Disclaimer: See Part One

Author's Notes: We're nearing the end! Some more questions answered, and more arise. I'm evil, aren't I? grin After much deliberation, I decided to make a "reflection" series for all the Space Rangers after the end of "Second Chance". Thanks for all who have reviewed. I really appreciate it!
For those of you interested in reading my random babble of fics, please visit Written in the Stars' Messageboard or feel free to drop me a note!

Second Chance
Part Four: Baby Steps
By: stargazer1017

Andros sat at his console, his hands clasped together supporting his chin. "The Megaship's on lockdown," he heard T.J. confirm behind him. "No one's going anywhere."

Karone. . .

Andros was still in shock over what had just happened. After confirming with DECA that Astronema--or actually Karone, was still onboard, Andros had ordered that the ship be lockdown from teleporting to and from the ship. He wanted to keep Karone where she was. After she had run off, the news had sunk into Andros and he couldn't understand what he was feeling.

He was certainly happy. Overjoyed would be the actual word to describe the feeling. After searching years for his sister, he could finally tell his parents not to worry. She was safe and sound with him.

On the other hand, the other definite emotion he felt was mistrust. The same woman was also his arch enemy, one who had promised death to him several times in their encounters. The sister he knew before she was taken away from him had to be somewhere in that woman, but he knew the identity of Astronema was stronger than Karone's.

"Are you all right?" Cassie's voice rang through the room as the doors to the Command Post opened. She rushed over to Andros and knelt down to meet him at eye level. Andros turned to look at her, but couldn't answer her question. Instead, Cassie nodded and placed a reassuring hand on his thigh.

"We came as soon as we heard," Carlos spoke up, coming up a few feet from the two. "Brenan and Zhane are on their way."

"Does Brenan know?" Andros asked. He knew it would be of a shock his other self.

"Not yet," Carlos replied. "All he knows is that something happened and he was needed here. We kinda thought. . .it would be better if it was coming from you." Andros nodded. He picked up the locket Astronema had dropped. After staring at it a few seconds, he closed it and looked towards the door. As if on cue, Zhane and Brenan walked into the Command Post.

"We just got the message," Zhane said. "What's going on?"

Andros turned to look at Brenan. "I think. . .you better sit down for this." Brenan frowned but didn't refuse the seat Ashley had offered him. Andros took a deep breath and got up. "I'm sure you know what this is," he said, holding up the locket.

Brenan nodded. "Of course I do," he said, reaching for his own necklace. "I have one too. It was given to me by my mother when I started training to be a ranger. Karone had one identical to mine."

"This," Andros said, handing off the locket to Brenan, "doesn't belong to me." When Brenan raised his eyebrow, Andros reached for the locket around his neck. He held it up for Brenan to see. "That locket belongs to Astronema."

Brenan's eyes widened. "Astronema?" he asked incredulously. "How can she have the same locket?" Andros raised his eyebrows in silence. Everyone was silent as Brenan looked at each person in the room before his gaze landed back on Andros. "She can't be. . ."

The only response he got from his other self was a slow nod. "But she can't. . .Astronema?" Brenan asked again. The locket fell out of his hand and landed on the console. "Karone. . ."

Andros forced a light laugh. "Been there. . ." he said, knowing exactly what the other man was going through.

"So. . .what do we do now?" Zhane asked. "Is she even still here on the Megaship?"

"We locked down the Megaship," T.J. replied. "DECA said Astr--I mean, Karone, is in the Engine Room."

Brenan nodded. He picked the up the locket from the console and got up suddenly. "Wait, where are you going?" Cassie asked. Brenan didn't respond as he walked out of the door. Ashley and Zhane gave Andros one quick glance before they took off running after Brenan.

"What are you going to do?" Ashley asked when she reached Brenan's side.

Brenan stopped in his tracks and turned to Ashley. "I have to go and see if it's true. I have to see her for myself."

Ashley shook her head. "You can't just go in there! Think of what she's going through."

"What about what I'm going through! I find out that she may be my sister? The woman who destroyed my entire universe because she hated me so much."

Zhane put his hand on Brenan's shoulder. "Brenan, Ashley's right. You can't just go in there. Besides. . .this may not be the Astronema from your dimension. I don't think we've even figured that out yet."

Brenan shook his head. "That's what I intend to find out," he replied firmly with an equally firm glance at Zhane. Zhane sighed and removed his hand. Brenan turned away from the two and continued walking down the hallway.

"What should we do?" Ashley asked as Brenan rounded the corner and disappeared from sight. "Should we stop him?"

Zhane shook his head. "I think we should let him do what he wants to do."

"You're not afraid he might hurt her?" Ashley questioned. She turned to Zhane, slightly worried. "I mean, I know it's Astronema. . .but. . .this just changes everything. I mean, everything we've known about her. . ."

"I know what you mean," Zhane sighed. "She's the reason I went into my coma. Astronema had sent a monster to KO-35 that day, and I got hurt pretty badly. I feel anger towards her as well. . .but Karone was a good friend of mine growing up as well. I can't even put the two people together."

Ashley smiled gently and squeezed his arm. "I guess you can see what Brenan's going through as well."

"I almost lost my life that day, but I didn't. Brenan? He lost everything he knew."

- - - - -

Astronema took a deep breath and blew the red hair out of her eyes. Even though she had reported to Dark Specter many times before, she was still nervous. She was thankful she had learned to hide emotions throughout the years. She looked down at the sealed box in her hands. No one had even challenged her when she went to retrieve the box holding the powers of the Dark Ones. The Psycho Rangers. They were sealed eons ago by the forces of good, who had then hidden the powers on the planet Uron. Since then, the rangers of space had monitored the planet and no one has seen the Dark Ones, but their myth lived in the Universe. Everyone knew it would suicide to unleash their powers--regardless of what "side" a being was on. The Dark Ones had been known to have an alliance only with themselves.

Astronema felt a cold wind blow through her hair. "Astronema." She looked up at the large being that appeared before her. She gave a small bow to show respect. "What have you to tell me."

"I have an idea to rid the universe of all the rangers," Astronema revealed. She held up the box. "I'm sure you recognize what I hold in my hands."

Dark Specter's face was always emotionless. Astronema had learned to rely on how he had said words in order to understand what was going through the evil being's mind. "The Dark Ones?" he asked. "How did you find them? They were hidden by the Rangers of the past who sealed them. Not even the great Zordon knows of their location."

"I have my sources," Astronema replied with a sly smile. "They will destroy all in the Universe when they're unleashed."

"Are you certain their alliance is with you? They were uncontrollable by even their own creator, who was alligned with me."

Astronema hesitated. She had wondered the same question herself. "In the end, nothing matters. As long as you can destroy everyone, your revenge will be fulfilled." Astronema nodded back at Dark Specter. "We will have our revenge, Dark Specter, I guarentee it. They'll listen to what I say."

Dark Specter narrowed his eyes and responded a minute later. "This is your last chance, Astronema. I am tired of your failures."

Astronema fought the urge to growl at him and kept her face expressionless. She gave Dark Specter a curt nod and watched as he disappeared. After he had left, Astronema clenched her fist. "Stupid, big-headed monkey," she mutterd under her breath. She looked down at the box again and frowned. Where was Astronema? she wondered. She hadn't heard from the other woman in almost a day.

- - - - -

Brenan stopped outside of the door to the engine room and hesitated. Closing his eyes, he tried to get a hold of himself. Am I even ready to do this? He had no other choice. He had to confirm this. . .he had to make sure this was right.

Taking a deep breath, he walked closer to the door and waited as it opened. The room was dark, and Brenan had to squint as he slowly walked in. He opened his mouth to ask for the lights to go on, but before he could get a word out, he heard, "Get out."

Brenan forced himself to keep walking and didn't want to give a hint to the woman that he didn't want to go through this. "I said, get out," the voice repeated, this time, harsher.

"I'm not leaving," Brenan replied loudly. "Lights on." The lights flickered on suddenly and Brenan stopped in his tracks. In the middle of the engine room was Astronema, seated on the floor. It was a weird sight for Brenan. He had never seen Astronema as vulnerable as she was that moment, and he swallowed. "Get up."

Astronema looked up at him. He noticed her eyes were red and she looked frail. She sat uncomfortable on the floor, leaning on her arm extended on the floor. "I'm not in the mood for company," she spoke through gritted teeth. "Unless you're here to destroy me. Go ahead."

Brenan didn't respond. He reached into his pocket and fingered the locket. "I deserve it," Astronema continued bitterly. "All that I've done. . .this must be the way I'm being punished."

Brenan clutched the locket and took it out of his pocket. "So it's true," Brenan said quietly. "You really are Karone."

"Shut up! Just shut up!" Astronema yelled suddenly. She pounded her fists on the floor. "Don't call me that. Karone died when she was taken away and no one thought to save her."

"What are you talking about," Brenan demanded. "Of coruse we were thinking to save you. We--"

"But you didn't find me until it was too late," Astronema replied bitterly. "No one thought to find me, no one was looking for me."

Brenan shook his head. "We searched and searched for you everywhere, Karone. I had spent my whole life dedicated to finding you. When I became a ranger, I spent all my time trying to find you. That's why Zhane and I had been tracking Dark Specter and his forces. We were looking for you."

"You were?" Astronema whispered. A tear rolled down her cheek. "Ecliptor had told me that I was abandoned, and I believed him. I couldn't remember anything about being taken away until I had touched that ball. . ."

"The ball?" Brenan asked. Suddenly, he remembered what she was referring to. "The ball we used to train with to sharpen our telepathy skills."

"Then everything suddenly came rushing back. I could see it happening as if it was happening again," Astronema whispered, as if in a trance. Then she closed her eyes and a pained expression crossed her face. "What have I done?"

The hatred Brenan felt in his heart disappeared as he watched Astronema break down in front of him. Her pain was genunine. Astronema looked Brenan in the eyes. "I destroyed our dimension," she said, still whispering. "Everything I knew was there. . ."

She closed her eyes. ". . .And everything you loved I destroyed too. My own flesh and blood. . .I had destroyed you in the worst way possible. . ." She started shaking uncontrollably as she broke down completely.

Without thinking, Brenan bent down to embrace her in a warm hug. "Kill me. . .end my pain," Astronema sobbed. "I don't deserve to be here. I don't deserve anything."

Brenan didn't know what to say and was at a loss of words. He held onto his sister tightly. "Don't say that, Karone," he whispered, trying to comfort the hysterical woman.

"How can you even comfort me?" Astronema yelled suddenly. "You must hate me, you have to."

Brenan shook his head. "I can never hate my own flesh and blood," he replied softly. "I have searched for you most of my life, and I've found you. I finally found you." His words only made Astronema cry harder. Brenan felt tears come to his own eyes as he tried to comfort his sister.

"I don't know where I belong, Andros," Astronema whispered. "I'm so lost, I'm so afraid."

Brenan pulled away from her and gave her a gently smile. "I'll help you. We'll all help you, if you let us." Astronema gave him a shaky look, but didn't reply. "We're not going to lose you again." Astronema took a deep breath and nodded.

- - - - -

"I wonder what's going on," Ashley said worriedly. She was pacing back and forth in front of the consoles. She looked at Andros and Cassie, who were seated at their usual positions at the controls. "Do you think they're okay?"

"You mean, did they kill each other yet?" Zhane asked. Ashley shot him a look, but said nothing. "DECA hasn't reported anything, so as far as we all know, they're fine." His demeanor turned serious. "Besides, I think Brenan needs this moment."

Cassie nodded and turned back to Andros. She gave his hand a squeeze. "Did you want to go and talk to her too?" she asked quietly.

Andros sighed and reached under his console. He picked up the ball. "I kept this here, with me on the ship at my controls. . .to remind me of her. To keep Karone close." He sighed. "I don't know if I'm ready to go and see her. I mean, I don't know what else to say."

"She's your sister, Andros," Cassie said. "This is the sister you've been searching for, even before you became a ranger. Tell her anything. . .it'll help you straighten out how you're feeling."

Andros looked at her. "This is just too weird, you know? I mean, it's sinking in, but I'm just so confused."

Cassie nodded. "I understand." She smiled. "I'll tell you what--I'll even go in and talk to her with you." When Andros raised his eyebrow, Cassie said, "I promise, we'll make nice." Andros gave a small laugh, remembering how the two women were towards each other. He leaned his forehead on Cassie's.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," Andros whispered. He pulled back slightly to look into Cassie's eyes. "Thank you." Cassie smiled up at him and reached her hand up to stroke his cheek.

The swishing sound of the doors opening made Andros and Cassie turn. Andros tensed as he watched Brenan and Astronema walk in. Holding onto Cassie's hand, he got up from his seat with Cassie follwing his lead.

"It's not over yet," Brenan spoke up, his expression serious.

"What do you mean?" Andros asked. He watched as Brenan and Astronema exchanged glances.

"Before I came on board, I had the Astronema of this dimension do something," Astronema said quietly. "She was so bent on revenge that I suggested something to her."

The other rangers had gathered together. "What was it?" Carlos asked.

"Are you aware of the Dark Ones? They're powers in the form of the Psycho Rangers. I had told Astronema to find and release them into the universe."

Andros' eyes widened. "What?" he demanded. "The Psycho Rangers?"

"We had been so busy with. . .other issues, I'm sure no one was able to monitor Astronema heading towards Uron," Astronema continued. "If she was able to release them, you won't defeat them."

"We were able to defeat them in our dimension," Brenan spoke up. "We almost lost T.J. in the battles that we had with them." He shook his head. "I can only hope they weren't released here."

Andros' heart pounded when he heard the danger sirens sounding through the Megaship. "Or maybe not," Zhane muttered as he rushed over to one of the side panels. After pressing a few buttons, an image came up on the screen.

"I think it's too late," Carlos said, his eyes widening at the sight. He turned back Brenan and Astronema. "Are those the ones you're talking about?"

Astronema nodded and swallowed. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "This is all my fault." Brenan put his hand on Astronema's shoulder and looked at Andros. Andros couldn't read the expression on the other man's face.

What are we going to do? Andros thought, turning back to the screen. The question remained on his mind as he watched the multi-colored beings make their way around Angel Grove.

To be continued. . .