I don't own the Power Rangers, characters or plot but anything that is unrecognizable does belong to me. Copyright goes to Saban©.

A shout out goes out to fallingstar22 for reviewing my story, I am glad you are enjoying the story.

A/N Well I can't believe how fast this last year has gone but today this story has reached the one year mark. I want to thank everyone for their support this last year.

Chapter 14-Never Stop Searching

Night had fallen and almost all the Rangers had turned in for the night, except for a lone figure standing on the bridge. He watched a screen as it scanned for something—or someone.

"No life forms detected in this galaxy," announced DECA.

"All right," said Andros, pressing a few buttons on the panel in front of him. "Let's scan the next sector." He picked up a map he had been studying, walked over to the main control panel, set the map down and sank into one of the chairs.

"Beginning a scan of Delta Sector, now."

Andros reached for a locket he always wore under his uniform shirt. He paused, checking that no one was around, before pulling the locket out and opening it to reveal pictures of two children. He studied them for a moment before removing a small clear disk from the locket, which he tucked back under his uniform. With a sigh, he opened a panel and placed the disk inside. On the viewing screen in front of him, a video appeared and began to play.

A young boy and girl were playing in a field. Opening a collapsible ball, the boy let go of it as it floated into the air, lifted by the children's telekinesis. Both children were smiling, clearly having, fun, when a gust of wind snatched the ball away. The boy got up and chased after it, leaving the girl alone. Unknown to both children, someone had been watching them. While the boy was gone, the figure snuck out from its hiding place and grabbed the little girl, making her scream.

"Andros! Help me!"

The girl screamed again. The boy had caught up with the ball when he heard the girl's cries.

"Karone?" He called.

He hurried back to where they had been playing, but the girl was nowhere to be found; all he could hear were her frightened cries.

"Andros—help me! Andros!"

The video zoomed in on a figure almost completely hidden by the trees, and then it stopped.

Andros studied the screen before speaking again. "If I can find out who that is, DECA, I can find my sister."

"It is getting very late, Andros. Do you wish to continue the search?"

"Yes! I will neverstop searching."

"Resuming the search of Delta Sector."

Andros stared at the screen for a long time while DECA continued her scan. The night drew on, and Andros continued to study the video. Finally he heaved a sigh, gathered up the map, rolled it back up and returned it to its tube.

"Sector scan 98% complete; no life forms detected," said DECA.

"Good night, DECA," Andros called, but as he was leaving the bridge, DECA called to him.

"Andros, a life form has been detected,"

Andros turned around and rushed back. "Where?"

"In the Karova system, on KO-35."

"Home? Of course, she wouldn't know that the colony was deserted years ago. She would go home. DECA, set a course for KO-35."

He set the map tube on a table before taking a seat. The engine roared as the ship headed for KO-35. The room was warm, and Andros rested his head on the table.

Several hours later, the sound of DECA's voice woke him with a start. "Andros, we have arrived at KO-35."

"Is anyone else awake?" he asked rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Only you. Shall I wake them?"

He rose from the table, collected a scanning device from a locker and headed for the glider tubes. "No, I'll be back before they wake up."

"Good luck, Andros," came the reply.

He entered the tube and landed on his glider, heading for the surface. It did not take him long to reach the planet, but he misjudged his jump and landed hard on the ground.

'Wow, home; never thought I would be back here again,' Andros thought as he looked around the city where he had grown up. 'Man, the last time I was here was when the planet was under attack. This is so strange being home; it's so quiet.' There was no sound except for his footsteps; the silence was almost eerie. His voice broke the quiet.

"If Karone has found her way back here, she'll be very confused." Andros raised his voice. "Karone!"

His voice echoed through the empty city. The scanner in his hand told him that he wasn't far from the life form, and he started walking.

"I've just got to find her."

Andros continued to search the planet, but with no luck. It only hardened his resolve: he would not give up. He'd search the entire planet if he had to.

A sudden noise behind him stopped Andros in his tracks. He turned to look over his shoulder, but could not see anyone. With a shrug, he continued to follow the signal his scanner was picking up. Suddenly it started to beep like crazy; he turned and saw a fleeing shadow. Andros gave chase.

"Karone, are you here?"

He was so focused on where the shadow had gone that he did not hear the cracking behind him until someone spoke.

"Hello, Ranger."

Andros recognized that voice and spun around. "Ecliptor!"

"Let me be the first to welcome you home, if you can call this deserted dust ball a home."

The two circled, watching each other intently.

"What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question. Now, to rid the universe of the annoying interference of the Red Ranger." Ecliptor flung off his red cape and charged at Andros.

"Ecliptor, you're history!"

Andros jumped and aimed a punch at Ecliptor, but it was caught. Ecliptor twisted his hand, punched him in the stomach and threw him across the ground. Before Andros could recover, Ecliptor grabbed him by the throat, and when he tried to pull out his blaster, the monster twisted his wrist back, making him drop the weapon. Dragging him upright, Ecliptor pushed him into a line of pillars before slamming him into a wall. Grabbing Andros, Ecliptor threw him into a shallow pool. He rolled in the water, trying to catch his breath.

"Looks like you're all washed up, Ranger," mocked Ecliptor.

"Actually, I found it quite refreshing."

He called for his Spiral Saber and attacked Ecliptor. Andros landed several hits before Ecliptor blocked his blows. A kick to the stomach knocked him to the ground.

"Heads up," Ecliptor called as his head detached from his body and landed on the ground just in front of Andros.

"Look who's aheadin the game now."

"You wish!"

"Heads, I win, tails you lose," jeered Ecliptor. His head floated at Andros, striking him in the chest several times and firing green lasers at him. Ecliptor's body then joined the fight. Under this attack, Andros fell again, finding it harder to get back on his feet.

"I didn't think it would be this easy," Ecliptor sneered.

"It won't be!"

Andros rushed forward and rolled, snatching up his blaster. Quickly, he spun and fired at Ecliptor, but he deflected the shot back. The force of the blast knocked Andros backwards, and he landed hard on the ground. Ecliptor approached, and when Andros tried to raise his blaster, he stomped down on his wrist, causing him to lose his grip. Raising his sword, Ecliptor readied for the final strike, when a sound behind Ecliptor distracted him.

Andros felt the pressure on his wrist lessen. He rolled on his side and swung his saber at Ecliptor's ankle. The monster moved his foot, and Andros was able to roll away and stand up. The pair resumed fighting. Andros could feel himself slowing down as he weakened. Finally, Ecliptor landed a powerful blow on his chest, and Andros fell. He tried to push himself back up, but found he did not have the strength. Ecliptor sighed in disgust.

"I thought you were stronger than this, Red Ranger, but it appears you have grown weak and can only fight with the help of others." Ecliptor jeered. However, his face changed to an expression of shock before he vanished in a white light.

"Weak...I am not weak..." Andros said to himself as he pushed himself up using his saber for support. "Galaxy Glider!"

Pulling himself aboard, he returned to the ship. He was glad to find that the others had not yet woken up, so he had some time to recover first. Limping to the first aid station, he began to check out his injuries. His wrist throbbed where Ecliptor had twisted and stood on it, and he had a few smaller cuts and bruises.

He reached for a bandage, but another hand picked it up before he could grab it. Maya was standing there. Taking his wrist, she wrapped it in complete silence, only questioning him with her eyes, but he looked away. He winced as she tightened the bandage and tied it. He had been expecting a barrage of questions, but she remained silent. It began to bother him; this was unlike her. He flicked a look at her, only to see sadness in her eyes.

Maya put everything back in its place before she turned to him and spoke a single word.

"Why?"

Andros was taken aback. His mind began to race as he thought of possible answers, until finally, he looked up at Maya with sorrowful eyes.

"My sister...I was looking for my sister. But she wasn't there, Ecliptor was instead."

To Andros's surprise, Maya did not respond. Instead she turned and walked out of the room. Andros stared after her, unsure why she would leave. He debated going after her, but decided it would be better to leave her alone until he could answer her question.

xXxScenexXx

Maya searched the ship for Kendrix. She had to do something: she couldn't stand seeing Andros like this, knowing it was because he was looking for his sister.

She finally found Kendrix in the engine room. Pressing a button, she caused the door to close with a hiss. This sound made Kendrix jump and turn around to face Maya.

"Oh it's just you," Kendrix sighed with relief.

"We need to talk," said Maya.

Kendrix noticed the look on her face. "Maya, what's wrong?"

"Andros...he went to look for his sister this morning, and I found him just now at the first aid station. When he told me why he'd gone, I couldn't even look him in the eye."

"Maya, you know we can't say anything to him about his sister—"

"Yeah I know why, but I can't stand by and say nothing."

"Maya, you can'ttell him," Kendrix said, more firmly.

"Why not?"

"Because we both know what would happen if he finds out now. He would go after her and get hurt, or worse, killed. Do you really want to take that risk? Beside why do you...wait a minute...you have feelings for him, don't you?"

Maya folded her arms. "Yeah, and what if I do?"

Kendrix sighed. "Maya, what do you think you are doing? This, whatever it is, can't last. When the time comes, we have to go home. You have to put a stop to this before things get serious."

"Oh so now you're telling me how I should think and feel? I don't care what you say!" With that, Maya stormed out. As she walked away, she heard a sigh, then running footsteps.

"Maya, wait!"

Maya stopped without turning around.

"I'm sorry," said Kendrix.

"Me too," Maya whispered, and walked off to find Andros.

She found him back on the bridge watching a video. Pausing in the doorway, she watched the footage of Karone's kidnapping. When it got to the end, Andros sighed and leaned back in his chair, head lowered. Maya approached him from behind and laid a hand on his shoulder, making him jump. Rubbing a hand over his face, he looked up at Maya.

"Andros, I..." She paused, unsure of how to tell him or even if she shouldtell him about his sister.

Andros pulled her out of her thoughts. "I'm sorry."

"What?"

"I'm sorry for leaving the ship without checking with anyone first. I shouldn't have gone alone." He said as he stared at the console.

"I would have done the same thing. I just wish you'd be more open about things. You have a team now, and you need to learn to trust us...me," said Maya, picking at a loose string on his chair.

"I know. I'm just not used to it. I've been on my own for nearly two years now, and I lost my sister when I was just a kid. I have to find her..." Andros trailed off.

"I know, I would have done the same thing if I lost someone close to me. Besides, she's closer than you think, and she's OK."

"What do you mean? You know where she is?" Demanded Andros, spinning around to face her.

Maya was silent for a moment. Then, without looking at him, she answered, "No, sometimes I just know things or feel things in the air, even see them in my dreams. This might seem strange to you, and I can't explain it fully, but I know you will find her and she's all right."

Andros was puzzled by this, but didn't question her further. Rubbing his eyes, he began to turn back to the console, but Maya grabbed his chair.

"Andros, you're still doing it. You aren't a lone Ranger anymore, you need to let me in. Let us help you," Maya said firmly.

Andros would not look at her. Maya sighed and walked away, leaving Andros to his thoughts.