pushed it to the back of my head because… well I really wanted to go but I also really didn’t and I didn’t want that to be my reason for anything.”
“Kim, if you think we have any idea what you’re talking about, you got another thought a-coming.” Aisha nudges her. Kim looks up and the perplexed looks she gets convince her Aisha speaks the truth.
“Didn’t you ever wonder about the Ninjetti Powers?” she asks, “Why it had to be a journey of self-discovery and why we had to discover a… well a personal spirit animal?” Billy gasps lightly, a light beginning to kindle in his mind. Adam looks over at Billy and his expression changes from confusion to a dawning understanding. Aisha raises her eyebrows, still in the dark. Tommy has no reaction, his face blank, only his eyes smoldering. Kat is dazed but still doesn’t understand. Zordon still seems perplexed. Only Rocky seems to completely understand what Kim is saying.
“I mean,” she tries to clarify, “have you ever wondered if another person can really and truly use your personal spirit animal to invoke your personal Power?” Aisha’s mouth drops open.
“Ay-ay-ay,” Alpha intones.
“Oh God,” Kat breathes out, vividly alert for a moment.
“Anyway.” Kim looks guilty. “I have been half wondering in the back of my head if it was possible ever since I gave Kat the Pink Crane Power.”
“KIMBERLY, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT WHAT YOU SPEAK OF IS IMPOSSIBLE,” Zordon denies Kim’s unspoken accusation, “KATHERINE HAS THE CRANE POWERS AND THEY WORK FOR HER.”
“Zordon… I am the only Ninjetti in the universe that has ever given up her Power.” Kimberly is becoming exasperated. “You have no real evidence in either direction.”
“Zordon, Kim’s reasoning is extremely probable,” Billy speaks thoughtfully, “Please continue, I would like to know where you are going with this.”
“Ok well, I thought about it before I gave Kat the Power and when she took it and used it I forgot about it,” Kim continues.
“I have no problem with the Crane Powers,” Kat exclaims indignantly.
“But you are rather ill.” Adam rubs his chin.
“Look, can you guys just let me get this out before I lose my nerve completely?” Kim finally blows up at the most recent interruption. A chorus of apologies fills the room. “Ok, fine, now shut up,” these very uncharacteristic words leave Kim’s mouth. “Anyway,” she says forcefully, “Once I got to Florida I pulled several weeks of all-nighters on the phone with Switzerland.”
“Oh how are Jase, Tri and Zack?” Billy pipes up.
“They are fine Billy. You can try calling them yourself,” Kim almost growls. “Back to my story now.” She glares around the room, skipping only Tommy, who hasn’t spoken since asking her to tell the story. “The three of them talked about the withdrawal constantly, and I soon realized that mine was barely even painful while theirs was like having a mountain drop on you. That was when I remembered my original thoughts about the Power.” Kim’s eyes seem a bit glazed as she reminisces.
“Wait what do you mean withdrawal?” Rocky interjects nervously.
“Oh jeez.” Kimberly smacks her forehead. “You guys don’t know anything about it. It’s what happens when you give up the Power. It’s like drug withdrawal. Your muscles cramp, you get weaker, less agile, your mind starts screaming for the Power. Well… at least that is what Jase, Tri and Zack said because mine is just these weird muscle twinges and a slight emotional imbalance.”
“I have lost my Powers several times,” Tommy finally speaks again, “I never had withdrawal.”
“You… ah you wouldn’t have because it doesn’t kick in until a month later. You would usually get new Powers before the time was up.” Kim smiles, remembering.
“Yeah, that’s me,” Tommy mutters, “every evil’s favorite whipping boy.” Rocky chuckles.
“Well anyway, once I noticed that my withdrawal was different I tried to convince myself it was just because we lost different kinds of Power. I also became addicted to watching your battles on TV, especially Kat.” A tear escapes Kim’s eye. “After a while I noticed she wasn’t quite on balance and it became more and more pronounced as the months went on.” More tears follow the first. “Also she wasn’t using the Crane’s full potential. The Power taught me many aerial maneuvers that really saved my ass many, many times and Kat never used even one. It soon became very clear that she didn’t know them.”
“Kim, girl, don’t cry.” Aisha rubs Kim’s back as the girl begins to shake, sobbing. Tommy looks away.
Rocky jumps off to head to Kim. “Kimmie we love you. Don’t cry. You did nothing bad.”
“Yes! Yes I did!” she cries out, “I denied the truth and now Kat is in trouble.”
“Technically we don’t know that.” Billy tries to comfort Kim the only way he ever could.
“Yes we do know,” Kim almost screams, “she’s weak and ill. I knew it was happening. Her aim was off and the monsters found her an easy prey. Too easy to be real. It was in the back of my head and I refused to admit it.” Kim chokes on a sob. “If I admitted it then I had to admit that it was my fault. That I made the wrong choice. That I put Kat in danger. That I left everyone I loved and I was wrong. And because I didn’t admit it, it was my fault doubly.” Unable to keep speaking she hides her face on Aisha’s shoulder shaking so hard everyone is afraid she might break. No one speaks letting Kim cry out her guilt and pain. “I tried to deny it so hard I stopped calling you guys. I pulled away, even from Jase, Tri and Zack. That was why I wro… well I just couldn’t deal. I couldn’t face you guys.” She turns to Kat. “I’m sorry. I am so, so sorry.” She buries herself in Aisha’s embrace again and the tears continue flowing. Tommy stares at her, his eyes open wider than anyone thought possible.
“So what made you come back?” Rocky asks seriously.
“Your fight with the Atomizer,” Kim states from under Aisha’s arm.
That fight took place only the week before…
<
“Hey Sha, are you eating those?” Rocky points at Aisha’s fries, while stuffing half a burger in his mouth.
She giggles. “Go ahead, you can have them.”
“Hey guys where’s Tommy?” Adam walks up. “We were supposed to meet a half an hour ago to train and he’s not here yet.” Aisha, Kat, Rocky and Billy erupt into laughter. Adam looks perplexed for a moment and then begins to smile.
“Hey guys, sorry I’m late.” Tommy jogs up to the table. More laughter.
“You wanna…” Adam is interrupted by the six-toned jingle they all know and love, sort of.
“We’re here Zordon.” It’s Kat’s week to answer the communicator.
“RANGERS, ZEDD AND RITA SENT A MONSTER TO THE PARK. YOU MUST GO THERE IMMEDIATELY,” Zordon urges them.
“We’re on it,” Kat again.
“IT’S MORPHIN TIME!”
“NINJA POWER – PINK CRANE!”
“NINJA POWER – RED APE!”
“NINJA POWER – BLUE WOLF!”
“NINJA POWER – BLACK FROG!”
“NINJA POWER – WHITE FALCON!”
“NINJA POWER – YELLOW BEAR!”
The six colorful beams shoot out of the Juice Bar and head to the park.
~*~
“Oh goody, look, it’s the power dweebs,” the bloated, splotchy colored monster shouts in glee.
“Oh shut up and fight.” Aisha is not in the mood to quip.
The monster growls, “I am the Atomizer and I will destroy you.” A beam of pale yellow light shoots out of its claws. Aisha somersaults out of the way.
“Zordon, what does that beam do?” Billy contacts the Command Center for help.
“WE ARE CHECKING INTO THAT BILLY.”
“Sie-kiyah.” Tommy aims a roundhouse at the Atomizer’s head. The monster staggers back but then pushes forward and shoots another beam straight at Tommy. Kat cocks her bow. The arrows hit the monster as Tommy flips out of the way. Rocky and Adam double-team it with simultaneous sidekicks. The monster does not seem fazed.
“Ay-ay-ay, Billy, watch out for the beams, they destabilize the atoms in matter,” Alpha gets on the line.
“Got it. Guys stay away from the beams.” Billy turns off communication and springs into battle with an impressive array of punches. As Kat keeps letting her arrows fly, Aisha pulls herself into a front spin kick. The monster is backhands her and she flies back, landing with a thud and jumping back into attack position.
“Hey all together now!” Adam yells. Kat keeps shooting as the other five spin into the Atomizer. The arrows seem to be doing the most damage but the monster has yet to realize that. It begins shooting beams. Rocky leaps out of the way. Billy pushes off Tommy and they tumble into two directions. Aisha jumps above the beam. Adam dodges it not a moment too soon. Kat dives out of the way, letting loose several more arrows. Despite her imperfect aim, they hit, and the Atomizer finally realizes the damage they do. It shoots another beam. She sees it right away, but this time her response is a second too late. Kat screams and collapses.
~*~
Rita rubs her hands together. “The pink brat is down. It isn’t as much fun as it would be getting the first pink moron but the Kitty Kat will do for now.” Lord Zedd smiles, terrifying everyone in the vicinity. “Can I do it this time?” Rita looks at her husband. “Please Zeddy please?”
“Go ahead,” he replies, indulgently.
“Staff, make my monster grow.” Rita flings her staff to Earth.
~*~
Suddenly a staff appears next to the Atomizer and it begins to swell.
“Oh not again,” Rocky groans.
Zordon teleports Kat away in a wavering stream of pink. “YOU WILL HAVE TO HANDLE THIS WITHOUT THE CRANE ZORD, RANGERS.”
“Let’s do it guys!”
“BEAR ZORD!”
“APE ZORD!”
“FALCON ZORD!”
“FROG ZORD!”
“WOLF ZORD!”
“Without the Crane Zord we have to do this fast,” Adam triggers the communicator.
“Yeah, so on three,” Tommy assumes leadership.
“Got it,” Aisha.
“Affirmative,” Billy.
“What are we waiting for?” Rocky.
“One… two… three!” Five laser beams attack the Atomizer and it is blown into smithereens.
“Yeah!” Billy exclaims.
“We did it!” Adam joins in.
“Did anyone notice that this was kind of easy?” Tommy comments.
“Yeah but who cares as long as we are rid of that ugly,” Aisha waves the thought away.
“Let’s go check on Kat,” Rocky reminds his friends.
~*~
“I have such a headache,” Rita groans.
Lord Zedd stalks away in a fury.
~*~
“Is she ok?” Aisha is concerned.
Kat is on a stretcher, scrunched into the fetal position, moaning almost soundlessly.
Billy runs a scanner over her body. “She’ll be fine. I just need to create an atomic stabilizer. Give me five minutes.”
~*~
Billy comes out of his workshop holding a strange gun.
“Umm, so who are you shooting today?” Rocky attempts humor.
“Rocky.” Aisha punches his arm.
“Owww… ok, I’m quiet. Not a peep out of me.” He moves away from her, clutching at the supposedly abused spot theatrically.
Adam and Alpha are monitoring Kat’s condition, but they make way when they see Billy approach. He trains his gun on her and pulls the trigger, letting out a ray of soft blue light. Kat is bathed in it for a second and then she sits up, groaning.
“Are you ok?” everyone seems to speak at the same moment.
“Fine, but did anyone get the license on the truck that hit me?” She chuckles weakly. Sighs of relief sound throughout the Center.
“Kat… don’t take this the wrong way but you were a bit too slow today,” Tommy speaks hesitantly.
“Yeah
I know.” She shrugs. “Gotta work on my timing.”
>
“Yeah that was not a fun time for me,” Kat comments.
“I am sorry Kat, but once I saw how off your timing was I realized I couldn’t hide from the truth anymore.” Kim lifts her head to look at Kat. Kat glares.
“Ok, well we don’t really know if it’s the Crane Powers that are affecting Kat or if she is just sick for some other reason.” Adam is the voice of cool logic. “So I say we go home and come back when the results come, run the rest of the tests and then talk about assigning guilt.”
“Sounds good,” Rocky agrees. “I’m hungry.”
Aisha laughs. “You wanna stay with me while you’re here, Kim?”
“That’d be great.” Kim smiles at her, standing up. Tommy finally stands up from the spot he has been sitting in for hours, and stretches his sore muscles, still staring at Kim. Everyone begins to get up and get ready to leave. Adam and Billy are helping Kat up.
“So I say we go to the Juice Bar and get food,” Rocky suggests, dancing around.
“Works for me,” Adam agrees.
Kat stumbles suddenly, pushing the stretcher towards Kim, who is moving towards it and has to use the rolling stretcher to somersault over, and she is just in time to catch Kat’s unexpectedly limp body.
“Kat is unconscious.”