Disclaimer: Power Rangers belongs to Saban.
The Truth Comes Out
Karone giggled. She pushed Zhane, who was tickling her.
"Stop it!" she cried through her laughter. Zhane stopped. He knew better than to make her mad. She was laughing, but still. He put his arms around her and gave her a kiss. Karone sighed contentedly. Ever since they had made up, they had been inseparable. Karone and Zhane heard footsteps coming down the hall towards them. Instinctively, they let go and moved to opposite ends of Karone's bed. Andros came in.
"What's going on?" he asked, obviously surprised to see them together.
"Oh, um, nothing." Zhane hedged. "We were just talking, you know, making up for lost time."
"Okay." Zhane studied his expression. Was it just his imagination, or did Andros look a teensy bit suspicious? But he didn't find out because Andros had left the room.
Zhane let out a sigh of relief. "That was close."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Karone asked, raising her eyebrow."It means that Andros would kill us if he knew we were together. Especially me." Zhane replied.
Karone gasped in mock horror. "Does this mean, that the legendary Silver Ranger is afraid of my brother?"
Zhane grinned. "Yup, always have been."
"Seriously, though," she continued. "Why do we have to hide it? I mean, he's my brother and he's your best friend, shouldn't he be happy for us?"
Karone never thought in a million years she'd say that. In her old life, she wouldn't even need to ask, the answer was so clear: NO!!! But things were different now, hopefully for the better.
Zhane nodded. "But," he said. "It's a brother's natural instinct, to get upset if his sister is in love with his best friend. And Andros isn't your ordinary brother."
"I know he can be a bit, how do you say, over protective, at times. But, still..." Her voice trailed off.
"Trust me." Zhane said. "Andros will not be pleased. That's why we can't tell him."
"But what if he finds out anyway." Karone pointed out. "What if one of the other rangers tells him?"
"We won't tell them either." He replied.
Karone looked doubtful. "I don't know."
Zhane took her hands in his. "Believe me, we need to keep it a secret, at least for a little while. You need to trust me."
"Okay," she said. "I still don't think it's a good idea, but I trust you."
Zhane kissed her. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine."
Karone sighed. If only she could be sure.
* * * * * *
Later that night, Karone was in her room, reading an earth magazine she had borrowed from Cassie. All of a sudden the door opened. Karone looked up. It was Ashley.
"Can I come in?" she asked.
"Sure." Ashley sat down next to her.
"Is something wrong?" Karone asked, noting the serious expression on her face. What was going on? Had she found out?
Ashley smiled. "No. Cassie and I are going to have a sort-of sleepover, and we were wondering if you'd like to come."
"I'd love to." Karone replied, pleasantly surprised. Ashley and Cassie were her friends, but they always seemed to be leaving her out of things. Until now.
"Good." Ashley said cheerfully. "Get a blanket and pillow and you can come whenever you want. Okay?"
"Okay." Ashley left the room. Karone finally felt like she belonged.
* * * * * *
Ashley and Karone were braiding Cassie's hair into little braids.
"Is it done yet?" asked Cassie impatiently.
"Almost. It's much faster with two of us. Relax." Ashley said. The door opened and Andros came in.
"Everything okay here?" he asked.
"Yes, we're fine." Said Cassie. "Good-bye." She waved.
"Yeah," Ashley agreed. "No boys allowed."
"I'm chaperoning." Andros grinned.
"We don't need you." Karone told him. "Go to bed."
But Andros didn't move.
"Go." Ashley pushed him out the door. "That goes for the rest of you, too."
T.J. and Carlos ran down the hall. Karone and Cassie exchanged a look and burst out laughing. A moment later, Ashley joined them. They resumed their work.
"What do we do know?" Karone asked, when they had finished.
"Let's play truth or dare." Cassie suggested.
"What's that?"
"It's a game. One person picks someone and asks them 'truth or dare'. If they say truth, you have to ask them a question and they have to answer honestly. But if they pick dare, they have to do something weird or crazy or whatever. Here, we'll demonstrate. Cassie, truth or dare?"
"Truth." Cassie replied.
"Okay." Ashley thought for a moment. "If you were stuck on a deserted island, who would you prefer to be with, Lenny or the Phantom?"
"The Phantom, I guess." Cassie shrugged.
"Oh, I get it know." Karone said.
"Okay, Karone, truth or dare?" Cassie asked.
"Truth."
"Oh, I got a good one. Who do you think, is the cutest boy on this ship?"
"Zhane," Karone replied without hesitating.
The other girls giggled. "Oh?" Ashley said.
"Doesn't everybody?" Karone said, defensively.
"Yeah," Cassie said slowly. "Does Karone have a crush on Zhane?" She added with a smile.
"A what?" Karone asked, confused.
"A crush." Ashley answered. "You know, when you like someone."
"Oh," she blushed. "Well, it's kind of more than that." Karone admitted before she realized it.
Their mouths dropped open.
"Does this mean what I think it means?" Ashley asked, stunned.
"You're in love with Zhane?" Cassie screeched.
"Shh, keep your voice down." Karone peeked outside, nervously. Luckily no one was around.
"Yes, yes, yes."
"God, Andros would freak, if he knew." Ashley thought aloud.
"I know. You can't tell anyone. Please." Karone looked almost desperate.
"Don't worry, our lips are sealed."
Ashley gave her a hug. "This is great."
Karone smiled. "Yeah, it is."
Ashley and Cassie started bombarding her with questions. "Does Zhane know?" "How does he feel?" " Is he a good kisser?"
Karone was relieved. They would keep her secret, she knew. She just hoped Zhane would know, too. The idea made her uneasy.
* * * * * *
The next morning, Karone sleepily went down to the work bay for breakfast, as usual. On her way, she bumped right into Zhane.
"Sorry." She mumbled. "Oh, Zhane, hi."
"Hey," he said. "How was the sleepover?" He looked around, and then gave her a kiss.
"Oh, fine." She replied, absentmindedly playing with her hair.
"What's wrong?" Zhane asked, concerned.
"Ashley and Cassie know." Karone blurted out.
"What?" Zhane was shocked.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to tell them. It just came out." Karone looked like she was about to cry.
Zhane gently stroked her hair. "Shh, it's okay."
"It is?"
"Yeah, we can trust them. And, hey, it's you're choice, too, right?"
"I guess." Karone said, thoughtfully.
"Right. Now come on, let's get some breakfast. You're wasting away to nothing." Zhane put his arm around her. "Still like marshmallows?"
Karone nodded, more relaxed. She had been foolish for thinking he'd be mad. After all, he was no Dark Spectre. They turned a corner, running right into Cassie.
"I'm sorry." Cassie apologized.
"For what?" asked Zhane.
"Andros and I were in the engine room." She began. "And we started talking, right? Well, one thing led to another and…" her voice trailed off.
Karone gasped. No, that couldn't mean… poor Ashley. She thought.
"He knows." Cassie finished. "I'm so sorry."
Karone was too shocked to speak.
"Relax." Zhane said. "We'll take care of it."
Cassie looked relieved as she hurried off.
"Come on," Zhane said. Karone nodded, numbly. She let him lead her away.
They were passing Andros' door and were almost home free, when they heard someone come up behind them.
"Freeze."
* * * * * *
Karone could barely breath. Slowly, she turned around. She glanced over at Zhane. He looked as nervous as she felt.
"Come with me." Andros said, simply. Not a request, a command. Karone and Zhane followed him to the bridge.
"Sit," he said, pointing to two chairs, side by side. They sat.
"Well, what do you have to say for yourselves?"
"Andros," Zhane began. "We're really sorry. We should have told you. We were just worried about how you'd react. "You're kind-a like a walking time bomb." Zhane blurted out.
"What Zhane's trying to say, is that we didn't want to upset you." Karone explained.
Andros' expression softened. "I am upset, but I'm more upset that you guys didn't tell me. I know I may seem that way." He said, glancing at Zhane. "But I also want you to be happy."
"We are." Zhane said, hesitantly.
Karone nudged him. "I told you." She whispered.
"However, there will be some rules to follow." Andros continued.
"Of course," said Zhane, who had been expecting that.
"But we can go over them later. Right now, I have work to do." Satisfied, Andros left the room.
Karone and Zhane let out sighs of relief. Now that that was over with, they could go on and enjoy this relationship.
The End.
