A/N: So back to the main story now, the nighloks are done being quiet, so without further ado, lets return to the fight :)

Chapter 40

Kevin woke up later than his usual time, but for once he decided he was going to forgo his run when he looked down at Alyssa sleeping on his chest.
Instead he pulled the blankets over them and settled back down, wrapping his arm around her as he rests his head on top of hers.
Alyssa stirs then, her eyes half opening as she looks up at him, "what time is it?"
"Half 7," replies Kevin.
"And you're still here, or did you successfully sneak out and sneak back in?" teases Alyssa.
"No, I think I can forgo a run for one day."
"You never used to mind sneaking out and leaving me."
"Yes, but that was when I knew you'd be there again that night. And after this we go back to calls and texts. So I intend to enjoy it."
"You can be so smooth and so sappy when you want too."
"And yet none of my team would believe you," laughs Kevin.
"Or they might, and Mike would never let you live it down," points out Alyssa.
"I know which is why I know you won't tell them."
"You're really lucky that I love you."
"I'm well aware," assures Kevin leaning down and kissing her.
Alyssa returns it, deepening it almost immediately and Kevin smiles, he'd missed their lazy mornings.

Mike rolled over and glared at Antonio; he could see why Jayden had fled to Evie's room so frequently. Mike was aware he himself snored, but Antonio oh my god, the man talked, and snored, and made every noise under the sun.
"And Kevin complains about me," huffs Mike, "You noisy bastard," he mutters as he picks up his other pillow and throws it at Antonio who merely grunts in response and shoves the pillow aside.
Realising he was not getting any more sleep Mike kicks off the blankets and walks down to the kitchen to get himself some coffee, but he's surprised when he sees Emily stood at the fridge.

"Morning Em."
"You're up early," she notes in surprise.
"Antonio makes a lot of noise, no wonder Jayden kept sleeping in Evie's room," grumbles Mike rubbing his eyes before yawning. "Why are you up?"
"Weird dream, and I'm pretty sure Evie and Jayden are probably still naked so, I was not even considering going in there."
"Probably a good idea" agrees Mike. "Well Antonio is going to be murdered if I go back there, and Kevin and Alyssa are also probably still naked."
Emily grabs the juice and pours herself a glass before turning to Mike, "you could always come back to my room, Mia sleeps like the dead and that includes her making zero noise. I actually checked a few times that she was still breathing when we first got here. You could still get a couple of hours in?"
Mike runs it through in his head, screw it he could behave himself, besides Mia would be in the room, so not like he'd be tempted to try anything.
"If it means I can sleep, I am down," smiles Mike.

Emily smiles and puts her cup in the sink before lacing her hand with his as they walk back to her room.
"Do you have a side?" he asks given the beds were bigger than normal single beds, though not hugely.
"I prefer the edge," she replies.
Mike nods and settles into bed, his back against the wall and Emily slides in next to him. Her head settling on his arm as she throws hers over him.
"Your bed is comfy," notes Mike.
"Not as comfy as Evie's," replies Emily.
"No one's bed is as comfy as Evie's" answers Mike.
"So true," giggles Emily.
They settle into silence and isn't long before both are sound asleep again.

Jayden is pulled from sleep by someone knocking on his door.
"What?" he demands still half asleep.
"Are you decent?" comes Antonio's voice.
"No, so don't even think about coming in here."
"Well Ji says you need breakfast and we're are not getting out of training, so hurry it up."
Jayden sighs before chuckling at the groan that comes from below his chin.
"I hate mornings," mutters Evie.
"I know you do, but we have training, and you'll be cranky if you don't eat something," replies Jayden looking down at her, still half asleep on his chest.
"I hate it when you're right," huffs Evie her eyes finally opening as she looks up at him.
"I know," repeats Jayden leaning down and kissing her forehead.
"God one thing alcohol does give you is really bad morning breath," says Evie wrinkling her nose as she sits up the sheets falling away from her and Jayden really can't help that his gaze drifts from her face.
Evie looks at him and rolls her eyes when she sees where his gaze had landed, "men," she snorts before throwing off the covers and grabbing her training uniform as she walks into the bathroom.
Jayden sighs but gets up as well and soon enough the two are walking into the kitchen where they find everyone else eating.

"Good morning," says Ji as they grab their breakfast.
"Good is not the word I would use," answers Evie as she pours herself a cup of coffee while Jayden grabs the milk for his cereal and throws Evie one of her yoghurts which she catches as usual and Alyssa can't help the impressed exhale at the ease with which the two move around one another even obviously not fully awake.
"Yeah, you get used to it," nods Mia noting the look.
"So did drinking have more of an effect than anticipated?" teases Mike.
"Or did Evie wear you out?" snorts Antonio only to let out a yelp of pain when a spoon smacks into his face courtesy of Evie.
"I can still whip both your asses blindfolded," assures Jayden as they sit down.

They finish up their breakfast and Alyssa packs up her stuff ready for Kevin to drop her back at the bus station.
"We're really glad we got to know you better," smiles Mia as she hugs her.
"Definitely," agrees Emily also hugging her.
Evie just smiles and hugs her.
"You got this," assures Alyssa quietly before pulling back.
"Once we've dealt with the Nighloks, you're welcome here anytime," says Jayden.
"Thanks, it's been great to actually get to know you all. And I am sure if anyone can save the world it is going to be you guys" smiles Alyssa before turning to Ji, "thank you for letting me come, I think I understand things better than I did before."
"I'm glad."

Soon enough she and Kevin are heading back to the city while the others start to train.
"I'm going to miss you," admits Kevin lacing his hand with hers as he drove.
"I'll miss you too. But hey, the sooner you save the world, the sooner we get to see each other."
"Now that is an incentive" smiles Kevin.
As they arrive at the bus station Kevin hands her bag over, before pulling her into a heated kiss that probably should not have taken place in public, but who knew when he'd get to see her again properly.
Alyssa responds in kind, before breaking it but not pulling away, "I love you," she smiles.
"I love you too," replies Kevin resting his forehead against hers.
"Be safe" she pleads quietly.
"I'll do whatever I can to make sure I see you again" he promises taking her hands and kissing them.
Alyssa nods before kissing him again, softly this time before stepping back and shouldering her bag, "I'll call you when I get home."
"Good, and say hi to your parents for me."
"I will, now go and save the world."

Kevin nods watching as she boarded the bus and waiting until it had left before sighing and getting back into the truck and heading back to the house. He missed her already, and while he'd been happy to have her here, even for the time they'd had, now it was feeling just a little bittersweet.
But he knew it was for the best, Alyssa wasn't a samurai and unlike Evie and Emily, she'd been in a lot more danger if the Nighlok ever learnt about her.

It didn't take him long to get back to the house, he walked inside only to see the others running in.
"Nighloks?" he asks as they all gather around the map as Ji pulls it up.
"The gap sensor has detected some odd paranormal activity on this obscure island, but not actual Nighlok attack," explains Ji. "I tried to call in but communication has been cut off. We can't reach anyone."
"We'll go and check," says Jayden.
"Let's change first, we might attract less attention that way," suggests Evie given all but Kevin were still in their training uniforms.
They all change quickly before heading to the shoreline and getting the ferry.

As they arrive, they step off and are instantly struck by how quiet it is, as they walk up the dock. It was like a ghost town, things discarded as if they'd been dropped mid use and just abandoned.
"Where did all the people go?" asks Mia.
"That's what we need to find out," replies Jayden.
"I've got a bad feeling about this," says Evie looking around.
"I agree, this looks like the start of a horror movie or something," agrees Emily.
"We'd better split into teams," says Jayden. "Antonio go with Emily and Mike, Kevin go with Mia, and Evie with me."
"Let's do this," nods Mike as he Emily and Antonio walk off, while Kevin and Mia head off in another direction.

As they start walking Evie looks around seeing the people, but they all looked uneasy.
"All of the people seem to be hiding. Like they're afraid of something," she notes.
"Yeah things are definitely not right here," agrees Jayden as someone hides behind their curtains.

"There isn't a single person anywhere. Now that's kind of creepy" notes Kevin.
"More than kind of," replies Mia, "I agree with Em, this is like the start of a horror movie."
"Hey we're samurai rangers, we can handle whatever comes at us," assures Kevin as they head up some stairs leading out of the town.
They start walking through a forest when suddenly a kid starts running.
"Hey," calls Kevin.
"Wait, we're only trying to help," pleads Mia as they run after him, they needed answers.
They manage to get around in front of him and Mia holds her hands, "please stop?" she asks calmly.
The kid turns back the other way only for Kevin to arrive, "hey, take it easy," he greets with a smile.
"We're not going to hurt you," assures Mia.
"Yes you are, you're the enemy," he replies looking between them fearfully.
"No, we're the good guys, really," promises Mia with a warm smile.
The kid seems to relax a little.
"There that's better, now what made you think we were the enemy?" she asks.
"Hey what's the stuff on your face?" asks Kevin as he notices it.
The kid rubs his face in surprise as he if he hadn't even noticed, before he tells them the story.
Mia and Kevin share a look, something was definitely going on here.

Mike knocks on the door but gets no answer. "Hello, we just wanna talk to you," he calls but still get nothing.
"Why are they all hiding?" asks Emily.
Antonio shrugs when his samuraiser suddenly chirps, Mike and Emily's going as well.
"Que pasa?" asks Antonio.
"Apparently ash fell from the sky and when it landed on people, they all got super scared," explains Kevin, "it's coming from the mountain."
"Alright, lets regroup at the base of the mountain and come up with a plan," decides Jayden.
"Okay, we're on our way," assures Kevin as he hangs up.

But just as he and Mia are about to leave a voice stops then.
"Or not," smirks Dayu as she steps out with her magical dagger.
Mia pushing the kid behind her.
"Dayu," gasps Kevin.
"Oh you look surprised, that's strange because we've been expecting you," smirks Dayu.
Both drop into fighting stances as they look at Dayu, things just got a lot more complicated.

Mike and the others flip their samuraisers shut but the moment they do the sound of a sinister laugh reaches them.
They rush around the corner in time to see Serrator.
"Not this guy again," growls Mike.
"Of course he's behind this," says Emily.
"You're feeling it right now, aren't you? That feeling creeping up your spin, telling you that you've fallen into a trap, and there's no escape," smirks Serrator.
The three rangers narrow their eyes, they were going to have to fight, that much was clear.

Evie looked at Jayden as they got to the base of the mountain first.
"I wish the others would hurry up and get here, something feels wrong here, my spidery sense is tingling," says Evie looking around.
"You mean like it was last night when you just walked off mid kiss because you somehow knew Mia needed you," snorts Jayden.
"Upset you weren't distracting enough?" teases Evie.

Suddenly Jayden's face hardens, "We've got a different problem right now" he says.
Evie turns and her eyes instantly narrow.
"Deker," she growls.
"You should listen more to your instincts black ranger, you've been uneasy since you arrived, and you had good reason too."
"What the hell are you doing here?" demands Jayden moving in front of Evie.
Deker notes it before answering, "Once again I meet you as a sword for hire, but thanks to you soon my sword Urumasa will be made whole again. But in the meantime, I can battle you with this, at least for a while," says Deker as he transforms into his Nighlok form and raises his sword.
Jayden and Evie both morph, Jayden feeling only slightly better that Evie now had extra protection for when this inevitably got ugly before the two charge forwards.

"Your false bravado is pitiful, since you're about to taste defeat," says Serrator as he looks at the three rangers.
The three of them morph before instantly attacking, they needed to try and get Serrator down quickly.
And for a minute it seems to be working, until Serrator manages to block of three of them at once.
"You're attacking me with common swords?" he laughs as he sends all three flying through the air.
"Apparently you haven't heard the news. The era of the sword is over, and a new era has begun," gloats Serrator as he sends a blast at them, but they manage to avoid it.
"And that era starts with you, right now," he adds as he sends an energy burst at them, the three being lifting off the ground as they struggled against the bonds that had wrapped around them.
"Think of it as your personal apocalypse," he laughs.

Ji was reading when he heard a knock at the door.
Opening it he smiles when he sees who's on the other side, "Cody."
"Hi," smiles Cody holding a package.
"What have you got there? You did get permission to visit this time, right?" asks Ji.
Cody nods as Ji steps back to let him in.

"These islanders scare so easily," smirks Dayu as she tries to attack the kid only for Mia to pull him out of the way, "get home," she urges before turning and the two of them already morphed, attack.
"Give it up Dayu," orders Kevin.
"I don't think so" as she manages to back both Mia and Kevin towards the river before using her new dagger to send a blast across them, knocking both off the rocks and into the water.
"That's two down."

Jayden attacks Deker first, Evie coming in with a second one, the two working with their usual precision and skill.
"You're in my way black ranger, and this time, you're not going to be able to save him," warns Deker as he turns knocking Evie's sword aside and slashing across her chest sending her sprawling.
"Evie!" yells Jayden as he lands in front of her blocking the hit before turning to attack again.
"You rely on your teammates to fight your battles now? Or is it just your lover you allow to do so, have you become that weak red ranger?" sneers Deker.
"What?" asks Jayden momentarily distracted by the comment and Deker knocks him back only for Evie to vault over him and launch a new attack.
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch, I'm tougher than that Deker," she snarls and spins delivering a hard blow which Jayden uses to land a hit against Deker, the two once again working in concert.
"Can't even face me alone red ranger, how pathetic," taunts Deker as he knocks Evie aside but Jayden manages to block him.

"The strongest is the lone warrior, you've lost your edge red ranger," smirks Deker as he breaks the block and slashes hard across Jayden's chest, before hitting him again and sending him flying through the air rolling to a stop as he forcibly de-morphs with a groan.
"Pathetic, you're not even worthy of fighting anymore," says Deker, "not when you're like this," he adds turning to walk away.
He suddenly felt a sharp slice across his back and turned in time to see Evie throw another swing at him.
Deker blocked it and tried to push her back but Evie was anticipating it and rolled out of the way.
"Forget about someone" says Evie.
"Black ranger, still defending your lover I see" retorts Deker.
"I warned you the last time, touch him and I put my sword through your heart," growls Evie.
"You can try, but perhaps your bonding to Urumasa has changes things," smirks Deker as he swings again.

The two engaged in a heated fight, their swords clashing, and Deker had to admit she was holding her own, the protective fire no doubting burning within her. As they locked swords Evie brought her knee up, slamming it into his stomach. Deker stumbled back and Evie brought her sword over slicing down Deker's front.
He was thrown back by the hit, as he stood up he found the black ranger already advancing on him, he managed to block her.
"You are as tenacious and unpredictable as ever."
"Thanks" retorts Evie as she leans backwards letting his sword slice over the top of her, before dropping and bringing her leg out, knocking Deker off of his feet, followed by what would've been an extremely painful stab to his chest had Deker not just been able to bring his sword up and block her, sending her off balance as she flew backwards, she crashed onto the floor but quickly rolled to her feet.
"That the best you got," taunts Evie.

Deker knew this fight was yet to be over, but he also knew her biggest weakness.
Turning Deker launched an attack at the still down red ranger.
Evie let out a scream and dived in front of Jayden bringing her sword up to block Deker's. The strength of the hit almost knocked her down, but she held firm.
"You're not touching him," she hisses through gritted teeth as she was forced to practically fold herself in half to keep his blade blocked with her own, the push of it caused her to de-morph but she held firm, her sword still gripped in her hands. And sending out a silent prayer that Deker didn't hit anywhere near her stomach, especially without the extra protection.
Deker transformed back into his human form and gave her an impressed look, "I must admit I never thought to find a such a strong opponent in woman. Perhaps I was wrong about you being unworthy. Urumasa would not have chosen a weak bearer," admits Deker.
"Misogyny is so out dated," replies Evie feeling her strength starting to fade as she glanced down at Jayden who was still not moving.
"Your bravado is admirable, but your protective nature is your weakness," says Deker as he brings his foot out and knocks Evie down.
She keeps hold of her sword and Deker had to admire her tenacity, especially given she was still shielding the red ranger.
"I hope he is worthy of the loyalty you have shown him black ranger, he seems to need you now more than ever. Perhaps I was wrong to dismiss you as I did, you just keep becoming more interesting," smirks Deker as he turns and walks away.

Evie struggles onto her knees and turned to see Jayden had opened his eyes.
"Jayden, are you okay?" she asks cupping his face.
"Seems I wouldn't be if you hadn't been here," replies Jayden, "Are you alright?" he asks his gaze shifting to her stomach.
"We're fine," assures Evie.
"So Deker thinks I'm weak, does he?" ask Jayden.
"He said it to get into your head, now come on, let's get out of the open, and we can see how badly you're hurt," soothes Evie helping him up.

They make it inside an old building and Jayden sits down in a pile of crates, quickly making him a makeshift sling with her scarf. But Jayden wasn't even paying attention to it.
Deker didn't even have Urumasa and he'd kicked Jayden's ass like it was nothing. He glanced over at Evie who was trying to contact the others on her samuraiser. How the hell had he reached a point where Evie was able to hold Deker off longer than he had. Especially in her current condition. What did it say about his abilities, if his pregnant girlfriend suddenly seemed a more worthy opponent than he was? But that was the other concern, if he couldn't protect Evie, then she was in more danger. And if Deker focused on her, he'd already figured out they were a couple, what if he figured out that she was pregnant? And that scared him, he had to be better, he had to keep them safe.

"I can't reach Mentor," huffs Evie as she hangs up, "the ash must be blocking communication for the whole island," she adds before looking at him properly.
"Jayden?" she asks walking forwards but gets no answer.
Jayden turning over what Deker had said in his mind until Evie's hand on his shoulder pulls him back, "Are you okay?" she asks her other hand cupping his face as she looked at him.
Jayden just turns away.
Evie sighs and sits down next to him, "this is just a minor setback."
"No, he's right. He's seen my weakness I need to find him now. Before he comes looking," counters Jayden.
"You're hurt, you need to rest."
"No, don't you see?" he snaps standing up. "He didn't even have Urumasa today, when he gets it back, he'll be twice as deadly."
"Jayden, I have complete faith in you, we all do."
"How can you say that after what just happened? If you hadn't been there, I'd have been completely helpless," argues Jayden turning back to her angrily.

Evie's eyes widen in understanding, "is that what this is about, is this seriously about what Deker said about me out there. About the fact I was still able to fight?" asks Evie.
"What does that say about me? I can't protect you, I can't protect our baby, and if Deker is suddenly switching his attention to you it puts you both in even more danger" he snap before angrily pulling off the sling and taking off.
"Oh for fucksake," mutters Evie as she runs after him, men and their damn egos.
"Jayden stop!" she yells, "Jayden!" she repeats keeping him in her sights at all times. She'd always been faster than him, but his legs were longer and she was carrying another person.