A/N: VERY minor spoiler for tomorrow's episode (I think there are maybe a couple of scenes adapted). It's nothing huge that should detract from the episode, but I just wanted to give you a fair warning. If you don't want to risk it, then wait until after "Evil Reborn".

Lauren and the other Rangers arrived back in the Shiba House following their battle, Mike and Kevin helping Antonio into the main room, laying him down on the couch, while Emily ran for some ice. Ji and Brenda had already prepared the first aid kit, expecting the team to come home with casualties. They had seen the power readings before the Rangers had left, and knew that it was likely to be a tough battle. In a lot of ways, it ways, it was a surprise only one of them needed help back to the house.

As Brenda and the other Rangers started to check on him, Mia taking the lead since they had no idea where Terry had gotten to, Ji gestured to Lauren that he wanted to talk to her. She went with him out into the hall.

"What happened out there?" He asked. She looked to him and smiled.

"The team really pulled together." Lauren told him. "That Nighlock was tougher than I would have ever expected, but we got through it. They're everything Jayden said they'd be."

"They've been doing this for a long time." Ji told her, coming a little closer. "You all just needed to get on the same page."

"I guess once we started trusting each other, relying on each other...it all started falling into place." She answered, beaming broadly. "I've spent so long on my own; I really haven't been used to being part of a team, never mind leading one."

"I suppose that is a part of your training that may have been lacking." Ji commented. "Though if I remember correctly, your brother took a while to get used to it too."

He took her gently by the arm and pulled her a little further away. Looking to her, he could see that she was becoming nervous, obviously having guessed he had something serious he wanted to say.

"Speaking of your training, it reminds me that Emily asked you a question before you went out." Ji reminded her. Lauren just pulled away a little.

"Um...I..."

"She and Mike asked you where you've been for the last two years." Ji continued. "Until now, I've respected the fact that so far you've kept that to yourself. I had hoped that you would feel comfortable enough to tell us..."

"Well, I'm really not." She interrupted him. Ji just shook his head.

"I'm afraid that isn't good enough." He put down flatly. "I went to that site. I saw the aftermath of what happened at that safe house..."

"I was there when it happened!" She interjected sharply. "You may have seen what was left behind, but I saw it first-hand."

"Then perhaps you should..."

"I don't WANT to talk about it!" She told him flatly. "It's in the past, it doesn't matter."

"One thing I've learned from all this time I've spent with the others is exactly how important the past is. It's what shapes who we are in the present." He told her. "You saw the difference in your team's performance. Once they started trusting you, and you started trusting them, you went from a disorganised mess to being able to take down one of the toughest Nighlock they've faced with minimal injuries."

"That doesn't mean..."

"Your team placed their trust in you." Ji cut in, trying to catch her eyes. "They have placed their lives in your hands twice now, and it won't be the last time. The only way they can do that is if they believe you're playing straight with them. Perhaps you owe it to them to show them that their trust is not misplaced."

"Nothing happened." Lauren told him. Ji just grabbed her sleeve and pulled it up, exposing her scarring. Ji had to try hard not to react. He had heard from both Emily and Brenda about the scars, but nothing could have prepared him for the extent of them. He had hoped they were exaggerating, but it did look like they covered most of her arms at least. It was then that the thought occurred to him that since she had come to the house, Lauren had never worn short sleeves, or anything that exposed her legs. How far did the scarring extend?

"This...this doesn't look like nothing." Ji stammered. Lauren just pulled down her sleeve and held a finger in his face.

"I've never pulled rank before, but I'm the Shogun." She said with a stern tone in her voice. "This is a subject that is NOT up for discussion. Not now, not ever. I think I've proven myself to the team, and they have to me. That should be enough."

Ji just sighed and gestured to her that she could go. Lauren just took a deep breath.

"I'm going to check on Antonio, then I'm going to my room." She told him. "If you want to do something useful, then instead of worrying about what may or may not have happened to me, maybe you could look up the archives and see if you can find anything about Nighlock with a third life."

"A third life?" Ji asked her. She just nodded.

"That last Nighlock had a third life, a form even bigger and more powerful than the second." Lauren told him. He looked more than a little surprised. "I don't know about you, but I don't remember anything in the archives I've studied about Nighlock pulling that trick."

"It's not been in anything I've read." Ji told her.

"Well in that case, that's your priority." Lauren told him. "If this is a one-off, that's one thing, but if this is something new, then we have to know about it."

With that, she went back through to the main room. She saw Antonio struggling to get up.

"You're really desperate to get back to my brother aren't you?" She asked him. Antonio just grunted.

"Actually I'm just suffering under all this care-giving!" He grumbled. "Jeez, the point of First Aid is to make things better, not hurt the patient more!"

"Well his tongue works at least." Mia answered, looking a little annoyed by his comments. Lauren just smiled.

"Well, you all seem to have it covered here." Lauren told them. "Kevin, once the others have patched him up...or at least, finished him off...take the SUV and take what's left of him back to the cabin. I'm sure Jayden will appreciate that."

With that, she went to her room, closing the door behind her. The battle had gone well, and the team were finally accepting her role. She knew that she would never really replace Jayden to them, but they seemed to accept her as a worthy substitute. She didn't want to risk changing that now.

Back in the woods, Jayden and Dekker rode their horses, weaving through the trees, attacking each other with everything they had. Both of them had been weakened by the fall from the bridge, and exhaustion was also becoming a factor in the battle. Coming around, Jayden rested his Spin Sword over his shoulder, facing off as Dekker also turned around several feet away. His arm felt like jelly, and his Sword felt more like a sledgehammer than the perfectly balanced and weighted weapon it was. Dekker smiled.

"No matter the outcome, this is one duel that is worthy of the ages." Dekker told him. "I would be honoured to fall to your blade."

"Then prepare to be honoured!" Jayden called back. "I WON'T let you hurt anyone else!"

As they rode towards each other, Dekker powered up into his Nighlock form. Jayden morphed to renew the battle. Their swords clashed, and sparks flew as both of them put all the energy they had into the battle.

A little way off, Serena tumbled away as Dayu sent blasts her way. She snarled as she rolled to her feet.

"What's the deal Dayu?" She snarled. "You invited us here! You told us where the duel was! Why would you bring us here if you were only going to attack me?"

"You'll know your part in this soon enough Blessed Warrior!" Dayu said in heavy breaths, nursing some of the injuries Serena had inflicted in response. She threw aside her Harmonium, discarding it in the forest, and bringing both hands to the hilt of her short-sword. "For now, don't disappoint me by falling too easily!"

Back at the Shiba House, the team were caring for Antonio. It looked like he was a little more seriously injured than they, and indeed he, previously believed. They were reluctant to let him go anywhere for the time being, despite his protests.

As she went to get him something to drink, Emily noticed that they had left the map open. Something on it caught her attention though. Looking at it, she saw some energy signatures.

"Hey guys, I think you might want to see this!" She called out. Mia, Kevin, Mike and Ji all came to the map, inspecting it. "This doesn't look good."

"Those energy signatures...Dekker and Dayu!" Mike announced.

"Serena and Jayden are out there too!" Mia shrieked. "Terry said they were going to train!"

"We can worry about that later." Ji told them. "In the meantime, we must go and help them."

"It's Jayden's fight." Kevin stated. "We have a responsibility..."

"We have a responsibility to our friend who's got a skull-faced lunatic trying to kill him!" Mike yelled.

"You are both right." Ji told him. He weighed up his options, considering everything they knew. His instinct wanted to run out to help Jayden himself, and the others also wanted to go and help, but Kevin had brought up a point. Sending everyone after Dekker would only leave the city vulnerable. While the loss of Dekker and Dayu would leave the Netherworld short another two powerful Nighlock, two of the most powerful left, they couldn't discount any of the others.

"Kevin and I will remain with Lauren." He told them. "Antonio is in no state to shoulder his share of a battle, so Kevin and I will be here to help if Lauren needs us. Mike, Emily, Mia...go and help them."

"We'll bring him home safely." Mia assured him.

"Come on guys!" Mike called out, running from the house, taking the lead. Kevin just crossed his arms and leaned on a wall.

"I'll attend to Antonio." He told Kevin. "You go and speak to Lauren. Tell her what has happened."

Kevin just nodded, and headed towards Lauren's room. He knocked the door, but got no answer. He tried again, and still got no answer. Eventually, he just opened the door, heading inside.

Lauren was using a hair-dryer when he entered. She had clearly just stepped out of the shower. She obviously hadn't heard him over the hair-dryer.

Mercifully, she was wrapped in a towel. Kevin was incredibly embarrassed, and just wanted to leave the room before she noticed him, but he stood, unable to believe what he saw. Although most of her body was covered by the towel, her shoulders and arms were exposed. Most of them were covered in extensive burn scars, that made her flesh look a lot like a melted candle. On her right shoulder, was one of particular note. It was shaped, and formed some kind of glyph. These burns were no accident, someone had done this to her deliberately. The glyph in particular bore all the hallmarks of a brand. Some sick individual had branded her like an animal.

"Lauren?" Kevin asked as she shut off the hair-dryer. Lauren snapped around in alarm, seeing Kevin standing in her room.

"Kevin?" She shrieked, seeing him standing there. She grabbed a robe, pulling it on quickly to cover the burns, but it was far too late. He had already seen them. She was shivering uncontrollably as she saw him. Her face alternated between panic and anger. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Um...Jayden's in the forest battling Dekker." He informed her. "The others have gone to help him."

He stepped a bit closer, looking at her sympathetically.

"Lauren, who did that to you?" He asked her. She just shoved him roughly out of the room, before slamming the door in his face. Kevin didn't know how to react. He was concerned about Lauren, but his sense of duty, combined with his embarrassment at walking into her room caused him to just leave uneasily. Whatever had happened to her, it wasn't good. More than that, it was clear whatever happened was no accident. Someone had hurt her intentionally, and by the looks of it, it was a lot more than an isolated incident.

In the woods, Mia, Emily and Mike were running around, looking for Jayden. They didn't know what was going on, or understand why Serena had come looking for Jayden, but they all doubted that it was a coincidence that it was no coincidence that she was there at the same time as Dekker, Dayu and Jayden.

As they got to the edge of the stream, Emily spotted someone lying on the ground. She pointed him out to the others, and they all ran towards him, fearing the worst. They got close enough to see that it was Terry. There was blood on the ground near him from his wounds, and he was still wearing what remained of his Halloween costume. He had torn off some of it as makeshift dressings for the wound Dekker had inflicted.

"Terry!" Mia shrieked. "What are you doing here?"

"Why...why are you wearing that costume?" Emily asked him. Mike helped Terry sit up, taking off his jacket and giving it to him, propping him up against a tree.

"I'm paying the inevitable price for trying to help friends." He answered.

"Where are Serena and Jayden?" Emily asked him. He pointed a little way off.

"Last time I saw them, they headed that way." He informed them. "Serena and Dayu were fighting...Jayden went to find Dekker."

"I'll stay with him." Mia told the others. "You two go and find the others."

Mike and Emily ran off, continuing their search. Terry smiled at his sister weakly.

"I guess a little sympathy's too much to ask for?" He asked. Mia just glared at him.

"What were you two doing out here Terry?" Mia asked him. "Don't lie to me!"

Terry remained silent. He didn't want to admit that they had come by Dayu's invitation. It sounded silly enough in his head, let alone admitting it to others. Mia just crossed her arms defiantly and glared at him.

"Well, I'm waiting!" She growled. Terry just sighed.

"You totally inherited that look from mom." He responded, preparing to tell her what he knew.

Back at the Shiba House, Lauren came into the kitchen, finding Kevin with a book in his hands. She approached him slowly.

"Kevin...I'm sorry for how I reacted." Lauren began. "I was surprised to see you there..."

"I should have waited until you answered." Kevin said apologetically.

"So, you said the others have gone after Jayden and Dekker?" She asked him. Kevin rolled his eyes. "Kevin?"

"Lauren, do you expect me to just forget what I've seen?" He asked her.

"Kevin..."

"What happened to you?" He asked her.

"Kevin, it doesn't matter..."

"Like hell it doesn't." Kevin answered sharply. "Look, I've just about had it with the Shiba Clan!"

"Kevin..."

"I know I take all this more seriously than the others. I've heard every joke they've told. I know that sometimes my diet or my way of doing things seem silly, but I used to always think that I was doing the right thing." He told her.

"Kevin, you're the most..."

"I fell in behind Jayden without question because he was the head of the Shiba Clan. He was my Shogun." Kevin said bitterly. "I didn't know him from Adam, but that didn't matter. He was the Shogun, that was it for me. I gave him my trust, my loyalty without question. Then, after two years I find out he's been lying to me. Do you know how I felt?"

"You weren't happy. I kind of noticed." Lauren stammered.

"I was HUMILIATED!" Kevin roared. "I can take the others making fun of me. I expect it. I know they don't get how much this means to me, but Jayden did. When I found out he had been leading me on, I felt like I had been his personal joke! That he got some kind of kick out of the fact I pledged myself without question to the wrong Shiba and followed him like an idiot! I felt like he'd been laughing at me behind my back for all that time!"

"Kevin, it wasn't like that." Lauren assured him.

"I turned my loyalty over to you, again without question." Kevin stated. "And now, now that for the first time I actually have questions, you can't give me a straight answer?"

He showed her the book, and on its pages, she could see the glyph that he had seen burned into her shoulder. Lauren looked up to him, trembling.

"What happened to you after that attack?" He asked her. "Where have you been for the last two years? How did you get those scars?"

Lauren just stood, mouthing wordlessly as she tried to find a way out of this situation. Of all the Rangers, Kevin had been the most devoted. She couldn't afford to drive him away, but she didn't want to even think about what happened, much less talk about it.

"Don't even try to tell me it's nothing Lauren." Kevin told her. "What happened?"