Not As It Seems

Disclaimer: I do not own the power rangers. I don't think I own the name Solaris either. I'm pretty sure I heard it somewhere else.

Summary: AU. Karone and Zhane, along with four new astro rangers search for Karone's lost brother. Meanwhile, Ashley's new boyfriend seems perfect, but he's hiding something that could destroy her, the rangers, and himself.

JasonLeeScottFan: Thanks! Things get somewhat better this chapter, then they get worse again, but at least I give you a glimmer of hope. Lol!

Pinkrangerfan: I love how optimistic you are. Lmao!

Emilybradit: Thanks! Here's the next chapter.

ShadowGoddess1: Sorry I took so long. Writer's block. But thanks for hanging in there with me. You seem really upset about Ashley; and by upset I mean pissed. Lol!. It's not much she could have done, but she didn't want to electrocute her friends. And you also have to remember her past situations with guys. Maybe this chapter will make you feel better. Here it is. Enjoy!

Chapter 12

Soren had never felt like this before. His heart literally ached. And his mind couldn't wrap around the fact that he and Ashley may be over.

At first he thought it was Karone knocking at his door, but he frowned when he realized he didn't recognize the thoughts of the person outside his door. "TJ?" It was curiosity more than anything that had him telekinetically opening the door.

TJ jumped back at the sudden opening of the door, but quickly recovered. "Hi." He stepped over the threshold.

"What are you doing here?" Soren asked suspiciously.

"I thought you could read minds."

"I believe in privacy."

TJ sighed. "I told Karone I'd talk to you."

He shook his head. "Why would you want to talk to me? Especially after everything I've done."

"Karone told us about you. About how you were kidnapped, and apparently brainwashed by Dark Specter and Ecliptor. It's hard to blame someone who didn't really have a choice."

"But your friends are basically brain dead because of me."

TJ closed his eye as if in pain. When he opened them again there was sadness in them. "Was there any other way to reverse this?"

"Nothing that would have worked in time to reverse it."

TJ nodded. "Then do yourself a favor and stop blaming yourself." He sighed. "I don't blame you."

Soren closed his eyes. "I'm sorry."

TJ sat next to Soren on the bed. "I know."

"I just wish Ashley could forgive me."

"Give her some time. I remember what we said to her." He sighed. "You have to understand that Ashley doesn't have the best luck when it comes to guys. In fact she probably has the worst."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, most of Ashley's boyfriends end up in jail. She's has a tendency to go for that sort."

"Is that why she ended up with me?"

"Actually, for the first time, I think she got it right."

"Thanks TJ."

"Anytime." He stood up and moved to the door, but stopped and turned towards Soren. "It's weird, the computers say that Cassie isn't in there, but I feel her. I don't know how, but I feel her."

Something occurred to Soren. "Wait, I want to try something." He got off his bed and hurried out the door with TJ on his trail. He ran to the Med Bay.

"What are you doing?" TJ asked as Soren moved to the console and attached electrodes to his temples.

"Have you ever heard of locked in syndrome?" He stood at the head of Cassie's bed.

"Yeah, I've heard of it. What does that have to do with this?"

"I think this is an extreme case. Instead of being locked in their bodies. I think they may have become locked in their own minds. If that makes any sense."

"Not really." TJ answered. "What are you going to do?"

"The computers may not be able to sense their brain waves, but if I link with the ship, I may be able to. And if I can find something of her, I think I can bring her back." He gently put his hands to Cassie's temples. He was pretty sure he'd never done anything like this before. And if he did manage to bring Cassie back, it would take a huge toll on him. He quickly decided it was worth the risk.

"You can do that?" TJ didn't want to get hopeful, but he couldn't help himself.

"Maybe, but don't tell Karone about this."

TJ put his optimism aside. "Why not?"

"Trust me on this okay."

"I don't like this."

"You want your girlfriend back don't you?"

"Yeah but-"

"Then be quiet and let me concentrate." Soren closed his eyes and began to search Cassie's mind.

Ashley's Room

Ashley sat on her bed, her knees tucked under her chin. Part of her felt like she was too hard on Soren, but every time she thought about her friends in the med bay, she tried put that feeling aside.

"Come in Karone." Ashley called before Karone could knock.

The door slid open and Karone hesitantly entered the room. "I didn't think you would want to see me."

"I'm not mad at you Karone. I'm not sure I'm mad at Soren either. I think I'm angrier with myself than anything else."

"He's hurting, Ashley, so much that he cut me off from him."

Ashley leaned against her head board. "I don't know what to do, Karone. I love him, but I don't want to make the same mistakes again."

"Maybe it's different this time, Ash." She grabbed her friend's hand. "You have to understand that he would never purposely hurt you…or me." She added thinking of Zhane. "He knows how much the others mean to us. He'll find a way to bring them back."

Ashley sighed. "I should go talk to him."

"You two should go to the med bay." DECA suddenly announced.

"DECA, what's wrong?" Karone asked.

"I've been ordered not to say." The AI responded.

"By Andros?" Karone asked.

"No." Ashley whispered.

"What's wrong Ash?"

"He's linking with the ship again and something's wrong." Ashley was off the bed and out of the room before Karone could get off the bed.

Med Bay

"I can sense her." Soren's voice was strained. "She's confused. Talk to her." He instructed TJ.

TJ grabbed Cassie's hand and spoke to her. "Cass, it's me. Everything's okay. It's gonna be okay." He closed his eyes and pressed her hand to his forehead.

"TJ?"

TJ eyes popped open at the sound of her voice. "Cass."

Soren backed away and leaned against the computer console.

TJ cupped Cassie's face in his hands. "Are you okay?"

"I think so. I could hear you. I could feel you next to me, but I couldn't do anything. It was like I was trapped…but he pulled me out." She turned with her feet hanging over the side of the bed and looked at Soren. "Thank you."

Soren nodded.

TJ's expression became worried. "Are you okay, man?"

"Soren!" Ashley ran in the room but stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Cassie. "Cassie. How?"

"Ask him." TJ nodded towards Soren.

"Cassie." Karone came into the med bay and moved to Cassie. "You're alright."

"Thanks to your brother."

Ashley just stared at her boyfriend. Something wasn't right, something was going on in his head but it was jumbled and he was internally fighting for control. She moved to stand in front of him. She reached out and removed the electrodes from his temples. "Soren." She ran her fingers along his jaw but he didn't respond.

"Ashley, what's wrong with him?" Karone asked warily.

"I'm not sure." She replied. "Soren."

"My name's Andros." He whispered and looked at Ashley. "I think I need to lie down."

Ashley braced herself and slumped to the ground with him when he collapsed.

Dark Fortress

"Now is the time to strike Ecliptor." Darkonda snarled. "The rangers have been incapacitated." He knew, he'd seen what had happened, and knew that now was the time to dive deeper into his plan.

"You're up to something. I know you are." Ecliptor hated Darkonda; anything the creature did had some type of ulterior motive.

"And how will you explain to Dark Specter why you're not attacking Earth while the rangers are down?"

Ecliptor growled. "When I figure out what you're doing, I will destroy you."

"So we'll be going to Earth then?" Darkonda mocked.

"Yes." Ecliptor spat and walked away.

Darkonda laughed. "Just wait until you see what I have in store for you and Dark Specter." His machine was almost ready, and the device he'd picked out for Ecliptor would make the process a lot easier. Soon, Darkonda would rule over the universe.

(A/N: Hope you liked it. What do you think will happen. Please review. And check out my other story 'Out of This World' while you're at it. Thanks!)