By N. E. Shaw
Back in the secret chamber, TJ and Ashley listened to his story.
"..I dunno what else to believe. We can't find them anywhere, and outside the bridge I found these..."
He showed them the cross and the hand, and their hearts wrenched.
"I gave him that," Ashley whispered, gazing at the cross pendant sadly. TJ reached over Andros to squeeze her arm. Zhane let her take it from him, and regarded the sad heap of injured Rangers for a moment longer.
"I'm going back out there," he blurted finally. "I'm gonna throw them off this ship." This brought their attention back to him.
"Zhane, that's suicide," TJ told him. "You can't take on four of them at once."
But Zhane wasn't listening. "We're holed up in here like rats, and all of you need medical help. I've got to find a way to get rid of them before its too late."
"They'll murder you Zhane," insisted Ashley. "You don't stand a chance alone..."
"The four of you don't stand a chance unless I go..."
As if on cue, Andros stirred and began to cough wetly. Ashley adjusted position to help quiet him, but soon there was blood oozing down his cheek. No one quite knew what to do, until Zhane moved for the door.
"I'm going. He'll die if I don't."
Without a word, he slipped out and keyed the door shut behind him. TJ looked at Ashley solemnly. "We can keep these two alive while he's gone. And keep hoping..."
Ashley stared at the closed door for a while. Then she nodded, and smeared the blood off Andros's cheek with her fingers. The waiting began.
There was no mouselike sneaking this time. Zhane headed straight for the bridge. That is, after stopping to morph and call forth the Super Silverizer.
He would be ready for anything. No matter what they did, he knew he could handle it. No matter how hard they hit, he would keep coming until they turned tail and ran. He'd do it for his four beaten friends hiding away, and for Carlos and Alpha, who probably weren't coming back again.
The bridge drew closer...
When he stepped into the doorway, only Psycho Red was there, lazing in the command chair as if he owned the place. He registered no sign of having heard the Silver Ranger. Zhane approached silently, circling around the rear control bank, stalking his prey like a fox. He would use the element of surprise. The blade of his weapon gleamed as it arched high in the air; Zhane planted his feet and took a deep breath...
"This one's for Cassie..." he growled, and brought the blade down on Psycho Red's skull. Sparks exploded, and the Psycho screamed. The chair spun with the force of Zhane's blow, and to his dismay, the surprised villain was facing his attacker again.
"..this one's for Andros..!" Zhane went on, slashing Red across the chestplate. This time he rocked and fell, throwing himself to the ground to try to escape the assault. Zhane tasted some sweet revenge.
But it was short lived, as he soon sensed more presences behind him. He barely had time to see the flash of Yellow, and then his back exploded with pain. He fell right alongside Psycho Red, and listened to devious laughter.
"Nice try, Silver Ranger," sneered Psycho Yellow. "But you forgot the cardinal rule of Rangering. 'Always stick together'?"
"I would..if I could..." he replied, straining to get up; but a sharp boot in the ribs made him forget about it.
"So, what shall we do with him?" asked Psycho Blue.
"The same thing we did to the Robot," said Psycho Black. Zhane clenched his fists in rage.
"I know," said Psycho Red, as he took Zhane by the throat. "We'll torture him till he tells us where the others are. And if he doesn't talk, we'll blow up the ship with all of them on it. How's that for a win-win-situation?"
A chorus of devilish laughter went up among them. Zhane just closed his eyes and cried out, "You'll never win, Psychos! I won't let you!"
"Aww, how loyal of you," said Psycho Red. "But while you're thinking of a way to stop us, we'll just have ourselves some fun..."
They all rushed in to beat on him without mercy. Red held him down while the others punched, and kicked, and generally did their worst on the helpless Power Ranger. His promises of perseverance dissolved, and were replaced by nothing but pain. Crimson explosions of it, every time a glove or boot impacted with his body. His Ranger suit barely dulled the blows.
He wanted to yell for mercy, but that would only encourage them. They would stop when they were good and ready, or when he was dead. No doubt that would be soon. Zhane could only wait for it to happen.
When everything went dark in his field of vision, he assumed he'd been hit in the head. But to his surprise, the beating stopped.
"What happened to the lights?" asked Psycho Yellow.
"Someone's cut the Power," observed Psycho Blue. "One of the Rangers no doubt."
"Quick," ordered Red. "Scan for activity near all the power conduit access points."
But a new voice assured, "That won't be neccessary..."
They could hardly believe their eyes, or ears.
"You!" exclaimed Psycho Black.
"CARLOS!!" hollered Zhane. He was quickly subdued, but Carlos heard his cry nontheless. "Hang on Zhane... C'mon Psychos, catch me if you can!"
His footsteps pounded away, and Psycho Red shouted in anger, "Go after him you numbskulls!" Three sets of footsteps pounded away as well.
Psycho Red's voice was very close to Zhane's ear. "Looks like it's just you and me, Silver Ranger."
A slow smile spread across Zhane's bruised face. "Just the way I like it..."