Tommy assembled all the Rangers in a room, deep beneath the command centre of the underground city. Kira and Adam sealed the room behind them as they went, before firing up a large screen on the wall behind him.

"As you no doubt have already noticed, the city is pretty much a no-go area." Tommy began the briefing, pulling up a map of the city. It had areas around the outside that were blue, but other than that, the entire map was red.

"When the Venjix attacks began, Grinders quickly took hold of the city. The streets were cleared of all humans. Those that survived fled into the Nevada Desert. They were fortunate."

"My husband and I like to be prepared." Kira interjected. "We were the mentors for the current SPD team while they were in high school. They kept in contact with us. Just before communications went down, they managed to contact us and tell us about this place."

"Venjix didn't think he would encounter significant resistance here." Adam told them. "He sent only three generals to direct traffic here. Without Zords, we did what we can."

"As you can see we managed to get most of the people out, but we've been in a stalemate with them since then." Tommy informed them, taking off his glasses. "They don't have the power to take the compound, but we don't have the power to tip the war over the edge."

"Well now you do." Scott assured them. "My friends and I are not going anywhere until the city is back under your control."

Tommy smiled a little, before clicking his controller, scrolling to a new screen.

"This is the leading General, Semtex!" He informed them. It was a gold-plated monstrosity, with large, spiked shoulder pads, and large blades sprouting from each elbow. "He..."

"Hold that thought a second Tommy." Kira instructed her husband, beginning to look around. She wandered around for a second, before reaching into a corner, grabbing thin air.

"Ow, mom!" A small female voice protested in a shriek. Before their eyes, a young girl, possibly about 13 years old started to shift into view. As Kira dragged her into view, they could see she was a couple of inches shorter than her mother, and had straight, shoulder-length hair. She was wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. "Mom, let go!"

"How many times do I have to tell you the war room is off limits Emma?" Kira asked her, releasing her. Emma stroked the back of her neck as she was released.

"I heard other Rangers had arrived in the city." She commented. "I thought it might be Uncle Conner or Uncle Ethan..."

"Neither of them have morphers anymore do they?" Kira reminded her. "Now, since you can see it isn't one of them..."

"You never let us hear any of the good stuff!" Emma complained, stamping her foot defiantly. "We can help! You know..."

"I know you and your brother are only 13!" Kira interrupted her sharply. "I also know you're more than capable enough of getting yourselves into trouble without fighting in a war!"

"But you and dad have been training us for years!" Emma moaned. "We have powers..."

"You're too young, now that's the end of it!" Kira put down flatly, opening the door. She threw up her hands as she saw a boy, a few inches taller than her, with messy blonde hair standing outside. "Why am I not surprised your brother isn't far behind?"

"But mom, there are Rangers here!" He stated as though that were explanation enough. "Can't we just...?"

"Goodbye!" She said abruptly, showing her daughter out before sealing the doors again. She just threw her arms up as she came back to the table.

"I'm sorry about that." She told them. "My children are a little more adventurous than I'd like."

"Anyway, maybe we should get back to the briefing." Tommy suggested, shaking his head.

Over in Corinth, Gem was working on the jet in preparation for the mission he and Gemma were going on to Turtle cove, when he was distracted by his sister coming in. She knelt down next to him, handing him a wrench.

"We're going out again soon." She sighed as she thought about what she wanted to say. Gem just carried on working. "I guess you figured out something went down between me and Hicks."

"I figured something had happened." Gem told her honestly. "You were miserable all the way to Eden."

"I just wanted to make things straight with you, make sure you knew the facts and didn't jump to any conclusions." She explained. "Before we left, I broke up with him."

"Why?" Gem asked his sister. He was a little hesitant at first about her getting involved with Hicks, but he never wanted anything to hurt her. "I thought you liked him."

"I really do, I love him." She replied. "The thing is, we haven't been together for long. I knew that being away so much would put a strain on things, but it isn't like we've been together for a while like Scott and Dr. K. I didn't think we had that kind of relationship yet and I thought it would make it easier to end it than risk growing apart."

Gem nodded, continuing his work, but he was still listening to her.

"What made you change your mind?" Gem asked her curiously.

"Nick told me some stuff about his past." Gemma informed him, recalling his advice. "He told me that because he never gave things a chance with her, they ended up really distant. He told me that they were never able to be the same with each other."

"Gemma, I can't pretend to understand what you're thinking, or feeling when it comes to Hicks." He told her honestly. "The only thing that matters to me is that you're happy."

"That's exactly why I'm explaining what happened." Gemma told him. "Gem, I wanted you to know that what happened wasn't Hicks' fault. He's important to me, but so are you. I'd really like it if you could give him a chance."

Gem let out a sigh, putting down his wrench and coming out from under the plane. He looked up to his sister.

"Gemma, there's a part of me that'll never be cool with Hicks." He began. "He's hurt you before, and at times, all I can think about is that he'll do it again."

"But Gem..."

"I know he was under Venjix's control for a lot of it." He interrupted her. "The truth is, I doubt its Hicks at all. I really don't know if I'd have been cool with anyone getting that close to you."

He straightened himself out as he tried to find the words to explain.

"Ever since we were born, we've shared everything. We were always together. We always knew what the other thought, how they felt, everything." He continued. "This is the first thing you've really done that I wasn't a part of. I guess I feel a little scared that we're losing that bond."

"We'll never lose that Gem." She assured him. "Sure I'm having this relationship, which is really new and exciting, but it's also a little scary and a bit confusing. It's all so new to me."

She took her brother's hand, holding it warmly.

"One of the things I know I'll always be able to rely on is you." She told him.

"He does seem to make you happy." Gem responded quietly. "I can only promise I'll try to give him a chance."

"That's all I ask." She replied. Just then, Hicks and Mike walked into the room. They were discussing something to do with the rebuild of the city when they noticed Gem and Gemma sitting by the jet.

"We can discuss these progress reports later." Mike said as diplomatically as he could, excusing himself from the conversation. "I just need to make a call."

Back in Vegas, Tommy had just finished describing the situation when he got to the final screen.

"Now, although their controlled area across the city is large, we've found the centre of their operations is in this building. The former Mandalay Bay casino." He informed them, pulling up its full schematics. "We figure if we manage to get in there and destroy the generals, then the Grinders will fall without sufficient leadership."

"The building appears to have been repaired with the security system being so tight, going in quietly will not be an option." Kira added. "As well as Grinders, there is also another threat to us in the building. One which we may find it hard to fight..."

"Hybrids." Dillon interjected. Tommy nodded sadly.

"Some of the guards are, unfortunately hybrids." Tommy informed them. "That means we can't risk bringing them to any harm. They aren't responsible for their actions."

Dillon shifted a little uneasily in his seat as they said this. So far he had not mentioned that he was a hybrid. It wasn't exactly one of the things he wanted to advertise openly, especially when his allies needed to trust him.

However, just when they mentioned the hybrids, he noticed that Adam was a little quiet, and he grew noticeably colder. Obviously there was a personal investment in this battle for everyone involved, but for some reason, it seemed to have some kind of deeper meaning for him. He recognised that look. Either he had lost someone close to him to a hybrid, or someone he knew had become a hybrid. He had seen that look many times when he was forced to battle his sister under Venjix's command.

"With surveillance so tight, there's no way we'll be able to get in without being seen." Tommy informed them. "It's not my favourite plan, but I think we may have no alternative but to take the building by force."

"I think Dr. K might have made the repairs on my Eagle Flyer." Scott chipped in. "It would only be able to take two of us, but it could bring two of us straight to the penthouse."

"The main command centre is in the business centre up there." Tommy informed them. "But taking two of us up there would leave them vulnerable. It would be a massacre."

"Well I do have another plan." Kira stated. "If I hitch a ride on the back, I could use the momentum to help me glide to the right floor for the security office. From there, I could secure the elevator to the penthouse for the rest of the team."

"So you're going to go into the security office alone?" Dillon asked her. "It's suicidal! You'd be in there alone! Whoever goes into the penthouse will be trapped their until you succeed!"

"You don't think I'm up to it?" Kira snapped at him. "I'll have you know, I was doing the Ranger thing long before..."

"I was born?" Dillon asked her sarcastically. Tommy immediately reached across, grabbing his wife as he saw the rage flashing across her face. She hated when anyone underestimated her. She had done it herself for much of her life. Usually it was short jokes that got to her, but age jokes were taking things a step too far.

"You arrogant..." Her words became muffled as Tommy clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Not smart." Adam whispered in Dillon's ear. "She has a temper."

"Besides, it isn't like we have a whole lot of choice." Flynn reminded him.

"Alright guys, I just want to thank you all for taking part in this." Tommy told them. "If we move fast and get to the penthouse quickly, we can seal the doors and concentrate on the Generals."

"Light doesn't really matter to Venjix's troops. They'll see us approaching the casino as clearly in darkness as in daylight." Scott reminded them. "I think it would be best if we rest up for the night and prepare for the assault in the morning. I'll contact Dr. K and let her know what's happening."

With that, they all turned from the table and left the room. As they did so, Kira gave Dillon a cold stare, clearly still not happy with his earlier slight. As he left the room, he watched Adam heading off to a room alone. He followed him, knocking gently on the door as he arrived.

"Tommy, I'm fine." Adam stated as he entered the room, not looking at the door. Dillon made his way inside, finding him tending to a child. He was small, with dark hair and olive skinned. From what little he could see, he appeared to be Adam's son.

He was playing with some toys. Dillon had never really been one for children, not really having the patience for them, but even he could tell that something was wrong. His posture was all wrong, very closed off and morose. He was incredibly quiet, making no sound at all as he played. He barely responded to his father's touch.

"Sorry, I just wanted to talk to you." Dillon told him. "He's yours?"

"His name's Jonny." Adam informed him, pulling the child onto his knee. By now, Dillon could see the boy's face, and could see that he was clearly very troubled. He wasn't just sad, it looked like he was hardly ever happy, and he couldn't look anyone in the eye. "He's 10 years old."

"Hi there." Dillon greeted him. Jonny didn't look at him, instead, turning into his father, burying his face in his chest and holding onto his dad like his life depended on it. Dillon frowned a little as he saw this.

"It's nothing personal." Adam assured him, holding his son tightly and stroking his back softly. "He doesn't speak to anyone. He doesn't even talk to me anymore. He hasn't talked since his mom was taken."

Dillon couldn't help feeling sorry for Adam as he heard this. Obviously Jonny's mom was the one he was worried about. Adam shook his head sadly as he held his son closely.

"Her name's Chrissie. She was a teacher at the same school as Tommy." He informed him, thinking about the woman he loved. "We met at his wedding. We got married a little over a year later."

"What happened?" Dillon asked him, unable to stop his thoughts straying to Summer. He couldn't imagine what he'd do if anything happened to her.

"When the first attacks came, I was a few miles away from the house. Chrissie and Jonny were in the house alone." He told the younger Black Ranger. "When I got there, the house was wrecked. Chrissie was gone. I couldn't find Jonny at first, but then eventually I found him under the floorboards. Chrissie had hidden him there when the Grinders came."

"She sacrificed herself to keep her son safe." Dillon surmised. Adam nodded.

"When I found him, he couldn't stop crying, but he wouldn't speak to anyone. He hasn't said a word since that day." Adam informed him. "I think he saw everything."

"Poor little guy. No wonder he's terrified." Dillon remarked sympathetically.

"Do you have kids?" Adam asked him. Dillon smiled.

"Not yet, but my wife's working on the first." Dillon told him. Adam nodded in understanding.

"This really tears me up inside." Adam told him. "I can't imagine what's going on in my son's head. I want to help him, but there's nothing I can do. I just can't get to him."

"You're doing the most valuable thing you can right now." Dillon told him. "I saw the way he grabbed onto you when I spoke to you."

"I guess he's terrified of losing me too." Adam responded. "I would give anything to hear him talk to me again."

With that, Dillon just put a hand on his shoulder, before getting up and leaving the room, leaving Adam for this time alone with his son. As much as it traumatised Jonny to see his mother taken away from him, he was sure that it had to tear Adam's heart out that soon he would have to go into battle again. That he would make his son face the possibility of losing him too. He didn't envy his predecessor as the Black Ranger for that.