A/N: Sorry this one is a day late, have some family stuff going on, but hope you enjoy and lemme know what you think :)
Chapter 6
Evie turns from taking out her own moogers in time to see Jayden take out the other ones with his spin sword, while Emily and Mia ushered the people to safety.
The six of them re-group just as more appear.
"There's more of them?" asks Kevin.
"Dude its not big deal, their only moogers," retorts Mike.
"Then let's stop talking and start fighting," says Jayden.
"Yeah and leave some for the rest of us huh, you're hogging all the fun" says Evie.
Antonio appears next to them looking extremely nervous and very uncomfortable.
"Go, go samurai gold power," he practically whispers.
The six of them look at him in confusion.
"Barracuda blade," he calls but instantly begins to shake and sweat as he looks at it, "well here goes nothing," he murmurs as he looks at it, but his mind turns it into a fish and he screams throwing it into the floor and trying to crawl away.
"Antonio, what's wrong?" asks Mia.
"I can't do it," he cries his hand still shaking and he drops to his knees.
"Antonio?" asks Jayden.
"I'm sorry guys, I just can't do it," repeats Antonio wrapping his hands around his head as he leans forwards and starts rocking, powering down.
"He's cracked," says Evie.
"Antonio, what's the deal?" demands Mike.
"We have to deal with this first," answers Jayden as the moogers close in.
They launch into the fight, attacking and countering, but the moogers seemed to keep coming.
"Alright, let's turn up the heat" says Jayden all of them wanting to check on Antonio.
Each of them activate their spins swords, "Sextuple slash!" they shout as they send their attacks as the hoard of moogers and they disappear in a series of explosions, before the six of them dash over to Antonio.
"Antonio, are you okay?" asks Mia dropping next to him.
"What's wrong?" asks Kevin.
"I'm sorry you guys" sighs Antonio as he sits up.
"Here, you don't want to forget this," says Emily gently handing his barracuda blade to him.
Antonio sees it and his eyes widen. "No, no, no, get it away from me!" he shrieks shoving the sword away violently, unintentionally shoving Emily in the process as he scrambled away.
"Hey!" snaps Mike.
"I can't touch my barracuda blade," stutters Antonio. "It reminds me, of, of fish," he gasps.
"What?" asks the entire group in surprise given Antonio's absolute obsession with fish.
They manage to get Antonio back to the house and he sits down on the steps seeming to be completely catatonic.
As they explain the situation to Ji, his expression becomes one of utter disbelief.
"Fish?" he repeats. "But Antonio grew up in a fish shop, he goes fishing every day. And now you're telling me he's afraid of fish, you're kidding right?"
"This is no joke Ji," replies Jayden.
"I really, really wish it was," says Evie.
Emily hands Antonio a glass of water and pats his back reassuringly.
"Well when that Nighlok swapped our souls with objects a couple of days ago, Antonio did get turned into a fish," recalls Kevin.
"The neighbourhood cat was this close to eating him before we switched back" agrees Mia holding up her thumb and finger. "And now he isn't even able to touch fish."
"Seriously?" asks Ji.
"Mhm, who'd have thought his fish obsession has officially broken him" mutters Evie.
Jayden nudges her with a pointed look, "sorry," she sighs, "it's just so bizarre."
"I'm done. The golden age of Antonio is at an end," says Antonio dejectedly as he sips the water.
"The golden age of Antonio?" asks Kevin sceptically before sighing and shaking his head before turning to Antonio. "All right, look you didn't get eaten. So, pull yourself together."
"You love fish, honestly more than I suspect you will ever love anything, or anyone else. You can't seriously tell me you suddenly hate it," nods Evie.
"They're right, come on dude. You taught yourself how to be a samurai. You can beat this," assures Mike.
"Yeah, anyone who figured out how to programme the black box, can teach himself how to deal with his fear," smiles Emily.
Evie opts not to remind everyone that he'd almost fried her brain in that process.
"You don't get it, I almost got eaten by a cat!" snaps Antonio.
"Calm down, it's okay," soothes Mia sitting down next to him.
"It's not okay, he's officially lost it" hisses Kevin looking at Jayden.
"I'm the fisherman who's afraid of fish. I can't use my barracuda blade; I can't be the gold ranger anymore."
Evie and Kevin share equally annoyed looks while Jayden and Mike sigh.
Finally, Emily finds an idea, "Antonio, we're not going to let you quit. We all have fears. And we are going to show you how to beat them. It is called, 'Aversion Therapy,'" she explains.
"You do know that's how they used to try and cure homosexuality right, showed them pictures of men and then electrocuted them?" asks Evie.
"Why do you know that?" asks Mike.
"I read," shrugs Evie, "and history is full of dark and scary things. As is my mind."
"True," agrees Kevin.
"And we are all going to do it. Look, Jayden is going to overcome his fear of spiders," smiles Emily as Jayden sits down looking extremely uncomfortable.
"Yeah I'm fine with them," he mutters holding his arm up as Mia opens the box and a spider crawls out. "See a samurai can overcome any fear" nods Jayden trying not to shriek as the spider continues to crawl up his arm and up the back of his neck.
"Mike here hates enclosed spaces," smirks Kevin as he and Ji escort Mike to one of the small cupboards.
"Seriously it looks a bit cramped in there," points out Mike trying to back away.
"Come on Mike, it's for Antonio," reminds Ji as he and Kevin put Mike in the cupboard and shut the door behind him. "Help," he whimpers from inside.
"Now look, Mia has her own fears to overcome," smiles Emily as she walks over to Mia and takes the top off of a box revealing a frog and Mia's eyes widen in horror.
"Frogs make Mia's skin scrawl," explains Emily.
"But maybe a kiss will turn it into Prince Charming?" suggests Mia as she winces before leaning down and kissing the frog, shivering in revulsion.
"Oh yuck," she shudders wiping her mouth.
Wordlessly Evie hands her a bottle of antibacterial mouthwash, "they carry bacteria that can make you extremely sick."
"You couldn't have told me that before?" demands Mia as she grabs the mouthwash and rinses her mouth out before spitting it into the sink.
"Why do you have this stuff in your head?" yells Mike from inside the cupboard.
"My mind is dark and full of terrors," calls Evie with a smirk.
"We're aware," nods Kevin as he moves to the kitchen and grabs a fish, setting it on a plate and putting it down in front of Antonio.
As he sees it Antonio flinches back his eyes wide.
Kevin rolls his eyes, "Antonio you've touched thousands of fish before this. All you have to do is touch this one with your hand."
Antonio just shudders and looks away and Kevin sighs and rubs his eyes before leaning forwards. "Okay you wanna talk scary? Mia cooked this, now I will even take a bite of this, if you touch the fish?" offers Kevin quietly trying not to gag as he holds up a bowl.
"Rangers together right?" he asks looking at Antonio who nods.
Kevin gulps, "one, two, three" he says and takes a bite, at the same moment Antonio pulls back, "I can't!" he cries.
Kevin gags around the mouthful of food glaring at Antonio just as the gap sensor blares, but Antonio doesn't move and Evie finally snaps.
"Oh you know what enough of this, I'm done with this hand holding shit. Jayden's got a spider on him; Mia kissed a frog and Mike's in a god damn cupboard trying to fix this. So, you almost got eaten by a cat. Boohoo, you are obsessed with fish, you designed your samurai suit and weapons to be fish, now grow a pair and do what you promised you would do. Have our backs, fight beside us and be a samurai, or this entire project was a complete mistake, and you were never worthy, and this was always a game to you.
Your choice Antonio, cower in the corner because you got a little traumatised, news flash we have all been tested and traumatised by the Nighlok, and we will continue to be so. So, stand up and be the gold ranger, or let this one bad experience defeat you and run home like a little bitch, you pick. But if its anything other than option one, I'd advise you be gone before we get back. Or I will give you something real to be traumatised over, now let's move it people, we've got bigger fish to fry," snarls Evie as she brings up the map and checks the location before turning and storming out of the house.
"The edge of the city, near the Western Woods" says Ji.
The others nod and rush after Evie, save Kevin who spits the food back out before going after them.
Ji looks at Antonio then, he had been surprised Evie held back as long as she did, she'd never been one to especially like hand holding and pandering. She preferred to face things head on, weapon in hand.
"I'm done. It's over. I'm sorry Mentor, I can't go with them. I just can't."
"Maybe so, but there is something you can do in the meantime," replies Ji as he disappears for a moment before returning.
"I gave you the clawzord to fix, and now you can do the same again" says Ji as he pulls out a lantern. "This is the lightzord, an ancient zord, no samurai has been able to unlock for centuries. And your symbol power is light, you could be the first" explains Ji setting it down.
"But Evie," starts Antonio.
"Evie is a complicated person, she has always been a firm believer in facing things head on, like a rock against the ocean she stands firm. And while she has the ability to empathise, patience has never been her strong suit in situations like this. Show her that you are not a coward, that you can help them. Show her this was more than a game. Unlock the lightzord."
Antonio looks at it and nods, "Okay."
Ji smiles, he hoped his plan worked, and that Antonio could overcome this. He had become quite an important part of the team, and he knew it would cause a lot of problems if that was no longer the case.
The six rangers ran up to the hill where the spit fangs were raining down on the city.
"Spit fangs, time to shut your mouths!" shouts Jayden as they morph, but before they can react their blasted backwards out of nowhere and a decidedly sinister voice echoes across to them.
"So you're the current samurai power rangers. How illuminating" he smirks.
"Who the hell is this guy?" asks Mike.
"Another ugly to add to the list," retorts Evie.
"Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Serrator. And I recently became the newest passenger aboard Master Xandred's ship. The last time I walked this pitiful realm was so long ago. Now I've returned to shake the very foundation of this world, but for now shall we test how tough you really are?" smirks Serrator.
"This is no ordinary Nighlok," realises Jayden.
"Nope this one likes to monologue and clearly thinks he's the shit," agrees Evie sarcastically.
"Everyone be at the top of your game, now is not the time to do anything rash" advises Jayden knowing full well in her current mood Evie would likely be itching to charge head first into battle, and that wouldn't end well here.
"Test time," smirks Serrator as he sends an attack at them, the six of them jumping out of the way while Jayden launches an immediate attack.
But Serrator catches Jayden's sword easily and slices across his suit before sending him flying backwards.
"Hands off freak!" snarls Evie as she launches herself at him but Serrator turns and counters her attack, as Evie tries to twist away Serrator grabs her by the throat, "the last black ranger I fought also had a bad habit of running her mouth, now I see it's a family trait" sneers Serrator tightening his grip before he tosses Evie aside and she lands hard on the ground gasping for air, her hand coming to her throat, definitely no ordinary Nighlok she realises as she pulls herself to her feet and switches to her whip.
The other four attack at once, but Serrator counters them all, knocking them aside one by one. "It's been a long time since I had a real fight, it feels glorious" he gloats, Mia gets tossed aside much like Evie had been, while Kevin is thrown into the stone side of the hill, as Emily attacks Serrator goes for her but Mike intervenes, "oh no you don't" he snarls.
"Now it's time to take a swipe at you," sneers Serrator as he takes down Mike and knocks him to the floor.
Jayden launches another attack, but Serrator disappears and reappears behind Jayden as he lands.
"Missing someone red ranger?" he smirks before attacking Jayden, who manages to counter a few blasts until Evie sends her whip at Serrator wrapping it around his neck and she pulls him back, hard. "I said hands off," she growls as she switches back to her sword and she and Jayden both attack at once.
Serrator finds it a little difficult first as Evie continues to switch things up, Jayden able to follow each time she did so, but he soon overpowers them and slashes across Evie's torso before she thrown aside, Jayden soon following and rolling to a stop next to her.
"Is that all you've got?" sneers Serrator.
The other four close around them, "attack him at once," says Kevin.
They activate their spin swords, "quadruple slash!" they shout as they send it at Serrator, but he brushes it aside like its nothing and sends a blast of electricity at them.
Evie draws a blocking symbol and most of the electricity is absorbed by that while Jayden switches to his fire smasher and launches himself out of the explosion managing to get in a few hits at Serrator, before activating the canon and sending the blast at Serrator.
Initially it pushes him back until he begins to laugh.
"No way," gasps Jayden when he sees it barely effected Serrator.
"This is quite the exhilarating work out. Just extraordinary," smirks Serrator. "Now watch a real display of power" he cackles as what had been Jayden's blast suddenly begins to morph into something else in Serrator's hands and he sends it at Jayden.
Jayden tries to block it but he's blasted through the air landing painfully on the ground, his sword landing next to him.
"Jayden!" screams Evie her eyes narrowing as she looked at Serrator.
"How disappointing, I thought you'd all be tougher" says Serrator. "You haven't tested me in the least" he adds.
Suddenly a series of spikes come at him and he has to react quickly to block them all, but as he does Evie had already hardened her whip and used it to launch herself at him. And she switches back to her sword at the last second, her blade swiping across Serrator's chest, while her foot lands a hard kick into his stomach sending him backwards as Evie uses the reverse momentum to flip out of the way and land in front of the others, "what part of hands off don't you understand?" she asks trying not to show how much that single attack had cost her and Serrator had been on the ground for all of a matter of seconds.
Serrator laughs, "well seems at least one of you might be a little more entertaining" he says before sending another blast at Evie who manages to put up another blocking symbol but she feels what it costs her and she stumbles back as the block falls away. The last of the blast glancing off of her and she thrown through the air barely managing to soften her landing by forcing her body into a flip. But her landing causes pain to shoot up her foot through her ankle and her entire leg feels it.
Taking a deep breath she tries to push through it and forces herself to her feet along with the others.
"Hmm, perhaps you'll rise to the occasion if I give you a bigger challenge" muses Serrator as he pulls out a piece of paper and starts cutting. "In a few moments we'll see if you're really cut out for this" he smirks.
"Papyrox, my creation, it obeys my thoughts, follows my every command. He cuts and destroys; this will be your new test. You'll either pass, or fail," says Serrator as the giant papyrox lands in front of him.
"Oh shit," mutters Evie as she looks at it.
"Not good, very not good," agrees Emily.
"Shit," nods Mike.
The papyrox sends a blast at them, and all six go flying but pull themselves back up.
"If this Nighlok wants to give us a bigger challenge, it's time we give him one right back," decides Jayden as he activates the black box, "super samurai mode!" he shouts.
"You guys deal with Serrator, I'll take on this overgrown snowflake" says Jayden.
The others nod and turn to Serrator while Jayden begins his attack on papyrox.
"Oh what's this, you want to continue playing? How splendid. I don't know about you but I'm having a ball" cackles Serrator as he makes a metal ball and bounces it on his foot, "time for your penalty kick" he smirks as he sends it at the five of them and before any of them can react its knocked each of their swords from their hands. And then takes them out as well. At the same moment papyrox sends Jayden back with a hard-enough blast that the megazord separates and the tiger, swordfish and beetle zords fly off in different directions, and within moments the megazord is on the floor, the papyrox keeping it down.
"Are you giving up already? No more fight left in you?" asks Serrator as he walks forwards and stops next to Mike, "no? So be it" he smirks, "fare thee well" he adds as he pulls his weapon back to take Mike out. Emily lets out a small scream and uses the last of her strength to throw herself over Mike, but before Serrator can make contact Antonio appears and knocks Serrator back with an attack of his own.
"No so fast Serrator" he warns as he runs towards them, "gold is back with a new toy, did you guys miss me?" he asks.
"Antonio," smiles Kevin.
"I knew you could do it," beams Mia while Emily slides off of Mike, and Evie rolls her eyes under her helmet, "about fucking time," she mutters.
"You think I'm scared of you, nothing can stop me and my new pal, lightzord. And don't let appearances fool you, this zord kicks butt," assures Antonio.
"Interesting, what a strange little creature. Too bad I couldn't care less about it" replies Serrator. "Get a kick out of this," he says as he sends another ball attack but Antonio slices through it with ease.
"What?" demands Serrator.
"Lightzord battle disk scatter shot," activates Antonio, and he sends a series of disks at Serrator while running forwards, "time to go on the offence!" he shouts as he launches himself at Serrator hitting him hard enough for him to stumble back.
"Now this is the thrashing I expected from Master Xandred, I underestimated you" admits Serrator.
"Underestimated is right," nods Antonio.
"Very well, you've passed the test, for now. Farewell mortals," says Serrator as he disappears through a gap.
As he leaves papyrox becomes distracted and Jayden manages to get in another attack.
"Alright people status report, everyone okay?" asks Antonio looking at the five of them.
"Where did you get that zord?" asks Emily.
"And you're no longer afraid of goldfish?" says Mike.
"Yeah, Mentor helped me see the light," nods Antonio.
Evie scoffs and pushes herself to her feet ignoring the shooting pain it sends up her leg and their attention is immediately pulled by the megazord clearly in trouble.
"We've got to help him," says Kevin as the five of them try and move towards the megazord.
Antonio steps in front of them, "hey this job is heavy-duty, leave it to lightie," assures Antonio as he sends the lightzord into megamode, it blocks the attack meant for Jayden.
"Fantastico," cheers Antonio.
"You programmed that?" asks Emily in awe.
"Mentor had been saving it for us," nods Antonio, "and I did my thing."
The lightzord working with the megazord take on papyrox.
"Wow," smiles Emily.
"Amazing" nods Kevin, Mia and Mike agreeing too while Evie watches it without commenting.
Suddenly the lightzord seems to freeze.
"Oh no the disk must be stuck, Jayden just hit him in the butt," says Antonio.
"What?" asks Jayden in confusion, but does as he's told and the zord comes back to life renewing its attack.
"Does that work on you too Evie?" smirks Mike who winces when he receives a whack on the back of his helmet from the blunt side of her sword.
"Ouch okay, sorry" he apologises.
As the lightzord takes out the papyrox Jayden smiles, "Welcome to the team lightzord" he nods.
The seven of them were out in the garden, Antonio preparing fish on the BBQ.
"So I see you've gotten over your fear of fish" notes Mike.
"Yeah, not only am I cured but now we have lightzord on our team," beams Antonio.
"You've got to tell us how did you get cured?" asks Mia.
Antonio chuckles, "let's just say Mentor showed me how to follow my gut," explains Antonio.
Evie rolls her eyes, "dealt with just like that, how simple" she says, only Jayden noting the underlying bite in her tone, which he knew meant she was still pissed off.
As Antonio offered everyone fish Evie refused and just picked at her food, her leg resting on the bench next to her given it was still aching from her bad landing.
The others continue the conversation, and Evie slips off with a muttered explanation of bathroom.
As she walks into the house she meets Ji coming out of the kitchen, "so his problem is dealt with then?" she asks.
"It is, you were right, hand holding wasn't working. The direct method worked," nods Ji, "though you were a little harsh, not everyone has your strength, Evie."
"Then he'd better get it fast, because this is only going to get tougher. If he gets paralysed with another stupid and pointless fear over something as childish as that, we're in serious trouble. And I'm not willing to risk my family, on someone I can't rely on," retorts Evie walking past him.
Ji sighs, he knew better than to try and get her to see things any other way while she was in this mood. Once she calmed down, she might be more forgiving, but for now he'd learnt it was best to let her seethe for a little while.
He turns and sees Jayden leaning against the door.
"She's angry," says Jayden.
"She's concerned," replies Ji.
"I know Ji, but Antonio came through, and we gained an extra zord," points out Jayden before sighing, "but I know that doesn't change the fact he'll need to earn back some points."
"Yes, he will" agrees Ji.
"Sometimes I really wish there was an Evie guide, so I could just hand it out to people."
"Women usually have that effect," chuckles Ji.
Jayden smiles, "so I've been told" he nods, "wouldn't change her though."
"Life would be dull" laughs Ji.
"Why would life be dull?" asks Evie as she reappears.
Both just smile.
"Should my ears be burning?" she asks.
"Not in a bad way."
Evie glances at Jayden questioningly.
"We were saying life would be dull without you around."
Evie nods at that, "very true."
Ji shakes his head and walks back out into the garden knowing Jayden had a better ability to handle Evie in her current mood.
"Talk to me," says Jayden taking her hand and pulling her into the kitchen.
"About what?" she asks.
"Evie," chides Jayden gently.
"What?" she asks with a confused look.
"You're angry, I can tell," replies Jayden.
"My leg just hurts," answers Evie trying to walk past him but Jayden catches her around her waist and pulls her back so she was between him and the wall.
"Don't try that on me Evie, you're not usually so against being vocal," reminds Jayden not getting why Evie wasn't just talking to him the way she usually did.
Evie sighs and leans back against the wall, "he's your best friend."
Understanding dawns for Jayden and he finds himself smiling as he looks at her, Evie's ability to emotionally multitask was something Jayden had always found fascinating. On the one hand she was pissed off at Antonio and no doubt would love to give him a piece of her mind, but she was also being considerate enough not to do it in front of the entire team. And even more so wasn't trying to vent to him given his and Antonio's friendship.
"Why are you smiling?" asks Evie in confusion.
Jayden just closes the gap between them and kisses her, despite her momentary surprise Evie kisses him back before he breaks it but doesn't step away. Brushing a strand of hair back from her face, and running his thumb over her cheek.
"Jayden?"
"Thank you for trying not to put me in the middle."
"He's your best friend."
"He is, but you are my girlfriend and the woman I love. I know you're still pissed about the fish fear, so talk to me."
"What if it happens again? Serrator is a new brand of bad guy, he's stronger and I'll bet he's smarter too. Things are only going to get tougher from here, what we face will become more traumatising, how can we rely on him if he can suddenly become scared of something, he's spent his life surrounded by and obsessed with. And it wasn't even the fish that did something to him, if anything I'd get a fear of cats, but not fish," huffs Evie.
"I know it seems stupid Evie, and to be honest it is stupid" agrees Jayden, "but as Ji said, not everyone can face their fears as head, weapon in hand the way you can."
"The direct route worked here."
"So we know what to do if something like this does happen again. But the point is he got over it Evie, and while I know you're going to be doubting him for a bit, you need to give him the chance to regain your respect. And silently seething will do no one any good, you included. Tell him he screwed up, and let him know why it cannot happen again. He's an important part of the team and he's proven his value and his dedication. Like I say, not everyone has your strength."
"I won't put you and the others at risk-" starts Evie.
Jayden silences her with another kiss, "he won't put us at risk, watch him like a hawk if it makes you feel better. But you know as well as I do, he's good, so be mad at him for a little while. But don't let this become a grudge over something insignificant. I doubt this will happen again."
Evie lets out a snort, "you could've just told me to shut up you know."
"Why do that when kissing you is so much more effective, and so much more enjoyable."
"And you're trying to distract me."
"Is it working?"
"Maybe a little," admits Evie with a small smile.
"Only a little, well then guess I've got work to do," smirks Jayden before kissing her again.
Evie loops her arms around his shoulders as she kisses him back. Jayden's hand settling on her hip, the other leaning against the wall as he pressed her against it, deepening the kiss.
They break it to breath but don't step apart, "let him know, and then try and work past it."
"Fine, but only for you because he's your friend."
"And?" prompts Jayden.
"Because he's not completely useless either, and he did figure out the lightzord" admits Evie. "Which FYI, is the stupidest zord I have ever seen."
Jayden chuckles, "it is a strange one. But thank you."
Evie rolls her eyes but smiles and kisses him softly before Jayden laces their hands together and they join the others outside, Jayden and Ji sharing a silent look before continuing with the conversation.
Antonio was getting ready for bed that night when he heard the bathroom door open and turned to see Evie leaning against the doorframe, and while her posture seemed relaxed Antonio eyed her warily.
"Look about today-" he starts but Evie holds up her hand.
"You're not like the rest of us Antonio, you chose this life. Chose to become a samurai ranger, its impressive that you managed to do it I'll admit that. But you see, that also gives you the ability to walk away from this without a backward glance. You say this is all you've ever wanted, and yet today you were going to let one incident, derail it all, and you were going to just throw in the towel and give up.
Things will get worse from here Antonio. Serrator is a new level of bad, he's stronger, he's smarter and I'll bet he's going to give us a hell of a headache before we're done. So, I need to know, can you hack it? Or are you going to cave after one more bad thing?
I like you Antonio, and you mean the world to Jayden, and you're good, you're smart and you're resourceful. And you're a member of this team. But that all means nothing if one bad day, over something extremely stupid can make you lose the ability to use your own weapons. Can leave you a gibbering, useless wreak in the middle of battle. This could kill us Antonio, Jayden's dad died doing this, numerous samurai's have died doing this. So you need to decide here and now, can you do this when it comes down to it, can you push through your own fear, your own discomfort and your own pain, and do what needs to be done? Or is this a game and you want to call it quits when it gets too hard?"
Antonio looks at her and nods, "I can do this Evie, I swear to you on my dad's life, I will never let what happened today, happen again. I know the price that I might have to pay, I'm willing to give this my all, for each and every one of you. I won't quit and I won't walk away. And it is not a game."
Evie studies him for a moment with narrowed eyes before she nods, "good, then prove it, and keep proving it. Because it isn't just you Antonio, its all of us" reminds Evie as she turns and shuts the door behind her.
Antonio leans against the sink with a sigh. He could see where Evie was coming from, he had screwed up today, and looking back he can't believe how ridiculous he was. If Evie wanted proof of his dedication, he'd give it to her. He'd show them all this had been a fluke and he wouldn't let it happen again. Because things were only going to get tougher and he knew it. And he refused to be the weak link in the team.
He walks back into his room and looks at Jayden who was sat on his bed.
"I meant it you know," says Antonio.
Jayde looks up at him and smiles, "I know you did, and so does she. But Evie is complicated, sometimes she forgets the rest of us don't necessarily have her resilience. We can't all be the rock that stands against the ocean."
"I guess next to what she's overcome, my fish fear did look pretty stupid."
"It was the daftest thing I've ever seen Antonio, and I had a spider crawl over me for you."
"I know, it won't happen again. I promise," swears Antonio.
Jayden nods, "you're part of this team Antonio. We all know that, and you've more than proven yourself. Evie will come around."
"You think, something tells me that she can hold a grudge to the grave?"
"She's not usually a grudge holder actually, she'll thaw, give her a little time and just keep doing what you're doing."
"Okay," nods Antonio with a smile.
"Great, see you in the morning," says Jayden as he stands up and heads for the bathroom.
"Seriously, why do you even bother pretending to actually come in here?"
Jayden just shrugs, "habit," he says as he walks through to Evie's room and smiles when he sees her already in bed, reading, her head resting on her hand.
"Feel better now?" he asks as he shuts the door.
"A little," admits Evie.
"Good," smiles Jayden sliding in next to her and resting his head on his shoulder to look at what she was reading and his eyes widen, "I'm sorry what the hell are you reading right now?"
Evie flips it to the cover and Jayden raises an eyebrow as he reads the title, "Fifty Shades of Grey" he says, "what the hell is this thing even about?"
"It's supposed to be some ultra-sexy novel about this messed up billionaire who has some way kinky interests, in some boring and painfully awkward woman. But honestly, I'm not finding a single thing about this sexy, it's so badly written" snorts Evie. "I just want to laugh or cringe." She shuts it and tosses it onto the floor, "so not finishing it," she decides dismissively.
"You mean you don't find this messed up billionaire sexy?" asks Jayden teasingly.
"Why would I have interest in some fictional badly written, messed up billionaire when I have a real, incredibly attractive samurai ranger boyfriend right here with me," smirks Evie as she looks back at him.
"Good answer."
"I know."
"So how much work is Antonio going to need to do to get back in your good books?" asks Jayden running his hand down her arm.
"Depends, I know he wants this, I know he's doing his best, but today was just, it was so stupid and it could've cost us so much," admits Evie with a shudder thinking back to how thoroughly Serrator knocked them down. "Serrator is the first Nighlok we've faced who has genuinely scared me."
Jayden nods, "he's powerful, he's strong and he's smart."
"We barely dented him Jayden, he's different."
"I know he is, but we'll find a way to beat him, somehow. We always find a way" soothes Jayden kissing her shoulder.
Evie leans back against him, "I hope you're right," she says.
"I'm always right" smiles Jayden.
Evie scoffs, "as if."
Jayden just chuckles, Serrator was going to be a problem, but failure wasn't an option. And as a team, they'd find a way to take him down.
Mia was sat reading, but her attention kept being pulled, something about Serrator's voice had tugged at her mind. As if she'd heard it before somewhere, but she couldn't think how or where she'd have heard a Nighlok as old as him before. With a sigh she put her book down.
"What's wrong?" asks Emily looking over at her.
"Serrator, I feel like I've seen him somewhere before."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I just, I can't put my finger on it," sighs Mia.
"Maybe the archives or something?" suggests Emily.
"Maybe, but after today, I don't get why I'd forget him. He was scary."
"He was" agrees Emily, "but we'll find a way, we always find a way."
Mia smiles, "yeah we do," she nods, Emily's enthusiasm was contagious, and very hard to ignore.
It was still niggling the back of her mind where she recognised Serrator from. But it would wait, and she'd probably figure it out sooner or later.