A/N: So I have a lot of family and work commitments coming up, so my updates might slow a bit, though I will still try and make them weekly. Thank you for those still with me, enjoy :)

Chapter 45

Evie saw Deker coming, and she stepped out of the tree line, leaning on her sword casually.
Deker stops when he sees her.
"Black ranger, I wondered where you were. Not defending your lover?" asks Deker.
"Jayden can handle himself."
"Are you here to fight? You would provide more of a challenge than the other three."
"Yeah I'll be having words with Antonio," assures Evie. "And no, I'm not here to fight. I'm here to talk."
"I have no interest in pleas for mercy" scoffs Deker.
"I'm sorry do I look like Antonio to you?" snorts Evie. "I know pleas for mercy and random strangers lives won't sway you. You're a Nighlok."
"So what do you want to talk about?" asks Deker.
"You know Serrator made you into a Nighlok, that he's the one responsible for your curse. And centuries of wandering, alone."
"So, you want me to refuse his plan as revenge?" assumes Deker.

"Not just revenge. You don't like the Nighlok, and you aren't exactly a fan of the Netherworld, nor are you especially welcomed there, and if you crack the world in two. The human world goes bye, bye, and the Netherworld reigns supreme. And you have no guarantee Serrator is telling you the truth. He already screwed you and Dayu over once in a deal, how much do you trust him?"
Deker studies her and she can see he's weighing up what she's said.
"Serrator will not let this go," reminds Deker.
"So remove him from the equation, not only do you get Urumasa back. But if we're not worried about Serrator, Jayden has more time to train. More time to be the worthy opponent you seek. And you know that is a sure way to break your curse. Whereas all you have from Serrator is his word. And we know most Nighloks don't have your sense of honour when it comes to that" explains Evie.

"So, you want me to help you destroy Serrator?" clarifies Deker.
"You don't care about flooding this world with the Sanzu River. You don't need it to survive, and you're not beholden to Serrator or Master Xandred. You aren't anyone's pawn Deker. So, something tells me your plan was never to submit to Serrator's grand design. All I'm saying is, let me help. You weaken Serrator enough for us to be able to finish him off. It's a win, win."
"You would willingly pit your lover against me?" asks Serrator.
"Jayden already beat you once, he can do it again. But Serrator, I think we can both agree having one Netherworld big bad is more than enough. And better the devil you know," shrugs Evie.
"Very well black ranger. You make a number of points I can agree with. You continue to be intriguing. And to live up to the fox's nature," smiles Deker with an impressed nod.
"I'll still drive my sword through your heart if I get the chance."
Deker chuckles, "of that I have absolutely no doubt" he replies. "Though I am surprised your lover and your team were willingly to let you come here alone."
"They didn't exactly get a choice, now can we wrap this little chit chat up. Because I'd like my boyfriend and team in one piece, which means Serrator needs to go, sooner rather than later," answers Evie.
Deker nods, "Very well, let us plan while we walk."

Once they reach the quarry they separate, their plan in place. Thought it takes all of her self-control not to run to the others. Instead she hides nearby, waiting for Deker to make his entrance.
Then Deker appears.
"Finally, Deker," smiles Serrator.
Deker stops in front of him.
"I knew you'd come. Here take your sword," urges Serrator holding Urumasa out to him.
"Don't do it!" yells Jayden.
"Stop meddling," snaps Serrator as he turns and blasts Jayden, Emily and Mia back.
Evie winces but stays hidden.
"Now, the reunion you've been waiting for. I return this sword to its rightful owner, whole once again," nods Serrator.
Deker's hand closes around the handle and this time he feels the full power and connection of Urumasa surge through him.
"It seems Urumasa is happy to be reunited with you. Now it is time, quickly slash through the barrier. Once you complete this task, you will be free of your curse forever. You'll be free and I'll rule both worlds," promises Serrator.
Mike, Kevin and Antonio run onto the scene, shouting their protests, but Serrator tosses them aside, and they land next to Mia, Emily and Jayden.

"Where's Evie?" demands Jayden in a panic.
"Safe," answers Mike.
Jayden leaps to his feet pulling out the Bullzooka, but Serrator sends another attack at them, and they're thrown further back, de-morphing from the force of it.
"Come on Deker do it already," pleads Evie quietly, the team couldn't take another hit without their suits.
"Now do it," urges Serrator turning back to Deker.

As Deker lifted his sword he spun at the last moment slicing it across Serrator at the same time as Evie launches out of her hiding place, morphing as she did so bringing her sword across Serrator's back at the same moment as Deker's slices across his front.
"Why? How could you betray me like this, and to work with a ranger?" demands Serrator.
"You had what I wanted, your mistake was assuming I shared your hatred of humanity. I care only for the sword, you made me that way, remember" replies Deker glancing at Evie, "And as for working with a ranger, the enemy of my enemy, for this moment at least, and who better to help with a deception than a fox."
"You're as heartless as any Nighlok."
"And so, it ends here," says Deker as he sheathes Urumasa.
"NO!" screams Serrator as the cracks in the earth close up all around them.
"200 years of planning, ruined in an instant" Serrator comes to his feet. "Now you will feel my wrath" he cries as instantly electricity begins to shoot out of him.

Deker grabs Evie pulling her out of the way of the blast given how close she was.
As he leaps out of the way he drops Evie down not far from the other rangers before ensuring he himself was clear.
Evie jumps in front of the others shielding them from Serrator's attack with a blocking symbol.
"Rangers, I trust you will finish this," calls Deker.
"Go, go Samurai!" yell the others as they morph back into their ranger forms.
"Evie, what the hell just happened, where have you been?" demands Jayden.
"I'll explain later, right now we've got this asshole to take care of" she replies.
"Good idea," replies Antonio as he pulls the octo cannon.
"Lead the way," says Kevin.
"Five disk Octo cannon ready," nods Antonio.
"Bullzooka, ready," agrees Jayden.
"Really?" laughs Serrator, "you will pay the ultimate price," he warns as he sends an attack at them.
"That's what you think," replies Antonio, "full cannon blast!" he shouts as he fires it.
"Bullzooka blast!" echoes Jayden as both smash into Serrator.
He screams as his first form is destroyed.
"Yeah!" cheers Evie.

But as expected Serrator grows to mega size, "I'm not beaten yet," he warns as he sends an attack at them.
"Megamode power!" they shout as their zords grow in size.
"Zords combine!" they call as their zords form the combinations.
"Samurai megazord, bull megazord, claw battlezord south, light megazord too." they finish as all four zords stand against Serrator.
"Twin papyrox," calls Serrator as the two giant papyrox appear next to him.
"Jayden let us take care of the papyrox," says Kevin.
"Yeah, you get Serrator," agrees Antonio.
"With pleasure," nods Jayden as he advances on him.

The battle was long and hard, and it took every attack they had before they finally defeated Serrator.
Sighing in relief they returned to normal size and de-morphed.
"He's really gone," smiles Mia.
"I know, I can't believe it," agrees Emily.
"So want to tell us what the fuck just happened?" asks Jayden his relief being replaced with anger as he turns to Evie.
Evie has the grace to look sheepish, "I'm sorry. I only meant to follow Antonio and make sure he didn't do anything stupid. And by the way, what the fuck were you thinking turning your back on Deker?" she demands rounding on Antonio.
"Yeah that might've been a dumb idea," admits Antonio rubbing the back of his neck.
"You think," snorts Evie.
"Okay, we can deal with that other level of dumb later. Right now, I want to know how you went from following Antonio, to apparently working with Deker," interrupts Jayden.
Evie sighs, "I knew appealing to him like a man wouldn't work. So I appealed to the Nighlok part, the selfish part that cares only for Urumasa and the sword. And that he isn't full Nighlok. He has no interest in their desire for power, and he knew he couldn't trust Serrator. We agreed the enemy of my enemy is better. Serrator is a bigger and scarier threat than Deker will ever be. We agreed a double strike would best, and Serrator would never expect Deker to be working with a ranger. If you know your enemy as you know yourself, you need not fear a thousand battles."
"Sun Tzu, an apt quote," admits Kevin.
"Why not tell us this? Why just disappear while we were right here?" asks Antonio.
"There was no time, I couldn't waste the time arguing and convincing. I needed to move quickly. And if you didn't know what was coming, there's no way Serrator would. The fewer people who know a secret, the better kept it is."
"This could've back fired really badly you know. What if Deker had attacked you?" demands Jayden.
Evie pulls her samuraiser and presses a button, a second later the transport symbol appears and Evie disappears. Only to reappear behind them all.
"Then I'd have gotten the hell out of there," answers Evie calmly as she shuts her samuraiser and walks forwards lacing her hand with Jayden's before she rests it on her stomach. "I wasn't going to risk this. But our baby is safer without Serrator."
Jayden could see the logic, and he felt some of his anger leave him at knowing she had a plan.

Wordlessly he pulls her against him wrapping his arms around her tightly, "don't ever do that to me again," he begs quietly.
Evie hugs him back, "never."
"And while you might not have liked it, Serrator is gone, I say that deserves some celebrating, and I am starving after that battle," adds Mike.
"You're always starving," reminds Emily lacing her hand with his.
"Lets go get some food then," smiles Jayden wrapping his arm around Evie as they begin to walk, only to realise Antonio wasn't with them.

"Are you okay?" asks Mia.
"I'm just thinking how Deker was willing to betray Serrator, the choice he made. You knew he'd make it, didn't you?" he asks looking at Evie, "even without you suggesting it?"
"The Nighlok aren't like us, I knew trying to use our way of thinking wouldn't work. And I suspected Deker never intended to go through with Serrator's plan."
"But you made a choice, and you stood up for what is right," smiles Jayden.
Antonio nods, "and unlike the Nighlok we will never betray each other."
"Rangers together" smiles Kevin.
"Samurai forever" cheer the others.

They head back into town, grabbing pizza.
While they waited Evie saw a figure stood on the dark street outside.
"I'll be right back," she murmurs as she slipped outside.
Walking over the road she stops in front of Deker.
"Didn't see you as a pizza man."
"I am not."
"Figured," nods Evie her hands sliding into her pockets, "much as it pains me to say it, thank you for today. We might not have been able to do it without you."
"You would have found a way, I am sure. You continue to be a surprise black ranger. But with the end of Serrator, our truce is also at an end. And while I have no interest in cutting you down, if you get between me and the Red Ranger, I will show you no mercy."
"And if I get the chance, you won't be getting any from me" assures Evie.
Deker nods, "I would expect nothing less. It is fortunate for me that it was the fisherman who found me today, I am not so sure you would've let me live."
"Samurai don't kill unless we have no choice," answers Evie, though a small part of her did wonder.
"Maybe so, but none the less," replies Deker. "Tell the Red Ranger to keep training, I will have my duel."
"And I hope this time I get to watch him win."
"We shall see. Until we meet again black ranger."
"Until then," replies Evie as Deker disappears into the shadows.

Evie turns and heads back inside.
"Where did you go?" asks Jayden.
"Deker just wanted to let me know that our truce is over," answers Evie, "and next time we meet, if I get in the way of you. I don't get any mercy."
"Well Jayden beat him once, he'll do it again" replies Mike with a smile.
They grab their food and head home, but Jayden knows Evie hasn't told them everything Deker said. But if she didn't want to bring it up in front of every one, he'd ask her later in private.
They get home with a triumphant flare, and while Ji was not a huge fan of Evie going rogue, no one was arguing with the result. Because Serrator being gone was like a weight of their shoulders.

"Don't suppose you have any champagne tucked away Ji?" asks Mike with a smirk as they sat around the table.
"No, and even if I did, we may have won a major battle, we have not won the final battle,"
"Oh come on Ji, let us celebrate for a little bit," pleads Antonio.
"Given only two of you are 21 and one of you is pregnant the answer on alcohol is no."
"Okay fine, no alcohol," says Mike with a sigh.
"Hey speaking of 21's, your birthday isn't far off now is it Evie?" asks Mia looking at her.
"Halloween," nods Evie absently, Deker's words from earlier still swirling in her mind.
"What do you want to do? I know you can't drink, so we don't have to go out if you don't want too?" asks Emily.
Evie shrugs, only half focused on the conversation.
"We can decide a little nearer the time," intervenes Jayden, once again wondering what Deker had said that had so distracted Evie.
"Okay," agrees Mia also noticing that something was bothering Evie but opting not to push.
One by one they head off to bed, the battle having taken a lot out of them all.

Jayden walked out of the bathroom and found Evie sat on the bed, gazing off into space.
"You, okay?" he asks, shutting the door behind him.
"I basically agreed to let Deker duel you today."
Jayden sits down wrapping his arm around her, "that was inevitable either way Evie. We know it is, we'll need to deal with Deker, but better the devil you know. And you've already proven you can think like him if need be. I beat him once, and I will not let him hurt anyone else."
"I don't know if I could've done what Antonio did," confesses Evie.
"What?" asks Jayden.
"Walked away from a helpless Deker if it meant I could've killed him."
"You would have."
"I don't know, even Deker said he was glad it was Antonio who found him and not me-" starts Evie.
He cups her chin turning her head so she was looking at him. "I do, you're a lot of things Evie, but you aren't capable of cold-blooded murder. I have no doubt if it came down to it in a fight, you'll drive your sword through Deker's heart. But you wouldn't do it if he was helpless on the ground. You're too a good of a person for that. You might be dark and twisty, but you're not that. No matter what Deker assumes," promises Jayden, anger filling him that Deker would put that thought into her head, which them reminds him of his own still lingering anger with Evie's earlier decision.
"Yet I can think like him."

"As you said, you need to be able to think like your enemy to predict their next move. And that ability has gotten rid of Serrator. But I swear to God Evie, you go out to deal with Deker or any other Nighlok by yourself. I will lock you in this room, because you broke our deal today."
"I was with Antonio."
"Don't Evie, don't wordsmith me. You knew full well that it could go wrong. But you did it anyway, even if you had a backup plan. So next time for the love of god tell me," pleads Jayden.
"You'd have said no."
"I might not have once you'd explained things to me. You assumed, and it wasn't fair of you to do that. I want to protect you, but being rid of Serrator does protect you, and the baby. So next time, don't assume, I am still capable of surprising you. And despite our bond you do not live inside my head and know my every decision and thought."
Evie sighs, "I'm sorry, you're right. I did assume. I should've told you, or at least done more than message Mike. We made a deal, hell I pinky swore. So I am sorry Jayden. I just, I saw the opportunity, and no Nighlok has ever scared me like Serrator. Except maybe Master Xandred," she admits with a shudder.
"He scares anyone with any sense," replies Jayden pulling her into his arms, her head resting against his chest. "Pinky swear, you do not go rogue like that again?" asks Jayden holding up his pinky.
"Pinky swear, no more going rogue," promises Evie linking her finger with his.

Jayden smiles and kisses the top of her head, "we did good today" he says.
"We did," nods Evie, "one less problem to worry about," she agrees absently.
Despite the doubt Deker had stirred up in Evie, the day's events, and the extra drain of the pregnancy she soon falls asleep.
Jayden however, does not. His hand idly runs through Evie's hair, the sound of her easy breathing doing little to calm the swirl of emotions.
Logically he could see why Evie had done what she had, but the protective part of him was still furious at the danger she'd placed herself in. All in the name of protecting him and the others.
Serrator might be gone, but Deker and Octoroo were still a threat, and worse so was Master Xandred.
He looked down at Evie, his gaze shifting to rest on her stomach, she shouldn't be the one protecting him, the only thing she needed to protect was herself and the baby.
But he knew that wasn't in her nature, and that fact terrified him. What if next time Evie wasn't so lucky? She was the most vulnerable member of the team right now, because she might be one of their best fighters, but one wrong hit. One bad landing, and the baby was gone. And the physical trauma could take Evie as well. Never mind the psychological.
His mind flashed back to the blast that had sent them all flying only earlier that day. And if he hadn't moved as quickly as he did, that landing could've easily cost them so much more.
He wouldn't let Deker touch Evie, nor any other Nighlok. And he didn't care what it took to make sure she stayed safe.
"I love you, and I'm not letting anyone else touch you," he murmurs leaning down and kissing the top of her head.
Evie merely snuggles against him, and Jayden pulls her closer, finally letting sleep claim him.