Ji was attending to his duties at the house, half-heartedly at best. Even though it was stuff he had been doing for more years than he'd like to admit, he had a hell of a lot on his mind.

His girlfriend, a wonderful woman, who was nearly twenty years his junior, was going into surgery on that same day. At the same time, he had to send the Rangers into a situation blind. Their surveillance still couldn't penetrate whatever was going on in Manalua.

He heard a knock on the door, and his attention was snapped from his meditation. They had a gate, they had a fence, deliveries would announce themselves there. There were also protection symbols around the house, so he doubted it was a Nighlock. Even so, he clutched his cane tightly just to be sure.

As he got to the door and opened it, he smiled as he saw Cody.

"You did as your dad for permission this time right?" He asked. Coy just shrugged.

"I doubt you'd grass on me to the school or my dad." He replied. "I have something, something I think you'll want to see."

With that, he dumped the load he was carrying on his shoulder onto the table. He peeled back the covers, showing it to Mentor Ji. Ji just smiled.

"I guess we all have to move with the times." He commented. "Show me how it works."

Kevin and Emily were both snared in Octoroo's tentacles as he slammed them both into the ground hard. He just looked to them both and snorted.

"You are so not ready for what Serrator has in mind." He commented. "Bye."

With that, he dashed both of them into a nearby streak and disappeared. Emily got to the bank first, de-morphing, but finding their opponent long gone. Kevin arrives beside her, spluttering.

"He was toying with us." Kevin told her. "He could have..."

"Uh...I don't read Kanji too well." Emily interrupted him as she pulled out a piece of parchment. "I didn't have this before; he must have put it there!"

"It just says...wait until the secret is revealed." Kevin answered. "What secret?"

"Remember it was Octoroo that gave us this. He was probably messing with us." Emily stated. "Anyway, we have a lead, that kid told us this all started when this ash started falling."

"Let's go." She told him as she started to run toward the mountain. "We have something!"

In another area of the island, Antonio and Mike were not faring that well. Indeed, after their initial barrage, things had gone steadily south. Serrator seemed to feel very little, and taunted them about how ineffective their attacks were.

Right now, they were held in a purple lightning field of some kind, but Serrator only waited for a moment, just long enough to see them suffer, before he released them.

"I wouldn't want you to miss the main event." He told them. "I'll be waiting!"

Mike got up first, but was wobbly on his feet. Antonio helped him, but he was off-balance too.

"What...?"

"I think we're meant to find out." Antonio replied, dragging him as he headed for the mountain. "Come on!"

Jayden was sent tumbling by a surprising attack from Dekker. He knew him well, he had duelled with him once before, but it seemed that he had adapted a lot.

Mia skidded between them on her knees as Dekker tried to strike, and took on the battle. As he watched, Jayden could only think of one thing, she was facing Dekker, easily the most powerful foe he had ever faced.

As Mia was sent spiralling away by the Bane of Life, Jayden ran back to the fight, only to have Dekker lock blades with him, holding them in a test of strength.

"You rely on team mates to fight for you now?" Dekker taunted him. He swept Jayden's sword away, before hitting him with a stroke so powerful, that by the time he stopped rolling, Jayden was sure something had to be dislocated or broken. He raised his head a little, seeing Dekker putting the Bane of Life away.

"You're not even worth fighting anymore." Dekker sneered as he changed back into his human form. "How disappointing."

With that, he disappeared. Jayden couldn't help feeling that Dekker had a point. There was a time, a time when the others weren't there, a time when it was just him facing the Nighlock. He loved the others, and that was the reason...

"Jayden?" Mia asked. He shoved her away, cradling the arm she was sure was at very least dislocated to his chest, while he steadied himself to walk on legs that seemed to be barely able to hold him.

"Go and find the others." Jayden told her.

"No Jayden!" She screamed at him. "We swore out lives to you!"

"I never asked you to do that!" Jayden reminded her sharply. Mia just came closer.

"You're the only one that can make..."

"If you only knew." Jayden whispered as he morphed, gripping his Spin Sword with what was left of his strength. Mia could only follow as he ran off.

Back at the hospital, Mal headed out of the room to get some drinks. He just finished filling the cups when he turned, almost spilling both cups as he saw...

"Mrs. Jamieson..."

"I know you lied to get in to see Melanie." She cut him off. Ma just looked a little nervous.

"Well..."

"It's alright." She said with a smile. "I appreciate it. Melanie doesn't have alot of visitors."

"Um...really?" Mal asked, feigning ignorance. He didn't want her mother to think that Melanie had become something of a social pariah at school thanks to the internet. "But, she's the head cheerleader. She's always surrounded by loads of people."

"Not now apparently." She sighed. "Oh, and I've got an internet connection. I know about the messages."

Mal just shifted a little uncomfortably.

"Sorry..."

"Why?" Her mother asked. "From what I read you're the one that stood up for her." Melanie's mom replied. He just smiled.

"You heard about that huh?" He asked her. "I earned myself detention for a month over that."

"What?" She asked. He just shrugged.

"I kind of picked a fight with half the school." He told her. "I'm alright with it though..."

"Well I'm not!" She snapped. She grabbed Mal by the shoulders. "I know my daughter wasn't all daisies and sunshine, but you've stuck by her when no one else would. You have no idea what that means to me."

"I really wish my own parents felt the same way." He replied. She just looked at him curiously, at which he just waved a hand before her. "Never mind, it's my problem."

"Well, I'll have your name put on Melanie's approved visitor's list. That way you won't have to tell everyone you're her cousin." She stated. "If that's something you'd like of course."

"Yeah, I think I would." He stated. "Sorry to hear about your situation."

"Daniel always felt like he was entitled to more than his lot in life." She informed him. "I knew he wasn't playing by the rules, but...the things they're saying now? I can't believe that's the same man I married."

"If it's worth anything, he probably did it to give you and Melanie a better life." Mal suggested weakly. She just chuckled.

"You're sweet." She replied. "I don't know why my daughter never spoke about you."

"That's something you should ask her." He told her, unwilling to tell her that the reason was likely because while Melanie was the 'queen bitch' of the school, she probably didn't know or care who he was. She hooked her arm with his and smiled as they headed back into her room.

In an abandoned chalet they had found, Jayden was sitting, thinking about his defeat at Dekker's hands as Mia paced back and forth, holding her Samuraizer in increasingly awkward positions, trying to get a signal. Given the situation, she had finally managed to talk him into letting her treat his injuries.

"Hello?" She asked again. "Nothing. Something must be blocking communications."

Jayden didn't respond though. All he could think about was what Dekker had said to him. He had taunted him about the fact that he needed Mia to help him. More than that, he had called him weak. He wasn't blind, so he had noticed that something about Dekker, other than his sword, had changed. He was somehow stronger, more driven than he had been before. Even without Urumasa, he had bested both Jayden and Mia. He was starting to think, maybe he had a point.

He looked to the makeshift sling Mia had made for him. Ever since his first duel with Dekker, his shoulder had given him problems on occasion, and he was sure that Dekker had targeted it specifically. Another weakness, he seemed to be targeting any weakness now.

"Jayden..."

He shoved her away as she tried to put a hand on his shoulder. He grabbed the sling and tore it off, before limping towards the door.

"Stay here." He told her.

"Jayden..."

"I'm your Shogun, I said stay here!" He roared. "I need to go."

"Go and do what?" Mia asked him. "Go and fight Dekker again?"

"I've learned to rely on you all too much. He's right about that." Jayden told her. "I'm going to settle things the way I always should have, alone."

"Jayden, you're too important." Mia told him. Only you can create the sealing symbol. You're..."

"If you knew..." He stated, his word tailing off. He just shook his head. "I'm the Shogun, you're the vassal. Now, do as you're meant to and just do what I say!"

He stormed out of the chalet with as much authority as he could under the circumstances. Mia looked to her Samuraizer as she hoped to find a signal, finding that there were still zero bars. It didn't take long for her to make her decision.

"Screw tradition." She muttered as she ran after Jayden.

Back at the brazier, Dekker was sitting, running a whetting stone over the blade of his replacement sword, the Bane of Life. Octoroo arrived.

"You miss it don't you?" Octoroo asked him. "You miss your true blade."

"This sword will do for now," Dekker replied, "as long as I can find a worthy opponent that is."

Octoroo looked around, checking the coast was clear, meaning that Serrator was not around before he leaned in.

"What if I could tell you where to find it?" Octoroo asked him. Dekker just levelled The Bane of Life to his throat.

"Speak quickly and tell no lies." He warned him. Octoroo just nodded.

"The last I heard, it was at a Naval base in Scotland." He told him. "Some place called Faslane."

"Why should I believe you?" Dekker asked him.

"Well, given your desperation, can you afford not to?" He asked.

Dekker had to admit that much. He had no memory, or at least very few since he had lost Urumasa. It was part of his curse. He still didn't even know why the Yellow Ranger's words, her tirade about how he was throwing away a second chance bothered him so much. In the end though, Octoroo had a point. Things made sense when Urumasa was in his hands. He just took The Bane of Life and put it away.

"If you're lying, you will become a permanent resident of The Dark Zone." Dekker warned him. Just then, Serrator arrived.

"Have I missed something?" He asked. Dekker looked to Octoroo. He had no patience for plots, but even he could see that this was no place for honesty. Serrator had lied to him, at least on this account, so he felt no true loyalty to him. He just wanted Urumasa back, but he couldn't simply walk away before their agreement expired.

"Nothing of note." Dekker put down flatly, surprising even Octoroo. "So where are...?"

Just then, Jayden limped into view. The three Nighlock just turned to see him.

"I didn't think..."

"Where there's smoke, there's fire." He stated, pointing to the brazier. "That's what's spreading the ash isn't it?"

"Five points." Serrator teased him. "Care to go for ten?"

"You spread your ash, you made everyone panic." Jayden continued. "These people...they're going to tear each other apart!"

"Well done, you win the prize." He chortled. "Dekker, why don't..."

"He isn't worth fighting now." He snorted in derision.

"Don't look at me." Octoroo screeched, looking to Serrator. "Maybe it's time for your new secret weapon."

"Secret weapon?" Jayden asked. Just then, he saw a dozen Moogers, and a new Nighlock coming into view. The Moogers all seemed to be carrying what looked like flintlock rifles, and were wearing conical helmets. Serrator just laughed.

"Hasn't anyone told you?" He asked. "The sword is obsolete. Now is the day of the gun."

The Moogers all levelled their guns at Jayden, just as he morphed. He pulled out his Spin Sword.

"We'll see." Jayden replied, running towards them as the Moogers laid down their first volley.

Back at the Shiba House, Ji fired a blast from the Bullzooka, turning one of the training dummies in the yard into splinters. He smiled as he saw the effect.

"Not as elegant or precise as a sword." He commented. "But it has its merits."

"So...you won't tell my dad?" Cody asked. Ji just sighed.

"Cody, it's your life. Your father cannot live it for you." He told him, holding up the Bullzooka. "You have a very real gift. Your father..."

"My dad wants me to be a carpenter." He sighed. "He was a carpenter; his father was a carpenter, yada yada..."

"That may have suited them, but clearly it is not what makes you happy." Ji put down. "You must talk to him."

"Yeah, good luck on that." He snorted. "He's as stubborn and bull-headed as...well...the Bull Zord. If it isn't his way..."

"Kieran may be stubborn, but he has one admirable trait. He truly cares for those in his life." Ji told him. "Talk to him, you may be surprised."

Just then, he walked towards the door, gathering up his leather jacket.

"I have to deliver this." He told Cody. "I suppose you can show yourself out if I lock up."

Cody just smiled as he left. He was desperate to feel like his family had done more for the Noble Clans, and now, with the Bullzooka, he was sure they had.

Jayden fell to the ground, his suit smoking from a dozen or more hits from the new laser blasters the Moogers were holding. He had studied history his whole life, and so he knew about this chapter. The day of the Samurai effectively ended with the introduction of guns. Even a peasant with a few day's training, could take down a swordsman who had trained for a lifetime in less than a second. He looked up, seeing Dekker sitting on a rock, looking more disgusted or bored than anything.

"Master Blasters, finish him off!" Serrator barked. The Moogers all levelled their blasters at him. However, just as they fired, something blurred across him, something pink. He looked to where Mia rolled to her feet, holding up her Spin Sword.

"Mia..."

"Screw that tradition bullshit!" She interrupted him. "You know what Jayden? You may be a good Samurai, but you're also a complete dumbass!"

"What?" He asked her.

"You trusted us to put your life in our hands, just like we trust you with ours!" She ranted. "It's a big responsibility, I get it, but that doesn't make you weak! It makes us all stronger!"

She ran forward, swatting aside laser blasts, but eventually she was sent tumbling back to Jayden as a blast hit her. She looked up, seeing that it was no longer merely a dozen Moogers before them, but that there were dozens more lining the cliff, giving them the high ground, and an excellent firing position.

The other four Rangers ran onto the scene at that point, skidding to a halt as they helped Jayden and Mia up.

"Alright, what..."

Mike's words were cut off as a laser blast skimmed his helmet. He just recoiled a little.

"Holy mother of...they're packing heat now?" He asked.

"It appears so." Jayden replied.

"So what do we do?" Kevin asked him. Jayden just lifted his Spin Sword.

"We do what any Samurai does." He told them. "We fight any way we can!"

As they charged into battle, Dekker perked forwards with renewed interest. Although his first encounter with the Red Ranger was less than satisfactory, he could see the spirit he desired, the spirit that would drive an opponent to go on, even beyond what seemed like insane odds. He was fighting, even though the Nighlock were stooping to the base, disgusting practice of using guns to fight. Perhaps the Red Ranger still had something to offer after all.

On the ferry, Ji heard his phone bleeping, and knew it was a text from Brenda. He knew she was seeing a cosmetic surgeon today, and he hated not being able to be by her side. He just put his phone away regretfully, hoping he could make it up to her later. He felt a tap on his shoulder, and looked to a crew member who was backing away respectfully.

"We're landing." He informed him. "Just...yeah."

Ji vaulted over the railing, into the hold, where his bike was waiting. It wasn't hard to find, he was the only passenger. In one fluid move, he landed on the bike and kick-started it. Seeing the door opening, he impatiently only waited until it was open wide enough to let him leave, and roared out, jumping the bike off the ramp onto the island.

"Is that guy nuts?" One of the crewmen asked. The captain just shrugged.

"You should have seen him when he was young." He replied. "Alright, let's get out of here. We all know what we're meant to do."

Back at the battle site, The Rangers were doing what they could, but on the whole, were finding themselves being punted around like rugby balls. They might have reached a Mooger, but when they struck him down, another, too far away to take down with a sword, would blast them down. They all rolled into the middle of the valley, smoking from multiple blasts.

"I recognise this from 'Call of Duty'." Mike commented. "They have high ground, longer range weapons...this is a turkey shoot!"

"Gad to see you now know that my Master Blasters leave you obsolete." Serrator taunted them.

"Then what do we do?" Emily asked him. Just then, they heard a motorcycle arriving. It skidded, taking down four Moogers as it went.

"What the...get him!" Serrator called out as Ji morphed into the Black Ranger. The Master Blasters near him seemed to lose all focus on the fact they had guns and ran for him. Ji took them down aggressively, smashing all of them with powerful attacks. The last one dared to raise its blaster, at which he just swatted it aside, snatching it from the creature and kicked it away.

"You call this a blaster?" Ji asked, pulling the Bullzooka from his bike. "THIS is a BLASTER!"

With that, he obliterated the Mooger, as the others just watched. He rolled out, firing off a few more blasts and taking down some more Moogers as he did so. The others just watched.

"Wow, I thought you were all about swords..."

"I played Modern Warfare a few times while you were out!" Ji cut off Mike. He presented the blaster to Jayden. "It's a gift from Cody."

"Super Samurai Mode!" Jayden called out as he summoned the Black Box. He took the Bullzooka and looked to the Master Blasters. "Time for some payback!"