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Chapter 4
A day and a half later . . .
Maurhee gazed out the window in her quarters, and there, in the distance, was the glorious green, white, and blue swirled sphere that she gratefully called home. She sighed contentedly and smiled softly as she thought about Angel Grove. It had been seven months since the last time she�d been on Earth. The Astro Rangers had fought all of their battles against Dark Spector�s forces there, and even though those battles had caused her to come home for nearly six months it wasn�t the same. All of her old friends had left in search of new lives, the Youth Center had closed, and the Command Center had been reduced to ruins. Thanks to all of those things her last visit to Earth felt more like an informal business trip than anything else. It wasn�t like now when she knew she�d be going home to stay, but now the big question was what was she going to do with her life? The way she saw it she had three choices: open a Dojo, go to college and major in journalism, or go to college and major in art. She knew automatically that, even though she loved Karate, the Dojo would be her last resort. She�d have to look into colleges when she got settled in that house with Ashley.
With the Megaship flying at a fast and steady pace they were inside the Earth�s atmosphere within 90 minutes. Thirty minutes later excitement and anticipation flowed through her veins as they docked at Angel Grove�s new �State-of-the-art� Space Port. As she stepped off the ship she took a moment to admire the structure. Granted, during her two and a half years of space traveling she�d seen far more advanced ports, but for the slow rate at which Earth�s technology was advancing (compared to Triforia, The Karovian Sector, or Aquitar) the new building was quite impressive.
The Rangers left their things on the ship and made a beeline for The Surf Spot. On the way there, as Maurhee was admiring the scenery, she noticed that the boards over the windows of the old Youth Center building had been taken down. She told the others she would meet them at the ship later, and wandered toward the familiar building. As she got closer she realized it had been revitalized with a complete spring cleaning. The windows were free of dirt and grime, the walls of the building had been repainted, and the broken glass on the sign had been replaced. She walked to the door and glanced in the window. The lights were on which meant someone was inside. She reached for the door handle, and pulled. To her surprise the door actually opened. She quickly walked inside the Center. She walked through the hallway admiring the photographs on the walls as she passed. Most of them were of her and the rest of the gang helping out with a community service project or a contest of some kind. She anxiously passed through the double doors into the Juice bar/work out room. A smile of insuppressible joy spread across her face as she saw that the place had been returned to its former glory. The neon signs, the karate mats, the punching bags, the workout equipment, everything in exactly the same place as it used to be. All of a sudden high school came rushing back to her. It felt almost as if she�d had the wind knocked out of her. She looked around the room and saw shadows or mirages of Karate tournaments, dates, workouts with Tommy and Jason, and a million other things that had defined her teenage years.
�Well, if it isn�t my favorite former employee,� a deep, enthusiastic voice exclaimed, pulling her out of her reverie.
�Ernie!� Maurhee screamed as she ran to give the jovial little man a hug. �I can�t believe it, you�re back!�
�And so are you, obviously,� Ernie said as they came out of the hug.
�You�ve got this place looking exactly like it used to. If I didn�t know any better I�d say this place hadn�t even been closed a day.�
�Well, I�m afraid I won�t stay open for long. Adelle has all of my former customers,� Ernie said disappointedly as he headed behind the bar.
�Well, you still have this customer. One Passion Fruit Smoothie,� Maurhee said contentedly as she sat on one of the barstools.
�I don�t know what to do. This buildings been closed for so long people just ignore it now,� Ernie said as he put the ingredients in the blender. Maurhee watched him make the smoothie as she thought about the best way to help Ernie.
�Well, I�d say you�ve got to announce your presence. Have a re-opening gala or something,� Maurhee said as he handed her the shake. �Ya know, do the things you used to do. Hold a Karate tournament or dance dontest or something. Adelle doesn�t do anything like that, and I�m pretty sure I can round up some competitors for the tournament, or a band for the dance contest,� Maurhee said excitedly, then taking a long sip when she was done talking.
Ernie smiled warmly at Maurhee; he wasn�t surprised that she wanted to help out. He knew this place was about as close to her heart as it was to his. �How about I give you your old job back, and you can help organize and promote some of those ideas you have.�
Maurhee took another long sip and grinned slyly afterwards.
�Can I have free Smoothies whenever I want?�
�No, but how about a 25% discount instead?� Ernie said with a slight laugh.
�Sounds like you�ve got yourself a deal,� Maurhee said as she reached to shake his hand.
�Great, when can you start?� Ernie asked as he returned the gesture.
�I�m moving in with Ashley tomorrow so Wednesday is my next available day,� Maurhee said as she reached in her pocket for money to pay Ernie with.
�I�ll have Skull print up some flyers for that Karate tournament you were talking about tomorrow, then,� Ernie said to himself.
�Skull?� Maurhee asked in a confused tone.
�Yeah, he�s the manager at Kinko�s, and he taking courses at the Community College at night,� Ernie stated factually.
�Wow, good for him. What�s Bulk doing now?� she asked curiously.
�Last time I checked he was in North Carolina studying to be an auto shop teacher,� Ernie said with a slight chuckle.
�Bulk? An auto shop teacher? Who�d have thought. Well, I hope no one squeals about what he and Skull did to Lt. Stone�s classic convertible, then,� Maurhee said with a grin as she set her money down on the counter. �I gotta go, Ernie, I�ll see ya Wednesday! Keep the change!� Maurhee yelled as she ran out the door.
She had agreed to meet the others back at the ship in two hours, and she still had some people to see. Once outside the Youth Center she took a familiar route through the park. She soon arrived outside of a typical, two story suburban home. She lightly rapped on the door. A few seconds later the door flew open.
�Maurhee!� The lanky, ravened haired woman squealed as she enveloped Maurhee�s frame in a crushing hug.
�Morgan, please, give the child some room to breathe,� Mr. Oliver said from behind her.
As they welcomed her into the house, Maurhee thought it was hard to believe that these people weren�t Tommy�s biological parents. For goodness sakes, he even resembled them!
�Oh, sweetheart, why didn�t you call and tell us you were coming? I would have saved you some dinner. After all, you must be starved,� Mrs. Oliver said as she sat down next to Maurhee on the couch.
�Well, Aunt Morgan, I haven�t exactly had access to a phone in a while or else I would have,� Maurhee said with a nervous smile.
�Oh, of course! How was Europe?� Mrs. Oliver inquired.
�Europe?� Maurhee asked with merging eyebrows.
�Yes, your art study abroad, you know, Europe,� Mrs. Oliver stated factually.
�Oh, Europe! Ummm . . . well, it was . . . fine, and gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous,� Maurhee said frantically. She had almost forgotten the excuse she gave the adults for leaving.
�I�m glad, you�ll have to come by and show us your pictures sometime.� Mr. Oliver said with a slight nod.
�Yes, I . . . uhh . . . guess I will.� Maurhee gulped with a nervous laugh. �By the way, I�ll have to come by here early tomorrow. You see, I�m moving into a house with a friend, and I need to pick up my stuff. Is that okay?� Maurhee said, a feeling of relief washing over her as she changed the subject.
�Of course dear, that�ll be fine,� Mrs. Oliver said with a gracious smile and a nod.
�You know Maurhee, everyone sure has missed you since you left,� Mr. Oliver said, smiling softly.
�Well, I�ve definitely missed all of you, Uncle Isaac.� Maurhee spoke softly as tears threatened to fall.
�Well, Maurhee, it seems you�ve come home at just the right time,� Mrs. Oliver bubbled.
�Right time for what?� she asked curiously.
�Well, for your twenty-first birthday party of course!� The older woman laughed.
�Oh no, Aunt Morgan, that�s not necessary,� Maurhee said with a shake of her head.
�It certainly is necessary! You�re legally going to be considered an adult! Isn�t that exciting?� Mrs. Oliver asked draping an arm around Maurhee�s shoulders and giving them a light squeeze.
�I . . . guess so. To be honest it�s not like it�s going to be an instantaneous or dramatic change. I mean it�s just another birthday.�
�Dramatic? Sweetie, in two weeks you take on all the legal responsibilities that we also have. I definitely consider that dramatic,� Mr. Oliver said insistently.
�Thanks for the thought, really, but I don�t need a party,� Maurhee said with a smile.
�Well, all right, if that�s what you want,� Mrs. Oliver said disappointedly.
�If you�re not moving in with your friend until tomorrow, where are you staying tonight?� Mr. Oliver asked, quickly changing the subject.
�Ummm . . . well . . I�m . . .� Maurhee stammered. What was she supposed to say? *Oh I got it covered, I�m spending the night on a space ship with two aliens, four teenagers, and a robot.* Yeah, that would work. I don�t think so. �I . . uhh . . didn�t really think about that.�
�Well, we have, and we insist that you stay here. You can have your old room. It hasn�t been touched since you left, well, other than to be cleaned I mean,� Mrs. Oliver stated sternly.
�Umm . . yeah, thanks, just let me go tell my friends where I am; so they don�t worry,� Maurhee said, standing up and giving Mr. and Mrs. Oliver a hug.
�Maurhee!� Mr. Oliver called as she headed to the door. Maurhee quickly turned around in response.
�You might need these!� he said as he tossed her a set of keys. After catching them, she studied them carefully.
�The keys to my jeep!� she squealed gleefully. �You�re the best, Mr. O!� she yelled as she headed for the Oliver�s garage.
She quickly approached the driver�s side door of her black Grand Cherokee, and admired the thick orange stripe going through the middle of the side of her jeep. She walked around to back of the jeep, and appraised the condition of the SUV. �Good ol� Hallie,� she whispered to herself. A huge smile spread across her face as she traced back to where the name for her car had come from. �It�s short for Halloween,� Zack had joked as he had observed the color scheme on the jeep. When her parents got wind of the nickname they quickly sprang for a personalized tag that read: �Hallie W�.
She sighed as she crash-landed in reality. �It�s no use living in the past.� Commander Ryland had told her that once when she petitioned him to call the Earth Rangers for help in a battle. �Your friends have their own battles to fight,� he had said. That was when she realized she was completely on her own. She couldn�t rely on anyone but her new teammates, and Commander Ryland. She remembered spending the rest of that night getting to know the rest of the Astro team on KO-35. That had been were her mind and heart were needed.
When she arrived back at the Space Port she flashed Security her Megaship crewman ID, and found everyone. She told them she�d be staying at a friend�s, then went to her quarters and packed her belongings, and loaded them in her jeep.
�See you tomorrow, Ash,� she said as she hopped in the driver�s side.
�K, be careful, I heard some of the roads are still under construction from our last battle,� Ashley said into the open driver side window.
�I will, bye,� she said as she drove off towards the outskirts of Angel Grove. Before she went back to the Olivers she had one last place to visit. She quickly drove through the dry, desert terrain. She stopped at the foot of a steep hill. As she looked to the top of the hill she half expected to see the dome-roofed building still standing, but of course it wasn�t. She climbed the hill, and began pushing around some of the rubble. She was looking for a red steel hatch. The Command Chamber had been destroyed but the Zord hangar bay should still be intact. After the Dinozords were destroyed Billy stored all of the pieces they could find in the bay, and after that any time a zord was destroyed its remains were placed in the hangar. After about forty-five minutes she found the door and quickly retreated down it. She turned on the emergency power generator, and shut the hatch.
The room stank of stale air, and mold. She wandered around the room admiring the pieces of Zords that were scattered about. She couldn�t believe that this was all that was left of her former fighting days. She sighed as she thought about how dramatically her life had changed over the past three years. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted something very familiar. As she approached she recognized the pieces of her Ninjetti Cheetah Zord. The orange spotted Metallic metal stuck out like a sore thumb. The only thing left of this once majestic fighting machine was the head, and a front and hind leg. She shook her head and glanced at her watch. She should head back; the Olivers were waiting for her. As she climbed the ladder she glanced back from time to time as a familiar quote rang through her head: �Where is the life that late I lead?� It was a question she had been asking herself a lot lately. She reluctantly closed the hatch door behind her. Closing the hatch felt as though she was officially leaving high school behind her.
As she drove back toward the Olivers her heart wanted to weep for all that she�d lost, but her battle-hardened mind wouldn�t allow it. She felt as though the fate of the universe rested on her shoulders. She went to bed with a heavy heart, and for some unknown reason she feared for her future.