Stranger
Different Directions 2
By Daylight
It was seldom very cold in Angel Grove, but there was a strange chill in the wind that morning. Walking quickly to keep warm, Katherine and Tanya headed off to Angel Grove High. Tanya shifted the strap of her backpack as she stared ahead. Her thoughts were mulling over the events of the previous evening. They were all very confused by what had happened and Zordon hadn't been very helpful in clarifying things.
"Have you called the Power Chamber this morning?"
Kat nodded. "Just before you arrived."
"How's Andros?"
"He hasn't woken up yet. But Billy says he'll be fine. He just needs time for his injuries to heal."
They spent a couple more minutes in silence as they began to walk across Angel Grove Park. There were other ways they could have gone to school, but they preferred the peacefulness of the park. Though the many evil minions that seemed to plague their world often disrupted its tranquility, it was still the most beautiful place in Angel Grove. They walked over the dew-drenched grass lost in their own thoughts.
"Kat?"
"Yes"
"Do you ever wonder what would happen if we weren't able to stop the Machine Empire from conquering Earth?"
"I try not to, but I think in my heart I've always believed that good will always triumph over evil."
"Yeah, but Andros' home…"
"I know."
ooooo
In the Power Chamber, Billy was back underneath the communication console. Alpha stood by watching the progress of the former blue ranger's work and occasionally giving him a hand. Zordon had disappeared from his energy tube again. They were never sure where he went, but Alpha knew he had a lot to think about. He only hoped that Zordon wasn't blaming himself for what had happened to KO-35.
"Billy?"
"I just have to reconnect a few more things," came Billy's tired voice from underneath the console. "I would have finished last night but I was busy taking care of our guest."
"That's alright Billy. You did a great job of caring for Andros."
Billy let out a frustrated sigh. "I just wish I knew what had happened."
"I'm afraid that's something only Andros can tell us."
"Well, he should wake up any moment now."
ooooo
Andros, in fact, was already awake. He struggled through his heavy exhaustion to blurrily blink at his surroundings. Not knowing where he was, an adrenaline surge of panic helped him quickly sit up, but he instantly regretted it. His head pounded and his chest was on fire. While the world seemed to spin around him, he stifled a moan and wrapped his left arm around his ribs. Billy and Alpha heard nothing over the noise of their conversation. Andros brought his hand up to his face. He still felt dizzy and his vision was blurred. He rubbed his eyes.
"Do you know anything about Andros and his planet? Zordon didn't tell us much."
Andros looked around trying to focus enough to find the source of the voice.
"Only what's in the Ranger Archives."
As Andros' eyesight cleared, he came upon the sight of Alpha and Billy working on the communications console. The robot's back was towards him and Billy was unable to see anything from his position.
"KO-35 is a lot like Earth, except it has a higher level of technology and fewer cities. I've heard it's quite beautiful."
Keeping his eyes on the two other occupants of the room, Andros turned so that his legs hung off the edge of the medical bed. He still wore the slightly torn pants of his Astro-Ranger uniform. His feet were bare except for the bandage on his left ankle. He could feel bandages holding his ribs together under his red undershirt. There were also bandages over his right arm, which hung in a sling. Andros felt sore all over.
"What about the rangers?"
Andros pushed himself off the bed. His sprained ankle collapsed under the sudden weight, but as Andros fell to the ground, he managed to catch himself with his uninjured arm.
"There are six: red, yellow, blue, pink, black and silver."
'No' breathed Andros and tried to struggle to his feet.
"Zordon said they were Astro Rangers?"
'No' Andros whispered again as he grabbed the edge of the medical bed and pulled himself up.
"Yes. Though they were stationed at KO-35, the rangers came from different planets and have been known to come to the aid of people all over the universe."
Andros slowly started to back away from the two speakers.
"But I believe that both Andros and the Silver Ranger came from KO-35."
"NO!" Andros quickly turned around and ran out of the Power Chamber.
"What?" Billy frantically tried to extract himself from the tangle of wires.
"Ai-yi-yi!" Alpha turned around just in time to see Andros run out the door. "He must have woken up while we were talking."
"Where he'd go?"
"He ran out the west exit."
Scrambling to his feet, Billy ran out of the Power Chamber and through the corridors. He found the double doors to the outside open and quickly passed through them. His eyes gazed across the rocky terrain looking for any sign of Red Astro Ranger.
"Andros!" He climbed to the top of a small hill for a better view, but he still couldn't see anything. "Andros!"
Cursing, he decided to go back. Billy knew it was pointless to rush off when Andros could have escaped in any direction. Worried and frustrated, he returned to the Power Chamber
ooooo
Along the corridors of Angel Grove High, the rangers were glad to be immersed in their normal lives as high school students.
"Hey guys," said Tanya. "Ready for the Math test?"
"You had to remind me," groaned Rocky.
Kat put a hand on his shoulder. "Come on Rocky. It won't be that bad. You studied, right?"
"I studied so much my brain feels like it's going to explode."
Tommy laughed. "Just keep it in till after the math test. Then it won't matter if your brain goes."
"Too late." Adam grinned. "Rocky's brain's long gone."
"Hey!"
The rangers laughed as Rocky slapped the back of Adam's head, but they were interrupted by the familiar sound of their communicators.
"Drat!"
Jason pointed to an empty corridor where they quickly gathered.
"What is it?"
"Guys, I've got some news."
"Is Andros awake?" asked Jason.
"Oh, he's awake," replied Billy, "He's also gone."
"What?"
"Billy, do you know where he went?"
"He couldn't have gone too far from the Power Chamber, but I have no idea in which direction."
Rocky frowned. "Can't we track him down using his power signature?"
"Unfortunately we don't have his power signature in the scanners' databank. We have his bio signature, but scanning for that will take ages."
"What about his injuries?" asked Adam in concern.
"Most of his minor injuries have already been healed due to his connection to the Power, but his more serious injuries could be easily aggravated."
A glance passed between all the rangers.
"Look, Billy," said Tommy. "We'll come up to the Power Chamber and help you search."
"No guys. You've missed enough school due to monster attacks. I can handle this."
Tommy sighed, "Alright Billy. Good luck."
"Thanks," said Billy and cut the link.
ooooo
Andros' foot slipped sending loose rocks down the mountain. He watched them as they fell to the valley below. Growing dizzy, he closed his eyes for a moment before moving on. The path had grown rough after he left the Power Chamber. The terrain was rocky with few trees and bushes. It was hard on his feet and running on his injured ankle had caused the pain to flare up again forcing him to limp. He used his left hand to hold himself up and pull himself along. His hand was scratched and worn from the sharp rocks he held on to. His other arm hung uselessly in the sling. The sun shone down on him as he wandered aimlessly through the mountains. Andros tired quickly, but he struggled on.
After an hour, his tiredness and pain finally forced him to stop. Leaning against a rocky out-crop, he slid to the ground and sat in a small patch of shade. He was in a daze. His eyes stared forward. His mind was blank. He sat there barely conscious of his surroundings or even his own pain. After a few minutes, his body succumbed and he fell asleep.
ooooo
The scanner console beeped to indicate that it had finished scanning another region. Leaning over the console, Billy sighed as the results once again came up negative. He only just managed to stop himself from kicking the machine in frustration.
"Any luck?" asked Zordon.
"Not yet," responded Alpha.
"There has to be a better way than this," muttered Billy as he set up the scanners to search another sector. "We don't know which direction he would have gone and scanning each sector around the Power Chamber for his bio signature is taking too long."
"Do you know why he left?"
Sighing again, Billy sat down on the floor and leaned his back against the console. He put a hand through his hair and tried to rub some of the tension from his head. "It must have been something Alpha and I said, but I don't know what or why he ran off. He has no where to go."
Billy blinked as he thought about what he had just said then suddenly he sprang up. "Wait a second! Alpha do a wide band scan for any Alien technology in Angel Grove."
"Certainly Billy." Alpha headed over to the scanner console.
"The only place Andros would know to go to would be his space ship, which he must have landed somewhere in Angel Grove."
Alpha called out as the scanners sounded. "The scans have found what appears to be a ship just a few miles from here on the edge of Angel Grove Forest."
"I'll teleport down and check it out." Billy headed over to the teleportation console and started punching in the coordinates.
"Be careful Billy."
"Don't worry Alpha."
"May the power protect you," said Zordon as Billy disappeared in a shimmer of white light.
ooooo
Andros blinked as he once again became aware of his surroundings. He grabbed onto the rock wall forcing his sore body to stand. He swore at the wrenching pain it caused in his ankle. Gazing around he blinked again and shook his head. With a turn of his wrist, his slightly battered morpher appeared and he lifted it to his face.
"DECA?" his dry voice croaked.
"Yes, Andros," came the electronic voice through the static.
"Whe…where am I?"
"The planet Earth. More precisely the United States of America, in the desert region of Angel Grove, California."
"Wha…the ship?"
"You landed the remains of the Astromegaship next to the Angel Grove Forest. Two kilometers 31 degrees north of your current position."
"Are you alright Andros?" the computer asked suddenly concerned.
"I'm fine," muttered Andros as he slowly set out in the direction he hoped would lead him to his ship. "I'll be there in a few minutes."
ooooo
The shimmer re-materialized into Billy at the edge of the mountains. Shading his eyes, Billy gazed around. He didn't see the ship until he turned around and almost hit his nose against it. His vision full of a blue, metal wall, Billy stepped back to get a better look. He marveled as his eyes graced the battered ship.
"Definitely a much higher level of technology than Earth," Billy said to himself. "It might even be more complex than the Power Chamber and the Zeo Zords. I wonder how I get inside."
Billy wandered round the edge of the ship looking for a door. He winced at the many blaster burns covering the hull and wondered how the ship had actually made it to Earth. Climbing over some rocks that the megaship had crashed into, he finally came upon a door, but after a thorough search, he couldn't find anyway to open it, so he continued his search.
Around the other side, he came across the breach in the hull. It was a couple of meters up, but it was big enough for him to get through. He was preparing to climb the side of the ship when he heard something behind him.
Startled Billy turned around and quickly got into a fighting stance as he was greeted by the evil laugh of another one of the Machine Empire's metal monsters. It was black and silver with wires surrounded it connecting to all parts of its body.
"I am Telecon." The monster brought out a long, black katana as he greeted Billy.
"Prince Gasket has sent me to retrieve this ship for the Machine Empire."
"Well, I'm sorry but I don't believe this ship belongs to them."
"The Machine Empire owns whatever it wants including this planet."
"Then I'm afraid that I'll just have to disagree."
"You're nothing but a former ranger. You have no powers."
"Doesn't mean I can't still fight you."
Telecon growled and charged towards the former Blue Ranger. Billy rolled and ducked around kicking the monster in the back as he came up behind him.
"Arrrgg!" The metal along the monsters face twisted into a warped snarl as he came at Billy with a series of powerful blows.
Billy managed to block the first few, but a kick got through his defenses and he was sent flying into a tree. Gasping, Billy quickly got up. He knew he couldn't defeat this monster like this. He just hoped he could keep it occupied until the rangers showed up.
ooooo
Tommy was in AGH's library when his communicator went off. Giving an apologetic look to the glaring librarian, he quickly left the library and found a secluded spot outside.
"What's the matter?"
"Billy was attacked by one of Gaskets monsters while he was out searching for Andros."
"Why did he attack Billy?"
"Billy was investigating Andros' ship, when Gasket decide he wanted the ship for himself. You must gather the other rangers and help Billy."
"Zordon, I'll have to get them out of school. I'm the only one who isn't stuck in a class right now."
"I have my up most confidence in you, Tommy."
Turning off his communicator, Tommy sighed and leaned against the outside wall. 'Time for another ranger escape plan,' he thought. They had already used most of the excuses he could think of. The others would already be in trouble because of their communicators going off. It was lucky that he was out of class.
An idea finally striking, Tommy quickly headed back into the school walking along the hallways until he found what he was looking for. He double-checked to make sure the corridor was empty before reaching up and swiftly pulling the fire alarm. As the loud siren sounded, he lifted up his communicator to teleport away.
"What do you think you're doing, Mr. Oliver?"
Lowering his wrist, Tommy turned around to see the principal, Mr. Kaplan, glaring at him.
"Um, I…I thought I saw smoke coming out of the cafeteria," Tommy mumbled.
"There is no smoke, Thomas!" shouted Mr. Caplan over the sound of the alarm. "You're coming with me."
After turning off the alarm, Mr. Kaplan grabbed hold of Tommy's shoulder. As Tommy was dragged away to Mr. Caplan's office, he prayed that the others had managed to find a way out.
ooooo
Jason and Kat had been preparing to leave their classroom with the rest of their fellow students when the fire alarm stopped. Stopping in confusion, they stood around waiting for an explanation.
Mr. Kaplan's voice came over the PA system. "False alarm. There is no fire. All students should immediately return to their classrooms. I repeat. It was a false alarm. Return to your regular classes."
As the students returned to their seats, Jason whispered to Kat, "Tommy must have tried to get us out, but I guess he got caught."
"I hope some of the others managed to get out. I wonder what's going on." Kat whispered back.
"It doesn't' look like we're going to get out any time soon. Mrs. Applebee's in a rotten mood. You know how she hates it when people pull the fire alarm."
"But the end of class isn't for another 15 minutes."
"Miss Hillard, Mr. Scott. Could the two of you please be quiet and pay attention?"
Startled by their teacher's voice, Kat and Jason gave each other a last frustrated glance before turning their attention to what Mrs. Applebee was trying to teach them.
ooooo
In their own class, Tanya, Adam and Rocky were stuck in the same situation, but Rocky tried one last old excuse and raised his hand.
"Mr. Boustos, I need to go to the washroom."
"Well, Mr. DeSantos. I'm sure you can hold it in for the rest of the class."
"But I really have to go."
"Like the time before when you had to go so badly you didn't come back to class for half an hour."
Sighing in frustration, Rocky put down his hand and slouched back down in his chair. He heard the unified groan of Adam and Tanya from behind him.
ooooo
Billy was hit by another slash of Telecon's sword. He reeled slamming into the ground. Panting heavily, he struggled to his feet and stood there holding his injured shoulder. He wasn't planning to give up. Billy and Telecom locked gazes neither backing down.
"Well, former ranger," taunted Telecon. "I bet you wish you still had you ranger powers now."
Billy simply glared at the monster and readied himself for another attack.
Telecon lifted his sword preparing to strike. "Goodbye, ranger."
Just as Telecon's sword came down, a red streak rushed in and knocked Billy out of the way. At first, Billy was sure that Tommy had finally arrived, but as he got a good look, he realized the red ranger was not one he had seen before.
"Andros?"
The ranger nodded before charging towards Telecon, his strange spiral sword raised. The two were instantly sharing blows in a twirling sword fight. Being morphed, Andros was able to stand on his injured ankle, but his right arm was still unusable. Even with his Spiral Saber in his left hand, the Red Astro Ranger was able to block most of other's blows and finally got in a hard enough hit to cause Telecon to fly away from him. Andros didn't waste any time.
"Spiral Saber Booster Mode."
Telecon burst into flames, exploding as he crashed into the ground. He left only a few ashes behind.
Billy came up to Andros and put his hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, Andros. You saved my life."
Andros jerked away from the hand. He stared at Billy through his helmet's visor. "How do you know my name?"
"Zordon told me" Billy gave Andros a concerned look. He wondered how much Andros actually remembered about what happened yesterday evening.
"You're a Power Ranger?"
"A former ranger. I gave my place to someone else."
Suddenly a stream of multicolored lights appeared, indicating the arrival of the Zeo Rangers. Andros took a step back glancing warily at the new people.
"It's alright." Billy tried to reassure Andros.
The Red Zeo Ranger rushed forward. "Billy, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Andros destroyed the monster."
The Zeo Rangers looked over at the new red ranger in surprise. They glanced at each other, confused by Andros' sudden change. Tommy gave the signal and they powered down.
"Then we owe you our thanks," said Jason stepping towards Andros.
Andros backed away again. "You're not Trey. What are you doing with the Gold Ranger's powers?"
"You know Trey?" asked Rocky.
"Listen." Jason lifted his hands in a pacifying gesture as Andros continued to look at him warily. "There was an accident which separated Trey into his three components. I'm just protecting his powers until he can be restored to his original form."
Andros nodded slowly and demorphed back into his ragged apparel. Tommy took this as a good sign.
"We probably should introduce ourselves. I'm Tommy, this is Jason, Adam, Kat, Tanya, Rocky and the one you just saved is Billy," he said pointing to each ranger in turn.
"I'm called Andros." Feeling dizzy, Andros stumbled slightly to the side. Jason took hold of his shoulder to steady him.
"That's it. We're getting you back to the Power Chamber," commanded Billy. "You shouldn't have been out of bed let alone fighting."
Adam, who had seen Billy rubbing his injured shoulder, commented, "He's not the only one who could use a little attention."
Tommy activated his communicator and told Alpha to transport them to the Power Chamber.
When they arrived, Adam led Andros back over to the medical bed to check him over while Katherine cleaned up Billy's shoulder and put a bandage on the painful cut made by Telecon's sword.
"What is their condition?" Zordon questioned.
"Andros is going to have to spend a few extra days in bed," responded Adam putting the hand-held medical scanner away. "He strained some of his injuries."
Kat helped Billy put his shirt back on over his bandaged shoulder while pronouncing, "Billy's just fine. His shoulder will take longer to heal, but the remnants of the power in him will help."
"I'm sorry we couldn't get to you earlier." Jason put his hand on his friend's good shoulder. "But we had a bit of a tough time getting out of class."
"And I've got the three weeks of detention to prove it," muttered Tommy.
"It's okay guys." Billy smiled. "I know what its like."
Zordon, meanwhile, was gazing at Andros who was sitting quietly on the side of the medical bed while Adam replaced some of his bandages.
"Andros." The injured young man refused to meet Zordon's eyes. "I was hoping since you were now awake that you could explain to us what happened on KO-35."
Everyone's gaze moved over to the Red Astro Ranger. Andros himself gazed downwards and remained silent.
"Andros, I know it is hard for you to tell us what happened, but we need to understand what's going on."
Andros sighed as he looked at his feet. He started to speak slowly and softly, his eyes never leaving the ground.
"Dark Specter launched an all out invasion on KO-35. We managed to hold him off for a few months, but his army was massive. There were piranhatrons, quantrons and monsters everywhere. We had no choice, but to abandoned the planet. Several ships were launched…not all of them got away. The other rangers…didn't make it. I…"
"Zordon that's enough," said Adam. "He needs to rest."
"Thank you, Andros, that will do for now. Rangers it would be best if you left."
The Zeo Rangers prepared to go, but before they transported away Tommy turned to Andros.
"I'd just like to thank you again for saving Billy."
Andros looked up for the first time since they had arrived in the Power Chamber and met the Red Zeo Ranger's gaze. Tommy was struck by the odd look in his eyes.
"We rangers have to look after each other," Andros replied.