Unexpected
By: Jeanka

"Why is it two colors?" asked Zineen.
Andros and Ashley were holding hands as they walked to Angel Grove High School. Zineen was ahead of them starring at the trees. "It's fall," answered Andros.
Zineen looked at him funny. "Fall?"
"It's a season. Another name for it is autumn," said Andros. He turned to Ashley and said, "The trees on Eltare are only one color, always."
She nodded. "How many times have you gone to Eltare?" asked Ashley.
Andros hesitated. The truth was his family lived there and KO-35 was his mother's home. His father was from Eltare.
"What's that?" asked Zineen.
Andros looked over at her. There was a van coming down the street. Ashley knew immediately that it belonged to Professor Phenomenous. "Zineen, what for us," called Ashley as she let go of Andros's hand and ran up to Zineen.
Andros followed more slowly, but sent a telepathic warning to his little sister. Ashley grabbed Zineen's hand. "Why do people want to find aliens?" asked Zineen, still starring at the van as if she was concentrating really hard.
"Not here," Andros said coming up to them. Ashley nodded, but the van stopped in front of them and the back doors opened. Don't say anything, Zineen, Andros told her telepathically.
"Well, if it isn't some boring people," bulk said coming out of the van. Skull was right behind him.
"What do you want, Bulk?" asked Ashley.
"To tell you that we are about to make a break through by discovering an alien," Bulk said as if he was making an announcement to the world.
"An alien?" asked Andros as he raised an eyebrow. "I thought you would have given up after you run-in with that monster."
"No thing will stop us from this breakthrough," declared Skull. "Not even you."
"And how will you find this alien?" Ashley asked as if it didn't matter, but in reality she was a bit nervous. Both Andros and Zineen would be a target.
"Ha, like we would tell you," said Bulk.
"Oh, boys," the old professor came around wearing a goofy looking head piece with an electric cord attached. "Are you ready?"
"Whenever you are," stated Bulking smiling at the professor.
"I don't understand," said Zineen loudly, drawing all of their attention. "What are you going to do?"
"Simple," said Bulk stepping closer to her. "With this remote control, we can scan anyone and it will tell us if they are an alien."
"I'm an alien," said Zineen with a smile.
"Sure little girl," said Skull. "You look like an alien." Both he and Bulk turned to smiles and Andros moved slowly to shut down their alien program. He almost made it when the professor popped up.
"Can I help you?" he asked the professor.
Andros smiled as if this was nothing. "I was just interesting to know how it works," said Andros.
The professor smiled at the boy's interest in his work and was happy to explain. "You see this wire?" the scientist said pointing to a green wire. "This controls the whole device. If it is disconnected, it won't work."
Andros's smile became real. "But, what does this do?" he asked pointing to something on the other side of the device.
The professor turned to see what Andros was talking about. "Oh, this?" he asked leaning over to study the switch.
"Yeah," Andros said. He looked over his shoulder and immediately Ashley grabbed Bulk and Skull's attention. Turning back to the wire, he pulled it out using his telekinesis. No one noticed.
"Ashley!" Carlos voice rang out. Everyone looked up as Carlos, Cassie, and TJ ran up to them.
"We're going to be late!" exclaimed Cassie grabbing Ashley's arm and pulling her along.
Andros picked up Zineen as he joined his friends and began to walk away quickly. Zineen waved over his shoulder. "That was close," he said quietly when they got far enough away from the van.
"What did they want?" asked TJ.
"To find aliens," said Zineen. "Like me."
The Rangers looked around to see if anyone noticed. "Zineen, you can't to that," said Andros. "Earth doesn't know much about aliens. They're paranoid."
"Sorry," she said. "Where are we going?"
"School," answered Cassie.
"I want to experience school," said Zineen.
"No you don't," declared Ashley. "At least, not high school."
Andros smiled as he looked at Zineen. "Actually, her math would probably surprise you," he said. "Of course," his voice lowered for his next statement. "It would be in Eltarian."
Ashley smiled at that. Zineen watched the Yellow Ranger with interest. Luana would like it if she read her mind, but she couldn't be as smart as her. That meant she may not be right for Andros.
"There it is," said TJ pointing up ahead to the large building. Zineen tore her gaze away from Ashley to look.
"Too much," she whispered a frown forming. A pained expression began to surface. Andros looked at her knowing how she felt. It was overwhelming if you didn't have any blocks on, but he did.
He put his fingers under her chin and turned her head towards him. Their eyes met and Andros gained access to her mind. With little effort, he rose all her mental blocks and she relaxed as he looked away.
"Come on," said Ashley, not noticing anything the siblings had just done. Andros smiled and followed her.
"Wait," said Zineen causing everyone to stop and look at her. "They aren't suppose to be here." She pointed to a patch of bushes, but the Rangers didn't see anything.
"What?" asked Carlos just as a Quantron stuck his head out. "Never mind."
Andros nodded and put Zineen down. He pushed her behind him as another Quantrons came out of the bush then a third and a forth. Soon, they were surrounded. TJ put Zineen in the middle as they formed a circle around her.
"I see you want to do this the hard way," a monster said. "Give us the girl!"
"Never," declared Andros.
"Then, we'll take her," said the monster. "Attack!"
The Quantrons moved in and the fight began. Zineen watched as the Q- trons slowly lead the Rangers away. She felt all her block fall as Andros said telepathically, You need to go back to the Megaship!
Before she could reply, a hard metal arm grabbed her from behind and lifted her up. Andros turned just as the Q-trons teleported away. No! the metal cry rattled all the Q-trons and the monster and they fell down. Andros had carefully avoided touching the Rangers.
"Let's get out of here," called TJ. The Rangers walked over the Q- trons and ran toward the building. Finally, they stopped at the steps.
"Where's Zineen?" asked Ashley looking around.
"They got her," replied Andros. He forced his voice to sound calmer then he felt.
"We shouldn't go to school then," said TJ. "We have to find her."
"No," said Andros. "She'll be fine. I'll go tell Luana and if something comes up, DECA will call you."
"Alright," said TJ. "If you sure she'll be okay."
"Zineen isn't as vulnerable are she appears," Andros promised. "I'll call you." He began to walk away when Ashley caught his arm. The other Rangers had already headed up the stairs. Andros turned to her.
"Be careful," she said before kissing him. "And don't go aboard the Dark Fortress without backup."
He kissed her. "I won't."
She put her arms around his neck. "Call Zhane," said Ashley just as he kissed her again. "I need to go," she whispered. He nodded as she pulled away. Slowly, she went up the steps and disappeared inside.
Andros walked down the street till he was hidden by the Trees. "DECA, one teleport."
TBC