DISCLAIMER:
I do not own or make any profit from Power Rangers or any of the music mentioned in this fictional story.
NOTES:
All songs in this story apply to Cassie & Andros, with the exceptions of The Beatles "Hey Jude" representing Andros, Evanescence's "Solitude" representing Cassie, and Evanescence's "Forgive Me" representing Ashley & Carlos.
I would suggest to please listen to each song represented in the story before you read, IF you have not already heard them. I believe it will help you to get the feel that I'm trying to capture in each chapter. The artist and songs used for each chapter are as follows:
Seether-Broken: Chapter I
Evanescence-Solitude: Chapter II
Stained-Epiphany: Chapter III
The Beatles-Hey Jude: Chapter IV
Evanescence-Forgive Me: Chapter V
Coldplay-The Scientist: The Final Chapter
RATED:
G
STATUS:
Complete
SUMMARY:
Andros finally realizes that the one person he loved and needed all along was Cassie
:Broken:
I wanted you to know I love the way you laugh
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain away
I keep your photograph; I know it serves me well
I wanna hold you high and steal your pain
'cause I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
'cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel light when you're gone away…
Chapter I
:::
Astro Mega Ship-Nine months after "Countdown to Destruction"
She glanced over at him from where she stood by the control room entrance way. His back was facing her, his head lowered, causing the loose strands of brown and blond hair to fall over his shoulders. His hands glided swiftly over the ships main controls.
"Andros..." She paused, lowering her honey-brown eyes,"...we need to talk."
His shoulders tensed, and then he let out a soft sigh. His back still facing her, he let out the words he knew would eventually come...
"I know..."
She stood in the hanger, staring out into the vast darkness of space, choosing her words with care.
"I thought this was what I wanted, but I realized there was something missing..."
He nodded his head in agreement, waiting intently for her next words.
"I miss home, Andros. I miss the blue skies. I miss the vast blue oceans. I miss my family and my friends..." She hesitated for a moment, then whispered the last few words,"...I miss him."
Carlos.
She missed his presence. When they were Turbo Rangers, she realized that they were always together. His smile and his charms always found ways to comfort her. Then when they met Andros, all that seemed to change. She only just realized how much she missed him when he was gone. She only just realized how much she loved him, and how blind she was to realize how much he loved her in return. Her eyes welled up with tears threatening to escape as she waited anxiously for Andros response. She looked over to him, surprised to see a small smile crossing his face. He approached her and placed his hands gently on her shoulders.
His eyes were sincere as they looked into her own, "You don't have to explain, Ashley. Your home is on Earth, not here. You deserve to be happy."
She smiled, a tear slipping down her cheek, "I didn't want to hurt you. I want you to know that I will always love you as a friend."
"That's enough for me, Ashley." He said,"I will always love you as a friend as well."
She embraced him tightly, feeling the wounds already beginning to mend, "Thank you." She whispered.
He smiled, "Your welcome."
Their embrace ended and Ashley headed for the door. Andros nodded, knowing what he must do next.
"Deca, set the coordinates for Earth."
"As you wish Andros," Deca responded.
Andros looked over to Ashley, who paused briefly by the doorway, a smile crossing her face. She turned away and headed back to her corridor to pack. He knew this day would eventually come. It was the right decision for them both. He realized that Ashley was not enough to fill the dark void that plagued his soul. Something was still missing deep inside of him that has yet to be found…
"Andros? Hey, are you okay?"
The distant voice and the hand gently shaking his shoulder brought Andros back from his memories. Andros looked over to see his sister, concern in her eyes. He blinked several times, clearing his thoughts, "I'm fine, Karone."
She arched an eyebrow, but accepted her brother's answer. At that moment, Zhane entered the control room and approached the other two rangers, "T.J. found the coordinates of the remainder of the U.A.O.E. It's not going to be hard getting rid of the leftover junk."
Andros and T.J. remained in close contact after the team parted ways five years ago. They kept each other updated on current events regarding any threats against the greater good.
Andros nodded, "Gather what is needed for this mission. We'll head out in 0700 hours."
Karone and Zhane nodded, then headed for the door. Karone paused before exiting, turning to face her brother, "Andros, I'm here if you want to talk..."
Andros looked over to her, then smiled, "I know."
She smiled and headed out the door.
:::
Dead Planet Somewhere In The Depths Of Space...
"Zhane, is everything clear?" Andros asked through the communication devise embedded into their helmets.
Zhane blasted the last of the Quantrons before answering, "I'm done here Andros."
"Karone?"
"All clear ," Karone replied dusting off her gloved hands.
"Then lets head out," Andros said, kicking aside what was left of a Quantron.
:::
The Red, Silver, and White Astro Rangers entered the control room of the New Astro Megaship to discuss any last minute details regarding their latest mission. They concluded and set out to prepare for their trip back to KO-35.
"Deca, contact T.J.," Andros instructed
"Yes Andros," Deca responded
Within minutes, T.J. appeared on the main screen. Andros smiled when he saw his former teammate and old friend.
"I'm assuming the mission was a success," T.J. said with smirk.
"Piece of cake. Thanks again for your help T.J."
"Hey, no problem."
"I'll talk to you soon T.J."
"Later Andros."
Andros smiled and turned off the screen. He exited the control room and made his way to the hanger to finish work he started on his galaxy glider. He entered to find Karone looking out the glass shield into space. Her eyes seemed distant, lost in thought. Andros approached her and gently laid his hand on her shoulder. Karone startled at the hand lying on her shoulder and was relieved to find that it was her brother.
"Hey." She said with a smile.
"Hey." He responded in return. He noticed the smile she held was sad, "Are you alright?"
She looked to him, then looked away, hoping he didn't see the sadness in her eyes, "I'm fine Andros."
He squeezed her shoulder gently, "Karone, you're my sister. You can't fool me." He said.
Karone sighed, then turned to face him, "Fine. It's you Andros...I'm worried about you." Andros looked to her in surprise, Karone continued, "Every time I look at you, you seem so...lost. You don't think I notice those sleepless nights when I hear you pacing back and forth in your room? Or when I see how tired you are? Not just physically and mentally, but emotionally as well?"
Andros looked away from her eyes that were so full of emotion, "If this is about Ashley..."
"No, it's not. I saw the sadness in you even when Ashley was here." Karone looked down for a moment, and then collected herself enough to continue, "I never approved of you and Ashley. I was not around to see how the whole thing started, but from what Zhane related to me, I didn't like it."
Andros suddenly felt annoyed at his sister's judgment, "Karone, whatever happened in my personal life is my own business and no one else's..."
"That's where your wrong, Andros. It's my business when I see my brother...broken."
Everything in the room suddenly fell silent. Time and space held no meaning at this moment. Both were lost in their own thoughts. Karone finally broke the silence, "I have some memories of when I was Astronema. There was one person I recall who was by your side. One person who almost sacrificed themselves for you..."
"Cassie..." Andros finished for her. It seemed like it had been many years since he last heard from her. Once the team parted ways, she fell completely off the radar. He never understood why they lost touch, but he accepted it. Still, he found himself often thinking about her, even with Ashley.
"I remember..." Karone's voice brought him back out of his thoughts, "...when you decided to stay with the team and Ashley came running out to embrace you. It was supposed to be a joyous moment...except for one of us. I looked over to see Cassie who had a smile on her face, but I was not blind to the sadness I saw in her eyes. Tell me Andros, what do you remember?"
Suddenly thoughts, feelings, and emotions started to hit him all at once. He remembered soulful dark eyes looking into his own. He remembered the anger and sadness he felt when he thought he lost her. He remembered the helplessness he felt when he saw her in anguished pain over the loss of a fallen comrade. He remembered the deep void within his soul always seemed to disappear every time she smiled at him. That void he felt was overpowered by something else he was unfamiliar with.
"With Cassie, I saw something within you come alive...something good. With Ashley, it was jealousy...a competition between you and Zhane. In the end, was it what you really wanted?"
"No..." Andros whispered
Karone looked over to her brother and saw his eyes filling with tears. She reached out and pulled him into her arms. Everything he felt poured out of him as he wept quietly in her arms. He was a fool to not realize that the one thing he needed to make him feel whole was right in front of him all along...and he let her go. He was determined to make amends and make the wrong things right. He just hoped that he was not too late.
:::