Marcus was standing in Corinth Park as workmen worked on a project. He had gotten through the battle remarkably uninjured. He limped a little, but he mostly had superficial cuts and bruising. He was one of the lucky ones. Thousands had fallen in the Second Battle of Corinth, and millions more were injured. Every doctor, nurse and anyone with any level of first-aid training had been drafted by the military to deal with the back log, but even then hospitals and makeshift MASH units were overworked, forced to distribute treatment on a purely priority basis.
The damage to the city was also being seen to with every resource at their disposal. The prison work scheme was pretty much exclusively contributing the inmates to clearing roads and heavy labour to make way for the rebuilding of the city. Priority had been given to rebuilding the Garage. With the Central Command building destroyed, and the Garage damaged, the decision had been taken to use the old site of the Garage for the new Central Command centre.
It had been almost completely rebuilt and the systems rebooted to help co-ordinate the efforts, direct the reformation and to scan for any distress messages. Since Venjix was no longer around and blocking communications out of the city, they sent out messages, hoping to confirm or deny rumours that Corinth was not the only colony of humanity left. Such rumours had been common since the shields had gone up. With so much of the world far beyond scanning range, it was not hard to understand why people had hopes that other secure facilities had been built.
The next stage of priority had been given to building homes. Thousands were still in temporary accommodation. Marcus still thought it was too early for effort to be wasted on this particular project, but his father and Chas had made up their minds. They were tearing down the old memorial to Marcus' memory, to stand as the site of the monument to the Second Battle of Corinth. There was to be a ceremony in a few days to honour the fallen and celebrate the victory over Venjix. Despite how much still needed to be done, Chas had decided that the people needed some time to decompress and take a break.
"It feels odd to watch your own grave being ripped up." Colonel Truman told him, arriving behind his eldest son, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I still have the head stone from when I faked my own funeral in my basement."
"Has our family ever been normal?" Marcus asked him with a chuckle. It was kind of odd to think about it. Two members of the Truman family had been presumed dead, one of them was a hybrid, and one of them was the Red Ranger. He doubted many people would be able to have such conversations.
"You didn't return my call." Colonel Truman told him.
"I ignored it." Marcus corrected him, turning to face him. "I don't want it."
"Marcus, you were the leader of Eagle Squadron before." Colonel Truman reminded him as he took a seat with him on the park bench. "I thought you would want..."
"Dad, I'm not the same man I was, you know that." He interrupted him. "After all this, after everything I've been through, I'm just tired of fighting. I don't want to go back into the military."
"I can understand that." He answered, slightly disappointed, but respecting his son's decision. When he was out in the wastes, his life was a constant, daily battle for survival. Even when he arrived in Corinth, violence had dominated his life. He could understand his desire to simply stop. "Do you mind if I ask what you'd like to do now?"
"I've spent so long fighting; I just want to see if I can do something to care for others." Marcus replied with a smile. "I think I'd like to keep working security at the asylum. I like taking care of the patients. They really respect me there and..."
"You've given this a lot of thought haven't you?" Colonel Truman asked him. Marcus nodded and handed him a letter.
"Consider this my official resignation from the military." He replied. Colonel Truman nodded and smiled as he put the letter in his pocket.
"I'll let Chas know we can give up the search for new guards." Colonel Truman told him. "Vasquez will be happy at least. She never did like that job."
He got up, beginning to make his way back to the command centre.
"Dad!" Marcus called out, stopping him. "If you're still looking for a leader for Eagle Squadron, you know my old recommendation stands."
"I'll keep that in mind." Colonel Truman told him. "I have some business at the command centre. I'll see you around."
"Thanks for understanding dad." He replied. Colonel Truman just smiled.
"I understand more than you know." He informed him. "I'll call you later."
At that point in another part of town, Tenaya was struggling to change Alex. Given the injury to her shoulder, her arm was in a sling, isolated while it healed. Dr. K had performed a procedure to repair the damage to her implants, but there was still muscle damage to heal. Summer knocked on the door softly.
"Would you like me to do that?" She asked her sister-in-law. Tenaya nodded, finally conceding defeat at the hands of a disposable diaper. Trying to change him with only one hand just wasn't working. Summer took over, working the straps quickly.
The Rangers had been excused from the reformation efforts. It was mostly an act of gratitude on the part of the city, but it wasn't unwelcome. The blast when they had destroyed the Ultrazord had left all of them more than a little worse for wear. Summer was covered in cuts and bruises, and her chest was heavily taped to protect a couple of fractured ribs.
"How's the honeymoon?" Tenaya asked her. Summer just looked at her.
"You do know this doesn't count right?" Summer asked her. "The teddy bear wallpaper doesn't exactly create the most romantic atmosphere."
Since the military was using the Garage as their base, the Rangers had to be relocated. Scott and Dr. K were still in the Garage, while Flynn had moved in with Sam. Summer though, knowing her parent's apartment didn't have room for both her and Dillon had accepted an invitation from Ms. Foster to stay at the orphanage with Dillon, Tenaya and Ziggy until new apartments could be found for them. They had been fortunate enough to get a room to themselves, but the thought of all the kids running around made it seem a little inappropriate to spend time together.
"I'm sure we'll get apartments soon." Tenaya told her. "I love the kids here, and Alex loves all the attention he gets from his grandparents and the other kids but I'd like a little more time to ourselves."
"Ziggy's having a ball." Summer commented. "He hasn't had much time to visit lately I guess."
"He is enjoying catching up with them." Tenaya replied, thinking about him. "I just...I'd like a little privacy."
"I never thought it would be possible to have less privacy than when we lived at the Garage." Summer answered, picking up her nephew and cradling him softly. She grimaced a little as she did so, aggravating her ribs slightly, but she was able to ignore the pain to take him. "I love the kids, but I can't wait until we get our apartment and get out of here."
"Summer, would you and Dillon like to take Alex for the day?" Tenaya asked her. Summer looked a little concerned about her, but Tenaya held up her one good hand. "This isn't a depression thing. I just wanted to talk to Ziggy alone for a little while."
"Is it anything I would like to hear about?" Summer asked her, a little smile on her face as she thought about the prospect of spending the day with her little nephew. She loved it any time she got to take care of him. She had even found herself falling head over heels for Chas and Brie's daughter Stephanie.
"I want to talk to him first." Tenaya replied. "It's kind of about our..."
"Oh my God, you're not are you?" Summer asked her. "Are you...?"
"What? Oh, no it's nothing like that!" Tenaya replied, seeing the way Summer's eyes lit up. "No...but it was kind of related. We haven't really had time to talk about it, but I'd really like to make things official...become a real family."
"I guess I should have seen that one coming." Summer replied. "I couldn't be happier for you both."
Just then, Dillon knocked on the door, causing them to look up at him. He smiled a little, seeing Summer with Alex in her arms.
"Again?" He asked her.
"Tenaya's letting us take him for the day." She gushed, coming over and reaching up, kissing Dillon's cheek. "I thought maybe you'd like to take a little trip to the park."
"I guess we could do that." He replied with a grin. "Do you and Ziggy have any plans for the day?"
"I have a few ideas." Tenaya told her brother with a grin. "I'll see you later little guy. I love you."
Summer and Dillon took him from the room just as Ziggy walked in, finding her.
"I guess you let them take Alex." He commented. "I swear I worry Summer's not going to give him back one of these days."
"Ziggy..."
"Ten...I wanted to talk to you for a little while." He told her. Tenaya paused for a second.
"Ziggy..."
"It's kind of important, could you let me finish?" He asked her. "Listen, I'm glad we've got a little time to ourselves, but there's something I'd like you to see out in the main room."
"Ziggy before we do..."
"Please, just humour me will you?" He asked her. Tenaya just shook her head, giving up on her attempt to get a word in. He took her by the hand and led her out onto the landing. She found Summer and Dillon with Alex, all still waiting at the top of the stairs.
Looking down the stairs, she saw all the kids assembled with Bob and Helen, holding up a hand-painted banner made from an old bed sheet. She struggled to catch her breath as she saw the banner's message. "Tenaya, will you marry me."
She turned to see Ziggy on one knee before her. She held her hands over her mouth, tears beginning to run down her face as she saw this, nodding frantically.
"Yes!" She screamed loudly. Ziggy got up, throwing his arms around her as he did so. "Ziggy, of course I'll marry you!"
Dillon and Summer just watched on, smiling as they embraced. The kids all screamed in their excitement while Bob and Helen stood, watching their son proudly as he pledged his life to the woman he loved so much. He pulled out a small box, showing her the ring, but looked down, remembering her left arm was in the sling.
"Um...maybe we should wait a while before I put this on." He suggested. Tenaya just nodded.
"I think that would be best." She replied.
Dillon put his arms around Summer as she watched them, proud of his sister and his future brother-in-law. He looked down to Summer, holding his nephew and smiled.
"It looks like the family's getting bigger." He told her. Summer giggled.
"I just realised something." She told him. "I'm going to be related to Chas after all."
Dillon thought about it for a second and realised she was right. Chas was Ziggy's half-brother. Once he married Tenaya, that would make her one-time fiancé a member of the family by default.
"I guess I wouldn't have seen that one coming." He chuckled. "Anyway, let's go. I think my sister might like a little time on her own."
"I think that would be best." Summer told him, bobbing Alex gently in her arms. It was time to bring family to the fore. Now there was no more need for Rangers, it seemed like it was time to think about the future.
Over at the Central Command base, Colonel Truman arrived to find people working hard on their efforts. Dr. K had dedicated her time to reconfiguring all their systems. Gem and Gemma were helping her. Scott had stuck around largely to keep close to his girlfriend while she was so busy.
Hicks and Vasquez arrived in the base, dressed in casual clothing. Gemma smiled at Hicks, waving gently. He returned the gesture, giving her a slightly dreamy smile. Although Dr. K had run the hybrid sleeper agents through a programme which permanently disabled the control circuits in their brains, Hicks and Vasquez still felt awful about their part in the invasion. Hicks in particular had been unable to forget what his part was. Colonel Truman arrived in the room, seeing them.
"I see you both got my message." He told them. He had summoned them both to the base when they had failed to report for duty. "Scott, would you join us in my office please?"
Scott got off the chair he was sitting on, following the other three to Colonel Truman's office. They found Chas waiting for them there.
"I think I know why you called us here." Hicks began, placing his military ID on the desk. Vasquez followed suit. "I know it would be best..."
"Hicks, what are you doing?" Colonel Truman asked him. Hicks looked at him, a little confused.
"I thought I was being asked to resign." He replied. "I know we've gone AWOL lately, but we..."
"Hicks, you know that nothing you did was your fault." Chas told him. "You were cleared of all charges."
"I know I'm not facing charges, but..."
"Chas, you really don't know why I brought you here." Colonel Truman interrupted him. "I wasn't going to ask you to resign."
"So why am I here?" He asked. Colonel Truman smiled at him.
"Don't you think I've trusted you with duties far exceeding your post?" Colonel Truman asked him. Hicks thought about it for a little while. "I wasn't training you as my assistant. I was training you as my replacement. I talked to Chas earlier, and I have elected to retire. It's about time I spent a little while with my family for a change."
"Your replacement?" Hicks asked him, a little unconvinced. "But the virus..."
"You will never be controlled by Venjix again." Colonel Truman reminded him. "I have every confidence in your abilities as a soldier, and as an officer. I feel it's time to let you take the reins."
"I agree." Chas told him. "I can think of no one else I'd prefer to have overseeing Corinth's defence in the future."
"I really don't know what to say!" Hicks gasped.
"The job also comes with a generous raise and your own office." Colonel Truman added. Hicks looked to Vasquez for some kind of support. Just like him, she was unsure exactly how comfortable she'd be going back into a position of trust. "It would also free up your old job for another officer I've had my eye on."
"Me?" Vasquez shrieked. "I lived with a cat I didn't even know was a robot for over a year!"
"According to Gemma it was a very convincing reproduction." Colonel Truman reminded her.
Vasquez and Hicks looked at each other, completely torn over the decision.
"You don't have to make a decision right now. It would probably be best if you thought it over." Colonel Truman told them. "The ceremony is in a week. I'll expect your decision by then."
He turned to Scott.
"They aren't the only ones I want to offer new jobs to." He told him. "Since you won't be a Ranger anymore, I wondered if..."
Just then, the alarm sounded. Colonel Truman rushed from the command room, finding Gem, Gemma and Dr. K working frantically over their scans.
"What's going on?" Colonel Truman asked them.
"We have two unidentified signals approaching." Dr. K told him. "There's a large vehicle which isn't identifying itself heading this way."
"It's approaching fast from the west." Gemma added. "It appears to be armed!"
"You said there were two signals." Scott chipped in, rushing over. "Where's the other?"
"It's coming from space." He informed the Red Ranger. "It's a ship of immense size, it's also armed!"
"What kind of size are we talking?" Scott asked him. Gem looked around, his eyes wide in terror.
"It's huge, clearly an interstellar craft." He informed him.
"Right now I'd feel a heck of a lot better if the Zords weren't scrap metal." Scott sighed. "Sorry dad, but it doesn't look like we're hanging up the morphers just yet."