Seeing her mother standing in the doorway, Choral asked Tangerine to come in and help her with an important decision.

"I need something to wear tonight," spoke Choral discreetly. "I have been invited out to dinner."

"As in a date?" Tangerine asked enthusiastically.

"Well, yeah. I suppose," Choral responded meekly.

"That's wonderful! Let me get changed and we'll run out to the store and find something spectacular for you to wear. My little girl is growing up so fast. I can't wait for you to tell me all about him. Someone from school I gather. What's his name?"

"Well, it's Cyan."

"What?" shouted Tangerine. "What do you mean it's Cyan?"

"Well, he's really nice to me, and very protective."

"I bet he is. I did not bring you into this world just so that you could go out on a date with another teammate."

"But I already said yes. And I would hate to have to disappoint him. He’s really a nice sweet guy."

"That may be, but there is no way he's going out with my daughter. I'm going to go have a talk with Ebon Huntress and put a stop to this right now."

Tangerine found Ebon in the kitchen and made a compelling argument as to why Cyan should be told he can't take Choral out on a date. Ebon listened patiently until Tangerine finally asked her what she was going to do about the situation.

"Nothing, of course," Ebon replied.

"What?" Tangerine replied shockingly. "But how can you say that?"

"It's simple, really. It wasn't that long ago when both you and Lazlo convinced me that there should be nothing wrong with teammates dating. Now you want me to change the rules because your daughter is involved?"

"It has nothing to do with the fact they are teammates."

"Really? Just how excited were you when you found out she had a date, before you found out it was with Cyan?"

"That's not the point."

"I think it is. Janyx, I can't tell you how to raise your daughter, nor can I get involved in her personal life, unless she is doing something that is a danger to herself. However, you should be thrilled that it was Cyan who asked her out. He's someone you know and someone you can trust. And not to give you any ideas, but if he was to do something wrong, he's easy to get your hands on."

"I hadn't thought of that. Very well, I'll tell Melody I changed my mind, and then I'll take her out and buy the most beautiful outfit for her I can find. And when Cyan comes over tonight, I'll just make sure he understands the consequences if anything should happen to my daughter on their date."

Sure enough, Tangerine Mistress was right inside the door waiting for him. She quickly went through a long list of things Cyan better not to do that evening. She explained that he should treat the date much like a mission, and that he better not fail. And above all else, he better have her home by 10:00 pm, or at 10:01 she would use her magic to make sure he was in a very uncomfortable position.

After her interrogation, Tangerine called up to Choral and informed her that her date was ready. Cyan waited in anticipation for the doors to open when he looked up to see Choral in her new dress at the top of the balcony. He attempted to keep his jaw from dropping to the floor as she gracefully strolled down the staircase, as if in slow motion. Reaching the bottom of the stairs she looked sheepishly into Cyan's eyes, and then playfully straightened his tie.

"You look beautiful," Cyan squeaked out, trying to compose himself.

"Thank you," Choral giggled softly to herself. "I am ready if you are."

"Your chariot awaits," Cyan said offering his arm. Choral graciously put her arm in his and they soon walked out the front door while Tangerine kept a very steady eye on both.

At the restaurant, Cyan and Choral dined on the patio overlooking a river that ran through downtown Pleasantview. Despite being together almost all of the time at school, Cyan still amazed Choral with the sheer number of stories he had of the worlds he had visited and the oceans he had explored. Cyan was also eager to hear about the latest activities happening at East Side Center.

Pausing briefly, Cyan reached across the table to take Choral's hand. Gazing deeply into her eyes, Cyan reminded Choral how beautiful she looked tonight, and how the candle light produced the perfect sparkle in her eyes. Choral's heart beat quickened as Cyan slowly moved closer to her. She moved forward across the table to meet him and was just closing her eyes when a shout interrupted them.

"Stop!"

Cyan and Choral turned to look to see who had made such an alarming interjection.

"A gentleman should never kiss a lady in public," spoke an older, very well dressed and groomed man approaching the table. "At least not until after they are married. I am Sir Reginald Benefield, at your service."

Cyan, upset by the interruption, quickly rose form his chair to deal with the intruder.

"Look here, Mr. Benefield," pointed Cyan aggressively.

"Sir Benefield," Reginald corrected. "I was knighted, you understand."

"Whatever, Sir Benefield. I don't exactly appreciate you just interrupting our date like that."

"My good lad, I meant no offense," apologized Reginald. "I admit I am a bit old fashioned. But after being a gentleman’s gentleman for most of my life, I can't help but interject when I see a promising young man about to make a terrible mistake. But please, I did not wish to make a scene. Perhaps we can go somewhere more private later and discuss this like men..."

"Sir Reginald Benefield?" inquired a sultry female voice behind him.

Reginald turned to face the woman who had approached him. Cyan watched with horror as she pulled out a gun right as she approached Reginald.

"Look out, she's got a gun!" Cyan shouted. Choral rose from her seat but before she could act, the assassin pulled the trigger at point blank range.

Choral quickly shrieked out a sonic blast to knock out the assassin as Reginald collapsed to the ground. Cyan quickly went over to his side.

"We need to get him back to East Side Center immediately. I think it's his only chance," informed a worried Cyan.

"You go on ahead," agreed Choral. "I'll stay here and make sure the authorities take the assailant into custody."

It wasn't long before Emerald walked in announcing that Reginald was making a full recovery and that now he was awake and ready for questions.

Emerald had converted part of his lab into a medical station where Reginald was resting comfortably. Cyan and Choral watched with amazement as Reginald explained that it was his fault this had happened to him.

"I was supposed to be keeping a low profile," Reginald explained. "I was working as Don Chivaralli's butler for the last 15 years when recently I discovered that he was involved with an organized crime ring. I went to the police and they put me into a witness protection program here in Pleasantview until the trial. I guess he found out where I was and it was only a matter of time. That assassin must have been tracking me for a while. I've been very cautious, up until last night."

Ebon informed Reginald that she would contact the local authorities and make better arrangements for his protection. She then asked everyone to leave and allow Reginald to get more rest so they could carry with their daily routines.

As everyone was exiting, Reginald asked Cyan to stay with him for a few minutes alone.

"This is my fault," Cyan apologized. "I'm sorry this happened to you."

"Nonsense, my good lad," argued Reginald. "It was nothing but my own foolishness. But I would have been a bigger fool to let you go ahead and kiss your girlfriend."

"Yeah, about that... Wait a minute. Choral isn't my girlfriend."

"Nor would she be if you had kissed her. I had been watching the two of you since you entered the restaurant. You have to admit the two of you stood out. In any case, while you looked like you were ready to kiss her, she did not look like she was ready. At least, not in her heart. She would have gone through with the motion, I assure you, but I suspect you both would have felt a little awkward afterwards."

"I suppose you are right," Cyan agreed after a few seconds of thought. "I hadn't really asked her if she was ready."

"That's a good lad. I knew you would figure it out. But I'll let you in on a little secret. She's ready. I've seen the way she looks at you. She is very enamored with you. But she's the type you have to go slow with. I don't think she is ready for public scenes of affection yet. But alone and in private and if you ask nicely, I am sure she will be yours in heart and spirit."

Cyan followed a long winding path into the woods just on the outskirts of Pleasantview where he stumbled upon an old abandoned shack. Careful inspection revealed the structure provided the basic requirements for living. Moreover, the structure wasn't too far from East Side Center should any trouble arise.

After a couple of days of fixing things, Choral and Cyan escorted Sir Reginald Benefield to his new living establishment. Reginald looked over everything carefully and agreed that it was crude but more than adequate lodgings. Cyan informed Reginald that regular food deliveries would make sure he had enough to eat, and that he and Choral would stop in from time to time to make sure everything was alright. Reginald thanked them both for taking the time to not only find him a new home but for taking such an interest in his well being.

Allowing Reginald time to settle in, Cyan and Choral were soon on their way, but not before a friendly wave goodbye outside his new home.

Back at the East Side Center, Cyan and Choral sat down alone in the theater to catch their breath from the past few days of excitement.

"I'm sorry our first date didn't turn out that well," Cyan said turning to face Choral.

"What do you mean?" Choral asked.

"Well, this was your first date. And those are supposed to be memorable. But not the way it happened. It is supposed to be special."

"It was special enough that it was with you, Nahl."

"It could be even more special right now, if you want it to be," smiled Cyan. Choral paused for a moment and face turned a darker shade of red.

"You don't mean," giggled Choral.

"Yes, I do. But only if you want to. Only if you are ready."

"Yes, Nahl. Yes I am."

Choral and Cyan moved closer to each other, closed their eyes and embraced in a very deep kiss.

Meanwhile, across town in the hidden estate of Happy Birthday, Negat Eve walked into the main room and sat down next to Happy.

"Despite the news reports, our agent at the police station says the body is a fake. Team Rainbow has somehow managed to spirit Sir Reginald away."

"It’s alright, Negat my love," Happy replied. "I know exactly where Sir Reginald is. For the time being we shall allow Don Chivaralli to think he is off the hook, so to speak. But remind him that he works for us, and if he never wants an informant to suddenly appear again, he'll be a good boy and not try and cut us out of his business dealings again.

"As for Sir Reginald, if Team Rainbow realized exactly what he knew, which Sir Reginald doesn’t even suspect himself, I'd have seen to it personally that he was dead. But rest assured, we'll deal with him when the time comes."

So concludes the twelfth chapter of Team Rainbow Super Force. Stay tuned for Chapter 13: A New Year's Revolution