Disclaimer: Buena Vista's distributing the Power Rangers at the moment, or
so it is said, at the time of this mild update. Story #10 in my From The
Stars series. This is another short one, folks, but a darned sight better
than the last short one. Here Trey and Sharie actually get into a fight.
Face it: They gotta do it once in a while or something is really wrong
with them. *grins wickedly* Erm, anyway, I'm also banking on an idea that
maybe Zhane and Astronema *did* meet once or twice on the sly, and just
didn't tell anyone. (If I was Zhane, I certainly would not be admitting
misadventures like that to *my* best friend.)
The usual acknowledgements to Starhawk for being the lending of the Color Withdrawl concept, and I've got more Mosquitoes for you should you want them (or not).
Takes place shortly after Zhane goes to help the colonists.
Finding You By ZeoViolet Teaser: Sharie helps Astronema and Zhane reconcile...eventually.
Astronema sat on the windowseat in her quarters, staring again at the rumpled picture of Zhane that she had been carrying with her. In fact, she stared hard, her long blonde hair falling into her face as she almost attempted to draw life from the still figure in the photo, needing it so badly, and yet not realizing *how* bad the urge was.
Suddenly, she sighed and pushed the picture back onto the cushion, coughing slightly as she turned her large hazel gaze up to the stars.
*Oh, Zhane...* She thought, thumping her small fist slightly on the glass as she sighed. *Where are you now? What are you doing?*
She shivered, though she was not cold. She remembered looking into his eyes...oh, furie's wrath, his huge, gorgeous sapphire eyes! How...oh, *how* had he so easily managed to do what she had sworn never to let a person do...affect her in such a way!
How, she wondered again. He had done what nobody had ever really done to her before, she suspected....managing to slip past the icy barriers of her heart and really touch her...the *real* her, the her she never, ever let anybody see, since her being evil depended on her hiding it.
He had touched her. Hardly physically, true, but emotionally. Her heart raced madly, even though she thought she was angry at him. After he had manged to get inside her heart, she thought of him endlessly, daydreamed constantly, and refused to pay much attention to what went on around her.
She could not help herself. She had disguised herself as an earth girl and "bumped" into him near the movie theatre, just wanting to see him again. Their eyes had locked for the longest time as he helped her gather up the books she just *happened* to drop when they had crashed. Their hands had brushed, and her skin had been scorched, her whole body had been aware....
When he had finally raced back to his friends, she had found something that *he* had happened to drop as well...a picture of her. She could hardly believe her luck....he had been thinking of her as well!....
Astronema suddenly suppressed a shiver of rage at the thought of what he had done next...standing her up for a date. She had been furiously angry at him, and wondered what he had talked about...what monster had she sent? She hadn't sent any monster! She had been so mad she had been amazed she had not attempted to destroy him on the spot!
And it was true she had tried to banish him from her thoughts after that, figuring it would be easy after what he had done to her!
Astronema thumped her fist on the glass again as she reflected. Boy, had she been wrong. Her dreams of him doubled, at least, when she did sleep. Her body never forgot his touch, and she missed his blue gaze looking adoringly into her own hazel ones....
She had tried to tell herself that her reaction was purely...sexual. Nothing more than lust. But that could not be true, every time she sent down a monster, she found herself silently praying for his safety....she did not want him killed.
*He is supposed to be your enemy, not your lover!* She chastized herself. No use. Fate could be so cruel, she reflected. Surely, after what she had done to *him*, he did not feel the same way anymore....
She had to admit it to herself, she had made a mistake, a serious one, not listening to him. But what could be done now? He was gone again, helping survivors of the KO-35 colony relocate to some other secret area.
*Quit sniffling, girl!* she told herself firmly. *If he isn't even giving you second thoughts anymore, why waste your time?*
*And what if he told you the truth?* another part of her asserted. *He did not mean to be late? He could not help it? You overreacted, Astronema!*
Astronema flopped on her bed with a sigh. She had to quit this somehow. Ecliptor was noticing how tired she was, and it was not due to lingering effects of her recent illness. That had dissappated finally, all that was left was a lingering, slight cough. Almost two weeks had passed since the Violet Ranger had managed to fix her powers, enough time for them all to mostly recover....
Astronema bit her lip. Ecliptor was definetly noticing...the shadows beneath her eyes, not to mention her half-ignored meals, did not help much.
Suppose he dared to go into her quarters and search, and found Zhane's picture. She was sure all hell would break loose. Ecliptor was her second- in-command, but because she had risen fast through the ranks in her short lifetime. He also was her father figure. It meant he would go behind her back if it was necessary for her safety. Bad enough he was insisting on getting her to a real doctor to check her over. If he found out about her feelings for the Silver Ranger.....well, to put it mildly, he would go after Zhane with a vengence. For some reason she could not fathom, he hated Andros to an extreme degree. She did not care to have him on Zhane's back as well.
Closing her eyes, Astronema eventually drifted off to sleep, knowing how her night would be spent. *Zhane, I wish you were here*....
****
Sharie, for one of the rare times in her life, was extremely bored. There were times she was just not too fond of diplomatic missions, and this was one of them. Oh, well, at least it was over, and she was headed back to Triforia and then to Earth, and back to her life.
*life* she mused idly. So, despite all the havok wrecked constantly in her eighteen years, she had a life. One on Earth, and was starting to re- accept one on Triforia as well. Before this, being on Triforia for long periods of time had still unnerved her, and it was so hard to accept, after Earth and space had been her home for so long...where her family had been. Finally, though, she was beginning to bridge the huge gap that had been created after she had been sent away, filling in the missing years with her reunited family. She was helping her mother with plans for her wedding to Tristain, and she was contemplating her own future with Carlos as well.
Idly her fingers rubbed the birthday ring he had given her...it now resided on her left hand as a promise ring. Carlos had done the same with his ring, and had said something about replacing them with "real" promise rings soon. This she did not understand too well, but she understood promise rings...a sort of unspoken promise to agree to a future engagement with someone you loved. Probably Carlos wanted to get ahold of a matching set, to make it more obvious, and she was not sure what to think about this.
What she was sure of is that she wanted Carlos by her side for the rest of their lives.
She was curled up in the main armchair on the bridge, rubbing the ring and staring at nothing in particular. A sudden buzzing sound, however, intruded into her thoughts so suddenly she leaped in surpise, nearly tripping over her smallish feet.
"Yes, what is it?" she gasped at her computer, recovering herself somewhat.
"Unknown ships detected ahead," announced the computer calmly.
"Onscreen," Sharie siged. She started again, though, at the sight of the ships that nearly seemed to be falling apart, they were so battered.
"Were they attacked recently?" Sharie wondered aloud, feeling pity for the inhabitants of the ships. They looked as if they were barely holding together by a few metal bars and kid's glue.
"Negative. No other ships detected in sector." the computer supplied helpfully.
"Quiet. I was not talking to you." Sharie was glad the computer on the ship was not sentient, and would not be stung by the words. Still, she bit her lip, ashamed. She wondered why she was so touchy lately. Her enthusiasm after recovering her powers had gradually faded, and over the past few days, she had been jumpy, growling, and she wondered how she had managed to hide it at the recent diplomatic mission. She could not quite place her finger on the reason....She hoped Trey had not noticed, anyway.
Turning her attention back to the ships, Sharie wondered if they needed assistance. She sent a pre-recorded message offering such, and a moment later, a beeping sound told her she was being hailed. A familiar face appeared on the screen.
"Zhane?"
"The one and only, Sharie," grinned the silver ranger.
"What are you doing here?" Sharie asked. She was still in remote territory.
He hesistated for a moment, then began. "These are the survivors of KO- 35," he began, and then proceeded to tell her of the adventure from a couple of days before.
"Could you use a hand?" Sharie asked.
"Actually, that would be a good idea, thanks, but if you do, you must swear to tell no one but the other rangers where we are going. The reasons should be obvious."
"Cross my heart," Sharie promised with a smile, feeling a little better already. She liked Zhane, he was really cheerful for someone who had been in two years of hypersleep. Still, just now, there was something in his eyes...
****
Sharie soon found herself helping to move things around and doing general repair work as the ships headed to the new temporary colonysite. She worked a lot by Zhane's side, and could not help but notice that behind his forced smile, something in his usually cheerful disposition was not there. His eyes betrayed the fact he was in a major depression. They were sad indeed, and hurt. But he said nothing to indicate this.
Sharie did not need two of them jumpy and depressed, and she cornered him when they were alone.
"Zhane, what's wrong?" she asked softly. "That false smile betrays you. So do your eyes. I know you want to talk, and I am willing to listen."
It stopped him up short, and he gave her a long, tortured look for a moment, as if he would like to take her up on her offer, but still said nothing. His blue eyes lowered again as he pretended nothing was wrong.
The feelings of depression assaulting Sharie's senses did not abate, and she was not in the mood just to push up her barriers and ignore someone's pain. She put down her scanner and lifted his chin with her finger, so his blue eyes met hers. "Zhane, please," she whispered. "It is very strong, I can sense it. What's wrong?"
He drew in a long breath, and she could sense him quiver slightly. "Believe me, you don't want to hear it. You'd hate me."
She blinked. "Zhane, I could never hate you, no matter what you do. You should know I am not that way."
He sighed, and suddenly looked close to tears. "All...all right," he mumbled. "I will tell you, but I still won't blame you for turning your back on me, or at least being angry at my foolishness over what happened. I also want you to swear you will never tell anybody else--anybody."
"I swear on Triune's Honor," she asserted softly. "What is the matter?"
He could not meet her gaze. "I-I'm in love," he blurted suddenly.
Surprised, she raised an eyebrow. "Is that such a problem?" she asked.
"Yes!" he cried out. "Sharie, she is the last person you'd expect, but I can't help how I feel, I swear!" Zhane almost wailed.
"Well?" Sharie shrugged, feeling his pain but remaining nonjudemental for the moment. "Who is she?"
Zhane buried his face in his hands for a moment, and whispered a name that even caught Sharie by surprise. "Astronema? Zhane, you love Astronema?"
He nodded miserably, expecting her to condemn him somehow. But she only said, "Zhane--since when is loving somebody like Astronema such a crime?"
He blinked in surprise at her gentle tone. "Isn't it?" he mumbled. Sharie shook her head.
The Violet Ranger only asked, "How did it happen?"
He clenched his fists. "I swear, Sharie, we *were* in a monster attack. I did not set her up. You know, you saw the data just before you left! Now...she's furious at me, and I have no chance! Not one iota!"
Sharie looked at him thoughtfully. "Maybe you should speak with her, Zhane. Get this straightened out between you two."
He looked at her again, astonished. "You--you mean you are not angry at me? I am not a traitor in your eyes?"
Sharie sighed. "Of course not, Zhane. Love is difficult, and can crop up where one would least expect it. It is something to be handled carefully. Besides, this is something that should be handled between you and Astronema only."
Zhane shook his head. "Hard to believe you are supporting me in this, Sharie. Gee, no wonder Carlos is so head-over-heels for you. But I can't just mosey up to the doors of the Dark Fortress and politely ask to speak to her. Ecliptor would have my head and..." he gulped, "certain other body parts if he knew. And the other rangers...they might not be as understanding as you have been."
She smiled gently. "I am not so sure about that, but even if they did resist, they are used to the strange, it would not take them long." She shook her head. "But I suggest you wait and see how things play out. I have been watching Astronema on the side throughout the diplomatic mission, and she is a lot more complex than I had first thought upon meeting her that first time. She is capeable of mercy at the oddest times, and if it makes you feel any better, she has been distracted lately herself."
That brought Zhane's head up. "Really? Distracted about...what?"
"I don't know, exactly. But she is also doing a lot of secret, dreamy smiling to herself." She finished the work she had set aside. "No, Zhane, I don't think any less of you. If you and Astronema have a thing for each other, then I suggest you let fate decide which paths you should tread. What will eventually happen may surprise you."
She left Zhane in his now-dreamy state and wandered off. No, she thought no less of Zhane, and it was making her think harder about Astronema. If she could love someone that fate had decreed, practically, to be her enemy, then she probably was not 100% *all* bad. Sharie had begun to consider, leately, if there was someone who dictated Astronema's movements more than just Astronema herself. Still, Sharie also had little doubt she would still try to take down the Power Rangers if given the chance. The Princess of Evil was a very complex person.
****
Astronema awoke much earlier than usual, after another night of near- sleepless dreams about Zhane. She was still restlessly pacing her bedroom an hour later when Ecliptor entered, at the end of his rope.
"I heard you pacing again, Astronema," he growled. That's it! I Want you to see some sort of Doctor, today!"
"No!" she snapped back. "I will tell you when I want my actions dictated for me, not before. What I do want to do is get out for awhile. I'll take a pod and leave, but I need to be alone."
Ecliptor muttered some nasty things as he stomped off to do her bidding. If this trip did not bring her to her senses when she came back, he swore right then and there to drug her and drag her off to a doctor any way, no matter how much noise she made or what hell he would pay for doing so!
****
Trey also paced restlessly as he recieved a transmission from his sister. She would be late again. He did not know why this annoyed him so, he certainly did not dictate her life and they had not made any plans. But lately, everything was getting on his nerves. Delphine was at a project on her world, she could not be around, and his mother and Tristain were all over each other. Shayla was on Aquitar with her father also, and he was more or less alone. He both wanted to be alone and could not stand it. Occassionally he did get like this, but he hated it when it did happen...he always felt like he was losing control of himself. What was worse, he had noticed it in Sharie, her jumpiness and shortness of temper lately was getting on his own nerves. Maybe they just both needed to take a break from each other for awhile...so when she had attended a diplomatic function, he had been rather glad...and ashamed for being glad, for it was like looking a gift horse in the mouth to him. She was the most important person in his life, and it made him feel sick to actually be glad to see her gone, upon reflection.
He sincerely hoped he was not a ticking time bomb, waiting to go off. He remembered what had happened last time, and did not want it to happen again.
****
Astronema sighed tiredly as she stared out of the viewscreen of her astropod. Her thoughts were still on Zhane and her hand came up to habitually fondle the carm around her neck, the only itme she had left to link her to her first five...no, six years of her life, a time she had no memory of.
She had had a ring, too, but it had vanished a couple of months before, during one of her "blackout" periods, periods of time that periodically happened, that she could not remember. The last time had been during the time of Dark Dresden. An hour or so's worth of time had simply vanished from her memory.
And as much as she hated the blackouts, she hated even more losing the ring. She had hoped it would someday provide a clue to the first years of her life--a time shrouded in black, except in the dreams she could never remember. All she could remember was Ecliptor, and occassionally Darkonda, much as those two hated each other.
A sudden jolt of her pod sent her sprawling out of her seat, where she landed with a painful thud.
"Furie's Wrath!" she spat angrily. "What in Halley's Comet is gong on?"
"Battle site ahead," said the computer in a sugary tone.
"Battle site? Whose ships?"
"Ship style is unknown."
She saw a couple of warbird-style ships turn around and begin to fire again. The pod jerked every-which way, sparks exploding all over the place.
"Hyperrush core destruction iminent," announced the computer sweetly.
Astronema swore some very interesting, off-color words before she teleported herself to the surface of the nearby planet, milliseconds before the pod she had been occupying went to the big shipyard in the sky, going out in a blaze of fiery light.
****
Sharie had long since finished her work with the colonists, and was doing upgrades on the Sphinx Ultrazord when sirens went off. She jumped and nearly hurled her scanner at the computer, then gritted her teeth as she tried to control her temper. Gods, she had not felt like this since Dark Dresden's attack! What the *heck* was wrong with her, that she could barely keep her temper or emotions under control, buried just under the surface and ready to explode? And Trey, for once was as snippy, she last recalled....maybe it was the emotional roller-coaster suffered over the past many weeks that was getting to them both. Or maybe they just both needed a break. Which made her ashamed...what had she done?
"What is happening?" she thought to ask through her clenched teeth.
"Battle site ahead." This time she bit her lip to keep from yelling at her computer's sweet tone as she rose to examine the situation.
The enemy had swiftly detected her uncloaked vessle and moved in for the kill. With a sigh, she launched into a defensive attack, destroying them quickly. And just when she thought it was over, she detected more turbulence on the surface.
She picked up some very odd readings indeed...and her surprise grew when she discovered that one of the lifesigns was very clearly human.
Surprised, she brought up an image from the lifesigns emanating below.
Astronema? Of all people, Astronema?
It was clear the princess of evil was not their of her own choosing. She was wandering aimlessly, weaponless, in a rocky area covered in trees and brush.
She was also very close to being ambushed by planet natives.
Sharie heaved a sigh. Annoyed as she had been lately, her strong sense of ethics would not allow her to to leave an unarmed woman alone, defenseless and in danger, despite the woman's reputation. Besides that, Zhane came to mind. She could not do this to him.
*Where the heck is her spear?* Sharie wondered. Astronema was indeed completely unarmed. *Was it destroyed?*
Sharie shrugged as she shook her wrists to reveal her morphers. This should prove interesting.
"Zeo Violet Ranger Power!"
****
Astronema leaned against a large rock, shivering slightly as she fought to keep the fear from overwhelming her. She rarely felt fear, she cursed herself for feeling it at all. Why did she have to leave her spear at the Dark Fortress? What in the Unverse had posessed her to go unarmed, without spear or boomerang?
Suddenly, out of nowhere, several humanoid figures attacked her.
"Oh, furie's wrath!" she snapped. "Way to go, Astronema *dear*. You are really in a fix now."
She also cursed at the fact her self-defense skills left something to be desired, since she did not often have to use them for situations like this. The only skills she had ever really perfected were with weapons....since she rarely went unarmed. Defenseless attack was not one of her specialties.
Still, she did know and utilize a few well-placed moves, among her favorites being the knee-to-sensetive area move. Despite this, she was soon overwhelmed.
Until a sharp "Ki-yah!" filled the air and a blur of purple knocked one of the goons who had her pinned to the ground, off of her. She stared, more than a little astonished, as the Zeo Violet Ranger began knocking her attackers away.
She was also too shocked to be angry at the moment as she panted, "What are *you*, of all people, doing here?"
"Saving your hide, obviously," said Sharie a bit tersely. "Your defensive skills could use some sharpening."
"I rarely use them, okay?" panted Astronema, exasperated. "Besides, why are you even bothering to help me? You know, of course, that if circumstances permitted--"
"--You would be going for my throat," interrupted Sharie calmly. "I know. Sorry, circumstances *don't* permit this at present. Would you rather I left you alone with your friends here?"
"All *right*!" grumbled Astronema, sideswiping a native. "I see your point. We can part calmly after this, but the truce ends there, got it?"
"Fine with me. Where *is* your staff, by the way?"
Astronema could hardly keep herself from groaning. "If you must know, I left it on the Dark Fortress, okay?"
"Smart of you," Sharie observed with a smirk behind her helmet. "Going off someplace dangerous without protection."
"I guess I haven't been thinking clearly lately--hey, why am I telling you this? I'd say it is none of your business!"
"So?" Sharie kicked another native away. "I have noticed how distracted you have been lately."
"How do you know?" Astronema panted, kneeing another enemy right where it hurts.
"Nice move," Sharie said instead.
"Thanks--one of the few moves I *did* perfect."
Their conversation did not go much further because an attacker took out a teleportation-shifting device, and hurled the explosive at them.
"Oh, look *OUT*!" cried Sharie, flinging herself on her usual enemy and pinning her to the ground. The resulting shock wave sent both girls hurtling into unconsciousness.
****
*Oh, what hit me?* was the first thoughts to come to Sharie's aching head as she dragged herself out of the depths of the darkness that had surrounded her. She opened her eyes, becoming aware she was holding onto someone. Memory came flooding back as she saw that Astronema was still partially beneath her, and also still out cold.
Sharie shifted away and sat up, becoming aware that they were now in a jungle of some sort, and she was unmorphed. She glanced at her morpher. Nearly dead. Maybe she could get her medkit out of it, but not much else. Certainly no weapons, not a good thing with the princess of evil right beside her.
Although she reflected that the medkit was a good thing, for the wounds she and Astronema had appeared superificial, easily cured.
Sharie vaguely recalled something else as she considered this. Those readings she had seen from orbit--they had shown Astronema as human. Sharie did not know how, considering the girl's rather nasty reputation. Considering her looks, it had to mean Astronema actually was quite young-- no more than eighteen or nineteen, Sharie guessed. Young indeed to have created as much havok as Astronema had wrought over the years.
A few moments later, Astronema awoke. She blinked, dazed, then jerked bolt upright when she saw Sharie calmly watching her. Reflexively, she reached for her staff. Not finding it there, she looked at Sharie in shock, then Sharie saw memory fill her gaze. She barely relaxed her defensive pose.
"Oh, yeah...where are we?" she groused, realizing how sore she was.
"I don't know. Zeo Medkit!"
It appeared. Sharie raised an eyebrow at Astronema. "Are you going to let me help you or not?"
Astronema bit her lip. Gods, this had been a strange day. Trust the violet ranger? She hoped she would not regret this.
*I've been through worse...* Get it over with," she snapped reluctantly.
"You're welcome, too," said Sharie with a tired grin.
Astronema blinked, taken aback. For some reason, she felt slightly guilty. "Uh....th-thanks, for saving me...I guess..." she said uneasily.
Sharie could not help but muster a sly grin. "Does that mean our truce can extend a little while longer? I can't morph here, you have a slight advantage more than you would have otherwise. But if I can get my teleporter working, we can both get out of here and back where we belong. Would you really try to destroy someone who may be your only chance of getting out of here?"
Astronema blanched, realizing Sharie was right. "Okay, but just until we get out of here. And don't antagonize me."
Sharie fought the impulse to roll her eyes as she said nothing, only turned the scanner on her rival. Her brow furrowed. "Boy, you have been really neglecting yourself lately, haven't you?"
"What makes you say that?" Astronema asked defensively.
"I know you were down with the same illness that almost killed the rest of us a couple of weeks ago," said Sharie sensibly. "You should have recovered enough, but you are showing signs of fatigue, you have shadows under your eyes, and signs of stress are permeating your every being."
Astronema sighed, raising a hand to her temple. She lacked the strength to argue at the moment. "I haven't--been sleeping well, lately," she mumbled, as if to explain it.
"That's an understatement. And I thought Zhane looked miserable. You look worse for the wear than that poor boy."
"Zhane?" Astronema's head came up. "Zhane? How is he? Is he hurt?" realizing what she had just blurted, her hand flew to her mouth and her hazel eyes looked downwards, embarrassed..
"Zhane is fine. His only problem is...." Sharie paused, seeing the urgent espression on Astronema's face and shadowing in her hazel eyes. It confirmed that she still felt very strongly for the Silver Ranger. She knew then, what she had to do. "...his only problem is he misses you, Astronema."
Astronema gasped faintly, feeling her face turn very, very red. "...You...know about that? I thought Zhane would never dare tell anyone, considering...."
Sharie nodded quietly. "Zhane told me what happened, Astronema, because he knew that I could not...would not condmen him...for loving you."
Now Astronema went pale. Suddenly, she burst out, unable to help herself, "No! He doesn't care for me--he stood me up! He is probably still laughing deliberately at me--I sent no monster that day!"
"Ecliptor headed the attack that day." Sharie said.
"So he claimed," mumbled Astronema. "He disobeyed me. It was without my orders."
"And that is why Zhane is not at fault," said Sharie. "Don't you know how much it is hurting him with you so furious at him?"
To Sharie's surprise, Astronema sank completely down and buried her face in her knees. "I know...he wasn't at fault...but I blamed him anyway," she heard the girl mumble. "I was just so mad..." she raised her head, and Sharie was even more surprised to see her lips tremble. "He...he still cares for me?" she asked hesistantly.
Sharie nodded. "Yes, very much so. And he is miserable because he wants to talk to you and explain. The question is....would you want to talk to him, too?"
There was a moment of slience before Sharie heard Astronema's strained whisper. "...Yes..."
Impulsively, Sharie could not contain her next words. "If we get out of here, I'll do you a favor, okay? I can help you arrange a secret meeting, since I doubt you know Zhane's wherabouts."
"Would you?" Astronema blurted before frowning. "But why? Why would you even *condone* this, much less help us? I am your enemy!"
"Zhane is my friend. I'd do anything to help him, and when it comes to love, I am pretty nonjudemental."
"Lucky you. But if you can arrange it....I will stop nitpicking you in battles, okay? A bargain for a bargain....but if you get in my way, however, I'm afraid that is your problem. Here's some advice, too: Beware of Dark Spectre. He sees you as much more than a slight threat...I fear he may have special plans for you."
Sharie considered this, and also considered delicately prying information out of Astronema about Zordon, then dismissed it. It was too much of a risk. Not when she barely, but finally, had Astronema's trust, however temporarily. Instead, she only said, "Okay, I will see about dragging Zhane away for a couple of hours. Shouldn't be hard."
Astronema toyed with the pendant at her throat. "Thank you," she felt compelled to say, even as it went against her training. "Few people have ever been...kind to me before. About the only one....was Zhane."
Sharie sighed. "Zhane is that way." Inadvertently, her eyes were drawn to where Astronema was playing idly with her locket, and for the first time, she got a good look at it as the design flashed in the sunlight.
She suddenly felt as if she had been kicked in the stomach..
Astronema noticed her staring, and saw Sharie go pale. "What is it?"
That pendant--or locket. Where did you get it?"
"What is this, the day of my life story? I've had it since I was small, okay? I had a ring, too, with the same design, but it disappeared when Dark Dresden was attacking Earth. Why? Do you know anything?"
Sharie swallowed. Something told her not to voice aloud the frantic, disbeliving thoughts whirling around in her mind.
****
Still, she knew she had to voice some reply, for Astronema was staring at her. "The design...I've seen it before, somewhere, but I don't remember, exactly..." It was a lie, but all hell could break loose if she said anything to the contrary. And surely it was not real...coincidence, maybe, but nothing more! It could not be!
Now it was Astronema's turn to go pale. "Where? Where did you see it? The pendant is my last link to my first six years--I remember nothing of that time. I only know it was...important."
Sharie swallowed again. "Astornema...how old are you? I think you are a lot younger than I first thought."
Astronema rolled her eyes and wondered why she kept complying with the Violet Ranger's nosy questions. "I recently turned eighteen, now are you satisfied?"
"Date of birth?"
Now this was something Astronmea knew for certain. It was one of her few memories...her birthdate. She sighed and mentioned a date that made Sharie's blood run cold, and any color left in her face flee.
Sharie knew she was pushing her luck, but she had to know. "Astronema...the attack with Dark Dresden...did you go to one of Darkonda's secret bases when I was there with Ashley?"
"No! I don't know where Darkonda's bases are. I only know that during that time I had one of my blackout periods. It is when I lost my ring."
"Blackout periods?" Sharie was puzzled, but if she was right...
"I have periods of time where I don't remember anything. That time was the last occurence."
Sharie sighed, resolute. Something was strongly warning her not to say what she was fairly certain of now. "Have you seen a doctor about it?"
"Yes," Astronema sounded defensive. "Nothing is wrong with me. I am not crazy, if that is what you are implying."
Now Sharie *did* change the subject. "I need a couple of fruits from that nearby citrus tree, for the acid. So I'm going to get them, okay?"
Astronema stood up, limping, following her. "How would you? They are way out of reach," she observed.
"Telekenesis," said Sharie, as if it were obvious.
The princess of evil shrugged. "I can help you with that." She reached her hand out and one of the fruits pulled itself free, floating down into her outstretched hand.
"Impressive," Sharie did the same, getting two more. She never used her telekenesis unless she absolutely had to. "I don't like doing that, it bothers me for some reason. You seem to be pretty good at it."
Astronema shrugged. "I've always been pretty good at it, I guess, at least for as far back as I can remember."
Sharie thought about this as she went back to one of the scanners she had been toying with. "I should be able to midfy this enough to cut through the atmospheric interference so I can call upon my staff. Then I can send you teleporting to wherever your Dark Fortress is."
"And Zhane?"
"Pick a spot where you can be alone for a few hours. I will handle Zhane."
Astronema nodded. Sharie worked in silence for awhile, her thoughts screaming at her. Astronema...*was* Karone! Poor Andros, he would be *so* hurt if he knew...and yet, Astronema herself did not appear to know this....an evil spell? Sharie did not know. She did not sense anything like that, but she could not be sure.
And she certainly could not tell Andros this. He would never believe her, claiming it was all circumstantial evidence. The only way he would ever find out the truth if he was confronted with this himself, and she was not about to do that for either of them. It would spell disaster. Still, it would have to come out soon, but not out of her lips so suddenly. But she had to tell someone else, just in case....Trey. She was certain that, testy has he had been lately, he would not be angry at her for helping the princess of evil and the silver ranger have a secret rondevouz.
The scanner buzzed. "Okay, it is cutting through the interference. Violet Power Staff!" Sharie called. With a flash, it appeared in her outstretched hand.
She turned to Astronema. "Are you ready? Do you have a place set in mind?"
Astronema gave her a small smile and whispered a place and time in the near future. "And....thanks, Sharie. I'm afraid that, after this, except for the meeting place, our truce is at an end. Dark Spectre would have my hide if he knew about anything like this...or Zhane."
Sharie only smiled back before sending Astronema teleporting away in a purple flash.
Sharie vanished herself, thinking of an excuse to drag Zhane away for a few hours.
****
Aw, whyja drag me out here, anyways?" muttered Zhane. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
Sharie inhaled slowly. "Actually, Zhane, it is not me, specifically, who wants to talk to you."
"Then who? Where?"
"There." Sharie indicated a nearby planetoid. "The person is waiting there for you." She slipped a small metal coin inot the folds of his black- and-silver jacket. "This is an emergency beam-out signal. Tap it three times and you will telelport back here immediately. Now, go. Do not keep her waiting."
His sapphire gaze was clearly puzzled before he vanished.
Sharie simply settled back, contenting herself for a long wait. She was not so foolish as to send Zhane in without a way to get him out quickly....after all, the person in question *was* a princess of evil. She hoped this went well.
****
He materialized in a dimly lit room, with a few windows showing a starry sky. Windowseats adorned the room, also.
"Where am I?" he wondered aloud.
"In a little hideaway of mine," said a voice that made his heart skip a beat. He whirled.
"Astronema?"
"Yes," she said simply.
He looked confused. "Why...am I here? Why did Sharie...."
"Sharie and I had a little talk," Said Astronema quietly. "I wanted to see you, Zhane. I wanted to say...I'm sorry."
"...sorry?" he echoed. No wonder Sharie had slipped an emergency teleportation device on him.
She sighed and hugged her slender frame. He could not help but notice she was still completely unarmed. "Yes....I was wrong, Zhane. You did not lie to me. Sharie confirmed the monster problem."
"Is...that all?" he stammered as she came closer to him.
"No..." hazel eyes rose to meet sapphire ones. "Zhane...how do you feel about me...*really* feel?"
He swallowed. "Do you want the truth?"
She nodded, her eyes...imploring him? he could not deny such a pleading look. He took a deep breath. "I love you, all right? Strange as it may sound, I cannot get my mind off you." In spite of himself, his hand came up to lightly touch her face. He saw her shadowed eyes and frowned. "What...why do you look so....fatigued? That illness we had was weeks ago. You should have been recovered."
She smiled slightly, but it made Zhane's heart lurch. "Is it that noticeable? I am not ill, Zhane...only heartsick."
"...heartsick..."
"Yes, Zhane...for you." Unable to stop herself, her arms slid around his waist. "This is what happens to me when I love you."
"Astronema..."
"Let me..." she whispered hoarsely as one of his hands came up to the back of her neck. He could feel her warm breath against his lips as she tilted her face upwards, towards his. "Let me put this to you in a way I know you will understand." Her arms tightened about him. "Shut up and kiss me, Zhane."
Suddenly, he knew it was a tone he would obey without heistation. Gently, he cupped her chin and eased her lips to his, his senses reeling.
Astronema felt the most searing of fires sweep through her body with the gentle touch. It was unlike anything she had ever before felt, and it pushed her mind into a tailspin. She made no objection when he crushed her slender frame to him, indeed eagerly welcomed it. Gone were any lingering thoughts on the foolishness of loving somebody from the good side. Gone were any thoughts at all, save for the incredible, overwhelming sensations coursing through her blood, roaring, pounding with every frantic beat of her heart.
Overshadowing it all was the vague thought that this was *not* wrong, this was right, very right. It did not feel vile to her like the other few she had kissed, the complete and overwhelming sense of belonging here in his arms was giving her the most complete feeling she had ever before known....and another part of her feeling desperately incomplete, a sudden fire and urging to seek the satisfaction that had lain dormant for so long, buried within the heart of someone not designed for evil in the first place...a heart that could feel love in it's entirity, and not be pushed to hide it.
"Zhane..." she moaned softly as his tongue pushed into her mouth, teasing hers with an abominable ease that left her aching for more. His fingers ran through her hair, and suddenly, he found himself being crashed by wave after wave of need, and it instantly seemed the hardest thing to do to keep his hands from straying where they should not go.
"As-Astronema..." he gasped, forcing himself to break the lip contact. "I-- I can't keep doing this...not when you do this to me."
She looked at him, gasping for air, and her hazel eyes widened in surprise. She actually looked--innocent? "Zhane? What am I doing to you that is so wrong?"
That wide-eyed innocence was even more appealing, and he swallowed painfully, trying to calm his searing blood. "Nothing wrong in that sense..." he ground out hoarsely. "Only in the sense that if it goes too far, it may be to late. I have no intention of dishonoring you, Astronema. I am not that type of guy."
She blinked as she realized what he was implying. Still, if this did not happen *now*, she was afraid she would never get another chance. "You would not dishonor me," she murmured. "They don't own me like that, to regulate my movements so."
"But how much would we respect ourselves afterwards?" he had to point out, forcing himself not to touch her, lest he do something unforgiveable. "I am not the loose type, Astronema. I don't want to make you feel used."
A ripple of astonishment went through her. "You...would care about me so much?" she had to ask. For some odd reason, actual tears stung the back of her eyes. "Zhane, I would not feel used, I assure you....and I may never have the chance to be with you like this again. The next time I see you, it could be across the battlefield, no matter how much I might pray for your safety as I have done so much of late."
She closed her eyes, and was mildly surprised to feel him kiss her again-- gently, this time. "I know," he confessed. "I am afraid of that, too."
"I wish you and I could just run away together," she murmred with a faint smile. "Go to where no one knows us--but I can't leave. Not yet. There is too much at stake in my life--and no doubt yours. Life," she sighed. "It is cruel."
"It is cruel to seperate us," he agreed. "But I don't particularly think this is cruel." He leaned down and kissed her again.
"Mm-mm..." she mumbled, agreeing with him wholeheartedly. Her hands managed to find their way around his neck, and he suddenly felt her fingers there, teasing the nape of his neck as the intensity and hunger of the kiss more than doubled. One of her hands left his neck to wander down his chest and back upwards, and he almost lost coherent thought. Suddenly, he knew she was making it very clear she still wanted him.
"I am not stone, Astronema," he groaned softly. "Please don't lie to me...are you sure?"
For answer, she leaned into him again, opening her mouth and this time, it was her tongue who sought his with a vengence. She, who had been one to ignore her heart for most of her life, now followed it wholeheartedly, and eventually, she was glad she did, as both threw caution to the wind and let the paths of destiny take over for awhile.
****
It took the pair awhile to stir. Zhane was rather startled to awaken by kisses pressed against his neck and traveling upwards to his lips, and he was gratified that the look in her eyes told him, without words, that this had not been a mistake. He smiled and kissed her again before reluctantly pulling away. "I am afraid that we may be missed soon, Astronema," he had to remind her as he pushed her clothes into her hands. "Didn't you say something about nobody knowing that you are here? Much less with me?"
She made a face. "I'm afraid that is true. Only Sharie, since she acted as go-between--I still can't believe she had it in her to condone such a stunt, much less help us."
"Sometimes I think she knows things about us that we don't even know ourselves," he had to admit. "And yet, she is the most mysterious person I know. I wonder if it's even fair."
She nodded in agreement as they finished dressing, then her face became somber as they stood up, and she found herself standing very close to him. She fought to say it, then sighed. "Zhane....my word, by reputation, my not be the best," she stumbled as he caught her hands and his piercing blue eyes met hers. "But...believe me when I say...I will never forget this...never. Not even if we can never do this again." She leaned up and kissed him lightly, as if they were sealing something between them. He did not disbelieve her, and was dimly surprised to feel her press something into his hand.
He unfolded it, and gave her a startled glance. It was her picture, the one he thought he had lost.
"Where did you get this? I thought I had dropped it or something."
"You dropped it outside that theatre when you went to see that movie--'Star- crossed Lovers' I think it was."
"And how did *you* find it, may I ask?" he suddenly sounded amused and embarrassed both at once.
"*Think*, Zhane. Was there something familiar about that blonde girl who bumped into you that day?"
Suddenly, Zhane felt like an idiot, and his foolish grin compunded it. "That...that was you?"
"Yes," she giggled softly.
"I should have known," he murmured, red-faced as he smacked his forehead with his hand.
"I could not get you off my mind," she confessed. "I just *had* to see you." The sparkle in her eyes faded, and so did her smile. "I have to go," she murmured. "You see, not even Ecliptor knows of this place, and he will be frantic. He is, after all, my protector and father figure."
Tears formed in her eyes. "Goodbye, Zhane," she whispered, leaning up and pressing her lips to his once more. The soft, gentle kiss was one he responded to with so much heartfelt emotion, her heart wrenched. She understood then that Zhane, for all his cheerful personality, was also a person of seriousness and deep emotion underneath. Leaving was just as hard for him as it was for her aching heart.
Their lips clung, and the kiss did not end. Neither could bear to do so, for it would mean saying good-bye. Which could mean a good-bye of forever, and that forever could mean their hearts shattering to dust. Love found would not mean love lost, but it could spell disaster nonetheless.
Only when his brain was on fire from lack of oxygen did he release her, and she stepped back, her expression bravely trying to be positive for his sake. He could not bring himself to say a permanent goodbye, but he did say, "I will not say goodbye. Until we meet again should suffice." He flashed her one more smile, the one that had made her fall for him in the first place, then he was gone, replaced first by a flash of silver light, then nothing, leaving her alone. Then, and only then, did she let the tears seep down her face, for there was nobody around to chastize her for it.
****
Sharie had been trying to read, but the fact remained that she had let the silver ranger alone with Astronema for awhile now. Although she felt no impending danger. She usually did feel danger before it happened, and nothing was alerting her senses now. She stifled her concern and tried to lose herself in her book again, but was privately glad when the flash of silver announced Zhane's arrival.
Quickly, she put the book aside. "Are you ready to leave?" she asked softly.
His blue eyes were lowered, and she saw him open his mouth and shut it. He was trembling, and she got up at once and led him to a bench. Only then did his emotions give way, althogh Zhane surprised even himself by starting to silently cry.
"Did something bad happen?" Sharie asked as she let him hug her tightly, his head drawn to her shoulder. She hoped this had not been a big mistake, dragging him out here....
"No," he whispered, dragging his sleeve across his flushed face. "It's just that...I...Sharie...thank you," he managed.
He could say no more, but his hand grasping hers told her exactly what had transpired, and it had not been a bad thing.
"You are my friend, Zhane," she said softly. "It is not easy seeing friends unhappy, you know."
"How did you arrange it?" he asked, dragging his sleeve across his face again. "I admit you shocked me to my toes, Sharie, when I saw who was standing in the shadows. I briefly wondered what you had gotten me into."
Sharie hid a smile as she briefly related how her pact with Astronema had come about. However, she stuck to the promise she had made herself, and did not reveal how she had discovered Astronema was Karone. "Zhane, will you be okay?"
"I'll be fine," he sighed. "But it does hurt, Sharie, when you are holding the woman you love one minute and facing the realization that the next you could be seeing her across the battlefield, on the opposite side."
"So you did work things out?"
"Yes," he murmured, and suddenly blushed. Sharie was not surprised when this gave her plenty of indication *how* well things had worked out. It had worked out *very* well indeed, or he would not be acting so un-Zhane- like.
She did not say anything to the fact, but she had to remind him of something. "Zhane, of course you know I cannot do this a lot. Maybe not again for a long while, if at all. My truce with Astronema is ended."
He nodded. "I understand. You already went far beyond the call of friendship, Sharie. I am in your debt."
"You are *not* in my debt," she countered. "I did what had to be done. And my lips are for the most part sealed on this matter. The only one I will be forced to tell is Trey, and for different reasons entirely. But I know my brother, I doubt if he would condemn you either."
Zhane nodded in agreement, and was quiet for most of the journey back to the colonysite.
****
Sharie sat in the windowseat of her rooms on Triforia, idly toying with the crystal on her wrist, the one that Trey had given her on their birthday. It was fluctuating rapidly between yellow and an omnious grey, reflecting her conflicting emotions.
She could not stop, it was what the crystal was designed to do. The yellow reflected her relief to finally be someplace familiar, but the grey showed her uncertainty and her jumpy testiness that refused to leave her. And it was increasingly growing, as if she was a ticking time bomb ready to explode.
*At least it's accurate*, she mused idly. She wondered if she really should tell her brother what she found out. He had not really been surly drectly to her, but she did sense he preferred everyone at a distance at the moment. She had not seen him this way in years, and she did not quite recall the trigger.
Or what was bothering her, for that matter. It was as if she should know, but for some reason, the cause would not reveal itself.
*And I thought Triforians never forgot these things.* With a sigh, she got up and wandered outdoors. The problem of Astronema/Karone loomed heavily in her mind, and she hoped no one sensed her gloom.
*How can I tell him?* she thought again. *How could I possibly tell Andros his sister has been under his nose and the cause of much of his misery all this time?! He would never believe me....he must find the truth on his own!*
But was it right, keeping such a secret from him? She was afraid that if he did not disbelieve her, it would surely destroy him unless he were to face it head-on.
And the girl that she and Ashely had seen in Darkonda's hideaway....it had indeed been Astronema. But she had not known it...."blackouts", she had said...was somebody influencing her somehow, that she could not recall her past?
Sharie was so deep in thought that as she wandered the large gardens of the Royal House, she did not pay much attention to her surroundings. She was just rounding a corner of a garden wall when she crashed headlong into somebody.
She gasped in surprise as they collided, and stumbled backwards, crashing to the ground. A sharp pain shot through her wrist as she landed on it hard, and she was sure she heard a faint *snap*.
"Hey, watch where you are...." said an impatient voice, then Sharie looked up over her pain to meet her brother's startled gaze.
"Oh my goo--I am *so* sorry, Sharie," he stumbled, scrambling to his feet and reaching to pull her up.
She silently accepted his help, clutching her wrist as soon as she was on her feet and biting her lip over the pain. His eyes grew bigger as he saw her pain and he gestured. "Let me see your wrist, Sharie," he said softly, but firmly. "Gods, what did I do *now*?"
She shook her head and backed away from him. "It is nothing. I am fine."
"Dammit, Sharie, don't be difficult to me just now, please," he almost pleaded. She stared at him in shock--she had almost never heard him sound like that, certainly not in years! "Just let me see your wrist."
She tried not to sigh--it was too painful, anyway--as she slowly extended her wrist to him. It did not look disfigured or swollen, but she was willing to bet she had snapped something, from the pain coursing through her hand and wrist.
There was blood on it too, from where her arm had gashed sharply across some brambles as she had tumbled. Dismay covered his features, and his fingers felt along her wrist till he came to the area of her hand and wrist that contained the many tiny bones. A frown covered his face as his fingers sought out the area where there were many tiny bones in her wrist.
Locating it, he pressed down firmly.
She uttered a sharp yelp and jerked her hand away. "Ow! There!"
She heard him swear softly. He had felt where some of the tiny bones weren't as they should be. "Dammit, out of everything else, I had to break my own sister's wrist."
"It was not your fault," she tried to say, but he covered her lips with his fingers and shook his head, then touched the teleporter button on his communicator, transporting them into the house where the medical kit was kept.
He hardly looked at her as he pushed her into a chair, medkit in hand. His face was mostly expressionless, but his eyes showed his conflicting emotions of a rhythm she had not seen in him in ages, an odd, impatient turbulence that almost made her want to recoil from him. Mixed in there was fatigue, also. Not physical fatigue, but the tired-of-life kind that said that things had been a bit much for him lately.
That part Sharie understood, even though it pained her to see them both like this again. And, to her own personal horror, she found that, for once, what he was feeling did not make her feel all that much for him.
"It wasn't your fault," she repeated again, wondering if it had been the emotionally wrenching adventures they had suffered through over the past couple of months that was finally getting to them. It was the type even the usual complascent Triforians could not blame somebody for feeling once in a while. "I wasn't watching were I was going. I was thinking too hard."
"About what?" he asked absently, using an absorbent tissue to remove the blood from her wound.
She squirmed. "I wonder to tell you or not. Especially in the mood you are in."
"And what about me is so vile to you today, that I would not want to listen?" he asked, probably a bit more darkly than necessary. "I see it in your eyes, too, Sharie. And in this," he indicated the mood-revealing bracelet she was wearing. Dark brown, indicating annoyance, was around the edges, and swirls of a dusky purple and grey indicated that she was keeping something from him, and the firey red spotted here and there indicated anger at something.
"So?" she shrugged. "It is not you directly, Trey--just something I never wished I had found out."
"Found out about what?" he asked, not expecting an answer. She hid so much about her life from him still, which was annoying in itself at times. He did not expect her to tell him now.
"I wish I had never found out," she repeated again to herself. Then, so he could barely hear, she whispered, "About Andros's sister."
His head snapped up in surprise, and this time, his startled gaze did meet hers. "What did you say?" he queried. "What about Andros's sister?"
She shook her head. "I found out too much," she mumbled.
"Too much?" he repeated, and he suddenly grasped her chin and forced her eyes to his once again. "You learn something about Andros's sister, and you think it is too much?"
She squirmed and jerked away from him, not liking how his dark eyes darkened further. "Yes," she whispered. "I did learn something, and it was more than I ever cared to know about."
"Sharie, that is a really cruel way to think!" he sounded shocked and at least slightly upset. "You have told Andros, or plan to tell him, right?"
"I cannot."
"Why? Sharie, at times I just don't understand you." He dropped the pad back into the kit with a thump, and his eyes almost outright glared at her.
"I said, I *cannot*," she repeated. "I cannot tell Andros this directly. It would destroy him."
"Sharie Triesta, how can you say such a thing?" he snapped, his tone a mixture of shock and annoyance.
"Because it would destroy him, and he would not believe me." Sharie felt her own anger spark at his tone.
"You *must* tell him," he ground out. "What about all that he and the rest of the team went through to get us together, Sharie? Would you deny him the chance to get his sister back?!"
"I said *I cannot*!" she snapped back. "It is heartlessly cruel to *tell* him the likes of what I found out, not the other way around! It is only something he can face for himself, not what I can simply tell him and have him disbelieve, not to mention the anguish he would go through because he would think I was telling him falsehoods!"
Sharie could not believe his reaction. His eyes had narrowed, almost dangerously. "I had not thought you capeable of petty cruelty, or stupidity," he said shortly. "I think you are underestimating somebody who has been through much worse."
"Stupidity and cruelty?" she hissed, her purple eyes by now glowing with embers of rage. "No, Trey, wisdom is more like it, wisdom you seem to not be showing at the moment. What I found out is so different from what we did know of Karone Andros would never believe me. That is another reason I cannot tell him directly! And don't you ever dare accuse me of deliberate cruelty again--I cannot believe you would dare!" she cried out.
"That's because it still sounds cruel to me!" he yelled back. "All the torture Andros has gone through to find his sister, and you would deliberately deny him any leads."
"You don't understand, Trey!" She yelled back. He cut her off.
"I don't understand?! Almost twelve years of thinking you dead, at the very least lost and warped into somebody I would not recognize, and you say I *don't understand*?!"
"You are not even letting me finish!" she cried out, backing away from his advancing figure. "You don't even know why!" Rage was coursing through her veins now, uncontrolled and unchecked. "Don't think I would have forgotten what we went through! But I am not Karone, and you are not Andros! This is different! I *can't* tell him, and right now, you are not helping any!"
"And yet you would still deny Andros any chance of Andros ever seeing Karone again!" he yelled. "Are you so ungrateful, Sharie, or so unfeeling? A little disbelief and anguish on Andros's part will be well worth it when he finds his sister again!"
"You don't know anything!" she yelled, then backed away from him as he continued to advance on her. He was too close, and he was grasping her good wrist hard. She tried to pull away, and she jerked back hard. She gasped as her heel caught on a chair rung, and she fell backwards as her other wrist came free.
A sharp yelp came out of her mouth as her broken wrist connected with the floor again--hard. Trey stopped in surprise, and as she stumbled to her feet, she finally exploded. He was refusing to listen, she thought, and she was just short of doing something dangerous.
His fingermarks could be seen on her other wrist, and her fall had torn open her wounds again, and they bled afresh. Blood seeped through the fingers of her good hand as it held her broken wrist immoble. She turned her fiery temper on her brother, and did not bother to soften the words.
"Damn you!" she hissed, her eyes flashing and the daggers sending sharp stabs of fury right through him, right square into his middle. He had never, *ever* seen her gaze like that before, and most certainly never dreamed she'd turn it on him!
"Get out of my sight, Trey Taryn Triesta, before I have anything else broken due to your damn temper! Don't bother talking to me again until you calm down and are ready to listen to the rest of what I was going to tell you--no, as a matter of fact, I don't even want to *see* you again until I decide I want to! So get out of my sight and just *leave me alone*!!"
Without even bothering to look at him, she turned and stumbled out of the room, heading directly for her room instead to try and fix her wound herself. She certainly did not need *his* help.
****
Jeanette almost flew through the corridors as she hurried to the source of the shouting and the slamming of doors. She had heard the noise a wing away, and she did not know what to think. Arguments were a rare occurence in the Royal House.
She did not even bother to knock at the door where she had heard the noise, she just entered to see Trey sitting on a chair, forehead in hand. He did not lift his head when she stood away from him a bit and folded her arms.
"Would you mind explaining what all that noise was?" she asked, concerned. "I heard yelling clear from the next wing over."
"Yes, I would mind," he muttered, lifting his head. She was shocked to see tears in his eyes--tears of some type of pain that was not physical. There was also guilt hidden in those depths, a horrified guilt she could not understand the reason for.
"What happened?" she was forced to ask. She sat in the chair beside him and simply looked at him until he stumbled an answer.
"Do you ever discover, out of the blue one day," he mumbled, "That you are far more dangerous to yourself and other people than you could ever dare realize?" The tears in his eyes brightened, and she could tell he was struggling to hold it back, the hurt in his gaze tearing at her.
"That does not tell me much about what happened," she said. "Where is Sharie? Did you--" she stopped and shook her head. "I never thought I would really have to ask this, but did you two have an arguement?"
Numbly, he nodded. Jeanette sighed.
"I am surprised at you two, as close as you are," she murmured. "But I should not be, as testy as you two have been of late. I just don't understand why. Or why you think you are a danger to anybody."
"Why do you think I force myself to hide my anger all the time?!" he burst out. "Because if I ever lose control, even for a moment, I can inflict real damage!" The horrified guilt flashed in his eyes again.
"Damage?" she repeated. "Trey, what are you talking about? What did you argue about--and what damage?"
"We argued about a sensetive subject," he muttered evasively. "As for damage--go ask Sharie yourself. You will see what I mean. You can shun me later. She certainly is."
"Trey, you know I would never shun you, no matter what," said Jeanette quietly. "Everyone is entitled to anger once in a while. I am sorry to say your explosive temper comes directly from me. I have blown up in the past, it is nothing new--it is just rare for us, that's all."
She leaned over and kissed his forehead before standing up. "Just give it time to cool down before you two try and talk to each other again. Your relationship cannot be destroyed because of a few angry words, likely it will all blow over."
"A few angry words, ha," he muttered, his eyes threatening to overflow, but he forcefully held them back. "Just go see what happened to Sharie, then you will think differently. It is my fault."
Jeanette shook her head as she walked out of the room. Surely Trey was exaggerating, she mused, as she went down corridors to Sharie's set of rooms. She did not bother to knock again before she entered.
Sharie was sitting on her windowseat, staring outside. She did not bother to look at her mother as she entered. Her wrist was bandaged, and she also had a dermal regenerator on it, but not before blood had seeped through the cloth. She heard her mother's inhaled gasp of surprise, then saw Jeanette sitting beside her out of the corner of her eye.
"Triune's peak, I certainly hope this has nothing to do with your arguement," she gasped, lifting the limp wrist as Sharie took little notice, except to wince in pain. "How did you get this?"
"It was an accident," said Sharie woodenly. "If Trey told you otherwise, it is not true. I broke my wrist outside."
She did not look at her mother, and Jeanette picked up her other wrist. "These fingermarks are not the size of your fingers, Sharie," she observed quietly.
"That's not his fault either. He had grabbed my wrist while we were arguing, and he accidentally squeezed too hard, and Trey does not know his own strength. It was unintentional."
"What has gotten into you two lately?" wondered Jeanette tiredly. "The only reason I believe you, Sharie, is because I know you two would not intentionally abuse each other even during your worst arguements."
Sharie nodded, knowing offhandedly that this was true. But she did not tell her mother much more before Jeanette left, shaking her head. Gods, she had to be mother to the two most *stubborn* children in the universe....
****
Sharie toyed with the bandage on her wrist. No, it was not Trey's fault. It had indeed been an accident. She knew her brother too well The thought of hurting innocents horrified him to the extreme, and in her anger, she had practically thrown it in his face, blaming him for hurting her when it had not been purposefully done.
Tears stung at her eyes, and she laid her head on her knees. She was a horrid, horrid person. In a matter of months, she had done it again. Let down the guard she held around her innermost, severe emotions, and hurting those she loved around her. Last time, she and Trey had had good reason-- Dark Dresden's continued ravages on their souls. This time--they had acted like immature infants. What the *hell* had been bothering them so much lately?
And she should have known better to bring up such a sensetive subject when they were like this. The subject of kidnapped siblings was not plesant, to say the least, and she felt guilty for starting a senseless fight.
Outwardly, it did seem cruel to deny Andros what she had found out. But she had plenty of good reasons.
****
"What has gotten into them?" muttered Jeanette to her brother-in-law and man she planned to marry soon, Tristain. "I have never seen them act so violently towards each other before."
He had an old-soul wisdom in his eyes as he considered this. "I rather think we have seen this before, Jeanette, it has just not been seen by either of *us* in twelve years, now, and of course they never fought each other then. They both used to get like this at this time of year--look at the calendar, and it should be obvious."
She did not have to look at the calendar for the blood to flee her face. Of course she had not forgotten the date--the anniversary of Teryan, her deceased husband's death, was within weeks now! She would never, never forget such a thing, never!
"I know it is almost the time of year my Teryan died," she whispered brokenly. "How could I ever forget the pain? How could *you*? But after all this time--I did not dream it was still affecting those two so strongly. It still hurts, Tristain, but I grieved and put it behind me. You helped me do that. How--how can they still keep it locked up, after so long?"
"I don't know," he muttered. "It is a wonder they even condone my wanting to marry you, Jeanette. Here I am, a living, breathing mirror image of my brother, a walking invitation for painful reminders--and they turn on each other."
"They would never turn on you," said Jeanette, surprised. It was true that Tristain looked almost exactly like his dead brother. They could have been identical twins. "They love you as much as they did their father."
"They are like the kids I never had," he admitted. A flash of pain crossed her face, and he winced. He had not meant to hint at the fact he would never have children if he married her. Jeanette could not have any more kids. Sharie had been a lucky accident, and that was that.
"I'm sorry, I did not mean for it to sound like that," he whispered, contrite, hugging her. "When we marry, Sharie and Trey will become my children, anyway. I could not ask for more."
"But what can we do about those two?" she had to ask. "I cannot have them flying at each other for the next who-knows-how-long."
"I do not believe we can do anything about it," he had to say. "It is something they have to work out between themselves, Jeanette. I would not worry much."
"I do worry," she admitted. "I worry a lot. There is so much they won't tell me, and it recently dawned on me just how much they are trying to spare me. Gods, I don't know the smallest fractions of the lives they have truly led! I barely know even anything of Dark Dresden's attack on Earth, because they won't spill! No wonder they are like this!"
"We cannot pluck it from their minds for them," said Tristain wearily. "They are very close, Jeanette, closer than most people could ever get to each other. It can't be severed because of a few harsh words. We will have to give it time."
"I know," Jeanette whispered as he held her. "I know."
****
Sharie knew she was right in not telling Andros, at least not yet. Even if he did believe her, which she doubted, he would insist on pillaging the Dark Fortress, and getting them all killed trying some stupid stunt she could not fathom to bring Astronema back. The only thing Sharie could think of to do was to try and turn circumstances so that both Red Ranger and Princess of Evil would realize the truth on their own and mutually agree to stop the madness that plagued their lives constantly. And it would not be easy--she was willing to bet a freak accident, a chance occurence, would reveal the truth, nothing more.
But how to make Trey see this without another blowup? She felt horrible for what she had done, and she was not even angry at him anymore. Her flare of rage had cooled as soon as she had gotten to her room and she realized what she had verbally flung at him.
She could not believe she had actually said it, either. How could she have *done* such a thing, flinging something so hurtful into his face?
*I'm a jinx,* she thought to herself again, like she had been doing. *All I ever do is hurt the ones I love the most. Why am I plauged so--why do I plauge them so?*
She sniffled slightly, and a single tear ran down her face. *Why do I even exist, really?*
And she could not belive she was still upset at Trey. She was not angry at him; she still did not want to see him or talk to him for awhile. She needed to cool her heels and think about what to do next, salvage what parts of their relationship she could. After the damage she had inflicted with her cruel words, she wondered if there was any left.
****
*How could I have done this?* Trey wondered as he stared out the window of his own room that night. *The next time, I could accidentally kill her!*
Her words resounded in his head again, *Get out of my sight, Trey Taryn Triesta, before I suffer any more broken bones because of your damned temper!*
What was worse, he knew she was right. His temper was fierce unless he controlled it so strictly it would never, ever show. Looked what happened when it did! Maybe the broken wrist had been an accident with the first fall--but not the second, he doubted. He had not let go of her in his anger, and she had jerked back so sharply, trying to get *away* from him-- and she had fallen again, aggravating the break, probably severely. Not to mention the bruises she would have on her other wrist--Damn! After he had sworn never to do it again, not after that scene after Dark Dresden's death.
And now what? He doubted she wanted to see him again anytime soon, he was surprised she was even still on Trifroria. Why hadn't he listened to her when she tried to tell him something so important? What about the whole deal had been the spark to ignite the intense emotions that had been broiling under the surface recently? While the thought of Andros not finding his sister, when someone obviously knew where she was still did not appeal to him, he should have heard her out. She actually might have had a legitimate reason.
Instead, he had called her cruel, questioned her wisdom, and had not heard her out when she had tried so hard to tell him. Now, he doubted if he would ever know.
Tired as he was, he could not sleep. Her words of anger echoed in his mind again and again, and refused to give him any peace. He wandered over to his bed and lay down on it anyway. His fingers brushed against the Tai'pan stone that he had lain there earlier, before this whole mess had started. It sensed the contact and started to play his song, "Angeliyeta" again. This stone, the one Sharie had given him for his birthday, had been the only means of peace he had had in past days. She had been right when she had told him, once upon a time, that it eased a person's worst moods.
But now, it made him feel even more wretched. She had given it to him out of love, and it was because of the specialness of the gift, of the love given behind it, that made it ease his senses. Now, it felt glaringly absent, and he felt tears sting his eyes again. The frustration of the past several days threatened again to crash on him, and it took all his self-control to hold it back, force all that fire, hurt, anger, and pain back under the barrier that he was struggling to keep intact. It was not until hours later that exhaustion forced the darkness to claim his senses, and even then, his nightmares haunted him, dark images of his past, the howling winds of his past threatening to overwhelm him.
****
Sharie awoke with a choked sob the next morning, on the heels of another one of her unrelenting nightmares. She sat there as reality crept in, telling her that it was only a nightmare. As she had done so often before, she hugged her knees and rocked back and forth, silently, forcing herself to accept the truth that this was real, those days of Dark Dresden were long gone. She rocked until she felt her heartbeat slow, and she brushed her sleeve over her still tear-damp face, only then the dim reminder dawning on her that she still wore the osteoregenerator on her wrist.
The events of yesterday came flooding back, and she stiffened with renewed guilt. *What now*, she wondered as she tugged her wrist free of the device. *What do I do now?*
She pressed her fingers over the many tiny bones in her wrist, and she felt no pain, even when she flexed her hand. It was completely healed, and showed no trace of blood or bruising, or otherwise.
However, on her other wrist, the fierce gripmarks from yesterday had deepened into purple-black bruises.
She decided to leave them. They would heal in a day or two anyway, it was no use wasting a regenerator on just a couple of bruises, her ranger training told her. The Power would heal her faster than normal at any rate.
After she had finished dressing, she stared at the door. She was not surprised to realize she did not want to go out, she did not want to chance meeting up with Trey, not if it was going to lead to another fight, if yesterday was any indication. All she wanted was to be alone for awhile.
****
That day was horrible. Sharie staked out the most distant corners of the gardens or the Royal House and stayed there. Her few chance encounters with Trey were brief, and she did not speak to him, hurrying away as soon as she could. She knew that she was only putting off the fact that she *would* have to talk to him again eventually.
It was even worse for Trey. Every time he did see her, *whist*, she was gone in the next instant. If she did glance his way, her purple gaze went right through him as if he did not exist.
And each time it did, it stung like never before. When someone you love so deeply turns their back on you, it feels worse than almost anything else imaginable. It makes you want to die, and it feels like they are doing it deliberately--a death by slow, intense emotional torture.
The feeling was compounded when he saw her wrists. Her broken one was healed, she had done it herself. But her other one bore his fierce gripmarks, there for all to see in dark, angry bruises. It made him feel sick, really, really sick, knowing it was his loss of control that had caused her such pain.
But what stung most of all was the lack of her presence on any scale, her manner that indicated, clearly, that he was not wanted in her life at the moment. He had sorely overstepped his bounds, and he rather thought this was a good way for her to put him in his place, along with the clear realization of how much he deserved it.
****
Jeanette watched sadly, an ache in her heart for her children as they fought their silent battles to overcome this latest barrier in their lives. What could she do? She could not intercede in any way that would satisfy her, their resentment would include her if she tried.
"They are suffering because of how one is treating the other," said Tristain practically. "And I don't think they will stand for it much longer. It will work out soon,you will see."
She ferverently hoped he was right.
By chance, Trey came upon Sharie in the garden. He paused, and she did not see him, because of the angle at which he was standing. He was rather startled to see her lips tremble, and she was shaking with suppressed emotion. He had to fight the urge to go to her, since he well knew she would only push him away and run off. Two lone tears stole down her face, and suddenly, her gaze went to the heart-shaped pendant she wore on her wrist, the one he had given her for her birthday, the one that showed her emotions clearly.
His sharp gaze could see the colors, swirling and reflecting her confused emotions, the purple-blue indicating her pain showing clearly throughout.
He saw her lips tighten, and she suddenly gripped the chain, as if she could not stand looking at the pendant anymore. He was afraid, for a moment, that she would tear it off and throw it clear across the garden.
She did not, though, as if she tighened on something struggling to break free inside of her, closing her fingers around her wrist instead, then sighing as she stood up. Trey had to duck out of sight, quickly, before she saw him. Right now, another of her see-through looks was something he could not stand to see.
****
This was really unfair to both of them. She could not stand it any longer, she had to talk to him. How could she have been so cruel, to deliberately turn her back on him today?
That was what had come over her so suddenly in the garden, it was as if she was overwhelmed by his misery, when she knew she was not sensing him at all. When she had looked into the crystal on her wrist, she had realized that the emotions, portrayed in a confusing blend of colors, at least mirrored his. It made her want to cry, to suddenly berate herself for allowing him to feel such pain. Her own really *was* beside the point, as long as she could take away at least some of his pain, somehow.
But where to begin? She had been looking through him all day, trying to avoid him. She had not been trying to punish him, she had only wanted to be left alone. But she suddenly realized how cruel a gesture those encounteres had been. She suddenly realized what she would have felt if he had been doing that to her, and she wanted to hit herself. She had done it *again*, thrown his shortcomings into his face...without saying a word.
****
Sunset was approaching, and Sharie had wandered to her favorite hillside to watch it, for once. Sunsets were different from sunrises, and she did not often have the time to watch Triforia's. She had climbed into a nearby tree and sat, idly staring westward, hoping for some peace to her tortured mind.
She had not been there long when she got the sudden sense of someone approaching. She started, then glanced through the branches.
It was Trey. He must not have realized she was here, and had come himself. This *was* a spot he frequented more than she did, she knew.
As he approached, she saw his face. It was impassive, but certainly not his eyes.
Her world wavered, and she nearly fell out of the tree as she saw the amount of pain in those depths. What she had seen in the crystal had been right. His pain did at least mirror her own, she'd had no right to do this to him. It was too cruel to do this to somebody she loved so much.
He walked right on past the tree, for she knew he did not see her. She suddenly felt compelled to follow him, and as quietly as she could, she scrambled out of the branches.
He did not go far, and did not see her silent approach. He had stopped on a hillside and sat down, staring at nothing in particular.
Trey nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt a sudden presence beside him, and he started as he saw *Sharie*, of all people, drop down beside him on the grass, avoiding his gaze, staring directly ahead at the sunset soon to commence.
Trey felt frozen in shock, he could not move. Why had she come? She did not seem intent on giving him any notice, so why was she seated now, here, beside him when she had not wanted to even see him yesterday?
He could not help but see her face, expressionless, although he could not directly see her eyes since her face was not completely revealed to him.
"Sharie?" he had to ask. "Why did you come?" He had to ask it, even if her answer would not be something he could stand to here.
She still did not look at him, her gaze on her fingertips, and her bruises seemed to glare even more accusingly at him.
For a moment, she did not seem deigned to answer, and he felt like crying all of a sudden.
"I have three words for you, Trey," she said, quietly, and he could not read her tone.
He bit his lip as she opened her mouth, then shut it. Suddenly, she turned to face him, and her purple eyes were glittering brightly with unshed tears.
"I want to say--I love you." It was whispered as her eyes glittered even more brightly, her eyes threatening to run over.
"I love you," she repeated. "And--and I'm sorry," she blurted, lips trembling as she shook. She seemed grateful when he unfroze and gathered her to him even as she spoke. "I am so, so sorry--I had no right to do this to you." The words simply tumbled free as her arms managed to find their way around him as well, tightly, as if a lifeline.
For a moment, he couldn't speak; too flooded by a wave of guilt and sheer gratitude to even try.
"I love you too, Lalinka," he managed to whisper after a few moments, holding her to his heart. Lalinka. He suddenly realized that he had not called her that in days. Usually, he used it three times as often as her real name. What had stopped him?
"I need to apologize, not you," he murmured as she sniffled and leaned into him. "I caused you so much pain, and I refused to listen--and there is your wrist."
"I have more to apologize for," she insisted softly. "I was so angry I flung the blame for my wrist right in your face--when I did it on my own. Gods, I got us into a horrid mess."
"You?" he repeated. "It was I who refused to listen, when you tried to tell me something important. I still don't understand why I got so angry at you..."
"Because of the subject matter," she muttered. "The way I put it was not right. Especially when we had suffered Andros and Karone's fate for so long, and Andros had helped to do so much to get us together. But I had my reasons then, and I have them now. I am sorry if this will still upset you, but I stand by my actions. But Trey--Can you forgive me?"
"I still don't see why you are apologizing--but I will if you forgive me for hurting you." guiltily, his hand brushed against the bruises on her wrist.
"I feel the same, but if it makes you feel better, I forgive you," she murmured.
"In that case, I you also." She was glad to finally hear a smile in his voice as she felt his heartbeat beneath her cheek. "Trey--let's try to not be so stupid again, okay? And as for what I tried to tell you yesterday-- will you hear me out, without getting angry?"
He nodded. "I cannot promise we will never fight again, Lalinka, I think it is notable that siblings do it every once in a while--but I will try my darndest to listen to you from now on." He pulled back, and was gratified to finally see a faint glimmer of light in her eyes. "Now, if you can stand to tell me, what happened with Karone?"
****
He listened, dumbfounded, as she told him everything that had happened, and her reasoning.
"Now do you see why I can't tell him outright, because he would not easily believe me? Not to mention the danger he would place her in if he went to her with such a wild tale, no proof on hand? Somebody controls Astronema during her blackout period, she would never believe him."
He sighed. "I think I understand. It is different from what happened to us. You were never evil. All right, Lalinka. I promise not to breathe a word, but I still think we should work on a subtle way to bring the truth to light--all right? They deserve that much--especially if it is possible to sway Astronema to the good side. There has to be some good in her, even if she doesn't remember Andros or KO-35."
"Agreed." She felt relief as she hugged him again. Finally, the day looked brighter than it had in quite a while. "There is just one thing."
"What?"
"You have to swear, on your highest honor, Trey, that even if this does come out one day, you must never, ever reveal the fact I helped Zhane and Astronema arrange a romantic ronedevouz. I don't want to create conflict. And imagine the embarrassment."
"Cross my heart, Lalinka." Far from condoning Sharie's actions, he was rather amused. Besides, if this could happen, it created hope for drawing Astronema back to the good side.
His hand toyed idly with the fingers of her left hand as the sun set, and he felt the ring that Carlos had given her on her birthday. He frowned as something dawned on him.
Wasn't she supposed to be wearing it on the other hand?
Sharie sensed his hand stilling when it came into contact with the ring, and she knew that he had noticed the subtle change from one hand to the other. "Lalinka?" she heard him ask.
"What?"
"Aren't noncommital rings worn on only the right hand, in human tradition?"
"True."
"Then why is it now on your left, on the finger reserved for..."
"Because Carlos gave me the ring, that's why."
"Lalinka?" he sounded startled as he pulled back to search her gaze with his intense dark eyes. He had caught her subtle change of tone. "Is it...."
"Not quite," she said. "The humans share our tradition of and engagement rings, Trey. They also have one for promise rings--sort of like being engaged to be engaged."
"This is a promise ring?"
"Well...yes."
Suddenly, Trey had to laugh. "The intent is noble, and a good one," he assured her. "But....I confess I do not see the point of promising an engagment."
"It simply means that an engagement is not final, but it will be the intent one day." Sharie shrugged.
Trey only gave her a whatever-you-say smile before they fell silent, as the stars came out, one by one.
****
The Universal Musical Syndicate was one of the better radio stations broadcast throughout the universe for the pleasures of listening to a variety of music from infinite worlds. Many liked to hear songs from different planets, but this one, a little song from a tiny planet in an obsure corner of the universe, had speacial meaning for two people.
Somewhere out there,
Beneath a pale moonlight,
Someone's thinking of me,
And loving me, tonight.
Zhane had dragged his transmitter with him on his hike, needing the space. As he sat on a hillside and gazed up at the stars, the song hit him with enough force to bring tears to his sapphire eyes, and he could not help but smile.
Somewhere, out there,
Someone's saying a prayer...
On the Dark Fortress, a pair of hazel eyes similarily swam, and the owner laid her head on the glass of her windows as the song penetrated the ice around her heart...her soul.
And even though I know
How very far apart we are,
It helps to think we might be wishing,
On the same bright star....
Suddenly, both souls felt a little more at peace.
And when the night winds start
to sing a lonesome lullabye,
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky!
Somewhere out there....
The end.
The usual acknowledgements to Starhawk for being the lending of the Color Withdrawl concept, and I've got more Mosquitoes for you should you want them (or not).
Takes place shortly after Zhane goes to help the colonists.
Finding You By ZeoViolet Teaser: Sharie helps Astronema and Zhane reconcile...eventually.
Astronema sat on the windowseat in her quarters, staring again at the rumpled picture of Zhane that she had been carrying with her. In fact, she stared hard, her long blonde hair falling into her face as she almost attempted to draw life from the still figure in the photo, needing it so badly, and yet not realizing *how* bad the urge was.
Suddenly, she sighed and pushed the picture back onto the cushion, coughing slightly as she turned her large hazel gaze up to the stars.
*Oh, Zhane...* She thought, thumping her small fist slightly on the glass as she sighed. *Where are you now? What are you doing?*
She shivered, though she was not cold. She remembered looking into his eyes...oh, furie's wrath, his huge, gorgeous sapphire eyes! How...oh, *how* had he so easily managed to do what she had sworn never to let a person do...affect her in such a way!
How, she wondered again. He had done what nobody had ever really done to her before, she suspected....managing to slip past the icy barriers of her heart and really touch her...the *real* her, the her she never, ever let anybody see, since her being evil depended on her hiding it.
He had touched her. Hardly physically, true, but emotionally. Her heart raced madly, even though she thought she was angry at him. After he had manged to get inside her heart, she thought of him endlessly, daydreamed constantly, and refused to pay much attention to what went on around her.
She could not help herself. She had disguised herself as an earth girl and "bumped" into him near the movie theatre, just wanting to see him again. Their eyes had locked for the longest time as he helped her gather up the books she just *happened* to drop when they had crashed. Their hands had brushed, and her skin had been scorched, her whole body had been aware....
When he had finally raced back to his friends, she had found something that *he* had happened to drop as well...a picture of her. She could hardly believe her luck....he had been thinking of her as well!....
Astronema suddenly suppressed a shiver of rage at the thought of what he had done next...standing her up for a date. She had been furiously angry at him, and wondered what he had talked about...what monster had she sent? She hadn't sent any monster! She had been so mad she had been amazed she had not attempted to destroy him on the spot!
And it was true she had tried to banish him from her thoughts after that, figuring it would be easy after what he had done to her!
Astronema thumped her fist on the glass again as she reflected. Boy, had she been wrong. Her dreams of him doubled, at least, when she did sleep. Her body never forgot his touch, and she missed his blue gaze looking adoringly into her own hazel ones....
She had tried to tell herself that her reaction was purely...sexual. Nothing more than lust. But that could not be true, every time she sent down a monster, she found herself silently praying for his safety....she did not want him killed.
*He is supposed to be your enemy, not your lover!* She chastized herself. No use. Fate could be so cruel, she reflected. Surely, after what she had done to *him*, he did not feel the same way anymore....
She had to admit it to herself, she had made a mistake, a serious one, not listening to him. But what could be done now? He was gone again, helping survivors of the KO-35 colony relocate to some other secret area.
*Quit sniffling, girl!* she told herself firmly. *If he isn't even giving you second thoughts anymore, why waste your time?*
*And what if he told you the truth?* another part of her asserted. *He did not mean to be late? He could not help it? You overreacted, Astronema!*
Astronema flopped on her bed with a sigh. She had to quit this somehow. Ecliptor was noticing how tired she was, and it was not due to lingering effects of her recent illness. That had dissappated finally, all that was left was a lingering, slight cough. Almost two weeks had passed since the Violet Ranger had managed to fix her powers, enough time for them all to mostly recover....
Astronema bit her lip. Ecliptor was definetly noticing...the shadows beneath her eyes, not to mention her half-ignored meals, did not help much.
Suppose he dared to go into her quarters and search, and found Zhane's picture. She was sure all hell would break loose. Ecliptor was her second- in-command, but because she had risen fast through the ranks in her short lifetime. He also was her father figure. It meant he would go behind her back if it was necessary for her safety. Bad enough he was insisting on getting her to a real doctor to check her over. If he found out about her feelings for the Silver Ranger.....well, to put it mildly, he would go after Zhane with a vengence. For some reason she could not fathom, he hated Andros to an extreme degree. She did not care to have him on Zhane's back as well.
Closing her eyes, Astronema eventually drifted off to sleep, knowing how her night would be spent. *Zhane, I wish you were here*....
****
Sharie, for one of the rare times in her life, was extremely bored. There were times she was just not too fond of diplomatic missions, and this was one of them. Oh, well, at least it was over, and she was headed back to Triforia and then to Earth, and back to her life.
*life* she mused idly. So, despite all the havok wrecked constantly in her eighteen years, she had a life. One on Earth, and was starting to re- accept one on Triforia as well. Before this, being on Triforia for long periods of time had still unnerved her, and it was so hard to accept, after Earth and space had been her home for so long...where her family had been. Finally, though, she was beginning to bridge the huge gap that had been created after she had been sent away, filling in the missing years with her reunited family. She was helping her mother with plans for her wedding to Tristain, and she was contemplating her own future with Carlos as well.
Idly her fingers rubbed the birthday ring he had given her...it now resided on her left hand as a promise ring. Carlos had done the same with his ring, and had said something about replacing them with "real" promise rings soon. This she did not understand too well, but she understood promise rings...a sort of unspoken promise to agree to a future engagement with someone you loved. Probably Carlos wanted to get ahold of a matching set, to make it more obvious, and she was not sure what to think about this.
What she was sure of is that she wanted Carlos by her side for the rest of their lives.
She was curled up in the main armchair on the bridge, rubbing the ring and staring at nothing in particular. A sudden buzzing sound, however, intruded into her thoughts so suddenly she leaped in surpise, nearly tripping over her smallish feet.
"Yes, what is it?" she gasped at her computer, recovering herself somewhat.
"Unknown ships detected ahead," announced the computer calmly.
"Onscreen," Sharie siged. She started again, though, at the sight of the ships that nearly seemed to be falling apart, they were so battered.
"Were they attacked recently?" Sharie wondered aloud, feeling pity for the inhabitants of the ships. They looked as if they were barely holding together by a few metal bars and kid's glue.
"Negative. No other ships detected in sector." the computer supplied helpfully.
"Quiet. I was not talking to you." Sharie was glad the computer on the ship was not sentient, and would not be stung by the words. Still, she bit her lip, ashamed. She wondered why she was so touchy lately. Her enthusiasm after recovering her powers had gradually faded, and over the past few days, she had been jumpy, growling, and she wondered how she had managed to hide it at the recent diplomatic mission. She could not quite place her finger on the reason....She hoped Trey had not noticed, anyway.
Turning her attention back to the ships, Sharie wondered if they needed assistance. She sent a pre-recorded message offering such, and a moment later, a beeping sound told her she was being hailed. A familiar face appeared on the screen.
"Zhane?"
"The one and only, Sharie," grinned the silver ranger.
"What are you doing here?" Sharie asked. She was still in remote territory.
He hesistated for a moment, then began. "These are the survivors of KO- 35," he began, and then proceeded to tell her of the adventure from a couple of days before.
"Could you use a hand?" Sharie asked.
"Actually, that would be a good idea, thanks, but if you do, you must swear to tell no one but the other rangers where we are going. The reasons should be obvious."
"Cross my heart," Sharie promised with a smile, feeling a little better already. She liked Zhane, he was really cheerful for someone who had been in two years of hypersleep. Still, just now, there was something in his eyes...
****
Sharie soon found herself helping to move things around and doing general repair work as the ships headed to the new temporary colonysite. She worked a lot by Zhane's side, and could not help but notice that behind his forced smile, something in his usually cheerful disposition was not there. His eyes betrayed the fact he was in a major depression. They were sad indeed, and hurt. But he said nothing to indicate this.
Sharie did not need two of them jumpy and depressed, and she cornered him when they were alone.
"Zhane, what's wrong?" she asked softly. "That false smile betrays you. So do your eyes. I know you want to talk, and I am willing to listen."
It stopped him up short, and he gave her a long, tortured look for a moment, as if he would like to take her up on her offer, but still said nothing. His blue eyes lowered again as he pretended nothing was wrong.
The feelings of depression assaulting Sharie's senses did not abate, and she was not in the mood just to push up her barriers and ignore someone's pain. She put down her scanner and lifted his chin with her finger, so his blue eyes met hers. "Zhane, please," she whispered. "It is very strong, I can sense it. What's wrong?"
He drew in a long breath, and she could sense him quiver slightly. "Believe me, you don't want to hear it. You'd hate me."
She blinked. "Zhane, I could never hate you, no matter what you do. You should know I am not that way."
He sighed, and suddenly looked close to tears. "All...all right," he mumbled. "I will tell you, but I still won't blame you for turning your back on me, or at least being angry at my foolishness over what happened. I also want you to swear you will never tell anybody else--anybody."
"I swear on Triune's Honor," she asserted softly. "What is the matter?"
He could not meet her gaze. "I-I'm in love," he blurted suddenly.
Surprised, she raised an eyebrow. "Is that such a problem?" she asked.
"Yes!" he cried out. "Sharie, she is the last person you'd expect, but I can't help how I feel, I swear!" Zhane almost wailed.
"Well?" Sharie shrugged, feeling his pain but remaining nonjudemental for the moment. "Who is she?"
Zhane buried his face in his hands for a moment, and whispered a name that even caught Sharie by surprise. "Astronema? Zhane, you love Astronema?"
He nodded miserably, expecting her to condemn him somehow. But she only said, "Zhane--since when is loving somebody like Astronema such a crime?"
He blinked in surprise at her gentle tone. "Isn't it?" he mumbled. Sharie shook her head.
The Violet Ranger only asked, "How did it happen?"
He clenched his fists. "I swear, Sharie, we *were* in a monster attack. I did not set her up. You know, you saw the data just before you left! Now...she's furious at me, and I have no chance! Not one iota!"
Sharie looked at him thoughtfully. "Maybe you should speak with her, Zhane. Get this straightened out between you two."
He looked at her again, astonished. "You--you mean you are not angry at me? I am not a traitor in your eyes?"
Sharie sighed. "Of course not, Zhane. Love is difficult, and can crop up where one would least expect it. It is something to be handled carefully. Besides, this is something that should be handled between you and Astronema only."
Zhane shook his head. "Hard to believe you are supporting me in this, Sharie. Gee, no wonder Carlos is so head-over-heels for you. But I can't just mosey up to the doors of the Dark Fortress and politely ask to speak to her. Ecliptor would have my head and..." he gulped, "certain other body parts if he knew. And the other rangers...they might not be as understanding as you have been."
She smiled gently. "I am not so sure about that, but even if they did resist, they are used to the strange, it would not take them long." She shook her head. "But I suggest you wait and see how things play out. I have been watching Astronema on the side throughout the diplomatic mission, and she is a lot more complex than I had first thought upon meeting her that first time. She is capeable of mercy at the oddest times, and if it makes you feel any better, she has been distracted lately herself."
That brought Zhane's head up. "Really? Distracted about...what?"
"I don't know, exactly. But she is also doing a lot of secret, dreamy smiling to herself." She finished the work she had set aside. "No, Zhane, I don't think any less of you. If you and Astronema have a thing for each other, then I suggest you let fate decide which paths you should tread. What will eventually happen may surprise you."
She left Zhane in his now-dreamy state and wandered off. No, she thought no less of Zhane, and it was making her think harder about Astronema. If she could love someone that fate had decreed, practically, to be her enemy, then she probably was not 100% *all* bad. Sharie had begun to consider, leately, if there was someone who dictated Astronema's movements more than just Astronema herself. Still, Sharie also had little doubt she would still try to take down the Power Rangers if given the chance. The Princess of Evil was a very complex person.
****
Astronema awoke much earlier than usual, after another night of near- sleepless dreams about Zhane. She was still restlessly pacing her bedroom an hour later when Ecliptor entered, at the end of his rope.
"I heard you pacing again, Astronema," he growled. That's it! I Want you to see some sort of Doctor, today!"
"No!" she snapped back. "I will tell you when I want my actions dictated for me, not before. What I do want to do is get out for awhile. I'll take a pod and leave, but I need to be alone."
Ecliptor muttered some nasty things as he stomped off to do her bidding. If this trip did not bring her to her senses when she came back, he swore right then and there to drug her and drag her off to a doctor any way, no matter how much noise she made or what hell he would pay for doing so!
****
Trey also paced restlessly as he recieved a transmission from his sister. She would be late again. He did not know why this annoyed him so, he certainly did not dictate her life and they had not made any plans. But lately, everything was getting on his nerves. Delphine was at a project on her world, she could not be around, and his mother and Tristain were all over each other. Shayla was on Aquitar with her father also, and he was more or less alone. He both wanted to be alone and could not stand it. Occassionally he did get like this, but he hated it when it did happen...he always felt like he was losing control of himself. What was worse, he had noticed it in Sharie, her jumpiness and shortness of temper lately was getting on his own nerves. Maybe they just both needed to take a break from each other for awhile...so when she had attended a diplomatic function, he had been rather glad...and ashamed for being glad, for it was like looking a gift horse in the mouth to him. She was the most important person in his life, and it made him feel sick to actually be glad to see her gone, upon reflection.
He sincerely hoped he was not a ticking time bomb, waiting to go off. He remembered what had happened last time, and did not want it to happen again.
****
Astronema sighed tiredly as she stared out of the viewscreen of her astropod. Her thoughts were still on Zhane and her hand came up to habitually fondle the carm around her neck, the only itme she had left to link her to her first five...no, six years of her life, a time she had no memory of.
She had had a ring, too, but it had vanished a couple of months before, during one of her "blackout" periods, periods of time that periodically happened, that she could not remember. The last time had been during the time of Dark Dresden. An hour or so's worth of time had simply vanished from her memory.
And as much as she hated the blackouts, she hated even more losing the ring. She had hoped it would someday provide a clue to the first years of her life--a time shrouded in black, except in the dreams she could never remember. All she could remember was Ecliptor, and occassionally Darkonda, much as those two hated each other.
A sudden jolt of her pod sent her sprawling out of her seat, where she landed with a painful thud.
"Furie's Wrath!" she spat angrily. "What in Halley's Comet is gong on?"
"Battle site ahead," said the computer in a sugary tone.
"Battle site? Whose ships?"
"Ship style is unknown."
She saw a couple of warbird-style ships turn around and begin to fire again. The pod jerked every-which way, sparks exploding all over the place.
"Hyperrush core destruction iminent," announced the computer sweetly.
Astronema swore some very interesting, off-color words before she teleported herself to the surface of the nearby planet, milliseconds before the pod she had been occupying went to the big shipyard in the sky, going out in a blaze of fiery light.
****
Sharie had long since finished her work with the colonists, and was doing upgrades on the Sphinx Ultrazord when sirens went off. She jumped and nearly hurled her scanner at the computer, then gritted her teeth as she tried to control her temper. Gods, she had not felt like this since Dark Dresden's attack! What the *heck* was wrong with her, that she could barely keep her temper or emotions under control, buried just under the surface and ready to explode? And Trey, for once was as snippy, she last recalled....maybe it was the emotional roller-coaster suffered over the past many weeks that was getting to them both. Or maybe they just both needed a break. Which made her ashamed...what had she done?
"What is happening?" she thought to ask through her clenched teeth.
"Battle site ahead." This time she bit her lip to keep from yelling at her computer's sweet tone as she rose to examine the situation.
The enemy had swiftly detected her uncloaked vessle and moved in for the kill. With a sigh, she launched into a defensive attack, destroying them quickly. And just when she thought it was over, she detected more turbulence on the surface.
She picked up some very odd readings indeed...and her surprise grew when she discovered that one of the lifesigns was very clearly human.
Surprised, she brought up an image from the lifesigns emanating below.
Astronema? Of all people, Astronema?
It was clear the princess of evil was not their of her own choosing. She was wandering aimlessly, weaponless, in a rocky area covered in trees and brush.
She was also very close to being ambushed by planet natives.
Sharie heaved a sigh. Annoyed as she had been lately, her strong sense of ethics would not allow her to to leave an unarmed woman alone, defenseless and in danger, despite the woman's reputation. Besides that, Zhane came to mind. She could not do this to him.
*Where the heck is her spear?* Sharie wondered. Astronema was indeed completely unarmed. *Was it destroyed?*
Sharie shrugged as she shook her wrists to reveal her morphers. This should prove interesting.
"Zeo Violet Ranger Power!"
****
Astronema leaned against a large rock, shivering slightly as she fought to keep the fear from overwhelming her. She rarely felt fear, she cursed herself for feeling it at all. Why did she have to leave her spear at the Dark Fortress? What in the Unverse had posessed her to go unarmed, without spear or boomerang?
Suddenly, out of nowhere, several humanoid figures attacked her.
"Oh, furie's wrath!" she snapped. "Way to go, Astronema *dear*. You are really in a fix now."
She also cursed at the fact her self-defense skills left something to be desired, since she did not often have to use them for situations like this. The only skills she had ever really perfected were with weapons....since she rarely went unarmed. Defenseless attack was not one of her specialties.
Still, she did know and utilize a few well-placed moves, among her favorites being the knee-to-sensetive area move. Despite this, she was soon overwhelmed.
Until a sharp "Ki-yah!" filled the air and a blur of purple knocked one of the goons who had her pinned to the ground, off of her. She stared, more than a little astonished, as the Zeo Violet Ranger began knocking her attackers away.
She was also too shocked to be angry at the moment as she panted, "What are *you*, of all people, doing here?"
"Saving your hide, obviously," said Sharie a bit tersely. "Your defensive skills could use some sharpening."
"I rarely use them, okay?" panted Astronema, exasperated. "Besides, why are you even bothering to help me? You know, of course, that if circumstances permitted--"
"--You would be going for my throat," interrupted Sharie calmly. "I know. Sorry, circumstances *don't* permit this at present. Would you rather I left you alone with your friends here?"
"All *right*!" grumbled Astronema, sideswiping a native. "I see your point. We can part calmly after this, but the truce ends there, got it?"
"Fine with me. Where *is* your staff, by the way?"
Astronema could hardly keep herself from groaning. "If you must know, I left it on the Dark Fortress, okay?"
"Smart of you," Sharie observed with a smirk behind her helmet. "Going off someplace dangerous without protection."
"I guess I haven't been thinking clearly lately--hey, why am I telling you this? I'd say it is none of your business!"
"So?" Sharie kicked another native away. "I have noticed how distracted you have been lately."
"How do you know?" Astronema panted, kneeing another enemy right where it hurts.
"Nice move," Sharie said instead.
"Thanks--one of the few moves I *did* perfect."
Their conversation did not go much further because an attacker took out a teleportation-shifting device, and hurled the explosive at them.
"Oh, look *OUT*!" cried Sharie, flinging herself on her usual enemy and pinning her to the ground. The resulting shock wave sent both girls hurtling into unconsciousness.
****
*Oh, what hit me?* was the first thoughts to come to Sharie's aching head as she dragged herself out of the depths of the darkness that had surrounded her. She opened her eyes, becoming aware she was holding onto someone. Memory came flooding back as she saw that Astronema was still partially beneath her, and also still out cold.
Sharie shifted away and sat up, becoming aware that they were now in a jungle of some sort, and she was unmorphed. She glanced at her morpher. Nearly dead. Maybe she could get her medkit out of it, but not much else. Certainly no weapons, not a good thing with the princess of evil right beside her.
Although she reflected that the medkit was a good thing, for the wounds she and Astronema had appeared superificial, easily cured.
Sharie vaguely recalled something else as she considered this. Those readings she had seen from orbit--they had shown Astronema as human. Sharie did not know how, considering the girl's rather nasty reputation. Considering her looks, it had to mean Astronema actually was quite young-- no more than eighteen or nineteen, Sharie guessed. Young indeed to have created as much havok as Astronema had wrought over the years.
A few moments later, Astronema awoke. She blinked, dazed, then jerked bolt upright when she saw Sharie calmly watching her. Reflexively, she reached for her staff. Not finding it there, she looked at Sharie in shock, then Sharie saw memory fill her gaze. She barely relaxed her defensive pose.
"Oh, yeah...where are we?" she groused, realizing how sore she was.
"I don't know. Zeo Medkit!"
It appeared. Sharie raised an eyebrow at Astronema. "Are you going to let me help you or not?"
Astronema bit her lip. Gods, this had been a strange day. Trust the violet ranger? She hoped she would not regret this.
*I've been through worse...* Get it over with," she snapped reluctantly.
"You're welcome, too," said Sharie with a tired grin.
Astronema blinked, taken aback. For some reason, she felt slightly guilty. "Uh....th-thanks, for saving me...I guess..." she said uneasily.
Sharie could not help but muster a sly grin. "Does that mean our truce can extend a little while longer? I can't morph here, you have a slight advantage more than you would have otherwise. But if I can get my teleporter working, we can both get out of here and back where we belong. Would you really try to destroy someone who may be your only chance of getting out of here?"
Astronema blanched, realizing Sharie was right. "Okay, but just until we get out of here. And don't antagonize me."
Sharie fought the impulse to roll her eyes as she said nothing, only turned the scanner on her rival. Her brow furrowed. "Boy, you have been really neglecting yourself lately, haven't you?"
"What makes you say that?" Astronema asked defensively.
"I know you were down with the same illness that almost killed the rest of us a couple of weeks ago," said Sharie sensibly. "You should have recovered enough, but you are showing signs of fatigue, you have shadows under your eyes, and signs of stress are permeating your every being."
Astronema sighed, raising a hand to her temple. She lacked the strength to argue at the moment. "I haven't--been sleeping well, lately," she mumbled, as if to explain it.
"That's an understatement. And I thought Zhane looked miserable. You look worse for the wear than that poor boy."
"Zhane?" Astronema's head came up. "Zhane? How is he? Is he hurt?" realizing what she had just blurted, her hand flew to her mouth and her hazel eyes looked downwards, embarrassed..
"Zhane is fine. His only problem is...." Sharie paused, seeing the urgent espression on Astronema's face and shadowing in her hazel eyes. It confirmed that she still felt very strongly for the Silver Ranger. She knew then, what she had to do. "...his only problem is he misses you, Astronema."
Astronema gasped faintly, feeling her face turn very, very red. "...You...know about that? I thought Zhane would never dare tell anyone, considering...."
Sharie nodded quietly. "Zhane told me what happened, Astronema, because he knew that I could not...would not condmen him...for loving you."
Now Astronema went pale. Suddenly, she burst out, unable to help herself, "No! He doesn't care for me--he stood me up! He is probably still laughing deliberately at me--I sent no monster that day!"
"Ecliptor headed the attack that day." Sharie said.
"So he claimed," mumbled Astronema. "He disobeyed me. It was without my orders."
"And that is why Zhane is not at fault," said Sharie. "Don't you know how much it is hurting him with you so furious at him?"
To Sharie's surprise, Astronema sank completely down and buried her face in her knees. "I know...he wasn't at fault...but I blamed him anyway," she heard the girl mumble. "I was just so mad..." she raised her head, and Sharie was even more surprised to see her lips tremble. "He...he still cares for me?" she asked hesistantly.
Sharie nodded. "Yes, very much so. And he is miserable because he wants to talk to you and explain. The question is....would you want to talk to him, too?"
There was a moment of slience before Sharie heard Astronema's strained whisper. "...Yes..."
Impulsively, Sharie could not contain her next words. "If we get out of here, I'll do you a favor, okay? I can help you arrange a secret meeting, since I doubt you know Zhane's wherabouts."
"Would you?" Astronema blurted before frowning. "But why? Why would you even *condone* this, much less help us? I am your enemy!"
"Zhane is my friend. I'd do anything to help him, and when it comes to love, I am pretty nonjudemental."
"Lucky you. But if you can arrange it....I will stop nitpicking you in battles, okay? A bargain for a bargain....but if you get in my way, however, I'm afraid that is your problem. Here's some advice, too: Beware of Dark Spectre. He sees you as much more than a slight threat...I fear he may have special plans for you."
Sharie considered this, and also considered delicately prying information out of Astronema about Zordon, then dismissed it. It was too much of a risk. Not when she barely, but finally, had Astronema's trust, however temporarily. Instead, she only said, "Okay, I will see about dragging Zhane away for a couple of hours. Shouldn't be hard."
Astronema toyed with the pendant at her throat. "Thank you," she felt compelled to say, even as it went against her training. "Few people have ever been...kind to me before. About the only one....was Zhane."
Sharie sighed. "Zhane is that way." Inadvertently, her eyes were drawn to where Astronema was playing idly with her locket, and for the first time, she got a good look at it as the design flashed in the sunlight.
She suddenly felt as if she had been kicked in the stomach..
Astronema noticed her staring, and saw Sharie go pale. "What is it?"
That pendant--or locket. Where did you get it?"
"What is this, the day of my life story? I've had it since I was small, okay? I had a ring, too, with the same design, but it disappeared when Dark Dresden was attacking Earth. Why? Do you know anything?"
Sharie swallowed. Something told her not to voice aloud the frantic, disbeliving thoughts whirling around in her mind.
****
Still, she knew she had to voice some reply, for Astronema was staring at her. "The design...I've seen it before, somewhere, but I don't remember, exactly..." It was a lie, but all hell could break loose if she said anything to the contrary. And surely it was not real...coincidence, maybe, but nothing more! It could not be!
Now it was Astronema's turn to go pale. "Where? Where did you see it? The pendant is my last link to my first six years--I remember nothing of that time. I only know it was...important."
Sharie swallowed again. "Astornema...how old are you? I think you are a lot younger than I first thought."
Astronema rolled her eyes and wondered why she kept complying with the Violet Ranger's nosy questions. "I recently turned eighteen, now are you satisfied?"
"Date of birth?"
Now this was something Astronmea knew for certain. It was one of her few memories...her birthdate. She sighed and mentioned a date that made Sharie's blood run cold, and any color left in her face flee.
Sharie knew she was pushing her luck, but she had to know. "Astronema...the attack with Dark Dresden...did you go to one of Darkonda's secret bases when I was there with Ashley?"
"No! I don't know where Darkonda's bases are. I only know that during that time I had one of my blackout periods. It is when I lost my ring."
"Blackout periods?" Sharie was puzzled, but if she was right...
"I have periods of time where I don't remember anything. That time was the last occurence."
Sharie sighed, resolute. Something was strongly warning her not to say what she was fairly certain of now. "Have you seen a doctor about it?"
"Yes," Astronema sounded defensive. "Nothing is wrong with me. I am not crazy, if that is what you are implying."
Now Sharie *did* change the subject. "I need a couple of fruits from that nearby citrus tree, for the acid. So I'm going to get them, okay?"
Astronema stood up, limping, following her. "How would you? They are way out of reach," she observed.
"Telekenesis," said Sharie, as if it were obvious.
The princess of evil shrugged. "I can help you with that." She reached her hand out and one of the fruits pulled itself free, floating down into her outstretched hand.
"Impressive," Sharie did the same, getting two more. She never used her telekenesis unless she absolutely had to. "I don't like doing that, it bothers me for some reason. You seem to be pretty good at it."
Astronema shrugged. "I've always been pretty good at it, I guess, at least for as far back as I can remember."
Sharie thought about this as she went back to one of the scanners she had been toying with. "I should be able to midfy this enough to cut through the atmospheric interference so I can call upon my staff. Then I can send you teleporting to wherever your Dark Fortress is."
"And Zhane?"
"Pick a spot where you can be alone for a few hours. I will handle Zhane."
Astronema nodded. Sharie worked in silence for awhile, her thoughts screaming at her. Astronema...*was* Karone! Poor Andros, he would be *so* hurt if he knew...and yet, Astronema herself did not appear to know this....an evil spell? Sharie did not know. She did not sense anything like that, but she could not be sure.
And she certainly could not tell Andros this. He would never believe her, claiming it was all circumstantial evidence. The only way he would ever find out the truth if he was confronted with this himself, and she was not about to do that for either of them. It would spell disaster. Still, it would have to come out soon, but not out of her lips so suddenly. But she had to tell someone else, just in case....Trey. She was certain that, testy has he had been lately, he would not be angry at her for helping the princess of evil and the silver ranger have a secret rondevouz.
The scanner buzzed. "Okay, it is cutting through the interference. Violet Power Staff!" Sharie called. With a flash, it appeared in her outstretched hand.
She turned to Astronema. "Are you ready? Do you have a place set in mind?"
Astronema gave her a small smile and whispered a place and time in the near future. "And....thanks, Sharie. I'm afraid that, after this, except for the meeting place, our truce is at an end. Dark Spectre would have my hide if he knew about anything like this...or Zhane."
Sharie only smiled back before sending Astronema teleporting away in a purple flash.
Sharie vanished herself, thinking of an excuse to drag Zhane away for a few hours.
****
Aw, whyja drag me out here, anyways?" muttered Zhane. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
Sharie inhaled slowly. "Actually, Zhane, it is not me, specifically, who wants to talk to you."
"Then who? Where?"
"There." Sharie indicated a nearby planetoid. "The person is waiting there for you." She slipped a small metal coin inot the folds of his black- and-silver jacket. "This is an emergency beam-out signal. Tap it three times and you will telelport back here immediately. Now, go. Do not keep her waiting."
His sapphire gaze was clearly puzzled before he vanished.
Sharie simply settled back, contenting herself for a long wait. She was not so foolish as to send Zhane in without a way to get him out quickly....after all, the person in question *was* a princess of evil. She hoped this went well.
****
He materialized in a dimly lit room, with a few windows showing a starry sky. Windowseats adorned the room, also.
"Where am I?" he wondered aloud.
"In a little hideaway of mine," said a voice that made his heart skip a beat. He whirled.
"Astronema?"
"Yes," she said simply.
He looked confused. "Why...am I here? Why did Sharie...."
"Sharie and I had a little talk," Said Astronema quietly. "I wanted to see you, Zhane. I wanted to say...I'm sorry."
"...sorry?" he echoed. No wonder Sharie had slipped an emergency teleportation device on him.
She sighed and hugged her slender frame. He could not help but notice she was still completely unarmed. "Yes....I was wrong, Zhane. You did not lie to me. Sharie confirmed the monster problem."
"Is...that all?" he stammered as she came closer to him.
"No..." hazel eyes rose to meet sapphire ones. "Zhane...how do you feel about me...*really* feel?"
He swallowed. "Do you want the truth?"
She nodded, her eyes...imploring him? he could not deny such a pleading look. He took a deep breath. "I love you, all right? Strange as it may sound, I cannot get my mind off you." In spite of himself, his hand came up to lightly touch her face. He saw her shadowed eyes and frowned. "What...why do you look so....fatigued? That illness we had was weeks ago. You should have been recovered."
She smiled slightly, but it made Zhane's heart lurch. "Is it that noticeable? I am not ill, Zhane...only heartsick."
"...heartsick..."
"Yes, Zhane...for you." Unable to stop herself, her arms slid around his waist. "This is what happens to me when I love you."
"Astronema..."
"Let me..." she whispered hoarsely as one of his hands came up to the back of her neck. He could feel her warm breath against his lips as she tilted her face upwards, towards his. "Let me put this to you in a way I know you will understand." Her arms tightened about him. "Shut up and kiss me, Zhane."
Suddenly, he knew it was a tone he would obey without heistation. Gently, he cupped her chin and eased her lips to his, his senses reeling.
Astronema felt the most searing of fires sweep through her body with the gentle touch. It was unlike anything she had ever before felt, and it pushed her mind into a tailspin. She made no objection when he crushed her slender frame to him, indeed eagerly welcomed it. Gone were any lingering thoughts on the foolishness of loving somebody from the good side. Gone were any thoughts at all, save for the incredible, overwhelming sensations coursing through her blood, roaring, pounding with every frantic beat of her heart.
Overshadowing it all was the vague thought that this was *not* wrong, this was right, very right. It did not feel vile to her like the other few she had kissed, the complete and overwhelming sense of belonging here in his arms was giving her the most complete feeling she had ever before known....and another part of her feeling desperately incomplete, a sudden fire and urging to seek the satisfaction that had lain dormant for so long, buried within the heart of someone not designed for evil in the first place...a heart that could feel love in it's entirity, and not be pushed to hide it.
"Zhane..." she moaned softly as his tongue pushed into her mouth, teasing hers with an abominable ease that left her aching for more. His fingers ran through her hair, and suddenly, he found himself being crashed by wave after wave of need, and it instantly seemed the hardest thing to do to keep his hands from straying where they should not go.
"As-Astronema..." he gasped, forcing himself to break the lip contact. "I-- I can't keep doing this...not when you do this to me."
She looked at him, gasping for air, and her hazel eyes widened in surprise. She actually looked--innocent? "Zhane? What am I doing to you that is so wrong?"
That wide-eyed innocence was even more appealing, and he swallowed painfully, trying to calm his searing blood. "Nothing wrong in that sense..." he ground out hoarsely. "Only in the sense that if it goes too far, it may be to late. I have no intention of dishonoring you, Astronema. I am not that type of guy."
She blinked as she realized what he was implying. Still, if this did not happen *now*, she was afraid she would never get another chance. "You would not dishonor me," she murmured. "They don't own me like that, to regulate my movements so."
"But how much would we respect ourselves afterwards?" he had to point out, forcing himself not to touch her, lest he do something unforgiveable. "I am not the loose type, Astronema. I don't want to make you feel used."
A ripple of astonishment went through her. "You...would care about me so much?" she had to ask. For some odd reason, actual tears stung the back of her eyes. "Zhane, I would not feel used, I assure you....and I may never have the chance to be with you like this again. The next time I see you, it could be across the battlefield, no matter how much I might pray for your safety as I have done so much of late."
She closed her eyes, and was mildly surprised to feel him kiss her again-- gently, this time. "I know," he confessed. "I am afraid of that, too."
"I wish you and I could just run away together," she murmred with a faint smile. "Go to where no one knows us--but I can't leave. Not yet. There is too much at stake in my life--and no doubt yours. Life," she sighed. "It is cruel."
"It is cruel to seperate us," he agreed. "But I don't particularly think this is cruel." He leaned down and kissed her again.
"Mm-mm..." she mumbled, agreeing with him wholeheartedly. Her hands managed to find their way around his neck, and he suddenly felt her fingers there, teasing the nape of his neck as the intensity and hunger of the kiss more than doubled. One of her hands left his neck to wander down his chest and back upwards, and he almost lost coherent thought. Suddenly, he knew she was making it very clear she still wanted him.
"I am not stone, Astronema," he groaned softly. "Please don't lie to me...are you sure?"
For answer, she leaned into him again, opening her mouth and this time, it was her tongue who sought his with a vengence. She, who had been one to ignore her heart for most of her life, now followed it wholeheartedly, and eventually, she was glad she did, as both threw caution to the wind and let the paths of destiny take over for awhile.
****
It took the pair awhile to stir. Zhane was rather startled to awaken by kisses pressed against his neck and traveling upwards to his lips, and he was gratified that the look in her eyes told him, without words, that this had not been a mistake. He smiled and kissed her again before reluctantly pulling away. "I am afraid that we may be missed soon, Astronema," he had to remind her as he pushed her clothes into her hands. "Didn't you say something about nobody knowing that you are here? Much less with me?"
She made a face. "I'm afraid that is true. Only Sharie, since she acted as go-between--I still can't believe she had it in her to condone such a stunt, much less help us."
"Sometimes I think she knows things about us that we don't even know ourselves," he had to admit. "And yet, she is the most mysterious person I know. I wonder if it's even fair."
She nodded in agreement as they finished dressing, then her face became somber as they stood up, and she found herself standing very close to him. She fought to say it, then sighed. "Zhane....my word, by reputation, my not be the best," she stumbled as he caught her hands and his piercing blue eyes met hers. "But...believe me when I say...I will never forget this...never. Not even if we can never do this again." She leaned up and kissed him lightly, as if they were sealing something between them. He did not disbelieve her, and was dimly surprised to feel her press something into his hand.
He unfolded it, and gave her a startled glance. It was her picture, the one he thought he had lost.
"Where did you get this? I thought I had dropped it or something."
"You dropped it outside that theatre when you went to see that movie--'Star- crossed Lovers' I think it was."
"And how did *you* find it, may I ask?" he suddenly sounded amused and embarrassed both at once.
"*Think*, Zhane. Was there something familiar about that blonde girl who bumped into you that day?"
Suddenly, Zhane felt like an idiot, and his foolish grin compunded it. "That...that was you?"
"Yes," she giggled softly.
"I should have known," he murmured, red-faced as he smacked his forehead with his hand.
"I could not get you off my mind," she confessed. "I just *had* to see you." The sparkle in her eyes faded, and so did her smile. "I have to go," she murmured. "You see, not even Ecliptor knows of this place, and he will be frantic. He is, after all, my protector and father figure."
Tears formed in her eyes. "Goodbye, Zhane," she whispered, leaning up and pressing her lips to his once more. The soft, gentle kiss was one he responded to with so much heartfelt emotion, her heart wrenched. She understood then that Zhane, for all his cheerful personality, was also a person of seriousness and deep emotion underneath. Leaving was just as hard for him as it was for her aching heart.
Their lips clung, and the kiss did not end. Neither could bear to do so, for it would mean saying good-bye. Which could mean a good-bye of forever, and that forever could mean their hearts shattering to dust. Love found would not mean love lost, but it could spell disaster nonetheless.
Only when his brain was on fire from lack of oxygen did he release her, and she stepped back, her expression bravely trying to be positive for his sake. He could not bring himself to say a permanent goodbye, but he did say, "I will not say goodbye. Until we meet again should suffice." He flashed her one more smile, the one that had made her fall for him in the first place, then he was gone, replaced first by a flash of silver light, then nothing, leaving her alone. Then, and only then, did she let the tears seep down her face, for there was nobody around to chastize her for it.
****
Sharie had been trying to read, but the fact remained that she had let the silver ranger alone with Astronema for awhile now. Although she felt no impending danger. She usually did feel danger before it happened, and nothing was alerting her senses now. She stifled her concern and tried to lose herself in her book again, but was privately glad when the flash of silver announced Zhane's arrival.
Quickly, she put the book aside. "Are you ready to leave?" she asked softly.
His blue eyes were lowered, and she saw him open his mouth and shut it. He was trembling, and she got up at once and led him to a bench. Only then did his emotions give way, althogh Zhane surprised even himself by starting to silently cry.
"Did something bad happen?" Sharie asked as she let him hug her tightly, his head drawn to her shoulder. She hoped this had not been a big mistake, dragging him out here....
"No," he whispered, dragging his sleeve across his flushed face. "It's just that...I...Sharie...thank you," he managed.
He could say no more, but his hand grasping hers told her exactly what had transpired, and it had not been a bad thing.
"You are my friend, Zhane," she said softly. "It is not easy seeing friends unhappy, you know."
"How did you arrange it?" he asked, dragging his sleeve across his face again. "I admit you shocked me to my toes, Sharie, when I saw who was standing in the shadows. I briefly wondered what you had gotten me into."
Sharie hid a smile as she briefly related how her pact with Astronema had come about. However, she stuck to the promise she had made herself, and did not reveal how she had discovered Astronema was Karone. "Zhane, will you be okay?"
"I'll be fine," he sighed. "But it does hurt, Sharie, when you are holding the woman you love one minute and facing the realization that the next you could be seeing her across the battlefield, on the opposite side."
"So you did work things out?"
"Yes," he murmured, and suddenly blushed. Sharie was not surprised when this gave her plenty of indication *how* well things had worked out. It had worked out *very* well indeed, or he would not be acting so un-Zhane- like.
She did not say anything to the fact, but she had to remind him of something. "Zhane, of course you know I cannot do this a lot. Maybe not again for a long while, if at all. My truce with Astronema is ended."
He nodded. "I understand. You already went far beyond the call of friendship, Sharie. I am in your debt."
"You are *not* in my debt," she countered. "I did what had to be done. And my lips are for the most part sealed on this matter. The only one I will be forced to tell is Trey, and for different reasons entirely. But I know my brother, I doubt if he would condemn you either."
Zhane nodded in agreement, and was quiet for most of the journey back to the colonysite.
****
Sharie sat in the windowseat of her rooms on Triforia, idly toying with the crystal on her wrist, the one that Trey had given her on their birthday. It was fluctuating rapidly between yellow and an omnious grey, reflecting her conflicting emotions.
She could not stop, it was what the crystal was designed to do. The yellow reflected her relief to finally be someplace familiar, but the grey showed her uncertainty and her jumpy testiness that refused to leave her. And it was increasingly growing, as if she was a ticking time bomb ready to explode.
*At least it's accurate*, she mused idly. She wondered if she really should tell her brother what she found out. He had not really been surly drectly to her, but she did sense he preferred everyone at a distance at the moment. She had not seen him this way in years, and she did not quite recall the trigger.
Or what was bothering her, for that matter. It was as if she should know, but for some reason, the cause would not reveal itself.
*And I thought Triforians never forgot these things.* With a sigh, she got up and wandered outdoors. The problem of Astronema/Karone loomed heavily in her mind, and she hoped no one sensed her gloom.
*How can I tell him?* she thought again. *How could I possibly tell Andros his sister has been under his nose and the cause of much of his misery all this time?! He would never believe me....he must find the truth on his own!*
But was it right, keeping such a secret from him? She was afraid that if he did not disbelieve her, it would surely destroy him unless he were to face it head-on.
And the girl that she and Ashely had seen in Darkonda's hideaway....it had indeed been Astronema. But she had not known it...."blackouts", she had said...was somebody influencing her somehow, that she could not recall her past?
Sharie was so deep in thought that as she wandered the large gardens of the Royal House, she did not pay much attention to her surroundings. She was just rounding a corner of a garden wall when she crashed headlong into somebody.
She gasped in surprise as they collided, and stumbled backwards, crashing to the ground. A sharp pain shot through her wrist as she landed on it hard, and she was sure she heard a faint *snap*.
"Hey, watch where you are...." said an impatient voice, then Sharie looked up over her pain to meet her brother's startled gaze.
"Oh my goo--I am *so* sorry, Sharie," he stumbled, scrambling to his feet and reaching to pull her up.
She silently accepted his help, clutching her wrist as soon as she was on her feet and biting her lip over the pain. His eyes grew bigger as he saw her pain and he gestured. "Let me see your wrist, Sharie," he said softly, but firmly. "Gods, what did I do *now*?"
She shook her head and backed away from him. "It is nothing. I am fine."
"Dammit, Sharie, don't be difficult to me just now, please," he almost pleaded. She stared at him in shock--she had almost never heard him sound like that, certainly not in years! "Just let me see your wrist."
She tried not to sigh--it was too painful, anyway--as she slowly extended her wrist to him. It did not look disfigured or swollen, but she was willing to bet she had snapped something, from the pain coursing through her hand and wrist.
There was blood on it too, from where her arm had gashed sharply across some brambles as she had tumbled. Dismay covered his features, and his fingers felt along her wrist till he came to the area of her hand and wrist that contained the many tiny bones. A frown covered his face as his fingers sought out the area where there were many tiny bones in her wrist.
Locating it, he pressed down firmly.
She uttered a sharp yelp and jerked her hand away. "Ow! There!"
She heard him swear softly. He had felt where some of the tiny bones weren't as they should be. "Dammit, out of everything else, I had to break my own sister's wrist."
"It was not your fault," she tried to say, but he covered her lips with his fingers and shook his head, then touched the teleporter button on his communicator, transporting them into the house where the medical kit was kept.
He hardly looked at her as he pushed her into a chair, medkit in hand. His face was mostly expressionless, but his eyes showed his conflicting emotions of a rhythm she had not seen in him in ages, an odd, impatient turbulence that almost made her want to recoil from him. Mixed in there was fatigue, also. Not physical fatigue, but the tired-of-life kind that said that things had been a bit much for him lately.
That part Sharie understood, even though it pained her to see them both like this again. And, to her own personal horror, she found that, for once, what he was feeling did not make her feel all that much for him.
"It wasn't your fault," she repeated again, wondering if it had been the emotionally wrenching adventures they had suffered through over the past couple of months that was finally getting to them. It was the type even the usual complascent Triforians could not blame somebody for feeling once in a while. "I wasn't watching were I was going. I was thinking too hard."
"About what?" he asked absently, using an absorbent tissue to remove the blood from her wound.
She squirmed. "I wonder to tell you or not. Especially in the mood you are in."
"And what about me is so vile to you today, that I would not want to listen?" he asked, probably a bit more darkly than necessary. "I see it in your eyes, too, Sharie. And in this," he indicated the mood-revealing bracelet she was wearing. Dark brown, indicating annoyance, was around the edges, and swirls of a dusky purple and grey indicated that she was keeping something from him, and the firey red spotted here and there indicated anger at something.
"So?" she shrugged. "It is not you directly, Trey--just something I never wished I had found out."
"Found out about what?" he asked, not expecting an answer. She hid so much about her life from him still, which was annoying in itself at times. He did not expect her to tell him now.
"I wish I had never found out," she repeated again to herself. Then, so he could barely hear, she whispered, "About Andros's sister."
His head snapped up in surprise, and this time, his startled gaze did meet hers. "What did you say?" he queried. "What about Andros's sister?"
She shook her head. "I found out too much," she mumbled.
"Too much?" he repeated, and he suddenly grasped her chin and forced her eyes to his once again. "You learn something about Andros's sister, and you think it is too much?"
She squirmed and jerked away from him, not liking how his dark eyes darkened further. "Yes," she whispered. "I did learn something, and it was more than I ever cared to know about."
"Sharie, that is a really cruel way to think!" he sounded shocked and at least slightly upset. "You have told Andros, or plan to tell him, right?"
"I cannot."
"Why? Sharie, at times I just don't understand you." He dropped the pad back into the kit with a thump, and his eyes almost outright glared at her.
"I said, I *cannot*," she repeated. "I cannot tell Andros this directly. It would destroy him."
"Sharie Triesta, how can you say such a thing?" he snapped, his tone a mixture of shock and annoyance.
"Because it would destroy him, and he would not believe me." Sharie felt her own anger spark at his tone.
"You *must* tell him," he ground out. "What about all that he and the rest of the team went through to get us together, Sharie? Would you deny him the chance to get his sister back?!"
"I said *I cannot*!" she snapped back. "It is heartlessly cruel to *tell* him the likes of what I found out, not the other way around! It is only something he can face for himself, not what I can simply tell him and have him disbelieve, not to mention the anguish he would go through because he would think I was telling him falsehoods!"
Sharie could not believe his reaction. His eyes had narrowed, almost dangerously. "I had not thought you capeable of petty cruelty, or stupidity," he said shortly. "I think you are underestimating somebody who has been through much worse."
"Stupidity and cruelty?" she hissed, her purple eyes by now glowing with embers of rage. "No, Trey, wisdom is more like it, wisdom you seem to not be showing at the moment. What I found out is so different from what we did know of Karone Andros would never believe me. That is another reason I cannot tell him directly! And don't you ever dare accuse me of deliberate cruelty again--I cannot believe you would dare!" she cried out.
"That's because it still sounds cruel to me!" he yelled back. "All the torture Andros has gone through to find his sister, and you would deliberately deny him any leads."
"You don't understand, Trey!" She yelled back. He cut her off.
"I don't understand?! Almost twelve years of thinking you dead, at the very least lost and warped into somebody I would not recognize, and you say I *don't understand*?!"
"You are not even letting me finish!" she cried out, backing away from his advancing figure. "You don't even know why!" Rage was coursing through her veins now, uncontrolled and unchecked. "Don't think I would have forgotten what we went through! But I am not Karone, and you are not Andros! This is different! I *can't* tell him, and right now, you are not helping any!"
"And yet you would still deny Andros any chance of Andros ever seeing Karone again!" he yelled. "Are you so ungrateful, Sharie, or so unfeeling? A little disbelief and anguish on Andros's part will be well worth it when he finds his sister again!"
"You don't know anything!" she yelled, then backed away from him as he continued to advance on her. He was too close, and he was grasping her good wrist hard. She tried to pull away, and she jerked back hard. She gasped as her heel caught on a chair rung, and she fell backwards as her other wrist came free.
A sharp yelp came out of her mouth as her broken wrist connected with the floor again--hard. Trey stopped in surprise, and as she stumbled to her feet, she finally exploded. He was refusing to listen, she thought, and she was just short of doing something dangerous.
His fingermarks could be seen on her other wrist, and her fall had torn open her wounds again, and they bled afresh. Blood seeped through the fingers of her good hand as it held her broken wrist immoble. She turned her fiery temper on her brother, and did not bother to soften the words.
"Damn you!" she hissed, her eyes flashing and the daggers sending sharp stabs of fury right through him, right square into his middle. He had never, *ever* seen her gaze like that before, and most certainly never dreamed she'd turn it on him!
"Get out of my sight, Trey Taryn Triesta, before I have anything else broken due to your damn temper! Don't bother talking to me again until you calm down and are ready to listen to the rest of what I was going to tell you--no, as a matter of fact, I don't even want to *see* you again until I decide I want to! So get out of my sight and just *leave me alone*!!"
Without even bothering to look at him, she turned and stumbled out of the room, heading directly for her room instead to try and fix her wound herself. She certainly did not need *his* help.
****
Jeanette almost flew through the corridors as she hurried to the source of the shouting and the slamming of doors. She had heard the noise a wing away, and she did not know what to think. Arguments were a rare occurence in the Royal House.
She did not even bother to knock at the door where she had heard the noise, she just entered to see Trey sitting on a chair, forehead in hand. He did not lift his head when she stood away from him a bit and folded her arms.
"Would you mind explaining what all that noise was?" she asked, concerned. "I heard yelling clear from the next wing over."
"Yes, I would mind," he muttered, lifting his head. She was shocked to see tears in his eyes--tears of some type of pain that was not physical. There was also guilt hidden in those depths, a horrified guilt she could not understand the reason for.
"What happened?" she was forced to ask. She sat in the chair beside him and simply looked at him until he stumbled an answer.
"Do you ever discover, out of the blue one day," he mumbled, "That you are far more dangerous to yourself and other people than you could ever dare realize?" The tears in his eyes brightened, and she could tell he was struggling to hold it back, the hurt in his gaze tearing at her.
"That does not tell me much about what happened," she said. "Where is Sharie? Did you--" she stopped and shook her head. "I never thought I would really have to ask this, but did you two have an arguement?"
Numbly, he nodded. Jeanette sighed.
"I am surprised at you two, as close as you are," she murmured. "But I should not be, as testy as you two have been of late. I just don't understand why. Or why you think you are a danger to anybody."
"Why do you think I force myself to hide my anger all the time?!" he burst out. "Because if I ever lose control, even for a moment, I can inflict real damage!" The horrified guilt flashed in his eyes again.
"Damage?" she repeated. "Trey, what are you talking about? What did you argue about--and what damage?"
"We argued about a sensetive subject," he muttered evasively. "As for damage--go ask Sharie yourself. You will see what I mean. You can shun me later. She certainly is."
"Trey, you know I would never shun you, no matter what," said Jeanette quietly. "Everyone is entitled to anger once in a while. I am sorry to say your explosive temper comes directly from me. I have blown up in the past, it is nothing new--it is just rare for us, that's all."
She leaned over and kissed his forehead before standing up. "Just give it time to cool down before you two try and talk to each other again. Your relationship cannot be destroyed because of a few angry words, likely it will all blow over."
"A few angry words, ha," he muttered, his eyes threatening to overflow, but he forcefully held them back. "Just go see what happened to Sharie, then you will think differently. It is my fault."
Jeanette shook her head as she walked out of the room. Surely Trey was exaggerating, she mused, as she went down corridors to Sharie's set of rooms. She did not bother to knock again before she entered.
Sharie was sitting on her windowseat, staring outside. She did not bother to look at her mother as she entered. Her wrist was bandaged, and she also had a dermal regenerator on it, but not before blood had seeped through the cloth. She heard her mother's inhaled gasp of surprise, then saw Jeanette sitting beside her out of the corner of her eye.
"Triune's peak, I certainly hope this has nothing to do with your arguement," she gasped, lifting the limp wrist as Sharie took little notice, except to wince in pain. "How did you get this?"
"It was an accident," said Sharie woodenly. "If Trey told you otherwise, it is not true. I broke my wrist outside."
She did not look at her mother, and Jeanette picked up her other wrist. "These fingermarks are not the size of your fingers, Sharie," she observed quietly.
"That's not his fault either. He had grabbed my wrist while we were arguing, and he accidentally squeezed too hard, and Trey does not know his own strength. It was unintentional."
"What has gotten into you two lately?" wondered Jeanette tiredly. "The only reason I believe you, Sharie, is because I know you two would not intentionally abuse each other even during your worst arguements."
Sharie nodded, knowing offhandedly that this was true. But she did not tell her mother much more before Jeanette left, shaking her head. Gods, she had to be mother to the two most *stubborn* children in the universe....
****
Sharie toyed with the bandage on her wrist. No, it was not Trey's fault. It had indeed been an accident. She knew her brother too well The thought of hurting innocents horrified him to the extreme, and in her anger, she had practically thrown it in his face, blaming him for hurting her when it had not been purposefully done.
Tears stung at her eyes, and she laid her head on her knees. She was a horrid, horrid person. In a matter of months, she had done it again. Let down the guard she held around her innermost, severe emotions, and hurting those she loved around her. Last time, she and Trey had had good reason-- Dark Dresden's continued ravages on their souls. This time--they had acted like immature infants. What the *hell* had been bothering them so much lately?
And she should have known better to bring up such a sensetive subject when they were like this. The subject of kidnapped siblings was not plesant, to say the least, and she felt guilty for starting a senseless fight.
Outwardly, it did seem cruel to deny Andros what she had found out. But she had plenty of good reasons.
****
"What has gotten into them?" muttered Jeanette to her brother-in-law and man she planned to marry soon, Tristain. "I have never seen them act so violently towards each other before."
He had an old-soul wisdom in his eyes as he considered this. "I rather think we have seen this before, Jeanette, it has just not been seen by either of *us* in twelve years, now, and of course they never fought each other then. They both used to get like this at this time of year--look at the calendar, and it should be obvious."
She did not have to look at the calendar for the blood to flee her face. Of course she had not forgotten the date--the anniversary of Teryan, her deceased husband's death, was within weeks now! She would never, never forget such a thing, never!
"I know it is almost the time of year my Teryan died," she whispered brokenly. "How could I ever forget the pain? How could *you*? But after all this time--I did not dream it was still affecting those two so strongly. It still hurts, Tristain, but I grieved and put it behind me. You helped me do that. How--how can they still keep it locked up, after so long?"
"I don't know," he muttered. "It is a wonder they even condone my wanting to marry you, Jeanette. Here I am, a living, breathing mirror image of my brother, a walking invitation for painful reminders--and they turn on each other."
"They would never turn on you," said Jeanette, surprised. It was true that Tristain looked almost exactly like his dead brother. They could have been identical twins. "They love you as much as they did their father."
"They are like the kids I never had," he admitted. A flash of pain crossed her face, and he winced. He had not meant to hint at the fact he would never have children if he married her. Jeanette could not have any more kids. Sharie had been a lucky accident, and that was that.
"I'm sorry, I did not mean for it to sound like that," he whispered, contrite, hugging her. "When we marry, Sharie and Trey will become my children, anyway. I could not ask for more."
"But what can we do about those two?" she had to ask. "I cannot have them flying at each other for the next who-knows-how-long."
"I do not believe we can do anything about it," he had to say. "It is something they have to work out between themselves, Jeanette. I would not worry much."
"I do worry," she admitted. "I worry a lot. There is so much they won't tell me, and it recently dawned on me just how much they are trying to spare me. Gods, I don't know the smallest fractions of the lives they have truly led! I barely know even anything of Dark Dresden's attack on Earth, because they won't spill! No wonder they are like this!"
"We cannot pluck it from their minds for them," said Tristain wearily. "They are very close, Jeanette, closer than most people could ever get to each other. It can't be severed because of a few harsh words. We will have to give it time."
"I know," Jeanette whispered as he held her. "I know."
****
Sharie knew she was right in not telling Andros, at least not yet. Even if he did believe her, which she doubted, he would insist on pillaging the Dark Fortress, and getting them all killed trying some stupid stunt she could not fathom to bring Astronema back. The only thing Sharie could think of to do was to try and turn circumstances so that both Red Ranger and Princess of Evil would realize the truth on their own and mutually agree to stop the madness that plagued their lives constantly. And it would not be easy--she was willing to bet a freak accident, a chance occurence, would reveal the truth, nothing more.
But how to make Trey see this without another blowup? She felt horrible for what she had done, and she was not even angry at him anymore. Her flare of rage had cooled as soon as she had gotten to her room and she realized what she had verbally flung at him.
She could not believe she had actually said it, either. How could she have *done* such a thing, flinging something so hurtful into his face?
*I'm a jinx,* she thought to herself again, like she had been doing. *All I ever do is hurt the ones I love the most. Why am I plauged so--why do I plauge them so?*
She sniffled slightly, and a single tear ran down her face. *Why do I even exist, really?*
And she could not belive she was still upset at Trey. She was not angry at him; she still did not want to see him or talk to him for awhile. She needed to cool her heels and think about what to do next, salvage what parts of their relationship she could. After the damage she had inflicted with her cruel words, she wondered if there was any left.
****
*How could I have done this?* Trey wondered as he stared out the window of his own room that night. *The next time, I could accidentally kill her!*
Her words resounded in his head again, *Get out of my sight, Trey Taryn Triesta, before I suffer any more broken bones because of your damned temper!*
What was worse, he knew she was right. His temper was fierce unless he controlled it so strictly it would never, ever show. Looked what happened when it did! Maybe the broken wrist had been an accident with the first fall--but not the second, he doubted. He had not let go of her in his anger, and she had jerked back so sharply, trying to get *away* from him-- and she had fallen again, aggravating the break, probably severely. Not to mention the bruises she would have on her other wrist--Damn! After he had sworn never to do it again, not after that scene after Dark Dresden's death.
And now what? He doubted she wanted to see him again anytime soon, he was surprised she was even still on Trifroria. Why hadn't he listened to her when she tried to tell him something so important? What about the whole deal had been the spark to ignite the intense emotions that had been broiling under the surface recently? While the thought of Andros not finding his sister, when someone obviously knew where she was still did not appeal to him, he should have heard her out. She actually might have had a legitimate reason.
Instead, he had called her cruel, questioned her wisdom, and had not heard her out when she had tried so hard to tell him. Now, he doubted if he would ever know.
Tired as he was, he could not sleep. Her words of anger echoed in his mind again and again, and refused to give him any peace. He wandered over to his bed and lay down on it anyway. His fingers brushed against the Tai'pan stone that he had lain there earlier, before this whole mess had started. It sensed the contact and started to play his song, "Angeliyeta" again. This stone, the one Sharie had given him for his birthday, had been the only means of peace he had had in past days. She had been right when she had told him, once upon a time, that it eased a person's worst moods.
But now, it made him feel even more wretched. She had given it to him out of love, and it was because of the specialness of the gift, of the love given behind it, that made it ease his senses. Now, it felt glaringly absent, and he felt tears sting his eyes again. The frustration of the past several days threatened again to crash on him, and it took all his self-control to hold it back, force all that fire, hurt, anger, and pain back under the barrier that he was struggling to keep intact. It was not until hours later that exhaustion forced the darkness to claim his senses, and even then, his nightmares haunted him, dark images of his past, the howling winds of his past threatening to overwhelm him.
****
Sharie awoke with a choked sob the next morning, on the heels of another one of her unrelenting nightmares. She sat there as reality crept in, telling her that it was only a nightmare. As she had done so often before, she hugged her knees and rocked back and forth, silently, forcing herself to accept the truth that this was real, those days of Dark Dresden were long gone. She rocked until she felt her heartbeat slow, and she brushed her sleeve over her still tear-damp face, only then the dim reminder dawning on her that she still wore the osteoregenerator on her wrist.
The events of yesterday came flooding back, and she stiffened with renewed guilt. *What now*, she wondered as she tugged her wrist free of the device. *What do I do now?*
She pressed her fingers over the many tiny bones in her wrist, and she felt no pain, even when she flexed her hand. It was completely healed, and showed no trace of blood or bruising, or otherwise.
However, on her other wrist, the fierce gripmarks from yesterday had deepened into purple-black bruises.
She decided to leave them. They would heal in a day or two anyway, it was no use wasting a regenerator on just a couple of bruises, her ranger training told her. The Power would heal her faster than normal at any rate.
After she had finished dressing, she stared at the door. She was not surprised to realize she did not want to go out, she did not want to chance meeting up with Trey, not if it was going to lead to another fight, if yesterday was any indication. All she wanted was to be alone for awhile.
****
That day was horrible. Sharie staked out the most distant corners of the gardens or the Royal House and stayed there. Her few chance encounters with Trey were brief, and she did not speak to him, hurrying away as soon as she could. She knew that she was only putting off the fact that she *would* have to talk to him again eventually.
It was even worse for Trey. Every time he did see her, *whist*, she was gone in the next instant. If she did glance his way, her purple gaze went right through him as if he did not exist.
And each time it did, it stung like never before. When someone you love so deeply turns their back on you, it feels worse than almost anything else imaginable. It makes you want to die, and it feels like they are doing it deliberately--a death by slow, intense emotional torture.
The feeling was compounded when he saw her wrists. Her broken one was healed, she had done it herself. But her other one bore his fierce gripmarks, there for all to see in dark, angry bruises. It made him feel sick, really, really sick, knowing it was his loss of control that had caused her such pain.
But what stung most of all was the lack of her presence on any scale, her manner that indicated, clearly, that he was not wanted in her life at the moment. He had sorely overstepped his bounds, and he rather thought this was a good way for her to put him in his place, along with the clear realization of how much he deserved it.
****
Jeanette watched sadly, an ache in her heart for her children as they fought their silent battles to overcome this latest barrier in their lives. What could she do? She could not intercede in any way that would satisfy her, their resentment would include her if she tried.
"They are suffering because of how one is treating the other," said Tristain practically. "And I don't think they will stand for it much longer. It will work out soon,you will see."
She ferverently hoped he was right.
By chance, Trey came upon Sharie in the garden. He paused, and she did not see him, because of the angle at which he was standing. He was rather startled to see her lips tremble, and she was shaking with suppressed emotion. He had to fight the urge to go to her, since he well knew she would only push him away and run off. Two lone tears stole down her face, and suddenly, her gaze went to the heart-shaped pendant she wore on her wrist, the one he had given her for her birthday, the one that showed her emotions clearly.
His sharp gaze could see the colors, swirling and reflecting her confused emotions, the purple-blue indicating her pain showing clearly throughout.
He saw her lips tighten, and she suddenly gripped the chain, as if she could not stand looking at the pendant anymore. He was afraid, for a moment, that she would tear it off and throw it clear across the garden.
She did not, though, as if she tighened on something struggling to break free inside of her, closing her fingers around her wrist instead, then sighing as she stood up. Trey had to duck out of sight, quickly, before she saw him. Right now, another of her see-through looks was something he could not stand to see.
****
This was really unfair to both of them. She could not stand it any longer, she had to talk to him. How could she have been so cruel, to deliberately turn her back on him today?
That was what had come over her so suddenly in the garden, it was as if she was overwhelmed by his misery, when she knew she was not sensing him at all. When she had looked into the crystal on her wrist, she had realized that the emotions, portrayed in a confusing blend of colors, at least mirrored his. It made her want to cry, to suddenly berate herself for allowing him to feel such pain. Her own really *was* beside the point, as long as she could take away at least some of his pain, somehow.
But where to begin? She had been looking through him all day, trying to avoid him. She had not been trying to punish him, she had only wanted to be left alone. But she suddenly realized how cruel a gesture those encounteres had been. She suddenly realized what she would have felt if he had been doing that to her, and she wanted to hit herself. She had done it *again*, thrown his shortcomings into his face...without saying a word.
****
Sunset was approaching, and Sharie had wandered to her favorite hillside to watch it, for once. Sunsets were different from sunrises, and she did not often have the time to watch Triforia's. She had climbed into a nearby tree and sat, idly staring westward, hoping for some peace to her tortured mind.
She had not been there long when she got the sudden sense of someone approaching. She started, then glanced through the branches.
It was Trey. He must not have realized she was here, and had come himself. This *was* a spot he frequented more than she did, she knew.
As he approached, she saw his face. It was impassive, but certainly not his eyes.
Her world wavered, and she nearly fell out of the tree as she saw the amount of pain in those depths. What she had seen in the crystal had been right. His pain did at least mirror her own, she'd had no right to do this to him. It was too cruel to do this to somebody she loved so much.
He walked right on past the tree, for she knew he did not see her. She suddenly felt compelled to follow him, and as quietly as she could, she scrambled out of the branches.
He did not go far, and did not see her silent approach. He had stopped on a hillside and sat down, staring at nothing in particular.
Trey nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt a sudden presence beside him, and he started as he saw *Sharie*, of all people, drop down beside him on the grass, avoiding his gaze, staring directly ahead at the sunset soon to commence.
Trey felt frozen in shock, he could not move. Why had she come? She did not seem intent on giving him any notice, so why was she seated now, here, beside him when she had not wanted to even see him yesterday?
He could not help but see her face, expressionless, although he could not directly see her eyes since her face was not completely revealed to him.
"Sharie?" he had to ask. "Why did you come?" He had to ask it, even if her answer would not be something he could stand to here.
She still did not look at him, her gaze on her fingertips, and her bruises seemed to glare even more accusingly at him.
For a moment, she did not seem deigned to answer, and he felt like crying all of a sudden.
"I have three words for you, Trey," she said, quietly, and he could not read her tone.
He bit his lip as she opened her mouth, then shut it. Suddenly, she turned to face him, and her purple eyes were glittering brightly with unshed tears.
"I want to say--I love you." It was whispered as her eyes glittered even more brightly, her eyes threatening to run over.
"I love you," she repeated. "And--and I'm sorry," she blurted, lips trembling as she shook. She seemed grateful when he unfroze and gathered her to him even as she spoke. "I am so, so sorry--I had no right to do this to you." The words simply tumbled free as her arms managed to find their way around him as well, tightly, as if a lifeline.
For a moment, he couldn't speak; too flooded by a wave of guilt and sheer gratitude to even try.
"I love you too, Lalinka," he managed to whisper after a few moments, holding her to his heart. Lalinka. He suddenly realized that he had not called her that in days. Usually, he used it three times as often as her real name. What had stopped him?
"I need to apologize, not you," he murmured as she sniffled and leaned into him. "I caused you so much pain, and I refused to listen--and there is your wrist."
"I have more to apologize for," she insisted softly. "I was so angry I flung the blame for my wrist right in your face--when I did it on my own. Gods, I got us into a horrid mess."
"You?" he repeated. "It was I who refused to listen, when you tried to tell me something important. I still don't understand why I got so angry at you..."
"Because of the subject matter," she muttered. "The way I put it was not right. Especially when we had suffered Andros and Karone's fate for so long, and Andros had helped to do so much to get us together. But I had my reasons then, and I have them now. I am sorry if this will still upset you, but I stand by my actions. But Trey--Can you forgive me?"
"I still don't see why you are apologizing--but I will if you forgive me for hurting you." guiltily, his hand brushed against the bruises on her wrist.
"I feel the same, but if it makes you feel better, I forgive you," she murmured.
"In that case, I you also." She was glad to finally hear a smile in his voice as she felt his heartbeat beneath her cheek. "Trey--let's try to not be so stupid again, okay? And as for what I tried to tell you yesterday-- will you hear me out, without getting angry?"
He nodded. "I cannot promise we will never fight again, Lalinka, I think it is notable that siblings do it every once in a while--but I will try my darndest to listen to you from now on." He pulled back, and was gratified to finally see a faint glimmer of light in her eyes. "Now, if you can stand to tell me, what happened with Karone?"
****
He listened, dumbfounded, as she told him everything that had happened, and her reasoning.
"Now do you see why I can't tell him outright, because he would not easily believe me? Not to mention the danger he would place her in if he went to her with such a wild tale, no proof on hand? Somebody controls Astronema during her blackout period, she would never believe him."
He sighed. "I think I understand. It is different from what happened to us. You were never evil. All right, Lalinka. I promise not to breathe a word, but I still think we should work on a subtle way to bring the truth to light--all right? They deserve that much--especially if it is possible to sway Astronema to the good side. There has to be some good in her, even if she doesn't remember Andros or KO-35."
"Agreed." She felt relief as she hugged him again. Finally, the day looked brighter than it had in quite a while. "There is just one thing."
"What?"
"You have to swear, on your highest honor, Trey, that even if this does come out one day, you must never, ever reveal the fact I helped Zhane and Astronema arrange a romantic ronedevouz. I don't want to create conflict. And imagine the embarrassment."
"Cross my heart, Lalinka." Far from condoning Sharie's actions, he was rather amused. Besides, if this could happen, it created hope for drawing Astronema back to the good side.
His hand toyed idly with the fingers of her left hand as the sun set, and he felt the ring that Carlos had given her on her birthday. He frowned as something dawned on him.
Wasn't she supposed to be wearing it on the other hand?
Sharie sensed his hand stilling when it came into contact with the ring, and she knew that he had noticed the subtle change from one hand to the other. "Lalinka?" she heard him ask.
"What?"
"Aren't noncommital rings worn on only the right hand, in human tradition?"
"True."
"Then why is it now on your left, on the finger reserved for..."
"Because Carlos gave me the ring, that's why."
"Lalinka?" he sounded startled as he pulled back to search her gaze with his intense dark eyes. He had caught her subtle change of tone. "Is it...."
"Not quite," she said. "The humans share our tradition of and engagement rings, Trey. They also have one for promise rings--sort of like being engaged to be engaged."
"This is a promise ring?"
"Well...yes."
Suddenly, Trey had to laugh. "The intent is noble, and a good one," he assured her. "But....I confess I do not see the point of promising an engagment."
"It simply means that an engagement is not final, but it will be the intent one day." Sharie shrugged.
Trey only gave her a whatever-you-say smile before they fell silent, as the stars came out, one by one.
****
The Universal Musical Syndicate was one of the better radio stations broadcast throughout the universe for the pleasures of listening to a variety of music from infinite worlds. Many liked to hear songs from different planets, but this one, a little song from a tiny planet in an obsure corner of the universe, had speacial meaning for two people.
Somewhere out there,
Beneath a pale moonlight,
Someone's thinking of me,
And loving me, tonight.
Zhane had dragged his transmitter with him on his hike, needing the space. As he sat on a hillside and gazed up at the stars, the song hit him with enough force to bring tears to his sapphire eyes, and he could not help but smile.
Somewhere, out there,
Someone's saying a prayer...
On the Dark Fortress, a pair of hazel eyes similarily swam, and the owner laid her head on the glass of her windows as the song penetrated the ice around her heart...her soul.
And even though I know
How very far apart we are,
It helps to think we might be wishing,
On the same bright star....
Suddenly, both souls felt a little more at peace.
And when the night winds start
to sing a lonesome lullabye,
It helps to think we're sleeping underneath the same big sky!
Somewhere out there....
The end.
