Epic 10: A Serious Strife

At an old temple Joe is practicing his form as Doc and Ahim watch. As Joe draws to a close the two applaud and Doc hops to his feet running over only to trip on the old stones but Joe is faster still hurling his Gokai Saber to give Doc something to catch and halt his fall. Glancing down Doc notes a small crop of flowers where he would have face planted and keeps his eyes on the flowers as he draws the saber from the ground.

"You did that to protect this flower." Doc smiles as he gets to his feet, "what fine play!"

"Joe-san looks scary," Ahim comments "But he's actually quite nice."

Joe looks back and away uneasily, "I'm okay." as Ahim and Doc share a smile.

But the moment doesn't last long as Joe's Mobirate rings, it's Navi, "We just hit a big wave of Zangyack!"

"We'll be right there!"

The battle itself is an embarrassing chore, Gil clearly phoning it in with a squad of enlarged Sugormin, insult added to the issue as a box auto unlocks on the bridge and pops open with a picture of Skeletal in it and a note that reads, "You know you really need to stop doing these filler assaults with (Su)Gormin, all you're doing is wasting resources."

The note had been deliver early this morning.

Gil is furious, "Damn him! Damn them! Damn him! Damn them!" and in his range he starts to attack Gormin left and right, "You're all useless!" before knocking the box to the floor with a crash. "You jerk!" he says wailing on one Gormin as he makes his way over to Damaras, then spins back around and shoves Insarn, "Where is this invention of yours to take care of that guy!"

"You highness!" Damaras interrupts before Gil gets any more violent, holding him back, "control yourself!"

"Let me go!" he demands as he struggles against Damaras who loosens his grip letting Gil storm off, though it's clear the moment is abating, though his anger is still high. "How many times are you guys going to be defeated?!" he demands.

As if in response to the venting soul comes up on the main display, head tilted through fully, "About 30 more times, then you die when you try to take us on in Great Warz. Oh then your dad dies aboooout a dozen battles later. Insarn right before he dies oh and Damaras shortly before that and after your death. As for Barizorg, about the same time as you Emperor Gil-sama. But I'll do what I can to save you guys for SPD at the last minute...though I can't make any promises as the battles heat up...oh and heads up you got company coming."

Then the signal dies and Gil collapses into his chair, "H-How does he know such precise information."

Damaras offers a platitude even though he starting to question his own doubts this fact is never betrayed in his voice, "he is just making it up. No one, no matter how powerful can predicts the time of another death."

As if to undercut Damaras point a purple ship shows up on long range radar approaching their perimeter, Damaras suppresses a growl as Gil lies back in his seat looking defeated.

"About ten minutes until they violate our air space," Barizorg relates.

"Samurai." On the ground the crew, with Luka and Ahim in the lead look at a picture of a samurai as the others look around the area. "People who wear a kimono and carry a katana?"

"Although I have heard they don't exist in this era." Ahim adds.

"Where do we find this Samurai?" Marvelous asks looking to soul.

"Just keep walking around, she should find us." soul responds.

"How about them," Doc says bringing their attention to a group of people, overseen by a woman practicing ken-do."

Marvelous smirks, "That's pretty cool."

soul shakes his head, "Not them."

"Alright!" Luka says waking off, "Let's keep looking."

All but Joe and soul follow. Joe pauses and watches them practice as memories return to him. Memories of being trained, and beaten by Gormin. Of meeting of a man named Sid, who would later become his sempai, and of Sid-amazing techniques he created, back when both of them were Zangyack recruits.

"That was a lifetime ago Joe," soul says putting a hand on his shoulder.

He rolls it off, the other crew having stopped and looking back, Ahim's gaze turning to the ken-do practices as her own mind reflects to a time in the crow's nest with Luka and soul.

'Joe had one of the greatest Swordsmen train him,' the memory of soul plays back, 'but in the end...say something happened, something bad.'

"Don't worry about it," Joe says dismissively as he moves to join the others, just as drums being to be heard and men in black cloth run in with a banner as they pass by a young woman stands with an older man against the backdrop of a second banner.

soul nods, "That's her. Princess Shinken Red, she is the Samurai you are looking for."

The man speaks loudly in response, "Show your respect! This is Shiba Kaoru-sama! Bow your heads!"

"SaMUrai," Luka questions.

Doc's eyes go wide, "Shinken...Red. Does that mean?"

"You are in the presence of a princess!" the man shouts, "Your heads are too high! Lower yourselves."

The girl sounds annoyed, "Tanba. Enough. Do you think such word would work on a band of pirates? Fall back."

However soul has already dropped to the ground and bowed.

"Ah mou!" Luka protests as she pulls soul up, "Don't bow to that brat."

Tanba and the black clad figures pull away as Kaoru returns her attention to the crew, "I'll be blunt. Return the Shinkenger's Ranger Keys!"

Marvelous scoffs, "Well, I'll be blunt. Bullshit."

"You cur, how dare you address the princess that way!" Tanba stand beside his lady again and starts to storm toward the Gokaigers before Kaoru slaps the back of his head with her fan.

"Fall back!"

Holding his head Tanba slinks back as Kaoru returns her attention to the Gokaigers, "You leave me no choice."

One of the stagehands in black approaches, head bowed, holding out a sword which she takes in a firm grip, "I will take it back through force!"

She charges forward putting Marvelous on the defensive as he defends her parries until he can get some space.

"You dodge well." She complements.

"Well he is Captain of the 36th Super Sentai." soul comments with a hand to his chin as he pulls out his shinken specter key and looked it over.

As Kaoru prepares another run Marvelous stand, drawing his Gokai Gun, Ahim and soul running between them.

"Ok fun is fun but your going overboard Marvelous!"

"Wait a moment!" Ahim pleads, "Calm down you two!"

"Really," soul injects "If it's that big a deal here!" soul said holding out 7 keys, "Have these, I have copies i charged with my mojorika to be as good as the originals of them after all."

"What are you doing!" Marvelous demands as he and Kaoru move to meet soulin the center.

he looks to Marvelous first, "You know my keys don't count for the Greater Power and the Power Ranger version of Shinkenger had 2 alternate suits. Mega Mode, AND Shogun Mode. I have keys for both."

Kaoru takes one of the keys which looks like a more armored Princess Shinken Red, "What is this?!"

"Female Megamode Samurai Red. It'll work just as well as your original key. Maybe even better since it's more armored."

Kaoru hold the key firmly as it glows and vanishes her force replaced by a heavily armored form. Curiously she looks over her form, starting at the arms.

"Everyone happy?"

Kaoru demorphs and gives a long look at Marvelous then soul, "This is about more then restoring our powers. Your pirates, why should I believe you would bring honor to our powers."

"A duel then." Joe says stepping forward, "If I win then you tell us about the Shinkenger's Greater Power. If I loose we hand over the Shinkenger Keys."

"What?!"

At the Gigante Horse the purple ship has broken their lines and docked, but it's Captain walks a swath of destruction through the ship until he makes his way to the bridge.

"T-the guy was right!" Gil panics as a blue swordsman cuts his way past Gormin.

"Out of the way pests!"

Barizorg quick to charge into action getting the visitor in an arm lock and giving Warz a good look at the man.

"D-Deizeiger?!"

"Why is an elite guard of the emperor here?" Damaras wonders.

Gil nods, "Yeah?!"

Just as Deizeiger breaks out of Barizorg's hold only to turn his sword away and gives a bow, left hand over his heart, "His Majesty ordered me to help you, Your Highness." Then he points to Damaras accusingly, "Despite your presence, you still haven't taken over Earth. How Pathetic."

Insarn injects, "It's not as easy as you make it out to be. The Space Pirates have a psychic among their ranks who has cut us off at every turn."

Deizeiger huffs, "This psychic will never see my blade coming."

"Actually I have." soul's voice came over the com, "Hi Deizeiger...you know your going to die today right?"

It was another prerecorded message that just opened on the monitor, causing Deizeiger to jump. Damaras chuckled.

"he has sent us a number of prerecorded messages, like that one. That only open on a timer just to prove his abilities. As well as warn off of our impeding doom in an attempt to get us to pull back from Earth." Warz explains.

"Why do you continue to humor him?! At your order I will take out this guy along with the rest of the pirates."

"Excellent! And I will go with you."

"Y-Your Highness," Damaras flinches, "You take to great a risk."

"Nonsense with Barizorg and Deizeiger the Earthlings won't know what's coming."

Back on the ground Kaoru stands opposite Joe, ready to duel, "Why am I fighting you instead of the Captain?"

"You are truly skilled," Joe explains, "It would be a pity if you got hurt fighting Marvelous."

"You look down on me. That's fine, as long as you honor the terms of our agreement."

"As long as you honor your end if I win."

The two warriors stand still as they size each other up, leaving Luka confused, "Why? Why aren't they moving?!"

"I must protest this," soul injects, "Zangyack will be making an attack any minute now, and it's going to be one of our toughest battles to date! This can wait."

"For Joe," Marvelous addresses soul first, "It can not." Then he addresses Luka, "This is how a fight between two truly skilled people goes."

The fight begins after a moment as Joe and Kaoru dodge and parry each other, circling each other in a fierce dance as soul watches the sky nervously. As the two move away from each other for the second round the Assault begins as Zangyack ships begin to fire on the surface, Joe and Kaoru turning to view the battle even as soul is charging toward it.

"This is bad," Kaoru muses, "The duel is on hold for now." Before she charges in beside soul, changing into the Megamode Red Ranger.

Tanba running after with a worried "Princess!"

Marvelous crosses his arms in annoyance, "looks like the duel can't continue until that's taken care of."

"Let us go!" Ahim advises.

"Yeah!" Marvelous says leading the charge of the others, Joe trailing in last.

Mega Princess ShinkenRed arrives first, slicing through Gormin as people flee With Tanba arriving next and helping the civilians as he moves closer to ShinkenRed who glances over he shoulder just as Deizeiger teleports down with Warz Gil, Barizorg, and a mixed unit of Sugormin and Gormin.

"Listen Earthlings!" Gil opens, "I am the supreme commander of the Zangyack Empire! Warz Gil-sama! My personal appearance means it will only be a matter of time before the planet is conquered."

Tanba and the stagehands have now caught up to ShinkenRed as Gil continues, "If you value your lives, prostrate yourselves at my feet!"

Marvelous answers with gun fire which Deizeiger and Barizorg block, soul answers with a smart remark, "How about I just don't kill you and your fancy bodyguards?"

"So you're the boss," Luka adds unimpressed.

"So it's the emperor's idiot son?" Joe adds with a barb.

"What was that?!" Gil says in disbelief. "You damn wanted pirates. This is your last chance to act cocky!"

"That's our line!" Doc injects.

"Sorry half the team doesn't have one," soul blurts out, surprising himself, "Mind if we're epic instead?"'what the what pocessed me to say that? i think ryuen has somehing to do with this' thought soul.

Ahim gives him an odd long before returning her attention to Gil, "Yes! We will not loose to lowly being like yourself!"

Now furious Gil shakes in rage, "Gormin-domo, get them!"

"Let's make this showy!" Marvelous says leading the charge.

The world was slowing down to a crawl, each moment stretching out to infinity as soul ran forward with the others, even the addition of Mega Princess ShinkenRed wasn't enough variance to see the fight play out like it was prerecorded. This battle was one of the few burned into his mind. Originally because of the pure epic feel of it but now it had a more personal impact. There was Marvelous, Ahim, Joe, Doc, and Luka fending off Gormin with hand to hand combat as they got an opening to insert their Ranger Key. Each one having to knock back a Gormin or two to get enough room to thrust their Mobirate forward so the pose could finish and the suits could be formed. he even found himself following the motions, as he kicked back a Gormin, backed up and thrust out his own shouting 'Gokai Change' and then the call of 'Gokai Skeletal'' but nothing was really changing. Gil flailed about shouting, as Skeletal echoed it in whisper, "What are you doing?! Hurry and defeat them!" And the Sugormin charged into the fray while the 7 of them were still engaged with the Gormin.

"Luka!" Blue shouted as he tossed his Gokai Saber to Yellow.

"Thank you!" she called as she caught it and tore through the Gormin with duel sabers.

Green was up next tossing his gun to Pink.

"Okay. Thank you very much!" Pink called as she got some distance to open up with guns blazing.

Soon only Gil and his two generals were left and the seven stood opposite them ready to end it. skeletal was shaking slightly as everything played out, there was not a damn thing he could do to change the outcome. Red announces it's all over. Deizeiger offers to finish things. Gokai Change To Zyuranger, with Skeletal using the form of a white warrior man named zyubonez. The Gokaigers and Princess ShinkenRed putting up a good fight against Deizeiger for the most part but he easily counters their attack. Gil cheers and applauds, ordering Deizeiger to send the seven to hell.

"We're not done yet," Pink calls as the gather back up.

Now it was time for Dynaman, Skeletal as Dynaspirit, but even with their powers combined into the Super Dynamite Attack Deizeiger was able block the attack and send the Gokaigers falling to the ground but they picked themselves up.

Blue turning to Red, "I will defeat Warz Gil. If their top falls, the advantage will be ours!"

Skeletal's eyes dilated as his voice went low, "No"

The moment was here, and there was still nothing he could do. One last Gokai Change. Gingaskeleton for Skeletal as they charged in, even Princess ShinkenRed's addition would not change anything, she didn't know what was about to happen, she couldn't stop it.

But Skeletal did.

The moment inched closer, Blue had engaged Barizorg, they seemed evenly matched. 'If only I had masted that technique!' tear flowing down into the helmet, as the moment was reached. Barizorg twisting his sword as he slid into a stance only 3 people in the entire universe knew, And the other two had no idea he was one of them.

Staring face to face with the stance Blue let down his guard, "That stance...it can't be." his mind reeled, 'how can this...machine know Sid-Sempai's technique?' So lost in thought and shock Blue couldn't react quick enough as the cross slash shot toward him and he flinched trying to brace for it, shutting his eyes tight. But the moment didn't come and as he opened them he saw another cross slash wave fighting with Barizorg's for control. Glancing back over his should he saw Skeletal in the same stance, breathing heavily. But his cross slash was clearly inferior.

"I did it!" he panted dropping to his knees.

The wave was not solid however, and in a moment Barizorg's over took his blasting blue back and out of his morph, Joe was torn up by the attack, but not as badly as he would have been if the attack had not be interrupted. But Joe was to lost in his thoughts to think clearly as he got to his feet and Barizorg stalked closer.

"Sid-Sempai? Is that you Sid-Sempai?" A part of Joe's mind wanted to look back to Skeletal who was still fighting with the others against Deizeiger, a part of him wanted to ask the same question of him. After all how could he of all people know his Sempai's technique. he had never seen him practice it because he never had. And there was so much about his true origin unknown. Added to the fact he kept claiming he was a kendoist back home. But Barizorg was just as a mystery, and Barizorg was right in front of him. He could question Skeletal anytime but if Barizorg really was Sid-Sempai then this was his only chance.

"Sid?" Barizorg said confused, "I have never heard of that name."

"You're lying!" Joe screamed, it had to be a lie. Barizorg was the most logical choice. "I saw it with my own eyes! That unique swordsmanship...the skill of it...it was Sid-Sempai's move!"

Behind him Skeletal paused, and watched the scene with a whispered "No."

"That's right!" Gil announced confidently as he stepped closer to Barizorg, "Barizorg was remodeled from Sid Bamick, a deserter from my empire!"

"What?!" Joe's voice trembled.

"I didn't like him since he was impudent." Gil gloated, "His sword technique seemed useful, so i'm using him in this way."

"Sid..." Joe's voice had dropped to a whisper, he felt sick inside, sick and angry. And he mind flashed back to a conversation with soul, he had alluded to this moment, 'Something terrible happened to Sid-sempai' and he had thought he had meant he was killed. He had long ago made peace with that but what if this was that thing, that Sid had been remade into this Barizorg. There had to be some part of the real Sid-sempai in this thing, there had to be! "...sempai."

"What a touching reunion with your sempai," Gil taunted, "No need for tears, just die."

Barizorg rose his sword and stepped forward, Joe still frozen in place.

"What are you doing, Joe?!" Red glanced back from his fight and started to move.

"Marvelous NO!" Skeletal shouted, his body moving on instinct now.

"Gokai Change!"

"Goooo-Busters!"

Gokai Red found himself shoved to the ground as a purple-silver blur shot past him, putting himself between Barizorg's slash and Joe in an instant as shots rained around Warz Gil, one even managing to hit his unprotected arm and cause blue blood to leak. He only got a look at the skeletal Ranger for a moment before the slash tore through the Gokai Change, through skeletal, and even though tamashii's jacket, as he dropped weakly to his knees but it snapped Joe out of his daze as soul collapsed into his arms.

"tamashii!."

Gil was trembling, screaming about his wound, "B-Blood, my blood! Barizorg! Even father has never hit me!"

Deizeiger broke off his attack and quickly returned to Gil's side. "We can't let anything happen to His Highness! Retreat!"

And with that the fight was over. The Gigante Horse teleported up the 3 and the fleet retreated to orbit as Marvelous caught up to Joe and soul.

"tamashii why?"

he smiled weakly, "I told you...my dream is to keep you...and the people of Earth...safe." before he collapsed.

Kaoru and the rest of the Gokaigers quick to rush over, "This is bad," Kaoru muses, "It's a deep wound."

On the Galleon soul was bandaged up by Tanba as he was lain out on the couch, "This medicine is effective against cuts from blades. Don't let him move until it's settled."

Ahim, proper as always bowed, "We truly thank you."

"Ummm..." Doc wondered, "But why are you doing this?"

"It's the natural thing to do as a person." Kaoru answers. "In a duel I would show no mercy."

As soul flinched in pain to forced a smirk Joe walked solemnly to the crow's nest, "A-at least now I know what AkibaRed means by 'pain is power.'"

"You need to rest," Doc interupts.

"Joe," Luka says softly as she watches Joe leave, "I wonder what's wrong."

As night falls Joe remains in the crow's nest replaying the events of the battle in his head. Gil's revelation of Sid's fate, of soul's cryptic message from so long ago, lost in thought. While the rest of the Gokaigers set up makeshift bedding around soul, all save Marvelous who set himself up at his chair to watch over him. As he turns over the mysterious purple key that made it all possible in his hands. He knew by now Nicole had some original keys, so he wasn't so worried about having to collect the Go-Busters greater power. But the speed...it even put Go-Onger and TurboRanger to shame and he had to wonder what else the Custom Keys could do.

As they all settled off to sleep Tanba approached Kaoru, "Princess." He whispers into her ear, "I saw. The Ranger Keys are hidden in there." he motioned to the treasure box that Navi stood watch atop, "What do you say. We secretly take a Ranger Key..."

She hit him with her fan again, "Tanba!" she said annoyed, but her tone grew softer quickly, "How mysterious. I want to watch over this band of pirates a bit longer."

"That is just the depths of your benevolence, princess."

By morning Luka was rushing down from the crow's nest with alarm, "Everyone!"

"Huh? What is it? What is it?" Navi fretted.

"Joe's gone. He left this." Luka says holding up a note.

Doc took it to read aloud, "'There is something I must right by myself.'"

"Why?" Ahim wonders.

Tanba look to Kaoru who turns her attention to the still hurt soul who looks warily to Marvelous, "I...did what I could to spare him the pain." a glow shot out of the ranger keys forming magidragon and gaoleon while a red glow shot out of his body forming gekiryu. "we will look for him tamashii just rest this is our way of letting you know that even us greater ranger powers think of you as a friend besides ryuen is healing you by now just don't make us worried like that again" said gekiryu surprising princess shinken red.

"ryuen?" she asked with soul.