On Fire (Power Rangers Samurai)

108 - Hostile / Thud

"Whatcha doing?" Mike noticed Mia peeking into the dining room from the pass-through window.

In the dining room sat Jayden and Antonio at the furthest ends of the table, not looking up from their food as they ate. The energy in the room made it clear that there was tension between them.

"I guess the two of them are still a bit awkward after fighting." Mia moved over a bit to let Mike take a look at them.

"They fought?" Mike had no idea. "Wow, they don't look happy at all... What was it about?"

"It was about Lauren and the sealing symbol." Mia knew since Jayden told her.

"Oh, then they're going to be arguing forever." Mike sighed.

"Seems like it..." Mia sighed as well. "I thought they'd put it aside after we saved Jayden."

"What are you two doing?" Ji appeared, making both of the rangers jump. As they turned around to look at Ji, they bumped their heads into each other.

Both of them hissed from the pain as Ji glanced through the pass-through window.

Ji could tell that Jayden and Antonio weren't on good terms, but didn't think too much of it. He assumed it was just a typical quarrel between friends.

"I wanted to talk to the both of you." Ji said, gesturing for the two of them to follow him.

~~~

"The investigation at the monk's temple is almost finished for the most part." Ji poured both of them tea. "I know you two are the most anxious to know what happened."

Mike and Mia looked at each other, understanding that what they were about to be told could change their lives.

Though right off the bat, Ji noticed that Mia could barely look him in the eye. Though they cooperated during the frightening situation at the monk's temple, their hostile encounter at the Watanabe house was now fresh in mind.

"Serrator has the power of hypnosis and illusions. He can trap people in an illusion to make them carry out his will, however this power is only successful if his subjects are susceptible. And when he controls a subject, he simultaneously steals energy from them. This is how he was able to survive so long in our world without drying up." Ji spoke while looking upon a document.

"At some point while I was fighting him, I thought he had injured me severely. It seemed real too." Mia recalled the deep wound around her waist when battling Ito.. or Serrator.

"I see, so that was an illusion too." Ji continued, "Serrator used his powers to create an army that would do his bidding. It seems that his powers work better on the youth. We assumed this has to do with the lack of development in the prefrontal cortex."

"Ji, you know we're barely educated... right?" Mike reminded him, though he was technically the most educated ranger, having dropped out of college.

"In simpler terms, the front part of your brain isn't developed throughout adolescence. That part of the brain is in charge of making decisions, monitoring yourself, problem solving.. So Serrator had an easier time controlling younger people than older."