Chapter 33 - Silence and Chaos

Tai, Lani and Rex scoured the area where Billie said she detected what she called a temporal spike. It was a forested area where civilization hadn't yet encroached. "Well, it's within the projected boundary between us and the Sanzu River, but there aren't any people here to terrorize," Rex declared finally.

Lani nodded. "Hopefully the Gedoushu don't have some sort of wonky time-traveling doomahickey," she said.

Tai cocked his head at her. "Wonky time-traveling doomahickey. You've been around Kane and Rena too long," he declared.

"I think you're right," she agreed with a worried grimace.

Rex snickered. "I don't think we have to worry about time-traveling Ayakashi. Technology actually doesn't seem to be their thing," he said. He checked his watch. "Jeez, we've been tromping around out here for over two hours. Can we tell Billie that found nothing now?" he asked.

"What's with you? Got a hot date or something?" Lani asked him with a mild grin.

"As a matter of fact I do. Mel's popping by and we're meeting for lunch," Rex answered with narrowed eyes. Lani just smiled sweetly at him, ignoring his attitude.

Tai snorted. "All right. We'll let Billie know we didn't find anything. Not sure what we were supposed to find," he said. He wasn't as dismissive about the incident as he seemed, but he agreed with Rex. Technology wasn't the Gedoushu's strong suit. That didn't mean there wasn't some kind of hinky magic going, but he also agreed with Lani. There weren't any people out here to terrorize.

"Let's go. Billie will let us know if it happens again," he said finally. "Hopefully, Rex has enough time to wash up. He reeks," he declared with a grin.

Rex glared at him. "You're the one that smells like old man cologne and sweat," he said flippantly.

"Hey. I got Tai that cologne," Lani said with a pout. She sniffed him and wrinkled her nose. "I see your point," she admitted.

Tai sputtered a moment and hen sniffed himself. "Why didn't you say something before?" he said, making a face.

Lani giggled. "You both need to wash up," she declared.

"You, too. Tromping around out here, made us all a little ripe," Tai said and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "We'll do it together," he murmured in her ear. She blushed.

Rex made a gagging gesture. "You didn't say that low enough for me not to hear," he said.

"Then get your bat-eared self out of here," Tai said and shooed him with a hand gesture.

"Gladly," Rex and gave a two fingered salute and teleported away.

Lani giggled again. "C'mon, Lord Tai. Us, too. Let's give Billie our report then I'll take you up on that offer," she told him.

Tai squeezed her and kissed her cheek. "Ok," he agreed and used his Morpher to teleport them both.

~*~

Sanzu River

Akumaro stood on the deck of the Rokumon Junk as it sailed down the river. He held both a sexton and a compass. He studied a map and called orders to the Nanashi crewmen navigating the ship.

shootari came up on deck. "How much longer?" he asked.

"Not long now. Two days, maybe less," Akumaro answered.

"It's been too long since we sent someone to the human world. Wouldn't another wedge in Angel Grove Park be a good idea? It also has the added bonus of keeping the Power Rangers off balance," he said, stroking his tentacles.

"Do it," Doukoku ordered as he came up as well. Ever since he'd been filled in on Akumaro's plan, he was eager for it to succeed. Once the Sanzu River flooded the Human World, he'd have untold power. Enough power to reach into the jaws of death itself if he so chose.

"I have someone in mind. I'll see to it," shootari said and waddled back down into the hold.

Akumaro paid him no mind. His mind was occupied with getting the Rokumon Junk in just the right place. "No. No! You odiferous moron! Thirty degrees port means left. Left! You're other left!" he shouted at the Nanashi manning the wheel.

Doukoku snorted. He did not know the last time he felt the Earth beneath his feet. He clenched a fist around his blade. Soon, he thought. Soon he would engulf the Human World and bring the House of Shiba to its knees.

Dayuu watched from the stairs to the hold below. She would do whatever it took to see this plan come to fruition.

~*~

"Sorry I couldn't stay longer," Melody told Rex as they paid for the meal they just finished.

Rex grinned at her and dropped a kiss on her temple. "Hey, a few hours are better than not at all. I'm sorry I couldn't be at your stripes ceremony," he said.

Mel glanced at the black claw marks on the inside of her right forearm. "There wasn't any fanfare or anything. Besides, you guys have your hands full saving the world," she said with a smile. "And I am on a deadline. You're lucky I managed to squeeze in a few hours with you before I had to continue on to New Tech City. The lady who owns the building we were looking into is leaving for a year, so if we want this place, one of has to see it -now-," she reminded him.

"I know. I know. I thank you for it," he said. They walked out of the hotel they'd spent the last few hours and in whose restaurant they lunched in. She'd parked on the street. Her electric pink bug gleamed in the sunlight. He led her to it.

He stopped and pulled her close. He kissed her deeply for several long moments. He pulled away reluctantly. She was slow to recover. She didn't know how he managed to befuddle her wits so easily, even after spending so much time with him.

He grinned at the look on her face. "Send me pictures as soon as you get them. If you love it, get it. If you like it, get it. If you hate it, crash with Wood and Tori and keep looking. I'll join you as soon as I can," he said.

She nodded. "I get it. I'll contact you soon," she said.

He let her with a reluctant sigh. He stepped out of her way. She used her remote to unlock the bug. She gave him a wave before she got into the car and drove way.

He waved after her. With a dissatisfied grunt, he scrubbed a hand through his hair. The Gedoushu needed to go down. And soon.

He frowned slightly when he saw an older guy not so far away from him watching where Mel's bug had disappeared. "Dad?" he said out loud without thinking.

The guy started suddenly. He gave a quick glance toward Rex then stepped back into the milling of people on the streets and seemed to disappear into the crowd. That glance was enough to tell Rex it hadn't been his father. That guy was a little younger, though silver had started at his temples and in the neat goatee he wore. Dad did not do facial hair.

Shaking off the moment, Rex decided it was time to head back to the Studio. He had a class soon anyway. He stepped into an alley and flipped out his Morpher, teleporting away. He was unaware he'd been observed as the stranger stood horizontally on the wall of the alley several stories above his head.

That had been close. Rex Hart was the last person he wanted looking too closely at him right then.

~*~

Given the time of morning Tai usually found himself stirring, the last thing he expected to see was Kane ensconced in his study with CyberCam hooked up to the big screen. He blinked and actually checked his watch to make sure it before six a.m.

"That's not funny," Kane remarked. He vacated Tai's chair. He'd been enjoying himself sitting in it. He flopped on the couch.

"I wasn't trying to be funny. I was making sure I wasn't hallucinating or having some disturbing dream," Tai said. He went to his chair and sat down, taking a sip of piping hot coffee in his hands. "What are you doing anyway?" he asked. Half the screen was CyberCam's face and the other half was a map where dots were being assembled.

CyberCam disappeared to make the map larger. "We're assembling a map of all the various Sanzu River activities," his voice stated. "The blue represents places where Ayakashi have appeared, the darker blue indicate where they were destroyed. The green dots indicate Nanashi battles. The purple dots indicate places where leaks have appeared. The red dots indicate places where Akumaro attempted to make a foothold into our world through various means," he explained.

Tai looked at the map. There are a lot of green and blue dots in the Park," he said thoughtfully. "Why are you doing this?" he asked Kane.

The other man shrugged. "Couldn't sleep for beans. Got to wondering if everything was as random as it seemed. So me and CyberCam came down here to find out," he said. "Looks random to me though," he said.

Tai nodded. "Wait, you have something wrong. He said and got to his feet. "One of the red dots is in the wrong place. Akumaro took the children to a warehouse. Here," he said and touched the screen. The red dot was relocated.

Kane cocked his head. "Huh. It's a triangle," he said.

Tai nodded.

"That's not all. Although there is some overlap that confuses things," CyberCam connected purple dots, "there is a definite pattern. During the past few weeks, the leaks have spiraled outward from places Ayakashi have lost their second lives," he explained.

Kane and Tai stared at the screen for a few moments in silence. "Huh. Well that sucks," Kane declared.

"Yep," Tai agreed. He didn't have a clue what to do about either. "You and CyberCam get out. I need to call Hikomi-san," he said.

Kane nodded. He disconnected CyberCam from the big screen.

"And don't be late for work just because you didn't sleep," Tai added.

"I'll do my best," Kane said as he and his green laptop exited the study.

Tai smiled ruefully and sat down at his study to place the phone call.

~*~

Oborojime the Ayakashi appeared out of the cracks. There was a reason shootari chose him for this assignment. He'd gone made trying to explore the Citadel of Chaos. Mostly he was left alone on the shores near the Citadel by other Ayakashi. They feared him for his insanity and his power.

He was a strange looking creature with spikes covering only half his body and missing more than a few teeth. "Huma-a-a-a-ans! Let's have some fun!" he said, thrusting out his spiky arm. Tentacles sprang forth to wrap around people. Not only did he wave them around, but energy bolts coursed along their length to shock people. "This beat is sick!" he said and tossed them aside to grab yet more people.

He cackled wildly. "Come and take a ride!" he beckoned wildly.

People were running and screaming, but his reach seemed unlimited.

The worse part of it was, at this time of mid morning, the major patrons at the park were nannies and mothers with children. That suited Oborojime just fine.

His fun was suddenly caught off guard as laser fire hit him. He dropped the people his tentacles were tormenting and they sucked back into his spiky arm. "Who did that?" he demanded.

"We did," Samurai Red said, propping his blaster against his shoulder.

Oborojime looked around to find he was surrounded. "Ohhohoho! Rangers," he cackled. "Look at me, I'm a Power Ranger! I have a Blaster. Bwahahahaha. Pfft," he snorted and guffawed.

"I get the sense that this one is more than a little cracked," Gold remarked.

"Just a bit," Green agreed with her.

In the blink of an eye, Oborojime stopped laughing, thrust out his arms to wrap his tentacles around four of the Rangers while simultaneously firing energy balls out of the spikes on his shoulders at the others.

"That's money, honey!" He laughed and tossed them away.

Samurais White, Pink, Green and Gold landed in a smoking heap and lost their Morphs while Silver, Blue, Yellow and Red were sent flying by the energy balls. "Hello, hello? I can't hear a thing," he said in the direction of the Morph-less Rangers trying to get to their feet.

"You son of--"

"Sorry, I cannot hear you. I kinda busy," Oborojime cut off Silver with a smirk.

Silver and the others still in their Morph attempted to get to their feet. They weren't quick enough. Orobojime's tentacles scooped them up and sent energy up through them. He tossed them away. Their morphs fizzled out as well. "Eh, eh? Nothing else you can say?" he asked.

He was too busy gloating to notice a newcomer on the scene. He was suddenly hit in the back with a rapid succession of laser blasts. He sparked and smoked. He turned with rage to see who'd meddled in his victory.

The Rangers, now on their feet again, were as stunned as he was when they saw a Power Ranger in a black, silver and gold armored suit. The helmet appeared to have gleaming silver wings or horns framing it. Rex was mildly taken aback as he saw the Power Ruby gleaming at him from the cannon attached to the Ranger's arm.

"Uh..." Kane scratched his head.

The Ranger raised his arm again; there was a low charging sound as he aimed at the Ayakashi.

"The boy is a monster and I'm out of water," Oborojime declared and retreated beneath the cracks.

"Well, that was relief. Thought for a second there I'd actually have to kill him and we don't have time for the Zord battle it'll take to finally get rid of him," The Ranger declared as the arm cannon reverted to a normal gauntlet. His voice was low and distorted by his helmet.

"Who?" Rena asked dumbfounded.

"Doesn't matter," Rex said quickly. "So, what are you doing here?" he asked the Phantom Ranger.

"Always were smart weren't you?" The Phantom Ranger remarked. "Self fulfilling prophecy if you will," he said and approached them. He made several circlets appear in his hand. He put one on each of their upper arms. "You have four hours and then you'll automatically be brought back here. Get what you need and get out. Time is fluid, interfere in nothing," he warned them.

"What are you--?" Tai's question was cut off. The Phantom Ranger activated the Power Ruby on his gauntlet and suddenly Tai was no longer looking at him in Angel Grove Park. He was instead looking at a wooded meadow.

"I don't remember changing clothes," Rena remarked suddenly.

Rex glanced at her and saw she was wearing some very ancient looking Japanese get up. In fact, they all were. "Time travel," he said and looked at the device on his arm. "This must do something to help us blend in to whatever period we've come to," he said.

"So, I take it we aren't in Kansas anymore?" Kane asked.

"I'd wager we're a long way from Kansas," Lani said.

"And not alone," Tai said suddenly and reached for his Sword. It was too late. They were suddenly surrounded by a group of very fierce, very armed warriors, all holding weapons on them.

"Identify yourselves!" The leader of the group stated. He was a young man, no older than Tai.

Rex felt there was also a strong resemblance. He closed his eyes a moment. So, they've come to the Shiba Clan of the ancient past. He couldn't begin to imagine why.

~*~

It took some convincing to have the Shiba warriors escort them to their base. Luckily, the devices they wore also seemed to be two-way translators so they were well understood. Tai identified himself as a leader and his band as Samurai. Looking pointedly at Rex and Rena, the young man seemed less than convinced but finally decided they were no threat.

When they finally arrived, after walking for at least two hours, they found a quaint little village operation. People watched them with mistrust.

"I am Hiei. You I will take to see me father," the young man told Tai. "You," he glared at Rex, "will be taken to the Shrine of the Great White Spirit," he said.

"I will?" Rex asked curiously.

"What about the rest of us?" Saeko demanded.

Hiei gave her a cool look. "You will be treated as welcomed guests," he said. "Shiina," he called to a young woman. She came forward with a low, respectful bow. "See that our guests are taken care of," he said.

"Of course, prince-sama," she said. "Respected guests please follow me," she said.

They looked at Tai. He nodded. They shuffled off with her.

"Yuuki, my brother, will take you to the shrine," he said. A younger boy, maybe twelve or thirteen came forward. Eaglezord hang from his belt. He gave Rex a gap toothed grin. He beckoned him forward.

Rex followed the kid without a qualm. He was too curious.

Tai looked expectantly at Hiei. "Were we expected?" he asked.

"The Great White Spirit saw of your coming. Come. My father has only held on this long because he was waiting for you," he said and led Tai into the main house. Now that was the weirdest thing yet.

~*~

Rex followed Yuuki at least a mile away from the village. The kid didn't seem to be able to talk but he had plenty of energy. He would occasionally scamper ahead then wait impatiently for Rex to catch up.

Finally they came upon what Rex was a expecting. A small shrine dedicated to a guardian spirit. Yuuki grinned at him then scampered away. He was left alone in front of the shrine. "Hello?" he called for lack of anything else to do.

He jumped back as the ground opened up before him. He blinked. No, not the ground. The door of a spaceship under the ground. "Nowhere to go but down," he said to himself. He jumped into the hole. He was caught in an artificial gravity field and lowered slowly to a corridor. The door closed above his head but the white walls of ship gave off their own light.

He followed a glowing path on the floor. The Ship didn't seem to be very big. Maybe a few rooms. More like a flying house, he realized. He stopped before a closed door. He knocked. The door came open silently. "Come...inside," said a small, frail voice, punctuated by labored breathing.

He entered what appeared to be both bedroom and science lab. He could see a small figure propped up in a wispy canopied bed. As he got closer, he could see she was an old woman with milky eyes and solid white hair. He could see why these ancients would have thought her a spirit.

"Xa'vier H'art," she greeted, pronouncing his name he associated with Eltarin dialects.

"You're Eltarin," he said, surprised.

Her face split into a smile. "Yes," she greed.

"How did you know my name?" he asked her.

She took a deep, rattling breath and let it out slowly. "I was the one...who saw your prophecy. I...am...Enra," she said. "I was...surprised to...receive a new...vision...of you...several years...ago. I knew...you and...the Red Lord...would come here," she explained slowly.

"You did?" he asked, surprised. He'd always wondered where exactly prophecies came from. Now he knew. They came from prophets from a thousand years ago.

"Yes. We are...connected. My grandson...is the man...who will meet...a human woman. He will....help her establish the colony...on KO-35...for her people. He is the ancestor of...Andromeda...the woman who will....give life to your...father," she explained.

Rex didn't know what to say to that.

She smiled again. "Words...are unnecessary. As...you can see...I do not have...much time...left...in this life," she said. "It is...well. I shall...become...ascended," she assured him. At least he thought she was assuring him. He didn't really know what that meant.

"How did you get here?" he asked.

"I...came to find consult with...Zordon. However, my ship...was attacked...I crashed here...the people...Ryouichi...believed me to be...a spirit. I was...stuck here...so I...played along with...them. I even...cannibalized...my ship...to help them....fight what they call...Gedoushu," she said.

"I know all about those. So you were the one who created the Pens, the Swords, the Discs and the Zords," he said thoughtfully.

"Yes...I...am unable to do more. I...do not have the...power to...connect to...the Morphing Grid," she said. "In my last years I...worked on this..." she raised a small hand to show him a deep purple Disc.

"It...is...for you," she said. "It is...my final...most powerful weapon. Sonar Glaive." she said. "It was made....to work with your powers," she said.

He took it from her. "I don't what to say," he said.

"No words are...needed. Tell them...I will always...be their Guardian Spirit," she said and closed her eyes. She went so still for a moment; Rex thought she'd actually died. "And yours," she said, making him start. She smiled again. This time her breath really did stop. As he watched her body glowed. A light nearly blinded him as she was transformed into a wispy orb of light and energy and then she was no more.

Rex found himself touched by a sadness he couldn't explain. He'd just met the woman, but somehow, she'd always been an important part of his life. He supposed she always would be. Now to find his way out of here. He slipped the Sonar Disc into his shirt and backtracked. He found the door panel and opened it. Gravity decreased and he floated up and out. He started making his way back to the village.

~*~

Hiei led Tai to a quiet, sunny room were an old man lay on a sparse palette on the floor. He opened his eyes, blinking and squinting up at the intrusive. "Hiei. What's the meaning of interrupting my nap?" he harrumphed and with creaking and popping bones, sat up.

Hiei bowed. "I am sorry father, the one the Spirit of, the Red Lord, has arrived. You wanted to see him immediately," he reminded.

"My body is decrepit, not my mind. I remember telling you that," he said and waved a hand. "Go, see to your duties," he commanded.

Hiei bowed again and left the room.

Tai bowed respectfully to his ancestor. "Lord Shiba," he greeted.

Ryouichi Shiba made a dismissive sound. "Ryou is fine. I never did used to being a Lord," he said. "So you're me in a thousand years, eh?" he asked and eyed him shrewdly. He grunted. "What did the world come to, eh? My brother still giving the family fits, I take it? That's my fault. I thought he was going to do the honorable thing and cooperate when I sealed him away. Bah, I should have known better. The demon the Waters turned him into wouldn't allow that. Messed up my Seal but good," he complained.

Tai found himself actually liking the old guy. "Yes. I'm guessing that's why I was sent here. To learn the Seal," he said.

"Well, first of all, sit down. You're too bloody tall. Hiei does the same thing, towering over me. As if I need to be reminded I'm old and he's my heir," he grumbled.

Tai gave a brief bow and sat down, putting his legs under him in a traditional way.

"Better. Better," Ryou said. "Well, here's the thing. You only get one chance with the Seal. I haven't bothered teaching it to Hiei because he can't use it. No one else can. It was a one time shot and I messed it up," he said.

"Why can it only be used once?" Tai asked.

Ryou was silent a long moment. "He has to be in the Human World for it to work. We can't go to the Sanzu River without turning to Gedou and it has to be done directly to him. It has to wrap around his very soul. He will -be- the seal that keeps the Sanzu River closed forever. What I managed to do is keep him in there unless the unthinkable happens and the Waters actually flood our world," he answered.

Tai nodded. Something happened then, that Ryouichi had not expected. The Earth's population exploded, giving strength to the Gedoushu. Giving strength to Doukoku himself. "The version of your life I heard was slightly different," he said finally. "From what I could tell, you died almost immediately after your battle with your brother," he admitted.

"Meh. It's taken a few years. My body was ravaged in that fight. I don't have long left. I don't know how it will help, but I can show you the Seal," he said finally and held out his hand.

Tai pulled out his Morpher in Pend-mode and handed it over. Ryouichi goggled at it. "I'll keep my thoughts to myself on this subject," he declared tightly. He drew a Character in the air.

It had to be the most complicated thing he ever saw. He spent time practicing it with Ryouichi. "What went wrong, really?" he asked.

Ryouichi was thoughtful. "He was my brother. I thought I had to handle him myself. I wasn't strong enough to seal the demon he had become," he admitted bitterly. "Arrogance. Something we both shared," he stated. What strength he'd gained to meet with Tai seemed to fail him. "You have what you need, boy. Away with you. My old bones are tired," he said and lay back down.

Tai bowed and got to his feet. He had a lot to think about. He informed Hiei that his father was resting again and asked to be taken to the others.

~*~

Rex joined the other Rangers just as they were having a meal. He was famished. "How's tricks?" he asked them.

"This place is pretty swank for it's time," Kane declared.

"This house, it has not changed so much," Kii said, looking at the main house, the house she'd grown up in.

Daiki nodded. "It has been maintained well," he agreed.

"We've identified the counterparts," Rena said. "Shiina is the Vassal of Heaven," she explained. "She might seem meek at first, she she'd quick. I saw her snatch up a ladle and smack an old guy on the head for trying to feel her up," she explained.

"Shame about what happened to her successor," Lani said.

"Dayuu doesn't count. She's a blip. Her latest successor is what counts," Saeko said. "The boy, Yuuki is the Vassal of Fire," she said. "He doesn't seem to be able to speak, but I saw him sparring with some older kids. He kicked their butts," she said.

"Tono-sama would expect no less from his son," Kane remarked.

"That's the Vassal of Earth," Kii said, nodding toward a tall, bookish man with a prominent nose. "He reminds me of Papa," she said with a giggle.

"And she's the Vassal of Water," Daiki said, nodding toward a young woman flirting with several young men.

"Which means Hiei is the Lord-in-waiting, I take it?" Rex asked.

"So it seems. He's not very friendly but people seem to respect him, and he's not overbearingly arrogant. Just kind of anti-social," Rena answered.

They saw Tai exit the house and speak with Hiei briefly. After a moment they walked over to them. Hiei eyed Rex. "You're back," he said.

"I am. The Great White Spirit said to assure you and your clan that she will always be with watching over you," he said. His words seemed to give Hiei some relief. "I will leave you to your meal," he said and left them with a brief bow.

Tai grabbed an apple. he'd just bitten into it when a horn sounded.

"Ishii!" A shout rose up from the forests. The village broke into a clatter of activity as they prepared to battle a rival clan.

The Rangers got to their feet. "No," Tai said.

"What?" Saeko demanded.

"We can't interfere. Time is fluid. We could mess the present up in unimaginable ways," Rex stated. "Besides, Our time here almost up," he added.

"Right," Rena said.

None of them were happy about it. It was hard to sit by and listen to the sounds of the battle. None of them spoke.

"Send for Prince Hiei!" A woman suddenly shouted. "The Lord! He is dead!" she wailed.

That was the last thing they heard as the world of the ancient Shiba's faded around them.

~*~

The Phantom Ranger hadn't expected Oborojime to return so quickly. The other Rangers weren't back yet. "So much for non-interference," he said to himself. His dropped the cloak he'd activated as he waited for them. Oborojime had returned and was as mad has ever.

"Don't be afraid. I've done this before," he assured his victims and thrust out his tentacles. He scooped up several people.

"Ayakashi!" he called.

Oborojime tossed aside the people easily. "Ah, you again. Show me your teeth," he cajoled. "Ofufufu," he laughed and thrust out his arm. Tentacles sprang forward.

Phantom Ranger activated the Power Ruby. A long wicked looking blade appeared his hand. He sliced off the tips of the tentacles. Oborojime roared in outrage. In a surprise move, the spiky arm fired energy blasts at him. It hit him square in the chest. He crashed into the ground. "Time is fluid," he reminded himself.

"Five Heavy Long Swords!"

From behind him, Oborojime was hit five elemental energy attacks. He spun around, firing wildly. His disregard for aim or accuracy and the speed at which he fired was devastating.

Samurai Silver was the only one still on his feet. "Don't think you've won anything," he warned the Ayakashi. "Sonar Disc!" he said and pulled it out of belt.

"Where did he get that?" Gold demanded as she got to her knees. She was helping Yellow right herself. Green shook himself like a dog. White was poking a winded Blue with her foot.

"We'll find that out later, I'm sure," Pink declared as she checked on Red. He nodded and watched his friend.

Silver put the hilts of his Swords together, slid the Disc onto them and sent it spinning. Dark purple energy swirled around the blades. "Sonar Glaive!" The Swords transformed into a long glaive.

Oborojime thrust the tentacles toward him "I like it rough," he said.

Silver used the Glaive and sliced the tentacles in to pieces. He jumped and kicked the Ayakashi in the face. He landed and spun around to face him again. He spun the glaive around several times. Slowly the sound around him began to cease and the Glaive began to glow. "Dance of Silence!" He stopped spinning. All around them was absolute silence. He thrust forward.

The Ayakashi was suddenly hit was enough sonic energy to knock him back. Before he could do anything else, the rumbling noise and vibration of several hits, each louder and more powerful than the other, tore through him. He exploded.

The silence the others heard ended in a deafening crack as the Ayakashi exploded. "What was that!?" Gold demanded springing to her feet.

Silver grinned under his helmet.

"Hey, where'd that other guy go?" Green asked suddenly. Indeed the Phantom Ranger was gone.

"No time for the Q&A," Red warned as Oborojime grew into his second life.

"I'll follow you until you love me," Oborojime said and cackled wildly, beginning to destroy the city.

"Zord time," Red said. They summoned their Zords and appeared in their primary cockpits. Tai drew the Ultimate True Combination Character and activated. The Zords all came together. "United Under Providence! Ultimate Samurai Megazord!"

"Don't be a drag!" Oborojime said and held out his hand and fired rabid energy blasts at them. The Megazord quickly held up its shield and compensated for the backward thrust with the Squid propeller.

"It's time to end this," Red declared. He drew his Sword. "Ultimate True," he drew a circle with his Sword. The Megazord drew a glowing a circle in front of it with the Ultimate Megasword. "Samurai Sword," He placed her Sword back into his console. The energy circle before the Megazord glowed in fifteen points. "Clash!" He pushed the Sword forward. The points of the circle converged in the center and a massive beam of blinding energy shot into Oborojime.

He no match for the energy of fifteen Zords. He gave a wild peel of laughter. "I'm so happy I could die!" he screamed as he exploded.

"That seems wrong somehow," Green said.

Indeed, it was wrong. The explosion created yet another part of Oborojime. It was a glowing, sparking, serpentine version. His wandering in the Citadel of Chaos seemed to have done more than drive him bonkers.

He screeched and spat energy balls at the Megazord.

"Damn," Red cursed and barely managed to put up the shield. It was almost no match for the energy blasts. The Battlewing almost couldn't compensate for the upset.

"Let me give it shot," Silver suggested. He drew his Swords and slipped the Sonar Disc onto his hilts and spun it. The sound of sucked out the cockpit. The silence penetrated the area around the Megazord. Even Orobojime's high pitched shriek was sucked away.

"Ultimate True," Silver drew a circle with his Swords. The Megazord drew a glowing a circle in front of it with the Ultimate Megasword. "Samurai Sword," He placed her Sword back into his console. The energy circle before the Megazord glowed in fifteen points, each point now glowing ultraviolet. "Clash!" He pushed the Sword forward. The points of the circle converged in the center.

There was a high whining sound that grew louder. A massive beam of energy blasted through Oborojime. It was followed by enough concussive pressure to level the city if the Ayakashi hadn't been here to absorb it. A massive, crack shattered the stillness that followed the blast. The Ayakashi exploded.

"Ok, where the hell did you get that thing?" Gold demanded.

Silver grinned beneath his helmet, aware that couldn't see him. "That, my dear Rat, brings this chapter to a close," he declared. He could feel the weight of her glare. He ignored it.

~*~

After the debriefing, where Rex told the others all about Enra the Eltarin, Rex went back to the place where Billie detected the temporal spike. After that, it wasn't hard to find the cloaked ship, figure out it was voice activated and go aboard.

"You aren't supposed to be in here," a voice said from behind him.

Rex had been waiting in the pilots seat with his feet propped up on the console. "Well, you should know me better than that, shouldn't you?" he quipped to the man with the neat goatee he'd seen earlier. "You didn't know I'd be here?" he asked.

"Time is fluid. My very presence here changes things in small ways," he answered. "Get out before you wreck my life," he ordered.

Rex grinned. "It's really no wonder I thought you were Dad for a moment there. But seriously, what's with the ferret on your face?" he asked.

The other man glowered. "My wife happens to like it. Goes with the wings. Get out," he said again.

Rex snickered. "Don't worry. I don't want any spoilers. Just wanted to see if what I figured was true. I'll leave you to it," he said and stood. He exited the ship.

The other man shook his head. Ah, to be young again and not be plagued with rebellious teenaged sons he now had to go home to deal with. Once he was sure that Rex was clear, he activated the temporal engines on his ship and went back to where he belonged.

Rex heard the whooshing sound of some sort of engine for a moment before it faded away. The Phantom Ranger was gone.

He was about to head back to house when his Morpher beeped. He flipped it out in Pen-mode. "shootari, Akumaro and Dayuu have appeared in the City with armies of Nanashi," Billie told them all.

They were finally making their move. He flipped his Morpher into Pen-mode. "Samurai Sword Clash!"

~*End Act 33*~           

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