Disclaimer: As much as I would like for it to be, Power Rangers is not my creation.

Slytherin-Angel44: I had to send someone and it just seemed like Zhane was the best choice.

SF: Glad you liked it.

Ch. 18 Down For the Count

Zhane took a deep breath as he approached Darkonda's hideout, once again whispering to ensure that DECA had really made his voice sound like Psycho Red's. He walked slowly going over exactly what he was planning to say over and over in his head, hoping that Darkonda wouldn't ask a confusing question that would blow his cover. He was startled by a figure moving in the shadows but forced himself to relax when he realized that it had to be Darkonda.

"Where have you been!" Darkonda demanded. "And where are the other Psychos?"

"I had to destroy them," Zhane answered simply. "They were interfering with my plans to destroy the Red Ranger and I had to get rid of them. They wanted to turn against you like they turned against Astronama."

"Very good, Psycho Red," he responded. "I was afraid that you wouldn't know that I'm still very strong even in this state."

"Oh, I understand," the ranger answered, "that's why I got rid of them. I know I can bring in the rangers myself."

"That's good news," the evil mastermind grinned. "I was almost afraid I'd have to deal with them myself."

"Don't worry, Master," Zhane stated, frowning at the statement, "I will never let you down."

"That's very good to hear," Darkonda answered, yawning slightly. "You know, this is what I don't like about this form, I get tired to fast. I'm going to get some rest, you keep guard. I don't need those rangers coming in here while I'm asleep."

'But that's what we're going to do,' Zhane thought silently grinning behind his mask before speaking aloud. "Understood." He waited until he was sure Darkonda was long gone and asleep before he went to the caves entrance to contact the other rangers. "Andros, he's asleep. Now's the perfect time to attack." He didn't hear his friend's response as a sword was pressed against his throat.

"I knew there was something funny going on," Darkonda hissed from behind him. "I thought you were smarter than this, Silver Ranger, apparently I was wrong." Zhane was forced into a small room in the back of the cave and Darkonda removed the Psycho Ranger disguise from his body. "Now, to fool your little friends." Zhane tried to reach out to Andros but Darkonda rendered him unconscious before he could say a word. "The rangers will finally be mine!"

Meanwhile, on the Megaship Andros was saying, "All of us can't go. Someone has to stay and watch the children." Secretly, he wanted Ashley to be that person but he knew that she'd want to go.

"We'll stay," Cassie and Carlos suggested. Andros nodded and led the others to the jumptubes.

"Wait," Karone stated as grabbed the side of her head, "something happened to Zhane."

"He was caught," Andros whispered. "You stay here. If something happens to me all of you have to come, okay?" Ashley nodded and watched as her husband go off alone once again. Andros landed on the ground and saw what looked like Zhane in his Psycho Red costume but he saw a distinct difference. The man in the suit now was just slightly taller than his best friend. He slowly made his way around to the back of the cave, only moving when Darkonda had his back turned. When he arrived at the back of the cave he saw a small door, one which he would have to blast open. Andros sighed quietly as he pulled his blaster from he's holster and fired at the door. He heard Darkonda running through the front entrance of the cave and hoped he could get to his friend before the monster did. He saw Zhane slumped down on the floor, his eyes beginning to flutter open. "Zhane, come on, you have to wake up."

"Andros?" Zhane questioned groggily.

"Yeah, it's me," Andros answered. "We have to get out of here, Darkonda's on his way." That seemed to wake Zhane up and he quickly got to his feet with Andros' help.

"You might as well sit back down," Darkonda stated as he appeared at the door. "You're not going anywhere." Andros quickly pulled the blaster back out and fired at Darkonda. He heard him yell and assumed that he had hit him as he turned back to his friend and they made their escape.

"Are you okay?" Karone asked Zhane as they landed on the Bridge of the Megaship.

"Of course," Zhane answered, although he did grimace slightly as Andros stepped away from him. "Just a few bruises."

"So, what's the plan now?" T.J. questioned when he noticed Andros had made his way up to his station.

"We have to go back immediately," Andros responded although he kept his back turned to them. "He's weak, we have to take him out now." The other rangers nodded and headed for the Work Bay. "Zhane, you stay here. You're already hurt, I don't want anything else to happen to you." Zhane only nodded, knowing better than to fight with his best friend.

It wasn't long before the rangers were standing in front of Darkonda. He was certainly surprised, he hadn't expected Andros to come back so soon. He had expected to have a few days to recover from the shots that had managed to hit him.

"Well, Red Ranger," he began with a smile on his face, "you're just full of surprises now aren't you?"

"Just give up, Darkonda," Ashley replied, sensing that her husband was in no mood for small talk.

"I wish I could, Yellow Ranger," the evil lord stated. "But then who would ruin your little Red Ranger's life." Andros snapped and charged at Darkonda. Darkonda barely had anytime to react but he did manage to land a small blow to Andros' arm. The other rangers quickly tried to pull Andros away, knowing that death was to good for Darkonda and that if Andros did kill him he would spend the rest of his life replaying it again and again.

"Andros, stop!" Ashley commanded once she had herself positioned between him and Darkonda. "This is what he wants and this is too good for him. We have to let someone else decide his fate." Andros nodded and allowed himself to be pulled up by his wife and sister while the other rangers restrained Darkonda.

"Let's get him back to the ship," Andros responded and they were gone in an assortment of light.

A/N: Please Review!