- Chapter 10 -

- Silver Hills, CA -

It was later in the evening of that same day that Eric Myers and Taylor Earhardt went out to dinner at one of the classiest restaurants in Silver Hills. Despite the two having been in a relationship for six years, it wasn't often that they went out to luxurious restaurants that enforced a strict dress code. Taylor brought this up as they walked up the entryway, past an elegant fountain, after giving their car to the valet.

"I really like the suit," she commented, then playfully added, "it makes you look snazzy."

"'Snazzy'?" Eric asked. He was wearing a simple black suit with a white dress shirt underneath, with a red-and-black striped tie. "Now I know for sure that I look ridiculous."

"Oh, come on," said Taylor as the two walked up to the greeter. Eric gave them their names, and after checking the reservations list, he led them on a brief trip to their table. Once they were seated and the greeter returned to his podium by the door, she continued. "It's nice to see you out of the Silver Guardians uniform, and the casual shirt and jeans and stuff." Eric eyed her dubiously, causing her to place her hand on his as it rested over his silverware, and give him her best sincere smile. "I'm serious. I really do think you look nice. You look very handsome."

Eric could tell she was being honest, and a smile slowly appeared on his face as he admired the way Taylor was dressed for the evening. She was wearing a yellow cocktail dress, with some sparkling adornments on it, as well a topaz pendant he'd given her for their third anniversary as a couple. Her long blonde hair was loose, but the ends and a few of her bang strands had been curled in a spiral fashion. "Thanks," he said, then added a second later, "You look beautiful, too."

Taylor gave him a rare girlish smile as the waiter came in to take their drink orders. Even though the two had softened each other's hearts to a large degree after beginning their relationship, they were still people who wore their tough exteriors proudly, and it wasn't often they showed a certain level of emotion, even with each other.

When her smile disappeared, it was replaced with a look of seriousness. "So... when are you leaving for Reefside?"

Eric shook his head at her. "Oh no, we're not talking about this right now, okay? I want to spend a nice evening with my girl, with no talk about Power Rangers or evil aliens or kidnapping, or anything, alright? Just eating, and talking about how things are going, old stories, those kinds of things."

Taylor nodded, agreeing, but then gave him a stare. It was serious about an answer, but also had a hint of teasing to help coerce Eric.

"Wes and I are leaving in two days," he gave in. "He wanted to leave tomorrow, but I got him to agree for the day after. We've had this date night planned for almost a month; it'd be too ironic for it to be our last night out in Silver Hills."

After that, the two enjoyed their dinner, talking about light conversation pieces as Eric wanted. He could tell that Taylor was definitely enjoying herself throughout their meal, especially when the waiters brought out the dessert he'd specifically ordered from them beforehand for her, chocolate-coated cheesecake, her favorite. But he could tell that something was lingering in her mind, and he had a suspicion it had something to do with the call Wes gave him, about how the villians opposing the Red Rangers were apparently kidnapping loved ones. He knew that Taylor had always been a strong woman, capable of taking care of herself, but it was hard to rest easy with these kinds of threats. He himself was worrying about her safety, especially considering he would be leaving her in two days, but he was pushing those thoughts out of his mind for the time being, to have fun with his girlfriend on their night out.

After they ate, they walked outside, hand in hand. They took a stroll around the spacious restaurant grounds, before coming back to where they started, the fountain close to the entrance that they used. They looked at it for a few seconds, the small lights surrounding the base giving the falling water a magical glow. Eric then turned to Taylor with a smile, and she turned to him as well. He leaned in and kissed her, then broke away after a moment. He reached into his pants pocket, and brought out a coin, which he held out to her.

"Make a wish," he said as she accepted it.

Taylor gave him another mixed grin, this one of amusement for his cheesiness, and appreciation for his attempt at romance. "I wish for..." she said, purposely not finishing, and flipped the coin into the air. However, it never landed in the water, as a thin red lightning bolt struck it in mid-air, sending it flying away into the night.

The two immediately turned towards where the blast came from, and saw a man in a black cloak, grinning at them from a grassy area towards another entrance to the restaurant. The people that were outside began running and screaming when they saw him, as well as his sword. The only ones that didn't run were the former Power Rangers, who assumed their fighting stance.

"So, you're the guy that wants to take out the Red Rangers, huh?" Eric demanded. He eyed him, not at all impressed by his appearance, aside from the blade he wielded in his left hand, apparently made of crystal. "You don't look so tough."

"Maybe not," Exerion said, keeping his confident smirk. "But appearances can be deceiving. I don't suppose you'd take me for the kind that would defeat several veteran Power Rangers in one day, would you? Because I've had an eventful day."

This caused the two to frown at him, but Taylor kept her composure. "So, are you Xiarayne, or his lackey?"

The villian's grin grew at the question. "My name's Exerion. A lackey to you rangers, perhaps, but a loyal friend and follower to my master. But," he said, lifting his sword to point at her, "enough of the pleasantries. I'm here for the girl."

Eric stepped forward defensively, taking off his suit jacket. "There's no way I'm gonna let you take her."

"I was hoping you'd say something like that," he replied, waiting another second for Eric to unbutton his sleeves and roll them up his wrists. He then charged at the villian with a swing, which he ducked. Eric then used his momentum to throw a kick, but Exerion bent back to dodge. Eric didn't let up, staying on the offense with several punches and kicks, all of which were evaded or blocked. Eric suspected that he was falling into Exerion's game plan, since he was making no attempts to fight back, and backed off.

"That's all?" the villian asked smugly, twirling his sword.

Eric snarled, and instinctively rushed back into battle. He pressed forward with a kicked that Exerion blocked with his blade, but still caused him to take a step back. He grinned, and went for a tornado kick, that Eric ducked under. However, displaying great agility, Exerion landed on his kicking leg, and spun again tom Exerion.o connect with a kick to Eric's chest, sending him to the ground.

Taylor watched the two fight from a distance, angry at the fact that Eric was losing against the crimson-haired warrior, but even moreso that she wasn't able to help, given her restricting dress. She clenched her fists, urging Eric to get back up after being knocked down with that impressive kick.

Eric ran at Exerion, and feigned a punch, but was instead able to sweep him, knocking him against the ground. The way Exerion was able to kick-up back onto his feet a second after connecting with the ground was an indicator that he wasn't much hurt by the move. He gave Eric a grin of smug approval, then a red sphere enveloped him. Eric looked on a little confused, but it turned out to be a mistake, as the sphere exploded around the villian, unleashing a powerful electric shockwave that sent both Eric and Taylor flying back, stunned, and rocked the surrounding fountain and foliage as well.

"Come now, Quantum Ranger. This is almost too easy," he remarked. "If you only had your morpher, you might be able to fare better against me. The ending of our fight wouldn't change, as I'll leave with the girl, but at the very least, it'd be more fun for me."

"You talk too much," Eric commented through clenched teeth, partially numb from the last attack from him. He got to a knee, and pushed off it to get back to his feet. "And there's no way I'll let you take Taylor."

Exerion chuckled. "I beg to differ. I will take your girlfriend, but you'll get your chance to get her back. What sort of legendary war my master and myself be waging against the Red Rangers would this be if we finished you right now, or completely broke your hope? We take your loved ones to shake your foundation. That way, you are disheartened, but remain on your feet to keep fighting, and follow us into battle again. Then, then we destroy you."

Eric forced a grin as he supported Taylor on her feet, both glaring at him. "You think you're the first guys to come along and make these kinds of threats and promises? You're not, and you never win."

"Streaks are meant to be broken; rules always have an exception," said Exerion in a calm menace. He then fired a lighning bolt from his sword at the fountain, destroying the top portion. Water began to spray everywhere, landing on him and the rangers. He grinned, and fired off another bolt, the electricty traveling through the water on the air and ground, as well as the three, electrocuting them. Taylor and Eric fell again in a heap, clothes smoldering. Exerion, however, remained standing, a wincing smirk on his face. "That was my best attempt to not exceptionally harm you. I overly defeated the original Red Ranger, something my master wasn't too pleased about."

The two rangers were suffering from mild paralysis, just able to to move their head. Eric's eyes followed Exerion as he casually strode over to his girlfriend, and he spat out at him fiercely, but almost incoherently due to no feeling in his body, "Get away from her."

Exerion gave him a smirk, and came down to a knee to grab Taylor by the arm. She attempted to fight back, but she felt as if she was encased in something conforming to her body, unable to move away. Still, her face contorted to a deadly gaze aimed up at the villian, who turned his smug grin on her, just as a red thunderbolt struck the two, taking them away from the restaurant lawn.

A second later, after the patrons made sure that the threat was gone, they rushed towards the fallen Eric, still immobile. They helped him back inside the building, trying to do whatever they could to help him. After a few minutes, he got up from the chair they placed him on, and demanded to be taken to a telephone, ignoring the advice that he should sit down and wait for help from the hospital.

After an eater complied with what the Quantum Ranger barked and lended him his phone, as his own had been damaged beyond use when he was electrecuted, he called his best friend as he walked into a secluded corner of the restaurant, the people deciding to back off and let him talk in peace.

"They took Taylor, Wes," he said, anger and sadness and frustration built in his throat as he said the words.

Wes remained silent for a moment, then said, "I'm sorry." Things were quiet between the partners for another moment, then Wes added, "I'll let Tommy know that we'll be in Reefside tomorrow."

Eric knew Wes was waiting for some kind of response, so he gave him an angry "Okay", and ended the call.