Disclaimer: Check part one. . .

First Step
Part ten: Re-awakened Ally
By: stargazer_1017

He did it. Cassie looked around and noticed she was now on the Megaship. A loud banging sound caught Cassie's attention. It's coming from the Bridge! Cassie took a deep breath and ran to the Bridge and saw her mother and Alpha on the floor, with Astronema looming over them. "Mom! Alpha!" Cassie screamed.

Astronema spun around. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, slightly confused. She didn't even wait for Cassie to answer. Instead, she rushed at her with her staff. Cassie jumped backwards, to avoid being hit. Astronema slashed down again, and again Cassie jumped backwards. This time, Cassie noticed something--Astronema had her morpher on her wrist. It pissed Cassie off. Cassie moved quickly to try and kick Astronema, and she landed a kick on Astronema's left side.

As Cassie moved to kick Astronema again, Astronema ducked and did a floor sweep, knocking Cassie to the floor. "See, you're pretty useless without your morpher, aren't you?" Astronema taunted.

Cassie squinted upwards, glaring at Astronema laughing face. Then her gaze focused on her unconscious mother. I can't stay here. . .she might get hurt. Cassie slowly got to her feet and staggered backwards. "If you want me, Astronema, then come and get me," she growled. She staggered out the door and started down the hall. As she moved, she turned to see Astronema calmly walking behind her. It's working!

"You can't run from me, Pink Ranger," Astronema said in a commanding voice. "And I'll win--I get to kill the Phantom Ranger, but more importantly, I get to kill you."

If you can beat me, bitch, Cassie thought as she entered the Engine room. She didn't know why she had chosen that particular room, but she didn't have much time to think about it. "Nice place to die in," Astronema remarked sarcastically.

"Shut up and fight," Cassie growled, trying to get into a fighting stance. Her stance wasn't as strong as it usually was, and Astronema noticed.

"What's wrong? Are you a bit--tired?" Astronema cooed evilly. With her last word, she fired a blast from her staff at Cassie. Cassie rolled out of the way and got to her feet.

"Not at all, Astronema," Cassie replied, gasping. "I'm always up for kicking your ass, just like I did the last time." She raised her hand and ran her finger down her right cheek. "That scar looks really nice on you, Astronema--I think another one down the other side of your face would match it perfectly."

"Bitch!" Astronema screamed and fired another blast at Cassie. Cassie jumped out of the way, but the blast was stronger than she expected and she was knocked against the console panel of the ship's engine. Cassie wasn't sure, but she thought she heard a beeping sound. Before the thought could even register completely, Astronema somehow got up to Cassie and grabbed her by the neck. To Cassie's surprise and horror, Astronema lifted Cassie off the ground with just one hand. "Maybe it's about time I gave you a scar," Astronema sneered. Cassie struggled against the hold and tried to breathe, but she couldn't.

Just when Cassie thought she was going to black out from the lack of air, Astronema flew Cassie backwards. Cassie could see nothing but darkness. I can't see. . .I can't. . . Cassie thought frantically. She tried to get to her feet, but she couldn't tell if she was moving or not.

Fight--keep fighting! Cassie tried to push past her pain and physical confusion, but she was quickly losing the battle. She could hear Astronema muttering something, but she couldn't understand it--and she sounded so far away. Everything sounded so far away.

Suddenly, Cassie heard a whacking noise--and then a thump. A moment later, Cassie felt something touch her arm. "Hey, beautiful, time to get up."

Andros? "Andros?" Cassie murmured. The voice was so far away, and everything she saw was unrecognizable. Everything was so dark and fuzzy. "Andros. . ."

"No, it's not," the voice replied. It was so soft, Cassie almost didn't catch it. Cassie tried to open her eyes and sit up, but she could tell she wasn't moving anywhere.

"Astronema. . .Andros. . ." Cassie knew she wasn't making any sense, but whoever this was, she felt he was obviously on her side. "Help--"

"Cassie!"

Cassie was certain that voice was Andros. Before she could answer, the voice said, "Where is he?"

"Kortia. . ." Cassie murmured. I can't hold on. . . She could hear the person walking away. "Wait. . .wait. . ." Cassie started to call after the person, but then everything went completely black.

***

"Cassie!" Andros tried again. He looked at Ashley and Carlos, who were attacking Ecliptor at the same time, and then at T.J. "She's not answering her morpher."

Andros could tell T.J. was concerned, even though his helmet was hiding his expression. Andros shook his head. "You stay here with Ashley and Carlos--I'm going to find Cassie."

T.J. grabbed Andros by the shoulder. "We can't fight Ecliptor on our own, Andros. We're going to need all the help we can get!" he yelled.

Andros shoved him away. "Damnit, Cassie's in danger," he argued. "I need to get to her. I--" he was stopped shortly by a slash to his chest. As he landed on his back, he looked up into the laughing face of Ecliptor.

"Pathetic. . .all rangers, lying in a row. . .I think it's time to end your misery." He raised his sword and was about to slash it down when he was suddenly struck by lasers. As Ecliptor backed away, Andros felt relief enter him. Cassie! was his initial thought, but when he got on his feet and looked up, he gasped in shock and surprise.

"Whoa. . ." he heard Ashley gasp in surprise. "Is that--another ranger?"

"I don't believe this," Carlos remarked in quiet surprise.

Andros watched as the ranger, wearing a silver ranger suit, jumped off from his Silver Galaxy Glider and land next to him. "Z--Zhane?"

"In the flesh," Zhane replied, patting Andros on the shoulder.

"How did you. . ."

"No time to explain!" Zhane called out, shoving Andros out of the way. As Andros rolled to safety, he noticed Zhane did the same. "You know, it's pretty rude of you to interrupt us while we were talking," Zhane said lightly. "Silver Silverizer," he called out and a weapon appeared in his hand. Andros watched as his friend rushed towards Ecliptor and started blasting him with his weapon. Ecliptor kept stumbling backwards as he was hit several times. Suddenly, Zhane's weapon revealed a sword and it lit up as Zhane slashed it down on Ecliptor.

"Whoa. . .did he just defeat Ecliptor?" T.J. asked in awe as Ecliptor fell after being hit. Andros held his breath. If Zhane's powers are as sharp as they were before he went down. . . To his amazement, Ecliptor just clenched his fist and staggered to his knees.

"No way. . ." Zhane said, surprise lacing his voice. "No one can--"

"I'm not so easily defeated, Silver Ranger," Ecliptor said, gasping. He gripped his sword tightly. "You haven't seen the last of me, Rangers," he said, disappearing in a flash of green light.

Andros wasted not time standing around. He turned on his heel and called for his Galaxy Glider. "Come on, we've gotta get back to Cassie."

To be continued. . .