Without the constant routine of Earth life, I'm afraid I lost track of time. Let's say the chapter begins on Tuesday night, shall we?
Oh, and I'm messing back and forth with time again. I do hope you won't get lost.
(Still no reviews? Come on, guys… The story couldn't have gone so boring, couldn't it?
7. Make It Right
"Baby I think tonight
We can take what was wrong
To make it right"
"Broken Wings", Mr. Mister.
"Jeez, what happened here?" wondered Carlos aloud. He had just teleported on board the Megaship's bridge, and found it packed with more comm boards, maybe a dozen more weapon consoles and tons of unfamiliar equipment. "This place looks like a mess"
"The Megaship is going to serve as a front command and control center", explained Andros, popping from somewhere inside the general kilter. "Certain adaptations were necessary"
"You did all this yourself?"
"No", Andros shook his head, "Billy Cranston joined me on Aquitar"
"Billy? Wasn't he an Earth Ranger, one of Zordon's original five?"
"He was. His girlfriend is Aquitian, so he's living on Aquitar now. She wasn't too happy that he's going on the field again"
"So why did he come?" wondered Carlos.
Andros seemed somewhat surprised by the question. "Wouldn't you?"
Carlos considered it, sitting down. "For you guys, I would, even if Shiera objected. But for any other reason…"
Andros shook his head. "I've heard that love can strike like a lightning bolt, but you're the first case of it I've seen", he observed. "People fall in love like you did only in movies, not in real life"
Carlos sighed. "You're not the only one who thinks so", he said. "It so happened that Shiera left Triforia a few hours before I did, and as soon as she cleared, Trey insisted on checking me for spells. As if that wasn't enough, he talked to Dimitria while I was in hyperspace, and she too gave me an all-over, plus one of her interrogations"
"Now I'm worried", said Andros. "Triforians are not only extra-sensitive for magic, but also as steel-nerved as can be. For Trey to act like this…"
"Neither he nor Dimitria found anything" said Carlos curtly. "There is absolutely nothing wrong with me"
"Maybe, but still Dimitria fussed over you as much as Trey did" said Andros wryly.
"Even more", said Carlos. "But I told, I'm just a teenager in love"
Seeing that Carlos's temper was about to blow, Andros decided to change tactic. "How about you go catch some sleep?" he suggested. "You look dead tired. Did you sleep at all since you left Earth?"
"Not really", agreed Carlos, "But don't you want me to replace you on the bridge?"
"No, I'm fine, Billy and I switched each other"
"Okay than", said Carlos, getting up.
"Carlos?"
"Yeah?" said Carlos skeptically.
"Would you mind if Karone or Melissa take a look at you when either one gets here? Just to make sure, you know. I promise, if one of them says everything's normal, I won't ask again"
If glares could kill, Carlos's would have burned Andros into a pile of ashes. Still, all he said was "It's a deal. 'Night, Andros"
"Sleep well"
"And what made you think I'd agree?" asked Karone frostily. She had just returned to the Megaship, to be greeted with her tactless brother's request.
Andros was taken aback by her reaction. "I thought you noticed yourself that there's something odd about them"
"They're in love! Aren't you in love with Ashley?"
"It didn't happen overnight" he answered quietly.
"Zhane and I did", she answered defiantly, but the coldness was gone; she was reconsidering.
"And the temporal currents must have worked over-time to straighten that out". Andros spread out his hands. "Look, I know Carlos, okay? Light knows he can be rushed at times, but this is different. He's changed somehow ever since he met Shiera"
It wasn't a smart thing to say. Karone turned defensive again. "Shiera's my friend", she said.
"I know", sighed Andros. "Karone, I so don't want to argue with you"
"I know", she said quietly. "Neither do I, Andros. I… I don't want to do anything that's against your will. It's just that what you're asking feels like betraying Shiera's trust"
The silence elapsed. Neither twin knew what to say.
Finally, Andros remembered. He tugged at the string waiting in his mind. "Karone", he thought softly.
Her happiness glowed warmly. "You remember how?"
They both chuckled at the pointlessness of her question.
"Can I show you?" he asked. "Why I think you should do this"
"Go ahead"
He pushed forward memories, letting his sister experience what happened on the Megaship while Shiera was at Karone's side, and his last conversation with Carlos.
"This does taste strange", she agreed reluctantly. "But neither magic or destiny are at work here, Andros. I would know if it was the former, and Melissa, if it was the latter"
"So you agree"
"It still feels like I'd be betraying her trust"
Without warning, Andros was pulled into his twin's memories, as she showed him what it took of her to let Shiera go. When it was over, he felt tears stinging his eyes.
"Please, Karone. If you really love her so much – make sure she's alright"
"I will", she said audibly. "When is she due back?"
"Half an hour"
Karone made a face. "You'd better go wake Billy then"
"Explain", said Ashley. Exhausted after arguing with petty-minded politicians, she and Zhane arrived to the Megaship to find an unfamiliar ex-Ranger holding the bridge while Andros was hovering over much-exhausted Karone and Carlos, with Shiera reportedly locked in her room. Ashley was teetering at the end of her nerves.
Andros, sensing the oncoming onslaught, did his best to explain how it all begun. Trapped between Ashley's dismay and Zhane's disapproval, he kept tripping over his words. Still, the message got through.
"So what did you find?" Asked Zhane, addressing Karone directly.
"It's not magic", said Karone. "It's something even more primal. You see…"
"Tell me"
The words were but a whisper in Zordon's mind. His head jerked up. "What did you say?"
"Tell me what worries you"
"It has been so long since we spoke this way"
"I am too weak to speak otherwise. My time is almost over. Tell me, please"
"Once, you were the best seer ever born of Eltar. You lost your gift when you chose to limit yourself to a human body. Yet now, not only that you see again, but you see beyond the horizon of your lifetime; and that has never been possible for an Eltaran"
A faint smile crossed the dry lips. "Now that my body is failing, I am no longer limited by it", she said. "I die as I was born, Eltaran. You know what that means; I may chose how to spread the components of my core". Her hand twitched. "My magic, I leave to you, as you will need it; my Light, to the universe that gave it to me; Soul, to my chosen planet; body, to the planet of my birth; my spirit I leave in this Crystal; and my Will, I cast into time, so it may reach a different age, where my vision may become real"
"Another prophet?"
"No. The Will alone will be almost too much for her to bear, should she accept it". Oshra's eyes opened, but Zordon could tell that the ocean-like eyes weren't seeing him. "A Rainbow Walker, should she accept…"
And with that, Oshra's eyes closed for the last time.
"It happened the day Emma was injured, you see", finished Karone tiredly. "Shiera chose to be the strong one, to be active"
"It's no wonder that her memory of anything previous to that are fuzzy at best", added Carlos. "That's one major metamorphosis she's been through"
"So she isn't human?" asked Zhane, only half-meaning it.
"She's human alright", said Karone seriously, "And that's the heart of the problem. Her body can't support the unrepressed potency of her Will, so she's holding back. Only she can't block it completely, you see. It's sipping through, and affecting the world around her"
"So she made Carlos fall in love with her?" asked Ashley incredulously.
Karone shook her head. "No, she can't do that. But her Will added to his, with some problematic side effects…"
After the examination, Karone explained her findings. As soon as she finished, Shiera jumped and left the infirmary, with Carlos right after her. He caught up with her almost immidiatly, and grabbed her arm.
"Shiera!"
She tried to shake him off and turned to him, blinking away tears. "No!" she snapped.
So fragile, he thought, and let go of her. "No what?" he asked.
She didn't answer, just shook her head, but he knew already.
"Hell, Shiera, I fell in love with on my own accord. Don't go blaming yourself"
"It started so, but now what? I'm as good as holding you captive"
"You aren't", he insisted. "Honest"
Suddenly and violently, she pushed him away, nearly causing him to fall. "I want you to be free!" she yelled.
For a split second, Carlos's mind felt strangely clear, as if he just woke from a dream; then, everything went black.
"When she said what she did, she pulled back her Will sharply", sighed Karone. "Only her Will supplied both her and Carlos. It was so much easier on her, you see, than holding back all that power; and it was easier on Carlos, drawing strength from her instead of using his own"
"I recovered, though", said Carlos. "No big deal, really"
"Really", said Andros sarcastically.
"Couldn't agree more", said Ashley.
Zhane just rolled his eyes.
"I agree with Carlos", said Karone. "He came off easy. Shiera was nearly killed by the backlash"
"So what is she doing locked in her room?" asked Ashley.
"Locked herself in, as soon as Karone dragged her back to the land of the living", said Carlos. "She only woke up a few minutes ago"
"Tell me there aren't any more news", said Zhane.
"There are", said Andros. "Melissa is waiting for us at Eltar. And… TJ and Cassie called a while ago, separately. They've both decided to go out to the fronts, instead of joining us at Eltar. We won't see them until the war is over"
"You're kidding", said Ashley. "We may not see them again at all"
"I know", said Andros somberly.
"Hold me", she said, and practically threw herself in his arms.
Zhane planted a kiss on Karone's forehead, and patted Carlo's back. "You guys all right?" he asked.
"I am now", said Karone.
"I'm feeling like myself again", said Carlos. "In many ways, it's as if I woke up from some kind of trance. But loving her… that is not a dream. If only I could make her see", he added ruefully.
"You will", said Zhane firmly. Karone supported him with a nod.
"You guys go to sleep now", said Zhane firmly. He smacked Andros at the back of his head. "All of you"
She was going through some workout routines. She projected such fluid peace that, to the casual observer, transformed the physical exercise into an almost religious ritual.
Andros was no casual observer. He paused just inside the workout room, watching carefully. His trained fighter's eyes saw Shiera's tension. He could tell that her coordination was lower than normal, that she was still weak. She was struggling for tranquility, instead of easing into it.
The fighter in Andros saw all those weaknesses and knew, that she was still good enough to bit him. The leader in him saw the same frailties, and felt a great compassion. She's so fragile, yet just as strong, he wondered. I can see why Carlos was drawn to her. He waited.
Finally, the routine was over, and Shiera opened her eyes. She tensed for a second and something blazed in her eyes, that made Andros wonder if she was going to attack him. Instead, she regarded him wryly.
"I figured, that should someone realize I left my room, it'd be you", she said.
"You can't stay caged, even if it's your hand that locked the door", he answered.
She nodded, as if he uttered a great truth, but said nothing.
Andros went on. "Naturally, you wouldn't want to do it to anyone else"
"If you understand so much, do you understand why I wish to be left alone?"
"Yes", he said. His hand wondered involuntarily to the Crystal lying on his chest.
Shiera's eyes softened. "I forgot; it's so easy to forget"
Now was his turn to nod, shortly and briefly. "I want to show you something. Can we sit?"
They set on the mattresses. Andros put the box he was carrying between them. It was jet black, approximately 40x15 cm in size. Mutely, he opened it.
Lying on the dark velvet was a single dagger. The blade was smooth and sharp, and the handle simple and comfortable-looking. It was a weapon designed for nothing but the kill.
Shiera stared at it several seconds before asking: "What's this?"
"It was Kaylan's. Melissa got Oshra's sword, and Karone inherited Zordon's staff. I… I got the dagger with which Kaylan murdered his sister". Andros grabbed the handle and lifted it for Shiera to see: dark stained were still visible on the crimson blade. "It's a Phaedosian blade, like the other family weapons. It still reeks from the evil of its last master; I merely own it, temporarily, as it won't accept me for its new master.". Andros shifted his hold and offered the handle to Shiera. "Would you like to hold it?"
Shiera almost said "no", but changed her mind. As her fingers fitted themselves around the handle, the blade flashed suddenly. When the glow was over, the blade's color has changed. It was now deep green, like a forest's canopy. The bloodstains were gone. Shiera stared at it in disbelief.
"It's yours", said Andros simply. "You have what it takes to control it"
Shiera's eyes shifted to Andros's. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?"
"Yes. You aren't bound by the past. You're capable of shaping the present – and the future"
"Are you trying to tell me something - except for the obvious?"
"I'm not sure". He gave small nervous laugh. "I wanted to give it to you since it was handed down to me. Now seemed as good a time as any". As Shiera was still suspicious of the dagger, Andros added: "Think of it as if I'm completing Karone's work. No Ranger should go without a signature weapon, and you won't find any better. Phaedosian blades are famous for their unusual properties"
"Well…" She bettered her hold of the dagger and maneuvered it experimentally. "It does feel right", she admitted. "Thank you" she added, as if in afterthought.
Andros shook his head. "You needn't", he said. "It's supposed to be yours"
The soft knock on his door surprised Carlos. Nobody bothered to knock; they used the intercom. He got up from his chair and opened the door. His sigh of relief, when he saw it was Shiera, was unsuppressed.
"Don't you run on me like that ever again", he said, and pulled her into a hug.
"I was afraid…" she begun.
He put his finger to her lips, silencing her. "I love you", he reminded her. "If you're going to doubt that, you might as well doubt that the sun will rise tomorrow. Karone will confirm to you that I'm speaking of my own free will"
"I talked to her already. She said she could teach me… So I won't lose control again"
"Might be a good idea", he agreed. "Come in, will you? It feels so weird, standing the corridor like that…"
As soon as the door closed behind them, he kissed her. For a second, her old fear was there, but it was quickly gone. As she let go and enjoyed the moment, both could sense the small tug. Shiera broke of abruptly.
"This is way too dangerous" she breathed.
"Not really", said Carlos, holding her trembling body close to his, stroking her back soothingly. "Now that we both know it's there, I don't think things will get out of control again. And… I kind of enjoy the feeling"
This had the effect of making Shiera break from him completely, and Carlos could almost see how she frantically searched in her mind for any residual affect. He shook his head.
"I'm completely clear", he told her. "I know how it feels, now"
"How can you…?" asked Shiera, not able to finish the sentence.
"Because it's not a matter of control. It's both our wills, working together. Yours a little stronger…" both smiled at the understatement "…but we're still together in this"
Shiera thought it over, carefully and thoroughly, as if it was a weapon handed to her. Which, Carlos mused, it was. Here he was, handing this girl, whom he knew for such a short time, such a great power over himself. But everything he knew about Shiera, every instinct he possessed, told him she would never do anything to hurt him. He just prayed that she had as much trust in herself as he had in her.
Apparently, she did, for she put her arms around his neck and kissed him. But even before her lips touched his, the tug at the back of his mind returned, and Carlos let himself be swept with it. He leaned into the kiss, deeply and hungrily.
It was a miracle; it had to be. For somehow, the bond between them consisted not only of will and passion. A wealth of care and confidence found its way between them, creating a bubble of warmth and love that nothing could penetrate. For a short while they were happy… Safe.
Next time: "So where's me in this mess?"