Disclaimer: Everything that you recognize is theirs, everything you don't (Andrew, Andrew, Andrew) and the plot :D is MINE!
A/N: I forgot to tell you something about last chapter, if you noticed, many of Andrew's sayings are taken from "From Out of Nowhere pt 2" (PRiS ep. II) with little changes, check that chapter again, and you will see exactly what… ;grins mischievously;
Now, about this chapter, I really hope you're gonna like it; it took me ages and ages improving it. Well, no. But I still worked very hard on this one! ;D
AH/AY: I'm glad to say that I've changed some things, you actually did beat Rosa this time :P
Phantom Rogue: well, I'd say, you really have tosee Zhane's reaction to this in Quest into Space pt 2. It's kind of expected, though. :D I'm glad you liked it. I changed stuff so.. you have to stay tuned anyway :P
BellaCordelia: well, as long as you follow the leads... :P I'm happy you liked it, another4 chapters to go.. ;D
Slytherin-Angel44: well, he hasn't lost her…yet :D I'm thrilled you liked it
PernDragonrider: wow! Thanks a bunch ;blushing; I hope this story will live to your expectations :) and if not, well, there's always part 2 :P
SweetSas: well, Sas :P here's another, tomorrow there will be the next chap. I hope you'll catch them all before leaving
Star Fata: thanks, I'm honored :)
Quest into Space
Chapter 3
Waking up was hard, that last night was a night when I finally slept well; I didn't wake up every hour from one nightmare to a nightmare which is my life. The megaship was somewhat comforting, I wasn't alone anymore, Andros was onboard and I knew I could talk to him, but my heart ached with my going back to consciousness; waking up meant to lose her again, after I felt her presence in me the whole night. But it was a new day, a hopeful one, when good news might arrive. Or so I hoped.
I jumped off of the bed and went to the bathroom, after brushing my teeth and washing my face, I went back to my room and tidied the covers and pillow on the bed and slowly walked to the bridge, to check how DECA is doing. It didn't take me long to get to the bridge as I was accustomed to the megaship and its long and confusing corridors.
I stepped in the room to find my boy Andros monitoring the screens and talking to DECA quietly, I wasn't even awake enough to comprehend what they were saying but I was fine with that. My heart jumped with joy when I notice what Andros was wearing, it was, basically, the top of my dreams…Megaship uniforms.
I longed to have these kinds of uniforms since forever! Long grey slacks and a red shirt underneath a grey jacket with all kinds of symbols on it. My jaw was dropped, 'I so have to get these uniforms,' I thought full of awe.
"Mornin'" I managed to stutter through my awe and Andros turned around and smiled at me, I rubbed my eyes sleepily. "Hey, DEC, d'ya have VR Troopers GBA in you' database?" I asked with a yawn which I could hardly stifle.
Andros looked amused; he was looking at me as if I was a joke but I decided to ignore, so my hair was a mess and I was still wearing my PJ's, so what? It wasn't like someone else was actually watching me… right?
"Yes, Andrew, this game exists in the database. Would you like to play it now?" she answered in her delicate voice after a few seconds. I smiled at her red eye.
"No, thanks DEC," I answered stifling another yawn.
"Good morning, Andrew," Andros smiled pleasantly.
"Mornin', 'ncle 'ros, breakfast?" I said and took a stroll on the bridge, then turned to exit the room, my stomach in demand of food yet again. He smiled and rested his hand on my head fondly and tried to straighten me tangled hair. I evaded his hand and he chuckled.
"Lead the way, kid," he told me and I willingly walked quickly to the holding bay, he followed and watched me as I reached the Synthetron, pushing the buttons and getting myself pancakes and cocoa.
"D'You wan' somethin' to eat, Dros?" I asked him, still hazed with sleep and...Mum.
"No thanks, I've already eaten." He said as I was carrying my plate back to the table and started eating hungrily.
"Listen," he said gently and I raised my gaze from the plate, taking a sip of cocoa, "I want to teach you how to handle this ship and how to be a ranger, I-"
I choked at his words, 'Ranger? Me? That would be grand!' I mean, all I ever wanted to be was a ranger and it'd be definitely awesome to be a ranger exactly like my mum was! 'To protect the Earth and the galaxy, what more can I wish?' I thought enthusiastically.
"Would you really?" I asked, can't believe to what I was hearing, Andros only nodded, "Wow, thanks Dros! I've wanted to be a ranger since I was 3 years old!" I exclaimed enthusiastically and Andros chuckled fondly.
For a minute I haven't question his intentions, he was a grand of a man, I could feel it, I could feel how good he truly was and it made me feel safe. Not just any safe, mum-like safe.
"You'll have to work hard for it, Drew, it's not playing around, you know." He said quietly and I looked at him adoringly.
"That's okay, I'll do everything you'd tell me," I promised with a smile, "Can we start now?" I asked curiously, I was dying to train like a ranger. It was practically my dreams coming true!
"You are going to have a schedule," he paused, "You will have to do as the schedule say and obey my orders because I am your superior ranger. Understood?" he explained in a stern voice and I eagerly nodded my agreement. He smiled, satisfied.
"Great, now let's start with this," Andros said and telekinetically shoved my unfinished plate and cocoa to the garbage. I pouted my disagreement, yet said nothing. "You will eat healthy food only, if you want your body to get stronger, that it," he looked at me and I nodded.
"I guess it's fine," I told him disappointed. Mum used to make me pancakes every morning when she was healthy and every morning of eating pancakes was like having her with me. Laughing and singing her favorite 90's songs, I sighed silently, 'I still have her room,' I tried to cheer myself up, ' and the memory of her in the room is stronger than any memory of pancakes.' I calmed myself, and looked at Andros. Yet, I was so busy comforting myself, that I haven't notice Andros was telekinetic as well…
"Now, listen," he said and his hazel eyes offered me a silent comfort, "You are going to wake up at 6:00 am every day," he said and I immediately glared at him, 'six am! Is he nuts?' I thought, revolted, but he smiled apologetically. "Come on, let's go train at the Simudeck." He said and every saddening thought left my head, I got up and walked there. It was only when we reached the Simudest when I noticed--
"But I'm wearing my PJ," I said suddenly, noticing I was wear my red T-shirt and yellow training slacks, my hair was still tangled and messed up. He looked at me oddly, and I clearly knew what his was thinking: 'The-boy-has-no-clue-about-living-in-a-ship', I glared at him now, angry for his lack of understanding.
"You're going to train with your PJ everyday," he said and I glared at him even harder, 'Is this supposed to be some kind of a way to show I'm noting compared to the red ranger?' I thought angrily, ''coz if it is, we better stop this training session now,' I fumed and turned my back on him. "I want you to earn the right to train with decent clothes," he said and I pouted again.
"and how would I do that?" I asked him, my back still turned.
"You'll have to beat me in combat," he said and I turned around immediately.
"Fine," I muttered, "but I suck at sparring and training. My mum and my uncles have been trying to teach me for years and I don't get it."
"Andrew, you know you can do this, and so do I. Come on, let's train. I'll teach you everything you need to know." He assured me, but I was insecure, I knew he'd beat me up in a second. Aunt Cassie said she hasn't seen someone falling so fast since the first time she shot a Quantron with her Satellite Stunner, yep, I was that lame.
He pressed some buttons and we were at Angel Grove Park, the sun was shining and the weather was nice. It reminded me the days of my childhood, when we used to picnic for most of the daytime, me and mum, alone, laughing, reading, playing...
I sighed painfully, in some weird way, it felt like my mum was about to call me back to the grass where she can see me. I wish she had. I missed her so much, her wide smiles and funny laughter, her "I love you" notes in my lunch bag and her infinite optimism that never, not even once, let me down. Mum was truly everything I had and every reason I have for living, because without her I'm nothing, without her…I'm just a weird kid.
"Andrew, you will face one craterite now, I want to see what you know." Andros was standing next to me now, watching me carefully, I guess.
I nodded my agreement and the purple creature stood in front of me, in an attacking pose, ready to hit. I stepped into a defense mode and did my best which was basic blocking and a kick or a punch every now and then. It was lame, I was lame but I still fought it. It wasn't easy and I got all bruised up, but something has changed, that striped haired man who was watching me, changed everything I could feel about fighting.
It wasn't a test anymore, it was giving your best and deal with the outcome and with that thought, somehow, I won. It made him smile.
"You're good Andrew, Cassie doesn't know what she is talking about," he paused, "As usual…" he muttered and I snickered quietly as he continued praising me, making me all pink with blush. "You're very good, I find it obvious that you won't be able to beat her, after all, I'm sure the Power still surges in her veins." He said with a little smile as my eyes grew wide.
"Are you telling me she was cheating?" I asked him with a little frown and he laughed.
"It was only 14 years ago that we beat Dark Specter and his evil minions and before that she and your mother had the Turbo powers for almost two years," he explained, "16 years to the Power are nothing, Zordon was 3000 years old and therefore she still has the Power in her. And no, it's not her fault she can beat you!" Andros chuckled and I pouted. He tapped me on the shoulder fondly and I smiled.
"Now, Andrew, when you first stand in your defense pose, you're doing it quite good, but let me advise you something…."
And our lesson began…