Dillon and Scott had arranged to have a race to see which one of them was the better driver. Bella figured it was a good idea that could serve as a distraction from the chaotic life the Rangers led. It had been a long time she had done something fun like watching a movie or going to a bar, so this would have to do for the time being.

Bella had volunteered to be the flag girl and wore a plain pink shirt, her RPM leather jacket, cyan skinny jeans, and black high heel ankle boots.

Bella stood between the boys' cars with the black and white flag in her hands while they were getting their engines warmed up. Summer, Ziggy, and Flynn stood close to the scene, excited for what was about to happen.

Dillon winked at Bella and she rolled her eyes, smirking.

"Okay, guys, it's almost time..." Bella started. "In 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... NOW!" She waved the flag enthusiastically and the race began.

Bella watched as the Red and Black Rangers raced around the desert, silently cheering for the boy she was in love with.

"Look, I told you the salt air would throw off Scott's nitrous mixture by at least 7%," Summer said, nudging Flynn and causing Ziggy to pause and frown at her.

"Really? Care to double our bet then?" Flynn asked, smirking and folding his arms.

"You're on!" Summer grinned, holding her hand out for him to shake.

"Come on, Dillon!" Ziggy shouted as the black Ranger pulled ahead in the race.

"He's got it!" Flynn said, happy that he was going to win the bet.

"Come on!" Summer yelled, desperate for Scott to get back in the lead.

"Go for it!" Flynn continued to shout, egging Dillon on.

Bella, Flynn, Summer, and Ziggy frowned as Scott and Dillon both stopped short of the finish line. The two walking out of their cars with an annoyed expression. She dropped joined the others standing by their side.

"Very, very impressive race," Tenaya smirked. "But you see I prefer my battles to have a more permanent outcome."

"Now, see here, I don't care how powerful or deadly you are, Miss. Tenaya 7." Ziggy said. "But there are five of us against only one -" he cut off as several Grinders appeared from behind the rocks surrounding the beach. "One, two, three, four, five six seven eight. Oh, well now this isn't fair." Bella sighs lightly slapping her forehead in annoyance.

As the Grinders charged, so did the rangers. Dillon and Bella handled Tenaya while the group handled the Grinders. Bella swept her feet under Tenaya causing her to fall, and for Dillon to grab onto her lifting her. Bella aimed a punch at Tenaya's face, only to be blocked. Tenaya aimed a punch at her head, but Dillon stopped her by grabbing her wrist and twisting it away from her body.

"For a human," Tenaya said, struggling for release, "you're pretty fast."

"For a robot, you're pretty human," Dillon retorted.

Tenaya snarled at him and ripped her hand free of his. "Don't ever call me that again," she shouted. Exchanging a few more blows she flipped over the hybrids, using Dillon's collar as a base, then throwing them backward away from her. Getting annoyed Dillon morphed, "RPM, Get in gear!"

Bella morphed while reaching Tenaya and Dillon's place. She jumped back to her feet just in time to catching Tenaya's leg as the hybrid aimed a kick at her head, she struggled to keep her in place and cried out to Dillon. He raised Tenaya above his head and tossed her back towards the rocks. With a cry of defeat, Tenaya struggled back to her feet and glared at the two Rangers.

"To be continued..." she said with a sigh, before blasting the two rangers and disappearing.

The two rangers on the grown were de-morphed by the impact. Both exchanged looks without saying anything to the other and went back to their respective vehicles.

"I had you." Dillon and Scott snapped at each other, both of them holding a finger up to the other.

With that, they returned to their respective vehicles driving home.

~Later Garage~

"WARNING. SHIELD LEVELS DECREASING".

Scott, Flynn, and Ziggy rushed down the stairs while Summer put on her RPM jacket.

"Rise and shine, Dillon!" Scott called out for the Black Ranger, who was nowhere in sight. "Let's move!"

Dr. K and the Rangers gathered to look at the computer screens. "Massive shield failures!" The young doctor exclaimed. "Something is manually overriding the shield controls!"

Colonel Truman appeared on one of the screens. "Dr. K, our instruments are showing that the city shields are being shut down... from inside your lab!"

A noise coming out of Dr. K's lab startled them, so they all ran inside to see what it was.

The room was filled with smoke and there was a person tearing the equipment apart.

"DILLON?!" Bella and Summer yelled at the same time.

Dillon briefly turned his head, and Bella could see that there was something different about him. He went back to destroying everything around him; computer screens, cables, anything he could get his hands on.

"What are you doing?!" Flynn asked.

"Can't you see he doesn't know what he's doing?!" Summer retorted.

"Oh, I know what he's doing and I'm gonna stop him!" Scott declared, running towards Dillon. Flynn, Ziggy, and Summer followed immediately, and the four of them took turns to fight him but he was too strong and was able to shove all of them away with no effort.

Bella charged at him and Dillon stopped. He walked towards her. "I love you." He whispered in her ear and bit her neck. Dr. K took the opportunity to grab her scanner and use it to check what was happening to Dillon. "This radical level of mind control must be from a remote flash device. Scanning commence." But Dillon broke the object in half with his hand before Dr. K could complete the analysis. "Scanning interrupted." The young doctor said, frustrated.

Dillon pushed Dr.K out of his way while releasing Bella, but fortunately Ziggy managed to catch her before she could hit the ground. The Green Ranger grabbed Dillon, stopping him from moving.

"Check it out, check it out!" Ziggy said with glee, letting go of Dillon and moving his hands enthusiastically. "Our friendship is so meaningful, his deep feelings for me are overriding the program and making it impossible for him to..." His speech was cut short when the Black Ranger punched him in the chest and sent him to the floor.

"The back of his neck!" Scott managed to shout before Dillon pushed him out of his way. Scott proceeded to grab him by the shoulders while Summer removed the controlling device with a ninja-like kick. Ziggy ran towards where the device had landed and grabbed it, while Dr. K returned to the computers and began to type.

"Restoring shields." The young doctor announced.

Dillon's body faced the ground while Scott held him steady.

"What the...?" Dillon wondered grumpily, feeling the Scott on top of him. "Why are you hugging me?"

Dillon and Scott let go of each other, and the Black Ranger's eyes landed on Dr. K's feet. "Doc... what's with the slippers?"

Dr. K ordered Dillon to lay in the lab bed so she could analyze him, and put several restraints on him while Bella and the other Rangers circled him. "I suppose you're gonna tell me this is for my own protection?" The Black Ranger asked.

"Hardly, it's for us." She responded, returning to one of the computers.

"Doctor, is that really necessary?" Summer asked.

"Yeah, it was this thing that was doing it." Ziggy added, holding the controlling device. "Not him."

"I'm afraid is not that simple." Dr. K explained. "If you look at these latest read-outs of Ranger Operator Series Black..."

"For the love of Odin's beard, woman, would you just call him Dillon?" Flynn cut her off.

"Is there a reason you won't call us by our real names?" Ziggy wondered.

"There's a reason for everything." Dr. K said dramatically, walking towards a different computer.

"When the remote bug was activated, it downloaded an acceleration upgrade into the viral hardware already growing inside Ranger Black." Dr. K pressed one of the buttons of the lab chair.

"Acceleration upgrade?" Summer asked.

"The Venjix hardware inside him is now taking over his biological being at a rate 50 times greater than it was before." Dr. K said.

"How long do I have, Doc," Dillon asked, "before I change to a machine completely?"

"You won't change into a machine, you'll just lose your mind." Bella said.

Dillon turned his head towards Bella's direction, "thank you for the reassurance."

"There is no telling at what point the infection will cause you to lose control over your own actions," Dr. K answered, vaguely.

"Hold on," said Flynn, "we all saw that Venjix attack bot this morning. That's what must have activated the device."

"Flynn's right," Summer agreed. "If we could get a hold of that thing's circuit board, we could hack it and download the acceleration program."

"It still would not stop the spread of the virus," Dr. K informed them.

"Aye, but it might slow it down," Flynn said, nodding.

"How are you gonna find it? That thing is long gone by now," Scott said.

"We lure it back," Ziggy said, quickly. "If we lower the shields, Venjix will think Dillon did it and send everything he has, including that thing."

"I hate to admit it, but that might actually work," Flynn says.

"It's worth a try. I mean we got to do something," Ziggy added.

"Look, people, we'd be taking a huge risk," Scott said, still unconvinced.

"What we would be doing is putting the entire city and the fate of the human race at stake all for Ranger Operator Series Black," Dr. K said, appalled by the idea that the Rangers were considering.

"Thanks for the mention, appreciate it Doc," Bella says sarcastically.

Summer rolled her eyes and handed the device Ziggy had been playing with to Dr. K. "Dillon." she said, placing the disc in the doctor's hand. "All for Dillion." She starts to take off the cuffs on Dillon.

"Wow ranger yellow, I think this pretty much answers the statistical question regarding the number 10 we were discussing earlier, has it not?"

~Morning~

Dillon approached his car and started loading it up with supplies for his road trip. He wouldn't let the other Rangers lower the shields for him, he couldn't allow them to put themselves and the rest of Corinth city in danger for him.

"Going somewhere?" Scott asked from the driver's seat of his own car. He had been waiting for Dillon, having anticipated this move ahead of time.

"I can't let you lower the city shields," said Dillon. "Not for me... or her."

"Yeah, I kinda figured you might say that," Scott nodded. "But you keep forgetting - I'm a team leader. I make those decisions, not you. Plus, I can outrun you."

Dillon smirked as Scott tried to turn on his car, only for the engine to splutter and the gage to read empty.

"You never got to finish the race. And..."

"I kinda figured you'd say that," Dillon shot back, "that's why I emptied the gas of your tank."

Scott scoffed and laid his head back against his seat.

"So, I guess this is goodbye, fearless leader," Dillon said, turning on his own engine. "I'm heading out to the wasteland, where I can't be a danger to anybody. Don't try to follow me."

"Dillon, Dillon, Dillon," Scott said, shaking his head. "You really are a piece of work, aren't you? You know, you've got to be the most stubborn person I have ever met - next to me, that is."

Dillon grinned and nodded as he reached over to tune in his radio; he stopped and looked back as he felt something cold against his wrist, and glared up at Scott as the red Ranger snapped the free head of a handcuff to him, linking them both together.

"You, my friend, are not going anywhere - not without me," said Scott, jangling the chain.

"Are you completely insane?" Dillon asked.

"Maybe."

"I'm giving you five seconds," Dillon warned. "Take out the key and unlock us, then I'm pulling out of here. I'll take your arm with me if I have to."

Scott sighed and took the key from his pocket. "So convincing," he said, before chuckling and throwing it over his shoulder and into an oil drum. "You wish." Bella sneakingly went to catch the keys. She didn't plan on telling them that though knowing the outcome, hilarious. Bella caught the Key and let it drop for the sound effect.

"Suit yourself," Dillon said, putting his foot to the floor and looking up at Scott. "Last chance."

"For both of us!" Scott challenged.

The arguing had drawn the attention of Flynn, Summer, and Ziggy out of the ranger lab. They went to see what the commotion was about. As Dillon pulled off, ready to take the red Ranger with him, his tires screeched.

In the last moment of worry, Dillon slammed on the brakes and glared out of his window at Scott. "I really hate you, you know that?" he growled, getting out of his car and walking back to the red Ranger.

"Yeah, yeah I know." Scott did the 'what can I do," motion as Dillon stepped out of the car.

"Now... let's have the spare," Dillon said, holding his hand out for the key.

Scott nodded and turned to Ziggy.

Ziggy looked sheepish. "That, uh - that was spare," he said, pointing at the oil drum that the key had fallen into. "I accidentally swallowed the original during my, uh, charity magic show last month."

Annoyed, Dillon sighed and glared against Scott. Bella was holding bad a laugh with a smirk. "Learn to get along with each other. This is the handcuff version of 'get along shirt'."

Scott chuckled, "looks like it's you and me, Dil." Scott and Dillon were too much alike for anything good to come of this situation, except entertainment.

A few minutes later, Dillon and Scott were preparing a snack. Bella chuckled at the sight of Scott tugging the chains so Dillon couldn't get a bite, so, Bella snuck up on both of them and took a bite out of it when Scott tugged the third time. Dillon looked to his left in betrayal. Bella just sent him a smirk while Scott was laughing.

Walking into the lab with Flynn and Ziggy, Summer asked standing in front of the computer, "how are the lovely couple doing?"

"Fearlessly." Flynn answered the same time Bella said, "Hilariously."

~Night time~

After an entertaining day for the non-chained rangers. Rivals Scott and Dillon went to their respective cars chained wrists hanging out of their windows. Neither of them wanted to sleep in the same bed as the other. Bella was present during their conversation as she couldn't sleep. Sitting on the stairs, she was reading her book and listening to low music while listening to the boys' conversation.

"Why did you do it?" Dillon asked.

"Do what?" Scott asked.

"This," said Dillon, holding up his wrist.

"I don't know," Scott answered. "I guess I'm a saint."

"Nobody's a saint, nobody," Dillon replied.

Scott sighed, and then looked up. "Dillon?" he said his voice low.

"Yeah," Dillon asked.

"You're welcome." Scott said.

~Morning~

The alarm rang loudly in the morning, startling both Dillon and Scott who were both sore and stiff from sleeping in their cars. "That's the ranger alarm." They both got out of their cars and tried to walk in separate directions forgetting their chains and were pulled back towards one another falling onto the floor.

"We're going out," Summer said as she passed the two fallen Rangers.

"That's right," Scott coughed, now fully awake.

"I guess the chain gang's staying here, then," Flynn teased, walking over to his truck.

"Chain gang." Bella repeated, laughing. "Sounds like a sex cult."

"Would you like to join?" Dillon asked rather smoothly and Scott gave him a disgusted look.

Bella stopped laughing and rolled her eyes, blushing.

"Don't worry, Dillon, I'm coming back with that circuit board or not at all," Ziggy promised, he then paused and thought through what he had said. "That was a bit dramatic about not coming back, but you get my point, right? I'm gonna try really hard to get it."

"Ziggy, come on!" Flynn shouted from the truck. Ziggy nodded and hurried over. He climbed into the back and all available rangers drove off.

~Fight~

"Stop!" Yelled Summer as 4 colored rangers entered the bot's view. "We have to take that thing down."

The bot shot lighting at the rangers. "Ahh," they shouted as they were blasted, flying up.

"How do we do that again?"

The bot tried to shoot another blast but something blocked it, so the Grinders charged. Taking this opportunity the Rangers also charged, fighting off the Grinders.

"Taking fire!"

"Blue, what out!" Bella saw this and kicked the Grinder above Flynn.

"Thanks." Then they went back to fighting.

"Hey, wait, I don't want to destroy that circuit board-thing. Uh- should I hit the spot in his foot or the kneed, or maybe the..."

Annoyed at Ziggy, Bella shouted, "JUST HIT HIM!" The bot hit Ziggy. "not you metal head!"

Bella could hear the boys arguing through the comms. "Dillon, can you please stop pulling on that?" Scott asked, yanking the chain back towards him, only minutes after Dillon had pulled the chain towards him and causing it to tighten around Scott's hand.

"So, why don't you just end the suspense and head out there now?" Dr. K said.

"I thought you'd never ask," Scott sighed sarcastically.

"And for Pete's sake, decide whose car you're taking first," Dr. K called after them.

Bella could hear the chains dangling as Scott and Dillon squabbled about whose car they were taking. "Children," Bella says as she shakes her head back and forth laughing before heading back to the fight, which caused her to be immediately blasted with the other rangers, now lying on the floor.

The Rangers heard a honk, causing them to look backward showing Ziggy's motorcycle with Dillon and Scott. The two rangers fought simultaneously.

"Hey look," Summer says as the 4 fallen rangers stand up. "We have eyes, we know." Bella comments. Even though they were friends, she couldn't understand why they always point out the obvious stuff.

"Ready to cut the cord?" Dillon asks, Scott agrees and they morph. "You have something I need," Dillon says annoyed.

Red and Black together fought the bot, destroying it. And ... then turning it big. Dr. K sent the Zords, destroying it a second time.

Summer went to the Bot's parts while the rangers went back to the garage lab. Picking up the circuit board saying "gotcha" and returned.

~Lab~

Summer inserted the circuit board into the computer. She typed furiously alongside Flynn. Dillon suddenly got a headache and Bella heard him groaning.

Summer stopped typing to check up on him. "Dillon, are you okay?" He shoved her out of the way, his eyes now turned red.

"Not again!" Bella and Scott yelled at the same time.

Scott proceeded to grab Dillon by one arm while Summer grabbed the other, and Ziggy bent down his knees to grab the Black Ranger's leg.

"Can you please get that circuit thing to work?" Ziggy asked Flynn, who was still typing on the computer. Bella decided to take action and put a set of shorter cuffs on, the same way Scott did it with him.

"I can't, it's all encrypted." Flynn replied, frustrated.

"Encrypted? How long is it gonna take to crack?" Summer asked.

"I can't." Flynn said. "Not without the base code."

"Base code?" Ziggy asked.

"The original code used to program the Venjix virus." Flynn explained.

Summer gasped as Dillon rolled his arm and grabbed her around the waist; he hoisted her into the air and then flipped her over. He picked up Dr. K's sonic blaster and pointed it at them, moving it around so that it was aimed at each of the Rangers that had tried to get in his way.

Bella moved in front of him and he fired. She was shot semi away through the room, as she was still chained to Dillon.

Dr. K, who had been standing silently by one of the monitors the entire time, started typing speedily. All of a sudden, Dillon dropped the blaster and his back hit the ground. Summer went back to the computer to see what had just happened.

"The virus has slowed back to its original growth rate."

Bella went to Dillon's aid and helped him get up. "I'm getting really sick of asking this, but..." He sighed. "What happened?"

"You got taken over by the virus... again," Bella says in annoyance.

"You expected this," Dillon stated more than asked motioning to the chains on his wrist.

"Precaution." Turning her head towards the other rangers she asked, "did it make it easier?" They nodded in response.

"What happened," Dillon asked again.

"What just happened is that I entered the base code for the Venjix virus." Dr. K spoke up, getting everyone's attention. "I know it because I wrote it. I'm the one who released it. Everything that's happened, everything you've all been through... it's all my fault." She confirmed what Tenaya told Bella.

Bella took the younger doctor's words in, feeling anger, betrayal, resentment, and sadness take over her.

"You bitch!" Bella cried out. "How could you do this?!"