Disclaimer: I own Leslie and very few other things, stop asking!

Author's Note: Okay, here it is, the chapter I promised. There will be a two day wait after this chapter, just because I feel it works better if you wait a while after this chapter to read the next. Sorry, that's just the way it works. And, I am also sorry that this chapter is so short, I didn't mean for it to be. But, I have made all the preparations for my trip so I should be able to keep uploading, even though I'm far away from my computer.

Author's Note 2: Someone, I believe Phantom Rogue (who is cool, read her fics), asked about the whole Reptos thing. Okay, the instincts and strength and all that is still inside of Carlos somewhere and he has to learn to control it, otherwise, when he gets especially angry it gets out on its own and there is no telling what Carlos will do. That's all you really need to know. Okay, on to torturing the Rangers! Enjoy!

When It Rains…

Chapter 8 - Talk

"Ashley?" Leslie asked, walking up to the yellow-clad girl. "Are you all right?"

Ashley sniffed and looked up. She was sitting under a tree in a rarely frequented area of the park, trying to be confident about the situation and failing miserably.

"No," she answered truthfully.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Ashley looked up and saw that the other girl was sincere, she could see why Carlos liked her. "Sure." Leslie took that as an invitation and sat down in the grass. "Did you hear about the attack last night?"

"Yeah," Leslie said, becoming worried. "I heard only one person was attacked and the monster left. The Power Rangers came and took him; they said that they had better technology to fix him."

"Mmhmm, it was my boyfriend. I'm just so worried. I've been up all night."

Leslie took the other girl in her arms and held her for several minutes. When Ashley had calmed down some the two leaned back, each reflecting on their current situations.

"I guess," Leslie said timidly, "that this is what Carlos meant."

"What?" Ashley asked. "Oh, I had been meaning to ask you about Carlos, did you see him on Thursday?"

"Yeah, he came to tell me we couldn't date. And then a monster attacked."

"Leslie," Ashley breathed.

"I guess all of this is what Carlos meant, when he said that it was too dangerous for me to be with him," Leslie said, a sad smile on her face.

"What do you mean?" Ashley asked slowly.

"I mean, that you Rangers tend to get into trouble, in and out of uniform. He didn't mean to tell me," Leslie explained quickly. "He just got so mad when that thing attacked, I don't think he meant to change, but by then the monster had said enough that I knew everything."

"He told you that I-?"

"No," Leslie cut her off. "I figured it out. You do all wear the same colors all the time."

"Yeah, it's sort of subconscious, none of us mean to, but when we don't we don't feel right, like we're wearing the wrong size shoe or something."

"Hmm," Leslie mused. "Do you think that you could, maybe, get Carlos to talk to me?"

"I wish I could," Ashley said. "You were the last one to see him. We don't know where he went."

"What? What if he's-?"

It was Ashley's turn to cut her off, "He's not. He left a note and the ship's computer says he left of his own accord. Which reminds me…." Ashley tapped her communicator. "DECA? Could you send down one of those old communicators? Thank you," she said when the watch-like device materialized in front of her.

"Count on DECA to spy," Ashley said as she picked it up and saw that it had black stripes. "Black," she explained, "to match Carlos."

Leslie nodded, not fully understanding.

"The bad guys know that you're connected to Carlos, and since you know it seems safe to give you one. Here, you hit this button to talk. You should get the MegaShip, but if we're not in orbit you'll get one of the old Rangers. They'll be able to help or put you in contact with someone who can."

"Okay," Leslie said. "You want to get back up there, don't you?"

"More than anything," Ashley sighed.

"Ashley!" the cry came suddenly without any signal that someone was trying to contact her.

"Jeff? What's wrong?" Ashley asked, speaking into her communicator.

"You need to get back up here, now."

"I'm on my way," Ashley said curtly, standing.

"He'll be fine," Leslie said, laying a hand on her shoulder before stepping back to giver her some room.

Ashley nodded and was gone.


"What happened?" Ashley demanded, bursting into the Medical Bay.

"I was in here alone," Karone said, holding an ice pack to her head. "I turned to look at the readings and the next thing I know Zhane's shaking me awake and asking me what happened."

"Andros took out internal sensors before teleporting off the ship," Ecliptor said. "They should be back online within the hour."

"Why would he take out internal sensors if he was just going to teleport away?" Ashley asked.

"He didn't do it intentionally, at least that's my theory," T.J. said from a corner of the room. He was working on a blown up access panel. "I think he was angry and just hit the panel with his powers, sending a shock through the system."

"Why would he be angry?" Jeff asked.

"Well," T.J. said, "as near as I can tell without DECA and with the fried system. I think he was looking for you," he turned to Ashley.

"But, that doesn't make any sense," Ashley said.

"We shouldn't expect anything he does from this point on to make sense," Karone said. "He is under a spell or the affects of a potion or a disease or something. The point is, he is not himself. He cannot be trusted, we need to find him."

"Can we use external sensors? And what happened to DECA? I called her less than a minute before you called me."

"And it took just that much time for Andros to do all of this," Zhane said. "DECA is tied into all the systems of the ship, Andros probably hurt her when he hurt the sensors."

"External sensors, coming in now," T.J. said. "It looks like DECA is still operational, she just can't talk. She's been keeping track of Andros, or at least she was."

"What do you mean?" Karone asked.

"Shortly after he teleported to Earth, a rather powerful teleportation signal was detected leaving the system. He's gone."


"You have done well Carlos," Dulcea said. "You have managed to contain your reptilian furry under pressure and bring it out when you need to."

Carlos glanced around at the broken dinosaur skeletons. "Yeah, I guess so."

"But now you must leave."

"Leave? But I'm not ready!"

"Your friends need you, or they will soon. You cannot stay here any longer. You can continue to train as you have been on your own, you are more than capable."

"What do you mean they need me? How do you know?"

"You mentioned Shreefang when you first arrived. She was a servant of Rissai."

"So you think Rissai has broken free?"

"No, but I do think that she is up to something. You must go and tell the other Rangers."

"Are you sure I can handle myself?" Carlos asked uncertainly.

"Yes, I am sure. You are a strong warrior, I believe in you."

"Thank you Dulcea. Goodbye. Galaxy Glider! Hang ten!"


"I know. I know you want the Yellow Ranger," Garthon said. "I will bring her to you, but I may need you to do some things for me before that."

"Fine," Andros answered curtly. "As long as she is unharmed."

"Of course," Garthon said. "Of course."