Ji collided hard with a rock as he was blasted away by Serrator. The Rangers' battle with Serrator and his moogers was quickly devolving into a scrappy affair, which was undoubtedly going to be resolved only when one side or the other had nothing left. The moogers were almost all gone, and Serrator had been forced to rejoin the battle. Beaten from pillar to post, Serrator was still standing strong, sending the Rangers flying this way and that.
Emily continued to attack in a frenzy. Making full use of the Light Zord, she bombarded him with a barrage of power disks any time she was on her feet. Serrator, for all his strength, was now showing real signs of injury. He was now actually flinching under the attacks, and his body bore the signs of injury. Seeing purple blood leaking from his body, the Rangers re-doubled their efforts, feeling now that it was actually possible to defeat him.
As Mike skidded along the ground after a harsh attack, Jayden helped him up, before offering him the Black Box. Mike looked to him in surprise.
"Jay?" He asked
"Emily can't handle another battle like the last one." Jayden explained. "If anyone else is going to take him down, I think she'd appreciate it if it was you."
"I won't let you down Jay." Mike promised him, powering up. "Super Samurai Mode!"
Jayden watched Mike rush back into the fray, sending forth a cascade of energy blasts from the Bullzooka. He looked to where Ji was struggling back to his feet, and caught a barely registered nod from him. Pulling out the Shark Attack Disk, he powered up into Shark Attack mode, rejoining his friends on the firing line.
Some distance away, Mia started to slowly come to. Kevin and Antonio were with her, and they were also starting to regain consciousness. She stroked her head, trying to get her bearings.
She remembered arriving to find Serrator about to execute Antonio. She remembered the brief battle, and she could remember a smoke bomb landing between them, but other than that, it was all a blank.
Looking to her watch, she realised that they had been unconscious for at least a full ten minutes. That was MORE than enough time for something bad to have happened to their friends. Before the gas had taken effect, Dekker was not far from the site of the main battle. She got to her feet as Kevin and Antonio joined her.
"Dekker's..."
"Gone." She concluded for the Gold Ranger. "Someone took us out to let him get away."
"Why would they want that?" Kevin asked. "And if we've been unconscious for ten minutes, why didn't they just take us out when they had the chance?"
"Those are questions that will have to wait." Mia replied, taking to heel and running down the path. "Dekker's got a ten minute head start. Come on!"
Back at the site of the main battle, Serrator was taking as much damage as he was dishing out. He couldn't do anything until Dekker arrived; all he could do was hold the Rangers off. They had, by now, taken care of his moogers, meaning they now had their sole attention on Serrator. He staggered as Mike hit him in the face with another Bullzooka Blast.
"Well, at least I know I have the right place." Dekker chuckled as he arrived, seeing Serrator fall to a knee. "Are you having a little trouble with the children?"
"Dekker! It's about time!" He snapped in response. Emily fired another group of Power Disks at him, but he caught them in a clawed hand, before throwing them back, causing a group of explosions all around them, forcing the Rangers to the ground. "Where have you been?"
"Thinking." Dekker answered, before holding out his hand. He looked to Serrator, smiling. "You promised me my sword."
"No!" Jayden called out, sending forth the Shark Sabre. Dekker though was too close to allow this to end now. He parried it with the Bane of Life, allowing Serrator to launch a lightning storm that sent everyone back to the ground in agony. The Rangers all de-morphed, all but completely spent. Even in this weakened state, Serrator's determination drove him to go on, despite his injuries. He held out the sword, offering it to Dekker.
"Here it is, just as I promised." Serrator grunted, holding it out to him. "Go ahead, take it!"
Dekker reached forward, taking the blade from him. He looked to it, inspecting it thoughtfully. He swung it back and forth, getting a feel for its weight and balance. Serrator watched for a moment.
"Well?" He asked. "I did as I promised! Now fulfil your end of the bargain!"
Dekker ignored him, continuing to inspect the sword. Serrator started to lose his patience.
"Your misery is stored in that sword!" He roared. "Do as I ask, strike open the fissure and end it all! YOU OWE ME!"
Dekker turned, and faced the stress point, causing all the Rangers to look up in alarm. This was the moment they were here to prevent, and now it looked like they were too late.
A little way off, Dayu was watching on in interest. She knew it wouldn't be long before the Rangers she had incapacitated would be making an appearance, and she needed to be there to prevent any interference. She looked to her right as a Gap glowed red and Octoroo appeared next to her.
"It's not like you to show up to battles." She commented.
"I wouldn't miss this for the world." He announced cheerfully, bringing out a bucket full of snacks. "Want some?"
Dayu just shook her head and turned back to the action as Octoroo just shrugged and began eating.
Dekker stood before the stress point, taking a few deep breaths. The Rangers on the ground were still a little way from being able to intervene. He raised up his sword, preparing to strike.
The Rangers all watched as he brought his blade down, and screamed, turning away as they prepared for the end. It wasn't to come though. Jayden looked up for a second, seeing Dekker swing around as he brought the blade down, and unleash a devastating strike across Serrator's chest. Serrator fell to his knees as energy erupted from him, and purple blood poured from the wound. He looked up to Dekker in shock.
"No, you..."
Dekker took the blade in both hands, and lifting a leg, drove the side of it across his knee, snapping it in two, tossing both pieces aside like so much garbage. Serrator just watched him do this wordlessly.
"We had a bargain, one which I know you had no intention of fulfilling." Dekker told him. "You see, the problem with playing games and manipulating others, is that sometimes they play the game better than you. They resent being pawns in the game, and start playing for themselves."
Dekker took out the Bane of Life, and drove it through Serrator's stomach, further weakening him. The deceptive Nighlock could only watch as he reached his hand into a Gap, his eyes widening as he saw him pull out the true Urumasa.
"I paid a little visit to Faslane." He informed him, showing him the sword as the other Rangers started to watch. Dekker drew the cursed sword from its scabbard, throwing the scabbard aside as he gripped the blade in both hands. "If you're going to do a job, you need the right tool for it."
Serrator started laughing as he heard this, seeing his centuries of work being undone in an instant. He had underestimated the pieces on his chess board. Now, he could only watch as Dekker raised Urumasa over his head.
"I had a life before, and you took that from me." Dekker told him. "You're right about one thing. I DO owe you!"
"You're as heartless as any Nighlock." He said, sounding almost impressed. Dekker smiled.
"From you, I consider that a compliment." Dekker told him, before bringing Urumasa down in a destructive arc, slicing straight through Serrator, cutting him from head to crotch in one stroke. Serrator's body sparked with energy as he flopped forwards, before exploding, ending his first life.
From their vantage point a little way off, Dayu had to try hard to contain her joy. Their plan had worked perfectly. Believing he had manipulated the situation exactly as he intended, Serrator had allowed Dekker to get close enough to strike the fatal blow. Octoroo just finished his snack, tossing the bucket aside.
"It couldn't happen to a nicer guy." He sneered. "Come back to the junk when you're ready to discuss our next move."
Dayu watched him leave, but opted to stay herself. She needed to see what happened now. This was when she'd find out if she really was within arms' reach of regaining the man she had loved for centuries.
Mia, Kevin and Antonio, arriving on the scene, could hardly believe what they saw. They helped the others to their feet as they all stared at him.
"Did...did Dekker just kill Serrator?" Kevin asked.
"I ended his first life." Dekker told them. "I owed him that much."
They looked to the skyline, seeing that the geysers of misery were all fading away, until they finally disappeared. The ground under their feet felt firmer, and the stress point sunk back into the earth, which seemed to fall in on it, almost like a wound healing itself. Jayden looked to Dekker.
"You helped us." He commented. "Why?"
"I helped myself." He corrected Jayden. "Serrator's mistake was in thinking I shared his hatred of humanity. Indeed, I rely on humanity. Only the human spirit has the courage required to create the warriors that satisfy Urumasa's hunger. I need humans to finally see my curse at an end."
He levelled Urumasa towards them, at which they all prepared to defend themselves. He had Urumasa pointed straight at Jayden, but after a moment, it strayed aside to Emily. He looked to her.
"Your sister, the Blessed Warrior." He announced. "Tell her she's welcome, and remind her that she owes me."
With that, he looked up, seeing Dayu standing on a ledge a little way off. He leapt away, landing on the ledge by her, and turning back to them, just in time for the Earth to start shaking.
"I trust you Rangers can deal with this." He commented, before turning to Dayu, looking to her. He tried to find something to say, remembering what the Gold Ranger had told him. In the end, he couldn't say anything. Dayu noticed the confusion and the frustration in him, and it filled her with hope. Unfortunately, Dekker still wasn't able to deal with what he couldn't understand fully yet. She followed him as he walked away.
The Rangers, however, had more pressing matters to worry about. Serrator's first life had been ended, and his geysers had all dissipated. His centuries of planning were now lying in ruins. As he grew to massive size, towering over them, he bellowed in rage.
"OK, now he's really pissed!" Mike commented. "Maybe Jayden..."
"Mike, I have full confidence in you." Jayden assured him. "You take the lead."
"Thanks Jay." Mike responded.
"Twin Papyrax!" Serrator screamed, creating two of his personal monsters. "If I can't have this world, I'll see it destroyed!"
"Right, we need to take this differently." Mike remarked. "Jay, you take the Bullzord. Antonio, the Claw Zord. Everyone else, join me in the Megazord!"
"I'll have Lighty join us for good measure." Antonio told him, taking it from Emily.
"Yeah, thanks for the loan." Emily stated as they all called forth their Zords.
"Technically you'd have to have asked for it to be a loan." He reminded her as the four zords got ready for battle.
Back at the Shiba House, Serena was in the yard, once again training with Kasamune. Now, more than ever she was desperate to get the damn thing to work. She had felt a sample of its power once, and she could feel what it was capable of, but so far, she was just unable to harness it.
She found herself flat on her back, yet again as she struggled to contain its power, before throwing it away in a fit of temper. Terry was quickly by her side.
"Screw this damned sword! It's caused me nothing but misery!" She screamed in frustration.
"Serena, you know..."
"Terry, do you realise that I've spent over a year chasing a legend?" She asked him. "For the Love of God, if I was meant for this, don't you think I'd have got it by now? For God's sake, Arthur only had to pull his bloody sword out a stone!"
"Serena, you have to do this." Terry assured her. "Please, it's not just about Dekker anymore. It's about all of us. Emily, Jayden..."
"Yeah, and they're all backing the wrong horse." Serena grumbled. Terry just got a bad-tempered look on his face and picked up Kasamune, thrusting it back into her hand.
"I've seen you use it before! I know you can do it!" He snapped. "Now think, what makes it work?"
"Don't you think if I knew that...?"
"Serena, you've used it before, now THINK!" He stated bluntly. "What were you feeling when you used it?"
She cast her mind back, remembering the brief encounter. She had gone to shield Terry, to try and protect him, only for armour to appear and protect her. She knew how she felt about Terry, but so far all thinking about him seemed to do was distract her.
It was then that she thought more deeply. Terry always tried so hard around the team to gain acceptance. He always seemed to be apologising and trying to make up for something. She knew that one of his major driving forces, despite the fact they were now closer and Mia had insisted she forgave him, was his guilt over not being there for her when she needed it. One of the things that drew her to him was the fact that he was aware of his failings, and did more than anyone else she knew to make up for them.
She then remembered what she had always been told about Kasamune. Unlike Urumasa, which was ruled by bloodshed, Kasamune was ruled by compassion. She had felt the need to defend him so he could continue to feel like he was making amends for his failings as a brother. She had done it so that he and Mia would have the chance to have the relationship she shared with Emily.
She got to her feet, closing her eyes, and started breathing deeply. Casting her mind back, she recalled the story she had heard at the Tengen Gate about Dekker and Dayu. She had been sold into slavery by her own father as a child. She and Dekker had been abused horribly as they grew. Dekker had fled his own home, the only home he had ever known, in search of a near-hopeless battle just so his father would see him as an equal. What had happened, the battle, the fire, all of it, was the inevitable end to a lifetime of abuse.
Spinning the octagonal Power Disk, she continued to keep her mind on what they had been through, imagining how she would have dealt with such a life. Her parents had never been anything but supportive. Her sister was her best friend as well as her sister. She had only ever grown up around love and acceptance. She couldn't imagine what it was like to be so alone, so unloved, so constantly afraid.
In a bright flash of light, Terry was temporarily blinded, and fell back onto his butt. He shook his head, clearing his vision, before looking back to Serena. His mouth hung open in shock.
"Terry?" She asked. "Terry, are you alright?"
"I am." He assured her. "But...you..."
Serena looked down, before her vision snapped back up.
"Terry?" She asked. He just nodded.
"Yeah, I think we can safely say you've got it." He answered, coming over and smiling brightly. "You've got this."
Back at the site of the battle, the Rangers were locked in a deadly battle with Serrator and his two Papayrax. The two monsters were smashed to the ground, just as the Claw Zord and Megazord rounded on them.
"Jay, you and Lighty just keep Serrator off us a moment longer!" Mike instructed him. "Antonio, you take the one on the right."
"Got it!" Antonio yelled. "Claw Battle Zord East! Armed for battle!"
"Alright guys, time to cut down the odds!" Mike announced, pulling the Mega Blade out of the console. "Power up, final strike!"
"Claw to pieces!" Antonio called out at the same time. Between the two Zords, the Papyrax didn't stand a chance. They both exploded, ending their threat once and for all.
"Alright, that just leaves you!" Mike announced as the Bull Zord staggered back. "Who says we step this up a notch?"
He pulled out the Combination Disk, knowing that this would be one of the few times he would ever get a chance to use it. Looking to Emily, he wished she could do this, but he knew that there were already worries about her considering how much the last battle had taken from her.
"Samurai Gigazord!" They called out together, forming into the Gigazord. Mike turned it to face Serrator, who was powering up an attack. He launched lightning at them, which sent a jolt through all of them, causing them all considerable pain.
"Mike..."
"Ultimate Samurai Strike!" He announced. They all lent their power, firing off a huge power blast that sent Serrator tumbling across the ground. He pulled himself up again, purple blood flowing from his mouth, and numerous wounds in his body as he snarled.
"You'll have to do better than that!" He announced.
"That...no Nighlock has ever survived that before!" Kevin stammered.
"Look at him; he's dead on his feet!" Mike stated. "We just need a little more power!"
"We still have one Zord left." Jayden reminded him, hitting the top of the Light Zord. He handed Mike the Shark Disk. "Go on Mike."
"If I'm going to do this, I'm going to do it right." Mike announced as he put the Shark Disk into the Black Box, summoning the Shark Zord. "Shogun Mode!"
Serrator was staggered by a strike from the Shark Zord while Mike powered up. He looked around the others.
"Alright guys, everyone wants this guy gone." Mike reminded them. "Let's give it all we've got!"
They channelled all the symbol power they had into the attack, powering up the Shark Zord blade, before it scythed down, right on top of his head. Split once again from head to crotch, Serrator stood as his power flowed from him.
"Twice in one day!" He complained. "I was so close, so..."
Before he could finish, he pitched backwards, exploding as he hit the ground. Mike pulled off his helmet, looking out over the battlefield as the others crowded around him. Emily hugged him particularly tightly, and he was only too happy to respond. After all the misery he had caused, after all he had done to the people they cared about, Serrator was finally gone for good.