By Angel Mouse
Andros watched as the supplies he requested Ashley to send down to their location arrived in a steam of white light. In the distance he could see the bright pink armour of Karone as the villagers began to make their way back to their homes. He turned to Zhane and Cam, giving them both a tired smile.
"Right. Let's get somewhere set up where we can treat the wounded and see what repairs we can do." Just then Ashley appeared in a stream of yellow light and Andros inadvertently smiled at his wife. Ashley looked around and then came and stood next to Andros, putting her good arm around him. She was without the sling but still had a brace on her wrist.
"This doesn't look good." Andros nodded, hugging her gently to him, needing the physical contact and support of his wife right now. He couldn't get over the fact that the destruction caused by these creatures was his fault. If he had acted sooner then none of this would have happened. "It kind of reminds me of how Angel Grove looked after the final attack." Ashley squeezed him hard and then gave him a gentle kiss. "I'll go help Karone bring the villagers in." Giving Andros a final hug Ashley began to walk towards the approaching column. Sighing, Andros turned to find Zhane grinning at him.
"What?" Zhane gave a short laugh and clapped Andros on the back.
"You my friend are so much in love with that girl it's sickening to look at." Andros gave him a playful shove as he began to walk towards the supplies.
"And you're not with my sister." Laughing the three rangers got to work.
Ashley slung her arm around the waist of an elderly woman and smiled gently at her.
"It's alright. We've taken care of the attackers. And we're also repairing the damages. It's okay now." The old woman smiled weakly at her.
"Thank you my dear. It's heartening to see in these troubled times that someone can help us." Ashley just nodded as they made their way back to the village. Karone fell into step beside Ashley as they made their way back towards the village. Karone had de-morphed when Ashley had joined her and now she gave her sister in law a warm smile.
"So, let me guess, Andros playing the guilty leader again?"
"Yep, afraid so. I guess we both know your brother very well. I remember when we first meet he was full of pain and guilt for all sorts of things he couldn't control." Ashley gave a small laugh and shook her head as she helped the old woman over some rough ground. "The first night we were on the Mega Ship after he'd given us our morphers I remember writing in my diary how pain filled his eyes were and how I was determined to lift that sadness and pain."
"When I was in my training, Ecliptor always spoke of the Red Ranger with something akin to respect; even though he had told me the Rangers had killed my family. I guess there was just something about Andros that made even his enemies respect him." Ashley nodded as they reached the town and saw Zhane waiting for him. She couldn't resist teasing her sister in law a little bit.
"And that clown there waiting for us is half the reason he's feared. If you had Zhane by your side constantly, wouldn't you show someone your respect? I mean, just think of what Zhane could do to some one if they showed Andros just the littlest bit of disrespect." Karone laughed as they reached Zhane. Zhane just looked at the two woman and they both burst out laughing. Shaking his head he gestured further into the village.
"I don't what to know. Come on, Andros and Cam has set up a bit of a hospital inside." The two women nodded and led the villagers back into their home.
It was a group of weary Rangers that returned to the Mega Ship about eight hours later. DECA had been relaying the reports from the others constantly down to them. They made their way to the bridge slowly and Andros slumped into his chair. Zaron had stayed well out of their way. He had talked to Andros earlier, stating he was well out of his depth and would stay out of their way and would meditate for a while. So, Andros was spared from having to explain everything that had happened down on the planet.
"DECA, let's get going. How are the other's going?"
"They are fine Andros. The last report from Billy states that they are still following the other ships and will now report in at longer intervals. Their next report will be in eight hours." Andros sighed and ran a hand through his hair. His face was dirty and his uniform was dishevelled and messy. They all were in various states of messiness and dirtiness, and were all in the need of a good long, hot shower.
"Okay then DECA. Let's head towards Aquitar. We need to check the other Planets that had Rangers on them in the past. We're going to turn in and get some rest."
"Understood Andros. Setting course for Aquitar, hyper rush five."
"Thank you DECA." Ashley helped Andros out of his chair and they followed the others towards their quarters. Saying goodnight to Karone, Zhane and Cam, the two other Rangers went into their room. Andros sighed, throwing his jacket over the chair and Ashley gave him a little smile as she picked it up and hung it up. Hers quickly joined it and she turned to find Andros leaning back against the bunk, weariness just taking him over. Smiling, Ashley leaned over and took his boots off, making him more comfortable.
"Thanks Ash. I'm sorry; I'm just so tired tonight." Ashley smiled as he pushed himself off the bunk and they got ready for bed. After a few moments - brushing of teeth and other things you did to get ready for bed, they found themselves in bed, snuggling down under the doona. Andros wrapped his arms around Ashley and held her close.
"Ash, do you think I did the right thing?" Ashley stared into his eyes and stroked his hair lovingly. That was the one thing she really loved about Andros, he was always so questioning of his own judgement but he was always so sure of his decisions at the time he made them.
"With what Andros? Waiting for them to attack or sending off the others?"
"Both." Ashley smiled and gently pushed a strand of hair away from his face.
"Yes you did Andros. We need information too drastically to ignore the opportunity that this presented us. And Billy and Merrick are extremely capable Rangers, we know that. This is a huge responsibility Dulcea and Zaron have placed upon your shoulders. But I love you, and I will be by your side for this entire time Andros. Always believe that I have faith in you, you will always make the right choice in the end." Andros looked at her a few moments, the starlight from the porthole reflecting off her hair and then he smiled gently at her.
"Ashley, I love you so much, you always know what to say to make me feel better." Ashley smiled at him and leaned over, gently kissing him. Andros's arms tightened around her and he kissed her deeply back.
The next morning found them all sleeping in as they were all tired. The first one up was Cam though and as always he got ready to do some early morning exercise.
"Good morning DECA."
"Good morning Cameron. Did you sleep well?" Cam grinned up at her camera as he finished stretching, preparing to go for a quick jog around the halls.
"Yes thank you." Cam just shook his head as he started his morning run. DECA was almost like his father in some respects. But he found that she treated all the rangers under her care the same way. "DECA, can I ask you something?" Cam jogged passed the engine room, heading towards the lifts.
"Certainly Cameron. What would you like to know?" Cam thought a moment as he rounded the corner.
"You've been looking after the rangers for a long time haven't you?" When she replied he thought he could detect warmth in her tone.
"Yes I have. I was brought online at the same time Andros and Zhane were given their powers. I stayed with the two of them for about four years before Zhane had to go into hyper sleep. I then spent two years with Andros before the other Astro Rangers joined us. After that I then looked after the Galaxy rangers. My program was saved when the Astro Mega ship mark one was destroyed. I have been in three other Mega Ships since then. This is my fifth Mega ship. I must say though that it is certainly a pleasure to have rangers too look after again after so many millennia." Cam nodded as he rounded another corner.
"I thought so."
"May I ask why the sudden curiosity?" Cam just smiled slightly.
"It's just that you remind me a lot of my Father. He's been training Ninja's and looking after them, including me, for as long as I can remember. You've both got a lot in common."
"Thank you Cameron. I am honoured by the comparison." Cam laughed softly as he reached his quarters again and stopped. He bent over, stretching again to cool down.
"He is a noble being. And I miss him." Cam's smile faded. "I miss all of them." A wry smile appeared on his face. "I even miss those destructive rangers I look after, even the Thunders." Cam entered his quarters and DECA stayed silent. She knew that all the rangers were missing their friends and families.
They had a late brunch, enjoying the quiet atmosphere of the weary. Zaron had joined them for brunch, asking quiet questions of what had happened down on the planet and what they had found. It hadn't been a pleasant conversation but they had to share the information they had. After about an hour, where Cam had absently cleaned up their dishes from brunch, they moved to the bridge.
"DECA, are we in range of Aquitar yet?"
"Coming into range now Andros." Andros took his seat at the pilot's chair, Ashley on one side and Zhane on the other.
"Alright, let's bring it up on screen. Begin scanning for life signs and any other signs of activity."
"Yes Andros." The other rangers gathered around behind them and watched the view screen, waiting to see what popped up. And what they saw caused the girls to gasp.
The once blue and water covered planet was nothing more than a dry, darkened brown husk of a planet.
"Andros I am not detecting any life signs or activity of any sort." Andros swallowed and began to bring the Mega ship into orbit.
"What about the underground base for the Aquitian Rangers? Is that intact?" Zhane looked up and his expression was sober.
"Nothing detected in the surrounding system. We're alone here."
"Good. DECA, anything?"
"Nothing I can detect but the Aquitian base is fairly intact." Andros nodded.
"Okay. We need to go down and see if there was anything left down there. Zhane, Cam, you guys come with me. Zhane and I are both familiar with the layout of the base down their. Ashley, keep an eye on the sensors and Karone, I want you manning the weapons, as I don't want us caught unprepared." Ashley smiled at him as she slid into position.
"That's okay Andros. We'll take car of everything for you. Just be careful down there." Andros nodded and led the others out of the bridge. Zaron watched them go and looked at Karone and Ashley with a wry smile.
"I brought you here and I'm beginning to feel like a fifth wheel around here." Ashley grinned at him.
"Don't worry Zaron, we all feel like that at some stage during our time as Rangers." He nodded and settled back in a chair to watch quietly.
The three of them teleported into a damaged hanger area and turned on the torches they had brought with them. The area was devastated and dark. Their torches made barely an impression on the darkness. Andros got his bearings and pointed off to the right.
"We go this way. Watch yourselves; it doesn't look like it's very safe around here." Zhane and then Cam fell into step behind him. Cam was curious and looked around eagerly.
"So, tell me, what were the Aquitians like? I mean I heard of them when I did my research on previous Ranger teams but I wasn't able to find much on the Aquitian rangers." Andros led the way, leaving Zhane to answer the question.
"They are a water based people. The whole planet is or should I say was, covered by water. There was very little land on their planet. Their whole civilisation was based on that fact. The rangers could live and breathe under water and needed it to survive. They were very strong rangers, and in our time, some very good friends. They are also a very formal people and very concerned with their environment. They also had some very beautiful doomed under water cities." Zhane threw a smile over his shoulder at Cam. "I liked them. They were a good people. Delphine, the white Aquitian ranger, and Andros got on like a house on fire. Neither of them could crack a smile if you paid them." Andros looked back, his expression indignant but Cam could see the warmth in his eyes.
"I'm going to get you for that later." Cam laughed along with Zhane as Zhane stuck his tongue out at Andros.
"You and what army." Andros laughed and shook his head as he climbed over some debris.
"Zhane, that's it, I'm cutting your access to Earth television off. You're starting to sound too much like Ashley and the others."
"I'll tell your wife you said that."
"You and what army." Andros just thew Zhane's comment back at him. Cam just laughed, pleased to see these two friends bickering like they were. Zhane shook his head as they entered a room to find it trashed.
"I was hoping we wouldn't find this."
"So was I. Okay, let's see if we can find anything." The three rangers began poking around, hoping to find anything, any clue as to what happened. After about thirty minutes of dispirited searching Zhane gave a small cry.
"Found something. Looks like it's an intact data crystal." Andros and Cam came over, looking at what he found. Andros smiled.
"Good work Zhane. I doubt we're going to find anything else. Come on, we'll head back to the ship and see if we can hook it up to the ships system. We'll head to Triforia next." Zhane nodded, taking the crystal out carefully. Andros raised he wrist when he saw Zhane was finished.
"Ashley, we're done here. Teleport us up." Moments later they disappeared in streams of coloured light.
It had taken them a few days to reach Triforia. During that time they had been working on trying to adapt the crystal found on Aquitar to the Mega ships systems so they could read the information. It was driving Cam to distraction, even with DECA's help but he finally got it to work just before they arrived at Triforia. He called the others in to the main conference room and set up the holo table. The rangers plus Zaron gathered around it and began to watch.
"I wasn't able to retrieve much. DECA said that even through the crystal looked intact, there was some damage we couldn't detect and that's what's taken the time. I had to get around the damaged sectors of the crystal to get this much."
"Good work Cam. Okay, show us what you found." Cam hit the button and it sprang to life.
"From what we can work out this is a record of the very last battle that they fought." It brought up a picture of the control room. It was damaged and fires were raging in the background. Delphine, the white ranger, was clearly injured and looked terrible. Ashley clasped Andros's hand and Zhane wrapped his arms around Karone.
The image broke off suddenly and Cam sighed.
"I'm sorry Andros. That's all we can find to watch. All the rest is corrupted and I can't view it." Andros nodded.
"You did well anyway Cam. Well, Delphine said not to trust someone or something. I just wish we knew what or who she meant. Cam, was there any sort of date coding on the crystal at all?"
"No, but DECA's sensors have analysed it and we think it was made approximately not long after we were brought forward to this time." He exchanged concerned glances with Andros and Zhane and then plunged onwards. "I think someone has been playing around with history. Something's not right with this whole situation." Andros nodded.
"It's something to think about. We'll just have to wait and see what happens and also see what the others find out. DECA, how long before we reach Triforia."
"We are reaching the outer edges of their system now Andros." Andros nodded and they began to file out.
Andros, I'm going to chat to Cam for a sec. We'll be along in a moment. Andros nodded and the others filed out. Zhane stopped Cam from following a moment and waited until the others were out of ear shot.
"Cam, do you think this is related to what happened to me?"
"I think so. But I can't be sure. Look, I'm going to need help on this, I want to tell Billy and get his help on this." Zhane thought a moment.
"Hang on, I'll ask Andros." Zhane frowned a moment. Andros, Cam wants to tell Billy about the whole thing with our future/history deal. I think it's a good idea. Andros frowned as they entered the bridge.
Alright, but you or I will be with him when he does. Hopefully Billy and Merrick will be back soon. Zhane nodded
Thanks Andros. Zhane looked at Cam and gave a small smile.
"Alright, we'll tell Billy. But we'll be there when you do. There are a few things that we'll have to explain to him."
"Right, I can handle that. He's already told me that he's had some experience with time travel, so hopefully he'll be able to help me." Zhane grinned and clapped him on the back.
"Don't worry; I have every faith in you." Cam smiled wryly at him.
"Gee, thanks Zhane, make me feel the pressure why don't you." They laughed and headed for the bridge.
They arrived just as the Mega ship was settling into orbit of Triforia. It was much the same scene as what they had encountered at Aquitar. The planet was desolate, dry and damaged looking. Zhane stood next to Karone as Ashley looked up from the sensors.
"No life signs, no structures, nothing's left." Andros's tone was quiet when he spoke.
"The last time we saw Trey, he'd just been crowned King and had passed on the Gold Ranger powers to his younger brother." Zhane's tone was quiet.
"Yeah, he looked happy and glad to be handing the powers on."
"He'd done his duty." Zhane moved over and stood next to Andros, placing his hand on his shoulder and squeezing it gently.
"As we have our duty and we continue to do our duty. He had been raised to rule his planet Andros. We have been raised to do our duty and be Rangers."
"I know. I liked him is all."
"So did I. Is their any point going down there?"
"Probably not. DECA, anything at all? Even the tiniest of power signatures?"
"No Andros." Andros sighed and shook his head.
"Right, we won't even bother. DECA, set a course for Phaedos. Karone, send a message to Billy and Merrick, letting them know where we are."
"Setting course now Andros." Karone looked up.
"Andros, I'm getting a message from Billy. It's a Mayday!" Andros looked up startled.
"On screen." Karone shook her head.
"I can only get audio. He's too far away. Putting it through now."
"Andros! Are you there?"
"Billy! What's wrong?" They could hear the worry in Billy's voice when he spoke.
"Merrick's been attacked while he was down on their planet. He's unconscious and severely injured. I can't help him, I don't even know if he's going to make it!" Zhane winced slightly and Andros went pale.
"We'll meet you as soon as we can. Send your co-ordinates and we'll head there right away."
"I've set course towards Phaedos, I didn't know what else to do."
"Good idea. We've got a fix on your position right now, we're on our way and full speed. Ashley, estimated time of intercept?"
"At hyper rush nine, seven hours and thirty seven minutes."
"Here that Billy, we'll be there in about seven hours."
"Okay Andros. Hurry, I'm not sure if Merrick's going to last."
"Hold on Billy. We're on our way."
"Thank you Andros." The channel went dead and the bridge went silent. Things had taken another turn for the worse.
Andros, somehow I don't think things are going to get any easier for us.
I think your right Zhane.
Tbc… In our next chapter the Ranger re-unite and try to figure out the mystery that befalls them…