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.
ShadowGoddess1: Well… If you insist… Yeah I do that a lot. Make happy scenes then end them tragically (See the beginning of "No Man's Land) and leave a cliff hanger. Some people find it annoying. Lol. I didn't want the pregnancy to be long. And I still haven't decided who I wanted the baby to look like though. We'll see as the story comes to a close. Until then, here's the next chapter!
Pinkrangerfan: Thanks1 I hope the baby is okay too. Yeah he was smart and kinda dumb, you'll see why in this chapter. I always forget about Zordon. He's going to make an actual appearance soon. Here's the next chapter!
RisingGundam2006: Lol! That proves that I don't update enough. Yeah I kinda like the baby, and I'm glad you like my stories. Here's more!
xSapphirexRosesxFanx: You'll find out in this chapter…Kinda. Hope this is soon enough
Chapter 25
Everyone waited anxiously as Andros and Karone walked into the Bridge.
Andros took is place. "What's our status?"
Zhane glanced at Karone and the others before he spoke. "The velocifighters took out DECA's primary weapon and one of the thrusters is offline."
"We don't have to catch him." Andros stated. "We just have to be close enough to teleport to his ship."
"I think he did it to slow us down." Cassie spoke. "He's got a huge lead on us and with the shape the ship is in, I'm not sure we can catch up before Darkonda has the velocifighters attack Earth."
"Let me take care of that." He stated. "I can control the ship."
"Andros, no." Karone stated firmly. "You can't do that. Look at what just happened. You can't put yourself at risk like that."
"Don't tell me what I can't do!" Andros shouted causing the others to consider putting more distance between them. "He nearly took everything from me."
Karone slowly approached him. "But he didn't. They're alive, Andros."
"What happened?" Carlos asked. "Is Ashley okay? Is the baby?"
Karone tried to console her brother, but he turned and left the bridge.
"Karone, please tell us something." TJ pleaded.
Karone wiped a tear from her eye. "Ashley and Alarik are alive, but…" She tried to compose herself. "But… he was linked to the ship when the velocifighters attacked. He was hurt bad. Ashley felt it too. Because Alarik was using her to help him project, it affected her too. Ashley couldn't sense Alarik anymore and for a moment we thought…the worst, but they're both alive."
"Tell us everything, Karone." Carlos emphasized.
"Ashley's going to be fine, but we won't know the full extent of the permanent damage to Alarik, if any, until after he's born."
Cassie gasped. "Oh god." TJ quickly consoled her.
"Ashley's resting now. She doesn't know everything. And we're not sure how to tell her."
"I can't imagine what they're going through." Carlos commented. "This on top of everything else I don't see how any one could handle it."
"Andros is so hurt." Karone stated as Zhane embraced her.
"I'll be fine." Everyone turned at the sound of Andros's voice. "We're going after Darkonda." He ignored everyone's questioning gazes. "Once I get us within teleportation range, TJ and Karone are coming with me to the Dark Fortress. There's a program on the ship that keeps outside forces from taking over. We need to shut that program down. You two are the best brains we have."
"What are you talking about? What program?" Zhane asked.
Andros closed his eyes. "It's why Ashley did what she did to Zordon. After we bypass the program, because Zordon is hooked to the ship, he can take control of it."
"And the velocifighters." Karone finished.
"So you need someone to hack in and disable the program?" TJ asked.
"Exactly."
"Then you need, Carlos." TJ stated. "He's faster and we'll need all the time we can get."
Andros looked at Carlos. "Can you do it?"
Carlos nodded. "Keep Darkonda occupied and I won't have a problem."
"Good." He turned to the others. "We won't be able to morph in there and we have to go in demorphed. They'll sense me pretty quickly, so I'll lead them away from you guys. It won't take them long to figure out I'm not alone. So you two have to work fast."
Karone and Carlos nodded.
"The rest of you, stay cloaked for as long as possible. If the velocifighters reach Earth before we're done, do whatever you can to hold them off."
The others nodded.
"This ends now."
The Dark Fortress
That would slow them down. Darkonda thought to himself as he stared at the viewing screen before him. It wouldn't be long before he and his army reached Earth.
Things were ahead of schedule. He looked at the readouts from the velocifighters and noted that the Megaship had taken serious damage. He grinned.
Nothing would stop him from becoming the ruler of the known universe.
Megaship
"The Dark Fortress is within range." DECA announced.
Andros released his control of the ship. "Keep following at this pace." He ordered and looked at Karone and Carlos. "Are you two ready?"
"As we'll ever be." Carlos responded.
"Let's go."
The Dark Fortress
The three rangers appeared in the storage area. Andros looked at the other two. "It won't take long before the ship senses me." He gestured in the opposite direction. "The bridge is that way, up three floors, left, and down the corridor. You can't miss it."
"Right." Karone nodded and grabbed her brother before he could walk away. "Be careful."
"I'll lead them away for as long as I can, but they'll figure out you two are here eventually. Work fast."
"Andros." Carlos called. "If anything happened to you, it would destroy Ashley. So if you really love her and your kid, you'll make sure you get back to them."
Andros nodded and headed in the opposite direction.
Carlos looked at Karone and noted the distant look on her face. "Are you with me?"
She nodded. "Yeah."
"Then let's go."
Andros
Andros knew the moment the quantrons spotted him, mainly because he fired the shot to get their attention.
He went after the first two taking them down easily. He held out his hand and sent the others to the ground.
He smiled when he heard the alarms sound. "That's right Darkonda, come and get me."
Bridge – The Dark Fortress
Carlos and Karone hid behind the doors and listened to Darkonda.
The creature laughed wickedly. "Oh Solaris. So impulsive. I think I'll kill you myself."
Karone fought to keep from rushing in. She and Carlos had a job to do. They waited until they heard the monster leave. They rushed to the console and Karone took the reigns. "You sure you're up for this?" Karone asked.
"Just get me where I need to be, and I can shut down any program necessary." Carlos responded.
"That's all I need to hear." Karone began sifting through the Dark Fortress's mainframe.
Ashley
Something wasn't right. She tossed in her sleep. She had to wake up, but the sedative was strong and she felt so weak.
She had to get to him. She had to stop him. But first, she needed to wake up.
Andros
Andros mentally shoved the quantrons back and slid the door shut. He stood, fists clenched at his sides. "Took you long enough."
"Solaris." Darkonda patronized. "You came all this way to be defeated."
Andros turned and faced the monster. "I'm going to enjoy killing you." His voice was tense and his eyes glowed crimson.
Darkonda grinned. "This is the Solaris I know. Such anger. Such rage."
"You would know." Andros closed in. "It's all centered on you."
"Is it really?" Darkonda took a step closer. "Am I the one you're really angry with?"
"I'm tired of your games. I couldn't possibly hate anyone more than I hate you."
"Are you sure?" Darkonda took a step closer and when Andros faltered, Darkonda knew he had him in his grasp. "I think you know who is really to blame."
Andros fought for control as the anger took over.
Darkonda circled him like prey. "He's the one who deserves to be punished. He's the one who has destroyed lives." Darkonda whispered to Andros. "You know what has to be done and how to do it."
"I do." Andros agreed.
Darkonda grinned. "End it now."
Andros glanced at Darkonda, then at the door that slid open before him. He knew what he had to do. It was time to finish this.
Karone and Carlos
"I hit a wall." Karone turned to Carlos.
"That means it's my turn." Carlos took Karone's place at the console.
"You better make this fast. I think they know we're on board." Karone checked the doors to make sure they were still locked.
"You bothering me isn't gonna make this go any faster." Carlos focused on the task at hand. "I'm through the first few layers." Carlos glanced up at the screen as it alerted them. "Someone's coming."
"It's Andros." Karone went to open the door then hesitated.
Carlos glanced at her. "You gonna let him in?"
"Something's off."
The door slid open despite the locks and Andros walked in. "Get up." He said to Carlos.
"I'm almost through," Carlos responded. "I need a little more time."
"There is no more time." Andros responded.
Carlos and Karone were flung across the room. "What the hell?" Carlos yelled as Andros sat at the console.
"Andros, what are you doing?" Karone asked.
"Finishing something that started a long time ago." Darkonda answered as he walked in. "And I get a front row seat."
"What is going on?" Karone shouted at her brother.
"I'm sorry Karone." Andros responded. "This is what has to happen."
"What have you done to him?" She shouted at Darkonda.
Darkonda grinned. "I simply let him see who the real monster is."
"What the hell does that mean?" Carlos asked angrily.
Karone tried to get up but realized she couldn't move. One look at Carlos told her that he had the same problem. "Andros, please."
"I'm fixing it." Andros responded tightly. "It ends now." He looked at his sister. "Good bye, Karone."
"Andros, No!"
Megaship
"They've been gone for a really long time." Cassie spoke.
"They're gonna be fine." Zhane stated. "They have to be."
"Guys." Ashley nearly collapsed as she stumbled into the bridge.
TJ was closest and managed to catch her before she fell. "What are you doing up? You should be resting."
"You have to get me to the Dark Fortress. I have to get to Andros." She said quickly.
"Ashley, calm down." Cassie tried to console her. "Carlos and Karone are there with him."
Just them Karone and Carlos appeared in front of them.
Zhane rushed to Karone. "What happened? Where's Andros?"
"He's still on the Dark Fortress." Carlos answered. "Something's wrong with him."
"It's Darkonda. He feeds on anger and hatred." Ashley managed to get out as she made her way, with TJ's help to Carlos. "We have to go back. You have to take me there." She begged Carlos.
"There's no one in the world that Andros hates more than Darkonda right now." Cassie argued. "If anything, Darkonda should be afraid."
"Darkonda isn't the one Andros hates." Ashley countered. "Not completely."
"What are you saying Ashley?" Karone finally asked, fearing she already knew the answer.
Ashley stared at Karone with fear filled eyes. "The person Andros hates, the person he loathes and wants to punish… is himself."
(A/N: Who saw this one coming? Be honest. Lol! Tell me what you think. And for those computer geeks out there who may not like how I did the computer programming thing, no one cares how they do it, don't overanalyze, it's just a story. Lol!)
Preview: Out of This World 22: Deal With the Devil Part 2
"How long have they been gone?" Adam asked as he sat on the couch in the rec area.
"A few of hours." Karone responded looking out of the window. "DECA will alert us when they're on their way back."
"I can't stand this waiting." Kat paced the room. "Aisha has to be okay."
"I take it you two are close." TJ commented.
Kat smiled remembering. "She was my best friend from the beginning."
"A very strange beginning." Adam teased.
"What do you mean?" Zhane asked from his seat next to Karone.
"Well…" Kat began. "I was kind of her cat."
"Huh?" TJ asked.
"What he said." Karone added.
"Ok, I was literally her cat." Kat answered.
"Still lost." Zhane responded.
"You have to tell it Kat." Adam smiled. "It'll take our minds off of everything and help pass the time."
Kat sighed and sat next to TJ. "Where should I start?"
"Probably with why Aisha still calls you PC sometimes." Adam suggested.
"Fine," Kat rolled her eyes. "So have you guys ever heard of Rita Repulsa?"
Darian's Ship
Darian pulled his daughter to the side. "Are you okay?"
"I don't know if I can do this Daddy."
"You're strong like your mother. You can do this."
"I feel horrible about it."
"You can't." He stated firmly, and then explained himself at her confused expression. "Guilt eats at us, literally. It can render us powerless."
"How can I not feel this way when I know what I have to do?"
"Because the alternative is far worse. I wish you didn't have to go through this, but there is no other way."
"It just feels wrong." She let her father console her. She knew her father was right; she just couldn't fathom how she would deal with the aftermath.
(Hope you enjoyed it!)