Down for the Count

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing, I'm just borrowing.

Note: Consider this AU. Just an idea I had. I know re-telling the events in 'C2D' has been done to death, but I have this thing about beating dead horses… umm…not literally, of course.


2: A Girl in Trouble

Ashley was in pain.

The battle had been raging for what seemed like hours now, although she suspected it only felt that long. How many punches had she thrown? How many kicks? Too many, if her temporarily-enhanced physiology was any indication. Certainly the pain she felt now would be nothing compared to what lay ahead. Just the thought of de-morphing was enough to keep her agonized body in constant motion.

Her armor had never taken such a beating, and even its amazing resilience was being pushed far beyond its limits. Each blow seemed to hurt more than the last one, as if the suit was actually being worn down. Even her gloves, despite their durability, looked tattered, covered in a myriad of substances that she didn't even want to try and identify.

Unfortunately, there was one that she recognized…

Blood.

Not her own, of course. That would come later, when her suit would melt away and leave her vulnerable, and far more frail human form to deal with the consequences of such self-inflicted punishment.

No, the red smears that marred her hands came from those she fought. Her enemies had already killed scores of people. She was only one in a sea of bodies fighting for her survival. For every machine or monster knocked away, more would always come to take their place. And as they lunged for her, pummeled her, she could see the spattered remains of their other victims, still wet and sticky in the sweltering, midday sun.

She was infinitely thankful for her helmet's air filter.

A harsh, agonized groan was forced from her battered body as a pair of steel boots slammed into the small of her back like a sledgehammer, knocking the breath from her lungs. Her slim, exhausted form fell forward into a horde of arms and legs that didn't even hesitate to begin their onslaught, the blows coming so fast and furious that Ashley barely had time to register the pain as she fought to keep from going under.

"Bring the Yellow Ranger to me!"

The sound of Astronema's voice gave Ashley a burst of desperate strength, and she lashed out like some kind of Tasmanian devil – arms and legs a blur, striking crippling blows with single-minded precision. She was finally able to get her feet under her and, with the very last ounce of energy she possessed, the young heroine soared into the air, defying both gravity and her would-be captors, before finally coming back to earth several yards away from where she started.

"Very impressive."

Ashley had barely touched ground when she looked up to see Astronema standing only a few feet away. The crush of Quantrons began to part, hurriedly clearing the space between the two young women, and for a spilt-second, Ashley felt as though the villainess could look beyond her shielded face, and see the utter despair in her dark, terrified gaze.

Her stance, however, revealed nothing of her fear and doubt. Like she'd done so many times before, the Ranger raised her clenched fists in a gesture of rock-hard defiance. She knew she didn't have enough left to beat Astronema in single combat, but that sure as hell wasn't about to stop her from trying.

The Queen of Evil stood there, staring at her, cold smugness etched into her face.

"Surrender now, or watch them die."

Ashley's breath caught in her throat as the shifting masses continued to spread apart, now revealing the fallen forms of her teammates. They were all lying face down on the ground, still morphed, but helpless nonetheless, and surrounded by Astronema's troops, a multitude of weapons aimed at their heads.

Their helmets were gone.

"Ashley, no!"

Carlos had lifted his head to look at her, his anguished, defeated expression nearly breaking her heart. All of her friends were now watching her. She could see the frustration and anger, the sense of utter failure reflected in each of their upturned faces. If not for the helmet that covered her features, they would have seen the same emotions mirrored on her own.

Astronema glared at the Black Ranger, obviously annoyed at his outburst. Almost casually, she lowered the tip of her staff and placed it against the back of his head, pushing his face back down onto the cement with more force than was necessary.

"You first," she snarled, channeling her power into the staff with a mere thought. Purple streaks of energy arced along its edges, traveling, ominously, down to the point now pressed against Carlos' throat.

"No, stop!" Ashley cried out.

Astronema's cruel gaze fixed on her and, despite the stifling heat, Ashley felt a cold chill run up her spine.

"Kneel."

Reluctantly, the Yellow Ranger did as she was ordered, very much aware of Astronema's troops as they began to press in on her from all sides. They were like an angry mob, just waiting for the command to rip her to pieces.

The villainess stalked toward Ashley, her staff clutched, loosely, in her left hand. She stopped in front of her and stared down at the ranger with a triumphant smirk.

"Remove your helmet."

The young woman took a deep breath and lifted her hands, nervous fingers fumbling for the catch. With an audible hiss, she pulled the helmet apart, feeling a rush of hot, oppressive air assault her senses. She barely had time to lift it off her head before it was yanked from her grasp by unseen hands.

Ashley glared up at the face of her enemy. Astronema was standing so close to her she could almost feel the heat reflected off the woman's armor.

It would be so easy… one strike in the right place…

But, she couldn't. No matter how much she hated Astronema, Ashley couldn't kill her. Not when somewhere, inside the soulless monster looking back at her, an innocent still lived.

"Karone… don't do this," the young ranger pleaded. "You have to fight it. Please, try to remember who you are!"

A flicker of pain crossed the Karovan's features and she quickly raised a hand to the implant protruding from the skin above her right eye. Ashley saw her only chance and jumped at it.

"They ripped you away from your family," she pressed on, "… from your brother, remember? They stole your life, not once, but twice! You helped us fight against Dark Specter. You saved our lives! Karone… please, God, you have to listen to me-"

Astronema's hand shot out and clamped around Ashley's throat, effectively silencing her. The woman's grip was tight, as evidenced by Ashley's reddening face.

"It's over, Ranger," the villainess stated calmly, apparently enjoying the girl's panic-filled gaze as she continued to choke the life from her. Strong hands seized her wrist, but still she wouldn't let go. She leaned in close, until their faces were an inch apart, her cold, blue eyes boring into Ashley's rapidly fading brown ones.

"You've failed," she whispered. "And now… the Earth is mine."

The discharge of power was so sudden that Ashley's entire body lurched in Astronema's grasp, tendrils of dark light wrapping around her, bringing with it pain unlike anything she'd ever experienced. She was only vaguely aware of her friends, their own screams seemingly giving voice to her agony, something she, herself, was unable to do.

Her arms fell, uselessly, to her sides just as the bright flash of light heralded her return to the civilian form of Ashley Hammond, a seventeen year old cheerleader from Angel Grove, California. And like any typical young woman, her last thoughts as she closed her eyes were of a young man.

Andros…


To be continued…