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 Campbells 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 Campbells 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.

* * *

"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.

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."

"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.

The seven exchanged concerned looks.

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.

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.

"Prove our worthiness?"

"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?"

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 furball 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.

Go read the next part!