Ch 29

Ashley stood waiting in the Megalift, not sure that she wanted to get out right away. She was in the space hatch now, where she knew that Andros waited for Zhane and Phantom Ranger. And now she had been given the unfortunate task of explaining to him that it would be a while before Phantom Ranger returned, having walked by the infirmary moments earlier to hear him and Cassie talking.

But she was not certain that she wanted to be the one to bring him that news. He had been visibly upset after returning from the cave and he had not spoken a word since. Bothering him seemed like a really bad idea, even worse than the first time she had tried it the day she had met him. And he was in a much worse mood this time.

Ignoring her nerves, Ashley stepped out of the Megalift, slowly making her way to where she thought she heard Andros' uneven breathing and occasional sniffles. And as she walked closer to the shuttle, the sounds became a little louder and she peered inside. He was sitting on the floor with his head leaned back against the shuttle and tears streaming down his face, acknowledging Ashley with a glance before staring up at the ceiling again.

"I don't think that Phantom Ranger will be taking you guys back anytime soon," Ashley said softly. "Why don't you come out of here and sit in your own room for a while, maybe take a nap or something?"

Andros wiped away his tears with his hands and said nothing, still focusing on the gray ceiling above him.

"You probably haven't eaten anything in a while," Ashley tried again. "Did you want me to bring you anything? I don't mind bringing you something."

Again, Andros did not reply and he closed his eyes, having grown tired of the ceiling.

"M'anasa," Ashley said quietly. "M'uzi-kotsa ta je-isa, an mei kon isan ri anata."

Andros opened his eyes and turned his head to her in surprise in spite of his stoic facial expression. "How did you get all of that from an hour-long Karovan lesson?" he asked.

"It didn't take long for me to learn everything on it," Ashley said with a shrug. "So I asked DECA to teach me more words."

"And you learned all those words in less than two weeks?" he asked, lifting his head up from the shuttle.

"Well, I had a feeling that I'd have to use those words on you someday soon," Ashley replied. "So I asked DECA to translate a few phrases of my own. And I really do want you to be happy… I just don't know what to do for you."

"There isn't anything you can do," Andros said with a sigh. "I'd rather just be alone now."

"Cutting yourself off from the people who care about you and worry about you is the last thing you should do," she argued. "You need to talk about what happened back there, Andros."

"There's nothing to talk about," he said, shaking his head.

"So, you're just going to ignore what Astronema said to you?"

"I'd like to, yes," Andros said sharply. "I want to forget what I know –about Astronema, about everything. I just want to forget… I was somewhat happier when I didn't remember everything. And finally the Narces poison is wearing off and the memories are fading. But this memory… it isn't going to fade with the others."

"No, it isn't," Ashley agreed. "That's why you should talk about it, Andros. If you keep ignoring your feelings, they'll come out all at once. And whoever's around on that day will live to regret it… probably me."

"Ashley, I –" Andros began.

"I was kidding," she said with a smile. "But maybe you should talk about it, Andros. You might feel better."

"What's left to talk about?" he asked. "Astronema is my sister and she's still bent on trying to destroy us."

"You believe her?" Ashley asked.

"I don't have enough reasons not to," Andros said softly. "She had the locket and I can't ignore that… no matter how much I really want to."

"Maybe we can convince her to fight with us," Ashley suggested. "It's a long shot but –"

"She's not going to fight with us, Ashley," he interrupted. "Astronema is evil. Her intentions were only to distract us from the sword. She wanted to distract me in particular. Nothing changes because she's my sister. She won't stop attacking us just because we're related."

"Maybe you're right," Ashley said, sitting down beside him. "Maybe it was all a distraction… But it's working pretty well, don't you think?"

"What?"

"I mean, you're still thinking about it, right?" Ashley pointed out. "It's distracting you from figuring out the memory that triggers those attacks you were so worried about. It'll probably distract you during your next fight too. And it's all because you've given up."

"I haven't given up," Andros argued.

"You have so," Ashley countered. "You're in here all by yourself, throwing out whatever hope you came back with. I really liked that hope. It gave you a confidence that I hadn't felt in you before… And now it's gone."

"Maybe you're right," Andros said. "Maybe I gave up because it was too hard to fight back. I had to pump poison into my body just to keep from attacking my friends… I'm struggling to hold onto memories that I should never have lost… I try to get through each day without thinking about the stupid prophecy… Sometimes, I get so tired of fighting against the universe and all these carefully laid out plans for me. I just want to be a normal person who doesn't have to worry about this kind of stuff. But I don't have that luxury."

"And I'm not all by myself," he added, meeting her eyes. "For whatever reason, be it pity or true kindness, I have you here."

Ashley smiled. "It's not pity," she said. "You hate that kind of stuff, remember?"

"Yeah," Andros replied. "I do."

Andros reached into his pocket and pulled out the small gold necklace that he had felt sliding out, handing it out to her. "I guess I should give this back to you."

"It didn't work for you?" Ashley asked.

"It might have," Andros said. "I found out that I didn't kill anyone and that my sister's still alive. The Narces poison kept me from attacking you and the others… I didn't waste away to nothing eating rations on Eltar."

"Sounds like it worked extra hard for you then," Ashley replied. "Maybe you should keep it."

"What happens if you need it?" he asked, putting his hand down and looking down at the necklace.

"Oh I don't think I'll need it anytime soon," she said with a sigh. "After all, I was the only one that didn't hallucinate in the cave."

"I figured that you might be the only one to see the sword," Andros said. "Everyone else was distracted… By the time we got to the sword, everyone else was too busy focusing on other things. When we walked in, I could feel what everyone was thinking. Cassie was thinking about Phantom Ranger and he was thinking about her, so they saw each other… T.J., Carlos, and Zhane were hallucinating about me because they're still having trouble trusting me."

"So, I was able to see the sword because that was what I was focused on?" Ashley asked. "Then what was it that you saw?"

"My friends," he answered softly. "My brother, mostly."

"Aeden?" Ashley inquired and Andros nodded. "I remember you saying his name."

"He kept telling me that it was my fault that he was gone," he said. "And then they all attacked me… "

"Even with your memories back, you still blame yourself for that?" Ashley asked.

"No," he answered. "It wasn't about what you think. I know what happened to him wasn't my fault. He was angry because of what I had forgotten. But I won't be able to fix everything I messed up until Zhane and I can return to the ship permanently."

He was quiet then and Ashley scooted a little closer to him. "Back in the cave, did I really read your mind?" Ashley asked, breaking the silence.

Andros nodded. "You did," he affirmed almost proudly.

"How'd I do it?"

"You care too much," he replied, glancing over at her. "You saw me in pain back there and you saw me fighting, but no matter how many times I told you that I was fine, you continued to worry… And I was too weak to block out your thoughts."

"But you're not the first person I've ever cared about," Ashley said. "And I didn't have that ability before I met you."

"Not necessarily," Andros replied, turning to her. "On KO-35, the ability to read minds is usually learned. Zhane and I can get into each others' heads because he's had years of practice and I can't control mine most of the time… But there are people that choose not to learn how, yet they are able to read minds at times. It's usually one mind, though –the mind of someone close to them. And the closer they get, the easier it becomes for one person to enter the mind of the other. They're called Oaeta."

"And you think that we might be Oaeta?" she wondered.

"It would seem so," Andros said with a nod.

"How likely is it that people from two different planets would be Oaeta?"

"Definitely less likely than two people from the same planet," he answered. "But your constant worrying about me is probably what jumpstarted it for you. And the more time we spend together, the stronger it'll get."

"That's kind of cool," Ashley decided, wondering if Andros had ever picked up on anything private or impure in her head. "Is there any way that you can teach me to control it better?"

Andros nodded, stifling a laugh. "It would take some time, but there is a way to control it… before I pick up on anything impure," he said with a smile.

Ashley nudged him playfully with her elbow. "That isn't why I wanted to know," she said with a laugh. "What if I'm writing in my diary or something and I start describing a dream that I'd be too embarrassed to talk to you guys about? You'd be able to read my thoughts and I'd still end up being embarrassed."

"I know how you feel," he replied, his smile fading as he thought about the last risqué dream he had about Skye and Zhane's effortless ability to read him. "Before I leave, I'll teach you a few mind exercises that you can do that should help you with control."

"Thanks," Ashley replied.

"No, thank you," he said, holding out the necklace to her once more. "Are you sure that you don't want this back yet?"

"Keep it," Ashley said, placing her hand over his and closing his fingers around the necklace. "If it really works, it'll figure out a way to let you stay on the ship for good. We really missed you guys when you were gone… I missed you."

But Andros was just barely listening, his face reddening at the light touch of her hand on his. He looked from their hands to her eyes, trying to decide whether he should move his hand back or hold hers.

And she was staring back at him, just as unsure of what to do as he was, finding herself moving closer to him as she allowed her fingers to thread with his. She watched him swallow nervously as his face moved toward her own, her eyes closing as she waited for his lips to contact hers. After what felt like forever, Ashley finally felt the light touch of his lips briefly and she tilted her head a little as she felt his lips again, more intense than before.

By the time they had reached the beginning of a third kiss, Ashley felt Andros suddenly release her hand and she opened her eyes to him clutching at his head in pain.

"Andros, what's wrong?" she asked as his face paled.

Andros did not answer, squeezing against the sharp, throbbing pain in his head with both hands as though the pain would split his head in two. He groaned as the pain continued, hearing Ashley's muffled words of panic. Had he been able to get the words out, he would have told her not to worry, but any words of comfort would have been cut off by the sudden blinding pain that he now felt. As the force of it knocked him back, his head connected hard with the ground and his eyes closed as the pain began to travel through his entire body. A bright light seemed to be shining into his eyes and he opened them, the pain decreasing as he did.

And suddenly Ashley was no longer kneeling over him and he was no longer on the Astro Megaship. He was outside, in what appeared to be the center of Angel Grove. He was standing now with his back against a tree and unable to move. The Astrorangers were standing around him, their gray uniforms and hands splattered with blood. Echoing in Andros' ears was the sound of Darkonda's evil laughter, and the Demon Sword of Kurakk came toward in him in one fierce thrust.

Andros gasped and closed his eyes again, no longer feeling the intense pain that had plagued him moments before. He felt the light touch of Ashley's fingertips on his forehead and he forced his eyes back open, feigning a smile.

"I'm okay," he said softly, though he could see that she was not. "What's the matter?"

"What's an oracle?" Ashley asked, gently smoothing his hair back.

"What?"

"You said something about an oracle," she replied. "You said she gave you a gift from your father."

"I said that?" Andros asked, trying to remember.

"You said a lot of things…That's why you're still down here and not in the infirmary," Ashley explained. "You asked me not to move you… Then you mentioned something about the oracle and your father's gift."

"The gift of sight," Andros said with a sigh. "Until now, I wasn't sure what kind of gift my father had left for me, but it wasn't a gift from him. It was just his gift, his ability. He used to get visions sometimes, but I don't remember him being in that much pain when he'd get them."

"Good visions?" Ashley asked hopefully.

"Very rarely," Andros answered, shaking his head.

"It sounds more like a curse to me," Ashley said. "What did you see?"

"I'm not sure," he lied, gathering enough strength to sit up. "But it doesn't matter… Nothing I see in a vision can ever be changed."

"You're keeping something from me," Ashley said, folding her arms. "What did you see?"

Andros shook his head. "Please, Ashley," he sighed. "I'd like to forget it… "

"It seems like all you do is forget," Zhane said, entering the space hatch with T.J. and Carlos. "Now what happened?"

Ashley looked to Andros, uncertain of what he expected her to tell the others. Of course she should tell them what had happened, but Andros wanted to forget it and talking about it again would not help.

"I had a vision," Andros said, standing from the floor. "It wasn't very clear and I don't want to discuss it."

"Your dad's gift?" Zhane asked.

"Yeah."

"But you're okay?" T.J. asked. "DECA told us that you were in pain."

"I was, but I'm fine now," Andros replied, turning to Zhane and hoping to change the subject. "We aren't leaving anytime soon, are we?"

"Well, I haven't heard from Esson, so he must not be in any hurry," Zhane said with a shrug. "How about you?"

Andros glanced over at Ashley, knowing that she was looking back at him and he smiled to himself. "I'm not ready to go," he said softly.

"Then, good news," Zhane said with a smile. "Sadi's leaving in the morning and she's giving us our morphers back."

"Are you serious?" Andros asked.

Zhane reached into his pocket and pulled out Andros' locket, tossing it and the Astromorpher to him. "I'm serious," he assured him, showing Andros his own morpher.

"How'd you manage that?" Ashley asked.

Zhane looked away for a moment, backing out of the room nervously. "You'd be surprised how far a few firm words and apologies can take you," he said.

"And I'm sure that you didn't do any of that," Andros said, narrowing his eyes at his friend. "What did you do this time?"

"What did you see in your vision?" Zhane asked, challenging him. "I'll tell mine when you tell yours."

"Then we'll forget it… for now," Andros replied.

"Good," Zhane said. "We're meeting on the Simudeck for dinner in a few minutes."

"We'll catch up with you," Andros said as Zhane and the others left the space hatch. When he was certain that he heard the Megalift doors close, he turned to Ashley with a sigh. "You were going to lie for me," he said.

"I think I was," she said softly. "But you told them… Why?"

"Zhane can read my mind anyway," Andros shrugged. "I'm surprised that he didn't say anything about… you know."

"Say it."

"About our… kiss," Andros said. "You don't regret it, do you?"

"No," Ashley answered with a smile. "Do you?"

Andros shook his head. "It's one of the few things I've done recently that I don't regret doing," he replied. "So, the only thing left to do now is decide where we go from here, if we decide to do anything… I mean, if we decide to continue whatever it was that we attempted in the future…"

Ashley walked closer to him, gazing into his nervous hazel eyes. "Actually," she began. "I was wondering if you wanted to finish the kiss we started before we stand to ruin it with a bunch of common sense and reasoning… If that's what you want, of course."

Andros smiled at her and lightly pushed back a strand of hair from her face, his nervousness fading as she gently kissed his lips again. It felt nice not to have to think about everything he chose to do and it felt even nicer to know that he was doing something that had not been foretold in a prophecy. He was kissing Ashley and it felt as right as if he had planned for it all along.

Ashley was right, talking would likely only result in a list of reasons that they should leave each other alone. Right now, talk was of no use to them. And in that single moment that seemed to change everything between them, it was for the best.