Disclaimer: Not mine; unless you don't recognize it, and then it IS mine. Which means, Andrew is MINE MINE MINE ;D

A/N: okay, in this chap we skip a week and a half :D work with me people :P
and …
I've been wondering, so tell me what you think, there's the sequel- half written, but I really really really feel like writing an Andros POV to this. What do you say? What to write/post first?

Slytherin-Angel44: thanks but, who said they're father and son:P

AH/AY: thanks:) , I hope you'd find this version, much more…amusing

SweetSas: thanks Describe 'soon' :P

DizneeDol: thanks a bunch, I hope you'd enjoy this one, ;D

BellaCordelia: hey, not fair do you really think they're…? ;gives you the-I'm-from-the-karova-system-and-you're-not glare; :P

PernDragonrider: thanks a bunch! Oh and, I'm not hinting ;D I am working on a sequel, but I might make an Andros POV for this one first, much more fun to my opinion.

zeopurple: thanks, I'm flattered :)

Star Fata: I'd say it again, I'm honored. Andrew ;scratches head; he's kind of tormenting himself. Might be a family trait ;D he gets it from his d—mum :D

Phantom Rogue: thanks, I try :P

Quest into Space
By Darkhonda aka Tal

Chapter 4

A week and a half have passed in an instance; to me it seemed like a second, we had endless shifts of monitoring the screens, analyzing maps and calculating angles. Uncle Andros trained me as well, improving my ability and agility, we even played basketball once! I was actually getting the hang of Martial arts, improving rapidly with each training session and made Andros proud. He even taught me how to hold the helm and navigate through space!

I couldn't deny that I liked him more and more with each passing day, his patience was something Aunt Cassie had never had, his wisdom was something I had never known, his strength was something Uncle Carlos never had and his endless time for me, solely for me, was something any of my uncles and aunt never had as they were all having families now.
Another reason why I adored Uncle Andros was that somehow we were very much alike; we were quiet, broody, introverted kind of men, sometimes we were sitting in the bridge, monitoring the screens with complete silence, each one of us brooding; me thinking about my mum and him thinking about her too, I guess.

I knew he loved her, I just never realized that he loved her that much though. I haven't even realized how I knew that he loved her, it was just a feeling in the pit of my stomach, but it was true. Once, I entered his room after he asked me to get a special navigation device for the galaxy gliders and I saw a framed photo of her, of my mum, standing on the shelf near his bed. It made me smile. Maybe mum still had hope; maybe this Karovan guy could really help her, heal her or something. It was kind of reassuring that he had might have loved her as much as I am.

At the beginning, I felt he liked me because I'm her son, but after being near him a week and a half I wasn't so sure of it; long ago he stopped asking me about her and asked me about me and every time he dared asking me anything, I answered, even though he didn't dare much.

I could see from the warmth in his hazel eyes that he cared about me and it made me feel safer than ever, his presence reassured me and relaxed me in a way I can hardly describe. I guess that with him, mum was always getting better, with him I was going to be the green astro ranger, with him…I allowed myself to be a little bit free.
And I appreciated it, since mum has gotten sick I was never free, always caught up with "what-if's" and praying for her health. I wasn't me, I was just a poor little boy whose mum is sick and should be pitied. Being away from home, gave me a little, well, space- I could be me again, really me, Andrew Hammond, the 13 years old kid.

That morning I was marching to the bridge after DECA woke me up- at 6:00 am sharp- I was wearing my respectful PJ, a red T-shirt and yellow training slacks. I was awake, too awake for 6 am if you ask me, but awake. My determination to become a ranger was much stronger than sleeping. Entering to the bridge, he was already there, as expected, monitoring the viewing screens in a complete silence. His face were straight, broody, I guess and his eyes glittering of seriousness.

"Good morning, Dros, breakfast?" I smiled at him, he jumped a little, I must've startled him. I grinned wickedly now and he lifted his right eyebrow, giving me a 'what was that all about?' look. I grinned again, innocently, and I could see in his eyes that he decided to drop it.

"Of course, let's eat, Drew." He said as I predicted and with his arms on my shoulders, we both left the bridge and walked to the holding bay. Synthetron. Food.
I frowned a little when I recalled that, like any other day since I've started my training, I was having a healthy salad. Uncle Andros chuckled at my expression and ate his own salad with a wicked grin.

"So, what's on our schedule?" I asked him after examining what's on my plate suspiciously and then taking a bite from it. Actually, I have to admit the Synthetron's food wasn't all bad like mum told me. True, it wasn't her macaroni and cheese but it was edible enough, or maybe it was okay because when mum got sick I was usually eating junk food and canned food…
The megaship was like home in lots of ways, if to be honest, I felt right, belong in the megaship. DECA was like the grandmother I never had, I immediately grinned at the thought, yet Uncle Andros' reply interrupted it.

"I am monitoring the screens today and I want you to clean the megaship," he paused to examine my reaction, I wasn't thrilled but I was okay with it. After all, when mum was healthy we used to clean the house together… "I want it to be so clean, that I could eat from the floor. Understood?" he said with a stern voice, I had to smile at this. He always tried to give me the 'oh!-I'm-a-red-ranger-and-should-be-feared' tone and it never worked, I could see he was much more than a strict ranger. I tried to stifle my own chuckle.

"So, you want me to pull an Aunt Cassie on the ship, huh?" I asked and he laughed, "It's no problem, I used to have lots of practice!" I announced and he was still laughing. "What!" I let myself wonder aloud.

"Have Ash and Cass ever told you about the time when they had a huge fight about cleaning the Magaship?" he asked, still laughing hard, only thinking about it I was all laughing, 'mum and aunt Cassie actually had a fight about cleaning?' I was laughing so hard at the thought.

"That's hilarious!" I managed to spit out before rolling on the floor, "They actually fought about it? Please tell me all about it, Uncle Dros!" I said enthusiastically and he tried to calm down and tell me.

"It was the day we fought the Psycho rangers and your mum was taken, a few hours earlier they were fighting about Cass only cleaning and us only messing around, but let me tell you this, when your mum was taken… I don't think I ever felt this furious and Cass, well, she was a wreck, blaming herself, crying… but eventually, she was the one who found her." he told me softly, tapping fondly on my back, "Cassie saved your mum before Psycho pink and yellow could harm her, and at the end, we had to clean the holding bay and let those two girls go to the mall because they were fighting again!" I laughed; I knew exactly what happened with that, mum and Aunt Cassie tricked the guys…again.

"Mum and Aunt Cassie tricked you guys to clean. They weren't really fighting," I laughed and he frowned, "they really wanted to go to the mall but had to clean so…they faked a fight.

"This is so unfair!" he exclaimed, "Your mum will definitely have to explain it to me!" he tossed my hair fondly even though I tried to avoid his hand. "Now, you go cleaning, kid, I have a job to do," he said and I nodded, returning my plate to the Synthetron and going to the cargo bay, where cleaning stuff were awaiting me. I grabbed then and headed toward the engine room, 'better off starting with the messier' I thought gloomily and started sweeping the floors…

After a whole day of cleaning.

'My shoulders are paralyzed, I know it,' I thought and sighed painfully, 'If only Aunt Cassie could see me now,' I thought and recalled how many times she complained I'm lazy. I tried to massage my shoulder but my legs were hurting too and my back was totally broken. I crawled my way back to the holding bay, hungry and exhausted, reaching for the Synthetron desperately. Uncle Andros exactly finished working on the red galaxy glider and chuckled as he saw me, I looked at him desperately, my hair was a mess and I just longed for food and rest.

"Sit, I'll get your dinner," he said with a slight smile and I collapsed on one of the chairs, waiting for him to serve my dinner. My body was all sore, everywhere. Soon enough, he brought a tray with a plate full of gooey colored and a glass of cool water. I couldn't even express my thanks in words; I just looked at him gratefully and hoped he's gotten the message. I drank the water first, my body relaxing a bit, actually, relaxing enough that I could stare at my plate hungrily.

"Uncle Dros? What's that?" I wondered, playing with the goo with my spoon. He glowered at me, as if it was the greatest food in the entire galaxy and I didn't appreciate it.

"Karovan food, it's good for you. Eat it." He commanded and I did as he wished. I was tired enough to avoid the long lecture about food he would have given me if I hadn't eaten. So I did eat it. It was pretty good actually, not like anything I've ever tasted before, it was just… good. It contained many tastes but not anything specific, very much a big mixture of everything. I liked it.

"That's good." I told him, taking a mouthful and he laughed.

"You, Zhane and I are the only ones who like it here," He confessed, "I really wondered if you'd like it since you mum spitted it out claiming it's horrible," he smiled at me, "Your aunt Cassie didn't even bother trying." I laughed and hungrily took another mouthful.

"Why didn't they like it?" I inquired.

"Aren't used to it, I guess," he winked and I winked back. I liked his little gestures of fondness, with mum at the hospital I was really alone in the world, true, I had my aunt and unless but… only mum could comfort me and she was unconsciousness most of the time. It was really good having him around, I decided with glee.

"Well, too bad for them and more for me." I said taking another mouthful and making him laugh yet again.

"That's what Zhane used to say," he messed my hair again, "guess you're more like him than you think." He was grinning and I took the last bite, cleaning up my plate. He smiled and took it away to the Synthetron.

"Now, Andrew, training." He commanded and I got up on my feet and walked my way to the Simudeck, now less tired, yet fidgeting like a mad man, something was going on, and I knew it. He followed me silently to the Simudeck and I waited for his instructions, as usual, he programmed it to look like Angel Grove Park in a sunny afternoon, and I stood there, waiting.

"Dros, where are the craterites?" I asked after a while, noticing they haven't shown. He glanced at me for a moment, before taking off his jacket and boots and folding them neatly on the corner.

"Today you are fighting against me," He told me quietly and I gaped, 'what? Fighting him? Honestly, who does he thinks I am? Superman? He's gonna kick my ass!' I thought miserably, 'I would never get to train in normal clothes!' I thought bitterly, 'he's way too good for me!' I decided and backed off of the Simudeck.

"Ready?" he asked me and I shook my head in protest, he eyed me suspiciously, "What's the matter?" he asked and I lowered my gaze.

"You're too good for me, you'd beat me in a second," I told him quietly and he stepped in front of me and lifted my chin up so I could look in his eyes.

"Kid, If I hadn't thought you're good, I'd never ever challenge you like this," he said and his eyes twinkled, "trust me, I know what you can do, taught you myself, haven't I?" he told me and I thought about it for a minute.
'It's true,' I confirmed his sayings to myself, 'he wouldn't have fought me if I couldn't handle it, maybe I do have a chance…' I smiled at him now, a challenging smile, I made up my mind.

"Well, bring it on, Uncle," I said and laughed playfully, he smiled and winked at me. We were both standing in a defense pose, ready to strike…

He attacked first, trying to tackle me but I jumped and evaded his leg that came to my ankles. I punched him, but he bloked it on time with his palm, catching my fist and trying to twist my arm but I managed to hit behind his knee and he tripped a little, that was enough for me to free myself from him grip…We continued fighting and it was hard, he was a well trained ranger and I only a teenager with no skills but eventually, I beat him. With one swift movement of my right leg behind both of his knees, I tackled him and he fell on the ground with his abdomen on the grass. I caught his arms and bent them behind his back, and then sat on him, disabling him from any kind of movement.

"Give up?" I asked with a victorious smile, he chuckled, which was hard to hear because his face was deep in the grass.

"Yes," He said and I laughed and got up, reaching out my hand to help him getting up, "Well done, Andrew, as a reward I want to give you this." He said and went to a secret corner of the Simudeck and returned with a bundle of clothes in his hands, he handed it to me; a bundle of grey uniforms and a pair of black boots. All I could do when I had these clothes on my hand was to smile the biggest smile my lips had to offer. 'I got uniforms! Megaship uniforms! Ranger's uniforms!' my mind screamed and I was over joyed.

"Thanks uncle Dros, you're the best!" I told him and jumped on him, hugging him. He laughed at hugged me back, rubbing my back. After awhile he pulled back.

"There's one more thing which I forgot," he admitted with his hand on his chest, "what color do you want to wear?" he asked smiling, his eyes twinkling, he knew the answer and so did I, so I've said it.

"Green," I smiled, "you never had green in your team." I said quietly and he smiled and handed me a sparkling green shirt. I just could suppress my enormous smile, I was way too happy. Not completely happy though, I could never be completely happy with my mum...dying, but the future seemed brighter, hopeful in more than one way and it was all thanks to Andros. I wasn't angry at having to bring him home with me anymore, I was grateful. Andros has been wonderful to me, teaching me and guiding me in everything. He never let me down, and was always ready to help me. I adored him now more than ever.

"I knew you would like green," he said and we both smiled, "you know, this means no more fighting in you PJ, wearing uniforms as long as you're on the ship and wearing your new green training clothes that are hiding in your closet," he paused for a moment and then, "now, off to bed!" He commanded and I hugged him again before going out of the Simudeck, to mum's, now my, room.

I was speechless, 'he's not real! He couldn't be!' I thought, 'How could he have taught me how to fight like this? How could he have known green is my future ranger color?' I wondered, but secretly, a part of me wanted to admit he's my dad… I really wanted Andros to be him, my dad.
I was immediately ashamed at this thought, 'you have a father,' I told myself accusingly, 'it's not Andros' fault that he's dead, you knew it long before Andros came along,' I thought bitterly. 'You had a father once but he was taken away, you can't drop fatherhood on Andros,' a voice in me exclaimed roughly, 'you just can't!' my mind screamed at me, the way to my room was suddenly very long and tormenting. All I wanted to do was to take a shower and relax; so I closed my mind, pushing the whole 'Andros-and-my-dad' theme out.

I entered my room; it was a relaxing yellow room, immediately reminding me of mum. The door closed behind my and I put the bundle of clothes on the desk, the boots on the floor, and I walked into the shower. It took a hot steaming shower to get me really relaxed again, and when I got out, dressed in my other PJ (only red training slacks), I went straight to bed, pulling the covers over my head.

Again I felt my mum hugging me.

At that moment I could be the happiest kid in the universe, yet again. 'I made it! I beat uncle Dros and got megaship's uniforms!' I thought happily, yet a thought sneaked into my head, 'what more could I have asked?'
'My mum back,' was the correct answer, I wanted mum to see me like this, with these uniforms. I wanted her to be proud of me, of the man I became.
"I became a green ranger of honor, mum, you'll be so proud of me when you see me with the uniforms." I whispered to the night. It seemed like the megaship tried to comfort me because all of a sudden, I felt a warm breeze kind of caressing my face. I smiled and fell asleep.