Author's Note: Sorry for the huge delay. I decided to take a break from writing for a while.

Disclaimer: I do not own Power Rangers. It belongs to Haim Saban. No copyright infringement intended in the making of this series. I only own my OCs and anything that is unrecognisable from the show.

Rating: T

Warning: This is arc 2 of the Aliyah series. To avoid confusion be sure to read Arc 1 first - Lightning Storm, Ranger Form, Prehistoric Storm, Against All Odds, Secrets and Lies, Destiny Fulfilled, and Second Chance.

Aliyah stood silently as she listened to Daisuke, the head guardian at the Tengen Gate and her grandfather-in-law, as he explained the current situation in northern California.

"I understand you've retired," Daisuke said, turning to the former White Ranger. "But the new Rangers are inexperienced in battle, and their training has yet to be complete."

"I get what you're saying," said Aliyah, unfolding her arms. "But why me? I am sure there are others out there more qualified than I am. I mean, I'm not even a Samurai."

Daisuke nodded. "But you know the way of a Samurai," he said. "It's not that much different to that of the Ninja. And, regardless, you're not going there to teach them how to be Samurai Rangers, we're asking you to prepare them for battle."

"If they're just starting out then they have a long way to go before they need to face their final fight," said Aliyah. "This master Xandred, he's not going to show himself until he is 100 % absolutely sure that he is guaranteed a win."

"A win that he will succeed in if the Rangers aren't prepared," said Daisuke. He sighed and considered Aliyah. "I know this is a big ask, especially after everything you have been through, but I wouldn't be asking if I had someone else to turn too."

"What about Lauren?" Aliyah asked. "Surely she is more qualified than I am? She is a Samurai after all, isn't she?"

Daisuke nodded. "Unfortunately, Lauren cannot return to Panorama city until the time is right," he explained. "Her training isn't yet complete, and she hasn't learned everything she needs to."

"What does that even mean?"

"I know how you feel about secrets, and I assure you that I do not mean to keep you in the dark," said Daisuke, he looked genuinely concerned that his actions would keep her from agreeing. "But Lauren must be kept a secret, even from the Samurai Rangers. I beg you, if you agree to go, please do not breathe a word of her to anyone, especially Jayden."

"Jayden, that's the red Ranger, isn't it?" Aliyah asked.

"Yes," Daisuke confirmed.

Aliyah sighed and folded her arms, looking considerate. "How long would this job take?" she asked.

"I'm not sure," Daisuke said, sadly. "And, unfortunately, this team is not like any other that you'll have been a part of. Being a Samurai takes dedication and hard work, the members of the Samurai team have made a promise to stay away from the outside world, and have no contact with their personal lives. It keeps everyone safe."

Aliyah scoffed. "If you think I'm going to cut off all ties with my husband and daughter for some team, you're sadly mistaken," she said. "I spent too long fighting for this life, and even then I had to die in order to get here. You can't ask me to turn my back on them."

"I know, and I would never ask if it wasn't a necessary precaution," said Daisuke. "But no contact with the outside world keeps everyone safe from the Nighlok."

"If I'm only going in as an advisor," said Aliyah, thinking quickly. "Then I don't see how that rule should apply to me."

Daisuke reached into the satchel he had with him. "I was actually hoping you would be a field advisor," he said, placing a small wooden box on the table.

Aliyah eyed it cautiously and with great distaste. "You want me to become a Ranger again," she said.

"Yes, I do."

"And if I say no?"

Daisuke removed the lid of the box to reveal a morpher, although it was different from the ones Aliyah had previously owned. "This is called a Samuraizer," he said, taking the device from its velvet cushion and snapping it open. "It acts as a modern cell phone but is infused with Symbol power. You must learn the relevant symbols, but I am certain you will do so without fail."

"This is starting to sound more like a recruitment speech than it is a job offer," said Aliyah. "Was this your intention all along? To get me to come out of retirement?"

"I admit the field advisor position does overlap with that of being an actual Ranger again," Daisuke said. "I was afraid that I had just asked you, you'd say no."

"So, you thought you'd lie to me?"

Daisuke sighed. "Aliyah, I apologise," he said. "If I had anyone else to turn to, I would, but the stories of the White Ranger are legendary, and I can think of no one that can teach these youngsters the way of being a warrior."

Aliyah sighed. "I have no desire to be a Power Ranger again, I had no desire to even be one, to begin with," she said. "But my conscience would never let me live with myself if I turned my back on humanity. I won't be able to rest knowing that, even though there is a team out there fighting, there are people still being hurt."

"Does that mean -?"

"I'll agree to take the position on one condition."

Daisuke nodded, looking pleased.

"The whole 'no personal contact' issue," said Aliyah. "I'm not looking to seek personal favours, but I am a mother and a wife. I won't be forced to leave Cam or Penelope, or turn my back on them for a lengthy period of time. That is all I ask."

"I'm sure we can work something out," Daisuke said. "Even if we have these visits at the Shiba house where my grandson and granddaughter will be safe."

Aliyah nodded and took the Samuraizer that Daisuke offered to her. "When do I leave?" she asked.

"As soon as possible would be better," said Daisuke.

~*The Lightning Samurai*~

Mike sighed as he sat opposite his friends. He had left the Shiba house to clear his head, and broken one of Mentor Ji's biggest rules - made personal contact with his friends. "I joined this great team," he told them. "But they're all so talented. It's intimidating."

"Oh come on," his friend, Matt, scoffed. "You're the best gamer around. You always read the games moves, and then drop some - some creative smack-down on them."

"But I can sense an attack like Kevin," Mike sighed, slouching further in his seat.

"Who's Kevin?" his second friend, Alex, asked.

"I won't go back until I've mastered this technique," Mike swore. He was only partially listening to his friends. "I won't let my team down."

"I've never seen you this serious before," Matt said, slurping his drink.

Alex nudged him. "Yeah, you have," he said. "Remember two years ago when he was determined to master that Parkour move? He ended up getting taught by the assistant coach."

"True. She was hot," Matt said.

Mike rolled his eyes. "Being serious about parkour is different to being serious about protecting the entire world from evil," he said. "It's a big deal."

"Protecting the entire world from evil?" Alex repeated. "What video game are you talking about?"

Before Mike had a chance to set his friend straight, a scream came from the other side of the quad. He looked up and saw a Nighlok terrorising the quadrant.

"What is that?" Matt asked, tossing his food carton into the air in a fit of panic.

"Nighlok!" Mike shouted, jumping to his feet.

"Nigh-what?" Alex repeated.

"Nighlock!" Mike said, turning back to his friends. "The monsters I was telling you about."

Matt screamed and tripped over his chair in an effort to flee the scene. "Let's get out of here!" he shouted.

"I'll be right back!" Mike said, running towards the Nighlok rather than away.

"Mike!" Alex called, taking a step after him. He stopped as a hand caught his arm and hauled him backwards.

"Do you have a brain inside that head of yours?"

Alex looked up at the person stopping him from going after his friend. He couldn't see a face, only eyes hidden beneath a mask. "What are you supposed to be?" he asked.

"Someone who's going to kick your ass into gear if you don't leave right now!" said the person beneath the mask.

"But my friend…" Alex said, pointing in the direction Mike had gone.

The person shook their head. "I'll send him to find you once the danger has passed," she said. "Go. Now!"

Wanting to argue, but figuring there was no point, Alex took off in the direction Matt had gone.

Once the quadrant had cleared, Aliyah, dressed in her usual Ninja garb, turned her attention back to the battle. The Nighlok, as Daisuke had called them, was getting the upper hand on the kid she recognised as Mike.

She'd met him once two years ago whilst teaching a Parkour lesson in Ocean Bluff.

"Ahh!"

Aliyah seized the Samuraizer under her garb and snapped it open. "Here goes nothing," she said, tracing the Kanji symbol for lightning and spinning it as fast as she could. The symbol spun into her chest and she felt the usual surge of power that came with morphin'.

"Who are you?"

Looking down, Aliyah smirked at the familiar settings before her eyes. She raised her hands to reveal white gloves and run them over her new helmet. From her sleeve covered arms she saw she was, once again, the White Ranger, and if the emblem on her chest was anything to go by, she was again in control of Lightning.

"I said, who are you?!"

Snapping back to attention, Aliyah jumped up and flipped over missing the outstretched arms of the Nighlok. She drew her sword from her belt and rolled it between her hands, slashing at the arms of the creature and causing him to withdraw. "I'll do you one better, Nighlok!" she said, running forward and, using a stone plinth as leverage, flipped high into the air, arching over the Nighlok and landing behind him. "How about I keep my identity a secret, and the rest of your foolish friends can spend the rest of their days trying to figure out who destroyed you?"

The Nighlok growled and spun around.

Mike groaned and pushed himself to his knees. He watched, transfixed as the new ranger fought back and forth with the Nighlok, evading his punches and attacks with ease.

"Mike!"

A second groan escaped Mike as he heard Emily call his name. That could only mean the others had arrived.

"Mike, are you alright?" Emily asked, kneeling beside her friend as the others grouped around him.

Kevin, however, had spotted the new ranger on the block. "Who is that?" he asked. "I don't remember any references to a white Ranger, do you?"

Mia shook her head, also transfixed on the fight before her.

"She's good," said Emily.

"But who is she?" Jayden asked.

Angered by the evading white Ranger, the Nighlok pulled back as his skin started to turn a pale shade of grey. "Uh-oh," he said, as cracks also started to appear. "Looks like I'm starting to dry out. Guess I'd better punch out for now. Later, Rangers!"

A red light seeped out from under a bench, and the Nighlok slipped into it, disappearing from view.

"Coward," Aliyah muttered. She put her sword away and looked around, spotting the team Daisuke had told her about nearby. She took a deep breath and made her way over. "Here goes nothing…"

~*The Lightning Samurai*~

Upon their return to the Shiba house, the Samurai Rangers were not expecting to find a baby playing in the dojo. She looked up at their arrival and broke into a grin. "Mummy!" she squealed, carefully getting to her feet and running over to the group.

Aliyah smiled and scooped up the baby, tickling her stomach and then rubbing noses.

"Wait, so you have a kid now?" Mike asked, looking confused. He couldn't believe that the woman who had once taught him Parkour was not only the new Ranger in Panorama city, but if her story checked out, the former White Ranger in the cities of Blue Bay Harbour, Reefside, Briarwood, San Angeles, and Ocean Bluff.

"A lot changes in four years, Mike," said Aliyah, balancing the baby on her hip. "Not only do I have a daughter now, but I'm also married." She raised her hand to show them the wedding ring on her middle finger.

Mia gasped as the emerald jewel inside the white band gleamed. "It's beautiful," she said.

"Thanks," Aliyah smiled.

"What's her name?" Emily asked.

"Penelope," Aliyah answered.

Emily smiled and led Aliyah into the living room where she found Mentor Ji and a man she didn't recognise, waiting for them. Ji had a bowl of water and cloth prepared on the table, and a look of disappointment crossed his face as Mike entered the room.

"I see you've all met," said Ji, nodding at Aliyah. "It saves for awkward introductions, I guess."

"You know her?" Kevin asked.

"Not personally, no," said Ji. "But I was recently made aware that a new Ranger would be joining us."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Kevin asked.

"He means recently as in literally today," said Aliyah. "I didn't even know I was coming here until this morning."

Kevin frowned. "Who are you?" he asked. "You've told us your name and the basic information, but who are you exactly? How do you know about us? How are you a Ranger, and where did you get your Samuraizer? I've trained to be the Blue Samurai my entire life, and read every history book on passed Samurai Rangers, not once has there ever been an inscription of a White Ranger."

"The last white Samurai passed away years ago," said Ji. "She never passed on her legacy, so it died with her. The Samuraizer that she possessed returned to a Samurai guardian and was kept safe until another was ready to pick up its mantle."

Kevin didn't look convinced. "How long have you been training to be a Samurai?" he asked.

"I'm not a Samurai," Aliyah answered. "He's the Samurai," she pointed at Cam,

"Then why doesn't he have the morpher?"

Aliyah shrugged. "He can have it if he wants it," she said.

"Haha, nice try, Aliyah," said Cam. "Daisuke gave the morpher to you, it is yours. Besides, white isn't exactly my colour."

Emily looked at the two. She could already tell that Cam was the one Aliyah was married too. Their dynamic was obvious. "You say you're not a Samurai," she said to Aliyah. "If you're not one of us, what are you?"

"I'm a Ninja," said Aliyah. "Ninja Master now I've graduated and completed my training."

"Yes! I knew it," Mike grinned. He winced a second later as Ji pressed a cloth to his wounds. "I knew Ninja's were real. This is awesome!"

Aliyah smiled although it didn't reach her eyes. "Yes, being a Ninja is awesome," she agreed. "What isn't awesome is you risking your life against that Nighlok. Why didn't you call or wait for backup?"

Mike's smile dropped. "Really?" he asked, somewhat disappointed. "You're going to lecture me?"

"It was a foolish move, Mike," said Aliyah.

"You took him on single-handedly!" Mike protested. "You seemed to fare well enough."

"And like I've said before, I am a Ninja Master, not to mention a veteran Ranger," said Aliyah. "I have a skill set that you don't."

Mike huffed and folded his arms. "I thought I could take him alone," he said, sounding defeated.

"I'm not going to deny that your actions weren't brave," said Aliyah, shaking her head. "But imagine what could have happened. If you had been defeated then that monster would've been free to go on and cause a lot more terror, not to mention it would've put your teammates at a serious disadvantage. One thing you will learn as a Ranger is that there is no I in the team, you work together."

"I know," Mike sighed, nodding.

"Mike," said Jayden. "Being a Samurai is the ultimate sacrifice. Since we're fighting evil, you must stay away from your family and friends in order to keep them safe."

Mike nodded. "I realise that now," he agreed. "But I need to check on them. They were caught in the attack, I can't turn my back. They could be hurt."

Aliyah shared a look with Cam. "I did make sure that they were clear before engaging the monster," she said, earning herself everyone's attention. "But, they are worried about you. I don't see why you shouldn't at least check in with them, just to put their mind at ease."

"Thank you," Mike said. He smiled briefly and then left the house.

Jayden hesitated and then turned to Aliyah.

"It's one thing for him to know that his friends are alright," Aliyah said before Jayden had a chance. "But if his friends think he is hurt they're going to come looking for him, which will be a lot worse than letting him go them."

Jayden looked like he wanted to argue.

"Is there somewhere that we can set up?" Aliyah asked, turning away from Jayden and focusing her attention on Ji.

"We?" Kevin asked, sounding surprised.

Aliyah looked back at him. "Yes, we," she said, passing Penelope to Cam. "You didn't think I'd come alone, did you?"

"Well, yeah, I mean, didn't you just hear Jayden?" Kevin asked. "Being a Samurai means no outside contact with friends and family."

"My family being here was my one condition on joining the team," said Aliyah. She turned back to Ji. "I'm sure Daisuke told you that."

Ji nodded. "Of course. Follow me," he indicated down the hall and led Cam from the room. The family of three didn't have many things with them, just a simple holdall that contained a few clothes and other belongings. If they needed anything else, they could simply purchase it in town.

With her husband and daughter out of earshot, Aliyah turned her attention to the team. "If we're going to be living together there are a few things you should know about me," she said. "Yes, I'm an athlete, and yes I practice parkour and urban climbing. I train to a very strict schedule which starts at 6am every morning."

"You'll fit in with Kevin then," said Emily, happily. "He's always up before dawn too."

Aliyah cast a glance at the blue ranger, he seemed to be giving her a look of approval.

"There is one more very important detail," said Aliyah. "Something that not many people know, or should know, but since we're going to be team and housemates, it is essential that you know." She took a deep breath and looked around at them all. "Don't worry, I'm not a serial killer, but I am a witch - both figuratively and literally - I have magic."

Kevin scoffed. "You may not be a serial killer but you are crazy," he said. "Magic isn't real."

"No?" Aliyah asked. "Then what do you call Symbol power?"

"It's not magic."

"It's a close second!" Aliyah argued.

Kevin shook his head, determinedly.

Aliyah rolled her eyes and took her mystic morpher from her jacket pocket, she had decided to bring it with her in the event that someone would disbelieve her when she revealed her true identity. She punched in three digits and pointed the morpher at Kevin, "Levitatus Milanda" she muttered.

In an instant, Kevin's feet left the floor. "Whoa!" he yelled as the others around him gasped.

"You were saying about magic?" Aliyah asked with a smug grin.

Kevin glared at her as Mia and Emily shared an amused look, and giggled at Kevin's expense.

~*The Lightning Samurai*~

During breakfast, the next morning, Aliyah, Cam, and Penelope became aware of their newest living arrangements, including the alarm sounds whenever a monster was loose in the city. For Aliyah and Cam, who had both lived above a Ranger base before, this was old news, but for Penelope, who had never had to deal with her parents being Rangers before, it was a surprise.

"He's in the city centre," Ji said.

Aliyah passed Penelope to Cam and kissed her cheek. "Mummy'll be right back," she promised. "Then we'll go check out the new city."

"Be careful, Mummy," said Penelope, clinging to her father.

"Good luck," Cam said, kissing Aliyah before letting her go.

As the Rangers left, Ji looked up from the city map. "It must be difficult to see her running into danger," he said.

"I watched her do it for four years," said Cam, "even then it doesn't make it easier. But I know Aliyah. She doesn't go down easily."

"Daisuke informed me of her history, and her prophecy."

"The prophecy has been completed," said Cam. "It can do her no harm anymore."

Ji nodded. "But she's also lost the protection it offered," he reminded Cam. "She will need to be extra careful now."

"She is aware of that," Cam agreed. "But Aliyah has more than enough incentive to keep fighting. She has Penelope to come home too."

Penelope looked up at the sound of her name.

"I know my wife," added Cam. "She wouldn't have agreed to join the team if she thought it would take her away from her daughter."

Ji watched Cam for a second longer and then returned his attention to the map.

~*The Lightning Samurai*~

Rofer looked around as the scared civilians parted and the Rangers took their place. He smirked as he counted them, noting that they were a Ranger short. "So, you're back for round two, huh?" he asked, slamming his fists together.

"It's you that's going to get slammed," said Aliyah.

"Such confidence in the face of danger," Rofer laughed. "Let's eliminate it."

"Do you always mouth off to the monsters?" Kevin asked.

Aliyah shrugged. "You'll get used to it," she said, reaching for her Samuraizer.

"Go, Go, Samurai!" the team shouted, each tracing their Kanji symbols and spinning them into their chests.

"Samurai Ranger, ready!"

"Rangers together, Samurai Forever!"

Aliyah frowned at her new teammates. "Seriously?" she asked. "You're backing the theatrics when there's a monster on the loose?"

"Hey!" Rofer called, interrupting any reply the others could give. "Where's your green ranger buddy? Now that it's crunch-time, broccoli boy went bye-bye."

"He'll be here!" Aliyah called.

"You're right," Mike called, running towards his team. "I'm right here!" He jumped over his friends and rolled back to his feet. "Stay back," he advised. "I'm going to take this Nighlok alone."

"You can't!" Kevin said, trying to intervene.

"I'm going to try," said Mike. "It's payback time - Samuraizer! Go, Go, Samurai!"

He morphed and readied his Samurai sword.

"Attack, Moogers!" Rofer ordered.

Aliyah watched with keen interest as Mike shredded the Moogers and then went after Rofer.

"Aren't we going to help him?" Emily asked.

"Let him try," said Aliyah.

"Weren't you saying just yesterday that there is no I in team?" Mia asked.

"He deserves a chance."

"What if he can't do it alone?" asked Emily.

"Then that's what we're here for," Aliyah replied.

Kevin shook his head and turned to Jayden. "Tell me you don't agree with this," he said.

Jayden sighed and looked between Aliyah and Kevin. He could see both their points, and he agreed with both of them too. "Aliyah's right, he deserves a chance," he said. "But, if he needs us," he added to Aliyah.

"I'm not planning on watching him get his ass kicked," said Aliyah. "If this battle starts to go south, I'll be the first to step in and turn the tide."

"Where's he going?" Mia asked as she watched Mike run away from the Nighlok. He disappeared for a few minutes before reappearing behind Rofer.

Rofer shook his great body and then pushed his arms further into the ground. Behind Mike, his giant fists burst out of the ground and surged towards the Green Ranger.

"I got it!" Jayden shouted, slashing his sword against one of the fists.

"Jayden!" Mike gasped.

"So he stopped one punch," said Rofer with an indifferent shrug. "But I've got two arms!" The first fist pulled back just as the second exploded from the ground and collided with Jayden, forcing him back into a stone pillar.

Mike dodged at the last second and looked back at his leader. "Jayden, are you okay?" he asked. He was still surprised that Jayden had appeared seemingly out of nowhere and taking a direct hit meant for him.

"How does this feel?" Aliyah asked, appearing beside Jayden and slashing her sword through Rofer's arm.

The Nighlok hissed and pulled back, releasing Jayden from his grasp.

"I got this!" Mike said. He run towards Rofer and jumped over him, holding him around the shoulders as his own fist collided with him.

Rofer groaned and doubled over. "What kind of move was that?" he wheezed.

"Kind of tricky, wasn't it?" Mike laughed.

"Wait until I've reeled my arms back in," Rofer warned. "You're all going to be toast." He struggled for a few seconds as his arms refused to return. "Uh? What's the matter with my arms?"

Aliyah looked to where Mike had initially run from and realised his plan. "Ha!" she laughed. "What's the matter, Rofer, all tied up?"

"It's time to give you a taste of my spin sword," said Mike, opening the valve on his belt and taking out a green disc. He attacked it to the hilt of his sword and spun it, causing a whirlwind of leaves to rise up around him. "Spin sword, Forest Vortex!"

Rofer growled. "If I could get my hands on you…" he said, still struggling to release his tangled up arms.

Aliyah watched as Mike ripped through Rofer with his attack, causing him to explode. She smirked as the smoke cleared, leaving Mike standing victorious across the quad.

"You were amazing, Mike!" Emily said, running up along with Kevin and Mia.

Kevin folded his arms, seemingly less than impressed. "I guess you did okay," he said.

"Hey!" Mike retorted, hitting the blue ranger in the shoulder with his sword.

"Lighten up, Kevin," Mia defended, pulling the blue ranger back. "Mike did just destroy the Nighlok."

"Not bad, Mike," said Aliyah, walking over. "I see you remember some of your basic parkour training. It's nice to see it being incorporated into Ranger activities."

"Thanks," Mike smiled. "Even after you ended our lessons, I kept training."

Aliyah nodded. "That's good to know," she said.

"It's not over," said Jayden. "Rofer's coming back as a Mega Monster."

No sooner had the words left his mouth, did Rofer return, towering over the city and causing more terror and panic to its citizens.

Aliyah looked over at her teammates. "This is my cue," she said. "Good luck." She took off before any of them had a chance to stop her.

~*The Lightning Samurai*~

Back at the Shiba house, Cam and Ji were watching the battle downtown on the TV while Penelope played harmlessly in the living room. Over the last four years, her parents and family members had collected as many Ranger toys as they could and allowed her to reinvent her own battles.

"Looks like we're going to have to find you a new team of toys, huh, baby?" Aliyah asked, kneeling down beside her daughter and picking up the Blue Ninja Storm Ranger.

Penelope giggled and pretended to fight off her mother with the Black Jungle Fury Ranger. "Rhino power!" she said.

"Dom will be glad to see he has a fan," Aliyah laughed, dropping Tori's figure and pretending she was out of battle. "And looks like I lost."

Cam smiled over at his wife and child just as the Samurai megazord unleashed an attack on Rofer. "As for the team, they're holding their own," he said.

"Good. I'm sure you'll be glad to hear that they've outweighed my expectations," said Aliyah.

"Have you told them that?"

Aliyah shook her head. "Not yet," she said. "I wanted to see how the fair in a Megazord battle first."

"Well, they won," said Cam, stepping away from the TV just as Rofer exploded and the Samurai Megazord stood proudly victorious over the whole city.

"This is going to be an interesting year," said Aliyah, looking from the TV to Cam, and back again.

"Indeed it is."

~*The Lightning Samurai*~

Aliyah, Cam, and Ji were waiting for the team once they had returned from battle. The first thing Aliyah noticed was that while the other Rangers were impressed with Mike's skill in battle, the newest Green Ranger didn't seem all that excited or happy.

"It was so cool how you used those wacky arms against him," Emily said, causing the others to laugh as she shook her body and arms out.

Mike cracked a small, yet insignificant smile.

"Yeah, I couldn't have done it better myself," Kevin said, squeezing Mike firmly.

Mike sighed and nodded. "Truth is, I did trick him," he agreed. "But it wasn't enough. It was actually Jayden who helped me defeat him. I only anticipated the attack of one of his arms, Jayden got the other one. I couldn't have done it without his help."

"We can do anything as a team," said Jayden, smiling at Mike.

"I'm having flashbacks to Ninja Storm," said Aliyah, realising how much Mike reminded her of Shane and Hunter.

Cam chuckled and hugged her around the middle. "Hunter and Shane did take a while to learn to work together," he said. "Plus, Shane had only just realised the importance of working as a team himself."

"Yeah, I wasn't part of the team then," said Aliyah.

Bumping fists with Jayden, Mike turned to Aliyah. "So, what did you think?" he asked.

Aliyah shared a look with Cam and then returned her attention to the others. She smiled. "Another thing you'll learn about me is that I hate secrets and lies," she said, "the only thing you'll get out of me is brute honesty. So, if you don't like to be told the truth, it's tough love. When I was first asked to join the team, I turned the offer down and even tried to pass on the responsibility to someone more qualified, mostly because I thought you were all just a bunch of rookies, and I really didn't want to indulge the idea of babysitting while there was a monster terrorising the city."

The looks passed between the team told Aliyah that they did not appreciate her honesty. She shrugged it off, it was easier for them to learn early on that she wasn't going to beat around the bush with them.

"Today you proved me wrong," Aliyah continued. "But while you may not be the bunch of rookies I initially thought you were, there is room for improvement."

"Does that mean you're staying?" Ji asked.

Aliyah looked at the Mentor and smirked. "Oh, I'm not going anywhere," she replied.