Disclaimer
The morphin grid is Disney's belonging which was introduced during the lost episode of PRDT, I used it in order to explain the ability to morph using this theory: in order to morph the ranger needs to tap into the morphin grid powers so he could channel the Power. The morphers are the tools which help the ranger tap into the morphin grid.
Disclaimer2
Tal: The galaxy is mine! ;evilgrin;
Andros: No, it's not.
Tal: is too.
Andros: for your information, I'm the red space ranger and I saved the galaxy which means it's not! ;I'mfromthekarovasystemandyou'renotglare;
Tal: fine, be that way, STRIPEY! ;starts crying;
Andros: Don't cry, I'm sorry, I'll take you for a ride on my galaxy glider if you stop crying…
Tal: really? ;puppyeyes;
Andros: No.
Not mine ;
What's Left of Me
by DarkHonda aka Tal
PRiS AU
Chapter 8: Darkness
Megaship
Darkness lured in every corridor, deck and room, craving for an act of betrayal. DECA's red eyes were the only to light the thick darkness, red spots monitoring the Megaship, the only thing visible in the complete darkness. The stranded corridors were silent as death, the rooms abandoned for endless time, as the Megaship was finally deserted; Zhane and Cassie were hiding someplace upon the earth, Carlos and TJ were playing soccer on the solid ground. Even Ashley and Andros were long gone from Ashley's room. A scent of manipulation and deceit spread in the Megaship, starting at the Cargo Bay and flooding the ship with fear and anger…
On Earth
Cassie and Zhane were sitting in the Surf Spot, Zhane was eating. Again.
"You know, I think it's not profitable to invite you to dinner," She said rolling her eyes, and he smiled innocently before stuffing the forth slice of pizza to his mouth. "I'm beginning to lose my life savings with you eating all this food," she hid behind her glass of water.
There was a large pizza tray, half eaten right next to the leftovers of the chips and hamburger. Zhane tried to grin, yet couldn't, his mouth was too full. When he did swallow, he grinned again, exposing his little white teeth and trying to work his charm on Cassie.
"If it hadn't for my help…" he started to say and she cut him off, "yeah, yeah, 'none of this could never happen', you do realize that our red and yellow friends are out of the room for the last hour?" he nodded, "we are so gonna get it..." she groaned helplessly.
"Give them a half an hour and they're good as new, they won't even remember we're the ones to stuck them there in the first place, now pass me the pizza." He said and she rolled her eyes, frustrated of his endless hunger.
Megaship
Delicate hands pushed a few buttons on the Simudeck, programming it to look like a haunted house. A shade of pale blue light surrounded the Simudeck now, giving the place a dark, desperate look.
"This place gives me the creeps," said the owner of the delicate hands, the owner's voice was as much delicate as its hand, "Do you really want to do this?"
"Sweet oh sweet revenge," Another voice answered and both stifled a laugh.
On Earth
Carlos and TJ were heading to the Surf Spot for dinner, both were tired from their game.
"Maybe we should take a shower at the Megaship first," suggested TJ, wiping sweat from his forehead.
"Sure," Carlos said and both looked around and looked for a deserted ally. When the ally was found they walked into it and contacted DECA. Carlos handed the ball to TJ and pushed a button on his communicator and spoke, "DECA?" nothing happened, the elegant computerized voice did not respond.
"That's weird, let me try," said TJ and pushed a button on his communicator, "DECA, teleport two," he said and after a moment they were both shimmering in their representative blue and black sparks to the Megaship.
Megaship
TJ and Carlos were teleported straight to the holding bay, everything was dark. They tried to blink the darkness away, yet it was thicker than ever.
"What's going on?" Carlos asked, trying to feel his way to switch the light on, "do you think Astronema…?" His voice died in the middle of his sentence.
"No, she can't, she has to have these access codes Andros talked about ages ago. Let's go to the engine room, maybe there a malfunction there." TJ said and led the way out of the holding bay. They walked slowly, with their hands forward, trying not to bump their face into something. After a short while of walking they saw a weird looking blue light.
"Do you think it's the reason for the malfunction?" asked Carlos, his voice hesitant.
"I don't know, let's check it out," TJ answered and they walked toward the blue light…
It was weird, the Simudeck was designed as a giant ancient living room, Dracula styled. It had large chandeliers that were dusty and full of cobwebs. There were giant sofas which were covered with a thick layer of dust and TJ sneezed, Carlos raised his eyebrow.
"What! I'm allergic to dust!" TJ exclaimed and led the way, leaving Carlos behind. He examined the big cupboard, filled with dust and cobweb and….porcelain cups and plates? In the meantime Carlos was examining the big dusty framed pictures in the entrance of the room. Strangely enough, the pictures were large and intimidating as several images were of noble….monsters? After a silent amazed moment, a black gloved hand crept behind Carlos, covered his mouth and quickly and silently dragged him out of the room…
On Earth
Zhane has finally finished the pizza tray and Cassie was relieved that he was bloated. She got up and stretched. "Come on, blond boy, we should go to you-know-where," she smiled.
"Okay," he said and got up, they both walked toward the exit but suddenly Zhane stopped in front of the video games, pointing at it.
"What's that?"
"Video games," she rolled her eyes, "With your oh-so-advanced technology on KO-35, how come you never played it?"
"Can I play?" he pouted, "Pleaaaseeeeee?" he looked at her with begging blue eyes, 'damn,' she thought, 'who can resist these amazing blue eyes…..?' she asked herself, totally surrendering to his charm.
"Oh, fine!" she said and Zhane jumped with joy, he immediately restrained himself and listen to her explanations about the buttons and what they do.
Megaship
TJ was done with examining the cupboard, it wasn't suspicious after all. He was surprised Carlos was so quiet, 'so unlikely,' he mused and turned around to face an empty room, 'what the hell—?' before he could to anything a figure dressed in black sprayed something on his face and he immediately felt drowsy. A few seconds and he was totally off, his sleeping body dragged out of the room by a black shadowy figure…
On Earth
Zhane was into a video game of the old morphin' rangers. He chose to play as the white ranger, knocking off all the putties and saving the beautiful pink ranger. He was playing on level 10 at the moment and was about to receive the Zeo powers after finding the Zeo Crystal. His eyes were fixed on the screen, his tongue between his teeth and his hands pushing all the buttons at the same time.
"Zhane, come on!" Cassie begged, "You've been playing for the last hour! Please stop! It's late, I'm tired and I want to talk to Ashley!"
"In a minute, just let me get my Zeo powers!" he begged and she gave in.
"Fine, I'm going alone! See you there!" she stormed out of the Surf Spot, leaving Zhane to play along. She found a dark ally and teleported herself to the Megaship.
Something went wrong with the teleportation and she fell in the center of the …Simudeck instead of the regular holding bay.
'Something is not right,' she pondered, 'Doesn't DECA always teleport us to the holding bay?' she wondered. After a short while she noticed the pale blue light surrounding her, 'weird,' she mused and explored the Simudeck's new look… 'Dusty sofas…dusty cupboard…dusty pictures…cobwebs…ewwwwwwwwww' she was quickly disgusted, 'spiders…ewwwwww' she quickly walked to the entrance of the Simudeck only then realizing how dark the corridor was, 'If it wasn't so dark outside of the Simudeck,' she noticed, 'I would have gone to my room. I wonder what happened to Ash and Andros?'
On Earth
Adelle gently tapped on Zhane's shoulder, he merely looked at her. It was a while since Cassie has gone to the Megaship, an hour, to be exact, yet he was way into the game.
"Yes?" he answered, battling pirnhatrons, he was now the yellow turbo ranger. He was laughing so hard, eyes fixed on the little yellow figure, 'I never knew Ashley had such a power!' he thought enthusiastically, 'I really should ask her about it!' he concluded while playing.
"We're closing, kid, you're parents must be worried sick! Go home and be back tomorrow!" she said with her warm voice.
"But I've almost reached to the space powers!" he exclaimed, "I want to win this game!"
"Kid, go home, save the planet tomorrow," she yawned, "Come on, we're all tired!"
"Fine!" he said and left the Surf Spot angrily, leaving behind an annoyed Adelle. He went to the exact same ally as Cassie and teleported to the Megaship. With a glint of shimmering silver he fell onto the dusty floor of the even dustier Simudeck., his mouth full of dust he spat it out.
"Andros is so going to kick my ass for that one!" he told himself aloud, 'I better run before he noti—' "ARGGGGGGGHHH! HELP!"
A violent scream was heard and one thought came up on Zhane's head: 'CASSIE!'
He ran like a lightening bolt to the dark corridor, trying to morph in the process but he bumped into something and dropped it. In the total darkness. He knelt and started feeling his way to the morpher, yet it was nowhere to be found. 'Ok, morpher not important, need to help Cassie.' He decided and ran along the corridor.
"CASSIE!" he screamed, "CASSIE, where are you?" he looked around and recognized movement in the thick darkness that surrounded him. "Who's there!" he asked and finally, the whole world vanished…
"Zhane! Wake up!" a voice called him from the haze.
"But mummy, there's a monster under my bed!" he muttered still hazed, yet he started to follow that familiar voice through to reality. The other rangers were laughing and he wasn't sure whether he's alive. 'Am I dead?' he wondered, 'aww man, with all these pranks and jokes I'd end up in hell! Tough luck!'
"Zhane! Wake up! We're trapped! We should warn Ashley and Andros!" Cassie shook him violently, and he awoken completely.
"What happened?"
"Someone or rather, something drugged us and got us in here," TJ explained as Zhane recognize their "cell" as the cargo bay. He got up and tried to dial the access code at the security panel, "It's no use," TJ said, "We've tried it already."
"How long have you been here?" Zhane asked and Carlos punched the metal wall.
"Two hours! Who could've done this to us? Astronema?" he wondered, the others shook their head, they really didn't know. If it had been Astronema she would have been gloating right now. Zhane groaned.
"DECA?" He asked.
"Offline." TJ answered.
"And where are your morphers?" Zhane asked and Cassie lifted her gaze.
"They don't work, somehow they can't tap us into the morphin grid," She answered, pouting, "I don't understand how could we left the Megaship unpro—" she stopped in mid-sentence. A figure donning a black cloak shimmered into the cargo bay, holding a sword. Its face was hidden behind a black mask.
"You! Blue boy! Stand on your feet!" the figure commanded in a husky low voice and TJ obeyed, fearfully, realizing no one could help him now. "You too, black ranger!" Ordered the figure and Carlos jumped on his feet. "Go back to the Simudeck!" he ordered and they both were teleported out.
"What do you want?" Cassie asked, standing on her feet again, this time in a defensive pose.
"I wouldn't suggest you to find out what I am capable of doing, pink ranger, since your red and yellow little friends are mine." the figure threatened and Cassie withdrew from her pose.
"What have you done to them!" Zhane demanded and jumped on his feet, alarmed.
"Let's say they are fine. For now." The husky voice growled and Cassie shivered, "Now I want you to face that door," the black figure pointed a black gloved finger to the cargo bay door.
Zhane and Cassie obeyed, not wanting to give him reason to harm their friend. They stood there for couple of seconds before the doors were opened and they saw TJ and Carlos throwing cream cakes at them. After realizing what they have done, TJ and Carlos collapsed with laughter, looking at their cream covered friends.
Stunned, Cassie and Zhane looked at each other and then at the black figure that was now laughing his guts out. The figure took off the cloak and mask to be discovered as-
"Andros!" all four rangers were stunned, how could their eternal-serious leader make up such a prank at them!
"The one and only," he managed to say between the fits of laughter, "Ash, you can come out now," he said and Ashley wheeled herself to the cargo bay laughing too.
Both were highly amused, their plan actually worked! They were looking at their teammates who were stunned, yet the overly amazed ranger among them was Zhane who practically never saw Andros fooling around like this. He had a really hard time adjusting the change in his best friend, just as he didn't see Ashley's hand in Andros'.
"I…You…How come… Did you just... I think redemption is near!" Zhane cried out and fell on the floor, laughing like amad man. Andros and Ashley shared the same lovingly-yet-very-amused look and Cassie snickered, suddenly realizing her plan worked.
"You did have kissy-kissy adventures!" she said and they blushed, she gave Ashley a you-better-tell-me-all-about-it look and Ashley nodded. Carlos and TJ were sending her curious glares yet she ignored.
"So, want to know how we did it?" Andros asked and they all nodded.
"Well, since you guys locked us up, we decided a payback would be a worthy reward," Andros grinned mischievously, a grin that looked rather odd on him. "So we came up with this."
"Andros programmed DECA and I programmed the Simudeck, after that I monitored the teleportation so you wouldn't be teleported all at once and Andros was the one to…—"
"Kidnap us?" Carlos suggested and Ashley blushed, "how did you do it anyway? We could've morphed!"
"You couldn't, I asked DECA not to let your morphers tap you into the morphin grid. I was spraying this sleeping powder of you, so you wouldn't fight." He smiled, "You never stood a chance,"
"I can't believe it! That back stabbing robot! I knew it! I knew she prefers Andros over me!" Zhane exclaimed and then dared imitating DECA, "Andros, we have entered sol-system."
A minute later Zhane was covered with green goo along with the cream. Everyone laughed as DECA answered Zhane, "I do not prefer, as a machine I have no feelings."
"So," Cassie continued, "I think I'll take a shower. See you tomorrow." She said and walked away, TJ and Carlos right behind her. Zhane was mourning his now lost dignity and Ashley and Andros just looked at each other, smiling.
"I better go wash myself up," Zhane said while muttering "back stabbing machine" as he went to his room. Ashley tried to stifle a laugh; she looked at Andros who was tried to stifle his own laugh.
"Shall I walk you to your room?" he asked and she nodded, he walked beside her, he had the feeling that if he tried to help her with the wheeling chair, she won't speak to him ever again. He knew how independent and strong she was and therefore didn't even dream of taking the ability of moving herself from her. 'No,' he knew, 'I would never deny her independence from her,' he decided. They reached her room, she was dialing her new access code and the door opened with a swoosh.
Andros knelt before Ashley so his eyes would be in the same level as her eyes, he smiled at her and she returned the smile and then laughed.
"That was the best prank ever!" she said and Andros laughed, his eyes drowning in hers. His laughter slowly died as he let himself to be swept away by her looks. She started to blush slowly, her cheeks earning a red shade.
"Ashley.." he said quietly and let his lips brush her lips, giving in to the sensation that was Ashley, to her sweet taste and amazing scent. She was smiling as they finally parted, he was smiling back. "Good night," he whispered and let himself touch her cheek gently before he went to his room.
A/N: so! what do you think of Andros and Ashley's plotting minds! Don't forget to let me know!
