Scott gunned the engine, blasting towards the Mandalay, the Lion Hauler only a little way behind him. Tommy was checking the computer console on the dashboard next to him as he approached.
"We're so close we'll be showing up on their scanners." Tommy informed them. "There's no point keeping minimal power now."
"Bringing all weapons on-line!" Flynn responded, activating all the systems in his Zord. "It's nearly crunch time."
"Alright guys, you all know what your roles are." Scott told them. Just then, the Mandalay came into view. There were already numerous Grinders posted on guard. Large cannons rose out of the roof, before turning to point towards them.
"It looks like the welcome mat's out." Flynn commented.
"I'm going airborne." Scott told him, activating flight mode. "Keep them busy!"
"We'll do that alright fearless leader." Flynn assured him. "I'm planning to park this thing right in the lobby!"
Back in Corinth, Gem and Gemma were preparing for their flight out to Turtle Cove. Hicks and Vasquez arrived, finding them just loading up the last of their supplies.
"So you're almost ready to head out again?" Hicks asked them. Gemma came over, kissing him gently.
"We're hoping it won't take us too long to sort out the situation over there." Gem told him excitedly. "We wouldn't want to miss the party!"
The construction crew had, by now, almost completed the work rebuilding the city. Mike was preparing for the completion of the project by organising a full-blown public holiday to celebrate the victory over Venjix, and honour those that didn't make it through the war. The construction workers were already preparing to move on to their next project. Most of the city though, were just happy to finally be getting back to some semblance of normality. People were slowly but surely being moved from temporary accommodation into newly built, clean, safe housing. The hospitals were no longer overstretched, the regular flow of casualties beginning to wane as the injured had now mostly been treated.
"I really hope you get through this quickly." Hicks responded with a smile. "I was kind of hoping my favourite Ranger would be able to save me a dance for the ceremony."
"Just thinking about it makes me determined to get back sooner." She replied. As they kissed again, Gem simulated gagging. Vasquez had to try not to laugh at this behaviour. She had heard that Gemma and Hicks had decided to try and make their relationship work. "I'll try my best to get back quickly."
"I'll look forward to it." Hicks replied. "Have a safe trip."
With that, Gemma got on the jet, followed closely by her brother. As the jet took off, Vasquez saw Hicks smiling.
"You seem a lot happier about her going this time." She commented.
"Well this time I know she's coming back to me." He told her with a smile. Vasquez put her arm around him, holding him as the jet disappeared over the horizon.
Back in Vegas, the Eagle Zord soared through the air, banking sharply to avoid blasts from the roof cannons. Scott opened fire, destroying them.
"Kira, you're up!" He told her. Kira bailed out, accessing her Super Dino Mode and gliding down towards the security floor. She crashed through the glass into the building.
"She's on her own." Scott told Tommy. "Are you sure she's up to it?"
"She destroyed Zeltrax almost single-handed because she was worried about me." Tommy told him. "This time not only am I here, but our kids are down in the Lion Hauler. There's nothing that can stop her when her family's in danger."
"Flynn keep everyone's attention down in the lobby." Tommy called through his communicator. "Kira will tell you when the elevators are secured."
"Will do fearless leader!" Flynn replied as he powered up his engine, smashing the Lion Hauler into the lobby. Adam and Dillon bailed out, beginning to carve a path through the warriors in the lobby.
"Remember, stay in the vehicle kids!" Flynn instructed the twins as he too got out and joined the fray.
Up on the security floor, Kira was fighting hard against a legion of Grinders. She knew that she would have a tough fight when she agreed to secure the elevators, but the numbers were telling on her. Every time she cut down one Grinder, another five were there. She fought as hard as she could, but kept finding herself being thrown this way and that.
"Kira, what's your status?" Tommy asked her over the communicator. "Scott and I are really feeling the heat up here!"
"Doing all I can!" She replied, changing her Thundermax Sabre into blaster mode and launching a hail of fire, taking down many of them. "I'm nearly at the office!"
She managed to get to the office, before shutting the security door, locking it from the inside. As she got up, making her way towards the computer, she was thrown into a wall hard by a power blast. As she looked up, Leviathan stepped into view, wielding a pair of sabres.
"Guy, I think I may be in a little bit of trouble here." Kira told them, getting to her feet.
Up in the penthouse, Tommy and Scott were also finding themselves under pressure. It seemed like Grinders were appearing from nowhere. Since Kira hadn't yet managed to secure the security office, they were still in control of the building, and so they had free access anywhere in the building. Semtex was standing in the centre of the room, just watching as they continued their fight.
"This definitely takes me back!" Tommy yelled as he disposed of a couple with his Zeo Sword. "I haven't had a battle this intense in years!"
"It's only going to get worse!" Scott told him. "Semtex hasn't even joined the dance yet!"
"Adam, how are things going down there?" Tommy called over the communicator.
Down in the lobby, Adam and the others were a little curious that they actually seemed to be running out of opponents. Instead of more Grinders coming into the battle, it seemed that they were being diverted elsewhere. He carved down a few more with his Power Axe, finally clearing the lobby.
"We've managed to secure the lobby!" Adam told him. "We're just waiting on word from Kira before we proceed."
"I think you might have just tempted fate a little with that one pal." Flynn commented, pointing towards the door to the main casino floor. They watched as people started filing into the lobby, surrounding them.
"It looks like they're hybrids." Flynn commented. At that, an elderly woman surged forward with unbelievable speed and punched him, sending him flying almost 30 feet through a pillar. He struggled back to his feet. "Alright, they're definitely hybrids."
"There are too many of them..."
"You bet there are." Scylla stated as she strode into view. Flynn leaned in, whispering in Dillon's ear.
"What is it with Venjix and form-fitting coveralls?" He asked him. "Your sister suited it, and she'd kind of cute, but I remember you..."
"Will I ever get to live that outfit down?" Dillon asked him. Flynn shook his head. Adam recalled his helmet, stepping forward with his mouth hanging open in disbelief.
"Chrissie?" He asked her. Scylla brought up her visor.
"Hello lover, did you miss me?" She asked him. Adam's grip tightened on the Power Axe as he looked into the face of the woman he loved.
"Keep it together Adam." Dillon told him. "Don't listen to anything she says, she'll say anything to get a rise out of you."
"Take care of the others." He instructed him. "I'll take care of the thing that murdered my wife!"
"Adam no!" Dillon screamed as the older Black Ranger immediately went into a frenzy, attacking Scylla with everything he had. Dillon was quickly cut off from him, struggling with his own opponents. All he could do was hope that he could reach Adam before he destroyed her, or she destroyed him.
Up in the security office, Kira hit the main console, de-morphing as she did so. Her battle with Leviathan wasn't going as well as she'd hoped. She had given him almost everything she had in her, but she was quickly coming to the conclusion she was overmatched. He approached her slowly.
"Aren't you a little old for spandex?" He asked her, kicking her roughly, causing her to tumble away from him a few feet. "You were never any match for me!"
Just then, he flew backwards as though attacked by an unseen opponent. Emma appeared a little way from her, putting her arm around her protectively.
"No one messes with our family!" Frank snarled, kicking him again as he too came to his mother's side protectively. He unleashed his Ptera Scream, blasting him into a bulkhead.
"I told you two to stay in the Lion Hauler." Kira reminded them.
"Come on mom, you didn't really think we'd miss this!" Frank responded. "We are your kids remember."
As Leviathan started to get back to his feet, noticeably damaged by the assault, Frank and Emma looked to their mother.
"You can't do this by yourself." Frank told her. "Maybe together we can do it!"
Kira nodded and shielded her daughter's ears as she and Frank combined their efforts into their Ptera Scream. Leviathan thrashed wildly as his body started to fall apart, unable to withstand the sonic vibrations bombarding him. Kira and Frank both struggled, pushing their abilities to the max causing him to explode as his power cell ruptured. Kira slumped towards the floor, feeling light-headed as she finally stopped. Frank caught her.
"Remind me to raise your allowance when we get home." She croaked, her throat strained by the exertion.
"Does this mean we're not grounded?" Emma asked hopefully. Kira just looked at her.
"What do you think?" She croaked out as Frank helped her to her feet.
"Aw man!" Frank moaned as he helped his mom to the security console. Kira started activating security protocols, shutting down grids and locking security doors, preventing Grinders from getting to the main battle site on the top floor.
She held her Dino Bracelet to her daughter, realising that by now her voice was all but gone. Emma spoke into it.
"The Grinders are dealt with." She informed her father. "The elevators are secure; you're all good to go."
"Emma?" Tommy asked her. "What the hell are you doing there?"
"Umm...helping?" She offered.
"We're going to talk about this later." He assured her. "Flynn, Adam, Dillon, get up here!"
"We're a little busy right now!" Dillon informed him. "The hybrids are still active, that means the control conduit has to be operating."
"Where is it?" Tommy asked them. Kira started hacking the system, thankful that in her time knowing Ethan, she had managed to pick up some tricks. She held her bracelet to her daughter again.
"It's inside Semtex!" She informed her father. "You have to destroy him!"
"That's a little easier said than done!" Scott replied as Semtex finally joined the battle, smashing him aside. "Hold on!"
Down in the lobby, Dillon and Flynn were doing their best to try and bring down the hybrids without hurting them too much. Dillon in particular was worried about Adam and his battle with Chrissie. He couldn't explain that Chrissie wasn't dead, that no matter what she believed, that she was still alive within Scylla. Adam though looked like he had every intention of destroying her.
Chrissie caught one of his blows with the Power Axe, before kicking him across the room. She sneered at him as he de-morphed, glaring up at her hatefully.
"Sorry to do this, but I think it'll be a lot cheaper than a divorce." She taunted him. "Not to mention it'll be a whole lot quicker and less hassle."
With that, she threw the Power Axe, sending it spinning towards him. Adam closed his eyes, preparing for the end, but it didn't come. He opened his eyes, looking up at Dillon, who had de-morphed, and made it across in time to catch it just inches from Adam's face.
"How did you...?"
"Let's just say your wife's not the only one who's been eating her vitamins and saying her prayers." He told him.
"You're a hybrid?" Adam asked him. Dillon nodded.
"Your wife isn't dead Adam, she's trapped inside Scylla." He informed him. "The others are trying to destroy the control conduit, if they destroy Semtex, then your wife will be free."
"I need to help her..."
"Adam, this is going to be too hard for you, just trust me." Dillon told him. "You and Flynn go and help the others, let me worry about your wife."
Adam just nodded in understanding, morphing again as he and Flynn made their way to the elevator. Dillon and Chrissie circled each other.
"You're a hybrid too?" She asked him. "Well, I guess that'll make this a little more interesting."
"I don't want to hurt you, but I will." Dillon told her. "Your little boy misses his mom."
She paused for a second as she heard this. Dillon could see that he'd gotten through to her on some level. Knowing what he went through with his sister, he knew that he needed to use any strong emotional ties to reach her through the control software.
"Jonny?" She asked him. "He's alive?"
"You hid him when the Grinders came for you. You sacrificed yourself to save him." He reminded her. "Your boy saw what happened. He saw you being taken away!"
He approached her slowly; somewhat hoping he had reached her. As he got close enough, he could see tears in her eyes.
"It doesn't matter! I'm Scylla now!" She snapped, grabbing him by the wrist and locking him into a painful arm lock. "All humans are my enemies!"
"Let's see how you feel about that in a little while." He replied, rolling through with the pressure, regaining his feet and kicking her away. Chrissie glared at him as she renewed her attack.
Up in the penthouse, Scott and Tommy had managed to take out the last of the Grinders, and were now able to concentrate on Semtex. Tommy and Scott attacked in unison, staggering him as the elevator arrived, heralding the arrival of Kira, Emma, Frank, Adam and Flynn.
"I thought I told you two to stay safe!" Tommy reprimanded them.
"Dad, if we didn't help, mom would have been destroyed!" Frank told him. "This guy's taken so much from us, we want to help!"
"We need something to tip the balance!" Tommy called out. "Do you have anything more powerful?"
"I was just waiting for the opportunity to bust this out." Scott told them, calling out the Road Attack Zord. Putting his engine cell into it, he powered it up. "All just follow my lead!"
With that, he cast it forward, activating its robotic mode. It surged forward, catching him with a hard attack, before turning into wheel mode, landing by Scott.
"Burnout!" He yelled, slamming his hands into it and sending it forward. Semtex tried to stop it, but it was far too powerful. As it rebounded, Flynn was the next to utilise it, sending it back, at which it ran over him.
"My turn!" Tommy called out, intercepting it and sending it back over him, sending debris flying. "Adam, it's coming your way!"
Adam sent it back, tearing into him more. Kira was there to send it back again, smashing him once more. Semtex got to his feet, sparks flying from him as the zord returned to the Rangers. They all assembled behind the Road Attack Zord, powering it up to its highest power levels.
"Time for you to cash in and leave the table!" Scott told him before activating the burnout attack one last time. Semtex let out a scream as he exploded into a thousand pieces.
Down in the lobby, Dillon held Chrissie tightly as she struggled against him. He saw her eyes flashing, and then her face fell. He looked at her, releasing her slowly as he became convinced she was free of the control programming. She fell to her knees, clutching t sides of her head.
"What have they done to me?" She whimpered. "What am I?"
"You're the same person you've always been." He told her. "You're a mom who's been away from her husband and her son for too long."
"Adam...how can he ever forgive me?" She asked him. "Jonny..."
"Jonny misses his mom very much." Dillon told her. "It's time you go home."
"But...how can I? I'm not human!" She sniffed as she wiped away some tears. "I'm a monster."
"No, you're just different." He replied, picking up a rock, before crushing it into powder, demonstrating his strength. "You're a hybrid now. The implants are always going to be a part of who you are now."
"But I tried to kill Adam." She reminded him. "How can he ever forgive me?"
"Why don't you ask him?" Dillon asked her, nodding behind her. Adam was just stepping out of the elevator at that point. She looked away from him, feeling ashamed about the fact she attacked him. She could remember everything about the fight. Adam knelt down beside her, cradling her chin and turning her face towards him.
"Chrissie?" He asked her, smiling at her.
"Adam, I'm so sorry..."
He cut her off by pressing his lips to hers, kissing her passionately. She stared at him in disbelief as he parted from her.
"I know it wasn't you." He told her. "Chrissie, I love you."
He helped her to her feet, looking her up and down. He smiled a little.
"I know a little man who'll be very pleased to see you." He told her. She smiled.
"Jonny?" She asked him. Adam nodded.
"It's time to go home." He told her. "Although we might want to get you something else to wear."
At that, Flynn arrived, carrying a t-shirt bearing the Mandalay Bay logo, and a pair of jeans. Adam looked at him curiously.
"Gift shop." He explained with a shrug. "Something tells me it won't be missed."
With that, Chrissie went to the bathroom to change, smiling as she thought about the prospect of going home to her son.