By Angel Mouse
The ship spun lazily end over end. Recent damage was visible on its hull, and if you looked closer flickering lights could be seen, trying valiantly to remain on. Inside things weren't much better. Six unconscious forms where lying in various locations throughout the damaged ship. The on board AI struggled mightily to repair what she could and bring her ship self out of its deadly spin. Hours passed before finally, one of the forms stirred and groaned, pushing himself to his feet, shaking his head to try and clear the cobwebs from it. Groaning even more, he opened his eyes and steadied himself against the bed.
Cam felt like his head was about ready to explode. He tried to remember what had happened and then it hit him. Shaking his head gently to clear it up he staggered over to Merrick and checked his vital signs. Sighing in relief as they showed the wolf ranger was fine, healing nicely in fact.
"DECA, status report please?" Silence greeted his question and taking a deep breath, Cam grabbed an emergency medical kit and moved towards the door, and each step becoming easier the more he moved around. He opened the door and immediately began coughing, there was smoke filling the passageway and he could see that there was a lot of damage. But he knew that he had to get DECA back up and running first, otherwise he would have no hope of finding the others. Stumbling along, he made his way to DECA's main panel and opened it. He gave a tiny sigh of relief as he could see that the only damage to her core systems was that her vocal interface had been disconnected. He quickly reconnected it and closed the panel. "DECA, can I get a report please?" Silence stretched out a moment and then her warm tones finally came through.
"Yes Cameron. The engines are currently offline; life support is damaged but repairable, I am attempting to clear the atmosphere. The ship has been spinning out of control but I have managed to abate that. I am unable to locate the others, the only rangers I can locate on my sensors are yourself, Merrick and Ashley on the bridge." Cam began to jog towards the bridge.
"Merricks okay, I just checked him. What about Ashley?" DECA's silence was painful.
"DECA, what about Ashley?" Finally with obvious reluctance in her tone, she answered him just as he reached the bridge and walked in, stopping in shock at the sight before him.
"I am not reading any vital signs from Ashley." Cam slowly walked over to the yellow rangers slumped over form and gently reached out with a trembling hand. He closed his eyes and lowered his head in grief as his hands found that she had no pulse. He double-checked and then sighed.
"What happened to her?" He looked around and found a blanket in an emergency kit behind a wall panel.
"Zaron snuck up behind her and injected her with something. She passed out and from what my sensors can discover, she was allergic to the sleeping medication he gave her. She just went to sleep and her heart stopped." Cam nodded, swallowing hard as he covered her gently with the blanket.
"That will be something at least for Andros. Where were they when you last saw them?"
"Coming out of the engine room. They confronted Zaron and then there was an explosion. I lost sensor feed then." Cam gathered the medical kit up and headed out.
"Okay DECA. Hopefully I'll have better luck with finding them."
"I hope so as well."
Cam picked his way through the damage. He had found Billy lying unconscious just outside his quarters and making sure that the blue ranger was okay, put him in his room to let him sleep it off. At least he had survived the explosion. Cam ducked under a beam that had fallen, frowning as he looked around. It looked like three or four compartments had been badly damaged. He stopped as his foot connected with something soft and he looked down, going pale all of a sudden. He knelt down, his hand reaching out to find Karone's pulse. Closing his eyes in relief he found that she had one. He quickly pushed the debris off her body and began checking her over for injuries.
"DECA, I've found Karone. She looks to be okay, just cuts and bruises as far as I can tell. She's unconscious though."
"Thank you Cameron. Although my visual sensors are not working and I can't see for myself, I appreciate you letting me know." Cam nodded, scanning Karone for any further injuries.
"Looks like just concussion. Okay, I'm going to take her to medical room and come back to look for the others."
"That is a good idea Cameron." Cam gently picked her up and settling her gently in his arms, he began to walk back towards the medical room.
Making sure Karone was settled and okay, Cam headed back towards the engine room to look for Zhane and Andros. He rounded the corner to come face to face with a shaky Billy.
"Billy! You shouldn't be out of bed!" Billy gave him a small, wan smile.
"DECA's filled me in. I'll be okay in a few minutes. Need a hand?" Cam thought a moment and then nodded gratefully.
"I'm just trying to find Andros and Zhane. Karone's in medbay with Merrick," Cam paused and then continued, his voice soft. "Ashley didn't make it. DECA thinks it was what ever he gave you two to knock you out, she was allergic to it." Billy bowed his head a moment and then nodded. Taking a deep breath he looked up and Cam choose not to say anything about the tears he could see in the other ranger's eyes, he had them in his own.
"Alright. Do you want me to come with you or watch over the others?" Cam took in Billy's appearance with a glance and then shook his head.
"Go watch over the others. You're barely on your feet as it is. I can manage, if I need help, I'll call." Billy nodded, understanding the need for it.
"Okay. Be careful Cam, we don't know what other damage has been done."
"I will." Cam left him to it, making his way back towards the damage.
He started back at where he had found Karone lying and began scouring the wreckage. After a few minutes he found both Andros and Zhane. It looked like Zhane had tried to shield Andros with his own body, as he was draped across Andros. There looked to be some rather severe injuries to Zhane, blood was seeping from a couple of wounds where shrapnel had imbedded itself in his back. Cam quickly picked out what he could and carefully bandaged the rest up. Checking Zhane over for any other injuries he was relieved to find nothing more serious and moved the silver ranger's body carefully off Andros's. Andros had a few scrapes and bruises, but there was a wicked looking gash over his eye that was seeping blood slowly. Carefully cleaning it up, Cam put a bandage over it and then knelt back, trying to decide the best way to get the two rangers out of their predicament.
"DECA, I've found them both. They should be okay. Zhane has some injuries to his back but they should heal okay. Andros just cuts and bruises. They're both out of it for the moment."
"Thank you Cameron. I am most relieved. I have completed a damage assessment report, would you like to hear it?" Cam shouldered the emergency kit and bending down, picked Andros and headed towards the medical room. He'd decided to bring back Billy and a stretcher for Zhane, as he had the more serious injuries.
"In a moment DECA. But I guess my main worry is the life support systems, are they okay?"
"Yes Cameron. They are on back-up systems at the moment, but the damage to the main system isn't that extensive."
"Thanks DECA." Cam reached the medical room and walked in, placing Andros on one of the two empty beds. This version of the Mega ship had a bigger medical room than its previous versions, lucky for them. Billy came over and looked down at Andros.
"How is he? And where's Zhane?"
"He's fine, just knocked out I think. Took a blow to the head and has concussion probably. I'm going to need your help with Zhane."
"Sure." They got Andros settled and then taking the stretcher, went back for Zhane. Ten minutes later they had him back there and began the long, careful process of making sure they got all the shrapnel from his back and dressing his wounds.
About two hours later they had finished getting everyone as comfortable as they could and were sitting down, having a hot drink at DECA's insistence. Cam had moved Ashley's body to one of the unused cabins, making sure she handled correctly. He wasn't looking forward to telling Andros his wife was dead. DECA had also given the two of them the damage report and they knew that they had their work cut out for them. Cam sighed, looking at Billy. In the end, the both of them had taken a stimulant to try and get everything done repair wise, and were just waiting for it to take affect. Billy was staring at his hands, absently playing with the mug. When he finally broke the silence, his voice was soft, unsure.
"I can't believe that he did that to us. He's an Eltaran, they have always been on the side of good and light." Cam took off his glasses and rubbed at the bridge of his nose.
"I don't about this side of good stuff, but I think Andros knew something wasn't right. Just before all this happened he came to see how Merrick was doing and told me to guard him. Merrick must have found out it was him down on that planet and he tried to kill Merrick." Billy sighed softly.
"I always knew that something just didn't feel right about him." Billy ran a hand through his sandy hair. "I've dealt with a few Eltaran's in my time, and something just never struck as true. But I just accepted his word for everything,"
"As did we all. I don't think we were expecting this. I mean in all my research into the Rangers, I've never come across a situation where a mentor or helper or what ever you want to call them betrayed their rangers." Billy looked at him and managed a tiny smile.
"I just plan to enjoy making the history you know all about." The two of them shared a small laugh.
"Billy, Cameron. Andros, Karone and Merrick are all showing signs of waking up." Cam shared a concerned glanced with Billy.
"Thank you DECA. We'll go to them now." The two rangers put down their drinks and made their way to the medical room.
The first thing Merrick was aware of that he wasn't in pain. It was strange, he'd been in pain for what felt so long that it was something different not to be in pain. He could hear someone calling his name softly, and for a moment, his mind thought it was his beloved Princess. But then he realised it wasn't her and he struggled to wake more fully. He finally opened his eyes and blinked a few times against the harsh light. Finally he was able to focus and he saw Billy leaning over him, worry on his face.
"Billy." Billy smiled in relief as Merrick spoke.
"Merrick. How are you feeling?" Merrick thought about that a moment as he took a mental catalogue of his injuries. Finally he managed a tiny smile.
"Pretty rotten actually." Billy grinned down at him but there was something in his eyes, something behind them that Merrick finally saw. It was fear. Something had happened.
"That would be about right."
"What's happened?" It was then that full recall of what had happened to him and he gasped as he remembered the urgent warning he carried. "Zaron! We've all been betrayed! He is the leader of the Shackra. You have to warn the others!" Billy put a hand on his shoulder, gently pushing him back down on the bed as he tried to rise.
"We know Merrick. We discovered the fact for ourselves." Merrick looked at him, noticing the tiredness and sorrow in his eyes.
"What happened Billy?" Billy sighed and spoke softly.
"Zaron drugged myself, Cam and Ashley. We think he then confronted the others in the engine room. Something happened and there was an explosion." There was something he wasn't being told, he could tell. It wasn't long before he realised what Billy was holding back.
"Someone has died, haven't they?" Billy nodded.
"We think Ashley was allergic to whatever drug he used. She had a reaction and died in her sleep. Andros is just waking now, Cam is going to tell him. He and Karone have minor injuries. Zhane has some injuries to his back, he'll be out of it for another day or so." Merrick closed his eyes and then murmured softly under his breath.
"May your steps be with the ones you love under bright skies surrounded by joyful song." Billy was looking at him curiously and he looked slightly sheepish.
"It's an Ancient Anamarian blessing for those who have departed this life." Billy gave him a tiny smile.
"That was beautiful." Merrick found himself becoming tired and his eyes began to droop.
"The Princess taught it to me." He yawned and Billy smiled gently at him.
"Get some rest Merrick. We're not going anywhere for a while." Merrick sighed and closed his eyes, darkness over taking him as he let his body heal.
Cam ignored what was going on behind him as Billy spoke to Merrick softly and then went over to Karone's side with the other ranger went back to sleep. He was staring down at Andros who was showing signs of waking up slowly. He watched as Andros slowly opened his eyes, blinking a few times and then taking a few unsteady deep breaths. He tried to sit up but Cam gently pushed him back down.
"Take it easy Andros. You've had a nasty knock to the head." Andros just gave a soft grunt, closing his eyes a moment and then they flew open as everything that had happened came back to him in an instant.
"There was an explosion!" Cam reached out, pushing him back down again as he tried to rise off the bed.
"Yes, there was. DECA said that the three of you were talking to Zaron and then there was an explosion." Andros's expression became worried.
"Are Karone and Zhane okay?"
"Karone's fine, just concussion and a few scrapes and bruises like yourself. Zhane's a little more seriously injured. Looks like he threw himself in front of you and he took a few pieces of shrapnel to the back. Billy and I got them out though, and he's healing fine." Andros sighed softly and gave Cam a small smile, wincing slightly at the pounding in his head.
"That would explain the headache. And Zhane, I'll have words to him. How is everyone else?" Cam reached over and got a painkiller for Andros, injecting him as he spoke.
"Merrick's just woken up, he'll be fine. Billy and I were both knocked out, we're okay now." Cam paused and Andros immediately sensed something was wrong.
"Ashley. Where's Ashley?" Andros began to slowly move his head around, his eyes darting back and forth. Cam reached over and put a hand on Andros's shoulder. This was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do and he was having trouble finding the words. Cam took a deep breath and kept his tone soft.
"We think that she might have been allergic to something in the drug Zaron knocked us out with. She went to sleep and never woke up." Andros just stared at him.
"She's dead?" Andros's voice was barely a whisper and it broke Cam's heart.
"I'm sorry Andros. By the time I woke up, it was already too late. There was nothing any of us could do." Andros's eyes began to tear up and he turned his face away from Cam, bringing an arm up to cover his eyes. "I've put her in one of the spare cabins, if you were wondering. She didn't suffer Andros." Andros didn't speak for the longest time and Cam was extremely aware of Billy moving around behind him. After a few minutes Andros spoke again, his voice breaking but under control.
"Is Karone awake yet?"
"Just waking now." Cam kept his voice gentle, his eyes not leaving Andros's face.
"Alright. I want to make sure she's okay. Take me to her." Cam knew that it wasn't wise to move so soon after getting concussion, but he just couldn't say no. Glancing over his shoulder to Billy, he moved to one side of Andros and Billy the other. Very gently they helped Andros sit up, his face greying with the pain and shock of hearing about Ashley. He sat still for a few moments, breathing hard.
"Andros.." Andros just looked up at Cam, his eyes so full of pain that Cam relented.
"I have to see. I have to know." Cam just nodded and they helped him to his feet and steadied him the few steps he needed to take to be by her bedside. Cam held him up while Billy got a chair and they sat Andros down in it. Andros reached over and took one of Karone's hands in his, tears now unashamedly streaming down his face. Karone began stirring and the two other rangers moved back out of the way, letting the brother and sister alone.
Karone felt warm but sore, and there was something wrong. Something important she had to remember. Something important that she had to make sure of. And then she was aware of someone nearby, someone in great pain. She struggled back to consciousness, her awareness flowing back slowly but then she realised whose pain she was feeling. It was distinctly her brother's touch she could feel and she opened her eyes, waking suddenly. She blinked a few times and turned her head, instinctively knowing where he was. Her head was pounding but she ignored that for the moment. The emotional agony that she was feeling from him was making all other considerations secondary. He was holding her hand and she took a deep breath, licking her lips to try and speak.
"Andros." Andros looked up and she was startled to see tears flowing freely down his face.
"Karone. Are you alright?" Karone was wondering who's definition of alright did he mean.
"Sort of. Andros, what's happened? Why are you crying?" Andros's expression became even bleaker and Karone could literally see the life dying inside her brother.
"Ashley didn't make it Karone. She's dead. Ashley's dead!" He burst into sobs as the reality finally sank in and he bent over Karone, lying on her, clinging to her as he cried. Karone looked up as her free arm reached over and held him to her. She saw the truth in Billy and Cam's expression and tears began to form in her own eyes. Just like that, her family was torn asunder. And Karone wasn't sure that Andros would ever recover from this blow.
Tbc…In our next chapter our rangers head to Phaedos to heal and try to plan their next move.