Antonio, Ji and Stephen were sitting around a table, concentrating on the task at hand. While Antonio was focussing his Symbol Power into the Light Zord, the others were keeping a close eye on the proceedings.
"I'm really worried about Ji." Jayden finally commented. "I mean, this thing with Brenda..."
"I'm not deaf Jayden!" Ji called over, giving him a dark glare. "I may be old, but my hearing works just fine. If you MUST talk about me behind my back, please find somewhere else to do so."
He gestured the others to follow him outside, and he stopped with a heavy sigh as they arrived.
"I'm really worried about him." Jayden reiterated. "Brenda...he really cares about her..."
Just then, he saw Ji leaving the Shiba House with intent, Stephen and Antonio not far behind him.
"We are going to get more privacy." Ji stated as they left. Jayden just nodded as they left, exchanging a little glance with Antonio as he went.
"He'll be fine." Mia assured him. Jayden just shook his head.
"I'm not so sure." He replied. "Come on guys, if we have nothing better to do, maybe we should get back to training."
Underwood and Johnson got to the exterior of a restaurant, finding the place in darkness. Mr. Costaz's place was currently under review, and was not allowed to open its doors to customers. It was also as a result of Brenda Hamilton, making him a real suspect.
Underwood went inside, finding Costaz hovering the carpet. He had been to this restaurant before, and by the looks of things, it was cleaner than he could ever remember it being. He coughed, deliberately loudly to attract his attention, alerting Costaz to his presence. He went to the bar as he saw Costaz switching off the hoover.
"What the f..."
"I'm Detective Underwood, my partner is Detective Johnson." Underwood introduced himself, flashing his badge. "I wanted to ask some questions Mr. Costaz."
"Fine, whatever." He snorted as he went behind the bar. "Can I get you anything?"
It was barely midday, so Underwood shook his head. Costaz however was pouring himself a Scotch that looked well beyond a normal measure and downed it in one swig. "Well, you wanted to ask questions...go on!"
"Mr. Costaz, I understand you recently came into conflict with Ms. Hamilton..."
"She cost me thousands!" He barked. "The Globetrotters are playing across the street this week. Do you have any idea how much I'd earn if I was allowed to open?"
"So, it would be fair to say you were not on friendly terms with Miss Hamilton." Underwood replied. Costaz just shook his head.
"You are not pinning this shit on me!" Mr. Costaz put down flatly.
"Mr Costaz, we have witnesses..."
"She shut down my restaurant, of COURSE I'm not exactly weeping into my cereal that someone shot her!" He replied. "But I didn't do it!"
"You have to admit, it looks bad." Underwood replied. "If you can come up with an alibi; that would be for the best."
"I was under the impression that our legal system operated on the premise of innocent until PROVEN guilty." He replied, pulling out a cigarette. Underwood gave him a dark look, at which he just shook his head and put it away.
"I have heard that you were seen..."
"I was in her office earlier that day!" Costaz stated. "That much is no secret, half the bloody building had to have heard!"
"Mr Costaz..."
"I don't like her! In fact, if you asked me at this exact moment, I'd probably go as far as saying I hate her! She's probably just cost me my business!"
"But...?"
"I didn't shoot her!" He replied sharply. "Now, if you are able to prove I did, feel free to charge me. Other than that, I have to try and put my business back together."
"So, you don't own a..."
"Nickel Plated Harballer model 1911." He sighed. "I did, but I don't anymore."
"May I ask...?"
"It was my grandfather's." He snapped. "I only kept it while he was living with us. The day he died, I got rid of it!"
"Can someone confirm this?" Underwood asked him. Costaz just shook his head.
"I was alone when I tossed it." He replied. "But that doesn't mean..."
"That's all for now." Underwood told him, putting away hi notebook. "I'd suggest you don't leave town."
With that, he stepped outside, Johnson a little way behind him.
"I think..."
"It's a line of enquiry." Underwood told him. "Check the local gun stores and find out if anyone's been buying hollow points recently."
"I doubt..."
"If he was dumb enough to put them on his credit card, then that's amazingly lucky for us!" Underwood snapped. "Other than that, we just have to hope on a little luck."
Serrator was on the banks of the Sanzu river, meditating when Octoroo waddled along. He didn't even bother opening his eyes as the squid-faced lackey arrived.
"What do you want?" He asked dismissively.
"I want to know what you plan to do!" He stated. Serrator just smirked. "You said you would..."
"I know what I promised." He replied. "I have a plan in mind."
"Well, results appear to be in short supply!" Octoroo snapped. Serrator snapped to his feet and spun around, levelling his blade at Octoroo's throat. He stopped just short of decapitating him, but made the point that he easily could have. He put the blade away and started to walk away.
"Watch and learn." He drawled casually as he disappeared into a gap.
Ji, Stephen and Antonio were all sitting around the Light Zord, waiting on results as Antonio beamed power into it. As the beam broke, and Antonio slumped away, Ji just shook his head.
"Perhaps we need to take a break." He suggested.
Stephen walked away, noting the tense nature of the scene. Antonio just put away his morpher as he looked to Ji. He didn't know how to begin, or what to say. He searched every inch of his mind, before he looked to him again.
"Ji, everything's cool between us right?" He asked. Ji just shrugged.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." He grunted. Antonio just came across, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Things haven't been right around the house for a long time." Antonio stated. "And while you never did like the idea of me joining the team..."
Ji held up a hand, bidding Antonio to remain silent. Antonio was about to object when he heard it too. Someone was approaching, someone who sounded like they were taking great efforts not to be heard, but had neither the skill nor even the dexterity to accomplish the feat.
Pulling out their Samuraizers, they turned to confront the stranger, only to find a Nighlock approaching them, holding Stephen by the throat. Antonio had just managed to press the first button of the combination, when the Nighlock tightened his grip, noticeably causing him to turn red. Ji held up a hand in warning.
"Your morphers." The Nighlock ordered them. Antonio glared at him.
"I can take him." Antonio stated.
"It would take too long." Ji told him. "Even you could not morph and move quickly enough to take him before Stephen lay dead upon the ground."
Antonio considered his options, and looked to Stephen, who by now appeared to be unconscious. It would not be much longer until his life faded altogether. Reluctantly, Antonio threw his Morpher at the Nighlock's feet. Ji did the same. The Nighlock then summoned some Moogers, who proceeded to tie them both up as he released Stephen from his grasp.
"A wise decision." The Nighlock told them. "Serrator requests the pleasure of your company."
Meanwhile, in the hospital, Brenda was lying on her bed, completely exhausted. Between medication and the toll taken on her body by the attack and subsequent surgery, she was incredibly weak, and regularly spent much of her time asleep.
She lay on the bed, looking around wearily, when she saw a shadow standing over her. She couldn't quite tell if it was one of the many doctors, or even if it was Ji. The latter option was by far the most appealing. She strained to see, only to realise to her horror that it was neither. What stood over her wasn't even human. A hand gripped her wrist as she reached for the alarm button, and another was clamped over her face, preventing her from screaming.
Back at the Shiba House, Jayden was working through some exercises with the remaining Rangers. Since they had gained access to the Light Zord, he had started to get a feeling that something much more powerful was coming, something that would test them all greatly. On this day, he was focussing on trying to come up with creative ways to combine and use their symbol powers.
He and Kevin both set their power disks spinning, before casting out their power. Kevin created a thick mist of water, while Jayden used his flame to super-heat it, forming it into a dense cloud of steam that was thick enough to stop people seeing, and also heat so intense that it was impenetrable. As the cloud finally dissipated, Mike smiled.
"Now, that could come in useful!" He commented.
"It would definitely be great for cutting off an escape route." Kevin stated.
"Not to mention it'd be great if we ever come up against a clam Nighlock." Mia chuckled.
"Aw man, now you've got me thinking about steamed clams!" Mike grumbled. "Now I'm hungry."
"You're always hungry." Emily teased him. "Alright Mia, let's show Jayden what we came up with."
They started their power disks spinning, at which Emily started casting up sand. Mia added her wind power, creating a sandstorm which whipped through the yard. Jayden smiled as he saw this.
"Wow, nicely done." He said, looking kind of impressed. "Alright guys, let's get all this cleared up and see about finding the others for lunch."
Just then, Serena came out the Shiba House, looking a little concerned. She approached the others, carrying the telephone.
"Hey Serena. We were just going to find the others and head for lunch." Mia told her.
"Are you alright?" Emily asked her.
"That was the Apple store." Serena told them. "Stephen hasn't shown up for his shift."
"Really?" Jayden asked.
"He hasn't called or anything!" Serena told them. "That's not like him."
"Alright, now I have a bad feeling." Jayden commented, flipping out his Samuraizer. He dialled Antonio, only to find that it just rang out. He tried Mentor Ji, only to find the same thing.
"Alright, that DEFINITELY isn't good." Kevin stated. "Antonio wouldn't forget his morpher, not after the last time. Ji would always answer."
"Come on guys." Jayden instructed them, heading for the main room. He went to the computer and called up the city map, looking for their energy signatures. If their friends were missing, they needed to find them and fast.
Elsewhere in town, Ji, Antonio and Stephen had been taken to a temple, where their Nighlock captor was keeping them bound, obviously waiting for the other Rangers to try and rescue them. Ji could only guess at what kind of trap he had set up for them.
"So, who are you working for? Serrator or Xandred?" Ji asked him. The Nighlock just snorted in disgust.
"That shows how much you know." He remarked. "Serrator has pledged himself to Xandred."
"Great, that's all we need." Antonio muttered. "It was bad enough to think that there might be two sets of Nighlock to worry about. Now they're teaming up?"
"Ah. I see you managed to gather our guests." Serrator said in a casual drawl as he arrived. He was carrying a large bundle of blankets over his shoulder, but from the shape, J could tell that someone was inside. His blood turned cold as a horrible thought occurred to him.
"No..."
His thoughts were confirmed as Serrator laid down the bundle next to him, and unravelled it. Ji pulled her up into his arms, cradling her softly.
"You already have us." Ji rushed out. "You don't need her."
"Of course I don't need her." Serrator replied. "Of course, she is such a delightful woman..."
"She's seriously ill!" Antonio protested. "Can't you see how weak she is? She needs to be in a hospital!"
"Exactly." Serrator said with a sick little smile. "Perhaps her condition will speed up their search."
Ji could feel the weakness in her. She was a little cold to the touch, and he could feel her breathing was laboured. Without the machines at the hospital, her body was struggling to keep going. It had not been long since her lung had been removed, and her body was still not used to managing with only one. She was nowhere near ready to be released from the hospital.
"You should be careful what you wish for." Ji warned him. "The Rangers are not to be underestimated."
"Neither am I." Serrator replied. "By the end of this night, the war will be changed forever."
"You really think a trap is going to work?" Antonio asked him. "What's the big surprise? An ambush? Bomb?"
"Please, how long do you think I've been doing things like this?" Serrator asked him. "The last thing one does is reveal the plan until the enemy are defeated."
With that, he left the room, leaving the hostages under the care of his Nighlock. Ji just held Brenda slightly elevated across his knees, doing what he could to ease her breathing.
"Antonio, Stephen, give me your jackets." Ji told them, pulling off his jacket to cover her. They did as they were told; allowing him to do what he could to ease her discomfort. "Stay with me Brenda. I'll get you back to the hospital, I promise."
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, the Rangers were tracking the signals of the others, finding themselves confronted by a tunnel. Jayden started his power disk spinning, igniting the blade of his Spin Sword, lighting the way.
The Rangers all followed him into the tunnel, where they found no sign of their friends. Instead, sitting on a rock were the two morphers and the Light Zord. Clearly the Nighlock had left them here to lead the Rangers off the scent. Mike picked up the Light Zord.
"Antonio showed me how to use it." He told them. "It might come in handy."
"Take the morphers too." Jayden instructed them. "Once we free the others, I'm sure they'll be looking for a little payback."
"Wait." Mia stated as she saw something underneath the Light Zord. It was a note, written in Japanese. She started to read it. "We have four of your friends at the temple. Come before Midnight, and only one need die. Any longer, the others will too."
"Four?" Emily shrieked. She pulled out her Samuraizer and called home, before breathing a sigh of relief as Serena answered. Unfortunately as she looked to the others, she came to the same conclusion. "If it's not Serena..."
"Brenda!" Mia gasped. "She's nowhere near strong enough to be out of hospital!"
"Guys, it's ten O'clock." Kevin reminded them. "That doesn't leave us long."
As they were about to go though, Mike noticed something odd about the Light Zord. It was something in the disk slot on the underneath. As the others left, he fished it out, seeing a brand new disk that he had never seen before. It was deep crimson, and had dark symbols on it. He could feel an incredible power emanating from it. He didn't know how, but he just knew that this was something important that Antonio had been working on. He had obviously slipped it into the Light Zord just before they were taken.
Stashing the disk back into the Light Zord, Mike sprinted after the others. If he knew the Gold Ranger like he thought he did, he was sure that this could be the thing needed to tip the balance in their favour.
Over at the precinct, Underwood was just about to head home when his phone rang. He picked it up, breathing a weary groan.
"This better be good." He stated.
"Detective Underwood, this Dr. Halford of the ballistics department." The voice on the other end told him. "I have the information you wanted."
"Alright, go ahead." Underwood replied.
"The rounds fired in the Brenda Hamilton came from a model 1911 Harballer." Dr. Halford informed him, leafing through the report. "I'm e-mailing it to you as we speak."
"That's very interesting information." Underwood replied, taking a note. The Hardballer was not really a very popular model any longer. He wasn't holding much hope that the attacker would use a distinctive weapon, especially not one the same make and model that he had heard his chief suspect had once owned. "What about the sale of rounds?"
"A box of hollow point rounds for a Hardballer were purchased from Jessop's Firearms and Sporting Goods on Alpine."
"Please tell me what I want to hear." He stated.
"It was a cash transaction." Dr. Halford replied dejectedly. Underwood just shook his head. He imagined he couldn't really expect a suspect to just hand him the case on a silver platter.
"Alright, thanks." He answered, checking his watch. "The store will be closed by now. I'll check it out in the morning."
With that, he hung up the phone and gathered his coat and left.
