Disclaimer: Not mine, well, at least what you can recognize.
What's mine? Well, that would be the bartender and the cherry-banana drink with the karovan liquor and Andrew as well :D ;grins wildly; Andrew is MINE! Haha :P

A/N: I'm glad you all liked it, this is the second long chapter.

Quest into Space
by DarkHonda aka Tal

Chapter 2

The hooded bloke seemed alerted all of a sudden; guess I was correct when I thought he might be the red ranger himself. It was too movie like, I felt I was pushed into this Sci-Fi western movie and couldn't get out. But I wanted it to be over, I missed my mum and I was worried. I haven't seen her for two weeks!

"Who are you?" the bloke hissed, taking the drink from the table. His sleeve fell back on his arm and it revealed an astro morpher. I smiled victoriously underneath my hood and cloak, 'I know it! He is the red ranger!'

It was just like in mum's old stories about space, when your heart is true, space grants your wishes, just like that time when that Andros guy came back to save her and my uncles and aunt from Astronema.

"I'm called Andrew Hammond," I whispered to him and he chocked on his drink, he started coughing. Inevitably I added, "Of Earth," with a wicked grin under my cloak. I've always wanted to say it!

His reaction was immediate, he got up and paid the bartender for his former drinks and then quickly dragged me outside of the pub. We stood somewhat far from the pub, far from evil's penetrating stare, I guess.

"Do you have a safe place where we can talk?" He asked in his real voice, which was softer and deeper and actually sounded...nice.

"Of course," I answered, "DECA, teleport two," and we teleported, both in shimmering red light.

"Welcome aboard. The vital systems on this ship controlled by DECA, she's got eyes and ears all over the ship, she speaks over three thousand languages and can navigate through all known galaxies and she is certified in —" he cut my off suddenly.

"I know everything about DECA. The Astro Megaship used to be mine and I gave it to..." He stopped at mid-sentence and closed his eyes in pain? I really never thought of why my family had this kind of vehicle. Yet, I knew I shouldn't let it bother me and let it go away.

"DECA, we found what we were looking for, set a course for Earth." I told her almost sternly, well the only thing I could think about was that he is here and I can go home again, to my mum!

"Acknowledged, resetting course for earth." She answered and I took off the cloak.

"Please, you said it was your ship, feel at home." I told him as we walked to the holding bay, to get some food from the Synthetron. I was hungry, from all the excitement of today I couldn't eat. But now that I found him… after my 'mum will be so proud!' thought, I discovered my stomach demanded food.

"Ashley Hammond of Earth, is she your mother?" he asked as I was sitting at the table in the holding bay, eating.

"Obviously," I answered quietly and rolled my eyes, what is he? A dope? I've just said my name's Andrew Hammond! What can be clearer than that? I mean, sheesh this guy… can he be slower?

"I take it she is married," Now I got it! He was trying to question me in the cover of interest, but I let him. After all, it was only fair.

"No, my dad died before I was born," I told him and he looked a bit reluctant now, "they weren't married," I added and he let out an almost inaudible sigh. 'A sigh of relief?' I wondered a bit angry. My dad was the most wonderful amazing person on Earth and this.. man is relieved that he's dead? How cruel can one person be?

"How is she? Is she okay? Why did you wish to speak with me? You said it was a matter of life and death," he sounded worried, 'rightfully worried' I thought bitterly as I took a long breath.

"My mum," I said quietly, "Andros, my mum is... dying," he didn't move a muscle and considering he was still donning the cloak and I still haven't seen his face… I got the feeling he was very worried and…scared? Yet I had to tell him the whole truth, not a part of it and I continued, "She asked me to search for you."

"Why did she send you? Why hasn't she sent TJ, Cassie or Carlos?" he inquired immediately and I knew so little but still answered what I knew. I found him trustworthy, well, kind of because he still hasn't took off that red cloack!

"I don't know why she sent me, my uncle TJ said that if they come and get you, you will hurt them and run. He said you won't hurt me," I said and then eyed him, "Can you please take off your cloak? I want to know whom am I talking to." I suspiciously and the cloak slipped off of his shoulder and head.

I looked at him, he had hazel eyes which seemed lifeless and he was pretty handsome for a guy. He was somewhat familiar to me... tall, yet I reachable, I had the sense to believe that I would become tall as he was. Yet when I looked at his hair I was appalled!
He had light brown hair, amazingly smooth and shining and… blond stripes! Blond! I mean, I never ever knew another human that possessed this hair color except... well, accept.. 'It can't be... no, and it can't be... we're not even familiar…' I told myself and forced the thought out of my head, putting the plate back in the Synthetron. Then I went to examine the red and black galaxy gliders that were resting near the jump tubes.

"DECA, when will we arrive to Earth?" he asked impatiently, I knew what DECA was about to answer and I also knew how worried he is... but I couldn't break my uncles' golden rules!

"Two weeks in hyperrush 3, Andros," she answered somewhat gleefully.

"DECA, set engines to hyperrush 9," he said and I knew DECA would not accept his command. I was the leader in this mission and therefore DECA was under my supervising and command. I almost snickered at the thought, if it wasn't for my mum… I was gloating! Finally, me, the 13 years old, a leader for such a mission! And a successful one, too!

"Request denied" she told him mechanically.

"I am the leader of this mission of searching you. She knows that and I was told to keep speed at hyperrush 3." I answered proudly, it might've been his ship in the past, but I am the owner of the ship now.

"Your mother is dying and you keep speed at hyperrush 3?" He glared at me silently, "It's two weeks, two weeks when she can ..." he didn't complete his sentence. I knew the logical thing to do was to increase speed, but I couldn't; I was given directions from my uncles and I was forbidden to increase speed, unless they notify me that my mum is at a worse condition and I did NOT wanted them to notify me that!

I was looking at the tiny window near the red tube, lovingly I looked at the outer space with pure joy; I was one of the few people to ever enjoy this kind of view… I was almost mesmerized. Yet, he was staring at me, glaring endlessly and nodding his head hopelessly. It really pissed me off, 'who does he think he is? Damnit! She's MY mum, why does he hate me?" I stood up, in front of him, feeling his eyes examining me.

"Listen, Andros of KO-35," I spat his name mercilessly, "She's my mum! If I could, I would've commanded DECA to increase speed to hyperrush 9! But I can't, do you think it was easy for me to go and search after you when my mum is dying at home?" I yelled at him and he looked at me, in my eyes and blushed. "I know all about your kissy-kissy adventures in space, Andros," I glared at him, "The body switcher, the Barillian bug, the Countdown… everything! I know more about you than about my own dad!" I snapped at him, all my frustrations were now coming out on him; he was just there to… take it all. I wasn't sorry, though, it was his fault that I was away from my mum, it was his fault that I was alone...in space…with only a computer to talk to me and he deserved ever drop of anger I held inside.

"So this is what it's all about, you hate me because your mum talks about me instead of your dad?" I tried to blink my tears away, but I couldn't and soon enough streams of tears appeared on my cheeks.

"I don't hate you," I told him, my voice unsteady and the tears burning my cheeks, "I don't know what they want from me," I said and rubbed my eyes. "I don't know anything about space, and they sent me here to search after you. And I left my mum at home and she might die and I'll never see her ever again." I cried my guts out, I couldn't control it anymore. It was a very bad feeling that needed to be let out, "She's all I have..." I muttered quietly, I wasn't sure if he could actually hear me but… I had to get it out.
He looked at me softly now, and his eyes expressed warmth, he drew close to me and caressed my long brown hair, trying to comfort me with a hug.

After a few moments, I pulled myself together and drew a distance from him by walking to the Syntethron and getting a glass of water. I hoped it would stop the tears from coming, that not that my feelings are out I could think straight. It was like I wanted, the coolness of the water calmed my soul and after I emptied the glass twice I put it on the table and faced Andros again.

"My mum always loved you; she never loved my dad like she loves you." I told him, my voice still unsteady, "I don't care about it, my uncles tell me about dad all the time, but if you hurt her, I'll kill you." I announced him and his lips quivered, "I might not be as skilled in martial arts like my dad was, but I'll kick your ass to the Karova System so hard that even…"

He dared smiling now, "That's okay kid, I'll never hurt your mum. Can you tell me about yourself… and your mum?" he asked and we sat at the table.

"What do you want to know?" I asked and he grinned a tiny little grin.

"What's your name again?" he asked.

"Andrew Zhane Hammond, of Earth." Andros smiled and after a few second started to laugh.

"Zhane, huh?" He said between one fit of laughter to the other, "From all of the people in the universe, she named you after Zhane?"

"What's so funny? Mum said he was the goofiest funniest human in the whole universe! And he was the silver ranger which is cool."

"If you knew him, you'd be sorry she named you Zhane." He was laughing so hard now that I thought his heart would come out at any second.

"Why? Do you know him?"

"He's my brother in law." He stated, relaxing himself.

"Why are you hanging at that old pub in Onyx? It's old and dusty.." I inquired myself, red ranger in a dark pub? Why? 'Isn't he supposed to live on KO-35 or something?' I wondered.

"Bad habits never change, I used to come there a lot, to search after..-"

"-Karone, actually, Astronema. Who was kidnapped when you two played in a park back on KO-35. Dark Spectre had made her princess of all evil and you killed her as Astronema but after you shuttered Zordon's energy tube, she was revived by your tears." I said rolling my eyes as a sign of pure boredom.

"What else do you know about me?" he wrinkled his face in protest to my wide knowledge of, well, him.

"Everything."

"Like what?"

"Like….. When you had a stowaway called Seemore, and you loved him lots. You saved the universe by shattering Zordon's energy tube which created a huge good energy wave that wiped all that is evil."

"That's nice kid, you know more about me than me." He smiled and I stifled a yawn.

"You better go to bed, Andrew, it's pretty late and I don't want your mum to kill me just because you didn't have your beauty sleep," his eyes twinkled and I stuck my tongue at him.

"You can call me Drew, if you want to."

"Then you can call me Dros, there are two people in the whole universe who call me that, Karone and Zhane."

"Thanks Dros. G'night."

"'Night." He said and I went toward the exit, then I realized I forgot the glass on the table, frowning, I turned around and telekinetically shoved it into the Synthetron. Andros frowned at me, "Drew, are you telekinetic?"

"Yes, since I was a baby," I said quietly, afraid that he would find me some kind of weirdo, but when I saw it was natural to him I added, "I can talk with my mum telepathically," I whispered and he frowned even harder.

"Can you read her mind?" he asked suspiciously and I blushed hard.

"Yeah. Night Dros" I said and hurried away to my mum's old room. I chose her former room as my own, since it reminded me so much of her. It still contained two framed photos from her ranger's day, one of her and Andros holding hand and the other of all of the Astro rangers. I looked at both photos pleased, mum seemed happy, and her happiness was all that count, 'even if it is with Andros.' I decided.

Her room was yellow, much to no one surprise though, and every bit of that room was mum. It smelt like Vanilla and my favorite home made cookies, her yellow bed felt soft and comforting just like her and when I pulled the covers over my head I could feel her hugging me…