Disclaimer: As much as I would like for it to be, Power Rangers is not my creation.
Ch. 1 Tough Beginnings
The small three-year-old boy lay crying quietly in his crib. His father,Duncan Vulcan, better known as Commander Vulcan of Eltar, had just left his room after beating him for simply asking for something to drink. Now, he feared that if his father heard his crying he'd come back. From the time he was brought home from the hospital Andros had quickly learned that if he cried and woke up his father, he would be severely punished. Also, he knew that he could only eat or speak if he was given permission.
Suddenly, he heard the door to his room open and he hurriedly closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep. As the footsteps became louder he began to shudder in fear. The railing to his crib descended slowly and a hand gently touched his shoulder causing him to flinch. The hand moved away but returned hastily and picked him up. Andros slowly opened his eyes to see his older brother, Aidan, holding him and he older sister, Cestra, standing behind them.
"It's okay, Andros,"Aidan whispered softly as he smoothed his brother's thin blonde and brown striped hair out of his face. The small boy grimaced as his hand brushed across a bruise their father had left in his drunken rage.Aidan looked down at his brother immediately seeing the other cuts and bruises, once again left Andros' small body. There were also huge red marks under one of his eyes that looked like they were going to form a very large bruise by morning. "Let's go get Mom." As he carried his brother down the long corridors of their homeAidan couldn't help berating himself for not protecting Andros from another of their father's drunken rages. When they arrived at the door to their parents' roomAidan handed Andros to Cestra and entered the room to wake their mother, Petra.
Within seconds Petra was out in the hall asking Andros, "What happened?"
She took him from her daughter's arms as he whimpered, "I asked for something to drink." The fear in her youngest child's voice alarmed her and she wished she could do something to help her son but she knew no one would ever believe them if they told.
"Come on," Petra began, leading her oldest children down stairs while carrying Andros, "we'll get everyone something to drink and then all of you need to get some sleep." As she looked down at the small child in her arms she could tell he was almost back asleep but hoped he would stay awake until she could care for his injuries.
"Wait for me," her five-year-old daughter, Karone, whispered as she hurried down the hall. Petra smiled at her youngest daughter, the next in line to be the Lady of their planet, and continued down to the kitchen.Aidan ran to the kitchen to get the cups and drinks out for his mother. Although he was only eight he understood that as the oldest it was his responsibility to help his mother with his siblings. Once they arrived in the kitchen Petra put Andros in a booster chair and then poured them all something to drink. After they finished she sent everyone except Andros, who was already half-asleep back up to their room to get some sleep.
"Mom,"Aidan began before he left the room, "are you going to take Andros to the hospital again?" She nodded and he went on up the stairs. "I'll tell Cestra and Karone."
"Andros," she murmured, gently tapping his shoulder, "you have to wake up." He stirred and slowly opened his eyes, jumping slightly as he adjusted to his surroundings. Petra carefully picked up her son and placed him on the counter while she got out the first-aid kit. As she pulled out what she needed she noticed Andros was looking around the kitchen like he was lost. "What's wrong, Andros?"
"How did we get here?" he asked looking up at her.
"You don't remember Aidan, Cestra, Karone, you, and me coming down here to get something to drink?" she questioned worriedly. If he couldn't remember that she knew there was a large possibility that he had a concussion, though she didn't know how severe.
"No," Andros answered quietly, afraid that she would be upset with him, "but my head and arm hurt real bad." His mother quickly checked his left arm and saw that the bone was getting ready to break through his skin. Then, she moved to his head and she immediately found the enormous knot, causing Andros to flinch away from his mother. She knew that her husband was to blame but before she could take him to the doctor they needed a cover story. As she tried to form a plan in her head Andros whispered, Mommy, I don't like Daddy anymore."
"I know, baby, I know," she replied as she made a splint for his arm and a bandage for his head. Petra knew that she had to get her son to the hospital so she quickly came up with a plan. "If they ask we'll tell them that someone hit you at the park, okay?" Andros nodded, understanding the reason why they couldn't tell. She carried him out to the car and they headed once again for the hospital.
When Petra walked into the Emergency Room carrying her youngest child Diana, the nurse in the pediatric ward, immediately showed then to Andros' normal room. She suspected that he was being abused and she had considered telling someone before. The only reason she had recanted was because she feared that if nothing was done it would only mean worse beatings for the young child in front of her.
After they had Andros in a crib and hooked to the monitors she stated, "Try to keep him awake until Dr. Shocker checks him." Petra only nodded as she watched the nurse leave the room in search of the doctor.
"Andros," she began, seeing her son with his eyes closed once again, "you have to stay awake until you see Dr. Shocker." He opened his eyes slowly and the pain that he had been trying to escape returned quickly. As he began to cry his mother picked him up and held him in her arms.
"Can I have a drink?" he asked as he began to calm down and his mother retrieved his cup out of her purse. He guzzled the drink and looked up at his mother. "Mommy, I want to go home. I don't like it here." Before she could reply Dr. Shocker entered the room carrying a clipboard and his medical bag.
"Hey, Andros," he stated gently as he approached the small boy. "How are you?" Andros didn't answer but grimaced as the doctor touched the knot on his head and his left arm. "We'll have to do something about that."
"Do I have to have a shot?" the boy asked quietly. Both Dr. Shocker and his mother knew how afraid Andros was of needles but they also knew he had to have one before Dr. Shocker could set his arm.
"Yes," Petra answered, "but your arm won't hurt anymore." Andros only nodded as he watched his doctor prepare the shot, but all he could see was the long needle.
"Will you still hold me?" he asked his mother as tears built up in his eyes. His mother nodded and he grabbed her hand. Dr. Shocker quickly injected the needle and distributed the medicine only hearing a small moan from the small boy in the crib. As he removed the needle Andros began crying and Petra quickly cradled his in her arms.
"He'll probably be out in a few minutes," the doctor explained quietly as the boy began to calm down. "I'll wait until then to set his arm." She nodded in understanding, turning all her attention to her son as she began singing. Within seconds, Andros was asleep in her arms and she moved to place him back in the crib, "It would be easier if you would hold him until I get the cast on." Petra nodded, hoping that her husband wouldn't hurt Andros again, at least until his arm had healed.
A few hours later she was still holding onto her son for dear life. The doctor had told her that he had a severe concussion and it was very possible it had already caused some degree of brain damage. Petra looked up as the door opened and her mouth dropped open when she saw her husband.
"What are you doing here?" she asked hastily as she laid Andros back in the crib. She quickly placed herself between her son and Duncan.
"Why are you wasting your time with this piece of trash?" he spat as he approached her. "We could just leave him here and never come back."
"He's only trash to you," Petra answered as she backed away from him slowly. "Why don't you just go back home? You know we're not going to tell anyone you did it." Eros didn't reply, he just turned on his heel and left the room. A few minutes passed before Dr. Shocker and Diana walked back into the room with the results of Andros' CAT scan.
"Did he do anything to either of you?" the doctor questioned as he checked the readings on the monitors hooked to Andros.
"No," she answered quickly, moving back to her beside the crib. "What are the results?"
Although they both knew Petra was trying to change the subject Diana replied, "His brain is a little swollen but there's no permanent damage." Petra relaxed and they left her alone with her son once again.
Six days later Andros was leaving the hospital with his mother and siblings by his side. He knew that he would probably be free of his father's rages until his arm healed but he refused to let his siblings accept his punishment. The rest of the year went by without any serious injuries to Andros despite the fact that he took the blame for everything his siblings did. Little did they know things were about to take a turn for the worse.