Title: Old Scars
Series: Black Past
Author: Dingo
Story Summary: Adam is drawn into a messy web of evil, deceit, and his past. But when his past comes back to fight against him, will he stay on the same side?
Chapter Summary: Zhane and Adair remeet…not in good circumstances.
Note: This is where the slash relationship 1 comes in. So if you object, disappear.
Adam struggled to stand, keeping one eye on the Yellow Ranger. Who really knew what Astronema could do? Cloning was definitely in her range. He used one hand to steady himself on the surrounding drums, whilst the other had a tight hold on his broken rib/s. "What do you want?" he growled, slipping easily…_Too easily_…into evil mode.
Ashley just stared, one hand over her mouth, as the other Rangers slipped beside her. He straightened as well as he could, wincing in pain. "I said, what do you want?" he snarled. The talking pulled the skin of his face, and he felt the longest facial cut begin to bleed again. _Just what I need. A freakin' blood tap from the face and four staring clowns._
TJ didn't breathe. He couldn't. He was simply in shock. Their foe, Adam, who had nearly destroyed them several painful times, was standing in front of them, hurt and scarred.
Carlos was…surprised. Someone had gotten close enough to Adam to hurt him, and he'd lost. Inwardly he was worried: facing someone who could defeat their hardest enemy yet was not a good proposition.
Cassie was concerned, and as she saw Adam grimace in pain, her mind was made up. Even if he was her enemy, he was in no position to attack her, and since the Power Code included helping people who were helpless, helpless equaling pain… Slowly she stepped forward, holding out one hand.
Adam stepped backwards as the Pink Ranger cautiously took a step forward. He winced again as the movement jarred his ribs, and slowly became aware of a sticky substance going through what was left of his shirt. Painfully he brought his hand away from his body, and glanced at the sticky red liquid. It ran over his fingertips, where it hung in drips, solidifying slightly, until it oozed slowly to the floor. Adam replaced his hand quickly; the wound was starting to bleed heavily. During all this, Cassie had kept walking forward, and Adam kept backing up, until his back collided against the barrels. He groaned, leaning against them for support. Ever so slowly, Adam slid down the metal containers, not stopping until he was sitting on the ground. He glared at Cassie, who as the closest was the biggest threat. "What do you _want_?" he asked again, his cracking voice almost making it sound like a plea.
She crouched down, about three steps away. "I want to know who you are," she answered simply.
He snorted, closing his eyes, hiding the black and bloodshot eyes from her. "Get in…line," he rasped painfully. _Damn, that lung's starting to kill._
She stepped forward once more, before bringing her hand to his forehead. Outside he flinched visibly, but inside he wished for that cool hand to press against his forehead again…soothing the burning pain behind his eyes. "You're burning up," she reported, concerned. "Doesn't Astronema watch over you?"
"Astronema? Kao, she's the one…who did this," he gasped painfully. He coughed again, and the copper blood returned with a vengeance. Suddenly his sharp ears heard something…two somethings.
Zhane's eyes glanced everywhere, taking in everything. Line of Quantrons in front, walking down the main 'hallway' which his corridor broke off from; a few engine noises at ten o'clock; soft footsteps…eek!
He dove behind a nearby crate, thankful that Astronema left a lot of stuff lying around. He peered out cautiously, and saw Andros sneaking down the hallway. Quickly he grabbed Andros, clapping a hand over his mouth. "It's me," he whispered. Andros's hazel eyes met blue, and Zhane let him go.
"What the miel are you doing here?" he asked in a whisper.
"Saving you," Zhane responded. "Come on, the others are waiting."
Andros skulked down the path with Zhane. "Hope you've got room for one more in your plans."
Zhane looked strangely at his _dashal_ bonded. "Depends on who the one more is," he said.
Andros grinned predatorily. "If I tell you it's one of our _dashal_ bonded, what would your reaction be?"
Adam's eyes widened, and he slowly and painfully stood. "Someone's coming," he got out. Cassie whirled, the only one able to hear him.
"There's someone coming," she hissed. "Get out!"
They complied, ducking out and into another nearby hole-in-the-wall. Adam softly padded to the 'front' of the space, only a step away from the walkway but still hidden from sight. He tensed, willing the pain in his ribs to subside.
"I'd ask if you were serious," a voice said softly as they came up to where Adam was standing. He peeked cautiously around the corner, and saw Andros standing, talking to another man, only a little shorter than Andros. He stepped slowly backwards, one hand trailing along the red paint.
"Andros!" he heard an accented voice call. He watched two feet run past his hiding place, and he glanced upwards to look into a pair of bright blue eyes. He looked down immediately, wincing in pain. He checked the hand that held his ribs again, and watched as the red substance dripped from his fingers. Adam drew in a shallow, shuddering breath, trying to keep the gathering darkness at bay. He shakily closed his eyes, swallowing the metal-tasting blood in his throat.
"Adairach," a soft voice called. He willed his eyes to look upwards, biting past the pain drumming in his ribs, behind his eyes, everywhere. "Little frog," he heard. His eyes didn't compute. Blond/silver hair, blue eyes, classic baby-boy looks, the light fire behind his eyes. Adam dropped to the floor, leaning against the cool metal of the red painted drums. The man standing in front of him immediately rushed over, quickly assessing the damage that had been done to his _dashal's_ body. "Guys! I need you over here!" he called, hoping his call was loud enough for the others to hear and soft enough for nothing else to hear. Adam coughed again, the bright colour staining his lips a deep, dark red. "Kao," the man softly swore. That was all Adam heard before descending into painful, burning darkness.