Disclaimer: Everything you recognize is not mine; except Andrew:) Andrew is mine, MINE I TELL YA!

A/N: This is going to be the before-last chapter; next chapter will be the Epilogue. You'd be able to see what happens when they reach Earth at the Epilogue. You've all been great readers and reviewers, it was a pleasure writing and getting your reviews :) thanks a bunch for all your support.. I hope to see you in part 2!

I also want to send my grand thanks to all of those who supported me and helped me to write this story; Phantom Rogue, Ashley Hammond Astro Yellow and Sasja, this chapter is dedicated to you three, with love;D

BellaCordelia: Now it the big moment. The-moment, to be exact ;grins; thanks for reviewing, I'm happy you liked this story :D

zeopurple: Here is you answer…. You only have to scroll the page ;winks; thanks for reviewing, I'm glad you liked it:D

AH/AY: thanks a bunch :D I love you :P and Mark is soooo much sexier than Nicky:P

SweetSas: thank you for all of your reviews, I miss you:( I hope you'd like this chapter more than the stupid raw one I sent you.

Star Fata: I am honored ;bows; again and again:) thank you for your reviews I hope you'd like this one too:P

Phantom Rogue: Green morpher? ;raiseseyebrow; well, you'd have to wait, next chapter is all about green morphers……..not :P I love you too :P thanks for everything!

Slytherin-Angel44: ;grinswickedly; Father and son, eh? We'll see about it ;D scroll down and you will definitely have an answer:) thanks for all of your reviews(:

Quest into space
by DarkHonda aka Tal

Chapter 5

"Andrew, wake up it is 8:00 am," DECA's delicate voice woke me up from a fairly amazing slumber. It took me a second to realize I'm late to training, and about a minute to recall what happened yesterday. I jumped out of bed but the sheets were tangled around my legs and I fell and hit my head. "Ouch!" I muttered and rubbed the painful spot, angrily, I got up and shoved the blankets on the bed. Not having enough time to fold them, I ran to the bathroom and brushed my teeth quickly.
'Great, stupid,' I thought bitterly, 'in your first day as a green ranger of honor, you mess it up!' I washed my face without even looking in the mirror and ran back to my room, I got into the slacks and boots, wore my shirt and was struggling with my jacket in my way to the bridge. I didn't even brush my hair.

I was stepping into the Bridge, silently watching Andros who was in deep conversation with DECA. I stood in the entrance of the bridge and listen carefully, something told me it's wrong, but I couldn't help it! What was he talking about with DECA all the time?

"So, is there any possibility you will increase speed to hyperrush 5?" he asked her while monitoring the screens as always, I stifle a laugh, I could predict DECA's answer.

"No, Andros. It is Andrew Zhane Hammond of Earth who is the leader for this mission and I will obey only him." She said and Dros did look kind of disappointed, I decided this was the right moment to let Dros know I'm there. I cleared my throat, 'if he's about to yell,' I thought guiltily, 'he better do it now,' But he only groaned with frustration.

"I am this close to morph and get on my galaxy gli--" he said while turning around to face me, when he eventually did, he stopped. He actually seemed speechless, he looked at me as if it was the first time he saw me. Embarrassed, I lowered my gaze to my feet and my hand rose up to my hair, playing with a messy lock.
I was really embarrassed now, Uncle Andros just stood there, his mouth open and his eyes didn't leave me, or my hair for that matter.

After a few silent minutes, I dared to raise my eyes and look at him, he was completely shocked and I was scared. 'What happened to him?' I wondered, watching his eyes wide open, scanning my face over and over and over again. 'Did I do something wrong?' I tried to search my memory for an event that might have angered him, for something that could explain his behavior...

"Uncle Dros? Andros?" I stuttered, I've never seen him like this, he looked in total awe. I waved my hand in front of his eyes and all he did was to close his mouth and blink while staring at me. 'maybe he was hurt?' I wondered, 'maybe something attacked him,' I tried again, "Andros? Are you alright? Uncle Dros?" he didn't reply and only stared at me.
'No, stop being stupid, Drew,' I told myself, 'yesterday he was just fine, it has to be something else, something you did!' I looked at him again, he's hazel eyes that were always twinkling were full of fear? And he was just…frozen. I was freaking out so I did the best thing I could do and I ran out of the bridge as fast as I could.

I reached the Simudeck and curled in the far corner of the room, I was panicking and before I could stop it, I was crying. 'What happened to him?' I sniffled, 'he was okay yesterday and now he hates me so much,' I sniffled again, crying made me drowsy, 'it's all my fault! I just had to be late, didn't I? And now he's so angry with me… and he won't come to help mum and she'll die and he'll throw me out of the ship and I'll be all alo—'

"Andrew?" Andros knelt beside me and caressed my hair, "Andrew, why did you run away like this? Please don't cry…" he told me in a soft voice, almost whispering, and looked in his eyes, they were sad, I wiped away my tears, not wanting him to see me cry again.

"You hate me and you'll throw me out of this ship and my mum will die and I'll be all alone forever!" I was crying again and he hugged me, lifting me off the floor. I hugged him tight, clinging to him, my hands around his neck and my face crying on his shoulder.

"Andrew, I will never hate you," he reassured me softly, carrying me to his room. He laid me gently on his bed and handed me several tissues. I took them and wiped my face and my nose. I couldn't look at him again, I diverted my gaze to scan my mum's framed photo; she was wearing her favorite yellow dress with little white flowers on it, smiling to the camera, while leaning on a tree. The tree looked familiar and I was sure it was the tree on our favorite spot in Angel Grove Park. I could smile slightly before bursting into tears again.

"Do you like this photo?" he asked and I nodded, he reached his hand and telekinetically gave it to me. I stopped crying and gaped unbelievingly.

"H-How can you...do that?" I asked, still scared, I curled up on his bed with the photo in my hands.

"Most Karovans have telekinetic ability, Andrew, most of us are born with it," he said quietly and it sounded weird to me, 'how can Karovans have this ability when I have it too?' I wondered. I heard him taking a long breath. "Andrew," he said and I still looked at the photo, he raised my chin so I was looking straight into his hazel eyes, "Do you really think I'll throw you out of this ship?" he asked and I diverted my gaze yet again and he sighed. "Andrew, I will never harm you or you mother, okay? Never."
He said and I looked into his hazel eyes that somehow seemed promising, and another feeling crept into the pit of my stomach, the feeling he was telling the truth, again. I nodded in agreement and looked at mum's photo again, adoring her, missing her…

"Andrew?" he said my name and I still hasn't looked at him, my eyes still fixed on the photo. His voice and my mum's photo were calming me down but I was still scared, 'what if he gets so angry that he'll kick me out? And what if he's really a bodyswitcher?' I wondered. "Andrew?" he said my name again and woke me up from my deep thoughts, I looked at him, he was quivering a bit, his voice a little unsteady. I felt safe again, with his insecurity, 'his fear of something,' I realized, 'is making him more human' and… I knew it was a mistake to doubt him earlier, 'he cares for me.' I decided.

"Is this your natural hair color?" he asked and gave me a little mirror all of a sudden. I examined my figure; my large brown eyes were swollen from crying and my little nose all red, there were streams of tears staining my cheeks. And my hair was a complete mess. 'Wait,' I told myself alarmingly, 'my hair,' I frowned and looked at it again, it was brown with blond stripes but… 'Haven't I dyed it almost a month ago? It's not supposed to fade away completely after a month!' I thought bitterly and suddenly I knew the answer… 'that back stabbing machine! What has she put in my shampoo? She is so gonna pay for it!' I decided, yet before I could ponder my revenge, I noticed Uncle Dros was still in the room.

Uncle Andros' expression almost didn't change; only his eyes were a bit wider, but I could feel myself shaking again, 'is he going to throw me away from the ship because of my hair? But his hair is the same!' I thought stupidly. He touched my cheek, trying to relaxing me but I was still shaking. 'What is that supposed to mean?' I thought, 'what am I missing?' I wondered.

"Andrew," he said softly yet almost silently, "I have to go and talk to DECA, wash your face and wait for me here, okay?" he asked and I nodded my agreement. I was still panicking so it was best I didn't talk. I didn't even think I could say a word, I was too confused. The door opened in a swoooosh and Uncle Dros walked quickly pass her. I mounted off of the large bed and went to the bathroom, to wash my face and to try and to make my hair look presentable again.

The water was cool on my face, relaxing me; I felt better and even though I promised to wait, I snuck to the bridge, curious what DECA and Uncle Andros' talk was about. With my back against the corridor's wall I peeked into the bridge. Uncle TJ was on the viewing screen, talking to Andros…

"--she better have a good explanation for this, fourteen years, TJ, fourteen. Why didn't she say anything?" Uncle Andros was furious, I could tell but he was also saddened for somewhat reason. They were talking about my mum, I knew it, but…why was Dros so angry? What happened? I wondered.

"Andros, I can't explain everyth—" Uncle TJ tried to say with apologetic expression, but Uncle Dros didn't let him finish the sentence, I mean, he just snapped all of a sudden, I shrunk against the wall.

"He has my hair and my telekinetic ability and my telepathy ability, TJ," he snapped and I was confused, what does he mean his? It's my hair and my abilities!' I argued, yet I was eager to listen so I deserted my thoughts for their conversation. "Need I remind you that dual colored hair, telepathy and telekinesis are Karovan traits only? I want you to answer me, TJ, is he?"
Dros said in a dangerous tone, and my heart beat raced, 'what does that mean karovan only? I'm not Karovan and I have these traits!' I argued, but Uncle TJ just smiled at Dros.

"So you do know," he said with a giant grin on his face, showing his two dimples, "See? That wasn't too hard…" he smirked and Dros' hand covered his face for a moment as he closed his eyes and opened them again.

"And she sent him to Onyx, a thirteen years old, alone, to Onyx? Has she gone crazy!" Dros exclaimed and I was getting angry now, 'who is he to tell Uncle TJ that my mum's crazy? and besides, my mum is not crazy!' I thought, revolted all of a sudden, yet he went on.
"And hyperrush three, TJ? You told him to keep speed on hyperrush three! That kid is worrying sick for his mother, craving her presence and you tell him to keep speed at hyperrush three?" I looked at Uncle TJ in the viewing screen, he was paler now, and gotten serious all of a sudden.

"We couldn't come with him, Andros, we have jobs and families to take care of! Even if we had come along with him, you'd have refused to face us. Admit it," he said and Dros blushed, a pale shade of pink spreading on his face.

"I can't understand it, TJ, she sent him after me and she's dying all of a sudden and…" he turned around and I could see him, his lips trembling with the effort of not crying and his hazel eyes looked so sad, eventually, there were tears falling from his eyes and before I could stop myself, I was crying too.
"TJ," he said, his voice unsteady, "We will arrive Earth tomorrow. DECA, increase speed to hyperrush nine, I'm taking command on my megaship immediately." He said and after a pause added, "DECA, end transmission." He said quietly and buried his face in his hands, I walked quickly back to his room, deciding it would be the smartest thing to do.

I climbed on his bed, leaving my boots on the floor and tried to relax, I tried to think all of what I heard, I tried to somehow, even though unlikely, to comprehend.
'What did it all mean?' I wondered, 'How can dual hair color could be Karovan? I'm not Karovan…right?' I felt insecure, what was I thinking? 'But I do have telepathy and telekinetic abilities, and if they're Karovan traits… No, no, it can't be, I mean mum always said I was special but not even once she implied…' I took a long breath. He was not my dad. He couldn't be! My dad died before I was born, mum said so!
'But Uncle TJ agreed with Dros, didn't he?' he thought, 'He agreed that all these traits were Karovan, so it means I am Karovan, or at least half Karovan, aren't I?'

The swoooosh of the opening door took me out of my deep thoughts as I lifted my eyes to his approaching figure. He looked like a total mess, his eyes were red, so was his nose and even though he tried to wipe the tears I could still see their streaming course, he knelt in front of the bed and looked me in the eyes. My eyes immediately turned wet, tears showing up again, I wasn't his son, I wanted to be but I wasn't!

"Andrew," he said quietly and caressed my wet cheek for a brief moment, "I want to tell you something, it's about you hair." He said gently and I shook my head.

"No," I cried, begging him not to tell me, 'I won't be able bear the disappointment when he eventually understands I'm not his son,' I thought, "I – I'm not your son," I whispered and he managed to chuckle.

"But you are, Carlen, even though you try to convince yourself you're not." He said and I diverted my gaze from his eyes summoning my mother's photo again with my telekinesis. I held the framed photo with trembling hands. A few seconds later the framed photo shot out of my grasp, I looked at Andros who smiled innocently, but had a very suspicious glint in his eyes.

"It's not funny," I frowned and Andros chuckled, "Give it back," I said and tried to telekinetically free it from his grasp, he laughed and twirled it around the room without me having the slightest effect on the frame. I pouted, "Give it baaaaaaaacccckkkk!" I said trying telekinetically to take the photo. Again. He was much more experienced and strong in telekinesis then I was, so I wasn't able to snatch the photo away from him. He twirled the photo around the room and it was very cool, 'maybe one day,' I thought hopefully, 'I could be as good in telekinesis as him,' I sighed silently. 'Wouldn't it be grand if he really were my dad?' I asked myself sadly. I knew he'd be the best dad ever, he was much cooler than any other father I've known, and he was strong too, so if I ever gotten into trouble he would've been helping me…

"Andrew," he said, I guess he noticed my disappointed expression because he telekinetically put the frame on his shelf again and sat next to me on the back. He put his arm on my shoulders and hugged me, "Tell me what's on you mind, Carlen?" he asked and I nodded, it was no use to keep everything as a secret; I had nothing to hide.

"You can't be my dad," I whispered, "my dad died," he sighed in what seemed as anger. "Andros, don't get me wrong, I-I want you to be my dad, but—"

"Andrew, can you please think with your brains and not with your heart for a moment?" I nodded my agreement. "Good, now listen to me and listen carefully, please," he said and paused for the slightest moment, "Dual hair color is a trait that only Karovans have," I tried to say something in protest and he caressed my hair. "Listen, Carlen, earthlings don't have this color in their genes, you got it from me and I got it from my dad's side of the family too." He said calmly, "Do you understand what I'm trying to say?" he asked and I nodded.

My mind got it alright, but my heart? I could hardly believe it, 'only yesterday I was wishing shamefully that he would be my dad, and today?' I hesitated, I didn't know how to react; four hours ago I didn't have a dad… and now? What was I supposed to do?
His words kept ringing in my ears, if Karovans had dual colored hair…if Karovans are telekinetic…if Karovans are telepaths… then I had to be one as well!
I had to admit it; ignoring it yet again would have been a total ignorance of me, I couldn't deny it anymore and didn't want to, either!
'You have a dad, you punk!' I told myself, giving in to the amazing feelings that filled me now: hope, joy, happiness…love?
'No,' I told myself, 'love has always been there, it's just official now,' I smiled to myself contentedly, I didn't care about the future, about the risks and results of my decision to stick with him. With his truth. The important thing was that I had a dad, and he was there, waiting for me and every minute was a minute a wasting!

I was smiling now, I could imagine myself praising in class 'he's my dad, you know, the red Astro ranger? The one who saved the entire universe?'
I laughed and Andros looked at me and smiled, he hugged me! 'Well, duh! He's your dad!' I told myself excitedly, and the most galactic thing was, that I knew everything about him! He was the one who taught me how to fight with an endless patience, just like mum said he would! Mum…. I had to smile at the thought of her. She sent me to this quest, made me find my dad and bring him back with me, because of her, her request, I've gotten my dad. My mission was accomplished successfully and I was proud of myself. I let myself lay on his bed, sighing, he chuckled.

"You believe me now, Carlen?" he asked and I nodded, "Now, make me some room, it's my bed, you know." He said and I rolled my eyes and made him enough room. He took off his boots and lay next to me. I looked at the ceiling, brooding my happiness, my hair all over his pillow and...his hair all over his pillow. After a few moments I shifted and daringly put my head on his chest, yawning, I felt his chest trembling as he chuckled at my tiredness.

"Andros?" I said and he looked at me, I blushed, "Does that mean you're my dad now?" I asked shyly.

"I was always your dad, Carlen," he said and for somewhat reason holding his breath.

"Good," I said with a smile and lifted my gaze to his eyes, "Because I was about to adopt you as my dad anyway," I muttered and he laughed. I listened to his heart beats that was similar to mine, beating in the same rhythm, 'this is like home,' I thought, 'if only mum was here…' I've almost fallen asleep when I remembered…

"Dad?" I asked and he lowered his gaze into my eyes, I smiled at him and he smiled back, waiting for me to say something. My smile grew even bigger, "Nothing, I just like the sound of it." I said and he laughed again, bringing his arms to hug me.

"Dad?" I asked after a few more minutes and he looked down at me, I blushed, "I love you lots, dad," I said. I was being sincere; I wanted him to know I do love him. He was my dad but he was my friend first. I liked and adored him as my friend and loved him as my so-called uncle, but I loved him the most as my dad.
So what if he had been my dad for only five minutes?

"I love you lots too, Carlen," he said and I blushed even more, I cling to him. 'Finally,' I thought, 'I'm not alone anymore, I have a mum and a dad, aren't I the luckiest kid on ea—in the universe?' I thought happily and sighed, after a few more seconds, I realized something, and it was pretty weird so I did what I had to do…

"Oh, and Dad?" I asked and dad lowered a questioning gaze at my eyes, he truly had endless patience if he was kind to all of my naggings. "What's Carlen?" he looked at me lovingly and started laughing! "Dad! Come on Dad! It's not funny, tell me! Please?" I tried to beg but he was still laughing.

"Dad? Dad!"

A/N: Well, the next one is the Epilogue, if you liked Andrew and Andros stay tuned for Quest into Space pt II, first chapter of the sequel to be posted with the Epilogue… Thank you all so very much, you made writing an incredible experience! I'm honored ;bows to you all;