Power Rangers Zeo:
A Coed Naked Jungle Adventure
by Cheryl Roberts

Disclaimer: The Power Rangers (Mighty Morphin', Zeo, and otherwise) belong to Saban International and are being used without permission. The author is making no profit from this story.

AN: Also, this story contains scenes of graphic sex; if you're not old enough to be reading this or are offended by sexual situations--do not pass go, do not collect $200.00. (CLR - July 1997--initial draft from April 1996)

I'd like to thank all the folks who read this in progress. You guys kept me on my toes to finish this monster. And special thanks to Yvonne and Rob for their editing, their ideas, and just plain everything. And to Willow for helping me out so much with getting things set for Jenga's & to Jeremy for finding yet another home for my stories. March 1999.

This story takes place just after "There's No Business Like Snow Business" but before any of the episodes with Tommy's brother David (so basically, the author has ignored Ranger continuity from that point on!) Also, certain relationships get rearranged, mainly because this story wouldn't have worked otherwise.

Feedback: [email protected]

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

PROLOGUE

So It Begins....

In a pocket dimension beyond the touch of time and space, stood the Temple of the Crystal. Amadan of Galridia, First of the Temple, sat upon an imposing obsidian throne in his private chamber, his eyes never straying from the scene being played out in the viewing globe. His face was as impassive as the cold stone he sat upon as he watched the battle take its toll on his Rangers.

He had no doubt about the outcome; his Rangers were seasoned warriors. Time after time their superior strength and skill in battle had held back the forces of evil that threatened to overrun Kel-Theteme. Even as the thought flickered through his mind, Namarac's forces began to retreat. The Power Rangers of Kel-Theteme had been victorious. Yet, victory had come at a terrible price; Tarjiji, the White Ranger, had fallen. Amadan closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment of emotion for his team's leader, then he shook it off. Tarjiji was the strongest of his warriors; he would live to fight another day. However, the Rangers would be calling upon him soon to return to Kel-Theteme to aid in their leader's healing.

Amadan dismissed the images in the viewing globe; he would have the acolytes gather the necessary medicines from the jungle. He descended from his highseat, his robes trailing down the black stairs like liquid silver. As he passed the darkened orb, the four digits of his long, slender hand caressed the surface absently. True, his warriors had won the day, but the battle was far from over.

Amadan passed through his chamber into the great hall of the temple. In spite of the torches, the hall was awash in shadows. He looked to the dais with a heavy heart. He could never enter Xia's Rising without glancing up at the empty pedestal that once housed the Zeo Crystal. Ah, how he missed the glorious light which flooded the chamber when the sun hit the Rise and touched the crystal. One could almost touch the power....

The Zeo Crystal.

Had his Rangers possessed the legendary powers, Namarac's hordes would have been laid to waste long ago. Amadan paused by the first of the statues that lined the avenue leading to the dais--a memorial to one of the guardians. Through the ages, the Zeo Crystal had chosen its champions from among those who served as Rangers. Only once had it selected one from among the Keepers of the Power: Xia. It had been she who had erected the temple to house the crystal and keep it safe from those that would use its powers for evil; Xia had safeguarded the powerful talisman for untold millennia and in the end had give her life to protect her charge. No Guardian since had ever championed the crystal so well. In fact, the crystal had been lost after its last champions--the Ninjetti of Phaedos--had fallen.

Amadan had searched long and hard for the Zeo Crystal in the wake of that debacle. The Ninjetti had been unfit (though he would never say as much to the Master Warrior)--they hadn't the strength to wield it properly. However, he had made certain that his Rangers would be ready should the crystal ever choose them to be its champions, but there was no telling with the crystal. No one understood the sentience that inhabited the powerful talisman--not since Xia.

He had been new to the Keepers when Xia had fought her last battle. He, Dulcea, Zordon, and a few others ... there weren't many left on the Council from those days. They were the elders now, and the younger ones had no conception of the crystal's true power. Amadan stopped before the final statue--that of a surprisingly petite woman, so fragile seeming but as hard and inexorable as the Zeo Crystal itself.

He touched the pendant that hung from Xia's image--a shard from the crystal. He always checked it. It would tell him if the crystal had resurfaced. And finally, after three millennia, it had. He still could not fathom how it came to be in the clutches of Zedd and Rita--or had it been Master Vile? It was of no consequence which of the three it had been. They were all equally inept, but their ineptitude combined with the powers they had acquired over the eons made them supremely dangerous. He was almost grateful that they had decided to bedevil Zordon's sector instead of his.

If only his old friend hadn't been forced to fragment the crystal! If his Rangers had been seasoned warriors, they would have been able to preserve the crystal without shattering it. The thought made Amadan seethe even now. Why the Eltarian recruited children to do a warrior's job was beyond him--even if they had been anointed by the Master of the Temple of Power. Ninjor should have known better, but Amadan would not question the ancient mystic who had harnessed the power of the universe to forge the Power Coins and create the morphing grid. He sighed. The Zeo Crystal broken and scattered through the time stream ... such a waste! Yet, he supposed Zordon had done what he thought best to preserve the crystal's powers. He had been tempted to send his Rangers on a quest for the shards, but he knew they would never find them unless called by the crystal.

As he stood fingering the shard, Amadan felt a faint pulse.

"Impossible!" he hissed.

The shard began to glow. It could only mean one thing; the pieces of the crystal had been reunited. That the illumination was white indicated that it was not in the hands of the forces of evil.

"The shards have been reassembled! But how? Where...?" More importantly--who? As the ages had proven, the sundered crystal could only be made whole by the designated champion--or champions. Amadan raced up the stairs of the dais. He touched the flat of the crystal's pedestal. "Show me the Guardian."

An image took shape--an image of five teenagers and their timewarp entrapped mentor.

"No!" Amadan roared. The scene flickered and died. It wasn't possible! It wasn't fair! He had worked and searched so hard.... He had trained his warriors to be fit ... and the crystal chose CHILDREN to be its champion? And not just any children--Zordon's brood.

Amadan paced up and down before the pedestal. He could not accept ... he would not accept it! There had to be some error! Perhaps in the time that the crystal had been under the shadow of evil, it had become tainted. That was it. The sentience had simply made an error; it only thought the teens were its champions because they were the last to touch it. There was no way those children could properly utilize the crystal's power; it would be like the Ninjetti all over again. The crystal needed to be returned to the temple. Once it touched the whole of the Power again.... It would see and choose anew.

The question was, how to return it to the temple. Zordon would not just turn it over; even the whole of the Council would not demand it of him. The crystal had chosen. His Rangers were powered by it. He would have to show the crystal that its champions were unworthy. But how...?

"How indeed," Amadan mused aloud. Deep in thought, he descended the stairs, his mind turning over the possibilities. His plans were suddenly interrupted by a touch at the back of his mind: his Rangers summoning his presence. Amadan sighed. The matter would keep for the moment, but he would find a way.

~*~

Chapter 1: Let the Games Begin

"Where do you want these, Ernie?"

Adam looked up from his notebook upon hearing the charmingly accented voice. He turned to face the door in time to see the owner of the voice enter; however, Kat's sunny hair and smiling face were hidden behind a large box.

"Just put that on the counter, Kat," Ernie called back to her.

Tanya looked up from her book and noticed Adam's expression as he watched Kat cross the Juice Bar. She smiled indulgently, recognizing the lovelorn look.

"Hey, Adam. Hey, Tanya," Kat said brightly.

"Hi, Kat," Adam mumbled, flashing her a shy smile.

"Hi, Kat," Tanya echoed. "Going to join us?"

"In a bit. I'll be back as soon as I finish helping Ernie."

"Ernie is really going all out for the Games, isn't he," Tanya remarked as she turned back to her book. When Adam didn't respond, she glanced up again. She watched as Adam's gaze followed Kat as she headed out the door again. "Adam? Earth to Adam!"

"Huh? Oh, sorry, Tanya," Adam murmured, finally recalling himself.

"So...?" Tanya prompted.

"What?"

"How long have you had this crush on Kat?"

"A crush ... what are you talking about?" Adam fumbled, turning back to his writing.

"Come on, I saw those puppy dog eyes you gave Kat." Next to Kat, Adam was probably her closest friend on the team. He had taken her under his wing when she had first arrived in Angel Grove. He had been extraordinarily patient in teaching her how to fight, and he had been very sympathetic when her relationship with Shawn had fallen through. He was a dear friend, and on more than one occasion Tanya had thought that she might like to be more than friends. However, she had known for some time that Adam had a thing for Kat.

Adam appeared as if he was going to deny it again, but Tanya shot him her best no-nonsense glare. All the fight seemed to drain out of him.

"Am I that obvious?" he sighed, blushing.

"Not usually. You're normally more guarded when the others are around. I take it as a compliment that you feel you can relax around me," Tanya said. She propped her elbows up on the table and rested her chin on her interlaced fingers. "So, you going to tell me about it?"

"I don't know ... I mean, you live with Kat. Besides, it doesn't matter. She's Tommy's girl," Adam replied with a touch of disappointment.

"Adam, this isn't like you," Tanya chided, picking up on his tone.

"I'm sorry." Adam fell silent for a moment as if gathering his courage. "I think I fell for her the first time I saw her in the park after she and Tommy had been freed from Zedd's dungeon or whatever--only I didn't know she was Rita's pawn at the time. She was so beautiful and so nice ... but even then she only seemed to have eyes for Tommy."

"Part of that was due to Rita's spell," Tanya reminded him.

"I suppose, but she wasn't under Rita's spell when Tommy got that letter from Kim."

Tanya thought she detected a note of bitterness in Adam's voice.

"What chance do I have when someone like Tommy is around?"

"Don't sell yourself short, Adam," Tanya soothed. Before she could say anything further, Rocky came stomping over to the table and all but threw himself into a chair.

"What's wrong, Rocky?" Adam queried, grateful for the distraction. Tanya was pushing the conversation in a direction that he wasn't comfortable with.

"This is what's wrong," Rocky grumbled, slapping a piece of paper on the table.

Tanya reached for the note and began reading. "'Dear Rocky....'"

"Uh oh," Adam muttered, a feeling of deja vu settling over him. "From Elizabeth?"

"Yeah."

"Why? I thought things were going great for you two."

"So did I."

"It's not because you had to keep running off in the middle of dates, is it?"

"I was up front with her about that--well, as up front as I could be," Rocky explained. "I told her that I was helping out with my brothers and sisters and that if my 'pager' went off, I had to go."

"Elizabeth writes that while she found Rocky's dedication to his family admirable, it did make her feel as if she wasn't as important," Tanya paraphrased. "Her big gripe is that you seem to be afraid of commitment; whenever she'd try to get close to you, you'd wind up acting like a jerk. I don't get it. I can't recall anyone ever accusing you of being a jerk before."

"Put the TV over there," Ernie directed as the men from the rental agency wheeled in a big screen TV.

"Man, Ernie is really going all out for the Games tonight," Adam mused, practically repeating Tanya's earlier words.

"He must be very proud of your friend," Tanya said. "It's not every day that someone you know competes in a competition of this caliber. The Pan Globals are pretty prestigious."

"If Kimberly does well tonight, she may have a shot at qualifying for the Olympic team."

"Really? I thought you had to compete at Nationals to be invited to the trials."

"Normally, yes, but according to the papers, the top two, possibly three finishers for the US team will be asked to try out."

"Wouldn't that be something!"

"I don't know if I want to watch the games tonight," Rocky groused.

"Why not? I thought you were excited about Kimberly competing," Tanya remarked.

"I'm not so sure now."

"This wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that she dumped Tommy the same way Elizabeth dumped you, would it?"

"Sort of. I mean, now I know how Tommy felt when he got Kim's letter. How could she do that to him--and they were tighter than I was with Elizabeth. That's such a cowardly way to break up with a guy. She should have had the decency to face him...."

"Are you referring to Kim or Elizabeth?" Tanya wondered. "Kim couldn't exactly face Tommy; she was in Florida."

"Then she should have called or something," Rocky insisted. "She owed Tommy more than a cold hearted letter. She took the easy way out ... just stabbed him in the back...."

"Do you really think that it was easy for Kim to send Tommy that letter?"

"She should never have gone to Florida," Adam murmured in spite of himself. "She shouldn't have left the team ... left Tommy...."

Tanya understood what Adam had left unsaid. If Kim hadn't gone, Tommy wouldn't have wound up with Kat.

"You guys aren't being fair to Kimberly," Tanya pointed out. "As I understand it, she nearly refused Coach Schmidt's offer. All of you--including Tommy--urged her to go."

"Fair? Was it fair what she did to Tommy?" Rocky countered. "Tommy would have waited for her."

"Did he ever tell her that? Maybe Kim felt it wasn't fair to keep Tommy hanging on, so she gave him his freedom."

"I don't think Tommy wanted his freedom," Billy interjected as he joined the trio.

"I ask again, did he ever tell Kim that?" Tanya demanded. "Did he--or any of you--bother to write or call Kim to ask her about the letter, to find out why she did what she did?"

"I don't think Tommy did; I think he just wanted to put the pain behind him," Adam replied.

"Can you blame him? She called him her brother," Rocky grimaced.

"A brother is someone you can love no matter who else you pledge your heart to," Tanya said.

"What are you getting at?" Billy wondered.

"That there might be more to Kim's letter than meets the eye," Tanya asserted. "I know that I never knew Kimberly the way you guys did, but from everything you've told me, she didn't strike me as the sort of person who'd hide behind a letter--especially when it came to you guys, her friends ... people she trusted with her life."

"It did seem out of character for Kimberly to have handled the situation as she had," Billy admitted guardedly. "There was no warning ... when we saw her at Christmas, she seemed perfectly happy with Tommy."

"If you thought it was odd, why didn't you get in touch with Kim?" Tanya pursued.

"She corresponded with Tommy...."

"... whose heart she had just broken...."

"... and Aisha...."?

"... who had just moved to Africa." Tanya favored the three with a stern gaze; they all looked very uncomfortable.

"Since you seem to know so much, what do you think Kim was doing when she sent that letter," Rocky challenged, on the defensive.

"I don't know. Maybe she wrote it as a cry for help," Tanya postulated. "Maybe she hadn't wanted to break up with him, but had to do something to provoke a response. I mean, if Kimberly truly no longer cared for Tommy, why would she have set him up to be a family figure--someone she could still hold in affection?"

"Why are you so keen on defending Kim?" Rocky countered. "You don't even know her. Anyway, Kat's your best friend; if Kim hadn't dumped Tommy, Kat would be miserable."

"Granted, I don't know Kim, but I remember how you guys would talk about her. You were all so proud of her; everything you ever told me about her made me wish I had known her. And now you're bad mouthing her without giving her the benefit of her being able to defend herself. That isn't right. What kind of friends are you that you'd turn your back on one of your own like that?" Tanya looked around the table. Rocky had pretty much tuned her out and resumed wallowing in his misery. Adam looked uncomfortable, and Billy appeared thoughtful. Her questions had at least struck home with two of the three.

~*~*~

"Finally," Kat remarked when Tommy arrived.

"We were beginning to think about raffling off your seat," Rocky jibed.

"I had car trouble," Tommy said as he slid into the seat next to Kat; he favored her with an apologetic smile.

"You could have called," she said softly but patted him on the arm to let him know that the apology had been accepted.

"Man, I wouldn't miss this for the world," Tommy continued, and Kat's expression darkened somewhat. A glance at the TV showed that the network was at a commercial break. "Have I missed anything?"

"Naw, they haven't gotten to anything interesting yet," Rocky replied. He was fidgeting in his chair with excitement.

"Did some one give him a caffeine I.V. or something," Tommy whispered to Billy.

"He is just anxious for the event finals to get underway," Billy said. Actually, they were all rather anxious to see Kimberly perform. Kim had sacrificed a lot to chase her dream: going to Paris with her mother, her role as a Power Ranger ... her boyfriend. Billy snuck a glance at Tommy; he appeared as nervous and excited for Kimberly as any of them. If he was still hurting, it didn't show.

"They're showing diving right now," Tanya said.

"Aw, who cares about dumb ol' diving; when are they gonna get to Kim," Rocky huffed.

"I care about the diving," Kat retorted.

Adam cuffed Rocky's shoulder, and Rocky had the decency to look sheepish as he recalled that Kat had once been a Pan Global hopeful until a diving accident had caused her to miss the competition.

"It's a shame that the women's team didn't medal," Ernie commented as he set a bowl of popcorn on the table. Rocky dug in eagerly.

"They came so close," Tanya agreed.

"I just hope that poor girl who hit her head on the beam is all right," Kat added. The six winced, thinking of the fall Kimberly had taken--the one that almost convinced her to give up the competition.

"The media has reported that the injury is not serious, but Coach Schmidt has decided to withdraw her from the finals," Billy remarked.

"All right, here we go!" Rocky cheered as the broadcast resumed.

"When is Kimberly up?" Adam asked, sounding almost as anxious as Rocky.

"They just flashed the graphic for the first rotation," Tanya informed him, finding both Adam's and Rocky's responses amusing. For two men who weren't sure they wanted to see Kimberly's performance, they were certainly "into" the Games. "Kim starts on...."

"... the vault, her weakest event," Tommy murmured concernedly, "and she vaults last in the rotation."

"That can work to her advantage," Billy postulated. "In performing last, she has a better opportunity to observe her competition and gauge what it will require of her to place satisfactorily."

"Also, the judges won't be holding back on the scoring as much," Kat added.

"Starting on her weakest event means she gets to save the best for last," Tanya contributed.

Conversation ceased as the rotation commenced. The six watched the competition with a more critical eye than usual.

"They're all really good," Tommy observed, "especially the Romanians."

"It will be exceedingly difficult for Kim to match the score posted by her predecessor on the apparatus," Billy noted.

"Sh! She's up," Rocky hissed.

The six held their breath as Kim stepped up to the runway. She signaled the judges, stared down the runway for a moment, then took off.

"Looking good...."

"She's got the speed...."

"Uh oh...."

"She has sufficient height...."

"Keep it tight!"

"C'mon, stick the landing...."

Kim landed with just the slightest of steps. Still, she threw her hands up exuberantly; she did not seem to be disappointed with her performance.

"Man, she hit the vault slightly off center," Tommy groaned.

"What do you know about gymnastics?" Rocky snorted.

"I've seen enough of Kim's meets to have picked up a few things here and there."

The commentators ran the slow motion replay and confirmed Tommy's diagnosis.

"Still, it was a really good vault," Adam continued.

"Her score isn't that bad," Tanya added.

"However, it is not likely to hold up for medal contention for the apparatus."

~*~

For the second rotation, Kim was slated on the uneven bars.

"How can they do that?" Rocky grimaced as he watched the talented Romanian bounce her hips off the bar to throw herself into the next move.

"I wouldn't be surprised if she takes the all around gold," Tanya speculated.

"No way," Rocky retorted.

"Rocky, these gymnasts have been training for an event such as this for years," Billy pointed out. "Kimberly didn't even have a coach until nine months ago. That she is there at all speaks well for her talent, but we have to be realistic. Kim hadn't devoted her life to gymnastics; she had other duties. If she medals in even one event, that would be phenomenal."

"Spoil sport," Rocky muttered under his breath.

"We all want Kim to do well," Adam assured him.

"Knock it off; Kim's ready," Tommy shushed.

His words drew the attention of both Billy and Kat, not that he noticed; his attention was riveted to the television screen. Even so, there was a sort of glow in his expression as his eyes avidly followed Kim's every maneuver. Billy favored his friend with a smile; Kat frowned.

"Hold the handstand...."

"Don't over-rotate...."

"Watch it! Get the bar ... I can't look; did she...."

"She caught the bar."

"I didn't know she could do that--did you?"

"A little higher...."

"Pull it in...."

"All right!" Tommy cut loose with an exuberant cheer, exchanging high fives with Billy and Rocky as Kim hit her landing.

"Kim should gain some ground in the scoring with that routine," Adam remarked.

"Anyone for refills on their sodas?" Kat queried. "I'll make a run to the counter."

"I'll give you a hand," Tanya volunteered as everyone took Kat up on her offer. As they walked off, Kim's score was posted. From the guy's reactions, it wasn't as high as it could have been.

"How are you holding up?" Tanya asked softly as she and Kat handed over the empty glasses.

"I'm all right," Kat sighed heavily.

"I imagine it's difficult knowing you were so close and always wondering what could have been."

"Oh, that's not what's bothering me. It's Tommy and the guys," Kat answered. "They are really into rooting for Kim."

"Shouldn't they be? She's their friend; they want her to do well. Don't you want Kimberly to do well?"

"Of course I do. She's my friend, too."

"Well then?" Tanya prompted knowingly.

"All right. It's Tommy," Kat admitted. "This is the first time since Kim broke up with him that he's seen her, and ... I don't know. I guess I wasn't expecting him to be so enthusiastic."

"Tommy isn't the sort to hold a grudge. He just wants his friend to do well, that's all."

"I suppose...."

"What are you worried about? That Tommy is still carrying a torch for Kim?"

"Yes."

"Everyone has told me how tight they were. You don't get over losing someone like that that quickly."

"It seems like it's been forever."

"I know. These things take time." Tanya draped her arm across Kat's shoulders and gave her a little hug. "You shouldn't worry so much; you know Tommy wouldn't do anything to hurt you."

"I know."

"Here you go, ladies."

"Thanks, Ernie."

While Kat and Tanya retrieved the drinks (and Adam and Rocky were off doing who knows what), Billy and Tommy had the table all to themselves.

"How are you holding up?" Billy queried.

"Huh? What do you ... oh, I get you. Seeing Kim."

"It is the first time since Christmas."

"I'm okay, really," Tommy answered. His statement was followed by a thoughtful pause. "You know, I thought it would be harder. I mean, sometimes it still hurts when I think about what she did. Part of me wants to be angry with her--I mean, don't I have the right to be? But somehow, I just can't do it. I know what this means to her; I want her to do well."

Billy patted him on the arm. "That's really big of you, Tommy. I'm glad."

"I just want her to be happy, y'know?"

"I know."

Just then the other four returned en mass.

"Did we miss anything?" Rocky chirped as he plopped down into his seat.

"Perfect timing; they just came back from commercial," Tommy said as he helped Kat and Tanya distribute the drinks.

The third rotation had Kim in the floor exercise.

"I hope Kim kicks butt in this round," Rocky said.

"She should. Floor and beam are Kim's favorite events," Billy replied.

"All this fuss over little girls doing flip flops," Bulk sneered as he wandered by the table. As always, he had Skull in tow.

"Even if one of those little girls is Kimberly?" Skull asked.

"Hey, don't knock it; at least Ernie's supplying the TV and popcorn," Adam pointed out.

"Hm," Bulk rumbled as he dug a beefy hand into the munchies on the Rangers' table.

"Has Kim gone yet?" Skull wondered.

"She performs last in the rotation," Billy supplied.

"Come on, Skull; we have stuff to do," Bulk commanded.

"Aw, Bulkie, do we gotta? I wanna watch Kim," Skull complained.

"Skull...."

"Oh, have a heart and let him watch," Tanya interjected. "Kim's routine is up shortly."

"Here, you can have the bowl," Rocky offered, foisting the popcorn off on Bulk. Anything to get the two of them to shut up and quit causing a distraction.

"Oh all right," Bulk grumped. He and Skull pulled up a couple of chairs.

"Does anyone know what music Kim selected?" Kat wondered.

"I don't believe she ever said," Adam responded

"Sh, maybe the announcers will say...." Rocky began.

"'Magic Bird of Fire?'" Kat queried, a frown creasing her forehead as she tried to place the title.

"I don't think I know that one," Tanya interjected.

"Nor do I, but I find the selection apropos," Billy said with a secretive smile.

"I know what you mean," Tommy agreed, thinking of her Firebird ThunderZord.

"It seems vaguely familiar," Billy mused as the music commenced and Kim raced into her first tumbling pass.

"Argh!" Skull shrieked, causing everyone at the table to jump.

"What's the matter with you?" Bulk snarled, as he had upended the bowl of popcorn all over himself.

"What have they done to it?" he moaned. "Stravinsky is probably turning in his grave!"

"Stravinsky? Of course! A modernized version of 'The Firebird Suite,'" Billy murmured, finally able to place the piece. It was still rather astonishing to recall that Skull was an accomplished pianist, well versed in the classics.

"Will you guys keep it down," Rocky muttered.

"I can't listen anymore; let's get out of here, Bulk." With that, Skull made a hasty departure, leaving Bulk to catch up with him for a change.

"Next time we want to get rid of Bulk and Skull we'll have to remember to play some really horrible modern rendition of classical music," Tanya giggled.

"Oh man, that was an awesome routine," Adam sighed, bursting into applause at the conclusion of Kim's performance. He wasn't the only one clapping.

"Perfect," Rocky echoed.

However, the judges didn't agree.

"Man, she was robbed," Rocky pouted.

"Hm, Kimberly will likely miss the bronze for this event by just a fraction of a point as according to the announcers there are no serious contenders for this apparatus in the final rotation," Billy remarked.

"There's still the beam, and that's her best event," Tommy said confidently.

Conversation died out as they anxiously watched the other competitors in the fourth rotation. Everyone was too tense to comment. They watched each routine, thinking uncharitable thoughts, praying that someone would give their friend and former teammate an opening. None was forthcoming.

"Kim is going to have to be absolutely perfect," Adam murmured, scanning the scores that flashed across the screen.

"The way the judging's been going, that's not likely to happen," Rocky groused.

"Kim can do it," Tommy insisted.

"I hope so," Kat murmured.

"Look at her. She looks so poised, so confident," Tanya added as the camera focused on Kimberly's face.

"I know that look," Billy commented.

"Yeah, it means 'putties, you're about to die,'" Rocky said.

"I've rarely seen her look so determined," Adam mused.

Kim raised up on her toes and raced toward the springboard for her mount. As one, the six held their breath as their comrade flipped into the air and landed squarely on the beam. Head held high, chin up, eyes focused, and smile bright, Kim effortlessly performed her routine.

"What was that Kim said when she got her new powers?" Billy wondered.

"'I am the Crane, agile and graceful,'" Tommy whispered, recalling that proud moment when they all first touched the Ninja powers. He felt a tug at his heart by their absence--not unlike that which tugged at him by Kimberly's

"She looks like she's walking on the floor, not four feet in the air," Rocky mused in awe.

"Has she even wavered at all?" Kat wondered, sitting on the edge of her seat just like everyone else.

"All that's left is the dismount," Adam murmured with quiet anticipation.

"C'mon, Kim...."

"Good speed...."

"What a jump!"

"Keep it tight!"

"Hold on to the rotation...."

"Stick the landing...."

"Don't even move to breathe...."

There was a moment of heart-stopping silence as Kim landed, her knees bending deep to absorb the impact. Then she stood tall and proud, her face beaming with satisfaction, as she turned to acknowledge the judges, then the crowd.

"She did it!" Rocky cheered.

"Flawless!" Billy echoed.

"She's got the gold--and she knows it!" Tommy declared exuberantly.

"Now, it's up to the judges," Adam said nervously.

"They just have to give her a ten," Rocky insisted.

"I don't recall seeing any other perfect scores," Tanya noted with some concern.

"All the scores are so tight; Kim can't afford anything less if she wants the gold," Kat pointed out. "Anything lower than a 9.9 and she won't medal at all."

A hush fell over the sextet. Fingers crossed, hands tightly gripped, they waited in silent agony for the scores to be shown.

For once, the judges were in complete agreement with the six friends.

Shouts of joy and congratulatory hugs made the rounds as the teens celebrated their friend's victory. On the screen, the cameras showed Kim being mobbed by her teammates. Just as the coverage was cutting to a commercial break, Billy noticed Kim frowning, glancing around as if in search of someone.

"Kim--a gold medallist. Can you believe it?" Ernie said, looking a little misty-eyed.

"I knew she could do it," Rocky crowed.

"We all did." Tommy added.

"She's made us all so proud of her," Kat remarked.

"Be sure to let me know when she's coming home; I'm going to throw her the biggest party...." Ernie began as he wandered off, his mind already on the preparations.

"All right, they're going to show Kim's medal ceremony," Adam piped up as coverage resumed.

The jabbering throng settled down as the gymnasts stepped up to the medal platform. When the medal was placed around Kim's neck, the crowd in the Youth Center erupted into a round of applause. Then, as the flags were raised, the gathering fell silent.

During the National Anthem, the camera focused on Kim's tear-streaked face. Although she smiled through her tears, it never touched her eyes. That fact did not go unnoticed by two of the spectators. Tommy and Billy exchanged puzzled frowns, wondering what it meant.

Chapter 2: Homecoming

"Hey, Billy, what you got there?" Ernie queried as he handed Billy his drink, observing the papers spread out on the counter.

"The pieces to an unexpected puzzle," Billy murmured distractedly. When no further explanation was forthcoming, Ernie moved on to see to another customer. Billy collected his glass and paraphernalia and wandered over to the gang's usual table. None of the others were at the Youth Center yet--no doubt they were still involved with the latest skirmish instigated by King Mondo. For a change, he didn't feel the pang of envy at being unable to fight beside his friends, his mind too distracted by the envelopes before him. They represented ramifications of the altering of the time stream that no one had considered. The matter had come to his attention when Mr. Simmons, the postman (who should have retired long ago but refused to) brought the first of the letters to his door.

"You were always close to little Kimberly Hart, weren't you?" the affable letter carrier had asked. "Saw her win her medal the other day. Mighty proud of her. Anyway, the Martins have been having troubles with their mail. Seems someone keeps sending things addressed to an Aisha Campbell at their address--no return address, just cute little pictures. They've just been tossing them since they don't know what to do with them. This one came the other day. It looked important, so they asked if I knew who this Kimberly Hart was. Made me think of you. Can you see to it that Kimberly gets this?"

Perplexed by the conundrum, Billy asked Mr. Simmons to forward any other mail addressed to Aisha to him. Who would be sending Aisha mail? When the time stream was altered, her family was relocated to Africa with her; it was as if they hadn't lived in Angel Grove for years--since she was a child. Only her friends recalled that she had lived in Angel Grove as a teen. Apparently, someone else had as well--someone who was unaware of the changes.

Then, Billy opened the envelope; it contained plane tickets to Paris, France. The note enclosed was from Kimberly's mother, and Billy realized that, somehow, her mother recalled that Kim had been living with the Campbell's before going to Florida. But how? He and the others remembered because of their connection with the Morphin' Grid and being at the center of the time nexus. That also implied that Kim, Trini, Jason and Zack would also retain their memories. Still, wouldn't Kimberly have told her mother that Aisha had moved? Of course, it was possible that those further away from the focal point of the time disturbance would not have been affected by it--hence Mrs. Hart (Billy could not recall her new name) would still remember Aisha. However, why would she mail Kim's tickets to Angel Grove instead of sending them to the training center in Florida?

Billy set aside the packet of airline tickets to examine the missive he had received that morning--a letter addressed to Aisha. There was no return address--no little drawing either--but the handwriting looked very familiar, and the postmark was from Florida.

"What's that?" Rocky queried as he bounded over. "Love notes from a secret admirer?"

Billy shot Rocky a long-suffering look. Sometimes.... Then he noticed the others approaching. Adam appeared to be limping slightly. Billy frowned. The others appeared to be rather worn as well.

"How'd things go with the Machine Empire?" he asked. "Are you all right, Adam?"

"Yeah, I think I just twisted my ankle a little," Adam replied.

"Man, I miss the good old days," Rocky sighed. "At least the putties gave when you hit them. These cogs are just too solid."

"Billy, are you going on a trip or something?" Kat wondered, noticing the tickets on the table.

"Actually, they don't belong to me. They're for Kimberly."

"Kim?" Tommy murmured.

"From her mother."

"Why would Mrs. Hart send them to you?"

"She didn't. She sent them to Aisha." Billy went on to explain the matter of the Martins and the mail. "Apparently, Kimberly's mother was not aware that Aisha was no longer in Angel Grove."

"Wouldn't Kim have told her?" Adam wondered.

"Not if she didn't know about it either," Tanya said.

"I'm sure Aisha would have written Kim; I mean, they were like sisters," Rocky insisted.

At Rocky's comment, Billy couldn't help but glance up at Tommy. After all, Kim had called him her brother.... For a moment he thought he saw a flicker of--something, but it was quickly gone.

"Who is the other letter from?" Adam asked, noting that it was also addressed to Aisha.

"I suspect it's from Kimberly." Billy tore open the flap and pulled out the letter. As he quickly scanned the short note, his brow furrowed in puzzlement and concern.

"What is it?" Tommy queried. There was a tremor in his voice, and it suddenly brought to mind the last time they had read a letter from Kimberly in the Youth Center.

"This is very odd," Billy mused. " 'Aisha, I just found out from mom that she sent my plane tickets to you. She wanted to surprise me. I'm sorry; she didn't know....' then there is a passage that was completely blacked out. 'Look, I don't want to cause any trouble. I'll only be in town for a week or so ... you can just forward the tickets to the Holiday Inn near the airport.' The only other thing is her signature."

"That's a very lonely sounding letter," Tanya murmured. "Nothing about the games, no 'how is everybody'...."

"And the handwriting is really shaky ... Kim always writes so neatly," Adam noticed.

"She must have spilled something on it--see all the water spots and smudges," Rocky pointed out.

"'She didn't know....' didn't know what?" Kat asked. "That Aisha had moved?"

"That couldn't be it. Kim obviously didn't know Aisha moved either," Tanya remarked.

"Why would she think she'd be causing trouble?" Adam wondered.

"Why would she stay at a hotel when she could stay with any of us?" Rocky added.

"I don't know," Billy said with a sigh.

"Does she say at all when she's due in?"

"No, but it shouldn't be too difficult to discern. Her tickets are dated for the second...."

"So if we count back a week, that would put it around the twenty-sixth."

"Why don't I call the hotel and find out when her reservations are for," Billy suggested. The others followed as he headed to the counter. "May I borrow the phone book, Ernie?"

"Sure, Billy. What's up?" Ernie queried as he slapped the thick book onto the counter.

"Trying to ascertain Kimberly's arrival date," Billy answered absently, thumbing through the section on hotels.

"Here, don't worry about the pay phone," Ernie offered, pulling the cordless extension out from under the counter.

"Thank you." Billy quickly punched in the number. "... yes, I'd like to confirm a reservation for Kimberly Hart ... on the 26th ... no? Oh, the 25th ... yes, I'm glad I called. What? Yes, the time is still correct. Thank you for your assistance."

"Well?" Rocky prompted eagerly.

"Her reservation is for the 25th, and according to the log, she's not expected in until 6 p.m.," Billy announced.

"That doesn't leave me much time to get this party planned," Ernie murmured. "I'd better get busy."

"We'll help with whatever we can," Tanya volunteered.

"Now all we need to do is figure out when her plane's due in," Adam said.

"I believe I can handle that," Billy replied distractedly, his mind already working on the best method for obtaining the requisite information.

"Great, keep us posted," Tommy requested. He hadn't said much during the conversation and felt everyone's eyes on him. He met Rocky and Adam's stares. "Are you two still feeling up to working out?"

"Sure, Tommy," Adam agreed.

"Ditto," Rocky chimed in.

"Let me go change, and I'll join you on the mats."

"Tommy, is anything wrong?" Kat wondered, as puzzled by his silence as anyone.

"Not at all. You have dance class tonight, right?"

"Yes."

"I'll catch you afterwards, then. Okay?"

"All right."

Tommy gave Kat a quick peck on the cheek then excused himself. It took every ounce of his self-control to keep from running for the locker room. The reason he hadn't taken part in the discussion was because he hadn't trusted himself. The thought of Kim's homecoming made his stomach knot up. Heck, his hands were shaking! Watching her in the Games had been bad enough. Seeing that triumphant glow on her face as she finished her beam routine ... it had cut right through his heart. Yet, he had been genuinely happy for her.

All right, he'd admit it to himself if to no one else: part of him still hurt. Why had she broken up with him? That's what he wanted to know more than anything else; what happened to them? He thought they had loved each other! However, he knew he couldn't dwell on the past. Besides, he had Kat now; she had been really wonderful--so patient, understanding, and supportive....

Tommy leaned back against the cool wall and looked up at the ceiling. Kim would be home in just a couple of days. He could have his answers then--if he was brave enough to ask for them.

~*~*~

Kimberly stared absently out the window of the plane as it taxied into the gate at Angel Grove International. Her heart was heavy, and she had to fight the tears. She wished her mother hadn't sent the tickets to Aisha; she would have rather gone straight to Paris. She couldn't bear the thought of seeing her friends--if any of them wanted to see her--again. How long had it been since she had heard from any of them? It had been before she sent that letter to Tommy.... Stop thinking about it! Just go to your hotel, get your plane tickets, and you won't have to see them. Yet, as much as she dreaded a reunion, she knew she'd give just about anything to see them all ... to believe that things could be like they used to.

She turned away from the window and started tucking her things back into her carry-on. Her hands were shaking so badly that she fumbled the bag and dumped it into the vacant seat next to hers; she was grateful that the plane was practically empty. She hated feeling crowded. As she haphazardly stuffed the items back inside, her eyes caught on a shimmer of gold. She picked up her medal and studied it. She supposed she should take better care of it; after all, it was the only thing she had to show for the last nine months. She had paid for that medal with blood, sweat, and tears; she had given her heart and soul for it. It wasn't worth the price.

With a sigh, she waited for the plane to come to a complete stop. Retrieving her bag from the overhead compartment, Kim took a deep breath and headed for the ramp.

~*~*~

There was hardly anyone in the gate area. A quick scan of the seats told Kim what she had expected: Aisha wasn't there to meet her. Of course, she hadn't exactly told Aisha when she was coming in. Still, for a moment she had dared to hope that Aisha would have figured it out and ... well, she should have known better. She had betrayed Tommy ... let them all down ... what right did she have to expect anything from them? Shouldering her bag, Kim went off in search of baggage claim. She had sent the rest of her things to Paris already, so she only had one suitcase. She'd get a cab and head to the hotel. She imagined Aisha had probably already forwarded her tickets there. Kim wondered if she'd be able to get them switched to an earlier flight. The thought of staying in Angel Grove for a week by herself was utterly depressing.

"Kim! Kimberly!"

Kim paused, hearing the shouts. They couldn't have been meant for her; surely someone else ... but the voice sounded awfully familiar. She heard the sound of sneakers loudly slapping the tiled concourse. Kim turned, and her mouth dropped open in amazement. It was Billy! She felt the tears welling in her eyes. No way.... That couldn't be Billy. The resemblance was uncanny, but Billy would never look so ... disarrayed. His hair was all askew, glasses slipping down his nose--he looked like he had slept in his clothes and appeared very flustered. She couldn't imagine Billy doing something as outrageous as charging headlong through the airport, yet, there he was, racing towards her. In spite of her heavy heart, a grin tugged at her lips. If he hurdled over someone's luggage, she'd just die.

"Thank goodness," Billy panted as he came to a stop; he doubled over, hands on his knees as he caught his breath. "I fell asleep on the couch ... traffic was bad ... plane arrived early ... thought I'd missed you...." Suddenly, he flung his arms around her, to her complete astonishment.

"Billy, are you feeling all right?" she asked nervously. Public displays of affection were not in character for Billy.

For his part, Billy blushed and offered her a sheepish smile. That was the Billy she remembered.

"Sorry for the effusive greeting. I'm just so happy to see you again."

"Same here, Billy. God, you look...." Kim's emotions threatened to slip out of her control, and she settled for smothering Billy with a hug. She just hoped Billy didn't notice her trembling. "You're looking good, Billy. It's been too long."

"I concur." Billy pushed his glasses back up on the bridge of his nose. "Let me get those for you," he offered as he took her luggage from her.

"What happened to your contacts?" Kim wondered as she fell in step next to him.

"I have my spares with me; I just didn't have time to put them in," Billy related as they headed for baggage claim. "I had gotten something in my eyes while working in my lab, and I removed my contacts to flush my eyes with water. I had laid down to let my eyes clear and dropped off to sleep. When I woke up, I realized I was going to be late getting to the airport; there wasn't time to put them back in, so I just grabbed my glasses."

"And just where were your protective goggles?" Kim teased. It felt so good to be talking to Billy again. It had been so long; she had nearly forgotten what a dear friend he had always been. Kim spied her suitcase on the carousel and pushed her way forward to retrieve it. Billy surrendered the lighter pieces to her and took over carrying the larger piece. When he picked it up, he gave a grunt of surprise.

"What is it?" Kim wondered.

"Somehow, I expected it to be heavier."

"I'm only going to be here for a week and didn't think I'd be doing too much," Kim mumbled in reply. Suddenly, she stopped walking. Billy didn't realize it at first, then he turned and regarded her questioningly.

"Billy, how'd you know to meet me at the airport? I didn't tell anyone when my flight was coming in or anything."

"It's quite a story," Billy began with a bemused grin. "Say, are you hungry?"

They had served dinner on the flight, but Kim hadn't felt much like eating. However, her stomach was making known its displeasure at being empty. She blushed when she realized Billy had heard the low rumble, too.

"Tell you what, why don't we stop by Ernie's on the way home; we can get some sandwiches and get caught up on stuff."

"Sounds good," Kim agreed warily, finding Billy's warmth a little overwhelming, "but I'll need to stop by the hotel first. I should check in so they don't think I skipped out on my reservations."

"You needn't worry about that," Billy assured her. Kim noticed that he was blushing and looked a little guilty. "I canceled your reservations."

"You--what? Why? Where am I going to stay?" Kim stammered. Had Billy gone completely mad?

"You don't think I'm going to let you stay by yourself in a lonely hotel room when there's a perfectly comfortable guestroom at my house, do you?"

"Really?" she gulped, her throat becoming tight. Suddenly, the emotions she had been holding in check since boarding the plane in Florida threatened to slip from her control. "Billy, I don't know what to ... thanks."

"Sure, Kim."

"Can you excuse me a moment. I--I gotta find the ladies room." Without waiting for Billy's answer, Kim dashed off for the restroom. Once inside, she made for the stall farthest from the entrance and quickly fastened the door behind her. Only then did she let go of her tears.

~*~*~

Billy began to think that maybe he should take Kimberly straight to his house and forego the festivities at the Youth Center. She did not appear to be in the mood for a party at the moment. Something was deeply troubling her. It was in the way she had been walking across the concourse--her shoulders slumped--and her utter astonishment upon seeing him (granted he had made quite a spectacle of himself with his frantic arrival).... It was as if she had been surprised to see anyone there to meet her. She seemed uncomfortable in his presence ... skittish, almost afraid. When she looked at him at all, he found the emptiness in her eyes unnerving. What had happened to the spirited, confident young woman he had bid farewell to last Autumn? Returning in her place was a stranger.

Kim finally emerged from the facilities, quickly donning her sunglasses, but Billy had seen her red-rimmed eyes. She had been crying. Billy thought it best for the moment to pretend he hadn't seen anything out of the ordinary.

"All set?"

"Yeah."

"My vehicle is parked relatively close by."

~*~*~

"What, no RADbug?" Kim said jokingly as they located Billy's mode of transportation in the parking lot; Kim wasn't quite sure what it was--or what it had been. She eyed it dubiously.

"It's been decommissioned," Billy replied. "You don't like the truck?"

"Is that what this is?"

"That's what it is now. I've made a lot of special modifications...."

Kim giggled, and Billy realized she caught the reference.

"I guess I never pictured you in a pick-up," she murmured as Billy got the door for her.

"Not even when I was wearing overalls?" he teased gently. That prompted a tiny grin from his companion. "I have found my truck to be a sturdy, practical mode of transportation. It's perfect for lugging pieces of the Zords back to the Power Chamber; they occasionally wind up in places the teleporters can't reach. Besides, I brought it instead of Dad's car because I was expecting a much larger load of luggage."

Kim said nothing as she climbed into the front seat, and Billy tried to figure out what to say to her as he finished tossing her bags into the truck bed. Kim wouldn't look at him as he slid in behind the steering wheel. She continued to stare vacantly out the window.

"So, how'd you know?" Kim questioned, finally speaking. Billy knew she referred to the question she had asked him in the baggage claim.

"I caution you, it's rather long and convoluted...."

"Billy, as I recall, most of your explanations are long and convoluted."

Billy couldn't deny that, and as he eased his all-purpose vehicle out of the parking space, he began relating the tale of Kimberly's mail.

~*~*~

"... so when your letter to Aisha arrived, Mr. Simmons didn't even bother the Martins. He just brought it to me since I obviously knew what was going on," Billy concluded.

"Billy, when did the Campbell's move?" Kim queried at the conclusion of his tale. "Why didn't Aisha tell me?"

Kim sounded completely devastated--hurt, betrayed--as if she didn't know ... and suddenly, comprehension dawned.

"Kim, when was the last time you heard from Aisha--or any of us?" Billy wondered.

"My visit at Christmas."

Billy did some fast calculations. That was before Master Vile destroyed the power coins and altered time.

"I didn't think much of it at first, knowing how weird things get around here," Kim continued, her voice soft and tone forlorn. "Tommy's a sweetheart, but he was never the best correspondent in the world, but Aisha was usually pretty reliable...."

"Kim, I'm sorry," Billy murmured. Tanya had been correct; with Aisha gone, no one had bothered to keep in touch with Kimberly. She probably felt as if they had all abandoned her, which explained a great deal.

"What are you sorry for?" Kim wondered; her words had a harsh edge to them

"For not thinking. You don't know what happened, do you?"

"What do you mean?"

Billy sighed. "Shortly after your visit, Master Vile altered the time stream, and while we were reverted to childhood again, he destroyed the power coins...."

~*~*~

"... so Aisha stayed to see what she could do for the animals, and Tanya took her place on the team," Billy concluded as he headed for the off-ramp.

"And you gave up your position on the team for her," Kim murmured softly. She reached over and gave his arm a squeeze.

"It was the hardest thing I'd ever done," Billy admitted. He had never confided that to another person.

"I know."

Yes, Kim would know and understand, having surrendered her place to Kat.

"So the reason I haven't heard from Aisha is because she relocated to Africa," Kim said thoughtfully.

"Yes, and from what I understand from Tanya, it is a fairly remote settlement." Billy could almost read Kim's thoughts. That explains Aisha, but what about Tommy and the rest of us? "Kim, none of us even considered that you wouldn't know about Aisha moving, that with her gone, you were cut off. You may have mailed your letters to Aisha but you addressed them to everybody ... we just didn't think. And the Martins didn't know what to do with your letters without a proper return address, so they destroyed them. No one ever saw them."

"I guess I shouldn't have tried to be so cute," Kim said bitterly.

Billy hated hearing the anger in her voice. "In a way, we're all at fault. We didn't mean to make you feel left out," he apologized.

"I know you didn't do it on purpose. I guess I shouldn't have...."

Billy didn't like Kimberly's sudden silence. "Shouldn't have--what?"

"It doesn't matter now. Just let it go."

"What's wrong, Kim. Talk to me. You used to be able to, you know."

"I know. It's just that...." For a moment, Billy hoped Kim might open up to him; however, she simply sighed. "It was all a mistake."

"What was? I don't understand."

"I should never have left."

Kim's statement gave Billy a start. He thought that pursuing the Pan Globals was something that she had really wanted. Without having a coach, Kim would never have been able to do much with her gymnastics beyond the local level; meeting Coach Schmidt opened up opportunities for her that had previously been idle dreams.

"So, how was the competition?" Billy queried, changing the subject. "We all saw the finals at the Youth Center. Ernie hosted a big party--rented a big screen television and everything. You were pretty awesome on the beam. We're all so proud of you."

"Thanks," she mumbled.

"May I see your medal when we get to the Youth Center? That's quite an accomplishment."

"It's no big deal. It's just a gymnastics medal."

"Kimberly!" Billy gasped, unable to keep his astonishment out of his voice. "The Pan Globals aren't just any gymnastics competition; they're the most prestigious amateur sporting event next to the Olympics."

"I guess," she replied with a shrug. "My medal's in my carry on."

"Kim, what are you afraid of?" Billy queried, cutting to the heart of the matter. Small talk was getting them nowhere. He observed that her body went rigid. "You're acting like a stranger in a strange land instead of someone coming home to her friends."

"Am I?"

"Kimberly...." His exasperation was plain. Then, Billy experienced another moment of clarity. "You're afraid to be home, aren't you? You're afraid of seeing us again."

"I thought you guys wouldn't want to see me."

"Why?"

"Because of what happened...."

" ... the letter you sent Tommy," Billy realized. "I can understand your being nervous about seeing him, but not the rest of us."

"Aren't you all angry with me for doing that to him? For leaving the team? For letting you all down?" Kim demanded angrily.

What did she mean, letting them all down? "We were all shocked, and we all hurt for Tommy, but we also understand that sometimes, things change in relationships. For the longest time I couldn't understand why you'd break up with Tommy; I thought nothing would split the two of you up. However, knowing how you must have felt when we seemed to cut you out of our lives ... it was only natural for you to turn to your teammates for friendship and...." Billy found himself at a loss for words. Having little to no experience in the department of personal relationships, he felt ill-equipped to express himself on the topic. He reached over and place a hand on Kim's leg. "The others will understand, too. Even Tommy."

However, Kimberly didn't seem convinced.

"By the way, what's his name?"

"Whose name?"

"Your new boyfriend. You never said in your letter; you didn't say much about him at all. Was he on the team--I always assumed so."

"Oh. His name's Todd. Yeah, he was on the team."

"Where is he from originally? Did we see him in the event finals? What apparatus was his specialty?"

"If you don't mind, Billy, I'd rather not talk about it," Kim said curtly.

"May one infer that things did not work out as you had hoped?" Billy questioned delicately.

"You could say that."

"I'm sorry, Kim. Truly."

"It's no big deal, Billy," she sighed. "Just promise me something, don't say anything to the others, okay?"

"Sure, Kim."

Billy wished he could do more for Kimberly; she seemed so miserable when this should have been a joyous occasion. He just didn't know what to say to her; it made him wish that Aisha was around. She'd know how to get through Kim's barriers.

"Billy, is Tommy happy with Kat?" Kim asked suddenly.

Her question startled him. "How did you know...?"

"I'm not blind, Billy. I know Kat had a major crush on Tommy when I left. I sort of figured she might try to be there for Tommy--as friend and teammate, and those bonds were made stronger by fighting beside him and everything.... Are they good together?"

"They seem genuinely happy in each other's company," Billy answered carefully. "They've only recently allowed their relationship to become something more serious."

"I should never have come back," she reiterated morosely.

Just then, Billy turned into the parking lot of the Youth Center. He observed that Kim scanned the lot for familiar vehicles. She seemed to relax when she didn't see any she recognized.

"Why don't you go on in and grab us a table. I want to secure your belongings so they don't wander away while were eating."

"All right. If I'm not at a table I'll be in the bathroom," Kim agreed woodenly. Billy watched as she headed for the door. Once she was out of site, he reached for her carry-on.

Kim is going to kill me for this.

~*~*~

"SURPRISE!"

Kim gave a startled yelp as she was greeted by the enthusiastic cheer. Her eyes swept over the crowd, taking in the "Welcome Home, Kimberly" banner which hung over the counter. Front and center of the crowd were all her friends. She staggered backwards and bumped into Billy as he came through the doorway.

"Billy...." she hissed angrily. She was not in the mood for this, and she thought Billy knew it, too.

"It was Ernie's idea," Billy whispered back. "He's so proud of you, Kim.... I knew you wouldn't want to let him down by not being here for this."

Kim let out a slow sigh as she fought to regain her composure. Billy was right. She didn't want to let anyone else down.

In the moment it took her to exchange words with Billy, the others had surged forward and mobbed her in a group hug. As she was overwhelmed by their joyful greetings, once again she nearly lost control of her emotions. Maybe they hadn't really abandoned me; maybe it was just all a misunderstanding--like Billy said. For a moment she couldn't say a word. She glanced up at the jubilant faces with tears gathering in the corners of her eyes.

"Welcome home, Kim," Adam said, the first to break the awkward silence.

"You have no idea how good it is to see all of you again," Kim choked out huskily, throwing her arms around him. Adam raised a questioning eyebrow at her effusive greeting.

"Aw, don't get all mushy on us," Rocky teased, wrapping his arms around her in an enthusiastic bear hug. Kim returned the embrace with a fierceness that caught him off guard.

"This is Tanya...." Kat introduced as she, too, wondered about the almost frantic hug.

"I'm so glad to finally meet you," Tanya said, also receiving crushing welcome.

The last one Kim turned to was Tommy; she was hugging him before she realized who he was.

"Tommy!" she squeaked out, startled when she met his eyes. He held her spellbound for a moment, then she had to look away.

"You're looking good, Kim," he replied quietly, smiling reservedly.

"You, too."

"Man, Kim, you were totally awesome at the games," Rocky gushed, and for once Kim was grateful for the interruption. "I think that was the best I've ever seen you perform."

"Thanks. I guess my trip to Florida wasn't a complete waste, then," she responded, unable to keep the edge out of her voice. No one else knew what to make of her comment.

Just then Ernie made his way over to the group. Kim managed a bright smile for the portly, big hearted owner of the Juice Bar.

"Thanks, Ernie; this was so great of you," she said as she gave him as warm a hug as any of the others.

"Hey, it's not every day a guy gets to say he knows a gold medal gymnast," Ernie mumbled, a little self-conscious about her greeting.

"Speaking of the hardware, let's see it," Bulk demanded as he and Skull wandered through the crowd.

"Yeah, I've never seen a gold medal," Skull added, cracking his gum.

Bulk rolled his eyes. "You've never even seen a gold filling."

"Yeah, Kim, let's see your medal," Rocky said eagerly.

"I--uh--left it...." She glanced sheepishly back at Billy and found him holding her award. She flashed him a grateful smile. "... with Billy."

"I thought you might want this," he murmured as he handed it over.

"Thanks."

As the medallion was making the rounds, Ernie reappeared with a tray of sandwiches.

"All right! Food!" Rocky cheered, scampering over to the nearest table and grabbing a seat.

"It's good to know some things haven't changed," Kim murmured wryly.

"On the drive over, I was filling Kim in on some of the things that have been going on; I'm afraid I didn't get very far," Billy said.

"You mean there's more?" Kim groaned teasingly.

"There's never a dull moment around here," Adam remarked.

"You can say that again," Tanya echoed.

"How far did you get, Billy?" Kat wondered.

"Have you told her about graduating?"

"About going to Aquitar?"

"About Skull being a concert pianist?"

Tommy sat back, letting the bubbling chatter wash over him without joining in. Once again, he didn't trust his emotional control. However, he could not keep his eyes off Kimberly. He felt himself frowning as he watched her go through the motions of being animated and cheerful; just like on the medal platform, her apparent joy never touched her eyes. She seemed edgy--almost scared.

What did you expect? This couldn't have been easy for her either.

Tommy wanted to believe that. This sort of reunion wouldn't have been easy for the Kimberly who had kissed him under the mistletoe at Christmas, but then, that Kimberly wouldn't have broken his heart.

Tommy tried to shake off his somber thoughts; however, a sense of uneasiness remained--a feeling unconnected with his former girlfriend. That's when he became aware of the stillness.

"Uh, guys, has anyone else noticed that it's gotten awful quiet in here?" he queried. His words drew the others up short.

"What's going on?" Kim wondered, looking around in astonishment. The Youth Center was eerily silent. "Everyone has just stopped--like they're frozen or something."

"Precisely, former Pink Ranger."

"Who was that?" Adam murmured.

"Guys, I can't raise Zordon or Alpha," Tommy reported. He had been trying to reach the Power Chamber since he first noticed the odd phenomenon.

"Again, my doing, Zeo Ranger," came the disembodied voice. "Time displacement is one of my specialties. Quite simply, I have removed you from your world's time stream. Your mentor cannot be reached; in fact, he--along with the others in this happy gathering--will not be aware that you are even gone."

"Who are you? What do you want?" Tommy challenged.

"You may call me Amadan. What I want are the Zeo Rangers."

The seven exchanged concerned looks.

"You need not be worried about your powerless comrades. The former Pink and Blue Rangers are of no consequence as they have not been touched by the crystal's power. Only the Zeo Rangers concern me. The rest do not matter."

All at once, the room began to spin; it was like being in the eye of a whirlpool. Then, everything went black.

Chapter Three: We're Not in Kansas Anymore

Tommy groaned as consciousness returned. He felt the cool kiss of rock against his cheek. As he pushed himself up, he shook his head to clear away the wooziness. It took him a moment to realize that the blackness had less to do with a problem with his eyes than it had to do with the all-consuming darkness of his surroundings. He had a sense of openness--a large, airy space. A cave? Wherever he was, it was awfully chilly, and as he briskly rubbed his arms to get his circulation going, he realized just why it was so cold: he was naked.

Oh, man, he groaned silently as he took inventory of his missing belongings. It wasn't just his clothes, either. Communicator, Zeonizer, jewelry ... even the elastic band from his ponytail was gone. What had Amadan done to him?

Around him, he heard moans and groans ... the others were regaining consciousness.

"You guys all right?" Tommy queried. A chorus of "yeahs" and "I think sos" came back at him. He wondered if anyone else was in the same predicament he was. The thought made him grateful for the impenetrable darkness. "Is--uh--anyone else ... missing some things?"

"Some things? Try everything!" Rocky snapped indignantly, which pretty much summed up the others' responses.

"Even my glasses are missing."

"Billy? Is that you?" Tommy asked.

"Affirmative."

"I'm here, too," Kimberly chimed in. "I ... ow! Hey!"

"What's wrong?"

"I sat on a really sharp rock. That smarts!"

Tommy allowed himself to grin, knowing that no one else could see it. Kim's little outburst help alleviate some of the tension.

"What are you guys doing here?" Adam wondered.

"I thought Amadan said that you guys didn't matter," Tanya added.

"Apparently, one of my associates thought otherwise."

There was crackle of energy and a flash a light--blinding the Rangers as effectively as the darkness had. When their eyes adjusted, they saw a figure hovering in a column of light. He appeared humanoid; it was difficult to tell since a shimmering robe billowed about him. Broad shouldered, stern faced ... his features could have been chiseled out of stone. The heavy brow made the cold blue eyes seem all the more piercing; his nose appeared to have been sheered off, and the mouth was set in a hard line. His head was devoid of hair, save for a braided topknot.

"What is it with bald guys in tubes of light?" Rocky wisecracked softly.

"Where are we? Why have you brought us here?" Tommy demanded, wishing Rocky could be serious for a moment.

"You are in a dimension of my choosing; here, you have nothing but that with which you were born into your world. Your purpose: to prove your worthiness to wield the Zeo powers."

"Prove our worthiness?"

"You are mere children! The crystal belongs in the hands of true warriors; however, the crystal has chosen. The only way to sever your link to the power is by proving to the crystal that it has erred."

"You speak as if the Zeo crystal were sentient," Billy murmured.

"There is more to the crystal than you could possibly imagine, youngling," Amadan sneered.

"Why should we do anything you tell us?" Rocky demanded defiantly. "How do we know this isn't some sort of trick?"

"You do not, little Ranger. You do not have to do anything if you so choose; however, if you do nothing, you forfeit your claim to the Zeo Crystal--which is your only way home."

Although they could not see each other, the seven cast about as if exchanging worried looks.

"What do you guys think?" Adam queried.

"He sounds serious," Kat murmured.

"Trust me, Pink Ranger; I do not speak lightly when it comes to the Zeo Crystal. Whoever holds the crystal has access to one of the greatest powers in the universe. It cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of evil--or the unworthy."

"If you know we're Rangers, then you must know we'd never abuse the power," Tanya purported.

"That is what you must prove to the Keepers."

"All right, since we have no other choice," Tommy agreed reluctantly. "What do we have to do?"

"Simply survive the journey to the temple. If you are able to stand before Xia's Rising, all that was stripped from you will be restored, and you will be returned home."

With that, Amadan's image vanished, as did the column of light. However, the ring of stones at the base of the column continued to glow as if they had absorbed the heat and energy. They put off enough light to allow the Rangers to see. All huddled in the shadows just beyond the touch of the illumination; no one wanted to venture closer to the warmth.

"What do we do now?" Adam asked in an uncharacteristically small and timid voice. No one answered him, each Ranger lost in his or her own thoughts.

Kimberly raised her head at Adam's words. She looked about in the faint light trying to locate the others, trying to see if they were as afraid as she was. She waited. No one ventured to answer Adam; she thought that Tommy might do something--step forward, take charge. After all, he was team leader; however, he cowered like the rest of them in the darkness. Kim glanced around at the cavern and shivered. She didn't like it. She didn't mind caves, but only when she could see the exit. At least it was a large cave....

Somebody had to do something; they couldn't just sit there. Slowly, she released the hold her arms had around her knees and straightened her legs out; her muscles protested. She hadn't realized how tightly she had curled about herself. This wouldn't be the first time she felt like she had to take charge of a team. When Katie went down on the beam and the whole squad had lost heart, she had taken it upon herself to bring the team back up. She had done it any number of times during her training; however, this was a lot different than simply giving a pep talk.... The stakes were much higher.

Kim felt herself shaking. She couldn't do this ... she couldn't be the first one ... but if somebody didn't take the first step, they'd never find their way home. She remembered feeling this same fear when she stepped off the plane in Florida. She had been alone, facing a strange new place, yet she had somehow convinced herself to take that first step. Really, this situation wasn't all that different--naked and powerless on a strange world--but this time she wasn't alone. Taking a deep breath, Kim forced herself to her feet.

"What we do is get up off our bare butts, find the entrance to this cave, and see what kind of world Amadan has dumped us on," she said at last. She took a step towards the faint light of the glowing stones. She hoped her nervousness wasn't visible; she felt like she was shaking inside. She felt her teammates' eyes turning in her direction even though the light hadn't touched her yet.

"Kimberly?" Kat squeaked out in disbelief.

"We're not going to get your guys' Zeo powers back by sitting here in the dark. We have to go find that temple Amadan mentioned."

No one responded, so Kim pressed on. "I know you guys have no powers; we have no clothes or tools and have no idea where we are, but we can deal with this. We're Power Rangers; regardless of whether we have our powers or not, we still have whatever it was that Zordon saw in us that made him choose us as Rangers in the first place. We also have skills that have nothing to do with our Ranger powers; we're going to have to use them if we want to get out of here. The best thing we have going for us is that we're a team, and it's going to take all of us to get out of this mess."

Kim looked around expectantly. Silence. She felt like swearing. What was the matter with everyone? The more she spoke, the more her confidence grew, and the more she believed they could get through this mess if they just worked together. Emboldened by her pep talk, Kim stepped fully into the light. She felt everyone's' eyes on her. Let them stare. She had nothing to be ashamed of. Kim searched around, trying to penetrate the darkness beyond the circle of light, trying to determine who was sitting where. At last she found who she was looking for and crossed over to stand before him.

"Tommy, you're our most skilled fighter and our leader." She walked over to face the next person in the circle. "Billy, your knowledge doesn't all lie in the technical sciences; surely you know something about the natural sciences as well." She continued around, facing each person in turn.

"Tanya, Billy told me that you grew up on the savannas of Africa; I'll bet you have more experience with animals in the wild than any of us here, and Adam, didn't you once tell me that you enjoyed camping and fishing with your father? Your outdoor skills, in addition to your martial arts skills, will be a great help.

"Rocky, wasn't biology--especially botany--your favorite subject in school? Unless we're in the middle of a wasteland, there are bound to be lots of plants out there. Kat, you're a swimmer and diver; you could have gone to the Pan Globals yourself. If there are any rivers or lakes around here, I'm sure we'll need your talents, and what about skills you might have gained in the Outback? Did you ever go camping or rock climbing or something like that?

"As for myself, I can't imagine that being able to navigate a narrow beam of wood will come in all that handy, but I've a whole sash full of merit badges I earned as an Angel Scout. I'm bound to have learned something useful--like First Aid. What do you say, guys?"

"Everything you've said makes sense, Kim, but what about...." Kat began nervously.

"...our clothes?" Adam completed with a gulp.

Kim glanced down self-consciously; she had gotten so wrapped up in her speech that for a moment she had completely forgotten her state of undress. She blushed, but she made no move to retreat from the light or cover herself in any way. What was the point? They had already gotten an eyeful. "Look, we're all in the same boat. None of us has a stitch of clothing; Amadan stripped us of everything. Whether we have clothes on or not shouldn't matter; we're all friends--aren't we?" She swept her imploring gaze around the circle and observed that several of the others had nodded. She smile with relief.

"I'll be the first to admit that I'm probably going to be pretty curious, and I might stare--at first. Just as I'm sure the rest of you will, too. And I'm sure we're going to go through a lot of awkward moments and other embarrassments, but we can't let them keep us from functioning as a team." Determinedly, Kimberly crossed the circle of light and stood before Tommy once again. "Well, Tommy, are you going to lead us out of here?"

~*~*~

Tommy blinked in surprise as he suddenly found Kim standing before him. He blushed guiltily, realizing that he had been paying more attention to scoping her out than to what she was saying. He couldn't help it; this was like his wildest dream come true. He had always wondered what Kim would be like. They had experimented--a little, nothing more than heavy petting, some touching--through the safety of clothing. It seemed that whenever things got a little too far, one or the other of them would get nervous and pull back. Now.... Although he knew he shouldn't, Tommy found himself gazing at her more intently. He wasn't sure where to look first.

Perversely, his gaze was drawn to her belly button. It always drew his attention whenever it peeked out at him over the waistband of Kim's skirts and shorts. From there, his eyes usually traveled north first, to the swell of her breasts. They did so now, and his pulse quickened as he gazed on her petite mounds with their rosy buds. He wondered if they tasted as good as they looked; his fingers tingled with the memory of their softness. He never thought them too small--they were just right, a sweet handful.

From Kim's breasts, Tommy's gaze journeyed southward, savoring the curve of her hips and the flat of her stomach, but what captured his attention was the nest of light brown curls nestled between her legs. He had dreamed of exploring the treasure between her legs--of taking her, naked, into his arms ... their bodies coming together ... taking her innocence and giving her his own in exchange.... Tommy sighed. Oh, how he had dreamed of making love to Kimberly! But it was a dream that would never come true now. Perhaps someday with Kat.... Yet, even as he thought of Kat, he realized that he had never fantasized about being intimate with her the way he had with Kimberly. Maybe it was just too soon in their relationship.

Tommy stared at the hand Kim offered him, then he met her expectant gaze. Her smile softened somewhat (had she realized how intently he had been staring?) but there was still steel in her eyes. Her determination impressed him; how could she just stand there, knowing that they were all staring at her? Her words ... she was right. They couldn't let a little matter of clothes keep them from recovering their powers. As Tommy accepted her hand, he felt ashamed that he, the team leader, needed to be coaxed out the shadows just like everyone else. He should have been the one to come forward; the team was his responsibility. Yet Kim shouldered that burden as if she had been doing it all along.

Kim held her breath as Tommy took her hand and stood up. Although she tried not to, she let her eyes roam over his body. She always wondered what he looked like naked. She had dreamed of what it would be like to peel his clothes off and run her hands all over his body. They had come close to taking that next step in their relationship a couple of times, but the emotions ... sensations ... they had been too intense and she had to pull back. She sighed, recalling the fantasies she had about making love to Tommy. And now, here he was--more beautiful than she had ever imagined. She drank in the sight of him, from his flowing brown hair and soulful eyes to his smooth muscular chest down to his rather prominent manhood. Kim did her best not to stare, but she couldn't help herself. Tommy was quite ... well-endowed, but she had known that he was. How many times had she glimpsed the fascinating bulge in his uniform? Or what about the time she had gotten brave enough to touch him--through his jeans? She found the sight of his rampant anatomy puzzling, intimidating, and exciting all at once. It was so hard to resist the urge to reach out for just a little touch.... She took a deep breath and let it out slowly; she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She wondered if anyone else could hear it.

You're being silly, she chided herself, trying to calm herself down. So she had finally gotten to see him. It wasn't like she could act on those old fantasies--not with Tommy, not any longer. She had given that up of her own free will. Tears stung the corners of her eyes. She forced them back. Now was not the time for mourning over old dreams. However, as her gaze to return to Tommy's face, she noticed his gaze roaming her body.

She felt a blush heating her cheeks and butterflies churning in her stomach. What did you expect? He's merely curious, just like you. That made sense. Unless Kim seriously misjudged both Tommy and Kat, she doubted they had ever done anything more intimate than exchange kisses. She and Tommy had dated for nearly two years and hadn't gone all the way. Tommy and Kat had been dating for what--a couple of months? And she had always wanted him to see her naked ... she wondered if he liked what he saw--not that it really mattered any more.

For a moment, the two stood face to face, neither moving or speaking. Their mutual inspection of the other had taken only a few moments. Almost as one, the two blushed and demurely lowered their eyes. Then, they seemed to recall themselves and the matter at hand.

"Kim's right," Tommy said at last, tearing his eyes away and seeking out the others. "We can't let Amadan keep us down." He was about to continue with his own speech when a sharp crack filled the air. The sound was right behind Kimberly, and at the noise, she shrieked and jumped--right into Tommy's arms. Beyond the circle of light, someone issued a startled cry, and someone else laughed. Tommy held onto Kimberly for a moment, noting how warm and soft her body felt against his, and he detected a faint trembling.

"What in the world...?" Kim grumbled, extricating herself from Tommy's embrace. She felt foolish for letting a little noise startle her. She felt herself blushing as she caught the merry glimmer in Tommy's eyes. Hearing the others' laughter made her cheeks burn even hotter.

"Knock it off, Rocky," Tanya chided. "Like you didn't jump, too."

Kim saw that one of the glowing rocks had split in two, and she felt the heat rising from it. She also noted that it gave off a stronger light.

"I thought Amadan had done something to make the rocks glow," she murmured as she stooped down to investigate, "but the light seems to becoming from the inside."

"A property of the rock?" Tommy wondered as Kim showed it to him.

"We need to find out," she agreed. "We might be able to use these on our trek to the temple. Billy, what do you make of it?" She collected the stone and approached Billy. She held the rock out to him, but she wasn't close enough for him to take it from her. He was going to have to stand up and step into the light if he wished to examine her little mystery.

Billy blinked several times and swallowed with difficulty. He was annoyed at himself for his reaction. He had been guilty of staring ... no doubt the same applied to the others. Of course, it was a little more difficult since his vision wasn't what it used to be. Still, he could make Kim out well enough. He really shouldn't have been so overwhelmed. After all, this wasn't the first time he had gazed upon Kimberly without clothing; however, that one time had been from a slightly different perspective, and the woman standing before him was a far cry from the girl whose body he inhabited for twenty-four hours. Even so, the affect she was having on him now was much like the one she had on him back then. Trini may have been the girl that warmed his heart, but Kimberly had been the girl who fired his hormones.

Kimberly was waiting. So was Tommy. Billy could feel the others staring in his general direction, waiting to see if he would be drawn out. He was nervous. It wasn't that he was ashamed of his physical condition; he had worked at developing his body over the last couple of years--a necessity brought about by his role as a Power Ranger. Still, developing his mind had always taken precedence and.... Quit over-analyzing the situation. You're scared and embarrassed, just like the others. You may be a scientist and a former Ranger but you're also a teenager who has never been naked in front of a girl before.

"Billy?" Tommy prompted.

He was also a senior member of the team.

"I'll take a look, but I'm not sure if it will do much good, considering my impaired vision," he responded. Summoning his courage, Billy stood up.

"Just do your best, Billy," Kim said encouragingly. She was glad Billy really couldn't see the once over she was giving him. It had been a long time since the mind switching incident, and Billy had certainly filled out since those days. She eyed the lines of his musculature--and other aspects of his anatomy--with new appreciation. A grin tugged at the corners of her mouth; she was happy to note that he still had the cute, golden brown hair that....

"From what I can tell, there are a lot of crystalline structures in the stone," Billy began, his words cutting through Kimberly's speculations. He may not have been able to see her stare, but he had certainly perceived it. His blush remained undiminished. "It is possible that they would allow the stone to absorb and retain heat."

"If we set them out in the sun during the day, would they store the energy and give it off at night?" Kim wondered.

"Theoretically. I can't be certain without further examination."

"You'll get your chance once we get out of here," Tommy assured him, patting him on the shoulder. Then, as one, the three turned to the next Ranger crouching in the darkness.

Tanya realized that it was her turn. She supposed she could have stepped forward without being asked, although she doubted she could have been the first. She did not mind her state of undress so much, and it wasn't the first time she had been in a co-ed gathering of naked people. She smiled at the memory of the swimming hole. There had been a whole bunch of them ranging in ages from eight to twelve. It had been extraordinarily hot that summer, and skinny dipping had felt so deliciously wonderful. She had been a scrawny little thing, and none of the guys had been nearly as interesting as the two standing in the dim light before her. Tommy came as no surprise, but Billy ... she was going to have to reassess her evaluation of him--he had such a cute tush!

Kimberly offered her a hand, which she accepted without qualm. Even if she wasn't self-conscious about her body, she still would have come forward without a fuss simply for Kim's sake. Coming forward had taken some nerve, and the way she appealed to everyone's sense of the team ... it was as if she knew exactly what to say.

"If you can do it, I can do it," Tanya murmured quietly.

"Thanks," Kim replied

Tanya looked up at Billy and Tommy, taking note of their furtive glances. They were trying to be casual about it but failed miserably. Actually, their interest was rather flattering. Tanya met their eyes and boldly swept her own gaze over their physiques--which seemed to unsettle them. She smiled mischievously.

"So, who's next?" she asked Kim. She followed Kim's stare and noted her frown. Adam had been next in the rotation, but he wasn't where he had been. The meant Rocky was next. Tanya's grin widened. "Okay, Rocky, your turn."

"Huh?"

~*~*~

Rocky felt as if he had died and gone to Heaven. He couldn't believe it. Not but a few feet away from him stood Kimberly--naked. Even though he had known she was taken, there had been times when he had seriously scoped her out (always careful to make sure Tommy never caught him--he didn't want to get his butt kicked). Kim was a very attractive girl, and those pink tights ... well, what guy could resist? He looked long and hard--until he thought his hormones couldn't take it any longer. Then, just when he thought it couldn't get any better, Tanya stood up, too. Oh man...! She had such a sweet ass--so nice and round, great legs too! When she turned, Rocky had almost been reduced to a blob of Jell-O. She was more stacked than Kimberly. What he wouldn't give to take one of those chocolate colored globes into his mouth and....

"Okay, Rocky, your turn."

"Huh?"

Reality came crashing in quickly. Tanya and Kim, two beautiful naked women, were standing in front of him, beckoning for him to come forward, and Rocky felt himself inching backwards.

No way!

Who was he fooling? Yes, the girls were attractive, and yes, he was a healthy adolescent male ... and the thought of joining them in the light scared the hell out of him. The problem? He just didn't know what to do--not that he'd do anything. They were his friends and teammates. He couldn't do anything with them; they were like family! He just didn't know how to act--what to say--anything! Then there were Tommy and Billy ... watching and waiting, and Rocky was seized by a fit of self-consciousness. There was no way that he was in Tommy's league, and Billy ... he looked like he really didn't care whether he had clothes on or not.

"Come on, Rocky; it's okay," Kim said gently.

"We promise not to laugh," Tanya murmured.

That's what he was afraid of.

"Tanya!" Kim scolded her, bopping her on the arm. "That's so mean."

"I'm only teasing, Rocky," Tanya continued apologetically. "Really."

Rocky swallowed hard, and screwing up his courage, reached for Tanya's hand. "I guess you just can't bear to let a gorgeous guy like me out of your sight," Rocky joked in reply. That's it; keep up the jokes so she won't know how scared you really are.

"Han Solo you're not," Tanya snorted.

Rocky waited anxiously as he saw her eyes slowly travel the length of his body.

"Not bad at all," she murmured at last. There was a touch of warmth in her expression as she offered him a tiny smile, and Rocky slowly let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

If Rocky was nervous about being brought out of the shadows, then Adam was completely terrified. He continued backing away as Kim hunted for him. He couldn't do it; he'd be ill. He just knew it. Some part of his mind knew he was being ridiculous. They couldn't sit around in a dark cave forever, but the thought of having to step out in front of Kimberly and Tanya (man, were they beautiful!) was more than he could bear. It would have been bad enough with just the guys, but he could have handled that; however, there was no way he could with the girls....

~*~*~

Kat scooted further into the shadows as Tommy stepped closer to where she had been sitting.

"Come on, Kat," he called out gently. "It's okay." He flashed her one of his heart-melting smiles and extended a hand to her.

She wanted to take his hand ... really, she did, but she just could not make herself. She didn't understand her reaction. Normally, she was more outgoing; she had never considered herself timid or shy, and yet, she could not come forward.

"Tommy, let me try with Kat. You see if you can find Adam," Kim recommended, resting her hand lightly on Tommy's arm.

"Sure."

Kat observed that small exchange enviously. Even though the two were no longer together, they still interacted as if they were. It also brought home the realization that the two probably were already comfortable with seeing each other naked. She tried not to think of the sort of things Tommy and Kim had shared; it would only make her jealous and miserable. She had to remind herself that she and Tommy hadn't been dating for very long. There'd be time for them, too--eventually. It's just that she wanted those things now.

Then why are you running away from Tommy? Go to him. He asked you to.

Still, she couldn't do it. She was so afraid to step out there alone ... to feel everyone's eyes on her ... and finding her wanting ... and with Kimberly there.... Kat continued to back away.

~*~*~

"Aw, come on, Adam," Rocky called out brightly. "Look, it's not so bad."

Easy for you to say, Adam glowered.

"Take it easy on him, Rocky; he's just a little bashful," Tanya said soothingly.

A little? At least Kim was no longer pursuing him, but if he didn't work up the nerve to come forward on his own, one of the others was liable to pull him out bodily--that'd be even more mortifying than just standing up because the others would laugh. However, it was easier said than done.

Come on, it couldn't have been easy for Kim to stand up there first--man, how had she managed that! The others are all out there. They're all naked, and everyone's already stared at everyone else. Just get it over with.

Adam drew in several deep breaths, trying to keep his courage from failing. Just as he was about to move, he felt a touch at his back.

"Oh!"

"Kat?"

"I'm sorry; I...."

"No, it's okay, really...."

Since the darkness was no longer as total as it had been, the two were able to just barely make out the other. They looked directly at each other briefly, then looked away. It wasn't like they could see each other. It was simply knowing that they were touching and they were naked and....

"Well, it looks like I've finally cornered you two," Kim murmured softly. Both Adam and Kat glanced over at her frantically. She knelt down and offered them both a sympathetic smile. "It's all right, guys. I know it isn't easy, but you have to come out of the shadows sooner or later. Why don't you two step on out together? That way, no one has to be the last one."

As Kim backed away, Adam snuck a peek at Kat. The last one ... that'd be almost worse than being the first one. At least as the first one, you couldn't see when the others were staring at you.

"What do you think, Kat?" Adam mumbled, his throat dry.

"She has a point," Kat agreed.

She reached out, fishing for Adam's hand. Nervously, he took it and realized that she was trembling. That was okay; he was kind of shaking, too. The two timidly climbed to their feet. Once they joined their friends, they separated, Adam drifting off towards Tanya and Rocky and Kat towards Tommy.

"How lucky can a girl get?" Tanya sighed teasingly as she better appraised her friend. He was as well muscled and proportioned as any of the others, and she just loved his dark ringlets. Adam scowled at her and blushed furiously. He was so cute when he blushed!

"Get used to it, buddy," Rocky warned, elbowing him in the ribs.

"Hey, Kat," Tommy greeted his girlfriend.

"Hey, Tommy."

Adam glanced over to where the couple exchanged their greeting. His eyes skimmed over Kat's flawless fair skin, long legs and soft, full body.

"You look pretty remarkable," he heard Tommy murmur.

"You think so?" was Kat's demure reply.

Adam sighed. Definitely. Then, he felt a hand on his arm. He looked back at Tanya.

"Don't think about it," she said softly.

~*~*~

"So, are we ready to get out of here?" Kim asked suddenly. The others turned their attention back to her.

"There is the small matter of discovering in which direction the exit lies," Billy reminded her.

"Too bad we don't have a candle or a lighter or something," Rocky mused.

"Right. If there was a breeze of any kind, it would make the flame flicker," Adam concluded.

"You guys, I think I feel a breeze," Kat said softly.

"You can?" Tommy queried.

"I could have sworn I felt something moving my hair."

Kat's white gold locks were the finest of the group.

"The rest of us will be quiet. Turn slowly in a circle until you feel the air currents in your hair," Billy recommended.

Everyone held their breath as Kat closed her eyes and tried to relax enough to let herself feel the faint wind.

"There!" she declared at last, pointing off into the darkness.

"She's right; I can see the strands of her hair moving," Tanya confirmed.

"Way to go, Kat," Rocky cheered.

"Ready to lead us out of here?" Kim asked of Tommy. All eyes fell on their leader.

"You bet. Let's go see what's out there."

Chapter Four: Confessions

Hand in hand, the seven carefully made their way through the darkness, following the faint breeze. Although they carried the glowing stones with them, the light the rocks provided did not penetrate far into the blackness. But for the grip they had on each other's hands, more than one person would have fallen over the hidden obstacles in their path. After what seemed like an eternity, there was a flicker of light in the distance.

"Man, my toes are happy to see that!" Rocky remarked, grimacing as he stubbed his toe yet again.

They were all happy to see daylight. In spite of their gradual approach, when they reached the mouth of the cave, they had to shield their eyes against the brilliant sunlight. When at last their eyes adjusted, the Rangers found themselves looking down on a lush, tropical forest. Greenery and riotous colors spread out before them as far as the eye could see. Laced through the verdant tapestry was a shimmering ribbon of silvery water. Not too far distant loomed the cone of a volcano. The heat and humidity enveloped them smotheringly, and the air was alive with the sounds of jungle life.

"It's beautiful," Kat murmured. She clutched Tommy's arm tighter.

"And deadly, judging by Amadan's estimation of our ability to survive it," Billy reminded them all.

"Some of those plants look huge--even from up here," Rocky said, awestruck.

"So, what do we do first?" Tanya queried.

"Get our bearings then start looking for the temple," Tommy answered. "Any idea which direction is which, Billy?"

"At the moment, no. The sun appears to be directly overhead," Billy replied, squinting skyward. "What I wouldn't give for a compass. I'll need the rest of the day to track the sun's position and part of the evening to chart the other celestial orientations."

"I doubt the stars will be the same as the ones from home," Rocky snorted.

"Does it really matter what direction we're headed in?" Adam asked. "We don't even know where Amadan's temple is."

"One of those little details he neglected to mention," Tanya added.

"East," Kim said softly.

"What makes you say that?" Tommy wondered.

"Just a feeling.... Amadan said we'd get everything back if we were able to stand before Xia's Rising. What if Xia's Rising refers to sunrise at the temple or something like that?" Kim proposed.

"A logical deduction," Billy said in support. "The sun has been a prominent figure of worship in many cultures."

"So we just travel in the direction of the rising sun?" Rocky asked dubiously.

"What if that's the wrong direction?" Adam added.

"If it is, we simply try a different one," Kim said with a shrug. "We can't just stand here debating what to do."

"Tommy?" Kat queried.

"Kim's right," Tommy agreed. "We have to do something, and east makes about as much sense as any direction at this point. Let's camp here for the rest of the day so Billy can make his calculations."

Billy stepped over to the ledge and peered into the foliage below. Then he glanced back at the cliff face. "Up there, I think. I need an open stretch of ground that won't be obstructed by evening--or morning--shadows."

"Wouldn't it be wiser to head down to the ground? We're going to have to go down there eventually," Rocky wondered as he glanced at the thick vegetation below.

"True, but for now we know the cave is a relatively safe place, and it will provide us with shelter for the night," Kim pointed out.

"And we'll be able to use the cliff as a point of reference while we do some scouting," Tommy added. "We need to find food and water...."

"... clothes...." Rocky slipped in for good measure.

"Somehow, I have the feeling that the only clothes we're going to find are ones we make ourselves," Tanya said.

"The river doesn't appear to be too far from here," Adam observed.

"Why don't you and Rocky head down to the river for the water," Tommy directed.

"And just what are we supposed to bring it back in?" Rocky wondered.

"Maybe you could find some gourds or something," Kat ventured.

"Here's another possibility," Kim said. She disappeared into the shadows of the cave and returned with a couple of the now-dark glow stones. The rock halves resembled shallow bowls. "They may not hold much, but they'll do until we find something better."

"Not a bad idea," Tommy agreed. "Okay, that takes care of that. Why don't...."

"Why don't Tanya, Kat and I work on finding the food," Kim suggested.

"Perfect," Tanya chimed in. "It's been a while, but it won't take long for me to remember all the stuff I learned about watching the animals. They know this environment a lot better than we do. They'll know which plants are safe, which animals to avoid and which ones to eat and so forth."

"That's a morbid thought," Rocky complained.

"You want to eat, don't you?" Tanya challenged.

"Maybe we can find some fish in the river," Adam said, amused by his friend's reaction. Rocky was not much of a camper. "That is, if we can figure out how to catch them with no equipment."

"So what will you do, Tommy? Join Adam and Rocky or come along with us?" Kat wondered.

"Maybe Tommy should work on finding stuff to make a fire," Billy recommended.

"If we find anything, we're going to have to find a way to cook it," Tanya concurred.

"Sounds good to me. Let's get going, guys," Tommy declared.

As the groups started to break up, Kimberly tapped Tommy on the shoulder and motioned for him to step away from the others. "Maybe you'd better stick close to Billy," Kim said delicately. She really didn't want the others to hear.

"Why?"

"I'm sure he could use a hand with his sundial or whatever it is he's constructing, and he could help you find some flint or whatever for starting the fire." She fixed Tommy with a piercing gaze, which he failed to grasp. She was trying to be tactful, but it wasn't working.

"What Kimberly means is that I'm going to need a good pair of eyes," Billy remarked ruefully as he joined their huddle.

"I'm sorry, Billy; it's just that I remember how bad your eyes are," she murmured, blushing. She hadn't wanted to hurt Billy's feelings by bringing it up.

"Oh." Tommy hadn't considered that Billy's lack of eyewear was going to be that much of a problem. "How bad are they?"

"Pretty bad, I'm afraid." He could have given Tommy the specifics, but the numbers wouldn't have meant much to him. "This is going to be a major liability on our trek."

"It'll be all right, Billy. We'll find a way to deal with it," Tommy assured him. The three looked up to find the others staring at them expectantly.

"What are you guys waiting for--an invitation?" Rocky wisecracked.

"All right. Let's all meet back here by dusk at the latest," Tommy directed, and the three groups set about their tasks.

~*~*~

"It appears that the littlest ranger has already proven her worth."

Green flecked eyes looked up from the image in the viewing globe and glanced back at the forbidding presence that hovered just beyond the globe's illumination. Dulcea, Master Warrior of the planet Phaedos, regarded Amadan with a satisfied smirk.

"I did not ask you to meddle in my affairs," Amadan glowered.

"Then you should not have summoned me."

"I did not."

"If not you, then who?"

Amadan had no answer for her. He spun away from the pictures in the orb and strode purposefully from the chamber.

Dulcea watched him, her mouth drawn into a tight line. Collecting her staff and pulling her cloak more closely about her shoulders, she followed the First of the Temple. She believed Amadan when he said that he hadn't summoned her; he may have been pompous and self-absorbed, but she had never known him to prevaricate, at least, not with her. Besides, she could readily believe that he wouldn't have wanted anyone else from the Council knowing what he was about. They were sure to disapprove--as she did.

"You should have left well enough alone," Amadan sneered.

"I should have left well enough alone? You are the one who kidnapped Zordon's Rangers and transported them here just because you did not think them fit to wield the Zeo Powers."

To Dulcea, it was clear that Amadan's thought processes in this matter were clouded; he was too close to the issue. She had arrived at the temple to find Amadan's machinations already in motion. The flow of time had been suspended; had Amadan not created solar interference to disrupt Zordon's sensors, the Ranger's mentor would surely have detected the time disturbance.

"You should thank me," Dulcea remarked as she followed him through the corridors. She wondered just how much Amadan's actions were governed by his concern for the crystal (which often bordered on the obsessive) and how much of them were born of his old rivalry with Zordon. "Your solar storm will not distract Zordon for long. Once he realizes that the time stream has been tampered with, he will discover that his Rangers are missing. Had Billy and Kimberly been left behind, he would have uncovered your involvement a lot sooner--and he will find you out, Amadan. Do not be deluded into thinking otherwise."

Amadan grunted noncommittally, and Dulcea sighed. That had not been her reason for transporting the two former Rangers, but it was the only reason Amadan would comprehend. Dulcea understood why Zordon's Rangers--past and present--had been so effective and why it was not unthinkable for the crystal to have chosen the young warriors as its champions. Zordon's protégé's were truly a team. Superior fire power and brute strength were not enough in the battle against the dark forces. They needed to be tempered with intellect and heart. It was a truth that eluded Amadan.

If Zordon's Rangers were to survive the jungle, they would need all the elements of their team to survive. When Xia had constructed the temple and the jungle in the dimensional pocket, she had created this world to confound the forces of evil. The spells which shielded the dimension allowed nothing that was not of this world save living beings to pass through the protective barrier. The shield could not differentiate between good or evil--it stripped all who would pass through--but beings of evil intent would be without their weapons; they would have to survive the primitive jungle long enough to re-build their devices of destruction, and the jungle--stocked with all manner of flora and fauna from throughout the cosmos--was unforgiving. The Rangers faced a daunting challenge in making it to the temple, but Dulcea would do all that she could to aid them in their mentor's stead. She owed Zordon that much.

Amadan continued on into Xia's Rising, and Dulcea followed. However, the two elders of the temple were brought up short by the brilliance that flooded the chamber. On the dais, a column of light enveloped the pedestal, and upon it rested the Zeo Crystal.

"By the old gods!" Dulcea gasped. The crystal--here? How was that possible? Surely Zordon wouldn't have sent it.

"Do you know what this means?" Amadan queried in an awed whisper. He turned and caught Dulcea by her shoulders. It took every ounce of self control she possessed not to throw him off. Battle instincts died hard. "It means I am right. Its presence validates my belief that the Rangers must be tested!"

Amadan released her, and Dulcea watched as he continued on his way, his carriage reflecting a new level of self-righteousness. He stopped suddenly, as if struck by a thought, and turned to face her once more.

"I trust, now, that you will not interfere further in this matter." Then, he was gone.

Dulcea looked up to the dais. Could you not have let the crystal remain with Zordon? Amadan did not need any more provocation than he already had, she silently petitioned whatever force had brought the crystal home.

... you will not interfere.... Amadan's self-assured words echoed in Dulcea's mind. He was right. She could not interfere since the Rangers had left the cave. By all rights, Amadan should have been unable to meddle as well; if it was to be a fair testing, he would leave the Rangers to the jungle, but Dulcea knew that Amadan had spent eons mastering his control over the wilds beyond the temple. If there was the slightest sign that the Rangers might succeed, he would intervene. She would simply have to cancel out whatever forces Amadan set in motion. There were other ways to help without directly interfering.

~*~*~

"You know, you never realize just how intimate interpersonal contact can be until you remove the thin barrier of clothing," Billy observed as he reached for Tommy's proffered hand. The two had succeeded in climbing to the top of the cliff. The foot and hand holds had been few, but somehow the two had managed. Still, the heat and humidity had taken their toll; however, as they gratefully collapsed on the grassy plateau, a blessedly cool breeze sprang up.

"This is going to be worse than showering in gym class," Tommy agreed.

"It won't be so bad once we become accustomed to our state of undress. We should be sufficiently acclimated in a few days."

"I just hope everyone adjusts all right. I was really worried about Adam and Kat back there; I knew Adam was really shy, but I didn't think Kat was."

"Not shy, merely self-conscious. I suppose we all were to some degree." Having caught his second wind, Billy scrambled to his feet and squinted at his surroundings. "This patch of clay should do nicely. Now for a few sticks and stones...."

"Makes me think of the Flintstones," Tommy snickered. That drew a grin from Billy as well. Tommy paused a moment to take in the view; it was even more awe-inspiring than it had been from the opening of the cave. "This place is incredible."

"Wish I could see it better," Billy murmured. He absently wandered over to a green and orange blur; as he drew closer he could make out the shape of the flower. "Whoever was responsible for my presence would have been better off leaving me home."

"Just because you can't see too well doesn't mean you can't contribute," Tommy said. "You're still the smartest one here."

Billy just sort of grunted, and Tommy busied himself with looking for potential kindling.

"Well, Kimberly has certainly already proven her worthiness to be here," Billy continued. "I was most impressed with the way she stepped forward in the cave."

"So was I. I never realized she had it in her. I can't believe she was able to stand there in front of all of us like that...."

" ... and the way she drew the rest of us out, playing up each of our strengths ... that look she gave me--I didn't dare refuse."

"I thought you said you couldn't see," Tommy remarked with a grin.

"I saw that well enough." Billy shook his head. "There's some pretty serious steel under that cute exterior."

"You got that right," Tommy murmured, closing his eyes as he recalled the image of Kim standing in the faint light. "I'm glad she acknowledged the fact that we'd all be curious; I tried not to, but I think I did more staring than listening--and not just at Kimberly. Tanya and Kat were pretty awesome, too."

"All three are very attractive women," Billy concurred. Both of them sighed heavily and realized that their hormones were getting the better of them.

"And I thought keeping things under control while we're in uniform was bad! This is going to be murder," Tommy said ruefully. "The girls are lucky; they don't have to deal with hard-ons."

"I'm sure that they will have their own particular difficulties," Billy added with a smile. "We'd better get busy. It'd be best if I could start my chart while the sun is still overhead."

"Right."

They set to work. Billy's search for the requisite paraphernalia led him deep into the thick foliage; although he tried to be careful, the dense leaves and his impaired vision made it impossible to watch the path. A gnarled root tripped Billy up, and he landed in a patch of riotous purple and pink blossoms.

"You okay?" Tommy called out, hearing Billy's mutters.

"Nothing is injured but my pride," Billy responded as he worked his way out of the bushes. "I ... hey! My eyes!"

"Billy!" Tommy hurried over and found Billy on his knees, his hands over his eyes.

"What happened?"

"The flowers ... the fuchsia colored ones ... sprayed something in my face...." Billy groaned.

"Geez, and there's no water up here," Tommy muttered. No water to flush them out or anything to wipe them with.

"It doesn't sting--I was merely caught unawares." Billy's eyes watered heavily, his body trying to clear the offending material on its own.

"Are you going to be all right?"

"I think so, there doesn't appear to be any dam...." Billy's words died in his throat as he wiped his eyes clear.

"What is it?" Tommy wondered, startled by the expression of amazement on Billy's face.

"My vision ... it's ... clear!"

"What?"

"My eyesight is perfectly normal!"

"But how...?"

"I don't know ... perhaps something in the pollen.... I have no explanation for it, but I can see now."

~*~*~

In the jungle below, off to the right of the cliff, Adam and Rocky made their way through the thick vegetation towards the river.

"This place is incredible," Adam murmured in appreciation. "I've never seen anything like it."

"Some of these plants look familiar, but most of them I don't think I've ever seen in any

botany book," Rocky concurred. He warily eyed a fallen leaf that was nearly as big as he was.

The two trudged on for several more minutes in silence, then, they came to a break in the trees. Before them glistened the liquid silver of the river.

"All right! Last one in is a...." Rocky began. He started forward, but Adam held him back. "What's wrong? A swim would sure feel good right about now."

"I know, but we'd better not rush into things. We don't know anything about the current or what sort of fish live here...."

"You have a point," Rocky conceded. "I wouldn't want to wind up swimming in a school of piranha or anything like that."

The two approached at a more sedate pace, keeping their eyes open for any animals that might be nearby. The coast seemed clear. Adam knelt on the bank and scooped up a handful of water.

"Man, that tastes good," he sighed. Rocky dropped down beside him to slake his thirst. When the two had drunk their fill, they sat alongside the watery ribbon to catch their breath.

"So, what do you think of the mess we're in this time?" Rocky wondered as he daringly dipped his toes into the cool wetness. He felt something brush his foot, and he quickly pulled it out to make sure all his toes were still intact.

"I'd rather face Zedd, Rita and Mondo all at once," Adam replied.

Rocky laughed. "I don't know; it's not so bad. At least we have the girls to look at." Adam just scowled at him. "Think of it, alone in a tropical paradise with three gorgeous, naked babes! It's every guy's dream come true."

"Those 'naked babes' just so happen to be our friends, and one of them is Tommy's girlfriend," Adam reminded him.

"So Kat's off limits. There's still Tanya and Kimberly."

"Either of which could knock you up side the head if you tried anything funny."

"Spoil sport."

"This isn't funny, Rocky. We don't have our powers or anything. We're out in the middle of a jungle we know nothing about. Any one of us could get hurt ... this isn't like a weekend camping trip."

"I know that, Adam," Rocky said, suddenly serious. He picked up a small rock and tossed it into the water. He glanced over at his long time friend. The fear was plain in Adam's face, and for a moment, Rocky let his own guard down, allowing Adam to see his own concern. "If we stick together, we'll be just fine. We'll reclaim our powers and make it back home."

Adam nodded, appreciating Rocky's gesture of openness. "I guess I'm still stressing out. I mean, why did Amadan have to take our clothes? I'm not all that comfortable around girls when I'm--and they're--dressed. I wanted to die when Kimberly came searching for me to drag me out of the shadows."

"I wanted to come when she first stood up," Rocky replied with a shake of his head. It had been a pretty powerful moment. "I can't believe she had the nerve to do that!"

"I guess we should be thankful that she did have the nerve, otherwise we'd still be sitting back in the cave," Adam murmured. "Kim's changed a lot since going to Florida." Another thoughtful silence settled over the two. "Come on, we'd better figure out a way to get the water back to camp. The rocks will be fine for transporting the water, but we'll never be able to get them back up the cliff."

"I wonder if any of those humongous leaves would hold water," Rocky mused. He scrambled over to where some of the larger fronds lay on the ground.

"Too bad there aren't any...."

"Hey, take a look at this," Rocky said suddenly.

"What is it?"

"This bright red thing on this plant. I thought it was a giant flower or berry or something, but up close it looks like a...."

"... sponge," Adam finished. The two traded grins and worked to pry the porous blob loose. Once their prize was free, they hauled it over to the river and dipped it in. Sure enough, it greedily soaked up the liquid.

"Man, this is heavy," Rocky groaned, nearly dropping the weighty orb.

"Hang on just a bit longer. I'll get one of those leaves you mentioned to wrap it in; that way we won't lose as much," Adam directed. Soon, their precious bundle was ready to be carried back to the cliff.

"It'll still be a bitch getting this up to the cave," Rocky pointed out.

"But easier than the stones."

"True."

Adam was about to step off when he realized that Rocky was still standing by the side of the water looking off in the distance thoughtfully. "What is it?"

"Just something ... did you ever wonder what was under those pink tights?" Rocky asked, his tone devoid of playful banter.

Adam didn't need Rocky to explain the reference. He felt himself blushing--a more eloquent answer than the nod of the head he managed. He had definitely wondered about those pink tights, too--both pair.

"Well, now we know what was under them. Damn!" Rocky laughed. Before Adam could offer a comment, Rocky jumped into the cool water.

"What are you doing?" Adam sputtered as Rocky resurfaced.

"There's no way I'm going back to camp with my hormones obviously in an uproar."

Adam considered his friend's words and his own state of excitement. He had to concede Rocky's point.

"You haven't run into any piranha yet, have you?" Adam gulped as he also jumped in.

~*~

Kim, Tanya and Kat started off in the opposite direction from Adam and Rocky in their search for food.

"Well, this isn't quite home, but it's not too bad," Tanya remarked. The other two knew she was referring to Africa and not Angel Grove. "I never figured that I'd have the chance to use some of the skills Ashala taught me again."

"We all have skills which we've forgotten about," Kim said. "We'll probably discover lots of things about ourselves as well as each other on this little adventure."

"It's so overgrown, there could be animals all around us and we'd never see them," Kat murmured.

"Just stand still and be quiet for a moment; you'll see," Tanya suggested. The three stopped and listened. Pretty soon they were able to make out the sounds of creatures all around them even though the animals themselves were invisible.

Kim strained her eyes to pick out anything useful and detected a movement in the leaves near her feet. Slowly she crouched down for a better look; she didn't want to startle whatever it was. Almost without thinking, she reached out to part the concealing leaves. Suddenly a frightened quadruped dashed out of the cover, knocking Kimberly over.

"Here," Tanya said, offering her a hand. Both she and Kat were smiling with amusement, but they had the decency not to laugh.

"Thanks."

"It left a pretty clear trail; let's see where it takes us."

Tanya took the lead, and the trio tracked the small fur ball to what amounted to a briar patch. Thick gnarled branches covered with wickedly long thorns and blade-like leaves occupied a break in the trees. The creature reached for one of the barbed, tennis ball-sized pods that clustered among the leaves. Cracking the hard shell open with a claw, it proceeded to scoop out the juicy inside and eat its fill.

"I never would have figured there'd be something edible inside something that looked so awful," Kat commented.

"Me either," Kim agreed. When their furry guide took off, she stepped forward collect the discarded shell. She dipped her finger into pulp then popped it into her mouth. "Not bad."

"I told you, the animals know," Tanya said.

"Ow!" Kat yelped, having stuck her finger on a prickly pod. "These things are sharp."

"We're going to need claws ourselves if we're going to get these things cracked open," Kim sighed, having stuck her finger as well.

"There are plenty of rocks at the cave to use as nutcrackers," Tanya mused.

"Why don't we gather up a bunch of these, and then we can see what else is out here," Kim recommended.

As the girls set to harvesting the sticker-pods, Tanya noticed that Kim seemed particularly withdrawn. While she and Kat chatted and laughed amongst themselves, Kim pretty much kept to herself. Tanya elbowed Kat and nodded towards Kim, a question in her eyes. Kat shrugged, and Tanya realized that Kat wasn't exactly at ease around Kimberly. Well, that was only natural all things considered, but they couldn't afford to have the two at odds. It wasn't good for the team.

"Are you all right, Kim?" Tanya wondered.

"Yeah, just tired. It's been a really long day," Kim sighed, offering Tanya an apologetic smile.

"You had already added three hours to your day with the plane trip home, and now this..." Kat ventured at Tanya's prompting. Really, she didn't know what to say to Kim. When Kim left, they had parted as friends, but now....

"I wanted to thank you for what you did back in the cave--coming forward, getting us off our butts and all," Tanya continued. "That took some doing."

Kim shrugged and answered, "Somebody needed to; it might as well have been me. It was no big deal really...." It was either that or have a screaming fit. "I kind of did the same thing at the training center. Whenever somebody was down, I was the one picking them up. Whenever the team needed something, I seemed to be the one doing it."

"I don't know that I could have been the first," Tanya said.

"I'm sure you could have, if that's what the team really needed," Kim assured her.

"Tommy couldn't, and he's team leader. You had to coax him out just like the rest of us."

"Well...."

"Tommy shouldn't have been too hard to convince, since you and he had...." Kat began, her words tinged with envy.

"Had what?" Kim wondered.

"Well ... seen each other before, and...." the Australian continued with a blush; she shouldn't have brought the subject up, but she had been unable to help herself.

Kim's cheeks filled with a scalding blush, too, as she realized what Kat was thinking. "Kat, Tommy and I had never.... I mean, in the cave was the first time we...."

"You mean you guys hadn't...?" Tanya queried. She looked to Kat, whose eyes were wide with amazement. The way everyone talked about the couple, she had always assumed that they had been intimate at some point. Kim shook her head, hot tears welling in her eyes. Tanya put her arms around Kim's shoulders and gave her a hug. "It's all right."

"I'm sorry, Kim; I didn't mean to embarrass you," Kat murmured, her own emotions in a turmoil.

"I know. I didn't mean to overreact. I guess I can't blame you guys for thinking that we had," Kim said, wiping her eyes and managing a brave smile.

"Come on, let's finish scrounging some stuff for dinner," Tanya recommended.

"How much more should we collect? How much do you think the seven of us will eat?" Kat wondered.

"I'd plan on feeding ten," Kim suggested, an impish grin touching her lips. She caught the knowing gleam in Tanya's eye as she nodded in agreement.

"Why ten?" Kat asked.

Kim and Tanya exchanged smiles and answered in unison, "Rocky."

~*~

Tommy sat near the fire at the mouth of the cave looking out over the dark jungle. It was eerily beautiful in the light of the three moons. In the cave behind him, the rest of the team had settled down for the night; he had opted to take the first watch. With Amadan's words in the back of their minds, they couldn't be too careful.

He was really proud of the way they had handled themselves thus far. He and Billy had managed to find all the necessary materials so that they could have a small fire ... good thing, too, since the night was so cool, and Billy had figured out which way was east. The plan was to start off shortly after sunrise. He still marveled at what happened with Billy's eyes. They had thought that the effects of the pollen would only be temporary, but it looked as if it was going to last. That was a godsend.

Rocky and Adam had done a great job with the water. The sponge had been a great idea; since they had returned before he and Billy had finished with the charts, he wondered how they had gotten the huge thing up the cliff. And the girls ... they'd outdone themselves. He couldn't believe how much they managed to find--enough to take care of Rocky's bottomless pit and still have leftovers for breakfast. They had rigged up one of those huge leaves on a branch to form a hammock of sorts to carry it all in. Tommy toyed with the other little item they had found: a curved claw about six inches long and razor sharp. He had no desire to know what kind of animal it had come from, but at least now they had a cutting tool.

All in all, a rough day ... in more ways than simply being kidnapped. He was grateful to have gotten through it without anyone else realizing just how tough it had been.

"Is this a private fire, or can anyone sit here?"

Tommy was startled to find Kim standing behind him. When he glance back at her, he noticed that her face was pale, and she looked really anxious about something.

"Pull up a rock," he offered, trying to sound casual.

"Thanks."

"I'd thought you'd have been asleep by now. How many extra hours did this make?"

"I lost track." She managed a half-hearted grin. She reached over and collected the stick she and the other girls had made use of earlier. She examined it carefully. It was slender, slightly shorter than she was, and about as flexible. She sat down next to Tommy, leaving a comfortable distance between the two of them. Next, she retrieved the claw and began working the bark off the branch. "Even with the fire, it was too cold to get comfortable." She glanced back into the cave. Rocky, Adam and Billy were off on one side, and Tanya and Kat were on the other, and there was plenty of space between the individuals. "We aren't going to be able to keep these sleeping arrangements. The nights are too cool, and I'm sure we won't always be able to have a fire--or shelter. Without blankets, body heat is the only thing we can count on."

"We'll do what we have to to survive."

"I know."

"What happened to your arm?" Tommy asked, noticing the scar on the inside of her right forearm. "Did you do that today?"

"Huh?" Kim glanced down to see what he was talking about; she was surprised he had even noticed it. "Oh, that. No. I took a fall off the vault in practice. Scraped myself up pretty good."

For a while, the only sounds were that of the fire popping and Kim scraping the stick.

"What are you making?" Tommy wondered.

"I don't know. A spear maybe? We're going to have to make ourselves weapons if we ever hope to eat more than nuts and berries."

"Sounds like a good idea."

Silence again. Then, movement. Kim jumped up and wandered out to the perimeter of the ledge. She shivered as the cool evening breeze buffeted her and wrapped her arms about herself as she stared off into the darkness. Tommy gazed up at her. He had looked at her long and hard in the cave.... Well, he had looked at all the girls in the cave and for the better part of the evening if he wanted to be honest with himself. Even so, he found himself still affected by her petite, shapely body ... the way the firelight played on her skin, the way the breeze stirred her hair.... Tommy was suddenly struck by how tiny she looked against the darkness of the jungle. It was so easy to forget that she was so little when her spirit was so big.

Kim was aware that Tommy was staring at her. The thought made her feel all the more lonely because she knew there couldn't be anything in that gaze except idle curiosity. She couldn't do this ... she couldn't face him, but she had to. For the team....

"What's wrong?" Tommy asked as he wandered over to join her. She felt his hands on her shoulders, but then he seemed to remember ... and he pulled away.

"Tommy, I'm sorry," Kim blurted out at last before she lost her nerve. However, she couldn't even turn to face him. She didn't want to see what was in his eyes. "I know you may not believe it, but I never meant to hurt you."

"Why? That's all I want to know," Tommy said, his pain raw in his voice. It made Kim flinch. "What happened?"

Loneliness and fear ... the fear that I had already lost you ... the way my mom lost my dad.... Instead, she said, "Todd was just a friend from the team; I was feeling kind of sad and lonely, and he took me under his wing. I hadn't meant for anything to happen between him and I; it just sort of did."

"Kim, I could have understood your being lonely. I wouldn't have minded ... we could have worked something out. If you'd have only talked to me...."

I tried! I wrote! I called, but no one answered. No one had time for me any longer. "I'm sorry, Tommy. I had to do what I felt was best. Please try to understand." There was so much more she wanted to tell him, but she didn't have the courage.

After a prolonged silence, Tommy said, "I guess I can understand that."

"I know I should have handled it a little differently or something...."

"What's done is done," Tommy sighed heavily. He wandered back over to the fire and sat down. "So, how are things going for you and--Todd, was it?"

"Yeah. Things are fine. He's headed home to see his folks. How about you and Kat?"

"Things have been really good." Kim tried not to react to his words; she really didn't want to hear them. "I was hurt when I got your letter, and I wasn't looking to replace you, but Kat was really patient with me. She was there for me, and she waited until I was ready."

Kim went cold inside. Tommy hadn't gotten together with Kat until after...? She had known Kat was interested in Tommy--from the first time she met her. She had been so afraid that she would lose Tommy to Kat when she left ... that Kat would replace her in Tommy's affections as well as on the team. Kim felt a bubble of hysterical laughter welling up inside her. I gave you up for nothing! I thought you had gotten together with Kat; instead, I pushed you into her arms!

"What will you do now that the games are over?" Tommy queried.

It took Kim a moment to regain her mental equilibrium. "Since Aisha's in Africa now, I guess I'll just go to Paris--when we get out this jungle that is."

" 'When we get out?' Not if?"

"We've faced worse things than being naked and powerless on a strange planet. We know there's a way out; we just have to find it," Kim claimed, clinging to that conviction because she had nothing else to cling to at the moment. She saw Tommy staring up at her, and she felt herself losing her composure. "I'd better try and get some sleep; we've got a long day ahead of us. Good night, Tommy."

"Good night, Kim."

~*~

Tommy watched as she retreated to the shelter of the cave--well beyond the light of the fire. He continued watching her until she was still. Well, he had his answers; he would just have to learn to deal with them. He had lost her to simple loneliness? That seemed so.... He sighed and shook it off. Instead, he concentrated on Kim's other words. They filled him with a sense of confidence, much as they had when she lobbied to get them out of the cave. Kim radiated such strength that Tommy began to believe that they really would reclaim their powers and get back to Earth in spite of everything.

~*~

From the concealing shadows, Kim watched as Tommy returned to his position of watchfulness. Then, she rolled over. She had purposefully chosen a spot well away from Kat and Tanya. She didn't want to disturb anyone while she cried.

Chapter Five: Discoveries Along the Way

"Beautiful!" Tanya applauded as Kat executed another flawless dive from the rocks. The two had opted to claim some private time and get in a swim before breakfast. Private time was one of Kimberly's ideas. Being together day in and day out was bound to get on their nerves; claiming private time would allow a person to have a little time to him or herself. It would help them retain their sanity. The only stipulation was that one had to stay within shouting distance of camp in case of emergency. They were just a couple days into their trek, and already frayed nerves were starting to crop up--most noticeably between Kim and Tommy and Kim and Kat. The tension wasn't noticeable when the team was dealing with survival matters; it was during the quiet moments when everyone was supposed to be relaxing that things seemed a little strained.

"Thank you for your kind support," Kat giggled as she resurfaced, shaking the long strands of hair out of her eyes. She was glad they had found this pool. It was shallow enough near the banks to be good for bathing, but by the rock formation in the center, it was plenty deep. Most importantly, it was uninhabited--unlike the last body of water they had camped near. She and Tanya had hastily departed those waters--much to the boys' amusement--when they discovered 'Nessie' residing there. "It's been entirely too long since I've done any diving. It's good to see I haven't lost my form."

"It's hard to believe that we're not on vacation," Tanya murmured. "This almost seems too idyllic."

"You'd better knock on wood," Kat recommended with a laugh. "We don't want to jinx ourselves."

"So, has Tommy said what he and Kim talked about?" Tanya asked, getting right to the point. She had observed the pair conversing by the fire on that first night.

Kat sighed. She had known that Tanya hadn't asked her to come along just to swim! "All he'll say on the subject is that they talked, and he understands what happened. He's cool with it."

"Then why can't you be? It's like you're walking on eggshells around Kim. Are you so insecure in your relationship with Tommy that you think she's going to try and steal him back?" Tanya queried sharply. Kat couldn't meet her eyes. "What are you worried about? She has Todd now, and she hasn't done a thing since she's been with us to try and make a pass at Tommy."

"She spends enough time sneaking peeks," Kat pouted.

"So? I spend a lot of time sneaking peeks at Tommy. What do you expect? He's gorgeous!"

"You know, when she first told us that she and Tommy hadn't seen each other naked before--that they hadn't had sex--I didn't really believe her," Kat began thoughtfully.

"I could believe it, just by seeing the way the two reacted in the cave."

"I believe it now, too, and part of me is really glad."

Tanya cocked an amazed eyebrow at that.

"I was always kind of jealous of how close she and Tommy were. It was kind of depressing to think that he and I would never have anything special just for us--something that he hadn't already had with Kimberly. Now, to know that there's a chance...."

"Don't push it, Kat," Tanya advised; she could almost tell what her friend was thinking. Sometimes she wondered if Kat's feelings for Tommy were more infatuation than affection. "There had to be a reason why they didn't do anything in all the time they dated--and it wasn't lack of interest. You and Tommy have only been dating a couple of months; give it time. There's no reason to rush into things. Besides, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to get into sex here."

"Why not? You couldn't ask for more opportune circumstances."

"No protection ... no privacy...."

"There is that," Kat admitted grudgingly. She knew Tanya was right; it was just so hard not to act on her feelings.

"I also think you and Kimberly need to have a talk," Tanya continued, getting back to her original intent. "She's feeling pretty nervous around you, too, and...."

"Why are you so concerned about Kimberly's feelings? What about mine? Knowing that she was the first Pink Ranger ... always feeling like I don't measure up ... that she was friends with all the guys for so long...."

"You're part of the team; you belong. She's here because somebody wanted to throw a monkey wrench into Amadan's plans," Tanya interjected. "Everything is so different than when she was home last. She's no longer a Power Ranger; the team is different--we have different powers. Her best friend is gone. Then there's the fact that she dumped Tommy and he's dating you--that can't be easy to deal with even if she has another boyfriend. I don't think Kim feels like she belongs with the team any longer."

"You couldn't prove it by her actions over the last couple of days; it's almost as if she's usurped Tommy's position as team leader."

"She's just trying to find a way to fit in again." Tanya decided to try a different tact. "Kat, how did you feel after Rita's spell on you was broken? You felt guilty for what you had done, and you felt as if there was no reason for the others to be your friends, right?"

"Right."

"Who was it who told you that you deserved a second chance?"

"Kimberly."

Tanya folded her arms. There was nothing further that need be said.

With a sigh, Kat swam back out to the rocks. She knew Tanya was right. Still, she couldn't shake her concern. The way Tommy had looked at Kim in the cave.... It was enough to make her swear that there was still something there between the two of them. However, she and Kim had started on the road to being friends before she left ... well, if Kim could be a big enough person to forgive what Kat had done to her, Kat could be a big enough person to give Kim the benefit of the doubt now.

As Kat climbed up the rocks to make another dive, Tanya noticed Kimberly coming towards the pond. She had been gone when the two had ventured out to the pool. She wondered if Kat had seen her yet. The other Rangers had welcomed her with open arms when she had replaced Aisha. The least she could do was extend that same welcome to Kimberly.

"Hey, Kim, come and join us!" Tanya called out, waving Kim over. Kim looked hesitant.

"Come on, the water's great!" Kat added, to Tanya's surprise. Maybe her talk had done some good.

"Are you sure? You guys claimed private time," Kim demurred.

"The rule doesn't say how many people could claim private time together," Tanya said. She could see that Kim looked tempted. "Besides, no guys allowed."

"Well, as long as Rocky isn't around...."

Tanya laughed. Impulsively, she sent a huge wave of water crashing towards the shore.

"Tanya!" Kim shrieked, trying to dodge the cool spray.

"That was so mean!" Kat giggled.

Kim backed up a ways then ran full tilt towards the water.

"Oh no, not that!" Tanya protested. Kim's cannonball hit the water just in front of Tanya, dousing her. Kim resurfaced, grinning. Tanya was relieved. All they needed was a little something to break the ice, and she had a pretty good idea of how to do it.

"This'll give us a chance to talk and get to know each other and stuff," Tanya rambled on. "We haven't exactly had a chance to engage in any bonding-type activities."

"And what sort of bonding activities did you have in mind?"

"Actually, what I had in mind was hearing some of the stories from the early days of the team. The guys never tell us anything good. I bet you could tell some awesome stories--something really juicy about Rocky or Billy, something they'd just die if they knew we knew about it!"

~*~

Man, why'd I have to volunteer to find breakfast? Tommy groused as he made his way through the trees. Thus far, he had had little luck. The girls were much better at foraging than he was; maybe he should ask Tanya for some tips on watching the animals! All he knew was that he'd better not come back empty-handed; too bad he couldn't find one of those sticker bushes or something. As he wandered about, Tommy heard the sounds of laughter and water splashing. Curious, he headed towards the noises.

As he cut through the vegetation, Tommy winced when a frond grazed his hips--not hard enough to cause major damage, but enough to be unsettling. It was amazing to discover how much he had taken clothing for granted; he had never thought about how much protection was provided by something as simple as swim trunks. And he had thought that the embarrassment of erections was going to be the limit of the discomfort! He found himself paying greater attention to every movement and bump in trying to avoid injury. Billy had said that the girls would have their own particular difficulties ... well, he had yet to see evidence of them having as much trouble as the guys.

Pushing through yet another impeding plant, Tommy found himself on a small rise overlooking the pool. He and the guys had visited it yesterday, taking a break from the strain of mixed company. The girls hadn't objected to them taking the afternoon off to go swimming; personally, he thought Tanya and Kat were rather relieved to let them have first crack at the pool after what happened the last time. Tommy grinned at the memory. The creature had probably been harmless, but it sure scared those two. Tommy cleared the brush in time to see Kat knife into the water.

Beautiful dive. He observed the pair for a few moments, then gave himself a mental shake. He really shouldn't be gawking. They had claimed private time. That's what it was for--privacy. Still, as he watched them talk--Kat was ringing out her hair--he realized that he hadn't experienced the usual rush of hormones. It wasn't that he had no reaction to seeing the girls, just that it wasn't as pronounced or out of control. Maybe I'm beginning to acclimate, as Billy said. He hoped so. Being aroused all the time was distracting, embarrassing, and rather exhausting.

So far, so good, he reflected as Kat swam back to the rocks, potentially for another dive. He was able to keep things under control so far; the real test would be when Kimberly showed up. Tommy shook his head, a bit disgusted with himself. It bothered him that Kim got to him so much ... then, he spotted her coming down the path. He felt his pulse rate jump, but it wasn't anything he couldn't keep a handle on. He had to fight to keep from laughing as Kim cannonballed right in front of Tanya. However, when she resurfaced, stretching and shaking her hair out.... Tommy failed his self-imposed test miserably as his testosterone levels went off the chart. Damn, but she looked good wet!

All right. Enough gawking. Everyone is waiting on you to find breakfast.

However, that wasn't enough to convince him to leave. The girls had started a water fight.

This is an invasion of their privacy! We all promised to respect private time.

That argument wasn't working either. The three swam out to the rocks and were sunning themselves.

You're as bad as Rocky.

That worked. Tommy slipped back into the foliage, and as he resumed his search for the morning meal, he tried to assert his will over his unruly hormones.

~*~

"Adam, come here, quick!" Rocky called out, but his voice was so low Adam almost didn't hear him. In fact, if he hadn't almost tripped over Rocky, he would never have found him. The Blue Ranger was crouched down in a thicket of reeds.

"What is it?"

"Sh! And get down!" Rocky yanked on Adam's arm, pulling him into the concealing rushes.

"Why are we whispering? What's going on?" Adam demanded. Rocky was supposed to be out looking for Tommy to tell him to forget the granola. A fortunate mishap at the river had provided them with something better for breakfast: fish. Under normal circumstances, fish for breakfast wouldn't be appealing, but after a steady diet of fruit and nuts, any kind of meat sounded wonderful.

"They'll hear you. Stay low, stay quiet, and follow me. You have to see this."

Rocky led Adam through the grasses to a small hollow. Parting the concealing reeds, he revealed the swimming hole. There was an excellent view of the rocks from their vantage point, and the girls were presently sunning themselves, braiding their hair, and giggling.

"You're spying on the girls? That's pretty low, Rocky," Adam objected.

"What's it going to hurt this once?" Rocky rationalized. "I didn't plan on doing this, but when the opportunity presented itself, I couldn't pass it up. They won't know we're here, and I've been dying to get a really good look at them. It was so dark in the cave, and it's kind of hard when they know you're looking."

"Rocky...."

"Look, if I satisfy my curiosity now, I'm less likely to gawk later," Rocky pursued, knowing all Adam needed was just a little bit of persuasion. "Aren't you a little curious? Wouldn't you like to take a peek when the girls won't catch you?"

"We really shouldn't," Adam insisted but much weaker than before.

"And I'm really tired of walking around with a hard-on. I'm going to scope 'em out, take care of business, and then I'll be a good boy."

Adam had his doubts about that, but Rocky had him hooked.

"Check out Tanya, would you? Man, what a great set of tits! And that behind ... what a handful. Shawn didn't know what he was doing when he let her go; he doesn't know what he's missing."

"I doubt Tanya would ever let him find out either," Adam murmured. It was difficult for him to ogle Tanya, though; probably because he was too close to her. "Kat looks pretty good, too. She's got really nice legs...."

"Natural blonde, too," Rocky snickered. He cocked his head, eyeing her appraisingly. "Not too bad, built -you can't always tell though, but not a lot of curves. Too pale--I bet she burns real easily. Besides, she's no fun; she's taken. Now Kimberly ... wow! There's a heavenly body if ever you saw one. Full breasts--just the right size--curves in all the right places ... sweet, petite, and good enough to eat!"

"And packing enough muscle to rearrange your facial features if she knew you were violating the rules of private time," Billy admonished as he, literally, stumbled across the pair. When Adam hadn't returned, he had thought it best to go see what sort of mischief the two had gotten into.

"It was Rocky's idea," Adam declared defensively.

"Come on, Billy. You can't tell me you haven't been aching to take a good long look at the girls too."

"I won't deny that I am as curious as any of us; however, I do have a little more respect for the girls than to intrude upon their personal time. Besides, one has a beau, and another is one of my oldest friends."

"None of that changes the fact that they're three gorgeous babes and we're a bunch of horny guys."

"He has a point," Adam said, trying to bite back a smile as he observed Billy's discomfiture.

"Fess up; which one really does it for you?" Rocky prodded mercilessly.

Billy scowled at Rocky and squirmed inwardly. Locker room conversation was generally not something he engaged in--mainly because he never had anything to contribute except his own ignorance when it came to members of the opposite sex. Still, Rocky had that air about him. He would not leave the matter alone. If Billy didn't answer him now, Rocky would pursue the topic later--perhaps in the company of the girls. Better to get it over with now.

"As you pointed out, all three are physically pleasing to the eye...."

"Don't get long winded here," Rocky warned.

"What I find appealing is the way they carry themselves. Tanya has an almost regal dignity about her. Kat's appeal is in her gentleness and caring, and Kimberly's fiery spirit is exceedingly attractive."

"Yeah, but you can't see gentleness or fiery spirits."

"All right, wise guy, what physical attribute captures your attention?"

"Tits, of course. What about you, Adam?"

"I don't know. I'm not sure ... I guess it depends on the girl."

"You mentioned Kat's legs earlier," Rocky reminded him, but he didn't give Adam the opportunity to reply. "I think they're okay--long, but not really all that great looking, and she has no ass to speak of...."

"But she is stacked--you said so," Adam shot back in Kat's defense.

"I'll give you that."

"I suppose if I were to pick a feature, I would have to say an aesthetically pleasing posterior."

"Hm, yeah. Both Tanya and Kim have really great asses," Rocky agreed.

"Show's over, guys. Let the girls bathe in peace."

The three turned guiltily at the sound of Tommy's stern voice. Tommy really hadn't meant to be so sharp with them, but he was still feeling a little guilty about his own peeking.

"So, what always got you about Kim?" Rocky prodded, grinning devilishly.

Tommy thought about not answering for a moment but gave in to the impulse. "I always thought Kim had great legs. Man, when she'd wear those short skirts and her hiking boots...."

"Kim's also got a really great mouth--I bet she kisses good," Rocky continued as he hurried away. "I bet she does other things good, too!"

Blushing (although he couldn't say why), Tommy took a swipe at Rocky.

"Do you think the girls have ever spied on us like this?" Adam wondered, a touch unsettled by the thought.

"While I imagine that they are as curious as we, I believe they are more mature than Rocky," Billy replied as they left the girls to their sunbathing.

~*~

"The guys are gone now," Tanya noted; the girls had known the guys were there as soon as Rocky had snagged Adam. However, they had been determined to ignore them and not let them spoil their fun. "Tommy chased them off."

"Rocky I could understand, but Adam and Billy?" Kat muttered, shaking her head.

"Why not? He's a guy," Kim said with a shrug. "I'm surprised it took them this long to pull a stunt like that."

"There haven't exactly been any good opportunities," Tanya pointed out.

"Still, I'm rather disappointed in them," Kat sighed.

"Why?"

"Well...."

"Didn't you check 'em out while they were all out here yesterday?" Tanya queried. "I know I did. Kim?"

Kim cracked a tiny grin. "Guilty as charged. Kat?"

"All right, so I did, too," she confessed with a blush. "At least we had the decency not to turn it into a party!"

"So, what'd you guys think? I've always wondered about Billy; doesn't he ever go shirtless?"

"Not as long as I've known him," Kim remarked.

"I never dreamed that he'd be so ... well endowed," Kat admitted, blushing.

"Yeah, I was so busy noticing how well the rest of him had filled out that I'd forgotten about that," Kim mused absently.

"What a minute--you've seen Billy naked before this?" Tanya gasped.

Kim's smile grew, and she had an impish twinkle in her eyes. "I haven't told you the best Billy story yet."

"Even better than punked out in chains and everything? I can't wait to hear this!" Kat said eagerly.

"What'd you think of Rocky?" Kim asked of Tanya, putting off the tale for a bit.

"About what I expected--athletic but nothing to write home about," Tanya replied, feigning boredom. Both Kim and Kat laughed. "Seriously, though, he's awful good looking, and I don't think he'd disappoint--y'know?"

"If he didn't act like such a doofus so much," Kim added.

"I kind of like Adam," Kat ventured. "He has an awfully cute bottom--among other things."

"I never knew he had a birthmark back there," Tanya snickered. "How about Tommy, though--yum!"

"Double yum," Kat agreed, positively glowing as she spoke. "I love his chest--so muscular and smooth ... I just want to run my hands all over it."

"I'd love to get my hands on his tush. Oh baby! As for everything else...." Tanya and Kat burst into peals of delighted laughter. "What about you, Kim?" Tanya prompted, and suddenly the only sounds to be heard were the voices of the jungle.

Kim bit her lower lip anxiously. She really wasn't wanting to get into this. It was hard enough listening to Kat; however, both women were regarding her expectantly. She took a deep breath. "His eyes ... he has the most beautiful eyes, with those long lashes ... and I like his hair--mm, that sexy, sexy hair. I always liked running my fingers through it." It was a safe, truthful answer.

"You expect us to believe that the first thing you ever noticed about Tommy was his eyes?" Tanya asked incredulously.

Kim shot Kat a worried glance. Kat offered her a look that seemed to say, 'fess up'; she seemed genuinely interested in hearing Kim's answer. "Well, I practically drooled all over myself the first time I saw the way he filled out his gi."

"That is one hot hunk of man," Tanya sighed.

"Definitely," Kat agreed with a sigh that was practically a purr, "and one of these days...."

She trade knowing looks with Tanya.

"Yeah," Kim murmured quietly, looking away.

"So, you going to tell us about how you got to see Billy au natural?" Tanya urged.

"Please, Kim," Kat entreated.

Kim set aside her moment of melancholy and let the memories wash over her. "Billy had invented a device to read minds, only it backfired. When he tried it out on the two of us, instead of reading our minds it switched them...."

"Breakfast!" came the cry from camp.

"Darn, I really wanted to hear this," Tanya grumbled as she started swimming towards shore. Kim and Kat followed suit.

"So did I, but if we don't hurry, there won't be anything left," Kat added.

"I'll talk on the way," Kim assured them.

~*~

"Man!" Billy groaned, rubbing his jaw, which sported several days' growth of beard, as he returned to the campsite. The Rangers had covered a lot of distance that morning and decided to call it an early afternoon. He found Kimberly sitting by the fire working on her arrowheads; no one else was around. He picked up her project. She had taken the stick she had found on the first day and, instead of a spear, turned it into a crude bow. The bowstring had come from a rather tough cocoon she had found and unraveled; the thick thread, while sturdy, had been no match for their talon-knife. Spread out around Kim were the arrow shafts, feathers for fletching, and stones waiting to be shaped into arrowheads.

"I never thought I'd hear myself saying this, but I wish I had a razor. I hate beards."

"Well, if we're here long enough, you guys won't need to worry about clothes; your beards will cover you," Kim joked. She chipped away at her neo-arrowhead for a moment longer then paused to wipe the sweat from her brow.

"Where is everybody?" Billy queried.

"Kat and Tanya are swimming. Tommy's working on his kata, and Adam and Rocky are who knows where," she replied.

"Why didn't you join the other girls?"

"Kat and Tanya are really close friends, kind of like Aisha and I were. I felt like I'd be intruding," Kim said with a sigh. "Besides, we really need the arrows if we ever hope to bag anything of decent size to feed us."

Their efforts at hunting had proven to be pretty dismal--not to mention messy; the only way to bring down the small game was to bash it in the head or to lay down crude traps. Although, fishing was easier thanks to the crude hooks fashioned out of fish bones and line from the cocoons.

"I concur; I'm getting really tired of fruit and fish."

"At least we've been able to feed ourselves."

"And we know where we're headed. Provided the weather holds out, things shouldn't get too unpleasant."

"I feel a lot better knowing we'll be able to carry water with us," Kim remarked. "That sap you found was a godsend. I tried it out on the skins we've saved; it's a great sealant. All I need to do is stitch the hides together and make a cap."

"Water bags are a good idea, but with us sticking close to the river, we probably won't need them," Billy pointed out.

"We may not always be able to follow the river; you said so yourself," Kim countered.

"I'm not really worried about water; it seems to be abundant in this environment. I'm more concerned about the sunlight. The UV rays are much stronger than at home. Considering how much of our skin is exposed, we could be in for some serious bouts of sunburn and sun poisoning once we get out of the trees."

"That's right! I usually tan rather than burn, and I imagine Tommy, Adam and Rocky do too. You, however, and especially Kat with her fair skin, probably burn real easily," Kim agreed. "I doubt we'll find anything to use as sun block, but maybe we can find some aloe to treat the burns."

As they conversed, Adam returned to the camp. He looked annoyed and grumbled under his breath.

"What's up?" Kim queried.

"Rocky. He's being a butthead again," Adam muttered.

"I take it he's somewhere observing Kat and Tanya," Billy said matter-of-factly, to Kim's surprise.

"Yeah," Adam confirmed. "Have you seen Tommy?"

"He's up the trail a ways in another clearing working on a kata," Kim answered. Adam took off. Kim held her peace until he was out of earshot. "Rocky's still spying on us girls and you let him get away with it?" She fixed Billy with an incredulous glare.

"Still? You--um--know about that?" He fidgeted under the heat of her stare.

"Yeah, we caught you guys that time at the pool. We could understand once, but...."

"We don't always catch him. Tommy's the only one who can effectively run him off; he won't listen to the rest of us. He doesn't mean any harm."

"Harm? It's an invasion of privacy! Why is he behaving like such a jerk any way? I thought he was a little more mature than that."

"I think it's his way of dealing with the stress of our predicament."

"You don't catch any of us girls ogling you guys for stress relief," Kim snorted.

"Catch being the operative word?" Billy teased. Kim just glared at him. "Everybody is coping with the situation in a different way; Tanya appears to be the only one truly at ease here. Kat seems more dependent upon Tommy than usual. Adam, when he isn't meditating, falls into extended periods of silence. Tommy turns to his katas for reassurance, and I've observed that he tends to become a little incautious at times--almost as if he's trying too hard to be team leader. In contrast, you've taken control, asserting yourself more, and...."

"... and you go thesaurus on us," Kim finished for him. Billy eyed her questioningly. "Using big words more than normal."

"Touché. Can you blame Rocky? All three of you girls are very attractive, and he's a healthy, heterosexual male. To be honest, none of us guys has been unaffected. I would have thought the same to be true for you girls, too."

"Yeah, well ... at least we don't try and intrude on your private time," Kim conceded.

"As you said at the outset of this adventure, we're all going to be a little bit curious about each other. Prior to our being deposited in this jungle, how many times had you the opportunity to observe unclothed members of the opposite sex?"

"Excepting the day I spent in your body, none," she admitted grudgingly.

"Really?"

"There aren't a lot of magazines that cater to female readers--at least that I have access to," Kim countered tightly, her cheeks hot with a blush.

"While the various forms of media provide men with more accessible outlets for viewing our female counterparts, I imagine that the rest of us have not had much more experience with the 'real thing.' Rocky will settled down eventually, when the novelty has worn off." Billy assured her.

"If I ever catch him sneaking and peeking while I'm on private time, I'll kick his butt," she warned. "It'd serve him right."

"I think that might prove very entertaining," Billy said, goading Kim a little. She stuck her tongue out at him, much to his amusement.

While they were talking, a tiny animal the size of a squirrel scampered into the camp. It darted around investigating all the sights and sounds anxiously. It appeared especially curious about the fire. It could not seem to make up its mind whether or not it wanted to approach, but eventually it gave in and inched closer. It was still safely away from the blaze when an ember popped and sparks shot out, landing on the creature's fur. The animal let out a rather human-like scream and darted off. Kim, who had been watching the critter, quickly scrambled to her feet to follow it.

"Kim, what are you doing?" Billy called after her.

"I want to see what it does to treat its wound."

"Be careful; wounded animals can be very dangerous."

"I won't go far," she promised him.

~*~

The critter had a good lead on Kimberly; she very nearly lost him, but she managed to pick up its trail. She was still a novice at following the animals; she would have to ask Tanya for some more pointers.

She quickly found herself in unfamiliar territory but felt confident that she could find her way back. The squirrel-thing finally stopped by a plant with huge, star-shaped white blossoms. The little fellow proceeded to rub its singed skin against one of the sword-shaped petals; the measure appeared to provide some relief. Kim waited until the animal wandered off before coming closer to examine the flower. She sniffed at the bloom and found the scent pleasant without being heavy or cloying. It didn't smell like aloe or any other flower with which she was familiar. Rocky might recognize it, being more of a botanist than she. She touched a petal gingerly. It was very soft and silky, and her fingers were covered with a white, sticky fluid. She noticed that some reddish-brown fur from the critter was stuck to the petal it had rubbed against. The liquid was cool and made her fingertips tingle. Kim took a dab of the substance and spread it on a patch of skin above her right ankle. The cooling sensation reminded her an awful lot of Noxzema, and she knew that was good for treating sunburn.

~*~

Billy was inspecting Kimberly's handiwork and wondering if he should have let her go off alone when Tommy and Adam returned to the camp.

"Did you chase Rocky off?" he queried.

"The girls were gone by the time we got there," Tommy answered.

"Rocky was taking a nap, so we just left him," Adam said with a mischievous grin.

"He found a good place to take a snooze--plenty of afternoon sun," Tommy added, also grinning impishly.

"Ah ha," Billy murmured, understanding perfectly.

"It'll serve him right," Adam said. "I thought the four of us decided that after that one time, we were going to respect the girls' privacy."

"Well, he'd just better watch himself. Kim knows now; she'll get after him if she catches him."

"Where is Kim?" Tommy wondered. "She was here when we headed for the river, wasn't she?"

"She's out observing the wildlife--in particular a little thing that got singed by our fire. I think she's hoping to find something to treat sunburn."

"Do you think she'll be all right? We all agreed that no one should go off alone," Adam said.

"She promised she wouldn't go far. She can take care of herself," Billy said. He set down the arrowhead he was holding and picked up the twig Kim was shaping to use as an arrow.

"These are looking good," Tommy admitted, reaching for the arrowhead Billy had just set down. "Kim's doing a super job with them."

"I didn't know she knew anything about making arrowheads," Adam remarked.

"When she first got the Power Bow, she felt really uncomfortable using it, so she did some research on archery, different types of bows and the various equipment," Billy related.

"I never knew that," Tommy replied.

"She didn't want anyone else to know; the only reason I know is because she asked me to help her find the materials at the library."

"Rocky had better hope Kim doesn't find him lurking about during bath time," Adam said with a grin. "If she's still a half-way decent shot, he's in big trouble."

"He'll be in big trouble even without the bow," Billy added. "She's promised to kick his butt."

"Kim couldn't take Rocky out," Tommy objected.

"I think she could, if sufficiently provoked."

"Come on, Billy; Rocky has a good eight inches and at least sixty pounds on her. Plus he's a black belt. In a fair fight, Kim's butt is the one that'd get kicked."

"That's true, but who said Kim would fight fair? She's a clever, resourceful fighter--a survivor. She'll do what she has to to get by. She'd find a way to out smart Rocky. Don't underestimate her."

"I could see her taking Rocky, but not someone like Tommy," Adam conceded.

"She'd find a way," Billy said confidently.

"Get real, Billy. If I didn't pull my punches, there'd be no way," Tommy shot back.

"Kim may be small, but she has an edge to her now that she never had before. She is also quick. As far as taking down an opponent of greater size, what is it that you always teach your students? Size doesn't matter in martial arts; it's your mind that counts?"

"I'd like to see Kim try and take me," Tommy laughed.

"So would I," Billy retorted.

Before Tommy could offer a rebuttal, the three heard a loud crashing in the underbrush. They got to their feet quickly and assumed defensive stances. However, the disturbance proved to be an overly exuberant Kimberly. She was carrying a flower blossom as large as her head.

"What's that?" Adam queried, relaxing his stance first.

"I think it's the answer to our sunburn problem," she declared triumphantly.

~*~

By late afternoon, the sky began to cloud up, and the temperature dropped. Adam, Billy, Kim and Tommy were busy constructing a shelter to ward against the pending storm. Kat and Tanya returned to the campsite with armfuls of fruits and nuts. Rocky had yet to make an appearance.

"Do you think we should go looking for him?" Tanya queried.

"He's probably fallen asleep somewhere," Adam replied with a knowing grin. Shortly thereafter, the six heard a strange moaning. When they looked up from their task, they saw Rocky walking rather stiffly towards them. The expression on his face was priceless.

"Rocky, what's the matter?" Kat inquired. Adam, Kim, Billy and Tommy all tried to hide their knowing grins.

"I fell asleep and got roasted," Rocky groaned. Kat stepped around behind him.

"Good lord, Rocky; you look like a boiled lobster!" Kat gasped. She guided him over to the crude lean-to they had built and helped him lay down.

"That'll teach you to pay more attention to your environment and less attention to bathing beauties," Kim hissed in his ear.

"That is a nasty burn," Tanya commiserated. "I think it's starting to blister; if we only had some aloe or something...."

"Have pity on the poor guy, for the good of the team," Billy whispered to Kim. "We won't be able to get very far tomorrow if Rocky can't move."

"For the team's sake," Kim agreed reluctantly. She retrieved the blossom she had found. "All right, who gets to do the honors?" There was a lack of volunteers.

"Maybe we should draw straws," Adam suggested.

"Straws nothing, I want Kimberly," Rocky insisted.

"Oh no!" Kim objected.

"It's Kimberly's discovery...." Tommy began, trying to fight a smile. She shot him a look of pure hatred, to the merriment of the others. She appealed to Billy with a glance.

"It would be exceedingly awkward for any of the three of us to execute this delicate task," Billy said, also trying to keep a straight face, "and of the three people remaining, the patient has chosen you."

"I'll get you for this," Kim snarled, but she took the flower and knelt beside Rocky. She pulled off a petal. She winced as she examined his back. "You look like raw meat," she said. "I'll try and be gentle; I'm not real certain about the spread-ability of this stuff."

"As long as it cools the burn, I don't care if you glop it on like oatmeal," Rocky murmured. The sassy banter was out of his voice, and Kimberly could hear his obvious pain. It softened her temper somewhat. She lightly touched his shoulders with the flower petal, pulling it along his reddened skin. It left a glistening trail of white liquid in its wake.

"Oh, man, that feels wonderful!" Rocky sighed.

Kim continued to rub the petal across his back until she observed that there was no more fluid left. She pulled off a second petal and continued down his back. She had a moment's pause as she reached the small of his back; her cheeks burned as red as Rocky's skin as she faced the task of coating his behind. In the background, she heard someone snicker. Kim closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. She was grateful for the fragile flower petal that was all that was between her and Rocky's bottom. Rocky sighed again, but this time it was more than a sigh of relief.

"Man, this feels awesome. I'll have to ask you to do it again sometime when my body doesn't hurt so much," he murmured.

"I wouldn't press your luck right now," Billy advised. He could tell by the taut muscles in Kim's back that she was not in a mood to be teased. "You're not exactly in the position to be flippant."

Kim went through two more leaves while finishing up Rocky's legs, but she managed to get him thoroughly covered with the cooling substance.

"I don't know how long to leave it on; I guess until it starts to feel uncomfortable," she said wearily as she sat back. She stood up and, without looking at any of her companions, marched off in the direction of the river.

"What's wrong with her?" Tommy wondered.

"I think we embarrassed her," Kat said softly.

"We shouldn't have laughed," Tanya agreed.

"We should've let her tend to Rocky in private," Adam said.

"Why don't we go find her and apologize," Billy suggested.

~*~

Kimberly knelt on the river bank and washed her hands in the cold water. She splashed a little on her face, trying to ease the fire in her cheeks. She had never been so embarrassed in her life. Damn Rocky for being such an idiot, and damn the others for being so mean! Once she had cleaned the gunk from her hands, she sat down and tried to unwind. She didn't need to justify her actions. Rocky couldn't have put the salve on his back himself, and it would have been extremely awkward for Tommy or the other guys to have done it. It wouldn't have been so bad if they hadn't laughed--and Rocky hadn't seemed to enjoy it so much. It stung her to think that the first time she ever touched a naked guy it wasn't even her boyfriend. Kim almost wished it would have been Tommy in need of burn relief, but then again, if it had been Tommy, Kat would have volunteered, and she would have had to watch Kat touching Tommy as she longed to.

As she was mulling over the situation, Kim reached down to scratch her right ankle, which itched something fierce. She belatedly recalled that she had spread some of the salve on her as a test. The substance had hardened and was cracking and peeling. As she pulled away the flakes, she noticed that there was an awful lot of hair stuck in the milky crust. She ran her fingers over her ankle. It was as smooth as if she had shaved.

"Oh no!" she gasped. She had the remaining leaf with her and spread a little more of the fluid on her shin. It dried surprisingly fast. When she pulled the milky skin away, she removed more hair. The cream was a natural hair remover! Then, she thought of Rocky covered with the stuff ... his legs, his behind....

~*~

~*~

The others arrived to find Kim sitting with her legs dangling in the water. Her shoulders--her entire body--were shaking; her face was buried in her hands.

"Is she crying?" Adam wondered.

"Kim?" Billy called out tentatively as he approached. She turned to look at him and dissolved into helpless peals of laughter. He looked back at the others, his expression as perplexed as any of theirs. "What's so funny?"

"I think I've found an answer to your shaving problem," she chortled as she scrambled to her feet. She reached up and smeared a liberal handful of the salve on his cheek. He was about to question her when she bade him wait. When the liquid was dry, she pulled away the thin sheet--and a generous portion of Billy's facial hair. "See, it takes the hair right off!" Then Kimberly lost it again, holding her sides and cackling riotously.

"A natural depilatory?" Billy murmured, rubbing his hand over his now smooth cheek. As one, the five turned to look back towards the camp. Tommy and Billy lost it first, joining Kimberly in helpless laughter.

"That means Rocky...." Tanya began with dawning comprehension. "Oh, no!" She, Kat and Adam lost it as well.

"Do you think we should tell him?" Adam wondered between chuckles.

"It's his own fault he needed the salve, let him discover the side effects on his own," Billy advised.

On to Part Two....

Back to Fanfic Archive