Jayden and the RPM Rangers were back in the Shiba House, sitting around, contemplating their defeat at the hands of Professor Gut. It had not been long since he had effectively cut their forces in half and forced them into retreat. Scott was pacing as he talked into his communicator. Serena was working on the scanners, trying and failing to find any signs of the missing Samurai Rangers, while Stephen was working on a computer, utilising satellite surveillance to expand the search further. Unfortunately, given the way he was glaring at the computer, it seemed he was not having any better luck.
"OK, that's great, thanks." Scott said as he finished his message on the communicator. "I love you too. Thanks."
As he turned back to them, he had a little bit of a smile still on his face. He just cleared his throat as Jayden and the others looked to him.
"Dr. K said she picked up your friends' energy readings." Scott informed him. "It seems Professor Cog had a sense of humour. He sent them to our dimension. They're in the desert a few miles from Corinth."
"Oh my God, are they going to be OK?" Summer asked. "I mean, they're not used to things out there..."
"They've been well trained, they'll be fine." Jayden put down flatly. "If I know them, they're already on their way to Corinth to see if there's a way home."
"Just so they can get their butts handed to them again?" Dillon asked.
"Dillon..."
"No, let him say it." Jayden stated. "What's that meant to mean?"
"So far, all your team's done is get in the way." Dillon snapped. "They can't do squat against the grinders, the only tie we fought alongside them they managed to get in the way, and then they jump in front of an energy blast when they have no idea what it is to protect you!"
"You know, that was kind of weird." Ziggy remarked. "What was all that about?"
"They believe that I'm the key to stopping Master Xandred for good." Jayden informed them. "The reason Master Xandred can't just invade the Earth is because years ago one of my ancestors created a sealing symbol that keeps him trapped in the Netherworld. It takes a lot of symbol power, and he died before completing it, but its kept Master Xandred trapped for all these centuries. Since that symbol power runs in my bloodline, only I can try to complete the symbol and seal him and the other Nighlock away for good."
The RPM Rangers all just sat around, staring at him for a moment.
"OK, now not only do we have a team that can't help us trapped in our dimension, the only one we have left has a Messiah complex." Dillon snorted, before turning back to Scott. "You're the leader here; you have to see that they've done more harm than good."
"Dillon!" Summer blurted out, looking horrified at what he had said. Scott just held up a hand.
"I'm sorry, but I think he might have a point." Scott stated. "I'm sorry Jayden, but so far all you've proven is that your team isn't equipped to deal with this threat."
"Scott..."
"You're great fighters, maybe even better than us, I don't know, but your weapons just don't have any effect on them!" He told him flatly. "If they show up again, we're going alone."
"Yeah, because you were doing so well against the moogers." Serena stated sarcastically, rounding on Scott. "It's not so easy to fight when your opponent isn't kind enough to always come at you the same way time and time again is it?"
"Leave it Serena." Jayden told her, glaring at the RPM team. "I'll tell you what. If you don't think I can help, then prove it."
He threw Scott and Dillon both a shinai, and picked one up himself.
"If you can both defeat me, then I'll stand aside." Jayden told them. Dillon just let out a little, dismissive laugh.
"This is so tragically old school." He commented. "Alright, it's your funer..."
His words were cut off as without warning, Jayden flicked the shinai from his hand, before connecting with his knee, and then the back of his head, sending him to the floor. Scott rushed forward; only to find his shinai knocked toward the floor, before Jayden's 'blade' hovered by his throat.
"Those Nitro Swords you use may cause impressive damage, but if your opponent has good enough technique to ensure you don't land a blow, or if it is taken from you, then it doesn't matter. It's just a very impressively high-tech stick."
"OK, I...uh...think you made your point." Scott replied. "OK, so you know more about moogers and Nighlock, I guess we can use that in the field."
"There are plenty of rooms for you to rest up in." Jayden told them. He then turned to Dillon. "Just remember, this is my home. Your team mates have respected that, but if you insult me or my team again, you can find somewhere else to stay."
As he strode out of the room, Summer came over to Dillon, helping him up, before smacking him across the back of his head.
"Hey!" He protested.
"Jayden's been nothing but nice to us. He's done nothing but try and help." She chastised him. "I swear, sometimes I wonder why I married you."
Meanwhile, in the Netherworld, Professor Cog was sitting on Master Xandred's junk, affecting some minor repairs after his battle with the Rangers. Octroo came over to him, offering him some more metal to help him repair his armour.
"You really showed those Rangers who's boss." Octoroo commented. "There's only one of our Rangers left!"
"He is still the one with the sealing power." Master Xandred pointed out, taking a long slug from his medicine. "I would remind you of our deal. Five out of six is not what we agreed."
"I will take care of your Red ranger soon enough." Professor Cog assured him. "The last battle has given me a lot of insight into the strengths and weaknesses of both teams. I already have a strategy that should give us the edge we need over them. It will, however, require a little...co-operation...on your part."
"What do you want now?" Master Xandred asked him.
"More moogers, and also a Nighlock." He told him. "I couldn't help noticing that my Rangers seemed to struggle against your creatures. Perhaps with a suitable allied force, we will get the edge we need."
"Octoroo, fetch General Gut." Xandred growled. "Tell him I have need of his battalion."
Over in the Corinth Wastelands, the Samurai Rangers were continuing their long walk to the domed city. It wasn't really that long a journey, but in the unrelenting heat of the sun, exhaustion set in a lot more quickly. Emily and Mike were leaning on each other for mutual support, while Kevin and Mia led the way. Antonio finally took a seat on a rock, opening his flask for a drink.
"We have to keep moving." Kevin reminded him.
"Kev, we're all exhausted, and the sun's getting pretty high." Antonio reminded him. "Maybe we should find some shelter for a while and rest. Let the sun go past midday and set out again when it's getting cooler."
"Antonio, we have no idea what's out here." Kevin reminded him. "If we hang around, we run the risk that something patrolling out here will find us."
"Kevin, we are all getting pretty tired." Mia reminded him. "Maybe if we rest up for a little while in the shade we can quicken the pace."
Kevin didn't like the idea of hanging around, but he had to admit that Mia had a point. The sun here was much harsher than it was back home, and he could remember the heat stroke that he suffered when he caught the Swordfish Zord. He just conceded the point and nodded.
"Alright, but ten minutes tops." He told them. Mike pointed to some wreckage.
"We could try sheltering there." He told them. "Under the wing, that should provide good shade."
It was a fighter jet of some description, looking at it; it seemed it had been shot down some time ago. As they got closer, they could see some markings on it, declaring it to be part of Corinth Air Force. It also carried a name on it, Eagle 1.
"This is meant to be Christmas." Emily muttered as they took shelter under the wing. "We're meant to be getting hypothermia, not sunstroke."
"We'll get home." Mike assured her. "You see, the dome isn't that far away. It looks like we're only a few miles out now."
"Yeah, only a few more miles of getting cooked." Antonio replied, before noticing something a little way off. He grabbed something out of the sand and inspected it.
"Antonio, it's junk." Kevin told him. "Leave it; we don't need any useless weight..."
"Kevin, this isn't junk." Antonio told him. "It's a flight recorder, probably from this plane."
"Wait, it's the flight recorder?" Mike asked him. "I heard about those. They're indestructible so that in the event of a crash, they can retrieve evidence about what happened."
"They're not indestructible, but they're not far off it." Antonio corrected him. "This looks like it should still work."
"So what?" Kevin asked him. "It's useless to us! Hell, it's useless to them; no one's tried to retrieve it!"
"No one's tried to retrieve it because it's too dangerous to leave the dome." Mia reminded him. "We're already out here. Maybe we should take it back while we have the chance."
"What for? What is there to find out?" Kevin asked. "The plane was shot down! We know that!"
"We don't know what anyone can learn from this." Antonio told him. "Besides, this place has lost everything. This is a piece of history. If nothing else, we should return it to them."
"Just imagine if someone found the black box of Emilia Earheart's last flight." Mike added. "Or...the Hindenburg landing."
"Alright, but you carry it." Kevin stated, pointing to Antonio. "If it slows us down, then you dump it alright?"
"No problem dude." Antonio replied. Just then, he looked up. "Uh, guys, do you hear something?"
"It sounds like..." Mike's eyes shot open wide. "Engines!"
"Alright, everyone at the ready." Kevin ordered, rushing out to see what it was. "Samuraizers at the..."
"Dude, is that a flying chicken?" Mike interrupted him, pointing upwards to where a helicopter with the unmistakable features of a gigantic rooster. It was backed up by a jet that looked a little like a tiger. They both started a vertical descent, landing a little way from them.
"Well, that thing Venjix created looked pretty odd." Mia commented. "Maybe..."
"Hello?" They heard a female voice calling out.
"Rangers?" A male voice came a second later. After a short time, a couple of people, wearing gold and silver ranger suits came walking towards them.
"Hey!" Antonio called out, waving to them. The Gold and Silver Rangers ran over, pulling off their helmets as they did so.
"Hey, are you guys...
"...The Samurai Rangers?" Gemma concluded.
"Uh...yeah." Kevin replied. "And you guys are?"
"I'm the Gold RPM Ranger Gem!" Gem replied, shaking his hand excitedly.
"And I'm Gemma, the Silver Ranger." She stated, also beginning to shake hands.
"This is so exciting, we've never..."
"...met other rangers before!" Gem concluded.
"We're glad to see you too." Mia answered, a little uneasily, slightly taken aback by their overwhelming nature. "You were looking for us?"
"Dr. K found your energy signatures and sent us to find you." Gem told them.
"We'll get you there in no time." Gemma stated. "Come on, we'll give you a ride!"
As the twins put their helmets back on and bounded in the direction of their Zords, Kevin just leaned in towards the others.
"I think they may have been in the sun a little too long." He commented. "And I thought Emily and Antonio were hyper."
"Hey!" Emily protested.
"I'm just stoked there's another Gold Ranger!" Antonio commented, picking up the flight recorder. "I like them."
"Me too." Mike said with a smile. "I say we go with them. It's that or walk the rest of the way."
With that, they headed for the Zords.
In Ocean Bluff Airport, Mentor Ji's plane had landed, and he was just collecting his luggage. It had been quite a journey since he had left the States, and while he only had a couple of days left, he was hopeful to return home in time for the day. He doubted the Rangers would care that he hadn't gotten around to wrapping their presents, so long as he returned to them.
He got out of the airport, and hailed a cab. Getting in, he reached forward, handing the driver some cash.
"Jungle Karma Pizza." He told him. "Don't spare the horses."
"You heard about the turkey stuffing and cranberry special?" He chuckled. "Alright, we're on our way."
"Turkey, stuffing and cranberry pizza?" He chuckled, settling back on his seat. "Only you RJ."
Back in the Netherworld, Professor Cog was brought to the crest of a hill by Octoroo, where he saw a whole army of moogers waiting. There had to be easily a hundred, all constantly drilling and practicing. He stood watching them; impressed by the assistance Xandred was willing to offer him.
"I see you are awed by my forces." A Nighlock commented as he came up to him. He was large, almost as large around the middle as he was in height, and covered head to foot in highly ornate golden armour.
"They are impressive." Professor Cog commented. "General Gut I presume?"
"I hear that Master Xandred wants you to combine your followers with mine to take down the Rangers." Gut greeted him with a hard slap on the back. "Hm...impressive armour."
"I see you value the protection of steel also." Professor Cog commented. "Allow me to show you my forces."
With that, he fired a bunch of metal pieces onto the field, and they all erupted, becoming grinders, matching the moogers one for one.
"It is simple mathematics. My team struggles against your creations, and your team struggles against mine." Professor Cog pointed out. "We simply overwhelm them, and they are bound to fall."
"One problem, how do we get our entire army out of here?" Cog asked. "If we could just bring my army out of here, then don't you think I'd have done that by now?"
"I have made some calculations, and I believe I have found a way." Professor Cog told him. "Leave that to me."
Back in Corinth, Gem and Gemma brought the Samurai into The Garage. They looked around in awe at the set-up they had there.
"Holy crap, can you believe this place?" Mike commented as he ran over to Summer's bike. "Mentor has his bike, and we have an SUV, but this stuff..." He then ran over to Scott's sports car. "Oh, these thing are so...wow!"
"Stop drooling Mike, we've already got you your presents." Mia chuckled. Antonio meanwhile was checking out all the computer systems.
"Look at all this tech!" Antonio squealed. "This stuff...it's just...wow!"
"Dr. K hooks us up with the neatest stuff alright." Gem told him. "You should see the entertainment system!"
"A pool table?" Kevin asked. "It's all a little...cluttered...don't you think?"
"Kevin..."
"Mia, there are so many distractions here, it's all unnecessary." Kevin told her. "It's just a distraction from training to perfect technique..."
"Dude, to you toilets are a distraction." Mike teased him. "Can't you just admit this pace is kind of cool?"
"It's about to get cooler." Gemma told them, grabbing Mike and Emily. "Come this way!"
The door to the lab opened up, and they were ushered inside, to the Ranger lab. They could see the assembled Ranger suits in their cases, and the entire place was covered in computers, machines and electrical components. Antonio's eyes were wide in amazement.
"Someone pinch me!" He stammered. "I just died and went to heaven."
"Heaven is an abstract concept derived from the average human's desire to obfuscate their fear of the unknown realm of what happens after death by constructing an idealised version of what awaits them when their biological functions cease to operate." A voice coming from behind a large chair stated. It turned around, revealing a young woman with a rather roughly self-styled haircut, and a lab coat over what could only be described as a school uniform. "I take it you are the Rangers?"
"Yeah, we are." Kevin replied. "I'm Kevin, the Blue Ranger. We're here to see Dr. K."
"I'm Dr. K." She answered. Kevin just looked at her a little surprised. "Is something wrong?"
"You're a kid!" He commented. She just rolled her eyes.
"Please tell me he is not the brains of the team." She stated, causing Mike to snigger a little. "Despite my appearance, I am 18, but believe me; I am more than capable of sending you home."
"We have information which may change things." Antonio told her. "Professor is in our dimension to acquire water from the Sanzu River. He intends to poison your water supply."
Dr. K just turned to him in alarm hearing that.
"The Sanzu River?" She asked him. "But...there's been no way to get to it for centuries!"
"Wait, I thought the Sanzu River was a myth here?" Mike commented. "I thought no one believed in it."
"Well, that is for the best to avoid panic." She told them. "I found ancient writings on my way to Corinth that I translated. I ran the data and confirmed that in our dimension, the original Samurai, your ancestors, succeeded in creating a permanent seal. It exists, but travel between our world and there is not possible. That must be why he went to your dimension."
"Well, I guess it's comforting to know creating the seal is possible." Mia sighed. "So what about the Sanzu River Water, why does he need that?"
"Yeah, I mean...surely any other poison would work just as well." Mike remarked.
"We constructed the city based on the presumption that we'd never be able to leave. We thought of every possible contingency." Dr. K explained. "Our filtration and purification plants have been created to destroy any trace of contaminant from our water supply. Cog would need something that our systems wouldn't recognise."
"Like poisonous water that as far as anyone is concerned doesn't exist." Kevin replied.
"Exactly." Dr. K concluded. "Gem, Gemma, it is vital that we stop Cog. He cannot bring any of that water back here. Both of you will go with them."
"But what about..."
"...Corinth?" Gem concluded. Dr. K just went back to her computer.
"We'll super-charge the shields." Dr. K told them. "If you don't stop them, it's immaterial if you're here or not. There'll be no Corinth left to protect."