In the Dino Lab, Kendall had ran pretty much every test she could think of on the mysterious gold coin that she had, convinced Tyler and Chase to let her analyse. She had seen a lot of coins in her time, and while it wasn't her chief area of study, the coins didn't look like any currency she could recall seeing. They were mostly just unmarked disks with no real discernible features, but given the fact that Tyler and Chase were ready to fight their friends to keep the ones they had, and they could only be convinced to give up this one on the promise they get it back, she knew there had to be more to them.
Allison brought down some coffee for the team, handing one to Kendall.
"So what's with these coins?" She asked them. "Is this how we're going to pay off Mr Smith? I've already had to chase off some of his goons who were in here with measuring tapes."
"I'm not sure, there's something really off about these coins." Kendall told her. "Until I know exactly what, I don't think in good conscience I could give them to anyone."
"What's with them?" Allison asked her, pointing to where Tyler and Chase were sitting with massive piles of the coins, their arms wrapped around them protectively. Riley, Shelby, Koda and Ivan were all standing nearby, just in case the two came to blows again. They had already tried a few times to sneak a few coins from each other's piles into their own.
"I don't know, but it has to do with these coins." Kendall told her. "It's like they're obsessed with them. They didn't even want to let me take this one to analyse."
Allison went over to the table, to where Chase was sitting with his coins. As she got close though, he drew his coins closer, like he thought she was coming for his money.
"Chase, can I...can I talk to you for a minute?" She asked him. Chase just scowled at her.
"Maybe later." He told her. "I need to stop Grabby Hands here from taking these."
"Hey, you already took some of mine! Don't think I didn't see you slide that one over with your elbow!" Tyler warned him.
Allison just gave Chase a little smile and moved in closer, whispering something in his ear. His eyes opened wide, and a huge grin split his face, but after a quick look to his coins, and then to his friends, he looked up to her.
"I'm kind of busy right now; maybe we can do that later? I can...book us a hotel!" Chase told her, looking to his pile of coins again. "You know...a cheap one."
"Unbelievable." Allison muttered, shaking her head and walking away. Chase got up, but gave Tyler a stern look.
"I've counted all of them, I'll know if you take any." He warned him. "Riley, make sure he doesn't take any."
With that, he ran after Allison, catching her in the corridor. He caught her shoulder, turning her around.
"Allison, have I done something wrong here?" He asked her. Allison took a deep breath.
"Chase, what is your deal here?" She asked him.
"You don't get it. I just found all these coins! I'm rich! And if I could just put them somewhere safe long enough to get more, I could get even richer!" He told her.
"Chase, you've NEVER cared about having money. I once caught you sniffing your own underwear to tell if you could wear them another day before turning them inside out!" She told him. "Why is money so important to you now? What about me?"
"Allison, you are incredible! You are so amazing and..."
"And I'm over here!" She told him, seeing his gaze drift towards his coins again. "You can't even focus on me for one whole minute can you?"
"Allison, you are so important to me, and with these coins, we could do so much together." Chase told her.
"Great. So what do you have in mind? Maybe you could buy us a place together?" Allison asked him. Chase grimaced a little hearing this.
"Apartments are kind of pricey. The one I'm in the museum covers..."
"OK, then how about we take a trip together?" She asked him. "Our trip to San Angeles didn't go exactly as planned did it?"
"It's the height of the season; holidays are really expensive right now." He argued.
"Then how about a meal?" Allison asked. "As much as I love this place, I'd like us to do something other than eat here."
"I know this great place where they have a pizza buffet for ten bucks..."
"Chase, you've been telling me how great it is to have all this money, but what's the point in having money if you don't spend any of it?" She asked him. "The guy I started going out with spent all his money on music and his skateboard. The guy I fell in love with is..."
"Is what?" Chase asked her. Allison just shook her head and sighed deeply.
"Never mind, it's not important." Allison answered, before walking away. "You go be with your coins. I guess I'll catch up with you when you're not quite so busy."
As Chase returned to the table, once again putting his arms around the pile of cash, Kendall checked her computer, finding the analysis complete.
"That's it, the coins are encoded." She told them. "They're giving out a signal that stimulates the part of the brain that makes people greedy."
"Ha! Good thing it didn't affect us!" Tyler called out. Jake just scoffed.
"Greedy, that is so terrible." He agreed, before double-checking that his pile and Tyler's were still separate and there was no chance of anyone 'confusing' whose coins belonged to who.
"What if we get more gold coins?" Koda asked them. They all just looked to him a little confused.
"Koda, these coins are what's causing..."
"No, get gold coins for Mr Smith." Koda clarified. "LOTS of gold coins, more than his silly suit worth, so much he have to take! He want money, we give him money."
"But if the coins make him greedy, what if he takes them AND the museum?" Shelby asked him.
"We show him coins first, then make him sign contract." Koda explained with a smile. While he wasn't a financial expert, as a result of his wrestling career, he had signed a few contracts as of late. He understood that they were formal agreements that protected both sides of an agreement. "Once he sign, it no matter if he want to go back on word, museum ours!"
"That...that's actually pretty smart." Riley said, looking impressed that for someone who came from a time before currency even existed; he had come up with a solid plan for contractual finance. "I mean, the guy's greedy anyway, and at least the coins would be going to a good cause."
"As much of a jerk as he is, I still don't think we can just give him coins that we know are going to turn him into...well..." Shelby nodded towards Tyler, who was hunched so far over his coins now that Chase was looking at them that he almost looked like he was about to start kissing them. "...that."
"Most of the monsters we face, their powers stop working once we destroy them." Ivan reminded them. "And since we have to stop the monster anyway..."
They all looked to Kendall, who just sighed.
"Well, it's not like I have any better ideas." She stated. "It's worth a shot. Tyler? Chase? You need to lead the others back to where the monster's treasure is."
She saw the way they were looking at her, at which she just rolled her eyes.
"Don't worry, I'll put the gold in the safe and make sure no one touches your coins." Kendall assured them.
A little while later, Chase and Tyler had led the team out of the city, finding where they had given up on their search to bring back the coins they had collected. They were both so overjoyed to see that no one had found the other coins that they almost knocked everyone else into the dirt to get to them.
"Alright, I can see the trail." Riley told them, but as he got closer to Chase and Tyler, he saw the trail abruptly end. "But it looks like the trail ends here."
"Someone must have found the rest of the treasure!" Tyler snapped, before shoving Chase. "I told you we should have kept going!"
"We ran out of room to carry them! What were you planning to do? Eat them?" Chase asked as the two started to hit each other in what could only be described as a couple of overgrown kindergarteners in a slap-fight. Shelby just face-palmed as Riley and Ivan pulled them apart.
"That is my boyfriend." She muttered. Just then, Spelldigger burst out of the tree-line, landing before the Rangers.
"It's the end of the...oh...uh oh, there are more of you than I expected!" He said, looking around nervously. "Um...can I get some back-up?"
"You amateurs really don't know how to spring an ambush do you?" Singe drawled casually as he and Fury came out of cover. "Just as well the big boys are here to tell you how to do the job right."
By now, the Rangers had morphed, and were already battling Spelldigger. The hybrid monster was doing pretty well, fending them off with his pick axe weapon, but Singe could see that his flailing was still far from a match for the Ranges. As he took some fire from the team, Singe just shook his head in disbelief.
"Spelldigger, what is the point in Wrench giving you an upgrade if you aren't going to use it?" Singe asked him. Spelldigger looked to his cohorts as Fury just levelled his sword his way, pointing it at his chest.
"The medallion you idiot!" Fury reminded him. "USE IT!"
Spelldigger saw Riley, Shelby and Chase firing at him, and opened up the medallion on his chest, opening a vortex to another dimension. The Rangers watched as their blasts just sailed harmlessly into the vortex.
"Whew, that worked!" Spelldigger said gratefully as he was about to close the portal. Singe and Fury just grabbed him and held him in place. "What are you doing?"
"What are YOU doing?" Fury asked him, before throwing open the medallion fully. "Why just take their firepower when you can take them?"
The Rangers all had to brace themselves as an unnatural force pulled them towards Spelldigger. They fell to the ground, trying to anchor themselves in to save themselves.
"I can't believe one of Wrench's little plans is actually going to work!" Fury commented, seeing the team struggling to keep their grip. "You can't hold on forever Rangers!"
"Maybe, but maybe we don't need to." Tyler suggested as he suddenly let go.
"TYLER!" The Rangers all screamed, seeing him rocket towards the monster. In the air, Tyler changed into his T-Rex Supercharge mode and summoned the Ankylo Hammer. He timed his swing, catching the medallion the instant before he was about to be sucked into the other dimension, and smashing it shut. Fury, Singe and Spelldigger all rolled away, scattered by the force of the blow.
"Tyler, that was amazing!" Shelby complimented him as the team all regrouped, ready to fight.
"What can I say, I gambled and won!" Tyler told her.
Spelldigger quickly checked the medallion to try and open it up again, but it was now so buckled and bent that it was no longer able to open.
"My medallion, it's kaput!" He whined. "You're going to pay for that!"
"Not if I destroy you first!" Tyler answered as he summoned little Rexy into his hands, converting him to blaster mode. The others all lined up behind him, channelling their power into him. "T-Rex Supercharge, FINAL STRIKE!"
With a massive explosion, Spelldigger disappeared in a ball of flame. Singe and Fury looked to each other.
"I suppose it was going a little too well for one of Wrench's plans!" Singe said casually. "Why don't you call down air support so we can get out of here?"
"Master Heckyl, Spelldigger is down." Fury said through a communicator. "Fire the Magna Beam."
The Rangers didn't notice Fury and Singe leaving though, as Spelldigger exploded, all his remaining treasure was scattered all through the air, and was falling all around them in a cascade of gold.
"Spelldigger wasn't lying about one thing; he really DID have a massive treasure!" Riley commented. "If we take all this, there's no way Mr Smith will refuse to give us the museum back."
"Or we could just build a bigger and better one!" Shelby suggested. Then, before their eyes, they all watched as the coins started to glow, before vanishing completely. Shelby's heart sank.
"The coins! That was the museum's last chance!" She shrieked.
"What happened?" Tyler asked, grasping his head. "I was so...greedy."
"Oh my God, I was such a douchebag. I had all those coins and all I wanted was to get more." Chase commented. "I've always hated dudes like that."
"One problem at a time Shelby." Riley said as he pointed upwards. "Right now, we have a far more pressing problem to deal with."
Later, back at Heckyl's ship, Fury was stomping around the corridors, venting his frustrations at their latest failure. While some of Heckyl's previous plans had been close to success, he had to think that this one had fallen way short of the mark. It seemed to inconvenience the Rangers more than anything else. Most of all, he was once again finding himself on the receiving end of Heckyl's ire as he had spent a good length of time blaming Fury and Singe for the failure. Spelldigger, having been destroyed, had avoided that much at least, and so they had to face his rage alone.
As he neared his old cell, the one Singe had kicked him out of to get the atmospheric controls he needed to deal with his unique condition, he heard Singe's voice. At first, he thought perhaps Singe was talking to himself, but after a moment, hearing only half of a conversation, he realised that Singe was talking to someone else.
"What is he up to?" Fury mused as he pulled in closer.
"Yes sir, you can trust me." Singe said, but as he approached the cell door, Fury couldn't help noticing no one else was in the cell. He was talking on some kind of communications device. "Heckyl is here on Earth. He's looking for the Energems too."
"Who are you talking to?" Fury demanded, causing Singe to spin around. The molten creature looked a little surprised to see Fury.
"Oh, that? That was my sweet old Grandma. She worries so, she always likes to hear about my adventures." Singe told him. Fury though wasn't convinced in the slightest. Never having believed Singe could be trusted, he had never given any weight to anything he said.
"Do you always call your Grandma 'sir'?" Fury asked him. Singe's expression let Fury know that he was thinking about his answer. Whatever he had to say, it was far too late to be convincing. "You may fool Heckyl, but you DON'T fool me."
"Ooh, I'm just quivering with fear." Singe said sarcastically. "Not to worry, soon it won't matter if any of you believe me or not."
The following morning, the mood in the museum was very down-beat. Allison and Leanne, as well as the whole team had turned up, more as a way to say goodbye than anything else. They had sold what they could, but even then they were significantly short of the debt. Kendall looked to the others.
"I don't know what's going to happen, but I promise you. Anton won't let the Ranger team be affected by this." She told them. "In the meantime, there should be enough here to cover any of your expenses until you all find new jobs."
"This isn't fair. I was the one who made a mistake." Ivan said morosely. "If he would take it out on me..."
"We appreciate that Ivan, but the fact is, the suit was in the care of the museum." Kendall told him. "The buck, sadly, stops here."
"I'm glad to see you taking responsibility at least." Mr Smith said as he swaggered arrogantly into the museum. "Now, give me my money or get out!"
Ivan approached him.
"Mr Smith, I implore you, if you could find it in your heart to be generous..."
"Generous? Why should I be generous?" He said abruptly. "Everybody wants something, and I want my $10,000,000!"
"TEN?" Ivan yelled. "But yesterday you only wanted five!"
"That was before I got phone calls from several major businesses, all wanting key locations in my new mall." He said with a huge grin. "Now, do you have my money?"
"If its money you want, I believe I may have a solution." Phillipe said as he arrived. Mr Smith seemed completely star-struck to see actual royalty standing before him.
"Prince Phillipe! As I live and breathe! This is a most unexpected honour!" Mr Smith said, shaking his hand before Phillipe could offer it. "You know, my family has noble blood too, the Schmitts of..."
"Yes, well we can discuss history later perhaps. I wanted to return this to you." Phillipe told him, handing him the remains of the suit of honour. "I also wanted to offer a solution. I was made aware of a visit this man made to the bank by the police."
"Bank?" Kendall asked.
"Police?" Shelby asked, also looking to Ivan.
"It's just a wee misunderstanding." Ivan said, trying to forget the 'robbery' situation in the bank the previous day. "Pray continue."
"You see, this man was attempting to reclaim something from his...um...ancestor, Sir Ivan of Zandar. It was deposited in a bank...though not that one. Really if you wanted to reclaim your family's treasure you could have just asked me."
"I didn't think that one through did I?" Ivan asked him.
"I would say not." Phillipe told him. "However, I've verified your promissory note, and on behalf of the Crown of Zandar, I'm happy to give you what you are owed. That bar of gold has been with the crown for over 800 years, so with compound interest I would value that at...a little over $2,000,000."
He handed Ivan a cheque, at which the Gold Ranger presented it to Mr Smith.
"Mr Smith, please, allow me to settle my debt to you." Ivan begged him. "I know I wronged you, but..."
"But nothing! I want TEN MILLION!" He barked angrily. "That suit of honour has been in my family for 1000 years! It was worn by an emperor..."
"Ah, yes, may I just have a little word with you about that?" Phillipe said, gesturing over to a corner. Mr Smith and his assistant followed Phillipe just out of earshot, where he talked to them for a moment, and even showed them something. They all watched as the colour drained from Mr Smith's face. He looked up to Phillipe, and then started to walk back towards Ivan.
"I...I suppose...I could just accept this as one of those things." He stammered, taking the cheque. "Accidents happen, and you are willing to make amends..."
"Well, if I didn't, then the town would lose this museum, and then we would all be poorer." Ivan said proudly. As Mr Smith was about to leave, he saw Phillipe standing in the doorway.
"That is a fine sentiment." Phillipe told him. "And I am certain that a sizeable donation would be a wonderful gesture to show that there are no hard feelings for an honest mistake."
"But...but..." Mr Smith stammered, before sighing and handing Ivan back the cheque. "FINE!"
"Oh, one more thing?" Phillipe said, holding out his hand. Mr Smith handed him the remains of the suit of honour and stormed out.
The Rangers all cheered, rushing over to greet Phillipe, grateful to know that the museum was saved.
"That was amazing! You saved the museum!" Shelby said, hugging Phillipe tightly. Koda joined in, lifting both of them off the ground.
"I was grateful to help." Phillipe said as he straightened himself out.
"I have to ask...what did you say to him?" Kendall asked.
"I think that should remain between us." Phillipe stated.
"Please, we promise we won't tell anyone." Shelby said, also eager to find out how Phillipe had talked Mr Smith into walking out empty handed. He pulled out his tablet and showed them an oil painting of a man, standing, wearing the suit of honour.
"I thought I'd recognised that suit, so I did a little digging and found this picture of one of my ancestors, my great great, you get the idea, uncle."
"Your ancestor?" Kendall asked him. He just nodded.
"After doing a bit of digging in the archives I found a story that said he had fallen in love with a peasant woman. When his father disapproved and forbade the wedding, he planned to elope with her to Germany, taking significant family treasures to make a new life for them."
"So if that guy is your ancestor, does that mean you and Mr Smith are related?" Shelby asked him.
"Well, the story doesn't end there. It ends with him going to Zandar harbour fully intending to leave. Only to find his lover had already left...and taken the treasure with her." Phillipe told them with a wry smile. "When she got to Germany, she ended up marrying a local businessman of some repute, though not of noble birth. He made up a coat of arms, spread a carefully edited version of his family history and joined the ranks of the social elite as he had always dreamed."
"WOW!" Chase chuckled. "No wonder Mr Smith wasn't happy to hear what you had to say!"
"I just assured him I would remain silent on the truth of his family history if he was willing to settle the original debt." Phillipe told them, before inspecting the suit. "So if anything, it was me you owed. Just as well I'm a more generous and understanding man than Mr Smith."
"But you made him give back the cheque." Allison pointed out.
"Did anyone hear me tell him to give you the cheque?" Phillipe said with a faux innocence in his expression. "I merely suggested a donation would be a fine gesture."
"So what are you going to do with your money Ivan?" Tyler asked. Ivan looked to the cheque, and then back to his friends.
"Prince Phillipe is right; it is him I owe for the damages." Ivan said, handing the cheque to Phillipe. "I damaged your property, and as such, it is my duty to repay you."
"Ivan, the money was paid to you by my family for services rendered." Phillipe said, slipping the cheque into his shirt pocket. "That suit hasn't been in my family for a thousand years. I really won't miss it."
"But I insist, I owe you." Ivan said, thrusting the cheque back.
"I don't want it!" Phillipe said, putting it in Ivan's collar.
"A Knight of Zandar always settles his debts! Especially to the crown!" Ivan responded, shoving the cheque in Phillipe's suit pocket. This continued back and forward for a while, neither man wanting to accept the cheque and trying to force the other man to take it, before Shelby stepped between them.
"If I can make a suggestion?" She said. "You did say a donation to the museum would be a good gesture. Since neither of you wants it, how about you put it into the museum?"
Phillipe and Ivan looked to each other, before nodding in agreement.
"Yes...yes that seems acceptable." Phillipe said, trying to compose himself and gloss over the fact he didn't come up with that solution himself.
"Quite." Ivan agreed.
"So, what are we spending the money on?" Tyler asked.
"For starters, I think a paid day off for everyone on staff is the least I can do." Kendall told them, just as her cell phone bleeped. The team were celebrating as she read the message. Shelby noticed the shell-shocked look in Kendall's face while the others were planning what to do in their day off.
"Ms Morgan?" She asked. "What's wrong?"
"Yeah, what's the deal boss lady?" Allison asked her. Kendall just handed her the phone. Allison read it for a moment. "Oh."
"What is it?" Tyler asked.
"It seems Anton think this shows that the responsibility of running the museum AND the team is a little too much on my plate." Kendall told them. "He's sending a new museum director."
"Wait, but you're the museum director." Chase stated.
"Not anymore." Kendall sighed. "As of this moment, I'm the floor supervisor. I have been officially demoted!"