Renard D'Or

by Jade Daniels

In this universe, Andros and Zhane are gone, Karone is evil, so who's left to save the world? *COMPLETE!*

7. Connections of Memories

Author's Notes: Power Rangers don't belong to me. The characters of Marie Fox and Cyndra belong to Greeneyes. If you want to use them, ask permission from her: pikarangerbsb@hotmail.com.

Thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far. I do apologize for the slow updating. But things like writer's block and real life aren't easy to overcome. ^_^ So now on with the show!

Connections of Memories

By: Jade Daniels

It was something that was almost impossible to believe. Marie had certainly never considered the fact that it could happen. After all, how many people did she know that had come back from the dead? First, it had been Andros, returning as the Ruby Ranger of Ithta. Now, it was Zhane, the former Silver Kerovian Ranger, now back as the Red Ranger. Marie, Gold Astro Ranger, formerly of Kerova, now of Earth, was beginning to wonder if she should expect any more people to come back to life.

The Rangers had escaped the last battle alive, but only because the Red Ranger, now revealed to everyone to be Zhane, and Ashley had left before they could do anymore damage. Now, days later, the two Kerovians were still reeling in the shock of the news. Andros was taking it the hardest of them both.

"Why did it have to be him?" asked Andros, as he paced around Marie's bedroom. The anguish on his face was plain for the Gold Ranger to see. And though she hated to see Andros like this, she could understand his feelings all too well.

It should have been good news, some of the best news that Marie had received in a long time, now knowing that two of her former teammates were alive. But it wasn't good news, not as long as she knew that Zhane was under the control of Dark Specter's granddaughter, Cyndra.

"I don't know why it had to be him," Marie answered Andros' question, "But it was the same thing that I thought when I believed that you were the Red Ranger. I was so determined to get you back and yet at the same time, I couldn't believe that it was you."

"It's just so hard to even think that it's him," Andros whispered, his voice so low that Marie barely heard him. "How can it be him?"

"I know it's hard to believe Andros, but we've got to face the facts that Zhane is the Red Ranger," Marie said. She stepped up beside her friend, "Not all the wishing the in the world will change that! But you've also got to believe that we will get him back!"

Andros sighed and shook his head. Sitting down heavily on her bed, he looked up at her. "I wish I had your confidence Marie. But I could feel his emotions. He was so full of hatred and darkness. I couldn't feel any part of him in there. I.... I don't know if we can get him back. And even if we do.... will he still be one of us?"

Marie sat down beside him. Using both her hands, she turned his head so that his eyes looked into hers. "We will get him back whole. I refuse to think otherwise. And as long he's living, there is still hope. We've both lost enough people already. I'm not about to lose anyone else."

He covered her hands with his own, pulling them down onto his lap. A faint smile appeared on his face. "You always were the confident one. I believe you. We will get him back, won't we?"

It wasn't the answer that Marie was hoping for, but she knew that it would have to do for now. "Yeah, we will." She looked at him again, as she could sense something else troubling him. Immediately, she realized what, or rather, who, it was. "Now, do you want to talk about Karone?"

Andros sighed, standing up once more. "Never could put anything past you, could I?" He shook his head, "I never thought that it would be this frustrating. Finding her was one thing, but getting her to realize her past, who she really is, is another. It used to be that I could sense her every emotion and automatically know what she was thinking. Now all I can feel is this large wall between us."

"She isn't the four year old girl that you once knew," Marie pointed out, carefully avoiding what she wanted to say. She knew that Astronema wasn't Karone, at least, not the same one that Andros remembered. Dark Specter's magic had deeply penetrated the girl, and Marie wasn't sure if it could ever be all taken away. "Remember, she's spent a lot of time under Dark Specter's influence. That kind of thing isn't going to go away within a few days."

"I know, I know," Andros replied, the frustration still clear in his voice. "I can see her trying to break away from Dark Specter's control and she has managed to do that a little bit. She's her own self now, in a way. But, I can't see her as Karone anymore. In fact, she's been insisting that I refer to her as Astronema."

Marie winced, knowing how much Andros really wanted to make things work between him and his sister. She felt like mentioning something about Cassie, but decided not to, not with everything else that was currently happening. "So it hasn't been going any better than that?"

Andros shook his head. "No, not really. I took her to her quarters and gave her a ship uniform. But I don't think it's something that she'll wear."

Marie chuckled, pointing to what Andros himself was wearing. "Well, it's not like you're wearing one either."

Andros looked down at his own outfit, one reminiscent of Kerovian styles. His red shirt was of a loose cut with a large v-neck opening. It was belted at the waist, so that the end hung over his dark velvet brown pants. His feet were covered with ankle high brown boots. At first, he had thought of dressing like the other Astro Rangers complete with uniform. But he had begun to realize that he really wasn't an Astro Ranger anymore, so he had decided that wearing something different would be better.

He nodded, "That's true. But that was about as far I got with her. We didn't get much further from there."

"Did...." Marie started, not sure if this was the thing to ask, "Did you tell her about the Amethyst morpher?"

Andros shook his head, "No, I didn't tell her. I'm... I'm not sure if I should anymore. Now that I know who she was, what she did.... Can I, in good conscience, let her become a Ranger?"

"That is something that only you can decide," Marie answered after a pause. "You were the one who was given the Amethyst. But you also said it yourself, that you knew that it was for her."

"I know," Andros replied, "But like I also said, I don't know her anymore. How can I.... trust her to do what she has to do to be a Ranger?"

"I don't know, but that's why you have to talk to her," Marie said, standing up beside Andros. She had her own reasons for wanting to talk to Astronema, but didn't want to voice them aloud to Andros. Especially not in his current state.

He looked worried, "Do you think we should?"

"Well, we've got to start somewhere, don't we?"

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

It hadn't been that long ago when Cassie Chan had thought that she had found the love of her life. Things had been going well between her and Andros, without too many troubles. But ever since TJ had professed his love for her, everything had just suddenly gone horribly wrong. And now, things had somehow gone from bad to worse.

With the discovery of Zhane and Karone, Cassie realized that there was a side to Andros that she had never known about. These were two people that had been a big part of his life and he hadn't ever mentioned one word about them. Never mind the fact that Marie hadn't told any of them about them either, but she thought that Andros should have trusted her enough to tell her. It was almost as if he hadn't wanted her to know.

Her earlier shopping trip had helped the Pink Ranger to sort out a few things, especially since she had ran into an old friend. Katherine Hilliard, along with two other former Rangers, Aisha Campbell and Trini Kwan had been at the shopping mall, looking for things for Trini's upcoming wedding. That was something that in some ways, amazed Cassie. Here were three former Rangers, all knowing of what was to come through updates by Billy, yet they still managed to live out their lives, even to the point of getting ready for an upcoming celebration.

But, Cassie had gotten some good advice from the three former Rangers, but she didn't think any of it could help with her situation. As she had told Kat, Cassie knew that it wasn't really Andros' fault for the way things were. She had started it by avoiding him in the first place. But she had been getting over her guilt about TJ and had been prepared to talk to the Ruby Ranger. But that was before. Now, all she could think about was that maybe she was driving Andros away.

She didn't want to think that to be true, but what other conclusion could she come up with? Andros hadn't wanted her to know about so many important things regarding his life. It had been tough to get him to open up about anything. She had always felt, in some ways, isolated from the man that she loved. At first, she had felt that it was a ridiculous thought, but now, she wasn't so sure.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Cyndra growled as she looked at the damaged piece of machinery in her hand. It had been the Red Astro Morpher. Now, it was just a mess of wires. During the last battle, the morpher had been damaged beyond repair by her people. But that didn't mean it still didn't have it's uses. Her own scientists were still doing research on the morpher, as well as the Yellow one, trying to discover all they could about the Power Rangers' abilities. That information would go to Dark Specter, as a tool to be used for all of the evil beings within the Alliance.

"So now it's onto the next step," she muttered to herself, vanishing the morpher away. With a flick of her hand, she produced the Psycho Cards. Another flick of her hand sent them into the computer reader. Five morphers soon appeared on the computer console.

Turning on the communication system, Cyndra ordered the Red and Yellow Rangers onto the bridge. It wasn't long before the two evil Rangers appeared before their mistress. At the sight of Cyndra, they both dropped to their knees.

The dark mage smiled as she looked upon her two servants. They were fine warriors, and they would become even stronger now that she had completed her own research on the Astro Rangers. With that information, her Psycho Rangers would become unstoppable. A flick of her finger brought two of the Psycho morphers to her hand. They gleamed darkly with their colors.

"Stand," Cyndra ordered her two Rangers. She held the two Psycho morphers before them. "Do you know what these are?"

"Those are morphers," Ashley answered immediately as she and Zhane stood up.

"Good," Cyndra nodded, "More specifically, these are the Psycho morphers. They will give you two the ability to become the Psycho Rangers. You will have more power than those Astro Rangers and will thereby be able to defeat them easily. As well, the information that we have gathered over the past month has been programmed into these morphers. You will have the information immediately available to you so that you will be able to anticipate your opponents' every move. Understand?"

"Yes Mistress," the two Rangers answered.

"Your current morphers have been tied in with the your new Psycho ones. That should double, maybe even triple your powers," Cyndra continued, "As for the other three, they shall be used by suitable drones, ones that shall be under your command." With a thought, she sent the newly made Red and Yellow Psycho morphers to Zhane and Ashley who took them immediately.

"Stand," ordered Cyndra, "And present yourselves to me as my new Psycho Rangers!"

"Psycho Power!" Ashley and Zhane shouted together. Within seconds, they had transformed into their new suits. They looked nothing like any other Power Ranger suit. Instead of the usual rounded edges, these suits consisted of sharp corners, like deadly spikes ready to cut into anything. The helmet designs made the two Rangers look like demons come to life.

Although she approved of the overall design, Cyndra frowned as she noticed something odd about her new Red Psycho Ranger. For a moment, during his transformation, his aura had flashed silver, red, then to a final dark red. She wasn't sure what that was supposed to mean, but knew that it would have to be looked into before it became a problem for her Psycho Ranger. The Yellow one seemed fine, so at least Cyndra wouldn't have any problems with her.

"Everything seems to be in place for now," she murmured, knowing that she could deal with the problem later, "A perfect design for my new warriors. Demons that will finally vanquish the Power Rangers once and for all. Now, demorph my two Rangers, I want you to rest before this final battle begins. With everything going according to plan, nothing should be able to stand in your way."

"Yes Mistress," the two Rangers replied, demorphing and leaving the room.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

If anyone had told Astronema that this was how her life would turn out, she never would have believed it. Living on the same ship with Power Rangers was the last thing she ever would have expected, especially the fact that she had one for a brother. But here she was, on board the Megaship. Sometimes she wondered just what she had been thinking when she agreed to come on board.

Andros, her brother, had been very insistent. She had tried to talk him into letting her go back to her own place, but for some reason, he had wanted her to stay near him. Something about being able to find her she thought. In the end, after a little arguing, she had finally allowed herself to be teleported on board the Megaship.

He had given her something to wear, but it had been nowhere to her liking. Instead, she had traded it in for something else that she knew she would like wearing. With her magic, she had gone back to wearing her hair short and light blonde. For her clothing, she had decided to go for something black and leather. She was wearing a sleeveless black top, over tight black leather pants, which was over tall black leather boots. Overall, it was an outfit that was acceptable to her.

She wondered what would Ecliptor think of all of this. Her former guardian had always wanted the best out of life for her. While she was growing up, Astronema had lacked nothing. Ecliptor had been very good to her, which was why she knew that she had to use this opportunity in order to get her revenge on Cyndra and maybe get Ecliptor back.

Astronema's thoughts were interrupted as her door chime sounded. The door opened and she saw two Rangers, one her brother and the other, a girl with red hair. Andros and Marie. She looked at them warily, not sure what to say. Thankfully though, the conversation didn't seem like it was going to be long.

"So, how are you K... Astronema?" asked Marie. The Gold Ranger looked uncomfortable at the use of that name. But Astronema wasn't about to allow anyone to call her anything else. "Is everything to your liking?" She didn't look surprised at the outfit that Astronema had chosen to wear.

"It's different." She shrugged, unwilling to show any outer signs of discomfort. "I think I can get used to it though. After all, who am I to complain about anything, when I guess I owe you Rangers my life." She frowned at that; never before had she felt she owed anyone anything.

"You don't owe us anything," Andros said, as if he had been reading her mind. He smiled softly, "I'm happy to have my sister back."

Before Astronema could answer, she suddenly winced and grabbed her arm. Pain flared from her shoulder, part of an old injury that she had thought healed already.

"Karone, what's wrong?" Andros asked, coming up to her.

It was strange, but it was almost like Astronema could feel his concern and not just see it on his face. She wasn't even annoyed that he had called her Karone. "It's my shoulder," she answered, wincing again. "It was injured while I was battling against Cyndra. I thought it had been healed, but I guess not."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Immediately Marie and Andros insisted that Astronema go to the Med bay. Unable to protest, she allowed the two Rangers to lead her there. Already there were TJ, who was still restrained to a bed, as well as Billy, who looked like he was in the middle of taking some medicine. Andros and Marie settled Astronema on one of the beds beside TJ's. That done, Andros began to use one of the scanners on his sister, while Marie went up to Billy.

"Hey, you alright?" the Gold Ranger asked, looking at the medication that Billy was about to take.

The Silver Ranger nodded, looking a bit surprised. "I've just got a bit of a headache. Why do you ask?"

Marie pointed to the medical spray in Billy's hand. "Because that's a rather large dose for a small headache." She turned to Andros, "Maybe you should use that on Billy next."

"Well, I'm done with Karone here," Andros said as he walked up beside Billy. "Hold still Billy." The Ruby Ranger frowned as he looked at the results. He looked at his sister. "K....Astronema, what do you know about Ranger powers?"

Astronema looked at him strangely and hopped off of the bed. "Nothing much really. Dark Specter never taught me a lot about them. All I know is that they're tied in with the Morphing Grid. That's what allows the Rangers to use the morphing powers in the first place."

"Then you know nothing about how the morphers are also tied in with their with their owner's DNA?" asked Andros, "Or how they have to be cut properly?"

Astronema looked surprised. She shook her head. "No. I've never heard of anything like that."

"Billy, how long have you been having those headaches?" asked Andros, turning back to the Silver Ranger.

"Uh, I guess for a few months now," Billy answered, pressing a hand to his forehead. "They've been getting steadily worse over the past few weeks."

"Why didn't you say anything?" exclaimed Marie, dragging Billy to Astronema's recently vacated bed. The Silver Ranger went without protest, showing Marie just how badly off Billy was.

Andros sighed. "Then I think I have a theory about your headaches Billy. It all has to do with the fact that you're still sharing the Silver powers with Zhane." The Gold and Silver Rangers looked at him in surprise. "Since Karone had no idea about the ties within the Powers, she wouldn't have known to sever Zhane from the Silver powers when she tied him to my old morpher. Because of that, the Silver powers are being strained, which is affecting you."

"So, how do we stop it?" asked Marie, looking worriedly at Billy. By now, the Silver Ranger was lying down, with his eyes closed.

"The only to stop it would be to either disconnect Zhane," Billy said softly, "Or me."

Before anyone could say anything else, Astronema's voice broke through. "Hey, did you know that your friend here is under a spell?"

Marie and Andros looked at Astronema in confusion. "What?" they asked in unison.

"There's a spell aura around him," Astronema explained, pointing at TJ, who at the moment was unconscious. She narrowed her eyes, concentrating on identifying the particular aura. After a moment, she knew what spell plagued the Blue Ranger. "It's a Passion Fever spell. Very insidious. It takes over passions, usually those in the realms of lust and occasionally, love. The spell will multiply it and twist it around so much that the victim will become overly possessive of the object of his affections, and almost insanely jealous of whoever might come across their 'territory'. Eventually, it will leave the victim very much in the state that your friend is in."

"That would explain a lot of TJ's behavior lately," Andros said grimly. He closed his eyes. "The jealous ranges...... his emotional intensity..... everything." He looked at Astronema, "So this means that all that was from him being under this Passion Fever spell?"

She nodded. "Yes."

Marie walked over to TJ. She placed a hand on the Blue Ranger's forehead. "Is there anything we can do to break it?"

At the Gold Ranger's touch, TJ began mumbling, tossing his head back and forth. "Cassie?"

Astronema took a deep breath. "There may be something that I can do. I won't be able to completely get rid of it; this is Cyndra's work and she's a much more powerful mage than I am. What I can do is subdue the spell. At least, it'll get him functioning properly again, although he may have reoccurrences from time to time." She came up beside the Gold Ranger.

Marie looked over at Astronema. "Are you sure?" She looked back at TJ, "I mean, whatever you an do for him, it would be great. But only if you're sure."

Astronema raised an eyebrow, as if she was surprised at Marie's doubt of her abilities. "I can do it." She held out her hands over TJ's body. She looked at Andros and Marie, "This is going to take some time."

"I understand," Marie replied with a nod. "Andros and I will go." She came back to Billy. Smiling, she placed a light kiss on his forehead. "Be well."

The Silver Ranger smiled as his blue eyes locked onto her green ones. "I'll try."

"Come on Marie." Andros said quietly, taking her by the arm. "Ka... Astronema, contact us when you're done."

"I will," she answered absently, already beginning to concentrate on the spell-bound Ranger. With that, the Ruby and Gold Rangers left, knowing that they were leaving their friends in good hands. Just as they stepped out of the Med Bay, the Megaship alarms suddenly sounded.

DECA's voice came through on the speakers, "All Rangers, report to the bridge."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

On the bridge of the Megaship, Carlos, the Black Astro Ranger, was monitoring the ever-present scans of the galaxy. Trying to find Zordon had long since stopped being their top priority, now that Cyndra trying to take over Earth. There were others, much better suited to the task out searching for Zordon. But, as always, as Rangers, they had to maintain a vigilant watch for the captured Morphin' Master.

As Carlos looked over the scans, one particular place caught his eye, holding his view a little longer than the others. For him, it was home. But he couldn't look at it for too long. It wasn't safe, especially with the other Rangers coming in and out of the bridge at all times. It wouldn't be good to have them ask too many questions if they noticed what he was staring at. They weren't ready for the answers that he would give.

He couldn't imagine telling them. What could he tell them? That he wasn't human? That would only spark off a dozen more questions that he couldn't answer. More like, he didn't want to answer. He sighed, wondering, not for the first time, why he had made the journey to Earth. He had been having an amazing time here, especially being a Ranger. It was strange that Dimitria had allowed a non-human to take on the role of an Earth defender, but she had said that he would do a good job. Carlos thought that had just been her way of keeping him here.

It was hardly fair of him to think that he knew, but it was a thought that often came into his mind. Dimitria had known who and what he was the moment she had laid eyes on him. She had said as much herself. And though it had been Adam's choice to make him the Green Turbo Ranger, she could have asked for another person to take on the mantle. Why him?

"Why did you let me become a Ranger Dimitria?" he whispered, "Why?"

Suddenly, a small alarm sounded. Carlos noted with dismay that it was the one for Angel Grove. Immediately, he turned on the viewer, to take in the sight of Zhane and Ashley rampaging through the city. At least, Carlos thought it was them. The Rangers he was looking at were in Red and Yellow, but with entirely new suits.

"Figures Cyndra wouldn't stay down for long," Carlos muttered while he sounded the alarm. He knew that he would have to set aside his problems for another time. "DECA, call in the other Rangers." Within moments, the ship computer responded to his order and it wasn't long before he heard the sound of running footsteps coming into the Megaship.

"What is it Carlos?" asked Cassie, being one of the first to arrive.

"This," the Black Ranger pointed grimly to the screen.

Marie frowned when she saw the screen. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get down there and stop them!"

"Wait," Carlos cautioned, dredging up training from long ago. With everything that had been happening lately, he had stared to take on the role of leader, "I don't any of you to go into this less than fully capable. They have new suits, which easily means new powers, ones that we may not have the resources to defend against. So, go into this with your heads, and not your emotions, alright?" He looked at both Andros and Marie. The two Kerovians glanced at each other before turning back to him and nodding.

"Good," said Carlos, "Then let's go."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Four Rangers, Cassie, Carlos, Andros and Marie, teleported down to Angel Grove, only to find themselves surrounded by rubble. Destruction was everywhere. Through the smoke and fire, Ashley and Zhane stepped forward. The Rangers knew that it could only be them, despite the new suits that they wore.

"How do you like the new look Rangers?" Ashley asked, amusement clear in her voice. She struck a pose, hand on one hip.

"Getting a new outfit isn't going to help you Ashley! You're still outnumbered, two to one!" Cassie replied, "Why don't you just surrender now, and come home, please? Can't you remember that you're not one of Cyndra's minions, that you're really one of us?" There was a hint of desperation in her voice. The Pink Ranger had long realized that it would be next to impossible to convince Ashley, and now Zhane, with words to return, but she knew that she had to try at any given opportunity.

"Please!" Ashley sneered, "Why do you always ask that? I remember what it was like being with you as a Power Ranger. I like who I am now so much better. No need to be tied up with stupid emotions like love and friendship. This is who I am now, so you better get used to it!"

"Besides, we're hardly outnumbered, not with our new powers, and these...." With a snap of his fingers, Zhane summoned in three more Psycho Rangers.

"Do I even want to know who could be under those helmets?" Marie asked, surprise clear in her voice. Like the rest of the Rangers, she had only been expecting to see the two Psychos, Ashley and Zhane, not with another three towed along behind them.

"Rangers, I cannot read any life signs from the last three Psycho Rangers," Alpha's voice suddenly came through. "My scans indicate that they may be robots."

"Well, that's one less thing to worry about," Carlos said, brandishing his Lunar Lance. "We're outnumbered here guys, so you three each take one, I've got Zhane and Ashley."

"No Carlos," Andros said, "Leave Zhane to me."

"Are you all through talking?" Ashley asked, amusement clear in her voice, "If you are, see if you can take on this!" With those words, she ran at them at super speed, knocking the four of them over like they were nothing more than bowling pins.

"Oh, that was fun!" laughed Ashley. She turned to the Red Ranger, "Care to try?"

"With pleasure," Zhane growled, grabbing two of the fallen Rangers, and tossing them through the air with all too visible ease. It was a surprise that they didn't demorph when they landed. But that was the last thing to go right for the Astro Rangers for the rest of the battle.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Everything was dark. No, not everything, not anymore. There was an increasing glow, somewhere in the distant. He knew that he only had to reach out to it and it would be within his grasp. But he couldn't reach out, something was holding him back. A true darkness, eating away at him, keeping him from doing what he had to do. But what was it that he had to do? One word came to him.

Protect.

Another word.

Save.

And another.

Fight.

The glow was coming to him now, he could see it rushing towards him. There was a power behind it, one unlike anything he had ever experienced before. But he knew that it was safe and that it would pull him out of the threatening darkness. All he had to do, was embrace it.

"Ahh!" TJ shouted as he awoke. He found himself lying on one of the beds in the Med Bay, with a young woman standing beside him. A young woman who looked awfully familiar.

"Astronema!!" he shouted, trying to move away, but he found that his hands and feet had been bound to the bed. Did that mean that he was Astronema's prisoner? "What are you doing here?"

Looking a little wary herself, Astronema held up her hands. "Whoa!" she said, "You don't have to go shouting at me like that! As to why I'm here.... it'd take too much time to explain, time that your friends really don't have right now. Just know that I've pulled you out of one of Cyndra's more insidious spells."

"What?" TJ asked, still very much confused.

Astronema sighed and began undoing the restraints. "Look, just please believe me, okay? I'm.... I'm Andros' sister." At TJ's very surprised look, she said, "Like I said, long story. The rest of the Rangers are down in Angel Grove right now, fighting some Psycho Rangers, and from the reports I've been getting from DECA, they're losing badly. They need your help. There, you're free."

TJ rubbed his wrists. He looked around the Med Bay and saw that Billy, who looked very pale was lying on a bed nearby. "What happened to Billy?"

"Another long story. Power drain," Astronema answered, sounding tired. "Now will you please stopping asking me so many inane questions and go help your friends? After the job I did on you, I'm no good to them. Maybe in about an hour, but...."

"Yeah, I heard, that's time they don't have." TJ nodded as he hopped off of the bed. He turned back to Astronema, still not entirely sure if he was about to do the right thing. "Even if none of this is true, thanks."

She smiled, nodded and waved him off.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Astronema hadn't been lying. That much TJ could see when he teleported down to the battle site. All around him were ruins, broken walls and rubble where a street should have been. Thank goodness this was one of the many vacated warehouse districts that Angel Grove seemed to have. The Rangers themselves were in no better condition, barely holding their own against the Psycho Rangers.

TJ knew that no one was expecting anyone else to show, especially not him. That meant that he would have the element of surprise. So, how was he going to use it to his advantage? From what little he could see, the Psychos had the superior speed and strength, as well as some strange way of disappearing and reappearing through the ground.

Suddenly, he got an idea, one that had the best chance of working, if could he could get all the Psychos together. He tapped his communicator, "Alpha, this is TJ."

"TJ! Oh, it is good to hear your voice!" the robot burbled.

"Thanks Alpha," smiled TJ, but knowing that now was not the time for pleasantries, "Look, the others are in trouble. Do you think you can tell them for me to get all five of the Psycho Rangers together?"

"No problem TJ," Alpha said, "I'll tell them right away. But why?"

"No time to tell you Alpha, just get the others to do it." With that, he cut off communications and sneaked up, as best as he could, towards the battle.

The others had apparently followed Alpha's request, because now it was evident that they were herding the five Psycho Rangers together. While they were doing that, TJ was setting up his Astro Blaster, with the Booster Mode. He knew that the weapon should be able to spread a wide beam, hitting all five Psychos at once, and hopefully giving them as much damage as possible.

Now all of the Psychos were in place. "Here goes nothing," he muttered, aiming his weapon. "Astro Blaster, wide energy beam!!" With that command, the weapon let loose a wide-spread energy beam, hitting all five Psychos at once. And amazingly, they went down.

"TJ!" Carlos shouted when the Blue Ranger showed himself. "Good timing!" The others nodded in agreement.

"You haven't won yet, Rangers!" Ashley screamed, standing up. Her suit, like those of the other Psychos was badly damage, with burn marks all over. She held out her blaster. "Our mistress commands that you die, and so shall we obey!" With that, she fired, aiming directly at Cassie. "Goodbye, friend!" Before anyone could react, the energy blast hit Cassie, sending her flying back.

"Noooo!!" Andros shouted, running towards the fallen Pink Ranger.

"Dammit," Marie muttered, already getting her Solar Sais out. "You'll pay for that!" she shouted, ready to rush at the Psycho Ranger.

"No," TJ said, "We've got to get Cassie out of here." He tapped his communicator, "Alpha, get us out of here!"

"Yes TJ," Alpha immediately responded, and all five Rangers teleported away in brilliant columns of light.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"How is she?" Andros asked Alpha as the robot ran scans over a demorphed Cassie.

"She'll be fine," Alpha assured the anxious Ruby Ranger. "Her suit absorbed most of the blast, so her body didn't take as much. She'll be as good as new once she gets some rest."

Andros let out a sigh of relief. His mind burbled with happiness and he barely registered his acknowledgment and thanks to the robot. She was going to be okay. That was all that he needed to know. That was all that mattered at the moment. She was going to be okay. As long as that remained true, he would be happy. She was going to be okay. Because without Cassie, Andros didn't know what he would do.

He sat down in the chair beside the bed, taking one of Cassie's limp hands into his own. The skin beneath his was so soft, yet chilled. But, reassured by what Alpha had said, he knew that condition wouldn't last for long. His eyes traveled to the face of the Pink Ranger, wondering anew at the delicate beauty that he saw there. Yet, beneath that delicate exterior lay a heart so strong that he sometimes all he could do was stand and marvel at the strength Cassie possessed.

Andros knew in his entire being that he loved Cassie Chan. Had loved her practically from the moment he had laid eyes on her. There never could be anyone else for him after her. So why was it so damned hard to make their relationship work?

*Why?* Andros hadn't even realized that he had been projecting when he heard Marie's question. He decided to answer it.

*Yes, why?* he asked again, *Cassi e and I are shal'nar, Marie. It is an acknowledged bond and yet there have been so many problems. Is it fate telling us that we should separate?*

*I swear, you are being such an idiot lately!* she said, her mental tone sounding more than just a little annoyed, *Just because you two are soul-bonded does not give you the exclusive right to have a problem-free relationship! Obviously you've been reading too many romantic fairy-tales or some such thing. Like I've been telling your sister here, love is a blessed, wonderful thing well worth fighting for. And yes, there are times when things are going to be rocky, but that's why you have to fight to keep the love alive and strong!* She paused for a moment, before asking a question. *Is it worth it to you to keep fighting? Is Cassie worth it?*

Andros looked over at the sleeping form of the Pink Ranger. He knew the answer right away. *Yes, she is worth it.*

*Good, now will you bloody stop feeling so sorry for yourself and actually do something useful besides being broody?*

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Nearby, Astronema was going through a magic-strengthening session with TJ. The Blue Ranger was laid out on another bed, barely conscious of all that was happening around him. "Okay, I didn't think that I'd be needing to use my powers on you again this soon." she commented, while adding another layer of protection to keep the Passion Fever spell down in the Blue Ranger.

Marie sighed, "Well, since that blast hit Cassie, and the object of TJ and Andros' affections is Cassie.... well, things would have easily gotten ugly."

Astronema rolled her eyes, "This is why I don't ever plan on falling in love. Much too complicated. I mean, with Rita and Zedd, and Divatox and Maligore as examples, I never once thought about having that kind of relationship. It's just too, stupid. After all, what's the point in having your heart stomped on time after time, just because you're searching for your 'soulmate'? Like such a thing even exists."

"It exists," Marie said quietly, looking at Astronema with serious eyes. "As long as we have a soul, there will always be another being out there who complements and completes that soul. Love exists. And you're right, it's a damned complicated thing that will make you wonder sometimes if it's all worth it. But it is. Because, without love, there is no hope. And without love and hope, well, good might as well give up now, because then evil will have won."

For a long moment, Astronema stayed silent, her attention fixed on the spell, while another part of her mind processed what the Gold Ranger had said. Love. It was something that she had always distanced herself from. It was something always to be avoided because it caused nothing but heartache and pain. The powers of Good were always trumpeting at how wonderful love supposedly was, but she had never believed it. Had never wanted to believe it. She turned again to face the Gold Ranger, her hands still over TJ.

"Love," Astronema started, "Love, may be worth the heartache as you say. But it is not something that I can believe in. Not right now."

Marie tilted her head, her green eyes watching Astronema, "But maybe one day?"

Astronema looked away, unable to face the real question in the Gold Ranger's eyes. But softly, she answered, "Maybe, one day."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Darkonda, once known as Doshar Ishwan, sat on the bridge of his tiny spacecraft. As was the usual these past months, his leathery fingers were flying across the panels, calling up bits of information, all relating to one thing: his son. After he had regained his memories, it had taken him years of research to locate any remnants of his family. He had found only one, his son, Solrac. Years after that had led him to this planet, Earth.

Now, after months of searching, he had finally found the identity of his long lost son. But his heart had shattered when he had learned of Solrac's new identity. He knew that it was of someone who would consider his an enemy for as long as he lived.

Solrac was the Black Astro Ranger, Carlos Valerte.