The eleven Rangers all arrived back at the Shiba House a short time later. As they got there, Serena was in the garden, tending to the plants, just as she had promised Ji she would before he left.

"Wow, when was the last time you saw a garden like this?" Ziggy asked. "I think half these plants are extinct back home."

"Uh...who are they?" Serena asked as she got up gesturing to the RPM Rangers. Ordinarily, not many people came to the Shiba House. It was so important to keep their mission, their war under wraps, that very few people were ever allowed in the grounds. The security symbols hadn't bounced them out, so she knew they were not identified as Nighlocks, but that didn't necessarily mean they were friends.

"Apparently they're Rangers." Jayden informed her. "We've still to hear their side of the story."

As they looked to them though, the RPM Rangers were just looking around in awe. Where they were from, very little of the world had recovered from Venjix's campaign. There were flowers and grass and such like, but trees were rare. They were seeing several species that no longer existed in their own dimension. Certainly no one owned a garden that was quite so picturesque, any cultivatable land was reserved for agriculture.

"Uh...now would be a good time?" Kevin suggested.

"Sorry, but I havnae seen a willow in years." Flynn began. "I'm Flynn McAllister, RPM Blue Ranger."

"Dude, is he speaking the same language?" Mike whispered to Mia. She just shrugged.

"I don't know, but I love the accent." She replied. Kevin looked decidedly less than amused to hear her say this.

"I'm Scott Truman, RPM Red Ranger." Scott introduced himself, offering Jayden a handshake. Jayden reluctantly accepted it. "We're not from around here. In fact, we're not even from this timeline."

"OK, I'll bite." Antonio stated. "What do you mean by that?"

"There's more than one universe." Summer began, looking to Scott as she stepped forward, figuring that of all of them, she was the one they were most likely to listen to. "Any time there's a decision to make, an event that can go one way or another, the universe splits off into different paths..."

"You're talking about the theory of the multiverse." Antonio responded. She just nodded.

"I'm Summer Landsdown..."

"Wait, the Landsdown kid?" Mike asked her. "You're on the fortune 500 list! You expect us to believe the Landsdown Princess is a Power Ranger?"

"Not here." Summer said, looking more than a little annoyed at Mike's undiplomatic comment. "Your priorities kind of change when you see the end of the world."

"Alright, let's step back a moment." Jayden commented. "What happened?"

"I our timeline, a computer programme known as Venjix infected computers all over the world." Scott began to explain. "It was created in Alphabet Soup..."

"Wait, Alphabet Soup?" Antonio asked him. "That place was shut down years ago!"

"What's Alphabet Soup?" Kevin asked him.

"It was in all the tech magazines years ago." Antonio told him. "A corporation, the Macca Group, kidnapped a bunch of kids with extraordinary intelligence and kept them in a bunker under the Nevada Desert. They used them to make weapons systems, but the Government found out about it and arrested them all."

"Not where we came from." Scott informed them. "In our dimension, one of the kids created a computer programme known as Venjix that was meant to be used as a weapon against hostile governments, but she instead used it to try and escape Alphabet Soup."

"She was stopped before she could upload the firewall that would have restrained it to Alphabet Soup." Summer concluded the tale. "Within a year, 98 percent of the world's computer systems were infected, and Venjix took over."

"Venjix started to produce war machines to protect itself." Scott told them. "Before anyone had the chance to pull the plug, about seventy percent of the world's population had been wiped out. Everyone that was left had no option but to retreat to Corinth. We set up a dome and powerful shields and sent out messages for everyone that was left to retreat there. By the time the shields went up, there were less than a million humans left."

"Wow, this sounds a lot like the plot of "Terminator." Mike said with a little laugh. Dillon surged forward before anyone could stop him and grabbed the Green Samurai, lifting him off the ground and pinning him to the wall in an impossibly strong grip.

"This is NO MOVIE!" He roared angrily. Summer came around in front of him.

"Dillon, he doesn't understand." Summer told him.

"Well he better." Dillon sneered. Jayden and the other Samurai were trying to pull him off, but his strength was far too great. "Most of my skeleton looks like a bad copy of the Radio Shack Christmas catalogue. My sister and I are cyborgs because Venjix intended to use us as infiltrators, Trojan Horses against our own race!"

"Dillon!" Flynn protested.

"I don't have one memory that's real beyond three years ago!" He snapped, throwing Mike onto the floor. Emily rushed to his side as he started coughing and fighting for breath. "This is no fucking movie!"

"Back it down Dillon, we're here to help remember?" Scott reminded him. Dillon just cast a little look Mike's way before storming off. "Sorry about him, but he's been...well...let's just say that some people have lost more to Venjix than others."

"Just keep him on a leash." Jayden put down flatly. "That's the first and last time one of your team will put hands on a member of mine."

"Agreed." Ziggy responded, interjecting between them. "So...uh...the one thing we haven't figured out yet is why Professor Cog came here."

"I doubt it'll be long before he makes his intentions clear." Summer told them. "In the meantime, what kind of surveillance do you have here? We'll need to keep a close eye on the city."

"We have Gap sensors." Antonio told them. "Not to mention a direct wire tap into the city's CCTV cameras..."

"Wait, what?" Scott asked. "What are Gap Sensors?"

"You know, Gap sensors." Antonio reiterated. "They monitor gaps...Nighlock can use gaps to create portals from the Netherworld to ours."

The RPM Rangers all turned towards each other and started whispering.

"Uh...mind including us in the discussion?" Kevin asked them. "That's kind of rude."

"In our dimension, there were rumours, but the Samurai Rangers were never active. Venjix destroyed everything before they could become active." Scott explained. "The thing is, we had no idea that the Netherworld existed. It was kind of like a bogeyman or horror story to us."

"There's nothing fictional about Master Xandred." Jayden assured them.

"Well, the thing is, if he does exist, then so does the Sanzu River." Scott told him. "We're not equipped to deal with anything from the Netherworld. To us, it would have been like preparing to be invaded by Easter Bunnies. If he can bring something from there..."

"It'd be just like the problems we had with your goons." Jayden concluded. "We're not equipped to deal with them."

"Let's just hope Master Xandred doesn't play nicely with his latest visitor." Flynn commented. "I doubt an alliance like that would be good for anyone."

Meanwhile, in the Netherworld, Master Xandred was reeling in his agony. His pain and sickness were overwhelming, they always were. If it weren't for Octoroo's medicine, he would likely have succumbed to the first attempt to usurp him years ago. As he reached for a bottle of medicine, a metal hand rested on it, preventing him from picking it up.

"You better talk quickly stranger." He growled. "No one invades my ship without punishment."

"I think you'll make an exception in my case." Professor Cog stated.

"What happened to Octoroo?" Xandred asked him.

"He is unharmed." Professor Cog assured him. "Though it may take him a few hours to swim back to the ship."

Master Xandred's hand strayed to his sword, but Professor Cog just held up a hand.

"Just give me ten minutes, that is all I ask." He stated. Xandred just nodded. "I see you have a problem with Power Rangers."

"If you merely intend to remind me of the cause of my headaches..."

"My footsoldiers handed them a defeat not even three hours ago." He told him. "Ask one of your followers if you do not believe me."

Xandred looked to a mooger, who just nodded and said something in its garbled tongue. He looked back to Professor Cog.

"Your team of Rangers is not equipped to deal with my soldiers." Professor Cog told him. "In my world, we have all but rid the world of the plague of humanity. Less than a million of the vermin remain, but we have reached an impasse of sorts. We cannot penetrate the shields of their remaining city in the numbers required to win a decisive victory, while they do not have the power necessary to destroy us for good."

"Why should that interest me?" Xandred asked him.

"The water of your Sanzu River is toxic to humans." Professor Cog stated. "If we were to use some, to integrate it into Corinth's water supply, the war would be over inside a day."

"Sanzu River water is precious to me." Xandred told him. "I have been spending the last year increasing the river level in an attempt to sail my ship into the land of the living. Why should I spare some for you?"

"I will lend you my forces." Cog told him. "You already know they present the Samurai a significant threat."

"Normally I would insist such an accord is sealed over blood." Xandred rasped as he shifted position, offering him a handshake. "Though I have a feeling you do not possess blood."

"Then this will have to do." Professor Cog replied, shaking his hand.

Meanwhile, in the Dark Zone, Dayu found herself coming over the crest of a hill, finding the only building that she had seen since entering this God Forsaken place. All the fallen Nighlock had no real need of comfort, and so made use of the natural caves and shelters, but this place was built for a purpose. It was a foundry.

It was made of dark stone, and had a number of chimneys protruding from the roof which spewed out black, voluminous smoke. She had seen the smoke long before she had gotten anywhere near the building.

She started to make her way towards it, finding numerous moogers working diligently. They didn't pay her any mind, but upon closer inspection, she saw that even though they were here, indicating they had been destroyed in their previous lives, they were all wearing heavy looking manacles, indicating that they were not working by choice. They were slaves. They were mining metal from a nearby mine built into the side of the mountain, and ferrying it to the foundry. She smirked to see this. It wasn't as though she had any sympathy for the moogers, and since they were not loyal, she could be sure they would not attack her.

Going inside, she heard the ringing of hammers on anvils. This was exactly where she needed to be. As she walked through the gates, more chained up moogers were working at anvils, forging weapons. She had heard legends of the Forgemaster, the Nighlock responsible for constructing the deadliest weapons that had ever been sent against the living world. Rumour had it that this Nighlock had created not only the sword wielded by Master Xandred when he overthrew the last Nighlock King, but also the legendary blade Urumasa.

She found her attention caught by something in the corner. It was a cage that was not fit to hold a dog, with thick, dark metal bars. Inside was a young, human woman. She was barely five and a half feet by the looks of her, but Dayu couldn't tell, since the cage was far too small to let her stretch out, let alone stand up. Her hair was ash blonde, verging on white, and her eyes were crystal blue, but burning with fury. Her face and body were covered with cuts and bruises, indicating that she had been badly mistreated for some time. Her hands were secured together with thick manacles, and a thick, heavy metal collar had been secured around her neck, with a heavy chain leading from it to the wall. Her ankles were secured together with manacles also. Her clothing was filthy, and badly worn.

"Who dares enter my forge!" Dayu heard a harsh voice bellow, shaking the whole building. She was trembling in fear as she heard the voice.

"Forge Master?" She asked.

"Who disturbs my work?" He bellowed again. She could not see him; legend had it that he never faced anyone, using his slaves to deliver his works.

"I come to humbly ask you to repair one of your greatest works." She told him, kneeling on the ground. She unwrapped Urumasa, placing both pieces on the ground. "I have returned it to you in the hope that you can reforge it."

"Why should I do this for you?" He asked. She smiled.

"You know as well as I do that the last bearer of the Cursed Blade has made its edge a thing of legend." She reminded him. "Your creation can either remain scrap metal, or I can use it to find its true owner and allow him to continue to spread the reputation of your legendary creation."

A mooger came and picked up the pieces, taking it away.

"It will take some time." He told her. "Wait here."

She looked to the girl in the cage and felt her curiosity overcoming her.

"Who is she?" Dayu asked him. "I believed that humans could not survive in the Netherworld."

"Normally they can't. She lives because I allow her to." The Forge Master told her. "As to her identity, that is none of your concern. Just satisfy yourself that you are not like her and subject to my mercy, or lack thereof."

A path lit up in an ominous red glow. Dayu just nodded in understanding, and stood up, heading to a parlour where she could wait on the Forge Master repairing the Cursed Blade.

Over in Japan, Ji arrived at the airport, stepping out of the car. Daisuke had allowed one of his disciples to take him to the airport, appreciating that he was eager to return to the Shiba House as quickly as possible.

It had been a long and bizarre journey for him. Ji had expected to come to Japan to seal the fragment of Urumasa in the Kin Vault for all time, to ensure that it would never again be wielded in battle. Unfortunately Dayu's obsession with Dekker had led to her taking it from him. However, even he could not have predicted what would happen next. He had found out the true nature of his family shame, and destroyed the monster that was once his ancestor. In doing so, he had put his spirit to rest.

As he made his way to the customs desk, he pulled out the ancient paintbrush morpher, and laid it on the tray with his wallet and his watch. The guy at the desk just looked to him curiously.

"I'm an artist." Ji told him. The customs official looked far from convinced, but strictly speaking there was no law against carrying a paintbrush. It wasn't like it was a deadly weapon or anything. He just shrugged and pushed the tray through the scanner, satisfying himself that there was nothing in his possessions that constituted contraband.

"Enjoy your flight sir." He stated.

"I will." Ji replied. "Though I do hope the in-flight movie is an Angelina Jolie picture."

As he reclaimed his possessions, he put them back into his pocket and picked up his backpack, making his way to the gate. He still had a long way to go, but he was on his way, and he couldn't wait to return to his Rangers.