Disclaimer: Not mine, sorry!
A/N: This is NOT part of the Rainbow Brotherhood. And if you don't believe me about Zhane's hair, I can point you out some pictures to prove it!
All Zhane wanted was to go with Andros; he didn't care about morphers, or rules or age. He was, in fact, older than Andros, so if Andros could go, so could he. Especially since Andros shouldn't go back alone. Andros had not told him to stay, so Zhane took that to mean he could come, which was why Zhane had quietly packed his bag, intent on sneaking out to the Megaship sure in the belief that Andros wouldn't tell him to go, he never had before after all. They had sworn to be best friends until the end of days, and he wasn't about to let his best friend, his brother in all but blood vanish into a war that had threatened their home and stolen four Kerovan Rangers already
Someone, or something, however, had plans for Zhane. Plans that began with the near-silent whoosh of his room's door coming open. "So," a most unwelcome voice said, "you won't let him go alone?"
Zhane zipped his bag shut and turned, listing his chin in defiance, "Of course not, Ranger Yi'mar. What kind of friend would I be if I let him go alone?"
"You aren't a Ranger," the other replied. He was a slender, dark skinned man with black hair cut short enough to spike with silver tips. A silver hoop hung from one ear, matching the silver chain that vanished under the collar of his white and silver ship-suit.
"It doesn't stop the defense forces," Zhane replied, keeping his tone challenging yet respectful; "You don't have to have the Power to fight. You just need to be willing to fight."
"Didn't Andros bring you here to keep you safe?" Yi'mar asked, "Isn't that why he included you in the group of 'important' Kerovans coming to Eltare?"
"Andros is paranoid," Zhane replied bluntly, crossing his arms and lifting his chin. "Ever since he lost Karone, he's become afraid of losing everyone he cares for. I'm not going to abandon him, morpher or no." He paused then continued firmly, "I know he's going to be working with other Border Rangers, but the others…they won't understand him. They won't understand who he is or what he's had to go through. I do, I've been there since the beginning and I'm not leaving now."
Yi'mar laughed softly, "You'll do, Zhane. Now, Andros will be leaving in the morning. If you really want to help him, we'll have to hurry."
"What do you mean?" Zhane asked, relaxing his stance slightly.
"I mean, there are many morphers on Eltare. Come with me, and we'll see if one of those morphers will work for you." Yi'mar replied, gesturing behind him.
"You want…" Zhane stopped, his dark eyes widening, then narrowed, "me? Are you sure, Ranger Yi'mar?"
"As sure as your mother was a Green," Yi'mar replied, his face completely calm.
Zhane's eyes widened, for a brief moment, a flash of emotion that only someone looking for it would see. "How did you know that?" Zhane demanded. He hadn't told anyone except Andros about his mother, even after so long it was still too fresh.
"I'm a Ranger, Zhane; we all know and remember Andrea." Yi'mar said gently.
Zhane bowed his head for a long moment, and in that moment, he looked fourteen, and there was nothing of the child-adult that he had displayed. He looked at his bag, and knocked it to the floor; a kick had it under the bed and out of sight. "I'm ready," he said, squaring his shoulders and looking at Yi'mar boldly. Even if his black hair did fall in his eyes, obscuring some of the dignity that he was striving for.
Yi'mar smiled and gestured, "Stay close, Zhane." He opened the door to Zhane's room and hurried down the corridor. Zhane stayed close behind him, not even looking around as they left the guest room and headed towards the inner recesses of the Eltarean's Ranger Compound. They went into a side corridor and then down a flight of stars. The foot of the stairs was blocked by a door, and Yi'mar looked back. "Don't tell anyone about this, Zhane. Yes, not even Andros." He lifted his morpher and let the door open. The room beyond was silver, Zhane thought, awed. "Any color, Zhane, has secrets. They all live up to, and down to, certain expectations by everyone. Silvers are no different. To the world beyond, Silver Rangers are like the others, strong fighters, noble men and women. Only the Rangers can understand that Silver Rangers are different, even if they don't know the half of it." Yi'mar walked into the room easily, heading down what turned out to be a side passage about half-way down the available space.
"There is a code that any Silver Ranger will tell you about, one that we all heed. That is that if a Silver calls, a Silver comes. Any Silver Ranger can call upon other Silver Rangers and we will come if we are able. We listen to each other and trust." Yi'mar stopped before an alcove with a shrine. "Silvers never lie to each other, Zhane. To each other we share everything. Remember, you cannot simply become a Ranger; you can only be born with the Power. Place your hands on the portal and accept what is your birthright."
Zhane trusted the Silver Ranger and put his hand on the portal. Power surged through him, filling his mind and eyes with silver. Thoughts and images passed through him too fast to see. Finally, he stumbled back against the far wall, clutching a small device in his hands. Looking down, he found that his clothes had changed; he looked like a reverse image of Andros, the other's gray uniform and red shirt altered to black and silver. "Welcome, brother," Yi'mar said, offering his hand, "It is an honor to bring you home."
Zhane took Yi'mar's hand and grinned, "It's great to be here, Yi'mar. Thank you." He looked at his digimorpher for a moment, and then held it up, "Let's Rocket!" He shouted; Andros's morphing call coming to him easily, along with the code. Power enshrouded him; the Silver lightning fire consumed him but did not burn him. He could sense something reaching out from him, like a gentle probe searching for something. After a moment, the Silver lightning changed; it came back to him with a feeling of color; first Red, a sleepy murmur that made him feel calm. He smiled slightly, there were no nightmares ruffling Andros's sleep now. Then, like a jolt to his system Pink, angry and frustrated, a faint tinge of fear, and a determination, Zhane reached gently, and found that determination was to escape. Yellow followed, amused triumph that made him want to cheer and underlined with a determination similar to Pink, but a happier determination, again, Zhane asked and was given back the determination to succeed. Black came, frustrated anger and determination to win that faded by a love so blinding that Zhane wanted to be there to know who could feel that much love, for anyone. Finally, as if from far away, Blue came back, awake; worried but not panicked, concentrating on something that Zhane couldn't sense, but which Blue was determined to master.
He opened his eyes, surprised to find that he had even closed them, and looked down; the Silver Ranger uniform was incredible, save for the black bars over his chest; it was a silver version of Andros's uniform. That was what drove it home, he turned to Yi'mar, wanting to cry out in joy, but held back by a newly awakened, or perhaps, newly heard, instinct.
"Welcome, Silver Astro Ranger," Yi'mar murmured.
Zhane powered down and smiled at the other Ranger, "Thank you, this means a lot to me."
"Just remember, Zhane," Yi'mar said, "you have a duty to any new Silver Rangers you encounter." He offered his wrist and Zhane gripped it, "I pledge to you, Zhane of KO-35, Silver Astro Ranger, that I will honor the Code and aid you in your chosen duties."
Zhane nodded, "I pledge to you Yi'mar of Eltare, Silver Eltare Ranger; that I will honor the Code and aid you in your chosen duties."
For a brief moment, they both felt and saw their auras flare bright silver, and then Yi'mar released Zhane's hand with a nod. "Yi'mar," he hesitated, "when I morphed, I could feel Andros."
"It's natural," Yi'mar said, "your morpher is bonded to the Astro Morphers. As your Power settles, you won't be so in his business. It's important, at first, so that you can understand your teammates."
"That's not it," Zhane said, still thinking of what he'd felt.
"What do you mean?" Yi'mar asked.
"There were other colors: Black, Blue, Yellow and Pink. I could feel them, Yi'mar, as clear as Andros. They were…farther away and there was something…like they should have the morphers, but they don't."
Yi'mar tilted his head, "Perhaps Andros and you will not be the only Astros forever Zhane. Those you felt, perhaps they are also destined to journey into space."
"So I should just wait for them?"
"Yes," Yi'mar replied, "although now, we should work on your escape to the Megaship. Once you are on the Ranger Roster, you'll be able to teleport back at any time. All Rangers have permanent access to their base, it's often the only…"
"Safe haven, I know," Zhane said, "I've heard the lessons, Yi'mar."
"Indeed," Yi'mar replied, "let's go."
SWARSWARSWARSWAR
After retrieving Zhane's gear from his room, the two Silver Rangers, one new and one old, left the Compound for the hanger where the Astro Megaship awaited them. Zhane had been reluctant to change out of his uniform, but at Yi'mar's urging had pulled off the jacket, and put on his previously favored brown one instead. When they approached the guards, however, Zhane could tell that his change of jackets had been a good choice. "Ranger Yi'mar," the guard said, "trouble?"
"No," Yi'mar replied. "We need to retrieve files from the Megaship computer. As Andros is still locked in conference, Zhane here offered to assist me."
"Very well," the guard said.
The pair walked into the hanger and onboard the ship, where Yi'mar produced Zhane's bag from under the enveloping robes. "It worked," Zhane said, taking the bag and slinging it over his shoulder.
"Yes," Yi'mar replied, "as I told you, we can hide a pair of xyber cats under here and nobody would know except me."
"I believe you now," Zhane said, "the Bridge is this way."
They took the Megalift up to the Bridge, "Greetings Zhane, Ranger Yi'mar," DECA greeted them.
"DECA," Zhane replied.
Yi'mar nodded towards one of DECA's camera. "All right," he said, "are you ready, Zhane?"
"Yes," Zhane replied, his eagerness barely concealed as he dropped his bag by the door.
"DECA," Yi'mar said, "we need to make a change to the Kerovan Ranger roster."
"Is there a problem?" DECA asked.
"No," Yi'mar replied, "we need to add a Sixth."
"I am prepared to make the correction, Ranger Yi'mar."
Yi'mar and Zhane exchanged excited grins. "DECA, please add Zhane of KO-35 to the Kerovan Ranger roster as the Silver Astro Ranger."
"Please confirm," DECA replied.
Yi'mar nodded to Zhane, who grinned, "Let's Rocket!" He shouted, feeling the power overwhelm him yet again. As the Silver light cleared, he removed his helmet, and grinned at DECA's camera.
"Confirmation accepted," DECA said.
Zhane powered down and turned to DECA, "I need two favors, please, DECA."
"How may I help you, Ranger Zhane?" DECA asked.
"First," Zhane said, "can you not tell Andros? I want to surprise him."
"I must inform the Red Ranger of all changes in the roster," DECA replied.
"Can you wait?" Zhane asked, "I mean, is there a way to delay such information? He is in the middle of a conference, and I'd like to surprise him after we've left Eltare so he can throw me off the ship, morpher or no."
DECA was silent for a long moment, then said, "I can delay update information for twelve hours due to outside circumstances. You have twelve hours, then, no matter where Andros is, I will inform him of the roster change."
"Thanks," Zhane said, "now, the second favor is easier. I need to teleport on board after we leave, so that everyone will think that I'm still on the planet. Can you do that?"
"If you will contact me at the prime moment," DECA said, "I will be happy to assist you."
"You are the greatest," Zhane said, "I'd hug you, but I don't think I can reach you."
"As you wish," DECA replied.
The two Silver Rangers left the ship shortly there after, passing the Guards with nothing but nods. Silence enshrouded them as the headed for the guest room Zhane was using. "You do know," Zhane said, finally, "that Andros was actually asleep, right?"
"Yes, but the Guards didn't. Sleep well, Zhane. Please, remember this, your dreams are for more important than you realize. Pay attention to what they tell you, and be careful."
"Yes, Yi'mar," Zhane replied, he hugged his new brother, "you be careful as well. Dark Specter wants Eltare more than any other."
"He's going to go through KO-35 to get here, he's already proven that."
"Then he's going to have to go through six of the toughest Rangers he's ever had the misfortune to meet," Zhane replied.
Yi'mar laughed, "Get some sleep, Zhane, even Silvers need to sleep."
"Good night," Zhane replied, letting his door open. He gave Yi'mar one last cocky grin before the door slid shut. Yi'mar smiled and turned to walk sedately down the hall, as unconcerned with the world as any good Silver would be.