Disclaimer: I don't own anything except a laptop, sorry.

The only good thing about council meetings was that they ended. For Jayden, they couldn't end fast enough. While he wasn't a Mystic, thank the Trine, he was sensitive enough to know that the Council was not happy to have him around. He couldn't imagine what it would be like in four years, when he turned twenty-five and was fully invested in his rank. From the occasional glares, he thought that there were Councilors who wished they could make sure that day never happened.

Jayden was rarely made welcome in the Council Hall, with no real vote or voice until he turned twenty-five, they often ignored him in favor of arguing with each other. So when the latest round of snap and snarl came to an end, Jayden left the room as soon as he'd performed his expected social duties. He intended to use the lift to the teleportation chamber but was momentarily diverted by the sight of Councilor Annalisa getting into the lift. Faced with the prospect of being in an enclosed space with her silent by very tangible dislike of him, Jayden ducked into one of the stairwells instead. He managed to beat her into the teleportation chamber and even avoided saying goodbye by activating his personal teleporter as she walked in the door. He thought she might have seen his smirk, but there was nothing he could do about that.

Once in his home, he could pulled off the gaudy red and gold jacket that marked him as Lord Jayden of House Shiba, Ranger-Prince of Shōri Island and future King. As he hung it up, Jayden could feel the psionic shields that protected his house powering up from standby mode as the computer detected his presence. The sense of being surrounded by bitter resentment and outright hatred faded into his memories and Jayden sighed. The Council met three times a week, and for Jayden it was nothing short of a torture session. He wanted to shout at them that he knew; he knew he was the bastard-born son of Nikolas Shiba, only on the Council because the Nikolas's legitimate child Lauren had died in the wars.

Jayden changed into his black and red training uniform before heading through the house to his favorite place. The house was built in the shape of a 'u', with a training ground in the middle of the two arms. The southern arm ended in a greenhouse which provided the household with fresh vegetables year round, but the northern arm ended in an open air pavilion that was built onto the side of a cliff and overlooked the ocean. The railing was about four feet high and wide enough for Jayden to sit on, as he did now.

Jayden stared across the waters, picturing the journey across the ocean to the country called America. He wondered what it was like, America. Ji, his guardian and mentor, had told him once that his mother had come from there. She had come to study the fish through the Marina's preservation program, and had met his father at one of the summer boat races. He didn't know much about his mother save that he had her dark blond hair and blue eyes as opposed his father's lighter blond hair and green eyes. She had vanished during the final battle, her body never found in the cleanup, the same as his older half-sister, the Lady Lauren.

His father's body had been found in the aftermath of the Great Battle, and with no sign of Lady Laruen and no other survivors of his father's bloodline, the Island's hope had fallen upon Jayden, then the five year old bastard of a King, destined either to be a living reminder of his father's oathbreaking, or exiled to the mainland as an Emissary. He'd been raised in one of the lesser Royal Properties primarily by Ji and the string of tutors he'd hired, ignored and dismissed by the Council and the Five Families until the day he'd summoned the Shiba Fires to defend his friend against a bully and they realized that he was a true Shiba Heir. Since then he'd been trained not only to take control of the Council and the Island on his twenty-fifth birthday, but to be prepared to summon and lead the Samurai Rangers should the Nighlok return.

Jayden hugged his knees to his chest and let the feel of the wood beneath him drag him out of his thoughts as he leaned over leaning over to watch the waves crash into the cliff below him. The island had been named Shōri, or Victory. It had been built for the Samurai Rangers by their one-time teachers and ongoing allies, the people of Eltare. Although beautiful, for Jayden it was an inescapable reminder that his father had died here, and that generations before had been cut short because of a war they were honor bound to end.

I give my life to this cause…

Jayden shook his head, dismissing the memory of the oath his ancestors had sworn, the oath he had repeated twice already, once at fourteen, when he'd entered the Ranger Training Program, and once at twenty-one when he had taken his seat on the Council and became the King in name and Prince in fact. In four years, he'd take that oath a final time, when the Council ceded control of the government to him and they retired to their role as advisors to the King.

Jayden wondered how many of them realized how likely they were to be unemployed when that day came, and if that had any bearing on how they treated him. He snorted, not bloody likely.

The teleport pad chimed and Jayden sighed, "Computer, identify?"

"Ji and General Dosian of Eltare," the computer replied.

Jayden straightened, "Allow access."

Now that he was officially twenty-one, Jayden could deny access to his home to anyone, including Ji, but anything that brought Ji here with the head of the Ranger Program was serious. Dosian of Eltare had come to the Island as a young man to apprentice to the combat instructors. Forty years later, he now oversaw the entire program, and only his frequent insistence that he would be returning to Eltare 'one day' kept that 'of Eltare' in his name.

Jayden stepped through the doors to his front room as Ji and the General appeared on the teleportation pad.

"Gentlemen," Jayden said, "how may I be of assistance?"

"Ranger Jayden," General Dosian said, indicating that this was a Ranger related matter over a governmental one even as he bowed slightly. "There was an incident this afternoon. A gap sensor went off."

Jayden glanced at Ji for a moment, taking in the man's concern. "I was told you were seeing false

positives, not actual incursions?"

"I'm not sure they were as false as some would have hoped," General Dosian said, holding up a tablet.

Jayden gestured, "Come with me."

He led the way to the war room, one of the rooms that had been silenced by technology and magic to allow for absolute privacy. It was one of the few rooms where there were no decorations, only a large holo-table in the center of the room and computer screens on two of the walls. Once Ji and Dosian were inside, Jayden sealed the room.

"We may speak without listening ears," Jayden said shortly.

Dosian connected his pad with a nod, "We've been responding to gap sensors in Panorama for weeks, but we've never found any sign of Nighloks or Moogers. This morning, a gap sensor went off down at the aquatic center. We sent a response team, only to be met by Lord Wagner the Elder. He was there with his son for a swim meet, and he encountered two Moogers. He defeated them and sent them back through the Gap before we arrived."

"Which means that we've either had Moogers filtering into our world for three weeks, or they were testing the Gaps to see if they could get out," Jayden mused after a moment as he studied the map Dosian put on the screen.

Other than the series of dots where the gap sensors had activated around Panorama City, Jayden noticed something odd. He pointed at the west coast, "What's that?"

"We've been tracking some odd energy over there. It's not Nighlok activity, in fact, it's almost like the Power. We haven't found anything, but we've got people in Amber Beach looking into things." Dosian said. "We've tracked it to a museum over there, but nobody over there seems to know anything."

Jayden nodded, "Keep an eye on it, but if it's Morphin' Power, then don't especially feel you have to report it to the Council for now."

Experiments in Ranger tech were supposed to happen in the specially built labs, where accidents could be contained. That there were undocumented labs and even garage experiments using the Power was an open secret in the Ranger Program, although they only came to the Council's attention when they blew up.

"I thought I just did," Dosian said blandly.

Jayden shook his head and reached out to zoom the map on Panorama, studying the glowing dots. Then he turned to Ji, "Would you take the Steward position at Shiba House?"

"Would the Council…"Ji hesitated.

"Moogers have stepped foot on Shōri. What the Council does or does not approve is very rapidly becoming a non-concern," Jayden said. He tucked his hands behind his back, buying time to find the formal words he needed. Finding them, he looked in Ji's eyes, "It is our desire that you accept this appointment, to see to our comfort and safe harbor in these turbulent times."

Ji nodded slightly, "I accept."

Jayden turned to Dosian, "I need updates on my Rangers, General Dosian."

"They are prepared," Dosian said.

Jayden watched him for a moment. "And?" He said finally.

Dosian raised his eyebrows at Jayden then pulled something up on his pad. "Lord Kevin Wagner is currently pursuing his secondary career of professional athlete. He has completed his national competition standings and is preparing for international competition. He is currently single and childless, and his last meeting indicates that he would prefer a single year, arranged handfasting to fulfill requirements."

Jayden nodded at the pointed look Dosian gave him. All of the Rangers were required to have a child, to continue the direct bloodlines. Like Lord Wagner, Jayden would have to fulfill that duty sooner rather than later. He shifted a little and rubbed his thumb over his index finger. A soft cough indicated Ji had caught the gesture and would remind him later.

"Lady Mia Watanabe is in the last two weeks of her third year of university. She is studying to be a teacher." Dosian said, "She is in a five year handfasting with a Stanley Mercer, they are two years into their partnership. They have one daughter, age seven months, named Takara."

Jayden nodded and crossed his arms over his chest as Dosian glanced at him.

"Lord Michael Ramos, or Mike, is in the last two weeks of his secondary education. He opted to complete the pre-University courses and has been accepted to the university. His stated future goal is to join the Emissary Studies. He is single and childless and in his last report indicated that there are plans in place for when he is summoned to rectify the situation."

Jayden nodded.

"Finally, Lady Serena White," Dosian said. "Lady Serena will be unable to fulfill her duties due to her ongoing illness. In her stead we will have Lady Emily White. Lady Emily completed her secondary education at age sixteen, on an agricultural program. She is currently completing her third year of civil service at Harwood County's central administration office. She is graded as a Level Three Samurai and has done supplementary Ranger training. Lady Emily is currently in a courtship with Kyle Masters."

Jayden nodded, "Do we have any news about Serena?" He had met the presumptive Rangers before, at a biannual meeting that allowed them to get to know each other. He liked Serena, she had that ability to make everyone feel comfortable, and her illness had worried him a lot. He'd never actually met Emily, although Serena had told him a story or two.

"No," Dosian said, "Lady Serena's illness continues to resist modern medical treatments."

Jayden nodded as he thought about the situation. Then he turned to Dosian, "Contact Lady White and Lord Wagner. I want them on notice. They are to prepare to come to Shiba House to take their place as Rangers within the week. Inform Lord Ramos and Lady Watanabe of the situation, tell them not to interrupt their studies. Specify to Lord Ramos that he is not to come to Shiba House until after the conclusion of the school year. He may have to put off his university education, but completing his secondary education is important. He may remain for the graduation ceremony if he so desires." Jayden hesitated, wondering how to let him go.

"I will begin immediately," Dosian said. He bowed slightly and walked away.

Jayden let the door close and activated the security measures again.

"Jayden, the handfasting," Ji said.

"We'll arrange something," Jayden said. "I need to know you'll do your part."

Ji stared at him, "Of course. But how far do we go?"

"As far as we have to," Jayden said. "Whatever it takes." Jayden closed his eyes, "Send out a summons to the Council, Ranger priority. I have no doubt that we have a lot of work to do."

"Of course," Ji said.

Jayden bowed his head as Ji left. He clenched his hands for a moment, and then straightened up. There was a lot of work to be done and not a lot of time in which to do it.