Disclaimer: Not mine, please don't sue me, I have no money anyway.

Jenny: Zhane just woke up from cryogenic sleep. He's bound to be a little crazy, and he thinks he's seeing things, and if anyone was going to notice anything, don't you think it would be Andros? I mean, he's not a complete idiot. Actually, yes he is, and oh, you said you read all the reviews. Never mind, then. : P

Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow: I love Zhane too. I won't say anything else. : P

Juzblue: I'm not expecting most people to get that last part. Don't worry, everything's happening for a reason.

the-power-of-love: I always update asap. I just have to write it first.

Chapter 9: The Locket

"Angel Grove is under attack," Deca announced.

"Tell me something I don't know," Justin grumbled, standing up from the table. "You'd think that even evil needs down time."

"Of course they do," Aria said. "But apparently, it's not breakfast time."

Zhane looked at Andros. His friend was seemingly having no problem with two members of his team having a casual conversation while monsters wreaked havoc in Angel Grove. He was listening, amused, and when Aria paused, he took the opportunity to break in and cry, "Let's rocket!"

"Your people skills have improved," he remarked as they teleported down.

Andros shrugged. "People change."

"Sometimes people change other people," Aria told Zhane quietly after Andros broke the connection. He looked to where Andros and Ashley were fighting Quantrons back to back, and nodded.

"How bad was he?" Zhane asked. He and Aria had fallen into a pattern of fighting side by side. It looked odd to see Aria staying in one place, but it made Justin breathe a little easier.

"He made Justin look friendly," Aria said.

"I can hear you," her twin said, turning his helmeted head towards her for an instant.

"Anger is motivation, bro," Aria replied, turning, and easily catching a Quantron before the blade came down on the back of Zhane's head.

"Thanks."

"No problem," Aria shrugged, turning back to the fight.

There was something about Aria that Zhane found unsettling, and he supposed that's why he chose to fight close to her, in hopes of figuring out what it was. Maybe not the only reason, he thought wryly, glancing over to where Andros and Ashley were an inseperable team. But definately part of it.

Aria always seemed at ease, even in the middle of battle, as she was now. And there was a tone in her mental voice that struck hard with him. Aria had always known that she was a telepath, as far as he could tell, but she'd never used it. But the strength of her voice suggested that she'd practiced it for years. Andros had a strong mental voice, but while he could project it over great distances, it never carried the clarity that Aria's could.

His thoughts distracted him, and he missed an easy block. Rearing backwards, he avoided being hit, but he fell hard onto his back. Soft, spiteful laughter reached his ears, and he glanced up. Astronema. It had been two years since he'd last laid eyes on the villianess, and her hairstyle had changed countless times since then, but he knew it was her.

"Welcome back, Silver Ranger," she taunted, engaging him in a one-on-one battle. "I'll have to kill you more thouroughly this time."

"It was Ecliptor," Zhane reminded her, his Super Silverizer clashing against her staff. "Not you."

"Then I'll have to kill you more thoroughly than Ecliptor did," Astronema retorted. Her blue eyes flashed with anger as Zhane's blade came sweeping close to her neck. She leaped back to avoid being hit, and her locket was torn from her neck.

"No," Astronema cried, and Zhane was surprised at her tone. She sounded like she was about to cry.

Aria had caught the locket, and now held it in her hand. The battle stalled as all rangers and Quantrons turned to watch the more passive struggle between Aria and Astronema.

"Give it back," Astronema ordered.

Aria did nothing, but simply stood there, staring at the locket, letting it dangle from its broken silver chain.

"Give it back!" Astronema cried, and to Zhane, she seemed close to tears.

"This is yours?" Aria said. There was a stunned note to her voice that Zhane did not miss.

"Of course it is," Astronema snapped. "Give it back to me!"

Aria continued staring at it for a moment.

"Here," she said suddenly, tossing it back to Astronema. "Is that you and your brother?"

"No," Astonema lied. She vanished in a sparkle of purple light, taking the Quantrons with her.

The rangers teleported back to the Megaship in silence, each wondering what exactly had just happened.

Aria turned to Andros. Her eyes were dark and sad.

"I need to talk to you. Now."

A/N: I don't really like this chapter, but it leads up to the rest of the story. Do you think Ravenna is a good name for a bounty hunter?