Disclaimer: I don't own the Power Rangers; I do own Andrew (he's mine!), Scout Rin, Daniel Cade, Rhine, Zayla, Jaden, the Glaph, Damek, Gael, Hertia's Mall, Kaen Slan, Eara, Mallory C., KRA, the plot, the feelings and everything else you don't recognize!

A/N: And I'm back in the game!

Quest into Space III: Serenity
by DarkHonda aka Tal

Chapter 38

Soon, noon has arrived and I allowed, against any man's better judgment, Eara and Damek claim rooms in the megaship; it was a guest room, something rather simple, I couldn't find a strength to give them one of the ranger dorms, because these weren't mine. They were TJ's and Cassie's, and for me they would always be so and even though I didn't explain it to my mates, I hoped they would understand. My uncles and aunt were still my heroes, always my heroes, and I couldn't let this part of reality fade. Because they were the ones teaching me to believe, to hope and I knew I must protect their heritage. I still insisted on Mallory and Gael spending the night in the infirmary, they couldn't talk me out of it, but it was still hard for me to see them there. Sitting there, watching them napping at noon, I realized I'd have to find some kind of a solution for Gael, as much as I wanted, I couldn't keep him in bed all day. I needed him, as much as I needed all of them, for thinking up a plan. You could imagine my surprise when Decs announced we have some kind of a wheel chair on the Cargo Bay…

I walked to the Cargo Bay, pondering any future possibilities, my head could stop running plans, yet each managed to fail in a certain point in my thought. None of my plans were perfect; we couldn't have a surprise attack on Deviot's ship because we had no powers, and even if he had- it would be suicide; we couldn't wait for him to attack KO-35 because, heck, who knows if he's not planning a full frontal take over that included huge armies? How could five people protect a whole system? I felt a slight shudder running down my back as I passed the Holding Bay's door, I was scared. It was about time to deal with my fear, I couldn't send them to die- they're my friends! This time, I'm responsible to more than just my destiny, but what can I do? How can I turn this situation to work for me? For my friends? I dialed the code for the Cargo Bay, suddenly remembering the story about Seemore the stowaway, I felt a smile rising on my lips. I easily found the wheel chair which was hiding in the corner and reached for it, checking if it was strong enough to hold my weight, not that I was a skinny as Gael, but still… just to make sure it was strong enough, and it was. Perfect.

I strolled along the halls of the megaship in my way to the infirmary, everything was so quiet. Intimidating quiet. It made me feel a bit eerie and uncertain. I turned to enter the megalift, it took me to megadeck five, to the infirmary. I quickly entered the infirmary putting the wheel chair in the corner of the room, quietly, noticing the sleeping duo. They needed that rest and I needed that time. I had to think: what to do?
Not being able to watch them any longer, I hurried out of the infirmary turning aimlessly to where my feet would take me. I needed someone I could talk to, someone I could tell how scared I was and how lost; I needed someone to guide me through because I felt I couldn't stand this any longer; I couldn't stand this guilt and this heavy feeling that made it harder to move. I swallowed an invisible lump in my throat. It all felt so hopeless. And when I opened my eyes again, as to really look where I was, I was standing in front of mum's room. I entered, the familiar scent of vanilla filling my nostrils. Mum's yellow reassurance flooded me, there was nothing else like this feeling, how she always represented the hope in my life. How her hope was what kept me going, because if there's one thing I was taught by my mum it's never to give up. Ever.
I took off my shoes, slid off my clothes and entered the shower, I adjusted the stream and hot water fell on me, washing me; I rubbed my face tiredly and my body. I needed this feeling off of me. "What am I going to do?" I whispered, "How am I going to make everyone get out of this one alive?" I gulped and kept washing.

I got out of the steamy shower wrapped in a towel to find a tee shirt and a pair of jeans waiting for me silently on the desk. "Thank you, Deca." I said quietly, knowing it's Deca who's taken of me, as always. Her eye twinkled mysteriously before turning shut. I quickly dressed. "You can look again." I said and Deca's eye opened. "Thank you."

"You're very welcome, Andrew." She said and I smiled at her eye. I sat on the neatly folded bed, sighing heavily.

"How am I going to make this work, Decs?"

"You're a fine leader, Andrew Zhane, you can think of a plan." Her eye blinked and I ran a hand through my still wet hair.

"I'm scared they'll die." I managed to pronounce my worst fear. "They're my only friends, Deca, they're my family." Deca was silent, I sighed, taking a framed photo of my parents' ranger team. They looked so happy. "He is a so much better red ranger than I'll ever be, I don't know what to do, Deca." I said, panicked. I felt so useless, so small, I felt like I'm nine again, seeing my mum being led on a stretcher to the hospital. I was so lost and so insignificant.

"Maybe you should ask for advice, Andrew." Deca said after a while. I frowned, an advice? From whom? The Glaph, the Kaen and just about everyone else were in the Academy and there was no way of getting in or out of there.

"The Glaph and the Kaen are locked up in the KRA, Decs, who am I going to turn to?" I asked and Deca's eye blinked.

"The only ranger who lived to see two worlds and a universe being taken under the helm of evil and survived to save it, Andrew. Your father." She preached, saying the words I didn't want to accept.

"Deca, I-"

"You must face the truth, Andrew," she said firmly, even coldly, "it's about time you will face the truth you're running away from since you're thirteen. Andros of KO-35 is your father." I squirmed, uncomfortable with her determination to prove me wrong.

"but –"

"No, Andrew Zhane, Andros of KO-35 is your father still. It doesn't matter what happened between you and him, you will forever be his son." Quite aggressive she was, that machine, wasn't she?

"After all we've been through? How can I call him Father? How can I look into his eyes? I've tried, Deca, the stars know how much I did, but some things can't be fixed." I said defensively, Deca who was so delicate with me was suddenly so hurtful…

"You cannot escape the truth, Andrew, you cannot pretend you're someone else because you are, eventually, hurting yourself. It's about time you grew up and saw that there are flaws in every person, even your perfect father. He is not perfect and cannot be perfect, he may hurt you and he may insult you but you have to remember that he is your father and he loves you through everything." She said wisely, then shut herself out of the room, leaving me in silence.

Was dad's advice what I needed? Suddenly the door swished open and Mallory entered the room, looking very tired; her legs padded on the freezing floor, making me wonder how she found me and dared to pad her way to my mum's room when she's supposed to be sleeping in the infirmary. She sat on the bed next to me, leaning her head on my shoulder in silence, nearly dosing off to dreamland. I smiled at her and pulled her on the bed with me; she settled next to me, her head on my chest before she gave in to sleep. I held her close and kissed her forehead.

Whatever it takes to protect Mallory, to protect my friends and my family. Whatever it takes. So you better watch out, dad, a walking disaster is heading your way.

A/N: comments would be taken carefully, folded and kept forever in my heart:D
Happy new year everyone:)