In JKP, the night was getting very busy. Being December 23rd, it was realistically the last day the majority of people would be shopping frantically for their last-minute gifts and supplies, and so they were doing a storming trade between take-away orders and shoppers desperate for something to eat before heading home. Mentor Ji came in, finding Dom, Fran, Lily and Gabby running around frantically as they tried to cope with the maddening rush.
"Wow...um...I guess this is a bad time." He remarked as Lily came over with a check pad, before seeing who it was.
"Ji!" She shrieked excitedly, throwing her arms around him. "You're back! When we didn't hear anything..."
"Yes, I am afraid I have been finding communications something of a problem on my journey." He admitted. "I was hoping for something to eat, but if it's this busy, then perhaps I should just get my bike and go..."
"Whoa, wait...are you kidding?" Dominic asked him. "You want to go tonight?"
"I would like to get back before..."
"No Ji, the roads...there's been a lot of bad weather." Lily agreed. "The weather services are warning people not to travel if they don't have to. Especially in the dark, and it's already getting pretty dark."
"Yeah, at very least you should wait till the morning." Fran suggested. "And, you know, if you feel like helping out, that would be great!"
"RJ's just in the back." Lily told him. "Just find a room and make yourself comfortable. We'll probably be finished here in an hour or so, and I'm sure RJ would love to catch up. Help yourself to the kitchen if you're hungry."
With that, he gathered his belongings and made his way up to the apartment.
Back in the Shiba House, Jayden was sitting in his room, mulling over recent events. He didn't even notice as Summer knocked gently and entered the room.
"Um...sorry, I thought you heard me." She told him. "If you'd like..."
"No, it's fine." He mumbled, before gesturing her inside. "Is there something on your mind?"
"I just wanted to talk to you about Dillon." She admitted. "I just wanted to apologise for the way he's been acting."
"You don't need to apologise for him." Jayden assured her.
"Unfortunately, I really think I do." Summer said, showing him her wedding ring. "I think that's covered in the "for better or worse" part of the whole deal."
She took a seat and started to consider what she wanted to say.
"Look, I know he's kind of...short and a little..." She took a deep sigh. "Let's call a spade a spade. Until you get to know him, he's kind of an ass."
"I guess Kevin takes some getting used to." Jayden admitted.
"It's more than that though. Things have really been getting to him." Summer continued with her story. "When we defeated Venjix, we all thought that was it for us. We'd all started to move on with our lives. It was really hard for Dillon and his sister though. They basically had to start from scratch."
"I remember Dillon saying he didn't have any memories." Jayden answered. Summer just nodded.
"Basically all he has is the last three years." Summer told her. "And about a year and a half of that was spent fighting Venjix. Being brought back into all of this..."
"It must be really hard." Jayden commented.
"We were looking at moving on too." Summer told him. "We were trying to start a family when we had to come back. He just kind of can't help getting angry whenever he thinks about Venjix. He's literally lost everything to him, and just when he was starting to get something back, he gets brought back into it all. It's hard watching what it does to him."
"For what it's worth, I have seen the way he is when he's around you." Jayden told her. "I can tell he's a good person. That's why I gave him another chance."
"Thanks for that." Summer answered. "I know my husband isn't the easiest guy to get along with."
"I understand. He lost everything once, so it terrifies him to think that he might lose it again. And by the looks of things, it looks like he has a lot to lose." Jayden told her as she started to leave, causing her to smile a little. "Thanks for what you said earlier."
"Hey, they might be slow to admit it, but the others were impressed by your team." Summer told him. "Dillon might have taken the odd hit for us, but he's got a force field. What your friends did for you...that's pretty amazing."
"They are an amazing team." Jayden told her. "I really hope your Dr. K can get them back."
"If anyone can it's her." Summer told him. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight." Jayden replied as she left. It was late, and he was sure that it wouldn't be long until Cog made his move once more. He could feel it coming with every fibre of his being, and he could only hope that they would be enough to take care of the coming battles.
The following morning, General Gut and Professor Cog appeared through a gap, landing in a field far from the city. They were each carrying a large device with them, a long, metal pole covered in circuitry. They walked a few feet apart, and rammed them into the ground before powering them up, creating a shimmering, misty red portal between them.
"You know, perhaps you could leave this here when you leave." Professor Cog suggested. "Then all my brethren could come through."
As he said this, the legion began marching out, twenty across, moogers interspersed with Grinders. Professor Cog just watched the seemingly endless horde march through.
"Remember, today your Red Ranger meets his end." He reminded him. "Once that happens, the bloodline is lost, and the seal is lost forever. You won't need this."
Back at the Shiba House, Jayden arrived in the training yard, finding the RPM Rangers working with Shinai. Serena was standing, observing them as they did so. Their work was basic, it was clear they were learning, but he had to admit being impressed with what they were picking up in what had to be their first lesson.
"Jayden." Serena called out, waving him over.
"What is all this?" He asked.
"Summer came to me early." Serena told him. "Since their weakness is in their technique, they asked if I could show them some pointers while we wait for Cog to make his move."
"And from what I saw, your Fire Smasher can pretty effectively take down grinders as easily as it can moogers." Scott added as he crossed shinai with Flynn. "So, I figure we can all make a go of round three."
"The fire smasher can be a pretty good can opener." Jayden said with a little smile, seemingly impressed at their willingness to concede that neither force was perfectly equipped to deal with the other's threat and work to find ways to strengthen those areas. "So, does anyone want to show me what you learned?"
Just then, the Gap Sensor sounded. Stephen ran out, looking panicked.
"Why do I get the feeling we aren't getting to have that match?" Scott asked.
"Maybe later." Jayden promised him. "What is it Peter?"
Stephen and Serena just looked at him.
"Sorry, Stephen." He replied, before looking to the confused RPM Rangers. "Long story, I'll explain later. What is it?"
"It looks like Cog returned, and he brought some friends." Stephen told him, pulling out a laptop and showing them the map. "A LOT of friends!"
"Holy crap, is that...?" Flynn's mouth fell open in horror. "A hundred grinders?"
"About the same again of moogers." Jayden replied. "And by the looks of it, he brought a Nighlock along for good measure."
Just then, a burning arrow flew through the air and landed in the garden. Flames burst forth from it, forming a Kanji symbol on the grass, before the flames died away, leaving only charred grass. Ziggy just looked to it in awe.
"OK, I don't read Japanese, but I'm guessing..."
"It's an invitation." Jayden confirmed. "They're calling us out."
"Well, I guess we get to practice some of that kendo stuff earlier than expected." Scott replied. "Let's go!"
As they were about to leave, Jayden cast a power symbol from his Samuraizer. Summer and the others just looked on shocked as five motor cycles and a brilliant white barded warhorse all appeared. He morphed into Ranger mode as he leapt up onto the horse.
"This will help us get there more quickly." Jayden told them.
"Great." Summer said with a huge grin as she morphed and hopped on her bike. The others all followed suit.
"So, are you going to be bringing up the rear?" Scott asked. As he said that, Jayden's horse reared up, its eyes glowing brightly, and its hooves burst into flames, before riding off at an impossible speed.
"OK, that was awesome!" Ziggy commented as they all powered up their bikes and rode out of the yard after Jayden, his horse, augmented by his symbol power setting the pace.
Over in Ocean Bluff, Ji was just waking up, having taken RJ up on his offer of staying overnight and setting out the following day. He smiled as he saw RJ and Lily sitting with breakfast on the table.
"You slept well." RJ remarked.
"I rarely sleep on planes." Ji told him, sitting down and accepting some coffee.
"I guess you're going home today." Lily added. "I wish you could stay longer, but I guess you want to get back to Jayden."
"I really should." Ji told them. "I still haven't wrapped my presents yet."
"Well, we got kind of an unexpected gift." RJ told him. "It turns out that Theo's been staying at the Pai Zhuq temple."
"Casey's been putting him up since we thought he left." Lily told him. "He let him stay there to straighten out his head and figure out what he wanted to do. The only reason he never told us is because..."
"He didn't want to betray a friend's trust." Ji concluded with a little smile. "Why do I get the feeling this is the present?"
"We managed to pin him down and talk to him." RJ confirmed. "It's still...not as it was, but I guess that's to be expected."
"It looks like he's accepted the break up." Lily told him. "We're all working on being friends again."
"I'm sure he missed you both too." Ji replied.
"He's coming over for Christmas dinner." RJ said as he put his arm around Lily. "I guess that's a good sign right?"
"Turn that up." Ji replied, ducking his head aside to see the television. It was down low as background noise while they ate breakfast. RJ did so, only to see footage from Ji's city.
"An unprecedented army has swarmed into our city from the Netherworld!" The reporter stated again. "At this time, they are not headed for the city, but all we can do is wait and hope that the Power Rangers come. Though against such odds, one wonders what they can do."
Ji got up from the table, grabbing his bag and his coat.
"Ji..."
It was too late though, he was already heading down to the garage, and before they could stop him, he was riding his motorcycle at breakneck speed towards the freeway.
Back at the field, Jayden arrived on his warhorse, the flames around it dying down as he reared it to a halt. The RPM Rangers were not far behind, dismounting from their bikes as they disappeared and readying themselves for battle.
"You actually came." General Gut said with a deep belly laugh. "I can't believe you actually came."
"It's kind of what we do." Jayden stated. General Gut raised his arm, preparing to give the order to advance, when suddenly there was a bright flash of light, and a huge explosion. Before anyone knew what was happening, a huge train, designed after a Mammoth, a Triceratops and a T-Rex powered into view between the two sides.
"What the...?"
"May I introduce the Paleomax Megazord, also known as the Corinth Express." Scott announced. Jayden just looked at him.
"You travelled across dimensions on a train?" He asked. Scott just laughed.
"This coming from the guy that just thirty seconds ago was riding a horse that was on fire." He chuckled. "You've got to admit though; it's a hell of a train."
Jayden quickly stopped caring as the rest of his team emerged from the side, followed by two more morphed Rangers that he had never seen before. He presumed they had to be the other Rangers that Scott had referred to.
"We came as soon as we could amigo." Antonio told him as the teams came together. "We also brought a little backup courtesy of Dr. K."
The Paleomax Megazord rolled off, once again disappearing across dimensions, leaving the field clear.
"The odds are looking a little better now aren't they?" Scott shot out to General Gut. He just snorted in disgust.
"It's still two hundred to thirteen." He reminded them. "Attack!"
The Samurai Rangers all summoned their war horses, leaping onto them and riding deeply into the enemy lines as the RPM Rangers backed them up, falling upon the allied forces of Cog and Gut with everything they had.
In another part of town, Serena and Stephen were keeping track of the battle on the monitor, when Serena heard a motorcycle roaring into the yard. She got up and rushed to the door, finding Mentor Ji pulling off his helmet.
"Mentor..."
"Where is the battle?" Ji interrupted her.
"The field at the east of the city." She told him, at which he pulled his helmet back on and rode out of the yard again. "Mentor, where are you...? Mentor!"
"Talkative guy." Stephen commented. She just nodded.
"What does he think he's doing?" She asked in response.
Back at the site of the battle, the two Ranger teams were making impressive work of their enemy. The Samurai had all been instructed on weak points in the grinders' armour, while the little practice they'd had with each other seemed to have helped the RPM team.
General Gut and Professor Cog watched on as their foot soldiers were being cut down in droves. Cog looked to Gut and smiled.
"It's time for my little surprise." He told him. Gut just held up a hand, at which the remaining moogers and cogs all came back to them, forming up into a new formation. There was about thirty of each left.
"Well, it seems you have both done the smart thing and familiarised yourself with the opponents you are unfamiliar with." Gut called out. "However, what will you do against a new foe? One that combines the best attributes of both?"
With that, the grinders all fragmented, and formed into armour around the moogers, creating a horrendous metal mooger hybrid.
"OK, that can't be good." Dillon remarked as the Samurai dismounted and recalled their warhorses. "So, can we hope the armour slows them down?"
With that, Gut sent them charging forward. If anything, the armour seemed to augment the moogers' natural abilities, and they crossed the distance quickly. The first wave leapt high into the air, their weapons raised to strike.
"Alright, they aren't any slower." Mike replied, forming his forest spear. "Let's see if they're still..."
The point of his spear simply rebounded off the armour, sending a hard jolt up the spear into his shoulders.
"Not good!" Mike called out as he was sent flying by the creature's strike. Professor Cog and General Gut watched as their creations fell upon the Rangers.
"You see, it isn't just the Rangers that can work on strengthening the weakness in their strategy." He told him. "The strength and armour of my grinders..."
"With the abilities of my moogers." General gut concluded, watching as the Rangers started to struggle against their new threat. "How can they lose?"
Mentor Ji arrived on his motorcycle, skidding to a halt a little way from the battle, pulling off his helmet as he saw the two Ranger teams struggling. He had no idea who the others were, but since they were fighting on their side, he presumed that they were friends. As he ran over to the battle, Jayden was sent crashing to the ground, de-morphing as he went. He landed with the others, who were also in civilian form, having taken a considerable beating.
"OK, at least we took most of them with us." Kevin grunted as he looked up at the remaining ten hybrids coming towards them. Just then, Mentor Ji ran in between them, crouching down by Jayden.
"Jayden, are you alright?" He asked. Jayden just looked up in alarm.
"Mentor, they're too tough, you need to get out of here!" He told him. Mentor Ji just shook his head.
"You have all done tremendously well. You have faced odds no one would have expected you to face." He looked to the others and smiled. "I am proud of all of you. Now, allow me to do my part."
As he stood up, taking out his paintbrush morpher, he turned towards the hybrids, starting to walk towards them.
"You will step away from my SON!" He called out as he traced a power symbol in the air, before casting it forward.
