The referee called half time in the game, giving the two teams a much-needed break. Jake was helped off the field by his team-mates, who took him to the side-lines, where the healer was waiting to look him over.

"It might be an idea to sit out the rest of the game." One of his team mates suggested. "You're taking more than a little bit of a pounding."

"I'll say, damn that Libra's fast!" He responded. "He's been all over me the whole game!"

"Where the hell is Orion?" One of the others asked. "Our offence has been all screwed up without him. We're already getting creamed three-nil."

Just then, they all turned in time to see Orion storming up to the field. Noah wasn't far behind, with a group of young Andresians. He clearly wasn't dressed for the game as he approached.

"Orion, where have you...?"

"Where's Centuri?" He demanded.

"Well...he's right over there." Jake responded as he pointed to the other side of the field. Orion looked up, seeing a couple of Lawgivers arriving, and rapidly talking to him. It was the two he attacked outside the library. Clearly they were there to inform him what had happened. Centuri waved over Libra to hear the conversation. Jake looked Noah curiously as Orion made his way over.

"Uh...OK what's going on?" He asked.

"Nothing good." Noah told him, looking to the others in the stands. "Guys, get down here! Orion needs a hand!"

None of them realised what was going on. They knew that something was off with the way people acted in the reservation, but so far they had all been willing to give them the benefit of the doubt for Orion's sake. Seeing the way he was heading straight for the Lawgivers, they had to assume that something had happened.

As he got to Centuri, Libra and the Lawgivers intercepted him, holding him back.

"Centuri!" Orion snapped as he arrived. "I demand to speak with you!"

"How dare you! You have no right to demand ANYTHING of our honoured Preacher." Libra growled at him. "It is only because of him I don't bring you up on charges! You attacked my guards!"

"Your guards are nothing more than common thugs!" Orion hissed in response. "Centuri, what you are doing here is wrong!"

"Orion, it is clear that you are upset." Centuri said, gesturing Libra aside. "Perhaps we can discuss this matter in private."

"In private?" Orion asked. "Do you want to discuss the matter in private because you don't want to make a scene, or is it because you don't want anyone to hear how your Lawgivers are acting as thugs to enforce your idea of what people should be allowed to believe?"

"Orion, I don't know..."

"I've seen what's in the Library!" He yelled, causing a stir from the crowd. Most of them knew some English, but it varied between them how fluent they were. They all knew the word Library though. That was where everything Centuri confiscated ended up, being kept under lock and key. "I know EXACTLY what you're doing!"

"You dare to question your father?" Libra demanded. "You DARE to question our faith!"

"Our faith is NOT the problem!" Orion called out. He made his way into the centre of the field. "People, you are being lied to! You are being corralled and herded like cattle! You are kept isolated and ignorant of our new world by frightened old men too scared to see the world as it is!"

"We see exactly what the world is!" Centuri told him. "I have read those books and magazines. I have seen their entertainment, and I have heard their news. I see the world as the quagmire of injustice and depravity it really is!"

"Well finally we hear the truth from you." Orion said in a sneer. "Do you really think the outsiders are so bad? Do you really think that they have any ill will towards us? It's because of them we HAVE this town!"

"They give us the scraps from their tables because we asked for somewhere to call our own!" Centuri responded. "We asked to be left alone, but before long our young were coming back, questioning their elders, bringing in their depraved ideas and suggesting changes to our systems, systems that served us well for generations!"

"They saw things that they had seen from others that sounded like good ideas and they suggested we might want to consider adopting those practices, integrating them into our own!" Orion corrected him. "That is how a society develops!"

"It's how a society is CORRUPTED!" Libra interjected. "Do you not remember what the cities were like back home? People started to reject the old ways there, and look what happened! Violence, immorality, crime, disease...as soon as they started..."

"Actually all I remember is that we were discouraged from going to the cities. Only the trusted traders were allowed to go." Orion told him. "That just meant we couldn't see for ourselves whether the stories were true."

"You...you DARE to question our honesty?" Libra yelled at him, reaching for a club. Orion lifted up the club he was still carrying from earlier.

"I'm not the one who is trying to settle this with a club." Orion answered. Centuri looked to him.

"My son, I know that you are confused. It is clear your battles have left you with unusual ideas. You have been surrounded by evil for so long it is no surprise you have been altered by it." Centuri announced. "I forgive you for that. You have my word that you and your friends can leave without harm. My men will not lay a finger on any of you. I ask that you do not return."

"Believe me, I don't want to return, but I can't just leave." Orion told him. "Not while you keep our own people prisoners!"

"I keep our people pure!" Centuri responded in his frustration. "Our ways are all we have! Our culture, our FAITH! I will NOT allow that to die!"

"A culture CANNOT die!" Orion yelled, tears starting to roll down his face as he confronted his father figure. "As for our faith, I think it is YOU who has lost it!"

"How dare you...?"

"Our most recent and revered Goddess Orelia, have you forgotten what she did?" Orion interrupted him. He looked around the audience, who were all starting to get restless. He could see that they were getting fired up, some seeming ready to lynch him; others...seemed to act like they were thinking more about what Orion had said. "Orelia, the goddess of Lava, Goddess of the Forge, the one who ended the Great Holy War!"

"She discovered the ways of metal working, and allowed us to create the weapons that defeated the unfaithful!" Centuri responded with a look of disdain. "It was a war started because of heresy, because of those different from us..."

"And it did not end with the end of those people." Orion told him. He now concentrated his attention back to the crowd. "The most important thing Orelia taught us is the importance of formlessness! She did not put the losers to the sword, but integrated them back into our society! When the war was over, she melted down our weapons and our armour! She turned breastplates into cooking pans! She turned spears into fences to keep our cattle safe! Swords..."

"Into Ploughshares." Noah added. Orion looked to him.

"Pick axes actually." He corrected him. Emma couldn't help sniggering. Orion obviously didn't catch the cultural reference.

"When something is no longer fit for purpose, then it must change, it must adapt to fit the new needs of society." Orion declared loudly. "That includes society itself. A culture cannot be lost, it cannot die. It is not a static thing. New ideas come into it. New people come into it. It evolves and changes, but it cannot die! That is the only way any culture can survive. Perhaps if there are some ideas of ours that are being challenged, then those ideas should change."

"You have no faith! Your corruption knows no bounds! You don't just question the Preachers; you dare to question the will of the Gods themselves!" Libra roared as he pointed to the others. "He has brought outsiders to us! He has brought Krushikken into our midst!"

"Yes, two of my best friends are gay! That is true!" Orion told him. "I fought alongside Gia against those that sought to wipe us out of existence! She fought with me regardless of our differences, and is one of the bravest and strongest people I've ever known! Everyone here owes their lives to her and if any of you have one word to say against her, then you have an issue with me!"

"That one corrupted my sister!" Libra said, levelling his club at Jake. "She rejected the arrangement, and then this afternoon one of my guards found her with...with HIM!"

Orion looked to Jake, who just looked stunned.

"Well...that might kind of be true." Jake admitted. "But we were only swimming, and...wait...is that why you've been kicking the shit out of me all game?"

"You are not ONE OF US!" Libra roared. "You are not of our faith...you aren't even Andresian!"

"Andresians are human Libra." Jake informed him. "You may look a little different and...you may hit like a mack truck, but you're genetically no different than I am!"

"Besides, do you not think it should be my right to decide who I mate with?" Cass asked him. "I have not yet decided who I wish to marry...or even if I wish to marry at all! I wish to study under Orion!"

"You will do exactly as I say!" Libra responded, grabbing her around the neck. Before he knew what had happened though, Jake had sent him straight to the ground with a hard kick to the side of the face. He stared up at him.

"Let's see how tough you are when the other guy knows it's a real fight!" Jake beckoned him. Orion just put an arm in the way and looked around in disgust.

"Look at you...is this really the way you want to live?" Orion asked. "Noah once told me about a human. He believed that everyone should live and believe the same way, that they should be told who they were allowed to marry. He began the same way, deciding what people were and were not allowed to read to control their thoughts. It ended in a war that very nearly destroyed all of humanity."

He looked to Libra lying on the ground and threw his club onto his chest.

"If that is what it means to be an Andresian, then I am ashamed to call myself one!" Orion told them. "We are leaving, and you don't need to worry about us returning. However, we will be in the parking area for one hour."

"Anyone that wants to leave, gather what you can carry and meet us there." Troy stated with authority. "If any of your Lawgivers try to stop them leaving, you will answer to us, and I guarantee that will not end well."

With that, the Rangers and Cat all followed Orion towards the parking area on the edge of town. Jake just looked to Troy.

"So...we only have two cars." He reminded him. "How exactly..."

"We'll borrow one of their trucks." Orion told them. "I'll make sure they get it back eventually."

With that, Emma put her arm around him, holding him warmly as he left the settlement for the last time.

As he started to get up, Libra looked to Cass, who just looked down on her brother, shaking her head. She turned to walk away.

"Where do you think you're going?" He demanded.

"I'm going to pack." Cass told him.

"You...you want to go with them?" He asked her. "You wish to go with that...MAN!"

"I want to see what my life can be outwith what you and father have chosen for me." She told him. "As for Jake, I don't know what the future holds for us. As I said, I don't know if we will marry, or even if I want to marry anyone. However, I do want that to be my choice."

"Father, have you heard this?" Libra asked. Cass looked to her father, who looked to her with sad eyes.

"Father, please." She said, switching back to her native tongue. "I only want to study, to learn of this new world. I still love you and everything we believe but...I just need to do this."

"I suppose this day was destined to come." He replied, hugging his daughter. "Goodbye my beautiful daughter."

"If you leave, don't you ever DARE return!" Libra yelled at her. She jut sighed.

"I hope one day you will learn enough to change your ways." She told him. "But I have no more right to force you to change your beliefs than you do to force me to change mine. Goodbye my brother."

With that, she and a few other Andresians slowly went to their homes to gather their things. Libra looked to Centuri.

"We can't allow this to stand!" He roared. "I'll get the Lawgivers, we must..."

"Let them go." Centuri told him. "Forcing them to stay would only lead to resentment. If they want to leave, the best thing we can do is let them go. We must have faith that the faithful will remain."

The following day, back in Harwood, Emma woke up with Orion beside her in her arms. She had insisted he stay with her, knowing that it had taken a great deal out of him to turn his back on his people. A few had left the reservation with them, but most had remained.

He had been remarkably quiet the rest of the night. He hadn't said much since they had left the reservation. She was so worried she really didn't want him to be on his own. She furrowed her brows as he got up, heading to the bathroom.

"Where are you going?" She asked him.

"I guess I need to talk to Ernie about taking on more shifts." Orion told her. "I guess I've got a lot more time on my hands now."

"Orion, there's no hurry." Emma told him. "Look, I don't have any classes yet, maybe we could go to the park or something. Just us...we could make a day of it."

"To be honest, I think I just want to be busy." Orion told her. "I just don't want to think about it."

"Orion, I know this is difficult, but you should really work through this first." Emma told him.

"Emma, how exactly do you expect me to work through this?" He asked her. "My studies have been a huge part of my life. I thought for sure that in a year or so I'd be a Preacher."

"Orion..."

"My studies with Centuri were almost complete; I swear I have no idea how much more I really have to teach Cass." He told her. "I thought for sure that sometime within the next few months, maybe a couple of years I'd have a congregation of my own and I'd be anointed."

"Orion, I know you're disappointed, but you know yourself this isn't about your faith." Emma told him. "No one can take that from you, that's all that's really important."

"You really are amazing, you know that?" He asked her.

"I know, but I like it when people tell me." She answered, kissing him softly. Just then, the doorbell rang. "I'll get that, you just get ready. We'll head out in a little while."

Orion had his shower, but had to cut it short as he heard Emma calling through.

"Uh...Orion, I think this is for you."

Orion just groaned and cursed under his breath in his native tongue as he found a pair of pants. He headed out to the front door, where Emma was waiting by the open door. Outside, he could see a couple of young Andresians. He rolled his eyes.

"What are you doing here?" He demanded. "Did Centuri send you...?"

"No sir. We did not come on behalf of Centuri." One of them replied. "We came...we came seeking guidance in prayer."

"In prayer?" He asked.

"You have led us in prayer before." The other reminded him. "We would like you to be our preacher."

"We all would." The other stated. Orion just looked to Emma.

"All?" He asked. Just then, he headed to the door, looking around the frame into the hall. There were almost two dozen Andresians waiting in the hall, looking at him hopefully.

"Where...where did you all come from?" He asked.

"We left shortly after you did." One of them told them. "So...will you lead us?"

Orion just looked stunned. As he turned to Emma, she just shrugged.

"I guess every congregation has to start somewhere." She answered as she answered a message on her phone. "Cat wants to meet me at the Brainfreeze. You can catch up when you're finished."

"So...um...I guess the first place to do is find somewhere to pray." Orion told them. "I...guess the park isn't too far. Then after that...we can see about figuring out where you're all going to stay and look for work."

With that, he led his new congregation out of the apartment block.

A little later on, Emma arrived at the Brainfreeze, finding Troy, Allison, Noah and Quinn waiting. It was a little while before the lunch rush, so it looked like they had all received the same message Emma had.

"Hey guys." Emma greeted them. "Um...any idea what this is about?"

"I've got no idea, but she's cutting it fine whatever it is." Noah answered. "Quinn and I have to get to the airport in a couple of hours."

"You guy all got the message too?" Jake asked as he Orion and Cass arrived. Emma just smiled seeing Cass and Jake walking hand-in-hand.

"Well, I guess it looks like someone had an interesting morning." Emma said with a knowing smile.

"I decided to come here to continue my studies under Orion." She informed them. "Of course there were some...other attractions."

"Well, it looks like we're almost all here." Troy stated. "Any chance someone could tell me what this is all about now?"

"Just have patience my friends!" Ernie told them gleefully. "You will all know in good time."

Just then, Gia came into the Brainfreeze, putting her bag down in the corner. She saw that everyone was waiting for her.

"Hey guys, this is a nice surprise." She stated. "Um...what's this all about?"

"We were hoping you could tell us." Noah answered. "You mean you don't know?"

"I didn't even know you were all coming." Gia admitted honestly. "Cat just asked me to come here for lunch."

Emma's phone bleeped, and she read a message on it from Cat. It just said call your mom and put the phone on speaker.

"Your girlfriend always was unusual." Emma admitted. "She just asked me to put your mom on speaker."

"Really?" Gia asked. "Uh...hey mom, how are things?"

"I just really wanted to be a part of this." Louise told her. "Come on closer Eric, it's about to happen!"

"What's about to happen?" Gia asked. Just then, Cat came in from the back. She was moving slowly, heading towards Gia with a huge smile on her face. By the looks of things, she had taken great effort to get dressed up, wearing her best dress, and had been to the hairdresser.

"Cat...wow...you look...wow!" Gia complimented her. "What is all this?"

"Gia, there's something really important I wanted to ask you, and this is the last chance before everyone goes their separate ways." She told her.

"Cat, we live together. You can ask me anything any time." Gia assured her. "There was no need to drag everyone here like this..."

"Uh...Gia...you might want to be quiet." Emma said with a smile. "I think we know what's about to happen."

"What are you talking about?" Gia asked. "What is this...?"

Her words tailed off as she turned back to Cat, who was on one knee before her. She couldn't believe that she was so blind. How could she have not figured out what this was? Everyone was here, hell her parents were on speaker, a call to Spain that had to be seriously eating into Emma's bill so they could hear this. Her heart started thumping in her chest as Cat took her hand.

"Gia Ciara Moran, I've never loved anyone the way I've loved you. You're the one that made me strong enough to be who I am, and I'm the happiest I've ever been." She began, looking into Gia's eyes. "Gia...will you marry me?"

Gia started to hyperventilate, and could hardly see as tears started to well up in her eyes.

"Um...is that an answer?" Jake asked as she mumbled out something inarticulate. She then began to nod rapidly in her excitement.

"Yes!" She rushed out. "Yes, YES! Of course I will!"

With that, the team all gathered around, congratulating the happy couple. They were all heading their own way to the adventures that awaited them in their new lives, lives that were now theirs to live their own way.

Fin

A/N: Well, that's it for this story, and for the Megaforce team for now. I've had a lot of fun writing them, but all things have to come to an end, and as per usual, I'm sure they'll turn up again eventually. Retirement for a Ranger seems to be relative, just ask one certain Dr Oliver!

Thank you to all my readers, especially all the loyal reviewers who have been a tremendous inspiration and support in this. Hope you enjoyed it, and I hope to see you when I start on Dino Charge...coming SOON!