MENTOR JI

Page Seven

The gap sensor had gone off and the teens left to check it out.  It wasn't long before they were back.  Mentor Ji was waiting for them.  Mentor Ji:  That was fast.  Mike:  It doesn't take long to deal with nothing.  Kevin:  The gap sensor was working fine, but no Nighlok.  We didn't see anything out of the ordinary.  Suddenly they all hear a sound of something hitting the house.  Jayden goes outside to take a look and returns with an arrow with a note attached to it.  Jayden:  Just says, see you soon.  Mia:  See you soon.  What?  A Nighlok attack?  Mentor Ji:  No.  Not here at least.  The house is protected by defensive symbols.  Mike:  And they're doing a good job.  I mean, someone shot this arrow.  Mike takes the arrow from Jayden and sniffs it.  Mike:  Something fishy about this.  Emily:  Obviously.  Mike:  No, there's really something fishy.  Smell.  Emily takes a sniff and turns her head away in disgust.  That evening, there was a lot of commotion in Jayden's room.  Jayden was sensing an otherworldly presence, although no one else sense it.  Mentor Ji entered the room.  Mentor Ji:  Jayden.  It's important to trust your instincts, but I don't feel another presence.  Jayden's hair is ruffled.  Jayden pulls out his Samuraizer and quickly does the symbol for his Spin Sword.  Jayden spins the Spin Sword around and almost slices Emily's face.  Jayden:  Sorry Em.  Jayden looks around.  Jayden:  Where are you?  Jayden starts searching the house, occasionally slicing the air with his Spin Sword.  Mentor Ji, Kevin, Mia, Mike, and Emily follow him and stand in a doorway watching Jayden as he slices through the air with his Spin Sword.  Mike:  He's really got that flipping out thing down pat, hun?  Kevin:  Anyone else feel anything?  Mia and Emily shake their heads no.  The next day, Mentor Ji finds a note from Jayden, stating he has gone to Spring Valley.  The rest of the team was back in the city.  Mentor Ji contacts Mike.  Mike:  Hello.  Mentor Ji:  I just found a note from Jayden, saying he's headed for Spring Valley.  It must have something to do with what he's been sensing.  Mike:  Jayden went to Spring Valley on his own?  Alright, we're on our way.  It would turn out that Jayden had been right.  Vulpes had been feeding Jayden's paranoia.  Eventually Vulpes was destroyed by Octozord and Battlewing Megazord.

Mentor Ji was impatiently smacking his stick onto the palm of his hand.  Mentor Ji and the team were waiting for Antonio to arrive.  Mentor Ji:  Antonio is late.  I can't say I'm surprised.  Mike is playing a video game.  Mentor Ji walks over to him.  Mentor Ji:  Did he say he was bringing the Octozord with him?  Mike:  I don't know.  Why?  Mentor Ji:  Well, when Jayden was a boy, he gave it to Antonio, when I wasn't looking.  Emily:  What?!  You gave him a zord!  Jayden:  Look, I was a little kid.  I didn't know any better.  Mentor Ji:  By the time I found out, Antonio had moved away and I didn't think he'd actually figure out a way to activate it.  Jayden threaten he'd quit being a samurai if I tried to get it back.  Jayden:  Like I said, I was a little kid.  Mike went to stand next to Mentor Ji.  Mike:  Wow.  Such a rebel.  Mia:  Sounds like you guys were really good friends.  I bet you missed him when he moved away.  Jayden:  Yeah.  Just then Antonio slides in.  He does a couple of poses with his fishing pole and turns and faces Mentor Ji and the rest.  Antonio:  Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to introduce to you, the Sixth Samurai - the Gold Ranger, me - Antonio Garcia.  Mike leaned over to Mentor Ji.  Mike:  And you thought I was cocky.  Mentor Ji grunted in response.  Antonio is unaware that the lure of his fishing pole has attached itself to his pants.  Antonio:  Jayden, please allow me to join you and your team in the fight against the Nighlok.  Antonio pulls on his fishing pole and the lure is stuck and tears his pants.  Antonio:  Ohhh, that's not good.  Mia, Emily, Jayden, and Mike laughed.  Antonio has trouble getting the lure to loosen.  Antonio:  It's no big deal, really.  It's happened before.  Not a lot or anything.  Jayden:  Will you guys help him?  Jayden gets up and walks out.  Mentor Ji:  I'll just be a moment.  Mentor Ji walks outside and sees Jayden sitting on a bench.  Jayden:  He hasn't changed a bit.  Mentor Ji:  He's as energetic as ever.  He clearly still looks up to you.  Jayden:  He always wanted to be a samurai.  I remember like it was yesterday.  I don't know what to do Ji.  Mentor Ji:  You're too close to this.  Let me handle it.  Jayden gives a small nod and Mentor Ji walks back inside.  Mentor Ji sits at the head of the table, facing Antonio.  Mike and Emily sat on one side, Kevin and Mia on the other side.  Mentor Ji is holding the Samurai Morpher.  Mentor Ji:  You were able to make this from what Jayden taught you and studying the Octozord's systems?  Antonio:  It really wasn't that hard.  Mike:  So what are you?  Some kind of techie?  Antonio squirmed with embarrassment.  Antonio:  I don't know.  I just always been good with gadgets.  As he talks, Antonio knocks over a bowl of peanuts.  Mia catches it and places it back on the table.  Antonio:  Well,...anyways, I've always just wanted to be a samurai.  I know I wasn't born into it like you guys, but I just kept practicing what Jayden had taught me.  I was trying to take things to a higher level, but I was really stuck.  But when I figured out how to talk to Octozord with texting, everything fell into place.  And now I'm finally ready to join you in the fight against the Nighloks.  Mike:  Yeah!  Emily:  Yeah, it will be great to have you along.  Mike:  The more, the merrier.  Mike and Antonio pound fists.  Antonio:  Right.  Mentor Ji:  No, I'm afraid it's simply not possible.  Antonio:  No!  What'd you mean?  Mentor Ji:  Antonio, it's just too dangerous to put you out there without the necessary formal training.  Antonio stands up angrily.  Antonio:  But I don't understand!  Didn't I help you all win yesterday?!  Mentor Ji:  You did, but not all battles will be that simple and if you don't have the training.  Antonio:  But I do!  Sure I did it by myself, but I can hold my own out there and you saw it!  Mentor Ji:  Antonio, I'll hold onto this.  Mentor Ji tucks away the Samurai Morpher.  Mentor Ji:  Okay.  Antonio leaps up onto the table and starts to run towards Mentor Ji.  Antonio:  No!  Give it back!  Emily, Mike, Kevin, and Mia get a hold of him and try to keep him away from Mentor Ji.  Emily:  Antonio stop!  The gap sensor goes off.  Mike, Kevin, Mia, and Emily stop pushing against Antonio and he falls off the table and onto the floor.  Mentor Ji pulls up the maps onto the table.  Jayden runs into the room, spots Antonio on the floor, but doesn't say anything.  Mentor Ji:  It's at Benson street, the underpass.  Jayden:  Let's go!  Kevin, Mia, Emily, and Mike run over to Jayden.  Antonio:  Wait!  Jayden!  Antonio gets up.  Antonio:  I can come with you, right?  There is silence.  Antonio:  Tell Ji how you made me a samurai.  That I'm suppose to fight by your side.  It is quiet for a few more moments.  Jayden:  Ji is right.  This isn't little kids' stuff anymore.  I'm so sorry, but you're not really a samurai and we don't need a sixth Ranger.  Antonio:  But...Jayden:  I'm sorry.  Jayden, Kevin, Mike, Mia, and Emily head out.  Antonio is very hurt and mutters sorry too as he walks away.  The Rangers were not successful in their battle against Steeleto.  After the battle, Mike, Emily, Kevin, Mike, Antonio try to convince Jayden to let Antonio join the team.  The gap sensor goes off and Mentor Ji comes running out.  Mentor Ji tells them the attack is on the northern peninsula construction site.  Antonio tells Jayden, please, let me have my Samurai Morpher.  Jayden remembers the promise he had made with Antonio when they were young boys.  Antonio promises he won't let Jayden down.  This has been my dream.  It always has been.  Jayden thinks it over.  Jayden pulls out the Samurai Morpher and tells Antonio he is the sixth Samurai Ranger.  He gives the Samurai Morpher to Antonio, who is thrilled.  Antonio tells Jayden, you won't regret this.  Mia, Emily, and Mike are happy to have Antonio on the team.  Kevin even gives a small smile.  Jayden tells them, let's go.  They all run from the courtyard.  Mentor Ji watches them go.  This time the Rangers are able to destroy Steeleto with Octospear Megazord.  After the battle, they all return to Shiba House.  Antonio is cooking them a fish fiesta.  Mentor Ji and Jayden stand apart from the rest.  Mentor Ji tells Jayden, I may have been wrong to exclude Antonio so quickly.  Jayden thinks they both were.  Things keep changing on me so fast.  First taking on the team, now Antonio.  It's not like when it was just us.  Mentor Ji points out, that's what being a leader is all about.  It's not all on you.  They have chosen their path.  You did not choose it for them.  Antonio shouts out to them, you two wallflowers going to join us?!  Mike shouts out, hurry up before I wolf it all down!  Mentor Ji comments, you don't need to ask us twice.  Mentor Ji and Jayden join the group.  Jayden walks over to Antonio.  He tells him, it's good to have you back, buddy.  You're worth your weight in gold. 

Photo Gallery

Jayden's Challenge

Unexpected Arrival

Room For One More

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