It was a typical afternoon for Katherine Hillard, Zeo Ranger 1. The sun was shining; the birds were chirping, and no monster in sight. She looked at her watch, deciding that it was time for her to check the mail. Putting on her shoes, she grabbed the keys that enabled her to open the mailbox and set for the door. Junk, junk, and more junk. Oh, what's this? It was a small envelope and it was from Sydney, Australia, her hometown. Placing the other mails under her arm, she slit open the envelope with one of her sharp fingernails. Lifting out the content, she quickly skimmed it. Giving a happy cry of joy, Kat ran back to her apartment to put away the mail and made a quick dash for the Youth Center where her other teammates, the rest of the Zeo Rangers, were waiting. Tommy and Rocky were sparring on the mats, Adam working with the punching bags, and Tanya studying with Jason on the wonders of science and technology. They paused in their actions when the girl in pink ran into the Youth Center huffing and puffing for air.
"What's wrong Kat?" Tanya asked, closing the rather large textbook.
"Is Mondo attacking again?" Jason asked, relief that the study session was over.
Kat shook her head negative, still inhaling oxygen.
"Then what is it?" Rocky impatiently tapped his foot.
"I've just received great news from my family," she told them in great joy.
"Your family?" Tommy asked, "back in Sydney?"
Kat nodded with a "yeah."
Adam mopped his forehead with a green towel, sitting down in one of the chairs. "What did they say?"
"I'll read it to you guys," she exclaimed, pulling out the wrinkled envelope from her jacket pocket.
Dear Katherine,
How's everything in Angel Grove? Any new friends I should know about? Back here in old Australia, everything's same old same old. I'll just cut to the point. Don't want to bore you to death now do we? Do you remember little Jeffery? Well, we decided that he should stay with you in Angel Grove for a few months. He's been dying to see you again and wants to see what's so great about Angel Grove that made you stay there permanently. We're handing him over to you so take good care of him. Make sure that he mined his manners, you know how he gets. He's going to arrive on the 12th at around 1pm. Remember to pick him up. Enroll him to your high school too, his grades were recently dropping. We suspect it's because of your move. That's it for now, take good care of our little baby and yourself.
Yours Truly,
Aunt Martha
"Who's Jeffery?" the gold ranger questioned.
"He's my cousin on my mother's side. I'm older than he is only a few months. It's going to be so fun having him with us. I know you guys will just love him as much as I do."
"Isn't the 12th tomorrow?"
"Oh my god, it is! The apartment's a wreck, how can I get everything ready in such a short amount of time!" the blond panicked.
"Don't worry Kat," Tommy assured, "we're here to help you, right guys?"
A chorus of "right" came from the group. She smiled and thought to herself, I have such wonder friends. I can hardly wait for tomorrow. It's been what, 2 years since I've seen him? I wonder what he looks like now.
"Come on, let's go to my place," she led the pack out the door and straight to her apartment in record timing.
First they organized everything from plates to clothing. Then they vacuumed the floor, dust the shelves, wash the dirty dishes, and did what was necessary. Once in a while, complaints would be heard but was silenced by a few water fights and pillow fights. By the time they were finished, the rooms looked nice and clean, spotless and almost like new. Kat made sure the guestroom was presentable and comfortable for her cousin, hoping he wouldn't mind sharing such a small apartment room with another female.
"It's already 9:34, you should go home," she told the others who were falling asleep in their seats.
Normally they would go to sleep late, like regular teenagers, but since they had to go to school in the morning and fight monsters in the afternoon, they tired themselves out pretty fast. Their eyes drooped and yawns were passed about. One by one, they stood up sluggishly and walked themselves out the door with shouts and calls of byes. Katherine was too excited to go to bed so early, therefore, to calm down her fluttering stomach and nerves, she settled down and turned on the TV, watching the night news. Before she knew it, she was in the bathroom getting ready to go to bed, and slipping off to dreamland, where all dreamers go in their sleep.
The Next Morning...
RINGGG! RINGGG! The phone continued to ring loudly. A groan was heard, and the pink covers were tossed off of the girl. She reached over, grabbed the cordless phone, and mumbled a grumpy hello.
"Look at what time it is!"
It was Tanya. Katherine rubbed her eyes and squinted at the clock. 12:55 am it read.
"It's 12:55," she mumbled into the phone, not getting the hint.
"Don't you have a certain somebody to pick up at the airport in 5 minutes?"
"Oh shit, I totally forgot! I'll talk to you later Tanya. Bye!"
She slammed down the phone and frantically switched a pair of clothes and ran out the door with the car keys. Luckily the airport was only 10 minutes away, and she was just late for 5 minutes. There's nothing to worry about. She told herself over and over again. He's not going anywhere; he's new to this place remember?
"Where's Gate 39?" she asked.
The women behind the counter pointed to her right.
"Thanks."
Running as fast as she could and trying not to run into people at the same time proved to be a difficult task. Some of the people she accidentally crashed into were nice and understood her rush, but others were rude and gave her attitude she didn't want. Oh, where can he be? Everyone on the plane Jeffery was on had already left and there were few people remaining at the scene. One of which was apparently a teenager around her age in complete black and red with an old worn old duffel bag near his feet. He had dirty blond hair and green eyes. His tiny silver hoop earring shone brightly when it caught the light.
"Jeffery?" she asked him with caution.
He looked up. He does look a little like him. Can this be him?
"Yeah, are you Katherine Hillard?" he asked with an edge in his voice.
She threw her arms around him immediately, so happy to finally see him again. He turned stiff in her arms, stiff as a board.
"I'll take that as a yes then," he grumbled, "you done hugging me yet?"
"Sorry, it's just that I'm so glad that you're here and..."
"Cut the crap," he interrupted rudely, much to her surprise, "listen and listen good. I didn't want to come here but guess what, here I am! So just stay out of my business and I'll do the same."
"Um...ok then," she stammered. What's happened to him? This isn't the Jeffery I knew!
During the ride home, all was silent. Jeffery didn't spoke one single word after they left the airport, he only stared blankly at the window, observing and viewing what was to be his new home for the next few months. Katherine on the other hand tried to engage him in a conversation but he kept sidestepping it. She soon gave up on trying to talk with Jeff, which was what he wanted to be called, and prayed that he'll be more open later on.
A Few Days Later...
"Jeff, are you awake?" Kat's voice covered every inch of the room. "Jeff?"
No one answered her back. Where can he be? She knocked on his room, and when didn't hear a response, opened the door. In the center of the room stood Jeff sideways shirtless and only in boxers. The pink ranger's face turned as pink as her ranger suit.
"Why didn't you answer me?" she asked, still embarrassed.
"Didn't hear you," was his simple answer. He bent down to retrieve a red shirt and it was then that she noticed him wearing a set of headphones tracing down to his small Discman. She gave a sharp intake of breath when she saw the many scars on his chest and on his back. The scars made him look like as if he went through a war.
"What... how...?"
"What? Oh these?" Jeff's face showed no emotion or did his voice that was steady like a drum, "got it from fights and stuff like that. No biggie."
"No biggie? No BIGGIE! Look at it!" she burst out.
"Chill gal, it's my scars, not yours," he said, "besides, we wouldn't want you to ruin that body of yours now do we?" He smirked as she turned a deeper shade of pink than before.
"Get dress," she commanded, "we're going to school in a few minutes."
"School!" he exclaimed in outrage, "why do I still have to go to school?"
"Because... Aunt Martha told me to take you to school."
"GOD, that is the most stupidest reason I've had ever heard!"
"Shut up, just hurry up and get dress."
She slammed the door shut and went looking for her backpack. "You done yet?" she asked after a few minutes.
"Yeah," Jeff's muffled voice came through the door.
He came out wearing baggy ripped black jeans and a red T-shirt.
"Come on, let's go. I still have to pick up some of my friends."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he mumbled.
She paid him no mind and started her car. He got in slowly, wanting to bolt back out. Glancing at the clock and realizing that they might be late, she put the petal to the metal. Her first stop was not the school; instead, it was Tanya's house where she was waiting anxiously.
"What took you so long!" she cried when she finally saw the car pull up the sidewalk.
"It's not my fault," Katherine defended herself, "It's Jeff's."
"Sure, sure, sure," he said from the back seat, "blame it all on the newbie."
"Newbie?"
"That means beginner, starter."
"Oh, I knew that."
"Sure you did. You could've fooled me."
"Ahem..." Tanya interrupted, "school remember?"
"Oh yeah, sorry."
Kat reached over and opened the door for her. Tanya buckled her seat belt and they were on their way to school.
"You're Jeffery right?" the yellow ranger asked.
"Do you really want to know?" he replied with annoyance and edge in his voice.
"O... k..." A little attitude problem, I can handle that.
The car pulled up and parked at the school's parking lot. They practically ran into the building. On the way, Kat pointed out some classrooms that were important to know such as the main office where she dropped him off at and left for her first class. Please don't get into trouble! She hoped while leaving. It seems like her prayer was not answered because by the end of the day, he got detention and had to write lines. The reason... he hates the teacher or hates the class, or even, just cause he was bored.
"Why can't you stay out of trouble?" the blond asked him tiredly. What did I do to deserve this!
He merely shrugged his shoulders at her. Kat looked like she was gonna blow sky high. She threw her hands in the air frustrated and stomped away.
"Was it something I said?" he said to himself smirking.
He turned on his Discman in an attempt in drowning out the outside world. I miss you Kara, I wish you could be here with me! I miss you Kara Zhifron...
Somewhere in Sydney, Australia...
A girl with short auburn hair and green eyes watched the stars wistfully. She was in a train heading for the airport. Hold on Jeffery, I'm coming. I'm coming for you...