Dominic and Mack returned to the room, finding the others reminiscing about past deeds and adventures. Mack chuckled a little as he realised that Ronny and Lily were comparing notes on their respective fiancées. Dominic sat down beside RJ and handed him a glass for some wine, nodding to him in a small gesture. He wanted to talk to RJ and clear up a few things, but tonight with the others there was not the time. Everyone had returned safely to their friends and loved ones, and while things were safe and quiet for now, they all knew that things would be getting harder in the near future, and the Overdrive Rangers had their own commitments to make, not least of which was clearing things up with the authorities. Tonight wasn't the night for a serious talk with RJ; the Wolf Master was his oldest friend and would be there tomorrow. Tonight was a night to celebrate.

RJ smiled as he realised things were starting to thaw with Dominic. Sitting so close to him and asking for a drink wasn't much of a gesture, but it was an important one. It was the first time Dom had any kind of interaction that didn't end in a screaming match or the rather regrettable punching incident in days. He had a feeling that thing were at least starting to get better for Dom.

"Well guys, we all better get going." Dr. Hartford announced, getting off the couch. "We have a long night ahead of us when we get back to San Angeles."

"I am so not looking forward to that press conference." Mack stated with a long groan as he got to his feet. "I guess we do kind of have a lot of explaining to do. People believed in us for so long. I guess we have to go and get that faith back."

"I've already had a couple of sponsors phone me to ask for an explanation." Ronny grumbled. "I suppose it's only to be expected."

"I'm sure everything will work out for the best." Dr. Hartford assured them. "I've still got Ronny's blood work, I'm sure the labs will confirm the toxins in your systems."

"Well hopefully that should keep us out of prison." Will replied. "Of course it won't make walking down the street any easier."

"Well, if anyone can make it through this, you can." Dr. Hartford assured them. "I can't count the number of times you amazed me during the missions for the Corona Aurora."

"Anyway, we'll get back in touch once all this blows over." Rose told the Jungle Fury Rangers. "We'd like to catch up once things calm down slightly."

"Well I'm looking forward to it." Ronny interjected. "I'd quite like for us to all get together again before the wedding."

"Hopefully the swelling will have gone down by then." Lily remarked gesturing to her face. "We wouldn't want you to look like that in your photos."

"We've got about six months at least." Ronny replied, taking a little amusement in Fran's reaction as she turned from her, her face turning a little red. "I should be fine by then. I've got to say, it was a pretty impressive shot you gave me."

"Yeah, well she had a good teacher." Theo chipped in, pulling her close. "We're all really proud of her."

"She did a great job of helping us." Will complimented the increasingly embarrassed Fran. "She's great."

"Thanks guys, I'm just glad I could help." Fran said weakly, her voice hardly crossing the room. "I'm just sorry I messed Ronny up so bad. I'm sure Theo could have..."

"Hey, don't sweat it. I don't." Ronny laughed. "I know you've not been training long. It's impressive you took me down. You did what you had to; your lives were in danger. I would have done the same."

"She also got me a good one with her animal spirit." Mack interjected. "She has every right to feel proud."

"Really?" RJ asked, turning to look at Fran. "I've never taught you to do that. I didn't think you were ready yet."

"At the time, it just came to me." She admitted. "I was so angry about what they were doing and so worried about you all, next thing I know, my fox spirit is attacking Mack."

"Well I for one am really impressed, I don't think any of us could be prouder of you Fran." RJ remarked, making his way to Fran's side and placing a hand on her shoulder. "That is why I think your days of training with Theo are over. I think you're now ready to train with the rest of us."

"I'm all for it." Lily announced cheerfully. "What about the rest of you guys?"

"Second!" They chorused together.

"Well I think that settles it." RJ announced. "Fran, from now on, you train with us."

Fran felt good about the level of acceptance she had earned from the others. As Theo hugged her tightly, Dominic raised his glass to her in a gesture of camaraderie. It wasn't long ago that he was struggling to be accepted by the others, and now he was giving her his endorsement. Fran pulled into Theo and smiled. She was so glad they were all safe, and now she truly was a part of the family. It felt good to belong somewhere again.

"Anyway, we really need to be going." Dr. Hartford reminded them. "We have a meeting with my lawyer early tomorrow morning."

"Good luck guys." Mack stated as they got up to leave. "Sorry we couldn't stay a little longer, but we know things will be ok with you on the case."

"The hotel has my credit card on the reservation." Dr. Hartford reminded them. "Make yourselves at home, you're my guests, it's all on me. The restaurant will be ready to re-open again by the end of the week."

"I just wanted to say sorry again." Mack interjected. "I really wish we hadn't done that. I know there must have been personal stuff in there."

"The important thing is everyone's alright." RJ stated. "We can always form new memories."

With that, Dr. Hartford and the Overdrive Rangers left the hotel, escorted out the back entrance by security to avoid the press. Despite everything that had happened, the others couldn't help feeling a little sorry for them. They were acting completely under Jellica's control; they really didn't deserve the savage public backlash over their actions considering everything they had done for the earth. They knew Dr. Hartford's legal experts would be doing everything to avoid them being convicted for their actions, but there were already sections of the media and the public who were casting aspersions as to whether their actions were truly involuntary.

"It's at times like this I'm glad our identities aren't public knowledge." Casey sighed morosely, placing an arm around Camille. "They don't deserve this."

"I know what you mean." Theo agreed, pouring himself a glass of wine. "I remember reading the papers back then. They really did a lot for the planet."

"Well I'm a big believer in karma." RJ stated. "I'm sure they'll be fine in the long run. We just have to believe everything will work out fine."

Just then, RJ's cell phone rang. He checked caller ID, and got a slightly confused look on his face. Lily looked at the screen and could see why; he was being called by Master Phant. He hadn't spoken to any of the other masters since his trial by combat with his father. He still hadn't really forgiven them for deceiving him and putting himself and Lily through that ordeal. He answered to phone, a little curious what was going on.

"Master Phant, what can I do for you?" He asked.

"RJ, we just heard about what happened to you and the Rangers." He began. "I wanted to check everything was alright."

"We're fine." He replied. "We got through this..."

"Your dad would like to see you." He interrupted him. "He was really worried when he heard."

"I guess I can see him." RJ responded. "Now if there's nothing else..."

"I'd like to talk to Lily." He interrupted. "Can I speak with her?"

He cupped his hand over the mouthpiece and turned to Lily. "He wants to speak with you." He told her.

Lily was a little confused by this. She had liked Master Phant at first, but like RJ she hadn't spoken to him since the night of the trial. Curious as to what he wanted to say, she took the phone from RJ.

"Master Phant." She began. "What can I do for you?"

"Lily, I'm really sorry I haven't done more to make things up to you." He started. "I know the trial must have been hard on you and RJ. When we heard about the attack, I was just so worried about you."

"I'm fine Master Phant." She replied. "We're all a little bruised up, but nothing worse than we're used to."

"I'm really pleased to hear that." He responded. "I know this probably isn't the best of times, but I was wondering if you could do me a favour."

"You want me to do you a favour?" She asked him. She was a little surprised by his request. He was phoning her only shortly after she'd been kidnapped and almost killed, having not spoken to her in months, and now he was asking for a favour?

"To be more accurate, I was wondering if you'd do a favour for my niece Gabby." He replied, pre-empting her confusion and anger. Lily relented slightly, she had seen pictures of her around Master Phant's house some of the few times she'd been round there. He'd told her a bit about her, she knew how much she meant to him, especially considering he'd had no children of his own. "She's a great dancer. I've tried to encourage her to enter the dance contest in town, but she keeps saying she isn't ready. I was wondering if you could give her a few lessons to boost her confidence."

"What does he want?" RJ whispered. Lily cupped her hand over the mouthpiece, turning to face him.

"He wants me to give his niece dance lessons." She replied.

"Go ahead." RJ implored her. "It'll take your mind off things. Besides, you love dancing."

Lily gave him a slightly unconvinced look and smiled. RJ knew she liked Master Phant, and that it had been hard for her to turn her back on him. She knew he wanted her to make things up with him for her sake. She thought about it for a second before answering. She really had missed the old master, they'd become friends and she wanted them to mend bridges between them. Besides, RJ was right, until they got back into the restaurant, it would help take her mind off things.

"I'll do it." She replied. "Tell her I'll meet her in the park tomorrow at 9."

"I'll do that." He replied with an obvious note of happiness in his voice. As much as Lily had missed him, he had missed her a lot more. He had identified with her when she came to him to train at first. She reminded him so much of his niece. They were about the same age, and they had similar energy and grace, he just hoped that Lily's confidence would rub off on his niece. He was overjoyed to think that things were a little closer to being resolved between them. "Thank you Lily."

As she ended the call, Lily turned and hugged RJ enthusiastically, causing him to wince slightly as she inadvertently exacerbated his injuries. He laughed a little and hugged her back, pleased that she was so happy.

Meanwhile back at the fortress, Jellica was working frantically through the final preparations for the alignment. Dai Shi had renewed and increased searches of the fortress for her, so she knew she didn't have long left. She placed each of the eyes onto a pedestal, awaiting the starlight. She felt a sense of satisfaction wash over her as the starlight streamed into the room, shining through the eyes empowering them.

"Arise my phantom beasts!" She yelled with the excitement of the desperate. A bright light heralded the rebirth of the three remaining phantom beast generals. Jellica approached as they stood before her, observing her powerful new allies with a renewed excitement.

"By the ancient laws you now obey me!" She announced. The three phantom beasts bowed their heads briefly in acknowledgement. "Now it is time to destroy Dai Shi and claim his throne for myself."

As she led them from the room, they exchanged a brief glance, wordlessly communicating their thoughts. They had been destroyed by the Pai Zhuq once before, and had been revived to do battle once more. This time things would be different, this time they would be on the winning side.

Dai Shi was sitting on his throne carefully studying an ancient scroll, scrutinising the architectural layout of the fortress. He had taken it forcefully from the previous owner centuries ago. It wasn't his, and he was quickly coming to the conclusion that there were sections of the fortress even he didn't know about.

He traced his fingers down the passageways and rooms, he suddenly found something odd. There was indeed a room he knew nothing about. He hadn't noticed it, but there appeared to be a room a short way from the throne room that he hadn't found. He could only presume that was where Jellica was preparing to revive the phantoms.

Throwing aside the scroll, he got up from his throne and strode towards the doors, before they were thrown open, heralding the arrival of Jellica and the phantoms. He was too late.

"Your time has come Dai Shi!" She sneered, circling him in preparation for the attack. Dai Shi never even turned to face her as she made her way behind him. He knew he could destroy her, what concerned him was the attack of the phantoms. He observed them thoughtfully, preparing for their attack.

"I followed you faithfully for years!" She stated. "I trained you to increase your power and how do you repay me? You hunt me down, seeking to destroy me!"

"You turned your back on me when Grizzaka came back." Dai Shi reminded her. "You sided with him over me. The moment you thought I was overmatched, you betrayed me! You know better than anyone how I reward betrayal. You have carried out more than a few such executions under my orders."

"You are right. I thought Grizzaka was the right horse to back." She said in a casual drawl as he continued to keep the phantoms in view. "Of course in his arrogance he didn't just destroy you when he had the chance. A mistake I shall not repeat. Phantom beasts, destroy him!"

Dai Shi powered up into his armoured mode, preparing for the attack. The three phantoms launched energy waves a little way past him, destroying Jellica utterly, leaving only a small puddle of gel on the floor. Dai Shi turned back to the phantoms at seeing the display of power.

"Impressive." He thought aloud. "Unexpected, but impressive. I suppose now..."

"We pledge our loyalty to you Dai Shi." They chorused, all taking a knee before him. Dai Shi powered down, his mouth open in shock as he saw this.

"But you spent centuries trying to destroy me." He responded.

"We now realise we would have won the beast war if we'd aligned ourselves with you." One of them stated. "I am General Snapper, bearer of the spirit of the snapping turtle."

"I am Whiger, bearer of the spirit of the white tiger." The second added.

"I am Scorch, with the spirit of the Avalonian Dragon." The third added. "We were destroyed by the Pai Zhuq masters because of our splintered and unified campaign. Our lack of tactics and direction was our down fall. We want you to be our Phantom Beast King."

"We have a power even greater than zukado." Snapper informed him. "It is called rinzin. It is our life blood. We also command the power of eight phantom beasts."

"You will have time to introduce them to me later." Dai Shi announced as he began pondering their offer. He could feel their power, it was palpable. While it was true that the phantom beasts had never been the deepest of thinkers, their power was undeniable. Each of the generals was easily capable of destroying him. He suddenly got a thought crossed his mind. "You have a lot of power to offer, but my trust must be earned. Bring me the Masters."

"It will be done Dai Shi!" Snapper replied, bowing as they left. Dai Shi went back to his throne and sat down, staring at the patch of gel on the floor that used to be the last of the overlords.

"You know the idea of turning those the Rangers care about against them was a good plan." He mused. "Perhaps you weren't as useless as I thought."

He snapped his fingers, calling forth some Rinshi warriors.

"Clean that up will you." He commanded. "I quite like that carpet."