Flynn came into Scott's room, finding him laying out a dress uniform gently, inspecting it. He had left the air force to take part in Project Ranger quite a while ago, and so it had been a long time since he had worn it. He was inspecting it carefully making sure it was clean and pressed.
"Are you sure it'll still fit?" Flynn asked him. Scott looked around, seeing him and threw a pillow at him, before turning back to the uniform with a smile.
"You know it's almost three years since I've worn this." He informed him. "I only wore it once; it was the day I graduated from the academy. I was drafted into service for the evacuations shortly afterwards."
"Summer told me a little about that." He replied. "She graduated at the same time as you right?"
"We graduated from the academies the same day." He informed him. "We had been good friends throughout our time there."
"You know that's one thing I don't get." He said, taking a seat on his own bed. "Summer was raised to be married off to Chad, why did they send her to the military academy?"
"It was their idea." He informed him. "They wanted her to learn some discipline. I'm sure you noticed she has a...lively spirit. They thought the military academy would curb that."
"Letting a livewire like Summer play with guns and explosives all day?" Flynn chuckled. "Oh yeah, that was sure to calm her down."
"We met on the first day. I went into the air force, and she went into the administrative corp..."
"The same branch as Chas?" Flynn asked him. Scott suddenly got a little smirk.
"OK, now I get what they were trying to do." He stated as he realised their plan. "She never lost her wild streak though."
"I'd kind of noticed." Flynn replied.
"I figured since everyone else is going in dress fatigues I'd make an effort." Scott stated, turning his attention back to the uniform. "It'll feel strange to wear it again, but I think it'll mean a lot."
"I'm sure it will." Flynn stated. "Your dad would probably like to see you in military garb again."
He didn't need to say anything further. Since Scott was no longer in the air force, he was not required to attend in uniform, only in formal dress. He had already guessed that a large part of why he wanted to wear it was because Marcus would not be there. He knew nothing would have made his father prouder than to be on the stage with his son as they received their commendations. It was also one of the reasons he wanted to talk to Scott. He already knew about the flight recording. Scott had confided in him that he had his suspicions Marcus was still alive, and while he assured him he wouldn't obsess over it; Flynn was still a little concerned that he wouldn't be able to keep his thoughts straight. When he had heard about the ceremony, he knew that it would just bring everything back.
"How's Sam?" He asked the Blue Ranger.
"She's getting a lot stronger." Flynn told him. "She still needs the crutches, but she's getting around a lot better. She's really looking forward to the ceremony."
"I guess it'll be good to see her out and about." Scott stated.
"She's already set her new goal for physio." Flynn told him. "She's hoping to only need a stick by the time the ceremony comes around. Her recovery's coming along brilliantly."
"Well I'm sure she'll make it." Scott said, putting a hand on Flynn's shoulder. "She's a fighter Flynn, you know that."
"Yeah, well there is something I wanted to talk to you about." He replied. "It's about the ceremony. I know it has to be bringing up a lot of uncomfortable memories."
"I'll be fine Flynn." Scott told him. "Sure, it sucks that Marcus won't be there, but I'm trying to just be happy that he and dad are being honoured. I guess its better trying to remember him that way."
"I think that would be for the best." Flynn told him. "I know it's going to be hard, but I was thinking that maybe it would be a little easier if we went to the rehearsal dinner the Winchesters are holding tonight."
"I was kind of planning on giving that a miss." Scott informed him. "It's bad enough I'll be doing this once."
"Summer was kind of planning on going." He told him. "She wanted to visit the memorial gardens. Remember that they'll also be commemorating the people who didn't make it. I figured we could all be there for each other."
"I guess we could all use a little time out." He responded. "Maybe this won't be so bad."
"Besides, the Winchesters are holding the dinner on their estate." He reminded him. "It'll be a night out. No cooking, no cleaning up afterwards..."
"We don't have to pick up the tab." Scott concluded. "I guess we could always go for a while."
"That's the spirit man!" He replied cheerfully. "I'll go and get the others together."
"Flynn, would you do me one more favour?" Scott asked him.
"Sure, what is it?" Flynn asked him. Scott reached under his pillow, pulling out the flight recording. He looked at it thoughtfully for a second, before letting out a sigh and handing it to him.
"I'm beginning to think you might have a point. Maybe keeping this around isn't the healthiest thing." He told the Blue Ranger. "Hand it in or don't, I'll let you decide what to do, just...don't tell me what you do with it. It's probably best I don't know."
"Are you sure about this?" Flynn asked in response.
"I'm sure you'll know what to do with it." He reiterated.
"I'll take care of it." Flynn assured him. "Get ready; I'm sure the others will be ready to go soon."
With that, he left Scott to look through his closet for something to wear. He already felt a little loss at having handed over the flight recording, but in the long run, it wasn't really providing him with any answers. If anything all he ever accomplished by listening to it was to upset himself and become more frustrated. All he could do now was somehow hope to find a way to move on; he just hoped that in time it would get easier.
Flynn came into the main room, finding Ziggy in his RPM uniform, preparing something in the microwave while Dillon was wearing a dress shirt, unbuttoned at the collar, dress pants and his leather jacket. It wasn't what the Winchesters would be used to, but for Dillon, this was as close to black tie as he got.
"Aren't you getting changed?" Flynn asked Ziggy. He knew better than to ask Dillon, he knew the Black Ranger had no intention of trying to fit in with the Winchesters and their friends. He had made his disdain for them more than clear at Summer's wedding, in truth he would only be going because he wanted to support Summer. She wanted to visit the memorial, and her parents would be attending, so she wanted to be there for them. If she hadn't been going, then most likely Dillon would have given it a miss too.
"I'm not going." Ziggy told them. "Dr. K's going, and someone needs to stay behind with Tenaya."
"Are you sure you don't mind?" Flynn asked him.
"Please, I've got a jumbo size nacho platter and some DVD's, I'll be fine." He responded.
"Thank you for agreeing to watch the prisoner for me." Dr. K greeted Ziggy as she arrived, wearing a formal black suit and a white blouse. "It's been quite a while since I left the lab."
"Ziggy caught a little sly grin from Flynn as she said this, and felt a little sheepish. Obviously Flynn had read a little something into the revelation that contrary to what Ziggy had originally said, that he had volunteered to stay behind.
"Well these things are normally well guarded, I knew the doc would be safe there, and you know how rarely she gets out." Ziggy explained. "You guys enjoy yourselves."
"An evening at the Winchesters designed to have everyone talk about how wonderful he is." Dillon said sarcastically, twirling a lollipop in his fingers nonchalantly. "Oh yeah, it'll be a blast."
"You've got it all wrong man; the night is what you make of it." Flynn responded with a grin. "The night is what you make of it. Just because the Winchesters will be spending the whole night showing off their son, that doesn't mean we can't enjoy a nice meal and a couple of dances and let them pick up the tab."
"I'm just going to check on Summer." Dillon muttered in an unconvinced tone as he made his way towards her room. He knew how important it was for her to visit the memorial, but he wasn't sure that going to the party at the estate was a great idea. If she was going, then he wanted to be there by her side. He knocked on the door gently. She opened the door, she talked allowing him inside.
She was wearing a long, yellow, backless gown, and had styled her hair for the occasion. He couldn't help but stare at her. She was so beautiful to him, but he couldn't help feeling sorry for her. He looked over to the bed, seeing a large bouquet on the bed.
"I guess that's for the memorial." He remarked. Summer let out a sigh as she looked at them and turned back to the table where she was applying her make-up.
"Andrews loved the carnations in our garden." She recalled from her time back at her parent's estate. "It just seemed right."
He came over behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder. He knew how much the old butler had meant to her. Since the wedding, she had explained about her background, and so Dillon knew that she had virtually been raised by the butler at one time. It was always bittersweet whenever she talked about him. She still got upset when she remembered him, but there was always warmth in her voice and a gleam in her eye any time she talked about him.
"I'm sure he'd have loved them." Dillon assured her. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
"I was always going to be thinking about them at the ceremony." She said as she grabbed a shawl, throwing it around her shoulders and getting up from the table. "I just wanted to take a little time to mourn them by myself."
"Them?" Dillon asked her, realising what she had said.
"I told you about Mrs. Kitchner and her kids right?" Summer asked him. Dillon nodded as he realised how this must have affected her. "The thing is, I never saw them again after dad fired them. I don't know what happened to them."
She looked to the floor, trying to suppress a tear as she thought about it. At one time she had been like a mother to Summer, and she had been incredibly close to Freddy and Julie, virtually being raised alongside them.
"I don't know if they made it to the city." Summer told him sadly. Dillon knew what bothered her; it was the same thing that would be on the mind of virtually everyone in the city during the ceremony. Although the world contained over six billion people before the attacks, only a little over a million made it inside the city walls before the shields went up. There were rumours of similar projects and fortifications around the globe, but without communications they were only unfounded rumours. Anyone that didn't make it into the city would have been destroyed in the wastes. Almost everyone in Corinth knew someone that hadn't made it. As well as a day of celebration, it was also a time of reflection for most of the city.
Dillon wished he could offer her some form of reassurance that they were fine, but he had lived outside the dome for over a year. If anyone understood what it was like in the wastes, then he did. He almost hadn't made it himself, by the time he made it to the city he had no more food or water, and his car was running on fumes. The sad fact was that anyone outside the dome for more than a couple of days was almost certain to have perished. If the desert hadn't claimed them, then Venjix would have. He put his arms around her, pulling her into him and holding her tightly.
Despite her upset, Summer couldn't help but smile as she finally realised where she was. Dillon had his arms completely around her. Such a thing had caused her to panic on more than one occasion. Her despair as she thought about those she had lost had blinded her to it at first, but now she realised that he was holding her. Her heart raced a little, and she felt a little twinge of nerves as she realised, but now there wasn't the same sense of dread. She looked up into his eyes. Dillon realised where his hands were and broke his grip, taking half a step back and holding his hands up.
"No, Dillon." She rushed out, seeing the apologetic look in his eyes. "It's alright. I'm fine."
"Summer, I'm sorry, you were so upset." He stated as she advanced on him. "I just did it, I didn't think..."
"Dillon, I'm fine." She told him, wrapping her arms around him and leaning her head into his chest. "I liked it."
"You weren't scared?" He asked her, bringing his arms around her nervously. Summer smiled a little.
"I'm still a little nervous." She admitted to him. "But I didn't feel trapped anymore. I felt good."
"So you're sure you're alright?" He asked her. "I don't want to push you too hard. You know I'd never do anything to hurt you..."
She silenced him with a pair of fingers to his lips, before pulling him into a long, passionate kiss. Dillon lost himself in her embrace. His heart beat in his chest faster and more fiercely than he ever thought possible. As she broke from the kiss, still looking into his eyes, she smiled nervously.
"Please, hold me." She asked him.
Dillon had no problems with the request, pulling her into his chest and holding her tightly. He loved her so much, and he wanted her to feel good about herself. Summer loved the warmth of his arms. As much as the nerves still wouldn't leave her completely, she was happy to know that she was making progress. In her heart she knew that Dillon was no danger to her, it was only her mind that caused the problem. Now though, she was beginning to think that maybe there was light at the end of the tunnel.
Later in the day, Dillon and Summer arrived at the memorial garden. Scott, Dr. K and Flynn had gone on ahead to the estate, knowing that Summer would want some time by herself. Dillon led her down a gravel path to the obelisk at the centre of the garden.
It was about 20 feet tall, and made out of a black, marble-like substance that was veined with lines of grey, varying in shade between almost completely white and a slightly smoky, almost black shade that was only visible from a few inches away. It was roughly square in shape tapering upwards into a pointed pyramid near the top. Gold writing adorned almost all its sides from the top to the bottom. Every person who was confirmed as dead had their name immortalised in gold writing, though that only numbered a few thousand. Given the desperate nature of the evacuation, it wasn't really possible to bring the bodies of the dead for identification. Some were identified on the field, though not many. Most were simply listed as missing presumed dead after the event.
"It's alright, I'm here." Dillon reminded her as they stopped a few feet away. He released her hand, allowing her to make the last of the way herself, and pay her respects in private. She made her way, finding the part of the obelisk with Andrew's name on it. She laid the flowers on the ground next to the obelisk and knelt by it, taking a second to catch her breath.
"I've been thinking about you a lot Kevin." She began, using his given name. She had only found out his full name after the evacuation. She had confirmed him among the dead when she arrived in the city. In some ways it still felt odd to use his first name, but it felt right. He had placed so much faith in her finally breaking free of the shallow, false life her parents had cocooned her in, that he had risked his own life to come back for her when he could simply have left her to her fate. More than that, he had died to protect her when she was attacked by Grinders. It was the most selfless thing she had ever seen anyone do, and it had been the jolt she needed to shake her out of that life. She knew she could never go back to being the same spoiled brat she had been. Not after seeing the true face of humanity. "I can't possibly repay you for everything you've done for me."
She took a second to remember his last words to her, getting a little smile on her face as she thought of him looking down on her as he had promised. She wiped away a tear.
"I really hope you have been watching." She told him, reaching out to the stone. "I've been working really hard to make you proud of me. I've finally realised who I am and who I want to be."
She felt a small chuckle as she thought about heading to the party at the estate. She knew Andrews had never really liked Chas. Just like her, Chas had treated him badly, the only difference was that there was no affection in him at all, save for the affection he had for himself. He hadn't vocalised his dislike of him, it wasn't his place. He was only a butler, while Chas was his social superior, but there was always an iciness in his tone and demeanour, a subtle disdain that only Summer really noticed because they were so close. Now, of course, she felt much the same way about him.
"I'm going to see my ex today." She joked. "I know you thought he was an asshole. Hell, he is an asshole. I can't believe I ever thought about marrying him. I can't believe I even managed to convince myself that I wanted it."
She flicked her head in Dillon's direction.
"Things are going well with Dillon." She told him. "I really wish you could have met him, I think you'd have liked him. He really makes me happy. I don't think I'd have made it through all of this without him."
She arranged the flowers and composed herself a little.
"If Mrs. Kitchner's up there with you, I know you'll look after her." She stated. "Keep watching, I promise to keep making you proud. You haven't died for nothing. I promise."
With that, she got up and made her way back to Dillon's side and they left, making their way to the Winchester estate. He put his arm around her and guided her on the way back to his car.
"Are you feeling alright?" He asked her, seeing her taking one last look towards the obelisk. "We could always go home. I'm sure Ziggy won't mind sharing the nachos."
"I'll have to face everyone there at the ceremony anyway." Summer reminded him. "If I can't do it now, there's no way I'll be able to be there for Scott's ceremony."
"Just let me know if you change your mind." Dillon told her as he started the engine. "I'll be there."
They arrived at the estate after a short drive, and Dillon got out, opening the door for Summer. She looked around at the estate; seeing the throng of waiters, maids, valets and guests all dressed in elaborate clothing. The valet approached, reaching for Dillon's car keys, only to have them snatched away from him.
"No one touches the car." Dillon told him.
"Dillon, its fine." Summer told him. "He's just a valet."
"Summer, no one touches my car." He reiterated. "You know that."
"Dillon, it'll be fine." She groaned, taking the keys off him and handing them to the valet.
"I'll take care of the car sir." The valet assured him, moving around the defensive Black Ranger cautiously. "It's good to see you Ms. Landsdown, you're looking well."
"Thanks." She said, furrowing her brows at the odd remark. She took Dillon by the hand and led him inside, looking around the grounds for the others. Summer rolled her eyes as her one-time friend, Brie rushed over to her with the Landsdowns.
"I can't believe you came, HUGS!" She greeted Summer like a long-lost friend. Summer took the hug a little uneasily. She had little if anything to do with Brie now, which was understandable. She had shoved her out of a transport truck during the evacuation, leaving her to almost certain death. If it hadn't been for Andrews, she would never have made it to Corinth. "You're looking well."
"Uh, thanks Brie." Summer replied, a little taken aback. "I hear that Chas proposed to you. Congratulations."
"Thanks, it was kind of a whirlwind romance." She rushed out excitedly, showing off a large, gauche engagement ring with a diamond in it of ridiculous size. "We started dating a while ago, and things kind of happened."
"She'll make a fine addition to the family." Mrs. Winchester stated, putting her arm around her future daughter-in-law. "She's bright, lively, very loving and dependable. She always keeps her promises."
Dillon felt Summer's grip on his hand tighten at this. Obviously this none-too-subtle dig at her refusal to go through with the wedding hadn't gone unnoticed.
"Still you're looking lovely today. You really look well." Mr. Winchester greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. He reached out a hand for Dillon. "I take it you're the new man in her life."
"I have that honour." Dillon answered him, squeezing her hand reassuringly; reminding her he was there for her. He shook Mr. Winchester's hand briskly and weakly in a cursory gesture. He could see that their welcome was insincere, and designed almost to mock her. He had no respect for his hosts. "I'm Dillon."
"So what have you been up to since we saw you last?" Mrs. Winchester asked her. "Have you been doing anything exciting?"
"If you'll excuse me, I think I see our friends." Summer answered, pointing across the yard to where Flynn seemed to be looking for her. "I'll catch up with you later alright?"
The Yellow and Black Rangers pushed their way through the crowd, smiling and nodding politely as they were greeted by a few more polite smiles and "You're looking well's" directed at Summer. Flynn saw them and waved the others over, coming to meet her.
"Summer, we tried to call you." He told her.
"Flynn, what's going on here?" She asked him. "Why are you panicking?"
"It's nice to see you Summer, you're looking well." Another waiter greeted her, making his way past.
"Why the hell does everyone keep telling me that?" She asked him, her patience wearing thin.
"Summer, we tried to call you and warn you." Scott told her regretfully, handing her a newspaper. "The evening edition came out just after we left the Garage."
Summer unravelled the paper and stared at it in horror. Dillon held her for support. On the front page was a picture of her leaving Dr. Young's office, bearing the headline "Psycho Ranger!"
"We're sorry, we tried to tell you." Flynn chipped in, realising Summer's humiliation. "We didn't want this to happen."
"I don't want to talk about it!" She snapped. "Let's just keep quiet, make it through the rehearsal and go."
"Summer..."
"Damn it Scott, if I run out of here now I'll just have everyone talking about it." She interrupted him. "If I make a fuss over it, I'll just confirm everyone's belief that I'm insane."
"Summer, maybe we can just quietly slip out." Dillon suggested. "I'll go with you; we can all cover your escape."
"No Dillon, I can't run from this." She reiterated. "I'd have preferred it if this hadn't come out, but it has. If I run away every time someone looks at me strangely I'll be running my whole life. I need to do this."
"Well you don't need to worry; we're all here for you." Scott assured her. "Just try to ignore it; the people who care about you know the truth."
"I'll try to ignore it." She whispered, pulling in closer to Dillon for comfort. "I'll try."