Disclaimer: The Power Ranger's do not belong to me; to be actual truthful I don't even remember whom they belong to anymore. Oh well, I just gotten into the mood to write a bit about them, so I am not necessary concern about details. I just write, to entertain my friend Jade, and other people, and fans.
Relationship: Andros/Zhane relationship, it isn't graphic to tell you the bloody truth. However, if you cannot handle these types of relationship, please avoid at all cost, and don't take it out on me.
Note: Another thing, I am not really following any continuum of PR, in fact most of the continuum has been screwed with so much, that I am not really concern about order that much like I use to be. -_- Not to mention minor details and all those things, I am more into making some dreams coming true. I also don't really care about pairing, I can write any sort of pairing even canon. So I don't really feel anything about the groups of screaming people about people have to be paired with whom. That is all I have to say, and that is that onto the story.
Chapter 4
Creation of C.B. Twain
Is it pointless to sit here and watch someone that you careful so much hurting from something you said. I watch that individual that I hurt and I see them cry, even though they pretend that everything is fine. The pen pose on the paper, slowly the black ranger set it down, he stare at the words, piles of crumple up papers lay strew all around his room. Pages of printed out paper lay in stacks here and there, the titles of books lay in one corner, while dirty plates stack one side of a table next to a computer that was on.
Leaning his head, he stood up and stretched, it had been two years, when he started to write books, no one knew that he wrote romance novels, to poetry, not even his friends. It started two-years ago when he submitted a story to a contest, he spent only a couple of months on it, trying to make it perfect. He needed the money, his family wasn't doing well and his grandmother was sick, they needed the money. So he did what he could took odd jobs, while doing ranger duties to trying to earn what little money he could get.
It was a small thankless job, until he won first place, then another contest, then scholarships were offered to him, and finally a publishing company that wanted to publish any of his work of art. They would pay him in full for them, if he like he would become a strong author, in the end he research them found out they were true to their word, they had authors of high quality and prestige that he have heard about. He read review from them about the company and the effect of this publishing press, he found out the pay they were receiving for the books. Feeling relieved, he accepted, but he drove a hard bargain on his first book, to get his feet wet. Then the ball started to roll, he kept on writing best-seller after best seller, until he had more then enough money to do what he like to do. His parents never knew where he got the money, they didn't even know, how he manage to do it, all he said was that he found a really good job in a company.
They trusted him so they didn't say much or anything else, they loved him for he would do anything for them, and vice versa. So it went on, he hole up in his room typing day in day out, doing assignments for school, pushing out more books, sometimes if he was stressed out by his duties as a ranger, he would pour out his soul onto the pages. In a sense they were his haven his escape from the world, from a life, where all he would have is his friends, but it was a lonely existence, since he had no one to share it with him.
A soft knock click through the doorway, "Hey Carlos, are you done yet? It is almost dinner time, you should eat." TJ's voice echo from the door with a clatter, when a familiar perky voice fill him with energy.
"Carlos hurries up before Zhane eats a hole through the wall." Ashley giggle, slowly he got up to the door opening it, then shut the door behind him.
"I am here I am here." The Black Astro Ranger put on his face while smirking, "So lets go eat."
TJ glances at his friend noticing the black circles underneath his eyes, "Carlos you need to clean your room, I saw those dirty dishes, and are you eating okay or even sleeping?"
Ashley bounces down the hallway, "Come on time to eat." Saving Carlos from replying from the Blue Astro Ranger's concern look, and question in a way sometimes Ashley was a God sent for her absent minded statements.
They finally gather together around the table, observing his friends, he noted that Cassie wasn't among them, the red and silver ranger were sitting close together, while the yellow ranger flirted shamelessly with them. I wonder if I am invisible. Sliding into his seat, he took a plate from the table and started to pile it with food, constantly reminding himself he needs to eat Leeks to keep well.
"Come on Zhane! We all can go to the movies together." The yellow ranger's voice cried aloud ensuring utter chaos.
TJ kept on looking at the Black Astro Ranger, picking up his plate he pile it with food, while glancing back and forth. The tension grew until Carlos temper snaps at all the irritating noise. "Ashley Shut up and leave the two love birds alone!" His eyes narrowed sharply, "They are both homosexual, they aren't interested in girls, they are only interested in each other so snap out of it!" Everyone in the room froze to look at him, TJ worried more then ever, Ashley in shock and near tears, due to the fact Carlos yelled at her, Andros was looking at him gratefully for helping, while Zhane look at him in appraisal for being observant. He ignores them all, and stood up, "I lost my appetite excuse me."
"TJ he is so mean!" The yellow ranger's voice wail loudly, "Why did he yell at me? Besides he was so mean when he call Zhane and Andros Gay, they aren't Gay!"
The Blue Astro Ranger just shook his head, at the major denial that Ashley possessed at the fact that they are indeed homosexual, now that Carlos had clear the air. "Ashley breath! Have you been taking your pill?"
"Um..no.." Ashley burst into tears again, "I forgot them back home."
"Pills?" Zhane whispered in question.
Andros just sighed, "Yea she takes a medication called Prozac, it helps her mental illness, returning her to somewhat semi orderly manner."
"Ah okay." The Silver Ranger whispered, while watching the girl run around like crazy. "Is she safe like this?"
"Not really, one time she almost blew up the ship, I've already told DECA to make that medication that she needed, so all we need to do is have TJ take her down there to take the medicine." The Red Ranger commented, while looking at TJ, whom nod his head and sighed.
"I haven't eat yet, but to keep your precious ship safe, I'll do my duty." Smirking at Andros, TJ grab onto Ashley's arm and tug her toward the Medical Bay, "Come on Ashley time for medicine."
"But I don't want Medicine." The yellow ranger whined through the hallway, by this time Carlos made it back to his sanctuary, where only he was left inside a world of escape. He didn't notice the workaholic trait that continuously appears in his life, the book only matter for now. Sitting down, he glanced over his notes, then pick up the keyboard, typing sounds echo through his room. *Click*
~*~*~*~*~
TJ sat down back at the table where the food still he was glad that he decided to sedate Ashley after giving her the medicine. Eating a bit, his eyes shifted toward the other plate of Carlos's untouched food. He was worry about his friend, standing up after he had his fill, he gather the plate, and move toward where the Black Ranger's room was located at, he didn't think it was right that he was skipping his dinner.
Walking until he stood in front of his friend's room, he heard the continuous clicks of the keyboard. His still up? I wonder if he is still doing homework. Cautiously he knocks on the door, "Carlos it is TJ, I brought your food to you."
Shuffle was heard then the door creak open to reveal a messy looking Carlos, his hair was this way and that, "I am not really hungry TJ."
"You're going to eat it, and I am going to stay until you finish it." Pushing his way through he stood inside the room, "Why is your room so messy?" Picking up a book, he smiles at his friend, "With whole bunch of romance novels, and even poems, Carlos are you trying to find a girlfriend?"
The youth shook his head, "No," Shutting the door resigning to the fact he won't get any work done, he sat down and started to eat his left over dinner.
"Oh you even have writing books, this is interesting Carlos I never knew you had these types of interest." Eyeing the book the blue ranger stop at each title examining, "You sure like that Author C.B. Twain." His eyes trail over to the poems, "The same author writes poems, I never knew that, though I know in high school our teacher is making us read some of his literature pieces."
"Well, it is a thing to do, after all it is better then watching the tube all the time." Carlos mumbles while taking a sip of the ice tea.
The Blue Ranger walked over and pick up some pages, he drop them down, in shock when he saw the name of C.B. Twain marked on the covers. "Carlos? Is this why you're always in your room?"
"It's something to do." The younger ranger commented softly, "It's also something I am good at."
"Why didn't you tell us?" TJ asked slightly hurt, at the fact his friend kept a secret for this long about the fact he was a famous author.
Shrugging slightly, while laying back a bit on his chair he rub his temple. "Look TJ, I like being unknown author, you see I like being treated as just Carlos. How would you like it if you have people swarming all over you, calling you to work on what so on so forth? I wouldn't have any peace let alone the fact of our daytime job to save the world every day." Picking up a few books, he places them back into their original slots.
"Why then? Why Romance Novels, to literature art works, to Poetry?" TJ mumbles softly, "What led you to this path?"
"One of my relatives were sick, she didn't have insurance to cover for all the major cost," Carlos whisper, "so I started to work, it wasn't enough so I started to go for scholarships to contests writing, until I won them, and I kept on going until a publishing company contacted me. After that I made a deal, I'll write my books would be publish and bought by them, I would use a alias, so that way it would give me privacy."
"I never known, I am sorry for not being there man." TJ pet his friend on the shoulder, "I guess I spoil your secret identity on this."
"Its nothing I wanted someone to know, I was growing tired, even I can tell in my poetry." Hopping on his bed he lay slightly, "I am tired TJ, very tired, I don't have to keep on doing these works all the time, but it is the only thing I am good at." Laughing a bit brown eyes met black eyes. "It would have been funny also to see Mr. Kaplan's face if he knew it was me writing the books, then again, it was funny that I was the one to insult my own work."
"Was it because you were embarrassed?" TJ look puzzled.
"Partly the other thing is that I didn't think I did a good job, it is only a small segment of my past, what I see, sort of like old pictures." Carlos clasp his hands together, "I didn't want to be one of those people that have tons of alias, I just wanted to use one name, one that would show that the individual behind the puppet of a name would be able to continue onward. I came up with the name out of no where, I also needed something that would reflect a different person." Pausing in thought, "I suppose when I am C.B. Twain I am a difference person, sometimes I could pretend that I am the one that created those story, and that it was a great secret."
"It seems like a great secret to me." TJ smile, "But I do wish you would eat more, also get out more, if you keep this up you would get sick from staying in one place. Even though we fight almost everyday, I sometimes thing that what if you didn't have that, then would you be very unhealthy."
"It's not like I am not losing my figure TJ." Carlos grossed in faint amusement, "What are you afraid that I would lose my curvaceous figure."
Teasing his friend the elder jokingly replied, "No I am more afraid that you might add more curves on it like a pot belly."
"Very Funny." Snorting, he pulls his blanket over his head; "Don't let the door bump your rear when you go out. Night."
~*~*~*~*~
"Does it hurt?" Dark Chase clamp his hand onto the wound, pressing onto it trying to keep the blood from springing forward, blood stained the floor, while he look at this brave soul before him.
Kit March grimaces in pain, her bodily was weary exhausted from the waves of pain that flood through the bullet hole wound. "Slightly." Biting her lips, she clench her hand on the muscular figure, "You should leave me here Dark, they are coming, you have to get the antidote to Irene, she deserves a chance."
It wasn't right, he didn't want to leave her especially after all they had been through, and "It doesn't feel right I can't do that." It was a life and death situation, the moral dilemma ran through his mind, leave her to die or carry her, and risk being caught. If they were caught, he knew that Irene would die if he didn't get the antidote to them, then it would have been pointless to the whole mission.
"You have to leave they need you, I am glad to serve my country." March smile, "Just go Chase, this is a war millions are depending on what we obtained. Just go."
Duty over the kindred spirit that he found in this women, in this soldier, "Stay alive, I'll be back I promise." Dark vowed, as he drag her to a hidden recessive of the tunnel, his fingers tremble slightly, as he press his jacket around her, leaving a flash light, and some ration bar. "Stay alive, Kit." Brushing his hand he pressed it against her lips, then crept away going down the end of the tunnel and disappear away.
Kit simply found it ironic that she ended up in this position, but true to her word, the blood slowly leaked from her wounds, she never regret meeting that man. 'Mother' she thought with a small smile spread on her lips, 'I met a person that you would have been proud to call friend, if you were alive now.' Hours ticked by, yet she didn't notice, easing her breath she breath in and out, trying to keep conscious, but the lose of blood drag her downward into a abyss of darkness. Before she descend totally, she heard faint echoes in the corridor, sounds of foot step etch closer to where she was located at, 'at least I won't be awake when they take me,' was her last thoughts.
Carlos lean back, rubbing his neck pops, and cracking noises echo through his body, when he stretched wincing at the tension in his shoulder, and back that protested at him for sitting in one spot so long. Smiling he pressed his finger on the new scenario of books he started to write about. The picture that he requested to be created sat on top of the first 200 pages of the book, a delicate spyglass with vials lined up on the cover and a glove. It was really a work of art noting that he should probably send a letter to thank the creator of such a cover; he made a note of it. Who ever thought I would expand my writing to action with a twist of conspiracy and romance. He laughs softly in amusement; his fingers trace the cover where the words lay in fine gold print. 'Duty Calleth Thee.'
Quaint was a good word to put it, elegantly, and refine, his eyes trail on, for years he dreamt of dreams, now he is achieving a young writer of all things, but the passion for these types of books came from his grandmother. She was the one that gave him a copy of Tom Sawyer written by Mark Twain, that was where the creation of his alias came into play. He always admired the quick wit, with dry humor, that Twain possess in his writing; it also idolizes the sense of adventure, with the childish imagination of gaining something more. C.B. were the initials that came into mind at the time. He didn't want them to find out who he was, sure, he only wrote those initials with the last name, but it was catchy, and now it was world wide known.
However, it wasn't just that which brought him more fame, it was the knowledge of the public that the author use a alias, and that he didn't want to be known, he heard images, and reviews to talks that the publishers and his editors gave during the signings and the publicities of each of his work. June Daily his romance novel editor was delighted that he would expand his writing skills to other categories. When he went to poetry, she was happier then ever, that is when she introduce him to the editor for poetry Rachel Summers, later on each topic category their had to be a professional that range in those area's to edit. Then the next few more editors for literature, science fiction, mystery, horror, kids fiction, and now the action suspense thrillers, which gave him an honest to goodness challenge, however all of these editors were underneath a iron lock contract to know reveal who he was, if they did it would result in heavy penalties.
If only his editors knew that he sometimes diddle dabble around in the fan fiction world reading stories to get some ideas for his next book. Ironic that he would, get inspirations by those that wrote for pleasure instead of profit, but then in a ironic sort of twist he enjoy the pleasure of writing too, not just for profit.
Drifting a bit, he stood up, saving the work he had he turn off the computer that was password encrypted heavily. Stretching, he walk out of the door in search of food, on his way out, he notice Zhane and Andros running around with their dolphin dolls under their arms. They were talking like usual, with a swish of the toy's tail they disappear into another room. Rubbing his eyes he just shook his head, "I wonder what is going on…"
Immediately he regretted those words, when Ashley ran out, a large teddy bear in vertical stripes of yellow and black pattern in her arms she screams out loudly. "Hey you get back here! You still haven't said good night to Bobbi my bear!" Running into the other room to the side of where the other two fled, a paper with the words of kick me stuck to the back of her shirt.
"I wonder if she forgot to take her Prozac again." Carlos pondered, then walked onward, he immediately enters the other room, to see Cassie running down the hallway, her hair curly and bouncy like the description of Elizabeth from Jane Austin, 'Pride and Prejudice', except the girl as Asian and had longer hair.
His predecessor of the turbo powers named Adam appeared in front of him smiling on his head was a red hat with Tom and Jerry on it. "Hi Carlos, sorry but I got to catch Cassie or else I lose the bet. Bye!" With that he jetted off like a little kid, in his hand he held something that resembles a pin pong paddle.
"Is it just me or has this ship turn totally mad?" Carlos shook his head, then walked onward bumping into TJ, he stop and stared at the Blue Astro Ranger in shock.
Standing in front of him was TJ in a baby bunny suit with long bunny ears that resembles Bugs Bunny. "Eh what's up Doc." TJ said noticing the widen eyes of his friend, while looking around for something. "Have you seen my baseball bat?"
The Black Astro Ranger manages to gather his wit around him and choke out the answer. "I thought it was in your room."
"Thanks a lot, Doc." With that, the Blue Astro Ranger hopped away, yes, he actually hoped away.
When he was in the cafeteria of the ship he order his food, placing it on the tray, he decided to stay in his room for his safety not to mention his sanity. Even though he was an author this was just to plain freaky for him to handle, it didn't make sense at all. Sure he could believe Ashley acting that way, when she forgot to take her pills, but the other's unless someone was playing a cruel joke, and the last time he check it wasn't April Fools day, then what could all this be about?
By the end of the day, he was back in his room holed up eating soup, and other snacks that he manage to con DECA into letting him have. A knock was on his door, standing in front of him was TJ once again dressed in the bunny suit.
"Hi Carlos, I need to borrow your glove, turns out Jason couldn't find most of the gloves, since Rocky ended up losing them." TJ commented.
"TJ…can you tell me something before I lend you anything?" Carlos asked his curiosity peek slightly.
"Sure." TJ glances at the clock, "but can we make this quick I am quite late."
Nodding his head in agreement, he searches through his closet, "Well why exactly are you dressed like the eastern bunny? How come Adam is on the ship carrying a Ping Pong Paddle, why is Ashley chasing after Andros and Zhane with a ugly bear, and what is with them carrying those stuff animals of theirs?"
The teen laugh softly, "Oh that, I am sorry, it must have been a shock since you were in your room all day, you probably didn't check the board in the mess hall that told you what we all were doing. Well let me start then, I am going to be handing out balloons for a little girl's birthday party, then I will be taking it off, and playing baseball with the little league. Jason and Rocky will be there and that is why we need the baseball equipment since we are short a few gloves. Today is after all, Mentor week, where we spend the entire time with the kids in Angel Grove Park. Cassie and Adam are on the list to play ping-pong with the little kids that are interested while chaperoning them, until Kat and Tanya comes to take over. Andros and Zhane are spending time together, Ashley still doesn't believe they are gay so that is why she is chasing them." He smile faintly in amusement, "Since you were inside you didn't notice what day it was, not to mention you didn't volunteer and you were busy working on your stuff."
Throwing the glove at TJ, the Black Astro Ranger laugh softly, "Well at least I know that I am still sane, when I walk out and saw the whole crew acting weird, I thought I walked into the twilight zone."
"Nah! It's just us being active with the community that is all, so how long until you finish this book so that you can spend time with us?" TJ stated concern now, "Also did you eat?"
Nodding his head slightly, "Yes mother I did eat all my veggies, also I am going to take a nap, as for the book give me three more days, and I should be done I just need to tie things together, and add a bit more drama, and I am done."
"I don't know how you do it man." TJ said truthfully, "well give me a call when your on your break we sort of miss you."
"Thanks a lot." Carlos smiles, "Go on the kids are waiting for you."
"Alright see you later, doc." TJ wink then jog down the hallway. "I'm late I'm late." He called out with laughter, then slide down to the jump gate.
Carlos smiles, "Alice in Wonderland scenario only he would try such a stupid thing now." With that he went back to complete his book so that way he could be able to finally get some sleep, midway through his typing he heard a screech of Ashley screaming for the other two. "It won't ever be dull in this world." His lips twitches, "Oh well it makes better for the book."
