DISCLAIMER: NOT MNE (AS MUCH AS I'D LIKE IT TO BE) SO DON'T SUE ME

Chapter 11: Dark Specter's Revenge

Andros woke the next morning smiling. He had his sister back. He hugged her as she came into the bridge, chatting with T.J. and Cassie, who checked the scanners and left to fix the lasers. The other rangers had all been skeptical of her at first, thinking that Andros was so desperate to have Karone back that he would have believed anything. Ashley and Zhane had managed to convince the others to give Karone a chance.

Ashley and Zhane came in together. Ashley looked like she was trying hard not to laugh. Zhane looked guilty.

"Morning," Ashley said. Andros got up from the table to kiss her. He noticed Karone watching them.

"Oh," he said. "Ashley is my girlfriend."

"I figured that out weeks ago," Karone said. "It was obvious that you two liked each other."

Ashley groaned. "Was it obvious to everyone except us?"

"Probably." Karone smiled. "Um . . .if Andros gets a girlfriend, do I get a boyfriend?"

Andros opened his mouth to say "No!" but he noticed that Ashley was shaking with silent laughter. "What?"

"You know?" Karone asked Ashley. She nodded.

"It was obvious."

"Not fair!" Karone grinned.

"You already have a boyfriend?" Andros asked.

"Yup." Karone did her best to look innocent.

"It's not some evil demon-prince, is it?" Andros asked, deciding he'd really rather not know.

Karone did her best to look insulted. "He is not. I have better taste than that."

"Who is it?" demanded Andros.

"Well . . ." Karone said. She stepped quickly around Andros to kiss Zhane.

Andros stared at them, his expression unreadable.

"Uh, Zhane?" Ashley said. "I think he noticed."

"You're going out with my sister?" Andros was glaring at Zhane.

"Hey, I didn't know she was your sister," Zhane said hastily, shoving Karone and Ashley between him and Andros. "I thought she was Astronema."

"That's not helping," Ashley hissed at him, convulsing in hysterical laughter.

"You're going out with my sister?" Andros repeated.

"Yes?" Zhane guessed.

"Wrong answer." Zhane bolted as Andros came at him. Ashley and Karone collapsed in laughter.

"Deca, tell us when he catches him," Ashley said, gasping.

"Of course," Deca said. "Would you like to watch the chase?"

"Yes!" they said together and settled back in their chairs.

After about fifteen minutes, Andros finally cornered Zhane. "Are you going to marry her?"

"I don't know," Zhane said.

"She's not pregnant, is she?" Andros demanded. Ashley and Karone laughed at Zhane's expression.

"No!"

"Do you love her?"

"Enough, Deca," Karone said before they could hear Zhane's answer. " I'd rather hear it from Zhane first."

Ashley nodded. Karone was looking thoughtful. "Do you love my brother?"

Ashley looked at Karone. "Yes," she answered without hesitation. "More than anyone else in the world."

Karone nodded. "Does he love you?"

"I hope so, but I don't know," Ashley said. "We haven't said it to each other yet."

"He does," Karone assured her. "Whenever you're around him, I don't think he really notices anyone else. I think he's still to shy to tell you, but he does."

Ashley nodded. She couldn't think of anything to say.

"Master, you can't eliminate Astronema," Ecliptor said. "She is the key to finishing the rangers!"

"She betrayed me!" Dark Specter howled. "She betrayed you! Why would you forgive her so readily? I will have revenge!"

"If she was recaptured, it would destroy the red ranger," Ecliptor said. "He would blame himself and the team would fall apart on its own."

"What about the yellow ranger?" Dark Specter said thoughtfully. "She seems to be able to help him through his pain. Can you take out the yellow ranger and at the same time recapture Astronema?"

Ecliptor laughed. "I already have a plan."

"Princess!"

"Ecliptor!" Karone gasped. She checked to make sure that she was alone on the bridge. "What are you doing?"

"I want to see you one last time," Ecliptor said. "Meet me on the roof of the tallest building in Angel Grove in one hour."

"Andros would never let me," Karone said.

"Your brother means well," Ecliptor said. "But he doesn't understand."

"All right," Karone agreed after a pause. "I'll be there."

"Deca, where's Karone?" Andros asked.

"She left to meet Ecliptor," Deca replied. "I suspect a trap."

"Where?" Andros demanded.

"The top of the Angel Grove television tower."

Andros was already halfway to his jump tube.

"Ecliptor?" Karone asked. The roof of the tower was deserted.

"My princess!" Ecliptor appeared embraced her quickly. "My princess, Dark Specter has agreed that he will not kill you if you return to his side immediately."

"I can't," Karone said. "I belong with Andros and Zhane and the others now. The Dark Fortress was never my home."

"Princess," Ecliptor began, but Darkonda cut him off.

"There's no time for your sentimental emotions," he snapped, materializing. "Astronema is coming whether she likes it or not."

"No, I'm not," Karone said, backing away from Ecliptor. "This was all a trap. I trusted you!"

"It was misplaced," Darkonda said. "Quantrons!"

"Karone!" Andros shouted, grabbing his sister and pulling her away. "Go back to the Megaship! I'll stay here and fight these guys!"

Karone obeyed. Darkonda took the Quantrons and vanished, leaving Andros and Ecliptro facing each other.

Andros fired several shots with his powered- up Spiral Saber, but Ecliptor dodged them all and sent his own blows, all of which hit. Andros fell, landing painfully on his side. He struggled to sit up, and knew that he would never evade the next blow. He would be lucky to survive.

"Do you surrender, Red Ranger?" Ecliptor asked, raising his jagged sword.

"Never," Andros gasped out, the defiance in his voice masking his fear.

There was a slight whistling sound as Ecliptor's sword sliced through the air, and Andros braced himself as best he was able. A split second before the blow rained down on him, Andros saw a streak of yellow. It took him a moment to piece together what had happened.

Ashley had thrown herself between him and Ecliptor.

Ecliptor's blow struck her across the chest, and the force of it whipped her body around so that she was facing Andros as she fell. He watched, stunned and frozen, as she collapsed, barely alive. A shower of white sparks hovered over her suit.

"No, please, let her go," Andros begged, snapping out of his shock as Ecliptor advanced on the motionless Yellow Ranger. He poked her with the tip of his sword. There was no response. Ecliptor laughed triumphantly and hit her several more savage blows with his sword.

"No," Andros whispered. Ashley, please answer me!

He managed to stagger to his feet as Ecliptor raised Ashley's seemingly lifeless body and shoved her carelessly off the edge of the tower. Her suit sparkled and vanished, and Andros caught a fleeting glimpse of her face as she fell.

"Galaxy Glider!" he shouted, leaping over the edge and landing shakily on his red glider. Ashley landed hard at his feet, face down, and Andros still detected no signs of life.

"Deca, teleport us back to the Megaship!" he shouted, cradling Ashley in his arms. Ashley, can you hear me? I won't leave you, I promise. Please, you can't die! I can't live without you. Please wake up.

As they materialized on the Megaship, Andros didn't hear the alarmed cries of the other rangers. He only heard the guilty cries in his head, and Ashley's ragged breathing.