Samurai Forever
The Beginning
Fire burned all around. I tried to find my way through the smoke and flames. I wasn't sure how I got in a burning building, but I knew I needed to get out as soon as possible. The smoke was thick, and it made my eyes water. I cut through room after room. I ducked under fallen debris and jumped over others, until I finally saw an exit. However, through all the smoke, I managed to see someone crawling away in the distance.
"Wait!" I cried as I tried to rush over to them.
They attempted to push themselves up to their knees, only to fall back down. I ran over to the now collapsed body. I rolled the person over on their back, only to be hit with a mixture of emotions.
"Dad," I choked back tears, "I thought you were dead!"
"Never," he barely could choke out as he pointed to my chest with a smile, "I've always been right here. And I will never leave. Now get out there and lead your team."
"Not without you," I yelled back in frustration at his stubborn attitude as tears stung my eyes.
He never realized that he was my role model. The man that I only wished I could become half of. He always knew how to get his team out of every situation. I know he would be proud of me. I just wished I could hear those words escape his mouth.
He never spoke another word. He smiled his final smile, and laid his head down on the floor. I barely noticed a few people rush in and grab my arms, and two of the people grabbed my father's now dead body. We all headed to the door. It was daylight. It was bright. They were taking me right towards it. As we passed into the sunlight, I felt my consciousness leave me. I didn't have the strength to go on.
-Forever-
Jayden sat up in bed soaked in a layer of sweat. He always seemed to have the same dream. It wasn't always exactly the same, but it usually ended up with his father dying in his arms, but still telling him to lead his team into battle. He was torn by the dreams. He knew it wouldn't happen; his father had been dead for almost 15 years. He had died in his team's final battle, to ensure victory. And yet, as Jayden thought back, he still had the ability to put his Ranger duty above that of his life.
He hoped that he could live up to his father's name. To be able to lead his team against the Nighlok and eventually help defeat their evil leader once and for all, Master Xandred.
His father had died in the most recent attempt to seal Master Xandred in the Netherworld. The time for Jayden to call upon his own team to lead would come soon, and he would have his shot at living and hopefully surpassing his father. He knew his father would be proud of him either way. As long as he was a good, strong leader, and put the needs of others and the world above his own. He knew he had to, his father wouldn't expect any less, and neither should he.
He stepped into the bathroom to wash off some of the sweat off of his face and maybe clear his mind.
He looked up into the mirror. He had been in quite a few fights already. He mostly had to fight Moogers, the foot soldiers of the Nighlok army. They weren't too much of a challenge. Occasionally they would sneak an attack in. He had a few scars on his face and upper body. His Ranger suit provided enough protection, but there was always the occasional fight where he would try and beat the Moogers without his suit. He paid for it, but he always seemed to win and improve his ability to survive and fight.
He was about to lay back down in bed, when he heard a familiar voice call from down the hall.
"Jayden!" the voice echoed down the hall.
"Coming", Jayden called back.
It was the same routine every day. Wake up. Eat breakfast. Talk about the training schedule for the day. Then train until lunch. Have a quick lunch. Then train either symbol powers, or learn about the team that would be joining him. All while hoping that an attack wouldn't interrupt his day.
He entered the kitchen and saw the now father figure in his life, Mentor Ji.
Ji stepped up as the primary father figure after Jayden's father passed away. Jayden's father, Thomas, had told Ji before his last battle that if something were to happen to him, Ji would need to continue to train Jayden. And prepare him to be the leader of the next generation.
Ji had always thought of Jayden as his son, even though he was only his adopted son. He had taught Jayden as much as he possibly could. Teaching him how to fight, and tap into his symbol power. He taught him how to use the ancient Samurai morphing power. He also taught him the points of leading his team, how every decision needed to be thought of, but they needed to be made quickly. That as leader, you can't ask your team to do something that you are not willing to do yourself, and that their safety and well-being are in direct result of your choices and actions.
Jayden had mastered all sword fighting techniques, and while he knew a lot about symbol power, he hadn't mastered every single symbol. He had a very good understanding of how to lead his team, mostly from learning from books Ji had on his father's time as team leader. He had also studied up on his team that would be soon joining him. He knew of their training habits, where they would need to improve, and areas where some had already mastered.
Just as he was finishing up with breakfast and was heading out to the training mats, the Gap Sensor sounded.
"Be safe Jayden," Ji called to him as he ran out the door.
"Always," Jayden flashed a smile back as he ran out of the yard, morphing into the Red Samurai Power Ranger.
