Disclaimer: OK, a little more ado. :) Somewhere around here I should say that nothing having to do with the Power Rangers belongs to us. They belong to the High And Mighty Saban. We are receiving nothing for writing this. Nearly every character in this story has appeared on the show. We wanted to deal only with characters that Saban had already established and see how it went. The very few characters that we created belong to us (but they amount only to some family members for the supporting cast and one villain to be named later. *grin* ) All the books and all the chapters are named after songs. (We even recorded a "soundtrack album" for the first book.) :) We don't own any of the songs used either. After each song I have listed the song title, singer, and album. If a song is contained within the chapter, then the credits are listed at the end of the last chapter. This first book is mainly about the group of teenagers that just happen to be Power Rangers. It shows teenagers acting like teenagers. It focuses on their lives away from the power and how the power adversely affects their lives (social and otherwise). Basically be prepared for all the angst, peer pressure, and the general ups and downs that fill teenage life. It should probably be rated PG-13 for mature themes and language. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank Jeremy for his encouragement and Julia for proofing this for me. I would really like to thank both of them for their kind words and for telling me that I had to post this. :) I would also like to thank Lou for being understanding about the changes I asked if I could make. Please, please write to me and let me know what you think. We've worked for a long time on this (longer than I really want to think about), and would appreciate to hear any and all comments on our work. Please enjoy!

He could smell her hair as it softly brushed his face. So sweet, a smell he'd missed for a long time. His hands slowly moved down her back, over her hips. She tensed with ecstatic anticipation; her petite body twitched ever so slightly to his touch. He gently kissed her neck, worked up to her ear. Her arms tightened around his neck, her fingers clenching into his broad shoulders. She stood on her tip-toes and whispered into his ear.

"Mmm-oh yeah," she paused, her delicate breath steaming his ear. "I've missed you so much."

He remained silent, his hands resting on her tiny waist, pulling her closer to him. She turned her face to rest against his chest. He wanted to freeze this moment in time, wanted it to go on for days, weeks, even years. Yet somehow, his gut managed to tell him otherwise. He knew it wasn't going to last. At any second this would all vanish, and he'd be all alone.

"I, I wanna say something...," he said looking past her into nothingness. Somehow he knew she wasn't paying attention. He put his fingers on her cheek, turning her head to face him. "Kimberly, I ..."

Her eyes, although still very pretty, were vacant. She was thousands of miles away and there was nothing he could do about it. Her eyebrows arched, "Yes?"

"I just...," Tommy sputtered "I've wanted you to come back for so long." His stomach knotted; he could feel himself inadvertently killing the mood all by himself. She put a finger to his lips.

"Not a word", she said, "just hold me."

Confidence restored, he wrapped his arms around her, feeling the warmth of her body against him. She made him feel complete, totally at ease inside himself.

*BZZZZZZ* *CLICK* Tommy rose up out of bed. The darkness of his room could almost be felt; his loneliness at an unbearable high. The digits on the alarm clock read 6:30, and it made him face a not-so-hot reality. He folded his arms across his bare chest, remembering the fading images of his dream and thinking of Kimberly holding him. Suddenly he felt chilled and stood to dress, wearing nothing but a pair of red boxers. The first thing he put on was his communicator that sat on the stand by the bed. He stood and blankly stared at it. He thought about how he could always make the kids at school and the equally ignorant teachers believe it was just a watch. He also thought about the hands that created it, Billy, and wondered how he was fairing on Aquitar. He and Billy had had many adventures together, and Billy was one of the few guys in Angel Grove who had helped to make him feel at home when he moved there. Finally, unavoidably, he remembered all the times he'd answered one of Zordon's calls, then teleported off to the Command Center to meet up with everybody. . . to meet up with Kimberly. He sighed, ran a hand through his hair, and began to get ready for school.

The cool morning air blasted by as Tommy cruised through the neighborhood in his jeep. He pulled into Kat's driveway but before he could get out to knock on her door she ran outside. Holding a stack of books she looked at him and smiled as she ran up to the jeep. Tommy grinned almost purely out of manners. She climbed in, resting her books on her lap. She looked over. "You're early," she said smiling.

"Really? I kept thinking I was running behind." he said, staring into the driver's side mirror without turning around, and backed out of the driveway.

A few minutes of silence passed as they headed down the road to Angel Grove High. "So, are you ready for the history test today?" Kat asked Tommy.

Tommy almost laughed, remembering his unsuccessful attempts at studying the night before. He had been almost too tired to even try studying. His sleep lately, what little he had gotten anyway, was always interrupted by dreams or nightmares. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be I guess." Tommy finally answered, as he tried to remember whatever he could from class.

They arrived at school and quickly went inside. Tommy's long-legged stride carried him far ahead. Kat sighed, noting that he never noticed she wasn't there. Up in the distance, Tommy spotted Adam at his locker. Tanya was standing beside him as he loaded up his backpack.

"Hey guys," Tommy said walking up.

Tanya smiled, "Hey Tommy. Hi Kat." Kat had finally caught up to them.

"Hi." Kat mumbled and looked down at her hands clenching her books. Tanya stared for a second, but turned back at Adam.

"Got everything?" she asked Adam.

"I hope so." he answered, zipping up his bag.

As they began walking to homeroom Tanya and Adam went in the lead. Tanya wrapped her arm through Adam's then looked at his face grinning. Adam blushed slightly, but grinned back. Kat looked at Tommy, at his hand, and began to imagine how they'd look holding hands and walking to class. She looked up at his face. He was there physically, but mentally he was definitely somewhere else.

After school meant the usual trip to the Youth Center. The girls declined, claiming the need to do homework and how it was time for some 'girl talk'. So Rocky, Adam, and Tommy went by themselves to the Youth Center for their usual round of sparring and practice.

The warm sun felt good on Tanya's legs as she sat on the porch in a pair of shorts. Kat came outside with two glasses of lemonade. Giving one to Tanya, she sat down too.

"So," began Kat, "how are you and Adam getting along?" She crossed her legs and brushed a lock of hair out of her face.

Tanya grinned, "He's still too shy for his own good." She looked out onto the street, "But he's so sweet." She paused, "He's almost too perfect," then laughed.

"Mmm," Kat said, looking down at the floor of the porch. "So, like, have you guys, you know..."

Tanya looked perplexed, "You know ... what?," shaking her head.

"Well, ... you know!" Kat said finally making eye contact with her.

"Ha ha ha ha!" Tanya threw her head back laughing.

"What?" asked Kat.

"What if I plead the fifth?" An impish grin worked its way across her face.

Kat snorted and looked away, "Smartass," she said under her breath.

Tanya stopped laughing, "How am I supposed to respond?" she asked, "I'm sure you and Tommy have done plenty." Tanya hinted. "What's the big deal?"

Kat started grinning, "So tell me," she asked, "is he a tongue man or what?"

Tanya grinned, "Ladies never tell!" She sipped some lemonade.

"Well, you sure aren't sharing today!"

"Since when do you want to know every detail of my love-life?" Tanya questioned teasingly.

"Would you believe me if I said I was trying to live vicariously?" That set both girls to giggling.

Kat laughed it off, but her uneasiness did not leave. Truth was, even though she and Tommy had been on a few dates, he was reluctant to kiss her. The most she ever got actually was a peck on the cheek, and that was the goodnight kiss.

The light from Tommy's desk lamp illuminated the book he was doing his homework from. He closed his eyes and tried to remember how Kimberly's neck felt on his lips during the dream. He put his pencil down, leaned back and stretched. Rubbing his eyes, he looked over at the clock. It may be a good time to hit the sheets, he thought.

He walked over and flopped down on his bed. He reached underneath until his hand met a shoe box. He pulled it out and took off the lid, resting the box by his side on the bed. A smattering of folded up little notes, all written in pink ink, cluttered up the box. All were letters from Kimberly, some saying no more than, 'Just thinking of you,' or 'I miss you' or pictures of hearts drawn with his name written in them. And almost all of them were written during class, when she should've been studying. He grinned, she's a flunk-out because of me, he jokingly thought. Past the notes were ticket stubs (from the movies, concerts, and events he'd taken her to) and pictures. Most pictures were blurry snapshots of him and Kimberly standing side by side, or sitting around the Juice Bar. A few even had old friends in them like Zack and Trini. For a moment he wondered about them on the other side of the globe doing whatever in the world a 'peace ambassador' does. But underneath it all, there it was: Kimberly's junior year picture. Her smile made him feel weak inside. On the back was scrawled out in pink, 'Tommy, keep this with you all the time because I think about you all the time. You mean the world to me, and if I told you how much I care for you, you'd probably cry. Kimberly -n- Tommy forever' (drawn into a heart).

Yeah, forever's ass, Tommy thought tossing the picture back into the box. Putting the box back under the bed, he heard, *DINK DINK DUN DUN DINK DINK* What the hell could Zordon possibly want at a time like this?!, he wondered.

He looked at the door. It was locked and as far as he knew, his mother couldn't hear what went on in there anyway.

*Click* "I read you Zordon," he said into his communicator.

"Tommy," Zordon's voice came through, "teleport to the Power Chamber at once."

"Right away Zordon." He looked at his bed, then went over and began to arrange the covers to look like a lumped-up form in it. He stood in the center of the room, hit the button, and in a flash he was gone.

A cold wind was blowing. Kat could feel it chilling her bones. She noted the unusual nature of the wind, for although she could feel it blowing forcefully around her, nothing else was affected. The park remained still and quiet. The trees didn't move, their leaves didn't rustle, the sand lay immobile at the bottom of the slide, and the swings hung still. The quiet filled her with a sense of foreboding and for a minute she thought even the squeak of the rusty swing would be a comforting relief from the pressing silence.

"Hello Katherine," came from a deep baritone voice behind her. As much as she had been wanting for there to be some sound, the voice almost made her jump out of her skin.

"Tommy, what are you doing here?" She turned quickly. "You scared the hell... out... of...," her voice trailed off, the words stuck somewhere in her throat. The person standing before her looked like the man she knew, but the sight of him filled her with an emotion that she had never associated with him before: fear.

"What is it Katherine? Is there something wrong?" Tommy stood there strong and powerful in body, but empty and broken inside. What had Kimberly done to him? Tommy was allowing her to destroy him, she thought, and the proof was in his unfocused sightless eyes. Suddenly it was all just too much for Kat.

"Tell me Tommy, why do you still love her? What power does she hold over you?"

No answer.

Kat, madder still, tried again. "All right then, if you had to choose, would it be me or her? A woman who is here for you and loves you, or the woman who left you broken and miserable?"

"Kimberly, every time." He spoke quietly as if still in awe of the very mention of Kimberly's name. Kat slowly felt the wind creep inward. She felt its cold fingers clutching her heart.

"But... I... but... ," her words came out haltingly at first. Then she realized she had nothing to lose and let all her bottled up questions out. "Why?! What does she have that I don't? I'm smart. I'm beautiful. I'm sexy. I'm here for you and I love you. And I won't leave you for another man! So tell me Tommy, what's wrong with me?!"

Suddenly his eyes focused on her and she felt them pierce her straight to her soul. He spoke three words so simply; she knew that they would haunt her forever.

"You're not Kimberly."

The words hit her like a smack in the face. Kat felt faint, and as she lost consciousness in her dream, she jolted awake in reality. She awoke with a start, lying on her bed with the TV blaring.

" 'Come on Ross, you gotta choose: Rachel, the woman you've always loved, or Susan, your current girlfriend. All right, tell me what are Susan's bad points?' "

" 'She's not Rachel.'"

Kat picked up a stuffed animal from her bed and hurled it at the TV. The pink Energizer Bunny smacked Ross square in the face. Damn it, and damn this show! That'll teach me to fall asleep watching Friends! She stared at the TV in silence, contemplating the meaning of her dream. But all she could think was, What a bunch of bullshit! Tommy's over Kimberly, I know it! Sure it's taking him awhile to get back into the game, but he doesn't care about Kimberly anymore. He can't, not after the way she had treated him.

She picked up her history book and tried to start reading again. Forget the homework, she'd rather be with the rest of the gang, out for the evening: out on dates to be specific. They had all thought, 'school night be damned,' and had gone out. But she had a very good reason for sitting at home. Tommy hadn't asked her. She could have just asked him, but she got the distinct impression he hadn't been in a very good mood that day. Maybe he just needed some time alone. On the TV Ross had chosen: he chose Rachel, the woman he had loved since childhood, the woman he would have (and had) done anything for. And she rejected him. Sure he had unintentionally insulted her, but she just turned her back and walked away. Hmph! Kat thought, men just can't tell when a woman's bad for them. She thought this even though she felt Ross and Rachel were meant for each other, destined to be together. She wished she had the same faith about her and Tommy. She sighed and returned to the section of her history book on Manifest Destiny. She hoped the others were having more fun than she was.

"The flesh and the fantasy, and it's all coming back to me now"

The Juice Bar was definitely the place to be on weekends. Ever since Ernie had opened it at night as a teen club, it had become the nighttime as well as the daytime hangout for the entire teen population of Angel Grove. On a trial basis Ernie had opened it on Thursday nights too.

"And when you kiss me like this, and when I touch you like that"

And right now, Tanya was singing her heart out.

"And if we ..."

Screams erupted from the crowd. The applause was loud and long. Tanya had definitely become a hit. She waved to the crowd and took her bows. She noted with a smile that no one was cheering louder than Adam. She jumped off the stage and headed toward him.

As Tanya had finished her song, Adam whistled and stood up with a yell and began clapping. She really was good and she enjoyed singing at the Juice Bar. He came here because of her. Crowds weren't his thing. He loved going out, he just preferred quieter places. He was quiet and shy and she loved the spotlight. He wasn't about to tell her how he felt though. He just loved seeing her happy.

Tanya had made her way to 'their' table. She came up and hugged him tightly, "How was I, Babe?"

Adam pulled back, but kept his arms around her. Then in a move that surprised both him and Tanya, Adam kissed her. It was long and passionate and seemed to go on forever. When they parted, Tanya wanted to come off with a snappy comeback like, 'That good huh?' , but she couldn't speak. This was totally unexpected from Adam, who was normally shy to a fault.

"Sorry. Maybe it was the song." Adam said stepping back and blushing. He continued, "You were fantastic though." Tanya smiled. She knew Adam only came there to make her happy. She'd sung her song, but instead of hanging around like usual she decided to make him happy and leave.

"Come on," she said, taking his hand and kissing his cheek. "Let's get out of here and I'll give you a private concert."

Jason and Emily were down at the beach. They lay intertwined under the stars. They were too busy with one another to think about anything else.

Rocky was at the movies with Penny. The first time they had gone to the movies it had been her idea. Rocky didn't know what to say but he wondered how much she would enjoy it with only the sound. Rocky ended up amazed at how perceptive she was and how much of the action she was able to tell from the sounds.

They had come that night to take in a classic, Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Rocky put his arm around her and settled into the movie. It had just gotten to the discussion of the air speed velocity of laden or unladen, European or African swallows, when he heard the theater door bang open.

"What are they doing here?" Penny said. Rocky, amazed yet again by her abilities, turned to see whom she had identified so easily without being able to see. Bulk and Skull had entered the theater and were heading toward them.

"Oh great," Rocky sighed and tried to forget them as King Arthur rode his coconuts off into the distance.

It was 10:40, Dr. Benton was yelling at Carter again (as usual) on ER and Kat had had enough of studying. Kat had been fretting about Tommy for the last 2 hours and had not gotten much homework done. That's it, I'm calling him. No real reason, she thought, just to see what's going on, how he's doing, and no, it can't wait until morning. She reached for her pink phone and dialed his number.

Tommy had this Power Ranger thing figured out. He had a private line for his phone, so his mom wouldn't answer the phone for him and find him gone when he was supposed to be there. He had one of those see-through phones that lit up with red neon lights and he usually turned the ringer off. He figured this way she couldn't hear the phone go unanswered when he was gone. Kat got his answering machine and slammed the phone down. All right, where was he?! He didn't ask me out, but went out anyway? Calm down, she thought. No reason to get mad, just find out where he is and what's going on.

She looked at her communicator, then reconsidered. Somehow, she was sure Zordon wouldn't approve of jealous girlfriends using the communicators to track down their absent boyfriends. I'll find out where he is all right, she thought, and we'll see what his excuse is when I find him.

The seven digits of Kat's number appeared on the tiny screen of Tanya's beeper. *whirrrrrr* *whirrrrrr* Set on vibration, it did little good since it was in Tanya's purse on the other side of the house.

Tanya's algebra book lay open in front of her on the living room floor, her notebook off to the side. She sat up Indian-style and leaned up against the couch, taking a little tension off her back. She clenched the pencil in her teeth, rubbed her eyes, then looked at the clock on the VCR. It was just turning 10:50.

"When your parents said they'd be late," Adam said from in the kitchen, "they weren't kidding." He walked into the living room holding a glass of orange juice.

"Thanks Baby ..." Tanya said, without looking at Adam and took the glass. After a sip she looked up and said, "They're probably cleaning up some mummies or something down at the museum."

"Yeah," began Adam, sitting down on the floor across from her, "They're dedicated."

"I really appreciate you waiting up with me." She smiled, playing with the pencil between her fingers. She inadvertently started thinking about how Adam had kissed her earlier at the Juice Bar.

"No problem," said Adam, "Anything for my singin' sweetheart." A slight blush flushed his cheeks. He smiled and looked down at his knees.

"Anything?" asked Tanya, an impish grin finding its way onto her pretty face. She started to stretch out her long, slender legs. Resting her feet in his lap she asked, "Does that include being a footrest too?"

Adam nervously placed his hands on her ankles, the soft material of her yellow footie socks feeling good on his sweaty hands. "Looks like it." He smiled, there being little else he could think to do. Tanya looked back at the book and started on the homework again. Adam stared at the TV, his heart pounding his chest like a sledgehammer. A video came on VH-1; En Vogue to be exact.

"Hey Tanya," he said pointing back at the TV, "That's gonna be you someday."

"Think so?" she asked turning to rest on her hip, not taking her warm feet out of his lap.

"I know so," he answered with a serious expression.

It seemed a full thirty seconds passed before they both realized they weren't going to break eye contact anytime soon. Adam's hands, seemingly by themselves, began to rub Tanya's feet in a massaging sort of way. He put both hands on one foot, rubbing it firmly but gently. Her eyes closed slowly as she looked down at what he was doing.

"Mmmm," her full sexy lips formed a sort of pucker.

Adam felt her toes through the material of the sock, running his fingers slowly between each one. Tanya moved her other leg up to where her other foot was pointing in his face. He took this one and using his thumbs pressed them soothingly in circular motions into the arch of her foot. His eyes did not leave her face for a second. Her eyes stayed closed, savoring every second of the foot massage, hoping he wouldn't stop anytime soon.

Abruptly, she felt Adam set her feet down and scoot away. "I-uh-I-um-just remembered," Adam sputtered standing up. "I gotta call my folks." He continued walking into the kitchen, "Tell them I'll be late getting home." Thinking to himself jokingly, something just 'came up'.

Tanya's heart, she noticed, was fluttering. She grinned and shook her head, looking back at the homework she should have had done by now. Sure it was typical of Adam, getting up and taking off when the situation got a little steamy. But this time she felt something more than just disappointment. 'Shy to a fault', how many times would she tack Adam's name to that statement?

He stood staring at where Zordon's image should have been. Tommy had rematerialized in the Power Chamber almost ten minutes ago and still no sign of him. No Zordon, no Alpha. Why bother bringing me here, he wondered, if nothing was up?

"Greetings Tommy." Zordon's voice bellowed out as his head materialized into view.

"You wanted to see me?" Tommy asked.

Zordon's eyes widened, "A matter of great importance has come to my attention. A situation that may be worse than anything you have encountered in your time as a Ranger."

Tommy swallowed nervously at Zordon's words. Zordon wasn't prone to exaggeration, and Tommy had been through a lot, a helluva lot! He tried to imagine what the interdimensional being was going to say.

"I have discovered that Lord Zedd is far from defeated." Zordon fixed a serious gaze on Tommy. "But he has reached a most dangerous point of desperation in his desire to destroy the Machine Empire." The Rangers had felt sure that the Machine Empire would rebuild itself after Zedd's little 'present'. And it seems that Zedd thought so too. "I believe he has come to possess a very dangerous weapon. Turn your attention to the viewing globe."

Tommy turned and took a few steps up to it. Vector lines came into view and formed an image of a ball. The image turned and zoomed up, then away. "What is it Zordon?" Tommy asked, staring at the image.

"What you see before you is called an 'antidimesional bomb'. They were developed on Aquitar nearly 50 of your Earth years ago as a way to end the war on that planet."

"If one power had it the rest of the planet would be in a strangle hold." Tommy said, thinking about the nuclear weapons that were on Earth.

"Precisely." Zordon continued, "After the detonation of one of these bombs, it was decided that they were far too destructive. Parts of Aquitar still suffer from side effects today."

"What does it do?" asked Tommy, "Are they anything like nuclear weapons?"

"Worse, you might say." Zordon answered. "Dimensional knowledge has not reached Earth, so I will explain it as best I can. Behold the viewing globe."

An image came into view of the Earth and the moon. Tommy saw a small flare on Earth, then a tiny missile flew from it. "Your conventional bombs," Zordon began, "only damage things in the known dimension." The bomb hit the moon and it exploded. "A bomb of your nuclear caliber hitting the moon would be devastating." Zordon said, as the image showed debris drifting toward the Earth as the Earth was blown from its orbit.

Tommy wrinkled his forehead, "And you're saying antidimensional technology makes this look like nothing?"

"Exactly, behold." Zordon told him. The image returned to the one of the Earth and the moon, only this time, a tiny black ball came drifting up. It hit the moon and it exploded leaving only a vortex behind. Tommy eyes widened, as the image zoomed up to show the Earth being pulled into the vortex. Tommy turned his head as the image cut off. "Not only would the Earth face certain annihilation, but the interdimensional continuum would suffer an unprecedented shock."

"Kinda like bombing a skyscraper on the bottom floor." Tommy said, looking back at Zordon and sliding his hands into his pockets. "Every other level would be history."

"Correct. You could not begin to fathom the number of worlds that co-exist with the Earth alone."

"And Zedd has one of these things?"

"I have reason to believe so, yes. Although the Counsel of Aquitar had decided to disarm the bombs that were made, some 100 or so turned up unaccounted for. I doubt very seriously that Zedd has more than one in his possession. Since they are probably sold through a black market of sorts, Zedd would be lucky to even obtain one considering his current situation."

"But one is all he'd need," Tommy said looking at the floor.

"Zedd wants to be the one to destroy the Machine Empire, once and for all. And his hatred for the Power Rangers knows no discretion. Zedd has a history of irrational decisions. No matter how much he wants the Earth, he would rather destroy it than see Mondo have it. By firing the antidimensional bomb at the Moon, he would not only destroy the Machine Empire-"

"But the Earth and the Rangers along with it." Tommy finished for Zordon.

"Precisely."

Tommy looked back at Zordon, "Do you know where Zedd is right now?"

"Alpha is scanning all possible locations with the current data. We are narrowing down the possibilities." Zordon paused, "I think you know why I called you here Tommy. The bomb needs to be disposed of before it can be used."

"But wouldn't attacking Zedd violate the Ranger rules?"

"You do not necessarily need to attack him..."

"Just commit breaking-n-entering and a little grand theft explosive." Tommy finished, trying to joke and forget the fact that Zordon said 'you', as in singular.

Zordon tried to hide his smile. Tommy was clever all right, and sneaky. If anyone could come back alive from such a dangerous mission, it was Tommy. "Tommy," Zordon gained a serious expression, "you and the other Rangers, past and present, are like children to me. Like any father, I would not willingly subject my children to danger."

"I understand Zordon." Tommy said, making eye contact, biting his bottom lip, building up his courage.

"There is a better chance of one Ranger making it into Zedd's base than the whole team. You cannot hide your presence from Zedd for long. The base is most likely shielded against teleportation so we would not be able to send anyone in to assist you when you are discovered. And Zedd will have all his forces to throw at you alone. Getting in and destroying the bomb will be difficult. Making it out alive afterwards may truly be impossible. His base is undoubtedly heavily guarded and full of traps." Zordon paused, "You are by far the best Ranger I have. And, the most qualified to make sure the bomb is deactivated."

"I'll do it." Tommy cut Zordon off before he could go any further. He put his hands together, blending the sweat from each of them. "No need to put everybody's neck on the chopping block."

"If there were any other way-" Zordon began, but could not finish. He knew exactly what he had just done. He had asked Tommy to give up his life to save the world. Sure theirs was a dangerous job and anyone one of them could be seriously injured or even killed in any fight. But this was more than that. This time, death was basically a sure thing. And Tommy had accepted without even batting an eye. Zordon found it very disturbing how quickly he had done so. "Alpha will give you the plans for the bomb so you may study its construction. Understanding its inner workings is vital to its destruction." Alpha appeared from the darkness holding a stack of yellowing papers which he handed to Tommy. It looked to Tommy as if the plans had not been touched since the bombs were created over 50 years ago. Alpha quickly shuffled away back to the darkness without a word. "Until further notice," Zordon continued, "keep this mission a secret from the other Rangers."

Tommy thought of Kat, and how she'd probably wig out if she caught wind of what he was heading into. "Okay Zordon," nodded Tommy, seeing Zordon's eyes close, his face pointing down. Tommy took a few steps away, putting his finger onto the communicator. In a flash he was gone.

Zordon had known Tommy would accept the mission. Tommy was a warrior, a survivor. He was the one Ranger that Zordon knew would have a chance, even if it was a slim one, of surviving. Tommy's immediate acceptance was disquieting. It almost seemed as if he didn't mind dying. Zordon knew there was one way he could make the mission go smoothier, but that would require the sacrifice of two lives. If the person he had in mind accepted, it would increase the chances of the bomb actually being destroyed. But adding another person would make entering and exiting the base even more difficult. Zordon wondered if he could risk two lives for the fate of the Earth. For the sake of the world and with fears for Tommy's mental well-being, Zordon opened the communications channel and hoped the person would accept.

Kat lay looking at the picture of Tommy that sat in a frame on the stand by her bed, his dark brown eyes looking innocent. What was it about him that was raking her gut over jagged chunks of concrete so much lately? More so, what did she do to deserve feeling this way? She sat up, clutching her pillow to the front of her. She just wanted somebody to hold her right now, she felt so vulnerable and depressed. It was hard to not hate Tommy, even though she knew in her heart that a lot of her pain was because of her dependence on him.

Punk rock wasn't something she wanted to listen to on a daily basis, but one song really hit home right then as she let her boom box drone in the distance. 'who are you with? where have you been?', young Henry Rollins screamed - 'staring at the walls - think I know what I see - anger and coffee - feelin' mean -drinking black coffee - stare at the wall!', The song wound down with - 'like a stab - through my heart I get stabbed - but it's all in my mind - just in my mind’'

*Click* Off it went as Kat walked to the bathroom. She saw her eyes in the mirror. Dark gray circles were beginning to form under them. She couldn't even sleep regularly. It made her more angry at herself for letting her negative vibes from Tommy get the best of her. Kimberly probably never felt like this, she thought, the bony little bitch. It was unfair that Kimberly could kick Tommy in the teeth like that and still have him hopelessly attracted to her anyway. She'd never have an upper hand like that. Actually, Kat didn't really want control, just acceptance and love; things that she was beginning to doubt Tommy could ever find in his heart to give her.

The phone by her bed started to ring. As Kat picked it up, she felt her chest tighten up, inevitably hoping it was Tommy.

"Kat?" asked the voice.

Her heart sank. "Hello Tanya."

"Did you try paging me earlier? Your number's on my beeper."

"Yeah, but that was almost a hour ago."

"My folks just got home 30 minutes ago. I was getting ready for bed when I noticed you tried to call." Tanya said, "What's up?"

Kat took a deep breath, looked at Tommy's picture, then back at the phone. "I just..." she paused, feeling her throat start to lump up.

"What is it girl?" Tanya asked, the concern evident in her voice.

Kat felt the tears slowly trickle down her cheeks, "I... I just need somebody to talk to..."

Author's Note: The beauty of Chapter 4 was when it was in its original form written in long hand. It was written with no stage direction, no names, no nothing. I used the appropriate color pen for every ranger. It was actually pretty cool seeing who was talking by what color ink was used. But that just didn't translate well to the computer. I know there are ways that I could have kept the chapter the way it was, with everyone's dialogue in the appropriate colors, but it may have been more trouble than it's worth. So to keep the chapter as close as I could to the original, I have changed it to script form. This chapter was written in fun and could be subtitled "The Problems With Call-Waiting". Enjoy.

Kat: Why does he hate me?

Tanya: Whoa, whoa, rewind please.

Kat: Sorry, that's not what I meant. Well, maybe it is. But, not really, exactly, in that context, or maybe it is, but it's him and not me or--

Tanya: All right, am I going to need a translator for this conversation to go on any further?

Kat: I'm sorry. Can I start over?

Tanya: Could you? Please?

Kat: You never met Kimberly. I don't know if you will really understand. She's become almost a mythical character, whose legend is larger than the person. She was the sweetheart of Angel Grove.

Tanya: Okay, I am going to need a translator. What does Kimberly have to do with you?

Kat: Everything! Don't you see?

Tanya: No.

Kat: Okay, I'll start over.

Tanya: Hold on.

Tanya: Okay, I'm back.

Kat: Why does he hate me?

Tanya: Are we back to that again? When are you going to start making sense?

Kat: I'm sorry. I'll gonna go now.

Tanya: Oh no you don't! You don't get me on the phone, totally confuse me, then hang up. Besides, I know when someone needs to talk.

Kat: Thanks, you're a good friend.

Tanya: I know. Now, tell me what's wrong.

Kat: It's Tommy. It's him, it's me, it's HER. It's everything about the situation.

Tanya: All right, begin at the beginning.

Kat: Do you think he's over her? One day I'll think he's fine and I have a chance. The next he seems more hung up on her than when they were dating.

Tanya: Someday I have got to meet this girl. She must be one helluva woman. To make this many people feel this bad, she's got to be amazing.

Kat: Tell me about it. I don't know how to get him to forget her.

Tanya: Maybe you should forget about making him forget. Show him how you feel, show him what you have to offer him. You're here and want him. She's not and doesn't. What exactly do you want from him anyway?

Kat: I'd like to know how he feels. I want to be held and told that everything's okay. But... hold on.

Kat: I'm back.

Tanya: Who was it?

Kat: Someone asking a dumb question.

Tanya: Wow girl. You have a serious bad attitude going. You need to vent more often and stop letting things build up.

Kat: I know I should not let this bother me this badly. But I'm a teenager. Doesn't that mean I'm supposed to get paranoid and obsessive over a boy?

Tanya: If you're going to be a teenager correctly, then absolutely. Kidding, kidding, only kidding. You can't let it get to you like this. You said you want to know how he feels, so you need to talk to him.

Kat: But what would I say? 'Hi! Do you still love her? Do I even have a chance?'

Tanya: Go for it.

Kat: I can't say that!

Tanya: Why not? It's what you want and need to know. Hold on.

Tanya: I'm back. Damn. Hold on.

Tanya: Okay. What would be so wrong about asking Tommy those things?

Kat: Look, have you ever had a question you needed to ask Adam like this? Something that the answer to which would affect your whole relationship, but you were afraid to know that answer?

Tanya: ...

Kat: Tanya?

Tanya: Sorry. I was thinking. Yes, sort of, but not exactly. Nothing like this of course.

Kat: Of course! How many women have to deal with their boyfriend's left-over feelings for their old girlfriends?

Tanya: Hold on there. That happens a lot more often you think. Some guys just don't know when to let go. I don't think you're giving Tommy a fair shake though.

Kat: You're right. I know you are. Hold on.

Kat: Okay. I'm back. I know I'm imagining most of it. I'm sure he's over her. He has to be. He asked me out, didn't he? Not the other way around. Maybe I'm just frustrated about how slowly things are going. Hell, maybe I'm just afraid of the rebound jinx. I am his rebound girl you know.

Tanya: What about that snowboarder, Heather?

Kat: You can't count her. I mean, I tried to fix them up. But it was too soon for Tommy and they never really went out anyway.

Tanya: I wouldn't worry about any rebound jinx. You're right though, he asked you out because he likes you. Neither of us was around when Tommy and Kimberly first started dating. Maybe he just moves slowly. Oh! Hold on.

Tanya: Okay. Argh! Hold on!

Tanya: I'm back. Damn it!! If this phone rings one more time... hold on!

Tanya: I've got Tommy on the other line. I'm gonna ask him about Kimberly.

Kat: Are you crazy?! Don't you dare!!

Tanya: Don't worry. I'll be tactful.

Kat: Tanya! No!!

Tanya: Just wait.

Tanya: Kat?

Kat: Tanya, I swear, I may have to kill you!

Tanya: Relax. He hung up before I could ask anything. He had a call on the other line.

Kat: Thanks a lot! You almost gave me a heartattack!

Tanya: Don't mention it. That's what friends are for. Do you feel better?

Kat: Actually, yes I do. I just have to take this thing one day at a time. Give him time to heal and don't push. Kimberly is gone now. Of course he's going to remember her though. No one forgets their first love, right? She's nothing but a bad memory now. I'm just being paranoid. I can't eat, I can't sleep. I have to relax. Trust in Tommy and trust in myself.

Tanya: You sound like you're trying to convince yourself.

Kat: What if I am? Besides like you said, I'm here and she's not. I know he wants me. Maybe he's just shy.

Tanya: I know how that is.

Kat: What?

Tanya: Forget it. You're okay then?

Kat: Yeah. Thanks for listening.

Tanya: No problem. Now get some sleep for once. You're getting dark circles girl!

Kat: Ha! I'll do my best. Bye.

Tanya: Bye.

*CLICK*

Kat: Goodnight Tommy, where ever you are, you jerk. I love you.

*CLICK*

Mrs. Applebee quickly passed out the graded history tests as the bell was sounding. For the most part, the class was happy with their grades. Some were even surprised with their recollection of the facts. Or their good fortune as the case may be, as Bulk and Skull both grinned when they saw their matching D+'s. They might just pass after all.

Tommy stuffed his test in his backpack after barely glancing at it. He knew what it said before he saw it. He hadn't been able to concentrate on the test and it showed. He stood with the rest of the class and headed for the door.

"Tommy, could you stay a moment after class?" Mrs. Applebee called, stopping him dead in his tracks at the classroom door. He turned slowly, walking back to stand near her desk. She looked up and fixed him with a stern gaze.

"I think you know why I want to talk to you. Tommy," she paused, trying and succeeding in making him more nervous, "just what happened on your test the other day?"

He only stared at the floor. He had no answer for her; none that were acceptable that is. He had been so distracted lately that he didn't even try to take the test seriously. He knew that was wrong, but part of him just didn't care.

Mrs. Applebee tried again to get him to talk. "Tommy, you've never done this poorly on a test before. And I'm pretty sure your bad memory had nothing to do with this." She clearly remembered Tommy's answers on the test; answers that normally might have made her laugh if she hadn't found the whole situation disturbing. 'What two explorers led an expedition from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean?' Answer: Jay and Silent Bob. 'Which Confederate general surrendered at the Appomattox courthouse, ending the Civil War?' Answer: Dennis Rodman. The nonsense answers were as deliberate as anything Bulk and Skull would do, but not Tommy.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Applebee." Tommy finally found his voice. "I have no excuse. I won't do it again."

She looked at him and could see the sincereness of his apology. "Tommy, is everything okay?"

He finally met her gaze. "Everything's fine Mrs. Applebee. It's nothing I can't handle. It was just a really bad day."

"Well, okay. If you want, you can try to make up the points with extra credit work. There is a civil war exhibit coming to the Angel Grove Museum of History next Saturday. I'll be offering anyone that goes extra credit. It should be enough to help your grade."

"Thank you. I really appreciate the opportunity." Tommy thought she was being awfully nice about the whole thing. Maybe she really was worried about him.

"Now go on, get out of here. And try to have a nice weekend."

He walked out of the room, wanting to say 'you too', but was too busy being ashamed. Kat was waiting in the hall when he came out. She saw in his face that he was disgusted with himself. She put her hand on his shoulder. He looked up and managed a grin. He did after all, appreciate her concern, even though he deep down wanted it to be Kimberly there for him. That made him hate himself even more. Here Kat was showing her concern and he wasn't happy with it. He wanted it to be something else, from someone else. Hell, he didn't know what he wanted anymore.

Rito saw in Goldar's face the exhaustion that was wearing both of them down. Looking back at the floor as they walked down the hallway he asked, "How long now?"

Goldar's wrinkled eyelids closed as he rubbed them with his gold, taloned fingers. "Ahhh, soon I think." His sigh sounded like an ape-ish grunt. He stopped, leaned against the wall, and gazed at his feet. "For all I know, it could be tomorrow."

"Just think, we finish this job and we're outta here!" Rito took a few steps away using his hands as he talked, "No more Mondo, no more Earth!" He turned back to Goldar, "No more Ed..."

Goldar's attention perked, "You cuttin' out?"

"I've been thinkin' about it." Rito answered, "Very serious like!"

Rito resumed his walk down the stone carved hallway. Goldar started walking again to catch up. "I'll be workin' for Zedd until I'm dead," he shook his head, "that probably won't be much longer."

Goldar was right, Rito knew. They had both burned the candle at both ends for months now. They had been watching over this abandoned base Master Vile had 'allowed' them to use to store the antidimensional bomb that Zedd had recently obtained. They had to make sure every trap was set in case Mondo or Zordon tried to interfere. It was imperative that Zedd launched the bomb without a hitch.

This was it! Lord Zedd had figured it out a long time ago. If he couldn't win over the Earth and if Mondo was going to have it anyway, then to hell with it all. It would be glorious according to Zedd. A final, fitting end to Mondo and his hated Machine Empire, and of course, Zordon and those cursed Rangers, as they were incinerated into nothingness. All while he, Goldar, Rito, and Finster teleported off to Master Vile's dimension to watch with lust-filled, vengeful eyes.

The only thing left was to wait for the launch window. Until then, it was up to Goldar and Rito to make sure things went as smoothly as possible.

"I know you better than you think bro," Jason said, watching Tommy push up the bench press of weight. "14," he counted off. "All I'm saying is it could be anybody."

"Huff," Tommy's cheeks puffed, "So, somebody in Florida, who I've never met, decides to single me out all the way here?"

"15. Maybe, I know it seems far-fetched to think that." Jason answered, his hands looming over the bar, spotting Tommy.

"Seems?" Tommy sighed, holding the weight up for a second. "I don't know why you can't believe it's Kimberly." His eyes closed in an attempt to keep the sweat out of them, then he lowered the weight.

"Well, it could be Kim." Jason said, motioning with his fingers in an up motion, "Come on bro, 16. No, I'm just saying it's kinda silly to call you long distance like that and not say anything. Maybe it's a wrong number for somebody else in Angel Grove."

Tommy rested the weight back on the bench and eased up, sitting there. "You're probably right."

"Look man," Jason said leaning on the bar, "I wish it was Kimberly." He looked out into the Juice Bar to see Rocky, Adam, Tanya, and Kat all sitting at their favorite table. "You guys seemed really happy."

"Psss!" Tommy chortled, "Yeah, so happy that she dropped my ass like a hot potato." He stood, dabbing at his face with a towel.

Jason closed his eyes and shook his head. "Things happen. I'm sure it wasn't anything you did to bring it on. Just quit sweatin' it. I know that's easier said than done."

Tommy nodded, "Yeah, but you're right. She's gone now and I have to face it..." He looked out toward Kat.

"You still sobbing over pictures of her?" asked Jason.

"No." Tommy lied. "What kinda loser do you take me for?"

Jason held up his hands, "Then that's cool. At least you're not sitting around the house torturing yourself." He sat down on the bench, "Besides, now you have Kat."

"Yeah," Tommy answered, walking around to the head of the bench, "She's a great girl."

"Hfff," Jason hoisted the weight off the bench. "I know she's a great girl. She's crazy about you," he smiled.

"1, 2. Can you blame her?" Tommy laughed.

"Well," Jason paused, "there's no accounting for taste," and started laughing.

"Yeah?" Tommy said grinning, "You'll pay for that!" and leaned into the weight, pressing it down hard.

"Hey now!" Jason said laughing, straining the weight back up.

Suddenly the door to the Juice Bar flew open and Bulk and Skull entered. Their entrances rarely, if ever, went unnoticed.

"Behold," Bulk began announcing, but pretty much singling out the Rangers at their table, "you are now looking at the security of none other than..." he looked at Skull.

"The most awesome, the greatest, and the most cool..." Skull continued, then looked back at Bulk.

"Band of them all!" Bulk finished.

"What're you guys carrying on about?" Rocky asked, getting eye rolls out of the other three as in 'don't get them started'.

"Haven't you heard?" Bulk asked, "Show 'em Skull."

Skull whipped out a flyer from his back pocket and unfolded it, then held it up, "Cheap Trick! They're going to play here!"

"In Angel Grove?" Rocky asked, getting another eye roll out of Kat and Tanya, but not Adam.

"Here in the Juice Bar to be specific." Bulk answered.

"When is it?" Adam asked looking up.

"Next weekend," Skull answered, with a serious expression, "and we, a special forces unit, will work security."

"Yes!" Rocky and Adam said simultaneously, then gave each other fist-five.

Bulk and Skull looked at each other, then back at Rocky and Adam. "So you're Cheap Trick fans, huh?" Bulk asked.

"They rule!" Adam answered.

"Probably the finest band in existence." Rocky said.

"Then you're going?" Skull asked grinning.

"Try to keep us out!" Rocky answered.

Bulk and Skull smiled, then wandered off up to the Juice Bar.

"Cheap Trick, huh?" Kat said looking up.

"Yeah," Adam answered, "only one of the greatest bands still playing today."

"They're like the Chicago Cubs of rock music or something. Only one #1 hit in 20 years and they still rock!" Rocky added.

"And I take it you two will be there to see them?" Kat asked.

"Oh yeah," Adam answered. "Do you want to join me?" He asked Tanya.

"I don't think so. Maybe you should just have a guy's night out."

"Hey, I'm asking Penny if she wants to go with me. But you're always welcome to join us Adam." Rocky teased.

"Thanks man," Adam sighed, "Alone again," he playfully joked with Tanya. She smacked his arm and grinned. Adam looked at Tanya as she resumed her homework. He hid it well but he was really hurt that she had turned him down that quickly and easily.

Kat looked over at Tommy and Jason in the weight area, then back at the other Rangers. "I wonder if Tommy likes them?"

"Yeah," Rocky answered, resting his chin in his hand, his knuckles hiding his mouth.

"He does?" she asked.

"Is Tommy cool?"

"I guess."

"Then he likes Cheap Trick." He said sitting back in his chair, "Everybody who's somebody likes Cheap Trick."

She smiled and looked over at Tanya, "That would cheer him up." She looked at Tommy, "I think I'll surprise him and get us tickets."

"But how do you know you'll like them?" Tanya asked.

"I know that they're a pretty good band. Besides, it doesn't really matter." She stood and slid her chair under the table, "It'll make Tommy happy." She looked up at the Juice Bar to see Ernie hanging up a 'Tickets Sold Here' sign over the counter. "See you guys later." She happily jaunted off.

Adam looked over at Rocky. "Tommy never said anything to me about liking Cheap Trick." "He didn't say anything to me either," Rocky said.

Tanya looked up suddenly, "What?!" She looked at the Juice Bar, just in time to see Kat handing Ernie some money. "How could you lie like that?" She yelled at Rocky. Tanya watched as Kat left, then she looked back at Rocky. "I thought you were her friend. How could you?"

Rocky's eyes widened as he shrugged his shoulders, "I was only kidding. Hell, how was I to know she'd go snap up tickets just like that?!"

"If Tommy doesn't like that band," Tanya said pointing back and forth between Rocky and Adam, "you two are going to buy those tickets off of her."

Rocky saluted, "Yes Mom." He stood up, "Anything you say Mother." He gathered up his books and took a few steps off, then turned to Adam and said, "Give me a call later."

"Sure," Adam answered, looking over to see Tanya giving Rocky a dirty look as he left.

Kat closed the book upon finishing her homework, then walked over to plop down on her bed. Taking the concert tickets out of her purse, she lay there and smiled, staring at them as she held them up above her. She turned to see the picture of Tommy. You're gonna be so surprised, she thought, I can't wait to see your expression. She sat up, then folded her legs Indian-style. Brushing the hair out of her face, she looked at the clock on her wall. It read 8:25. I wonder if he's home yet? Surely he had worn himself out on the weight benches by now. Picking up the telephone and dialing the seven digits, she quickly thought of a few different ways of breaking the good news to him. Unfortunately though, all she got was his answering machine. She placed the phone back down, a little disappointed. Oh well, she thought to herself, good things come to those who wait.

I'll tell you what it's like, Tommy answered the song on the radio, sometimes it really sucks. At times he wondered how he could go on with this dual life. Then he would remember his life before the power came into it and the many times that the power had been lost to him. He knew he would never give up being a Ranger for anything. But now he was giving up his life because of it. For the sake of infinite Earths, he had agreed to take on a mission that would mean his death.

So unfortunately, this was a time when he wondered how he could go on. He started to shove the antidimensional bomb plans away in frustration. But he pulled them back across his desk to try once again to make heads or tails out of them.

Tommy had been right. The plans hadn't been touched in nearly 50 years. It seemed that 50 years ago someone had begun to translate the plans from Aquitian to English. But when Aquitar stopped making the bombs, the unknown writer had stopped translating too. Tommy had gotten to only the third page and saw that halfway down it the English suddenly switched to some odd symbols he didn't recognize and could only assume was Aquitian. When he had contacted Zordon about it, Alpha had apologized over and over, and promised to get the plans translated as soon as possible.

Until Alpha could send him the translated plans, he had teleported Tommy a list of one of Aquitar's several basic alphabets. It wasn't much help, but at least Tommy could catch a word every now and then. And the complex illustrations helped a little. This is just what I needed at this point in my life, Tommy thought, one more problem to deal with.

The ringer was off but Tommy could see his phone lighting up, the red neon glowing with an incoming call. He ignored it thinking, if it's important they'll leave a message.

Yeah, what he said, Tommy thought as he turned the radio off and continued translating.

Adam sat in Tanya's bedroom as she talked about this or that thing that had happened at school that day, but his mind was elsewhere. How could she turn me down like that, he thought. So often lately it seemed like he was always on the short end of the stick. Just a week ago she had asked him to go to this experimental play. He had no interest in it, but he went for her. Then she asked him to go to an African exhibit at her parents' museum. Again, he had no interest, but he went for her. He went to the Juice Bar every weekend to listen to her sing, and then sat there while see visited with her 'fans'. He felt like he was always giving and never receiving. Now all he asked was for her to take a couple of hours out of her Saturday and accompany her boyfriend to a concert. Kat had jumped at the chance to buy tickets for Tommy, just because she thought it would make him happy. What was the difference in the two relationships? He had thought that he and Tanya were a whole lot closer than Tommy and Kat were. But here Kat was, willing to sit through a concert by a band she barely knew just because she thought it would make Tommy happy.

Adam wondered if it was something he had done. He had little experience with girls and Tanya was his first girlfriend. Was he doing something wrong? "Tanya," he said when she paused to take a breath, "are you sure you don't want to come to the concert with me?"

Tanya walked over to him, put her hands on the back of his shoulders and rested her head up against his back. "Oh Adam," she smiled, "I just not interested in going." She backed off as he turned to face her. "You and Rocky go and have fun. I'd just get in the way."

Oh well, he thought, I tried anyway. He wasn't one to make waves. He would let it slide, like he seemed to let everything slide lately. "Yeah, but..." he paused staring at her, "what about my image?" he asked.

"Your image?" she looked puzzled.

"I wanted everybody there to see me walk in with a sexy mama that blows Cindy Crawford out of the water," he saw Tanya double over laughing. He made a goofy face and said, "Now I got to go by myself. Bummer!"

She stopped laughing and stared at him, still smiling. "Oh, so you'd be using me huh? Use me and abuse me?"

"Bad attention or no attention!" he said smiling. He didn't know how true those words would become.

"Oh shut up!" she said laughing, pinching at his belly.

"Ow!" he slipped out.

"Hurt didn't it?!" she said laughing.

"Now you pay the penalty!" he said, latching his hands on her sides and tickling. She started jerking and laughing.

"No! Adam!" She caught her breath, "I can't stand it!" She caught her breath enough to start tickling him. Before long they were playfully wrestling. Adam hoisted her off the ground and dropped her on the bed. She grabbed her pillow and let it fly, hitting him in the face as he caught it.

"Oh, you wanna play rough eh? Then you shouldn't have thrown away your ammo." He smiled evil-like, holding the pillow.

She held her hands up, "Mercy..." she smiled.

"I'll show ya mercy!" He pushed the pillow down on her belly pinning her to the bed. "I got you now vile beast!"

She raised her legs up and wrapped them around his waist, twisting so fast it threw him onto the bed beside her. She sprang up and grabbed the pillow and whopped him in the face. "Vile beast huh?!" she said smiling, gaining the upper hand, pinning him with her waist.

"Vile creature?" WHOP! Adam was laughing as she hit him. "Sexy beast?" WHOP! "Vile but sexy beast creature?"

"Adam?!" WHOP! Her face was filled with surprise but still smiling. She stopped and watched his boyish face as he laughed hysterically. He looks so cute, she thought, like a little boy that got a kick out of aggravating his poor mother.

He took his hand and smacked the bed, "One! Two! Threeee!" He grabbed her wrists and said aloud, looking up at the ceiling, "Yes folks! New WWF champeeeen, Terrible Tanya!"

She laughed, "The defeated and utterly crushed Atom Bomb Adam slinks away into obscurity..."

He finished, "Never to be seen again."

They both catch themselves staring into each other's eyes, the smiles slowly leaving their faces. Adam pulled her by her wrists closer to him. Raising up, he noticed their noses almost touching. Before he knew it, he had his hands resting on the sides of her neck. Slowly she drew near; he felt her breath brushing his lips.

BAM BAM! "Tanya!" The door to her room opened. Tanya's mother observed Tanya on her bed reading a magazine and Adam at her desk doodling a picture. "You guys coming or not?"

"I am!" Adam sprang up and walked over to her, "I'll go even if she doesn't!"

Tanya's mother laughed, "Okay Adam."

Tanya stood, "Oh no you don't, I'm coming too!" She smiled at Adam and her mother.

Shortly, Adam, Tanya, and her parents left to go out for pizza.

Author's Note: Hi again. Chapter 6 is another chapter that loses something in its translation to computer. It is told from the first person, from both Kat's and Adam's point of view. I used pink and green ink respectively, with a favorite tagline of mine separating each section. 10 points if you recognize where the tagline in this chapter is from. To let you know whether it is Kat or Adam thinking I have put their name after the tagline each time the point of view changes. This chapter was really fun to write. Not only because of writing it in first person, but writing about two different people made it interesting to show the same events from two different sides. Enjoy. : )

KAT

I woke up from a good night's sleep, feeling better than I had in days. For once there was no tossing and turning, and no dreams. Well, that's not entirely true. I had a dream, but it was very strange. It was one of those dreams you forget the second you wake up, except for one snapshot of a moment. All I could remember was standing in Gasket's arena with Tommy, or 'The Machine King', as he was going by then, pointing his Zeo laser pistol in my totally unprotected face. For some reason this didn't really bother me. It was an old memory, something that just 'happened', not something I usually thought about, and as far as I knew, no one else did either. It didn't take me long to put even that one fragment of my dream out of my mind as I became caught up in the events of the day.

I didn't have to be at the Youth Center for my ballet class until noon, so I made a conscious effort to just veg till then. I was just so happy that I wanted to do nothing but lay back, relax, and think of the next time I would see Tommy. I was thrilled by the thought of making him happy. He and Adam taught their karate class at noon also. I would be there, he would be there. After our classes I would pull him aside and talk to him about next weekend, the tickets, the concert, and us. Today would be perfect, I told myself. I just didn't know what fate had planned for that day.

ADAM

I woke up with indigestion and wishing I hadn't accepted Tanya's challenge to a pizza-eating contest. The girl could really eat! I had won, barely, and I wondered with a groan if she felt as bad as I did. I decided to roll over and try to go back to sleep until class time. Maybe I would feel better by then.

I awoke next at 11:00. I felt a little better so I figured I had to get up. I showered and made my way to the Youth Center. Tommy was already there, looking about like I felt. Lately he had begun to look very tired. I had wondered if he was overdoing his training, but Tommy really knew better than to do that. Today he just looked like he had never gone to sleep, which for Tommy was entirely possible. Tommy had always been one of those people who had endless stores of energy. He would spar for hours till he had exhausted all competitors, then train by himself for several more hours. He would then go home, do his homework or whatever, then stay up all night watching TV. I know this for a fact because Rocky and I have pulled several of these all-nighters with him. It added to the level of difficulty if the gang chose that night to go out and do something. Usually Rocky and I spent the next day passed out somewhere, while Tommy went out to find any willing accomplice who could keep up with him. He seemed to take it as a challenge, and he was always ready for a challenge. He always struck me as one of those, 'I'll sleep when I'm dead' sort of people, you know what I mean?

Today Tommy looked like his ordinary self unless you knew about his sleeping (or lack of sleeping) habits. One look at his eyes and I knew Tommy had pulled an all-nighter, maybe two in a row. He was by himself stretching quietly on the mats. Our students were just then starting to come in, class still about 10 minutes away.

Katherine was there too, organizing her students along the barre that ran along one wall of the Youth Center. She was glancing at Tommy as if trying to catch his eye. Uh oh, she really is excited about giving him those Cheap Trick tickets. I made a mental note to kill Rocky for his lie when he showed up to train with us later.

Just then Tommy stood up and turned around. He happened to look in Kat's direction. She stood leaning against the barre, looking very pretty in her black leotard with pink skirt. She smiled a warm and engaging smile, one meant to convey her honest and friendly feelings for him, I'm sure. She raised one hand in a half wave, palm up, the fingers curling inward in ascending order. I turned my head quickly to watch for his response. In return to her guesture, Tommy gave a lazy, half-hearted smile. His hand barely raised, in an almost undetectable return wave. The movement of his hand was a quick downward sweep, while his arm barely moved from his side; a very dismissive sort of movement. He then just as quickly looked away.

Uh oh.

Kat's face fell into a mixture of emotions, beginning somewhere around disbelief, going through sadness and disappointment, and heading straight to confusion.

Uh oh. I was going to have to kill Rocky. Darn, he was a pretty good friend too. Kat had also quickly turned away. Maybe she saw me watching, I'm not sure. I walked down to the mats. I would just feel out his mood carefully. A simple question, that should do it. I had always been good at reading people. I figured, get him to say something and you'll see what kind of day you're in for.

"Hey man, how's it goin'?" I said as I clapped him in a friendly manner on the back.

He made an attempt to look cheerful, not a very good one I might add, and responded almost sourly, "Great man, just great. Come on, let's get this class started."

Damn. It was not going to be a pleasant day.

KAT

Tommy was on the mats when I came in. I resisted the urge to present the tickets then. They were tucked safely in my gym bag, waiting for the moment I would give them to him. I quietly envisioned how happy he would be and how he would thank me. I had never asked a guy out before. Sure I talked big, but that's all it was, talk. I knew I could do it, I just had to get up the nerve. I didn't know if I could walk up to some guy I barely knew and ask him out. Tommy and I had been dating for a while, so I knew I could ask him. For some reason that made it easier for me. Besides, knowing I would make Tommy happy helped immensely. I walked down to where my students were gathering by the barre. I looked his way often, trying to catch his eye and flash a smile. Adam was there also, having a juice at the bar before class. I quickly turned back to Tommy, not wanting to waste any opportunity to see him look my way. He was wearing a red bandanna on his head just like Adam was wearing a green one on his.

Tommy suddenly stood up and turned in my general direction. That was good enough for me. I tried to look casual as I lay back on the barre. I threw him one of my best smiles, one that made normal men turn to jelly where they stood. Just for the added affect I threw in a nonchalant, but never-the-less, carefully planned little wave. There, I had made every invitation to talk, I thought, let's see what he does.

What I got in response I still have trouble believing. His eyes had a hard look to them as one side of his mouth went up in what could be called a smile. But it looked more like a smirk. The returning wave was even worse. His arm barely moved and his hand flicked in a discarding sort of manner. Then he swiftly turned away. The range of emotions I went through defies description, but I think I ended up more confused than anything else.

Sometime around then I realized what I must have looked like, standing there gawking, as several emotions swam across my face at once. I noticed that Adam was watching my reaction. The spectacle I had put on must have really been something to see. I turned quickly hoping he didn't know I saw him looking.

What was wrong with Tommy? Something was definitely bothering him. Was he still upset about that test he bombed? I still didn't understand why he had done it. I knew he had studied and I knew he failed. He hadn't told me what had happened. In fact, he wouldn't tell me anything about it. Maybe that's just what was bothering him. Ok, I would put it behind me and talk to him after class. But it was after class that the world changed.

ADAM

Tommy was all business during class. He always was when it came to the martial arts. I respected him for that. He had a dedication that I had seen in few others. As soon as our class ended I looked around the Youth Center to assess the situation at hand. Tanya and Rocky had arrived and seemed to be arguing heatedly about something, and I thought I knew what it might be.

When I had called Rocky the night before, (after the pizza that is) he wanted to know why I sounded so bummed. He knew about how I felt about everything Tanya and I had been going through lately. It was easy for him to guess that I was upset because she had again turned me down when I asked her to do something I wanted to do, as she had done several times over the past few weeks. He promised to talk with her at the next opportunity. I tried to talk him out of it, saying it was nothing. He retorted with, "I'll bet you didn't stand up for yourself. Don't worry buddy. Leave it to me."

There was no arguing with Rocky when he got going. Unfortunately, there was no stopping Tanya either. I really didn't want Rocky fighting my battles for me, especially with my own girlfriend. But it was too late to stop them now, and there was no way I was going up there. She would expect me to defend her. And I just didn't want to get into that right now. I wanted to stay where I was on the mats. That's where the action really was, because Kat was approaching Tommy, and I knew sparks were gonna fly.

KAT

Class had ended and I gathered my confidence with a smile and moved toward him.

"Hello Tommy," I said trying to put all the good feelings I felt into my voice. He barely grunted in return. Undeterred, I pressed on, I had the tickets after all. Maybe he needed comforting about the test after all.

"Tommy, is there something wrong? If it's about that test, it'll be OK. You can do extra credit and make up for it. You'll be fine." That's when he whirled around...

ADAM

Oh shit, whatever Kat said had really set him off. Time to head for the hills. But the hills (or higher ground for that matter) was occupied by an equally displeasing sight, the bickering Rocky and Tanya. It was safer to stay where I was, to dissolve the situation if I could. But mainly I just stayed quietly out of range.

KAT

...and exploded on me.

"What's gotten into you Kat?! Why are you always butting into my business all the time?! You think I'd really be upset over a stupid test?! You think you know me so well you know what's bothering me, huh? You don't know me! You don't know me at all!! Only one person knows me that well..."

ADAM

With his raised voice, I heard every word of his response to Kat. And I was truly surprised no one else heard it. But astonishingly no one but the three of us (the two participants and one interloper) were aware of the exchange.

KAT

I stared at his face, looking for a reason for such an outburst. The only emotion I felt then was anger. As I turned from him I heard only my blood boiling in my ears. Halfway to the juice bar though, I encountered someone else.

ADAM

To her credit, Kat took the verbal assault very well. She stood there staring him down as I stood mouth agape and dumbfounded at this explosion from mild-mannered Tommy. As she slowly, with the measured and careful steps of a dancer, turned and walked away without a word, Tommy reacted quite differently. He got an ashamed and incredibly angry look on his face. He slammed the punching bag with astonishing force, that sent it swinging. I made a move toward him when I saw Robert approach Kat as she walked purposefully to the juice bar.

KAT

"Hiya Kat. How are you doing?" Robert said with a grin.

Obviously he had not seen that exchange of words between Tommy and me. "Fantastic Robert. A great weight has been lifted. I feel like I can fly again," which was in part true. Suddenly Tommy's every thought and action didn't mean as much to me anymore. Maybe it was the anger of the moment, but I didn't give a damn about him. I'll show him. He thinks I bother him all the time? Fine, let's see how he reacts to someone else being the recipient of my affections.

"What are you talking about?" Robert answered puzzled.

"Never mind. Robert, do you like Cheap Trick?"

"Like them? They're incredible! I would love to see them."

"Well, you're in luck. I have two tickets. Would you mind going with me to the concert?"

Robert beamed. A truly pleased look was on his face as he said, "Fair lady," (he kissed my hand) "it would be a great honor to escort a charming young woman like you." He really made a grand show of accepting. "To be at your side for such a historic event would be a monumental privilege."

I giggled in spite of myself. "Come on," I said grabbing my gym bag containing the precious tickets and wrapping my hand around his arm (that he offered me!). "Let's get out of here."

Not ask a guy out, HA! Guess you never know till you try. He smiled at me as we exited the Youth Center.

ADAM

HELLO! Did anyone else see that!?! I looked around frantically for someone to tell me I was dreaming. No one looked back. All right, time to assess the situation again. Barely 5 minutes later and the whole scheme of our teenage lives had changed. Kat was walking out the door, arm-in-arm with Robert. Rocky and Tanya were still arguing near the juice bar. And Tommy looked ready to take someone's head off.

I was torn. Two situations, four friends (although Kat was leaving with Robert) all needing my help. I had to decide quickly, some poor sap was about to walk onto the mat to challenge Tommy. The poor bastard thought he would get his butt kicked by the best guy around, but at least he would learn some pointers in the deal. He didn't know Tommy looked ready for blood. Funny thing was that I knew Tommy was far from losing it, and that was even scarier.

"Let me take this round man," I said stepping politely, but quickly, in front of the guy. He shrugged and walked off as I steeled myself for a fight. Tommy was busy doing leaping kicks and back flips across the mat.

I glanced up at Tanya and Rocky who seemed to be cooling down. Good, I knew that situation could handle itself for a while, though I would have to work damage control later. The situation on the mat could not be left alone. I silently wished Jason had been there. Unfortunately, he wasn't. He was probably at Ernie's Beach Club, just watching Emily work or something. If he had been there I could have left Tommy to him and stopped Rocky and Tanya from going at it.

But instead I stepped on the mat opposite Tommy, ready to fight. Ready to let him work out all that anger that he needed to get rid of so badly. He was angry at himself for what he said to Kat. That was most of it, I knew. But there was much more below the surface, and he was struggling to control it.

His emotions were hidden behind a shit-eating grin as he turned to face me, bowing to begin the match. What he didn't hide that well were his troubled and moist eyes.

To be continued...
song credits:
"It's All Coming Back To Me Now" by Celine Dion (Chapter Two)
"Black Coffee" by Black Flag (Chapter Three)
"Real World" by Matchbox20 (Chapter Five)