Ashley Hammond/Astro Yellow: Glad you like it. I think you could make a lot of money giving other writers your ideas but I'd much rather see you write them since they're yours.
Jenny: Thanks for telling me your Pen Name. I really liked both of the stories you suggested. I think I'll hold out on the battle for KO-35 for a couple more chapters you know kinda draw out the suspense.
Disclaimer: As much as I would like for it to be, Power Rangers is not my creation.
Ch. 3 The Saviors
Two years had passed since Karone's kidnapping and the police had finally given p hope, writing it up as an Alien Kidnapping. Duncan had begun beating Andros several times a day sometimes leaving him unable to attend school. His teacher had once questioned where some of his bruises had come from but Andros had lied, saying that he had fallen outside while playing with Aidan and Cestra. Although his teacher didn't believe him, she had let it slide, hoping that he would come to her if anything bad was happening to him.
One day Andros and Zhane were playing in the park when two teenage boys approached them. Petra automatically went over to where her son was to protect him.
"May I help you?" she asked the two boys. The one in black shrank back a little at her tone.
"Yes," the boy in blue began, "my name is Bryce and this is my friend Preston. We were told by Zordon that Andros has been chosen to become the Red Ranger with us."
"Zordon told you this?" Petra questioned, as she looked at the boys in shock. She knew that both Andros and Karone had been chosen to become rangers but she had no idea that it was going to be at such a young age.
"You can contact him if you want to," Preston explained. "He told us that Andros is only six and we promise we'll take good care of him." Petra nodded and turned to her son.
"Andros," she began, "do you want to go with them?" He immediately shook his head but she could tell that he really wanted to become a ranger. "Listen, if you go it will get you away from your father and Aidan, Cestra, Zhane, and I will come by every now and then to check on you, okay?" She really didn't want to let her son go but she knew she needed to get him away from Duncan.
"We can give you a little while to decide if you want," Bryce explained to the small boy, who was trying to hide behind his mother. Andros nodded and the two rangers left them alone to decide.
Two weeks past before they got a reply but it was a good one, Andros was going to come. They went the next day to help him transport his belongings to the Megaship. When they arrived, they were surprised to see that he was covered in bruises and cuts but Petra told them not to ask. Minutes later they were on the Bridge introducing the rest of the team to their newest member.
"Isn't he a little small?" Bryce's girlfriend, Kaegro, inquired as she circled the boy,
"Baby," he began, "he's only six years old. Of course he's small but Zordon says he's a perfect match for the Power." He then looked down at the small boy, who had his head bowed. 'Man, you bring a kid into a completely new environment and don't even introduce him to the rest of the team.' Bryce berated himself. "Andros, this is Kaegro and the girl in pink is Serenity." Andros only nodded and continued to stare at the floor. 'It's definitely going to take some time to get used to someone actually being quiet on this ship.' "And the ship's AI is called DECA."
"Hello, Andros," DECA began, hoping that maybe she could help break the boy's shell. No such luck.
As the months passed Andros' fighting improved and he talked more around the other rangers although he kept quiet about his family. Petra had been unable to fulfill her promises that she, Zhane, and his siblings would visit since the rangers had been called to protect KO-35. Andros of course felt betrayed but he also knew what an inconvenience it would be for his mother.
Years pass as quickly as the months once had and Andros forgets about Zhane mostly because it is painful for him to remember all the good times that they once had. Bryce notices the change in Andros' behavior and suggests to the other rangers that they take him to a psychiatrist. After many arguments they finally persuade Andros to go and he quickly finds it relaxing to be able to express himself openly. The psychiatrist soon pries it out of him that he was beaten and blamed for many events that he couldn't have done anything about. She shares this information with the other rangers and they decide to talk to Zordon about getting Zhane put on the team that way Andros will have someone to talk to.
"Zordon," Bryce began carefully, "I know that we can't choose who's a ranger but I think that Zhane would be a great addition to our team."
"You have a point," their mentor replied. "Zhane has already been chosen to be the Silver Ranger but I'm afraid that Andros has already blocked Zhane's existence from his memory." After leaving the Command Center, located on Earth, Bryce, Preston, Kaegro, and Serenity decide to go pay a visit to Zhane.
When they arrive they are greeted by a much older looking Zhane. It is apparent that he is the same boy but he appears to have aged far past his physical years.
"Zhane, we have came here to ask you to join us and become the Silver Ranger," Preston began, trying to decide if it would be best to tell him about Andros now or wait until they met each other again.
"Of course!" he replied, enthusiastically. "Andros is still there right?"
"Yes," Bryce answered, "but he has blocked you from his memory because he thinks you abandoned him."
"That's okay," Zhane stated bravely. "I knew that he'd do something like this to get back at me." At that they left, knowing that this addition would make their team unstoppable.