The Rangers surged into the installation, finding themselves confronted by Vincent's security. They all crowded around the room, almost thirty of them in all, and all fanatically loyal to their master. A few of them aimed blasters and started firing.

"Alright, so we can say they're willing to fight." Dillon remarked as he took up a defensive position behind a computer desk and started returning fire. "Do we know it...?"

Just then, Flynn went flying through the air as he rushed one of them, having taken a hard kick in the chest. He went smashing through some machinery.

"I think we can safely take that as a yes." Tenaya replied as she converted her hand into blaster mode. "Where's Vincent?"

"He'll be in his chamber in the back." Luanne told them, pointing to the regeneration chamber. It was full of red fluid, but they could see from here that no one was inside it. "Lilith's not in the chamber. She has to be fully regenerated."

"Then we're too late." Scott roared as he pulled out his street sabre, activating the street sabre strike and smashing through many of them. Now they knew they were vassals, they knew they would be far harder to take down, but that also meant they didn't have to pull their punches as much. "She's..."

"Trust me, I know Vincent." Luanne told him. "He won't want to elevate her until he's sure he has her under control."

"He could just use his power to manipulate her mind." Vasquez replied as they started moving forward, pressing towards the chamber. "He could have..."

"It's harder to control vampires than humans; once he elevated her his power wouldn't have the same sway over her." Luanne told her as she followed them, attacking her first opponent with all her strength. "Besides, he finds such things distasteful. If he's going to elevate her, he'll want to convince her it's what he wants first. He prefers seduction to force."

"Are you speaking from personal experience?" Vasquez asked her. Luanne just nodded.

"Kind of, we need to..." Just then, she suddenly stopped talking and fell to the floor. Her vision blurred a little, and she felt queasy. More than that, a terrible, searing pain in her head completely took her out of the fight. She looked up to see Vasquez staring back at her from cover.

"Luanne, are you hit?" She asked her, looking worried. Luanne hadn't been hit; she knew exactly what was wrong with her. She was concentrating all of the blood in her system on her strength. She had already been part of one fierce fight that night, and here she was, doing it again. She could recognise the symptoms. She didn't have much blood left in her, and her body was beginning to succumb once more to the effects of her brain tumour. "Just go!"

Vasquez ran back, grabbing her and dragging her into cover as the rest of the Rangers pushed forwards. Dillon, Tenaya and Flynn rushed forward while Scott and Chip provided covering fire, and then they reversed the situation. It was a standard military tactic that Vasquez had seen many times. She rested Luanne against the wall, and began checking her over for injury.

"I'm fine Vasquez." She told her. "I just tripped, they need you..."

"She held her hands to her head as another pain attack hit her. Vasquez steadied her, looking at her with concern.

"You're not fine are you?" Vasquez asked her. "It's the tumour isn't it?"

Meanwhile, in the private chamber, Lilith sat on the edge of the bed while Vincent continued to spin the yarn of himself as the righteous saviour. He paced the room as she looked at him blankly.

"I went into that reactor to save the city." She told him. "I did it to correct my mistake."

"And yet you only made that mistake because you were wronged." He replied. "You had everything taken from you, and no one did a thing to help you."

"They didn't?" She asked him. He just shook his head, kneeling next to the bed and taking her hand gently.

"Instead of being pitied and helped as you deserved, you were pursued and attacked as a monster." He informed her. "The army, the Rangers, everyone constantly did everything they could to try and destroy you."

"But...the Gold Ranger, he made me see the misery I caused." She told him. Vincent just laughed.

"It was a trick of his little girlfriends. As you know she has certain...mental gifts." He explained. "That is just one more thing that will never hurt you if you allow me to give you this gift."

He placed a hand softly against her face.

"If I elevate you, and you help me, then we can rule this city together. We can make the world right; help all those people you saved before with your selfless sacrifice." He continued. "I have done what no one else could do; I gave you back everything that was taken from you. I have made you human again, and now I am offering to make you more. With my gift, you will never get sick again. No one will ever hurt you, and you will never die."

"No one can hurt me?" She asked him. He shook his head.

"Not even that girl with her little mind tricks." He assured her. "You will never feel pain again. All you have to do is help me."

"How can I help you?" She asked. Vincent picked up a mirror and let her see her face.

"With the exception of your hair colour, you and your sister are identical." He reminded her. "I'm sure with the architect of the new world on my arm as my bride; the city will see things my way."

"I've been burning a lot of blood tonight." She informed her. "I have enough for the fight, but I can't concentrate on keeping the tumour under wraps. Just leave me here, Lilith and the others need you."

"I'm not leaving you." Vasquez told her flatly. She looked around, and got a little smile on her face. "I'm going to get you exactly what you need."

With that, she grabbed Luanne, hoisting her off the ground and ran, tackling a couple of other vassals to the ground before taking her place by the regeneration tank. She set the woman she loved down, before reaching to one of the tubes, tearing it out of its housing. As blood started to flow from it, she handed the tube to Luanne.

"There, take all you need, let us deal with..."

"You need me, you don't..."

"My friends are nearly finished with these guys, and then we need to tackle Vincent." She told him.

"Just drink up." Vasquez told her. Luanne just looked at her a little sheepishly.

"Please, just leave me." She told her. "I...I...don't want you to see me like this."

Vasquez nodded in understanding. She hadn't known Luanne long, but long enough to know that she could be a little proud. She obviously didn't want Vasquez to see her feeding, to see her vulnerable and desperate. She turned and followed Scott as the others created a path to the door to the main chamber. Watching her go, Luanne grabbed the tube, and started to feed.

Back in the main chamber, Lilith was still thinking about Vincent's offer as she looked over to the food on the table.

"Will it hurt?" She asked him.

"No, I can use my power to ensure there is no pain." He told her. "Indeed, I can remember my own experience quite vividly. If anything there's a great sense of pleasure. Each experience is subjective, but I will ensure you the most pleasurable transition I can."

"You said you want me to replace my sister." She reminded him. "What will you do with her?"

"Hush now, just...relax." He told her as he drew closer, his fangs beginning to extend as he prepared to feed from her. She felt euphoria coursing through her as he created the sensation in her mind he wanted her to feel. "In a moment, it will all be irrelevant."

Just then, the door flew into the room as Scott arrived. He recalled his helmet to let Lilith see him.

"Whatever he's telling you, don't listen to him!" He told her as he rushed forward. Vincent let out a growl, swiping a hand and smashing Scott into the wall.

"You see what I mean? I'm offering to ensure no one will ever hurt you again, and he won't let me give you that." He snarled, turning back to her. "He wants you to hurt. He wants you to suffer..."

"He wants you to live!" Vasquez snapped as she rushed in, kicking him hard and sending him sprawling across the floor. Scott joined her quickly as they both started pounding on him.

"Lilith, get out of here!" Scott called out.

She just stared at him fearfully, still completely dazed.

"Your sister's never given up on you; she searched for you from the moment you went missing!" He told her. "We've done everything to find you. We're all out there risking our lives to get you home..."

Vincent roared loudly as he stood up, throwing both Scott and Vasquez to opposite sides of the room. Vasquez got up slowly, at which Vincent approached her. She managed to block his first punch, but his next one connected with her cheek, spinning her head sharply sending her back to the ground. She floundered there, completely stunned by the force of his blow, barely conscious.

Scott came at him next, swinging his Street Sabre for his neck, hoping to decapitate him. Vincent managed to duck under it, before grabbing him by the throat, lifting him from the floor.

"You think this toothpick can hurt me?" He snarled as he choked the life from him. "I've been pursued by some of the greatest hunters in history. All of them have fallen at my hand!"

Lilith watched on, and looked at her brother-in-law as she saw his eyes bulging while he fought for breath. She could remember seeing him with her sister, having just made love to her. She could remember the closeness, the tenderness between them. It was something she envied, longed to have for herself, and it had sent her into a jealous rage when Sarah told her that it was impossible. Seeing the Red Ranger's plight, she grabbed him and threw him into the wall as hard as she could. Vincent turned back to her, snarling in his fury.

"Stay away from her!" Vasquez screamed as she managed to get back into the fight. She hammered into him as hard as she could. Vincent finally managed to grab her wrist, holding her fast.

"I think you're forgetting who the real power is in this." He told her, punching her hard in the stomach, doubling her over. He slammed another fist into her face, sending her back onto the bed.

Vasquez could do nothing as he approached her, pinning her down.

"You know, I've never actually fed from a hybrid before." He told her. "I guess there's a first time for everything."

As he extended his fangs, drawing closer, he felt something wrap around his throat. Vasquez looked up to see the cheese wire from the table wrapped around his neck, and looked over his shoulder, seeing Luanne standing behind him. She raised one leg, placing her foot on the back of his head.

"Consider this my resignation." She told him, pushing down with her foot as she pulled back on the cheese wire. Her strength, regenerated by the blood from the tank was more than enough to cause it to slice through, decapitating him. His body turned into glowing embers, before collapsing into a fine dust. She looked to Vasquez on the bed.

"Are you alright?" She asked her. Vasquez smiled, reaching up behind her head and drawing her in for a kiss.

"I'm perfect." She told her, pressing her lips to Luanne's. Lilith sat in the corner, looking more confused than ever.

"Aren't women meant to kiss guys?" She asked as he helped his sister-in-law to her feet.

"That's...a long story, I'll explain later." He told her. "Right now, I know your sister would be grateful if I got you home."

The following afternoon, the military were informed of the battle at the installation and were charged with the cleanup. They had tried to think of what to tell the public, but given the way Chas' true parentage, and the fact it had been kept from the public had been used against him, they opted instead to tell them the truth. All of Vincent's servants had all been captured and sedated, and would be kept so until the power of his blood had burned out of their systems, at which they could be transferred to prison.

Lilith had been freed from Vincent's grasp, and had been returned to her sister, but given her mental state, it had been agreed that for the time being at least, it was best she received round the clock care, and had been admitted to the asylum. Marcus agreed to ensure that he kept an eye on her to put Sarah's mind at ease between visits.

Vasquez sat in Sarah's lab, chewing her fingernails nervously as she checked over Luanne. She had been pardoned as a result of her contribution in destroying Vincent, and also because since she knew all of Vincent's accounts intimately, she had transferred his fortune to the city to distribute around the world as they felt was needed. Right now though, she was being given a check-up by Sarah, taking a CAT scan to check on her brain tumour to see if there was anything she could do for her.

"Is there anything we can do Sarah?" Vasquez asked her. "How bad is it?"

"You said you took a lot more blood from the chamber than you were used to." Sarah said to Luanne. "How much did you take?"

"I'm not sure exactly." She said with a shrug. "I was so ill; I concentrated a lot of it on healing. That's why I took so long to join the fight."

"I keep telling you, I'm fine." Vasquez assured her, taking her hand and stroking the back of it gently with her thumb. "Besides, I think the black eye gives me kind of a 'bad girl' edge."

"Luanne, I really don't know how to tell you this, but...I can't find it." Sarah told her as she let her out of the machine. "I have the most accurate scans in existence, but I can't find any trace of it."

"You can't find it?" Luanne asked her.

"I think it's possible you took enough to completely regenerate the brain tissue." Sarah told her. "Since you do have a genetic predisposition to the condition, I'd recommend keeping an eye out for symptoms in case it returns, but as far as I can see...you don't have a tumour anymore. It's gone!"

Vasquez threw her arms around Luanne, holding her tightly. Luanne returned the gesture, overjoyed to feel her arms around her. Vasquez finally parted from her, looking into her eyes.

"I can't believe that anything good came out of all this." She told her. "You're cured."

"I guess I am." Luanne replied with a smile. Vasquez reached for the ring on her thumb, but Luanne stopped her.

"I'd like you to keep it." She told her. "It would mean a lot to me."

"Thanks, I love it." Vasquez replied. "I was kind of wondering, what would say to dinner tonight?"

"I guess we should take a little while to celebrate." Luanne told her.

"It's my treat, since you are currently between employers." Vasquez said with a little grin. "Do you have any preferences?"

"I was kind of hoping we could have a quiet evening in actually." Luanne told her, reaching up and stroking her cheek gently. "You know, I am also between homes."

In another part of town, Dillon was just bringing Summer home after her stay at the hospital. She smacked his hands away as he opened her door and tried to help her out.

"I keep telling you Dillon, I'm fine." She grumbled as she moved the seat forward and started to unhitch Rose from her baby seat, lifting her gently while Dillon unfolded the stroller. She placed her softly inside, making sure she was wrapped snugly in blankets before reaching in for her sister Danielle.

"I know, I'm just really excited to be getting the three of you home at last." He assured her.

"Well at least you managed to postpone the party." She commented. "I would really like a quiet night..."

"Summer honey!" Her mother called out as she rushed out of the house. Summer just glared at Dillon, but he shrugged.

"I could convince the guys, but your parents were a different matter." He assured her. "I'm sorry about that."

"We just had to come and welcome the little darlings home." Mr. Landsdown told her, looking down into the stroller as Summer strapped in Danielle.

"I just wanted to get the girls settled in quietly for a couple of days before I dealt with the excitement of the party." Summer told her parents as they made their way down the path. "I mean, we have Ziggy's wedding in a couple of weeks, not to mention the guys are probably going to have some kind of party for the kids."

"We promise we won't stay too late, or get the kids too excited." Her mother assured her. "We just wanted to be here when you got home."

"We also wanted to tell you we've made a big decision about our lives." Her father continued. "We've decided that as generous as the cheque Vincent gave us is, we're not going to take it."

"But it's your money." Summer reminded them. "He told me that he saved some of your investments. That money belongs to you..."

"We didn't feel right about profiting out of all this." Her mother told her. "We've made new lives for ourselves; we don't need big houses or fancy clothes."

"Besides, if I remember rightly, all of those things didn't exactly make us good people." Her father chipped in, stroking Rose's cheek with the tip of his finger, grinning broadly as he looked at his grand daughters, completely taken with them. "We'd prefer to keep the life we have now."

"So you gave away all of it?" Dillon asked them. Summer's mom gave them an envelope.

"We just didn't think it was right for US to profit." She clarified. "There's a trust fund set up in each of the girl's names that'll mature when they turn 21. There's 10,000 dollars in each for college, or a home or...whatever the girls end up wanting to spend it on."

"We figured it was alright that the girls had a little something for the future." Mr. Landsdown told them. "That way something good comes out of this."

The following morning came, and Vasquez slowly came round, a huge smile on her face. It had been an incredible night; she had loved every minute with Luanne. Looking to the ring on her thumb, she couldn't help feeling happy.

"You know last night was wonderful." She said as she turned over, finding to her surprise that Luanne was gone.

She got up, holding her sheet around herself as she looked around for any sign of her.

"Luanne?" She asked weakly. Just then, she noticed that there was a note addressed to her on the dresser. She could already tell that the woman she loved was gone. As much as that hurt, she opened the note to find out why she had left.

"Dearest Vasquez,

By the time you've woken up, I'll be gone. I'm sorry to do things this way, but there was no other choice.

I told you that I have been in Vincent's service for some time, and while I can't remember exactly how long, I can tell you that it has been almost 100 years since I first tasted his blood. My aging is retarded while I have his blood in my system, but once that is gone, I will return to my true age within a few days. I have already lived far longer than anyone has a right to. I knew what would happen when I killed Vincent, but I couldn't let him hurt you.

I have opted to go to Briarwood with Chip. I know more about vampires than any living human, and I want to use my knowledge and my strength in the time I have left to help Count V to destroy those that remain and make the rest of my life mean something.

We still have some of Vincent's blood stockpiled, and he assured me that if we can get more vampire blood, he will give it to me. However if Count V succeeds, there will come a day when there are no more vampires, and hence no more vampire blood and then I will die.

Please don't grieve for me. Please try to remember this night we shared together when you think of me. I don't want you to remember me with sadness, that's why I couldn't bear to let you see what will happen to me when my end finally comes.

Please know that despite everything I've seen, everything I've done, the one thing I don't regret about taking Vincent's blood is that it allowed me to live long enough to meet you, the love of my life.

I hope that in time you will find someone else, and be happy. Just know that despite how little time we had together, I loved you with all my heart.

Luanne."

Vasquez sat on the bed, reading the letter over and over again, hoping that she was wrong, hoping that at any moment she would wake up and all this would be a horrible dream. She finally gave up on that hope and rolled back onto the bed, pulling the covers over herself and wept for the woman she loved.