Dominic quickly found Maryl again as she made her way through Ocean Bluff. RJ's research had indeed given him more than enough information to tail her. Now though, he just needed to get close enough to speak with her. Maryl was on her cell phone as he approached.
"I keep telling you Sylvia, I'll be fine." She sighed, speaking on the phone. She got the feeling she was being followed, and turned around. Dom quickly picked up a newspaper and hid behind it. She shrugged and continued, but cast a glance to the window of a nearby shop, seeing Dom's reflection as he followed her.
"Look, I have no idea what anyone would want with my research, but I keep telling you it's incomplete." She continued, rounding a corner. "Anyway, I've got to go. I'll call you later."
She turned back reaching into her purse. As Dom rounded the corner, he walked straight into a stun-gun, falling to the ground as Maryl shocked him with it.
"OK, I don't know who you are, but why are you following me?" She asked him.
"I...need to talk to you." He stammered out as he got back to his feet. He surveyed her a little more cautiously. He'd underestimated her, and he'd paid for it. He wasn't in a hurry for a repeat performance. "I know who you are; I know you were attacked earlier."
"Are you a cop or something?" She asked him, continuing to keep him in view.
"More like, 'or something'." He told her. "Would you mind putting that away?"
Maryl considered it for a second and lowered her hand, though kept the stun-gun ready. All she really knew about this guy was that he was following her and he knew about the attack. For all she knew, he could have been a part of it.
"How do you know all this about me?" She asked him. "Who are you?"
"My name's Dominic." He told her. "I was kind of there."
"I didn't see you." She responded, fidgeting with the stun gun, making Dominic a little nervous that he was about to be on the receiving end of another high-voltage attack. "I didn't see anyone else."
"Look, you have to trust me..."
"Good luck with that." She snorted. "You're stalking me, you declare you know who I am and you know about the attack and you want me to trust you?"
"Look, I need to know what was in that case." He told her.
"Just, get going before I call the cops." She warned him, putting the stun gun away to a sigh of relief from Dom. Seeing her leaving, he figured there was only one sure way to get her to trust him. He had to let her know his own secret.
"Maryl wait." He called after her, causing her to turn back. As she was about to say something, he activated his morpher, changing into Ranger mode.
"You?" She asked weakly. "You're a Power Ranger?"
"Yes." He replied, powering down and changing back.
"You were the one that saved me." She recalled, thinking about the attack earlier in the day. "Thank you."
"Look, we need to talk." He told her. "Do you like pizza?"
"I love pizza." She replied. "I go to this place called Jungle Karma all the time."
Dom had to try not to laugh as he heard this.
"Well, let's go then." He responded, gesturing down the street.
"Sorry about the stun gun." She stated, making her way with him towards the restaurant. "A girl can't be too careful these days."
"I guess not." Dom chuckled.
Fran was bussing tables as the others prepared pizzas during the lunch rush when they arrived in the restaurant. She was just finishing up with one table as she heard the door opening.
"Hello, welcome to Jungle Karma how may..." Her voice trailed off as she turned to see Dom and Maryl before her. She knew about the attack earlier, and she knew that Dom had gone to try and find her to find out why Dai Shi wanted her attacked. Dom gestured a cut-throat gesture behind Maryl's back to let her know that he didn't want Maryl to know he worked there.
"Table for two please." Dom said to her.
"Sure, right this way." She replied, leading them to a booth and handing them both menus. "I'll be back in a minute." With that, she went into the kitchen.
"Guys, Dominic's brought her here." She said with a sly little smile as she entered the kitchen. "He didn't want her to know he works here, I think he likes her."
They all rushed to the door and watched as Dom tried to work his charm on the doctor. Things seemed to be going well, she was talking with him and it looked like she was beginning to open up to her. Dom cast a glance over to the door as he heard them there, causing them all to retreat back into the kitchen.
He cursed them under his breath. He knew they were trying to set him up with her, and that they were always keen to find out any gossip on the romantic misadventures of others, Lily and Fran especially. They could blow it for him if she noticed.
"I don't know who I can trust. I've only ever really trusted my partner." She told him honestly. "But I guess I have to trust someone some time, and if you can't trust a Power Ranger, who can you trust? What I've been working on is..."
"Could you excuse me for a second?" He asked her, before making his way over to the door to the kitchen as all the others saw him coming and scrambled away from the door. Dominic made his way into the kitchen.
"What are you guys doing?" He asked them, coming inside to see them all trying to look like they were working innocently, but failing miserably.
"You brought her here." Casey said, approaching the subject first with a knowing smile. "It looks like she likes you."
"Guys, I'm just trying to find out about the vial." He told them.
"I suppose that's why you invited her for a lunch date?" Lily teased him. He picked up a service cloth and threw it into her face.
"Guys, we're going about this all wrong. Maybe we should just go out there and explain it to her." Theo suggested.
"No!" Dom rushed out a little too abruptly. "Guys, she finds it hard to trust people, but she seems to trust me. I asked her about the vial and she was about to tell me everything."
"She was trying to tell you and you left the table?" RJ asked him, beginning to roll out some dough with that stupid smug grin he always got when he was teasing Dom about his lack of luck with women. "Why?"
"Because it looked like the entire work force of the restaurant was eavesdropping." He grumbled.
"Come on Dom, you can admit it, we know you like her." Lily pressed on. "Just because you're trying to get information out of her, doesn't mean you can't get to know her better in the process."
"OK, I like her." He groaned, realising they weren't going to drop the matter any time soon. "But I think I'm the best one to get her to us."
"Why would she talk to you and no-one else?" Casey said the knowing grin still on his face.
"Because to get her trust I told her who I am." Dominic confessed. "It was the only way. She's grateful to me for the rescue."
"Are you sure that's all?" Casey asked him.
"OK, she likes me, she really likes me." Dominic began, not noticing the smiles on his friend's faces slipping into uncomfortable grimaces as Maryl came into the kitchen to see why Dom was taking so long. "I'm her hero, she's putty in my hands, she..."
"Is standing right behind you." Maryl interrupted him coldly. "I can't believe you; I thought I could trust you."
"Maryl, stop!" He called after her as she stormed from the restaurant. He was about to pursue her to explain that he was only reacting to his friend's constant teasing, but their morphers bleeped, informing them about another attack in the city.
"Guys, I think this has to wait." RJ sighed, placing a hand comfortingly on his shoulder, before heading up to the apartment to check the surveillance system to see what was happening.
"I'm sorry Dom." Lily said sympathetically, gesturing for a hug. "We were only teasing, we never meant any harm."
"I know, I shouldn't have reacted." Dom replied, hugging her in response. "It's my own fault. I guess I managed to blow another date."
"Guys, we have major monkey problems in the theatre district." RJ informed them. "One of Dai Shi's Phantom Beast Warriors by the name of Grinder is running amok."
"Fran, we'll be back as quickly as we can." Casey told her, taking off his apron. "We all know what to do."
Arriving on the scene, they found Grinder clearing the street with his attacks as citizens fled in abject terror. The Rangers arrived, causing him to stop and face them.
"Rangers, it looks like I'm a little outnumbered." He told them.
"I guess we have some rinshi to look forward to." Casey groaned.
"Not this time." He replied, pulling out the vial. "I hope you like monkeys."
He poured the serum all over himself as the Rangers watched on in confusion.
"Well that was weird!" Theo stated as they watched him. He stood for a few minutes before it began working. Without warning, hundreds of identical clones of him flooded the street.
"OK, I think we now know what that serum was." Casey responded as the army of monsters advanced on them.
"There are hundreds of them!" Lily remarked. "How do we fight all of them?"
"There is one person who might know." Dom suggested. "We need to get Maryl to tell us the secrets of her cloning formula."
"Do you think she'll talk to you?" Theo asked him.
"She'll want to help stop her research destroying the city." Dom replied. "That's close enough, whether or not she likes me is irrelevant."
"We'll hold them off." RJ interjected. "Dom, go and find out what you can."
Dom ran off in search of Maryl as the others began fighting for all they were worth. There were hopelessly outnumbered and they knew it. They just hoped they could hold off long enough to get the information they needed.
"Fran!" RJ called through his communicator. "Contact the Masters. We're going to need every pair of hands we can get."
Maryl was making her way back to the lab when she saw Dom and rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe she had started to trust him; he was clearly only after one thing.
"Maryl, just hear me out please." He rushed out as she turned from him. "If you still don't believe me you can electrocute me with your stun gun all you want."
"What is it?" She groaned.
"We know you created a cloning formula." He told her. "Dai Shi gave it to a monkey creature; there are hundreds of them tearing up the theatre district as we speak."
"I never wanted my research to be used like that." She gasped, realising how much danger she had inadvertently put the city in with her research.
"We need to know if there's some way to reverse the process." He stated flatly. "If we only have one of those things to fight, then we'll have a good chance."
"The clones will all disappear if you destroy the original monkey." She informed him. "I never perfected the serum, so you'll be able to tell him because he'll have the worst case of itching he could imagine."
"Right, I got it." Dom replied. "Go for the one that's scratching." He was about to leave, but he figured he kind of owed her an apology. What she'd heard in the restaurant couldn't have sounded good.
"Look, I acted like a jerk." He said apologetically trying to find the words. "What I said was very disrespectful, I shouldn't have said it. I'm not normally like that, I swear."
Maryl looked at him a little curiously. He hadn't seemed like a typical airheaded jock when he talked to her earlier. She was a little curious as to what could have made him change.
"Why did you say those things?" She asked him. "You seemed like a really nice guy."
"Look, I think by now it's pretty obvious that I like you." He stated dejectedly. "They're my friends, I work there. I didn't want you to know because I thought you'd look down on me."
She felt a little bad as he said this. She had to admit she hadn't really given him much of a chance.
"Why would you think that?" She asked him.
"Well you're so smart, you have a great job and you're..." He blushed a little as his voice tailed off. "You're so beautiful."
"Look, Dom you're a great guy, I can see that." She replied. His morpher started bleeping interrupting the moment.
"My friends need me." He rushed out.
"Look, can I meet you for lunch again?" She asked him. "Same time and place tomorrow?"
"I'd like that." He replied with a smile, feeling better that he was getting another chance at making a good impression. "I'll see you then!"
She watched him run off to help his friends, she felt badly about the fact she didn't have longer to speak with him. He had explained what had happened and it seemed to make sense. He obviously wasn't as obnoxious as she had first thought. He deserved better.
RJ was blasted to the ground as the others gathered around, regrouping. Despite their best efforts, the numbers were definitely against them.
"There're too many of them!" Theo called out, helping RJ to his feet.
"We take down one and there are two more." Lily commented.
"You look like you could use a hand!" A loud voice declared as a shockwave through the earth sent clones flying. Lily turned to see the Elephant Ranger standing with his Jungle Mace at the ready.
"Master Phant!" She shrieked in excitement.
"Our invites must have been lost in the mail." Swoop announced, soaring through the ranks of clones, destroying many of them with his Jungle Fans. "Mind if we just crash?"
"No problem at all." RJ replied as Swoop landed beside him. "Now all we need is a bit of parental supervision to make it a real party."
"Did I hear someone ask for me?" Finn asked as he arrived on the scene. "One Shark Ranger at your service."
"Guys, Maryl told me how to destroy them all." Dom shouted over the communicators. "All we have to do is destroy the original Grinder."
"But there are hundreds of them!" RJ responded. "How do we know...?"
"Fran called and told me there's one hiding out near the lake." He interrupted. "I think Dai Shi knows that too and told him to hide out. I'll take care of him."
"We'll be fine here." RJ responded as they gathered around to ward off the increasing tide of monsters. He pulled closer to Lily, holding her hand tenderly. Finn noted the gesture and smiled beneath his helmet.
"Dominic's one of the most powerful students I've ever taught."
"Me too." Swoop added. "He'll do it."
"I really hope so." RJ put down. "Right guys, I know they're a protected species, but who says we make a few less monkeys?"
With that, they all roared a battle cry and surged into the fray.
Meanwhile at Ocean Bluff's public park, Grinder was cowering out of sight, scratching frantically. He was itching like mad, and had been since he'd poured that serum over himself.
"I hope Dai Shi knows what he's doing." He grumbled angrily. "I feel like I've got fleas."
"That will be the least of your worries." Scorch snarled as he arrived. "Dai Shi wants you to fight the Rangers.
"No he doesn't." Grinder replied. "He told me to hide. As long as I'm around, clones will keep appearing. The Rangers will never defeat..."
"Oh, well I guess I lied." Scorch replied. "Of course the Rangers will find you soon."
"How?" Grinder asked him.
"I told them where to find you." He answered as Dominic arrived, dashing Grinder to the ground with blasts from his Rhino Morpher. Scorch teleported away, leaving him with a taunt. "So long Grinder!"
Grinder pulled himself back to his feet as Dom powered up his Rhino Morpher's super blade.
Back in the theatre district, the others were holding out against the army of clones, but the numbers were quickly telling on them. They fell back until they found themselves surrounded. They all huddled, back-to-back as they prepared for the final assault.
"Guys, it's been an honour fighting with all of you." RJ put down. "Everyone ready?"
As they were about to throw themselves back into the fight, all the clones suddenly vanished without a trace, leaving them confused, until they saw Grinder towering above the city.
"Guys, the monkey's just gotten a lot bigger." Dom told them through his communicator. "The Rhino Steel Zord could use all the help it could get."
"We'll be there soon." RJ responded. "Guys, its Zord time!"
After Grinder was destroyed under the combined might of the Zords, the Rangers and the masters all assembled back in the restaurant, all glad that the threat had been ended.
"Well guys, I need to go to bed." Dom stated, finishing his beer and getting up. "I have a date tomorrow."
"Maryl gave you another chance?" Lily asked. "Dom, that's great! I'm really happy for you."
"He'll blow it!" Finn and Swoop chorused together.
"Guys, that's kind of mean." RJ chipped in. "It's true, but mean."
"He does have a track record." Swoop laughed. "Remember that girl in his second year?"
"OK, yuck it up guys." Dom chuckled. "Because tomorrow, my luck changes."
He left, leaving the others to their evening. Fran picked up a bowl of popcorn and brought it to her lap.
"Well I think it's great." She chipped in. "Dom's a great guy, he deserves some happiness."
"He has been through a lot." RJ interjected. "I hope this goes well for him."
"We all do." Swoop said, taking a sip from his beer. "What time's his date?"
"1PM." Fran informed them.
"I have twenty bucks says he blows it by twenty past." Swoop stated, slapping a twenty on the table.
"Half past." Phant laughed, matching the bet.
"I have faith in him." Finn said sternly, before grinning cheekily. "Twenty says he makes it an hour."
RJ sighed as he realised he'd end up holding the bets and picked up the bills.
"I just want to know one thing." Casey stated. "Who sent the message about Grinder's location?"
"I don't know." Fran replied. "There was no sender's signature on the communication."
"Anyway RJ, we have an important matter to discuss." Finn stated. "And it's about time all of you were in bed. You're all on the early shift tomorrow."
Lily kissed RJ and headed off to their room. After the embarrassing eavesdropping incident, she had an idea what it was about and so didn't question any further. Casey and Theo protested a little, before heading off. Phant pulled a terracotta pot out of his robes and shook it.
"There are four of us and four of them." He stated. "There are four tokens in the jar as tradition dictates. We all draw one, and that is whose trial we oversee."
"You all know what that entails." Finn stated sternly. "No going easy because we know them."
They all nodded solemnly and prepared their turn. Rattling the jar, Phant presented it to Swoop, who reached in, pulling out a wooden token. He stroked his finger across it, taking in the image of the animal spirit carved into it.
"This'll be interesting." He said with a smile.
Phant presented it to Finn next, who pulled out a chip and looked at it, seeing the animal carved into its surface. He just harrumphed in a non-committal manner and put it away.
"RJ, it's your turn." Phant told him. RJ reached in and pulled out a chip, looking at it.
"And I have the last." Phant stated, pulling it out and looking at it. "Now we all know who's taking care of whom. Fellow Masters, to the temple."
"To the temple!" They chorused, all raising their beers and clinking them. RJ nudged his dad and nodded in the direction of the door. He followed as RJ led him outside.
"Dad, I don't want to do this." He stated.
"RJ, it's a part of the traditions of the temple." He reminded him. "If they are to become..."
RJ handed him his chip. Finn immediately understood.
"I can't do it." RJ stated. "I'll not be able to..."
Finn grabbed his arm, silencing him with a gesture, holding a finger to his lips before casting a glance at the door. He needed to be sure that the others didn't hear.
"This isn't in the rules RJ." He reminded him. "It's tradition."
"Traditions change." RJ replied. "Dad, please..."
Finn checked the door was closed before presenting his chip to RJ.
"Are you sure you can do this?" He asked. "It'll be hard on all of us, no matter who we choose."
"Dad, I'm sure." RJ replied. Finn sighed as he prepared to set aside millennia of tradition for his son's peace of mind.
"This never happened." Finn stated, taking RJ's chip and handing his to RJ. The Wolf Master pulled him in, hugging him warmly.
"I won't go easy." He reminded RJ.
"I know you won't." RJ replied. "But I just couldn't."
"I understand son." He said in response. "Now, it's about time we were going home."
"Thanks dad." RJ whispered as he left. Finn smiled and headed back into the main room to encourage the others to leave.
The next day, Dom was sitting in a booth from 12 waiting on Maryl. He had already blown his first date with her; he was determined not to blow the second. He checked his watch, noting the time as close to 1.
"Where is she?" He asked himself. A short time later, she walked in with another woman. The blonde with her rushed across as she saw Casey.
"Casey, you're here!" She rushed out. "Thanks for keeping the eyes safe."
"You're welcome Sylvia." He replied slightly bemused. "So why are you here?"
Back in the booth, Maryl had sat down with Dom.
"I'm so glad you gave me another chance." He stated. He leaned in to kiss her, finding her cheek. "I'm sorry. I really like you..."
"Dom, I needed to explain." Maryl replied. "You've been so honest, I thought you deserved it. I like you too..."
He smiled at her, but she shook her head.
"I don't like you like that." She told him. "Dom I..."
"You have a boyfriend." He interrupted. "I should have known, I mean..."
"No, that's not it." She stated. "Dom..."
"You're not interested." He interrupted again. "I get it; I'm only a pizza boy and..."
"That's not it either." Maryl continued. "There's kind of a...third option."
"Huh?" He asked a little confused. He followed Maryl's gaze over to Sylvia and realised what she meant. "Oh!"
"Dom, you're a great guy." She said sympathetically.
"Well I guess at least it isn't me specifically you don't like." He responded. Sylvia by now had finished catching up with Casey and came over. She greeted Maryl with a deep kiss. Dom smiled as he saw this.
"So is this him?" Sylvia asked.
"It is." Maryl replied. "Dom, I'm sure you'll find someone great. You deserve it, but it won't be me."
"I can live with that." He said in a chuckle. "Can we at least be friends?"
"I think we can manage that." Maryl said with a grin.
"I think we can too." Sylvia inserted, offering her hand for a handshake.
Dom knew he'd be hearing about his latest romantic failure for a long time to come, especially when he saw Casey holding in a laugh as he watched Sylvia and Maryl kissing, but he didn't mind. So far there were other things to worry about, and making new friends was never something to be unhappy about.