Tenaya barely noticed as Dr. K examined every inch of her to assess her recovery. While Dr. K's examination was barely any gentler than the torture that had sent her to the infirmary in the first place, she wasn't concerned. When Dr. K had told her that there was a chance she would be allowed to leave to go to the carnival, the only thought that entered her mind was getting the chance to spend the day with Ziggy. She hadn't had a chance to see him other than the odd stolen moment when no one was looking since she had gotten back into the city.
"You have been fortunate. While your injuries will cause you discomfort, I can see no reason to suggest you are not strong enough to leave the infirmary." Dr. K said in a slightly cold manner. "I would recommend you do not over do things, but you appear to be alright. You may go."
"I can go?" Tenaya asked her excitedly as she pulled her t-shirt over her head, hardly able to contain her excitement. As Dr. K looked at her, she shrunk a little.
"I understand you feel some form of affection for the children at the orphanage like Ziggy." Dr. K replied quietly. "I'll call your brother to give you a ride to the plaza."
At that point, Flynn arrived back in the Lion Hauler, bringing it into the Garage. As it stopped, the back opened, and the refugees started to disembark.
"This is it folks, welcome to the City of Corinth." Flynn announced as he lifted the last little girl out of the back. He recalled the Zord, before de-morphing, carrying her a little.
"Hope!" Tenaya called out, seeing the little girl in his arms.
"Tenaya!" She yelled in response as Flynn put her down. She ran over to the woman she had released from D46's clutches a few days previously. Tenaya knelt down, scooping Hope up in her arms as the little girl threw herself into an enthusiastic hug. "You made it!"
"I did, thanks to you." Tenaya replied. "I got back a couple of days ago."
"Does it still hurt?" She asked, gesturing to some of the visible bruises and burns on Tenaya's arms.
"It's not as bad as it was." She replied. "So where's your mommy?"
"She's just over there." She replied, gesturing to a woman who was watching them nervously. She appeared to be uninjured, though she was carrying a first aid kit. Tenaya presumed that D46 had sent her to take care of the casualties he had sent to Corinth. Hope leant in whispering. "She doesn't know about what happened in the cave."
"Well I promise she won't learn from me." Tenaya whispered back, putting her down. Hope ran back to her mother, while Dr. K put in a call to the military to come and collect the refugees to be processed for re-housing.
"I see you accomplished your mission." Dr. K said to Flynn quietly as she ended the communication with Colonel Truman.
"He told me that there will be six transport vehicles brought into the complex three days from now." He told her. "They'll arrive at noon. He's planning to move in then. If we co-ordinate the attack with him, and ensure the vehicles aren't destroyed, we should be able to bring most of the refugees home. He's agreed to take care of anyone we can't fit into the transports or the Zords."
"I'll get working on modifying the Zords to maximise the transport capacity." Dr. K told him. "Taking the power reactors for your blasters out of the Lion Hauler worked this time, but if we're going to take out that factory, you'll need all the help you can get."
"Well while you sort that out, if you don't mind, I think I'll join Tenaya at the carnival." Flynn responded. "Sam will be wondering where I am."
"Did you say carnival?" Hope screamed, her eyes growing wide with excitement. "There's a carnival?"
"Honey, we need to go with the military." Her mother told her. "We need..."
"There will be several members of the military at the event." Dr. K interrupted her, looking at the kids, positively bouncing at the thought of getting to see something like this. Given the fact that they had been living outside the dome since the attacks, it was understandable how excited they would be at the thought of getting to attend something like this. "They will be cared for."
"Can we go, please mom?" Hope asked her. Her mother looked around at all the wide, hopeful eyes looking up at her from the half-dozen children in her care. She was reluctant, but she could understand their desire to go.
"Alright, but you stay at the carnival, and you go with the Blue Ranger to be returned to me the moment the carnival is over. Is that clear?"
The kids all cheered and rushed Flynn, grabbing his legs tightly, almost causing him to fall over. He could only laugh at their enthusiasm.
"I'll just make another call to the others." Flynn told them. "I think we'll need Ziggy and the minibus to get all this lot to the carnival."
Meanwhile, over in the city plaza, the stalls had been set up by the time the minibus arrived with the kids from the orphanage. Summer was keeping them entertained in the back, singing songs as they made their way into the square. Fences kept the rest of the citizens out before opening time, and ticket vendors were already preparing for a busy day ahead, but since Ziggy was instrumental in getting the day arranged, he had convinced the guards to let the kids in a little early.
Gem, Gemma and Scott were helping a few volunteers put the finishing touches to the decorations, stringing brightly coloured banners and strings of flags across the lanes between all the stands. Seeing all the glowing, gleeful faces pressed up to the windows of the bus, the Twins smiled and waved to them, eliciting excited chatter and screams from them. Ziggy parked up, opening the doors for them.
"Here we are kids, have fun!" Ziggy called out as the kids cheered. Ms. Foster struggled to get up as she cradled an infant, the latest child in her care, in her arms. Unfortunately the recent battles caused by Gates had taken their toll on the city.
"I'll just help you with her." Summer told her, taking the little bundle gently from Ms. Foster's hands, allowing her to get up. Ms. Foster saw a slightly dreamy look in Summer's eyes as she looked down on the little girl, sleeping in her arms.
"You didn't even wake her." Ms. Foster complimented her. "You have a real way with kids."
"I never had any brothers or sisters." Summer whispered, unable to take her eyes off the little girl as she breathed gently. "There were never any babies in the family. I guess always kind of felt like I missed out on something by not getting to watch any kids growing up."
"Well I can tell you're a natural." Ms. Foster complimented her. Summer was about to hand the baby back to her, but the matron just held up a hand. "I'll let you have a little more fun with her first."
"What's her name?" Summer asked.
"Alice." Ms. Foster replied as they got out of the bus. Summer was so busy looking at the baby she never even noticed Dillon coming over to her.
He stopped short as he saw the image before him. Something struck him about seeing Summer holding Alice.
He felt something deep in his heart as he saw the look on her face. The smile on her face was intoxicating, and her eyes shone brightly with the kind of joy that spoke volumes.
"Is there something you should be telling me?" Dillon asked her. "I thought this process took a lot longer."
"Don't be an idiot." She giggled, handing the baby back to Ms. Foster. "It's one of the kids in Ms. Foster's care. She just let me hold it for a while."
"You looked like you were enjoying yourself." He told her, wrapping his arms around her waist. She reached up over her shoulder, stroking his face as she continued to look at the baby. Ms. Foster was heading through the carnival with the kids to get their bearings, though by now Brie had arrived and had rushed over to get a look at the baby. Ms. Foster was only too happy to let her hold Alice. Given the fact she was pregnant, it was only natural that Brie would want to see her.
"I always loved the idea of having kids." She told him. "It was one of the few parts of mom and dad's plan to marry me off that I didn't mind. I've always wanted to have kids."
Dillon felt a sense of trepidation as he heard this. There was so much he wasn't sure of in his life. Most of it was still a complete mystery to him. All he really knew for certain was that Tenaya was his sister, and at some point they had both been taken to that warehouse in Omega City along with 48 others, where they had been made into what they were now.
Looking at the children, he didn't have the same warm feelings the others did. He had never really given much thought to having a family. He never felt the same emotions towards children that people normally did. To him, they were just small people.
"Guys, I just got a call from Dr. K." Ziggy rushed out, interrupting his thoughts. "She wants me to take the minibus to the Garage. She said that Flynn and Tenaya are bringing another couple of kids to the carnival, but I still have a lot of work to do to set up for my magic show."
"It's alright Ziggy, I'll go." Dillon told him, a little thankful for the opportunity to take some time to collect his thoughts. "You can stay and set up."
He took the keys from Ziggy, before getting into the cab and driving away. Ziggy got a goofy little grin on his face as he left. Summer saw this and came over to him.
"It looks like you have a glamorous assistant for your magic show." She teased him, nudging him gently.
"I'm really glad she's able to come." He replied.
"Of course, this does mean she's left the infirmary." Summer reminded him. "You know what that means."
"I know, I guess I'm just not looking forward to telling him." Ziggy answered. "Maybe if I tell him after the Carnival he'll be in a good mood and it'll not be so bad."
Chas arrived at that point, making his way into the square. He smiled as he saw Brie holding Alice, as she talked with Ms. Foster. He came over to her, kissing her cheek as he arrived.
"You have no idea how good it felt to see that." He told her, putting his arm around her.
"Well it won't be that long before it's our turn." She reminded him as she handed back the baby. She suddenly got a concerned look on her face. "I thought you went to see the doctor. Are you feeling alright? You look awful."
"I think I'm just coming down with something." He told her, waving off her concern. "He said it's nothing serious."
"Nothing serious my ass, you look like death warmed up!" She snapped in response. "What happened? What did he say?"
"He said everything's fine." He assured her. "You know as well as I do that this campaign's taken a little out of me. I've probably just overdone it a little. Once I make it through the game tomorrow I'll be fine. I'll be able to relax a little and concentrate on boring things like interviews and press conferences."
"Here, take some of this." Summer told him, handing him a cup of coffee. Chas took it, but dropped it soon afterwards, unable to hold it. Brie held him closely.
"Chas, what's wrong with you?" She asked again. He looked up, and gestured to the other side of the square, where the Rockets had arrived. They were wearing their armour, all except for their helmets so their faces could be seen. They had also been invited to the event to drum up publicity.
"Hey Chas, how's the kid?" The captain yelled over. He was almost seven feet tall, and heavily muscular. He had chiselled, handsome features and flowing ash blonde hair which reached almost to his shoulders. Eric "Ace" Ryker as he was known was not just the leading scorer in the league, but he also had more than a little bit of a reputation off the court as well.
His good looks had secured him many modelling contracts, ranging from sunglasses and aftershave through to underwear, meaning that he actually earned more money out of the Lightningball courts than he did on them. He was also well-known in the tabloids for his reputation as a womaniser and a party animal. He was just one of many that it had been claimed was the father of Brie's baby.
"Hey, remember that party we went to a few months ago?" He asked Brie. "I wouldn't be surprised if you don't. You were pretty wrecked by the time it broke up."
"Shut up Ryker!" She spat in her disgust at the implication. A few months ago she had gone to her Alumni reunion, and she had indeed gotten more than a little more drunk than she really should have, but she knew that she hadn't done anything with him. Ryker had attended the same High School, and so had been at the same party. He was obviously trying to stir up trouble.
"You know the newspapers make interesting reading Winchester." He taunted Chas. "Maybe I should take their advice and seek a paternity test. Someone with my money can't be too careful. It wouldn't be the first time..."
"Shut it Ryker!" Chas roared, bringing himself as much to his full height as he could. Brie and Summer held him, but could feel his muscles straining as he tried to stop himself from attacking the massive player.
"The autograph booth's over there." Summer warned him. "Just go before there's any trouble."
"Oh, there's going to be trouble alright." Ryker told her. "It'll just be on the court. Take care Brie, wouldn't want anything happening to the little bundle of joy."
"Go to hell Ryker!" She snarled, turning from him. He handed her the newspaper and walked away, leaving the three of them alone as the team took their place by the autograph booth. Summer read the headline sympathetically.
"Chas, he's just trying to mess with you before the match. You know this is a load of bull." She reminded him. She and Brie took him to a bench where he took a seat. "I'll get you another coffee."
"Thanks." He replied. Brie just held him warmly.
"Don't listen to that creep; he's just trying to get a rise out of you." Brie assured him. "I never looked twice at him."
"I know that Brie." He told her, feeling his heart racing as he tried to calm down. "I really just hate anyone talking about you like that."
"You said it yourself, it's unlikely to be the last time we'll hear anything like this." She told him. "Hey, why don't you just rest up here, while I go and get us a couple of hot dogs, then after this place opens and you do the speech, we can concentrate on having a little fun?"
"That sounds good honey." He replied, kissing her. "I love you."
As she left though, he got a slight look of concern on his face as he looked down on his hands. He hadn't dropped the coffee because he had seen Ryker. He just couldn't hold it. He didn't know why, but for some reason he just couldn't stop his hands from shaking.
Back at the Garage, the adults had been picked up by the military and taken to the base to be processed and to have any injuries and illnesses checked out. The kids meanwhile, were busy bouncing around the main room in their excitement. Dr. K came back into the room, dragging a little boy about eight years old by the arm.
"Flynn, I've asked you already to keep these little monsters out of my lab." She groaned, handing him back to the Blue Ranger to rejoin his friends. "How do they keep getting in there?"
"Oh come on Dr. K lighten up." He told her. "You were that age too not so long ago."
"When I was that age I had spent almost four years locked indoors with no access to the outside world and had already forgotten my real name." She reminded him. "Please just try to keep them out of the lab."
"She doesn't like kids does she?" The boy asked him. Flynn knelt down to his level and smiled.
"The doc's a little different." He assured him. "She just doesn't understand you, that's all. Anyway, let's get back to the fun."
Just then, the minibus arrived, causing all the kids to cheer as Dillon disembarked.
"Where'd all these kids come from?" He asked them.
"It's a long story man, I'll explain on the way." Flynn assured him. "Come on kids, the carnival's going to start soon. We wouldn't want to be late."
"Hey, you're cute." Hope commented as she wandered over to Dillon, tugging his trouser leg. He was unsure how to react to kids, he wasn't entirely comfortable. He just looked down at her and gestured into the bus. "Tenaya, he's really cute. Is this your boyfriend Ziggy?"
Dillon stopped in his tracks as he heard this, turning back to them. He could see an alarmed look on Tenaya's face. He knelt down to the little girl's level, his fists clenching.
"Excuse me, could you just say that one more time?" He asked.
