Disclaimer: No, I do not own the Power Rangers but I do own responsibility for not updating anything for like two months. I apologize.

Number Four: Test

Andros and Ashley had left the virtual reality room for a secluded corner in the Astro Spaceship for the second telekinesis lesson. Andros got out a Q-tip.

"All right, you remember from last time?"

"Try to move the Q-tip with my mind," Ashley quoted. "But I didn't move it at all last time."

"Neither did I, my first lesson," Andros found himself reassuring her. She gave him a bemused look. "Andros, weren't you like five when you had your first lesson?"

There was a long pause.

"Ashley, just clear your mind and focus on the Q-tip."

After rolling her eyes at the Red Space Ranger Ashley narrowed her eyes at the Q-tip. For several minutes there was dead silence. His arms behind his back Andros studied the Yellow Space Ranger's face. Her honey gold hair was in two pigtails, framing her face. For a moment Andros wondered why they were called pigtails, because Andros had seen pictures of Earth pigs and pigtails didn't resemble real pig tails at all. But they worked for her. Plus she was very pretty, especially with her features all scrunched up in concentration. And yet again Andros had to admit Ashley looked rather attractive in her Space uniform.

Then the Q-tip twitched. Her face lighting up Ashley asked, "Did you see that? I moved it!"

"Yes you did," Andros agreed. "That's really good, Ashley, for your second lesson. But let's see if you can do it again."

"Right."

Her face scrunching up again, Ashley zoned in on the Q-tip. But hardly a minute in the other three Power Rangers ran by in the hallway, holding a race in their socks. TJ, Cassie, and Carlos were all laughing and dressed in their pajamas.

The pair turned to look at them. Once they were gone Ashley looked sheepish.

"Sorry, Andros. I lost my concentration."

"So did I," Andros noted wryly. "It's okay."

"Should I try again now that they're past?"

"No… aren't you getting a headache by now?"

"A little," Ashley admitted. She hadn't wanted to complain. Andros decided, "Then we should take a break."

"All right."

Andros looked out at the hallway. Quietly Ashley commented, "TJ has really relaxed in a way since we joined up with you. He trusts you as leader."

"I hope his trust isn't misplaced."

Gently, slowly Ashley took his hand. She was elated when he didn't just not move away, but wrapped his fingers around hers.

"Well, I know mine isn't."

"Thank you."

"Thank you, Andros. So… should we join the race?" she questioned hopefully. Andros shook his head. "I really ought to go check the systems of the Astro Megaship."

"Can I come with you?"

"Don't you want to join the sock race?"

Ashley beamed at him. "I'd rather be with you."

Her smiling fading she added, "Unless you'd rather I not come with you."

"No; it's probably for the best that someone besides me learns about the systems of the Astro Megaship," Andros decided. Or at least that's what he convinced himself his reasoning was as the two strolled down the hallway hand in hand.