Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie, Heather Ray [read ebook pdf TXT] 📗

measure of flexibility in the use of Ranger equipment for "personal gain."

Once it had been confirmed that there were no evil forces in the solar system, the priority of the entire team had shifted: to Kimberly's well-being. That meant Zordon gave his children the green light to use the teleporter, scanner, and even interstellar communicator to assemble the individuals and create the circumstances that would optimize their chance of bringing Kim back to herself.

The morning after Kimberly's 'deliverance,'

Tommy was the first to arrive at the hospital, her stuffed bear in tow. Yet despite his dedication to be there for her, he couldn't deny the terror that quickened his blood.

He knew she would wake up. He refused to believe otherwise; that the two of them could so narrowly escape death time and again, that she could survive a fatal energy blast, just to linger in a perpetual coma.

He was afraid for

her. For what her life would be like, once she recovered enough of her senses to realize what had happened to her. And she would… the forces of Evil were never kind enough to wipe away the memories. Her deeds would haunt her, either in sleep or when awake. The guilt would never go away completely, as Tommy himself could attest. A mere week of service to Rita, under the spell of the Sword of Darkness, forever marked him. No matter how much time passed, how many lives he saved afterward, or how many times his friends insisted he wasn't at fault, he couldn't simply forget. He could put it behind him; and he had

, when he faced his dark side made flesh by Rita's magic...but he couldn't undo

what he had done.

And he could never forget the feeling of being Evil

.

Kimberly never

should have experienced that! Yes, she'd been enchanted once or twice, but she'd never been exposed to a heart of Evil, polluted and darkened by arcane magic that never should've come into existence. She never

should have had to look into a mirror, and see her flaming, hate-filled eyes.

The girl he had known…the girl that had stolen his heart…had been guileless, compassionate, and genuine. She fought against Evil for years, but she never could truly fathom what Evil was

… how dark, treacherous, spiteful, and cancerous it could become. She fought, not to redeem herself, prove herself, or even to punish Evil… but out of love for her friends, her family, her planet…and everything on it.

The girl he had known didn't exist any more. She had been reshaped by her experiences, during the heated competition of the Pan Globals, the months of heartache after Zedd made his critical first move, and then the month of existing as the physical embodiment of the Flame of Destruction.

She was no longer the girl he fell in love with; but he knew, without a doubt, that he loved her still. The connection they had shared was so much more than a teenage romance…it was enduring, it was forgiving, it was patient.

And it was unselfish.

He knew he loved her, but he didn't know what she would feel after she awoke. He was confident some feelings lingered… but they surely also would cause her pain. After all, it was her love for him that gave the Flame of Destruction an opening; to stab her heart open and tempt her with freedom from the pain she suffered because her feelings persisted after his apparent betrayal.

He had been resolved to do anything in his power to help her heal. And when Caroline Dumas had arrived at the hospital, calmly ordering him to make himself scarce, he didn't put up a fight.

"Look, Tommy…I know you want to help her. I understand that. But I'm sure you realize that, given what happened between you, it's just not appropriate for you to be here. You really hurt her. And I won't let you waltz into her life and reopen that wound; now, when she's the most vulnerable."

The former Mrs. Hart pulled no punches…especially not when it came to her daughter's ex-boyfriend.

Tommy knew Mrs. Hart was misinformed about what really happened, but she still had a point. He did

hurt her. He didn't mean to…but he did cause her anguish by never attempting to speak to her after he'd received the false letter.

He refused to see her until he was certain she was ready for it. Until then, he would keep his distance. The trip to his uncle's cabin was a bit extreme…but he needed to get away, anyway.

He flipped the television stations, only paying the barest attention to the flashing images, when one program caught his eye, and his breath.

He blinked repeatedly, disbelieving his own eyes.

^…idea why you were kidnapped?^

She smiled mischievously. ^I'll tell you one thing, Harvey, I've heard all the possibilities. Let's see… so far I was kidnapped in order to participate in an intergalactic tournament of athletes, to be brainwashed to assassinate the President, to lure the Power Rangers into some cataclysmic fight, and this one is my favorite…the whole alien thing was a sham, and I was really

kidnapped by a foreign government to cripple the U.S. gymnastics team.^

She rolled her eyes, laughing.

Harvey Garvey, the over-animated local talk show guru, laughed with her. ^You must've missed the latest hypothesis. Some even conjecture that you were kidnapped to be the evil emperor's bride!^

Tommy's eyes widened, staring in unabashed horror at Kim's face. Incredibly, she didn't even flinch. ^If that's the case,^

she said with a wink, ^he's got great taste!^

The audience, as well as the host, joined the vivacious young woman in a round of heartfelt laughter. And even Tommy, despite the stupefaction that literally froze him in place, found a small smile.

She was…okay. Or so it seemed…

^Seriously, though, I'm fine,^ she affirmed, once the laughter had waned. ^I still don't remember what happened to me, and that's probably for my own good. But I do want to take this opportunity to thank the Power Rangers for rescuing me. God only knows how much time and effort they put into finding me, and I really appreciate it.^

Then, she turned from her host directly to the camera. Tommy felt a tingle down his spine, as if they were sharing a secret, meaningful gaze. She lifted her hand, wiggling her fingers in a brief wave. ^I can't thank you enough, Power Rangers. You'll always be my heroes.^

The applause drowned out the affirmation Harvey added. It eclipsed a small, embarrassed giggle from Kimberly, though her eyes did shine at the enthusiasm with which the crowd reflected her feelings.

It also managed to overwhelm a meek, hesitant knock at the cabin's front door.

^So, Kimberly,^

Harvey continued, leaning closer to her across his table. ^What are you planning to do next? Rumors are flying all over the trades about a movie career in your immediate future. Any truth to them?^

She released that melodic, girlish giggle, tucking her shortened caramel hair behind her ears. ^I read in the Post last week that George Lucas is considering me for a Jedi cameo in the upcoming Star Wars flick. So if he happens to be in the viewing audience, I do have some acting experience! High school plays and even sporting goods commercials. My resume is ready upon request.^

Her levity in the face of trauma was remarkable. She smiled, she laughed… she even told jokes! Her eyes glimmered with cheer and excitement, charming everyone in the audience, and even Harvey himself.

It was then that the knock returned, more insistent.

Tommy snapped out of his trance, frowning in confusion. I didn't order a pizza… not like there's a delivery place within twenty miles of here.

His dark gaze slid from Kimberly's smiling face to his watch. It's almost midnight. I guess Uncle Jeff forgot his key?

^But if my imminent stardom doesn't quite pan out, I think I'm gonna take it easy. The Pan Globals are behind me, and I've accomplished all I set out to do with Gymnastics. Now, I plan to go to college, and do what every other teenager does… figure out what to do with my life.^

The knocking began again, winning an impatient glower from Tommy. Damn, Jeff is the only person I know without a VCR! I don't want to miss this…

Jumping off the sofa, Tommy hurried through the spacious cabin and threw open the bolt. "It's open, Jeff!" he called, already on his way back to the television…and to Kim.

"Does this mean I can come in?"

Tommy froze so abruptly it almost seemed as if he'd smashed into an invisible wall. He pivoted, eyes wide and lips parted as he stared at her.

She stood in the doorway, her black blouse and dark jeans blending into the obscurity of the forest night. In contrast, her tanned skin and golden brown eyes seemed to glow, and her hair, now cropped just beyond chin length, shimmered in the faint light.

His comical display earned a hesitant, though earnest grin to emerge on her lips.

Suddenly feeling quite foolish, Tommy's hand flew to the back of his head. "Uh…sorry about that," he murmured, "I thought you were my uncle."

Her smile stretched…so inviting it made him want to pull her into an endless embrace. He resisted the urge, and dropped his gaze.

"You wouldn't believe how often I hear that."

He stared back at her, puzzled.

She shrugged. "Just trying to take a lesson from Jason and Zack: laugh a little more. It's really therapeutic."

Tommy nodded, finally finding a harmless conversation topic to ease the awkwardness hovering between them. "So, what's everyone up to?"

"They're all still in Angel Grove," Kim revealed, taking a slow step into the cabin. "Jason's doing great; I think he's leaning toward a local college now that he's seeing Emily. The next round of the peace talks don't begin until September, so Trini and Zack are sticking around for a few more weeks. Billy's starting to miss Cestria, but I know he's glad to be home again. We're invited to the wedding, by the way. It's scheduled for some time in January."

Tommy bobbed his head again, watching her slowly pick at the pale pink polish on her fingernails. It had always been a sure sign of discomfort. "Have a seat, Kim," he invited, gesturing to the den. "Can I get you anything?"

She smiled gratefully. "Some water would be wonderful."

He hurried in the opposite direction, leaving her to wander to the den without an escort. She folded her arms tightly, rubbing away goose bumps as she absently watched a soda commercial.

She giggled faintly when the advertisement ended, returning to the program on air.

Tommy walked in an instant later, holding out a glass of ice water.

"So now I see what had your rapt attention," Kim noted, taking the glass.

Tommy grinned guiltily. "Yeah…well, I was surprised to see you on TV," he admitted. Oddly agitated, he leaned against the wall rather than sit. "You did really well, you know."

"Thanks."

That unusual, weighty silence fell once again. Kim took refuge with a long sip of water, while Tommy wandered to the television to shut it off.

"So…" Tommy murmured, trying to fill the disquieting void with some sort of conversation, "how'd you get up here? It's a two hour drive from Angel Grove."

It was Kim's turn to smile bashfully. "Zordon's gotten kinda lenient with the teleporter recently." She bit her lip, and sat on the soft couch.