The VTOL Jet descended slowly into the hangar of the new Ranger base, bringing Gem and Gemma back to their friends. Hicks was standing closest, with Vasquez not far behind him. He was so eager to see Gemma again; he was standing within the red zone of the landing pad. Only the strength lent to him by his implants stopped the down draft from the air craft blowing him away. Vasquez smiled a little to see the way he was watching the jet, glad to see him happy again. They had become closer since they had been promoted and she now acted as his aide.

As the jet touched down, the engines starting to wind down, the entry hatch opened, and Gem and Gemma appeared, wearing their new Wild Force jackets over their uniforms. Gemma was so keen to get to her boyfriend she ran down the stairs and leapt off them before they even touched the ground. Hicks scooped her up into his arms.

"Well there's a welcome I could get used to." She greeted him. "Guys, you will not believe where we've been!"

"We know you've been to Turtle Cove." Flynn reminded them. "We kind of sent you there..."

"No, not just that." Gem told them. "We've been to the Animarium!"

"The Animarium?" Tenaya asked them as Alex started to kick and squirm excitedly at the mention of the name. Tenaya read to him most nights before he went to sleep. Some of his favourite stories were about the hidden floating island and the gigantic creatures that acted as its guardians. "That place in the story books?"

"The stories are all real!" Gemma shot back excitedly. "We met the Animarium Warriors. They're Power Rangers just like us!"

"They gave us these cool jackets!" Gem told them, turning around, showing them the Crowing Rooster emblem on his back. "We're now honorary Wild Force Rangers!"

"You're still RPM Rangers first remember." Summer reminded them. "We wouldn't want you to run off now you've got a floating jungle in the sky to go to instead of a city."

"Oh we would never do that." The twins yelled together.

"We just love..."

"...getting to be Animarium warriors." Gem answered. He looked around, noticing two of their friends were conspicuous by their absence. "So where are Sarah and Scott?"

"Scott went out a little while ago. He wanted to visit his brother." Vasquez informed them. "Dr. K's been in her lab for a while now. She said something about wanting to analyse some data. We haven't heard from her in about an hour now."

"Well maybe we can help." Gemma suggested.

"She's sealed the door. We can't get in." Hicks said to his girlfriend regretfully. "You know what she's like; she'll come out when she's ready."

"Anyway, Colonel Truman..." Vasquez's words tailed off as Hicks gave a small cough to remind her of her mistake. He had made the same mistake himself a few times since the former Colonel had retired. Now he was simply Mason Truman. "Sorry, Mr. Truman called a little while ago. Chas and Brie have secured a private dining room for us at the top restaurant in town for dinner ahead of the VV day celebration."

"Well, we're pretty tired." Dillon said apologetically, looking to Summer as he put his arm around her. "We're probably just going to have a quiet night..."

"The city's paying." Hicks informed them.

"We'll just get changed!" All the Rangers called out together, rushing to their rooms to prepare for the night ahead.

Over at the city asylum, Scott arrived, already dressed for dinner. His father had already called him with the invite to dinner. He had offered to give his brother a ride to the restaurant, since he knew he would be finishing his shift quite late. Of course he also just wanted to talk to someone about the situation that was forming with his fiancée.

He quietly followed Marcus on his rounds as he made sure the patients had been fed and treated before going back to their rooms to be secured for the night. Since the battle, Marcus had decided that he had seen more than enough violence in his life, and decided that he had no interest in returning to the military. He had decided instead to dedicate himself to protecting the patients. Being responsible for the safety of others gave him a sense of purpose that he never had. It made him feel like he had a life after Venjix. Scott wasn't really listening to him as he talked about his new role in life.

"So the new doctors Vasquez managed to find are really doing wonders for this place." He concluded his story. Scott looked up to his brother, realising he had missed pretty much everything he had said. He had to say something to cover. He thought for a second before coming up with something.

"Where's Cassandra?" He asked him. It had been some time since any of the Rangers had seen her. Since her gift had been discovered, Marcus took a personal interest in watching over her, making sure that none of the doctors mistreated her as she had been before. Since no one had known about her abilities as an empath, she had been misdiagnosed as schizophrenic and bounced around institutions for most of her life. Of course now they knew, they also understood that spending all her time around the asylum was hardly helpful since she kept picking up on the sickness of the other patients.

"She's over at the orphanage." Marcus told him. "I'm surprised Ziggy never mentioned it."

"Oh, I haven't really had a chance to talk to him." Scott said semi-truthfully. "The orphanage?"

"She's technically a voluntary patient here now. She's only staying here while she learns more about her gift." Marcus explained. "She found that being around kids soothes her. Their thoughts and emotions aren't fully developed, so they're still full of innocence. She finds it easier to be around them, so Ziggy's mom and dad agreed to let her help out there during the day. She works there five days a week now."

"I'm glad things are finally starting to work out for her." Scott replied, a little pleased to hear this. The last time he had seen her, she still had almost no control over her gift. Father Larry had been murdered before he could begin to teach her how to control it. As a result, she still couldn't block out everything. Sometimes all the images and sounds that got into her head overwhelmed her.

"So what do you really want to talk about?" Marcus asked him. Scott looked at him a little confused.

"I'm not sure I know what you mean." Scott replied. Marcus just looked at him unconvinced.

"You do know I spend almost all day every day around psychiatrists right?" He asked him sarcastically as he gestured towards his room. "You don't spend that long listening to psycho babble without picking up a thing or two."

"What makes you think...?"

"You haven't listened to a word I've said since you got here." Marcus interrupted him. "Also, as much as I appreciate the offer of a ride, you are aware that I actually have a car now."

"You do?" Scott asked, furrowing his brows. Marcus just rolled his eyes.

"One of the first things I told you was that I'm now the head of security here." Marcus groaned. "I'm earning a pretty good salary now."

"Oh, right." Scott muttered, realising he had seen right through him. "It's Sarah."

"Dr. K?" Marcus asked him. "I thought that was one of the things you were pretty much certain about."

"Actually I am, it's more something that's come up." Scott told him. "It turns out she's having some pretty serious nightmares about Alphabet Soup ever since she found out the truth."

"Is that all?" Marcus asked him. "I'm sure it'll pass."

"No, it's more complicated than that. She can't shake this feeling that the Macha Group hasn't been completely destroyed. She's terrified about them coming after her." He informed him. "She's scared that they'll hurt the people she cares about to get to her. She said in her dreams...they kill me to get to her and then they take her back."

"It sounds like some kind of anxiety." Marcus said sympathetically as he opened his locker, looking out his clothing for the night. "I'm sure if she was willing to talk to one of the doctors..."

"You have met her right?" Scott asked him sceptically. Marcus just nodded, conceding the point as he started to get undressed. "She's convinced that if she researches this, if she can prove there's nothing left of the Macha Group, then she'll be able to move on."

"Well if anyone can do this, I'm sure it's her." He replied.

"I know, I just wish..." His words tailed off as he thought about what he wanted to say to him. "She said that she can't marry me until she knows for sure she's over this."

Marcus pulled on his suit pants and looked at his brother, understanding why he was upset. He knew how deeply he cared for Sarah, and how much he wanted to make a life with her.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Marcus said sadly, pulling on a pale blue silk shirt. "I'm sure it'll happen for you both."

"I really hope so." Scott sighed as they started to leave. He took a look at Marcus' clothes as they made his way to his car. "So how much exactly do you get paid?"

"Let's just say it stretches a lot further when I don't have to pay for room or board." Marcus replied, putting his arm around his little brother's shoulders. "One of the fringe benefits of living on site."

Over at the border to Corinth City, the guards by the north-eastern gate were whiling away the boring hours of their shifts in the station office when a perimeter alarm sounded. The Duty Sergeant put his cards face-down on the table where they were playing poker and picked up his blaster as his two comrades also readied themselves for the new arrival.

He made his way towards the gate, activating the exterior camera. It showed a large, four by four truck approaching slowly. It was covered in dust from the desert, and looked like it had been out there for some time, but he could catch the faintest hint of blue paint. The scan indicated that the vehicle carried no weapons, and had only one passenger, but some kind of interference blocked it from scanning him for technology.

"Border control, Sergeant Lexington. State your business." He demanded through the communicator. The driver leaned out the window, pressing the call button.

"I'm seeking refuge." He told them. The Duty Sergeant opened the gate, allowing the vehicle to enter. He held up a hand to indicate he wanted the driver to stop.

"Kill the engine and step out the vehicle." He ordered him. The driver stepped out of the truck slowly, making sure he gave the guards no reason to suspect he was making a move.

"Stand over by the guard station." The Duty Sergeant barked as he gestured to his men to begin the usual checks of the vehicle for concealed explosives or contraband. He came over, pulling out a scanning wand. "I just need to scan you for viruses and Venjix techn..."

His words were interrupted as the driver's side door of the vehicle flew open hard, smashing into one of the guards, knocking him unconscious. As the other levelled his blaster at it, the truck rushed forward, ramming him, sprawling him across the hood, before the hood opened, throwing him over the vehicle onto the ground behind it.

The Duty Sergeant reached for his blaster, but the stranger caught his hand, holding him in a strong grip, preventing him from using it. The stranger's eyes were cold, and unnerving.

"Do not aim a weapon at my truck!" He sneered, before punching the Sergeant in the face, sending him flying several feet, smashing through the door of the office. He satisfied himself that the guards were unconscious, before going to the gate controls and closing the gate behind him. He checked a device strapped to his wrist and smiled.

"There are Zord energy signatures here. We're in the right place." He said to himself. He whistled to his truck, which drove over to him, opening the driver's door, revealing no one inside. He got into the truck.

"I just need to find somewhere to lie low for a while." He stated, stroking the dashboard. "I'm sure it won't be too hard to find the Rangers and Dr. K."

With that, he drove off, leaving the disabled guards behind him.

Over in another part of town, the Rangers all arrived in the finest restaurant in the city. They had all made an effort to dress up for the evening, knowing that this was a special occasion. Chas greeted them at the door, dressed in his finest tux. Brie was standing next to him in a pale blue cocktail dress with a huge smile on her face. Since their daughter had been born, this was really the first major opportunity they'd had to enjoy a night out together.

"Summer, it's wonderful to see you looking so well." Brie greeted her warmly, hugging her and kissing her cheek. "I remember the early days. They weren't much fun."

"I have good days and bad days." Summer said with a smile, reaching for Dillon's hand, holding it warmly. "So where is Elisa?"

"We dropped her off at her Grandma's place." Chas told them. "I might have my issues with Mr. Winchester, but I don't want to deny mom the opportunity to be a granny."

"I'm sure Mrs. Winchester would love you calling her that." Ziggy sniggered. "We had the same idea. Alex is spending the night at the orphanage."

"Well, the room should be ready now, so what do you say we all go through and have a seat?" Chas told them, leading them through. The main private dining room was certainly something to behold. While it wasn't quite as grand as the dining hall at the Winchester mansion, it was certainly more than they were used to. There was a long, wide table extending the entire length of the room, set with a deep crimson table cloth. The places were set with highly polished silver cutlery. There were ice buckets every few inches, interspersed with baskets of warm bread and candle sticks. A waiter was already busy pouring glasses of champagne.

"Well this is certainly different from the c-rations in the APC." Flynn commented as he helped Sam into a chair. "What does the menu look like?"

"I'll tell you when someone translates it." Hicks replied, looking at it a little confused. "Sorry, French isn't really my strong point."

"I'll help you out." Gemma whispered to him. "I was fluent by the time I was eight."

Vasquez arrived a couple of minutes late, wearing a black silk dress. She looked around a little nervously. As Hicks' aide, she was invited, but she wasn't really much of a sociable person. She made her way to the seat on Hicks' other side, while Gem sat next to his sister. Mason took a seat at one end of the table, while Chas sat at the opposite end, Brie by his side.

"So where are the others?" He asked.

"My sons should be here shortly." Mr. Truman replied, fidgeting a little in his suit. It was the first time in a long time he was attending a formal function out of uniform. He had only retired a little before the Rangers had left, and was finding it a little adjustment.

"Sorry we're late." Scott responded as they arrived, sitting at the table with Marcus. "I called Sarah; she isn't really feeling that great. She's just going to have an early night and hope it passes by tomorrow."

"Oh, that's a shame." Brie said sympathetically. "Let her know we were thinking about her."

"Well it's a shame. I really would have liked to see her tonight." Chas added. "I mean, she is the one we have to thank for this whole celebration."

"I'm sure she'll be alright by tomorrow." Mr. Truman responded, standing up with a glass in his hand. "Now, if you would all like to charge your glasses, I'd like to propose a toast."

Over in another part of town, the four by four truck crawled down the dark streets slowly. While the cartels were now gone, having been destroyed by Ziggy, Chas and Marcus, there were still some criminal elements in the city. The stranger recognised the signs right away. The streets were dark, and barely lit. Very few people were on the streets, and those that were stood concealed in corners and alleys. As he watched a man in motorcycle leathers accept a large roll of money from a woman who looked like she was far from able to afford it, before reaching inside his jacket and handing her something, he knew he had found the right place. No one would ask too many questions here.

He parked up his truck and approached the man slowly. He was bald, with dark skin, and had the faintest hint of a tattoo visible on the left side of his neck. He had a moustache and a couple of silver hoop ear rings in his left ear.

"I've not seen you around before." The dealer greeted him harshly. "Nice wheels."

"Thanks." He replied. "I was looking for somewhere to stay."

"There's a guest house around the corner." The dealer told him. "It's a bit of a roach trap."

"Thanks." He replied, before starting to walk away.

"So, do you fancy some stuff?" The dealer asked him. "My rates are pretty reasonable."

"Thank you but no." He replied, before heading back to his truck. He paused for a second and thought about it, realising that by now the incident at the gate house would likely have been reported. People would be looking for his vehicle.

"Do you know somewhere I can park this out of sight?" He asked. The dealer shrugged.

"If it's too hot for you, I can get rid of it." He offered.

"No one touches this truck." The stranger warned him. "I just need it out of sight."

"The owner of the guest house has self-storage units around the back." He responded with a shrug. "I'm sure he'll offer you a decent rate."

The stranger nodded, before getting into the truck. He drove around the corner a little way, coming to rest outside a guest house. He got out, and made his way inside. There was a small, dimly lit bar in the lobby, where people sat drinking and smoking, giving the room a distinctive smell that was far from welcoming. He approached the bar, waving over the barman.

"I understand you have rooms and somewhere I can park off-street." He greeted him. The barman shrugged.

"That depends if you can pay for it." He responded. The stranger reached into his pocket, before slamming a stone on the counter. The barman's eyes shot open wide as he saw it, realising it was an uncut diamond, about half the size of a golf ball. It would have been worth enough to buy the entire city block, never mind pay for the room.

"I trust my credit's good." The stranger said sarcastically. The barman hurriedly handed him a key.

"If there's anything you need..." Just then, they heard a few screams. The stranger just smiled.

"It's just my security system. Apparently my vehicle's already attracted some admirers." He commented. "I'll park up my vehicle."

"Unit 4." The barman told him, handing him another key. "If there's anything else..."

"I'd like a burger and a beer in my room when I get back." He told him. "Also, if someone could wash the outside of my vehicle, I would be grateful."

"So what's the name for the register?" The barman asked him. The stranger just smirked.

"Forget the name." He replied. "For what I'm paying I'm sure you can exercise some discretion."

The stranger went to the storage unit, passing the unconscious bodies of a couple of would-be car-jackers and unlocked it, opening the door. He whistled, at which the truck started up and drove around, parking itself inside. He closed up, locking the door behind it and headed back inside. He ignored the other patrons as they watched him head up the stairs, quickly finding his room. The stranger went inside, finding a bare room with only a small chest of drawers, a tiny bathroom, and a bed that had seen better days. He went to the bed, pulling off his jacket and threw it in the corner, revealing a tight black t-shirt, and extensive tribal tattoos extending the length of both arms and disappearing beneath his shirt, interspersed with scars of varying ages, depths and shades from red to almost flesh-coloured. He pulled a file folder out of his jacket just as there was a knock at the door.

"Just put it on the bed." He called out. The barman came in with his meal, coming over and placing the burger and fries on his bed, before handing him a beer.

"I'll let you know if I need anything else." He instructed the barman as he left. He opened the file as he took a swig of beer, pulling out a photograph of Dr. K.

"So this is the woman that destroyed Venjix." He commented with a smile. "Then you're the one I have to find Sarah."