Disclaimer: Apparently, "Power Rangers" now belongs to Disney, and more specifically to Buena Vista Studios. I'm going to have to modify my "SOTPR" acronym. In the meantime, I shall thank Janette for the name "Sai Kung", and also apologize for making an already confusing situation moreso by leaving all narrative out of this story. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Different Circumstances II
by Starhawk

"Hi."

"Hey, Ty."

"Mind if I sit down?"

"If you're brave enough to mingle... be my guest."

"We did kind of split down the middle, didn't we."

"I think everyone's a little freaked out right now. We don't know any of you, and you guys must hate us for what JT did.

"It's not your fault. JT was trying to rescue you."

"Yeah... that doesn't make what happened any better, though. I think you're the first person from this dimension to speak to me since we left Elisia."

"Didn't Kerone bring you here?"

"You mean Astronema? She and Saryn put us in a shuttle and flew us here, but what were we supposed to say to each other? She's the princess of evil, and he's not exactly our best friend."

"Who, Saryn? What do you mean?"

"Saryn doesn't like the Astro Rangers much. I don't think he'd talk to any of us if he didn't hate Cassie so much. He can't resist a chance to be mean to her."

"But--aren't they married? I though one of the Elisian Rangers married someone from Earth."

"Someone told us they're married here. I have no idea how *that* happened, especially since he's just as horrible in this dimension as he is in ours."

"...Why do you still call Kerone Astronema?"

"Why do you call her Kerone?"

"Because it's her name!"

"Weird. That was the name of Andros' sister, too... It's kind of creepy to think that Astronema might have a Kerovan name."

"But she does. Kerone *is* Andros' sister."

"She's still alive here?"

"She's right there!"

"That's Astronema!"

"She *was* Astronema! Now she's Kerone!"

"You are *not* telling me that Astronema is Andros' sister."

"You didn't know?"

"Ty, Astronema has been trying to kill us for years. How can you think that Andros' little sister grew up to be the princess of evil?"

"He grew up to be the leader of the Astro Rangers, didn't he?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"I'm just saying that if Andros is a military leader, it shouldn't be so surprising that Kerone was too. Maybe it runs in the family."

"She leads the forces of darkness!"

"She leads the people she grew up with! How does she know they're evil if she doesn't remember good?"

"...Does she remember now?"

"Has she tried to kill you yet?"

"Yes! Well... she cast a spell on us."

"Did it hurt you?"

"No... I guess not. But *Astronema*?"

"She's not Astronema anymore! She's a Power Ranger! She helped destroy Dark Spectre!"

"She what?"

"She helped destroy Dark Spectre. When she first defected, she brought information about the dark forces with her. Some of the Power Rangers used it to ambush his ship and destroy him."

"Wow... how did you--how did you convince her to help you?"

"I don't know. That was before KO-35 was freed, and I was still in exile with the rest of the rebels. You could ask... well, no. I guess you couldn't ask Zhane."

"...I'm sorry. I wish this hadn't happened."

"No, don't say that. I wouldn't wish you dead."

"But you wouldn't wish your friends dead, either."

"We don't know they're dead. Maybe JT managed to get them out somehow. Everyone just assumes the worst, but we don't have any idea what really happened. They could be fine."

"Do you really believe that?"

"Do you really think it's impossible?"

"There's a difference between 'possible' and 'likely'."

"And the Power Rangers make that difference nonexistent every other day. That's what Rangers do--they don't just survive, they triumph. That's what it means to never give up."

"...Have you ever given up, Ty?"

"Not when it mattered. Not when someone else's life was at stake."

"I wish I could say that."

"What do you mean?"

"Me and the others... we're fighting for Eltare, now."

"That's... good. If Dark Spectre and Astronema are still around, Eltare probably needs you."

"Earth needed us more."

"What happened to Earth?"

"It fell to Dark Spectre."

"...What?"

"Earth was conquered two years ago. Our base was destroyed and we lost our powers... so we ran. We had a couple of friends who offered us a lift to Eltare, and at the time it seemed like the smartest thing to do. We couldn't fight without the Power, so we went to Zordon. We thought he'd be able to help us."

"And did he?"

"He wouldn't let us go back. He said there was nothing we could do for Earth, and we had to concentrate our resources on the worlds that were still free. We met up with Andros and Zhane right after that, and they gave us the astromorphers."

"You met them... on Eltare?"

"KO-35 wasn't free in our dimension, either. It still isn't. They had retreated the same as us, but they lost four of their teammates before they made it to the Free Systems."

"I'm sorry..."

"So am I. I hate replacing them. I hate thinking there was something else we could have done if only we'd stayed on Earth. I hate running. I hate fighting. And I am so *sick* of this war!"

"...You're stronger than I am, I think."

"Everyone says that, but it's not true! When we lose a Ranger, someone always steps up to take their place. Sometimes it's someone who just said the day before that they weren't strong enough to do what we do, and then they do it. The situation makes us into people that can handle it--I just don't like what it's making me."

"For whatever it's worth, I like who you are."

"That's not me. It's Andros and Zhane, I think... sometimes they're all that keeps me sane. Them and the people we protect."

"Would you have met those people if it wasn't for the war?"

"Their lives would have been happier if they hadn't had to meet me."

"But they did, and you can't change that. All you can do is make what you have now as good as it can be."

"That's not very good."

"Someday it will be. Someday you'll defeat Dark Spectre. Someday everything he conquered will be free, and you'll go back to Earth."

"I won't."

"If you don't have hope--"

"No, that's not what I mean. It's... it's a pretty picture, your someday. We talk about it sometimes. That's how I know I won't go back to Earth."

"I don't understand."

"Do you recognize this logo?"

"The double planet insignia. It's... wait--what are the words for? Do they all say that?"

"No. Just mine and Zhane's and Andros'."

"What does 'Sai Kung' mean?"

"Sai Kung was the last free town on KO-35. Zhane and Andros had it added to their uniforms after their friends died, as a promise to their teammates. To never forget, and to go back someday. To make their sacrifice mean what they wanted it to mean."

"Why does your uniform have it too?"

"I swore my allegiance to KO-35 last year. If we ever do defeat Dark Spectre--if someday ever comes--I'm going with Andros and Zhane. Sai Kung will be free again, and we'll throw the slavers off of KO-35 forever."

"You do have hope, then..."

"Anyone who doesn't, dies. But sometimes it's harder to hold onto than others."

"Maybe we can help you."

"After what we've done to your teammates? Even if we could think of something, we wouldn't ask."

"Look, I don't want to lose them anymore than you do. But I've never heard of any Ranger that turned their back on a whole universe because of an accident."

"The death of a teammate can make anyone irrational."

"Whose side are you on, anyway?"

"All right, all right. I'm sorry. Thanks... for trying to help."

"To be honest, I'm bored. Let's go talk to Kerone."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"No, but I'm pretty sure that sitting here doing nothing isn't a stroke of genius either. I don't know what she can do, but then again, I don't know what she can do. So let's ask."

"You know we'll have to cross the invisible line between our side and your side."

"I'm ready if you are."

***

"Um... hello? Wow, it's cold out here."

"I wish to be alone."

"Well, we don't always get what we want, do we... wait--don't leave!"

"One of us must."

"No--look, I came to say that... I'm sorry."

"Sorry is not enough."

"I--I know. But it's all I have."

"I, too, thanks to your friend."

"Saryn... maybe they're not dead. Did you ever think of that? They're not us, after all--maybe they found a way out."

"'Maybe' is the only reason I'm here."

"You... are you really married?"

"What is it to you?"

"It's... it's more than I can tell you."

"I wear her ring. What significance that has when the only person who makes my life matter is gone, I do not know."

"I didn't know you could be so selfish."

"And I didn't know you could be so cruel. If you do not go, I will."

"Listen to me. She. Had. You! You were together, what? A year? Two years? Ten? You were *together,* and all you can do is cry that she's gone? Some of us were never that lucky!"

"If this is your luck, then you are welcome to it."

"If this is your gratitude, then I don't know what I ever saw in you! Do you know what it's like in our dimension? Do you have any idea?"

"More than you know."

"Oh, really! Then you know what it's like to watch your entire planet fall and be helpless to stop it! You know what it's like to run like a coward, to leave behind everyone you knew knowing that you'll probably never see them again! To meet someone who, against all odds, seems to understand, and to never be able to admit it to anyone! Do you know what that's like, Saryn?"

"I know exactly what it's like."

"Then tell me how you sleep at night, because I sure as hell can't!"

"You are a Ranger. You will go on."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you don't have the luxury of giving up. When your world crumbles around you and you can't keep a single piece from slipping through your fingers, you start picking up the dust. That's what Rangers do."

"And how many worlds have crumbled around you, All-Knowing One?"

"Three. Don't tell me I don't know what it's like to be helpless."

"Then why did you run! Why didn't you stay and die with them!"

"I did. I died each time, as you did when you abandoned your planet. But death is the easy way out. Being a Ranger means that you don't get to be a martyr. You have to keep fighting, and if the only way to do that is to run, then you run."

"Running isn't fighting--"

"And if you hadn't run? You would be dead, and your planet would be in exactly the same situation as it is now. Worse, for your deaths--nothing disheartens a planet like the loss of a Ranger team."

"They lost us anyway! We left them!"

"They did not. One day you will return, you will free them, and they will forgive you. You are a Ranger--you can do no wrong. But if you are dead... your planet is still in chains, and there is no one to save it. This is a lesson I learned at terrible cost: you cannot afford to die. You must go on."

"Is this how you go on, then?"

"I am here."

"So am I, and you won't even let me apologize."

"If it will make you feel better, then I accept your apology."

"It doesn't make me feel better. No, don't--I'm just saying... I really hope they're all right."

"And I."

"Can you... I mean--well, thanks. The, um... I'm sorry about your world."

"Thank you."

"Saryn... I'm sorry; it's--it's hard to talk to you. Normally, I mean. That wasn't true, what I just said... it did make me feel better. Not about Cassandra, of course, but about--Earth. A little."

"Cassie."


"What?"

"I call her Cassie. Not Cassandra."

"Cassie... That's pretty. I kind of like it."

"You would."

"Was that a joke?"

"Perhaps I found some small amount of humor in your response."

"Wow. That almost makes me feel good."

"Dare I ask why it is hard for you to talk to me normally?"

"We're... um, not on very good terms, in my dimension."

"I find that difficult to believe."

"It's--kind of a long story."

"As you will."

"Well, it's like this. You and Jenna are all that's left of the Elisian team, and TJ and I have been together for years. I... even if I did feel something for you, I could never admit it. Our teams are pretty fragile already. All we need is something like that--"

"Something like what?"

"Like... like us."

"Is there an 'us'?"

"No! Of course there isn't. I just mean--"

"There should be. Never be afraid to give up who you are for who you can become."

"Saryn..."

"I do not pretend to understand the situation. All I know is what I feel now, and I know that you will feel it too if you suffer a similar loss. Holding yourself apart from him will not ease the ache if something happens to one of you."

"It's--it's not us we're worried about. It's TJ and Jenna."

"This is not your dimension, so perhaps it will mean nothing to you. But TJ is involved in another relationship, and Jenna has given us her blessing."

"Did you ever lie to them?"

"Did you?"

"We didn't mean to! It's just... one night, we were alone, and..."

"I see."

"It was a terrible thing to do, and it wasn't fair to anyone, but we swore it would never happen again--"

"And it did."

"How did you know?"

"We kept our secrets here, too."

"Really? What... what happened?"

"Ashley found out. Then Zhane. Cassie told TJ herself. Andros also found out, and someone must have told Carlos. I have come to the conclusion that one simply cannot keep secrets on a Ranger team."

"Oh... I think you'd be surprised."

"Are you disappointed?"

"No! Yes... oh, I don't know. No. I want it to stay a secret, because he does. But--I don't like it."

"It is difficult to hide all the time."

"It's more than that... you're--he's--we're horrible to each other, Saryn! I don't even know how to talk to you because I spend so much time hurting him! Even when we're alone, we don't talk like this... we don't talk at all."

"I... don't know what to tell you."

"I know. I'm sorry. It's not your problem."

"But it is--allow me to think for a moment."

"'As you will.'"

"Very amusing."

"What? I like the way you talk."

"Cassie mocks my patterns of speech as well. Recently she became convinced that I write thesauri in my spare time."

"You're the first person I've ever heard say 'thesauri' instead of 'thesauruses'."

"So she told me."

"Weird... I guess we're more alike than I thought."

"Perhaps that is what will salvage your relationship with your Saryn."

"...What?"

"I, too, tried to hold myself apart from the one I loved. I convinced myself that it was the right thing to do, and that the pain it caused was in my own mind. I avoided Cassie as best I could. When encounters could not be avoided, I tried not to speak with her more than was absolutely necessary."

"Why...? If things are so different here--"

"My reasons were no more valid than I suspect yours are. The point is that it was not solely my decision, and for Cassie's persistence I will be forever grateful. She became irritable and impatient with my reticence, and finally she confronted me in a situation I could not escape. She... made me see the flaw in my reasoning."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

"So you're saying it's up to me?"

"I'm saying that I love you, and I will do anything to make you happy. If I believe that our separation is what you want, I will not fight for you. But all it will take is your word, and I will do anything you ask."

"My word... on what?"

"The specific words are of no consequence. Say that you want me. Or that you love me. Or even that you hate me, but that a particular thing will make you happy, and you shall have it."

"I don't think I've ever told you, but... I--I do want you, Saryn."

"As oddly pleasing as it is to hear you say that, I am not the one you must convince."

"Oh! I'm sorry... I'm really sorry. That was--strange."

"It is my own fault for speaking as though I am him."

"You--you're really good with words. It's like... hearing poetry, or something."

"And your voice is like a song I wish would never end."

"Now you're teasing me."

"Perhaps. But only to see you smile."

"Do you flirt with everyone like this?"

"Do you consider it flirting for a man to tease his wife?"

"Do you have to answer every question with another question?"

"Do you not find it endearing?"

"No; I find it really annoying!"

"Ah, my mistake. I suppose you will take it out on your Saryn the next time you see him. Please give him my sympathies."

"You--!"

"Do not strike me, or I may do something we will both regret."

"I... I don't think I'd regret it."

"Then remember that when you see your Saryn again. Please--just go."

"Saryn?"

"Yes?"

"You said you were pretending to be him. But you... you're hers. You're so--hers. And he's not mine, not at all."

"I do not doubt that you are utterly wrong."

***

"So, what's it like being a Ranger?"

"Oh--hey, Carlos. What's up?"

"What's up? I come here all the way from another dimension, and all you have to say is 'what's up'?"

"Um... you're leering, Carlos."

"And you're beautiful. Is that a problem?"

"It might be for your girlfriend. She's not looking too happy over there."

"My girlfriend? You mean Ashley? We broke up a long time ago; she doesn't care."

"Uh, yeah. Not Ashley, Carlos."

"Then who? What are you talking about?"

"See the pretty alien glaring at you from the corner? That'd be her."

"What... Aura?! You're kidding! I thought she was looking at me strangely..."

"You know, if you could keep your voice down, you might make a few less enemies."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I don't want to be on Aura's bad side, so stop smirking at me like that!"

"Fine, fine... are you happy?"

"Don't sit so close. I mean it, Carlos."

"Women! Anything else I can do for you, Your Highness?"

"Actually, could you hand me that book over there?"

"No. I want to talk to you."

"About what?"

"Tell me about this Aura chick. How do you know her? What's she like? Any deadly hobbies I should know about?"

"Sword fighting."

"Are you serious?"

"Totally. Don't tick her off."

"Right... so how do you know her?"

"She's a Ranger for Aquitar."

"Yeah, I guessed that. Did you meet her after you became a Ranger?"

"No--I met her after you dumped me for her."

"What!"

"I guess I threatened to dump you, come to think of it. I can't remember if we decided who was dumping who that night."

"What night? We broke up?"

"I've been trying to subtly point you in that direction, yeah. The night you came to my window at two in the morning and asked me what it meant to be in love."

"I remember that!"

"You do?"

"Sure! That was the night I proposed."

"Umm... no, not so much. Not that it doesn't sound romantic, but--"

"We broke up that night?"

"Yeah."

"Over Aura?"

"Kind of."

"I hate her."

"Would you keep your voice down!"

"No I won't keep my voice down! Why on Earth would--"

"Then I'm leaving."

"Wait--okay, I'm sorry! I'm sorry, all right? I'll be quieter. Tell me what happened?"

"I already did. We broke up, you begged Aura to forgive you for being so dense, and eventually she listened. After you saved her life a couple of times. And begged some more. And chased her all over the Ranger dome... did I mention the begging part?"

"What, was I under a spell or something?"

"The spell of love, Carlos. You're totally smitten with her, so try not to screw things up for your double too badly while you're here, okay?"

"What could I do? He's already screwed his life up enough for both of us!"

"If it's any comfort, he's probably thinking exactly the same thing about you."

"At least I'm with the right girl!"

"...Thanks? No, that's probably not the right word."

"How do you feel about this Aura thing?"

"I think you're both loud, stubborn, adrenaline junkies, and you probably deserve each other. I also think I've never seen anything quite as funny as you teaching her how to water ski last summer. Especially since she doesn't sink."

"Aliens."

"You don't have to sound so disgusted. Some of my best friends are aliens."

"But you're not dating them!"

"Are you sure?"

"Are you messing with me?"

"Yeah. But it's so easy!"

"Shut up."

"There's the Carlos I know and love!"

"Aha! You do love me!"

"Not as much as I love my cat!"

"I can work with that..."

"Not unless you grow fur and pointed ears, you can't. Now go bother someone else for a while. I want to talk to Tessa."

"And I want a decent meal and a large bed in a dark room with my wife, but the magic lamp isn't granting wishes today. Tell me how I met Aura."

"If I do, will you go away?"

"I'll think about it. Start talking, woman."

"Shut your mouth, boy, and maybe you'll learn something."

***

"Thanks for your help, guys."

"Thanks for yours, J--Justin."

"Sure. See you in the morning, guys."

"Get some sleep, man."

"'Night."

"Good night."

"...Do you think he's shorter in this dimension?"

"Zhane!"

"I'm just asking. He looks shorter to me."

"No, I don't think he's shorter. This is why we need sleep."

"Because you can't remember how tall JT is?"

"Because you think it matters!"

"So you admit there's a difference!"

"There's no difference! They're exactly the same height!"

"Shh... I think Ash is asleep."

"Not with the racket you made opening the door."

"Hey, I'd like to see you do better! Who uses actual locks anymore?"

"They do, obviously. At least in the guest quarters."

"Do you think they left us toothbrushes?"

"Do you see 'omniscient' written on my forehead?"

"Come a little closer and let me look. Mmm... nope. No writing there."

"That feels good..."

"Zhane's patented headache cure. I bet you'd be less stressed if you didn't frown so much."

"And you'd be less goofy if you didn't clown around so much, but you don't see me complaining."

"Since when am I goofy?"

"Since you started wondering whether JT is taller than Justin."

"There's nothing goofy about that. That's a profound metaphysical question involving the variability of the spacetime continuum from one multiverse to another."

"Please don't say things like that this late at night."

"Sorry... hey, we have toothbrushes!"

"What color?"

"That's what you're worried about? We escape the Dark Fortress two seconds before it blows the Megaship to pieces, we have no way of warning Eltare, much less getting back ourselves, and you want to know what color your toothbrush is?"

"I'm a detail person. What can I say?"

"They're both white. You either get the one with the cool 'Staraway' logo or the other one with the cool 'Staraway' logo. Which will it be?"

"When you put it like that, it's a tough call. I guess I'll take the one with the cool Staraway logo."

"An excellent choice, if I do say so myself."

"Thought you might."

"Your toothbrush, sir."

"...Too bad they don't have complimentary pajamas, too."

"Don't make me laugh while I'm brushing my teeth!"

"Sorry."

"...Shower, or no?"

"Too tired."

"That's not what you said last night."

"'Last night' was two days ago. Maybe three."

"Was it really? It's easier if you stop keeping track."

"I'll argue that in the morning."

"You all set, then?"

"I wouldn't move from this spot if Kerone herself knocked on the door."

"That would be weird."

"Don't remind me. Can't get my mind around it."

"Well, that's what this little switch is for. See--presto! The world goes away."

"Darkness... my friend."

"Move over. I'm not walking all the way around the bed in the dark."

"Lazy."

"You should talk! Roll over or I'm lying on top of you."

"Is that a promise?"

"You're so romantic when you're almost unconscious."

"Mmmph."

"Sorry. Take your hair with you."

"Hey..."

"Kidding. Where's my kiss?"

"So pushy..."

"Yeah, because Red Rangers are never--mmm. That's better..."

"Shh. Trying to sleep."

"...Andros?"

"Mmm."

"It's been a hard day, you know? Or days, or whatever... I just want you to know--I'm glad I didn't lose you."

"...Me too."

"Love you."

"Love you more."

"Shut up."

"You started it."

"Go to sleep."

"I was trying!"

"Is it always my fault?"

"Yes."

"Good."

"I love you."

"I know."

fin