Theo gripped around Lily's waist for dear life as she gunned the throttle of her motorcycle for all she was worth. He was always nervous when she took him pillion on her bike, but white-lining down the freeway at close to a hundred while she weaved between traffic really wasn't doing anything to comfort him.

"You know, I need to breathe Theo." She quipped sarcastically, commenting on the tightness of his grip. She knew he was nervous, and always held her tightly when he rode with her, but now it was beginning to get painful. He loosened up a little, though not much.

"Lily, we need to get there in one piece." He yelled back, screwing his eyes tightly shut as she narrowly flew between a pair of 18 wheelers, risking being crushed between their combined mass. He could still feel the breeze rushing inward between the trucks as she made her way through the traffic with careless abandon.

"We also need to find him quickly." She reminded him. "If not, he's probably going to do something he'll regret. Try RJ again."

"RJ, any word on Casey?" He called into his solar morpher. Lily was going to use hers, but Theo had convinced her that wearing her solar morpher under her helmet and talking into it while driving like a maniac was probably not the best of ideas, and reluctantly he had agreed to be their contact with RJ.

Back in the apartment, RJ made his way over to his surveillance system as the twins satisfied themselves with his vast array of chips. "His morpher's been activated." He told them. "He's in the old quarry. I'm going to see if I can pull a visual."

He flicked through the huge assortment of cameras before finding one in the quarry. "Lily was right; he's there with Dai Shi."

"Crap, we're too late!" Theo commented.

"Not if they're both still breathing." Lily corrected him. "What's happening?"

"They're about to fight." RJ told them. "I'd say neither of them is looking to walk away. You need to get over there now!"

"ETA's about five minutes." Theo stated.

"More like ten." Lily corrected him again. "I know I ride fast, but not THAT fast, he's the other side of town!"

"They might not have ten minutes." RJ told them. "I've got another plan; just get there as soon as you can."

"We will." Theo responded, signing off, before resuming his cling for dear life while Lily continued to blast through traffic. If they didn't get there soon, bloodshed wasn't a likelihood, it was a certainty.

RJ rushed down into the restaurant, finding Kira and Tommy helping Fran with some orders. Kira appeared to be having the time of her life, dealing with the customers as she made her way between tables. Tommy didn't seem quite as enthusiastic, but he seemed to be dealing with it. RJ waved them over, knowing that this was yet another time he'd have to apologise for leaving Fran in the lurch.

"Casey's facing Dai Shi alone in the quarry." RJ informed the two older Rangers. "Lily and Theo are on their way, but it'll take them too long to get there. Could you two go there and help until they arrive?"

"In our experience one-on-one fights with the big bad guy tend not to stay that way for long." Kira commented with a nod. "It's only a short way from here, we'll be there."

Tommy's face crept into a grin of sorts as he took off his apron. As much as he protested, he couldn't hide his excitement any time he had to get back into the action. He even had his zeo morpher in his pocket in preparation for the occasion, pulling it out and strapping it to his wrist as he ran out of the restaurant with his wife. RJ mused on the legendary Dr. Oliver. It amazed him to think how he was still willing to throw himself into the fray, and he still carried that morpher with him. It wouldn't be him though; he wasn't even one of the Rangers here in Ocean Bluff. He also had the good sense to know when to stand aside and let the youngsters take up the strain. That was why he let them handle things, why he let her...

Thinking about the woman he loved facing that danger, his mind played on him, pulling at his heart. Maybe there was something to this whole Ranger business. He looked at the phone thoughtfully for a second. He still owed Dr. Hartford for the first time, but maybe he could ask for one more favour. His attention, though, was snapped back to the back room as he heard a crashing from his apartment.

"The twins!" He yelled as he realised he'd left them in the apartment by themselves. "Fran, I've got to get back to them, take care of the restaurant."

Fran shook her head in defeat. She was handling the lunch rush yet again.

Dai Shi was sprawled onto the canyon floor, laid out on his back as Casey smashed him to the ground. Casey returned to a guarding stance as Dai Shi pulled himself back to his feet.

"Why do you fight for her?" Dai Shi snarled as he stood up, preparing a guard and beginning to circle Casey menacingly. They circled each other, never looking away, never flinching, and never blinking as they prepared for the next assault. The blood was already like acid in their veins and their hearts pounded like heavy drums in their ears. Neither man could see beyond the other and the red mist in their minds. "She is nothing but a..."

"Shut UP!" Casey snarled, calling forth his Jungle Sabres. "You are not fit to speak of her, much less touch her."

"But touch her I did Red Ranger." He taunted him. "You know that more than most. You know that she and I..."

"That is ENOUGH!" Casey roared, throwing himself at his sworn enemy. Dai Shi called forth a broadsword, parrying his first strike as Casey pressed home his assault like a man possessed. Soon their blades were locked in a deadly stalemate, their keen edges millimetres from their intended victim. Beneath their helmets, their eyes were locked in a solemn vow that today; one would walk away, while the other would fall beneath the other's blade. It was a matter of passion, a matter of honour, and a matter of the heart. As a result, reason and good sense were going south fast. "Your time's up Dai Shi, today you die."

"You haven't the stomach for that Red Ranger." He hissed aggressively, struggling for position against the interlocked blades. "When the time comes, you will be unable to strike the final blow. Your weakness is what will be your end."

"I have no weakness." Casey roared in return, casting Dai Shi's hands aside before scything his sabres across his breastplate. "When you made me face a life without her, you took that from me! You're going to die today, and it's your own actions which have brought about your fate!"

"Not if THEY have anything to do with it!" He announced, gesturing over Casey's shoulder. Casey turned to see dozens of Renshi warriors appearing. He turned to look at his nemesis once more.

"Don't go anywhere." He sneered in disgust. "I'll be back for you before you know it!"

He turned to face the foot soldiers of his sworn enemy with the passion of the insane, completely blood drunk. He could already taste the stale iron in his mouth, blood seeping between his teeth. His heart was burning with fury and his mind was a cloud of hate. Narrowing his eyes, he roared his battle-cry as he threw himself at the army approaching him. No blow could harm him, or slow him in his path. He was going through every damn one of them if that's what he had to do.

He was suddenly aware of their numbers being cut down from behind, and quickly made his way through to see who his newfound allies were. He was confronted by the Yellow Dino Thunder Ranger and the Red Zeo Ranger. Tommy approached him, swiping aside some more Renshi Warriors.

"Casey, this is lunacy!" He tried to reason with the young Ranger. "Wait for the others, call this off!"

"If you don't have the courage for this, then get the hell out of my way!" He roared in response. He turned back to the battle, throwing himself into a furious assault.

"Tommy, there must be at least a hundred of these things!" Kira shrieked as she landed nearby, lashing out with her Ptera grips. "We need the others!"

"They'll be here soon." He answered her, calling forth his Zeo Sword and beginning to carve through the foot soldiers.

"What about Casey?" She asked, despatching more of them.

"He's too far away." He told her. "We have to concentrate on staying alive ourselves. Until we're safe, he's on his own."

Fran had just finished seeing away the last of the customers in the late afternoon. She understood the need for the Rangers to desert her when they were called to action, but it didn't make dealing with a whole service by herself any easier. She closed up and cleared the last of the dishes away into the dishwasher before she made her way upstairs to talk to RJ. However, seeing the scene before her, she knew this wasn't the time. She just snapped a couple of pictures with her camera phone before she left, chuckling to herself. She was wrong about the workload; RJ must have had a much harder afternoon than her.

Lily's motorcycle roared into the quarry, finding Tommy and Kira holding of Renshi warriors while Casey ploughed through enemies with the enthusiasm of a savage beast. Morphing into Ranger form, they made their way to the side of their allies.

"Sorry we're late." Lily growled as she smashed through their ranks with the Jungle Mace. "Traffic was hell!"

"Try driving in Vegas at rush hour!" Kira called back.

"Is that an invitation?" Lily asked.

"When we're a bit less busy, no problem, feel free to drop round!" Kira replied.

"Casey's gone back after Dai Shi!" Theo told them, pointing to his team leader. They watched as he broke free of the pack, surging towards him with murderous intent.

"We can't get to him!" Tommy replied. "Guys, we have to finish off here first."

"But Casey..."

"Casey has made his choice!" Tommy interrupted the younger Yellow Ranger. "Let's just hope he survives long enough for us to try and reason with him."

Casey let forth a brutal, bestial roar as he rushed back towards his most hated foe. He called forth the Claw Booster. "Jungle Master Mode!" He called out as he was bathed in the blinding white glow. "Spirit of the tiger, full fury! Jungle Fury Red Ranger!"

"Are you so eager to die Red Ranger?" He snarled, preparing for the attack. He positioned his sword to parry, though it was smashed aside in Casey's berserk charge, and hi claw booster raked savagely across his chest. Dai Shi rolled clear, realising his predicament. The Red Ranger had completely lost his mind.

Lying alone in the hospital, Camille couldn't think of anything but Casey. In her exhaustion, she wasn't very responsive, but she had been conscious as Lily and Theo had voiced their fears as to where Casey had gone. She knew only too well what was happening. He had gone in search of Dai Shi, and he intended to kill him, even if it did mean killing Jarrod in the process. She cursed herself for her weakness. Her feelings for Dai Shi had left her in this predicament. The man she loved was out there, fighting for her and was preparing to murder an innocent soul in the process to keep her safe. She couldn't allow that, she wouldn't. Struggling through the pain, fighting the stiffness and the weakness in her legs, she hauled herself from her bed. As hard as it was for her to go anywhere on her own, she had to save him, especially from himself.

Tommy was finishing with his own share of the Renshi Warriors as the others dispatched their own opponents.

"Casey's winning!" Lily called out; pointing out Casey and Dai Shi trading blows, though it was obvious Casey had the upper hand. Dai Shi was staggered by every blow, while each of his barely even caused him to flinch anymore. "We could win all this today!"

"No, we can't." Tommy corrected her. "All we can hope is that we don't lose."

"But Casey's beating him." Theo said, slightly confused. Tommy held up his hands to stop them intervening in the combat.

"It's not about whether he wins." He told them. "It's HOW he wins."

"I don't understand." Theo whinged as he looked at the older Ranger. Tommy looked back at him, hoping this was one lesson he'd never have to learn.

"He could win the fight," he began sadly, "but if he wilfully murders an innocent man in the process, he'll lose his soul."

Almost on cue, a huge swipe from Casey's Claw Booster smashed Dai Shi out of his armoured mode, exposing the true extent of his injuries. He was black and blue all over, and seemed to be struggling to remain upright. They watched in horror as Casey launched another upward strike, tearing him open from his left hip to his right shoulder. He lurched backwards, seemingly lifeless, though the movement let them know to their relief that he still lived, albeit not by much, and not for want of trying on Casey's part. Obviously he'd been moving away at the moment of the strike and had avoided the worst of it. Casey grabbed his helmet, ripping it from his head and launching it aside.

"I want to look you in the eyes and hear you beg!" He snarled as he mounted his fallen opponent's chest. "Beg!"

"Beg for my life?" He questioned the Red Ranger.

"No!" He hissed, drawing his Claw Booster up, preparing for the final blow. "Beg for a quick death!"

"Casey! No! You can't do this!" Lily wailed, throwing herself on her friend's back and grabbing him tightly.

"You're not a murderer!" Theo called out, joining her in restraining his friend. "Dai Shi deserves to die, but Jarrod doesn't!"

"Shut UP!" He roared, casting them off as dismissively as rag dolls. He turned on them, glaring at them. His eyes were no longer feeling, but cold, and hard as flint. They weren't even human. They were bright yellow, and his pupils were dark, narrow slits. Snarling, he revealed extended canines that gave him a bestial appearance. "One life doesn't matter..."

"Every life matters!" Tommy called out. He approached the young man slowly, cautiously, realising the danger they were all in as a result of his unbridled fury. "I've felt this way before, vengeance is all-consuming. It's not rational. If you do this you'll be lost to bloodshed forever."

"Are you going to try and stop me old timer?" He sneered dismissively, gripping the claw booster tighter.

"No, it's your decision to make." Tommy told him. "I won't stop you killing him, but make no mistake, once a tiger becomes a man-eater; the only option is to put it down." He gestured the others to his side. "As much as none of us wants it to happen, if needed we will do it. It's your choice."

"Then get ready for a tiger hunt!" He snarled, turning back to Dai Shi. The fallen warrior's eyes shone with an unspoken fear. Casey prepared to drive home the final strike.

"Casey, don't do it!" Camille screeched. He looked up, seeing her hobbling towards him in an ungainly manner.

"It's the only way that you'll be safe from him!" He stated, baring his bestial fangs. Camille's eyes filled with tears.

"But who'll save me from you?" She sobbed. "I have no more feelings for Dai Shi. I will never return to him, but I've lived too long around blood thirst and hatred. I can't do that again!"

"But he..."

"Look at him Casey!" She implored him. "We owe Jarrod so much. He released us from Dai Shi's grasp. He allowed us to leave with our lives. He was a jerk to you, but he doesn't deserve to die for that." Casey looked down at him, staring into the eyes that belonged to no monster, but a man inhabited by a monster. "Casey, please don't do this. Please, let him live. We'll find a way to destroy Dai Shi, but the man I love is no assassin. I can't be around another man like that."

Casey clutched his head as his thoughts threatened to tear his skull asunder. With a pained cry, he brought his Claw Booster down inches from Dai Shi's face. He got up, shaking his head and clearing his thoughts, his eyes and his teeth returning to normal. Carnisoar and Jellica appeared beside his fallen body.

"Go with your life." Casey told him. "But if you touch her again, all bets are off."

With that, the overlords disappeared with Dai Shi, and Casey left with his friends, both relieved and ashamed, he'd nearly become everything he hated, and nearly turned on everyone he cared about, and that scared him more than anything he'd ever faced.

Arriving back at the restaurant, they found Fran sitting in the restaurant alone. Casey took Camille over to a booth in the corner; there was much they needed to talk about. The others approached Fran.

"How were things?" Kira asked. "I'm sorry we had to leave."

"It's alright; I'm kind of used to it." She replied.

"How are the kids?" She continued. Fran pointed to both Kira and Lily.

"You both have to see this." She told them. She led them to the door of the back room, before holding a finger to her lips to gesture for them to be quiet. They entered, and Lily's heart did back flips as she beheld the most adorable image she'd ever seen.

RJ was crashed out on his favourite chair, cradling Frank in his right arm, while Emma lay asleep on his chest. They'd obviously all exhausted each other during their time together. Kira looked at Lily, seeing the misty look in her eyes as she beheld the man she loved.

"Gotcha." She thought to herself.