Zhane and Carlos lifted Andros onto the medbay bed while TJ commanded DECA to increase the interior temperature by several degrees. The girls waited impatiently outside while the boys rid Andros of his soaked clothes. Carlos dumped the ruined garments to the side while Zhane dried Andros off. They placed him in a simple red tracksuit leaving his locket with him and wrapping him up in a thermal blanket.

         Ashley and Cassie quickly rejoined the guys and the rangers gathered around the bed waiting for the results of Deca's scans. Ashley held onto Andros' right hand being wary of the burn marks. Cassie stood by her for comfort. TJ leaned against the wall frustrated that he couldn't help with the confusing situation while Carlos stared at the scanner screens. Studying the marks on Andros' left wrist, Zhane frowned.

         "DECA, search for anything in your databanks similar to these symbols."

         "Do you have an idea?" asked Cassie looking up.

         "Maybe," muttered Zhane; then he stated more loudly for the others to hear, "There was an old folk tale on KO-35 about a relic leftover from some ancient civilization which died out a long time ago. It was a pair of shackles that were supposed to be able to control a person's movements. That person was a slave to the owner of the shackles even when the shackles were removed." Zhane held up Andros' wrist so the others could see. "And the person was left with their mark."

         The silence that followed was interrupted by Deca's announcement.

         "Match found."

         The rangers jumped.

         "What did you find?" asked TJ.

         "The symbols match those of the written language of the Shadorian civilization which is believed to have once populated KO-13. The Shadorians lived several millennia ago and consisted of…"

         Carlos cut her off. "What do the symbols say?"

         "Translation unavailable."

         "Damn!"

         Ashley looked up. "What about that story Zhane told us?"

         The rangers looked at Deca's camera expectantly.

         "The myth of the Shadorian shackles is one of several stories associated with the Shadorian civilization."

         "Is there anything in the myth about how someone can be freed from the shackles?" asked Cassie.

         "A person can be released from the shackles' spell by destroying the shackles themselves."

         "But who has the shackles?" asked Carlos.

         "Who else," TJ stated grimly.

         "Astronema."

****

         Astronema sat, legs crossed, on her metal throne in the dark fortress. She frowned as she watched the quantrons scurry back and forth in front of her. Brandishing her staff, she stood up and marched towards where her henchman Ecliptor was looking over various equipment.

         "Why isn't it working?" she demanded.

         "The red ranger appears to have put up a stronger resistance than we anticipated, your Highness," the crystalline being replied. "It may work better if we increase the strength of the shackles' spell."

         "Then do it!" Astronema commanded.

         "I'm afraid that the ranger is still recovering from the incident at the river. He would be of little use to us at the moment."

         Astronema growled, but said calmly, "Fine, we can wait. Soon the red ranger will bring about the destruction of the other rangers and himself."