Poisonous Sting
Cassie, Carlos, and TJ were managing to handle the drones just fine as they were knocking them down like house of cards. Meanwhile, Andros and Ashley were chasing after the leader, Blyznark, in hopes of getting information on the survivors. However, his flight was faster than the two rangers on foot. Before long, he turned a corner and the two lost sight of it while they took a second to catch their breath. Taking a look around, Andros asked "great, now where?"
Keeping quiet, Ashley swore she could hear its buzz as she told Andros. "Listen, do you hear that?"
Listening as well, he replied "yeah, I hear it too." Trying to find which direction it was coming from, Andros caught it and instructed "I got it. Come on, this way." Ashley followed behind Andros until they came across an intersection
of two tunnels.
"These tunnels have to interest somewhere, let's split up and try to cut him off" Ashley advised putting a hand on Andros's shoulder.
Turning to her, he nodded in agreeance and replied "right." Ashley headed to the left whereas Andros took the right. While running, she took a look and asked herself 'these mines are huge. I wonder how far exactly these caves go.' She stopped
in her tracks hearing the sound of a rock moving. Taking a look, Ashley had the feeling someone was hiding or watching her. She saw something from the corner of her eye and slowly approached. Only to her surprise, it was only the survivors. A
family of 5, a mother, father, and 3 children.
Lowering her guard, she got closer and assured them "it's okay, I'm not gonna hurt you. Me and my friends are here to help."
Ashley could see by the look on all of their faces that they were terrified, but they were not alone, as the father called out "behind you!"
Quickly turning around, Blyznark had been watching, as he came out of hiding as he charged at Ashley, and threw her into one of the walls. Looking over at the family, she warned them "get out of here, run!" Getting back up, Blyznark mocked
saying "fighting me alone, that could be dangerous."
"Says the big ugly coward that ran away" Ashley mocked back, having her first raised.
"Don't be so sure girlie. When I'm done with you, you'll be begging to be put down out of your misery" he retorted.
As he commenced his next charge, Ashley kept focus as he jumped over Blyznark as his head hit the wall. Turning to see it worked, Ashley stated "ha! You missed me."
As he got back up, he replied "lucky shot."
Attacking, he went high as Ashley went low to dodge the attack. Taking the chance, Ashley gave him a series of kicks. Being knocked back, Blyznark released a series of beams. Ashley kept moving as she used her starlight stinger to fire back. While
he was down, Ashley thought to himself 'this bug's got some tough skin, but now's my chance.'
Keeping her weapon raised, she demanded to know "Why did you hurt those people?!"
He knew where his loyalties lied as he answered "I'll never tell."
But she wasn't going to leave with that answer as she yelled "you will answer me!"
Having another shot ready to fire. "If you really want to know, my toxin can do whatever I order it to do. Including turning any specimen into one of us. The colony was selected by our queen. UNFORTUNATELY, their cells were not a match"
Realizing what he meant he meant, she thought to herself 'oh no'.
Taking the opportunity while Ashley was close enough, he fired another set of beams from his shoulders as he knocked her down. Grabbing hold of her, he took out his fangs out his fangs. Ashley could see what he was going to do, as she struggled to
break free. But her efforts weren't of any use as her shoulder was pierced. She yelled out from the pain and could feel the venom seeping in as she tried to reach her weapon. Not being able to grab it, she got her blaster instead and shot him
off. Once she was free, Ashley put a hand on her shoulder, feeling as if it was burning. Trying to get back up, she couldn't keep her footing feeling as if everyone was spinning around her. Blyznark got back up as Ashley tried to back up as he
stated "aww. Yellow ranger, you don't look so good. Allow me to ease your pain." Before he could fire at Ashley, Andros had returned as he fired in response.
Walking over to her, Andros commented "sorry I'm late. Guess splitting up wasn't such a good idea" offering her his hand. "Yeah. But, thanks." Ashley replied taking his hand standing back up.
As Andros caught her from falling over, he asked her "Ashley are you okay?"
Looking back up Andros, she answered "yeah I'm fine, just a little dizzy. Thanks."
Andros gave her a nod despite knowing her answer probably wasn't true. She lied concealing her bite, now wasn't the time to worry. They still had a fight on their hands as with Blynzak down for the count, the drones were the only obstacle that was
in their way. With them swarming around the two rangers, Andros and Ashley went back to back, before attacking. They were managing to fend them off but with each swing, Ashley was getting dizzy, losing focus and her breathing getting heaving.
Eventually to the point where started taking hits from the drones. Not being able to hold herself together, Ashley fell to the floor and demorph. Her body lying on the ground as she fell unconscious.
Meanwhile, Andros was fending off a few more of the bugs with his spiral saber, as with a few swings, they were easily defeated. Turning around, he could see Ashley's unconscious form on the ground, demorphed, with the back of her fight suit facing
him as she was on her side. "Oh no, Ashley!" he shouted reaching his free hand out. Quickly, the minion bugs had surrounded her as Andros then took out his blaster and demanded "get away from her!" with a tone of anger in his
voice. As his calls being ignored, he blasted as many of them as he ran through. With his path now cleared, he managed to reach Ashley as he knelt down, moved her onto her back, and picked her up in his arms. One of his hands wrapped around her
back and the other softly touching the back of her neck so her head was facing him. "Ashley, can you hear me?! Come on, wake up!" he asked worrying. She did not respond or open her eyes as she was still out-cold in his arms.
The leader of the bugs had finally from Andros's blast as he got back to his feet. With Andros distracted, worrying about Ashley, he took the advantage to strike. Andros turned his head to see him but could not do anything in response. Luckily, Carlos,
Cassie, and TJ had caught up as they used their blasters to shoot at it. Being wounded, he fled the scene as the three of them looked up. "Hey, get back here!" Carlos yelled out. But there was more pressing matters to attend to, as they
turned to see Ashley unconscious in Andros's form. Upon seeing the horrific sight, they rushed towards him.
"Oh no" Cassie commented softly as she put her hand towards her mouth piece.
"What happened?!" TJ asked loudly with a concerned tone in his voice.
"We split up to try and find them. Ashley was the one to find the surging colonists. But they weren't alone. She must have been attacked and hurt before I could get to her." Andros explained with a cracked shaken tone in his voice. Keeping
his eyes on Ashley from under his helmet.
"It's not your fault." Carlos tried to assure him, putting a hand on Andros's shoulder. "We were all fooled when we got here."
He couldn't look away from her as he replied "we need to get her back to the ship, and quickly."
The team agreed as he stood back up, still holding Ashley in his arms. Letting out painful moans as she was lifted; her left arm free moving as her right arm was around her waist. Then they all made their way out of the caves and onto their galaxy
gliders. While moving, the only movements Ashley gave as a sign of life was her breathing and small shakes of her head.
Once they got back to the Astro megaship, Andros rushed Ashley to the medbay. Laying her down on the table, he didn't bother de-morphing as he removed his helmet and ordered "DECA, commence all medical scans. Ashley's face was facing the left
as her face was flinching frantically.
Seeing as how she was in pain, he applied a small sedative to try and keep her comfortable. The monitors they wired her too, beeping as they showed her vitals. The others removed their helmets waiting anxiously to know how bad Ashley was hurt.
Zhane soon joined them as he walked down to the medbay from behind them. "I escorted the family to the shuttle, they said they had some friends and would be safe there." he quietly announced to TJ.
"Good to know" was the response he received.
Taking a look at Ashley, Zhane then asked "what happened out there?"
"I'm not exactly sure" TJ answered "but she took a hit."
They worried for their friend, they had been together through so much, to see one of them like this was devastating. Even though, Andros didn't know her as long as the others, but he was taking this as hard as them. In the time Andros had gotten to
know Ashley, he had grown strong feelings for her.
After a moment that seemed like an eternity, the computer system, DECA, informed them all "Andros, I have finished my analysis, the only physical injury I can indicate that there is a bit mark on miss Ashley's shoulder." That was clearer
with the tear on her jacket. "I must also inform you that through the bite, Ashley has 120 nitro toxin entering her bloodstream.
"What does that mean?" Carlos asked confused.
"It means that whatever kind of poison, Blyznark had in his fangs, now some of it is in Ashley's system." Andros replied with still a shaken tone. "Well what can we do to get it out?" Cassie asked hoping for any possible solution.
"Without a cure, the poison will continue to flow through her system and destroy her" Alpha answered as he was helping with the analysis.
"Well we can't just let her suffer" Cassie retorted not willing to lose her best friend. Looking over at Zhane, Carlos asked "the rebels knew about the planet and its poisons. Any chance you guys created an antidote in case of any of
the troops were infected?"
Looking back at Carlos, he answered "yes we did take into account that possibility and we created a few vaccines."
"Then let's use one" TJ shouted out, that being their best option.
"We can't. It won't work" Zhane retorted.
"Why not?" Cassie asked.
"Because our blood is different from yours" Zhane explained.
"It's still worth a shot" Carlos replied still trying to think.
"Not if there's a possibility that we could make it even worse" Zhane then retorted back. He didn't mean to be so negative as he looked at all of their faces. "I'm sorry" he said lowering his voice "it's just, there's not
a lot of options here."
"It's okay Zhane. If you don't have a cure we'll find another way" TJ said putting a hand on Cassie's shoulder.
"But it's not as though we can go find one" Alpha implied. "And we don't know how Ashley will be able to fight against the effects of the venom."
"Andros?" Cassie asked looking over at their leader, hoping he had any sort of plan or hope. He had kept quiet throughout their conversation keeping his focus on Ashley as he held her hand. Snapping out of it, he turned around to face them
and called out "no, we're not gonna let her die. We'll find another way to save her." Cassie was thankful to hear those words as she let out a weak smile and nod.
"Even so, we won't be able to move her while we're out searching for an antidote."
She was right as Andros let out a sigh and answered "I know. Let's focus on getting Ashley back to KO-35, in case the doctors there can do anything more for her. Then, we can plan out our next move."
"Couldn't agree with you more" TJ replied. "Come on guys, let's head back to the front of the ship. We have some work to do."
One by one, they slowly left the medbay, leaving Andros and Alpha behind with Ashley.
"Andros?" he asked wanting to make sure he's okay.
"I'm fine Alpha" he answered looking up at the android.
"You should go join the others, I will stay here and keep watch over her."
Andros gave him a nod as he stood properly back up. Before leaving, he gave Ashley a quick kiss on her forehead, still keeping his hand locked in hers. Only to have to pull away.
