In Summer Cove, Trevor was sitting, watching as Spike slurped his way through his second large milkshake since they had arrived, while he had a massive burger and fries waiting for him. Trevor had opted for a simple tuna melt and only one milkshake. He just shook his head.
"You know, most people lose some of their appetite when they lose some of their stomach." He commented. Spike just shrugged.
"I have to keep my strength up." He mumbled through some fries. "You were right, this milkshake is the BEST!"
"Yeah, definitely the best in the city." Trevor agreed. "I remember the first time I came in here, I couldn't believe places like this existed outside of Riverdale comics. No one makes real malt shops like this anymore. It's kind of sad in a way."
"Yeah, I guess it is." Spike agreed. "So many of the places that are getting built now just have no character, no…je ne sais quoi. I eat in one of the new places now and it's like, I could be in Panorama, Amber Beach, Mariner Bay and I honestly wouldn't know the difference."
"Wow, I really never expected to hear that from someone your age." Trevor chuckled. "I thought you were firmly generation Xerox."
"Are you kidding? My dad and my uncle used to own Bulkmeyer's in Stone Canyon. A Ranger themed restaurant that had a pool, tropical fruit smoothies, barbecue…you name it!"
"That sounds wild! What happened to it?" Trevor asked. Spike sighed.
"They sold it to Olive Garden." Spike told him. "I mean, they got seven figures apiece for it. Uncle Bulk pretty much retired on his check and my dad used his to start his businesses but I don't know, I think something was lost when they closed that place. I still remember that was where my mom taught me to swim."
"Sounds like it would have been my kind of place." Trevor replied. "Hayley loves this place. It's one of the few places that'll let her bring Kody in."
"That's right, she's away right now isn't she?" Spike asked him. "How's she liking Zandar?"
"From the number of pictures she's sent I'd say she likes it just fine." Trevor laughed. "When she comes back it'll be Aaron's turn to have her, so the house is going to be a fair bit quieter for the foreseeable future."
Just then, he seemed to stop laughing quite suddenly. Spike noticed the shift in his mood and turned around. He saw the same suits from the rally entering behind him.
"Oh great, those assholes." Spike remarked.
"You nearly done?" Trevor asked him. Spike just looked to him.
"Just because they're here doesn't mean we have to leave." Spike told him. Trevor looked like he wanted to disagree, but he settled into the seat, almost like he was willing Spike to hurry up and finish. Spike didn't like what the aspiring senator had been saying in the slightest, any more than Trevor had, but he was starting to think that his partner was taking things personally, which really wasn't like him. Spike shovelled in the last mouthful of his burger and gulped down the last of his milkshake so quickly he was amazed he didn't choke and his head felt like it was being split in half with an axe made of ice. They gathered their things and started to head for the door.
"I'm telling you the polling numbers aren't as good as we want here." One of the advisors told the politician. "The people around here aren't picking up what you're putting down."
"Hey, you there! Officer!" One of the suits called over as Trevor was about to leave. Trevor paused for a moment, before turning around and starting to head back toward the table.
"Anything I can do for you gentlemen?" Trevor asked.
"You two, you were at the rally weren't you?" He asked in response.
"Yeah, we were there." Spike answered.
"Shame you didn't stick around." The suit stated. "That mob started to get a little wild."
"Yeah, and I believe that's what you're for." Trevor said, gesturing to the suits. "When we left everyone was well within their legal rights, and there was no reason for us to be there so we left."
"So it'd have been fine with you if someone…"
"Did anyone do anything to you?" Trevor interrupted him.
"Well…no but…"
"Then I think everything worked out just fine." Trevor answered. The suit didn't look at all impressed with this answer.
"I want your badge number!" He demanded.
"WHAT?" Spike shrieked. "You're going to make a complaint? You were the ones whipping up…!"
"Certainly, that's your right to ask, here you are." Trevor said, handing over his badge. The man was about to take down his credentials when Tracker took the badge from him.
"That's quite alright, I'm sure we don't have to make this official." He said, looking to Trevor and Spike. "So, I take it you're not fans of what I have to say."
"Not particularly." Trevor said honestly. "Of course, that's really neither here nor there. Since no one at your rally committed any offences, anything else is really none of my business."
"You…I know you don't I?" He asked. Spike could almost swear he heard a low growl coming from Trevor, before he forced a smile.
"I'm sorry, I don't think so." Trevor stated, retrieving his badge. "I just have one of those faces."
"I'm sure I could have sworn…"
"No, I think you've definitely made a mistake." Trevor interrupted him. "Now, if there's nothing else…?"
"Oh, no of course, on you go officer…?"
Trevor didn't answer, instead turning and walking away.
"HEY!" One of the suits called after him. "You show some respect! He was talking to you…?"
"He has the right to say what he wants, what the First Amendment DOESN'T do is guarantee you an audience!" Trevor stated.
"What's that meant to mean?" Tracker asked.
"It means I don't have to listen!" Trevor put down flatly. "Good day General."
As he left, Spike followed him, more than a little confused and worried about the whole thing. Tracker stared after him thoughtfully.
"General?" One of his aides asked. "No one's called you that in years."
"I'm sure it's nothing." Tracker stated. "Alright then, what's next on the agenda?"
Meanwhile, in Zandar, Kendall had called the team to a room to discuss what she had learned from Terry. She had downloaded a whole lot of information from the internet relating to head injuries, and Terry had provided a whole lot of material as well. Kendall had been an academic for so long she really didn't know much better a way to tell them all what Terry had told her than to do a kind of presentation. She was pretty quick to put together a Power Point presentation. The others had known Kendall for long enough that this didn't really seem like a particularly odd way to address the issue.
To say the presentation was detailed was an understatement. She'd shown them brain scans, reports, charts, statistics, more than the average person probably ever wanted to know about brain injury. Alessandra held Koda's hand as he listened to Kendall explaining in depth what had happened. Even though it pained her to look at his face as she talked about the decline in his health, the masking of numerous health issues through self-medication, his mood swings, the decline in his memory and mental faculties, she really didn't know another way to make sure he understood. She got to the end, taking a deep breath.
"So, does anyone have any questions?" She asked. The room was quiet for a little while, before finally Shelby tentatively put up a hand.
"So…you're saying Jack was hit in the head one too many times?" She asked.
"That's a very simplistic way to put it." Kendall stated. "It's like…every time his head was hit, it was like a mini car crash. It caused some damage, but instead of repairing as it should, because he was still taking hits, the damage started to build up. As time went by and that damage built up and started to degrade, eventually it just…caught up with him. I believe that a blood clot from one of the affected areas just moved and…sadly…"
"That's what killed him." Calvin said as he tried to piece it all together. Koda understandably wasn't taking this well. Jack was a lot more to him than just a friend, he was like another father figure to him in this time.
"You say Jack show signs." Koda asked. "That mean…he could have been saved? I could have…?"
"No, Koda, that's not…" Kendall said regretfully, trying to think of how best to put it. "Jack was…well…by the time you knew him he'd been wrestling for decades. He'd been building up this damage all that time."
"But you say he show signs, he forget things, he swing mood…"
"Jack always forgetful. He never good with names. He hardly ever get my name right when I meet him." Alessandra reminded Koda. "He always call you 'kid'. He also always grumpy. I know him longer than you and he always grouch."
"The sad fact is Koda, I really don't think anything could have been done." Kendall said to him honestly. "I really think a lot of the signs were just missed because people were so used to it they didn't notice. I also don't know if there was anything that could have been done because a lot of the damage had already been done."
"Wait, here's a worrying thought. It's not like we haven't been knocked around a few times." Chase said as he thought about it. "I mean, I know the powers protect us and we do heal up faster and stuff but…it's not like none of us haven't had our bells rung pretty good. Should we worry?"
"Dude, totally that's…that's a scary thought." Preston said. "What about it Dr Morgan?"
"I…don't necessarily think so." Kendall told them. "Yes, we've all been to the hospital once or twice, but in general the powers have protected us really well…."
"Yeah, but what about those of us who were hurt when we DIDN'T have powers?" Shelby asked. "I seem to remember you having issues with a concussion before you became the Purple Ranger."
"You did?" Sarah asked.
"Well, I wouldn't say…"
"She face-planted into her soup after she checked herself out of hospital." Shelby said, recalling the incident. "I remember finding her on the floor of her office…"
"Oh no, Kendall be alright?" Koda said, becoming noticeably agitated. This was precisely the kind of thing she didn't want.
"Koda, I'm fine!" She insisted. "The problem wasn't one concussion, it was numerous concussions building up over time. But, I think going forward, it might be an idea for us to be aware of warning signs to look out for. Red flags to keep an eye out in behaviour and suchlike. Also, more than one Ranger has ended up getting a medical licence so it might not be a bad idea if we all start taking care of ourselves, getting check-ups every now and then to make sure that everything stays…well…alright."
"I miss Jack." Koda stated. Kendall went to him, taking his hand softly.
"I know you do." Kendall told him. "But, I've already had a word with Carl and I've explained what happened, and he's agreed to institute a wellness policy at his company. He's going to announce it to the guys before the show and explain some changes he's going to make to try and prevent this happening again."
"Big guy, I know this is hard to take, but think of it this way." Tyler said, looking to Koda. "Jack died in a business that he loved, he was happy for the most part. Maybe if we take some lessons from that, then what happened to him won't have happened for nothing."
"Yeah, and just think, if he gets us all taking care of ourselves too, then he'll have helped save the world in his own way." Hayley offered. "The people that protect the planet will learn to protect themselves a little better out of this."
"I miss Jack. I always miss Jack." Koda said, processing it all. "I want to talk Carl. Want to dedicate show to Jack. Maybe give some of money to…um…"
"Head injury research charities?" Kendall asked, seeing him struggling to find the words. Koda just nodded. She smiled. "I think Jack would have liked that very much."
"I'll speak to my father. I'm perfectly certain the Royal Family can make a contribution." Phillipe added. "In the meantime, if everyone is feeling up to it, perhaps we should…?"
He tailed off as he also found it difficult to say anything else. It was his wedding, and so it was natural he wanted to focus on that, but at the same time, Jack was a friend. He didn't want to make it seem like he was just sweeping aside what had happened for his own festivities. Koda took a deep breath, wiped his eyes and stood up.
"We have party. Jack like good time." Koda declared. "We still think of Jack, but do so in way that make us happy."
"I think he like that very much." Alessandra answered, leaning over and kissing Koda's cheek.
Meanwhile in Millport, work on the workshop was all but complete. With the whole town helping, it hadn't taken anything like as long as they had originally thought it would to put the new workshop up, and at least one coat of weatherproof paint had been applied. Although they'd have loved the others to stay and finish, the Romeros knew that they also had their own lands to attend to. Dane was just finishing thanking them all.
"I promise, next time I'm in town, a round in the tavern is on me." He assured them all. Dane didn't drink himself, but he was more than certain that offer would not go amiss in Millport. It was a pretty cheap repayment for a full day's work from a whole town. Levi, Tom and Brody all waved them off as they got into their trucks and left.
"Man, I still can't believe they did that." Levi commented. "I was sure they'd all still think this place was cursed or something."
"Maybe they just wanted to see it for themselves." Brody suggested. "I mean, we are kind of a curiosity around here."
"You're all overthinking it. It's just country community." Tom stated. "Believe me, back home stuff like this happened all the time."
"Yeah, but even when we were here the last time, we weren't exactly social." Brody reminded them. "We only went into town…"
"If there's one thing I know about places like this it's that you don't pick the community, it picks you." Tom said, slapping Brody on the back. "You're a part of it whether you want to be or not."
"Yeah, and some people don't." Brody stated. "I don't know what that Burt kid's problem is but he just seems mad at everything."
"So he's a teenager that hates his home town, big whoop." Levi replied. "He wants to carry a chip on his shoulder that's his problem. Odds are in a few years he'll never imagine wanting to leave."
"I don't know, he seems pretty…I don't know." Brody told him. "He said I reminded him of some kid at his school, someone he kept calling 'Brainiac'."
"Brody, he's a jerk." Levi told him. "He's probably always been a jerk, and he's probably always going to be a jerk. Sometimes people are just like that. All you can do is live your life and let him be miserable in his."
"I guess so." Brody said, though he wasn't really convinced. He didn't know why, but something about Burt bothered him. "Anyway, are you guys alright to do the rest of the painting on the barn? If I head inside now I could have Redbot fully rebuilt by lights out, and he can help us set up the workshop."
"Well, while you guys handle that, I think I'll head into town and pick us up some dinner." Dane told them. Levi just watched Dane go to the truck while Brody headed inside. He looked to Tom.
"You notice how even though we're the ones who don't live here somehow we always get left with the work?" Levi asked. Tom just laughed.
"Come on." He told him. "We should be able to have at least one more coat done before your dad gets back."
Over at the Marx house, Trevor arrived home after a long day, finding the house empty. It seemed like his wife wasn't home yet, no doubt still at the office. As he hung up his jacket, he opened his gun safe, unloading his pistol and clearing it, before locking it inside.
He picked up the remote and turned on the TV, not really caring what was on, before heading to the kitchen and opening the fridge. He looked out a beer.
"Long day." He commented as he opened it, before heading through to the Living Room. He took one look at what was on, before grimacing and turning the channel.
"As if forensics ever worked that fast…or made things that simple." He grumbled. "Reality TV? That's more scripted than a bad soap opera!"
He finally settled on some random car chase movie, finding it to be the right intellectual level for his fatigued mind. He didn't even know what it was, just a bunch of brightly coloured, 'pimped out' street-racers performing feats of driving that defied even the most basic laws of physics. He was just settling in to watch when he heard the phone. He reached over, picking it up.
"You've got Marx, who is it?" He asked.
"Oh, I think you know who it is." The voice on the other end said.
"Yes, you know who it is." He heard the voice of Psycho Green saying inside his head. Trevor tried to push it to the back of his mind.
"I'm sorry, I think you've got…"
"It took me a moment you know." Tracker told him. "I tried to place the face, figure out where I'd seen you before. I'm almost a little disappointed it took so long."
"I'm sorry, you have me at a loss." Trevor stated.
"Coward." Psycho Green hissed. "You know him."
"We're a long way from Afghanistan Marx." Tracker told him. "It's been a long time."
"He knows." Psycho Green told him. Trevor felt the anger building in him. His grip on the phone tightened.
"I'm afraid you have a wrong number." Trevor told him. "Don't call here again."
"You called me General. That was what tipped me off." Tracker told him. "It's been a long time since anyone called me that."
"Fine, what do you want?" Trevor demanded angrily.
"He wants to break you like he did before." Psycho Green told him. "Break him first!"
"I want you to know that I fully intend to run for this district, and I intend to win." Tracker told him. "And I don't expect you to cause me any more trouble!"
"He's the enemy!" Psycho Green whispered. "He deserves no mercy!"
"Trouble?" Marx demanded. "You should have been up before The Hague for what you pulled!"
"That's not what my supporters believe." Tracker told him. "Now, I'm not planning to make any trouble for you…IF you don't make any for me!"
"He's lying!" Psycho Green hissed. "He'll destroy you if you get in his way! Destroy him first!"
A part of Trevor wanted to just tell him that he would do as he said, just stay out of his way and not speak to him or cross paths with him again. If he was honest, he would have preferred never seeing or hearing of the man again. However, now he was here, now he was in the life he'd managed to make for himself since everything had fallen apart, he couldn't bring himself to just submit to him.
"DON'T call here again!" Trevor demanded, before slamming down the phone.
"This isn't the end…you know it can't be." Psycho Green whispered to him. Trevor turned up the TV, trying to drown him out as he sipped his beer.