Title: Bleed
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: The ramifications of the rescue unfold, as do the most important Kerovian memories.
"Miel," Zhane whispered, touching Adam's stomach lightly. As his hand quickly became red with blood, he went off in fluent Kerovian.
Andros didn't bother scolding his _dashal_ bonded as he himself darted to Zhane's side. Cassie and the others kept a sharp lookout as Zhane took off his outer jacket and wrapped it firmly around the Korean's waist. Adam flopped like a rag doll as Andros quickly assessed the damage more thoroughly than before. _Make that three broken ribs. Busted something in there. And most of his hand._
_We need to get him out of here,_ Zhane sent quickly.
_Duh._
"Up we go," Zhane muttered as he easily scooped Adam up, inwardly growling at how light his friend was. He approached the rest of the Rangers quickly. "We need to get out of here."
"Easier said than done, hombre," TJ responded.
He nodded to Carlos, who relayed, "That hole we got through on the way in? It's shifting. We need to go about a hundred yards…" He checked a small calculator-like machine in the palm of his hand. "-thataway," he said, pointing straight through a line of marching Quantrons. The Hispanic glanced in concern at his former soccer coach – not only was he unrecognisable as his coach, but there was nothing there to even suggest at the man who nearly killed all the Rangers single-handedly.
"Great," Zhane groaned. He checked on Adam, whose face was peaceful even in the throes of unconsciousness and a dozen or more facial cuts. "We need to get back, guys. Adam needs a hell of a lot of help and we can't give it to him until we get back to the Megaship."
Cassie glanced worriedly at her friend's bundle, then back at the Quantrons. "I could distract them," she offered, scouting the machines' walking patterns. "Unmorphed I'm faster than anyone of you."
Andros grimaced, then nodded. "Be careful and meet us on the other side as soon as you can. On the whistle," he ordered. Cassie nodded, scampering silently to the place closest to the line of enemy robots.
"Carlos and Teej, you fend off the ones to the side. Ashley, you and I take the ones in front of us, if there are any. If not, we help the guys."
They all nodded as they made their way up to just behind Cassie.
Andros whistled.
The Pink Ranger leapt out, tackling and throwing away a Quantron in one swift movement. As she was quickly bombarded with minions, she leapt again, this time rolling through the leap and running away from the parade of Rangers.
TJ and Carlos were neatly disposing of the few Quantrons on Cassie's side, but both were soon facing the incoming Quantrons as Andros, Zhane and the bundle of bloody clothes that was Adam sprinted for the safety of a hidey-hole. "Teej!" Andros got out. "C'mon!"
Ashley got out a piercing whistle, loud enough for Cassie to hear. The woman abruptly stopped on a dime and dashed back, most of the robotic beings following her crashing into one another as they tried to change direction. She easily vaulted onto a staircase-like bunch of storage boxes, and kept going until she dropped to the floor a few metres away from Andros and Zhane.
Carlos quickly pulled the machine out of his pocket, leaving only one hand free to block the attacks. He started running, even unmorphed still faster than the Quantrons. "You're there!" he called. "Stay there!"
"DECA, six to teleport," TJ said calmly, his eyes betraying his worry and concern for the three next to him…Andros, Zhane and Adam.
They all disappeared in six columns of colour…black, pink, yellow, blue, red, and silver with flecks of green.
_ "Wake up, sleepy-head, sun's up, out of bed," Taryan sang motherly, drawing
the curtains across the let in the sunlight.
Adair considered her with dark, curious eyes. Zhane was still asleep, and Andros just growled and rolled over. "C'mon babies," she needled, making her way into the small attached bathroom. The dim sound of running water was heard, then she reappeared with a glass of water and threw it on top of Zhane. He spluttered, waking instantly.
The blonde girl smirked. "That will never ever get boring."
"You just like seeing me all wet," Zhane groaned, hoisting himself up. Andros peeked out of his covers, and saw Adair watching Zhane with the smallest flush on his cheeks. Zhane stretched, the shirt he usually wore to bed skirting a little up his abdomen. Adair's blush grew, and he buried his face into the blankets.
Andros dismissed it, and rolled out of bed himself only to thump onto the floor. "Ow."_
Zhane touched his forehead to Adam's knuckles softly, wishing he knew what the younger man was dreaming of as his eyes twitched.
_ "Adairach?" his mother called.
The boy rolled his eyes at his full name. "Yeah?" he called.
"Your friends are here."
Adair sighed. Sometimes they just didn't know when to leave well enough alone.
"And that boy you like!"
He paused, mid groan. He suddenly opted to start bashing his head into the wall.
Taryan paused outside Adair's room – she could still hear a dull thump that resounded through the house. "Adair?"
"Go away," a bleary voice commanded.
Taryan opened the door, and indeed, Adairach was still bashing his head against the wall…although now it was few and farther between. "You can't understand English? Go. Away."
"You like Zhane, don't you."
Adair stopped at the beginning of another banging of the head.
"You do, don't you?" Taryan suddenly worried. " 'cause maybe I'm reading this all wrong and…I dunno, you like Andros-"
"Taryan," Adair interrupted, not looking at her. "I love Zhane."
The girl smiled. "I knew it."
Adair stood, extending his arms to the sides. Taryan just stared in confusion. "Okay…is this some ritual I don't know about yet?"
The boy blinked. Silence reigned for a few moments before she 'felt' a sigh in her head.
_Hit me. Do something!_
"Why?" Taryan asked, the sixteen year old deliberately talking out loud.
_…you don't hate me?_
"Why would I hate you?" Taryan repeated, taking a few steps closer to Adair.
Adair only closed his eyes and slumped, hands falling to his sides. Taryan rushed forward just as Adair's knees gave out and he collapsed. She held him to her, feeling all those suppressed maternal instincts coming to the forefront.
He started to sob. Taryan pressed a kiss to his forehead as she rocked him, inwardly wondering what was wrong with him._
_ _"I'm leaving for Earth."_
"What?"
"Huh?"
"When?"
"Why?"
"How?"
"Where?"
Adairach waited until his _dashal_'s questions had died down a little. "My mother and father are moving to Earth and I have to go with them."
"When?" Andros asked quietly.
Adair stared at his hands. "Tonight."
"WHAT?"
"They can't do that!"
"You're a Ranger in training, they can't take you away!"
Adair's laugh was bitter. "They can and they will."
Taryan jumped up and enfolded the younger boy in a hard hug. "There isn't anything we can do, is there?" she whispered into his hair.
He shook his head, knowing he'd cry if he said anything.
A warm body pressed into him from behind, and an additional pair of arms wrapped around them all.
"We'll miss you, little frog."
It was Zhane who spoke, yet they all agreed._
_ "Buck up, son," his father said without emotion. "You'll get new friends."
Adair watched forlornly as his _dashal_ bonded waved. Taryan was unashamed of the tears running down her face, while Andros looked only a minute or two from crying himself. Zhane was steadier than his friends, managing a tight smile.
Adair ducked his head and walked after his parents into the ship, never looking back._