Mentor Ji was in his private chamber, preparing for the battle ahead as he focussed his symbol power onto a blank disk.
Creating a power disk was not an easy task at the best of times, requiring a lot of concentration, and a deep mastery of symbol power, but this time both he and Jayden had agreed that it was well worth the effort. Jayden had told him how his resist symbol had protected him from Metatone's attempt to bring him under his spell, and so they had theorised that if they ramped up the power a little by putting it into a power disk to use with one of the Ranger's swords, then it may be enough to break the hold Metatone had over Kevin.
His task was complicated further by the fact that the Tiger Zord was also under Metatone's command. He had to ensure he put enough power into it to break the spell on both of them, requiring every ounce of his discipline and skill with the ways of power symbols. The disk was glowing as he continued to inscribe the appropriate symbols onto it. Sweat adorned his brow as he concentrated on his task. Jayden came into the room.
"Is it ready yet?" He asked.
"It should be." Mentor Ji replied as he finished his task. The disk returned to white, with black marks etched into it. "Has Kevin returned?"
"No, but I have a feeling it won't be long." Jayden replied. "How are the others?"
"They're fine. The injuries are minor thanks to you." He assured him.
"Why do I get the feeling there's something troubling you?" Jayden asked him. Mentor Ji just sighed, looking to the Red Ranger seriously.
"They are not prepared to do what must be done." He told him. "When I explained that we may have to face Kevin again, and that we may not have the luxury of going lightly on him..."
"You can't blame them, Kevin is a friend." Jayden replied. Mentor Ji just nodded.
"That is true, but he is also your friend." He answered. "Yet I know I can rely on you to do what needs to be done."
Jayden just nodded morosely, unable to articulate an answer. Just like the others, he didn't really want to hurt Kevin, but unlike the others, he was prepared to do so if he needed to. He had been raised in the way of the Samurai all his life, and it had encompassed his being in a way it hadn't for the others. They all had other things in their lives. Mia had her dreams, Emily had her sister and the family farm, Mike...well...he only took the Samurai thing seriously when he needed to. Jayden had very little outside of his training, and part of that was always preparation for sacrifice, even if it meant putting the wellbeing of a friend and ally in danger.
"You explained it to them though, didn't you?" Jayden asked him. He had already decided that he would go and face Kevin himself. Not only was he the closest to him in terms of skill, he also knew that his friends' reluctance to hurt Kevin could easily lead to them taking chances that they couldn't afford to take. It could cause them to hesitate at a crucial moment. Knowing his technique, Jayden was sure there wouldn't be many, and even a moment's hesitation could mean the difference between victory and defeat, between life and death. Mentor Ji just nodded.
"They didn't say so to my face, but I feel that they still disagree." Mentor Ji advised him sagely. "I understand why, but their minds are clouded to the truth. They didn't need to say it, but I know they will all have decided not to harm Kevin."
"There's something else isn't there?" Jayden asked him. "You can tell me."
"It is a concern I have had for some time." He said quietly, looking to Jayden as he got up, handing Jayden the disk. It was just part of the unspoken bond between them that Jayden didn't need to tell him that he would take the mission. He knew as well as Mentor Ji none of the others were prepared for the task. Jayden could tell what was coming, but mercifully his Samuraizer bleeped before he was drawn into this discussion again.
"It's Kevin, he's shown up." Jayden told him. "I altered the Gap sensor. The alarm will go off in about five minutes. That should give me a suitable head start. If the others won't help, then at least they won't get in my way."
With that, he ran off, morphing as he did so.
Over on a building site on the outskirts of town, Metatone had returned after re-energising himself in the Sanzu river, and was directing the Tiger Zord and Kevin as they attacked, sending the workmen fleeing. The Tiger Zord just sat, looming over the scene as Kevin cleared the workers out with practiced ease. As Jayden arrived, he saw that none of the workers appeared to be trapped, or seriously hurt. Fortunately the sight of a gigantic robot and a Nighlock had caused most of them to flee for their lives before Kevin could do any real damage. He skidded to a halt in the clearing.
"What happened to your back-up?" Metatone taunted him as he saw him. "Are they licking their wounds?"
"How about a challenge?" Jayden asked him. "Kevin against me, one-on-one."
"Please, why would I agree to that?" He asked him. Jayden took a deep breath.
"Because I'm sure your pet thinks he has what it takes to beat me." Jayden replied. "And I'm sure under your influence; he has every intention of destroying me."
"He does what I command him to!" Metatone laughed.
"Let's see about that." Jayden answered, turning towards Kevin. "She's alright Kevin; I just want you to know that."
Kevin glared through his visor at Jayden, an intense hatred building in him. He knew what he was talking about, and a part of him was relieved.
"I took care of her." Jayden told him. "She was certainly grateful when I tended to her wounds."
Kevin's fury built into an all-encompassing rage as he thought about it. He could see Jayden taking advantage of that. He hadn't tried to hurt her, in fact he had tried to do everything he could to stop himself once he had seen her lying on the ground. He could imagine Jayden with his hands on her, cleaning and tending to his wounds, likely reminding her all the time that it was Kevin who had inflicted them on her, poisoning her against him. His hand strayed to the hilt of his Spin Sword. Metatone saw what was happening, and knew what Jayden was doing.
"Blue Ranger!" He called out.
"What's the matter, don't you have confidence in your little pet?" Jayden asked him. "I suppose I can see why. He's no match for me! He's not even a man!"
Jayden hated every word coming from his mouth, but he knew that he needed to do this. He needed to get Kevin to fight him if he was going to get close enough to use the Resist Disk.
"You're pathetic, and she knows it!" Jayden roared. "You're not worthy of her!"
With that, Kevin had heard enough, and whipped out his sword, confronting Jayden. The Red Ranger pulled out his Spin Sword, just in time to parry the first savage blow. His plan was working, he just hoped he would keep his head long enough to see it through.
The other Rangers ran into the main room as the Gap Sensor's alarm sounded. Mentor Ji was waiting for them.
"Kevin and the Tiger Zord are back." He informed them.
"Where's Jayden?" Mike asked, looking around, but by the tone of his voice, Mentor Ji could tell that he had already figured out the answer.
"He has already gone to battle Kevin." He informed them.
The other Rangers ran out without another word, hoping that they weren't already too late.
Back at the building site, Jayden and Kevin were struggling hard in their duel. Although he hadn't ordered it, he appeared to now be getting into the show, and so hadn't ordered the Tiger Zord to attack. Jayden's presumption that his arrogance over his puppet would influence his actions was paying off. They parted ways a little, taking the time to analyse their opponents and prepare for a new assault. Jayden held his sword over his shoulder, taking the weight off his arms as Kevin maintained his position, and they started to circle each other. Even the most flawless of guards had holes in it, and both of them had taken and dished out a fair number of attacks. Jayden was just looking for the time to act, needing to get close to him. With Kevin, he knew that wouldn't be easy.
"Jayden, what are you doing!" Mike called out as his friends arrived. Jayden knew they would be here soon, but he didn't know the fight had already taken that long.
"Snap out of it Kevin!" Mia called out. Jayden watched as Kevin's gaze shifted from him to Mia for a second. "Come back to us!"
"No talking during the fight!" Metatone called out as he blasted the three Rangers to the ground. Jayden took the opportunity while Kevin was distracted, launching into the attack. Kevin managed to parry the first blow, but only barely. Pressing the attack, Jayden kept the pressure up.
As Mike started to get to his feet, he saw a pair of leather boots walking past him. As they got up, they saw a mysterious stranger carrying something wrapped in a blanket standing before him.
"The battle will not last much longer." Dekker told them, observing the battle unfolding.
"Who are you?" Emily asked, thinking it was somewhat odd that anyone would still be here, but moreover, this guy intimated that he seemed to know what was going on.
"It doesn't matter who I am, all that matters is who's winning." He answered off-handedly as he watched the battle, his gaze never shifting from the battle unfolding. "The warrior in blue is going to lose."
He observed the action as Jayden and Kevin each struggled for position.
"The warrior in blue is fighting with passion, but he fights like he's looking for a training point. It's different than fighting for your life." He continued to commentate as his mind raced, thinking of the possibilities as he watched the battle, seeing not only where the swords were, but the possibilities of where they would go next, imagining five moves ahead from every possible movement, and five moves from every one of those. "You have to watch your opponent like a hawk. Be prepared for every possibility and utilise every advantage."
"Kevin!" Mia screamed out as a girder fell, parting him and Jayden. The Red Ranger had cut a support chain, dropping it to part them and get some space. The stranger just smirked as he saw them stand ready.
"The Red Warrior has an excellent stance." He commented. "It reduces arm fatigue. It's easy to get tired in a long fight."
"They're going to..."
"The Red Warrior is looking for a decisive blow." He told them. "It won't be long."
Just then, they renewed their battle. In a savage flurry of blows, Jayden finally found his opportunity as he hooked their swords together, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Blue Ranger.
"Sorry I have to do this Kevin!" He told him, setting the Resist Disk spinning. With one quick motion, using all his strength, he threw Kevin's guard aside, before bringing his Spin Sword across Kevin's chest. The Blue Ranger fell to his knees, at which a dark cloud flew out of him. He could feel a lot of his anger subsiding, and his mind clearing. As he de-morphed, he fell forward, face-first to the ground.
"My puppet!" Metatone screamed as he felt his power over him fading.
"Kevin!" Mia screamed as they rushed over to help him. She turned him over as they looked into his eyes, finding to their relief that he was still breathing. "Are you alright?"
"What...Oh my God, what have I done?" He asked them. Mike and Mia helped him back to his feet.
"Jayden, are you crazy?" Mike yelled at him. "You could have killed him!"
"We can discuss it later." Jayden cut him off, pulling out his Lion Folding Zord. "I'll take care of the Tiger Zord. The rest of you deal with the Nighlock."
Meanwhile, a little way off, Dekker just smiled. He had no interest in what happened from now on. Given what he had seen, he was confident Metatone's number was up. It was only a matter of time.
"The Red Ranger is a truly worthy opponent." He said in an impressed tone as he turned away. "He will truly be a great test of my Urumasa."
He paused for a moment as he thought about something.
"Though it might be worth keeping an eye on the Blue Ranger." He said thoughtfully as he turned back into his Nighlock form. "He may become worthy of notice too." With that, he turned to walk away, disappearing into a gap.
After the battle, the Rangers were back at the academy, taking an opportunity to relax after getting their wounds checked out. Jayden smiled as he watched Emily, Mike and Mia playing an ancient board game, kind of a millennia-old cross between chess and snakes and ladders with their Folding Zords. He loved seeing them enjoying themselves after a hard day. He took a moment to look to the newest power disk in their collection, the Tiger Disk. It had been a hard battle, but instead of regaining only one ally, they had actually managed to regain two. The Tiger had been freed by the Resist Disk, and was now back where it belonged.
Thinking about this, he made his way outside to where Kevin had gone after they returned. He had barely spoken to anyone other than through necessity as the checked him out after the battle. Jayden coughed to announce his presence.
"We missed you at dinner." He told him. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm a bit tender." He admitted. "I think you might have cracked a rib."
"I couldn't afford to take any chances with an opponent as strong as you, but for what it's worth I'm sorry." He replied. "That's not exactly what I meant though."
"I feel pretty lousy." Kevin admitted. "I hurt the others, I attacked you…"
"You did that under the Nighlock's control." Jayden reminded him. "However, there was more to it and we both know that."
Kevin looked away, ashamed to even be talking to Jayden. He never would have believed he could hurt any of them, least of all Mia, and yet he had been made to do so. Jayden looked to the Power Disk in his hand.
"He spent years sealed in the Netherworld because of my predecessor." Jayden told him. "Who knows what had to do to him. To know that he had been sent there by his master, the one he trusted more than anyone? I can only imagine that he must have felt…"
"Betrayed." Kevin interrupted him, looking to Jayden. "When I was under, all I felt was anger. Every slight transgression that any of you had ever done, no matter how slight just came to me and seemed so much worse."
"His power worked by enhancing the anger in his victims." Jayden replied. "It used that to control you."
Kevin sighed as he could see where this was going.
"That means there has to have been anger there before." He continued. "Kevin, I guessed how you feel about Mia. I've kind of had an idea for a while now, and I used it against you, to make you fight me. I just wanted to say I'm sorry for what I said."
"Why? It's all true." Kevin muttered as he started to walk away. Jayden caught his shoulder, causing him to stop. He turned back.
"I'm sorry too." He whispered. "I let my own jealousy get out of hand, and that Nighlock nearly used it to destroy everyone I care about."
"Jealousy?" Jayden asked him. Kevin just nodded in response.
"I see how she looks at you, and I see how much time you guys spend together." Kevin told him. "I guess I just wished it was me. I didn't say anything and it just kept eating at me until I started thinking about things, and…I have to admit that now some of what I thought seems kind of stupid."
"Like?" Jayden asked him.
"That wedding assignment," Kevin began, looking to his Shogun, his sense of duty forbidding him to withhold it or give false tongue. "I volunteered to be the groom, but you pulled rank on me and put yourself in that position. I couldn't help feeling like you did that deliberately."
"I did." Jayden told him flatly. "But not for the reason you think. Do you know why I asked you to sit in the audience?"
Kevin just looked at him, not understanding what he was about to say. Did he really want to hear this?
"I knew that the bride and groom were going to be in danger, the groom especially." Jayden told him.
"I would have…"
"I don't doubt you were brave enough to risk it." Jayden interrupted him. "They were taking the brides, but as the next closest person, and one they didn't need, I knew the groom was in danger of being hurt. I was relying on the rest of you to hang back and keep us safe…"
"Protection position." Kevin breathed, suddenly thinking about it, almost kicking himself for his mistake. It was standard practice, almost the first thing a samurai or bodyguard would learn. Despite popular opinion, standing in front of or next to their charge was not the best vantage point for a bodyguard. It was too easy for someone to come at them from behind before they could respond. The most advantageous position and best vantage point was about four feet behind the charge.
That way, they could see someone coming from the front, sides and rear, and if they came from behind, the bodyguard would have a second to react before the attacker got to their charge. Four feet behind…around the same distance as the altar was from the front pew. He couldn't see it before. Jayden just nodded, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I knew I could rely on you to make sure nothing happened to her if things went wrong with the plan." Jayden explained. "As for me and Mia? There is no me and Mia. At least, not as far as I'm concerned."
"I don't understand." Kevin replied. "All that time, the way she is with you…?"
"I have to admit, I kind of noticed that too." Jayden admitted sadly. "I had a feeling when we were on that assignment she was starting to see me differently, but I just don't feel that way about her."
"You don't?" Kevin asked him, beginning to feel a little mix of anger and elation. He was happy to hear Jayden say that he wasn't into Mia, but then he wasn't happy to think he was leading her on. Jayden shook his head.
"I guess I haven't been fair to her." Jayden admitted. "It's just…she's a friend, and I didn't want to hurt her. I was kind of hoping if I gave it enough time she'd just get the idea and let it go."
"If you don't mind me saying so…"
"Yeah, it's a cop out. I admit that now." Jayden sighed. "I promise I'll talk to her."
"Just…let her down easily would you?" Kevin asked him.
"You can be sure of that." Jayden replied. Just then, Emily came running out, carrying her Ape Folding Zord.
"We're starting a new game!" She called out to them. "Come play with us!"
Jayden and Kevin pulled out their Folding Zords and smiled at each other as they made their way back towards the academy, but Mentor Ji showed up and gestured to Jayden to follow him. The Red Ranger just waved the others off.
"I'll join you shortly." He told them, making his way over to their Mentor. He had a feeling that they were going to have that talk they were beginning before the battle. Mentor Ji quickly confirmed his suspicion by calling him into his private chamber and closing the door for privacy.
"I feel that the problem is escalating." He began seriously. "I fear that it may no longer be possible to ignore."
"What happened?" Jayden asked him. They had spoken of this issue a few times, but he wanted to hear this to see what had caused Mentor Ji to make his decision.
"When I explained what needed to be done, Mike was the first to defy me." The Mentor answered. "It is not the first time..."
"I doubt it'll be the last either." Jayden stated, considering what Ji was telling him. "However..."
"It isn't the fact he defied me that is most troubling though." He interrupted Jayden. "Emily and Mia took their lead from him."
"That may just be a coincidence." Jayden argued. "None of us wanted to hurt Kevin."
"Nevertheless, you know as well as I do, he is very close to the girls." He reminded him. "He is brave, and has the ability to inspire faith in others, but I fear that quality may become a hindrance. He has a dangerous influence on the girls, Emily especially."
"What are you suggesting?" Jayden asked him.
"For now, we keep an eye on him and hope that he begins to take his training more seriously." He told him. "However, if his attitude to authority does not improve, then it may become necessary to consider alternative ways to straighten things out."
"I trust your judgement." Jayden replied, bowing to his Mentor out of respect, before leaving. He knew that Mike's behaviour troubled Mentor Ji, and he had voiced his concerns a few times recently, but this time it sounded like he was coming to the end of his patience.
Jayden hoped that it wouldn't come to anything, but right now he had something else on his mind. In the near future, he was going to have to talk to Mia. As he got to the main room, the others looked around as he arrived. He smiled and held up his Lion Zord.
"Is there room for one more?" He asked them as he came over, taking care not to sit next to Mia. He had to talk to her, but today had already been so hard, he figured one more day wouldn't hurt. Why not end a bad day on a good note?