Ch 26
It did not take long for the sound of the quantrons to completely fill the cave and the rangers stood waiting for them, their blasters out of their holsters. But Zhane stepped in front of the others, motioning for them to stand back as he turned to watch Andros regain his footing and rush toward the quantrons.
"We aren't going to help him?" T.J. asked.
"Not yet," Zhane replied, watching Andros carefully. "Phantom Ranger assured us that Narces poison would help with his episodes of indiscriminant attacking."
"Indiscriminant?" Carlos asked. "Since when?"
"It's been a while now," Zhane replied. "At least a few episodes a day and he hasn't had one in the past few hours. But if he has another one it'll be right now."
"So how long before we interfere?" Ashley asked when Andros' eyes briefly glazed over as he looked over his shoulder and met her eyes. "The poison still makes him weak, doesn't it?"
"He's still on his feet," Zhane said. "As long as that's true, he'll fight. We interfere when it gets to be too much for him. But we wait until the last second."
The rangers watched as Andros fought against the quantrons, his moves not as fast as they had once seen them. But the quantrons continued to go down one-by-one as Andros gathered all of his strength, hoping that his arms and legs would continue to work as long as the quantrons came.
Phantom Ranger had explained that Narces poison would only work for him once it reached his brain, but there was no way to know for sure without testing it. They had expected that they might come upon some quantrons if Astronema had beaten them to Kurakk and luckily they could test their theory without mentioning the specific trigger. This time, if all went as planned, Andros would remember the trigger after the episode was over and might know why those specific memories were the trigger. And then perhaps the episodes would end altogether if Kio's words had been true.
Within moments, his body began to ache all over and his moves became more sluggish. He could barely keep his eyes open now as he struggled to flip a quantron onto its back. He was able to take a quick glance over at the others, who silently debated whether or not it was time to interfere. He attempted to give a signal that he was fine, but he failed to lift his arm. It was then that his eyes closed and he fell to his knees, the last dozen standing quantrons making their way toward him.
"Time to go in," Carlos said, rushing past Zhane and stopping only when the group of quantrons that had surrounded Andros all went flying backward to the ground without being touched.
Andros' eyes opened suddenly, his eyes fixing on the quantrons that had managed to get back onto their feet.
"Andros, are you okay?" Zhane asked nervously.
He nodded in response, feeling some of his strength returning to him as he got to his feet. His expression was far from blank, the anger and frustration of the past two years written all over his face. He lunged at the quantrons that dared to strike first, sending them all back to the ground in a few short moves before motioning for the others to follow him away from the quantrons and deeper into the caves.
"Are you really okay?" Zhane asked after catching up to him.
"Never better," Andros replied flatly, looking away from him.
"Then, what's the matter?" Ashley asked. "Aren't you happy that you didn't hurt anyone?"
"Of course," Andros answered. "But this won't last... maybe for just a few hours or so. And I'm not sure what'll happen after it wears off. It might be worse next time or it might happen more often than before."
"Do you at least remember anything?" Zhane asked.
"Yes," he said, his head seeming to sink lower as they continued to walk. "I remember."
"Well, what is it?" Zhane asked. "Do you remember the trigger? If we address it directly, then we might be able to stop the attacks for good without having to poison you every day with Narces flowers."
"No," Andros replied softly. "We can talk about it later… after we get the sword. We'll have the rest of our lives to discuss it if Astronema gets the sword first or if we get trapped in here."
He could feel the others staring at him as he took the lead again, just hoping that he might take a moment to explain anyway. But he did not and could not tell them all that he had suddenly remembered, not yet anyway. It was distracting enough having to worry about Astronema and her minions. The other rangers needed no new distractions and he doubted that they would be able to handle them if they came. The cave was going to get more difficult and he had forgotten to warn them of the last trial before getting to the sword.
But he could not just ignore the memories that flooded his mind, the images strong as they were when they first occurred. He could feel Ashley still staring at him as a tear ran down his cheek and he eventually turned his head to her.
"Ashley," he began with a sigh. "Please get out of my head."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I don't think you're doing it on purpose but you are doing it," he said. "And I don't have the strength to block out your questions."
"I'm… sorry," Ashley replied as Andros turned away from her again.
Andros shook his head lightly before continuing ahead. "It's fine," he said. "Like I said, I know you aren't doing it on purpose."
They continued silently ahead through the cold, damp caves. After a few hundred feet, a small gust of warm air blew past them, dispersing the moist air that surrounded them. More warm air filled the caves as they walked and Ashley looked up at the cave ceiling, surprised that it was steadily becoming humid without the caves being covered overhead.
"We're almost there, guys," Zhane said, jogging past them and catching up to Andros. "Did we by any chance mention the last obstacle to these guys?"
Andros shook his head and stopped in his tracks. "Okay, everyone," he began. "Um, in the next few minutes, we'll be entering the last cave. The Demon Sword of Kurakk should be there waiting for us."
"What if Astronema's already gotten there first?" T.J. asked. "Does that mean that we're trapped?"
"Try your communicator," Zhane said. "If it works, then that means that Astronema has the sword and we can actually teleport out of here. If not, we're here until someone gets the sword."
T.J. lifted his arm and pressed a button on his morpher, speaking into it. "DECA, Alpha, come in," he said. But all that answered back was static.
"So that's a good sign, isn't it?" Cassie asked.
"Best news I've heard all day," Zhane replied with a sigh. "And what we have to deal with next is going to be a challenge."
"The Dolo-Uham Nir monster," Andros said. "The cave cloaks the sword so that we won't be able to see it. And the Dolo-Uham Nir will manipulate our senses so that if we do see it, we won't be able to get to it."
"It's just a monster though, right?" Carlos asked with a shrug.
"Indestructible monster," Andros corrected. "I'm sure that it can be defeated, but…"
"You don't know how?" Ashley finished.
"Unfortunately, I don't," Andros replied, feeling their immediate depression upon his answer. "But I don't expect that it's anything we can't handle. It'll be difficult, but you guys are strong enough to deal with this thing."
The rangers nodded as Andros continued to walk toward the growing warmth in the cave. Finally, they came upon a dead end and Andros motioned for them to stand behind him before facing the wall.
"Allow us entry into the caves of the Dolo-Uham Nir," Andros called out to seemingly no one.
"What is it that you seek?" a deep voice boomed in response, causing the walls and ground to shake.
"We are protectors of the Demon Sword of Kurakk –the Astrorangers," Andros replied.
"The Phantom Ranger protects the Demon Sword of Kurakk," the cave said.
"Yes and there are intruders in your caves after the sword," Zhane replied. "Too many for Phantom Ranger to stop, so he specifically sent for us."
"It matters not to me that the sword is taken, nor does it matter who possesses it," the cave bellowed back. "In the end, the sword will possess and destroy any that dare to use its power."
"It matters to us," T.J. said, stepping forward. "We're the Power Rangers and –"
"You're humans," it interrupted. "You are prone to weaknesses even with your artificial powers."
"What can we do to prove our worth to you?" Andros asked.
The cave was briefly silent. "If you are able to defeat the Dolo-Uham Nir and retrieve the Demon Sword of Kurakk, then I will require the Spiral Saber of the Red Astroranger to keep in its place."
"Agreed," Andros said immediately, though he had a feeling that there was another reason for needing his weapon that the cave likely would not divulge to them.
"Andros, what are you doing?" Carlos asked. "You can't give up your weapon. You won't be able to –"
"It's not doing much good to me right now," Andros said. "And it's not my only weapon."
"But when you get your morpher back –" Ashley protested.
"If I get it back," Andros said with a sigh. "And who knows how long that'll be? Now let's go. I'll deal with the consequences later. But we have to get in there before Astronema gets the sword first."
"I can assure you that the human that entered before you is no closer to the sword than you are now," the cave said with an evil laugh. "She has been wandering inside for quite some time. But you may enter just the same."
The wall of the cave slid up to reveal the opening of the last cave. The rangers held their breaths as they filed into the cave, keeping a lookout for Astronema and anymore of her henchmen. But as they walked further inside, they saw nothing around them save for a few rocks and more dirt.
"Should we split up?" Zhane asked.
"Maybe we should," Andros answered. "Just remember that the Dolo-Uham Nir controls what we can see, including the sword. If you see the sword, take it if you can and teleport immediately to the Megaship. Do not hesitate."
The rangers nodded in agreement before moving in separate directions, each of them curious as to what images the Dolo-Uham Nir might deceive them with.
-0-0-0-0-
T.J. and Carlos walked slowly toward the west end of the caves, having decided amongst themselves long ago that they would stick together in the event that Andros or Zhane suggested splitting up to look for the sword. Not long after they separated from the others, they looked back and found themselves in the cave alone.
"So, what do you think about all of this?" Carlos asked.
"I think that Andros has probably gotten more dangerous since he left if his attacks have been indiscriminant," T.J. replied. "I think that we're trapped in a cave with an indestructible monster that won't even let us see the sword we're after. Other than that, I don't know what else to think right now."
"You still trust him?"
T.J. shrugged. "I'm trying. You?"
"I want to," Carlos said. "But we're still too much in the dark about everything. Andros and Zhane came into this cave knowing more than us based on what was likely a ten or fifteen minute conversation with Phantom Ranger. We talked to Phantom Ranger too, so why is it that we got no information about the caves and they got a complete walkthrough?"
"I completely agree," they heard from behind them, finding Andros standing a few feet away.
"I thought we were splitting up," Carlos said to him.
"We are," Andros replied. "But I heard something coming from your way and I thought that I should check it out with you."
"What did you hear?" T.J. asked as Andros took the lead and continued slowly ahead.
"I'm not sure," Andros answered. "But I doubt that you'd trust my answer anyway."
T.J. and Carlos froze momentarily, looking to Andros who turned to face them.
"Andros, it isn't that we don't trust you exactly," T.J. began with a sigh. "But we don't know enough about you or what's going on with this prophecy to…"
"To trust me," Andros finished. "It's okay. I understand. As I've said before, you have no reason to trust me and I don't blame you for it. In fact, you're right not to trust me."
"Why's that?" Carlos asked, watching Andros smile a little before glancing behind them.
They turned around, finding the other rangers lying on the ground. T.J. and Carlos looked at one another before turning back to Andros, their fists clenched in anger as they stared him down for a moment.
"This ends right now," Carlos said through gritted teeth.
"I do like a challenge," Andros replied as the rangers came rushing toward him.
-0-0-0-0-
Cassie immediately regretted the decision to split with the other rangers as she headed toward the south end of the caves. The cave seemed to grow darker with every step she took, and her footsteps echoed throughout the cave with every step. Nothing had ever felt so eerie to her before and a chill went down her spine as she turned back to find herself alone in the cave. As much as she tried to tell herself that it was only the Dolo-Uham Nir monster controlling what she saw and playing off of her fears, she still felt a sense of dread wash over her as she walked.
A loud thud a few feet ahead made her jump suddenly and she hurried toward it, catching something move from the corner of her eye.
"Phantom Ranger?" she inquired of the figure that stood motionless in the shadows. "Phantom Ranger, is that you?"
With a sigh, Phantom Ranger walked slowly toward her, his balance slightly off as he limped to her. Cassie ran to him, catching him as his foot slipped and he fell forward.
"What happened?" Cassie asked. "Did Astronema get the sword?"
"No, but she sent plenty of monsters and quantrons to keep me busy," he replied. "There were just too many of them."
"Are you able to see the sword?" Cassie asked. "The sooner we find it, the sooner we can get you out of here."
"As its appointed protector, I am always able to see the sword," Phantom Ranger said with a nod. "But without destroying the Dolo-Uham Nir, I'm afraid that we're all trapped."
"The Dolo-Uham Nir isn't the monster that did this to you?" Cassie asked somewhat nervously.
"It cannot sense my presence since I am joining it in protecting the sword," Phantom Ranger answered. "But it will sense you and the other rangers."
"Well, what about Astronema?" Cassie asked. "Is she still here?"
"Yes," he said distantly as a large group of quantrons began to surround them on all sides and the ground shook violently with the footsteps of something large that sounded closer and closer.
"Dolo-Uham Nir?" Cassie asked Phantom Ranger as she looked around for the other rangers.
He nodded. "I'm afraid so," he said. "And I don't know how much longer I'll last."
"You'll be okay," Cassie said as he stood up straighter.
"Perhaps," Phantom Ranger replied. "But if not, I need to tell you that I… I love –"
"You'll be fine," Cassie interrupted. "In an hour or so, you can tell me face-to-face. But we have to take care of these guys first. So just… hold on."
"Yes," Phantom Ranger said softly. "There will be plenty of time for talking later."
"That's right," Cassie said as the quantrons began to close in on them. "Plenty of time."
-0-0-0-0-
"Hey, Andros," Zhane called as Andros began walking toward the north end of the caves. "How'd you send all those quantrons flying back like that when we were in the other caves?"
"Telekinesis, Zhane," Andros replied with a sigh. "You know that."
"Yeah, but you've never used it in a fight before," Zhane said. "And you've never been able to focus your energy that well before."
"I just pushed everything else out of my mind," Andros said with a shrug. "Now let's just get to the sword and get out of here."
"So, you're not even going to tell me what you remember about the trigger memory?"
"I told you that we'd talk about it later," Andros hissed at him. "Just drop it until we get back to the ship."
"Fine," Zhane said. "We'll find the –"
Zhane stopped suddenly when he noticed the bright glow of something to his left and turned to it. Several feet away stood the sword, plunged deeply into the ground showing only its hilt.
"There it is," Andros said softly. "The Demon Sword of Kurakk."
"But why would it be right in front of us like this?" Zhane wondered aloud. "Shouldn't the monster be shielding this from our view?"
"Maybe the cave was lying," Andros said, starting toward the sword.
"I don't think so," Zhane said, pulling Andros back. "The cave wouldn't lie. Maybe the sword is the lie."
"Well, there's only one way to find out," Andros said, walking up to the sword and grabbing onto its hilt.
"Andros, wait," Zhane called to him just as Andros successfully pulled the weapon from the ground and held it tightly in his hands. "You have to put down the sword, Andros," he said, moving cautiously toward him.
Andros looked down at the sword that glowed brighter in his hands with every passing minute, watching as his own body began to take on a glow of its own. "I can feel its power," he said as he closed his eyes. "I can feel it flowing through my body."
"The sword is probably taking your energy," Zhane said. "Its power lasts as long as your life energy does and the Oracle told you that you would –"
"So what?" Andros said, opening his eyes and glaring at Zhane. "Would you rather that Dark Specter or Astronema get the sword instead?"
"No one is going to have the sword," Zhane said. "We're only taking it to keep it away from anyone that wants to use it. We can't use it ourselves."
"You don't seem to understand what we have, Zhane," Andros said, slowly making his way to Zhane again. "We have unlimited and unadulterated power at our fingertips. With this weapon, the prophecy begins and we can take down all of our enemies. We can be rid of our morphers forever and live out the rest of our lives in peace."
"If you don't put down that weapon, there won't be anything left of your life to live," Zhane said, holding out his hand for it. "Now drop the sword and I'll get one of the others to teleport it to the ship."
Andros looked from Zhane to the sword in his hands and back again. "You won't take this from me," Andros said, gripping it even tighter. "I'll see you destroyed first."
Zhane reached into his pocket, silently cursing as he withdrew his hand upon finding nothing. No morpher right now, not even a weapon of his own. No way to protect himself against a demon sword and his power-hungry possessed friend.
"With or without powers, I can't let you leave with that sword," Zhane said, locking eyes with Andros and stepping toward him. "You'll have to destroy me first."
"Not an issue," Andros replied, charging at Zhane with his weapon raised.
-0-0-0-0-
Andros took a deep breath and walked toward the East end of the cave, already seeing the sword embedded in a wall a few feet ahead of him. He glanced back at the others, having heard them all speaking at some point or another and wondering if he should check on them. He thought at one moment that Zhane had called out to him and the T.J. and Carlos had mentioned his name just after they separated, but whenever he turned to talk to them, they would grow quiet again and Andros would continue toward the sword.
"Can you see it?" a voice asked that made him jump.
He had almost forgotten that Ashley was there. "I see it," he answered when he found his voice again. "You'll have to be the one to take it."
"Right," she replied with a nod, walking next to him to the sword. She reached out for it, stopping when she realized that he was not beside her anymore. "Andros?"
"It was an accident," he said, facing no one as he spoke. "I didn't mean for you to –"
Ashley watched as he backed away slowly, ducking an invisible blow. She was able to see his eyes as he defended himself against whatever had begun to fight him, but his eyes were not glazed over, only firmly fixed on whatever was attacking him.
"Aeden, wait!" Andros called out as he continued to avoid punches and kicks that Ashley could not see. "It was an accident, I swear."
Ashley began walking to him, looking around for Zhane and finding him also fighting something that she could not see. It had to be the Dolo-Uham Nir. It was manipulating their senses, though not hers for some reason.
"Yellow Ranger," a familiar deep voice called eerily to her. "Truly you are the most pathetic of the Astrorangers."
Ashley looked around, finding nothing except the sword. It was a demon sword, she recalled quickly, and might have the ability to communicate. But she questioned whether or not to respond to it.
"Surely you aren't stupid enough to take the Demon Sword of Kurakk into your hands and expect to live?" it asked with an evil laugh that Ashley recognized.
She made a beeline for the sword, making a grab for it just as a powerful bolt of energy struck her. Suddenly the cave filled with quantrons just as Darkonda jumped out and took hold of the sword.
"I'd hoped for more of a challenge," he said with a laugh. "And as usual, I didn't get a chance to battle all of you together."
Ashley got to her feet and looked to Andros, who continued to speak to his unknown attacker.
"I don't think that I can ever find a way to thank you and your friends enough for helping me to get through the caves," Darkonda said, coming at her with the sword. "But I'll find a way."