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He thought he'd been cornered.
It really looked like he might be in trouble.
But of course, as often happens when one is part of a bonded team with a multitude of multi-colored warriors, someone came to his rescue, shooting some opponents with the blaster before pulling them away from Gai and continuing to fight. As GokaiSilver, he fought side-by-side with his rescuer, eventually chasing off the threat. It was only then he'd gotten a good look at his savior -- a soldier with the same color uniform as his.
It wasn't that unusual that the others might change their face, so to speak, so this hadn't been immediately noticeable during the fight. But of course, Gai recognized all the uniforms that the others might use. He was the expert as far as anything super sentai, after all. But this guy's uniform wasn't recognizable at all.
How exciting!
Gai shouted out his glee as he powered down, circling around the newly uniformed man. He looked similar to MegaSilver, mostly silver with gold accents, though it lacked Megaranger's chest stripe, the newcomer's golden V reaching down to his belt. Of course, the helmet was also different, a stripe down the middle, broken up by the visor. This was far from any other silver super sentai hero, something entirely new! "Which one of you is it?" Gai asked, grinning widely. He observed the unfamiliar star symbol on the helmet before looking into the visor. "Where did you get the ranger key?"
"The what now?" an unfamiliar voice responded from inside the uniform. "Hey, I don't think we've met. Are you one of the ones that fought the Zyangyack? Gokaiger, right? I heard you were here."
"You... You..." Gai paused before he shouted out in glee. "An entirely new super sentai hero!" Gai clenched his fists, almost losing his footing in his elation. "Are you part of the new- No, no, you wouldn't fit with them. You almost look reminiscent of a different era. Who are you? No, wait!" Gai put up his hand. "I've got it! You're GinSilver, combined essence of all the silvers!"
"Um..." The unknown silver-clad warrior took a step away.
"I didn't know of any other spirits besides AkaRed! And now there's one right here... What luck!" Gai exclaimed. "I know... I know, you must have appeared just for me. This is major super sentai history!"
"Hey, I'm no spirit," the stranger began. "I'm no essence of anyone. I just happened by, and I'm my own person." He powered down, revealing a very commonplace human man.
"Oh." Gai seemed to calm as he observed the stranger. The excited expression returned in a minute as he considered the possibilities. "Then who are you? Where could you have come from? You're obviously a super sentai hero!"
"Am I?" the man said. "I wonder why you assume that." He brushed off his jacket before speaking again. "Space travel's difficult. Been stuck here a week now. If you want to thank me, I could use some fuel, maybe food."
"Thank you? Of course, of course! Thank you so much!" Gai gushed. "And please, do come with me." He waved his hand before running off. The man followed him back to the Gokai Galleon, which had been docked on the barren alien world. They boarded, coming across Gai's teammates and Navi.
"Hey. Who's the stow away?" Luka asked.
"Hey." The man raised his hands. "I thought I was invited."
"He really helped me out!" Gai said. "A mysterious, unknown super sentai hero. So we'll help him out too, right?"
"Won't he give his name?" Marvelous asked, looking up from counting whatever he'd put inside his treasure box.
"Wasn't asked," the man replied.
"Oh, right." Gai spun to the guest, realizing introductions were in order. "I'm Ikari Gai, also known as GokaiSilver!" Gai was sure to pose as he finished his intro. Afterward, his teammates had no trouble introducing themselves, though without the posing.
Their guest began his own introduction as they finished. "I'm Hoshikawa-" he began, pausing as an excited noise escaped Gai's throat. "Hoshikawa Sei."
Hoshikawa! There was only one conclusion that any super sentai expert could come to with that name, especially when combined with clues from the uniform design.
"Hoshikawa? Where are you from?" Marvelous seemed mostly uninterested as he asked, apparently having missed the reference.
"No where," Sei explained.
"That's suspicious. Everyone has their origins," Marvelous said.
"I've been to so many planets, and stayed on none of them for long. Should I just say 'the universe'?" Sei said.
"Fair enough," Marvelous said with a shrug.
"And you're a super sentai hero?" Don inquired. "What's your alias?"
"It's-" Sei began.
"I know! I know!" Gai injected, hopping up with his hand in the air as if in a class. As Sei looked at him, he grinned back in anticipation at the certain praise he'd get for knowing this much without being told. "It's FiveSilver!" he declared.
Sei didn't praise him. He didn't appear pleased at all. In fact, if he'd been neutral before, perhaps he was displeased then in comparison. He stared down blankly, only glancing up as Gai spoke. "Isn't it right? One, two, three, four, five. Fivem-"
"You're wrong," Sei said. "It's SixSilver."
"That's good! It fits! You'd be number six, wouldn't you?" Gai said. He sat down at the table, motioning for Sei to take a seat as well.
"What's this about?" Marvelous asked. He closed his treasure chest, kicked up his feet, and looked Gai's way. "You want this guy to replace you as our number six?"
"No!" Gai jumped up. "Did you see all the hints? The family name Hoshikawa? Space travel capability? His hero outfit- Wait, you didn't see that." Gai shook his head at his own mistake. "But everything else leads to only one conclusion! This is the sixth Fiveman! I never even heard there was one, so it's a brand new discovery."
"Hey," Sei began. "What use does a five man team have for a sixth member?"
Marvelous chuckled. "That's what I thought. Turns out he made himself useful."
"That's right," Gai agreed with an exaggerated nod. "The name doesn't matter, if you're their extra hero, you belong with them. Tell me the story. Were they surprised to meet you, see you again? Maybe they changed their name to Sixman!"
Joe groaned, but otherwise made no comment.
Sei just shook his head. "You sure know a lot about my family, don't you? Maybe more than me. I never met my siblings," he said. Seeing the confused expressions on some of the other Gokaiger's faces, he offered an explanation. "My siblings made up the 'Fiveman' this guy's talking about."
Ahim nodded. "I do remember those powers," she said.
"My parents wanted me to be safe, but I was still pretty young when they sent me away," Sei explained.
"Oh! Your parents? That's right... My records are unclear, so what happened to them?" Gai asked.
"Who knows," Sei said. "Haven't seen them since. Couldn't take them with me. My little ship's only big enough for one. Could be dead or alive, I dunno." He paused before continuing. "I was useless to them or anyone else. I just got lost in space instead of fighting. By the time I heard from Earth, they'd already defeated the Zone Empire. No need for me to ever go."
"It's good that they were safe, defeated their enemies," Ahim said.
"Yeah, of course," Sei said.
Gai stood up, inadvertently slamming his hand on the table. "Are you kidding me?!" he demanded.
"No," Sei said. "I am glad they're fine, not like I hate them."
"Not that," Gai said. "You've never been back to Earth? Why? Not enough fuel?"
"What's the point? It's not like I belong there," Sei said. "I'm a space man now. Always was."
"No point?! You can find your parents! If your siblings found them already and know about you, I'm sure they've been looking! You should go home to Earth, to your family. Your happy end is waiting!"
Even in the face of Gai's impassioned speech, Sei didn't respond at all. "So, will you be going back to Earth?" Ahim eventually asked.
"I guess we can stop by there. Give me a chance to visit my favorite restaurant," Marvelous offered.
"No," Sei said. "If it's Earth, or my family, I don't belong. They can just keep thinking I'm dead, if they even know about me. It's fine."
"It's not-" Gai suddenly paused, putting a hand on his chin. "Wait... Our roles aren't just to defeat an enemy, but also to comfort children, teach important lessons. How to do it? Anyone want to help?" Gai spun around, looking at his teammates.
"I'm pretty sure I'm older than you," Sei said. "Wait, wouldn't that mean you're the kid I teach a lesson? How about, don't wander off to dangerous places without supervision?"
Marvelous chuckled. "Well, that's that. Do you want us to drop you at the next populated planet, then?"
"I'd appreciate it," Sei said.
"But-" Gai began.
"Give it a rest," Luka said. "Everyone can do what they want."
In the disheartening situation, with no support, Gai bit his tongue for the moment. They had a meal, engaging in other light conversation before helping Sei find his ship, start it up, and fly it back near the Gokai Galleon. As they rested afterward, Don approached their newly discovered comrade, offering their guest a specific place to sleep. In the morning, they'd leave, ferry the failing spaceship to the nearest place that might fix it, and say good-bye to long lost silver-clad hero. Was that really it? It didn't seem like a proper end of the story at all.
As it was time to go to bed, Gai sat awake thinking about it for a while. Here was a missing piece of super sentai history, prime for all loose ends to be tied up, refusing to participate in the obvious conclusion. Though the facts were frustrating, Gai eventually dozed off peacefully enough. He awoke hearing some subtle sounds before dozing off again. It wasn't that alarming. On a ship with five other people, it wasn't strange to hear someone getting up for whatever reason after going to sleep. Navi would tell them if there was something wrong.
However, the next sound was louder, and couldn't be ignored. Gai stood up, running outside and meeting up with everyone else in their pajamas. Don and Luka cried out as they saw the state of Navi, chained up and powered off. They went to assist the robot.
With the six of them present and their guest missing, it was easy to determine what happened. Joe came back from the area that stored some of their supplies, reporting it had been ransacked with some parts and fuel missing. "What nerve this guy has, stealing from a known group of rogues," Marvelous commented.
"Mostly everything is still there," Ahim pointed out.
"Right. Is it really worth pursuing him?" Don asked.
"It's-" Marvelous began.
"It's absolutely what we should do!" Gai interrupted. "If you won't, I'll do it myself!"
Outside, the sun was just coming up on the dusty planet. Gai saw the motorcycle-like vehicle he'd borrowed earlier. "Okay..." he said, then got on the terrestrial vehicle. Better to ask forgiveness than permission, especially when time was of the essence. Gai hopped on and started up, then went in the direction Sei had gone. He couldn't follow if the ship took off into space, but maybe there was still time. He got on the line, beckoning him. "Stop your ship! Land it, right now!" Gai shouted into the microphone.
"Are you disappointed this so-called hero turned out to be a thief?" Sei's voice replied.
Did this guy think the other Gokaiger were joking when they proudly talked about how they were pirates? Did he think their flashy ship was just for show? After listening to Luka in particular brag about her skills as a thief, coming across another thief hero was hardly a shock. "Just land! We can talk about it later!" Gai said.
"You think it'll be that easy? I'm a criminal on the run, I won't stop because you tell me to. What kind of super sentai hero are you, just talking at me?" Sei taunted.
Gai sped as fast as he could. This kind of vehicle couldn't really catch up with a spaceship, but he wasn't going to give up. As Sei's ship started to lift further off the ground, he shouted out in panic, only to see the Gokai Galleon approached it at a quicker pace, sure to either block the way or take off in quick pursuit. As Gai whooped, Sei's ship came crashing to the ground. "Oh no," Gai exclaimed. Luckily, he was close enough to go help rather quickly.
As he arrived, Gai took out his gokai changer. "Gokai Change!" he shouted, transforming in case his powers were necessary for this rescue mission. "Are you okay?" he shouted, getting closer to the ship and looking for where the entrance might be. "Call out if you need help! I'm here!"
As Gai rounded to the other side of the ship, he could see SixSilver climbing out, cursing before he kicked the ship and fell on the ground. "This old thing is falling apart. Not like I'm a genius like Dad was at keeping things in shape."
"Maybe he's on Earth, and can fix it. Arthur is, right? We'll take you back for help," GokaiSilver offered.
SixSilver just sighed, sitting on the ground in an exasperated manner much unlike a hero. "Can't you tell what kinda guy I am already? Why are you still saying stuff like that?" he said.
"Our captain said it was fine. He might be mad now, but just apologize. Maybe your fellow thieves will be forgiving," GokaiSilver suggested.
SixSilver shook his head before powering down. "Hey, if I tell you the truth about me, will you just leave me here?"
Gai powered down himself. "The truth? You're not Hoshikawa Sei, sixth child of the Hoshikawa family, previously undiscovered extra hero of Fiveman, the fourteenth super sentai, now just discovered by me, usurping MegaSilver's spot as SixSilver, the first silver super sentai hero in history?"
"Uh..." Sei shook his head, standing up and dusting off his pants. "Don't know a lot about the history, but I guess you do. Yeah, that's all true, as far as I know."
Gai furrowed his brow, unable to think of anything else that might sway him. "Then what else is there?" he asked.
"So, you're also an 'extra' hero, that's what you called it, right?" Sei began. He folded his arms and looked away as he continued. "What would you do if you came to meet them and saw them struggling in battle?"
"Join them and save them, of course," Gai replied. "They'd be relieved and excited for a new ally!"
"Hmph." Sei closed his eyes, still facing away. "I lied... About my siblings' fight," he admitted. "This ship was programmed to take me to Arthur and them, and it did. I got to Earth and found them right in the middle of a battle. I didn't help them, I just ran away." Sei clenched his fists. "So, you see? Keep me out of your 'hero' history, I'm that kind of coward."
Gai shook his head. "But you just came to my rescue," he said.
"So what. Anyone would help a kid in trouble like that, especially someone with super powers," Sei said. "I'm not unexperienced either, I needed fought Zyangyack all the time out here before you all beat them. Earth wasn't their only target, you know."
"That's it!" Gai pointed at Sei, a grin on his face. "That's all the essence of a super sentai hero! You are one of us!"
"But I just told you-"
"You were a kid then, right?" Gai mused. "Who would hold a grudge against a child for failing to protect them? Even Kibaranger had Byakko by his side. Kingranger looked young, but he was actually-"
"Who are you talking about?" Sei asked.
"Never mind. The point is, what happened over twenty years ago was understandable. And now, you're one of us! You're part of the Hoshikawa family! Of Fiveman! You're a silver super sentai hero, part of the super sentai legend! And you do belong!" Gai declared, grabbing Sei's shoulder.
Sei was silent a moment, just staring at the younger silver as he finished his most impassioned speech yet. Gai eventually fell on his knees, clasping his hands together before bowing low on the ground. "Now... Won't you come with us? Please?" he begged.
Sei sighed. "Stand up," he said. Gai did so, only showing his face with tear stained eyes. Sei turned away. "I'd be a bigger failure than I am already if I made a kid cry," he said.
"Yes! Yes! Alright!" Gai shouted, getting to his feet and jumping in the air.
"Come on, this doesn't benefit you much, does it?" Sei asked, shaking his head. Despite that, he smiled.
Though annoyed, Gai's team and crewmates were able to forgive Sei fairly easily, though didn't let him stay without increased security, his broken down ship disabled further and locked up. They made it back to Earth soon enough, and it was Gai who took the initiative to contact one of the Hoshikawas to find a place for Sei to meet.
Hoshikawa Remi insisted on meeting the same day at a local park. Gai went with his fellow silver, stopping as he saw the sight. There were not only the five other Hoshikawa siblings, but an older man and woman who were certainly their parents. Sei hesitated only a moment as Gai stopped before continuing on to meeting his family. As he got closer, young children of various ages ran over from where they'd been playing, competing to greet Sei and ask him questions even as the adults tried to speak to him as well.
"How touching," Gai said, wiping away a tear. It was obvious by their expressions that they were overjoyed to see their likely assumed dead family member. It didn't look like they were calling the long lost hero that had fought alone in space for decades a coward. Finally, he could rest on his home planet, with parents, siblings, and even nieces and nephews there to greet him. Gai turned and left, letting Sei enjoy his moment.
It was time to update the encyclopedia.