Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers.

Chapter 2

The Karovans wouldn't stop fidgeting. Someone passed her another present, but Ashley's attention wasn't on the gift as she unwrapped it. Andros and Zhane were at the far end of the picnic table the rangers had claimed for Ashley's cake and presents, Zhane on one side and Andros at the other. Karone stood between them, leaning forward slightly over the table, her gaze traveling between Ashley's present opening and Zhane's endless squirming.

Andros wasn't fidgeting around nearly as much, but every so often, he'd cross and uncross his arms, as though he wasn't quite sure what to do with them. If he hadn't looked so anxious, it would have been cute. Frowning slightly, she opened the present she'd been holding in her hand for quite awhile now, all the while wondering why Andros was so nervous.

"Hmm," she mused, studying the brightly wrapped fire extinguisher. TJ chuckled when she lifted it out of the bag, but he shook his head when she glanced at him.

"What?" Carlos looked up from cutting the cake, smiling innocently. "Everyone needs one!"

"Yeah," she gushed with feigned enthusiasm and poorly hidden sarcasm. "Thank you!"

He only laughed and held up the first corner of the cake. Cassie reached over and tugged the paper plate away from him, nodding towards the end of the table.

"No cake until all the presents are done," she reminded him sternly. "Those three haven't gone yet."

Andros was definitely nervous now. Zhane, on the other hand, looked positively gleeful. Nothing short of disappointment crossed the silver ranger's face when Karone leaned forward and tapped her brother hard on the shoulder, urging him forward.

"I, uh..." Andros pulled a small golden box from his pocket as he stood, eyes darting around to everyone else but her. "Happy birthday, Ashley," he said quietly, finally lifting his gaze to hers.

He held the box out to her and she stepped forward to take it from him, her fingers brushing lightly against his as she did so. Ashley thought he hid a smile when he stepped back, but her attention was momentarily focused on working off the box lid.

"Wow," she murmured, eyes flicking up to his and then back down again. Carefully, she lifted the necklace from the box, running her fingers across the smooth metal as the yellow gem caught the sunlight.

"The stone's a rare gem from KO-35," Andros explained, a small smile on his face. "I hope you like it."

"I love it," she assured him softly, and his smile became a grin. "Thank you," she added, pulling him into a hug.

"You're welcome," he replied just as quietly, and she wondered if she was just imagining the slight smugness of his tone. His voice lowered as he muttered, "Do they know yet?"

"No," she whispered back, knowing what he'd meant. "Why?"

"Because," he said, "I really wanted to kiss you."

Ashley had to bite down on her lip to keep from giggling at that. He let her step away, though he did look rather disappointed. She caught his arm and held the necklace out to him when he took a step back towards where he had been sitting a moment before, and he looked at her questioningly.

"Aren't you going to help me put it on?" she asked him with an innocent smile.

Andros stepped forward again, an answering smile on his face now. He took the necklace from her and stepped around behind her, fastening the clasp securely. Ashley hesitated when she felt the pendant settle against her chest, his hands still resting lightly on the back of her neck. Then she turned around and kissed him on the lips, feeling him almost flinch away in surprise. His arms were around her a moment later, holding her close for a moment after she turned her head to the side.

"Thanks," she murmured again, sparing a nervous glance over her shoulder. Karone and Zhane merely stared back at her, no less than she'd expected. TJ, Carlos, and Cassie, however, had varying degrees of surprise mingling in their expressions and Ashley sighed.

"So, when did this happen?" Carlos inquired mildly.

"Um... last night," she admitted with a faint blush. "We started talking in the med bay..."

"And then--Ow!" Zhane whined, rubbing his side where Karone's elbow had jabbed him. "That hurt!"

Ashley saw Andros shoot Karone a grateful look and decided that now was an excellent time for a change of topic. "So... are we ready for cake yet?"

"Yes!" Carlos exclaimed, but Zhane shook his head.

"Just one more present," he said, and hopped to his feet. "Well, actually--"

"There's some more stuff in your room," Karone explained. "You'll understand in a minute."

"Okay," Ashley said, a bit uncertainly, but no less cheerfully than she had been a moment before. "Let's see."

Zhane reached into the pocket of his jacket with one hand. He moved his hand around for a moment, as though trying to grasp something that he couldn't quite keep ahold of, before pulling his hand free with much more care than he had reached in with. His free hand covered whatever it was cradled in his palm, but Ashley caught a glimpse of what looked like--fur?

"Zhane, what--" she began, but just then he removed his top hand with a flourish. "Oh!" she squealed, leaping forward and flinging her arms around him, carefully. The ball of gray and black fluff resting in his hand was still disturbed, and stirred grouchily, a reproachful glare in its dark eyes. Or as much of its eyes as she could see, anyway--a bright yellow bow was affixed to its head, something it did not look pleased with at all.

"Is that a kitten?" Cassie demanded to know.

"Yup," Zhane said proudly, laughing as Ashley crouched low until she was eye level with the creature. "I think the guy at the pet store called him a tabby."

"Yeah," Ashley said, gently lifting the kitten into her own arms. "He's a tabby cat... Did he come with a name?"

"Funny you should ask," Karone said with a slight giggle. "His name's Oddball."

Cuddling the kitten against her cheek, Ashley almost choked. She caught Karone's eye and the other girl grinned as they both took note of Zhane's baffled expression.

"I love him," she said, quickly swallowing down her laughter. "Thank you so much, Zhane, and you too, Karone."

"Won't he run away out here?" TJ wondered. "What?" He shrugged as they all looked at him. "We used to have a cat. She ran off one day."

"Maybe I'll take him back to the Megaship, then," she mused, gently stroking his fur. "Do you want to see your new home?" she cooed, working the bow loose. Oddball purred, seemingly happy to be free of the annoyance.

"He's staying on the Megaship?" Andros cut in, and though his face and tone were completely neutral, Ashley quickly picked up the impression that he wasn't too pleased.

"Well... my dad's allergic to cats, so I can't really keep him at my house for long," she said, frowning. "But if he'd be in trouble on the Megaship, then I could--"

"No, it's fine," he said quickly, and shrugged. "I just thought... Do you need help taking him there?"

"I think I can handle it," she said, her smile just a little bit forced.

Oddball stirred in her hand and her smile widened. Taking one of his paws, she made a waving motion, giggling when Carlos and Cassie waved back. He purred and she relaxed her hold on him for just a moment, yelping in surprise when he leapt out of her arms.

"Hey!"

Andros jumped visibly when the kitten, still purring loudly, landed on his shoulder. Oddball butted against Andros's neck with his nose, demanding attention from the red ranger. Ashley giggled and reached out quickly to pull her cat off of her boyfriend. An almost reluctant smile spread across Andros's face as he studied Oddball more closely.

"He is cute," he admitted, reaching out to stroke the top of the kitten's head cautiously. "Are you sure you don't need help?"

"I'll be fine," she assured him. "You guys start on the cake, I'll be back in about ten minutes, all right?"

"No problem," Carlos called after her, and she heard TJ laugh his agreement as she began walking away from her friends, searching for a more secluded area from which to teleport back to the Megaship.

---

"Excellent," she murmured, studying the images the viewing screen allowed her. Ashley Hammond, yellow Astro Ranger, was striding across the park. She vanished behind a cluster of trees and all the satellite cameras picked up was a sparkle of gold, but it was enough. She was gone, but only for now, and they would be ready when she returned.

"You see him?"

"Even better." Lyra smirked. "I see her."

"The yellow ranger?" He considered that for a moment. "Interesting," he said finally. "But will she do us any good?"

"Oh, she will."

Cosmos raised an eyebrow at her tone. "Lyra..."

"I think we happen to have the right monster lying around here," she shrugged, chewing her lip thoughtfully.

It must have been two years since she had last seen his face during the day. To see him so now made her acutely aware of how few of his expressions she could read with ease. There was nothing about him that she couldn't decipher eventually, but it annoyed her to no end that he knew her face better than she his.

"You have a plan, then," he stated, and smiled. "I--Tell me."

"We capture her," she told him, privately deciding that he needed a uniform without a visor. "Even if the plan fails, she'll still be useful. You said yourself that he cares for her. There's nothing Andros wouldn't do to save someone he cares for from harm."

He stared back at her uncertainly. "He did nothing to save the other girl."

"There was nothing he could do," she reminded him. "He had no clue where we had her, and no way to save her even if he did."

"True," he mused, and then brightened. "And I'm sure that the memory still haunts him. He'll do what we want."

"Exactly." She smiled. "Now let's get going before she comes back and we lose our chance."

"One thing first," he insisted, and she paused.

"What?"

No sooner had the words left her mouth than she felt his lips pressed against hers. She smiled, effectively ending the kiss but not caring. Yes, he definitely needed a uniform without a visor. Then he nodded to her and she teleported them both out to Angel Grove, her world disappearing into a darkness tinged faintly red.