Title: Always a Ranger
Author: Alexis Steele
Pairings: Multiple
Rating: PG-13 to be safe, for detailed descriptions of the battles and language and a slash pairing
Summary: This idea came to me when I watched C2D on my Ultimate Rangers DVD. I've always wondered where the former Rangers would've been during C2D and this is my version of that idea. WARNING! Ending will complete negate all subsequent PR incarnations. Gratuitous use of dialogue from the episode is used herein, as well
Disclaimer: The following characters herein do not belong to me. All characters you recognize are the property of Saban Entertainment and now the Mouse (Disney). The only thing that DOES belong to me is the niggling plot bunny that refused to rest until written. No profit is intended. Please don't sue as I am a full-time college student, meaning all you'll get from me is my ever-growing pile of bills. If you want to pay them, be my guest!
Author's Note: 'italics' dictates a person's thoughts; ((italics)) dictates telepathic speech; / -- \ dictates a computer screen readout
Thanx to: Jeremy Ray Logsdon for the use of Emily's last name; Jacks for keeping on my case about this fic, Rene & Kris for beta'ing; Deb, TG, NB, Conni and Melissa for putting up with this fic, even though it's not a Monkees fic. Please R&R.
Chapter 1: Red Nightmares
March 25, 1999 - 8 AM AGT - Astro-Megaship
Before he even rolled out of bed this morning, Andros could tell that it would be one of those days. First, he tossed and turned himself out of his bunkbed, as he was caught in the throes of yet another nightmare. One that he'd come to fear at every turn, ever since he'd discovered that his long-lost sister Karone was actually Astronema, Princess of Evil... that he would kill her in battle. Next, he'd stepped into his refresher, only to find that the hot water was still turned off; the result of a prank TJ had pulled in order to bolster his teammates' spirits during the past two trying weeks, though it seemed the only person's spirit who had been lifted had been TJ himself, who listened contentedly as each of his teammates bellowed at the unexpected wake-up call the previous morning. Then, still sleep-deprived, he accidentally programmed DECA to prepare him Beetlh and Rrotmey, two dishes that would've made even Maligore and Dark Spectre run for the nearest ocean and take a deep plunge.
But most importantly of all, Zhane hadn't contacted him last night. Ever since Zhane had awakened from his cryo-sleep, and found Andros in the throes of a nightmare in which the Red Ranger had seen his best friend struck down once again, only this time with Andros nowhere nearby to save him, Zhane had made it a point to always check in with Andros, if he wasn't anywhere in the near vicinity of the Megaship. Andros had stayed up as late as humanly possible, before simply collapsing from pure exhaustion. Zhane had decided to head back to the rebel camp when he'd received word that someone had spied Chione and Jirari in one of the outlying evacuation sites.
Andros sighed. If it could be said that he was obsessed about finding Karone, then Zhane was just as desperate to find out anything about Andros', and essentially his as well, parents. Zhane had been eight around the time his parents, Kaipo and Caelan, had both been killed, caught in a solar storm while vacationing on a nearby moon of KO-35. At the time, Zhane's family lived next door to Andros'. The platinum-haired tyke had moved in with his parents about six months after Karone's abduction. Upon meeting the reclusive Andros, who was six at the time, Zhane had immediately taken a liking to the younger boy, and was determined to make his friend smile, even if it was only once in a great while. When word was received about Caelan and Kaipo's demise, there had been little-to-no questioning that he move in with Andros, Chione, and Jirari, as the two boys were already best friends and Zhane had no other surviving relatives. The two had grown up virtually side by side, getting involved in similar activities, including Rangering, until Zhane's near-death during the evacuation of KO-35.
During the evacuation of KO-35, Andros had lost contact with his parents. After awhile, with living on his own and hearing nothing about any survivors from the attack, Andros had believed his parents dead. After Zhane awoke from his cryo-sleep, it wasn't hard to convince him that perhaps Andros' gut instinct, which had always told him that Karone was still very much alive and now told him that his parents were deceased, was correct once again. It wasn't until Andros had told him who Astronema really was that Zhane had begun to believe that perhaps, their parents might still be alive. After all, if Karone could still be alive after being missing for over a decade, then maybe, just maybe, their parents were as well.
Quelling any lingering thoughts on what might be happening to his best friend, Andros shakes himself out of his reverie on the events of the past forty-eight hours and makes his way towards the bridge. Just as Andros is leaving the cargo bay, where the Synthetron and jump tubes are located, DECA's shrilling alarm blares throughout the hull of the Megaship. Immediately, the sound of his teammates' treadmarks enters Andros' aural perception.
"What have we got?" Andros asks as he takes his station.
"There are forces everywhere!" Ashley exclaims. "Thousands of footsoldiers and monsters are attacking systems all over the galaxy."
"Andros!" TJ interjects. "Four Velocifighters are chasing Zhane on his Galaxy Glider, in the outer orbit of KO-35."
Immediately, Andros takes action. "DECA, set course for KO-35, maximum velocity!"
In thirty seconds --thirty seconds too long if you asked Andros-- the Megaship closes in on the Velocifighters and quickly disposes of Zhane's trailers, as Zhane hangs on for dear life on his Galaxy Glider. One of the Velocifighters breaks off from the group to try to evade the blasts and sets itself up for a blast at the Megaship, but not before Zhane takes the remaining flier out with his blaster.
Andros breathes a sigh of relief.
"TJ, take over for me," Andros orders as he leaves the bridge. He heads back down towards the cargo bay, where Zhane has dispatched his Galaxy Glider back to its dimensional pocket and is removing his helmet, placing the Silver Ranger in Standby mode. As Andros enters the cargo bay, Zhane turns around and flashes him a reassuring smile.
"Thank the Stars you're alright!" Andros exclaims in relief, enveloping his friend in a hug.
"Of course I am," Zhane reassures him, then with a twinkle in his eyes. "I could've taken them easily, even if you hadn't shown up." He sobers. "I'm sorry for not calling last night. It's been a hectic day."
"Tell me about it," Andros orders as the two head towards the bridge.
"The rebels are under attack," Zhane explains. "So far they've held them off, but they need our help."
"It isn't just the rebels," Andros clarifies. "Dark Spectre, Astronema, Divatox, Rita and Zedd, they're invading all over."
"You're joking, right?" Zhane asks.
"No, I'm not," Andros says. "Divatox has taken Aquitar almost solely by herself. She's using the minimal amounts of dry land available on the planet, and keeping their Rangers away from any water sources. They're being held captive. They're too weak to fight, and soon, if they do not rehydrate, they'll be dead as well. Rita and Zedd have Triforia almost conquered as well. Any monster in their arsenal has been dispatched. They've captured Trey. Mondo and Machina are on Phantom's homeworld. He has assistance from the Blue Senturion, but it didn't help much."
"By the Stars," Zhane swears softly.
"What have we got?" Andros asks as they finally reach the bridge.
"Divatox has conquered Gratha," TJ reports.
"Rita and Zedd are attacking the Vica Galaxy," Cassie adds. "The Vica have no defenses."
"They won't know what him them," Carlos interjects.
Zhane tries to absorb all that he's hearing and comes to a startling conclusion. "They're trying to conquer the whole universe."
"Exactly," Andros agrees.
Over at another console, Carlos finds more startling news. "Look at this! Over one thousand Velocifighters!"
"Heading where?" Andros asks.
"Heading..." Carlos punches a few more buttons to bring the planet being attacked onto the screen. A fall of silence befalls the room, until Carlos finally answers. "Heading for Earth."
Shock befalls everyone in the room. Ashley looks around to her various teammates in disbelief.
"Hold on, Earth," Andros replies as he silently promises not to let the tragic fate of KO-35 happen to his Earthen teammates' planet as well. "We're on our way."