Summary: Andros has lost everything that ever meant something to him… did he?

Scarred

Chapter 34

The moment Zhane demorphed he found himself lying on the ground with the wind knocked out of him. Making a show of ruffling the blonde head with the uttermost reluctance, he smiled up at his sister.

"I missed you too, but don't you think this is a bit overdone?" He inquired.

"No." Esai informed him happily.

"Thought so." Zhane groaned.

He glared as his cousin as Brand lifted Esai off him, but nearly wetting himself in the process by his uncontrolled laughter. Elias and Kobin lifted him back to his feet by the pits of his arms, only to get knocked down again by Nathi.

"One more person knocking me to the ground and I swear I'll commit a murder." Zhane grumbled good-naturally as he pushed Nathi off him and scrambled back to his feet.

"How are the others holding up?" Elias inquired and Zhane's face fell.

"They still don't have a way of saving Karone from those implants and now they've got new trouble in the form of five Psycho Rangers that wipe the floors with them. Those guys are tough and outmatch them at every point. If they can beat them, it's going to take everything they have and more." He reported. "I hate to say it, but I fear for their lives. It's starting to look like a repeat of KO-35 come to think of it."

"Let's not think about that right now." Brand decided. "Let's get you some food and maybe something resembling a bed, for you must be tired after your trip. You look like you are anyway."

"Thanks, you're right, I could use both." Zhane agreed.

Nathi smiled and slung an arm around his shoulders and directed him in the general direction of the food. She started babbling about nothing in particular to get him up to date on what had happened while he was off helping their friends on Earth. Basically nothing interesting, but Zhane found it soothing to be able to let his mind drift away from all the troubles for a while.

About half an hour later Zhane was curled up on a camp bed. It wasn't the most comfortable places to was better than the hard floor, but after just returning from the soft beds on the Megaship, he could hardly get comfortable enough to sleep. His mind automatically began wandering, as it always did, to distract him enough to forget his surroundings and lull him to sleep anyway.

"It's not fair." A little voice whispered from somewhere next to him.

A hand touched his arm and he wrapped the owner of the hand in his arms without a thought. The person curled up to him, head buried in his chest and soon the front of his shirt started dampening. He didn't care though, for he knew his cheeks were wet too.

"I know." He whispered back.

They set there together in the dark for hours. No one came looking for them, everyone was too busy. Absentmindedly he stroked her soft hair. Sisters'-keeper some called him, in plural even though he only had one sister. It was hard for anyone to see who was dearer to him, his sister or his sister-spirit. Both the same, would always be his answer.

The change in breathing, slowing of it, told him she had drifted off to sleep. He felt sleep nagging to close his eyes, but he fought it. He could not sleep yet. His arms tightened around her. He would protect her for now, until someone found time for them again.

He didn't know how long it had been, but suddenly the door opened and light poured in, hurting his eyes. He squeezed them shut, carefully peering through a slit. A figure blocking part of the light was crouching down. He quickly raised his fists, ready to defend if necessary.

"It's okay, Zhane." A familiar voice said gently. "You're staying with us tonight."

"Don't wake her." He pleaded softly.

Hands reached out and gently lifted the other from him with care. The figure in the light disappeared, but then another appeared and hand was offered. It was soft to the touch when he placed his in it. It helped him up with ease and didn't let go. Through the window he noticed the sun had almost completely set. He looked back at the door, the closet really had been rather cramped, but still they had squeezed in.

He looked up and Ayrana smiled down at him, then she looked at the man next to her. Tane nodded, Ashley carefully cradled in his arms, tightly held against his chest.

"Andros has agreed to let Ashley had his room for tonight." Tane told him as they started walking. "So you and Andros get to camp out in the living-room."

Zhane sighed and turned around. Fun was different, but it had been nice, sleeping on the floor with Andros. None had known what to say for weeks and all of a sudden from one moment to the other it had been as if nothing had changed and it had always been the way it was now.

A few weeks later

"The forces of Evil are gathering around the main resisting planets of the League." Kobin panted as he skidded to a halt inside the tent. "It looks like one massive attack to wipe out every bit of resistance. They can't take this kind of assault, especially not Earth. One of the biggest attack forces is heading there and the only defence they have are the rangers."

Everyone looked at Kin Won expectantly. He caught Brand's eyes before nodding.

"Then we'll go and give them a hand." He agreed to the unspoken demand. "But we have to make sure we get there unnoticed and don't stand out in the crowd."

"One crash course 'How to be a Terran' coming up." Nathi joked a little, before dragging Elias and Kobin away to organise just that.

"They'll need more than that." Zhane said softly when almost everyone had left the tent to start setting up for yet another move. "We'll never have enough force to save Earth. Only by a miracle can we win this, especially with those Psychos still out there."

"That's a chance we've got to take." Kin Won sighed. "And it's the least we can do to help them out. They don't have the means to evacuate their planet like we had."

"Who knows, maybe a miracle will happen and we win the fight. But I agree with grandpa, we'll never stop fighting." Brand agreed. "I'll go help Nathi, Kobin and Elias."

"Wait, I'll come with you. But just so you know, I want Esai on the Megaship and out of the dangerzone. I'm not losing my sister."

Within a few days they were on their way to offer Earth a slightly better defence. The mood was solemn, for the chances of their help being too little was beyond high.

"They're not getting this planet too." Zhane vowed softly. "I will make sure they don't or die trying, Ash. I promise."

A/N: I know it's been a while. Thank you all for your patience. Hope you liked it. Please review.

Challon, consider this your late birthday present.