Dekker stood, glaring at his new foe. This creature, this Rito, was a strange thing to behold. It had no skin, no muscles, no tendons...many of the things his years of training had taught him to injure and exploit to defeat an opponent.
His weapon was another thing that seemed odd. It was a sword, but it had no noticeable edge or point, and it was made of bones bound together by means he could not see or understand. To describe it as a sword was generous, only its shape made it that way. In truth, it was more of a club.
He had seen and experienced many bizarre things but this creature truly was an enigma. He could not see any means by which its bones were even joined. It was then that it spoke.
"So, we gonna do this or are you gonna stare at me all day?" Rito stated. Dekker just smiled.
"Do what you will." He replied. Rito ran forward, and the crowd came alive, roaring in delight, until Dekker acted.
He was a skeleton. He had no flesh to carve, nor muscles to rend. He had nothing but bone, and to Dekker, that meant one thing. The most basic of attacks, he was looking at him as a structure. A mannequin of bone.
He powered up in a purple flame, turning into his Nighlock form, before kicking out. He smashed both of his legs into tiny splinters with a kick, leaving his body to fall to the ground.
Not waiting for any instruction, and to complete silence, he stepped forward and stomped down as hard as he could, shattering Rito's skull. His body lay still, and the crowd remained silent. He had finished the bout, but had not given them the entertaining battle they had anticipated. He felt no joy in dispatching his foe, he merely wanted to make his way forward.
"Well...let's hear it for your winner." The Judge stated. The crowd applauded slowly and politely as both Dekker and Rito vanished. He looked to Dayu. "Well, that was...less than spectacular."
"Dekker does not fight for entertainment." She told him, feeling herself smiling a little. "He fights to win."
"Then perhaps I need to change the game a little." He replied, snapping his fingers. Dayu found herself forced to her knees by an unseen force as the runes on her restraining bracelet started to glow. She knew that she had sacrificed her freedom to him for the chance she had given Dekker. Although he had never enforced it before, now she knew the full extent of control he had over her. He turned to the audience, who were murmuring among themselves in a dissatisfied manner. "My loyal audience, I promised you the ultimate games, and I will provide them!"
He saw they were not responding well, and his eyes glowed brightly in anger.
"Tonight's bouts will determine eight finalists!" He announced. The crowd still didn't seem convinced, which only angered him further. "They will all compete in the arena at the same time!"
This finally raised a cheer from the crowd. Dayu saw him look to her, and knew he was up to something.
"They will compete for the ultimate prize. Not only will they be free of the arena, I will expend all my power to give them any wish they desire!"
The crowd was now reignited in its faith and bloodlust. They cheered with approval at the mere thought of the spectacle to come. Eight of the finest, all competing, all at once, for anything they desired, it was something they could not imagine in their wildest of fevered dreams. He then looked to Dayu as the next two warriors entered the arena.
"You will see your man tonight." He told her. "Perhaps then you can remind him to make his fights a little more...entertaining. Victory is not everything."
"Tonight?" She asked him. "I can see him tonight?"
"Of course." The Judge replied, waving a hand before her, turning her back to her human form. She stared at her hands in amazement. "The champions will require...entertainment."
Back in the mortal realm, the Rangers had finished morning training, and were free to go about their business. Mike and Emily were in town, wandering through some shops.
Mike loved the feel of the watch around his wrist. He couldn't believe his luck that the most amazing person he'd ever known, the most beautiful, soulful and caring person he ever had the luck to meet had pledged herself to him. He was not a traditional person by any means, and he got a little kick out of the fact she had proposed to him, but there was only so far that he was not traditional. He had insisted that he needed to buy her a token of their engagement as well. Emily was delighted, and being more traditional, she liked the idea of a ring, so he had insisted he was going to get her one.
He was regretting that insistence. After nearly twenty jewellers, he still hadn't found anything. Just when he found something he thought was good enough, the same thing happened.
"How much?" He screamed at the counter assistant. "That could pay for the whole freaking wedding!"
Mike, unlike Emily, hadn't been saving diligently, largely because he hadn't really been planning on this day coming. He was amazed by how much jewellery really cost. It was just metal and stone right? Yet somehow anyone he asked about it seemed to quote him figures he would take months at best to afford.
Emily gripped his arm tightly. She didn't really care about the ring, not really. What she cared about more was how this was making Mike feel. Although he'd never say it, he was a proud man. He had never really worshipped the almighty dollar, and was happy enough just to get by. However, he wanted to get her something special, something that really meant something important, that showed her how much she meant to him, and yet time and time again he was being reminded of the fact that his lack of 'ambition' had led to the fact that he simply could not afford it. Everything he thought was right for her was beyond his reach.
"Mike, it's alright." Emily told him. "Please, just...let's go."
He just sighed and shook his head in defeat. He felt worthless, he felt like a complete failure. The one and only thing he wanted was to give her something that meant as much to her as she did to him, but he just couldn't. It seemed like the world was out to show him how worthless he was, to show that he didn't deserve her. When they got outside, Emily stood before him.
"Mike..."
"Don't say it Em." He told her. "Please, just...don't say it."
"Mike, I don't care about the ring!" She told him despite his protests. "It's you I want, not some piece of metal!"
"Emily, it's about more than that!" He told her. "I just want...I just want you to have what you deserve."
With that, he just shook his head in defeat.
"I'm sorry." He told her.
"Mike, I don't..."
"Just...I'm sorry." He told her, walking away. "Please just...I'm sorry."
"Mike!" She called out again as he walked off. She wanted to follow him, but she knew at such times, that he needed to be by himself. Despite his bluster and protest, Mike was a proud person, and his feelings were easily hurt. Emily just walked away, heading back to the Shiba House alone.
Back in the Arena, Dekker appeared in a place he couldn't fathom, looking around in confusion. He was completely naked, and he had no idea what this was. Before him was an enticing, warm, scented bath. Female slaves wearing white robes stood before him. He looked to them in confusion.
"What is this?" He asked.
"You are to be prepared for the feast." One of them told him. "Please, The Judge insists."
He got into the water slowly, still not sure how to feel. He had to admit that the water felt heavenly. Compared to what he had received up until now, this experience was just luxury beyond measure. He looked to a hand in amazement as a goblet was placed before him.
"Wine?" The slave asked.
"Perhaps later." He told her, waving it off. "I wish to keep my senses sharp."
"You will not grace the arena until tomorrow night." She insisted. "More than enough time..."
"I have more than one arena to face." He told her. She took the wine away.
Later, Dayu was with other slaves, dressing the meeting hall for the banquet for the champions.
As she laid down a flagon of wine, the doors opened. The first of the 'guests' arrived. Goldar looked to the table spread, flanked by a pair of slaves and smiled.
"My final night as a slave shall be a good one." He commented, picking up a leg of lamb, taking a huge bite. "The Judge knows our worth."
Dayu watched as others started to come in, all accompanied by slaves. In total, seven of them arrived and took their places around the table, with one notable absence. Dekker had not yet arrived.
The Judge appeared in a cloud of black smoke, taking his seat at his throne. He looked around and his eyes started to glow.
"Tonight, you feast and prepare for the ultimate prize." He told them. He looked to the woman at his right.
"Vypra, not only will you be free, but I will also grant you life. You will not be sent back to oblivion, you will be free to do as you will."
She smiled and nodded, taking a sip of wine, wordlessly agreeing to the deal.
"Scorpina. You were turned to mere sand by the energy Zordon released upon his passing. Should you win, you will be returned to life to make others quake in fear at your name as you always dreamed."
As she too drank, accepting the terms, he looked to the next champion.
"Goldar, my most exalted champion. I am almost sorry to see you go." The Judge declared. "Should you win, you will receive your life."
"The universe will tremble at my name once more!" He roared, guzzling wine greedily, accepting the terms. The Judge continued.
"Trakeena, Zeltrax, you shall both be free to pursue whatever desires you seek." The Judge told them, turning to a purple armoured warrior.
"Korrag, you will not only be returned to life, but I will give you what you have always lacked. You will have a body of your own." He stated. Korrag couldn't drink, having no mouth, but he lifted his goblet to show he accepted the terms. "Dai Shi, you too shall get a new body, and a life to pursue the victories you..."
Just then the doors were thrown open. Dekker walked in, causing Dayu to marvel at him. He looked just as he did back in the days in his father's house. He was dressed in fine purple robes, embroidered at the edges with golden thread. He was washed, oiled and scented, and looked like a God among men. Unlike the others, he chose to arrive without slaves. He arrived alone. He made his way to the table, taking a seat.
His gaze moved to Dayu, seeing her as the woman he loved once more. His heart was in pieces seeing her in slavery once more, especially slavery she had chosen for his sake. He would have chosen oblivion over subjecting her to this, but she had forced his hand with her foolhardy actions. Now, he could only hope his own foolhardy acts would redress that wrong.
"Apologies for my late arrival." Dekker stated. "I lost track of time."
"Dai Shi, you will receive not only life, but a body of your own." The Judge reiterated as he looked to Dekker. "As for you..."
"I never have believed in foretelling victory." Dekker told him. "I will declare the prize of my choosing upon the sands should I be victorious."
"Well, if you are as slow there as you were to dinner, it will be a moot point." The Judge replied, raising some laughs from the others. Dekker saw Dayu's concerned and confused look. She had already bartered a deal; he was putting it at risk. The Judge just looked to him as he refused to lift his goblet.
"You do not accept..."
"What cause do I have to believe you will honour the terms of our deals?" Dekker asked him. The Judge's eyes just glowed brighter.
"You dare...?"
"I but ask something stronger than word." Dekker told him, picking up a knife. He sliced his own palm, dripping blood into his goblet, before pushing it towards The Judge.
The creature just growled at him, before returning the gesture, slicing its own palm and dripping blood into the goblet, before picking it up.
"I will honour all deals, and swear it to blood." The Judge declared raising the goblet to what everyone presumed were its lips inside the cloak. It held out the goblet, which levitated over to Dekker. He took it out the air, and drank as well.
"Then we have all accepted the terms of our deal." The Judge declared. "I shall retire now, but as champions, feel free to indulge of my hospitality. Food, drink, company...do as you will. The games begin at noon."
As he disappeared, the others started to feast. Dayu just ran to Dekker's side as she saw they were now alone.
"Has this place seized your mind?" She asked him. "You cannot..."
"I cannot win." He told her. She just looked to him stunned.
"But..."
"Nighlock or not, the fact is this is The Judge's game." He reminded her. "Do you really believe anyone can win under his rules?"
"Dekker, it is all we have!" She begged him. "Please!"
He took her by the arm and took her out to the hall. She was overcome with nostalgia. She could remember hundreds of stolen moments within his father's house like this. He ran his fingers through her hair softly, lovingly, giving her hope that he was the man she loved. He kissed her, and closed in, holding her softly.
"This is a game I intend to win. He told her, parting from her. "Believe in me."
"I always have." She replied as he walked away, leaving her alone. She didn't know what Dekker had planned, but if it returned him to her, she didn't care. The following day's bout would decide fate for them both.
Back at the Shiba House, Emily was miserable. She knew Mike was hurting about the fact he couldn't give her a ring. Although she did dream of having such a token, to her it was exactly that, a token. It didn't matter to her he couldn't give her a ring, all she wanted was him.
Mike knocked on the doorframe gently. She turned to see him entering slowly.
"I'm sorry about earlier." He told her. "I just kind of...well...I just...I needed to think."
"Mike, I don't care about the ring." She told him for seemingly the millionth time. Just then, Mike pulled out a little box and handed it to her.
"I know it's against the rules, but I called dad for advice." He informed her. "He arranged this."
Emily opened the box, finding a diamond solitaire ring inside. It was simply the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. She looked to him, her eyes already sparkling.
"It was my grandmother's. She left it to me in her will." Mike told her. "I didn't even know about it, but it was in a safe deposit box. Dad called the bank and told them..."
"You...this...this...?"
He got down on a knee before her, taking the ring off her, before presenting it to her.
"You asked me, and I accepted." He reminded her. "My grandmother apparently told me to give this to the one. I know that's you."
He slid it over her finger...but realised it was far too big. Just then, it started to glow, and it shrunk, becoming just a perfect size for Emily's ring finger. They both looked to the door, seeing Ji standing there with his Samuraizer.
"I'm a romantic." He told them. "I was just doing my bit to help."
Emily just looked back to the ring, and found she was happier than she could ever remember. She reached to Mike's face and pulled him into a long, passionate kiss. Ji just turned and left.
"Now I know how real parents feel." He muttered. "Thank God I don't have kids."
