Dr. K arrived at the Garage, finding Ziggy and Tenaya in the main room watching a DVD on the large screen TV. Since the others were out, Ziggy had pushed her in her wheelchair out of the main room to the more comfortable surroundings of the main room. He hadn't expected any of them to have returned by now. He never noticed Dr. K coming in; he was far too busy laughing and joking with Tenaya about the film, sharing an extra large nacho platter.
"Ziggy, what is she doing out of the secure holding facility?" Dr. K asked him in a weary sigh. "She is a prisoner you know."
He handed the dish to Tenaya and made his way over quickly, seeing her. He knew she wouldn't like the idea of him taking Tenaya out of the secure room, but he had been sure that she wouldn't be back for hours. He thought he'd have her back in the lab before the others got home, he just felt badly about her being locked up all day and had decided to bring her out for a while.
"I figured it wouldn't cause any harm." He explained. "We were just watching some DVDs."
"There's a monitor in the holding chamber." She reminded him. Ziggy drew a little closer, hoping Tenaya couldn't hear them.
"I just wanted to get her out of the lab for a little while." He told her.
"She's our prisoner." Dr. K repeated. Ziggy just sighed and gestured to her.
"She's in a wheelchair." He reminded her quietly. "She's still wearing the restraining bracelet, and even if she was able to escape, where's she going to go? It's not like she'd go back to Venjix."
Dr. K looked over to where Tenaya was still eating nachos. There was a certain childish joy on her face as she shovelled the mass of chips, refried beans, salsa and cheese into her mouth. Venjix fed her through IV in her regeneration chamber, so she was only just beginning to experience the joys of eating and tasting real food. By the looks of things, she was enjoying the dish. Dr. K shook her head and groaned. Ziggy was right, given the way she was treated by the ruthless computer virus, she would not run back to that life. Even as a prisoner she was treated better in the Ranger compound.
"Just...put her back when you're finished." She finally said, conceding to Ziggy's judgement. "You are responsible for her care after all."
"Thanks Dr. K." He replied, making his way back to the couch. He found Tenaya just finishing the dish.
"You ate the whole thing?" He asked her. "That was a portion for five!"
"What can I say, I enjoyed it." She replied with a shrug. "There are so many great textures and flavours. I never understood why people were so enthusiastic about eating before."
"I guess I wasn't that hungry." He said, settling onto the couch.
"Thank you." Tenaya said to him, pulling his attention back from the film. "That's the first time anyone stood up for me."
"You heard that?" Ziggy asked her.
"I'm a cyborg remember?" She responded. "I guess Venjix thought boosting my hearing would make me a better spy."
"I just wanted you to spend a little while outside the lab." He told her.
"Well I'm really enjoying this." She told him, reaching across and putting a hand on his knee. "Thank you."
Ziggy was distracted for a second as he felt her touch. He looked down at her hand and smiled nervously.
"That's alright." He answered. "I had fun too."
Meanwhile, back at the Winchester's estate, the guests were ushered into the main hall after dessert for an after-dinner drink. As they made their way inside, the Rangers noticed the fencing runway set up in the main hall. Chas made his way to one end, where the butler was standing with some equipment, pulling off his jacket.
"It looks like Chas is going to provide a little entertainment." Mrs. Winchester commented. "How wonderful, it's always a joy to watch him fence."
"He's going to fence?" Flynn asked them. "What's so great about that?"
"He's only about the best fencer there is." Scott informed him.
"He's won world championships every year since he was 12." Summer added. "Even I have to admit, it's amazing to watch him."
"Well, I'm looking for a few challengers." Chas stated, handing his wine glass to a waiter and stepping onto the runway. He approached the butler.
"I've prepared the equipment as you asked." The butler told him.
"Thank you Jeffrey." Chas replied, handing him his jacket and beginning to strap on a chest plate. "Which one is mine?"
The butler handed him a sword which Chas inspected with a satisfied smile.
"Which one?" He asked him, drawing closer to the butler so no one else could hear.
"The one with the blue binding has been prepared as you asked." Jeffrey informed him. Chas looked at the basket of swords, seeing that all of them had black bindings on the handles except for one.
"Thank you Jeffrey." He replied, grabbing a face mask and making his way onto the runway. Another guest made his way over to Jeffrey to receive some protective equipment.
"Mayor Fallon, it'll be a privilege to cross blades with you." Chas told him, adopting a guarding stance. "Care to make a wager?"
"I don't think so." He replied, pulling on his face mask. "I just wanted to be able to say I've crossed blades with a world champion."
They both adopted a stance.
"Jeffery, whenever you're ready." Chas told his butler.
The butler put a hand under their crossed blades, then swept it upwards, parting them. The two lunged at each other, though it was not a long engagement. Chas neatly tagged a strike to the mayor's chest plate, causing the scoring board to buzz and score a point.
"I hope your term in office lasts longer." Chas joked, causing everyone to give a polite laugh. Fallon laughed with him.
"En guard." He called out, taking the starting position. Chas scored the second point almost too quickly to be seen.
"He is good." Flynn complimented Chas.
"He knows it too." Summer whispered to him. Dillon put his arm around her and held her closely. As Chas scored the third point with practiced ease, the crowd applauded.
"Well, are there any more challengers?" Chas asked. Colonel Truman handed Scott his glass and stepped up.
"It's been a while, but I think I could give you a workout." He told Chas. He gave the colonel a cocky little smile.
"I would be honoured to cross blades with a fellow recipient of the Order of Corinth." He replied, replacing his face mask. Colonel Truman stepped up after being strapped into his safety equipment, adopting a guard. As they began, their blades rang out as they collided several times before Colonel Truman tagged his opponent, scoring the first point.
"Not bad for an old man." He commented.
"No need to be humble, you caught me fair and square." Chas said with a smile. "En Guard."
"Your dad might just show him up here." Flynn whispered to Scott.
"He let him get that point." Scott told the Blue Ranger. "My dad's good, but not that good. Chas was just humouring him to draw out the match."
As the second bout started, Chas swept the Colonel's guard aside and scored the point in less than a second. Colonel Truman laughed.
"I guess I have lost a step." He stated. They crossed swords again, only for Chas to score another quick point. He lifted up his face guard and accepted a glass of wine from Jeffery, taking a swig, before handing it back. He returned to the guarding position. This time, the move was truly a thing of beauty. With a flick of the wrist, Chas whipped the foil from the Colonel's hand, sending it high into the air. He then dropped his own sword, catching the Colonel's as it came down and scored the winning point with his own sword.
"Bravo!" Mr. Winchester called out as the audience applauded. Colonel Truman pulled off his mask and shook Chas' hand.
"Good match." He said as he pulled off his chest plate. "That last move was something to see."
"Thank you sir." Chas replied as he accepted the handshake. "Perhaps we can do this again some time."
"I think once is enough for me." Colonel Truman said as he stepped off the runway. "It was fun though."
"Well I'd love another challenger." Chas announced, looking around the room. "Perhaps one of the Rangers would do me the honour."
The Rangers looked around each other, was he really calling them out?
"Oh come on, it's just a little sport. Where's the harm in that?" Chas asked them.
"I've had enough excitement for one night." Summer told him, shaking her head.
"I've never been a fan of fencing." Scott announced. "I'll pass."
"How about you?" Chas asked, pointing to Dillon. The Black Ranger looked to Summer, seeing the look in her eyes. Despite his disdain for Chas, he had no desire to take part in the exhibition, and Summer seemed to share that sentiment. "Come on, I thought you were the tough one."
"I'll sit this one out." Dillon replied. "Thanks anyway."
"Oh, surely you wouldn't be scared of a little friendly sport?" Chas asked him. "I know you don't have much experience with swords, but I'll go gently."
Summer felt Dillon tense up through his jacket. She could feel the anger in him.
"Actually I use the Nitro Sword all the time." Dillon corrected him.
"Well they're hardly swords." Chas scoffed. "They don't have a blade, they're kind of more like clubs."
Dillon gave Summer a look and stepped away from her, before making his way onto the platform. As he was getting strapped into his safety gear, Chas nodded to Jeffrey. He handed the Black Ranger the blue handled sword.
"So, shall we begin?" Chas asked him, taking a glass of wine from one of the waiters and taking a sip, before handing it back.
They approached each other, preparing to begin. Chas leaned forward to speak with Dillon.
"I see you and Summer are together now." He whispered in a voice only Dillon could hear. "So how does it feel to accept my cast-offs?"
Dillon's blood boiled to hear him talk about Summer that way. He barely noticed as Jeffrey parted their blades. The first point sounded out as Chas scored before he could do anything.
"Well, who would have thought I'd score against a Power Ranger?" Chas asked the audience, raising a laugh. He turned back to Dillon, and they crossed blades to begin. He leant in again.
"I suppose she is a cute one." He whispered. "I always thought so. She always looked really good in a bikini."
Dillon roared as their blades were parted, and the swords clashed, ringing around the room. Chas and Dillon parted a little way, sizing each other up. Dillon rushed forward, but Chas threw himself aside, scoring another point.
"Damn it!" Dillon yelled as he realised he'd been suckered in. The guests all looked at him a little warily.
"You don't need to over-react. It's only a little fun." Chas stated, pulling off his face guard and throwing it aside. He took a glass of wine, and took a sip, though as they prepared to begin again, he didn't bother retrieving his mask or giving his wine back. He leaned in again and whispered in his ear.
"So tell me, how is she in the sack?" He asked him. "I always thought she'd be a really good..."
His words were cut off as Dillon shoved him away. Chas finished the wine and threw the glass down, shattering it. Their swords clashed many times, ringing out as Dillon attacked in a frenzy. The crowd scattered as the fight extended beyond the runway. Eventually, Dillon lunged forward, only to find Chas hooking his sword and ripping it from his hand before he stepped aside, causing Dillon to trip and stumble to the floor. He smiled as the audience applauded.
"Well I will admit this isn't exactly a real battle since we're under fencing rules." He conceded. He threw Dillon's sword up, twirling it to hold it by the blade and offering him the handle. "How about we go free-form? One point to a win, anything goes."
As Dillon reached for the sword, Chas leaned in, whispering in his ear again.
"I hope you hold onto your girl better than you hold onto your sword." He taunted him. By now, Dillon had heard enough. He let out a savage cry, grabbing the sword and shoving Chas away with all his strength. Chas recovered quickly enough to avoid his next strike. Chas parried many of his attacks, eventually locking blades with him. He leaned in again.
"You'll always be second best." He whispered spitefully. "Accepting my sloppy seconds makes you the loser everyone knows you are."
Dillon kneed him in the gut, causing Chas to stagger away, before bringing the sword scything down. Chas let out a yell, and blood sprayed on the floor as he clutched his face.
"Chas!" Brie screamed, rushing to his side, and holding him warmly.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Mr. Winchester snapped.
"You're as crazy as your girlfriend!" Mrs. Winchester barked loudly, tending to her son. Chas stood up, taking his hand away from his face and showing a large gash across his right cheek. He held up his hand as the guests started to round on Dillon.
"It's alright, it is a dangerous pastime." He commented casually, making his way towards Dillon. "We just got a little over-excited, that's all, the sword just broke in the chaos."
Gates took the sword from Dillon and inspected it.
"The protective nib is gone." He informed the others. "It looks like an accident."
"Well the way he went after Chas wasn't." Brie snorted, tending to her fiancé. "You all saw it; this animal went after him like a raving lunatic!"
"It's alright sweetie, accidents happen." Chas commented, extending a hand to Dillon. In his anger, Dillon just swiped his hand away. Security quickly surrounded the Rangers as they came to Dillon's side.
"I guess you can't accept a gesture of friendship." Chas commented with a fake sincerity. "Perhaps it would be best if you left."
Summer took Dillon's arm and led him away, though his gaze never left Chas' until he left the room. He knew that Chas had manipulated him into the fight, and he knew that his words were just a way to goad him, but his anger had overtaken him. The Rangers left, and the guests all went back to what they were doing. Gates handed Chas a handkerchief, which he held to his face, mopping the blood.
"Well that wasn't what I was expecting." Gates commented. "Still, now everyone thinks the Black Ranger's as insane as your ex."
"I thought the 'accident' was a nice touch." Chas commented, opening his hand to show Gates the protective nib from Dillon's sword. "I had it tricked. I pulled off the nib when I disarmed him."
"Putting your body on the line?" Gates asked him, taking it from him. "That's commitment."
"I thought so." Chas stated. "I thought that if I was hurt in the fight the guests would over-react."
"Well I'm sure tomorrow's headlines will be an entertaining read." Gates chuckled. "Would you like me to get a doctor?"
"It's quite alright; it wouldn't be the first time Jeffery's stitched a wound." Chas told him, taking a glass of wine from a nearby waiter. "In the meantime, I think I'll just enjoy everyone's sympathy. After all, I am the victim of a lunatic."
Meanwhile, outside, Dillon stormed out of the building, still fuming over the fight. More than Chas' words, more than his taunts and his goading, Dillon was angry at himself for being manipulated into that situation.
"Dillon wait!" Summer begged him, rushing behind him. "Chas is an asshole, I know that."
"Give me my damn keys!" He roared at the valet. He ripped the keys from his grip and started looking for his car. Summer made her way in front of him, grabbing his arms as the others arrived.
"Dillon, what were you playing at?" She asked him. "Everyone already has their doubts about me, why did you make them turn on you too?"
"That's what I'd like to know." Scott demanded.
"You didn't hear what he said!" Dillon roared in his rage.
"I don't care what he said." Scott told him. "You made yourself look like a thug in there."
"I don't give a damn what those idiots think of me!" Dillon snarled, gesturing wildly at the mansion.
"Dillon, you played into his hands." Summer said softly, taking his hand. "He doesn't care about anyone but himself. He probably insulted you..."
"Actually he insulted you." Dillon interrupted her. Summer nodded to the others to say that she wanted some time to talk to Dillon. Scott took Flynn back to his car and left. Dillon sat on the hood of his car.
"Dillon, it doesn't matter what he said about me." Summer told him. "You shouldn't have let him goad you like that."
"I know." He sighed, looking at her in her dress. He took a deep breath. "Summer, I love you so much, the things he said really hurt. I can't believe I was so stupid!"
"Dillon, it doesn't matter what he said." Summer told him. "I love you."
"I'm sorry." He whispered. "I know I haven't helped anything."
"Well it was good to know you're willing to stand up for me." She replied with a smile. "I've never had a knight in shining armour."
"Unfortunately most of the metal's on the inside." Dillon joked as he let out a small laugh.
"At the wedding when Venjix attacked, Chas used Dr. K as a human shield and he thought she was me." Summer reminded him. "There's no contest. I don't care how much of your body is metal; you're more of a man to me than Chas will ever be."
Dillon looked deeply into her eyes and cupped her cheek with his hand. He drew her into a long, passionate kiss.
"I love you." He told her. "I'm sorry I got taken in, but you know that I'll be there for you, no matter what the backlash is."
"I know you will." Summer told him confidently. "That's why I love you."
With that, they got into his car and made their way back to the Garage. They knew that there would be a backlash over the incident at the party, and that it would make their lives more difficult, but in that moment, none of it mattered. They were together, and that was all that mattered.